The Department of Dark Errands: Book One: Shadowmarked

by Imogen Vane

“She vanished to protect the world. Now she’s back—to burn it down or save it.” A midlife spy with outlawed magic. An ex-lover back from the dead. And a conspiracy that could unravel the Department from within. A forbidden magic. A dead partner who isn’t. A spy who thought she was done. Ten years ago, Nyra Vex faked her own death to escape the Department of Dark Errands—London’s elite magical intelligence agency, where truth potions flow like gin and loyalty is sealed in blood. Once the Department’s most lethal asset, Nyra walked away with a head full of secrets and a past she couldn’t outrun. Now, the Department wants her back. Her ex-partner, long presumed dead, has reappeared—cursed, compromised, and carrying dangerous knowledge about a rogue magical entity known only as the Red Accord. With enemies closing in and old loyalties called into question, Nyra must navigate a web of shadowbeasts, memory extractions, and the one thing more dangerous than a double-crossed a second chance at love. But Nyra didn’t survive this long by playing by the rules—and she has no intention of starting now. Shadowmarked is the explosive first installment in The Department of Dark Errands, a spellbinding blend of espionage, slow-burn romance, and steampunk-fueled sorcery. Perfect for fans of The Atlas Six, Fourth Wing, and The Night Circus—with a twist of midlife rebellion.

Genres: Fantasy

275 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Simoné Wolmarans · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Department of Dark Errands promised mystery, action, magic and romance in equal measure. And to be fair, all of those elements were there… somewhere.

It took me a while to find my footing in this world. The opening felt disorienting, and there were stretches where I was genuinely unsure what was happening or why. At times I was completely pulled in, invested and intrigued. Other times I felt like I’d missed a critical memo.

As the story built toward its climax, everything seemed to accelerate at once. Instead of feeling satisfying, it left me more confused than exhilarated. The ideas were strong, but I would have loved a clearer foundation and more deliberate world-building to anchor the chaos.

[Patience · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.75 ⭐

The Department of Dark Errands by Imogen Vane was an engaging mix of magic, intrigue, and character-driven storytelling.

The strongest aspect of this book was the development of the main characters. Nyra Vex is a compelling protagonist—resilient, intelligent, and shaped by a complicated past that influences many of her decisions. Beck Morran adds emotional depth and tension to the story, bringing loyalty, mystery, and a complicated history that keeps their dynamic interesting.
I especially enjoyed the magical elements of the story. The use of forbidden magic, shadow creatures, and the inner workings of the Department created a unique magical espionage atmosphere that kept the story intriguing.

While the plot itself was interesting, there were moments where I found it difficult to follow some of the major events. At times the pacing and transitions made it challenging to fully grasp what was happening in the moment. I believe having read the prior book, Shadowmarked, would likely provide additional context that would make certain plot points clearer.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with strong characters and an intriguing magical world.

[Michaela Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy through Netgalley for review.

I had a tough time with this one. It truly reads like a novella or a 10 years later version of an existing series. Much of the back story to this comes through flashbacks, and the Department of Dark Errands is clearly a well thought out well developed concept with a large backstory, but it's hard to get dumped in the middle of a giant backstory.

Because of this it made it very vague at points and confusing to figure out where these two characters were headed and what exactly had happened to them, or what was exactly happening.

I kind of wish I could read about Beck and Nyra when they started working for the Department, how they got there and what entirely the department is and how it functions. Before Beck took a curse on that (killed him? Cursed him? Disappeared him into a pocket realm?)

EDIT: I don't know why my original review was removed from NetGalley- I never reported an issue with my copy of this book. It wasn't the actual digital format, I don't know if this was an AI mistake on part of the website, (I certainly hope not) or a reading mistake on whoever looks these over.

Let me preface I did not enjoy how we were given information in this story. At all. That is my issue with this book. I did not enjoy it at all. Hope that is clear now.

