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Dark Shores #2
Dark Skies
Unwanted betrothals, assassination attempts, and a battle for the crown converge in Danielle L. Jensen's Dark Skies, a new series starter set in the universe of the YA fantasy Sarah J. Maas called "everything I look for in a fantasy novel."
A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST
Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides.
A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE
Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath – and his heart – to the test.
A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE
With Mudamora falling beneath the armies of the Corrupter, Lydia and Killian strike a bargain to save those they love most—but it is a bargain with unintended and disastrous consequences. Truths are revealed, birthrights claimed, and loyalties questioned—all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2020
561 people are currently reading
16277 people want to read
About the author
Danielle L. Jensen
27 books21.5k 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,097 reviews
January 13, 2026
I had an absolute blast reading Dark Shores, the first book in this series, last year and consider it to be a highly-underrated YA Fantasy.
Going into this installment, I was completely prepared to enjoy it, but Dark Skies took this series to a whole new level.
One very interesting point of note on the format, which I was unaware of going in, is that this book's storyline runs parallel to the storyline of Dark Shores.
I expected this to be a linear continuation of the series, picking up directly after the events of the first book.
However, that is not the case. This book follows two completely different perspectives during the same time period as the first book.
It was so interesting to see the story unfold this way. Lydia, one of the protagonists in this book, is a side character in Dark Shores.
Lydia lives within the Celandor Empire and she was actually the impetus for a great many of the events in Dark Shores, but as the reader, you don't know the whole story.
Dark Skies fills it in. Not only does this book fill in some missing pieces, it continues to grow the world at an impressive rate.
Lydia meets Killian when she is forced to flee her home due to a botched assassination plot. She ends up in the West, on the far side of the Endless Sea.
Killian is a solider, marked by the God of War for great things. He is sworn to protect the Princess of Mudamore, a principality on the brink of war.
There are too many incredible elements of this story, but some of my favorites include: Lydia's character arc, the brutal world seemingly inspired by ancient Rome, the political intrigue, the dangerous, dragon-like creatures terrorizing the city by night, the blight infecting the citizens and yes, the extremely slow-burn romance.
This book is close to 500-pages and there is always something going on. These characters have to constantly be on guard and it certainly made me tense.
I had no idea where this was going to go. There is so much left to this story and I was shocked and delighted to learn, this is slated to be a 4-book series!
If you have not picked this series up yet, I highly recommend giving it a shot.
Personally, I did enjoy this more than Dark Shores and that's saying a lot. I think the main reason is because of Lydia and Killian. Not their relationship, well yes, that helps, but just because I loved each of them both as characters.
Lydia is the legit best. A bookworm who gets in over her head and who transforms into a certifiable badass. Talk about coming out of your shell!
I cannot wait for the next book in the series, which if I understand correctly, will follow the events of the first two books and will have all four main character perspectives: Teriana and Marcus, from Dark Shores, and Lydia and Killian, from Dark Skies.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Teen, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review.
I am really looking forward to continuing with this series!
Going into this installment, I was completely prepared to enjoy it, but Dark Skies took this series to a whole new level.
One very interesting point of note on the format, which I was unaware of going in, is that this book's storyline runs parallel to the storyline of Dark Shores.
I expected this to be a linear continuation of the series, picking up directly after the events of the first book.
However, that is not the case. This book follows two completely different perspectives during the same time period as the first book.
It was so interesting to see the story unfold this way. Lydia, one of the protagonists in this book, is a side character in Dark Shores.
Lydia lives within the Celandor Empire and she was actually the impetus for a great many of the events in Dark Shores, but as the reader, you don't know the whole story.
Dark Skies fills it in. Not only does this book fill in some missing pieces, it continues to grow the world at an impressive rate.
Lydia meets Killian when she is forced to flee her home due to a botched assassination plot. She ends up in the West, on the far side of the Endless Sea.
Killian is a solider, marked by the God of War for great things. He is sworn to protect the Princess of Mudamore, a principality on the brink of war.
There are too many incredible elements of this story, but some of my favorites include: Lydia's character arc, the brutal world seemingly inspired by ancient Rome, the political intrigue, the dangerous, dragon-like creatures terrorizing the city by night, the blight infecting the citizens and yes, the extremely slow-burn romance.
This book is close to 500-pages and there is always something going on. These characters have to constantly be on guard and it certainly made me tense.
I had no idea where this was going to go. There is so much left to this story and I was shocked and delighted to learn, this is slated to be a 4-book series!
If you have not picked this series up yet, I highly recommend giving it a shot.
Personally, I did enjoy this more than Dark Shores and that's saying a lot. I think the main reason is because of Lydia and Killian. Not their relationship, well yes, that helps, but just because I loved each of them both as characters.
Lydia is the legit best. A bookworm who gets in over her head and who transforms into a certifiable badass. Talk about coming out of your shell!
I cannot wait for the next book in the series, which if I understand correctly, will follow the events of the first two books and will have all four main character perspectives: Teriana and Marcus, from Dark Shores, and Lydia and Killian, from Dark Skies.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Teen, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review.
I am really looking forward to continuing with this series!
November 28, 2020
holy smokes. its very rare for me to enjoy a sequel more than the first book, but this blew
‘dark shores’
out of the water, out of the sky, out of the universe.
and i think, in this case, it could be because the events of this book run parallel to the events in the first book; so rather than a continuation of the story, its an extension. the characters are also more likeable, the story is more action packed, and the vibe of the story feels like there is more at stake. it radiates that nail-biting feeling you want to get with an fantasy adventure story.
im super excited for the next installment as all the characters from both ‘dark shores’ and ‘dark skies’ will finally cross paths and the story will truly progress.
↠ 4.5 stars
and i think, in this case, it could be because the events of this book run parallel to the events in the first book; so rather than a continuation of the story, its an extension. the characters are also more likeable, the story is more action packed, and the vibe of the story feels like there is more at stake. it radiates that nail-biting feeling you want to get with an fantasy adventure story.
im super excited for the next installment as all the characters from both ‘dark shores’ and ‘dark skies’ will finally cross paths and the story will truly progress.
↠ 4.5 stars
Read
January 10, 2020Read chapter 1! https://danielleljensen.com/dark-skie...
Two best friends separated by an ocean of lies, betrayal, and political machinations. One girl's path has been revealed, but now it's time to travel with the other. For there is more than one way to cross the world of Reath...
This is an excerpt from my newsletter in which I discuss DARK SKIES and why it's not exactly a sequel...
SURPRISE! I'm sure quite a few of you are reading this email and wondering what is going on and why this novel isn't about Marcus and Teriana. Put your fears to rest, because I haven't abandoned them – you'll be seeing their points of view once again in the third book. And you'll definitely be seeing them in DARK SKIES, albeit from a somewhat different vantage point.
I've talked about how this series is the biggest in scope of anything I've written, and I think now you'll all be starting to understand what I mean by that. The setting isn't just a few kingdoms, but an entire world. It crosses a dozen nations, it contains diverse cultures and races and religions, it faces evils that are both human and decidedly inhuman. But at the heart of it has always been the friendship between two girls, and I hope you're all excited to explore the other half of that friendship.
Now here's the REALLY fun part, and what makes what Tor Teen and I are doing with this series different from other YA fantasy series. You can start reading the series with DARK SHORES *OR* you can start reading with DARK SKIES! They are both starting points to the series that will converge in the third book!
DARK SKIES hits shelves May 5, 2020, and I can't wait for my readers to meet Lydia and Killian!!
Two best friends separated by an ocean of lies, betrayal, and political machinations. One girl's path has been revealed, but now it's time to travel with the other. For there is more than one way to cross the world of Reath...
This is an excerpt from my newsletter in which I discuss DARK SKIES and why it's not exactly a sequel...
SURPRISE! I'm sure quite a few of you are reading this email and wondering what is going on and why this novel isn't about Marcus and Teriana. Put your fears to rest, because I haven't abandoned them – you'll be seeing their points of view once again in the third book. And you'll definitely be seeing them in DARK SKIES, albeit from a somewhat different vantage point.
I've talked about how this series is the biggest in scope of anything I've written, and I think now you'll all be starting to understand what I mean by that. The setting isn't just a few kingdoms, but an entire world. It crosses a dozen nations, it contains diverse cultures and races and religions, it faces evils that are both human and decidedly inhuman. But at the heart of it has always been the friendship between two girls, and I hope you're all excited to explore the other half of that friendship.
Now here's the REALLY fun part, and what makes what Tor Teen and I are doing with this series different from other YA fantasy series. You can start reading the series with DARK SHORES *OR* you can start reading with DARK SKIES! They are both starting points to the series that will converge in the third book!
DARK SKIES hits shelves May 5, 2020, and I can't wait for my readers to meet Lydia and Killian!!
August 7, 2025
✅ 2 POVs
✅ World-building
✅ Main character
✅ Character development
✅ Action and fighting
✅ Scheming and mild plot twists
✅ Politics
✅ Romance
_______________________
Second read: I enjoyed it even more this time around! Truly a great series, and I am eager to reread the third book since I don’t remember anything about it.
