The Hollow Dark

by Toni Duarte

A queer YA gothic fantasy about forbidden magic, fractured loyalties, found family, and the courage it takes to claim your truth in a world that demands your silence.

August is a cynical, unambitious prince with a dark he can see the dead. Haunted by the relentless anchored spirits, he’d give anything to be free of the curse. But it's not the ghosts he fears most, it's the truth that could unravel he’s a wielder—one of the very people he's been raised to hate.

Felix is brilliant, driven, and dangerous—a rare triple-wielder with outlawed magic and a vision for a better world. He's proud of who he is, but in a country where magic users are feared and punished, he knows being discovered means death. He’s spent his life hiding his power behind a mask of charm and control, forced to swallow back the growing resentment.

When August and Felix meet at a festival, their connection is instant, electric—and doomed. As wielders begin to vanish, a desperate search for answers ends in betrayal that twists friendship into enmity. Two years later, they meet again, this time as enemies forced to unite against an apocalyptic threat of their own making.

Genres: Queer, Fantasy, Young Adult

453 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

Toni Duarte writes stories about queer characters navigating unraveled worlds. Originally from Illinois, she now calls the Irish countryside home. When she’s not dreaming up new stories, she can be found spending time with her family or questing through video games. She loves D&D, books, and all things zombie-related.

Reviews

[Toni Duarte]

I wrote this book! If you're thinking about picking it up, here's what you can expect:

-Disaster gays (okay, gay and bisexual, but the point stands)

-Characters you probably shouldn't root for, but absolutely will

-Ghosts and creatures that are best described as Victorian elixir splicers (any Bioshock fans out there?)

-A friends-to-enemies-to-it's complicated story told through split timelines (The sweet, spark-filled past cut through by a jagged, hate-soaked present)

The Hollow Dark is an upper-YA novel meant for 15+ that does not shy away from the dark. So here's a full content warning list so you know what you're getting into:

Depictions of gun and knife violence, dismemberment and decapitation, the removal of hearts and acts of vivisection, unsettling visions of humans whose minds and bodies have been twisted by an elixir, elements of body horror and magical sickness, moments of mental distress, loss of a family member, dead-naming of a trans character, and traumatic memories that touch on abuse. The story also explores supernatural psychic intrusion and includes scenes of mild gore.

I also wrote a new adult post-apocalyptic trilogy (2 of 3 books are currently published)
Check out my website for more details

[Tina Pow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the author's other book, so I applied for an arc of this one and was so happy to get a digital copy in advance!

Loved the morally grey characters as well as the different representations. The chapters changing in showing us the past vs. present kept me hooked during the whole read (especially as a Vicious fan 🙂‍↕️)

Can't wait for the second book!

[Ilana Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

August is the very reluctant heir to the throne with what he thinks is a terrible secret: He can see the dead. He can't avoid them, in fact, they're everywhere and they crave his attention. Felix is no aristocrat, but he does want the power that goes along with a high social status. He's also got a secret: he's thrumming with illegal magical powers. When the two young men meet, they're more interested in the sparks flying between them then in any background details. Unfortunately, reality won't be ignored and their budding attraction and affection is harshly tested by events beyond either of their control.

I adored this book. I flew through it. The characters are both adorable and wonderfully complex, engaging despite and because of their understandable flaws. I loved how their personalities and life-experiences contrasted and drew out both the best and worst in each other. The secondary characters are colourful too and I fell in love with more than one of them. The world-building is lush and fascinating and allows for a thought-provoking exploration of social justice and the lines we reach and sometimes cross when fighting oppression.

The story drew me in quickly an kept me rapt until the end. It put me through a whole range of emotions from joy to devastation. It gets very dark at at times, but earns every moment. Toni Duarte's writing is vivid and gorgeous. I enjoyed every moment I spent with The Hollow Dark an can't wait for the sequel.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hollow Dark gripped me from the start with its lush and magical world-building and diverse and loveable cast of characters. 10/10 would recommend to fans of Schwab, Bardugo and Pacat.

[Gay-Alien · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get fully emerged into the story, but once I did I wasn’t able to put the book down anymore!! Despite having 450 pages, this book felt like such a quick read to me, I absolutely inHALED it. At times some of the dialogue took me a tiiiiny bit out of it, but the book has a really interesting premise to it and I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next.

