This was an incredible debut. In the vein of Hannah Whitten, Naomi Novik and Ava Reid, this is a Polish folklore inspired fantasy novel. It is being marketed as romantasy but I don't think this is accurate, it is fantasy featuring romance. The quality of the writing is superb, a well-crafted magic apprentice story. I was initially drawn to it by the cover, which I recognized immediately as the inimitable Magdalena Korzeniewska's work. A. B. Poranek clearly knows what she's talking about with the Polish folklore, which was also familiar to me but unique in her telling. I've seen comparison's to Howl's Moving Castle in the other reviews, which I have to agree with. I will definitely be recommending this to my customers. Happy also to note that A. B. Poranek is a Polish Canadian author, as I am always looking for Canadian books to promote.

Where the Dark Stands Still is amazingly atmospheric, visually descriptive and beautifully written. I really enjoyed this read and for the first time reading a form of polish folklore, it was well done. It also very much felt like a beauty and the beast retelling.

We have our FMC Liska who holds this magic within her and she is scared of it. There is a legend that there is a fern flower that you can make a wish on. Liska goes out into the forest to find the flower and make a wish but she comes across Leszy the warden of the wood instead. A bargain is made and a year of servitude is promised.

This story was extremely atmospheric with a sentient wood and manor as well. The magic is beautiful and comes from within. The story has beasts, and magical beings. The burn is very slow and it felt like a lot of push and pull with the main characters.

I watched a video done by the author, when she talked about the dust jacket and all of the details within, and I felt confident going into the novel that the author had a good understanding of the folklore. The pace felt slower and it’s nothing against the writer, I just prefer a faster pace or faster burn to the stories I read. With that being said, overall I did enjoy the story.

Where the Dark Stands Still is being released February 27, 2024!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE FANS UNITE. This book is the movie if it were set in a creepy enchanted manor. It’s also one of my most conflicting reads of the years of far.

Let me explain.

To start, Where the Dark Stands Still is a beautiful book.

The prose is vivid and captivating and just such a delight to read. Poranek has a great way of describing movements and evoking emotion in not only in the action scenes but also in the quiet, intimate moments, which happen more often in this book than others in the genre. So yes, it is a little slower paced, but I personally loved that.

Liska was great and The Litszy was an incredibly well-written, compelling character. I loved the fact that the reader got to uncover the layers to him alongside the main character.

Their romance is a bit of a slow-burn, but sooo well done (on a chemistry front) and perfectly paced in my option. However, something about it just.. doesn’t sit right with me.

I found out only after finishing this book that Liska is SEVENTEEN during this story… the Litszy is SEVEN HUNDRED years old. I know that everyone has their takes on this trope, but I can generally get over it when the character is:

a) of age (early twenties is my bare min.)
b) the age difference doesn’t show

Aside from the fact that Liska is a minor , the age difference really shows in this book. There were a couple of points that, though sweet, felt almost fatherly? Liska’s age is very apparent in her attitude, but that of the Litszy switches between being an annoying teenage boy to incredibly wise and mature. He’s 700 so it’s a given, but it kind of icked me out at certain points.

The fantasy aspect was generally decent, but a little confusing to me? Some things are established as limits, then broken down and revealed to not be limits, only to be propped up as limits again. Then again, I’m kind of slow when it comes to understanding these things so you can take this with a grain of salt

Otherwise, I really enjoyed unraveling the magical woods of the Diadra and exploring the sentient manor. This element was so well done, along with the little found family composed of Jaga and Maksio.

Now as for the ending… it was beautiful. Devastating, but beautiful nonetheless. I want to make that clear though because I feel like too many people are giving this the “fun romantasy” tag when it’s not quite that, and even so much more.

Of course it’s a gothic, so the aesthetic surrounding it is darker, but so are the themes. I personally found that the topics related especially to death and mourning were pretty well handled. However, it is again not that fun cosy book, it’s more of an upper YA to me.

Nevertheless, I had a generally positive experience, so I can’t bring myself to give this book anything less than a 4. Just wished the age situation for Liska was not what it is bc.. yikes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon&Schuster for providing me with an eArc copy in exchange for my honest review.

