A Day of Breath

by Darby Cox

A dark and imaginative coming of age adventure filled with demons and religious conspiracy, A Day of Breath is a perfect read for fans of Naomi Novik and N.K. Jemisin.

Oly is Niawa’s longest serving Champion, a warrior given magical strength. She stands alone at the Edge, protecting the kingdom from demonic hordes that emerge from a rift between the realms. But her powers are fading; she has to find a way to get them back, and fast.

An answer comes when Heir Fallon, distraught when he is not chosen to be the next ruler of Niawa, attempts to change his fate by convincing Oly to leave the Edge for the first time in ten years for the Day of Breath. It's the one day a year demons can't breach the rift and Fallon’s invitation is a chance for Oly to beg for her strength to be renewed.

But reuniting with family and regaining her strength is interrupted when parasitic demons spread through the kingdom, on the one day it should be impossible. As Oly grows weaker and Fallon struggles to take the throne, they have until midnight to find a way to stop the carnage before the rift awakes again…

Genres: Fantasy, Demons, Epic Fantasy

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 10, 2026

Reviews

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars
This is a very simple piece of epic fantasy that felt like a surface level take on the genre. The writing style and dialog was very casual that made the book feel targeted to an audience younger than adults. I wanted more substance to the story with more depth and complexity to the character. I would be cautious to recommend this one to serious fans of the genre since it pales compared to so many of the beloved modern fantasy classics.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Lotta Z (Not active due to sickness) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this ARC! All thoughts are my own!

Another DNF I am afraid...

This story ended up not interesting me at all. I really liked the first POV but then we switched POV's and I just lost all interest. I just know this isn't going to be a good or great read, and I'm not going to lie, I only have energy for good or great reads right now.

In my opinion, the POV should have stayed with the FMC. The POV switch took me straight out of the story.

Thanks for reading!

🤍🤍🤍

[Helen Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a dark young adult fantasy that explores what it means to be chosen for greatness when that destiny feels more like a curse. Oly is thrust into the role of Champion, a sacred warrior tasked with protecting her kingdom from demons, but her journey is one of isolation, fear, and inner turmoil rather than glory.

The writing is vivid and immersive. It pulls you into a world that feels both magical and suffocating. While the book is entertaining and emotionally heavy, it moves slowly at times. Some of the side characters lack depth and fall flat. Still, Oly’s voice and struggle make it worth the read.

[Zana · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this didn't work out for me, I think this novel would be great for people new to the fantasy genre or casual readers.

This was pretty bland, if I'm being honest. It read like your standard fantasy novel with good guys fighting a zombie monster demon horde. Every scene in the book felt like I had read it somewhere else. The whole thing was really uninspired.

I really wish that the novel had stuck only with Oly's POV. I really wanted to know her a lot better. There was a huge missed opportunity there to turn this into a sort of character study on how the fate of a nation depended on one person's shoulders. Her semi-exiled situation could show how living in isolation would cause a person to lose their social skills, their sense of self, and/or their connection to their community (or humanity at-large).

Instead, it felt like the other POV with Fallon and his twin were sucking up valuable real estate for what could've really been a deep dive with Oly. (As you can tell, the Fallon and Abner chapters weren't my favorite. They just read like your typical royalty problems.)

Overall, this was a pretty forgettable read, unfortunately.

Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for this arc.

[Fantasyhoard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC and enjoyed the story quite a bit. The main character is a great representation of someone who struggles with anxiety, past family trauma, and finding where they fit in. There were times it felt a bit heavy handed but overall it was done well. The story was engaging and gives me the same vibes as a d&d campaign which I loved (as an avid d&d player). Our secondary character was unfortunately my least favorite. His story was told well I just found him incredibly unlikable, but seeing his growth at the end was rewarding. The overall world building wasn't super dense but it gave the reader enough to clearly picture this kindgom and the people who live in it, their goals, and motivations. The fight scenes were well done and the demons had great (very unsettling) descriptions.
If you are in the market for a fast paced adventure with a unique hero this would definitely be a book I'd recommend.

[bee ⭑.ᐟ · Rating 2 out of 5]

unfortunately this was a DNF. i really didn’t want to and pushed through but it was the best option for me.

the story really wasn’t grabbing my attention enough, that characters felt flat along with the dialogue which felt janky and the switching of POV’s caught me off guard often and had me forgetting who we were actually focussed on. the world had an interesting premise but everything else didn’t work for me.

thank you to netgalley for sending me this arc!

[amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Day of Breath follows Oly, the Champion and sole protector of Niawa against the demons that escape into the world through a rift in the universe. Our story takes place 10 years after Oly first receives the Blessing that gives her the superhuman strength to become the Champion. However, her power is fading and she is struggling more and more every day. But this year, she receives a visit from one of the Heirs to the throne of Niawa, asking her to return home for the Day of Breath - the one day a year where demons cannot breach the world. What follows her decision to return is an action-packed 24 hours as demons make their way into the kingdom. Oly fights, despite her failing strength, to save the kingdom she has been Blessed to protect.

This story has a very solid base! It's an intriguing story that kept me hooked, and my attention was captured! However, I felt as if it really needed some more development, from the characters to the world building to the intricacies of the plot. If the book was even just 50-100 pages longer to allow for these developments to arise then it would've been so much more capturing.

Oly, as a main character, is really interesting. I was intrigued by her abilities and I wanted to learn more about her character. I would've loved to find out more about who she was before she became the Champion, and especially her relationship with her parents. I loved the exploration of grief, loneliness and isolation through her character, and how 10 years at these Edge has affected her as a person.

