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Florence Waverley #3
Darkness
A dire prophecy has emerged, and the mer believe that humans and merfolk are in grave danger. Terror is closing in, but only one person holds the key to stopping it: Florence Waverley. However, her mission to save two worlds will lead her far, far out into the Darkness--a shadow-realm full of monsters, magic, and wicked tides that could tear apart bodies.
With the help of her friends, Florry must uncover a secret about humans and mer. A long-lost secret that could change her life. And above all else, she must fight hard to light the darkness. Everything depends on her mission: her friends, her world, and the one she loves.
The past, present, and future are about to collide--but can she stay afloat? One way or another, nothing will be the same when she enters the Darkness...
Darkness is the third book in the Florence Waverley series
With the help of her friends, Florry must uncover a secret about humans and mer. A long-lost secret that could change her life. And above all else, she must fight hard to light the darkness. Everything depends on her mission: her friends, her world, and the one she loves.
The past, present, and future are about to collide--but can she stay afloat? One way or another, nothing will be the same when she enters the Darkness...
Darkness is the third book in the Florence Waverley series
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2015
1 person is currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Ciye Cho
6 books61 followersCiye Cho lives in Australia and works as a graphic designer. He writes YA novels in his free time--and his head is often lost in the clouds or some place far from reality...
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 16, 2015
Original Review here: http://www.thesepaperhearts.com/2015/...
Florence must lead an expedition into the darkness to save not only the mer, but also mankind. Traveling with her band of friends, Florence is tasked with finding the lost secret. Her journey is filled with danger, creatures of the darkness, undead mer, and a mysterious mermaid who protects the secret they have been searching for.
The darkness, like the previous two novels, is filled with beautifully crafted world building. I love reading through the descriptions of Niemela and all of the colorful animals that live there. All of the creatures from the darkness are rather unique, yet slightly creepy. However, the one creature I always had trouble picturing, were the Azemars. Something about a giant starfish with hands is just a little too odd to visualize.
In the beginning of the previous book, Luminaire, Rolan kind of annoyed me. I hated the whole “I must distance myself to protect you crap” (gives me flashbacks to the twilight saga days…). I was grateful that in this book he finally seems to have come to his senses and accepted his feelings for Florence. There are some very cute moments between the two of them, and as the story progresses, there are only more of them.
Rolan touched my cheek. I gazed into his eyes and time seemed to slow down. Still, I didn’t look away. Didn’t need to with Rolan. For each time I pulled away, he was always there to draw me back in. And whenever I stumbled, he was always ready to catch me.
The main character of the story is Florence, whom is a strong and likable character. I was really happy with how things ended for her in this book. Although, for someone who is supposed to be incredibly brave, she gets saved by Rolan a lot. She seems to be a magnet for trouble, and anything bad that could have happened during their expedition always did. I would never want to be a minor character near Florence. Their life expectancy is always rather low and ending with bubbles.
The beginning of this book did start out a little slow. The characters kept talking about how they would have to venture out into the darkness, but it took a good portion of the book before they actually did. However, once they set off for the darkness things really started to pick up, and I found myself unable to set it down. Overall, I really enjoyed the third book in the Florence Waverly series.
Florence must lead an expedition into the darkness to save not only the mer, but also mankind. Traveling with her band of friends, Florence is tasked with finding the lost secret. Her journey is filled with danger, creatures of the darkness, undead mer, and a mysterious mermaid who protects the secret they have been searching for.
The darkness, like the previous two novels, is filled with beautifully crafted world building. I love reading through the descriptions of Niemela and all of the colorful animals that live there. All of the creatures from the darkness are rather unique, yet slightly creepy. However, the one creature I always had trouble picturing, were the Azemars. Something about a giant starfish with hands is just a little too odd to visualize.
In the beginning of the previous book, Luminaire, Rolan kind of annoyed me. I hated the whole “I must distance myself to protect you crap” (gives me flashbacks to the twilight saga days…). I was grateful that in this book he finally seems to have come to his senses and accepted his feelings for Florence. There are some very cute moments between the two of them, and as the story progresses, there are only more of them.
Rolan touched my cheek. I gazed into his eyes and time seemed to slow down. Still, I didn’t look away. Didn’t need to with Rolan. For each time I pulled away, he was always there to draw me back in. And whenever I stumbled, he was always ready to catch me.
The main character of the story is Florence, whom is a strong and likable character. I was really happy with how things ended for her in this book. Although, for someone who is supposed to be incredibly brave, she gets saved by Rolan a lot. She seems to be a magnet for trouble, and anything bad that could have happened during their expedition always did. I would never want to be a minor character near Florence. Their life expectancy is always rather low and ending with bubbles.
The beginning of this book did start out a little slow. The characters kept talking about how they would have to venture out into the darkness, but it took a good portion of the book before they actually did. However, once they set off for the darkness things really started to pick up, and I found myself unable to set it down. Overall, I really enjoyed the third book in the Florence Waverly series.
May 13, 2021
This was definitely the best out of the series, but there were still problems. This review will be harsh, but before you read it just know that I acknowledge that Ciye has put a lot of hard work into this series. For real, writing even a single novel is hard. Congrats to him for completing an entire trilogy. His passion for this story is evident, and it's a huge accomplishment that he was able to tell it. I just have... strong feelings about how he did it.
Cornelius Meridian is a cool concept, but I just can't get behind his influence on the mer society. So, despite being from Columbus's time, he got them all to speak 21st century English that Florence has no problem understanding. He even speaks it (NOT 15th century English) in the jellyfish memories. Suuure. And then mer continue speaking modern English for literal centuries despite the guardians wiping Cornelius from Niemela's archives and making the citizens forget about him or whatever? Okay. This isn't a good payoff. It really bothered me that Florence could just inexplicably speak the mermaids' language as soon as she was captured in the first book, and this explanation is a pretty big letdown (and it wasn't even given to us until the third book!!). I at least thought that Florence would have mermaid ancestry or something vaguely cool, but no. The mermaids just speak perfect English that, despite being spoken UNDERWATER for centuries with no human influence, has not evolved differently from the humans in any way for some reason.
I'm sorry, but Rolan and Florence have no chemistry. Rolan is a likeable character, but I got no fuzzy feelings when reading his romantic interactions with Florence.