_______________________
4.5 stars
This book happens mostly simultaneously as Sark Shores, but it follows Lydia. The first few chapters tell the same story as the beginning of Dark Shores, but from Lydia’s perspective. She then ends up in the kingdom of Mudamora after escaping from Cassius and foiling a murder attempt against her. Once she realizes where she is, she tries to find a way back to Celendrial to save Teriana and the Maarins, while trying to survive in a city on the brink of war and starvation. She unexpectedly finds herself in the employ of Mudamora’s princess and is thrown into the middle of politics and scheming against her will.
This book is very different from Dark Shores; it is less a traveling and conquering adventure and more of a classic YA political fantasy. The beginning is slow; it took me almost 150 pages to really get into this book, but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. The last third of this book is incredible: packed with non-stop action and plot twists. I couldn’t figure out who was using whom in the political game until the end.
I prefer Lydia as a leading character; she is sweet and loyal, and I like how she is always caught in a book. The evolution of her character is one of my favorite things in this book. She evolves from a reserved scholar to a brave and strong fighter. She is determined to help as much as she can, even if it means risking her life or making difficult choices, and she works hard to confront and overcome her fears. She also feels more mature and composed than Teriana, which is a big plus for me, seeing as I am nearing my 30s and struggle to enjoy books when the main characters are immature or too juvenile for me to relate to them.
I still can’t decide who I prefer between Killian and Marcus… While I prefer Lydia and Killian as a duo, I find Marcus to be more complex and compelling… Killian is your typical romantasy hero, with good intentions and a brave heart. He has some swoonworthy moments, and it’s hard not to like him. One thing that bothered me a little, though, was the impression I had that on many occasions, Killian just went along with everything the princess decided, and because of that, Lydia got endangered.
I was sad at first when I realized that this book was not about Marcus and Teriana, but in the end, I loved Lydia and Killian even more than Teriana and Marcus. I adore Marcus, but his romance with Teriana was not my favorite. I did not feel as invested in their relationship as I did with Lydia and Killian, even though once again, this is a slow-burn, and nothing really happens between them. The attraction and complicated feelings are there, and I am truly hoping these two will get a chance to be together and have their HEA.
I had mixed feelings about Malahi for most of the book. She seems to truly care about the welfare of her people, but at the same time, she is plotting for her own gain. I was impressed that she was willing to strip naked in the middle of the street to give her people everything that she had, but I realized later in the book that it was a political move and nothing more. She lied to everyone and was willing to sacrifice countless lives to gain power and status. The more the story went on, the less I liked her, and by the end, I hated her. Stupid scheming brat.
Even though the beginning was slow, I really enjoyed reading this book. There is action, battles, politics, and magic, all the things that I love! The good news is that I received an e-ARC copy of Gilded Serpents, so I can start it right away! I can’t wait to read the next book of this series to see how they hopefully will all end up together (finally!).
0.5 Tarnished Empire ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1. Dark Shores ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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✅ World-building
✅ Main character
✅ Character development
✅ Action and fighting
✅ Scheming and mild plot twists
✅ Politics
✅ Romance
_______________________
Second read: I enjoyed it even more this time around! Truly a great series, and I am eager to reread the third book since I don’t remember anything about it.
_______________________
4.5 stars
This book happens mostly simultaneously as Sark Shores, but it follows Lydia. The first few chapters tell the same story as the beginning of Dark Shores, but from Lydia’s perspective. She then ends up in the kingdom of Mudamora after escaping from Cassius and foiling a murder attempt against her. Once she realizes where she is, she tries to find a way back to Celendrial to save Teriana and the Maarins, while trying to survive in a city on the brink of war and starvation. She unexpectedly finds herself in the employ of Mudamora’s princess and is thrown into the middle of politics and scheming against her will.
This book is very different from Dark Shores; it is less a traveling and conquering adventure and more of a classic YA political fantasy. The beginning is slow; it took me almost 150 pages to really get into this book, but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. The last third of this book is incredible: packed with non-stop action and plot twists. I couldn’t figure out who was using whom in the political game until the end.
I prefer Lydia as a leading character; she is sweet and loyal, and I like how she is always caught in a book. The evolution of her character is one of my favorite things in this book. She evolves from a reserved scholar to a brave and strong fighter. She is determined to help as much as she can, even if it means risking her life or making difficult choices, and she works hard to confront and overcome her fears. She also feels more mature and composed than Teriana, which is a big plus for me, seeing as I am nearing my 30s and struggle to enjoy books when the main characters are immature or too juvenile for me to relate to them.
“Time itself doesn’t change people, Highness. What happens to them while it passes does.”
I still can’t decide who I prefer between Killian and Marcus… While I prefer Lydia and Killian as a duo, I find Marcus to be more complex and compelling… Killian is your typical romantasy hero, with good intentions and a brave heart. He has some swoonworthy moments, and it’s hard not to like him. One thing that bothered me a little, though, was the impression I had that on many occasions, Killian just went along with everything the princess decided, and because of that, Lydia got endangered.
“In another life, I’d get down on my knees and beg you to come back. Might beg you not to go in the first place.”
I was sad at first when I realized that this book was not about Marcus and Teriana, but in the end, I loved Lydia and Killian even more than Teriana and Marcus. I adore Marcus, but his romance with Teriana was not my favorite. I did not feel as invested in their relationship as I did with Lydia and Killian, even though once again, this is a slow-burn, and nothing really happens between them. The attraction and complicated feelings are there, and I am truly hoping these two will get a chance to be together and have their HEA.
I had mixed feelings about Malahi for most of the book. She seems to truly care about the welfare of her people, but at the same time, she is plotting for her own gain. I was impressed that she was willing to strip naked in the middle of the street to give her people everything that she had, but I realized later in the book that it was a political move and nothing more. She lied to everyone and was willing to sacrifice countless lives to gain power and status. The more the story went on, the less I liked her, and by the end, I hated her. Stupid scheming brat.
Even though the beginning was slow, I really enjoyed reading this book. There is action, battles, politics, and magic, all the things that I love! The good news is that I received an e-ARC copy of Gilded Serpents, so I can start it right away! I can’t wait to read the next book of this series to see how they hopefully will all end up together (finally!).
0.5 Tarnished Empire ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1. Dark Shores ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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May 31, 2022
I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Buddy read with Zoe!!!
I will admit…if you plan to jump into this, expecting a Dark Shores kind of vibe, you’ve picked up the wrong book, haha. Yes, you can begin this series with either book, but they’re both extremely different, in my opinion. This is longer, slower, and more political. In fact, it took me about 20 chapters to get into this book. 20 CHAPTERS! That’s almost unheard of for me, when it comes to a Danielle L Jensen book. But once I read past that point, I could. not. put. it. down!!!
While Dark Shores was a fast-paced, action-packed adventure with gods battling in the sea and island tribe skirmishes, Dark Skies is very different, in comparison. Rather, Dark Skies is very reminiscent of classic YA political fantasies, such as: Poison Study, The Kiss of Deception, The Winner's Curse, The Queen's Rising and Ash Princess.
“The pillow descended again with a violent force.
‘You,’ Malahi said, once she was through beating him, ‘are the handsome, god-marked warrior with at least a dozen songs written about him. All my ladies swoon when you walk into the room. You’re the one the imagine riding in on a white horse—’
‘My horse is black,’ he interrupted, which she rewarded with another smack of the pillow.
‘On a BLACK horse to save them when they are in distress.’
‘Why can’t anyone ride in to save me when I’M in distress?’”
For the life of me, I can’t understand how so many people switched from #TeamMarcus to #TeamKillian??? Certainly, he had some cute moments and funny one-liners here and there, but…he was so much less compelling than Marcus!!! The first turn off for me, I will admit, is how disparaging he was towards books. Aka MY LIFE. Everyone loses my interest if they hate reading; I’m sorry. (No, I’m not. :P) When he said, “you lost me at ‘favourite linguistic texts’” to Lydia, I was like BOY, BYEEEEE xD My strategical prodigy, Marcus, would NEVER! But, I guess, being god-marked by Tremon, the god of war, means that as long as Killian is brawny, he doesn’t have much to worry about. Aside from losing my interest, that is, lols.