The other main character, Fallon, was also a tad underdeveloped for me too. He was interesting to me but his motivations didn't feel very clear. I would've loved to see more of his dynamic with Abner, his sibling. The twins seemed to be very close at the beginning and I would've loved to see a bit more of that, so that I could feel the true weight of events later in the book. I would've loved to see more of Abner in general as they felt like a key player in this story, but I felt as if I only got to know them through the lens of their brother.

Something I felt was portrayed really was anxiety. Two characters in this novel battle with anxiety and it was intriguing to see the different ways in which they struggle and overcome. The way their anxiety is described in the text felt incredibly real to me, and was something I could relate to well, and which connected me to the story.

Overall, I think this is a solid debut by Darby Cox, and I'm interested to see what comes in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this early copy. This review is my own honest opinion.

[Caeli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and AngryRobot for granting me this arc in exchange for a full review!!

This is a story about Oly. A young girl chosen by the gods to become the Champion who protects the land from demons crossing in to their world. She is riddled with anxiety but somehow has lasted longer than any other Champion in history. Long since she’s vowed to stay out there forever until the blessing granting her strength and supernatural healing abilities bestowed upon her from the sibyl starts to run out. It seems almost like fate when the heir of the kingdom shows up at her doorstep asking her to return for the yearly Day of Breath.

This story has so much potential! I feel like there aren’t enough demon focused fantasies out there which really got me intrigued from the jump. The concept of one champion defending the lands was also really interesting to me and the little we got about the religion and magic system was great. The only thing is that nothing seemed to be fully fleshed out or realized. We weren’t given a whole lot of back story on our main character or why she was chosen. I feel like a lot was left on the table when it came to the academy. I would’ve loved to see some of her experiences there. There also isn’t enough about the religion to fully make it feel believable or make complete sense. I wanted to see more of the Sibyl and their abilities. The relationships also were very surface level and I wish we delved more in to that. Such as Fallon and Abners relationship. I wasn’t fully sold or understood why there was so much animosity when they seemed to have a great relationship. And the attraction from Oly was definitely instalust which didn’t make much sense to me from the rest of her personality. I think just even a few details or scenes delving deeper in to all of the little things would give it much more substance!

The concepts and overall vibes were impeccable though!! I was glued to the story after the arrival of the mysterious demon and needed to know more. I also loved the anxiety rep we get from Oly and adored seeing her so strong and facing things head on in spite of that. Overall I think with a little more tweaking this one can be a real stand out! I can’t wait to see what this author does in the future and how this one is on release.

[Joy Metzger · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ but I rounded up. This story has the makings of a really good book but it needs a little work. More backstory and exploration of Oly’s life with her parents and at the academy before she was champion would help flesh out her character. Why was she chosen? She states at the beginning she wasn’t the best or the strongest so why her? I love the idea of this worn-down 26-year-old who’s just over all the BS. I wish we could’ve spent more time with Oly and less time with Fallon. I would’ve preferred the other brother’s POV instead. I had hopes for an Oly and Denya romance but… poor Denya. The ending felt a little rushed but I quite like the idea of this world and Oly quietly retiring and assimilating back into society.

Overall, I did enjoy this one. But, FFS.. what is the deal with the jade cup?!

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the advanced copy!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a riveting book! I read this book in one day because I couldn’t put it down. I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This has several things quite familiar to the fantasy genre but it’s the lens provided by the main character that makes it feel unique. Our terrified and reluctant main character was forced to take a ‘blessing’ and become a ‘champion’. Exiled to fight demons, only visited once a month by couriers who bring supplies. Their strength to fight the demons, tempered by the constant anxiety they feel. They rely on routines and rituals to help them through challenging experiences. They’ve been horribly neglected by their family and excluded from society, leading a life of isolation, only being allowed to return to town once a year which they have chosen not to do. Ten years of this and their world is rocked when the heir to the kingdom decides to visit to try to convince them to come back for the day of breath.

I really liked this book. I had one tiny issue which is that when the perspectives changed between the champion and the heir, it also jumped between first and third person which I found a bit jarring. But that was one small thing in a book that was otherwise exciting, thrilling and with some great lore.

The Champion was a character I could really root for. She’s so strong despite the challenges she faces and she’s so dedicated to her duty. She’s got a layer of sadness which we delve deeper into and she’s been treated really poorly, by her parents yes, but also by the society that condemns her to constant isolation and danger for their own safety.

[Char Kramer]

DNF at 34%

I love this concept, but I cannot stand Fallon.

He’s a 26 year old man who is written like a 16-18 year old. Would’ve eaten this up if it was only from Oly’s POV.

Amazing concept, poor MMC.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oly was a mere girl, unremarkable and anxious, until it was her that was chosen by the Sybil, priestess of the god of light, to defend her country from the demons that seep into the world from the remote area known as the Rive. Imbued with incredible strength and abilities, she has fulfilled her position as the chosen Champion for an exceptional ten years, longer than any champion before her. Time and incessant battles with demons have worn on Oly. Hopeful that she can convince the sybil to bestow the god given gifts on her again, she finally decides to return to the city on the Day of Breath, the one day a year that demons cannot come through the rive. Except the day's celebrations in the city are disrupted by just that, and Oly has to find the strength to save the world, if she can.

