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This Dark Descent #2
This Dark Descent, Tome 02: These deadly ambitions
The Shadows Between Us meets The Scorpio Races in the epic conclusion to NYT bestselling Kalyn Josephson's This Dark Descent, called "a fierce and darkly magical thrill ride" by acclaimed author Ava Reid.
The Illinir may be over, but the race for Enderlain’s future has just begun. The hunt for the old king’s lost heir is on, and the first to find them will win the throne.
Mikira has allied herself with the rebels in pursuit of the lost heir, but the deeper her search takes her, the closer she gets to the royal family's wicked past.
Ari is struggling to control her own growing power as she grapples with a dark secret that may be her undoing — and the truth behind Damien's greatest foe.
Damien, the new head of House Adair, joins the race to find the heir and secure the crown. But as his influence at court grows, so does his paranoia and hunger for power.
Reid is trying his best to stay true to the friend who's always had his loyalty — and the flame who has his heart — while trapped in a web of chaos and lies.
But a darker force is festering in Enderlain’s underbelly, and Mikira, Ari, Damien, and Reid will need to find a way back to each other — and themselves — before the kingdom is torn apart. Hearts will be broken and new bonds will be forged in this explosive finale to This Dark Descent, where spellbinding fantasy meets Jewish mythology in a cut-throat race for the throne — and Enderlain’s survival.
The Illinir may be over, but the race for Enderlain’s future has just begun. The hunt for the old king’s lost heir is on, and the first to find them will win the throne.
Mikira has allied herself with the rebels in pursuit of the lost heir, but the deeper her search takes her, the closer she gets to the royal family's wicked past.
Ari is struggling to control her own growing power as she grapples with a dark secret that may be her undoing — and the truth behind Damien's greatest foe.
Damien, the new head of House Adair, joins the race to find the heir and secure the crown. But as his influence at court grows, so does his paranoia and hunger for power.
Reid is trying his best to stay true to the friend who's always had his loyalty — and the flame who has his heart — while trapped in a web of chaos and lies.
But a darker force is festering in Enderlain’s underbelly, and Mikira, Ari, Damien, and Reid will need to find a way back to each other — and themselves — before the kingdom is torn apart. Hearts will be broken and new bonds will be forged in this explosive finale to This Dark Descent, where spellbinding fantasy meets Jewish mythology in a cut-throat race for the throne — and Enderlain’s survival.
480 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2024
39 people are currently reading
1652 people want to read
About the author
Kalyn Josephson
11 books957 followersKalyn Josephson is the NYT bestselling author of THE STORM CROW duology, RAVENFALL series, and upcoming THIS DARK DESCENT. By day, she's a Technical Writer, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. She lives in the Bay Area with two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an even tinier owl).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
November 6, 2024
Solid story. The addition of Damien's POV helps with the complexity of the story line. It shows power grabs, manipulations, scheming, and figuring out a why thing are happening all at once. It's an unique story line with twists I didn't see coming. The 3 narrators did an amazing job and I absolutely enjoyed listening to them. They showed a great range of emotion and seemed to do their character justice. The world building and understanding the ongoing plot from book 1 unfolds and it was exciting to hear what came of that craziness. Overall this story is enjoyable with lots of details and twists and turns.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for this Audiobook early listening.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for this Audiobook early listening.
December 17, 2024
I thought I would like this more than This Dark Descent because there isn’t a tournament in this one, but I think the author’s writing just isn’t for me. The plot drags on a bit and I’m just not very invested in the characters or their relationships.
That said, I think there are interesting themes in this about the nature of power, forgiveness, and government corruption, that you wouldn’t necessarily see in most YA novels about rebellion. I also really enjoyed the Jewish culture and folklore.
If you liked the first book, you’ll likely enjoy this, but if you were mixed on it, there isn’t much here that will change your feelings.
The audiobook narrators were talented and read well, though the narrators for Mikira and Ari were a little too similar, and both sounded a bit older for the characters.
That said, I think there are interesting themes in this about the nature of power, forgiveness, and government corruption, that you wouldn’t necessarily see in most YA novels about rebellion. I also really enjoyed the Jewish culture and folklore.
If you liked the first book, you’ll likely enjoy this, but if you were mixed on it, there isn’t much here that will change your feelings.
The audiobook narrators were talented and read well, though the narrators for Mikira and Ari were a little too similar, and both sounded a bit older for the characters.
November 30, 2024
My Selling Pitch:
Yet another YA fantasy that abandons any of its uniqueness for another bloated sequel that could’ve been a tight 100 pages. There’s nothing for the horse girls in this one.
Pre-reading:
If this book doesn’t also have ponies, I will riot. (I think I jinxed myself with this.)
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Did I reread the first book like a fool to prepare for the sequel? Absolutely. And you know what it did? Confirm that I wrote a banger of a summary for the first book. It’s still a bad book. I still think it fucks.
Here’s my theories going into book 2:
1. Shira obviously working her own mastermind scheme to maybe help the rebels? I think her Golem cat is very conveniently spying on everybody. (Nailed it.)
2. Reid is the missing prince and that's why he looks like Rezek. (No comment.)
3. She’s gonna pull a TOG villain cop-out and Rezek is actually still a nice boy that's just possessed and like he used his magic to turn his older brother into the beast in his dungeon. (This will be very embarrassing if I’m incorrect.) ((FUCKIN NAILED IT.))
Questions I need this book to answer or I’m going to be cranky:
1. Is girlypop Mikira’s brother really dead? Like he should be, but I’m always sus if we haven't seen a body.
2. Where did Ari go during her blackouts and what the hell did she do that got her bloody?
3. Her family better be in dire straits to be ignoring her letters and money. (I guess that’s less of a question and more just the Capricorn in me wincing at mailing money.)
Are you fucking kidding me? I did all that, and it opens with a recap.
The way Ari is not a Capricorn because there is no way I would let that man go to bed in peace, dead dad or not, if he just told my best friend to leave.
I don’t trust Shira. I don’t think she’s evil, but I don’t think she’s working for Damien‘s benefit.
OK, Celaena.
I really don’t trust her. What’s she up to while everyone’s busy at this party?
Dream was very Peaky Blinders lol.
You're trusting your evil brother to say someone else killed your mom? Sus.
Lmao fantasy csi
Enzymes? Way to ruin the fantasy immersion.
If we did a recap at the beginning, why are we also recapping within the chapters?
I don’t know which house girlypop got the whiskey deal with, but I feel like that’s gonna be relevant. (Nope.)
Head on a swivel🎶
This is a slow start.
Shira is def working as the enchanter for the rebels.
Oh, that’s fun. They’re backing opposite royals. Bring on the hijinks! (Not a jink to be seen let alone a high one.)
Camaraderie I mean cum right on me-🎶
Man, I guessed all of this. How boring.
Also, if she’s related to Rezek, doesn’t that mean she technically has royal blood too? Is she gonna Mary Sue her way into the crown?
This is slow, but I have a feeling it’s gonna kick off. (I had such faith.)
The cat is the spy. Like for sure.
Clout feels out of place in a fantasy novel.
This is really slow. I feel like we’ve had maybe three chapters worth of content bloated into the I don’t know hundred some pages I’ve read already.
I’m assuming the bartender is the guy.
I don’t have time for this man to be an emo boy. What are we doing? He was such a good character in book one.
Dude, they’re gay as hell for each other.
Dude, stop punching walls, ya Kyle.
This book is badddd.
This is all fantasy and no ponies and politics, and that’s frustrating.
No one thinks they should verify this with one of the truth animals?
Girlypop is going through a lot of horses.
Oh look, they’re inventing democracy.
I’m actually so bored.
I’m so checked out from this book.
Book one Damien was too smart for this shit.
OK, I didn’t see that coming because you know when you told me a prince, I said dude not a lesbian. This feels like a cheap trick.
This book is so lame, and I don’t even wanna finish it.
Also hold on, plot hole. If it was actually a princess who was lost, shouldn’t the truth alarm animals have gone off every time they said that sentence? There was no prince to find.
Hey, we’re really worried about the lost princess’s safety. We’re gonna send her to a military academy and then let her join the rebel army. Explain that to me.
What do you mean platonic poly relationship? What is happening in this book? I’m so displeased.
Actually, I think it’s very important to still always do things alone. You’re still a person. You can’t be that codependent.
Am I done yet? This is garbage.
This whole book is just I should be in charge. No, I should be in charge. Here’s my evil plan. Oh wait, you don’t know my evil plan? Let me catch you up. Oh wait, they’re doing another evil plan. Oh wait, you don’t know their evil plan? Let me catch you up.
I know technically things are happening, but because it’s so repetitive, it feels like nothing’s happening. And like it’s plot holey and abusive to the reader because you’re not given fair play rules and like I’m so done with this. (Benjamin Stevenson would NEVER do this to me.)
Like I don’t care. I don’t care if they save the world. I don’t care who’s gonna be king. It’s not a horse book anymore. This is just Sword Catcher, and I hated Sword Catcher. And this is a worse Sword Catcher.