Also, Marcus would move heaven and earth to protect Teriana, but Killian just went along with whatever the princess said, leaving Lydia constantly caught and endangered in the crossfire??? Big yikes. :/ Plus, Marus and Teriana communicated with each other and discussed problems LIKE ADULTS, which is ironic because Lydia is much more mature than Teriana. So, I don’t know if you could tell, but I’m still firmly #TeamMarcus. ;)
Now, I will say that I much prefer Lydia as a lead female protagonist. Teriana had a tendency to be abrasive and rude; whereas Lydia, for the most part, was really sweet and loyal, even when she was scared out of her wits! Also, I loved how relatable she was with her head constantly buried in a book and reorganising other people’s libraries, hehe. I, too, would’ve tried to learn how to swordfight by reading about it, because reading is how I learn most things! :D
In this book, Lydia is forced to flee her comfy life in Celendrial after a foiled assassination attempt, and ends up in the foreign kingdom of Mudamora, a place she hadn’t even heard of until now. There, she has to fight to survive in order to make it home to save her father, Teriana, the Maarin people, and the Cel Empire itself from the man who ordered her assassination. I loved watching her evolve from a demure bibliophile into the determined fighter she had buried deep inside her this entire time, as well as learning her true origins.
As always, my love for the Dark Shores series has not wavered. Romance. Politics. Battles. Adventure. Ancient Rome. Fantasy. Mythology. Magic. It’s everything that I love! Now, that Gilded Serpent’s release date is fast approaching, I can’t wait to see what happens next in the story as Marcus, Teriana, Killian and Lydia’s arcs finally converge as the timelines come together.
Buddy read with Zoe!!!
I will admit…if you plan to jump into this, expecting a Dark Shores kind of vibe, you’ve picked up the wrong book, haha. Yes, you can begin this series with either book, but they’re both extremely different, in my opinion. This is longer, slower, and more political. In fact, it took me about 20 chapters to get into this book. 20 CHAPTERS! That’s almost unheard of for me, when it comes to a Danielle L Jensen book. But once I read past that point, I could. not. put. it. down!!!
While Dark Shores was a fast-paced, action-packed adventure with gods battling in the sea and island tribe skirmishes, Dark Skies is very different, in comparison. Rather, Dark Skies is very reminiscent of classic YA political fantasies, such as: Poison Study, The Kiss of Deception, The Winner's Curse, The Queen's Rising and Ash Princess.
“The pillow descended again with a violent force.
‘You,’ Malahi said, once she was through beating him, ‘are the handsome, god-marked warrior with at least a dozen songs written about him. All my ladies swoon when you walk into the room. You’re the one the imagine riding in on a white horse—’
‘My horse is black,’ he interrupted, which she rewarded with another smack of the pillow.
‘On a BLACK horse to save them when they are in distress.’
‘Why can’t anyone ride in to save me when I’M in distress?’”
For the life of me, I can’t understand how so many people switched from #TeamMarcus to #TeamKillian??? Certainly, he had some cute moments and funny one-liners here and there, but…he was so much less compelling than Marcus!!! The first turn off for me, I will admit, is how disparaging he was towards books. Aka MY LIFE. Everyone loses my interest if they hate reading; I’m sorry. (No, I’m not. :P) When he said, “you lost me at ‘favourite linguistic texts’” to Lydia, I was like BOY, BYEEEEE xD My strategical prodigy, Marcus, would NEVER! But, I guess, being god-marked by Tremon, the god of war, means that as long as Killian is brawny, he doesn’t have much to worry about. Aside from losing my interest, that is, lols.
Also, Marcus would move heaven and earth to protect Teriana, but Killian just went along with whatever the princess said, leaving Lydia constantly caught and endangered in the crossfire??? Big yikes. :/ Plus, Marus and Teriana communicated with each other and discussed problems LIKE ADULTS, which is ironic because Lydia is much more mature than Teriana. So, I don’t know if you could tell, but I’m still firmly #TeamMarcus. ;)
Now, I will say that I much prefer Lydia as a lead female protagonist. Teriana had a tendency to be abrasive and rude; whereas Lydia, for the most part, was really sweet and loyal, even when she was scared out of her wits! Also, I loved how relatable she was with her head constantly buried in a book and reorganising other people’s libraries, hehe. I, too, would’ve tried to learn how to swordfight by reading about it, because reading is how I learn most things! :D
In this book, Lydia is forced to flee her comfy life in Celendrial after a foiled assassination attempt, and ends up in the foreign kingdom of Mudamora, a place she hadn’t even heard of until now. There, she has to fight to survive in order to make it home to save her father, Teriana, the Maarin people, and the Cel Empire itself from the man who ordered her assassination. I loved watching her evolve from a demure bibliophile into the determined fighter she had buried deep inside her this entire time, as well as learning her true origins.
As always, my love for the Dark Shores series has not wavered. Romance. Politics. Battles. Adventure. Ancient Rome. Fantasy. Mythology. Magic. It’s everything that I love! Now, that Gilded Serpent’s release date is fast approaching, I can’t wait to see what happens next in the story as Marcus, Teriana, Killian and Lydia’s arcs finally converge as the timelines come together.
April 6, 2024
4.62!
Reread#1
oh my my danielle really restored my faith in YA fantasies with this books. it was so good?? the writing style was really beautiful. i loved how well versed it was and how it carried two different povs and made the story revolve around them..along with the slow burn and action.
Im team Killian and i honestly do not like marcus and terianna nearly as much as i love Killian and Lydia they are like one massive upgrade. Killians strong, beautiful and thoughtful where Lydia is impulsive, compassionate and loving. These characters definitely carried the book.
the plot and the action was surprisingly so good because i don't usually see much of it in YA fantasies but this one outdid itself and omg the politics were so good. it read like a really good high fantasy movie and i loved every minute of it.
Reread#1
oh my my danielle really restored my faith in YA fantasies with this books. it was so good?? the writing style was really beautiful. i loved how well versed it was and how it carried two different povs and made the story revolve around them..along with the slow burn and action.
Im team Killian and i honestly do not like marcus and terianna nearly as much as i love Killian and Lydia they are like one massive upgrade. Killians strong, beautiful and thoughtful where Lydia is impulsive, compassionate and loving. These characters definitely carried the book.
the plot and the action was surprisingly so good because i don't usually see much of it in YA fantasies but this one outdid itself and omg the politics were so good. it read like a really good high fantasy movie and i loved every minute of it.
April 5, 2020
RTC later today or tomorrow the latest!
December 16, 2025
It took me a second to get into this series but when they introduced Lydia deeper I was hooked!
August 31, 2025
REREAD August '25
Still so frigging obsessed with these books... Ugh.
And I'm still #TeamKillian. Godssss, that man.
Did a tandem read of this one & Dark Shores: Was a-ma-zing.
---
REREAD January '20:
Yet again such a fantastic read!
Gods, how I love this world, these characters and this author's writing.
And Killian.... just...SIGH #TeamKillianForever. Sorry Danielle, lol.
---
It's going to take me a few days to try to come up with a review that'll do this magnificent book justice! Until then, I say:
PRE-ORDER THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW and let yourself be swept away by Danielle's fantastic writing. From what I've read so far, this is easily my favorite read of 2020!!!
Still so frigging obsessed with these books... Ugh.
And I'm still #TeamKillian. Godssss, that man.
Did a tandem read of this one & Dark Shores: Was a-ma-zing.
---
REREAD January '20:
Yet again such a fantastic read!
Gods, how I love this world, these characters and this author's writing.
And Killian.... just...SIGH #TeamKillianForever. Sorry Danielle, lol.
---
It's going to take me a few days to try to come up with a review that'll do this magnificent book justice! Until then, I say:
PRE-ORDER THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW and let yourself be swept away by Danielle's fantastic writing. From what I've read so far, this is easily my favorite read of 2020!!!
May 6, 2020
Happy book birthday to Dark Skies (May 5th!)
Here finally is my full review:
Thank you so much to Tor Teen for the advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
The two books, Dark Shores and Dark Skies, occur at the same time in the fictional world and can be read in either order. I enjoyed publication order. It made sense to learn what was "really" going on.
Here is a quick spoiler-free recap: In Shores we read about Teriana and the Maarin traders, Marcus and the Cel legion, and the initial exploration and conquer of the Dark Shores. Remember the puppet king of the Raiders and some larger threat that is revealed at the end? In Dark Skies, we follow Teriana's friend Lydia who we briefly met before. We learn the truth of the betrayal, see Lydia take another route to Mudamora, and meet Killian who leads the King's forces. This book starts in Cel but we learn a lot more about the Gods, the mystical forces, and the people of the Dark Shores. The third book is going to be an amazing meeting of the two plot lines.
The pace is incredible. I read the first 300 pages kind of slowly but ended up taking the last half in a crazed four hour sitting where I don't think I breathed or blinked. The intrigue, assassinations, BLIGHT ZOMBIES, reckless chases, magical evil army leaders, more scheming, and a race against a huge deadly clock just made it impossible to stop.
The magic of the world was hinted at in Shores, but in Skies we learn all about it. The God-Marked people each have an ability like strength, healing, growing/restoring, water breathing, and it seems they were meant to create teams of people. A great theme this is, and I appreciate the idea that healing is a drain on someones life force. The triage they use is so interesting. The seventh god's power is just terrifying and that will continue in book 3.
All I will say about the additional world building is that the desperation and fear are real, the hurt is real, and the darkness is real. The feelings of the people and the world seeping through the pages into the reader is what separates exquisite world building from the rest.
