3 stars

Dark of the West had me hooked from the moment I read the synopsis. It sounded exactly like a book I would enjoy reading. But I found myself struggling with most of the book. I enjoyed many aspects of the book, but this was not the story for me.

Some of the best parts of “Dark of the West” was the romance. I like many people am such a sucker for a good romantic story. Athan and Aurelia are complete opposites but boy did they define perfection. Falling in love under false pretenses is one of my favorite tropes and I feel like the author did it so well.

But the parts I didn’t enjoy was just the world building and the writing style. The story has a WW2 feel but its never really confirmed. And the writing style, while beautiful at times also immensely difficult to follow. There were certain chapters I had to read a few times which is so frustrating to do.

“Dark of the West” is a good story regardless of how I feel about the writing style/worldbuilding. This may not have been the book for me, but I am invested in enough that I want to read the other two books. I must know what happens!!

WHAT DID I THINK OF DARK OF THE WEST BY JOANNA HATHAWAY?
Dark Of The West by Joanna Hathaway has a spectacular cover. I mean, I saw this cover and knew I had to read this book. Apparently, everyone else felt that way too, because I waited MONTHS on the waitlist on Libby to listen to the audiobook. I liked that this book was different from the types of fantasy books that I typically read.

So, Dark Of The West is told in alternating chapters between Aurelia who is a princess and Athan who is the son of a general. Athan’s mother is shot and killed and for some reason, his father believes it has something to do with Aurelia’s mother who is queen of Etania. And so, Athan goes to Etania to do some spying. Along the way, he ends up falling for Aurelia. Now, what is cool and unique about this book is that there’s technology. It’s not quite medieval based. There are airplanes! Which Athan flies. Anyways, so the book opens with a prologue where war is happening. Then the book takes us to before that point.

Admittedly, it is not initially super exciting to get to that war point. However, I did like learning about the characters. The backgrounds and motivations are interesting – particularly Aurelia’s dad – who is dead. It is fascinating seeing these kids learn that not everything is black and white and that there’s shades of gray and their reactions to that.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook of Dark Of The West is 14 hours and 56 minutes unabridged. It is kind of a long audiobook. I felt like speeding it up to 2x made me lose out on details, so I listened to it at 1.5x and 1.75x at various intervals. The narrators are Barrie Kreinik and Dan Bittner. Considering I’ve recently listened to Bittner, hearing him again was nice. I also liked Kreinik’s narration – she does imperial quite well. I would certainly recommend checking out this audiobook.

This book was weird and well it was kind of confusing. I was so excited for it and when I finally got to it was intrigued. But shortly into it I realized that SO MUCH STUFF was going on in this title.

This is your every day general young adult title. The princess who doesn't want to get married, etc, etc.

This one had a lot going for it but the execution just wasn't what I was looking for. The setting was very interesting but I kind of wished that it would have been set in the old west. The time period that we did get felt like a mash up of both the past and the future.

Overall, this one was just not what I thought it was going to be.

Now this is how a series should start!!

I cannot wait to see how the rest of the series unfolds, as I'm sure it will be just as good as this one. It kept me constantly on my toes and uncertain of what was going to happen next. I will be looking forward to the rest of the books in this series.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

I dnf’d start of the west at 60%. I wasn’t a fan of the world that the story with Satan and I could not connect with the plot. Both point of you care areas were dull and an original in my opinion. The brewing romance did seem to hold potential but not enough to keep me interested in the political conflict and overall plot

I was super excited to pick up this book because I’d heard incredible things about it, and it was one of my most anticipated releases of this after hearing it being compared with The Winner’s Curse, and though I can totally see why people enjoyed it and it had some interesting concepts and I liked some parts, there were other things that I wasn’t the biggest fan of, and it ended up being not as good as I thought it would be.

The thing about this book is that it was super slow. Now I don’t mind slow books as long as I enjoy the characters or the plot we’re following, and though I admit that the plot wasn’t bad whatsoever, I feel that nothing was happening during the major part of the novel, and this was more an introduction to the next installments than a first book in a series.