Well, I got the brother. There was no chance I was going to get the Prince. (Clearly, I have never gotten over anything in my life ever.)
I keep forgetting that these characters don’t have an ounce of common sense, and I’m like oh, we already know that. And then I find out chapters and chapters later that they are like also finally coming to that conclusion, and I’m like what do you mean? Pull your heads out of the sand. What are we doing?
I love when a book explicitly tells you it’s trying to do parallelism. 🫠
He turned himself into a furry.
This book is giving way too many people redemption arcs that don’t deserve redemption arcs. This is like forgive all your abusers rhetoric.
Dude, this is gay as shit.
Honestly, good death for Rezek.
But hoo boy that was gay as hell!
I take it back. I hate a fake out death. I hate it every time.
Now, why does it only tie him to Rezek and not also the heretic guy? I know they tried to explain it by being like they survived the magical atom bomb because they were linked to the books, but like how would they ever unlink from the books? Also, shouldn’t any person who’s ever been tied to the books like all their ancestors also be in their heads then? This makes no sense.
OK, but Ari and Rezek being the angel and devil on his shoulder, and he wants to fuck both of them would be hilarious. That would be a FUN rom-com. Where’s Olivie Blake?
Also, you know they fucked when they got back and forgave each other, but like Rezek was there for the ride.
I know the Scooby gang had to win, but it feels super cheap that none of them actually die.
Wow, how fucking lame. A bad Six of Crows and Sword Catcher. None of the first book’s balls.
Post-reading:
Look, I didn't expect it to be good per se, but I am dictionarily defined insane because I do keep expecting the sequels to already mid books to either hold fast or improve. And they never, never do.
I loved the first book despite my better judgment because, at my core, I am still a horse girl. This book ditches the ponies. It abandons the competition trope. It thinks it maintains its political scheming, but it's a piss poor imitation of the first book’s. Instead, it's another shitty, vaguely Jewish fantasy.
The sequel suffers from pacing issues again but where the first book was cramming plotlines in, this one bloats them out for chapters upon chapters and then abuses its audience when it recaps absent characters on the events of prior chapters that the audience just finished reading about. It's gratingly repetitive and it grinds the story to a halt.
The characters feel dumber this time around. Book one had to worry about making characters appealing, so they were all wildly capable. This book decided to nuke their character development and turn them into melodramatic, angsty teenagers. I hate when books tentatively break a couple up over miscommunication in a cheap bid to create tension. It never works. It just annoys your audience. We all know they're getting back together. I know this book was going for diversity rep with its demiromantic comments in the first book and asexual poly relationship in this one. It felt forced. It didn't work for me.
This book had me volcanic midway through when it decided to reveal its pseudo-mystery and didn't play fair. The solution’s a gaping plothole and done solely for shock value. If a character’s secret identity and safety matters so much, you don't send them to a military academy in the heart of the war. In a world that canonically has canaries in the coal mines for lies, those suckers should've been going off every time this character was in a room or the mystery was touched upon. It was unbelievably frustrating, and I’m still sour about it.
I warned this book at the beginning that I had some questions that needed answers or I was gonna bitch. Well, bark bark. While the book may have attempted to answer where one of the characters was going during her blackouts, it never answers for the blood. (Granted, I may have missed it because at this point in the book I was beyond checked out, but I really don't think we ever get an answer.) The money and letters sent in book one? May as well not exist. They're never addressed. Why you or your lover would want to go back to a family that abused and abandoned you is beyond me. It truly read like the author thought her family’s behavior was justified.
As always, fake out deaths bug the shit out of me especially when you do it multiple times. It ruins a book’s stakes. Not every character needs a redemption arc. Not everything should be forgiven. This book really has a gross undercurrent that religion will save you and teach you that everything can and will be forgiven. Get so fucked with that.
Damien and Rezek are gay as HELL for each other and this book refused to acknowledge that. That’s a sin. Look me in my eyes and tell me a single one of those interactions was platonic and then go back to basic chemistry 101.
While the religious commentary took a backseat in the first book, it was at the forefront of this one but lacked any depth. The solution to a corrupt system is not simply democracy. You can't up and cancel a war on a whim. The stolen land situation is never solved and seems like it was swept under the rug to make this more palatable to publish in the current political climate. And for a book that purportedly rails against cowardice, that reeks of it.
Basically, if you liked the first book for the plot points that made it unique, you won't find them in the sequel. You're going to get another generic, barely political fantasy that you've already read a better version of. And it’s a shame because the first book was bad, but at least it had balls.
Who should read this:
Completionists
Fantasy Jewish fans (I still can’t believe that this is a genre)
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
Nope.
Would I buy this:
No, but incomplete series on my shelves make me itchy so 🤡
Similar books:
* Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare-this is the same book, fantasy Jewish, political fantasy, ensemble cast, queer
* Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo-YA heist urban fantasy, ensemble cast, queer
* The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem-NA fantasy competition, political scheming, enemies to lovers
* Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool-YA fantasy whodunnit, political scheming
* Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson-tropey YA fantasy romance, political scheming
* The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis-generic YA The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem-NA fantasy competition, political scheming, enemies to lovers
* Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool-YA fantasy whodunnit, political scheming
* Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson-tropey YA fantasy romance, political scheming
* The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis-generic YA fantasy romance, political scheming
* The Longest Autumn by Amy Avery-YA fantasy romance, political scheming, queer
* The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo-historical fantasy romance, fantasy Jewish
* A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal-YA fantasy romance, ensemble cast
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Yet another YA fantasy that abandons any of its uniqueness for another bloated sequel that could’ve been a tight 100 pages. There’s nothing for the horse girls in this one.
Pre-reading:
If this book doesn’t also have ponies, I will riot. (I think I jinxed myself with this.)
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Did I reread the first book like a fool to prepare for the sequel? Absolutely. And you know what it did? Confirm that I wrote a banger of a summary for the first book. It’s still a bad book. I still think it fucks.
Here’s my theories going into book 2:
1. Shira obviously working her own mastermind scheme to maybe help the rebels? I think her Golem cat is very conveniently spying on everybody. (Nailed it.)
2. Reid is the missing prince and that's why he looks like Rezek. (No comment.)
3. She’s gonna pull a TOG villain cop-out and Rezek is actually still a nice boy that's just possessed and like he used his magic to turn his older brother into the beast in his dungeon. (This will be very embarrassing if I’m incorrect.) ((FUCKIN NAILED IT.))
Questions I need this book to answer or I’m going to be cranky:
1. Is girlypop Mikira’s brother really dead? Like he should be, but I’m always sus if we haven't seen a body.
2. Where did Ari go during her blackouts and what the hell did she do that got her bloody?
3. Her family better be in dire straits to be ignoring her letters and money. (I guess that’s less of a question and more just the Capricorn in me wincing at mailing money.)
Are you fucking kidding me? I did all that, and it opens with a recap.
The way Ari is not a Capricorn because there is no way I would let that man go to bed in peace, dead dad or not, if he just told my best friend to leave.
I don’t trust Shira. I don’t think she’s evil, but I don’t think she’s working for Damien‘s benefit.
OK, Celaena.
I really don’t trust her. What’s she up to while everyone’s busy at this party?
Dream was very Peaky Blinders lol.
You're trusting your evil brother to say someone else killed your mom? Sus.
Lmao fantasy csi
Enzymes? Way to ruin the fantasy immersion.
If we did a recap at the beginning, why are we also recapping within the chapters?
I don’t know which house girlypop got the whiskey deal with, but I feel like that’s gonna be relevant. (Nope.)
Head on a swivel🎶
This is a slow start.
Shira is def working as the enchanter for the rebels.
Oh, that’s fun. They’re backing opposite royals. Bring on the hijinks! (Not a jink to be seen let alone a high one.)
Camaraderie I mean cum right on me-🎶
Man, I guessed all of this. How boring.
Also, if she’s related to Rezek, doesn’t that mean she technically has royal blood too? Is she gonna Mary Sue her way into the crown?
This is slow, but I have a feeling it’s gonna kick off. (I had such faith.)
The cat is the spy. Like for sure.
Clout feels out of place in a fantasy novel.
This is really slow. I feel like we’ve had maybe three chapters worth of content bloated into the I don’t know hundred some pages I’ve read already.
I’m assuming the bartender is the guy.
I don’t have time for this man to be an emo boy. What are we doing? He was such a good character in book one.
Dude, they’re gay as hell for each other.
Dude, stop punching walls, ya Kyle.
This book is badddd.
This is all fantasy and no ponies and politics, and that’s frustrating.
No one thinks they should verify this with one of the truth animals?
Girlypop is going through a lot of horses.
Oh look, they’re inventing democracy.
I’m actually so bored.
I’m so checked out from this book.
Book one Damien was too smart for this shit.
OK, I didn’t see that coming because you know when you told me a prince, I said dude not a lesbian. This feels like a cheap trick.
This book is so lame, and I don’t even wanna finish it.
Also hold on, plot hole. If it was actually a princess who was lost, shouldn’t the truth alarm animals have gone off every time they said that sentence? There was no prince to find.
