A Song in Darkness

by Giselle Anastasia

The Veil was never meant to let her through.
Isara has only ever had one purpose—protect her children, no matter the cost.
When the tyrant king hunting them draws too close, she does the crosses the Veil into Aethermire, the fae realm. A land where humans are unwelcome and seldom survive.
But the Veil does more than let her pass. It changes her. A rhythm stirs beneath her skin, a power she does not understand. And in Aethermire, power is dangerous.
Varyth, the High Lord of the Luceren, offers her sanctuary—but not out of kindness. He sees something in her. Something that should not belong to a former human.
He gives her a choice. Stay, train, and learn what she is becoming, or leave, and be hunted in a world already set to destroy her.
For her children, Isara stays. But safety in the fae realm is an illusion. Bodies appear where they shouldn’t.
The ruthless Nyxaria Court turns its gaze toward Luceren.
And the shadows?
They are watching. When she sings to them, they answer.
Isara should not exist. The magic inside her should not be waking.
But it is.
And something has been waiting for her to hear the song in the darkness.

Genres: Fantasy

898 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2026

Reviews

[Jess Bohanick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay… where do I even start with this book?

A Song in Darkness is everything I want dark romantasy to be. This story absolutely consumed me.

Isara is hands down one of my favorite FMCs I’ve read in a long time. She is a full-force badass: a warrior, a fiercely protective mother, loyal to her core, armed with sharp sarcasm, dark humor, and a temper that goes straight to scorched-earth when pushed. She is complex, flawed, and unapologetically powerful, and I was immediately invested in her story.

The worldbuilding is incredibly well done. The different courts are layered with politics, secrets, and betrayals, and nothing is ever quite what it seems. What I appreciated most is that the lore never feels overwhelming or info-dumpy, it unfolds naturally alongside the story and keeps the pacing strong. There is a perfect balance of action, drama, tension, and moments of humor that give you just enough breath before pulling you back under.

But where this book truly shines is in its characters and relationships. Every connection mattered. Every interaction felt intentional. I laughed, I cried, I felt my heart ache, soar, and absolutely shatter. This book is emotionally brutal in the best way. It’s the kind of story that has you holding your book right up to your face, forgetting to eat, drink water, or acknowledge the world around you because you need to know what happens next.

This is not a light read and definitely not for the faint of heart. It is gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, and beautifully written. The emotional impact lingers long after you finish the last page.

I finished this book feeling wrecked, traumatized, and already desperate for more. If you love dark romantasy with fierce characters, high emotional stakes, and a story that grips you and does not let go, A Song in Darkness is an absolute must-read.

[the midnight review · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐¾

A Song in Darkness is a romantasy featuring a main character who is both a mother and a warrior, her toxic Fae High Lord love interest, and her adventure as she discovers new magical abilities and a new found family.

The story gets dark. If you want to escape into a comfy fantasy, this isn't the book for you. No, A Song in Darkness is an intense, riveting story of motherhood, love, lust, power, politics, magic, secrets, and even torture.

Isara, our main character, is fiercely loyal, chaotic, and impulsive. Her love interest is a dark and brooding toxic Faerie royal and … I'll be honest, I know he's a nightmare but Anastasia writes her characters so well that you have to love him anyway. The collection of supporting characters is a unique little family I wish I could speak with in real life. You even sympathize with the villains, leading to questions about morality and loyalty you didn't know you'd be asking.

This book will make you laugh, sob, and your pulse skyrocket as you follow Isara and her children on the adventure of a lifetime.

There is some incredible queer representation sprinkled throughout the book and I love that every character is uniquely real.

Also, I just have to mention Cindrissian because our Master of Shadows might be my favorite supporting character. I don't want to say too much, but his snark and strange unwavering support of Isara makes him a solid pillar of the story.

Ultimately, if you like books with a lot of deep characters, dark magic, suspense, romantic tension and yes, a bit of *spice* I highly recommend A Song in Darkness.

