When the Light Returns

The Winter Dark #2

by Joanna Ruth Meyer

A deposed king and the powerful captive of a corrupt queen join forces in a sweeping fantasy of romance, magic, and redemption in this sequel to While the Dark Remains.

The long winter dark has been banished for good, and the mountain palace of the late king should be a sanctuary for Ballast Vallin, who has just assumed the throne. Instead, it’s a torment. Held to account for the sins of his father, Ballast must relinquish his crown and all claim to Daeros, the kingdom for which he risked so much. Worse, Brynja—his father’s former captive, the woman he loves—is the one who forces his hand.

Disgraced, Brynja is sent to Iljaria, a kingdom imbued with ancient magic. There she finds herself at the mercy of Queen Valrún, and is forced to aid in the queen’s quest to claim all the magic long thought irrevocably bound to the gods.

But then a shocking revelation about Ballast’s past brings him to Iljaria—and to Brynja. Together, amid secrets, magic, and betrayal, they must challenge the power-hungry queen to a battle that could ruin the world or remake it. For Brynja and Ballast, their most invaluable weapon is hope.

Genres: Fantasy

463 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 12, 2026

About the author

Joanna Ruth Meyer is the author of five YA fantasies, including the critically acclaimed ECHO NORTH. She lives in Mesa, AZ, with her husband, son, two orange cats, and a giant grand piano named Prince Imrahil. She loves forests and rainstorms and stories that make her feel things, and in all likelihood, she’s drinking tea right now.

Reviews

[Alissa J. Zavalianos · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I was born, I think, to try and heal the deeper hurt.”

*Sigh* this duology has become a new favorite of mine. I mean, are we even surprised at this point? Joanna’s books are the best.

I love these characters, and I especially love how the romance is perfectly subplot to an even greater plot driving the story.

Thank you, Joanna, for not once making me fret over Bal & Bryn’s love for one another. My heart was at ease while everything else was in turmoil, which I appreciated.

Speaking of the plot. WOW! There were at least two twists I didn’t seem coming, and their unveiling was the perfect surprise.

The worldbuilding and magic system in this duology is Sanderson-level, and the end battle was chef’s kiss.

All in all, this is a series you don’t want to miss! I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

Thank you to Joanna & the publisher for an ARC of the book. I’m so grateful I got to read it early. All opinions expressed are my own.

A note on content:
- a married couple has intimacy a few times, but it’s nondescript and fade to black (you’re never privy to anything, aside from a “shedding of clothes”)
- a few minor swears scattered throughout
- the magic/religious system revolves around gods and goddesses

[Anna Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

"ballast, that was supposed to be a secret." PERFECTION

[Evie Oliva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time, I saw a title of a book and it called to me. The way the words worked together, just two of them, something felt familiar about them, like they were something I once knew. I picked up the book and read the synopsis just as a gesture because I had already decided to buy the book and I knew immediately that my favorite fairytale was some inspiration for the story. I bought the book and spent the next day or so immersed in the story. From there it was simple, read everything I could find by this author. What was the book, you ask?

Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer.

I make it a point to search for my favorite authors to see if there is going to be a new release in the following year. When I found the book While the Dark Remains up for pre-orders, I immediately bought a copy. The world-building was exquisite, the characters were heartbreaking and it was overall a brilliant book. The only complaint I had was that I didn't like the FMC's close friends and their absolutely narrow way of judging things. Still, I was on the lookout for another Meyer release and was looking forward to the sequel, When the Light Returns. When I saw that it was available to review, my heart leapt into my throat and I jumped at the chance to read it. I finished this book in about a day. My eyes are filled with grit and I'm dragging more than a little because I stayed up until nearly sunrise to read this but I had to finish this book, I NEEDED to see how it would end. I have a list of people I would axe but I still loved this book. That's the effect reading this book had on me.