I 100% liked Lydia and Killian both a LOT more than Marcus and Teriana. They have flawed but endlessly brave personalities, are good problem solvers, and are both loyal to no end. I even liked princess Malahi for the most part, she had some admirable moments and the banter was hilarious between her and Killian and the female guards. It's hard not to root for every single character in the book, including Killian's mother who is a rare gem.
The combination of great characters, more shippable romantic pairings, breakneck pace, magic, and the intrigue of plots to end all plots make Dark Skies (and Dark Shores) a series that I absolutely 100% recommend to anyone with even the slightest interest in fantasy. Thank you so much again to Tor Teen for the advanced copy
Here finally is my full review:
Thank you so much to Tor Teen for the advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
The two books, Dark Shores and Dark Skies, occur at the same time in the fictional world and can be read in either order. I enjoyed publication order. It made sense to learn what was "really" going on.
Here is a quick spoiler-free recap: In Shores we read about Teriana and the Maarin traders, Marcus and the Cel legion, and the initial exploration and conquer of the Dark Shores. Remember the puppet king of the Raiders and some larger threat that is revealed at the end? In Dark Skies, we follow Teriana's friend Lydia who we briefly met before. We learn the truth of the betrayal, see Lydia take another route to Mudamora, and meet Killian who leads the King's forces. This book starts in Cel but we learn a lot more about the Gods, the mystical forces, and the people of the Dark Shores. The third book is going to be an amazing meeting of the two plot lines.
The pace is incredible. I read the first 300 pages kind of slowly but ended up taking the last half in a crazed four hour sitting where I don't think I breathed or blinked. The intrigue, assassinations, BLIGHT ZOMBIES, reckless chases, magical evil army leaders, more scheming, and a race against a huge deadly clock just made it impossible to stop.
The magic of the world was hinted at in Shores, but in Skies we learn all about it. The God-Marked people each have an ability like strength, healing, growing/restoring, water breathing, and it seems they were meant to create teams of people. A great theme this is, and I appreciate the idea that healing is a drain on someones life force. The triage they use is so interesting. The seventh god's power is just terrifying and that will continue in book 3.
All I will say about the additional world building is that the desperation and fear are real, the hurt is real, and the darkness is real. The feelings of the people and the world seeping through the pages into the reader is what separates exquisite world building from the rest.
I 100% liked Lydia and Killian both a LOT more than Marcus and Teriana. They have flawed but endlessly brave personalities, are good problem solvers, and are both loyal to no end. I even liked princess Malahi for the most part, she had some admirable moments and the banter was hilarious between her and Killian and the female guards. It's hard not to root for every single character in the book, including Killian's mother who is a rare gem.
The combination of great characters, more shippable romantic pairings, breakneck pace, magic, and the intrigue of plots to end all plots make Dark Skies (and Dark Shores) a series that I absolutely 100% recommend to anyone with even the slightest interest in fantasy. Thank you so much again to Tor Teen for the advanced copy
April 26, 2021
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Loved the change of focus to different characters in the same storyline! Can't wait for the next book where all four characters POV combine!
Full RTC!
Loved the change of focus to different characters in the same storyline! Can't wait for the next book where all four characters POV combine!
Full RTC!
May 30, 2024
J’avais eu un gros coup de coeur pour le premier tome et si j’ai mis un peu plus de temps à entrer dans l’histoire de celui-ci, j’ai fini par être happée et par adorer ! L’univers est juste incroyable, les personnages beauuuucoup trop attachants, les complots et intrigues politiques sont au top, l’ambiance et les enjeux qu’ils impliquent aussi… vraiment c’est incroyable comme saga et avec cette fin qui est tout autant en suspens que celle d’avant, j’ai déjà hâte de retrouver le style et l’imagination de cette autrice dans la suite de la saga QUI PROMET DU LOURD OLALALA, j’ai si hâte que Teriana, Marcus, Lydia et Killian se retrouvent, ça va partir en c**illes sévère et JE SUIS LÀ POUR ÇA !
October 4, 2021
"Time itself doesn't change people, Highness. What happens to them while it passes does."
I loved Dark Shores and Tarnished Empire. Agrippa, Marcus and Teriana were amazing and the world that Jensen built was as well.
Dark Skies practically starts off repeating the events of the previous books. From Lydia's perspective. That had me bored and annoyed. And on the other hand: confused with Killian's pov. That changed after a while and we entered parts of the story that we hadn't covered before and I started liking Lydia (who really goes through a lot of development here) and Killian and their story. The writing helped with vivid pictures in my mind (not all of them pretty, though...).
Shortly before the ending, all of that changed again. I was left confused and a bit angry. Everything was just happening too fast for me.
I have no idea what to exptect from the next book and to be honest I'm totally scared that we'll get yet another change in pov...
November 30, 2022
JAKIE TO BYŁO DOBRE. Od razu biorę się za kolejną bo nie wytrzymam.
October 10, 2021
3.5 ✨!!
Wasn't a huge fan of Dark Shores, although it was decent and rated it a 3/5 - I found its plot to be all over the place and somewhat confusing. I saw that Dark Skies was a little better so I had to give it a go.
Whelp...
I found I had the same issue with it. Even though it was a tad bit better- I still felt holes or something missing. The writing was good just a confusing story line for me. I kept waiting for some action and that didnt happen until about 75% in.
This is my personal opinion, obviously Im a minority because it seems to have captivated many. So please dont take my word for it maybe I just wasn't feeling it- even though I really really wanted to like it! Not sure if I will continue the series- a part of me wants to know what happened but I also dont know if I care that much. Time will tell.
May 15, 2020
She cried for all that she'd gained. All that she'd lost. And all that would never be.
Wow I truly loved this book!
The story, the characters and the feel is great and I can't wait to read more about Lydia and Killian. Those two.. I just don't have the words for it.
Wow I truly loved this book!
The story, the characters and the feel is great and I can't wait to read more about Lydia and Killian. Those two.. I just don't have the words for it.
July 4, 2022
*4.5 ACHING STARS*
“Time itself doesn’t change people, Highness. What happens to them while it passes does.”
Why the fuck are these books not more widely known or more popular? I swear, this series just keeps getting better! I swear I nearly went into cardiac arrest a couple of times as this was pretty much non-stop action after the 25% point.
This book is set at the same time as the first book, but follows a different leading duo: Lydia and Killian. Twas was way more policital and strategy-based than the first book but I enjoyed it just as much. And just when I thought nobody could top Teriana as leading lady, enter Lydia. I adore her. She is strong, she is fierce, she is loyal, she is selfless.
I like Killian too, but I also had some problems with his unwavering loyalty to his duty. For gods's sake, I wish he'd choose Lydia sometimes because his loyalty always seemed to get both of them in trouble.
I can't wait for our four main characters paths to surely cross in the last two books. I adore this beautiful and detailed word with its gods and marks and monsters and everything in between!
“Time itself doesn’t change people, Highness. What happens to them while it passes does.”
Why the fuck are these books not more widely known or more popular? I swear, this series just keeps getting better! I swear I nearly went into cardiac arrest a couple of times as this was pretty much non-stop action after the 25% point.
This book is set at the same time as the first book, but follows a different leading duo: Lydia and Killian. Twas was way more policital and strategy-based than the first book but I enjoyed it just as much. And just when I thought nobody could top Teriana as leading lady, enter Lydia. I adore her. She is strong, she is fierce, she is loyal, she is selfless.
I like Killian too, but I also had some problems with his unwavering loyalty to his duty. For gods's sake, I wish he'd choose Lydia sometimes because his loyalty always seemed to get both of them in trouble.
I can't wait for our four main characters paths to surely cross in the last two books. I adore this beautiful and detailed word with its gods and marks and monsters and everything in between!
January 12, 2026
Wow!! I absolutely loved this! I liked Dark Shores ( Book 1), so I decided to read the prequel: Tarnished Empire..and basically the 37th made me swoon. Its a must read! Deciding to continue on with this series is a decision you wont regret.
Dark Skies has it all. Slow burn romance, political scheming, rich world building and complex characters 😚💖 I loved it so, so much. Danielle Jensen is a master at storytelling! I already ordered Gilded Serpents, and am excited to see how the rest of the story plays out. Read this series it wont disappoint!
(5) 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
(Reread January 11,2026)
Dark Skies has it all. Slow burn romance, political scheming, rich world building and complex characters 😚💖 I loved it so, so much. Danielle Jensen is a master at storytelling! I already ordered Gilded Serpents, and am excited to see how the rest of the story plays out. Read this series it wont disappoint!
(5) 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
(Reread January 11,2026)
May 10, 2020
Read my full review plus you can listen to a playlist inspired by Dark Skies curated by yours truly
here!
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I have so many thoughts about this book but one thing stood out among anything else: DARK SKIES IS AN AMAZING SEQUEL.