Favorite quote: “This court wasn’t built on strength alone. It was built on endurance. On the broken pieces of boys who had every reason to become monsters and chose, every day, not to."

⭐⭐⭐⭐¾

I had the incredible privilege of beta reading and ARC reading A Song In Darkness. Thank you Giselle! All opinions are my own.

[Raye Chinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Wings (The Fae Kind, Not the Chicken Variety)
Buckle up, mortals—this book is a fae-fect storm of “I crossed into fairy land to escape monsters… and traded them for HOTTER ones with better real estate.” Imagine fleeing your trash fire human life with two tiny gremlins in tow, only to land in a world where everyone’s got cheekbones sharper than your ex’s passive-aggression and magic that makes your coffee maker look like a participation trophy.

Our girl Isara? Chef’s kiss. She’s got that “I’ve survived worse than your whole court drama” energy, wielding sass like a dagger (pro tip: fae love those). The High Lord? Silver-eyed grump who acts like brooding is an Olympic sport. Sparks? Biblical. Tension? Thicker than fae bread (which, apparently, slaps harder than my grandma’s biscuits).

No cap, I laughed, I gasped, I ugly-cried into my midnight snack, and now I’m feral for book 2 because THAT ENDING? Clutches pearls Fae politics got me acting unwise. If you like enemies-to-lovers with dragon sidekicks, mommy energy on steroids, and twists that hit like a shadow spear to the feels, one-click this before it hatches into full series glory. Just don’t blame me when you start eyeing your backyard for a portal. 🌿🗡️🔥

#FaeSlay #BookHangoverIncoming #HighLordHusbandMaterial

[Queenie2023 aka Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I finished this book- but it finished me more !!!! My first 6 star (infinity star) read of 2026 !!
Omg - this book was a wild ride with fantastic characters, magic systems, dragons, trauma, found family - and the banter was bantering! I giggled so much while reading. And then with the turn of a page - totally different emotions! No dull moments. No lagging in the middle. Everything was paced to perfection and so well written !!

[Sasha MacMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-STAR REVIEW: A Song in Darkness
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
AMAZING BOOK. MUST READ FOR EVERY FANTASY ROMANCE / ROMANTASY READER.
I went into A Song in Darkness expecting fantasy romance. What I got was a visceral reckoning with motherhood, power, and what it costs to survive.
I am obsessed! Easiest five star review of my year (2025 inclusive obvi)
Isara is a widow fleeing with her children. She's a mother, a widow, a survivor and a force of fucking nature. Her husband Navaire is gone. And Giselle Anastasia doesn't let you forget it. The grief bleeds through every page. Isara isn't "strong" in that sanitized, palatable way that makes male readers comfortable. She's combat-trained, fiercely intelligent, and dangerous.
The inclusion of diverse characters isn't performative. These aren't characters written to fill quotas. They're messy, flawed, powerful people who bleed and rage and love with the same ferocity as everyone else in this brutal, beautiful story. The queer rep doesn't apologize for existing. It's just there, woven into the fabric of this world like it belongs (because it does). The POC aren't just present, they're not your token side character, they are alive and complex and so fucking powerful!
The romance is intense (that slow burn with Varyth will WRECK you), the worldbuilding is lush and dark, the plot moves a pace that will have you reading in 2 days like me.
if you want a story that will make you giggle, kick your feet, then rip your heart out and leave you sobbing+representation that feels real, motherhood that feels raw, and a protagonist who will burn the world for her children then A Song in Darkness is everything you've been waiting for.
Tropes: Forced proximity, touch her and cease to exist, widow falls again, chosen one, enemies to lovers (kind of), morally grey FMC, found family
Heat level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Spicy, but always consensual and emotionally grounded)
Recommended for fans of: Sarah J. Maas (but darker), Jennifer L. Armentrout (but with better character development, I said what I said.), Elise Kova (but more feral)
RUN DON'T WALK TO PREORDER THIS BOOK

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read this ARC and received it from the author.