What an absolute banger of a debut! I devoured this. The concept was unique, the characters were fun and distinct, and the prose was smooth and engaging. The author did an excellent job of showing not telling throughout the book and this really made me feel along with the characters. Even the minor characters stood out well on their own. The first person POV from Oly and the third person POV from Heir Fallon was a unique way of story telling and served the plot well. I felt like I lacked just a little insight into Oly's motivations for one of the main decisions she makes in the book. I felt this decision conflicted with her well established feeling of duty to her role as the champion and could've used a little backstory to explain this more. I also wanted a smidge more backstory about Fallon-- how does this goofball heir actually expect to be in the running for the throne? Where does he get the audacity and how can I get some? The plot twists and betrayals were well done and interesting-- I love when not everything works out for our main character and poor Oly girl is going through it in this book! I could not put it down. I would've liked a little more from her main fight at the end, but the ending was still believable and a satisfying conclusion. I have already put this on some people's radar and will continue to recommend! I am also looking forward to Darby Cox's growth as an author in the future and can't wait to see any future work!

Thanks to Net Galley, Angry Robot, and the author for the opportunity to read and review the book. All opinions are my own.

[Meaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine one woman standing between a kingdom and its ruin, tirelessly holding back hordes of demons, given only one day per year to rest. Oly, chosen ten years ago to serve as the sole Champion of Niawa, is stationed alone at the Edge. Blessed with superhuman strength and healing, she battles demons from the Rive. But one day per year, every year, when the goddess's comet crosses the sky, no demons emerge: a phenomenon known as A Day of Breath.

When this month's supplies arrive, two days before the comet's appearance, the cart also brings a stowaway in the form of the Heir to the kingdom. What follows is a dark young adult fantasy tale that unravels over a 24-hour period. The author explores the nature of duty versus self, as well as how our relationships with those around us sharpen and hone our actions and words.

I wish that the side characters had been given as much depth as the main characters. I also felt that Fallon's relationship with his sibling Abner prior to heading to the Edge could have been fleshed out a bit more. Their actions and the reasons for those actions were more reflective of teenagers than to adults in their mid-20s.

All in all, a solid novel with a good premise, interesting main characters, and a nice dose of Eldritch fantasy!


Note: Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Chewable Orb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Day of Breath by Darby Cox
3.45 rounded to 3 🔮🔮🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Angry Robot

The Edge…..

💡 Orbs Prologue: In a wasteland of mental haze, I lose much-needed life viscosity through a thirty-centimeter gap provided by a demon’s claws. I bleed profusely, and then things go black. I awaken, not as Chewable Orb, but rather as a being, an alien with a penchant for destruction and mayhem. As my limbs have protruded through my gelatinous orb, I am now walking on stilt-like legs, creating an imposing tower of evil. Following the wave of hysteria, we lumber into the town of Niawa, gnashing through the townfolk like a buzzsaw. Chaos and havoc follow our every movement, but for what purpose?

🧐 A small glimpse: Oly Hoskins, the Sybil, has chosen you to be our next champion, to guard against an invasion from demons spawning from a place known as the Rive at the Edge, a war-fought graveyard of sorts. That is her sole responsibility. Oly has been blessed with powers to fight off these demonic entities, ensuring that the town of Niawa remains safe. Through the mundane task of fighting endlessly for nearly a decade, Oly’s powers weaken, causing a surge of panic that she can remain steadfast in her duties. Meanwhile, back in Niawa, the royal family is looking to appoint a new ruler. Fallon and his twin brother, Abner, vie for this honor, with Abner being the far better traditional pick due to their cunning and attention to detail. One day of the year, an event called A Day of Breath occurs, allowing the demons to be kept at bay for 24 hours. Fallon has taken it upon himself to travel to the Edge and convince Oly to come home for the first time since she was dispatched for duty. Surely nothing could go wrong with this plan, right?

👍 Orbs Pros: Demons turning into humans to blend in, in a somewhat zombie-like affair! Aspects of this story, written by Darby Cox, are laced with some truly creative ingenuity. Oly Hoskins! I loved Cox’s writing of Oly’s narrative, and I remained glued to the pages to find out what happened to our beloved champion.

👎 Orbs Cons: Some subtle plot holes began to take shape towards the ending, having me ask, "Why would a person choose to do this or that?" After a strong beginning, I felt the story tailed off towards its conclusion, which slightly affected my overall enjoyment.

Slightly Recommended! This is a difficult novel to review. On the one hand, I was completely taken by how much I was invested in this world created by Cox. The main protagonist is likeable, heroic, and intriguing. Yet, somewhere when most of the action begins, I found the story stalled, spinning its tires in a bed of quicksand. However, this was a solid fantasy effort, steeped in political intrigue and betrayal. Couple that with some apocalyptic-type scenario with splashes of intensity provided by demon entities running amok, and that gives you the framework of what you might find within its pages.

💡 Orbs Epilogue: Scouring for my next victim, I glance off towards the gates to the castle. A knight stands tall, silver armor gleaming amidst the disarray. A bladed two-handed staff hacked away at my demon brethren, creating a frenzied response within my numb brain. Seemingly programmed to sniff out the blood of these humans, I looked to inject my parasitic disease. Clawing, tearing, and successfully turning our enemies into one of us, fighting for the Rive’s cause. The smells of iron and death waft through the scene. As I tear a limb from a neighboring human, I leave myself defenseless. In that moment, my simple mind understands this mistake too late. A sharpened blade shears first through my spindly leg, toppling me over. My red eye gazes at the combatant, and indeed, it is their hero, their lightbringer. In my final moments, rage seethes through my open wounds, yet I am unable to continue this battle. Serenity has found its way into my soul, or what I think is a soul, and a wry smile appears on my deformed lips. Then the light of the sun washes away…to a blank nothingness…