I stumbled upon enough book reviews to know that the second book is harder to write than the first one. We, readers, expect things to be better in the sequel. Sometimes, we set those expectations too high and we'd be disappointed. But in not-so-rare times, we'd be blown away by the twists and turns of the story in the sequel. I would definitely put Dark Skies in the second category with no hesitation. If you've read Dark Shores and still hesitating whether to continue this series or not, I urge you to keep reading!
The story was told through two perspectives, Killian's and Lydia's. The first few chapters of Lydia's POV were actually a recap of what happened in Dark Shores. I struggled a little bit while trying to get through those chapters but after that, everything went smoothly. I love both of their POV though I prefer Killian's. The writings were beautiful and captivating. It complemented the massive world-building. I wish we'd explore more of the lands in Dark Shores in the next book!
I love how the East is completely different from the West and the fact that they didn't know each other's existence is what makes it all more fun. I couldn't stop reading until 4am! Reading this book was like seeing two different worlds facing different threats colliding into one powerful story. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading Dark Skies. Aside from the engaging plot, I love the characters! They have strong characterizations that make them felt real and alive.
Overall, Dark Skies was a fantastic sequel! From the first chapter, I could already tell that I'd love this book. The tension was already high from the very beginning and it was only getting better until the last page. If you're looking for a next great read with nerve-racking battles, monsters, intriguing characters, and endless political schemes, I recommend you to read this book.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram
Blog | Twitter | Instagram
I have so many thoughts about this book but one thing stood out among anything else: DARK SKIES IS AN AMAZING SEQUEL.
I stumbled upon enough book reviews to know that the second book is harder to write than the first one. We, readers, expect things to be better in the sequel. Sometimes, we set those expectations too high and we'd be disappointed. But in not-so-rare times, we'd be blown away by the twists and turns of the story in the sequel. I would definitely put Dark Skies in the second category with no hesitation. If you've read Dark Shores and still hesitating whether to continue this series or not, I urge you to keep reading!
Dark Skies served me jaw-dropping battles, awesome characters, unexpected plot twists, and SO. MUCH. BLOOD.
The story was told through two perspectives, Killian's and Lydia's. The first few chapters of Lydia's POV were actually a recap of what happened in Dark Shores. I struggled a little bit while trying to get through those chapters but after that, everything went smoothly. I love both of their POV though I prefer Killian's. The writings were beautiful and captivating. It complemented the massive world-building. I wish we'd explore more of the lands in Dark Shores in the next book!
I love how the East is completely different from the West and the fact that they didn't know each other's existence is what makes it all more fun. I couldn't stop reading until 4am! Reading this book was like seeing two different worlds facing different threats colliding into one powerful story. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading Dark Skies. Aside from the engaging plot, I love the characters! They have strong characterizations that make them felt real and alive.
Overall, Dark Skies was a fantastic sequel! From the first chapter, I could already tell that I'd love this book. The tension was already high from the very beginning and it was only getting better until the last page. If you're looking for a next great read with nerve-racking battles, monsters, intriguing characters, and endless political schemes, I recommend you to read this book.
Thank you for reading and liking my review! What are your thoughts on this book? I'd love to discuss it in the comments, so don't hesitate to write down your opinion! Follow my socials and get awesome book recommendations or we can just talk about books 24/7 😊
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April 15, 2020
A billion stars!!!!
I loved Dark Shores a lot but oh my god did I fall head over heels for Dark Skies! The story made my heart pound, the characters gave me all the feels and the romance stole my breath away!
Lydia and Killian is officially my favourite OTP!!! She's timid yet resourceful and he's disgraced but resilient. They couldn't have been further apart but fate brought them together. I loved seeing their relationship develop. With the exception of a few bittersweet moments, their interactions were full of smoldering intensity. They're 1000% meant to be.
Politics is a major player in Dark Skies and it's really well-done. It drove the story and heaped on tons of tension between the characters. So much scheming by so many different people. It was hard to hate the schemers when their plans were so clever. The plot twists were anything but predictable. Every single one had me gasping and nodding in appreciation.
I'm hyper aware of a couple plot points that have been hinted at but brushed over. I have a pretty good idea where they're headed and I just know they'll be explosive once revealed. I especially am holding my breathe . I can't wait for certain people's reactions ;)
I can say a gazillion things about Dark Skies but none could adequately convey my love for it. I simply just need more. My mind, my body and my soul are ready for every single feels the next installment is sure to bring!
I loved Dark Shores a lot but oh my god did I fall head over heels for Dark Skies! The story made my heart pound, the characters gave me all the feels and the romance stole my breath away!
Lydia and Killian is officially my favourite OTP!!! She's timid yet resourceful and he's disgraced but resilient. They couldn't have been further apart but fate brought them together. I loved seeing their relationship develop. With the exception of a few bittersweet moments, their interactions were full of smoldering intensity. They're 1000% meant to be.
Politics is a major player in Dark Skies and it's really well-done. It drove the story and heaped on tons of tension between the characters. So much scheming by so many different people. It was hard to hate the schemers when their plans were so clever. The plot twists were anything but predictable. Every single one had me gasping and nodding in appreciation.
I'm hyper aware of a couple plot points that have been hinted at but brushed over. I have a pretty good idea where they're headed and I just know they'll be explosive once revealed. I especially am holding my breathe . I can't wait for certain people's reactions ;)
I can say a gazillion things about Dark Skies but none could adequately convey my love for it. I simply just need more. My mind, my body and my soul are ready for every single feels the next installment is sure to bring!
May 19, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Tor Teen, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I read Dark Shores last year and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it, so when I saw this one available, I knew I needed to request it. And I'll be waiting impatiently for book three after this story.
The beginning of both books tells basically the same story, Dark Shores telling Teriana's side of things and Dark Skies showing Lydia's. Then they both diverge into two separate concurrent tales. I'm assuming they'll meet back up in book three and become one big story. I hope so, because if we go back to Teriana and don't get more of Lydia's story, I'll be devastated, because while I really like Teriana, I adore Lydia.
The magic system and political machinations of this world are really cool, and the stories are fantastic.
Definitely highly recommend reading these two books as soon as you're able, because they're worth the read!
I read Dark Shores last year and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it, so when I saw this one available, I knew I needed to request it. And I'll be waiting impatiently for book three after this story.
The beginning of both books tells basically the same story, Dark Shores telling Teriana's side of things and Dark Skies showing Lydia's. Then they both diverge into two separate concurrent tales. I'm assuming they'll meet back up in book three and become one big story. I hope so, because if we go back to Teriana and don't get more of Lydia's story, I'll be devastated, because while I really like Teriana, I adore Lydia.
The magic system and political machinations of this world are really cool, and the stories are fantastic.
Definitely highly recommend reading these two books as soon as you're able, because they're worth the read!
July 17, 2022
LUDZIE, KTÓRZY NIE CZYTAJĄ DANIELLE L. JENSEN- NIECH WAS SIÓDMY PORWIE
April 14, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dark Skies, wow - just wow. At first, I was hesitant because it was a little slow to start off with. Then I got a little confused because I was re-reading something that happened in the previous book. Yet, it started to make sense. We were going back because we had to see everything from Lydia's POV. Which, if I'm being honest.. was pretty boring throughout the book. Eventually she got better but I really enjoyed Killian's POV a lot more.
Oh, did I forget to mention that you meet Lydia and Killian in this one? Oops! Well, you do and they were interesting. Of course, I couldn't help shipping them myself but I wont spoil anything about them (I swear!).
Honestly, a lot of betrayal goes on this one which didn't really surprise me. Then there's this mysterious aspect because people are turning into the corrupted and some weird ass black sludge going around. Plus the hint of war - sounds like an average Tuesday.
Long story short, I definitely need the next book ASAP. I can't accept that kind of ending people! I have so many questions that need answers and I need to see certain people again.
Dark Skies, wow - just wow. At first, I was hesitant because it was a little slow to start off with. Then I got a little confused because I was re-reading something that happened in the previous book. Yet, it started to make sense. We were going back because we had to see everything from Lydia's POV. Which, if I'm being honest.. was pretty boring throughout the book. Eventually she got better but I really enjoyed Killian's POV a lot more.
Oh, did I forget to mention that you meet Lydia and Killian in this one? Oops! Well, you do and they were interesting. Of course, I couldn't help shipping them myself but I wont spoil anything about them (I swear!).
Honestly, a lot of betrayal goes on this one which didn't really surprise me. Then there's this mysterious aspect because people are turning into the corrupted and some weird ass black sludge going around. Plus the hint of war - sounds like an average Tuesday.
Long story short, I definitely need the next book ASAP. I can't accept that kind of ending people! I have so many questions that need answers and I need to see certain people again.
May 16, 2020
Dark Skies is Lydia’s story. We learn what happened to her after her ordeal in the first book and we also learn more about the world and politics concerning the countries of the Dark Shores. I have to say, both books have amazing covers. Even without reading the synopsis, you will be tempted to grab the book just for the remarkable covers.