When the Light Returns follows Brynja and Ballast after having banished the dark after the events of book 1. But things are not going peacefully. Ballast has been trying to change things for the better after the damage wrought by his late father but the emperor and those working for him want Ballast to give up his claim to the throne and Brynja was the one who made him do it with her magic. Brynja is sent to Iljaria as a result, hoping to return to the home she once knew and report the findings of her mission to the queen herself. However, Queen Valrun has her own agenda that she is working towards that requires Brynja to be forced into helping her to gather the power of the First Ones for the queen's own use. New revelations bring Ballast to Iljaria as well, leaving the two to work together once again to try to save the world from a queen desperate for the power to destroy the world and remake it to her ideals.

The book's main storyline picks up about six months after the end of book 1. The first book had Brynja as a narrator and jumped between two timelines, showing Brynja as a child forced to be a pet acrobat to the king of Daeros and then present day Brynja with her new family heading back to Daeros to overthrow the abusive king. This book continues with Brynja as a narrator but also adds Ballast, as well as Saga, Vil, and the queen Valrun. The chapters again go back and forth in time, with Ballast's chapters also showing some scenes from the first book and the past from his point of view. The main series of events are with Brynja in Iljaria, with each changing view showing each character as they move towards coming together in Iljaria to stop the queen. Every reveal keeps the pages turning, keeps the rhythm moving, made me wish I could read faster because every event made my heart ache and my stomach twist. The only point of view I could have done without was Vil's, who has left a sour taste in my mouth since the first book. I did not enjoy Valrun's but I could understand why it was added in for the sake of the story. I did enjoy seeing things with Saga play out, seeing her struggle to understand her brother's actions and how to save her country. Every character has a part to play and seeing how they move towards each other and are related was riveting. I'm still reeling a bit from the reveal from Ballast's past. I did not see that one coming.

After all of the buildup of the first book with the world of the first ones and the gods and magic, this book spends the majority of its time in Iljaria where every person has magic of some sort and have been trained since childhood to use it. It was interesting to see what Brynja and Ballast could have had if they had been raised in Iljaria. It was also a real eye-opener to see the people that worked for the queen and what they were trying to accomplish. I thought Kallias was one of the worst villains I've seen in the book world for quite some time but Valrun really made me change my mind. The magic system and how she manipulated it made me determined to get through her passages quickly because I needed to see how the characters would be able to get the upper hand. I enjoyed seeing Ballast trying to learn about his magic in a class of children, showing the strict way the school worked and how Ballast was powerful and yet at the same time very behind in his studies of magic.

The magic system itself is expanded quite a bit for this story and it definitely worked as a benefit for this book. After book 1, I'll admit, I wasn't absolutely clear on every discipline of magic shown in the book and who the patron god for it actually was but this book helped with bringing each power into the forefront of the story and show the wielders of it and what they could do with their magic. Readers saw their losses and how they believed in the magic being what makes them superior to the rest of the world. At the same time, we were able to see the other side of the story with Saga learning to accept the magic that she thought had a hand in destroying her life and with Vil trying desperately to acquire power he felt was his to take because he deserved it. All views showed how Brynja and Ballast were a part of each world and yet still held separate and this was what made them best suited to make changes for the better for every country in turmoil in this story.

By the time this book was reaching the end, I was holding my breath and flipping pages as fast as I could tap my thumb. All of the developments were finally coming together and I could not wait to see exactly how Brynja and Ballast managed to defeat the villain and save the world. The resolution was perfect and it made me feel hope and peace at the way Meyer wrapped up her story. Every question I had was answered, each reveal felt earned in the story and the end felt like the right beats were hit, the best growth was accomplished for each character. I LOVED this book by the time I finished it this morning. I can't wait to see what Meyer publishes next.



Rating on my Scale: 10 Stunning Stars! This duology was amazing for me. Every part of this book worked, each development and revelation made this incredible. I can't wait for my copy to arrive so it can go on my shelf of absolute favorite reads.