Oh, and Florence. Throughout this entire trilogy, I've had a hard time relating to her. She's kind of a Mary Sue. She has no real skills besides being able to talk to animals (which she's just really good at despite never practicing it in her life) and her breathing polyp sixth sense, but for some reason she's this Extremely Special Character that is instrumental in saving Niemela. She can't fight and is always being saved by other people, yet is always putting herself in danger for the mission for some reason. Her future vision was revealed to us and then didn't really go anywhere after that. Bleh. And the deus ex machina ending? Florence changed into a mermaid and then the elders of the evil antagonist mermaid species who have been brainwashed to hate Niemelans and humans just had a spontaneous change of heart? Mary. Sue.
I'm sorry, that just isn't satisfying.
And the interludes. Oh, the interludes. Authors, please listen: randomly switching from first person to third person is extremely frustrating for readers. At least, it was for me. It also felt like a cheap way to move the story along. And why, why, why were there a couple of inconsequential interludes attempting to build a romance between Wynn and Marilenna? WHAT? Those could have been taken out and the story would have stayed the exact same.
Also, the random flashbacks that sometimes had time stamps (ex: "two weeks ago") and sometimes didn't? What were those? They didn't seem to serve any purpose, like the random memory Florence had while trapped in the evil Madigar prison. Why did she think about the coral pollination process? How did that serve the plot? It seemed so bizarre and out of place.
And those Madigars. They're interesting. I absolutely loved the concept of a different mermaid civilization. I loved learning that the Niemelans weren't the only ones. But there were some huge problems with the Madigars. Namely, Tahnee. Why was she so helpful? She lived in a society that brainwashed mer children from the moment they're hatched to hate humans and Niemelans. Like every other child, Tahnee was literally being trained to control monsters to kill the Niemelans. What was so special about her? Wasn't she infused with dark magic or something? Why was she defected to be good other than "just because magic"? If you've seen ATLA, none of those Fire Nation kids even think to go against the propaganda they've been fed since birth. They are so brainwashed that literally just dancing feels like sacrilege to them. I got the impression that the Madigar's brainwashing levels were extremely similar to the Fire Nation's. You know, training children to commit genocide and all that. Again, why was Tahnee just immediately willing to help our protagonists?
And the way she said "Good tides, Florence" or something. Huh? Didn't the Madigars break away from the Niemelans, like, forever ago? Their dominant language is still the "Old Tongue." They never got influenced by Cornelius, right? You're telling me that some of them speak 21st century English (for some reason) and also use the same slang as the Niemelans? Please, make it make sense.
And, okay. The mermaids spew out bubbles instead of blood when they get injured. Do they even have blood at all? Are their bodies just skin suits full of bubbles? How did Florence blush as a mermaid if the mermaids have no blood? Do the mermaids have blood or not? Worldbuilding details matter.
I also had some issues with the prose. I'm sure the author is a nice person and this is not a personal attack on him at all. Just wanted to put that out there. I wanted to bang my head against the wall every time someone 'froze.' Goodness, I was already sick of that word from the first two books. I should have taken a shot every time someone 'froze' in this book (and only this book. doing all three would have destroyed my liver). It certainly would've made the shoddy worldbuilding much easier to swallow.
There were also lots (lots) of unnecessary filler words that just told us what Florence was feeling/thinking instead of showing us. I had a very hard time with immersion because of this.
Example:
"I had no idea where the floom was headed, and dark thoughts
filled my head. What would happen if Wynn got lost? What if he
couldn’t break free?
Without thinking it over, I rushed after Wynn."
Why tell us that dark thoughts are filling her head instead of just showing us the dark thoughts that are filling her head? Since you did show us what she was thinking, telling us that she was having dark thoughts was extra unnecessary and broke my immersion.
Now let's talk about the ending some more. I hated it. I mentioned the deus ex machina nature of it earlier, and I really wasn't kidding. It's like if ATLA ended by getting rid of Ozai and all the brainwashed Fire Nation citizens still had a change of heart. Oh, but there was no Fire Lord Zuko to usher in this change. They all just got rid of their bigotry their own because Aang is a Mary Sue and airbender boy go woosh and save the world. That is literally what this ending was like. The evil characters that imprisoned our protagonists just decided to be good after their king was taken out of the equation. What?? And the last chapter? After everyone miraculously gets saved by mermaid Florence, now we get to read five paragraphs of Florence dreaming of the antagonists somehow using Kiren to go ahead and commit genocide anyway? And then blatantly telling us that "it's not over"??? AGHHH. Very cheap way to set up the next book and I didn't like it.
I know my review was scathing but all in all this book was not terrible. If you don't care about believable worldbuilding and if miraculous, you-really-need-to-suspend-your-disbelief-for-this endings don't bother you then you'll enjoy it.
Cornelius Meridian is a cool concept, but I just can't get behind his influence on the mer society. So, despite being from Columbus's time, he got them all to speak 21st century English that Florence has no problem understanding. He even speaks it (NOT 15th century English) in the jellyfish memories. Suuure. And then mer continue speaking modern English for literal centuries despite the guardians wiping Cornelius from Niemela's archives and making the citizens forget about him or whatever? Okay. This isn't a good payoff. It really bothered me that Florence could just inexplicably speak the mermaids' language as soon as she was captured in the first book, and this explanation is a pretty big letdown (and it wasn't even given to us until the third book!!). I at least thought that Florence would have mermaid ancestry or something vaguely cool, but no. The mermaids just speak perfect English that, despite being spoken UNDERWATER for centuries with no human influence, has not evolved differently from the humans in any way for some reason.
I'm sorry, but Rolan and Florence have no chemistry. Rolan is a likeable character, but I got no fuzzy feelings when reading his romantic interactions with Florence.
Oh, and Florence. Throughout this entire trilogy, I've had a hard time relating to her. She's kind of a Mary Sue. She has no real skills besides being able to talk to animals (which she's just really good at despite never practicing it in her life) and her breathing polyp sixth sense, but for some reason she's this Extremely Special Character that is instrumental in saving Niemela. She can't fight and is always being saved by other people, yet is always putting herself in danger for the mission for some reason. Her future vision was revealed to us and then didn't really go anywhere after that. Bleh. And the deus ex machina ending? Florence changed into a mermaid and then the elders of the evil antagonist mermaid species who have been brainwashed to hate Niemelans and humans just had a spontaneous change of heart? Mary. Sue.