Im so so obsessed with whatever tf Felix has going on, genuinely I love him so much what the hell.
I really appreciated how much genuine hatred there was between Felix and August at the beginning of the modern timeline, and they had every reason to hate eachother. That’s something I often find myself missing in enemies to lovers books. But this story truly had all the angst I could ask for✨
It also kept on taking turns I did NOT see coming. Having dual timelines really helped on that account. It kept on making me wonder what had happened in the past.
Overal I had a great time with this book and I can’t WAIT to see what happens next! Thank you so much for letting me read the ARC 💖💖

[Nathan Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a roller coaster of epic proportions. There are found family elements, there’s just a whisper of romance, there’s a dash of court politics, gothic/gaslamp vibes, a really cool magic system, and a whole cast of characters that are brilliantly fleshed out and complex.

If you love to love characters that you love to hate and hate to love, there are opportunities for that abound. The entire main cast is morally grey, motivated by very real trauma and unmet needs, and they’re portrayed in ways that will make your heart either sing or ache (and often both).

This book had me deep in its clutches. Plot twist after plot twist kept me reading until 5am several times, but I’ve never been more content with something absolutely destroying my sleep schedule. This book is incredible.

If you loved VE Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic trilogy and/or Vicious and Vengeful or CS Pacat’s Dark Rise, you’ll be right at home here.

[Lala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read an early edition of this book as a beta reader, and I loved everything about it! I adored August, Felix and their messy relationship, and just know this is going to be one of my favorite books of 2025.

[wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hollow Dark is brilliantly unique fantasy about the strength it takes to be yourself, claim your power, and stand up in the face of oppression.

I was immediately drawn in to the intrigue with August’s POV – I adored both him and Felix from the beginning. Like with any Toni Duarte book, the characters felt like real people and were so easy to fall in love with despite their flaws and their motives. I loved that we got chapters from both Marlow and Lottie’s POV, too. It helped give us more a view of other things going on in the story, as well as insight into their relationships with the other main characters.

I enjoyed the steady pacing and the use of dual timelines – it really worked to spin an enticing narrative: the mystery behind what happened between August and Felix In the past kept me hooked. When betrayals were revealed, it was done with so much emotion that I couldn’t help but feel torn between both characters.

The world building – the city districts, mentions of past wars and the gods – was expertly woven into the narrative, making it feel real and alive. The setting, along with the elixir monsters that creep through the story, really reminded me of two of my favourite video games: Bioshock and Dishonored.

All that said, I absolutely ADORED this book and its characters. If you’re looking for a fantasy with LGBTQ+ and disability representation, morally grey characters who you’ll both love and be frustrated with, you should definitely pick this one up.

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[K.C Wassem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come but this was a really great read! Loved the world and characters

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hollow Dark is a fast paced, dystopian fantasy!  The world was atmospheric and grim. Very grim. But the overall tone felt more lighthearted than the world that was described.
I thought the magic in this was very cool! I greatly enjoyed the variety of wielder types and the colored rings in their eyes. The versatility of some of the magics was so creative!  I found the characters to be believable both in their motivations, and also their internal conflicts. 
  At the beginning of this story I was sometimes frustrated with August; but by the end of it I was so proud of him! The enemies to lovers arc in this was done well although it was more like crushes to political enemies, to hostages with unresolved feelings?? Whatever you classify that as I enjoyed it a lot. The bickering was great lol. 
The dual timeline and POV helped set up the back story and flesh out relationships efficiently.
I was genuinely sad when this was over I wanted it to be a bit longer and I'll be very invested in waiting for the next one!

[luz · Rating 3 out of 5]

upon finishing the novel, i first landed on a 3.5 rating but the more i think about it, i think this is more of a 3.25/5-star read. don't get me wrong!! i enjoyed this a lot, actually. i wasn't bored at any point when i was reading it which already makes it pretty good in my book. the plot twists were fun & tbh, a few of them really did gag me. kudos to that. however, while the premise was interesting, the execution wasn't fully there.

i understand that this is ya & the primary cast skews younger, but the politics was pretty weak and overall, rather underbaked. the story also sometimes felt rushed and stumbled every now & then with the pacing. it's honestly why i'm conflicted with how i feel about the dual timelines. yes, they're a key feature of the novel & i enjoyed them, but i also think that they contributed to the pacing issues. maybe instead of the dual timelines, the book should've been split in half & revised with better pacing, more exposition to better establish the world, etcetc. it's already a pretty hefty book with 451 pages, but somehow, i can't say the same for the contents. highk, i wanted more from the story but wasn't given enough. as it stands, the novel sort of read like a condensed version of a longer story.