This story took me on an adventure. I can honestly say I have never read anything quite like it. It is very rare where a parent (much less a mother) is the star of a romantasy and it was a refreshing change. I appreciated having a seasoned, strong female main character to root for and Isara is just that. She is anything but a damsel and doesn’t need to be trained to survive her epic tale.

I loved the world-building done in this story. Luceren and Nyxaria are well-crafted lands with solid backgrounds. The supporting cast of characters were each interesting and vastly different from each other. I really loved Cindrissian and Darian’s role in this tale.

The villains were elite! Xyliria is absolutely evil incarnate and I loved it. She was so easy to hate and so ruthless that she drove the plot perfectly. Ashterion was probably the most multi-faceted character and I am still scratching my head to figure him out. I am going to need another installment to be convinced that he is actually a villain in this story because he was written so well that I am left guessing.

The only things that kept this from being a 5 star for me were the MMC and how motherhood was portrayed. I loved that we had a mom as a main character but I do feel like in the middle and towards the end, it was kind of ignored while Isara was in captivity. As a parent, I feel like perhaps there should have been more internal struggle about being away from her children than was portrayed. Onto the biggest hang up, our MMC Varyth was really hard to like. I am not convinced that we aren’t about to be Tamlined. He is likeable at times but also seems to be caging her in. When you add in Ashterion’s viewpoint, I struggle to know if he is even a good guy. It will be really interesting to see how this plays out in the next book.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I absolutely want to read the next installment. This is a very solid start to what will hopefully be an epic series.

[Rebecca ~ readinginNZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review ✨

“You want my trust while keeping me in the dark. While making decisions about my life, my children, my magic without including me in the conversation”

✨ Dark romantasy
✨ Found family
✨ Reluctant allies to lovers
✨ Touch her and die

This book is a love letter to strong female characters, full stop.

Isara is a mother, a widow, a warrior. She will burn the world down if it keeps her children breathing. Chased through the Veil into the fae realm, she doesn’t arrive fragile or wide-eyed; she arrives desperate, furious, and ready to fight.

Dark, brutal, and deeply emotional. Isara doesn’t just gain magic; she is rewritten. Shadow fire, Nyxarian magic, power that shouldn’t exist inside a human, and every fae around her knows it’s dangerous.

The found family is elite, layered, loyal, hilarious, and emotionally grounding, and the relationships are the standout of this book.

“That’s what happens when you trap two immortal beings with long memories and longer grudges in close proximity. We’re all just waiting to see who bleeds first.”

The slowburn romance with Varyth hits just right, built on reluctant trust, dangerous proximity, and that delicious touch her and die energy.

“You’re beautiful and infuriating in equal measure, and it would take an extraordinarily patient man to be around that combination without losing his mind”

Xyliria is terrifying, calculating, and cruel. Ashterion is carved out of pain, power, and control, and together they embody the darkness threaded through this story. Violence, torture, court politics, and consequences that hurt are everywhere.

“You don’t replace the people you’ve loved. You just… make room”

The ending? Brutal, devastating, phenomenal. I sat staring at the page like: wow, I’m emotionally ruined, thanks 😭

“Because that’s what love is… it’s wanting the other person to be whole. Even if you’re not there to see it.”

Strong women, savage magic, elite found family, and a story that crawls under your skin and stays there.

Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gets a good solid 4 stars from me. I think it could have a few areas of improvement but for the most part, it kept me entertained.