I'm sorry, that just isn't satisfying.
And the interludes. Oh, the interludes. Authors, please listen: randomly switching from first person to third person is extremely frustrating for readers. At least, it was for me. It also felt like a cheap way to move the story along. And why, why, why were there a couple of inconsequential interludes attempting to build a romance between Wynn and Marilenna? WHAT? Those could have been taken out and the story would have stayed the exact same.
Also, the random flashbacks that sometimes had time stamps (ex: "two weeks ago") and sometimes didn't? What were those? They didn't seem to serve any purpose, like the random memory Florence had while trapped in the evil Madigar prison. Why did she think about the coral pollination process? How did that serve the plot? It seemed so bizarre and out of place.
And those Madigars. They're interesting. I absolutely loved the concept of a different mermaid civilization. I loved learning that the Niemelans weren't the only ones. But there were some huge problems with the Madigars. Namely, Tahnee. Why was she so helpful? She lived in a society that brainwashed mer children from the moment they're hatched to hate humans and Niemelans. Like every other child, Tahnee was literally being trained to control monsters to kill the Niemelans. What was so special about her? Wasn't she infused with dark magic or something? Why was she defected to be good other than "just because magic"? If you've seen ATLA, none of those Fire Nation kids even think to go against the propaganda they've been fed since birth. They are so brainwashed that literally just dancing feels like sacrilege to them. I got the impression that the Madigar's brainwashing levels were extremely similar to the Fire Nation's. You know, training children to commit genocide and all that. Again, why was Tahnee just immediately willing to help our protagonists?
And the way she said "Good tides, Florence" or something. Huh? Didn't the Madigars break away from the Niemelans, like, forever ago? Their dominant language is still the "Old Tongue." They never got influenced by Cornelius, right? You're telling me that some of them speak 21st century English (for some reason) and also use the same slang as the Niemelans? Please, make it make sense.
And, okay. The mermaids spew out bubbles instead of blood when they get injured. Do they even have blood at all? Are their bodies just skin suits full of bubbles? How did Florence blush as a mermaid if the mermaids have no blood? Do the mermaids have blood or not? Worldbuilding details matter.
I also had some issues with the prose. I'm sure the author is a nice person and this is not a personal attack on him at all. Just wanted to put that out there. I wanted to bang my head against the wall every time someone 'froze.' Goodness, I was already sick of that word from the first two books. I should have taken a shot every time someone 'froze' in this book (and only this book. doing all three would have destroyed my liver). It certainly would've made the shoddy worldbuilding much easier to swallow.
There were also lots (lots) of unnecessary filler words that just told us what Florence was feeling/thinking instead of showing us. I had a very hard time with immersion because of this.
Example:
"I had no idea where the floom was headed, and dark thoughts
filled my head. What would happen if Wynn got lost? What if he
couldn’t break free?
Without thinking it over, I rushed after Wynn."
Why tell us that dark thoughts are filling her head instead of just showing us the dark thoughts that are filling her head? Since you did show us what she was thinking, telling us that she was having dark thoughts was extra unnecessary and broke my immersion.
Now let's talk about the ending some more. I hated it. I mentioned the deus ex machina nature of it earlier, and I really wasn't kidding. It's like if ATLA ended by getting rid of Ozai and all the brainwashed Fire Nation citizens still had a change of heart. Oh, but there was no Fire Lord Zuko to usher in this change. They all just got rid of their bigotry their own because Aang is a Mary Sue and airbender boy go woosh and save the world. That is literally what this ending was like. The evil characters that imprisoned our protagonists just decided to be good after their king was taken out of the equation. What?? And the last chapter? After everyone miraculously gets saved by mermaid Florence, now we get to read five paragraphs of Florence dreaming of the antagonists somehow using Kiren to go ahead and commit genocide anyway? And then blatantly telling us that "it's not over"??? AGHHH. Very cheap way to set up the next book and I didn't like it.
I know my review was scathing but all in all this book was not terrible. If you don't care about believable worldbuilding and if miraculous, you-really-need-to-suspend-your-disbelief-for-this endings don't bother you then you'll enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2015
Diving back into the Florence Waverley world is always such a treat! Ciye Cho returns to his mermaid series with book three, Darkness, and he definitely does not disappoint!
Florence “Florry” Waverely has come to love the underwater world she now lives in, but a dire prophecy could lead to its destruction. The worlds of both mankind and humans are at stake and Florry is the only one who can save both. Florence’s mission to save the world takes her to a dark and deep place where she and her friends uncover a startling secret, dangerous new enemies, and life changing events.
The Florence Waverley series has come to be one of my absolute favorite mermaid series! Ciye Cho continues to spin spectacularly colorful, enchanting, and thrilling stories full of thrills, romance, whimsy, and wonderful characters. Like its predecessors, Darkness is bursting with imagination! The underwater, mermaid world in the series is simply dazzling and mesmerizing. Lush in details and vibrantly vivid, this is a world that completely enthralls and immerses readers. Niemela, the mermaid world Florence lives in, is full of wondrous, exciting things. And in book three, Cho takes Florence and readers on a deliciously dangerous journey beyond Niemela and into the great Darkness. From razorwaves to zombie like mermaids and giant beasts, I love how the chilling, darkly captivating side of this underwater world is explored in this volume.
Florence continues to grow and mature as a heroine, yet remains the same sweet, adorkable, fiesty girl that I’ve loved since book one. Florry has such an awesome mix of compassion, strength, humor, curiosity, and courage in her that makes her so lovable, admirable, and likable. She is surrounded by so many wonderfully diverse and fun characters, from bubbly Yolee, endearing Wynn, fierce Mara, and brave Rolan. The romance between Florence and Rolan is sweet and heart melty!
Florence and her companions find themselves on a perilous journey deep into the Darkness and Cho keeps the twists, dangers, and startling revelations coming. The secret they uncover, and the events its reveal lead to, are awesomely gasp-worthy and a real game changer. Darkness definitely left me excited and anxious for book four!
My Final Thoughts: With spectacular world-building, sparkling storytelling, thrills on every page, and wonderful characters, Darkness is a fantastic third book in a truly special series!