The plot-line was intriguing, knotted with curve balls that you would not see coming. Surprising secrets embedded deep were revealed at the optimum time, adding value to the story. I found the plot-line well-crafted and with enough complications to keep you reading.
The main characters in Dark Skies were Lydia and Killian and the story was shared between their viewpoints. I loved Killian. He wasn’t perfect, he had his flaws, but he accepted them and he tried his best to do the right thing. He was honorable. The author wrote his character so well, I totally fell for him.
I had high hopes for Lydia, especially with how much she loved books but sadly, I found myself disliking her. I found her annoying and weak. Her stupidity and her reasoning frustrated me. There were a lot of things I didn’t like about her and it would be hard to disclose them all without giving away spoilers. Suffice to say, she did not deserve Killian.
From what I observed with both books, Dark Shores, and Dark Skies, I find that the author did a great job with the key male characters but a poor job with the female MCs. I would have loved the books better if the female MCs had been worthy of the male MCs.
https://nomadicworlds.wordpress.com/2020/05/16/book-review-dark-skies-dark-shores-2-danielle-l-jensen/
April 23, 2020
I just finished Dark Skies by Danielle L. Jensen and oh my gosh.
But first, a quick question…
What do milkshakes, Slurpees, and smoothies have in common?
Besides being drinks, they’re all mixes.
I’ve already confessed to being a milkshake connoisseur, but I’m also a Slurpee addict. The perfect Slurpee is a blend between Cherry and Coke, mixed to the perfect texture that’s not too thick and not too watery.
Similarly, Dark Skies is an absolutely perfect blend of Magic, Action, Politics, Deception, and Romance.
Nearly every page is dripping with awesomeness that sucked me in and pulled me along a fantastic journey.
Dark Skies Review
Let’s get the not so great stuff out of the way so I can resume gushing about this book.
It’s rare that I get the perfect Slurpee every single time. Usually, I get a thin layer of liquid at the bottom of the cup. This is either because it’s hot and it’s started to melt, or it wasn’t properly mixed before I dispensed it.
Either way, the beginning of my drink is a little disappointing until all the liquid is gone.
Similar to my review of Dark Shores, I felt that the beginning dragged a bit.
A point of clarification, because I didn’t know this going in, but Dark Skies takes place at the exact same time as Dark Shores, but features two different characters.
The characters from Dark Shores, Teriana and Marcus, are shown briefly in Dark Skies. You’ll see the exact opening scenes you remember from Dark Shores happening here in Dark Skies, but from Lydia’s perspective.
But you also get Killian, a new character who I immediately fell in love with. Killian is marked by the gods and lives in northern continent of the Dark Shores.
After those same initial scenes that gave me pause in the first book, I was totally sucked in and couldn’t get enough of Dark Skies.
Answered Questions
One of my biggest questions from Dark Skies was “What happened to Lydia?”
I was left pretty disappointed with how that line ended in Dark Shores, but Jensen had a master plan all along. Dark Skies reveals exactly what happened to Lydia, and there’s no way it could have been answered in a single paragraph!
She told me that she had intended to release Dark Skies a lot closer to the publication of Dark Shores, but the best laid plans…
In either case, it’s easy to see how Dark Skies and Dark Shores would have made for one epic book if it featured all four POVs. Thankfully, that’s exactly what we’ll get with Book 3, and I can’t wait!
What is Dark Skies About?
After Lydia accidentally reveals the existence of the Dark Shores to Lucius via her frustrating cousin hellbent on destroying her, Lucius moves to have her killed.
Without revealing too much, she ends up on the Dark Shores and quickly meets Killian.
And that’s where things get interesting.
Lydia’s whole goal is to save Teriana, but she has no idea how to go about achieving this considering she doesn’t even know where she is.
Thanks to events that happen, Killian gets her a job as a guard to the royal princess. And that’s really where it gets interesting.
As Captain of the guard, it positions Killian and Lydia in just the right place to develop a flourishing romance.
The problem?
Killian is sworn to princess Malahi. And even if he doesn’t have a relationship with her, he is bound to protect her forever and his life is not his own.
The Plot Thickens
Within the first chapter of the book you’ll quickly come to realize that there is more at work here.
Aside from the threat of the Cel legions invading the Dark Shores we saw in Book 1, there is also the armies of Derin, those devoted to the seventh god, the Corruptor.
With a known enemy pressing in from the North, the people of Mudamora are oblivious to the looming threat to the South. Even Lydia is unaware that they’ve made it through.
All of this melds perfectly to provide you with excitement on every page. If it’s not the clanging swords or the singing arrows, it’s the internal struggles of forbidden love, or impossible situations that are forced upon our characters on more than a few occasions.
Final Thoughts
I can’t express my love for Dark Skies enough.
I’m so grateful to Danielle for sending me a copy. Especially with this epic art swag:
The top image is Killian and Lydia, while the bottom is Marcus and Teriana.
I really enjoyed Dark Shores, but I loved Dark Skies so much more.
And that cover is absolutely gorgeous, is it not?
The beginning dragged the book down a little bit, but since it was my second time with those scenes, and getting to see it from a different perspective, it was easier to digest than the first go around.
Oh, and did I mention there’s a medieval version of zombies?
You heard me right. Zombies!
I’ll let you see for yourself how Jensen pulls that one off.
I don’t have too many “auto-buy” authors, but Danielle L. Jensen is one of them. Another fantastic tale and one you won’t want to miss.
More reviews on my blog at https://tlbranson.com/blog
February 6, 2021
Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars
AHHHHH SO GOOD! The ending totally gutted me, though. Ugh. Can't wait to read book 3!
AHHHHH SO GOOD! The ending totally gutted me, though. Ugh. Can't wait to read book 3!
April 30, 2020
That was insanely amazing.
I think it's really cool that you could technically read DARK SKIES *or* DARK SHORES first, because they're happening along the same timeline; either way, I think readers will be thrilled with whichever they pick, because the Lydia/Killian story is JUST AS AWESOME as the Marcus/Teriana story. I love the world Jensen has created; it's fully fleshed out, I fall for just about every character who walks on the page, and the books are so tightly plotted that there is not a single moment where I find myself wanting to skim. I'd recommend these books to anyone who loved RED RISING - the politics Jensen crafts are just as entertaining as the battle scenes, and I dare you to not root for the two POV characters the minute they walk onto the page. As an extra bonus, the writing is absolutely stunning.
Having read DARK SHORES first, I do agree with the people who say it starts off a little slow, because we know about what happens in the beginning thanks to that book, but I actually really appreciated it because it allowed for a full fleshing-out of Lydia's character - which I, personally, really needed after how she's depicted in DARK SHORES. I found her to be very bookish (and kind of dorky if I'm being honest) and while there are definitely "fish out of water" moments for her throughout this book, she never becomes whiny; she's determined, ambitious in a selfless sense, and willing to do whatever it takes to help others. Her character was really appealing, and I'm so curious to see where the rest of her story goes. The same goes for Killian; I love this sassy war commander so much. Seeing his relationship with Lydia develop was agonizing (two words: slow. burn.) but I was also really entertained by the dynamic between Killian and his brother, as well as between him and Malahi. The courtly setting of this book was an interesting change of pace to the adventure-y plot of DARK SHORES, but Jensen's writing is still punchy and entertaining as hell to read. The twists were brilliantly plotted, and the scheming between all of the royals kept me turning pages like crazy.
My only issue with this is that I don't have the sequel in my hands right now!
I think it's really cool that you could technically read DARK SKIES *or* DARK SHORES first, because they're happening along the same timeline; either way, I think readers will be thrilled with whichever they pick, because the Lydia/Killian story is JUST AS AWESOME as the Marcus/Teriana story. I love the world Jensen has created; it's fully fleshed out, I fall for just about every character who walks on the page, and the books are so tightly plotted that there is not a single moment where I find myself wanting to skim. I'd recommend these books to anyone who loved RED RISING - the politics Jensen crafts are just as entertaining as the battle scenes, and I dare you to not root for the two POV characters the minute they walk onto the page. As an extra bonus, the writing is absolutely stunning.
Having read DARK SHORES first, I do agree with the people who say it starts off a little slow, because we know about what happens in the beginning thanks to that book, but I actually really appreciated it because it allowed for a full fleshing-out of Lydia's character - which I, personally, really needed after how she's depicted in DARK SHORES. I found her to be very bookish (and kind of dorky if I'm being honest) and while there are definitely "fish out of water" moments for her throughout this book, she never becomes whiny; she's determined, ambitious in a selfless sense, and willing to do whatever it takes to help others. Her character was really appealing, and I'm so curious to see where the rest of her story goes. The same goes for Killian; I love this sassy war commander so much. Seeing his relationship with Lydia develop was agonizing (two words: slow. burn.) but I was also really entertained by the dynamic between Killian and his brother, as well as between him and Malahi. The courtly setting of this book was an interesting change of pace to the adventure-y plot of DARK SHORES, but Jensen's writing is still punchy and entertaining as hell to read. The twists were brilliantly plotted, and the scheming between all of the royals kept me turning pages like crazy.