Many thanks to Angry Robot for the ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Librow0rm Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Day of Breath by Darby Cox doesn’t quite align with the marketing - a Buffy-inspired dark coming-of-age fantasy. I’m sorry, I just didn’t get the Buffy element, but what I did get was a real grim dark fantasy story that for me was reminiscent of those stories told by travelling bards. I truly had this vision of an ancient bard in robes, stood by a fire in a hostelry with a drink in their hand telling this story. In terms of coming of age, I really didn’t see that element, as whilst the story showed Oly (FMC) as a teen becoming the Champion, it very soon skipped to adulthood and all the demon gore you could imagine. Despite this, I actually really was pulled into A Day of Breath and devoured it on 2 x 1.5 hour train journeys. Not even the heavy breathing and knocking of my seat hogging, man-spreading neighbour in the seat adjacent to me on one of the journeys could distract. That is a sign of a good story!

Told from two PoVs and dual perspectives, Oly the FMC and the Champion and Fallon, competing heir to the throne alongside his twin, the story is primarily about Oly’s journey. There’s no question that Oly is neurodiverse and has anxiety, this is underpinned by her struggles with people interactions, engagement, and focus on the green bowl. She manages her anxiety with the help of medication and totally without the help of her parents from a very young age.

Fallon is totally Oly’s opposite, he is blessed with wit, charm, personality and is most definitely a people person but, no one is perfect, he is driven by his desires, from drinking, gambling and cheating at cards, to wanting to inherit the throne in place of his brother. A desire that is perpetuated and encouraged by the adviser to the throne, who for his own reasons does not support Fallon’s brother Ander, who on paper is significantly more qualified and better suited to inheriting the kingdom.

Oly was ‘forced’ into accepting the role of the Champion at the young age of 17, when she was given a magic blessing that gifted her super-human strength and fortitude to fight the demons and protect the kingdom of Niawa at their entry point into the world – The Edge of the Rive, a rift between the demon realm and Niawa. The story truly starts a decade after Oly was gifted the ‘blessing’. Oly has been fighting and killing demons for 10 years, Oly is exhausted, her powers are fading and to say she has PTSD is an understatement. Fallon finds himself failing in his attempts to be appointed heir to the throne, as his parents get ready to name his brother and in a last ditch attempt to be named heir he to go to The Edge and persuade the Champion to return to the capital of the Kingdom on their one day of rest a year - the Day of Breath, a sacred day where demons can’t cross the rift. This triggers a whole chain of events, think dominoes that force Oly, Fallon and his twin Abner to face their fears, their mistakes and their past to save the kingdom.

Initially this isn’t the most action packed story, despite the gore, the demons, the dismembering and killing, the focus is really on the characters, in particular Oly and I actually found that really engaging. However, this focus did mean that certain elements of the story were quite predictable but, I could forgive that. I really enjoyed the insight into Oly, I was a little sad that we didn’t get this level of depth into Fallon and Abner, whilst there was some exploration, I would have liked more.

The world-building, plot, storyline and pacing were well structured and overall engaging. I found this to be an interesting and engaging read that brought to life neurodiversity, anxiety and the effort that is needed simply to survive life when you are different. Overall, I have zero regrets, I enjoyed the story and even the side characters, in particular Velma – the carriage driver and Darya the guard. A great slash, kill, destroy grim dark fantasy that will send creepy demon chills down your back.

[kilmosnaps · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decidedly ambitious debut fantasy novel.

I received this advanced reader copy from NetGalley and I’m glad I did.

This was a tinge bit less hard fantasy with incredible world building. I was engrossed into this medieval world with magic, demons and twin heirs to throne with political intrigue and religious conspiracy/psychosis.

This felt like a debut novel - the plot is sometimes super hard fantasy and complicated and then weirdly spelled out and fully explained thru dialogue. There’s some tone shifting that’s a little abrupt, but easily digestible.

I loved the story even more as I sat with it over a couple days.

I really enjoyed the characterizations. Everyone felt like real people and you understood their motivations. Every choice/action made perfect sense in context.

There’s also this tinge of romance sprinkled throughout that so enjoyable and a delight.

What if being “The Chosen One” isn’t such a blessing after all?

I would watch the heck out of a movie adaptation and would be pumped to read this author’s next book.

“This shelter was built to make sure the Champion can never escape it.”

“I won’t spend the rest of my days becoming weaker until I’m forgotten bones in a dungeon cell.”

“The bowl now sits in plain view on the shelves beside the hearth. I don’t want it here after I die. It will be buried with me. The next Champion won’t think I lost my way like the others.”

“Are we not meant to outlive it?” I direct my question to the sibyl’s tapestry, then immediately feel guilt. She has already given the most incredible gift. I need to be grateful. What is supposed to come, will come.”

“I have never returned, and I never will. At the Edge, I don’t have to prove my strength to anyone. The demons come and I send their souls back to their world. This is who I am now. There’s no reason to endure my parents’ probing eyes as they try to find their daughter beneath my armor. Even more, I fear they willl find her. Especially now with the Blessing fading.”

‘Fallon takes a deep inhale while pressing his fingers to his lips. “Practicing magic is forbidden. If anyone finds out about these thoughts, you’ll be ruined, Abner. Maybe even banished.”

“He always longed to wear the forest-green uniform and slip into the fray, testing out his own strength and agility.
No one would ever equate him with brawny strength. Or Abner. The heirs were raised to oversee, not get into the dirt. ”

“A woman waits for them.
Fallon has seen many drawings and paintings of the longest-living Champion, even dolls and figurines. But no artist has ever truly captured her… Her pretty face is exactly how Fallon remembers, yet, that crying girl is nowhere to be found.”