Florence “Florry” Waverely has come to love the underwater world she now lives in, but a dire prophecy could lead to its destruction. The worlds of both mankind and humans are at stake and Florry is the only one who can save both. Florence’s mission to save the world takes her to a dark and deep place where she and her friends uncover a startling secret, dangerous new enemies, and life changing events.
The Florence Waverley series has come to be one of my absolute favorite mermaid series! Ciye Cho continues to spin spectacularly colorful, enchanting, and thrilling stories full of thrills, romance, whimsy, and wonderful characters. Like its predecessors, Darkness is bursting with imagination! The underwater, mermaid world in the series is simply dazzling and mesmerizing. Lush in details and vibrantly vivid, this is a world that completely enthralls and immerses readers. Niemela, the mermaid world Florence lives in, is full of wondrous, exciting things. And in book three, Cho takes Florence and readers on a deliciously dangerous journey beyond Niemela and into the great Darkness. From razorwaves to zombie like mermaids and giant beasts, I love how the chilling, darkly captivating side of this underwater world is explored in this volume.
Florence continues to grow and mature as a heroine, yet remains the same sweet, adorkable, fiesty girl that I’ve loved since book one. Florry has such an awesome mix of compassion, strength, humor, curiosity, and courage in her that makes her so lovable, admirable, and likable. She is surrounded by so many wonderfully diverse and fun characters, from bubbly Yolee, endearing Wynn, fierce Mara, and brave Rolan. The romance between Florence and Rolan is sweet and heart melty!
Florence and her companions find themselves on a perilous journey deep into the Darkness and Cho keeps the twists, dangers, and startling revelations coming. The secret they uncover, and the events its reveal lead to, are awesomely gasp-worthy and a real game changer. Darkness definitely left me excited and anxious for book four!
My Final Thoughts: With spectacular world-building, sparkling storytelling, thrills on every page, and wonderful characters, Darkness is a fantastic third book in a truly special series!
January 5, 2015
I received an early copy of this book- Thank you so much for that Cho!- so in return I'll give it the shining review that it deserves... And may I say say: OH. MY. GOSH!!!! Darkness totally floored me! Just when I thought the author could not possibly create anymore amazing underwater realms, he totally proved me wrong! The adventure, the mystery, the excitement, the wonders of the mer, AH!!! It's all SOOOO beautiful! There's really no other underwater series I love more than this one and Cho continues to make this story something you just want to immerse yourself in! If you enjoyed the first two books, well, get ready for another exciting ride because it only gets better folks!!! Even though this cliffhanger is a heck of a lot more painful than the others, it just reassures me that it leaves SOOOOOOOO MUCH to be excited for!!! EEEEIIIIKKKK!!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!! <3<3<3<3<3 ^_^
January 16, 2016
I need more!
I'm pretty positive the next book is about Kiren. That excites me even more.
I love Florence and Roland still. Everything you could ever want for them and more, happens.
Of course there are major perils along the way. I really did wonder, at one point, if this would be the end of it all. I'm so glad I was way off base.
Such a wonderful, vibrant, dangerous and beautiful world Ciye Cho has created. I don't think I could ever get enough.
If you haven't read this series, please do. It's mer-tastic!
I'm pretty positive the next book is about Kiren. That excites me even more.
I love Florence and Roland still. Everything you could ever want for them and more, happens.
Of course there are major perils along the way. I really did wonder, at one point, if this would be the end of it all. I'm so glad I was way off base.
Such a wonderful, vibrant, dangerous and beautiful world Ciye Cho has created. I don't think I could ever get enough.
If you haven't read this series, please do. It's mer-tastic!
did-not-finish
October 8, 2017It's my own fault, I received this for review when it first came out but it ended up getting lost with my other to-review files letting way too much time pass. It has been four or five years since I read the first two books and I loved them and these characters but now I'm just not feeling it. As much as I'd like to be able to go back into this world I couldn't completely dive in.
May 30, 2016
Originally posted on Fables Library
I received this from the author in exchange for an honest review!
Talk about a lot of stuff happening in one book! Sweet beans I never saw that coming. Darkness is the third book in the Florence Waverley series and I think one of the best.
The title fits the plot very well, the wold Florence is in is beginning to sink into Darkness. Someone is plotting to destroy the human world and will stop at nothing to accomplish that. Even if it means that he will destroy both worlds in the process. It's up to Florence to save the two worlds from the Darkness and destruction while keeping her friends and herself alive. They must fight monsters of the sea, some of which seem cute in real life, but are really terrifying while in the Darkness. A perfect example would be a Narwhal
Don't let these cute little guys make you think they're all rainbows and butterflies. If you let them get too close they will kill you in the Darkness. Another example, and an even worse one, would be the Azemars. Evil, creepy starfish, that rip out their guts. Oh, and they are humanoid, can laugh even better than a villain, and smile a lot. When the smile it just gets creepier and creepier. Seriously, they were the worst. Florence and her friends, some new, have to face these monsters and more. They go through so much and it seems as if there is no hope for the main characters. More and more things just keep piling onto their list of troubles until it's just a giant hill of problems for them. Every moment was tense, some were almost hopeless, others were sad too.
Another thing I liked about Darkness was you learned more about Florence's past. Well, somewhat. But I can't go into too much details without spoiling stuff...
I loved some quotes in the book too, like these:
and...
The ending, I thought, fit perfectly. I imagined something different to happen, I expected it to be kind of sad. But with all that happened, I think it was perfect. With a (somewhat) cliffhanger. Don't leave me hanging, please don't! I hope there's another book!
You'd like Darkness if you like books about mermaids, fantasy books, or the first two books in the series.
For more about Florence (the series) go here: florence-books.com/
I received this from the author in exchange for an honest review!
Talk about a lot of stuff happening in one book! Sweet beans I never saw that coming. Darkness is the third book in the Florence Waverley series and I think one of the best.