The world building was pretty complex, and there were a lot of scenes where we get to know what the society was like and what was the political conflict between these different kingdoms, so I feel that as a first book we got to know a lot about the world and the different characters’ personalities and relationships.

I overall enjoyed the cast of characters introduced in this story. I liked our main female character, and I think she was super intelligent and strong. However, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance. It became one of the main focuses of the book really fast and I feel it was a bit insta love-y, and there was something about the interactions of these two characters that was super awkward and not too realistic.

I also found that the pacing was a bit off. There were a couple of action packed scenes where I found myself super engrossed in the story, but overall there were a lot of parts where nothing was actually going on and they were super slow pacing that I got bored and wanted them to be over. So overall, I have mixed feelings about it, and even though I think that maybe the second book will be much better, this first installment wasn’t what I expected.

This book had all the elements I love. Romance, war, spies...forbidden love. And it was a pretty good read! I definitely struggled some. I found the beginning half to be slow in a lot of scenes. As much as I wanted to be hooked, I found myself forcing myself to keep reading.

That being said, by the halfway point it really picked up. The characters and plot are well-written and therefore I did enjoy the story. The vivid descriptions both make this a great AND tough book to read at times. But I will definitely pick up book 2!

I think a major part of my disappointment with this book overall started with that prologue. I have seen a lot of other reviewers talk about just how difficult it was to get into this book thanks to that, and I completely agree. It was overlong, a bit overwritten, and just overall dull. Once I got past that I found a lot of the rest of the book to be intriguing, with characters that were interesting and a plot that had me thinking... but I'm also not a major fan of war books, especially WWI inspired books. I'm probably just not the right person for this one, but I think many people will enjoy it, especially if you enjoy books that are heavily war-based and slower moving fantasies.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

This started out good but got really boring in the middle, finally picking up in the end. There was a lot going on in this story that could have been explained better. I wasn't really clear on all the political side plots and how they all connected. The middle of the book is basically just focused on the romance, with pretty much nothing else happening. I was definitely disappointed because this started out promising but it just wasn't for me.

I really enjoyed this book! It's the kind of story that made me think about it when I wasn't reading and try to squeeze in a few minutes of reading whenever I could. I was hooked.
Characters - Amazing. Complex, fully-developed, likeable and more importantly, relatable. Aurelia is sheltered and innocent, but that doesn't hinder her intelligence and her determination to be the kind of princess that would make her father proud. She seems young, but the events of the book quickly force her to grow up in a painful and realistic way. Athan's character is painfully grown-up from the beginning. His complex family relationships show how you can love someone and hate them at the same time. He's living a life he hates, but he's doing it out of loyalty to his family. I Felt these characters feelings, I understood their motivations and choices. Their love story is beautiful and painful and realistic, with none of that "we hate each other but it's secretly just sexual tension" stuff that I normally scoff at. This is a real, slowly developing, young love that is sweet and sad at the same time.
Plot - Not always fast-paced but always interesting. There are many threads here and they are twisted around each other in ways that we don't find out until much further down the road. The two main characters don't know everything that's going and neither does the reader. I enjoyed guessing at who was secretly working for who and I shared the doubts of the characters as they considered which of their friends and family members might secretly be traitors.
Worldbuilding - excellent. The many countries of the world are hard to remember without the help of a map (not present in the ARC copy but available online) but the salient points are described. The technology is at a WWII-era level, but it's not that important to the plot.
Overall, I finished this book and felt emotionally hammered. I need the next one because my heart is aching for these characters and I want things to go well (even though I know they won't). I loved the writing style, the turn of phrase, and the character development. Love love love.

Many thanks to netgalley and publisher for the arc!

Most importantly, the long time period it took for me to finish this is not because it was boring. But rather, due to life and its disappointments.

SO, other than that, Dark of the West was ambitious in being compare to one of my favourite series - the Winners trilogy. But, it doesn't mean it's no good.