Liska Radost, raised in a small village near a mystical forest, believes magic and its wielders are monstrous, After accidentally unleashing her powers, she's captured by the Leszy, a demon warden, who offers her a deal: one year of servitude for a wish. Taken to his decaying manor, Liska uncovers dark truths about their arrangement. To survive and fulfill her wish, she must confront the secrets of her host's past and the ghosts haunting him.

People say this is a gothic Howl’s Moving Castle and IT IS! Liska and Leszy are Sophie and Howl while Jaga is Calcifer and Maksio is Markl. I always love a found family trope 🫶🏻

I adore all the characters in the book. Liska, who exhibits strength, determination, kindness, and care, as she undergoes a transformative journey with magic, breaking free from her village's limitations. The Lesky embodies the quintessential fantasy love interest, portraying a tortured soul with a guarded exterior concealing a compassionate heart.

The relationship between Liska and Leszy is a slow burn. I love how he calls her Fox, it reminded me of Jacks in OUABH, and she calls him Demon 🥹🫠 (ngl it was pretty funny when she first called him that 😂). They protect and take care of each other which is adorable!!! I'm for sure he fell first and harder 😏

I enjoyed this book but THAT ENDING broke my heart 😭



Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me arc!

I think I have been searching for a book like Where The Dark Stands Still for a long time, and finally I think I’ve found the whimsical folklore story for me!

This book spoke to my heart from the minute I laid eyes on its gorgeous cover to the moment I saw the Howl’s Moving Castle comp. And from the very first scene I knew A.B Poranek was about to whisk me away on a wonderful magical adventure, and did she ever.

Where the Dark Stands Still is rich with Polish folklore, and has no shortage of characters you will no doubt fall in love with. The side characters are delightfully charming and add so much warmth to the story that each moment they appeared on the page I found myself smiling at their wit, or crying with their tears. A.B Poranek’s writing flowed beautifully and was simply a delight to get lost in. Her talent in craft is undeniable and I cannot wait to read more from her in the future!


But, what truly captured me so completely (or rather, who.) was Liska and the Leszy. I don’t think I’ve felt so strongly about two characters in a long time and these two will stick with me for a while yet. Liska’s arc is something all of us can relate to, struggling to find your place in the world, trying (and failing) to make yourself fit into a box someone else has made for you. Her fears are tangible, her desires justified, even if we know as the reader how these will change soon.

The moments of Liska exploring the manor and finding an unlikely friendship in Jaga were some of my favourites! Her growth as a character is subtle at first, but still shines. We can see her becoming more comfortable in this magical place long before she starts to be okay with learning magic and I really loved that.

I loved seeing Liska begin to unravel the mystery of The Leszy, and how no matter how much he tried to push back, he never fully succeeded. Their relationship had a natural progression that flowed nicely alongside the other plot lines, all of it combined was paced nicely!

I could talk about my feelings on the Lezsy for DAYS… He is such a complex and tragic character, both alluring and dangerous. I have to say, the bi representation with him was chef’s kiss! (Also just… long white hair and antlers? Come on, f course I love him.)

The moral dilemma surrounding the sacrifice, does one life justify saving the lives of many, was an unexpected twist that had me reeling when the revelation came to light! His pushback and avoidance of Liska in the beginning all had new meaning and it was even more heartbreaking in realizing how he had failed in not growing closer to her. They were doomed by the narrative and the Leszy knew it, but still fell in love anyway and I’m crying again–.

The ending wraps up rather quickly compared to the buildup but still packs that emotional punch I was hoping for. It is both a fitting, and bittersweet end that feels appropriate for both characters and wraps a bow nicely on the entire book and a whole.


Also, the chapter titles WERE SO FUN!!! I seriously need this to be the standard again because they truly elevated my reading experience.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Margaret K. McElderry books for providing this ARC through NetGalley.
Where the Dark Stands Still is a Polish-influenced YA fantasy about a 17 year old Liska Radosk who has been trying (and failing) to hide her magic in her small village. A tragic accident has forced her to run to the Driada forest and beg for her magic to be taken from her. She is caught by a demon of the forest who makes a bargain, work for him for one year and he will free her of her magic.
The characters had growth and were dynamic, I loved the found family and the romance. The beginning of the book felt very moody and atmospheric and I felt that the author really found her voice by the middle of the story. The build up to the ending was so good and got me emotional!
This had all of my favorite parts of Howls Moving Castle, Bear and the Nightingale, Beauty and the Beast, and Once Upon a Broken Heart. That being said it was heavily influenced and at times felt too close.
About mid-way I would have given this 3 stars but by the end I gave this 4 stars. A great debut novel!