The title fits the plot very well, the wold Florence is in is beginning to sink into Darkness. Someone is plotting to destroy the human world and will stop at nothing to accomplish that. Even if it means that he will destroy both worlds in the process. It's up to Florence to save the two worlds from the Darkness and destruction while keeping her friends and herself alive. They must fight monsters of the sea, some of which seem cute in real life, but are really terrifying while in the Darkness. A perfect example would be a Narwhal
Don't let these cute little guys make you think they're all rainbows and butterflies. If you let them get too close they will kill you in the Darkness. Another example, and an even worse one, would be the Azemars. Evil, creepy starfish, that rip out their guts. Oh, and they are humanoid, can laugh even better than a villain, and smile a lot. When the smile it just gets creepier and creepier. Seriously, they were the worst. Florence and her friends, some new, have to face these monsters and more. They go through so much and it seems as if there is no hope for the main characters. More and more things just keep piling onto their list of troubles until it's just a giant hill of problems for them. Every moment was tense, some were almost hopeless, others were sad too.
Another thing I liked about Darkness was you learned more about Florence's past. Well, somewhat. But I can't go into too much details without spoiling stuff...
I loved some quotes in the book too, like these:
"Why are you helping me?" I asked.
"Because sometimes we must make our own choices," he replied. "And that is not all." He floated closer and said, "Out of all the beings I have ever encountered, few are as brave as you."
and...
My dad used to say that the magic of photography is capturing moments before they slip away. But now, standing before Rolan, I realized what the real magic was: knowing what mattered before it vanished.
The ending, I thought, fit perfectly. I imagined something different to happen, I expected it to be kind of sad. But with all that happened, I think it was perfect. With a (somewhat) cliffhanger. Don't leave me hanging, please don't! I hope there's another book!
You'd like Darkness if you like books about mermaids, fantasy books, or the first two books in the series.
For more about Florence (the series) go here: florence-books.com/
January 7, 2015
My Thoughts: So I should start by saying that I really had to reread the rest of the series before I started this novel. It wasn't because the series wasn't good; it had just been so long since reading them that I felt it necessary. If you read the first two when they came out, I'd recommend that you too reread the series so you know whats going on. You don't really have to reread it to follow along though. This novel also had a super hand glossary in the back of the book.
So, my favourite thing about this novel and this series as a whole is the imagery used. The world sounds to amazing. It's so vivid and bright and colourful. It sounds simply amazing. I can picture it so easily. I'd read another five books in this series just for the world alone.
There is some death in this novel but I think it was needed. I can't stand novels where there is a war but nobody dies. How realistic is that? You should be sad when characters die and characters you like and become attached to should die because it happens in the real world. Authors should not be afraid to kill the characters that they like, that they know the readers will like. The reader just needs to learn to deal with it. It's necessary and it's exciting and it makes the novel more real. Pain can be good, I suppose.
As I began to read this novel (as I looked back on the last two novels from this series), I found that I had been missing the characters. Sometimes they were stupid...most of the beginning of the novel I badly wanted to punch a prince in the face but it's not too far from how the rest of the series went. I forgot how powerful Florence was. I forgot how strong and how brave she was. She is a fighter, even if she doesn't think that all the time. She doesn't realize just how strong fighting for her friends makes her be. I guess, in general, people will do things for their friends that they might not do for themselves. I should admit to you all that I did that funny thing where I ignore the age of the character and mentally make them my own age. It's fine...I don't have a problem...
This novel has less of a plot twist than the past novels in this series. It didn't seem to be as fast paced either. That was fine. This novel was a lot shorter than the other two and that made a big difference in my mind because you didn't need as much to keep the story going. I think that a lot of this novel was leading into a next one. I'd read it. Still, this was the only thing that I really wasn't 100% happy with. I wanted maybe just a little bit more. This may have been because the last two seemed so much longer. It honestly wasn't that big of a deal.
Basically: If you liked the last books in this series, mermaids, the sea, water, colours, or basically anything, you should read this book. Read the whole series.
See more reviews like this at www.one-chapter-ahead.blogspot.com
So, my favourite thing about this novel and this series as a whole is the imagery used. The world sounds to amazing. It's so vivid and bright and colourful. It sounds simply amazing. I can picture it so easily. I'd read another five books in this series just for the world alone.
There is some death in this novel but I think it was needed. I can't stand novels where there is a war but nobody dies. How realistic is that? You should be sad when characters die and characters you like and become attached to should die because it happens in the real world. Authors should not be afraid to kill the characters that they like, that they know the readers will like. The reader just needs to learn to deal with it. It's necessary and it's exciting and it makes the novel more real. Pain can be good, I suppose.
As I began to read this novel (as I looked back on the last two novels from this series), I found that I had been missing the characters. Sometimes they were stupid...most of the beginning of the novel I badly wanted to punch a prince in the face but it's not too far from how the rest of the series went. I forgot how powerful Florence was. I forgot how strong and how brave she was. She is a fighter, even if she doesn't think that all the time. She doesn't realize just how strong fighting for her friends makes her be. I guess, in general, people will do things for their friends that they might not do for themselves. I should admit to you all that I did that funny thing where I ignore the age of the character and mentally make them my own age. It's fine...I don't have a problem...
This novel has less of a plot twist than the past novels in this series. It didn't seem to be as fast paced either. That was fine. This novel was a lot shorter than the other two and that made a big difference in my mind because you didn't need as much to keep the story going. I think that a lot of this novel was leading into a next one. I'd read it. Still, this was the only thing that I really wasn't 100% happy with. I wanted maybe just a little bit more. This may have been because the last two seemed so much longer. It honestly wasn't that big of a deal.
Basically: If you liked the last books in this series, mermaids, the sea, water, colours, or basically anything, you should read this book. Read the whole series.
See more reviews like this at www.one-chapter-ahead.blogspot.com
October 20, 2015
As promised last Friday I’m continuing with my reviews of Florence Waverley series. Time for book three and this is not the end yet. Though it will be quite long until the next book is released. Yes, it is not yet the end of Florence’s adventures. But that’s too far into the future, let me focus on today’s topic!
To say the truth, from all three books I enjoyed this one the most. It finally shed some light on the Darkness mystery as well as some of other secrets concerning Florence. I still do believe that there’s something more to her heritage, it is still making me wonder why her mother’s room was mermaid themed. There should be something to it. But maybe I’m just overthinking. Happens a lot lately. Ii enjoyed the book not only because it shed light on many mysteries, though that was the main reason, however, because we see a lot of character development. I always liked Florry because of she put something into her mind she would definitely do it. And this time is no different. She is set to go into darkness and find the secret of two world so she can prevent the destruction of both human and her worlds. Will she be able to do it? Abd what when she does find out the secret, will she be able to walk into the Fyre so she can change herself and stay where she wants to. So what's the great secret? It’s that… as if I could say it and ruin a great moment of shock! Better if you find it by yourself, because the secret is quite alluring and dangerous at the same time.