Dark of the West has its own deep plot of intrigue and tension. Athan wants revenge for the death of his mother, and willing helps his father to do it, even if it means wanting to start a war. On the other hand, we have Aurelia, a princess caught in the middle, her mother on a fine line of war or no war.

What I enjoyed about this book are the interactions between Athan and Aurelia. Through all of Athan's angst and stress, these interactions seem to be the light in the darkness. At first I didn't really enjoy Athan's pov but I enjoyed Aurelia's less. But Athan grew on me, and he grew too through the book.

The world is interesting. It's fantasy, but modern with planes and guns and painful war. There are tense political relations between various nations. And throughout the book, there are many attempts at diplomacy but only, it seems, Aurelia's mother means it. Whereas Athan's father, does not. And wants war above everything.

Writing, the writing is nice and detailed. (Sorry, I don't have much to say about the writing, but it wasn't bad.)

Overall, I would recommend this for those who want fantasy with a good dose of fantasy politics. I am curious, despite my 3 star rating, to read the sequel.

This debut is an engaging enough read that puts a spin on WWII. It's bold, mildly paced and vivid. The world itself sometimes seems to conflict itself, but the plot can hold its own for the most part. While the plot keeps the pages turning, the predictability of it eventually takes over - making the crescendo of the book a bit of a let down. Over all, this is enjoyable basic royalty novel that would be good for anyone who enjoys historical twists. I rated this debut 4/5 stars.

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Unfortunately I ended up DNFing this book. The synopsis sounds really interesting, and I was
definitely intrigued. However, I started the book incredibly confused, and as the book unfolded,
I didn’t have many of my questions answered. I found it incredibly hard to follow.

3.5 stars.

He was raised in revolution. She was raised in a palace. Can their love stop a war?

This book has all the right elements I'm interested in. It is a war story which I don't read often but fascinated at. It is an undercover/spy story turns a love story, you know, that kind of trope. I LOVE IT. I was really looking forward to this book and I can say it somehow delivered. Somehow. Here's the thing, there were times I got bored reading this, especially in the first two-thirds of the story. I know I said I'm fascinated at war stories and I really am, but I found myself wanting to skip more than a few times. It's not exactly the pace but the elements in the storyline. It's like most of the scenes in the book, I've seen/read already before.

But like I said, I love the main plot, the war and these young adults being at the center of it, and I love the characters. I think they're very well-written, well rounded and definitely unforgettable. The narration was fine and the descriptions are so vivid. But sometimes the exposition is too much I think it's giving away more than it should. I really feel like, halfway through the book, I know everything there is to know.

Overall, this is a fascinating read and I love the ending. I'm gonna read the next book in this series to see how it goes.

This novel has everything you want in a young adult historical fantasy! It has wast, forbidden love, and a hint of magic! The only thing I did not like about the novel was the pacing moved slowly. Still, this was a well thought-out novel and I look forward to the sequel!

"But she's spiraling color. She's fireworks. Sunsets. Dawn skies in flame. She could scatter like light and end up anywhere."

Ali and Athan are part of a different world.. literally. Athan is the son of a General of one country, and Ali is the princess of another.. I think...? They meet under suspicious circumstances as the politics of their world ignite.

This book is overly complicated. Basically, it's like a Montague vs. Capulet scenario with an alias and important secret policy meetings. I didn’t mind the characters, but the world building was too much. The narrators would mention various places and people that were hard to remember... making it hard to care about the bigger picture. I liked the characters enough to give this 3 stars.

This story absolutely swept me away. I loved the romance aspect of the two characters that were supposed to be enemies but found love in each other’s arms. Dark of the West is a beautifully written story of love, loss and sacrifice when everything you know is being torn apart by the war that is going on around them. This book is the first in a brand new series and I’m already hooked on these memorizing characters. Can’t wait to read book number two!!

This book was honestly really good! Great dynamics between the characters and a good storyline. Pick this one up!!