[HonestlybookedJulie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read an ARC of The Department of Dark Errands by Imogen Vane via NetGalley.

This is quite a short book at just over 200 pages, and I’ll admit that from the very beginning I felt a bit dropped into the deep end. The story pulls you straight into this strange world, but I often felt like I was supposed to already understand how everything worked. There are also jumps back and forth in time and sometimes it was not immediately obvious that we had moved timelines, which made parts of it confusing to follow.

There were also a few little language details that pulled me out of the story. It seems to be set in the UK, but occasionally American terms appear. For example, referring to the “stacks” in a library rather than shelves. Small things, but noticeable when the setting feels very British otherwise.

That said, there are definitely strengths here. Imogen Vane is clearly a talented writer and there are moments where that really shines through. The main character, Nyra, is particularly strong. I loved that she is a midlife protagonist and that the story leans into a midlife romance element, which feels refreshing and not something we see nearly often enough. Nyra herself is engaging and easy to root for.

The central idea behind the Department of Dark Errands is genuinely interesting and has a lot of potential. Unfortunately for me the execution did not quite land. The best way I can describe the reading experience is that it felt like I had accidentally picked up a novella set partway through a larger series. I kept feeling as though I had missed earlier books that explained the world, the terminology, and some of the background. But as far as I can tell, this is actually the start.

I found myself even checking the back of the book to see if there might be an index or glossary to help with some of the terms and concepts, which says a lot about how lost I occasionally felt while reading.

Overall, I think there is a lot of potential in this world and in this series concept. The premise is strong, the protagonist is strong, and the writing ability is clearly there. It just felt like the story never quite reached the point I kept expecting it to reach.

This is not a bad book by any means. It simply feels like it needed a bit more development and clarity to really deliver on what is otherwise a very promising idea.

[Lra · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5


Nyra Vex lleva diez años fingiendo que sobrevivir es lo mismo que vivir. Dirige una pequeña botica en Londres, prepara tés para el duelo ajeno y evita pensar en el pasado que la marcó con sangre, magia prohibida y una decisión que lo destruyó todo. El Departamento de Dark Errands la da por muerta y ella hace lo posible por seguir siéndolo.

Pero las sombras no olvidan. Una irrupción imposible rompe la falsa calma de su nueva vida y el Departamento la arrastra de vuelta al lugar que juró no pisar nunca más. Nyra es reactivada como lo que siempre fue, un arma peligrosa, una mujer marcada por un hechizo que salió mal y por un nombre que todavía le duele pronunciar.

Cuando descubre que su nueva misión está ligada a Beck Morran, el hombre que perdió en la noche que cambió su destino, Nyra entiende que esta vez no se trata solo de obedecer o escapar. El pasado exige respuestas y el precio de la magia vuelve a cobrarse con intereses.

_________


Tiene potencial, pero siento que todo y nada pasa al mismo tiempo. Hay menciones de muchas cosas que te dejan sintiendo que hay un libro antes y que este no es el primero.

Gracias NetGalley por el ARC.

[Nicola P · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book begins with a compelling concept and an intriguing backdrop that immediately suggests depth and mystery. The central idea has real promise, and there’s a strong sense that the story aims to create an immersive, atmospheric experience.

In practice, I found myself struggling to fully engage with the narrative. The writing places significant emphasis on physical surroundings and minute details, sometimes at the expense of emotional connection. While vivid imagery can enhance a story, I often felt distanced from the protagonist because I wasn’t given enough insight into her inner reactions or motivations. As a result, certain scenes felt observational rather than immersive.

There were also moments where the pacing shifted unexpectedly. One particular development moves from subtle to intense very quickly, which disrupted the rhythm of the story for me and made the progression feel abrupt.

Although the execution didn’t entirely align with my personal reading preferences, the underlying premise remains interesting and may resonate more strongly with readers who appreciate a detail-driven, deliberately paced style.

Many Thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC.