However, not only Florence has to make choices. And finally I could see Rolan moving somewhere. If in the previous book he frustrated me with his inability to choose, he finally made up his mind and his confession to Florence is fantastic. Do you want to know whom he chose? Florence or Niemela in a dire situation? If you have already read the book, you know the answer, and if not what do you think? Do not worry he won’t disappoint you, and before I finish up this review. Get ready to meet some old characters and many new ones. You’ll have your hands full trying to find out who is on which side, and my favourite part: a revolution is brewing deep inside the darkness. And trust me you do not want to miss it!
Are you ready to unravel the mysteries of the underwater world? Are you sure you are strong enough to fight the madness and cruelty kept deep into the ocean? If you are, then grab your copy right now and find for yourself if the love between a human and merman can survive or if it’s meant to dissolve in the water. Enjoy this book to its fullest and don’t forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos! Don’t miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!
XOXO
Katie
To say the truth, from all three books I enjoyed this one the most. It finally shed some light on the Darkness mystery as well as some of other secrets concerning Florence. I still do believe that there’s something more to her heritage, it is still making me wonder why her mother’s room was mermaid themed. There should be something to it. But maybe I’m just overthinking. Happens a lot lately. Ii enjoyed the book not only because it shed light on many mysteries, though that was the main reason, however, because we see a lot of character development. I always liked Florry because of she put something into her mind she would definitely do it. And this time is no different. She is set to go into darkness and find the secret of two world so she can prevent the destruction of both human and her worlds. Will she be able to do it? Abd what when she does find out the secret, will she be able to walk into the Fyre so she can change herself and stay where she wants to. So what's the great secret? It’s that… as if I could say it and ruin a great moment of shock! Better if you find it by yourself, because the secret is quite alluring and dangerous at the same time.
However, not only Florence has to make choices. And finally I could see Rolan moving somewhere. If in the previous book he frustrated me with his inability to choose, he finally made up his mind and his confession to Florence is fantastic. Do you want to know whom he chose? Florence or Niemela in a dire situation? If you have already read the book, you know the answer, and if not what do you think? Do not worry he won’t disappoint you, and before I finish up this review. Get ready to meet some old characters and many new ones. You’ll have your hands full trying to find out who is on which side, and my favourite part: a revolution is brewing deep inside the darkness. And trust me you do not want to miss it!
Are you ready to unravel the mysteries of the underwater world? Are you sure you are strong enough to fight the madness and cruelty kept deep into the ocean? If you are, then grab your copy right now and find for yourself if the love between a human and merman can survive or if it’s meant to dissolve in the water. Enjoy this book to its fullest and don’t forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos! Don’t miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!
XOXO
Katie
December 31, 2014
Darkness is another fun and exciting addition to this series. I thought it was going to be the finale, but there's more to come! Florence is still trying to find her place among the Niemelans. She's more accepted than she was before the Life Path ceremony, but she doesn't have her own niche yet. However, Florence's visions have been increasing and soon they lead her to place that was once forgotten. There she finds out the location of a secret that can save the mer world and the human world. Too bad that King Rolan refuses to let her help. Florence isn't sure if it's because he has no faith in her, or because he wants to keep her safe. But she does know that she just can't float by idly while others put their lives at risk because of what she saw.
The world-building continues to be amazing in Darkness! Although for the majority of the book we're out of the safety of Niemela and into the great void that is the Darkness. But before we get there, there is a lot revealed about the history of Niemela. It's not at all what the mer are taught, as many truths have been covered up and lost over the years. But thanks to a mer who was thought to be dead, Florence uncovers it all, and leads the way to a secret location. Of course, they have to fight many scary creatures to get there, and then they have to make it back alive.
While I loved seeing the world expanded, the plot of Darkness wasn't as good to me as the one in Luminaire. It's the typical dangerous quest plot, where the odd-one-out must prove their worthiness to the group. There's a lot of trouble along the way, and almost anything that can go wrong does go wrong. There's also a lot of convenient ways that Florence and her group get out of sticky situations. At one point I had to roll my eyes and think "why didn't you do that earlier?!" It was still fun, and there's never a dull moment, but it was missing the uniqueness of the previous book.
The ending of Darkness is pretty great though. Florence goes through a major change, and I can't wait to see what that holds for her in the next book! The romance also progressed a bit more quickly. Rolan is still a bit standoffish and has trouble expressing his feelings for Florence, but after their life altering adventure, I think they're finally on the right track.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
The world-building continues to be amazing in Darkness! Although for the majority of the book we're out of the safety of Niemela and into the great void that is the Darkness. But before we get there, there is a lot revealed about the history of Niemela. It's not at all what the mer are taught, as many truths have been covered up and lost over the years. But thanks to a mer who was thought to be dead, Florence uncovers it all, and leads the way to a secret location. Of course, they have to fight many scary creatures to get there, and then they have to make it back alive.
While I loved seeing the world expanded, the plot of Darkness wasn't as good to me as the one in Luminaire. It's the typical dangerous quest plot, where the odd-one-out must prove their worthiness to the group. There's a lot of trouble along the way, and almost anything that can go wrong does go wrong. There's also a lot of convenient ways that Florence and her group get out of sticky situations. At one point I had to roll my eyes and think "why didn't you do that earlier?!" It was still fun, and there's never a dull moment, but it was missing the uniqueness of the previous book.
The ending of Darkness is pretty great though. Florence goes through a major change, and I can't wait to see what that holds for her in the next book! The romance also progressed a bit more quickly. Rolan is still a bit standoffish and has trouble expressing his feelings for Florence, but after their life altering adventure, I think they're finally on the right track.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
December 26, 2014
Also posted on: The Shadow Realm
What can I say about Darkness? This book was just everything I was hoping for and more. I didn't think I could fall any more in love with this series but I was wrong. My love grew tenfold with this book. Cho continues to amaze and dazzle with his spellbinding storytelling. I am seriously in awe of the world this author has created.