Hey, we’re really worried about the lost princess’s safety. We’re gonna send her to a military academy and then let her join the rebel army. Explain that to me.
What do you mean platonic poly relationship? What is happening in this book? I’m so displeased.
Actually, I think it’s very important to still always do things alone. You’re still a person. You can’t be that codependent.
Am I done yet? This is garbage.
This whole book is just I should be in charge. No, I should be in charge. Here’s my evil plan. Oh wait, you don’t know my evil plan? Let me catch you up. Oh wait, they’re doing another evil plan. Oh wait, you don’t know their evil plan? Let me catch you up.
I know technically things are happening, but because it’s so repetitive, it feels like nothing’s happening. And like it’s plot holey and abusive to the reader because you’re not given fair play rules and like I’m so done with this. (Benjamin Stevenson would NEVER do this to me.)
Like I don’t care. I don’t care if they save the world. I don’t care who’s gonna be king. It’s not a horse book anymore. This is just Sword Catcher, and I hated Sword Catcher. And this is a worse Sword Catcher.
Well, I got the brother. There was no chance I was going to get the Prince. (Clearly, I have never gotten over anything in my life ever.)
I keep forgetting that these characters don’t have an ounce of common sense, and I’m like oh, we already know that. And then I find out chapters and chapters later that they are like also finally coming to that conclusion, and I’m like what do you mean? Pull your heads out of the sand. What are we doing?
I love when a book explicitly tells you it’s trying to do parallelism. 🫠
He turned himself into a furry.
This book is giving way too many people redemption arcs that don’t deserve redemption arcs. This is like forgive all your abusers rhetoric.
Dude, this is gay as shit.
Honestly, good death for Rezek.
But hoo boy that was gay as hell!
I take it back. I hate a fake out death. I hate it every time.
Now, why does it only tie him to Rezek and not also the heretic guy? I know they tried to explain it by being like they survived the magical atom bomb because they were linked to the books, but like how would they ever unlink from the books? Also, shouldn’t any person who’s ever been tied to the books like all their ancestors also be in their heads then? This makes no sense.
OK, but Ari and Rezek being the angel and devil on his shoulder, and he wants to fuck both of them would be hilarious. That would be a FUN rom-com. Where’s Olivie Blake?
Also, you know they fucked when they got back and forgave each other, but like Rezek was there for the ride.
I know the Scooby gang had to win, but it feels super cheap that none of them actually die.
Wow, how fucking lame. A bad Six of Crows and Sword Catcher. None of the first book’s balls.
Post-reading:
Look, I didn't expect it to be good per se, but I am dictionarily defined insane because I do keep expecting the sequels to already mid books to either hold fast or improve. And they never, never do.
I loved the first book despite my better judgment because, at my core, I am still a horse girl. This book ditches the ponies. It abandons the competition trope. It thinks it maintains its political scheming, but it's a piss poor imitation of the first book’s. Instead, it's another shitty, vaguely Jewish fantasy.
The sequel suffers from pacing issues again but where the first book was cramming plotlines in, this one bloats them out for chapters upon chapters and then abuses its audience when it recaps absent characters on the events of prior chapters that the audience just finished reading about. It's gratingly repetitive and it grinds the story to a halt.
The characters feel dumber this time around. Book one had to worry about making characters appealing, so they were all wildly capable. This book decided to nuke their character development and turn them into melodramatic, angsty teenagers. I hate when books tentatively break a couple up over miscommunication in a cheap bid to create tension. It never works. It just annoys your audience. We all know they're getting back together. I know this book was going for diversity rep with its demiromantic comments in the first book and asexual poly relationship in this one. It felt forced. It didn't work for me.
This book had me volcanic midway through when it decided to reveal its pseudo-mystery and didn't play fair. The solution’s a gaping plothole and done solely for shock value. If a character’s secret identity and safety matters so much, you don't send them to a military academy in the heart of the war. In a world that canonically has canaries in the coal mines for lies, those suckers should've been going off every time this character was in a room or the mystery was touched upon. It was unbelievably frustrating, and I’m still sour about it.
I warned this book at the beginning that I had some questions that needed answers or I was gonna bitch. Well, bark bark. While the book may have attempted to answer where one of the characters was going during her blackouts, it never answers for the blood. (Granted, I may have missed it because at this point in the book I was beyond checked out, but I really don't think we ever get an answer.) The money and letters sent in book one? May as well not exist. They're never addressed. Why you or your lover would want to go back to a family that abused and abandoned you is beyond me. It truly read like the author thought her family’s behavior was justified.
As always, fake out deaths bug the shit out of me especially when you do it multiple times. It ruins a book’s stakes. Not every character needs a redemption arc. Not everything should be forgiven. This book really has a gross undercurrent that religion will save you and teach you that everything can and will be forgiven. Get so fucked with that.
Damien and Rezek are gay as HELL for each other and this book refused to acknowledge that. That’s a sin. Look me in my eyes and tell me a single one of those interactions was platonic and then go back to basic chemistry 101.
While the religious commentary took a backseat in the first book, it was at the forefront of this one but lacked any depth. The solution to a corrupt system is not simply democracy. You can't up and cancel a war on a whim. The stolen land situation is never solved and seems like it was swept under the rug to make this more palatable to publish in the current political climate. And for a book that purportedly rails against cowardice, that reeks of it.
Basically, if you liked the first book for the plot points that made it unique, you won't find them in the sequel. You're going to get another generic, barely political fantasy that you've already read a better version of. And it’s a shame because the first book was bad, but at least it had balls.
Who should read this:
Completionists
Fantasy Jewish fans (I still can’t believe that this is a genre)
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
Nope.
Would I buy this:
No, but incomplete series on my shelves make me itchy so 🤡
Similar books:
* Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare-this is the same book, fantasy Jewish, political fantasy, ensemble cast, queer
* Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo-YA heist urban fantasy, ensemble cast, queer
* The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem-NA fantasy competition, political scheming, enemies to lovers
* Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool-YA fantasy whodunnit, political scheming
* Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson-tropey YA fantasy romance, political scheming
* The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis-generic YA The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem-NA fantasy competition, political scheming, enemies to lovers
* Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool-YA fantasy whodunnit, political scheming
* Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson-tropey YA fantasy romance, political scheming
* The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis-generic YA fantasy romance, political scheming
* The Longest Autumn by Amy Avery-YA fantasy romance, political scheming, queer
* The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo-historical fantasy romance, fantasy Jewish
* A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal-YA fantasy romance, ensemble cast
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2025
Gosh I was so bored.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
July 8, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
November 20, 2024
Ultimately, I liked where this ended up but it definitely felt like a struggle to get there. The book felt bloated and Mikira was remarkably unlikable this time around; also I hated the idea that she never had a real conversation with Reid or Tal about what she wants that/those relationships to be. Instead there's a vague-splain conversation with Tal and even less of one with Reid. That's not the kind of thing that is inherently understood or that you can assume is understood so that representation was not at all great. The rebels were... well. For me, it would stop being convincing once a new power took over and did all the things that were on their mission statement. Probably the system is broken down to its roots but the guy who's undoing all the things that give his position power and status.... also probably wouldn't be hard to convince him to abdicate and yet the princess is still out for blood? And Mikira and Tal are on that ride for way too long, especially considering Mikira used to care about Damien.
This also did a really bad job of reinforcing the relationships from the last book. Ari and Damien? There was literally nothing there in this book for them. Because the work had been put in last book, not a single thing was done here and I found myself not caring about them at all. Same with Mikira and Reid - everything about them exists in the last book and therefore seems weirdly out of place and forced into the relationship given precedence: Mikira and Tal, because that one wasn't quite formed last book and so it was the only one given focus.
This also did a really bad job of reinforcing the relationships from the last book. Ari and Damien? There was literally nothing there in this book for them. Because the work had been put in last book, not a single thing was done here and I found myself not caring about them at all. Same with Mikira and Reid - everything about them exists in the last book and therefore seems weirdly out of place and forced into the relationship given precedence: Mikira and Tal, because that one wasn't quite formed last book and so it was the only one given focus.
January 2, 2025
This was a satisfying conclusion to an enjoyable duology. It starts off with a nice succinct recap of the previous instalment - all books should do this.
I continued to enjoy the unique magic system, especially as revelations came about - ie. how both Ari and Rezek are truly able to wield the power they possess. I also really like how Rezek's storyline plays out in the end.
The addition of Damien's point of view added an extra degree of complexity to the plot. His storyline includes some interesting political machinations. It's difficult to tell whether he will end up being a good or bad guy in the end.
The book contains themes of ambition, betrayal, trust, forgiveness, corruption, and power struggle. All of this is interwoven throughout the story and within each point of view. Even after this one, I think Reid is still my favourite and probably the most trustworthy with the least to gain through his actions.
The narrators all did a great job delivering an enjoyable and realistic interpretation of their character, as well as the other characters each performed.
If you enjoyed This Dark Descent, then you will enjoy this conclusion.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the audiobook for my listening enjoyment. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.