My only issue with this is that I don't have the sequel in my hands right now!
April 3, 2021
Dark Skies wasn't what I expected it to be, but with DLJ i've come to expect that.
So this book was a bit of a struggle for me in the beginning. A lot of people have told me how much BETTER this is in comparison to Dark Shores but i'm honestly inclined to disagree. This book felt way more familiar in that it reminded me of a lot of YA fantasy that i've read: a girl is separated from what she knows, is pulled into a new scary world and learns that there's more beyond her sheltered life. In comparison, Dark Shores focuses on a female ship captain who's forced into a deal with a semi-foreign empire to sail across the seas in search of a new world. So for me the latter was much more refreshing.
That being said, I still loved this book.
Lydia was very selfless as Killian said in the book. I loved her loyalty to Teriana, her determination, and the growth that we get to see from her throughout the book.
I loved the world of Mudamora and the heavy contrasts we see between Mudamora and Celendor. It made the world seem that much more vivid and real.
Killian didn't stand out to me until his feelings for Lydia became apparent. Before that he was a mouthy solider who had made some mistakes. His personality was fine, but nothing about him made me swoon or have some sort of heart attack. (Agrippa might have something to do with that.)
With that said, I loved the timeline and how Danielle weaves the events of Dark Shores into the events of Dark Skies. This really did hype me up for the third book!
And if you've been considering reading this series? Absolutely do it. It will definitely be worth it.
So this book was a bit of a struggle for me in the beginning. A lot of people have told me how much BETTER this is in comparison to Dark Shores but i'm honestly inclined to disagree. This book felt way more familiar in that it reminded me of a lot of YA fantasy that i've read: a girl is separated from what she knows, is pulled into a new scary world and learns that there's more beyond her sheltered life. In comparison, Dark Shores focuses on a female ship captain who's forced into a deal with a semi-foreign empire to sail across the seas in search of a new world. So for me the latter was much more refreshing.
That being said, I still loved this book.
Lydia was very selfless as Killian said in the book. I loved her loyalty to Teriana, her determination, and the growth that we get to see from her throughout the book.
I loved the world of Mudamora and the heavy contrasts we see between Mudamora and Celendor. It made the world seem that much more vivid and real.
Killian didn't stand out to me until his feelings for Lydia became apparent. Before that he was a mouthy solider who had made some mistakes. His personality was fine, but nothing about him made me swoon or have some sort of heart attack. (Agrippa might have something to do with that.)
With that said, I loved the timeline and how Danielle weaves the events of Dark Shores into the events of Dark Skies. This really did hype me up for the third book!
And if you've been considering reading this series? Absolutely do it. It will definitely be worth it.
July 26, 2020
Actual rating: 6/5 stars
Dark Shores was a 5/5 star read for me and I loved Dark Skies even more soo sorry bout it Goodreads
It's very rare that I can find no issues within a book, but honestly… this was perfect. Guilty pleasure binge-worthy amazing. I’m calling it now: Dark Skies is in the top 5 for the best 2020 releases and 100% one of the most underrated books of the year. There wasn’t a single moment I didn’t enjoy while reading Dark Skies and I need y’all to stop sleeping on this series.
The plot was...wow, the whole book was so fast-paced but not a single moment felt like a filler. Every scene has a purpose and held a role in the story and I love the unique approach Danielle L. Jensen took to writing a series. Dark Shores was told from Teriana and Marcus’s point of view where Lydia held a major role as a side character. Dark Skies was told from Lydia and Killian’s (a new addition) point of view, overlapping on some events at the beginning of each book and then diverging on different adventures for the remainder. This is such a brilliant way to show multiple sides of the story without making the book some 1,000-page saga that is overwhelming just to pick up; you get two individual stories - equally, as action-packed and entertaining, I might add - that both create so much depth to the story. Absolutely brilliant, Mrs. Jensen.
But lots of books have great, meaningful plots so why, you might ask, did I rate a book so highly that I intentionally went out of Goodreads scale?
Excellent question, let me digress.
The first reason for such a high rating is the characters. Both Lydia and Killian were incredibly enjoyable to read. Lydia is a 6ft scholar who would rather bury herself in a book than interacting with her peers (honestly, me too) or the wives of other senate members who work alongside her father. I loved reading how deeply she cares about everyone she comes across - so much so that the Goddess of Healing, Hegeria, marked Lydia within hours of her arriving on the other side of the endless sea - but still was driven to return to Celendor and help defeat Lucius. As opposed to Teriana in Dark Shores, there was never a moment where I didn’t enjoy reading Lydia’s character.
“The wall is not the kingdom.” Killian coughed. “And one battle is not the war”
Marked by the God of War Tremon, everyone has high expectations for Killian so when he allows the wall protecting Mudamora to fall to the army of Derin, retreating his soldiers to safety, his betters believe that he should face severe consequences, but was ultimately saved by some of the High lords and ladies including the princess Malahi herself. Despite being marked by Tremon, Killian is the ultimate softie. Taking care of the starving children that live in the sewers at night to avoid the Deimos attacks and insanely protective of the all-women guard he created to help protect Malahi, and his unofficial adoptive younger brother, Finn. I feel like it is impossible to not fall in love with his character, who doesn’t love a sworn killer with a BIG heart?
Besides the two amazing main characters, the side cast was equally as great. Gwen, Lena, Bercola, and the rest of the all-women guard and Finn were all very enjoyable to read. I find it equally as important to have well-written side-characters as enjoyable main characters, and that’s something Jensen excels the most at. I love the story of how Bercola began working for Killian’s family (we love to see giants going to war because they find it fun), how Killian met Gwen for the first time, and I would die for the opportunity to some background stories of some of the side characters from both Dark Skies and Dark Shores.
I also loved… the romance. I can’t believe I’m saying that but I really enjoyed ‘few steps down from SJM-type-of-romance’ in a book… I don’t even know who I am anymore. It was the definition of a slow burn romance that just teases the reader and every possible moment. And the drama that went down right after Killian met Lydia for the first time… yeah, I really did love it.
“Gods-damn it, woman! You are causing me to question my commitment to chivalry!”
I found the writing eloquent, flowing, and incredibly complex. Jensen paints the world of Celendor and Mudamora beautifully. The political elements in the story were deeply interwoven; from Lucius and Vibius in Celendor poisoning Lydia’s father and rigging the election to princess Malahi willing to kill her own father to become queen, the political elements were heavy but not so much that the book read like a textbook, there was a perfect balance in the story. And with the so much complexity, Danielle Jensen keeps you guessing on every character’s motives, she even had me rooting for Malahi at the beginning who I’m positive is not dead and I think Hacken is 100% in on everything that is going on.
+ I loved the inclusion of the corrupt creatures that roam the night called Deimos, which was described to be a hybrid between a horse and a dragon that 100% reminded me of thestrals from the Harry Potter series.
If there is a God or Goddess of writing in the Dark Shores world, Danielle L. Jensen would be marked by them, without a shadow of a doubt. There wasn’t a single element I didn’t enjoy throughout the whole book and I cannot wait to see all four beautiful characters reunited in Gilded Serpent - and that moment when they reunite…. The drama, the angst... ugh it’s going to be amazing - I’m so excited.
Dark Shores was a 5/5 star read for me and I loved Dark Skies even more soo sorry bout it Goodreads
It's very rare that I can find no issues within a book, but honestly… this was perfect. Guilty pleasure binge-worthy amazing. I’m calling it now: Dark Skies is in the top 5 for the best 2020 releases and 100% one of the most underrated books of the year. There wasn’t a single moment I didn’t enjoy while reading Dark Skies and I need y’all to stop sleeping on this series.
The plot was...wow, the whole book was so fast-paced but not a single moment felt like a filler. Every scene has a purpose and held a role in the story and I love the unique approach Danielle L. Jensen took to writing a series. Dark Shores was told from Teriana and Marcus’s point of view where Lydia held a major role as a side character. Dark Skies was told from Lydia and Killian’s (a new addition) point of view, overlapping on some events at the beginning of each book and then diverging on different adventures for the remainder. This is such a brilliant way to show multiple sides of the story without making the book some 1,000-page saga that is overwhelming just to pick up; you get two individual stories - equally, as action-packed and entertaining, I might add - that both create so much depth to the story. Absolutely brilliant, Mrs. Jensen.
But lots of books have great, meaningful plots so why, you might ask, did I rate a book so highly that I intentionally went out of Goodreads scale?
Excellent question, let me digress.
The first reason for such a high rating is the characters. Both Lydia and Killian were incredibly enjoyable to read. Lydia is a 6ft scholar who would rather bury herself in a book than interacting with her peers (honestly, me too) or the wives of other senate members who work alongside her father. I loved reading how deeply she cares about everyone she comes across - so much so that the Goddess of Healing, Hegeria, marked Lydia within hours of her arriving on the other side of the endless sea - but still was driven to return to Celendor and help defeat Lucius. As opposed to Teriana in Dark Shores, there was never a moment where I didn’t enjoy reading Lydia’s character.
