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The Sundering Duet #1
Defy the Dusk: Book One of The Sundering Duet
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom comes the first book of a gritty post-apocalyptic fantasy duology.
Audible Audio
First published November 3, 2026
About the author
Danielle L. Jensen
62 books23.1k followersJoin Danielle's mailing list for exclusive content, giveaways, and new release alerts: https://danielleljensen.com/newslette...
Danielle L. Jensen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood, A Curse Carved in Bone, and the Bridge Kingdom, Dark Shores, and Malediction series. Her novels are published internationally in twenty-one languages. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her family and guinea pigs.
Danielle L. Jensen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood, A Curse Carved in Bone, and the Bridge Kingdom, Dark Shores, and Malediction series. Her novels are published internationally in twenty-one languages. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her family and guinea pigs.
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need-this-like-i-need-air
April 25, 2026the cover eats sbbbb omg pls
i'm OBSESSED.
why isn't it nov 3 already😭😭😭😭😭
i'm dying hereee.
i'm OBSESSED.
why isn't it nov 3 already😭😭😭😭😭
i'm dying hereee.
Currently Reading
March 30, 2026I know this woman is here to make my November worth five stars 🤭🙂↕️
__
What is she putting in her covers?!? I'm obsessed with every single one of them! Also, a dystopian duet by DLJ?! I'm ready 😋
__
What is she putting in her covers?!? I'm obsessed with every single one of them! Also, a dystopian duet by DLJ?! I'm ready 😋
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When the going gets tough, the tough get going, and the opportunists get to exploiting the chaos to advance their agendas.
In the ashes of an apocalypse, we enter a gritty dystopian world where those hungry for power have exploited fear, uncertainty, and existing prejudices between those born with and without magic to seize control under the guise of salvation.
Naturally, such oppression has bred dissent. Yet the fight for a better world is no less morally complex, as unresolved personal grievances and unwavering convictions in one’s own righteousness start to cloud judgement, blurring the line between fighting for a greater cause and using that cause to serve one’s own ends.
For all its darkness, the story never loses sight of humanity’s resilience. In a world determined to strip away the hope and heart of those fighting to survive, holding onto both against all odds becomes an act of defiance. And we see just how formidable a force those fighting for a better world can become once they look beyond their differences and rally around what unites them.
It all started twenty years ago, when Lirien Flintspire’s magic erupted in a fit of anger.
Though she was only nine, the sheer magnitude of her terramancy—the ability to form and manipulate rock—tore apart the world in a series of cataclysmic quakes, reducing much of the continent to rubble. Worse still, it unleashed monstrous flesh-eating creatures called straxi, which hunt humans by night and soon ravaged what remained.
Ever since, humanity has clung to survival aboard high-speed trackless trains called ‘rigs’, built to outrun these relentless predators. But none hold a candle to Dawnrider, an alloy fortress on wheels where “all aboard defy the death found in darkness by endlessly riding the dawn.” Its riders’ immense magic sustains a grueling speed that keeps the vessel in sync with the Earth’s rotation, allowing it to remain in perpetual daylight.
Only a thousand of the most powerful magic-born, known as elemar, were granted a coveted place aboard Dawnrider, leaving the rest of society to fend for themselves.
While Lirien’s magic may have physically sundered the world, it was broken long before.
Leading Dawnrider with an iron fist is Taimen, an elemar supremacist who’s long sought to purge society of those born without magic, known as nullborns. The instability of the apocalypse provided fertile ground for his propaganda to take root, preaching that it was divine punishment for elemars consorting with nullborns and thereby ‘tarnishing’ their bloodlines. And that eliminating the nullborn will restore magic and rid the world of the straxi.
But aboard Dawnrider, survival relies on a far more tangible source of power.
Taimen himself. As the most potent oromancer alive, his alloy-affiliated magic created the vessel and is the only source powerful enough to keep it together, making him a critical lifeline for everyone aboard.
He weaponizes that dependence to demand absolute obedience and maintain a rigid social hierarchy where magic equals privilege. The most powerful elemars live in luxury, while those with lesser power shoulder the labor of keeping the rig running and serving the elite.
Though Lirien should technically be one of the most privileged among them, considering she’s the most powerful elemar in the world, she’s far from it, as nearly everyone aboard holds her in contempt as the cause of their suffering.
Meanwhile, Taimen keeps her on a short leash because he needs her magic to build and maintain the roads that keep Dawnrider rolling, but also because she sees through his insidious rhetoric and has enough power to threaten his control.
In that vein, she’s been quietly plotting her own path to humanity’s salvation with a plan that’s just nearing fruition when we meet her.
We all know what they say about the best laid plans, though 👀
Vox, fearsome king of the ‘feralists’, has a plan of his own to rebuild the world, beginning with the assassination of Taimen’s presumed right hand, Lirien.
Like most, Vox and his crew of rebel fighters loathe Lirien for breaking the world. That hatred is amplified, however, by rhetoric villainizing her for the inordinate magic she was born with. They're seeking retribution against her and those leading Dawnrider for abandoning humanity and hoarding the magic needed to protect it.
Yet when they attack, Vox makes a game-time decision to kidnap Lirien instead, temporarily exploiting her magic in his ceaseless war against the straxi.
But as she joins the feralists’ fight against her will, Lirien and Vox must reluctantly reckon with the possibility that their shared enemies in Taimen and the straxi could make them unlikely allies.
Their romance is utterly exhilarating.
A volatile collision of animosity, distrust, attraction, and admiration.
It draws on a classic romantasy formula: forced proximity under the constant threat of death gradually gives way to an unwelcome yet undeniable connection. But what makes their dynamic stand out is how profoundly disorienting their attraction proves to be. It challenges their identities, brings unresolved wounds to the surface, and forces each to reconsider long-held assumptions. Coupled with the characters’ raw humanity, this lends their romance a texture that makes it feel both distinct and addictive.
And I’ve come to appreciate this particular brand of romance as DLJ’s signature: passionate, fraught, and transformative in how it reshapes the love interests’ understanding each other, the world, and the conflicts they’re fighting to change.
Their early banter drips with derision and sarcasm, while vulnerability cracks through as they spend every waking hour together. And their physical chemistry sears off the page—breathless encounters in cramped spaces, incidental touches that leave behind an intoxicating imprint, and the heady rush of evading death alongside one another, revealing unexpected depths of heart and valor in the process.
That said, I’m of two minds about their connection.
I often struggle to buy into the sincerity of a romance when the fmc’s power or strengths become a pivotal lifeline for the mmc to achieve his own ambitions or salvation. I find myself questioning where his desire for her as a person ends and his urge to possess, control, or benefit from what she can offer begins. And I felt that tension intensely here.
Their mutual admiration and respect became palpable as they fought alongside one another, risking everything for the greater good. Yet there’s no denying that a potent elixir of adrenaline, proximity, lust, and the value of Lirien’s magic—as well as her determination to mend the world she feels she broke—fuels much of the flame that burns between them.
And as their romance deepens, Lirien develops this odd longing for Vox to claim her as “his,” while Vox wrestles with his own possessive urge to lay claim to her, which reinforced my nagging suspicion that Vox sees Lirien, at least in part, as an object, a weapon, a means to an end. And that she’s internalized a similar view of herself.
So Vox’s desire for Lirien seems muddled with lust and self-interest. And Lirien’s attraction to him feels tangled up in her longing for absolution, because if she can win over a man who despised her for destroying everything he held dear, perhaps she’s not as unforgivable as she’s always written herself off to be.
This all leaves me contemplating whether it’s a sincere, enduring love, or a mere convenience born of calamity, where both are grasping for flickers of the salvation they've long been fighting for in one another.
But here’s where my opinions start to contradict themselves: as much as all of these elements keep me from swooning out of my seat, they also make the romance feel apt for a story that lays bare the darker impulses of humanity so unflinchingly.
Call me a pessimist, but isn't this often how love unfolds in reality? Beneath the warm and fuzzy of it all, we enter into relationships subconsciously hoping the other person will fill voids we’ve yet to reckon with.
Thus, for all my reservations, I think their connection feels well-executed given the raw and complex world they’re navigating.
And with so much left unresolved by the conclusion, I'm cautiously optimistic that the sequel will leave me feeling more emotionally invested in their love.
Individually, there’s an endearing humanity underpinning both of their characters.
I immediately liked Lirien—
🌅 She’s incredibly powerful, but never invincible. Perceptive and grounded in many ways, she’s still susceptible to manipulation, seduction, and impulses shaped by her wounds. She’s also acutely aware of the limits of her magic and the devastation it can wreak on the environment, making her humble enough to accept help when she needs it, and to forgo using her power when its destruction feels unconscionable despite the risk doing so poses to her.
🌅 While guilt fuels much of her bravery and selflessness, she’s also driven by her big, kind heart and genuine desire for equality and freedom of choice for all. I appreciated that she never wallows in self-pity or acts as though her suffering entitles her to forgiveness.
🌅 There’s a quiet resilience about her. She’s shouldering the immense burden of trying to rebuild a world she and everyone else holds herself accountable for breaking, and even as shifting circumstances and new revelations leave her increasingly uncertain of the best path forward, she never loses her center.
There were a few moments when I wanted to shake her, but then I remembered she’s spent twenty years cloistered inside a metal box with a narcissistic monster breathing down her neck, and it was easy to empathize.