I continued to enjoy the unique magic system, especially as revelations came about - ie. how both Ari and Rezek are truly able to wield the power they possess. I also really like how Rezek's storyline plays out in the end.
The addition of Damien's point of view added an extra degree of complexity to the plot. His storyline includes some interesting political machinations. It's difficult to tell whether he will end up being a good or bad guy in the end.
The book contains themes of ambition, betrayal, trust, forgiveness, corruption, and power struggle. All of this is interwoven throughout the story and within each point of view. Even after this one, I think Reid is still my favourite and probably the most trustworthy with the least to gain through his actions.
The narrators all did a great job delivering an enjoyable and realistic interpretation of their character, as well as the other characters each performed.
If you enjoyed This Dark Descent, then you will enjoy this conclusion.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the audiobook for my listening enjoyment. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.
August 26, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to preface saying that I read this book at a really weird point in my life just mentally so that skews this review quite a bit.
I was SO excited to read this sequel after the first book. I love this world and that it's super unique and the concepts are fairly fresh. I love the characters and their complex nature.
However, this book ended up falling kind of flat for me. A lot of what I really liked of the first book was not in the second. This is more because it is the squeal, however part of the reason I loved the first book was the relationship dynamics between Ari, Mikira, Reid, and Damien. Their relationships weren't as present in the same way, so I didn't enjoy it as much.
I also thought the plot wasn't as interesting. It went a very different direction than what I was expecting, which is a positive and a negative.
With all that being said, I would like to reread this at some point to see if I like it more then but over all a fairly solid read. I am so excited for it to be published.
I would like to preface saying that I read this book at a really weird point in my life just mentally so that skews this review quite a bit.
I was SO excited to read this sequel after the first book. I love this world and that it's super unique and the concepts are fairly fresh. I love the characters and their complex nature.
However, this book ended up falling kind of flat for me. A lot of what I really liked of the first book was not in the second. This is more because it is the squeal, however part of the reason I loved the first book was the relationship dynamics between Ari, Mikira, Reid, and Damien. Their relationships weren't as present in the same way, so I didn't enjoy it as much.
I also thought the plot wasn't as interesting. It went a very different direction than what I was expecting, which is a positive and a negative.
With all that being said, I would like to reread this at some point to see if I like it more then but over all a fairly solid read. I am so excited for it to be published.
November 25, 2024
An excellent ending to a fabulous, magical and heart-pounding duology. Where the first leaned into the adventure aspect with the horse racing, this dipped into the political machinations and rebellion that was previously hinted at. And I loved every minute! Damian is in his Peaky Blinders era more than ever (with an added POV from him), Mikira is finding new allies and struggling to trust old ones, and Ari is just trying to do her best yet again. My only complaint is I needed a POV from my boy Reid, but alas.
February 5, 2025
I have a few complaints about this book. My biggest one is I hate when authors create such a huge war scene and nobody dies. Like that’s just not realistic. It doesn’t make sense. Also, I feel like some of the dialogue were very like i wrote this in middle school. Which was fine, but just a bit annoying sometimes. I did enjoy the story, but these few parts just kind of ruined the vibe for me a bit.
November 11, 2024
I was given the opportunity to listen to this early via NetGalley. Thank you!
I listened to the first book for the adrenaline of the races and listened to the second book for the thrill of the characters. Huge fan of this duology, and I'm sad it's over with, but it was well done and will be one I regularly revisit.
I listened to the first book for the adrenaline of the races and listened to the second book for the thrill of the characters. Huge fan of this duology, and I'm sad it's over with, but it was well done and will be one I regularly revisit.
dnf
August 14, 2025soft DNF for now
I really enjoyed the first book in this series but as I pick up the second im finding everything I liked about the first is no longer present. the plotlines that this revolves around just didn't hold me even in the first book so I think this series just isn't one I'm meant to continue
I really enjoyed the first book in this series but as I pick up the second im finding everything I liked about the first is no longer present. the plotlines that this revolves around just didn't hold me even in the first book so I think this series just isn't one I'm meant to continue
March 4, 2025
I loved this book so much!
November 19, 2025
objectivement je dirais quon est sur du 4 max
moi je suis vers 3,5 en avis
plus de détails en chronique sur insta
moi je suis vers 3,5 en avis
plus de détails en chronique sur insta
February 1, 2025
I’ve contemplated this rating 500 times but I just cannot justify rating this any higher. This was NOTHING like the first book, and the core group was split up for half the book. Nothing even felt resolved, I don’t know how I feel honestly.
February 7, 2025
We’ve moved away from horse races and into political intrigue. Not everyone likes the shift. GoodReads user Sam said in a 2-star review, “It’s not a horse book anymore. This is Sword Catcher and I hated Sword Catcher. This is worse than Sword Catcher.”
I agree, this is worse than SWORD CATCHER, though technically I liked both books, so. :P But Josephson’s message feels a little more simplistic (maybe I’m still reeling from being bashed over the head one too many times): fear turns people into monsters. This makes me worried about YA, where I am also writing a Jewish fantasy, and readers are telling me to be more explicit with my messaging on the page. :/ Returning to Sam, she says of Jewish fantasy “I still can’t believe this is a genre.” Not sure which opinion they’re veering towards, heh.
But anywho. Said magical horse races from the first book, THIS DARK DESCENT, have changed peoples’ fortunes. Damien and his house are on the rise, Rezek and his house are on the descent. Mikira now has fame, and a way to save her father, her family and her ranch. Ari, once an outsider, “got the guy” with Damien.
Of course tensions have to arise, or there’d be no story. Damien and Mikira, once horse rider and sponsor, are now on the outs because of a supposed betrayal. More on that later. Ari is possessed by a Heretic who causes her to black out and do violent things. :0 And Damien, in his quest for control and revenge, coupled with a sobering backstory, pushes everyone away.
He’s probably the most interesting on a psychological level. I appreciated getting inside his head. I also maybe liked Ari more, because she realized being righteously angry all the time isn’t what it’s amped up to be. Even when she’s making mistakes about excising this Heretic, she’s trying to come back to a place of more compassion. At least for her loved ones and then for a former enemy, Rezek.
…mixed feelings on Rezek, though. Of course his character did a bit of a 180 from the last book. In THIS DARK DESCENT, he was the sneering, powerful asshole. Now he’s brooding and sympathetic, but that sympathetic quality comes from a “gotcha” plot reveal, really. It’s not really intrinsic to his character (could I just say he’s been possessed, like Ari is? Spoilers. :P) His witty banter is still something, though.
The political plot revolves around royal succession hinging on locating a missing prince, which is mostly a cat and mouse chase. The Heretics get into magical worldbuilding regarding wars, power/culture clashes and lost homelands (vibes lean towards Jewish history here.) The idea of the enduring Eternal War sometimes landed because of secondary characters who were swept up in it and how that affected main cast. But the Eternal War is more of an idea of cultural trauma rather than a visceral, deadly part of the story, and that doesn’t always land for YA readers. (Yuh oh. Thinking of my novel again.)
Oh, and there’s also the resistance trying to return power to the people…but it was also kinda waylaid by another “gotcha” moment with a character involved there. Damien’s sister, Shira, has her finger in this pie as well, but I found her motives to be enigmatic. I might dare to posit that Josephson stashed her there to give the resistance some weight, before the character deigned to check in on her brother and give him some wise advice.
Reid is remains the bit of the stereotypical geeky and quietly irritated YA trope, but I ultimately liked the focus on the friendship between him, Mikira, and another YA-quirky secondary character, Taylana. Sometimes it’s just nice to see humans checking in on each other during and after the action.
Something both YA and adult political fantasy seem to do is parse that sure, it’s important to hash out the issues of your society, and rifts will inevitably happen…but if you’re worth your salt, when the overarching magical baddie gains enough power, you’d better learn to band together. The apocalypse is worth fighting against. And it’s probably fair to say that “the apocalypse,” or the Heretics in this case, are human problems of war, displacement and revenge writ large.
As my good friend Kirkus says, “A high-fantasy duology closer that’s lovingly steeped in Jewish folklore and is sure to satisfy returning fans.” I’m glad I read this.
I agree, this is worse than SWORD CATCHER, though technically I liked both books, so. :P But Josephson’s message feels a little more simplistic (maybe I’m still reeling from being bashed over the head one too many times): fear turns people into monsters. This makes me worried about YA, where I am also writing a Jewish fantasy, and readers are telling me to be more explicit with my messaging on the page. :/ Returning to Sam, she says of Jewish fantasy “I still can’t believe this is a genre.” Not sure which opinion they’re veering towards, heh.
But anywho. Said magical horse races from the first book, THIS DARK DESCENT, have changed peoples’ fortunes. Damien and his house are on the rise, Rezek and his house are on the descent. Mikira now has fame, and a way to save her father, her family and her ranch. Ari, once an outsider, “got the guy” with Damien.