My thanks to Netgalley, 47North and Joanna Ruth Meyer for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[Kelsey Vang · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Light Returns is an absolute powerhouse of a novel and an epic sequel to While the Dark Remains, filled with strong themes of sacrifice, loyalty, faith & magic. It’s a story about the corrupting temptation of power and the greater strength of selflessness. About the ways we can be shaped for the better by our broken pasts and the most painful parts of our stories. A story about the lengths we are willing to go and the things we are willing to give up for the ones we love.

In this sequel we enter the nation of Iljaria and receive a greater look into the magic system, which went hand in hand with the story's religious system. Meyer fleshed it out remarkably well: considering it’s a religion with twelve gods/goddesses and twelve corresponding branches of magic, things could quickly get muddled and messy. But the vision was clear, and the product was strong. She gave enough so that you could grasp the concepts without getting lost in the minutiae.

Another thing I greatly appreciated was the change in POVs in this book. Don’t get me wrong: it worked really well to have the first book entirely in Brynja’s voice. But what I loved about the mixture of POVs in this book is how it gave a greater insight into character motivations. It helped me truly believe in (and celebrate) Saga’s personal growth, to witness the core of Valrun’s deeply rooted insecurities, and sigh over Vil’s misguided chase after power. And it also fostered an excellent atmosphere of suspense.

This novel, like the first, does not shy away from the dark and ugly: it exposes them for what they are. But it also portrays the complexities of character motivations well and avoids dichotomous thinking. While there were wonderful moments of justice and redemption, it also left room for open-ended resolutions and imperfect conclusions that felt real, and honest.

It's a rare occasion (and one of my favorite things) when an initial critique of a book morphs into an appreciation. In When the Light Returns, this revolved around my struggle to understand why the villain Valrun was obeyed by so many that were more powerful than her (I mean... much more powerful). I could see that she used intimidation and threats, and also made many empty promises, but I had a hard time believing them. Maybe I needed more history there? A greater insight into how she came to be queen? I just wasn’t 100% sold. But the more I considered, I realized: this is a reflection of our world's reality. History is riddled with weak, evil people coming to power. And not just that, but many normal (and even ‘good’) people getting caught up in the tide of evil. We should never forget that humans have a great capacity to convince themselves of anything (and therefore commit great atrocities) if they tell lies to themselves long enough.

A final note: I noticed an increase in adult themes/language in this novel. I don’t recall there being obscenities in the last book, but there were many usages of the word d*** in this one. There were also more references to intimacy, sheer clothing, nudity, etc. While all of this is likely very mild compared to many books out there, there was generally a more adult feel and an attempt to be a bit 'sexier.' It didn’t ultimately detract from the novel, but readers might want to be aware it’s there.

Many, many thanks to Netgalley, 47North & Joanna Ruth Meyer for this wonderful ARC.

[Michaela Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

I was very excited to see the sequel to While the Dark Remains. This is gooood fantasy.
And it's frankly nice to read fantasy where the romance is a subplot. Don't get me wrong I love the romantasy as a genre, but they get formulaic sometimes and I miss a good solid fantasy.

Poor Ballast and Brynja and been through decades at the hand of Ballast's father King Kallias and he's finally dead. Brynja has lived as a spy voluntarily for 11 years, stripped of her Iljarian magics by her father the former Prism Magic Master to the Queen of Iljaria before sending her into the lions den to take down the King and his court from the inside as a child. The Yellow Lord has been bound back into the sun once, Kallias reign of terror and weapons he wanted to use to rule over the rest of the world, foiled. Their tenuous relationship as teens, blossomed into solid love, despite all the trials, abuse and trauma they have lived through.
But Brynja cannot stay in Tenebris for much longer, she must return with her bronze magic to her home country and inform the queen of her success. and Ballast must prove himself as King and show he is not his father.

But there are a lot of enemies with their own agenda's lurking close by. The Aeronan Empire wants Daeros, The Queen of Iljaria wants to become Queen Eternal and will do anything to achieve her goals at the expense of her own people and retainers. Saga must return to Skaanda after being captive in Kallias collection- only to find herself alone with great responsibilities , her brother Vil with his own agenda, Brynja's twin brother Brandr who killed their father scheming for himself- his ambition dangerous even to his own family. Everyone is out to claim power for themselves.