‘For the first time, he feels like a stranger in his own kingdom.’

“I’m glad someone of importance can witness my strength before it disappears entirely. I hope he speaks of it often, and this is how I’ll be remembered.”

“If Fallon survives, the true battle will be not bashing his own brains in to rid himself of the memory.”

“I thought death would be more violent. This is slow, like pulling a blanket over my head, hoping in the morning when I emerge from the wool, the world is different.’

“While Fallon’s world has toppled over, Abner’s has been righted.”

“How could he begin to make amends after everything he’s done? He hopes it isn’t too late. He hopes he gets the chance to truly make things right.”

“I won’t see the sun again,” I voice”

“I thought I knew pain. Better than anyone born before me and anyone who would come after. I understand now, I never even scratched the surface.”

“I won’t spend the rest of my days becoming weaker until I’m forgotten bones in a dungeon cell.”

“What was so wrong with your fate, Fallon?” Abner responds.

[Filipa Roque | Dev. Editor · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something about those quiet hours when the world settles, and it was then I found myself with A Day of Breath by Darby Cox. The story drew me in almost before I realised it. It felt like one of those old tales you’d hear whispered by firelight, the sort that invites you closer. At its heart is a young woman, thrust into a struggle against shadows seeping in from unseen places. The gods are meddling in her path, and there’s this weight to her journey, as if fate simply pointed at her and said, you will bear this. It made me think how these sorts of burdens can reshape us without warning.

As I read, a slow unease crept through the pages, a sense of waiting for a storm just out of sight. The whole book is steeped in solitude, danger, and that quiet, persistent dread. You feel it in every moment. The author never lets the tension slip; there are small breaths of calm, but for the most part, I found myself holding my breath alongside the characters.

Cox leans into the darkness and suspense, choosing to anchor the grand battles in the quieter, personal struggles. The world is vast and threatening, yet the real force of the story comes from the silent pain each character carries. It is not just another lone hero’s journey. The story looks plainly at what time and power do to a person, and it does not shy away from the true cost of saving others.

Power here is not simply a gift; it is also something that can be lost. The way blessings and gifts twist the bonds between people is woven tightly through the story. The main character is full of nerves and doubts, and it never feels contrived. Her growth is slow, hard-won, and honest, and it pulls you into her mind. What makes this story different is the way it explores divine influence and fractured relationships, especially those difficult parts: unbalanced love from a parent, self-importance, all those social pressures that grind people down. Still, even in all the darkness, there is something gentle at the core, especially in the bond between siblings, the sort that grows stronger when everything else is breaking.

I appreciated the way the book shows survival, not only in the obvious struggles, but in the small ways people manage to go on. The details are never heavy-handed, but you feel the weight of every decision. The attention to her inner world brings her surroundings to life, and the connections she makes matter more and more as the story unfolds.

By the middle, all the different threads of the story came together. Suddenly, the choices people made—why they stayed loyal, or didn’t, when things turned—became clear. The book dives into family power struggles and shifting allegiances, and it reminded me a little of The Last of Us, with its tangled relationships in the midst of disaster. Here, though, it is more rooted in fantasy, not apocalypse, and always returns to the ties that hold people together.

If you’re drawn to stories where heroes are flawed and the world is complicated—something in the vein of The Poppy War—this is one to try.


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[K.D. Marchesi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Rounded up.

A Day of Breath was a comforting coming of age fantasy until of course, the body horror ramps all the way up. You are in for a wild ride!

We follow Oly, the longest running champion of Niawa, she has been monitoring the Rive for over a decade, keeping the city safe from any demons who sneak through its dangerous portal. Chosen from a young age, she takes her duties seriously, not even stopping to bathe fully until the Day of Breath each year. On this day, the city celebrates a champion they haven't seen in a decade. Oly never once deeming it necessary to give up her sole day of rest, but all that is about to change.

Within the city of Niawa we follow Fallon, a young heir adjacent to the throne. His curiosities about the Rive and its Champion, coupled with his own ambition lead him to the ultimate, fool proof conclusion, that he will single-handedly convince Oly to join their Day of Breath celebrations. Surely nothing could go wrong right?

Religious conspiracy and dark underpinnings threaten the Day of Breath. Oly and Fallon will have to work together, if they have any chance of saving an entire town from total devastation.

I liked a number of things about Cox's story, from the comforting, familiar feel of the fantasy elements, the experimentation of horror from the demons and above all, the beautifully (sometimes frustratingly) authentic exploration of neurodivergence.

Oly is a chosen one, but she is as far from a Mary-Sue as you can get. This poor young woman gives everything she has to her demon fights, and later to an entire town. She is battered and bruised, she knows she cannot keep this up, but she will die fighting if it means saving her people. I loved the realness of her character, alongside a familiar fantasy setting.

Without going into spoilers, I will say this book lulls you into a false sense of security. Sure, there are demons and battles, but nothing prepares you for the insanity which takes over the second half of this book. In a good way, I promise. If you are squeamish, prepare yourself.

And finally, my favourite part of this book hands down, was how the author has treated Oly's on page neurodivergence with upmost care, while also giving the readers a look at some real life examples of how it can affect our lives from a characters perspective. Oly is anxious, she needs comforts, namely in the colour green and a bowl she has carried with her from her schooling days. I also loved the authenticity of how others interacted with her surrounding her needs. Some looked down upon it (hello mother) and others embraced it and did what they could to make our hero feel not only comfortable, but like they weren't a burden one little bit.