Of course tensions have to arise, or there’d be no story. Damien and Mikira, once horse rider and sponsor, are now on the outs because of a supposed betrayal. More on that later. Ari is possessed by a Heretic who causes her to black out and do violent things. :0 And Damien, in his quest for control and revenge, coupled with a sobering backstory, pushes everyone away.
He’s probably the most interesting on a psychological level. I appreciated getting inside his head. I also maybe liked Ari more, because she realized being righteously angry all the time isn’t what it’s amped up to be. Even when she’s making mistakes about excising this Heretic, she’s trying to come back to a place of more compassion. At least for her loved ones and then for a former enemy, Rezek.
…mixed feelings on Rezek, though. Of course his character did a bit of a 180 from the last book. In THIS DARK DESCENT, he was the sneering, powerful asshole. Now he’s brooding and sympathetic, but that sympathetic quality comes from a “gotcha” plot reveal, really. It’s not really intrinsic to his character (could I just say he’s been possessed, like Ari is? Spoilers. :P) His witty banter is still something, though.
The political plot revolves around royal succession hinging on locating a missing prince, which is mostly a cat and mouse chase. The Heretics get into magical worldbuilding regarding wars, power/culture clashes and lost homelands (vibes lean towards Jewish history here.) The idea of the enduring Eternal War sometimes landed because of secondary characters who were swept up in it and how that affected main cast. But the Eternal War is more of an idea of cultural trauma rather than a visceral, deadly part of the story, and that doesn’t always land for YA readers. (Yuh oh. Thinking of my novel again.)
Oh, and there’s also the resistance trying to return power to the people…but it was also kinda waylaid by another “gotcha” moment with a character involved there. Damien’s sister, Shira, has her finger in this pie as well, but I found her motives to be enigmatic. I might dare to posit that Josephson stashed her there to give the resistance some weight, before the character deigned to check in on her brother and give him some wise advice.
Reid is remains the bit of the stereotypical geeky and quietly irritated YA trope, but I ultimately liked the focus on the friendship between him, Mikira, and another YA-quirky secondary character, Taylana. Sometimes it’s just nice to see humans checking in on each other during and after the action.
Something both YA and adult political fantasy seem to do is parse that sure, it’s important to hash out the issues of your society, and rifts will inevitably happen…but if you’re worth your salt, when the overarching magical baddie gains enough power, you’d better learn to band together. The apocalypse is worth fighting against. And it’s probably fair to say that “the apocalypse,” or the Heretics in this case, are human problems of war, displacement and revenge writ large.
As my good friend Kirkus says, “A high-fantasy duology closer that’s lovingly steeped in Jewish folklore and is sure to satisfy returning fans.” I’m glad I read this.
September 26, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan, for making my entire year by allowing me an eARC copy of my most anticipated 2024 release in exchange for an honest review!
Where do I even begin with all the things I loved about Our Deadly Designs 😫 This is the second duology from Kalyn I have devoured, and ODD only further solidified Kalyn as a favorite/auto-buy author.
Marketed as The Shadows Between us meets The Scorpio Races, This Dark Descent (book 1) involved a deadly horse race full of (literal) back stabbing, political maneuvers, and magic we only begin to see the depths of. ODD (which graciously has a recap of book one) takes a storyline with already high stakes and intrigue, and ramps it up to a crazy new level I couldn't have anticipated, but enjoyed SO MUCH! This sequel has magical beings trapped inside some of our characters, an MC bulldozing his own life in hopes he can create a better kingdom, an MC willing to give up the family she just reunited to fight for her country, and a hunt for the lost heir to the throne.
I teared up super early on (chapter 3), cried (book 1 also made me SOB), and audibly gasped several times during my read. One of the biggest compliments I love to see is when people forgrt they're reading, and ODD gave me that feeling. I was so sucked in to Enderlain, I forgot about everything else. It also just amazes me how much the plot progressed from the beginning of book one and that it all somehow fit so perfectly into only two books. Kalyn is so talented 😫
While the high stakes plot left my head spinning in the best way possible, the characters shone so much more in this sequel and truly came to life. Ari and Mikira will always be my favorites. How they each chose to fight for what's right and all they gave up in pursuit of that squeezes on my heart. They are two of my favorite characters ever. If I had to choose, Mikira's humor makes me love her just a little more (don't tell Ari I said so!). The ending was very satisfying, so don't misunderstand me when I say no part of me wants to leave these characters behind. I just enjoyed my time with them so much, I need more!
The climax was thrilling, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The romance and friendships were endearing. A certain character's redemption ARC was the OMG SCREAMING kind of amazing (which i will never forgive you for, Kalyn 😭). The internal battles the characters fought were just as well written and thought out as the literal life-is-at-stake battles going on. Somehow, there were so many little funny moments that fit perfectly with our cast of characters, which may be a big reason I'm so reluctant to say goodbye to them.
Read if you like:
-Jewish mythology inspired fantasy
-A cast of characters fighting for what is right
-Old magic characters unravel the details of
-Magical beings bonding to people
-Learning to love oneself
-Found family & beautiful friendships
-ACE representation
-Political maneuvering
-High stakes
-Character redemption ARCs
-A hunt for a lost heir & a fight for the throne
Where do I even begin with all the things I loved about Our Deadly Designs 😫 This is the second duology from Kalyn I have devoured, and ODD only further solidified Kalyn as a favorite/auto-buy author.
Marketed as The Shadows Between us meets The Scorpio Races, This Dark Descent (book 1) involved a deadly horse race full of (literal) back stabbing, political maneuvers, and magic we only begin to see the depths of. ODD (which graciously has a recap of book one) takes a storyline with already high stakes and intrigue, and ramps it up to a crazy new level I couldn't have anticipated, but enjoyed SO MUCH! This sequel has magical beings trapped inside some of our characters, an MC bulldozing his own life in hopes he can create a better kingdom, an MC willing to give up the family she just reunited to fight for her country, and a hunt for the lost heir to the throne.
I teared up super early on (chapter 3), cried (book 1 also made me SOB), and audibly gasped several times during my read. One of the biggest compliments I love to see is when people forgrt they're reading, and ODD gave me that feeling. I was so sucked in to Enderlain, I forgot about everything else. It also just amazes me how much the plot progressed from the beginning of book one and that it all somehow fit so perfectly into only two books. Kalyn is so talented 😫
While the high stakes plot left my head spinning in the best way possible, the characters shone so much more in this sequel and truly came to life. Ari and Mikira will always be my favorites. How they each chose to fight for what's right and all they gave up in pursuit of that squeezes on my heart. They are two of my favorite characters ever. If I had to choose, Mikira's humor makes me love her just a little more (don't tell Ari I said so!). The ending was very satisfying, so don't misunderstand me when I say no part of me wants to leave these characters behind. I just enjoyed my time with them so much, I need more!
The climax was thrilling, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The romance and friendships were endearing. A certain character's redemption ARC was the OMG SCREAMING kind of amazing (which i will never forgive you for, Kalyn 😭). The internal battles the characters fought were just as well written and thought out as the literal life-is-at-stake battles going on. Somehow, there were so many little funny moments that fit perfectly with our cast of characters, which may be a big reason I'm so reluctant to say goodbye to them.
Read if you like:
-Jewish mythology inspired fantasy
-A cast of characters fighting for what is right
-Old magic characters unravel the details of
-Magical beings bonding to people
-Learning to love oneself
-Found family & beautiful friendships
-ACE representation
-Political maneuvering
-High stakes
-Character redemption ARCs
-A hunt for a lost heir & a fight for the throne
January 14, 2025
Kalyn Josephson’s Our Deadly Design is an intriguing blend of fantasy, suspense, and moral ambiguity. Set in a world where magic and technology collide, the novel follows a protagonist caught in a web of secrets, power struggles, and dangerous alliances. The story explores the limits of loyalty, the cost of ambition, and the darker side of human nature, all set against a vividly crafted backdrop of political intrigue and perilous stakes.
Josephson’s world-building shines as she weaves a complex and immersive universe where ancient magic is not just a tool, but a dangerous force that shapes the lives of the characters. The setting is rich in detail, with layers of history and mythology that create a truly unique atmosphere. The plot itself moves at a brisk pace, with enough twists and turns to keep readers hooked from start to finish.
The characters in Our Deadly Design are multifaceted and complex, and Josephson does an excellent job of diving into their motivations and inner conflicts. The protagonist’s struggle with their own identity, responsibility, and relationships is both relatable and compelling. However, the interpersonal dynamics—particularly the romantic and emotional connections between characters—are at the forefront of much of the narrative. For readers who enjoy character-driven plots with a strong emphasis on romance, these elements will likely be a highlight.
For me, though, while I appreciated the richness of the world Josephson built, I found myself a little overwhelmed by the focus on romantic entanglements. The frequent love triangles and emotional drama took away from the elements of intrigue and danger that I had hoped would take center stage. Additionally, the presence of bisexual and LGBTQ+ themes, while offering important representation, felt a bit too prominent for my personal taste, as I was more invested in the political and magical intrigue that formed the backbone of the plot.