This book is about Isara who is a mom of 2 that has come through the veil to the fae world. During the process of going through the veil, she is "gifted" powers that are unknown exactly what they are at first. There is others that are trying to get her but we have our MMC Varyth. There are some red flags with him for sure and he is very possessive of our MFC. As the story progresses, feelings start to happen between those 2 and you get attached to some of the side characters and the dragon..... YES I did shed a few tears in this book with the death of certain characters. I don't want to give too much away but let's say the Queen is a big "B" and she needs to go away. There is something she is clearly doing to make her husband (who should be powerful) flinch at her touch... OH our MFC is also a stabby friendly smart mouth and says what she shouldn't at times and then may or may not regret it later on. I love when she becomes all mouthy as I found myself snorting at some of the comments she says.

Due to this being an ARC I read, there were a couple things that could be improved on but I did not let that affect the rating of the book. I did the story for the rating.
Some areas that could use improvement: during the dungeon scenes, I get where the author is coming from, but some are very repetitive. There is a chapter that is confusing to me with what is being talked about with the court and our "dark" leader sending his trusted away that had me confused. Also again, there is repetitive aspects through the book, like when our MFC is in the chambers of the "dark" one, the same things come out in different scenes. Not big issues but could be condensed to make it flow better.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next book to have answers as there are many more answers I need.

[The Fantasy Bookwyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

** ARC read **
A Song in Darkness starts fast out of the gate, with minimal initial world-building, almost as though a prelude is missing, but once the story finds its footing, it becomes an engaging and emotionally driven read.

The story follows a human mother who crosses the veil into the fae lands with her two young children. Upon crossing, she gains powers that slowly manifest throughout the book. The FMC is very much a save-everyone type, she has a heart of gold, an unrelenting need to protect those around her, and enough sass to keep things from ever feeling too heavy. Her maternal instincts and self-sacrificing nature ground the story and give the stakes real emotional weight.

This book features political warfare, a fun twist on the “only one bed” trope, and strong found family elements. There’s a subtle ACOTAR-esque vibe with the two MMCs, though how that dynamic will fully unfold is clearly being saved for book two.

The dragons were an absolute highlight for me (who doesn’t love dragons) full of heart, sass, and banter. While some of the bonds and relationships develop a little quickly, it’s understandable given the pacing and the need for certain plot elements to move forward.

The side characters shine, delivering moments that will have you both giggling and unexpectedly emotional. Overall, A Song in Darkness is a fun, engaging read with twists, unanswered questions, and just enough intrigue to keep you eagerly waiting for book two.

I would like to say a huge thanks to Giselle for allowing me the opportunity to immerse myself in her amazing world.

[Jenna Nancarrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. This book has it all: a fiercely stabby FMC who's also a mother; a broody, secretive fae lord; a cast of loveable side characters who LIVE AND BREATHE on the page; a swoon-worthy villain (I'm not sorry); and a snarky dragon side-kick.

Seriously, ACOTAR wishes it was this good (sorry, I love ACOTAR as much as the next girlie, but while I was reading this book, I realised all the things I didn't know were missing from ACOTAR are in here and I can never go back now).

The author is an absolute master. Her voice is so unique and refreshing. The style is rich, but pared all the way back to the bones. It matches the FMC: pragmatic, graceful, and unapologetically brutal. 😍 This author has shot to the top of my "always buy" list, and that is crazy elite (mostly because I'm broke af 😅).

This book had me laughing, crying and cringing right along with the FMC (something happened on a balcony; I don't want to talk about it 🫣) and I couldn't get enough. My fiancé actually asked me if I was okay at one point while crying my eyes out, and I honestly had to tell him that I absolutely was NOT. This book comes with serious emotional damage, and I am here for it.

Now all that's left to do is try to recover while SALIVATING for the sequel.

If you liked ACOTAR and Fourth Wing, you'll devour this book and love every second of it, like I did. You have my 100% slap-me-in-the-face-if-I'm-wrong guarantee. 👌

[Salina. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Format: E-Book
Available on KU

**Thank you to Giselle Anastasia for providing this REVIEW COPY in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

I honestly have no idea where to begin.
Giselle Anastasia reached out to me and her energy was infectious. Based off the way she wrote her messages and the personality I felt seeping through the screen while reading her responses I KNEW I had to read her book. I was not disappointed.