My affection toward Vox wasn’t so immediate, however.
As many of you know, I run a strict program when it comes to mmc’s. And I can’t deny that Vox is a frustrating prick who’s yet to fully win me over.
He's capricious, calculating, stubborn, emotionally stunted, and at times, so consumed by his own pain and ambitions that he fails to consider the cost to everyone else. There were moments when I struggled to see what Lirien found attractive in him, considering how quickly he turns on her and how little of himself he’s willing to give.
That said, his flaws feel grounded in the life he’s lived. The apocalypse struck when he was just eighteen, and he’s spent every one of the 7,264 days since fighting tooth and nail for his own survival and that of his people. He carries a harrowing burden of loss, grief, and self-loathing that he’s never had the safety or breathing room to confront. In light of this, his emotional immaturity and selfishness make sense, even when they frustrate me.
Plus, he’s not all infuriating. He oozes cool confidence and a sense of humor which complements his undeniably sexy exterior. His charisma as a leader is captivating, and beneath the ruthless defenses he’s built to survive an existence in hell, there’s a semblance of a kind heart and conscience that seems to be growing.
Overall, I’m impressed by the psychological depth and complexity Danielle managed to weave into the characters.
Moving onto the narrative as a whole, I was also blown away by the sheer volume of social and political commentary thoughtfully explored.
The story engages with weighty topics such as:
🤎 classism
🤎 prejudice
🤎 eugenics
🤎 authoritarian ideologies
🤎 genocidal ideologies
🤎 religious and political exploitation of crises
🤎 redemption and guilt
It raises many difficult questions along the way, like: what are we truly willing to sacrifice for a better future? Should people have a choice in whether they participate in the fight for justice? Who gets to decide who’s labeled the villain in times of conflict? And how much should intent and awareness factor into our judgment of those who contribute to a crisis, if at all?
One of the most compelling moral tensions is the contrast between those are overtly evil and those fighting for justice, who, at times, unwittingly begin to embody the very qualities they condemn. I took it as a powerful reminder that when we cast villains as so fundamentally ‘other’ that we refuse to acknowledge that the human impulses driving these villains are universal and also exist as potential within ourselves, we risk letting our own darker tendencies go unchecked. And while they may manifest in far less extreme ways, that doesn’t make them harmless.
I also appreciated the attention given to all the work required to sustain a formidable resistance. Aboard Vox’s rig Duskchaser, everyone contributes in the ways they're uniquely able to, and all of those roles are valued and respected, whether on the front lines or behind the scenes keeping the crew going.
The world is expansive and mesmerizing, despite being supremely daunting.
Life aboard Dawnrider is posh and safe for the privileged, but carries this cloying air of rigidity and sterility. I suppose no amount of material comfort can disguise the claustrophobia of spending two decades trapped inside a metal box in perpetual motion, never touching solid ground. Oddly, I found something grimly familiar about the endless, soul-sucking hamster wheel of their incessant grind that stirred up a healthy dose of existential dread.
By contrast, life on Duskchaser feels dynamic. It’s rugged, demanding, and dangerous, but there’s a warmth to its wildness. The crew exudes a stoicism forged through hardship, alongside a deep camaraderie and a sense of never taking things too seriously when life hangs in such a fragile balance at all times.
Beyond the rigs, the natural world carries a melancholic beauty by day. Barren tundras stretch between the ruins of a civilization long lost, while forests largely untouched by humanity for two decades bear a vastness that inspired wistfulness.
But come nightfall, the skies choke with a foul-smelling straxi smog that shrouds the world in a haunting haze. And best believe when those straxi came out to play, my heart was racing at a pace that would concern any medical professional. These spider-like predators eat people alive and can grow as large as a house, while hordes of their tiny yet lethal hatchlings lurk in every imaginable crack and crevice. I got the creepy-crawlies quite a few times when they appeared.
Every night felt like stumbling blindly through a minefield, holding your breath for the horror that’s bound to emerge.
The elemental magic system felt engaging and fairly intuitive to wrap my arms around.
Though it took a few chapters for the story to establish its foundations, which is to be expected.
Elemars wield magic through affinities with elements such as metal, rock, air, water, light, organics, and fire.
Yet no one truly knows where this magic manifests from, or what determines who’s born with it and how much they're granted. In that uncertainty, people have adopted their own ideologies to explain it, and those in power manipulate those beliefs to serve their own ends.
The pacing kept me invested all the way through, though it took a bit of time for things to warm up.
The first 30% was slower, emphasis on the ‘-er’ because I never found it outright sluggish or dull. There's a lot of groundwork to lay for such an expansive world and its complex web of tensions, and I appreciated that DLJ managed to establish it without lengthy expositions while delivering enough action and intrigue to keep me invested.
It’s worth noting that some of the early tension was undercut by how easily I could anticipate what would happen next. When Vox kidnaps Lirien, for instance, we already know from the blurb he’s not going to kill her despite his repeated threats and attempts. And then, when his eventual reasoning for sparing her felt pretty thin and convenient, I did start to fear plot conveniences would undercut the angst and leave me feeling unsatisfied.
But thankfully, once Lirien boards Duskchaser, the story hits its stride and the plot conveniences become less prevalent and egregious (though still mildly present). Several reveals caught me off guard, while others I’d anticipated were still satisfying to see confirmed and unfold.
In summary, Defy the Dusk was a cinematic, propulsive, and addictive ride.
The brutal world, morally complicated characters, and poignant commentary left me feeling like I had lived a million lives by the time the story ended, and gave me lots to mull over in its aftermath.
And while the romance hasn’t won me over emotionally just yet, I’m invested enough to want to see where it goes in the sequel.
I can’t wait to fling myself right back into the mayhem whenever DLJ blesses us with book two.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Danielle L. Jensen, and Del Rey for the e-arc and opportunity to share my honest thoughts.
In the ashes of an apocalypse, we enter a gritty dystopian world where those hungry for power have exploited fear, uncertainty, and existing prejudices between those born with and without magic to seize control under the guise of salvation.
Naturally, such oppression has bred dissent. Yet the fight for a better world is no less morally complex, as unresolved personal grievances and unwavering convictions in one’s own righteousness start to cloud judgement, blurring the line between fighting for a greater cause and using that cause to serve one’s own ends.
For all its darkness, the story never loses sight of humanity’s resilience. In a world determined to strip away the hope and heart of those fighting to survive, holding onto both against all odds becomes an act of defiance. And we see just how formidable a force those fighting for a better world can become once they look beyond their differences and rally around what unites them.
It all started twenty years ago, when Lirien Flintspire’s magic erupted in a fit of anger.
Though she was only nine, the sheer magnitude of her terramancy—the ability to form and manipulate rock—tore apart the world in a series of cataclysmic quakes, reducing much of the continent to rubble. Worse still, it unleashed monstrous flesh-eating creatures called straxi, which hunt humans by night and soon ravaged what remained.
Ever since, humanity has clung to survival aboard high-speed trackless trains called ‘rigs’, built to outrun these relentless predators. But none hold a candle to Dawnrider, an alloy fortress on wheels where “all aboard defy the death found in darkness by endlessly riding the dawn.” Its riders’ immense magic sustains a grueling speed that keeps the vessel in sync with the Earth’s rotation, allowing it to remain in perpetual daylight.
Only a thousand of the most powerful magic-born, known as elemar, were granted a coveted place aboard Dawnrider, leaving the rest of society to fend for themselves.
While Lirien’s magic may have physically sundered the world, it was broken long before.
Leading Dawnrider with an iron fist is Taimen, an elemar supremacist who’s long sought to purge society of those born without magic, known as nullborns. The instability of the apocalypse provided fertile ground for his propaganda to take root, preaching that it was divine punishment for elemars consorting with nullborns and thereby ‘tarnishing’ their bloodlines. And that eliminating the nullborn will restore magic and rid the world of the straxi.
But aboard Dawnrider, survival relies on a far more tangible source of power.
Taimen himself. As the most potent oromancer alive, his alloy-affiliated magic created the vessel and is the only source powerful enough to keep it together, making him a critical lifeline for everyone aboard.
He weaponizes that dependence to demand absolute obedience and maintain a rigid social hierarchy where magic equals privilege. The most powerful elemars live in luxury, while those with lesser power shoulder the labor of keeping the rig running and serving the elite.
Though Lirien should technically be one of the most privileged among them, considering she’s the most powerful elemar in the world, she’s far from it, as nearly everyone aboard holds her in contempt as the cause of their suffering.
Meanwhile, Taimen keeps her on a short leash because he needs her magic to build and maintain the roads that keep Dawnrider rolling, but also because she sees through his insidious rhetoric and has enough power to threaten his control.
In that vein, she’s been quietly plotting her own path to humanity’s salvation with a plan that’s just nearing fruition when we meet her.
We all know what they say about the best laid plans, though 👀
Vox, fearsome king of the ‘feralists’, has a plan of his own to rebuild the world, beginning with the assassination of Taimen’s presumed right hand, Lirien.
Like most, Vox and his crew of rebel fighters loathe Lirien for breaking the world. That hatred is amplified, however, by rhetoric villainizing her for the inordinate magic she was born with. They're seeking retribution against her and those leading Dawnrider for abandoning humanity and hoarding the magic needed to protect it.
Yet when they attack, Vox makes a game-time decision to kidnap Lirien instead, temporarily exploiting her magic in his ceaseless war against the straxi.