Despite these personal preferences, Our Deadly Design is a solid entry in the fantasy genre. It offers a mix of complex world-building, intense action, and emotional stakes that will resonate with many readers. For those who enjoy exploring character relationships as much as they enjoy the twists and turns of a high-stakes plot, this book is definitely worth a read.
Josephson’s world-building shines as she weaves a complex and immersive universe where ancient magic is not just a tool, but a dangerous force that shapes the lives of the characters. The setting is rich in detail, with layers of history and mythology that create a truly unique atmosphere. The plot itself moves at a brisk pace, with enough twists and turns to keep readers hooked from start to finish.
The characters in Our Deadly Design are multifaceted and complex, and Josephson does an excellent job of diving into their motivations and inner conflicts. The protagonist’s struggle with their own identity, responsibility, and relationships is both relatable and compelling. However, the interpersonal dynamics—particularly the romantic and emotional connections between characters—are at the forefront of much of the narrative. For readers who enjoy character-driven plots with a strong emphasis on romance, these elements will likely be a highlight.
For me, though, while I appreciated the richness of the world Josephson built, I found myself a little overwhelmed by the focus on romantic entanglements. The frequent love triangles and emotional drama took away from the elements of intrigue and danger that I had hoped would take center stage. Additionally, the presence of bisexual and LGBTQ+ themes, while offering important representation, felt a bit too prominent for my personal taste, as I was more invested in the political and magical intrigue that formed the backbone of the plot.
Despite these personal preferences, Our Deadly Design is a solid entry in the fantasy genre. It offers a mix of complex world-building, intense action, and emotional stakes that will resonate with many readers. For those who enjoy exploring character relationships as much as they enjoy the twists and turns of a high-stakes plot, this book is definitely worth a read.
November 8, 2024
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!~~
4.5/5 stars rounded down.
I mean, it's not the perfect ending I wanted it to be, but I still enjoyed it! I'd still enthusiastically recommend this duology to anyone I can.
Josephson's characterization is still incredible. Not only do Mikira and Ari's POVs offer so much personality and depth in the world, but we got Damien this time, too! I really liked getting to know what was going on in his head, and it really fleshed him out. Additionally, I really loved the voicework of all the voice actors (Alex Wingfield, Laurel Lefkow, and Rebecca Norfolk); they performed their characters so well and brought so much life in their respective roles.
The only thing is that Reid was pushed aside heavily throughout most of the book due to the focus primarily being on the romance (Or platonic partnership. Mikira is confirmed to be ace, though it's not directly stated in the story. Only heavily implied in the text) with Talyana. It sucks, because Reid and Mikira had such good chemistry in the last book. I only wish Josephson either made room for Reid's POV or had him reunite with Mikira sooner.
The story was strong for a solid 90%of the book, but I found myself disconnecting at the last 10% or so. Plus, the lost prince plotline got kind of confusing to me, especially when certain twists were made that I didn't really feel like they needed to me. Or maybe I just missed all the hints because I wasn't looking for them. Other than that, I still really loved the themes of war, democracy, and, the most apparent, working together / connection. All 3 of our main characters try so hard to do something on their own and believe they have do do it alone, but then they're shown it doesn't have to be that way. I dunno, I just think Josephson handled it really well through showing how the different ways people handle isolation in pursuit of fixing problems.
All in all, despite some minor problems, I still loved this series a lot. I think I'll think more back to the first one, but this book still has great moments and worldbuilding that builds on what I adored about its predecessor.
4.5/5 stars rounded down.
I mean, it's not the perfect ending I wanted it to be, but I still enjoyed it! I'd still enthusiastically recommend this duology to anyone I can.
Josephson's characterization is still incredible. Not only do Mikira and Ari's POVs offer so much personality and depth in the world, but we got Damien this time, too! I really liked getting to know what was going on in his head, and it really fleshed him out. Additionally, I really loved the voicework of all the voice actors (Alex Wingfield, Laurel Lefkow, and Rebecca Norfolk); they performed their characters so well and brought so much life in their respective roles.
The only thing is that Reid was pushed aside heavily throughout most of the book due to the focus primarily being on the romance (Or platonic partnership. Mikira is confirmed to be ace, though it's not directly stated in the story. Only heavily implied in the text) with Talyana. It sucks, because Reid and Mikira had such good chemistry in the last book. I only wish Josephson either made room for Reid's POV or had him reunite with Mikira sooner.
The story was strong for a solid 90%of the book, but I found myself disconnecting at the last 10% or so. Plus, the lost prince plotline got kind of confusing to me, especially when certain twists were made that I didn't really feel like they needed to me. Or maybe I just missed all the hints because I wasn't looking for them. Other than that, I still really loved the themes of war, democracy, and, the most apparent, working together / connection. All 3 of our main characters try so hard to do something on their own and believe they have do do it alone, but then they're shown it doesn't have to be that way. I dunno, I just think Josephson handled it really well through showing how the different ways people handle isolation in pursuit of fixing problems.
All in all, despite some minor problems, I still loved this series a lot. I think I'll think more back to the first one, but this book still has great moments and worldbuilding that builds on what I adored about its predecessor.
November 12, 2024
This book has numerous representations that I adored: Jewish, bisexual, and asexual rep.
This is a masterful conclusion to a stellar duology that gives everything you want from a finale. Josephson not only raises the stakes from the first book but manages to keep the plot moving at a breakneck speed while pulling her characters through increasingly complex, darker layers of their world due to their own choices and fears. The first book laid down intricate world-building and a unique magic system, and this one takes it further, filling in every shadowy corner with history, danger, and intrigue.
Josephson’s characters are deeply flawed, incredibly relatable, and sometimes downright exasperating—but that’s what makes them so compelling. Each of them is dealing with personal ambitions, old loyalties, fears, and tangled secrets that have a way of pulling them apart even as they’re trying to find their way back to one another. The theme of unity in the face of chaos feels so genuine here, even if it takes quite a while; you can sense the real stakes of the decisions they’re making, and how crucial their bonds are for holding back the forces threatening to tear their city apart. This is a story about strength through unity, especially in a world that tests it at every turn.
On top of the well-developed characters, I loved the infusion of Jewish mythology—it’s refreshing and lends a distinctiveness to the series that enhances the magic and lore. The diverse representation is authentic and weaves seamlessly into the story, adding to the world’s complexity. It’s rare for a duology to feel this complete and satisfying, and this doesn’t miss a beat. This book wraps up the story with such an intense mix of heartbreak, hope, and triumph that it solidified its place as one of my all-time favorite YA duologies.
My only complaint is that we didn't get enough of Reid.
Thanks so much to the author, the publisher, and TBR and Beyond Tours for the complimentary copy and the opportunity to read and review. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
This is a masterful conclusion to a stellar duology that gives everything you want from a finale. Josephson not only raises the stakes from the first book but manages to keep the plot moving at a breakneck speed while pulling her characters through increasingly complex, darker layers of their world due to their own choices and fears. The first book laid down intricate world-building and a unique magic system, and this one takes it further, filling in every shadowy corner with history, danger, and intrigue.
Josephson’s characters are deeply flawed, incredibly relatable, and sometimes downright exasperating—but that’s what makes them so compelling. Each of them is dealing with personal ambitions, old loyalties, fears, and tangled secrets that have a way of pulling them apart even as they’re trying to find their way back to one another. The theme of unity in the face of chaos feels so genuine here, even if it takes quite a while; you can sense the real stakes of the decisions they’re making, and how crucial their bonds are for holding back the forces threatening to tear their city apart. This is a story about strength through unity, especially in a world that tests it at every turn.
On top of the well-developed characters, I loved the infusion of Jewish mythology—it’s refreshing and lends a distinctiveness to the series that enhances the magic and lore. The diverse representation is authentic and weaves seamlessly into the story, adding to the world’s complexity. It’s rare for a duology to feel this complete and satisfying, and this doesn’t miss a beat. This book wraps up the story with such an intense mix of heartbreak, hope, and triumph that it solidified its place as one of my all-time favorite YA duologies.
My only complaint is that we didn't get enough of Reid.
Thanks so much to the author, the publisher, and TBR and Beyond Tours for the complimentary copy and the opportunity to read and review. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
November 19, 2024
Can we normalize authors recapping the previous books in the series when a sequel or next installment in the series comes out? It saves so much time and is such a boon to someone like me who has memory issues.
Our Deadly Designs picks up not very long after the events at the end of This Dark Descent, though not immediately after. Despite ODD containing a recap of TDD, I did go back and re-familiarize myself with the first book in this duology and have come to realize I liked it better than my posted review makes it sound like (maybe I was just in a bad mood that day, who knows). At the beginning of this book our quartet is physically fractured, with Mikira living back on her family’s ranch and the others living together at Damien’s estate. If you look closer, you can see there are smaller fractures between Damien, Arielle, and Reid too. Concerns left unspoken are breeding resentment and fomenting distrust.
I liked ODD a little more than I did TDD because of the increase in political intrigue, the creative and effective magic system, the compelling and highly-developed characters, and the much-needed introduction of Damien’s POV (TDD only had Arielle and Mikira’s POVs and I thought the book kind of suffered for it).