the characters, i really liked. august & felix are obvious standouts, although the way their relationship progressed left me conflicted at times. the developments from 'i have feelings for you' → 'i hate you & want to kill you!! → 'actually, i still like you' would've benefited from being expounded on more, i think. they were a bit too abrupt for my liking. the rest of the cast were fine, but i wish lottie received more attention. honestly, quite a few characters could have held more prominent roles if only the story was fleshed out a bit more.

i also think that the multiple povs were too much. while marlow & the other side characters provided information necessary to move the story along, i still am of the opinion that it should've just been august, felix, and maybe a couple of side chara povs.

overall, it was fun & enjoyable but was somewhat lackluster in execution. i'd still recommend it to people who like ya fantasy stories with a darker edge.

disclaimer: i received an e-ARC of the hollow dark, but all thoughts are my own

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading The Hollow Dark! I rated it five stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The dual timeline narrative kept me guessing the whole time, especially since it seems to be such a cute friendship (maybe budding into more?) in the early scenes and is definitely ENEMIES enemies (with a murderous cherry on top 🗡️) in the later scenes. I kept wanting to read more to see how the first became the second (and whether there’s any going back again).

The characters are deeply flawed and often problematic, which I personally enjoyed. Felix is egotistical and vicious with a fierce temper, while August is entitled and hypocritcal and often very much a coward. It’s easy to see why each character behaves the way they do based on their history, even when it sometimes makes you want to smack them upside the head. Look, these two are frustrating to read about sometimes, but mostly they just need hugs (and maybe to overthrow those in power, you know how it is 😆). But they both legitimately hurt each other, in real and lasting ways, with trauma that can’t be swept under the rug, which makes for interesting story development and plot as well as great characterization.

The worldbuilding is unique - atmospheric, often dark, with feral creatures that are reminiscent of smarter zombies and desperate ghosts set against a political backdrop of totalitarianism (with baked in anti-magic sentiment) and rebellion. And the way the hollow dark itself was described is spooky and ethereal, and I both want to see it and couldn’t be paid enough to spend any time there... 😅 The magic system is also really neat - I’ve never seen colored eye rings as an indicator of magic before, and August’s abilities in particular kept getting more interesting the more I learned about them.

There’s an appropriately dramatic ending, with satisfying character growth on the part of both main characters and progress made in fixing the world. And yet, things are left open for the sequel - there’s still so much left to fix. Honestly, I think my biggest complaint about this book is that I can’t read the next one yet! 😢

Overall, I really enjoyed this read. Devoured it. Loved every minute of it (even the painful ones). I want to get Felix and August together in a room, bake them lots of cookies, and give them therapy because even murderous disasters deserve happiness. 🖤 But since I can’t do that, I’ll just recommend you read the book instead!

This is an ARC review. The above is my honest opinion of the book based on reading an advanced copy from the author.

[KMart Vet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book's promise of disaster queer rep meant that I ran to sign up for the ARC and it did not disappoint. The worldbuilding is strong and layered. I loved the story and the world, but the characters were the reason that it really hit hard, so I'll probably just talk about them in my review. Just assume everything else was right up my alley, but I don't want to spoil anything.

I loved the use of dual timelines to slowly unravel what happened between August and Felix. Watching their relationship shift from mutual fascination to outright hostility was genuinely compelling, especially because the story lets that tension sit and breathe before explaining it. Every time the time jumped back and forth, it ratcheted up my desire to know what the heck could have happened between these two.

August and Felix are deeply flawed in ways that feel incredibly real. There were moments when I didn’t like one or both of them, but I always understood them, which is honestly more impressive. These are two very broken humans, like most of us, and sometimes they aren't great people. Their choices are shaped by fear, resentment, hurt, and survival, and the book does a great job showing how those pressures warp good or benign intentions into bad decisions.

My one real issue is that the resolution of their animosity felt a bit rushed for me. Because the story spends so much time building their fractured history through two timelines, the emotional turnaround happens way faster than I wanted it to. I was ready for more lingering tension. I'm hoping there's a long conversation between these two in the next book.