But as she joins the feralists’ fight against her will, Lirien and Vox must reluctantly reckon with the possibility that their shared enemies in Taimen and the straxi could make them unlikely allies.
Their romance is utterly exhilarating.
A volatile collision of animosity, distrust, attraction, and admiration.
It draws on a classic romantasy formula: forced proximity under the constant threat of death gradually gives way to an unwelcome yet undeniable connection. But what makes their dynamic stand out is how profoundly disorienting their attraction proves to be. It challenges their identities, brings unresolved wounds to the surface, and forces each to reconsider long-held assumptions. Coupled with the characters’ raw humanity, this lends their romance a texture that makes it feel both distinct and addictive.
And I’ve come to appreciate this particular brand of romance as DLJ’s signature: passionate, fraught, and transformative in how it reshapes the love interests’ understanding each other, the world, and the conflicts they’re fighting to change.
Their early banter drips with derision and sarcasm, while vulnerability cracks through as they spend every waking hour together. And their physical chemistry sears off the page—breathless encounters in cramped spaces, incidental touches that leave behind an intoxicating imprint, and the heady rush of evading death alongside one another, revealing unexpected depths of heart and valor in the process.
That said, I’m of two minds about their connection.
I often struggle to buy into the sincerity of a romance when the fmc’s power or strengths become a pivotal lifeline for the mmc to achieve his own ambitions or salvation. I find myself questioning where his desire for her as a person ends and his urge to possess, control, or benefit from what she can offer begins. And I felt that tension intensely here.
Their mutual admiration and respect became palpable as they fought alongside one another, risking everything for the greater good. Yet there’s no denying that a potent elixir of adrenaline, proximity, lust, and the value of Lirien’s magic—as well as her determination to mend the world she feels she broke—fuels much of the flame that burns between them.
And as their romance deepens, Lirien develops this odd longing for Vox to claim her as “his,” while Vox wrestles with his own possessive urge to lay claim to her, which reinforced my nagging suspicion that Vox sees Lirien, at least in part, as an object, a weapon, a means to an end. And that she’s internalized a similar view of herself.
So Vox’s desire for Lirien seems muddled with lust and self-interest. And Lirien’s attraction to him feels tangled up in her longing for absolution, because if she can win over a man who despised her for destroying everything he held dear, perhaps she’s not as unforgivable as she’s always written herself off to be.
This all leaves me contemplating whether it’s a sincere, enduring love, or a mere convenience born of calamity, where both are grasping for flickers of the salvation they've long been fighting for in one another.
But here’s where my opinions start to contradict themselves: as much as all of these elements keep me from swooning out of my seat, they also make the romance feel apt for a story that lays bare the darker impulses of humanity so unflinchingly.
Call me a pessimist, but isn't this often how love unfolds in reality? Beneath the warm and fuzzy of it all, we enter into relationships subconsciously hoping the other person will fill voids we’ve yet to reckon with.
Thus, for all my reservations, I think their connection feels well-executed given the raw and complex world they’re navigating.
And with so much left unresolved by the conclusion, I'm cautiously optimistic that the sequel will leave me feeling more emotionally invested in their love.
Individually, there’s an endearing humanity underpinning both of their characters.
I immediately liked Lirien—
🌅 She’s incredibly powerful, but never invincible. Perceptive and grounded in many ways, she’s still susceptible to manipulation, seduction, and impulses shaped by her wounds. She’s also acutely aware of the limits of her magic and the devastation it can wreak on the environment, making her humble enough to accept help when she needs it, and to forgo using her power when its destruction feels unconscionable despite the risk doing so poses to her.
🌅 While guilt fuels much of her bravery and selflessness, she’s also driven by her big, kind heart and genuine desire for equality and freedom of choice for all. I appreciated that she never wallows in self-pity or acts as though her suffering entitles her to forgiveness.
🌅 There’s a quiet resilience about her. She’s shouldering the immense burden of trying to rebuild a world she and everyone else holds herself accountable for breaking, and even as shifting circumstances and new revelations leave her increasingly uncertain of the best path forward, she never loses her center.
There were a few moments when I wanted to shake her, but then I remembered she’s spent twenty years cloistered inside a metal box with a narcissistic monster breathing down her neck, and it was easy to empathize.
My affection toward Vox wasn’t so immediate, however.
As many of you know, I run a strict program when it comes to mmc’s. And I can’t deny that Vox is a frustrating prick who’s yet to fully win me over.
He's capricious, calculating, stubborn, emotionally stunted, and at times, so consumed by his own pain and ambitions that he fails to consider the cost to everyone else. There were moments when I struggled to see what Lirien found attractive in him, considering how quickly he turns on her and how little of himself he’s willing to give.
That said, his flaws feel grounded in the life he’s lived. The apocalypse struck when he was just eighteen, and he’s spent every one of the 7,264 days since fighting tooth and nail for his own survival and that of his people. He carries a harrowing burden of loss, grief, and self-loathing that he’s never had the safety or breathing room to confront. In light of this, his emotional immaturity and selfishness make sense, even when they frustrate me.
Plus, he’s not all infuriating. He oozes cool confidence and a sense of humor which complements his undeniably sexy exterior. His charisma as a leader is captivating, and beneath the ruthless defenses he’s built to survive an existence in hell, there’s a semblance of a kind heart and conscience that seems to be growing.
Overall, I’m impressed by the psychological depth and complexity Danielle managed to weave into the characters.
Moving onto the narrative as a whole, I was also blown away by the sheer volume of social and political commentary thoughtfully explored.
The story engages with weighty topics such as:
🤎 classism
🤎 prejudice
🤎 eugenics
🤎 authoritarian ideologies
🤎 genocidal ideologies
🤎 religious and political exploitation of crises
🤎 redemption and guilt
It raises many difficult questions along the way, like: what are we truly willing to sacrifice for a better future? Should people have a choice in whether they participate in the fight for justice? Who gets to decide who’s labeled the villain in times of conflict? And how much should intent and awareness factor into our judgment of those who contribute to a crisis, if at all?
One of the most compelling moral tensions is the contrast between those are overtly evil and those fighting for justice, who, at times, unwittingly begin to embody the very qualities they condemn. I took it as a powerful reminder that when we cast villains as so fundamentally ‘other’ that we refuse to acknowledge that the human impulses driving these villains are universal and also exist as potential within ourselves, we risk letting our own darker tendencies go unchecked. And while they may manifest in far less extreme ways, that doesn’t make them harmless.
I also appreciated the attention given to all the work required to sustain a formidable resistance. Aboard Vox’s rig Duskchaser, everyone contributes in the ways they're uniquely able to, and all of those roles are valued and respected, whether on the front lines or behind the scenes keeping the crew going.
The world is expansive and mesmerizing, despite being supremely daunting.
Life aboard Dawnrider is posh and safe for the privileged, but carries this cloying air of rigidity and sterility. I suppose no amount of material comfort can disguise the claustrophobia of spending two decades trapped inside a metal box in perpetual motion, never touching solid ground. Oddly, I found something grimly familiar about the endless, soul-sucking hamster wheel of their incessant grind that stirred up a healthy dose of existential dread.
By contrast, life on Duskchaser feels dynamic. It’s rugged, demanding, and dangerous, but there’s a warmth to its wildness. The crew exudes a stoicism forged through hardship, alongside a deep camaraderie and a sense of never taking things too seriously when life hangs in such a fragile balance at all times.
Beyond the rigs, the natural world carries a melancholic beauty by day. Barren tundras stretch between the ruins of a civilization long lost, while forests largely untouched by humanity for two decades bear a vastness that inspired wistfulness.
But come nightfall, the skies choke with a foul-smelling straxi smog that shrouds the world in a haunting haze. And best believe when those straxi came out to play, my heart was racing at a pace that would concern any medical professional. These spider-like predators eat people alive and can grow as large as a house, while hordes of their tiny yet lethal hatchlings lurk in every imaginable crack and crevice. I got the creepy-crawlies quite a few times when they appeared.
Every night felt like stumbling blindly through a minefield, holding your breath for the horror that’s bound to emerge.
The elemental magic system felt engaging and fairly intuitive to wrap my arms around.
Though it took a few chapters for the story to establish its foundations, which is to be expected.
Elemars wield magic through affinities with elements such as metal, rock, air, water, light, organics, and fire.
Yet no one truly knows where this magic manifests from, or what determines who’s born with it and how much they're granted. In that uncertainty, people have adopted their own ideologies to explain it, and those in power manipulate those beliefs to serve their own ends.
The pacing kept me invested all the way through, though it took a bit of time for things to warm up.
The first 30% was slower, emphasis on the ‘-er’ because I never found it outright sluggish or dull. There's a lot of groundwork to lay for such an expansive world and its complex web of tensions, and I appreciated that DLJ managed to establish it without lengthy expositions while delivering enough action and intrigue to keep me invested.
It’s worth noting that some of the early tension was undercut by how easily I could anticipate what would happen next. When Vox kidnaps Lirien, for instance, we already know from the blurb he’s not going to kill her despite his repeated threats and attempts. And then, when his eventual reasoning for sparing her felt pretty thin and convenient, I did start to fear plot conveniences would undercut the angst and leave me feeling unsatisfied.
But thankfully, once Lirien boards Duskchaser, the story hits its stride and the plot conveniences become less prevalent and egregious (though still mildly present). Several reveals caught me off guard, while others I’d anticipated were still satisfying to see confirmed and unfold.