[Book Nook Baddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

An otherworldly organization that ensures the capture and containment of rogue spells, relics and ancient adversaries... two agents become magically tethered to uncover the truth about the society they've sworn to protect.

The Department of Dark Errands is told in flashback sequences with rich details woven in every scene. The dialogue between Vex and Beck flows effortlessly and each character is self contained. The idea of the story was so intriguing and unique that you felt compelled to dive in.

Unfortunately, this book feels like it was sent to Arc reviewers unedited. There are chunks of information that are missing and connections unmade. It is very difficult to follow the plot throughout the majority of the book. Sadly, no backstory is explained and the resolution is rushed at the end. I pushed through the book thinking the end would tie everything together but was left unsatisfied and not in the cliff-hanger type of way.

This book has the potential to be great. Even in the confusion, I struggled to put the book down. The scenes are written so well but delivers very little to the plot. With some work, this book could be a fantastic read!

[Mary L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/3 stars What did I just read? I'm so confused. Did I receive a corrupted file with parts missing?

Based on what I read and could ascertain...The idea of The Department of Dark Errands is great. However, there is so much missing in the back story and it feels like the reader should already know certain things like the Coin, Patron, the Accord and the over all idea of what is happening. It is like the reader is dropped into an unknown world that they must decode persons, events, and dialogue to understand what is going on in the story.

The transitions were brutal. I was lost from beginning to the end. There is detail writing of unimportant surroundings but not actual pertinent information for the reader to understand or relate to the characters. Note: the intimacy scenes were odd and flat.

I struggled with having to write this low rated review. Writing is not easy and should be applauded and commended. I feel this needed a lot of editing because the writer had a great idea but needed guidance in execution.

Thank you Netgalley, Empress Editions and Imogen Vane for the opportunity to read this story.

[Hannah Grimm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and the publisher for the opportunity to share my thoughts of the ARC of The Department of Dark Errands.

I personally found a large portion of the book to be describing things in sequence that don’t seem to add any context for me as a reader. There are entire paragraphs describing a scene that provide information to the reader in a way I found confusing. For example, how do we know the paintings way down the endless hallway stare down with ‘mute disdain’ specifically? Who is observing this? For what reason does I, as the reader need to know this particular detail? Additionally, I think there are many sentences in rapid succession that describe things happening around with little insight to our point of view characters mindset or feelings that makes it hard to feel grounded in the storytelling. I feel like there is alot of telling, like these items are in the room or on the shelf with little or vague introspection from our characters and a lack of strong transitions that makes it reads more like a procedural than a novel to me.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Department of Dark Errands is a wonderfully strange and quietly enchanting novel—one of those stories that slips under your skin before you realise it. I loved the blend of dry humour, creeping unease, and the gentle melancholy that runs through every chapter. The world feels both familiar and off‑kilter, like stepping into a dream you’re certain you’ve had before.

The characters are drawn with a light but confident hand, and I found myself unexpectedly attached to them, especially as the book leans into themes of purpose, loneliness, and the odd little rituals that make up a life. The pacing is unhurried in the best way, giving the story room to breathe and allowing its stranger elements to settle naturally.

It’s a novel that rewards readers who enjoy subtle magic, quiet mystery, and a touch of the uncanny woven into the everyday. I closed the final page feeling both charmed and a little haunted—in the loveliest way.

With thanks to Imogen Vane, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Christa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

This book has a unique magic system that I wanted to love. I just couldn't finish this book. It isn't executed well at all and to the point where I don't have any idea what's going on. Nothing is explained and there are no context clues to help me get an idea of what's happening.

Here's what I can understand. Nyra used to be a member of the Department of Dark Errands but left when her partner Beck died under mysterious circumstances. She's now been pulled back in to assist with dealing with her partner who is back from the dead and under a curse.