Once in a while a book comes along that grabs your attention and doesn't let go until the story is done. Where the Dark Stands Still is one such book.

A mix of magic, romance, polish folklore and a sprinkle of Beauty and the Beast retelling, this vivid book is definitely the kind I would read over and over again.

If you enjoyed titles like Spinning Silver or An Enchantment of Ravens, then this should definitely be part of your TBR lists.

<b>Characters</b>

Liska is my favourite type of FMC - practical and defiant despite being thrust into scary situations and having gone through so much in her life. Its often so hard to make a YA FMC seem realistic but A.B.Poranek has accomplished this so beautifully.

The Leszy...I don't think I can say anything without giving away the plot of the book so all I will say is he must be protected at all costs

There were several other supporting characters that slowly but surely creep into your heart and settle in but there isn't much I can say without giving it away

<b> The Writing</b>
Books that flow like an enchanted fairytale are my absolute favourites. The dream-like quality, the ample folkore, and the softness of the characters despite some being monstrous were just incredible to read.

<b>The Ending</b>
How can you both hate and love an ending? While frustrating (i prefer my happy endings), I dont think this book could have ended in any other way without seeming


All in all, the book was an amazing read and I am so looking forward to reading more of A.B.Poranek stories

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC!

"Of women, he's heard it said: "She will be the end of me" or "She will by my undoing." None of that is true for Liska Radost. She is not the end of anything, but the beginning of everything. He has been dead a long time, and she is his resurrection."

Lol okay now that I've gotten that out of the way, this is a solid 3.5 stars but rounding up! A beautiful story steeped in Polish folklore and mythology with thoroughly entertaining characters and a sentient old manor. Liska, a girl with magic, makes a deal with a demon in the woods (the Leszy) to stay with him for a year in exchange for him ridding her of her powers (because she's been ostracized for them her entire life). As that year goes on, she comes across some fascinating characters and mysteries at the manor, including a ghost hound, a grouchy housespirit that takes the form of a cat, and a mysterious but adorable little boy. She comes to find out the Leszy may have had ulterior motives when setting this bargain, and while he helps her train with her magic, she goes on a couple fun side quests and the two embark on many internal and actual journeys together.

The characters were so much fun and their banter was honestly hilarious and so endearing! To give you an idea of the dynamic, he calls her "not-so-clever-fox" and at one point she says "You are the most dreadful boy I have ever met, but you are mine". The setting of the woods + rundown manor were so vivid and well done. The story flowed really well and was quite easy to follow!

This is a personal preference but I really like closure at the end of the books and this is one of those "read between the lines" instances. Especially when it comes to a fantasy ROMANCE I need that closure or I'll be reeling and upset for days. With the way the story ends, along with some clues sprinkled throughout, you can kinda put together how things may go. But I would have just liked a more conclusive ending for my sensitive self. Objectively though, the ending was great lol I'm just emotional okay??

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Canada, Margaret K. McElderry Books and Netgalley for the eARC!

A beautiful folk tale that reminds me of aspects of beauty and the beast, howls moving castle, and tens of other traditional folk tales. The novel explores themes of home and belonging, found family, and self-acceptance .

I can tell this one will stay with me for a long time.

“Anything can be a door. You simply need to know how to open it”
Liska is a young girl with a big secret. For as long as she can remember she has tried to suppress the magic that flows through her veins. Magic, and those who wield it, are seen as dangerous and monstrous amongst those in her small village. In an attempt to free herself of this ‘curse’, Liska meets the demon Leszy who offers her a deal: one year of servitude and he gives her the wish she so desperately wants. Unfortunately for Liska, Leszy’s motivations may not be as truthful as they seemed (to be fair, he IS a demon).

The first couple chapters of this book were hard for me to get into only because the traditional Polish customs and names threw me off and I had to look up what many of the words meant. But once I did that, everything flowed smoothly together and I began to LOVE the way this story unfolded. As the reader it’s easy to sympathize with Liska, and its even easier to like the demon Leszy, whose arrogant attitude and slightly sarcastic humour really brings out the best of Liska. They are a great pair and every situation they got themselves into made me enjoy the dynamic even more.