In summary, Defy the Dusk was a cinematic, propulsive, and addictive ride.
The brutal world, morally complicated characters, and poignant commentary left me feeling like I had lived a million lives by the time the story ended, and gave me lots to mull over in its aftermath.
And while the romance hasn’t won me over emotionally just yet, I’m invested enough to want to see where it goes in the sequel.
I can’t wait to fling myself right back into the mayhem whenever DLJ blesses us with book two.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Danielle L. Jensen, and Del Rey for the e-arc and opportunity to share my honest thoughts.
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March 23, 2026From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom comes the first book of a gritty post-apocalyptic fantasy duology.
Check out the teaser!! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWOzPP...
Check out the teaser!! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWOzPP...
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April 9, 2026So first of all--I would survive approximately 2.5 seconds in this world. Holy crap. I saw someone describe this as Snow Piercer meets Mad Max and that feels pretty accurate...but also with magic! And forbidden romance! And man-eating monsters that come out at night!
Here's my official blurb:
A thrilling new dystopian romantasy set in an absolutely brutal world where monsters rule the night, and the only way to survive is to outrun them. Between the non-stop action and the angsty, forbidden romance, I *had* to keep turning the page. And the ending?! Shocking!! I will be counting down the days until I can read the sequel.
Here's my official blurb:
A thrilling new dystopian romantasy set in an absolutely brutal world where monsters rule the night, and the only way to survive is to outrun them. Between the non-stop action and the angsty, forbidden romance, I *had* to keep turning the page. And the ending?! Shocking!! I will be counting down the days until I can read the sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Post-apocalyptic fantasy is back!
Humanity survives by endlessly outrunning nocturnal, flesh-eating monsters.
20 years after Lirien’s magic fractured the world and awakened the straxi, she plots to overthrow the cruel tyrant ruling her rig. However, she is kidnapped by the enemy: Vox—the king of the "feralists".
Vox poses an ultimatum: help fight the monsters of the night, or be fed to them.
This was a lot of fun. It’s Mad Max with elements of The Handmaid’s Tale and, what felt like, Jurassic Park.
Lirien, like all of Jensen’s heroines, is stubborn, brave, and very powerful.
The love interest is older, a realist, and has the weight of the world on his shoulders - apt for someone trying to outplay Lirien, the literal Worldbreaker.
“For what it’s worth, I think she’s good for you, Vox. I didn’t think there was anyone alive who could match your intensity, but Lirien meets your bet, then raises the stakes even higher. You’ll probably get each other killed, but you’ll die happy.”
The weakest point of this book was the lacking descriptions. I pictured the straxi as dinosaurs and the rigs from those out of Mortal Engines. Who knows? There is very little description or details.
Secondly, this book was sooo long. Despite that, the pacing is good and the tension kept high, but it felt like a marathon to get through.
Finally, I have some very mixed feelings about relationship at the end. It felt like a lot of the relationship development went down the drain. Without spoilers, I was left very annoyed.
“On the top of a rig. In a burrow. Beneath a mountain.”
“Are we still talking about fighting straxi?”
Despite that, the tension, the fun world-building, and the epic stakes made this a very refreshing romantasy-esque read that would make a killer movie.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Humanity survives by endlessly outrunning nocturnal, flesh-eating monsters.
20 years after Lirien’s magic fractured the world and awakened the straxi, she plots to overthrow the cruel tyrant ruling her rig. However, she is kidnapped by the enemy: Vox—the king of the "feralists".
Vox poses an ultimatum: help fight the monsters of the night, or be fed to them.
This was a lot of fun. It’s Mad Max with elements of The Handmaid’s Tale and, what felt like, Jurassic Park.
Lirien, like all of Jensen’s heroines, is stubborn, brave, and very powerful.
The love interest is older, a realist, and has the weight of the world on his shoulders - apt for someone trying to outplay Lirien, the literal Worldbreaker.
“For what it’s worth, I think she’s good for you, Vox. I didn’t think there was anyone alive who could match your intensity, but Lirien meets your bet, then raises the stakes even higher. You’ll probably get each other killed, but you’ll die happy.”
The weakest point of this book was the lacking descriptions. I pictured the straxi as dinosaurs and the rigs from those out of Mortal Engines. Who knows? There is very little description or details.
Secondly, this book was sooo long. Despite that, the pacing is good and the tension kept high, but it felt like a marathon to get through.
Finally, I have some very mixed feelings about relationship at the end. It felt like a lot of the relationship development went down the drain. Without spoilers, I was left very annoyed.
“On the top of a rig. In a burrow. Beneath a mountain.”
“Are we still talking about fighting straxi?”
Despite that, the tension, the fun world-building, and the epic stakes made this a very refreshing romantasy-esque read that would make a killer movie.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
6 MILLION BLOODY FREAKING STARS TO DANIELLE JENSEN
How does one describe one of the best books of the year?
Truly, this book is nothing short of fantastic.
⚔️ It’s an incredibly high-stakes apocalyptic fantasy with a world unlike any other I’ve read. Its unique setting, heart-pumpingly-terrifying enemies, and nonstop action completely submerges you into a story that is impossible to put down.
🖤 The romantic subplot? Immaculate. It’s the perfect balance of swoon-worthy romance and tension that helps drive the plot without overshadowing it.
✨ If you’re looking for your next fantasy obsession this is it!
How does one describe one of the best books of the year?
Truly, this book is nothing short of fantastic.
⚔️ It’s an incredibly high-stakes apocalyptic fantasy with a world unlike any other I’ve read. Its unique setting, heart-pumpingly-terrifying enemies, and nonstop action completely submerges you into a story that is impossible to put down.
🖤 The romantic subplot? Immaculate. It’s the perfect balance of swoon-worthy romance and tension that helps drive the plot without overshadowing it.
✨ If you’re looking for your next fantasy obsession this is it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If I could give this an infinite amount of stars, I FREAKING WOULD. THIS BOOK WAS EPIC BEYOND PROPORTIONS.
We have two nemesis who have to work together for the greater good, he is literally tossing around the idea of killing her multiple times. I LOVED IT. Also, the main characters being older and trying to save the world was a breath of fresh air. FMC is 29, MMC is late 30’s, early 40’s.
This has a steampunk feel, and the setting is rigs that the characters have lived on for years since the world broke, and they have to keep going with magic in order to survive.
This was intense, action-packed, so stressful and absolutely AMAZING! The characters and their situations are so nuanced, you’re reading from both sides and it’s so difficult to be like, “this is the right side!”. Everyone is at the threshold of hell.
The love story was great, but what made this story was the actual storytelling, and the stakes. The romance is actual romantic love, and it will tear you to shreds to read about it. I need book 2 expeditiously, and I need SERIOUS groveling. Literally, I am GIDDY OVER THIS BOOK!!! EVERYONE LINE UP TO BE READING THIS!
We have two nemesis who have to work together for the greater good, he is literally tossing around the idea of killing her multiple times. I LOVED IT. Also, the main characters being older and trying to save the world was a breath of fresh air. FMC is 29, MMC is late 30’s, early 40’s.
This has a steampunk feel, and the setting is rigs that the characters have lived on for years since the world broke, and they have to keep going with magic in order to survive.
This was intense, action-packed, so stressful and absolutely AMAZING! The characters and their situations are so nuanced, you’re reading from both sides and it’s so difficult to be like, “this is the right side!”. Everyone is at the threshold of hell.
The love story was great, but what made this story was the actual storytelling, and the stakes. The romance is actual romantic love, and it will tear you to shreds to read about it. I need book 2 expeditiously, and I need SERIOUS groveling. Literally, I am GIDDY OVER THIS BOOK!!! EVERYONE LINE UP TO BE READING THIS!
Currently Reading
October 24, 2026I eat up dystopian and now my girl Danielle wrote one?? Will report back 🫡
August 29, 2026
Thank you to Del Rey for the ARC. I’m not sure where to begin. I was disconnected the entire time I was reading this. From the plot to the action scenes, I never felt immersed in the story at any point. Maybe it’s because the author is newer to the genre (post-apocalyptic fantasy) or the fact that she relies heavily on the reader not questioning and just “going with it” as they’re dropped right in the middle of an unknown world and expected to use context clues to world-build on their own, but I have a hard time finding anything redeemable about this book. It needs editing severely. The plot is simple, but everything else is disjointed. I hate when an author holds the reader’s hand, but good grief… That writing was overwhelming. It’s one big word salad, there’s tons of words but they don’t do much. Especially compared to her other books. To make it worse, the pacing was wildly uneven. Most of the book is boring (I fell asleep several times) and then BAM, there’s a ton of revelations and hardly any of them make sense. Jensen’s built-in fanbase might enjoy it, but if I’m honest, I can’t see the regular reader picking this book up and genuinely enjoying the story, world, or characters. And if I didn’t already have faith that the author was a good writer and storyteller beforehand, I would’ve DNF’d around 25%. In my opinion, whatever she’s doing differently with her most recent books (cough cough… 𝘈 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘦) is not working. Makes me wonder if it was just a one-off (rather two-off) that I loved 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 and 𝘈 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥.