I’m pretty sure I came across this book just by browsing through NetGalley one day and being intrigued by its rather simple cover. The fact that I couldn’t really guess what it was about based on the cover was mystery enough (this is a fun little game if you’re a book lover and have too much time on your hands: the match the cover with the general synopsis game). Then I read the description and became even more intrigued. Spies, and royalty, and…wait…fighter pilots? One of these does not go with the other!

The world is teetering on the brink, torn between a past that was ruled by a council of kings and queens who all regarded royal blood as the necessary component in leadership in their various countries, and a new world that, built on the back of technology, would suggest that leadership and charisma, regardless of the birthright of the one who carries these traits, are all that is needed. If the people follow you, your family history means nothing. Aurelia and Athan each come from opposing sides of this political stand-off. Aurelia has grown up a princess, confident in her place in the world, if still struggling to find a path forward that will fulfill her. Athan has had his life’s plan laid before his feet by his ambitious military leader father since the day he can remember. Neither fully understands the complicated history and political environment they have been thrust into, but in each other, they find a kinship that is as unexpected as it will be challenging.

This book took my so happily by surprise! Even with the book description, I had very little idea what I was getting into (part of the appeal, of course), so I turned to page one with a bit of hesitation. But immediately I was drawn in. For one, the writing in this is so solid. The very first chapter had me convinced that I had made the right choice in picking this one up. It’s one of those parts of reviewing books that I find most challenging: how to explain exactly what it was about the writing style that appealed to me.

For one, the book is a shared dual narrative between Aurelia and Athan. The challenge here, of course, is to effectively differentiate the voice between two characters who should read very differently. And right away, this is expertly handled. I think I ended up preferring Athan’s narrative style, but this potentially could have to do with his story being the one with the larger scale view of happenings in mind. Aurelia spends much of her time much more out of the loop. But either way, their voices were immediately distinct and their characteristics informed the way they spoke about and looked at the events unfolding around them.

From a more basic level, the writing is varied and complex. This is the weird part of evaluating writing where one feels tempted to start talking about the extent of the vocabulary used or the sentence structure. Again, not too sexy of a topic for book review material. But these are the kinds of things that you know when you see them, that make a book immediately pop out from the very first few pages.

All of this emphasis on writing is very important for a book like this. It’s a longer title and, as far as action goes, it’s a slow read. There’s a lot of complicated political and military tactics that are discussed, hidden, and revealed throughout the story. Our main characters are often only aware of the tip of the iceberg of it all, and that is felt by the reader. Schemes only become clear in the very end, and even then, one is never quite sure they have a finger on who all the players are in all of this. I believe there will be a map in the final version, but without that as well, the complicated geographical relationships between the various countries could also be overwhelming. To sum up: there’s a lot of talking and thinking in this book. Without strong writing, it could come across as pretty dull. But for me, it all came together perfectly.

This is also a strange book to assign to a genre. It’s technically referred to as a YA title and fantasy. But that said, I feel like this could easily be new adult or simply adult fiction; and any fantasy involved has to do with it being a made-up world. There aren’t any dragons or spells flying around here. Instead, the fascinating mixture of a completely invented world and history with very familiar, WWII level technology was refreshingly new.

There is, of course, a romance at the heart of the story. And I really enjoyed how this played out as well. Aurelia and Athan don’t simply fall instantly in love and all of their differences fade away. They come from different worlds, with different parental figures who have imparted very different lessons on their children. Throughout the story, no easy answers are provided and instead a slow sense of dread builds to what will be an inevitable clash.

As I said, this book took my completely by surprise. Luckily for me, it hit a lot of the tick boxes I look for in a story, but I can also see how the very unknown nature of it could leave other readers cold. If you go in with your typical YA/fantasy expectations in place, there’s a good chance this will feel like a slower, less interesting read. But for those looking for a more complicated, politically-focused story with a hard look at warfare and nationalism (with a dash of young love added in), this will be the perfect book for you!

Rating 9: Complicated and well-written, this book will appeal to fans of “Game of Thrones” who would be ok without all the dragons/white walkers stuff.