While there was a fair bit I enjoyed about A Day of Breath, there were certainly some scenes I felt like could do with a bit more detail, particularly around the build up of emotional impact as we come into the latter half of the book. It felt like some of the characters had more potential than they were allowed to explore on the page. There was also some slight repetition, which is absolutely a me thing, but I would be remiss not to mention it grated on my experience slightly.

Overall, I had a good time with this one and I am glad I picked it up! Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of A Day of Breath.

[Marie Grim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley for the e-arc.

A Day of Breath was marketed as a Buffy-inspired dark coming-of-age fantasy. I think it would more aptly be described as dark fantasy/grimdark adjacent, as I didn’t really get the sort of patterns that a coming-of-age fantasy holds, especially as the only portion of the book that would apply to (under the age of majority etc) is the prologue, the rest being while Oly (the FMC) is an adult. I also did not get the Buffy vibes. While it is about monster murder, it lacks the comedic levity to balance it out like Buffy had.

The book is written as a dual POV with Oly’s being written in first person singular and the POV of Fallon, one of two twin heirs to the throne of Niawa, being written in third person singular. This is Oly’s story, and everyone else is along for the ride. It focuses on Oly’s neurodivergence, as she has extreme anxiety that colors her behavior and interactions with people. There is LGBT representation, with some mentions of same-sex relationships, a nonbinary character, as well as the MMC being implied to be bisexual. There is no spice nor what I would deem a romantic subplot. The content heavily emphasizes demon combat and is at times gory. This is more of a character-driven story than a plot driven one.

The prologue introduces Oly at 16 as she is about to receive a magical blessing that will give her superhuman strength and turn her into the Champion, the sole defender of the nation of Niawa against hordes of demons that emerge from the magical Rive - a rift in the universe bridging the demonic realm and the borders of Niawa. The book then jumps forward 10 years; Oly is tired and her Blessing is fading. She’s exhausted and worn out and extremely traumatized by 10 years of constant solo warring with the demons.

The secondary storyline follows Fallon and his sibling Abner as they compete with each other to be declared the next ruler of Niawa. In an attempt to get his parents to pick him over Abner, Fallon decides to go to the Edge and convince the Champion to return for the Day of Breath, a sacred day where demons can’t cross the rift. This sets of a chain of events wherein demons invade the capitol and Oly, Abner, and Fallon are forced to overcome their individual failings to save the day.

As I mentioned earlier, this is a character-driven story. Much of the character work is given over to internal struggles, depictions of disability from anxiety, and personal doubts. The characters don’t so much as overcome these aspects as cope with them, but even that feels underdeveloped, as the MCs all feel rather one-dimensional outside of these aspects. The villain twist was highly predictable and somewhat anticlimactic, and the cumulative action felt flat. The side characters had a few bright spots, like Velma the courier and Darya the guard, but otherwise they felt like caricatures rather than characters.

I would have liked to see more character depth and maybe less time devoted to the hack-and-slash and more time to building up the villains/their motivations/the reveal. I liked the concept, and the bits of lore that were dropped were interesting. It is a solid enough debut, and with further refinement in plot work the author’s concepts could really shine.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star rating: 3.5 / 5
Spice scale: 0 / 5
Violence scale: 4.5 / 5
Pace: fast
TW: body horror, blood, gore, injury, vomiting, panic attacks, acute anxiety, death of a parent, ableism, child abandonment

My thanks to Angry Robot for access to an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Plot: In the kingdom of Niawa, a god-chosen Champion is all that stands between humans and monstrous demons from another realm. Oly lives alone in a small, isolated cabin, on constant alert for demons appearing from the Rive, the portal between realms. The Blessing she received when she was Chosen gives her rapid healing and increased strength and stamina, which is the only way to survive the daily demon attacks. These abilities, combined with her single-minded purpose and the solitude has quieted her anxiety and dampened her panic attacks, even though she has probably the most stressful job in the kingdom. But she’s been the Champion longer than anyone else has ever survived in the role, and the Blessing is beginning to wear off. She’s not healing as quickly anymore and her nerves are beginning to bother her again. When one of the Heirs to the kingdom shows up unexpectedly at her cabin to personally invite (beg) her to come back to the city for the Day of Breathe, the one day a year when the demons can’t come through the Rive, she begrudgingly accepts. Maybe she can renew the Blessing and get her strength back, because without that strength she can’t do her job. But their return to the city kicks off a series of increasingly bloody events, and they’ll discover that many things they’ve taken for granted, including the nature of the Blessing and the reason for the existence of the Rive, are not what they seem.
Series or standalone? Standalone
What is it similar to? The description of the demons themselves, and the nature of the work of the one champion who can slay them, made me think of The Witcher. The Champion’s cabin guarding the portal to the demon realm reminded me of the village in Marvel’s Shang-Chi. But the majority of events might especially appeal to those who enjoy a zombie flick. However the worldbuilding in this book is wholly unique (albeit very violent).
I would recommend it to readers who don’t mind body horror and a lot of blood and gore, looking for a fast-paced story set in an original world with a female MC who kills monsters with a massive axe. This might appeal to those who enjoy a video game-style plot as there is just so much monster slaying from the first-person POV. This book is full of representation, from characters with anxiety and likely autism, to a wheelchair-bound character who is highly independent and fierce, to a non-binary Heir to the kingdom. There is no spice at all, just a little innocent blushing between a couple of characters. I would not recommend it to anyone uncomfortable with the blood and guts because there’s just no avoiding that for most of the book, or anyone particularly triggered by vivid descriptions of panic attacks and acute anxiety. Two characters experience the latter with thorough, accurate description.