Currently Reading
November 5, 2026Pre-read: This book was too pretty at the bookstore to pass up… and for the first time, I’m reading a book right after buying it. Yay me! 🎉📖
Want to Read
April 13, 2026── ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
NO BC THIS COVER IS EATING!!! MOTHER IS SO BACK
NO BC THIS COVER IS EATING!!! MOTHER IS SO BACK
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I give up. Honestly, I apologize to Starside. This was so much worse. I at least finished Starside. I couldn’t even finish this one. 620 times Dawnrider was said. The editor gave this a quick, 3 minute skim and said, “yep, good to go.”
Like, this is turning into a rant review, which I didn’t intend for, but I can’t understand how books this bad get reviewed highly. I understand how they get published: they’re cheap, with a built-in audience, but genuinely this book was atrocious with random terminology thrown at you immediately, ZERO subtly or subtext, extremely poor sentence structure, exposition so blatant it might as well be written in bold, non-existent description of ANYTHING—people, setting, magic…
Sorry, but If after pub date, this comes out to across-the-board rave review, we’re cooked. The future of “post-apocalyptic fantasy” is bleeeeak if this is what’s being served.
Like, this is turning into a rant review, which I didn’t intend for, but I can’t understand how books this bad get reviewed highly. I understand how they get published: they’re cheap, with a built-in audience, but genuinely this book was atrocious with random terminology thrown at you immediately, ZERO subtly or subtext, extremely poor sentence structure, exposition so blatant it might as well be written in bold, non-existent description of ANYTHING—people, setting, magic…
Sorry, but If after pub date, this comes out to across-the-board rave review, we’re cooked. The future of “post-apocalyptic fantasy” is bleeeeak if this is what’s being served.
Currently Reading
November 3, 2026My most anticipated book of this year is finally in my hands LFGGGGG 🗣️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐ Rating: 5 Stars.
✨ The Vibe
A dark, gritty post-apocalyptic fantasy packed with dangerous creatures, powerful magic, political tension, betrayal, secrets, found family, and an absolutely agonizing romance. Expect high stakes, survival, complicated loyalties, strong female characters, and a world where darkness means certain death.
🫶 Who Will Love This?
If you love dark fantasy, post-apocalyptic worlds, dangerous creatures, political intrigue, found family, impossible romances, and complicated characters, PLEASE. 😂 Especially if you loved The Maze Runner or The 100!
🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Post-apocalyptic fantasy
- Survival through the night
- Dangerous (spidery) creatures
- High stakes
- Political tension
- Impossible romance
- Found family
- Powerful FMC
- Broody MMC
💭 My Thoughts
Seriously. I'm not okay. I already love Danielle L. Jensen's books, but this genuinely felt like she's only getting better because Defy the Dusk was AMAZING.
This gave me The Maze Runner + The 100 energy, which immediately made me nostalgic because I loved both when I was younger. But this story is still completely its own thing.
I LOVED this world. Twenty years after Lirien's magic shattered everything and awakened the Straxi, humanity has completely reshaped itself around survival. I especially loved that some people still remember the world before, while others have only ever known this one. It made the Elemar/Null conflict feel so much more layered.
The Straxi also reminded me SO much of the Grievers from The Maze Runner. Spidery, scary creatures that come out at night? Yep. That's what I pictured every single time. 😂
Lirien is an incredible FMC. She's stubborn, brave, powerful, intelligent, and above all, a fighter. And she's 29! Which is also my age, so obviously I'm claiming her. Nah, I kinda want to BE her. Only, skip the spiders though; I have severe spider anxiety.
And Vox... THIS MAN. He's around forty, has a little grey at the edges of his hair, is broody, stubborn, vengeful, barely sleeps, and does absolutely everything for his people. I LOVE HIM.
The romance had me screaming JUST KISS ALREADY approximately 700 times. The yearning. The tension. The banter. The "this can never happen". A+ x100.
And the side characters?! The found family?! The strong female cast?! Perfection.
This book is also LONG. 😂 At one point I felt like I'd been reading for two days and was still at 60%. But I was never bored. I was completely glued to it.
There were definitely moments early on where I was like "WHO???? WHAT????" because there are a LOT of terms and a whole magic system to learn. But trust the process. You'll get there.
And the ending?! I was genuinely nauseated from sheer dread and anxiety. IN THE BEST WAY THOUGH. No worries. Maybe just some sweat, tears, and frustration.
I could talk about this book forever, but I refuse to spoil it. So let's just say: 6 stars. Masterpiece. I am NOT emotionally prepared to wait for book two. IT'S SO GOOOOOD. 😭
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Danielle L. Jensen for providing me with an ARC. All my thoughts & opinions are always my own.
✨ The Vibe
A dark, gritty post-apocalyptic fantasy packed with dangerous creatures, powerful magic, political tension, betrayal, secrets, found family, and an absolutely agonizing romance. Expect high stakes, survival, complicated loyalties, strong female characters, and a world where darkness means certain death.
🫶 Who Will Love This?
If you love dark fantasy, post-apocalyptic worlds, dangerous creatures, political intrigue, found family, impossible romances, and complicated characters, PLEASE. 😂 Especially if you loved The Maze Runner or The 100!
🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Post-apocalyptic fantasy
- Survival through the night
- Dangerous (spidery) creatures
- High stakes
- Political tension
- Impossible romance
- Found family
- Powerful FMC
- Broody MMC
💭 My Thoughts
Seriously. I'm not okay. I already love Danielle L. Jensen's books, but this genuinely felt like she's only getting better because Defy the Dusk was AMAZING.
This gave me The Maze Runner + The 100 energy, which immediately made me nostalgic because I loved both when I was younger. But this story is still completely its own thing.
I LOVED this world. Twenty years after Lirien's magic shattered everything and awakened the Straxi, humanity has completely reshaped itself around survival. I especially loved that some people still remember the world before, while others have only ever known this one. It made the Elemar/Null conflict feel so much more layered.
The Straxi also reminded me SO much of the Grievers from The Maze Runner. Spidery, scary creatures that come out at night? Yep. That's what I pictured every single time. 😂
Lirien is an incredible FMC. She's stubborn, brave, powerful, intelligent, and above all, a fighter. And she's 29! Which is also my age, so obviously I'm claiming her. Nah, I kinda want to BE her. Only, skip the spiders though; I have severe spider anxiety.
And Vox... THIS MAN. He's around forty, has a little grey at the edges of his hair, is broody, stubborn, vengeful, barely sleeps, and does absolutely everything for his people. I LOVE HIM.
The romance had me screaming JUST KISS ALREADY approximately 700 times. The yearning. The tension. The banter. The "this can never happen". A+ x100.
And the side characters?! The found family?! The strong female cast?! Perfection.
This book is also LONG. 😂 At one point I felt like I'd been reading for two days and was still at 60%. But I was never bored. I was completely glued to it.
There were definitely moments early on where I was like "WHO???? WHAT????" because there are a LOT of terms and a whole magic system to learn. But trust the process. You'll get there.
And the ending?! I was genuinely nauseated from sheer dread and anxiety. IN THE BEST WAY THOUGH. No worries. Maybe just some sweat, tears, and frustration.
I could talk about this book forever, but I refuse to spoil it. So let's just say: 6 stars. Masterpiece. I am NOT emotionally prepared to wait for book two. IT'S SO GOOOOOD. 😭
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Danielle L. Jensen for providing me with an ARC. All my thoughts & opinions are always my own.
October 18, 2026
PHEWWWWWW this book had me in a chokehold! if you want true enemies to lovers, look no further.
Defy the Dusk has so many of the things I love most about a post-apocalyptic fantasy: a devastating and dark world (check your triggers), complex characters, extremely high stakes, and a gripping plot.
I loved Lirien right off the bat. She is stubborn, kind, and sometimes, a little naive, which is completely understandable considering her upbringing. Without spoiling anything, the jury is still out on Vox for me. Despite my questionable feelings towards him, I really loved the dynamic between Lirien and Vox. The tension, the yearning, the forbidden romance. 🤌
The worldbuilding felt very dense at first, just because it's such a detailed, unique world with so many moving (literally) parts. The straxi are awful in the best way, and I always love elemental magic. While the story took about 50 pages to really get going for me, the rest of the book had a consistent, unforgiving pace. I truly could not put it down.
I also really appreciate how themes of grief, identity, mental health, and forgiveness are addressed in this book. These things are all deeply complex and messy, and Jensen doesn't shy away from that at all.
The ending. THE ENDING. Absolutely diabolical. It's been almost a week and I'm still fuming about it (complimentary). I need to conclusion to this duet yesterday.
Thank you so much to Del Rey for the gifted advance copy!
Defy the Dusk has so many of the things I love most about a post-apocalyptic fantasy: a devastating and dark world (check your triggers), complex characters, extremely high stakes, and a gripping plot.
I loved Lirien right off the bat. She is stubborn, kind, and sometimes, a little naive, which is completely understandable considering her upbringing. Without spoiling anything, the jury is still out on Vox for me. Despite my questionable feelings towards him, I really loved the dynamic between Lirien and Vox. The tension, the yearning, the forbidden romance. 🤌
The worldbuilding felt very dense at first, just because it's such a detailed, unique world with so many moving (literally) parts. The straxi are awful in the best way, and I always love elemental magic. While the story took about 50 pages to really get going for me, the rest of the book had a consistent, unforgiving pace. I truly could not put it down.
I also really appreciate how themes of grief, identity, mental health, and forgiveness are addressed in this book. These things are all deeply complex and messy, and Jensen doesn't shy away from that at all.