The journey Isara has been on before she even steps through the Veil with her children bleeds through the pages. Her character was so well put together. She is so sarcastic, fierce and strong. Her characteristics a long with her personality made following her journey top tier. The side characters all had beautiful stories and created their own unique friendships with Isara. I loved every individual moment with each of the characters.

Is this book larger than I normally read? Yes, BUT I ate it up like it was my last meal. I wept, borderline sobbed during moments. I had such attachments to all the characters because of Isara's bond with them. The complexity of the storyline kept me so engrossed. I couldn't wait to get more answers to my questions. I am praying to the Gods within the fae realm that Giselle writes the next book and quickly because I have this feeling deep within my soul it will be level with or top ACOTAR in some of the most important ways for me!

[Bari Mariani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a mixed review for me. When an author approaches you with this message “hey hi hello, i’m bursting into your dms with all the subtlety of a dragon crashing through a window. “ the only acceptable thing to do is take a chance and sign up for her arc.

The story grabbed my attention and I flew through the first half of the book.

You don’t mess with a mother! Isara is such a fierce FMC and I loved how brave and strong she was throughout the whole book. However there were little things about her backstory that were briefly mentioned but then kind of put aside and I don’t know if the author did that intentionally to leave us guessing, or saving it for another book.

Varyth the MMC is the epitome of touch her and die. He is 10000% obssessed which I am here for I just hope it’s all genuine!

The found family aspect with all the side characters was nicely done. You really got a good sense of their loyalty and love towards one another. And like any family h they also joked and knew how to push eachothers buttons.

The issue I have is with the last 40% of the book. I don’t usually have any triggers but the brutality and torture towards the end got to be a bit much for me.

I’m hoping another book is planned because while small things were resolved I feel like this was just the beginning and that a lot more needs to be uncovered.

[Elzeri Sadler · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you loved ACOTAR and Fourth Wing and wished the FMC’s were badasses from the beginning with sarcasm and no filter then this is definitely the book for you!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book. This was a really good read for me and an amazing way to start off the year by finishing this book!

It was refreshing to have a strong FMC, who is also a mother! I have never read a Romantasy where the FMC has children. Isara doesn’t go into the fae realm as a weak female who only gets strength through her powers, she is strong, fierce and not afraid of saying what she thinks even if it is in the face of someone who should be feared!

The characters in this book is written in a way that you fall in love with each of them. I loved Cindrissian, Darian and Linc. Shaelith and Brynelle were the female friends that Isara needed! The villian is cruel and uncanny and is written in a way that makes you hate her from the start! Ashterion is a very multi-layered character and I hope that he is explored more in the next books (that i really hope is going to be released!) He is written in a way that makes you question everything you know about him!

I loved the relationships between the characters and how they became like a family.

I really really hope there is a second instalment of this book, because I ate this up!

[Sam Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

First ARC read of the year and what a fantastic one to start with!
So much in this book to love. It’s action packed and has some dark elements, so check TWs. It had me hooked right from the start.

💥Enemies to lovers
💥found family
💥fae politics
💥dragons
💥strong FMC who is a mother and a warrior
💥brooding, possessive Dark Lord
💥truly evil villains
💥secrets, trauma, magic
💥slow burn
💥so many twists and turns
And that’s just to name a few things!