[Lynn Stevenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had so much potential, but I think it just wasn’t the book for me.

We follow Oly, our anxious FMC who has spent the last ten years as the Champion - chosen to kill the demons pouring into her world until the day she dies, most likely (and inevitably) at the really big teeth of a demon. She was bestowed with strength and healing powers age 26, but ten years in and they’re starting to fade. And our girl is worried. then we have Fallon, heir to the kingdom, who turns up at her door and convinces her to come away from the rift for one single day.

I genuinely enjoyed the core idea of the story and the glimpses of the world we were shown. I think I needed more worldbuilding to fully invest, but what we did get was interesting. The demons were easily the standout. Their descriptions were excellent, the fight scenes were strong and the pacing as a whole was fast and engaging.

As a huge Buffy fan, I really enjoyed the hellmouth, demon killing, girl with a big sword, slayer vibes. That part absolutely worked for me.

I liked Oly’s POV, but Fallon… absolutely not. He’s meant to be 26, but he reads like a 15 year old boy and I really disliked him. I actively dreaded the chapters from his POV, which is never a great sign.

Mostly, I just needed a bit more from the book. A lot of things felt under explained or not fully thought through. I didn’t feel like I understood how this world works. What exactly are the powers of the sibyl? Why was Oly chosen? I’d have loved a bit more of her backstory. Why’s she so anxious? What’s the real reason behind Fallon and Abner’s rivalry? Is it personal, political, or purely about power? Maybe that’s going to be in further books, but none of it felt clearly defined & I needed a bit more definition.

Overall, this read more like YA fantasy than I was expecting. I did enjoy certain aspects, and I do think this could be a solid intro to fantasy for newer readers. It just wasn’t the book for me sadly.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Claire Smith-Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story - Demons, a champion, political intrigue and twins at odds on how to rule, wow just wow! I stayed up late and picked it up first thing as I had to know how the story went. I was so engrossed and really couldn't put it down.

Completely different to any other fantasy I've read, the story was entertaining and gripping with elements of heartbreak in there. I am still trying to process, Oly is such a powerful character, she takes you through such a range of emotions - fear, pity, delight in her strength, panic when it begins to ebb, the courage she has to keep fighting, the sadness over her parental relationship and the wisps of hope in returning to the city. I think I was as attached as Oly to that bowl by the end!!

The complicated relationship between the Heir's was engaging and had me flip flopping between them as the story revealed more.

The side characters were fully fleshed out and brought their own strength to the story that you invested in them. Honestly, I'm going to be thinking about this story for some time to come!

Oly is chosen to be the champion, to be given strength to fight the demons released through the Rive. Her battles mean that none will get through and keep the lands safe. But the price she pays is a sacrifice few before her have been able to borne for long. Ten years she succeeds until she feels her strength ebbing.

The kingdom's twin Heirs are vying to be named the successor. In a bid to further his claim, Fallon vows to journey to Oly and persuade her to return to the city on the Day of Breath, the one day reprieve she has from the ongoing demon spawn battles. His eyes are opened when he sees the life she leads, the horrors she faces and the consequences of failure. Reluctantly agreeing she returns to the city only to find a new demon has found a way to waken, dark forces are at work within the city and the ensuing chaos rips the city apart and they must all fight to survive.

[Josh Talbot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robots for this ARC.

Whilst an intriguing take on a story, this, sadly, did not deliver the goods. The beginning and end both lacked in story and tension. There was a point in the middle of the story where I felt like our author had ramped up steam and managed to really get themselves on the ground running, but it then all spiralled away.

Oly has such an interesting perspective, and like many other readers, I think this was the stronger narrative to keep with. When going to Fallons POV there was nothing empathy created for the characters, it felt like your stereotyped royalty fighting against each other but underwhelming and unoriginal in its take.

I felt like we needed further world building to help us create and understand what the country had been going through to then have need for a Champion. It felt a little threadbare in that case, I would have appreciated more creation there so we can really set ourselves in the world. Timeline I also had an issue with where the Rive was situated to the City? It seemed so close yet also so far, and this felt confusing as to why they wouldn’t have moved further away when the Rive formed? If we’d had some backstory there as to why they never moved, even that would have helped with the world building.

I really appreciated that the romance side was minimal. Oly had been through so much, though again the time line was confusing as we never got told until a little later whether a year had passed or 10, and we get glimpses of what she’d been through. This was a person who struggled to connect and not jumping into a full romance at the end felt like a good decision the author

[Kiera Ponting · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐

For decades, a lone Champion has protected the kingdom of Niawa from the demons that escape a rift between worlds. 'A Day of Breath' follows the longest-serving of these Champions, Oly, and one of the royal family's heirs, Fallon, on the one day of the year no demons are supposed to pass into their world - the titular Day of Breath.

'A Day is Breath' is a standalone grim dark fantasy novel with queer and neurodivergent representation. Main character Oly has both anxiety and is neurodiverse, something that is rare in the genre. I thought the way that she was characterised was really well done, without taking out of the fantasy setting. Oly is a strong lead, determined to do the best job she can to fulfil the role she was chosen for. Sadly, I wasn't as big of a fan of Fallon as a character. I found that his characterisation wasn't as strong, and I enjoyed Oly's chapters more as a result.