The ending. THE ENDING. Absolutely diabolical. It's been almost a week and I'm still fuming about it (complimentary). I need to conclusion to this duet yesterday.
Thank you so much to Del Rey for the gifted advance copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A pulse-pounding dystopian romantasy that is sure to be a hit and primed for a big-screen adaptation. Defy the Dusk is action-packed with moments of sheer terror. Survival and scheming galore! For those who prefer romance as a subplot, it has a true enemies-to-lovers arc that does not dominate the story. Easily Jensen’s best yet.
Vibe check: Mortal Engines meets Grisha meets Mad Max with a dash of Snowpiercer!
Many thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.
Vibe check: Mortal Engines meets Grisha meets Mad Max with a dash of Snowpiercer!
Many thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.
misc
August 1, 2025An announcement for a new series by Danielle L Jensen was EXACTLY what I needed
October 16, 2026
Thank you NetGalley & Del Rey for the ARC!!
I have thoughts so please bear with me.
Firstly wow. This book was wow. A lot of shit went down and I am here for it. I missed a proper slow burn, truly. Maybe a bit too slow? Tbh with how a lot of books are rushed I can’t complain.
Second, I appreciate this being a two part story. No need for filler books thank God.
Third, I was not expecting to like the FMC this much. She is honestly so real and trying to survive and that can be seen throughout the story.
I love Danielle and her books, the way she writes is so addictive.
And god, that ending?! Give me book two now!!
Also Vox🫦🫦🫦 I don’t think I need to say more teehee.
Fair warning, she does mention this being inspired by Mad Max (I’ve never fully seen the movies lol, but ik what they’re about and I could tell the similarities/inspo), this is not something that might interest a lot of people probably but I genuinely enjoyed it. Keep this in mind LOL.
I don’t know, I feel like this is a very different world than what I’m used to encountering and it made it very appealing and interesting to me. I maybe wouldn’t say original because it is inspired in other worlds that are movies, but I don’t think I’ve read something quite like this.
Sooooo this lowkey will make me watch MM 🤣
I have thoughts so please bear with me.
Firstly wow. This book was wow. A lot of shit went down and I am here for it. I missed a proper slow burn, truly. Maybe a bit too slow? Tbh with how a lot of books are rushed I can’t complain.
Second, I appreciate this being a two part story. No need for filler books thank God.
Third, I was not expecting to like the FMC this much. She is honestly so real and trying to survive and that can be seen throughout the story.
I love Danielle and her books, the way she writes is so addictive.
And god, that ending?! Give me book two now!!
Also Vox🫦🫦🫦 I don’t think I need to say more teehee.
Fair warning, she does mention this being inspired by Mad Max (I’ve never fully seen the movies lol, but ik what they’re about and I could tell the similarities/inspo), this is not something that might interest a lot of people probably but I genuinely enjoyed it. Keep this in mind LOL.
I don’t know, I feel like this is a very different world than what I’m used to encountering and it made it very appealing and interesting to me. I maybe wouldn’t say original because it is inspired in other worlds that are movies, but I don’t think I’ve read something quite like this.
Sooooo this lowkey will make me watch MM 🤣
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley - opinions are always my own.
Oh. My. God. This book was SO good! Classic Danielle L. Jensen writing, like we all know and love, but this one had an edge. Combine true enemies to lovers with propulsive storytelling and a super interesting magic system and there you have it: Defy the Dusk.
The story gripped me from page 1, immediately throwing you into an unfamiliar, but harsh world without explaining much of anything. But I connected to our FMC immediately, so that was never an issue. The plot is strong throughout and keeps you on your toes, plot twists shocking you when you least expect it. The character development is what got me in the end and made me truly emotional.
All in all, I highly recommend this one. It's fast paced, well crafted and deeply human but also just very fun to read. You're sucked in by the plot, but you stay for the found family, the yearning (OH the yearning!) and the character development. Absolutely breathtaking (like literally because I sometimes forgot to breathe).
Synopsis:
20 years ago, Lirien Flintspire broke the world and in doing so unleashed spider-like creatures hungering for human flesh. Amid the chaos, salvation was found in the form of a giant rig that could ride the dawn forever, to avoid the creatures that burn in the sun. All the most powerful elemar were offered a place on that rig, in order to save magic. The rest were left to die. Since then Lirien has plotted to overthrow the tyrant that rules the rig. But just as she's about to succeed, she is kidnapped from her home by the feralist leader. The last bastion of humanity. The wild and lawlessly evil man that wants them all dead. But he doesn't seem to be what she expected him to be at all. Can she stay true to her beliefs and get back to the rig in time to enact her plan? Lirien has to decide where her loyalties lie and what she's willing to do in order to protect those she loves.
Oh. My. God. This book was SO good! Classic Danielle L. Jensen writing, like we all know and love, but this one had an edge. Combine true enemies to lovers with propulsive storytelling and a super interesting magic system and there you have it: Defy the Dusk.
The story gripped me from page 1, immediately throwing you into an unfamiliar, but harsh world without explaining much of anything. But I connected to our FMC immediately, so that was never an issue. The plot is strong throughout and keeps you on your toes, plot twists shocking you when you least expect it. The character development is what got me in the end and made me truly emotional.
All in all, I highly recommend this one. It's fast paced, well crafted and deeply human but also just very fun to read. You're sucked in by the plot, but you stay for the found family, the yearning (OH the yearning!) and the character development. Absolutely breathtaking (like literally because I sometimes forgot to breathe).
Synopsis:
20 years ago, Lirien Flintspire broke the world and in doing so unleashed spider-like creatures hungering for human flesh. Amid the chaos, salvation was found in the form of a giant rig that could ride the dawn forever, to avoid the creatures that burn in the sun. All the most powerful elemar were offered a place on that rig, in order to save magic. The rest were left to die. Since then Lirien has plotted to overthrow the tyrant that rules the rig. But just as she's about to succeed, she is kidnapped from her home by the feralist leader. The last bastion of humanity. The wild and lawlessly evil man that wants them all dead. But he doesn't seem to be what she expected him to be at all. Can she stay true to her beliefs and get back to the rig in time to enact her plan? Lirien has to decide where her loyalties lie and what she's willing to do in order to protect those she loves.
July 3, 2026
I need a drink
October 22, 2026
Thank you Del Rey for the gifted book and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook!
⭐ This is my Book of the Month for October 2026 ⭐
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
This was an absolutely epic feast for the senses.
I’ve always been impressed by Danielle L. Jensen’s ability to craft an all consuming fantasy world, but her foray into this bleak, high-octane dystopian landscape felt like a gritty, full-scale evolution. I was blown away by the sheer scale of this world, and just how much it manages to feel both unimaginably vast and deeply, mechanically claustrophobic all at once.
We’re thrown right into the action, and although there is a lot of information to gather at the beginning, by the time things get going you will wish for an info-dump reprieve because the race-against-the-clock narrative is absolutely relentless. I found this book truly difficult to put down. I was holding my breath during some of the chase sequences, giggling at the banter, and completely wrapped up in the vivid, intense, sensory details. You can practically smell the engine oil and the sheer panic in the air throughout.
But what truly elevated this story into unforgettable territory was the sheer depth and complexity of its characters. The intense, adversarial relationship between Lirien and Vox serves as the perfect emotional anchor against the chaotic horror of the outside world. Both leads are deeply flawed, carrying heavy burdens of guilt, trauma, and unresolved anger and it makes their forced proximity utterly electric.
The romance hits every delicious beat of a true, hard-earned enemies-to-lovers arc, trading soft affection for sharp banter, psychological warfare, and an incredible undercurrent of mutual spite that evolves beautifully over the course of their journey. I am a total sucker for a heroine who uses her wits (and a bit of strategic seduction) as a literal weapon, and watching these two try to outmaneuver each other was easily my favorite part of the book.
✅ Overall, this was a spectacular opening to what will no doubt be an unforgettable duology. Fans of dark, immersive storytelling and readers looking for something that breaks the mold of standard Romantasy need this at the top of their TBR.
**** Fair warning that this cliffhanger is intense. Prepare yourself accordingly!
✦ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 ✦
This was a true duet with Jay Myers and Emily Shaffer.
Jay Myers perfectly encapsulated Vox’s gritty and intense persona, while lending so many charming accents and voices to side characters as well. Emily Shaffer is new to me, and I really enjoyed the no-nonsense, sassy tone she gave Lirien. Each of these narrators brought just the right level of energy and balance to the intense, cinematic action scenes and I thought they had great chemistry. I highly recommend the audio for this one, but do to the density of the story, I do think it will be helpful to have the ebook or physical copy to refer to as well!
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
True Enemies to Lovers
Feminine Rage
Kidnapping
Forced Proximity
Chosen One (with a twist)
Accountability and Redemption
Exploitation and Rebellion
✄----------
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Romance
5 Stars
✄----------
⭐ This is my Book of the Month for October 2026 ⭐
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
This was an absolutely epic feast for the senses.
I’ve always been impressed by Danielle L. Jensen’s ability to craft an all consuming fantasy world, but her foray into this bleak, high-octane dystopian landscape felt like a gritty, full-scale evolution. I was blown away by the sheer scale of this world, and just how much it manages to feel both unimaginably vast and deeply, mechanically claustrophobic all at once.