So much happens in this book and I was sucked in right from page 1. When Florence learns of a terrible prophecy, she will risk everything to undercover the truth. Venturing in to the Darkness, Florry and friends encounter terrifying monsters and more, dodging death at every turn.
Like the first two books, the story is told in 1st person from Florence's POV. However we do get chapters here and there that focus on other characters. I really liked this as it helped to move the plot along and gave more insight in to what was happening in the background. As always I loved Florry. She is a brilliant character, so strong and determined. Now that Niemela is her home, she does whatever she can to save it from the Darkness. She is truly a character to admire.
I just seriously adored this book. The story-line is fantastic; full of mystery, heart-stopping action, and a sweet romance. I love the direction the author has taken with mer. It's such a unique take. I really hope I won't have to wait another 2 years for the 4th book because I NEED it!! I know there is so much more still to happen and I cannot wait to find out what will come next. I really cannot recommend this series enough. Without a doubt one of my all time favourites.
*I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
What can I say about Darkness? This book was just everything I was hoping for and more. I didn't think I could fall any more in love with this series but I was wrong. My love grew tenfold with this book. Cho continues to amaze and dazzle with his spellbinding storytelling. I am seriously in awe of the world this author has created.
So much happens in this book and I was sucked in right from page 1. When Florence learns of a terrible prophecy, she will risk everything to undercover the truth. Venturing in to the Darkness, Florry and friends encounter terrifying monsters and more, dodging death at every turn.
Like the first two books, the story is told in 1st person from Florence's POV. However we do get chapters here and there that focus on other characters. I really liked this as it helped to move the plot along and gave more insight in to what was happening in the background. As always I loved Florry. She is a brilliant character, so strong and determined. Now that Niemela is her home, she does whatever she can to save it from the Darkness. She is truly a character to admire.
I just seriously adored this book. The story-line is fantastic; full of mystery, heart-stopping action, and a sweet romance. I love the direction the author has taken with mer. It's such a unique take. I really hope I won't have to wait another 2 years for the 4th book because I NEED it!! I know there is so much more still to happen and I cannot wait to find out what will come next. I really cannot recommend this series enough. Without a doubt one of my all time favourites.
*I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
April 18, 2015
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Originally published on booksmoviesthoughts.wordpress.com
THE STORY
(As taken from Goodreads)
A dire prophecy has emerged, and the mer believe that humans and merfolk are in grave danger. Terror is closing in, but only one person holds the key to stopping it: Florence Waverley. However, her mission to save two worlds will lead her far, far out into the Darkness--a shadow-realm full of monsters, magic, and wicked tides that could tear apart bodies.
With the help of her friends, Florry must uncover a secret about humans and mer. A long-lost secret that could change her life. And above all else, she must fight hard to light the darkness. Everything depends on her mission: her friends, her world, and the one she loves.
The past, present, and future are about to collide--but can she stay afloat? One way or another, nothing will be the same when she enters the Darkness...
MY THOUGHTS
Ok the first thing I have to said and probably the most shocking is that THIS IS NOT THE FINAL BOOK OF THE SERIES; which I totally thoughts it was. I mean everything was so perfect that when I was getting to the end I was just thinking "Oh God please don't let this book be ruined by rushing the ending" and of course I wasn't disappointed, you know because it didn't freaking end!!!
But don't get me wrong the book is awesome, if you have read the first two books this definitely won't let you down. And if you haven't and you like a lot of adventures mix with some romance then, what are you waiting for? Xo
Originally published on booksmoviesthoughts.wordpress.com
THE STORY
(As taken from Goodreads)
A dire prophecy has emerged, and the mer believe that humans and merfolk are in grave danger. Terror is closing in, but only one person holds the key to stopping it: Florence Waverley. However, her mission to save two worlds will lead her far, far out into the Darkness--a shadow-realm full of monsters, magic, and wicked tides that could tear apart bodies.
With the help of her friends, Florry must uncover a secret about humans and mer. A long-lost secret that could change her life. And above all else, she must fight hard to light the darkness. Everything depends on her mission: her friends, her world, and the one she loves.
The past, present, and future are about to collide--but can she stay afloat? One way or another, nothing will be the same when she enters the Darkness...
MY THOUGHTS
Ok the first thing I have to said and probably the most shocking is that THIS IS NOT THE FINAL BOOK OF THE SERIES; which I totally thoughts it was. I mean everything was so perfect that when I was getting to the end I was just thinking "Oh God please don't let this book be ruined by rushing the ending" and of course I wasn't disappointed, you know because it didn't freaking end!!!
But don't get me wrong the book is awesome, if you have read the first two books this definitely won't let you down. And if you haven't and you like a lot of adventures mix with some romance then, what are you waiting for? Xo
January 30, 2015
Synopsis: " dire prophecy has emerged, and the mer believe that humans and merfolk are in grave danger. Terror is closing in, but only one person holds the key to stopping it: Florence Waverley. However, her mission to save two worlds will lead her far, far out into the Darkness--a shadow-realm full of monsters, magic, and wicked tides that could tear apart bodies.
With the help of her friends, Florry must uncover a secret about humans and mer. A long-lost secret that could change her life. And above all else, she must fight hard to light the darkness. Everything depends on her mission: her friends, her world, and the one she loves.
The past, present, and future are about to collide--but can she stay afloat? One way or another, nothing will be the same when she enters the Darkness..."
My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. It took me a bit to get back into the setting and characters but if you read the books a little closer together than I have it should all flow together nicely. As with his other books I love how Cho really keeps you in the setting and makes it clear that Florence is a human living under water. I found it very interesting the twists and turns that this third book takes the story line on, I was surprised with some of the developments. I am not sure but this has the feel of being the last book of the series but it there are a couple of loose ends that can lead into another book.
With the help of her friends, Florry must uncover a secret about humans and mer. A long-lost secret that could change her life. And above all else, she must fight hard to light the darkness. Everything depends on her mission: her friends, her world, and the one she loves.
The past, present, and future are about to collide--but can she stay afloat? One way or another, nothing will be the same when she enters the Darkness..."
My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. It took me a bit to get back into the setting and characters but if you read the books a little closer together than I have it should all flow together nicely. As with his other books I love how Cho really keeps you in the setting and makes it clear that Florence is a human living under water. I found it very interesting the twists and turns that this third book takes the story line on, I was surprised with some of the developments. I am not sure but this has the feel of being the last book of the series but it there are a couple of loose ends that can lead into another book.