I want more exposition to give me a sense of what's going on. It's very hard to stay engaged with a story when nothing makes sense. I found the descriptions of action to be vague which furthered my confusion. I hope this book gets more editing as the formatting, writing, and pacing of the story all need more review.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Wow, what a ride! I felt like I was gaining pieces of the puzzle with each page but had so many questions until suddenly things started to make sense. I was left wondering what would happen next and what adventure was going to take place. I was not expecting the deep female empowerment theme and how it impacted me; with the current sociopolitical culture this book had me wanting to stand up and war cry too! Excited to see what the rest of the series brings as there are so many more stories from characters that I want to pull out and learn more. The only thing I could have done without was the two sexual scenes - I'm fine with them just felt that they took me out of the main storyline and where somewhat random in comparison to the rest of the writing.

[Chevonnika · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of the story is very interesting and has a lot of potential, the opening scene definitely adds a dark and mysterious atmosphere.

Although I had found myself bored and a bit lost with the writing style. I am fine with the setting being very descriptive but it seemed some areas weren't described as much so it did not feel balanced. This made some sections more fast paced but confusing and other sections drag on.

The story wasnt able to keep my attention and I found myself skimming through the chapters, sadly I did not make it all the way to the ending. I did have to DNF at around 50%

I wanted to like this novle but I unfortunately do not think it is for me

[Angelina Titeryakova · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that the book went up for ARC reviews before it was ready to and this is where its problem comes from.
Having sooo many technical mistakes and such a strange structure in the formating itself, really didn't let me get into the story. There were also some explanations that didn’t really fit with the narrative, that was hard enough to follow.
The main story arc itself was predictable, but still interesting and hopefully after the correction - enjoyable.
I will most probably re-read it when it comes out.

[Antonia07Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNFed around 8%.

The premise sounded really interesting and what I read definitely caught my attention, but I struggled with the digital ARC formatting. There was a lot of mid-word hyphenation, odd dashes, and weird line breaks that made it hard to stay in the story, so I decided to stop for now.

This feels like an ARC formatting problem rather than a story issue. I hope this is resolved in the final edition because the story felt intriguing.

(Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.)

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very excited to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley. The premise is intriguing and right up my alley. I love that the FMC is older, and I was looking forward to the romance with her reanimated colleague. Unfortunately, I did not finish the book because the prose was difficult to follow. I love to read because it regulates my nervous system, but the writing and sentence composition made me too anxious. With further editing, I think this book has potential.

[Misty Calloway · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. The Department of Dark Errands mixes magic, espionage, and second chance romance. It is an interesting concept and has the potential to be a good book. Unfortunately, the writing is confusing, and the plot seems to get lost. The pacing made certain scenes difficult to follow and many times, I wasn't sure which character was talking. I think with a little editing and cleaning up, this would be a good read.

[E H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Hear me out. The start of the book, maybe the first 20-35% is like being dropped into the middle of a random James Bond + Harry Potter love child series. You’re not quite sure what’s going on, but it’s… somehow… working? I could not put the book down. I NEEDED to understand Beck and Nyra & what the hell was happening with the Department of Dark errands.. While I for sure questioned some things, the plot had a few holes, I really did like the action and the character development

[Tori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really REALLY wanted to love this one. It felt unique and pulled me in right away. But that faded quickly and I got frustrated and ended up skimming the last chapters.

The writing itself is wonderfully whimsical and atmospheric. The plot is delivered in a way that doesn't really work. I wish I could read the setup first, what happened to characters before The Big Event that puts them where they are at the start of this story.

[Tina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book, for the most part.

The beginning was very confusing and hard to follow. The it seemed like accelerate quickly and end.

The concept was fabulous though. I enjoyed the female empowerment throughout the book. I love when the FMC is tough and the MMC is in a supporting role.

All in all, I would recommend this book and I would read the next.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book… I am a great fan of fantasy. It has a lot of great elements. For me it didn’t quite have enough world building or depth of plot. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[☆Laura☆]

RTC