So many reveals, struggles, betrayals, and despite all that, love, and hope for a better future for everyone. Our characters still have so much to go through before they get to live in peace.
I'm happy for Brynja and Ballast despite all the horrors and struggles they continue to go through.

Thank you for the opportunity to get to glimpse this one ahead of time. Joanna Ruth Meyer really did it with this one.

[Grace Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When the Light Returns" is the 7th of Joanna Ruth Meyer's published books, all of which I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, I have listed them as being among my favorite books in general. “When the Light Returns” was beautifully written. The characters were full, and I really appreciated the character growth, especially from Ballast.
However, while Meyer is a brilliant author, sometimes the narrative could get lost beneath the heavy poetic nature of her writing. There were times when the plot and characters themselves did not feel full fleshed out due to heavy description and an almost overwhelming emphasis on the emotions of whatever characters were in the scene. That said, this is only my opinion, and I am sure that there are many people who would appreciate this style of writing.
I have fallen in love with all of Meyer's characters over the years and I was equally attached to those in "When the Light Returns." I loved the romantic and platonic dynamics, the weaving of timelines and POVS, and the darkness of the villain. I also loved the romance! It was sweet and intimate without being spicy (which I really appreciated). I especially loved the romantic relationship between Ballast and Brynja and all of its. . . developments. IYKYK.
Overall, I loved “When the Light Returns,” and the ending left me satisfied and content. I am so excited to see what other novels Joanna Ruth Meyer gives us and where her writing takes her. She deserves so much praise!

Thanks to 47North and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my full and honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to read the ARC of While the Dark Remains, and I feel equally grateful to have received the ARC of When the Light Returns.

In a genre where fantasy series can sometimes lose focus by stretching a story across too many books, this duology felt just right in terms of scope. The overarching conflict and its resolution were well-suited to a two-book structure, and I found the conclusion of the second book especially satisfying.

In When the Light Returns, I felt that Meyer noticeably strengthened in how she shaped the relationships between the characters. The deeper development in their connections made me even more invested in them and genuinely rooting for their growth. Without spoilers, the ending provided each character with the resolution and personal growth they deserved, which felt both earned and emotionally fulfilling.

That said, the pacing was the one area where the book fell a bit flat for me. Certain sections lingered longer than necessary, while others felt rushed. For instance, Brynja’s search for the gods for Valrun moved so quickly that it strained believability and left me wanting more depth in that part of the story.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed both books in this series. It’s a duology I would happily recommend to my book groups and could easily see myself revisiting in the future. Thank you again to NetGalley and 47North for providing these ARCs!

[Faith Lavezoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Winter Dark Series

4.75 Stars

The world building was one of the highlights of the first book in this series, so I'm glad that we got to explore more of this world. Book 2 is set in Illarjia, the home of magic on the peninsula. Magic plays a large part in the culture of the Illarjia. It's capital city is split into twelve different sectors where the people who practice each type of magic live. The queen has 12 skapari, which is her personal group of magic users, with one practicing each type of magic. We get to see how Illarjia are trained to use their magic as well. Within this society, I found it interesting that the queen was not especially powerful with magic, but she still is able to wield so much political power.

The characters were the other highlight of book 1 and in book 2 we get multiple POVs, so we get to learn more about the characters. I definitely think that book 1 worked best with only Brynja's POV, but When the Light Returns has a bit of a wider scope, so many crucial plot points come from other characters. There are multiple POVs and there is a lot of back and forth with when each chapter takes place as well. It's not as straightforward as book 1, so it might be easy to get confused about the POVs and timelines. When the Light Returns begins 6 months after the events of While the Dark Remains, but through the different timelines, the events of those 6 months slowly unravel.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


OUT: (5/11/26)


Favorite quote(s):

“I am not arrogant enough to believe that I am unaffected by the draw of power. Wielding my magic makes my blood sing; being cut off from it by the iron collar is agony.
But I have begun to realize it is not the most important thing to me, that it never was. I am not willing to spend my own or others' lives in pursuit of it. I would rather live without my magic than use it for cruelty, for harm.”