The world building and character development are well written and really interesting. I loved all the characters and liked the way the side characters are fully integrated into the story not just little ‘bit’ parts. The main villain is truly evil in this book - well written but so utterly dispicable!
It’s difficult to sum up this book without revealing any spoilers so I’m going to leave out character names just in case!
This book left me with so many questions but in a good way. You get little nuggets of information about the past lives of the main characters but not enough to build a full picture yet. You feel like you’re getting to know certain characters well and then all of sudden things aren’t quite as straightforward. The plot twists and we’re not quite sure who is who, and who can be trusted! There are small reveals to keep you turning pages and wanting to know more. I can’t wait to find out all the secrets and backgrounds and see how everything fits together.
A great cliffhanger but now I just want to know all the information!!!
A huge thank you to the author for the wonderful opportunity to read an advanced copy. Al, thoughts and opinions are my own and voluntarily/honestly given.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙧𝙪𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙪𝙨. 𝙍𝙪𝙣, 𝙄𝙨𝙖𝙧𝙖.”

A Song in Darkness by Giselle Anastasia
3.5☆

How the hell was this a debut dark romantasy??It was gripping, & unsettling—all 900 pages of it ☠️

Isara is the obvious standout here: a fierce, capable FMC and a mother, which is refreshingly rare (albiet strongly desired) in this genre. She’s already strong, already lethal, and driven by one unshakable truth—she will do anything to protect her children. Not a DROP of damsel energy here.

The world building and plot are immersive, with distinct adages to ACOTAR and The Lies of Mortals. The side characters are necessary in this book—loyal, sharp, and deeply bonded, adding light to an otherwise dark story. The villains are equally compelling—deliciously evil, while layered and unsettling enough to keep you questioning everything.

The romance is where things got complicated. Varyth delivers intense 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘦 energy, but at times it veered into control rather than devotion. By the end, I genuinely didn’t know who to trust—or who I was rooting for.

READERS BEWARE: The last portion leans heavily into brutality, so check your trigger warnings. Even still, this feels very much like the beginning of something bigger, with A LOT of unanswered questions, breadcrumb backstories, and some good ol’ morally grey that begs for a sequel.

[Marija · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌑 A Song in Darkness 🌑
By @giselleanastasiaauthor

⭐⭐⭐.75
🌶🌶

I'd really like to thank the author for sending me the ARC copy of the book! I very much appreciate that!
Now, this book was certainly interesting! I had so many feelings and thoughts while reading it! I definitely liked the author's writing style, it was very poetic! The story was very detailed, at moments felt repetitive, although some moments required that approach, especially in later chapters. In some moments of the story I felt like the author was listing characters, happenings and feelings, which I felt was not necessarily needed. However, again, I understand the need for details.

The plot was rich, so much was happening, and I was only at the beginning of the book, so naturally by the time the book ended, I felt like I read three books, which I both liked and not liked at the same time.
In addition to a very detailed story, this book definitely had everything and anything in it. For a moment, I thought the author just wanted to include everything she likes and supports in her story, which is fine, but at times it felt a little bit overwhelming. Although it had added to the depth of the story.

Characters were definitely intriguing, I was left needed to know more, especially about Varyth, Cindri and Ashterion. The one bed trope was very originally used here and it was appealing. However, I felt the author predominantly drew the inspiration from ACOTAR for this story.
The single mom trope was something new for me, and at this moment I feel I could live without it, but it was incorporated nicely into the story. The FMC, Isara was definitely firey, at moments wild and impulsive, reckless as well, with many inner strugles, but I liked her, she definitely went through a lot, and the time in Aethermire changed her not just in a way of powers. Her powers though are very much still a mystery to me and I like that so far!
There were some spelling errors that I've noticed during my reading, I'm not sure if that gets taken care of before the release, as I've read the ARC, but those were minor, and the story definitely left an impact.

At this moment, it is not known how many books will be in this series, but I am excited to know more!
Overall, the book was good and I liked it!

What to expect:
▪️fae and magic
▪️shadow wielders
▪️queer normative world
▪️single parent
▪️dragons
▪️he falls first
▪️high stakes
▪️morally grey characters
▪️slow burn
▪️forced proximity
▪️found family
▪️only one bed

[Romantasy Bookbird · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story follows Isara, a mother who will do absolutely anything to keep her two children safe, including entering the veil into the fae realm. She’s saved by Varyth the high lord of Luceren and welcomed home to meet his inner court for her safety, but is it just for safety?