Still, this is a really solid diverse dark fantasy with complex characters with messy emotions, an amazing story and world, and high stakes. It leans into moral grayness without feeling like a basic trope, and the themes of power, secrecy, and self-acceptance landed well for me. Upper YA is one of my favorite spaces to read in, and this felt like a great example of why; it’s dramatic, thoughtful, and driven by character and trauma.

I’m genuinely excited to see where this story goes next.

Thanks so much to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

Representation: Disability (prosthetic), LGBTQIA+ (bi, gay, trans), POC characters

[J. McGrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this book as an ARC reader, but all opinions are my own.
I had fun with this. The idea of a minority group getting persecuted while also having their culture and identity appropriated is something that happens in real life and needs more exploration in fiction. While the time shifting of the novel also takes time to get used to, I found it added a great mystery to the story. How did we get from the happy past to the horrid present? The characters big shifts in relationships and dynamics also sells the mystery and makes it more compelling while still feeling like believable changes. Felix in particular feels like he has changed so drastically at first, but the story makes the path from charming flirt to violent criminal feel natural and believable.
So, a lot to recommend, but i have some small criticisms. There is a lot of exposition, particularly in the early part of the book and it tends to derail things. One chapter in particular I forgot what was going on in the scene because the exposition dump was so long. The other is that there is so much going on that some aspects don't get enough time. Unfortunately, the villain fits into this category, and we only get to see him two, kind of three, times.
Then there is just something I want other readers to be aware of. Not a praise or criticism, just a fact. This is the the first part of a duology and is written as such. The story is at a natural stopping point, but there is still much to do, all of it for book two.
While have my qualms, I definitely want to come back for book two, so this is a strong recommend for me. Read up for a prince and revolutionary romance with plenty of LGBTQIA+ rep, so cool magic, and creepy vibes.

[AshleyReadsThings · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐4.5
🌶️0

Another unputdownable book by Toni Duarte! Toni crafts such fantastic loveable and loatheable characters! Toni's first fantasy book, and it's an absolute beast in length, and yet every part of the book, I found myself turning the page, needing to know what's happening next. This gave a mix of BioShock, Moth Dark, & Grishaverse vibes. There are so many wonderful elements I loved from those universes found in this uniquely told story! Also, multiple POV and dual timelines, TONI, you went HARD for your first dark fantasy novel!

This book follows multiple POVs across two timelines. There are two characters at the forefront of this story. August is the prince and heir to the throne who is cursed to be haunted by anchored spirits. Very few know of his secret because it's a dangerous one to have. Felix is a triple-weirder, which is outlawed in the kingdom where he resides. He keeps his power secret as he works his way up to the top. August and Felix meet at a festival that is being held in August, and his sisters honor in celebration of their birthday. The two have a connection immediately; the only problem is that August is lying about who he is, which is the very people Felix resents. The friendship turns dark, and fate would see them on each other's paths two years later, forced to work together.

There's just so much to unpack!

What You Can Expect:
📖Lots of Attempted Murder, Really
📖Disability and Queer Rep
📖Told Across Dual Timelines
📖Friends to Enemies to I'm Sure We'll Figure it Out When This is All Over
📖Forbidden Magic
📖Corrupted Government
📖Portal into a Dark Realm

Thank you, Toni, for the early copy!

[Ivy Bookdragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new book by Toni Duarte is told in dual timelines where we learn about the two main characters August and Felix, two magic wielders who hate each other in the now because of something that happened in the past between them.

The story slowly reveals the truth, alternating between the past and the now, with adorable sidecharacters and betrayals and plot twists that are surprising and often hurt but keep you wanting more.

There are so many great things in The Hollow Dark, like found family, queer and disability rep, court politics, an amazing magic system, and a whole cast of morally grey characters who are deeply flawed yet still so likable.
There is such deep betrayal that you want to scream but then you marvel at how the wielders use their magic and all of the unique traits of it, like the colors of the rings inside the wielders' eyes that each stand for a magic class, or the rules each kind of magic is bound to.

August and Felix are very charming despite being flawed, they are fully fleshed out characters at whom you sometimes want to yell at. But then August has a vulnerable moment or Felix turns up his charm and I forget why I wanted to yell at them 😂

Overall I adore this book and the message it holds, the truth that August and Felix show:
How much strength it takes to be yourself in a world that tries to hold you down because you are different.

