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The Darkening by Sunya Mara is a debut fantasy novel perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and We Hunt the Flame. Vesper Vale is the daughter of failed revolutionaries. Her mother was captured by the queen’s soldiers and sentenced to death. Now those soldiers are being led by a prince who is scared of his throne and they captured her dad. Vesper’s determined to save his life. In order to do that, she will have to use her father’s book of experimental magic, infiltrate the soldiers, and cheat her way into the prince’s heart.

The writing style in this book is gorgeous! Vesper’s inner monologue is filled with emotion. The descriptions of the world and the characters’ thoughts balance each other out. The descriptions are incredible and this book is perfectly paced. It has political intrigue, magic, and romance. In addition to that, this novel also has South Asian influences. It would have been nice to see more of that within this book, but it’s a lush world and the characters go through so much!

The main protagonist Vesper is an incredibly likable character. She’s been through a lot but is still determined to keep fighting for whatever she believes in. Vesper’s one of the most resilient characters. Vesper’s always been on the run and when her dad is taken, she promises she’ll do whatever it takes to save him. She gets in as a third-year apprentice where she meets Prince Dalca. Her plan is to get close to the prince and figure out where her father is before it’s too late.

I also enjoyed reading about the side characters in The Darkening. Inez and Cas are fun side characters to read about. This book is well-written. The side characters are funny and I adored the vivid prose. The book also explores themes of what it takes to be a remarkable ruler. The backstory of the Storm was also fascinating. I was in awe of how beautiful the world is. This is more plot-driven than a character-driven kind of book. This book also highlights some of the misconceptions about class. Vesper’s story is ideal for anyone who loves coming of age stories.

Although I adored The Darkening, I would have liked to know more about Prince Dalca. Prince Dalca is one of those morally grey characters you can’t help but feel sorry for and adore at the same time. Some of his actions did not match with what little was told about him and his personality. I would have liked to know more about the magic system in this book and how it works. The magic system is a little vague, but it is intriguing. In addition to that, I would have loved to see more female characters. I did notice that there will be a sequel and I’d love to see more female protagonists in the sequel.

Overall this book is packed with action that will leave you wanting more by the end of it. The Darkening has everything a reader could possibly want. The stakes are high and the characters suffer throughout it. There is a lot of tension between the characters. I also enjoyed reading about what happens when the revolution is unsuccessful and how the characters cope with the aftermath. If any of this sounds appealing, then picking up a copy of The Darkening by Sunya Mara is a must!