The veil changes you, if you managed to go through, and Isara must learn what that means for her, but to their surprise she needs no instruction in hand to hand combat.

There wasn’t much individual character growth but the relationship growth between Isara and the inner court was everything you could want for found family vibes and there’s even a quirky dragon to love! There’s a slow burn attraction that is hindered due to Isara’s fear of moving on after her husbands death.

This book is a dark fantasy that gives ACOTAR under the mountain vibes but dial up the brutality and heartbreak by TEN! And that ending! I have so many theories about what things mean and what happens next and I cannot wait to see whether I’m right or if I’m setting myself up for more heartbreak.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the eARC!
This was a good mix of themes from ACOTAR and Fourth Wing.

Some of the themes you’ll find:
-Badass FMCs, protective MMCs with Wings
-Inner circle found family
-Dragons
-Slow Burn
-Dealing with trauma, grief, mental health, and all kinds of abuse/torture
-Diverse representation of romantic relationships (MF, MM, and FF)
-So many secrets!

I got to the 70% mark and couldn’t put the book down, I may have stayed up all night to finish it (if you’re my husband, no I *definitely* didn’t stay up until 4am reading 😅). Isara is a strong female who is just trying to keep herself and her kids safe. I loved how her mama bear instincts kick in throughout the story. I felt like I was a part of the inner circle as I read and I need more! I definitely picked up on a lot of vibes that I’m curious how they will play out in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed this story!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a frustratingly good dark romantasy read! Check your trigger warnings as always, but if you’re a fan of ACOTAR or From Blood and Ash, I would definitely recommend. This was dark, heartbreaking and had left me with so many questions by the end of the book!

A fierce stabby human FMC, Isara, who will do anything to protect herself and her children. They end up fleeing across the veil, into the Fae lands. Where she encounters High Lords, wings, sarcasm, banter and found family.

The side characters of her found family are everything. Loyal, protective and full of personality. You end up getting insight to each and find yourself caught in their story as well.

The tension, yearning and possessiveness of the MMCs was well done. The last half of the book you end up questioning what we learned in the beginning and now I not sure which MMC I am rooting for!

There is still so much left to uncover in this book and I am here for it! I highly recommend.

[Tash Panagiotas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to have received an ARC of A Song in Darkness and I rate this book a solid 4.5 🌟

It was such a refreshing change reading a book that has 30 year old FMC who is a widowed mother. I loved that Giselle gave us Isara our FMC who was a strong and well written character. A woman who did not cower before anyone. We follow her story running away and entering the veil into the fae lands with her two children in tow. I loved the world building and magic system. It was concise and easy to immerse myself into. Varyth, our MMC, is broody and also a well written character, yet I feel that maybe he isn’t as he seems. Ashterion is another MMC and I feel that we have a lot more to learn about him. The writing and storyline kept me enthralled turning the pages from the first chapter! An incredibly strong start to a series which I cannot wait to continue 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[Laura Jagersma · Rating 4 out of 5]

🗡️Arc Review 👑

Wow! What a book! I was hooked from page one. Isara is one of the strongest FMC’s I’ve ever read. She’s a badass Mum on the run with her 2 young children. After making it through the dangers of the Veil, she finds herself navigating the Fae realm. Who can she trust? What powers does she feel stirring beneath her skin? And what will other Fae do to take or destroy that power? I fell in love with the cast of characters, each one is rich with personality and meaningful relationships. Darian in particular is hilarious, giving off Ridoc/Cassian vibes. Be prepared for intrigue, romance, spice, battles, magic and dragons. Perception is everything and maybe not everything is as it seems. It had me hooked until the very last sentence 😱 I can’t wait for the second book and to delve deeper into this intriguing and captivating world.