We’re thrown right into the action, and although there is a lot of information to gather at the beginning, by the time things get going you will wish for an info-dump reprieve because the race-against-the-clock narrative is absolutely relentless. I found this book truly difficult to put down. I was holding my breath during some of the chase sequences, giggling at the banter, and completely wrapped up in the vivid, intense, sensory details. You can practically smell the engine oil and the sheer panic in the air throughout.
But what truly elevated this story into unforgettable territory was the sheer depth and complexity of its characters. The intense, adversarial relationship between Lirien and Vox serves as the perfect emotional anchor against the chaotic horror of the outside world. Both leads are deeply flawed, carrying heavy burdens of guilt, trauma, and unresolved anger and it makes their forced proximity utterly electric.
The romance hits every delicious beat of a true, hard-earned enemies-to-lovers arc, trading soft affection for sharp banter, psychological warfare, and an incredible undercurrent of mutual spite that evolves beautifully over the course of their journey. I am a total sucker for a heroine who uses her wits (and a bit of strategic seduction) as a literal weapon, and watching these two try to outmaneuver each other was easily my favorite part of the book.
✅ Overall, this was a spectacular opening to what will no doubt be an unforgettable duology. Fans of dark, immersive storytelling and readers looking for something that breaks the mold of standard Romantasy need this at the top of their TBR.
**** Fair warning that this cliffhanger is intense. Prepare yourself accordingly!
✦ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 ✦
This was a true duet with Jay Myers and Emily Shaffer.
Jay Myers perfectly encapsulated Vox’s gritty and intense persona, while lending so many charming accents and voices to side characters as well. Emily Shaffer is new to me, and I really enjoyed the no-nonsense, sassy tone she gave Lirien. Each of these narrators brought just the right level of energy and balance to the intense, cinematic action scenes and I thought they had great chemistry. I highly recommend the audio for this one, but do to the density of the story, I do think it will be helpful to have the ebook or physical copy to refer to as well!
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
True Enemies to Lovers
Feminine Rage
Kidnapping
Forced Proximity
Chosen One (with a twist)
Accountability and Redemption
Exploitation and Rebellion
✄----------
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Romance
5 Stars
✄----------
Want to Read
April 7, 2026Well hello there... 😏
✅ Danielle L.Jensen
✅ Gorgeous cover
✅ Dystopian duet
Count me in. 🤩
✅ Danielle L.Jensen
✅ Gorgeous cover
✅ Dystopian duet
Count me in. 🤩
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
5☆ okay WOW!! this was one of my highly anticipated reads for 2026 and it blew every single one of my expectations out of the water. from the characters to the plot to the insane world building, i loved every single second of this story.
the world was one of my favorite things in this book. i genuinely haven’t read something like this and it was so refreshing to be immersed in something new and different. the fact that society lives and travels on trains aka rigs was so cool to me and honestly really interesting to wrap my head around. it was definitely giving dune meets dystopian with amazing fantasy elements sprinkled in. & i really enjoyed the magic in this story, it was the perfect mix of dystopian and the typical fantasy we love.
the characters were absolutely amazing. the fmc, lirien is such a special character and her backstory goes so much deeper than i was anticipating. not only her, but the mmc, vox’s backstory was devastating as well. it was something i wasn’t expecting. he had such a tough exterior, but knowing what he went through… safe to say i was a mess.
their romance was SO GOOD! the tension between them was unbeatable and i found myself giggling sooooo much. danielle l jensen does spicy scenes so well and this was no exception. i ate it up
& the plot!!!! oh my god i was hooked since the beginning. as the story goes on, you learn more about the politics of the world and by the end of the story, you will SCREAM!!! bc what. was. that. ending. the last 15% was absolutely insane. there was so much chaos and my heart was breaking… and the way i have to wait so long to know what happens next is killing me!!!!!! i have so many thoughts and theories in my head but i need to know what’s going to happen
this was an amazing story and i can’t wait for everybody to get their hands on it and to experience these characters! huge, huge thank you to del rey for sending me an early copy of this book 🤎
“𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕.”
the world was one of my favorite things in this book. i genuinely haven’t read something like this and it was so refreshing to be immersed in something new and different. the fact that society lives and travels on trains aka rigs was so cool to me and honestly really interesting to wrap my head around. it was definitely giving dune meets dystopian with amazing fantasy elements sprinkled in. & i really enjoyed the magic in this story, it was the perfect mix of dystopian and the typical fantasy we love.
the characters were absolutely amazing. the fmc, lirien is such a special character and her backstory goes so much deeper than i was anticipating. not only her, but the mmc, vox’s backstory was devastating as well. it was something i wasn’t expecting. he had such a tough exterior, but knowing what he went through… safe to say i was a mess.
their romance was SO GOOD! the tension between them was unbeatable and i found myself giggling sooooo much. danielle l jensen does spicy scenes so well and this was no exception. i ate it up
& the plot!!!! oh my god i was hooked since the beginning. as the story goes on, you learn more about the politics of the world and by the end of the story, you will SCREAM!!! bc what. was. that. ending. the last 15% was absolutely insane. there was so much chaos and my heart was breaking… and the way i have to wait so long to know what happens next is killing me!!!!!! i have so many thoughts and theories in my head but i need to know what’s going to happen
this was an amazing story and i can’t wait for everybody to get their hands on it and to experience these characters! huge, huge thank you to del rey for sending me an early copy of this book 🤎
“𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕.”
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Penguin random house Canada for the arc!
Wow, this is a must read! It is hard to put into words just how much I loved this book! The whole premise of the world was so unique and refreshing! I loved the magic and I love worlds that have a hierarchical system based on levels of power because it inherently helps create conflict. I was honestly sucked in immediately from the first few chapters and it was like an action packed movie playing out in my head that I couldn’t put down (anyone remember the movie Tremors?). I looove both of our main characters so so much. Lirien is fierce and determined and Vox is rugged, mysterious, and charismatic. I love that they are actual true enemies with a backstory to make it believable. The side characters are all so incredible too! I loved that there were both human and monster villains in this world. In true Danielle fashion there are epic battle scenes, great political intrigue, and a fiery slow burn romance. I cannot wait for the conclusion to this story!
Wow, this is a must read! It is hard to put into words just how much I loved this book! The whole premise of the world was so unique and refreshing! I loved the magic and I love worlds that have a hierarchical system based on levels of power because it inherently helps create conflict. I was honestly sucked in immediately from the first few chapters and it was like an action packed movie playing out in my head that I couldn’t put down (anyone remember the movie Tremors?). I looove both of our main characters so so much. Lirien is fierce and determined and Vox is rugged, mysterious, and charismatic. I love that they are actual true enemies with a backstory to make it believable. The side characters are all so incredible too! I loved that there were both human and monster villains in this world. In true Danielle fashion there are epic battle scenes, great political intrigue, and a fiery slow burn romance. I cannot wait for the conclusion to this story!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In the acknowledgements, Danielle cites Mad Max and Red Sonja as inspirations for this book and I can definitely see the influence. Even though the influence is there, I really felt like this was unique and interesting with a modern take and I really enjoyed this ride of a story. Those who love dystopian/post apocalyptic stories and have always wanted them with a side of romance will be pleased with this book as it does not disappoint. I think the only disappointing thing here is that there is a cliffhanger ending and I could have kept reading. There is plenty of action, loveable characters, betrayal, interesting worldbuilding and scary monsters and it all works together very well. This one is definitely going to be a hit!
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 11/3/26
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 11/3/26
Want to Read
March 30, 2026I’ve been on a massive dystopian kick so I fear I will EAT THIS UP ⚡️
October 27, 2026
Defy the Dusk is one phenomenal read. I am forever in awe and utterly wowed by this outstanding book. I was swept away by this epic journey, the way I engaged with this story was intense and immersive and it left me greedy for even more. I entered this one intimidated by its long length but I flew through this work in just a few days because I simply could not set it down. It’s that addicting a read and one that is surely topping my favorites list of 2026!
The world crafted in this work is excellent. It’s dystopian, giving the sort of aesthetic of Mad Max, but there is also a strong fantasy element because this world is one where some individuals, like our leads, are imbued with elemental magic. The entire world is complex and intricate but there is also plenty of space for character work too, and at its heart are two opposing leads who may have more in common than they realize and whose love story is a gorgeous, angsty slow burn that will have your heart going through every single emotion possible. And I mean that! I simply *felt* so much for this whole entire world Danielle L. Jensen created. It all left me breathless.
Let’s start with this dynamic world. Sometimes I read a book and love it but can still leave it with the world being hazy in my mind, but sometimes, in especially special reads, I love a book and leave it with its every color and shape vivid in my mind. The latter is exactly how the Sundered world came to be in my mind. I could imagine its terrain, its rigs, the life within the rigs, the elemental magic, the antagonistic creatures, it just came to be in such an immersive way that that alone quickly eased me into this story. It made me invest in the world and that of course led to investing in its characters. Because what a cast do we have!
I had the best time getting to know every character, so often I’d find myself mad at Vox’s crew for their treatment and mistrust of Lirien but then I’d get to know them better and I’d be longing for them to set aside agenda and bring Lirien into the family! I loved the chemistry between Lirien and Vox and his entire crew. But there’s no chemistry I was more invested in than our central romance of Lirien and Vox.