Review:

This was such a great sequel. The characters really grew and changed. I loved learning more about each and seeing how everything shaped them. I loved Brynja and Ballast so much, they really made me emotional in this. It was nice to get more of the powers and the Gods. The journey with Brynja dealing with Valrún and everything going on with that was intense. I honestly was stressed. Ballast also had his own journey that was difficult but he worked through it. I loved the romances in this, mostly, Valrún and hers, not so much. It was messy and she's a terrible person. She did have hard things happen but that wasn't an excuse for the harm she did in this. The writing in this was just as incredible as book 1. I was sucked in from start to finish wanting to know what came next. I felt the end was great and really fit this story. It was beautiful. Overall this was a solid read and end to this duology.

[Mel C · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Multiple POV
-Multiple timelines
-Politics + religion
-Magic system
-Fantasy with a subplot romance

In the second book of this duology, we follow multiple POVs and timelines. I would be lying if I said I didn’t get a little whiplash or feel lost at times.

That said, I really enjoyed the expanded perspectives, especially Saga’s. Still, the heart of the story remains with Bal and Brynja. I just want to hug them both.

Before diving into this book, I revisited the first book, While the Dark Remains. The plot and characters had stayed with me over the past year, but I was glad I took the time to reread it before starting this ARC. I listened to the audiobook this time, and it was fantastic. I still highly recommend experiencing the first book again before jumping in.

There is so much left for Ballast and Brynja to figure out in this sequel, and it is incredibly easy to become invested in their journey while finding new characters to fall in love with.

Book two delivers more magic, more characters, more Ballast, more twists, more emotion, and even more light.

It was a satisfying ending to this duology, and if you enjoyed book one, you will absolutely enjoy diving back in.

[Dotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars ⭐️

When the Light Returns is Joanna Ruth Meyer’s follow up to While the Dark Remains. The story moves from the single point-of-view of the first book into a multi-point of view novel, changing perspectives and timelines throughout the story. Our main character, Brynja, is joined by friend and foe alike as threat of invasion hangs over all of our kingdoms.

This story was a marked improvement over the first book, with the pacing greatly improved by the multiple perspectives. The story flowed better, and overall was more engaging. The theology is expanded a little more as our characters move through the world, but I would have liked a little more depth to the magic system.

Our main character is somewhat more active in this story than the first, though there is still a significant problem with our main character passively accepting the control of others. Other characters refer to Brynja as a schemer, or five steps ahead, and that hasn’t ever felt true to her characterization. In the first book, she seemed to barely survive but for the manipulations of others, so others’ trust in her ability to plan felt disingenuous.

The story still fell into many of the common tropes of the genre, which made it feel somewhat predictable. The ending of the story felt like it lacked substance, especially considering the losses of the previous book. The final solutions felt tidy, and felt out of our main characters’ control. I did enjoy the epilogue, which had some nice details about the long term fates of our characters.

Overall, this book was an improvement over the first. If you were really enamored by the first book, you’ll probably enjoy it. However, if you haven’t read the first book, this wasn’t solid enough to justify continuing on.

This book was provided to me on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Katy Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Joanna for providing an ARC!

When the Light Returns is beautifully written. The descriptions are poignant and the first person POVs of each character invites us into their thoughts and hearts so snugly. An example early on is when Ballast takes a moment to imagine mice sitting on the throne in storage as little mice kings. You feel like you really get to understand and be in a space with the characters, who welcome the reader in with vulnerability and sincerity. And yet, these characters have no end of surprises in store. Meyer's command of pacing and the steady trickle of information leads to marvelous revelations that turn everything as we know it on its head.