Toni Duarte has yet to write a character I don't like at least a bit or a story I don't fall into! I am not sure if I can wait for the next book and hope that her third book in her other series releases in the meantime so the wait for more from August and Felix isn't that long!

[Jordy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I don't even know what to say, I swiped to start reading the next page and it was just the acknowledgments..?! Excuse me?? The love for all these characters that I've grown to build is immense and I immediately want more, I think this is definitely one of my newer top 5 books of all time, THIS is truly friends to enemies to whatever the hell August and Felix became because, it could not be done any better. The fighting scenes, the gore, the magic was done so well. This book drew me in with the need to feel the hate towards certain characters, and the love towards the others, I was back and forth the whole time with "Ugh just stop lying ffs" to "Ugh jfc just die, I hate you", and "You're a pos" etc. etc. which is a hard thing for me to feel within a book. I think this would make for an incredible animated movie. This book is easily 10 Stars.
I'm beyond grateful to have received an ARC of this, and cannot wait for my physical copy to arrive as a trophy! I need any and all Special Editions, Art, Prints etc of this.. Pleaseee!
Today is release day and I'm late for my review prior to release! (I've had such an incredible busy Jan somehow and it put me behind!) but I begggg you to pick this one up!
Once again, thank you to the author for this ARC, and for the story itself!! truly cannot wait to see where it goes!

[Brooke Helf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hollow Dark has multiple POVs  and timelines but mostly follows Felix and August and 2 main timelines.  August is the son of the ruler and Felix is a lower class weilder--a person who has magic. Both have secrets they want to protect from each other. Felix is unusual, even for weilders because he has 3 different magics he can use, some are illegal. He wants to get in with the ruling class and take over one day so wielders can be free.  The ruling class fears wielders and have outlawed many "dangerous" magics and will execute those using them, or accused of using them, on the spot. They think of them as less than human. August's secret is not only that he's son of the ruler but also that he has magic, but he doesn't believe he is a weilder since his magic is completely unique--he thinks it is a curse. When Felix and August develop a friendship, they both have to confront stereotypes.
I enjoyed the book but the dual time lines were sometimes confusing. You have to make sure to read the chapter name to see when and where it takes place.
There were some twists I didn't expect, especially where a side character was concerned. The story is compelling and feels relevant even though it's set in a fantasy world.
I look forward to the next book to see how the story ends!

[Sol F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting new fantasy world with complex characters, magic, and mystery. I was so looking forward to reading The Hollow Dark when it was first announced and it did not disappoint. I loved how many fantasy elements were included in this work. One of our MCs, August, is tangled in the duties and (literal) darkness of his ruling family. There is a stark divide between the rich and poor, those with magic and without, that casts a shadow over the entirety of our characters' lives. Felix was a fun character to follow with a compelling backstory. The struggle both August and Felix had between becoming the hero/villain of the story kept me turning the page. I also enjoyed the mystery surrounding August. Marlow quickly became my favorite character with her snark and bravery. I hope to see more of her in the future installments. The magic system was unique and I'm super interested in seeing how it will be employed and evolve through the series.

[Sol F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting new fantasy world with complex characters, magic, and mystery. I was so looking forward to reading The Hollow Dark when it was first announced and it did not disappoint. I loved how many fantasy elements were included in this work. One of our MCs, August, is tangled in the duties and (literal) darkness of his ruling family. There is a stark divide between the rich and poor, those with magic and without, that casts a shadow over the entirety of our characters' lives. Felix was a fun character to follow with a compelling backstory. The struggle both August and Felix had between becoming the hero/villain of the story kept me turning the page. I also enjoyed the mystery surrounding August. Marlow quickly became my favorite character with her snark and bravery. I hope to see more of her in the future installments. The magic system was unique and I'm super interested in seeing how it will be employed and evolve through the series.

[Joe Trotter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the diverse characters, LGBTQIA+ and disability rep (prosthetic leg) for a main character.
Interesting and detailed word building.
Main friendship/enemy-hate of the two main characters developed throughout story, with dual POVs and timelines—the time jumps and two lands took some adjustment.
Great storytelling and imagery, and I liked the Medieval feel to this fantasy.
Look forward to the second book and hopefully more feelings/romance for August and Felix.