May 5, 2015
It feels like forever since I submerged myself in the world of Niemela and Florence Waverley. And, in a way, that’s true. It’s been three years since I read a book from this series, and normally that means I’d be lost over where I was with the story, but that wasn’t the case with Darkness. I started reading and slipped straight back into the world with no problems whatsoever.
Ciye Cho has managed to really flesh out Florence’s character in this book. She goes from being a girl fighting for respect in a land whose residents are wary of her kind to someone strong and willful, who isn’t afraid to fight for what she truly believes in, even if it kills her. I can’t even mention the main thing that happens to her in Darkness because it is a MASSIVE spoiler, but it’s so good and so fitting and I can’t wait to see how she adapts and develops in the rest of the series.
I went into Darkness expecting answers to questions I had from previous books, but unfortunately, that wasn’t to be! In fact, I think I’ve been left with more questions than what I started with, so hopefully I won’t have to wait three years for the next installment in this series to arrive!
Darkness was nothing short of an excellent read, and I highly recommend this series to people who are fans of both fantasy and mermaids. Definitely not one to be missed!
Ciye Cho has managed to really flesh out Florence’s character in this book. She goes from being a girl fighting for respect in a land whose residents are wary of her kind to someone strong and willful, who isn’t afraid to fight for what she truly believes in, even if it kills her. I can’t even mention the main thing that happens to her in Darkness because it is a MASSIVE spoiler, but it’s so good and so fitting and I can’t wait to see how she adapts and develops in the rest of the series.
I went into Darkness expecting answers to questions I had from previous books, but unfortunately, that wasn’t to be! In fact, I think I’ve been left with more questions than what I started with, so hopefully I won’t have to wait three years for the next installment in this series to arrive!
Darkness was nothing short of an excellent read, and I highly recommend this series to people who are fans of both fantasy and mermaids. Definitely not one to be missed!
February 10, 2015
Darkness was full of adventure and mystery and the stakes were a bit higher than they were in the first two novels of the series. I enjoyed Darkness and returning to the world of Nimelia.
I’ve said in all of my reviews for this series that I love the writing and the world building. This is definitely an underrating series, especially if you enjoy reading about mermaids, which are rarely explored in YA fiction. The author created such a vivid world, I can’t rave enough about it. The series is one of most visual and imaginative worlds I've ever encountered in YA fiction.
As the series progresses, I love that the conflicts never truly end because the mermaids hold on to their legends and tradition and don’t leave much room for change, progress, or questions. There are just so many valid conflicts and mysteries that Florence can get herself involved in as a human because humans are so naturally curious.
I highly recommend Darkness and the rest of the Florence Waverly series. My only criticism is that as my tastes have shifted to more mature YA and back into adult fiction, the series was tough to get back into at first because it’s definitely not upper YA and doesn’t really explore some of the more mature themes that it could. But I think that’s a huge selling point for a lot of YA readers who aren’t looking for that and I can’t fault the series for it at all.
I’ve said in all of my reviews for this series that I love the writing and the world building. This is definitely an underrating series, especially if you enjoy reading about mermaids, which are rarely explored in YA fiction. The author created such a vivid world, I can’t rave enough about it. The series is one of most visual and imaginative worlds I've ever encountered in YA fiction.
As the series progresses, I love that the conflicts never truly end because the mermaids hold on to their legends and tradition and don’t leave much room for change, progress, or questions. There are just so many valid conflicts and mysteries that Florence can get herself involved in as a human because humans are so naturally curious.
I highly recommend Darkness and the rest of the Florence Waverly series. My only criticism is that as my tastes have shifted to more mature YA and back into adult fiction, the series was tough to get back into at first because it’s definitely not upper YA and doesn’t really explore some of the more mature themes that it could. But I think that’s a huge selling point for a lot of YA readers who aren’t looking for that and I can’t fault the series for it at all.
July 9, 2016
This review can be found, along with a matching spoiler at www.booksmyquietfriends.blogger.com
This is the most recent instalment of the Florence Waverly Series just released previously this year. I found this story to be interesting, and when thinking back to the other Florence Waverly volumes I realize how much the main character in this series has grown. Florence has gone from a timid mouse of a human to someone who is willing to do anything for those she cares about. This is proven time and time again throughout this novel.
Although, I must say that the details in this book seemed to slip slightly and I found it difficult to picture some of the things that were going on in this fantasy world.
Overall this series has been a thrilling adventure filled with romance, emotion and imagination.
To create such a world in such a short amount of time is impressive, and Ciye Cho should certainly have a following of YA readers that enjoy a taste for adventure.
THANK YOU CIYE CHO FOR TAKING US ON A GREAT ADVENTUE AND TESTING THE LIMITS!
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This is the most recent instalment of the Florence Waverly Series just released previously this year. I found this story to be interesting, and when thinking back to the other Florence Waverly volumes I realize how much the main character in this series has grown. Florence has gone from a timid mouse of a human to someone who is willing to do anything for those she cares about. This is proven time and time again throughout this novel.
Although, I must say that the details in this book seemed to slip slightly and I found it difficult to picture some of the things that were going on in this fantasy world.
Overall this series has been a thrilling adventure filled with romance, emotion and imagination.
To create such a world in such a short amount of time is impressive, and Ciye Cho should certainly have a following of YA readers that enjoy a taste for adventure.
THANK YOU CIYE CHO FOR TAKING US ON A GREAT ADVENTUE AND TESTING THE LIMITS!
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
May 1, 2015
An under-the-sea story continues told with a light tone.
The main character, Florry, who is human continues to learn about the underwater world history and inhabitants which includes a dark side of things appropriately named the Darkness.
Florry also experiences a coming of age moment where she confronts her parents and her place in both worlds.
This story had more action in regards to battling a bad guy.
The main character, Florry, who is human continues to learn about the underwater world history and inhabitants which includes a dark side of things appropriately named the Darkness.
Florry also experiences a coming of age moment where she confronts her parents and her place in both worlds.
This story had more action in regards to battling a bad guy.
Read
March 9, 2015Review to come.
December 26, 2015
Book 4 want......now lol.
The imagery in the book was breathtaking.
The imagery in the book was breathtaking.
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