The dynamic between Lirien and Vox is incredibly complex, given their shared backstory. When Lirien’s powers manifested as a child it brought destruction to the whole world, but especially to then 18 year old Vox. Although she was just a child, Vox initially holds her fully culpable of what (more specifically who) he lost. And so, decades later upon meeting the worldbreaker, he initially only intends to use Lirien as a weapon and nothing more. And it’s both frustrating (in an intentional way!) and understanding. Frustrating in that he and others look to blame his loss on a child’s unintentional action, but also understanding given exactly what he lost. Lirien may have been just a small child when her magic splintered the world, but the consequences of it were life changing for many, including Vox. Needlessly to say, when these two meet, it’s not off to a good start. And considering the whole he tried to kill her but then kidnapped her thing, it’s kind of understandable. But that history is what makes what happens next all the more alluring and addictingly curious. The chemistry is frankly palpable. As much as Vox denies, as much as he intends to literally kill Lirien, he is drawn to her again and again and again!! They are drawn to each other. The more time spent together, the more mutual truths are revealed. The more they get to know each other on a human level and not just regard one another an an enemy. And we see what Vox comes to see in Lirien: a true goodness. Someone who is fighting for the same goal as he, and who wants to make the world a better place. They complement one another so beautifully which is why it broke my heart to see them both create their own hidden agenda. Now I was and will forever be Team Lirien; like Vox, she wants to take down the bad guy, unlike Vox she wants to save as many people as possible in the process. So she’s looking to save lives and only take down one, but Vox doesn’t think that’s a sound plan and looks to take down the entirety of Lirien’s rig to get to the bad guy, innocent lives be damned. And that includes Lirien’s. Of course, it’s clear he will learn to value Lirien’s life but the angst in getting to that was delicious even when it hurt my heart! That’s the stuff I live for, really! I just thought Danielle L. Jensen did a terrific job in allowing us to get to know these characters, care for their connections, and understand their motivation, even when it hurt! All while making sure we always stay Team Lirien, haha!
And the way this one ended? Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. I honestly don’t know how I’ll handle the wait between now and the sequel's release. All I know is that I will be first in line to snatch that book. I need to get back into this world, and I need to know what will happen to Lirien and Vox!
Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
The world crafted in this work is excellent. It’s dystopian, giving the sort of aesthetic of Mad Max, but there is also a strong fantasy element because this world is one where some individuals, like our leads, are imbued with elemental magic. The entire world is complex and intricate but there is also plenty of space for character work too, and at its heart are two opposing leads who may have more in common than they realize and whose love story is a gorgeous, angsty slow burn that will have your heart going through every single emotion possible. And I mean that! I simply *felt* so much for this whole entire world Danielle L. Jensen created. It all left me breathless.
Let’s start with this dynamic world. Sometimes I read a book and love it but can still leave it with the world being hazy in my mind, but sometimes, in especially special reads, I love a book and leave it with its every color and shape vivid in my mind. The latter is exactly how the Sundered world came to be in my mind. I could imagine its terrain, its rigs, the life within the rigs, the elemental magic, the antagonistic creatures, it just came to be in such an immersive way that that alone quickly eased me into this story. It made me invest in the world and that of course led to investing in its characters. Because what a cast do we have!
I had the best time getting to know every character, so often I’d find myself mad at Vox’s crew for their treatment and mistrust of Lirien but then I’d get to know them better and I’d be longing for them to set aside agenda and bring Lirien into the family! I loved the chemistry between Lirien and Vox and his entire crew. But there’s no chemistry I was more invested in than our central romance of Lirien and Vox.
The dynamic between Lirien and Vox is incredibly complex, given their shared backstory. When Lirien’s powers manifested as a child it brought destruction to the whole world, but especially to then 18 year old Vox. Although she was just a child, Vox initially holds her fully culpable of what (more specifically who) he lost. And so, decades later upon meeting the worldbreaker, he initially only intends to use Lirien as a weapon and nothing more. And it’s both frustrating (in an intentional way!) and understanding. Frustrating in that he and others look to blame his loss on a child’s unintentional action, but also understanding given exactly what he lost. Lirien may have been just a small child when her magic splintered the world, but the consequences of it were life changing for many, including Vox. Needlessly to say, when these two meet, it’s not off to a good start. And considering the whole he tried to kill her but then kidnapped her thing, it’s kind of understandable. But that history is what makes what happens next all the more alluring and addictingly curious. The chemistry is frankly palpable. As much as Vox denies, as much as he intends to literally kill Lirien, he is drawn to her again and again and again!! They are drawn to each other. The more time spent together, the more mutual truths are revealed. The more they get to know each other on a human level and not just regard one another an an enemy. And we see what Vox comes to see in Lirien: a true goodness. Someone who is fighting for the same goal as he, and who wants to make the world a better place. They complement one another so beautifully which is why it broke my heart to see them both create their own hidden agenda. Now I was and will forever be Team Lirien; like Vox, she wants to take down the bad guy, unlike Vox she wants to save as many people as possible in the process. So she’s looking to save lives and only take down one, but Vox doesn’t think that’s a sound plan and looks to take down the entirety of Lirien’s rig to get to the bad guy, innocent lives be damned. And that includes Lirien’s. Of course, it’s clear he will learn to value Lirien’s life but the angst in getting to that was delicious even when it hurt my heart! That’s the stuff I live for, really! I just thought Danielle L. Jensen did a terrific job in allowing us to get to know these characters, care for their connections, and understand their motivation, even when it hurt! All while making sure we always stay Team Lirien, haha!
And the way this one ended? Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. I honestly don’t know how I’ll handle the wait between now and the sequel's release. All I know is that I will be first in line to snatch that book. I need to get back into this world, and I need to know what will happen to Lirien and Vox!
Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
November 3, 2026
Every bit worth the hype. Review to come!
October 30, 2026
edit: the more I think about this book (which, the last two days, is a lot) the more I keep lowering my rating because the third act was so frustrating.
Yeah, diehard romantasy readers are going to be all about this. It was a perfect romantasy novel... until it wasn’t. More on that later.
I only really like this genre when the plot carries as much weight as the romance, and honestly I prefer it carrying more. Here the plot and setting are so cinematic and unique that I was geeking out hard throughout. Sure, it’s a lot like Snowpiercer…but with elemental magic and monsters and it was something I hadn’t seen in this genre before. The setting, the creepies, the burrow crawls, and the antagonists (Taimen and Silken are truly foul and I loved it) all get no notes. Perfection. The fight scenes are well-written and tense.
The characters are great too. Cracky, Zint, and Jessie were my favorites. Jessie has so few pages but kind of stole every scene she was in, then was the only one left with brain cells at the end. The dialogue is mostly sharp, with some genuinely funny moments. The MCs worked…mostly. Lirien’s powers were unique, even if her character wasn’t (2026’s Very Attractive Super Powerful Blonde Lady). Vox is…so very hot and also leading a rebellion and wears a skull mask, so no complaints from me there. Well, until his development absolutely tanked at the end.
Speaking of the end.
I’d like to take a moment to tell all the romance authors reading this (there are none) that the miscommunication trope has got to stop. It won’t, and I know that, but I hate it. It’s cheap page-length filler, it frustrates the reader, and it’s completely predictable. EVERYONE KNOWS THEY’LL WORK IT OUT EVENTUALLY. There are other ways to move a plot forward. If emotional stuntedness is a dealbreaker for you too, be warned: this trope is central to both the plot’s climax and the romance. And I was mostly into the romance, right up until the end pissed me off to the point I had to take a break.
Still, I really enjoyed this and the final scene was epic so I’ll be reading the sequel because I want to see the plot through, and because I’m choosing to have faith that Jensen will clean the BS up.
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Yeah, diehard romantasy readers are going to be all about this. It was a perfect romantasy novel... until it wasn’t. More on that later.
I only really like this genre when the plot carries as much weight as the romance, and honestly I prefer it carrying more. Here the plot and setting are so cinematic and unique that I was geeking out hard throughout. Sure, it’s a lot like Snowpiercer…but with elemental magic and monsters and it was something I hadn’t seen in this genre before. The setting, the creepies, the burrow crawls, and the antagonists (Taimen and Silken are truly foul and I loved it) all get no notes. Perfection. The fight scenes are well-written and tense.
The characters are great too. Cracky, Zint, and Jessie were my favorites. Jessie has so few pages but kind of stole every scene she was in, then was the only one left with brain cells at the end. The dialogue is mostly sharp, with some genuinely funny moments. The MCs worked…mostly. Lirien’s powers were unique, even if her character wasn’t (2026’s Very Attractive Super Powerful Blonde Lady). Vox is…so very hot and also leading a rebellion and wears a skull mask, so no complaints from me there. Well, until his development absolutely tanked at the end.
Speaking of the end.
I’d like to take a moment to tell all the romance authors reading this (there are none) that the miscommunication trope has got to stop. It won’t, and I know that, but I hate it. It’s cheap page-length filler, it frustrates the reader, and it’s completely predictable. EVERYONE KNOWS THEY’LL WORK IT OUT EVENTUALLY. There are other ways to move a plot forward. If emotional stuntedness is a dealbreaker for you too, be warned: this trope is central to both the plot’s climax and the romance. And I was mostly into the romance, right up until the end pissed me off to the point I had to take a break.
Still, I really enjoyed this and the final scene was epic so I’ll be reading the sequel because I want to see the plot through, and because I’m choosing to have faith that Jensen will clean the BS up.
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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