I also just want to take a moment to praise the themes of power and love. One of my favorite things about Meyer's work is her ability to weave stories that are at their very heart, fairy tales that encourage us to believe that love, sacrifice, and forgiveness will lead us to a brighter day.

When the Light Returns is an epic sequel to While the Dark Remains. This duology contains lush worldbuilding, captivating magic, thoughtfully crafted characters, and so much light.

[Alena · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Light Returns is the final book in The Winter Dark duology. The story begins a few months where the previous one ended, The world has changed a little; there is a new king and new challenges, as well as the new king wants to understand the villain and how they got to where they were

Love how the authors weaving an interesting magic system based on gods, fantasy political intrigue, a new king’s reign, and a bit of romance. Like the previous book, we have different timelines, but this time we have a new POV. It's immersive, the magic system is wonderful, here we continue to explore more of the world building and we still have some twists and turns. There is also more character development, especially the relationships between them and a little more romance, without becoming romantasy. The romance is sweet and the personal growth is wonderful. All of the characters are likable and brave, with a strong sense of justice, seeking to improve the world and ease injustices. There are a few battles between good and evil, magic and justice.

Overall, is a great duology, fast paced, easy to follow, it hooks easily and has a twist that is very engaging.

[Michelle (Bamamele.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Joanna for sending me the ARC. All opinions are my own.

OH MY GAWD! This was just perfect. When the Light Returns is such a fantastic conclusion to The Winter Dark duology. We get more lore, more magic, more plots, more romance, more TWISTS, more action, and more emotion. Everything wraps up so satisfactorily, and I truly think this is Joanna's best book yet.

This book is really about finding yourself, figuring out how and what power to wield, love, and finding the light in the dark when everything seems bleak. We get so many more POVs this time, not just Brynja's. Our characters are much more spread out this time, so it's super helpful to see where everyone is, and to explore everyone's motivations. I continue to love Brynja and Ballast, but Saga's anger and frustration felt the most visceral to me.

Once again, my jaw was left on the floor with one of the reveals--but I LOVED it! The climax had my heart in my throat and my emotions all over the place. This duo is really such a well-done fantasy, and I couldn't put either book down while reading. I highly highly recommend!

[Rosalie K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and 47North for the advanced readers copy of this book!

I was really looking forward to this sequel to While the Dark Remains and it did not disappoint! I felt like the first book in this duology was an interesting take on the corruption of power and PTSD, with a slight romance subplot, and that continued in this book but with an interesting new direction. With Kallias dead the action moves to Iljaria and an exploration of Brynja’s home country. I really enjoyed the continuing mythology of the twelve Lords/Ladies that form the backbone of the magic system, and found it very unique among fantasy I’ve read. New villain(s) are introduced and with them new challenges for Brynja and Ballast, but with the same driving theme of striving for power leading to corruption and willingness to do anything to get that power.

I did find some aspects of the ending a little less interesting, but this book was a fantastic conclusion to the story and well worth reading if you enjoyed the first book!

[Kaitlin Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a satisfying ending to a great fantasy drama. I loved how many redemptive themes were woven throughout and how good and evil stayed in their lane. Now, did it take me a little while to wrap my mind back around all the characters and where they came from? Yes 😆 I would recommend reading this duology back to back, almost more as a single novel. My only real complaint is that some of the things in the second half felt a little bit too much "Deus ex machina", but it wasn't enough to ruin the story for me by any means. Recommending The Winter Dark series to any lover of fantasy, but also to any one who likes their stories undergirded by hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for a free eARC of this title!

[Samantha Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHEN THE LIGHT RETURNS
by Joanna Ruth Meyer
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A high fantasy epic with plenty of romance that’s perfect for fans of WHEEL OF TIME. There are different colors/types of magic, a rich mythology and world-building history, tangled love stories, and political machinations for power. The story is told from several points of view, but Ballast and Brynja love is the backbone of this epic. They go their separate ways and play their parts for the greater good; never once doubting the other’s intentions. Even though nothing goes to plan the resilient characters never stop fighting for each other and for what is right.