As a standalone novel, I thought the story was quite successful. The prologue sets the scene well, and the central conflict takes places across only a few days so the scope isn't too wide. However, I would have liked to have the world's lore a little more fleshed out - I was still left with a lot of questions surrounding the magic, gods and the sybils by the end of the book.

This book is worth checking out of you want to read a dark fantasy with well-done representation. If you don't enjoy descriptions of body horror though, I would reconsider picking this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Champion fighting demons while her powers fade? I was all like yes please. I did enjoy the story, but it also left some things to be desired.

First what I liked:
I really liked reading Oly’s perspective. The interiority was great. The representation for anxiety and chronic pain was nice as well as having main characters who aren’t perfect or prepared. There’s Oly’s anxiety and deteriorating body as her power fades. There’s Fallon who literally has no idea what’s going on or how to fight. He doesn’t do it well when the time comes, but it doesn’t stop him from trying. He did come across as immature, but that didn’t surprise me given his station in life. His relationship with his sibling is sweet. Also, yay for diverse and queer characters.

What I didn’t:
Worldbuilding. I wanted moooore. So this is good and bad, technically. I was interested in the world, but I don’t think I got enough of it. For example, who exactly is Yuli-en? She’s a pretty absent god. Outside of the Day of Breath and not being a demon, I don’t understand why she’s worshipped. So I would have liked a bit more history on the two gods and the sybils, but I get how that would have extended the book. And a good chunk of the book is fighting demons, not a bad thing (damn the descriptions because I got a little nauseated lol) as it created urgency, but it also just felt like..something was missing.

Anyway, pretty decent read and I’ll definitely keep my eye out for what Darby Cox writes next as I can only assume it’ll get better.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the ARC!

[Cfabrication · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is incredibly lush. It suits the story. My feelings are mixed. I almost didn’t finish, but I am glad I stuck with it as the second half is much better than the first. In fact, the pace of the second half almost feels too fast, while the beginning drags.

4 stars - The good: interesting world, interesting characters. The plot was interesting, if a standard one in fantasy (plucky FMC, big bad, etc.)
3 stars - The less good: the initial shift in POV from first person female MC to third person male MC was abrupt. The transition made the forward movement stall a bit.
2 stars - The not good: lots of regrettable word choices (particularly "smirked" when the smile was not actually a smirk. Smirk has negative connotations.) I read an uncorrected proof copy; hopefully the errors will be corrected by an editor.

I really find it difficult to read a novel written in the present tense. It does not create a sense of urgency and immediacy for me, I just find it irritating.

Overall, I think the choice to have the characters be mid-twenties was a mistake. It reads much more like all three of the main characters (FMC, MC, MC's twin) were in their late teens. The issues they face, aside from the big bad and all the little bads, were internal and emotional and felt like teenage struggles with identity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this ARC.

[Sarah Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book pulled me in right away with an interesting setup where a champion is chosen by fate to shoulder the survival of her nation, whether she wants it or not. It’s narrated through a heavy emotional lens that explores anxiety, panic attacks, and the impact of emotionally abusive families, and those elements feel thoughtfully woven into the story. The world itself is dark and unsettling, filled with demons, cults, and monsters that give it a real nightmare vibe.

That said, the execution didn’t fully land for me. I struggled at times to understand character motivations, which made some of the bigger decisions feel murky. While the overall story arc is solid and the premise carries real weight, the pacing felt unsteady and a few plot holes pulled me out. Still, the emotional immersion is strong, and readers who enjoy dark fantasy with chosen-one themes may find this an engaging, quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher - Angry Robot Books, and the author - Darby Cox for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jada Jade · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC Reader Book Review 🤍

⭐️⭐️

I appreciated certain aspects. We have our Champion, who was forced into the role. A failed heir, vying to rule. Along w/ their non-binary twin, eager for the throne.

Honestly, there was just nothing that hit it outside the park for me. The story was very slow paced, it just wasn’t able to hold my interest.
I did like the dark theme it had, but I wanted it to take it to the next level. I just really needed something more to grasp my attention.

Oly’s storyline had potential. I felt so bad for her, I hated her parents, which I also feel like could’ve been a bit more elevated. I felt the different POVs (which I usually tend to love) just didn’t work in the favor of this story.

Fallon, I feel bored me the most. Nothing about his POV excited me or pushed me to want to read on.
The rest of the cast were pretty much held the same flat note as well.

Overall, I wish I could’ve just DNF this one lol. The cover is really cool though!!

[Soonish · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3/5⭐️)📚 Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for the eArc of ‘The day of breath’. I must admit this is a very interesting concept, and was intrigued to read Oly’s POV having been made a Champion despite her wishes. This really had potential - however the story was very surface level and lack depth. As the story progressed, and twists/revelations were revealed, I personally felt like more needed to be set up prior for all the new information to ‘hit’ me in a shocking way. I felt as though, whilst reading, that I was being told this and that, but wasn’t feeling it myself or through Fallon or Oly. Perhaps more backstory needed to be set up prior? Or a switch in time, and go to the POV of a past Champion who perhaps had figured it out also? I just didn’t really feel shocked or invested enough to have it affect me unfortunately. Again, it had so much potential and I enjoyed what it could have been.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters in this book are incredible! Oly, Abner, Denya, Velma, even Fallon later in the book. They were characters that I haven’t felt like I’ve seen in fantasy before. Some of these characters were so deeply unwell, but they just had to continue on with their lives. In the face of anxiety, loneliness, feelings of inadequacy, trying to prove themselves, parasitic demons - they kept fighting to keep living. This was a very unique read in the best way!