“The wall is not the kingdom.” Killian coughed. “And one battle is not the war”
Marked by the God of War Tremon, everyone has high expectations for Killian so when he allows the wall protecting Mudamora to fall to the army of Derin, retreating his soldiers to safety, his betters believe that he should face severe consequences, but was ultimately saved by some of the High lords and ladies including the princess Malahi herself. Despite being marked by Tremon, Killian is the ultimate softie. Taking care of the starving children that live in the sewers at night to avoid the Deimos attacks and insanely protective of the all-women guard he created to help protect Malahi, and his unofficial adoptive younger brother, Finn. I feel like it is impossible to not fall in love with his character, who doesn’t love a sworn killer with a BIG heart?
Besides the two amazing main characters, the side cast was equally as great. Gwen, Lena, Bercola, and the rest of the all-women guard and Finn were all very enjoyable to read. I find it equally as important to have well-written side-characters as enjoyable main characters, and that’s something Jensen excels the most at. I love the story of how Bercola began working for Killian’s family (we love to see giants going to war because they find it fun), how Killian met Gwen for the first time, and I would die for the opportunity to some background stories of some of the side characters from both Dark Skies and Dark Shores.
I also loved… the romance. I can’t believe I’m saying that but I really enjoyed ‘few steps down from SJM-type-of-romance’ in a book… I don’t even know who I am anymore. It was the definition of a slow burn romance that just teases the reader and every possible moment. And the drama that went down right after Killian met Lydia for the first time… yeah, I really did love it.
“Gods-damn it, woman! You are causing me to question my commitment to chivalry!”
I found the writing eloquent, flowing, and incredibly complex. Jensen paints the world of Celendor and Mudamora beautifully. The political elements in the story were deeply interwoven; from Lucius and Vibius in Celendor poisoning Lydia’s father and rigging the election to princess Malahi willing to kill her own father to become queen, the political elements were heavy but not so much that the book read like a textbook, there was a perfect balance in the story. And with the so much complexity, Danielle Jensen keeps you guessing on every character’s motives, she even had me rooting for Malahi at the beginning who I’m positive is not dead and I think Hacken is 100% in on everything that is going on.
+ I loved the inclusion of the corrupt creatures that roam the night called Deimos, which was described to be a hybrid between a horse and a dragon that 100% reminded me of thestrals from the Harry Potter series.
If there is a God or Goddess of writing in the Dark Shores world, Danielle L. Jensen would be marked by them, without a shadow of a doubt. There wasn’t a single element I didn’t enjoy throughout the whole book and I cannot wait to see all four beautiful characters reunited in Gilded Serpent - and that moment when they reunite…. The drama, the angst... ugh it’s going to be amazing - I’m so excited.
June 15, 2020
4'75 ⭐ YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM / WRAP UP ABRIL
ESPAÑOL / ENGLISH
No le doy un 5 redondo por un simple motivo. Al principio, creía que el libro seguiría a los mismos personajes de la primera parte (Dark Shores) pero no, sigue a dos personajes diferentes, Killian, personaje totalmente nuevo, y Lydia, a la que ya conocimos en el primer parte, donde era un personaje secundario. Los capítulos de Killian han sido novedosos e interesantes desde el principio, pero los primeros capítulos de Lydia (hasta la página 100 o así) son una repetición de los acontecimientos del comienzo de Dark Shores desde su perspectiva. Por lo tanto esta parte se me ha hecho repetitiva y algo lenta, porque ya sabía lo que pasaba, así que quizás habría sido mejor buscar otra estrategia narrativa. Este es el motivo de que le haya quitado ese 0'25 a la puntuación.
Por lo demás, el libro me ha maravillado. Me han encantado los nuevos protagonistas, sobre todo Killian, que es uno de esos personajes que te ganan enseguida, porque les gusta bromear y vacilar, pero en el fondo son de lo más noble, sincero y valiente que te puedas encontrar. Su espíritu de sacrificio me impresiona, aunque desearía que fuera capaz de ser egoísta y pensar solo en lo que él quiere de vez en cuando. Pero no, su sentido del honor se lo impide (suspiro resignado).
A Lydia me costó un pelín más pillarle el punto, pero también es muy buen personajes, y me he sentido bastante identificada con ella, porque siente que no acaba de encajar, porque cree que puede aprenderlo todo de los libros, porque no es físicamente fuerte pero está dispuesta a todo por las personas a las que quiere.
Y las escenas que tienen juntos.. madre mía. La suya es una relación que se desarrolla con calma, muy lenta y progresivamente, pero se nota la autenticidad. Me ha gustado mucho porque me parece muy natural como se desarrollan las cosas, pero debo reconocer que hacia al final también me he frustrado un poco porque por las circunstancias y sus personalidades no he podido ver todo lo que quería. Habrá que esperar a los siguientes libros, y espero que no me hagan sufrir tanto, aunque en realidad me veo venir que sí.
En cuanto a la trama, igual que el primer libro está plagada de intrigas políticas, personajes manipuladores que engañan a todo el mundo para conseguir el poder, secretos, traiciones... Otro de los motivos por los que me ha encantado ha sido que no me he visto venir ninguno de los giros, me ha sorprendido página tras página, por lo que estaba superinteresante y yo totalmente enganchada en todo momento. Es una lectura que merece muchísimo la pena.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's not a 5 because I must admit the beginning felt slow, because Lydia's first chapters were just a repetition of the beginning of the first installment, Dark Shores, and thus they dragged the story a little bit. On the other hand, I found Killian's chapters gripping from the very beginning. Overall, I fell in love with both characters (although I didn't have any idea this book was not following the same characters as Dark Shores) and what kept me super hooked to the story was that I didn't predict a single plot twist that happened, so the book managed to surprise me page after page. It's an absolute must read, and I can't wait for the third one!
ESPAÑOL / ENGLISH
No le doy un 5 redondo por un simple motivo. Al principio, creía que el libro seguiría a los mismos personajes de la primera parte (Dark Shores) pero no, sigue a dos personajes diferentes, Killian, personaje totalmente nuevo, y Lydia, a la que ya conocimos en el primer parte, donde era un personaje secundario. Los capítulos de Killian han sido novedosos e interesantes desde el principio, pero los primeros capítulos de Lydia (hasta la página 100 o así) son una repetición de los acontecimientos del comienzo de Dark Shores desde su perspectiva. Por lo tanto esta parte se me ha hecho repetitiva y algo lenta, porque ya sabía lo que pasaba, así que quizás habría sido mejor buscar otra estrategia narrativa. Este es el motivo de que le haya quitado ese 0'25 a la puntuación.
Por lo demás, el libro me ha maravillado. Me han encantado los nuevos protagonistas, sobre todo Killian, que es uno de esos personajes que te ganan enseguida, porque les gusta bromear y vacilar, pero en el fondo son de lo más noble, sincero y valiente que te puedas encontrar. Su espíritu de sacrificio me impresiona, aunque desearía que fuera capaz de ser egoísta y pensar solo en lo que él quiere de vez en cuando. Pero no, su sentido del honor se lo impide (suspiro resignado).
A Lydia me costó un pelín más pillarle el punto, pero también es muy buen personajes, y me he sentido bastante identificada con ella, porque siente que no acaba de encajar, porque cree que puede aprenderlo todo de los libros, porque no es físicamente fuerte pero está dispuesta a todo por las personas a las que quiere.
Y las escenas que tienen juntos.. madre mía. La suya es una relación que se desarrolla con calma, muy lenta y progresivamente, pero se nota la autenticidad. Me ha gustado mucho porque me parece muy natural como se desarrollan las cosas, pero debo reconocer que hacia al final también me he frustrado un poco porque por las circunstancias y sus personalidades no he podido ver todo lo que quería. Habrá que esperar a los siguientes libros, y espero que no me hagan sufrir tanto, aunque en realidad me veo venir que sí.
En cuanto a la trama, igual que el primer libro está plagada de intrigas políticas, personajes manipuladores que engañan a todo el mundo para conseguir el poder, secretos, traiciones... Otro de los motivos por los que me ha encantado ha sido que no me he visto venir ninguno de los giros, me ha sorprendido página tras página, por lo que estaba superinteresante y yo totalmente enganchada en todo momento. Es una lectura que merece muchísimo la pena.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's not a 5 because I must admit the beginning felt slow, because Lydia's first chapters were just a repetition of the beginning of the first installment, Dark Shores, and thus they dragged the story a little bit. On the other hand, I found Killian's chapters gripping from the very beginning. Overall, I fell in love with both characters (although I didn't have any idea this book was not following the same characters as Dark Shores) and what kept me super hooked to the story was that I didn't predict a single plot twist that happened, so the book managed to surprise me page after page. It's an absolute must read, and I can't wait for the third one!
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