TDD’s plot depended more on action and adventure for the story line, with the horse races forming the structure of the plot, but the themes of the book were more about pride, loss, friendship, found family, and power. ODD trades the action and adventure for magic and politics but keeps the same themes. Our quartet has to lose before they can truly win, and it makes for an entertaining read. A great duology all around.
I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher and author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Book Duology/Book Series/Fantasy/Romantasy/Fantasy Series/Fantasy Duology/Found Family/LGBTQ Fantasy/Political Fantasy/YA Book Series/YA Duology/YA Fantasy/YA Romantasy/YA Fiction
Our Deadly Designs picks up not very long after the events at the end of This Dark Descent, though not immediately after. Despite ODD containing a recap of TDD, I did go back and re-familiarize myself with the first book in this duology and have come to realize I liked it better than my posted review makes it sound like (maybe I was just in a bad mood that day, who knows). At the beginning of this book our quartet is physically fractured, with Mikira living back on her family’s ranch and the others living together at Damien’s estate. If you look closer, you can see there are smaller fractures between Damien, Arielle, and Reid too. Concerns left unspoken are breeding resentment and fomenting distrust.
I liked ODD a little more than I did TDD because of the increase in political intrigue, the creative and effective magic system, the compelling and highly-developed characters, and the much-needed introduction of Damien’s POV (TDD only had Arielle and Mikira’s POVs and I thought the book kind of suffered for it).
TDD’s plot depended more on action and adventure for the story line, with the horse races forming the structure of the plot, but the themes of the book were more about pride, loss, friendship, found family, and power. ODD trades the action and adventure for magic and politics but keeps the same themes. Our quartet has to lose before they can truly win, and it makes for an entertaining read. A great duology all around.
I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher and author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Book Duology/Book Series/Fantasy/Romantasy/Fantasy Series/Fantasy Duology/Found Family/LGBTQ Fantasy/Political Fantasy/YA Book Series/YA Duology/YA Fantasy/YA Romantasy/YA Fiction
December 19, 2024
CWs:
The more I think about this book, the more disappointed I am by it. I really enjoyed This Dark Descent, but the sequel loses a lot of the elements that made it a fun read for me. The characters make one stupid decision after another, fueled almost entirely by lack of communication, which was shocking since that was one of the things I appreciated so much about the first book. The relationships all break in some form, and never quite get put back together again. It's not that the author didn't try, it's just that it felt so unconvincing.
Mikira spends a lot of the book floundering between two love interests. One makes her blush uncontrollably with every single teasing remark, and the other...I can't tell why he's even in the running, to be honest. It doesn't really get resolved either way. I kept waiting to like Talyana, but she has one character trait, and it is hating anything and everything connected to Damien, except Mikira because Mikira is innocence personified. Her unreasonable hatred got tedious very quickly. Her "banter" with Reid felt weak. There's just nothing about her that I liked, honestly.
Then there's Damien, who is so different from the person I got to know that it felt like whiplash. The decisions he made didn't even make sense—he is someone who carefully considers everything, and has usually thought 5 steps ahead of everyone else. But now he chooses a very weird alliance, followed by turning on people in a way that feels extreme, unless he is possessed by a demon—but that's Arielle, and yet she seems more in control of her faculties than Damien at this point.
Arielle's story did continue to be interesting, at least, and I enjoyed getting to see that part of the story unfold. As to the rest of the plot, now that there is no more race to fall back on, all we are left with is politics, and it was kind of feeble.
The more I think about this book, the more disappointed I am by it. I really enjoyed This Dark Descent, but the sequel loses a lot of the elements that made it a fun read for me. The characters make one stupid decision after another, fueled almost entirely by lack of communication, which was shocking since that was one of the things I appreciated so much about the first book. The relationships all break in some form, and never quite get put back together again. It's not that the author didn't try, it's just that it felt so unconvincing.
Mikira spends a lot of the book floundering between two love interests. One makes her blush uncontrollably with every single teasing remark, and the other...I can't tell why he's even in the running, to be honest. It doesn't really get resolved either way. I kept waiting to like Talyana, but she has one character trait, and it is hating anything and everything connected to Damien, except Mikira because Mikira is innocence personified. Her unreasonable hatred got tedious very quickly. Her "banter" with Reid felt weak. There's just nothing about her that I liked, honestly.
Then there's Damien, who is so different from the person I got to know that it felt like whiplash. The decisions he made didn't even make sense—he is someone who carefully considers everything, and has usually thought 5 steps ahead of everyone else. But now he chooses a very weird alliance, followed by turning on people in a way that feels extreme, unless he is possessed by a demon—but that's Arielle, and yet she seems more in control of her faculties than Damien at this point.
Arielle's story did continue to be interesting, at least, and I enjoyed getting to see that part of the story unfold. As to the rest of the plot, now that there is no more race to fall back on, all we are left with is politics, and it was kind of feeble.
November 7, 2024
Our Deadly Designs starts right where the first book left off, it's a story with more political intrigue. It has multiple POVs, this time 3 people, Damien, Arielle, and Mikira, which is great because it gives more context, I love how this book shows that your actions have consequences, the event and plots of the first book, here we see their resolution and there is a lot of drama and plot twists.
The characters are multidimensional, they can be a little morally grey, especially Damien, you can understand his actions but not always justify them; with Arielle, you suffer with her and understand fear of using her magic, and with Mikira, the fact that she and Damien are on opposite sides makes me feel anxious and worried. They feel like real persons, who make mistakes and get into trouble, who have fears and want a better life, they will frustrate you but you also care about them.
The first book was more about characters and their relationships, this one is more about the consequences of their actions and there is a certain distance between them, there are secrets and fears that they do not want to reveal or admit, but they will have to do so to reconcile them.
The world-building is so interesting and unique. The author mixes classic fantasy with Jewish folklore, with themes like political corruption, a society hungry for power, personal growth, friendship, family, and forgiveness. It's slower than the first book, and there's less action. Something that I loved in the first book was the race and the magic, something that is not so present here.
There's not much I can say without giving away the plot. You have to read it if you enjoy the first book. However, if you like stories like Six of Crows, stories with political intrigue, quests, plots, morally grey characters, and a diverse and fun gang, this is for you. It's a great duology that falls between YA and NA; it feels mature and unique.
Thanks for the copy tbrandbeyondtours and Macmillan Children's
Read it if you like:
• Duologies
• Political fantasy drama
• Morally gray characters
The characters are multidimensional, they can be a little morally grey, especially Damien, you can understand his actions but not always justify them; with Arielle, you suffer with her and understand fear of using her magic, and with Mikira, the fact that she and Damien are on opposite sides makes me feel anxious and worried. They feel like real persons, who make mistakes and get into trouble, who have fears and want a better life, they will frustrate you but you also care about them.
The first book was more about characters and their relationships, this one is more about the consequences of their actions and there is a certain distance between them, there are secrets and fears that they do not want to reveal or admit, but they will have to do so to reconcile them.
The world-building is so interesting and unique. The author mixes classic fantasy with Jewish folklore, with themes like political corruption, a society hungry for power, personal growth, friendship, family, and forgiveness. It's slower than the first book, and there's less action. Something that I loved in the first book was the race and the magic, something that is not so present here.
There's not much I can say without giving away the plot. You have to read it if you enjoy the first book. However, if you like stories like Six of Crows, stories with political intrigue, quests, plots, morally grey characters, and a diverse and fun gang, this is for you. It's a great duology that falls between YA and NA; it feels mature and unique.
Thanks for the copy tbrandbeyondtours and Macmillan Children's
Read it if you like:
• Duologies
• Political fantasy drama
• Morally gray characters
January 12, 2025
Our Deadly Designs was one of my most anticipated sequels this year, and yet for some reason I kept putting off reading it. Maybe because I wasn't sure how well Ari and Mikira's character arcs would work now that the race was over? Maybe because This Dark Descent was one of my surprise favorite YA reads from 2023, and I didn't want a sequel to spoil it (as sequels almost ALWAYS do for me)? I'm not sure, but Our Deadly Designs didn't let me down.
With the excitement of the Illinir now over, we get to spend even more time navigating the politics of Enderlain and the dark magic buried inside Ari. Damien's POV was a welcome addition and helped clear up much of the confusion I had from Book 1 regarding Enderlain's web of ruling families, but there were still a bit too many minor characters for me (still would've loved a Dramatis Personae, although I did feel the recap of This Dark Descent at the beginning was very nicely done). I also enjoyed the complexity of all 3 of the main characters, and the subtle changes in the writing style that Josephson does to distinguish each POV. Mikira may have stolen my heart in this first book, but by the end of this one, Ari was my favorite. I love how she came into her own while wrestling with the darkness inside of her.