This is a YA novel, but I didn’t even realize it until I finished the story! It’s a fantasy and folksy tale that I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a little extra magic in their life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this ARC!

4.75 ⭐️ beautiful writing and world building!! enjoyed the romance :) this is a great debut novel and im so glad i got to enjoy it before the release day!

I had to take a day to recover from the book hangover this gave me, it was such a good read!!

If you loved Howl's Moving Castle you will adore the cast of Where the Dark Stands Still. Liska is an ordinary young woman of the faith, but she has a secret that is about to be exposed. The Leszy has the key to her salvation, but he is a demon of the woods and demands a price: 1 year of her life in his service. A mischievous house spirit and a mute orphan boy round out what became a beloved cast to me, and I will be thinking about them for a long time.

Please give this book a read, the writing is so engaging and vivid, it sucks you right in from the start and doesn't let go. Definitely 5/5 storytelling here~

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this eARC!

Liska Radost runs away from her village in search of the fern flower that can fulfill her wish to be free of her magic in an effort to dispel rumors that she is a witch. When she gets to the Driada, she comes face to face to antlered and man-looking named Leszy. At the point when the Leszy gets Liska endeavoring to pick the flamelike blossom. Instead of the flower, he offers her a deal that makes her options easier: “serve me for a year, and when you are done, I will grant your wish.”
She moves into his manor named "the House Under the Rowan Tree". Where she learns that there is more to magic then darkness. She will also uncovers secrets about the Leszy and finds that there are animals startling to such an extent that even an evil spirit fears them. Those secrets were buried deep because he doesn't want anyone to know about. Practically forgetting about it. With a sarcastic spirited cat as a companion and a little adorable orphan boy, she will meet obstacles that seems to be challenging her own magic.
The story is filled with beings that fills this magic world that humans fear. Enchanted forest; sirens, magical deer, trees with eyes, et cetera. I really enjoyed the author's writing style; very easy to understand and the eerie vibe is really a kick.
Both have to join hands in order to get ride of this old evil god. A main portion of the story is Liska attempting to manage the trauma(from childhood) she has from having sorcery in a general public that considers it evil. She is shown that magic doesn't have to be a bad thing by the Leszy. He will do his best to help her get through this. As he helps her, their close proximity will bring out their attraction for one another. But it is a slow burn, since magic is what brought them together, it will be their first priority.
the author wrapped up the story.

The cover itself already got my full attention.

Read if you like?
-witch FMC x demon MMC
-500+ year old MMC
-howl moving castle vibes
-beauty and the beast vibes
-polish folklore
-phantom sarcastic cat
-found family
-enchanted manor
-unique magic world
-somewhat grumpy x sunshine

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This a gothic YA fantasy set in a Slavic fairytale style world with demons, spirits, and witches. Liska is an outcast in her village, where religion and superstition has forced her to hide her magic. In an attempt to fit in, she goes into the forest in search of a wish-granting flower. Instead she finds the Leszy, a wood demon found in folktales. She makes a bargain to wish away her magic in exchange for one year of servitude to the demon.

This book is written so beautifully while being both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. It does start off a little slow but picks up around the half way mark. The atmosphere is whimsical and the setting feels like its own character. The folklore elements were done well.

One thing I would like to see more in books are pronunciation guides. This book is steeped in Slavic folklore so there are a lot of words from different languages that I don’t know how to pronounce. I think adding a guide would’ve immersed me further into the story as I wouldn’t have had to try so hard to figure out how to pronounce the words.

This has such a great found family aspect. The side characters are extremely lovable and I loved seeing their little family form through the book. The slow burn romance was also done well, especially for a debut YA novel.

The ending will definitely hit you right in the feels. It’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking but still fits with the story.

Overall I enjoyed this book a lot once I got into it. I think it’s going to be a new favourite of a lot of people once it releases on February 27, 2024.

Atmospheric and haunting. Liska Radost has magic, but is afraid of it, and of herself. She journeys to the center of the Driada - an enchanted forest filled with demons - to recover a magical flower all to wish herself rid of the magic she so detests. Instead, she meets the demon warden of the wood.