This story is the second book in THE WINTER DARK duology. I would recommend reading the series in order.

Publication May 12, 2026

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic continuation of the story begun in "While the Dark Remains". It's dark and complicated but still manages to stay ultimately hopeful. I thought that Saga's arc was especially gratifying- she didn't end up in a very good place after the first book, so her growth in this book was needed. There were a couple places where I felt like the mechanics of the story didn't quite make sense (especially with the time magic that's not explained super well), but overall the story is easy to follow and flows very well. The villains felt appropriately menacing but not flat; the underlying message made for some beautiful moments near the end. A great close to the duology.

[Charissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for this ARC!

I was so happy to be back in this world, and this really felt like a satisfying ending to the duology. The way this book expanded the storytelling added a wonderful layer to everything I loved about the first one. At times the pacing felt a little off, but it didn’t detract from the story, and using time as a storytelling mechanic gave the experience a feel that matched the magic in a really interesting way. I loved the twists just as much as in the first book, and the characters had so much heart; I can already tell this is a duology I’ll want to re-read someday!

[Sydnie Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read book one as a part of an Amazon First reads choice and was graciously allowed to read the ARC of book 2!

I rated book 1, 5 stars.. while I did find it had slow pacing I enjoyed the eventual outcome and the drastic twist the ending took and enjoyed my time with it.

Books 2 also had odd pacing but again, I enjoyed my time reading it, learning more about the characters and world they exsist in, and the plotting with the multiple pov. I feel like I cannot say more without revealing spoilers but if you enjoyed book 1 like I did, I can certainly say you will enjoy book 2!

[Simran K · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I did not find book 2 in this duology as gripping and unpredictable as book 1, it was still enjoyable. Time travel in books is always an iffy and confusing topic for me so the story lost me in those parts and the ending seemed a little too nicely wrapped up. However, I was intrigued with the character development and growth so that had me wanting to know what happens next. This duology will definitely be something I re-read again in the future!

Big thank you to NetGalley and Joanna Ruth Meyer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when an evil king falls, leaving behind countries and leaders strewn like broken pottery? How can anything good rise from grief and suffering? When the Light Returns explores these themes and the exquisite tension in damaged relationships, corrupt politics, a lust for power, and secrets that can tear down or expose truth. With Meyer’s beautiful prose and magic system, I was entranced the entire read, ending this Duology in a very satisfying way. I was given an ARC for my honest review. And I can honestly say I loved it!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was my honor to receive an ARC from the author. This epic conclusion to the The Winter Dark duology shines bright in a world full of darkness. Strong LOTR vibes crossed with sacrifices that reminded me of childhood series favorite The Chronicles of Prydain. As with the last book, there are a lot of delicious twists and turns to discover. Recommended for anyone who understands the timely and timeless message of the power of stories where light prevails over darkness.

[Laura Weymouth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deftly written, deeply emotional, and entirely satisfying duology conclusion. Cannot recommend Joanna Meyer's writing highly enough to anyone who loves epic fantasy with a classic feel. I'm hard-pressed to decide what I loved more about WHILE THE DARK REMAINS and WHEN THE LIGHT RETURNS--the suspenseful plot, the lovely, lightly-drawn romance, or the intricately crafted world. Putting this directly on my reread shelf <3

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel was incredible. I couldn’t stop thinking about this world after finishing the first book last year and jumped at the opportunity for an advanced copy of this book. The author nailed the balance between character development and driving plot. Read this book for a rich and unique story and a satisfying conclusion.

[Romy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved that we got to see more of Ballast and read his POV. Since Book 1, I loved him and was rooting for him. He came such a long way, and I'm still in awe of his devotion to Brynja.

Tension and emotions are running high in this book; obstacles and problems are coming from all directions, but the bond between Brynja and Ballas is stronger than ever.

My favorite part is the strong friendship some of the characters developed, and despite the adversities and mistakes, they still trust each other.

For me, this book is 1000% a yes. And I hope that not only Finnur but Saga gets their own book.