Although I did feel it could've been shorter, I genuinely enjoyed every twist and turn, and I felt that it struck the perfect balance between fantasy, thriller, and romance. I can tell this is a duology I'll come back to again and again, and I eagerly await Josephson's next series!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing, and Kalyn Josephson for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
With the excitement of the Illinir now over, we get to spend even more time navigating the politics of Enderlain and the dark magic buried inside Ari. Damien's POV was a welcome addition and helped clear up much of the confusion I had from Book 1 regarding Enderlain's web of ruling families, but there were still a bit too many minor characters for me (still would've loved a Dramatis Personae, although I did feel the recap of This Dark Descent at the beginning was very nicely done). I also enjoyed the complexity of all 3 of the main characters, and the subtle changes in the writing style that Josephson does to distinguish each POV. Mikira may have stolen my heart in this first book, but by the end of this one, Ari was my favorite. I love how she came into her own while wrestling with the darkness inside of her.
Although I did feel it could've been shorter, I genuinely enjoyed every twist and turn, and I felt that it struck the perfect balance between fantasy, thriller, and romance. I can tell this is a duology I'll come back to again and again, and I eagerly await Josephson's next series!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing, and Kalyn Josephson for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
November 8, 2024
Thank you to Macmillan Children's and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! Our Deadly Designs releases this Tuesday, the 12th!
Once a fearsome team strong enough to defeat all the odds, Mikira, Ari, Damien, and Reid are crumbling under the pressure. With Damien's fight for the power to make sweeping changes in Enderlain coming before anything else, Mikira resolves to join up with the rebels while Ari seeks to free herself from the dark magic controlling her. Reid, desperate to keep things together as much as possible, finds himself caught in the crosshairs.
However, the Heretics are rising once more. And it's going to take all four of them working together to save the kingdom from another Cataclysm.
I cannot express how much I love this duology. Jewish fantasy in YA is practically unheard of, and the only time I cried during this book was a tender moment centered on Jewish mourning customs. Seeing my culture reflected in the pages of these books is beyond words. And it's not just the Jewishness! Kira's asexuality and her loved ones' acceptance of who she is was beautiful and comforting; a representation hard to come by in any kind of novel right now.
These characters are lovingly crafted. You can't help but root for them even as they make glaring mistakes and failures in communication, because they are so real. I'm a sucker for imperfect characters slowly developing into their best selves and Josephson does an incredible job with her characterization. All in all: This is a beautifully crafted story with a satisfying ending. I dock a star because even I can only take so much of the miscommunication trope...
Once a fearsome team strong enough to defeat all the odds, Mikira, Ari, Damien, and Reid are crumbling under the pressure. With Damien's fight for the power to make sweeping changes in Enderlain coming before anything else, Mikira resolves to join up with the rebels while Ari seeks to free herself from the dark magic controlling her. Reid, desperate to keep things together as much as possible, finds himself caught in the crosshairs.
However, the Heretics are rising once more. And it's going to take all four of them working together to save the kingdom from another Cataclysm.
I cannot express how much I love this duology. Jewish fantasy in YA is practically unheard of, and the only time I cried during this book was a tender moment centered on Jewish mourning customs. Seeing my culture reflected in the pages of these books is beyond words. And it's not just the Jewishness! Kira's asexuality and her loved ones' acceptance of who she is was beautiful and comforting; a representation hard to come by in any kind of novel right now.
These characters are lovingly crafted. You can't help but root for them even as they make glaring mistakes and failures in communication, because they are so real. I'm a sucker for imperfect characters slowly developing into their best selves and Josephson does an incredible job with her characterization. All in all: This is a beautifully crafted story with a satisfying ending. I dock a star because even I can only take so much of the miscommunication trope...
November 16, 2024
I would like to thank TBR and Beyond Book Tours for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Our Deadly Designs is the second book in the This Dark Descent Duology by Kalyn Josephson. This was an exciting YA Romantasy novel steeped in Jewish Mythology. The race was over, but the stakes were higher: the future of Enderlain. The primary conspirators in the first novel were torn apart by differing need or sense of betrayal, but the four would need to find their way back to each other or everything would be lost. Read above for book synopsis. This spellbinding sequel was as amazing as the Their Dark Descent! I was already invested before reading the first word due to the initial novel, and it didn’t disappoint me. It was filled with excitement, suspense, and political intrigue as well as unexpected twists and turns. So many characters had hidden agendas or secrets from each other that it was unsurprising how much trust broke down in a very unstable political and economic climate. I was glued to the page. At times it was hard to figure out who the good guys were. I still found it easiest identify with both Mikira and Arielle, each of who were doing the best they could to stay safe and do the right things in a dangerous world which was stacked against them. If you are a reader who enjoys YA Fantasy Romance, I feel confident that you will love this new novel by Kalyn Josephson. It is worth more than five stars and I recommend it without hesitation.
Our Deadly Designs is the second book in the This Dark Descent Duology by Kalyn Josephson. This was an exciting YA Romantasy novel steeped in Jewish Mythology. The race was over, but the stakes were higher: the future of Enderlain. The primary conspirators in the first novel were torn apart by differing need or sense of betrayal, but the four would need to find their way back to each other or everything would be lost. Read above for book synopsis. This spellbinding sequel was as amazing as the Their Dark Descent! I was already invested before reading the first word due to the initial novel, and it didn’t disappoint me. It was filled with excitement, suspense, and political intrigue as well as unexpected twists and turns. So many characters had hidden agendas or secrets from each other that it was unsurprising how much trust broke down in a very unstable political and economic climate. I was glued to the page. At times it was hard to figure out who the good guys were. I still found it easiest identify with both Mikira and Arielle, each of who were doing the best they could to stay safe and do the right things in a dangerous world which was stacked against them. If you are a reader who enjoys YA Fantasy Romance, I feel confident that you will love this new novel by Kalyn Josephson. It is worth more than five stars and I recommend it without hesitation.
August 19, 2025
I loved the first book in this duology. Unfortunately, this one didn't really work for me. I did enjoy the last 70 pages or so when the author focused on the main plot point. Past that our group of MCs were really fractured in this one, which took away from the plot. If it had just been one split or if the conflicts had been resolved early on, it might have worked, but unfortunately, it was a theme throughout. Having the addition of Damien's pov worked really well at the end of the story and was even necessary to know what was going on at points throughout, but overall, it slowed the pacing. If the group hadn't been fractured like it was, I don't think that extra pov would have been necessary, and the flow would have worked better. Also, I felt like if Damien's pov was added, some chapters from Reid's pov would have been nice as well. The author really tried to do too much with the different conflicts, and the plot was lost. Also, while I understand it didn't fit for this second book, I felt it lacked the horse aspect that I loved from the first one. I get that wasn't the focus here, but with the plot lagging like it did, that would have made it more enjoyable. The author also got really repetitive with the characters reiterating what the conflict was and their plans to address it, plus their conflicts with each other. I got what the problem was and just wanted the characters to get on with addressing it instead of repeatedly just saying what it is. Like I said, I did enjoy the last little bit, I just wish I hadn't had to slog through over 300 pages to get there.
November 11, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
First off, more sequels need small recaps of the previous book(s) at the beginning, because the quick summary of the previous book in this one was soooooooo helpful.
That being said, I enjoyed this book much better than its predecessor. I think a big part of this was the pacing was so intense. Once you get past the 35%-ish mark, it’s like go, go, go, and I couldn’t stop reading.
I loved Ari’s character journey and her allowing herself to forgive herself and confront her fears. Her friendships with Mikira and Reid also just fill my heart with joy, it’s so wholesome.
I honestly think I like the platonic relationships in this story more than the romantic ones. Which brings me to…
This might be a hot take, but I honestly love Mikira and Damien’s complex relationship. It’s by no means romantic, but they are so similar but handle that in a different way, I actually wish they had way more time on the page together. I just think they could be grudgingly best friends if they had enough time.
Very much like how the ending sequence played out, again, the plot felt very cinematic. Also enjoyed the resolve of Mikira’s “love triangle” with Reid and Talyanna, I was shocked about how it turned out, but not mad about it in the slightest.
Overall, really enjoyed this book, recommend this duology!!!
4.5/5 stars
First off, more sequels need small recaps of the previous book(s) at the beginning, because the quick summary of the previous book in this one was soooooooo helpful.
That being said, I enjoyed this book much better than its predecessor. I think a big part of this was the pacing was so intense. Once you get past the 35%-ish mark, it’s like go, go, go, and I couldn’t stop reading.
I loved Ari’s character journey and her allowing herself to forgive herself and confront her fears. Her friendships with Mikira and Reid also just fill my heart with joy, it’s so wholesome.
I honestly think I like the platonic relationships in this story more than the romantic ones. Which brings me to…
This might be a hot take, but I honestly love Mikira and Damien’s complex relationship. It’s by no means romantic, but they are so similar but handle that in a different way, I actually wish they had way more time on the page together. I just think they could be grudgingly best friends if they had enough time.
Very much like how the ending sequence played out, again, the plot felt very cinematic. Also enjoyed the resolve of Mikira’s “love triangle” with Reid and Talyanna, I was shocked about how it turned out, but not mad about it in the slightest.
Overall, really enjoyed this book, recommend this duology!!!
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