I won the ebook and audiobook from the author via an IG giveaway! Thank you so much to Toni Duarte for the generous gift—immersive reading helps me to focus, enjoy, and take in all the details and character/town, etc. pronunciations. Also, there is an Appendix with character, town/world names, descriptions and pronunciations. Also included are details about the Magic system and what are “acceptable/not acceptable/punishable” in this world/time.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced reader's copy review

I absolutely devoured this book! The first line was so fantastic and immediately hooked me. I loved the two intertwined timelines and how everything from two years ago shaped everything in the present. It also gave a deep look into the characters and their motivations and their complex relationship history. I loved both August and Felix, despite their many flaws and trauma. They both hurt each other so much, but they are still trying to do the right thing in the end. I also loved Marlow, and the family she created with Felix. In terms of the fantasy, I loved the magic elements and vibrant descriptions, but I did think the world building could have been a bit faster. I was struggling to understand the context for everything. There is so much action that kept me engaged, especially in the present timeline, but I didn’t fully understand the stakes in the first few parts of the story. As for the ending, it had enough resolution that I could breathe, but I am still desperate for the next book! So overall I loved and highly recommend this book.

Thank you to the author for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[The Atlas of Stars · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I want to say thank you to Toni Duarte for sending me a copy of this eARC!

Everything about this was incredible. This is at it's core, a slow burn fantasy with a strong message about politics, racism, abuse of power, and corruption. The constantly jumping timeline was a little confusing at first but once I figured out what was happening, I was absolutely hooked.

The way that Duarte writes traumatized morally gray characters is so unique and I always find myself absolutely falling in love with them. This book was another very clear example of that. An absolutely outstanding read and I cannot wait for the next book!

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Toni Duarte did with this books is insane, it's one of the best books I have read in years. Everything was a 10/10, I can't believe that I don't have a single complain because everything that had me angry or disgusted or conflicted served a reason for the plot. The storyline is just something that devours your life. The characters get into you so quickly and refuse to get out. Honestly, I just can't wait for book 2

Spoiler:
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AND FELIX AND AUGUST BETTER KISS IN THE NEXT BOOK!!!

[Jessica Minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

this story was fascinating and an emotional roller-coaster.
this story takes you on a horrific, gruesome journey where you get go experience the life of teens and young adults figuring out emotions, feelings, life and making the right decisions while also dealing with a monster of a mother.
I had a crash out when everything came together towards the end and alot of plots were answered.
I can not wait for book 2!

my 15 year old also listened to this audio arc with me and absolutely loved it.

I recieved a arc for a honest review!

[K. Maier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't get enough of The Hollow Dark! Toni's signature immersive worldbuilding and ability to write a magnetic cast of characters made this new dark fantasy hard to put down. I loved the combination of ghosts and magic, especially how the title ties in. I thought the dual timeline was a great way to show the conflict in August and Felix's relationship as they fluctuated from friends to enemies to potentially friends again, if they don't kill each other first.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I was truly immersed in the YA genre, but this is exactly what it's all about. There is such phenomenal world building with an incredible magic system, so many twist and turns with a great plot, a complicated love story that is still in development (but I love and hate these characters depending on the minute) and just SO much going on in the best way. It will keep you enthralled and unable to put it down.

[Astrophel R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an arc. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★.5
Genre: Fantasy
Are There Gay People in this?: ✅

OMG this was such a blast. Like just SO cool! I loved the way literally everything about August's powers was portrayed. I can't really say much about them because spoilers, but there is just so much cool imagery going on there. I also really enjoyed seeing the different characters' journeys and political views because they all felt so genuine. They definitely all have their flaws, but it's easy to empathize with them even when they're doing crazy stupid things.

I will say, after finishing the book I still don't feel like I know this world very well. I know this is the first book in a duology, and I was interested in the world, I just wish we had a little more worldbuilding in this book. Personally, I wasn't too bothered, since I think the characters, plot, and action more than compensated.

Also, I really enjoyed jumping around through timelines. I love when characters know things the reader doesn't know.

Overall: I definitely agree that this book is great for fans of Dark Rise, but my first thought when finishing it was that this book would be perfect for Fire Emblem Three Houses fans who really like the Crimson Flower route. Which is definitely not a useful recommendation for most people, but like the girlies who get it get it.