Thank you to Giselle Anastasia for gifting me this copy to read and review ❤️

[Ariele Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good first book

My bestie was one of the beta readers and recommended I read it when it got self published.
3.75 ⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Overall a very good book. I liked the world and the characters and the story line. Very similar to ACOTAR which is a good thing and a bad thing, some parts were almost too close.

•I did have some problems with the timeline, it seemed to not always line up with what was said.
•A really long book, did it need to be that long? I think some stuff could have been condensed or taken out
•I love dragons but were they really necessary in this book, goes along the line with what I said above
•Still along the lines with how big the book is, SO much happens, so many different troupes. I feel like the next book won’t be as good because so much has already happened.

Zero regrets reading it, hope second one doesn’t take forever.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Song in Darkness is a beautiful debut novel that swept me away to another world. I was completely immersed in its shadows and magic.

It is a story of survival, sacrifice, and strength. A mother, desperate to save her children, crosses into a realm of fae, danger, and ancient magic. What follows is a captivating tale of resilience and power, where love becomes both a salvation and a risk.

I loved Isara. She is a compelling protagonist, fierce yet deeply human, disrupting the natural order of the realm. The novel is a tangled web of loyalty, desire, and pain. It pulls you into an exquisite world with tension and intrigue. A definite page turner, and Isara is a character who will stay with me.

[bookishandthebeast2002 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this as an ARC and just want to say thank you.

Literally finished in one sitting. Holy crap. This book provides a unique FMC, given that she’s a mother with two living and totally dependent children. As a mum I ADORE that. I love how her deceased husband haunts the narrative for the first half of the book. I adore the secrets and the twists and the feelings the book gave me. I need the next book NOW!

Varyth and ashterion are giving Tamlin/rhysand vibes so I’m so excited to see how these two characters develop. As well as isaras children, given that they are now growing up in the fae realm, her mother’s dating a high lord and is also a BAMF.

Loved it.

[Jordi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Song of Darkness and I can't wait to see what else Giselle releases!

A Song of Darkness had amazing characters, beautiful world building and it was just an overall great book!

I can't say enough about the characters that Giselle introduced in this book. I usually only have 1-2 favorite characters but in this book I had 8! The people that she created all held a special place in my heart.

If you want spice, sarcasm, and maybe even a little tears, add A Song of Darkness to your TBR list now!!

Thanks again, Giselle for inviting me to be one of your ARC readers!

[Brittney Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

What. A. Journey. This is an epic romantasy about a mother who will do whatever it takes to protect her kids. This story hooks you from the very beginning. I could not put this book down! The writing is beautiful, the world building is immaculate, and the story itself is so unique! The found family, and slow burn romance are to die for, but the overall plot is amazing, you quite literally can’t guess what will happen next. This is a story of love, loss, betrayal, and survival. I absolutely need the next book so I can continue to live on in this world!

[Georgina Drought · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as an ARC copy. I absolutely loved it. I felt the characters were well written. The world building was great, not too intense and very easy to follow. At no point was I bored with this book, it reeled me in and kept me engaged. The lead FMC is strong, unhinged (in the right way) and shows that trauma can make you stronger.

[Ruth_reading_nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the best word to describe this book would be addictive! I haven’t felt like I can’t put a book down in a really long time! 😍 I found the fact that the FMC is a mother and a widow and not a teenager so refreshing! I just wish the second book was out so I can continue the story!

If you like:
Fae
Dragons
Secrets
Deception
Deep and complicated characters

This one is for you 😍

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ highly recommend!

Isara’s story is one of strength, resilience & survival. A mother & warrior who will do whatever it takes to keep her children safe.

Queue Varyth and the far realm! Varyth the high lord that saves her from the human hunters that are after her.

This story is filled with magic, spice and witty humour. Be ready for an emotional rollercoaster full of twists & turns,

[Marilyn Formosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense and emotional. Lies, deceit and cruelty, power play alongside love, found family and the need for safety and acceptance.