Promise of Dusk

by Wrylie Parks

“ Something rotten spreads. Something greedy takes. I ask myself what coin, unjustly taken, will be the last. What gust of wind will be the one that topples a precariously perched empire? As I look out at my people, I think it will be me.” Reeling from the loss of her family, twenty-year-old Alyx is clawing her way through her days as a healer’s apprentice in Suri –a country where cruelty and injustice reign. Her days are spent avoiding the sadistic attention of the Pretty King’s soldiers, the Crows.

But her life, frozen in her past, is thrown into the fire when she discovers her mentor is aiding rebels. Indiscretions come to light quickly when neighbors turn against neighbors. When the Crows descend upon her, only her unknown, monstrous power enables her to escape. She finds herself running for her life alongside a group of otherworldly strangers with an agenda of their own.

As the infuriating and handsome leader of the group teaches her how to use her newfound powers, Alyx must also navigate her feelings for him, and come to terms with the fact that they can only run for so long. Wherever her legs take her, evil follows –to the ends of every world.

With each passing day, more secrets are revealed, the stakes rise, and it becomes apparent to the people of Suri that the Crown is hiding otherworldly, dark secrets from them. This sparks a flame of rebellion that will burn it all in the name of justice –even if that means the whole world turns to ash.

461 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2024

About the author

Born in the Pacific Northwest, I now reside in Colorado with my husband and (definitely not a human in dog skin) goldendoodle. I write female-centric fantasy novels with a heavy dose of grim-toned folklore and a pinch of romance. I can often be found over-caffeinated, either wandering the mountains or burrito-ed in bed with my nose buried in a book - there's not a whole lot of in-between.

Reviews

[Katie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

Wow wow wow- okay! I now know why people rush authors for the next book!!
Wrylie Park’s debut novel is building a world that will have you completely submerged by the end. I was in a reading rut and am honestly grateful to have waited a bit to jump back in so I could truly appreciate it. 💜 Filled with Magic, adventure, female badassery, friendship, and touch of romance 😉
It leaves off at the perfect spot, leaving you with just enough satisfaction, but wanting more.
I’m so excited for what’s next!

[Ariel Eggers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! I loved getting to know the characters and their backgrounds - the world(s) Wrylie created are incredibly detailed to a point you can put yourself right in them with no issue. So many twists and turns that this book hooks you only a few chapters in. Honestly, didn’t want it to end. Very excited for the next one.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun! Sometimes it feels like I am reading the same fantasy plot regurgitated over and over with different characters, but Promise of Dusk did not feel that way at all!

Our girl Alyx is going through it, and honestly her character development in this book is *chef’s kiss*

It’s a fun mix of so many great fantasy elements—fae, dragons, and corrupt government systems.

I loved all the different personalities of the members of the Fianna, and how they all meshed together.

The cliffhanger is brutal, but in the best way, where I can’t wait to get my greedy hands on the second one!

Also honorable mention for Mariana who is one of the most badass female characters I’ve ever read.

Overall, I loved this read and will be counting down the days to book 2!

[Becca Werbowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to get an advanced copy and I will say that I absolutely adored this book! ✨The beginning was a little slow, but TRUST that it picks up and is so exciting. The FMC, Alyx, is a little depressed but as things in her world begin to unravel, and she starts to heal and grow, the storyline really takes off. Alyx and her new crew grow on you as their journey continues, avoiding and fighting off the corrupt Crows (soldiers in their country).

I really recommend this book, especially for people who enjoy books like the Throne of Glass series. It gives that epic fantasy vibe with a lot of world building and complex elements.

🧝🏼🐉 Fae AND dragons? Yes.
🌄❣️Fantasy WITH romance? Yes.

All of my favorite things wrapped into one book. I cannot wait for the next one to come out! 🫶🏻

[Samantha Caribardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrylie built an amazing world of fae, magic, and adventure that I couldn’t put down! I laughed, cried (multiple times), celebrated, and got pretty angry at times (iykyk). I can’t wait to read the next installment in the series!

[Britney Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve always been a fan on fantasy and mysticism, and this book has the right combination since it’s originally set in Alyx’s non-magical reality which swiftly changes.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series and to see what becomes of the Fianna!

[Avocado243 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe me, the second part of this book is where the fun truly begins. At first, I thought the events in the first part were enjoyable but lacked a clear destination. However, it all serves as a foundation for the FMC's character development, which is very well-crafted. It also provides great context for meeting a certain someone ;) (and we all know who he turns out to be in the second book—even if he doesn’t want to show it yet, and the FMC has no clue).

The world-building and the story’s buildup are well-written, and I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. This is definitely one of my favorite reads this year, and I can’t wait for the second book to unravel more of the story’s mysteries.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific debut for Wrylie Parks. I couldn’t put this book down and I devoured it in record time. The characters are rich and interesting and the plot keeps you on the edge off your seat, constantly! I cant wait for the next book to land - I will be reading it as soon as it’s available.