Naturally, of course, they fall in love.

I loved the spooky forest vibes, and I liked Liska and how easy she was to like even if she was stubborn as hell. My only major complaint was that it felt like the last 25% came a little out of nowhere, and I was hoping for a non-bittersweet ending.

Still good though!

4/5 stars.

This book was really good! I enjoyed the atmosphere, and the writing style made the setting of the story pop out. I also really loved Liska, the main character. I really enjoyed watching her learn to love her magic, and I thought her character development was done super well throughout the book! The plot was also interesting, and I found the book very easy to get into, and very difficult to put down. I haven't read very many books based on Polish folklore, so this was really new and interesting to me! The romance in the story was pretty cute (though the age gap was a bit much for me). I didn't loooove the ending, but I can see how people would like it. Overall, I thought this book was very well done, and I'll definitely be reading more from this author and am excited to see what she does next!

My reviewing account on instagram, romantasyreviews, primarily focuses on Ya romantasy or fantasy reads, especially new up and coming authors and their debut novels. I usually speak very highly of new authors and their debut novels, and support authors through my reviews. But when I say you need to read this book, I really, truly mean it. This book brought me to tears, which, I have to say, does not happen, EVER. I might have watery eyes, but I was fully sobbing by the end of this book. This book touched parts of me I did not know I had.

This book is rich in all the right ways, it is rich in folklore, history, Polish life, mythology, culture, and love. It highlights the historical aspect of Christianity into Polish communities, the isolation of individuals due to non-christian practices, and the faith of communities on the "pagan" ways despite christian indoctrination. This book was both historically accurate in its timeline, and highlights the intricacies of Polish folklore and traditions. it emerges you into a world of magic, demons, "witches," forbidden love, history, and adventure.

The love story in this is beautiful and pure. The interactions between the characters and the character development throughout the book made the reader both attached to the characters, and the relationships the characters established. Their love made me smile, laugh, and inevitably cry.

If you are looking for slow burn love, dark academia and cottage core, historical accuracy, and mythology, this book is for you. I cannot recommend this read enough. I have a feeling this book will become a new fan favourite in the YA fantasy world, and will remain my new favourite book for a long time yet.

This is a lovely example of mixing mythology and fairytale retelling, and overall I really enjoyed reading it.

While it’s obvious that a retelling isn’t going to be the most unique story in the world, I really loved the spin of mixing Polish mythology with a Beauty and the Beast story. The plot itself is fairly lacklustre for about half of the book, it really is just a retelling, but the atmosphere and prose kept me invested even if I knew what was going to happen for the majority of the book.

I was surprised by the bittersweet ending, and I think that is both a positive and negative thing. Branching away from a modern fairytale ending makes the book feel more standout as a whole, but it also doesn’t feel like a fully satisfying conclusion for the characters. I’m torn about how I feel about it.

Overall it’s sweet, lyrical, and delivered a great vibe which is what I was hoping for in this book. I’d give it a 3.5 stars ⭐️

Overall, I enjoyed this book, though I can't say it's my favourite retelling. Take this with a grain of salt though. Beauty and the Beast and Howl's Moving Castle are two of my all-time favourite stories, so when anything is compared to either of them, I have very high expectations.

I love lush worldbuilding, and Where the Dark Stands Still definitely delivered in this aspect. I enjoyed being immersed in its Polish and Slavic inspired world and the details in the writing painted some beautiful imagery of both the Driada (the forest) and the manor. Poranek incoporates a lot of Polish words directly into the prose without explanation and even although it means I have to search up some of the words, I like the authnticity this lends to the narrative.

Where I struggled was with the pacing of the story. I felt that the first half of the book was quite slow and a bit bogged down. Since this is a retelling, the predictability of the story didn't help with the slow progress because I felt like I was reading a story I had already read many times. I know that retellings will always be familiar due to their nature, but this was just a bit too similar for my taste. Once some more characters were introduced and the plot picked up, I was much more engaged.

I would recommend this book to fairy tale lovers and and patient readers and I look forward to A.B. Poranek's future books!

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

WHERE THE DARK STANDS STILL takes readers into a whole new world full of loveable characters, romance, and Polish folklore. Perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson.