dark of the west is a 2019 debut that is marketed as perfect for fans of code name verity and the winner’s trilogy; while i may have not read the former, the latter is my all time favourite book series so it’s needless to say this book had some pretty large shoes to fill in my eyes. having read that and the synopsis, it quickly turned into one of my most anticipated releases of the year and i was so excited and thankful that i got to read it early and participate in the blog tour.

now, it’s very rare that one reads a fantasy novel inspired by more contemporary times (in this case, wwi and wwii) and that was a huge selling point to this book. as a reader of mostly fantasy, it can get quite monotonous to read about the exact same period of time in each and every book that gets published, with little to no differences. i think dark of the west brings something entirely new to the fantasy table, which acts as a very big advantage. the world that joanna hathaway has built is foreign and familiar all at the same time, and it was an entirely new experience to read about aircraft and advanced military technology. it helped bridge the time period gap that is usually there when you first start a fantasy novel because everything is so much closer to our world’s current state. however, i did have trouble keeping up with everything else that is going on, especially the countries and front lines. it took some time for me to get used to the all the names, and while it got fairly easier as the novel progressed, i don’t think i fully comprehend the geography. this world is awfully complex (in a good way!) and it just takes time to get used to. a map would have been very useful in this situation, but i completely understand why there wasn’t one included as this was an arc. i’m looking forward to seeing it in the finished copy.

the political intrigue in this book was really good and engaging, which i’m very happy with because it’s what drew me in in the first place. i love how it was entangled with familial relationships, which made it all the more complex because of the characters’ struggle with loyalty to country and family. aurelia’s mother is a perfect example, especially given her motherland and sovereign country do not align, neither did hers and her children’s political views; she just fascinated me so much. the entire book is laced with this moral ambiguity, which is very much my brand, so obviously i loved it very much.

speaking of aurelia, she started out rather naive and, dare i say it, irritable, but as the novel goes on she starts to evolve from being just a princess into someone who has the potential to change tides. i wish we’d gotten to see more of her development, but i’ll touch upon that later. of course, i have to mention the other lead – athan, the son of an acclaimed general. he possesses such a duality – on the one hand, he has a brilliant military mind, but on the other, he just wants to escape. ultimately his unwavering loyalty is what prevents him from doing so, and i really admire that about him. in terms of their romance, i found it to be a bit rushed, but i enjoyed it nonetheless; not as much as i’d hoped, perhaps because of said rushed pace, and also because i went into this book expecting to get the enemies to lovers trope. however, the prologue promises to deliver on the angst front, so i’m not ruling this pairing out just yet. what can i say? i love pain. anyway, there’s so much potential in both main characters and i can’t wait to see more of them both.

something that i didn’t like about was its pace; in my opinion it really does the book dirty. the plot is just very slow and has very little movement to it, which is understandable to some extend since this is quite the complicated world at war with itself and so many plot lines are happening at once, however, i feel like the book just unnecessarily drags out. there’s a lot of information that we don’t really need and, in my opinion, could have been cut down to make more space for some action. this really hindered the characters’ development as well, since the plot was stagnant, they, too, stayed in place with it. rather unfortunate, because they have all the potential to be amazing leads, but to do that they need to be able to move.

and because i don’t want to end the review on such a sour note, let’s say a few words about the writing style. dark of the west is told in a dual point of view, the narrative split between athan and aurelia’s voices. now dual povs i’m quite skeptical of, having been burned one too many times by this writing technique, however hathaway has managed to completely avoid the disastrous potential of the two narratives bleeding into each other. athan and aurelia’s voices are distinguishable and unique; the author adopts two different writing styles for their individual narratives and it really helps make them sound more separated and realistic. you don’t question whose head you’re currently in because both characters use such distinct language.

a highlight i want to point out for this book is how well-written the flight scenes are; i know the author is a huge fan of aircraft and the art of piloting and has spent quite a long time reading and doing research, which really shows in her writing. accuracy is a big deal for me, and i’m always so happy when authors really take their time and do their research, it really shows their dedication to both the story and the contract that they make with their readers.

overall, dark of the west is a solid debut with immense potential to become a powerful presence in the ya community with its future installments. despite my few issues with the book, i still rather enjoyed the story and cannot say i’m disappointed with what i got. joanna hathaway has a distinct voice which will, no doubt, continue to develop and grow and i’m really looking forward to seeing her development.

I've been excited for Dark of the West since I first saw glimmers of it on the internet. It should come as no surprise to any of you here, since sweeping lands and epic battles tend to be my favorite subject matter. I'm also a sucker for star-crossed lovers of any kind, so the story that was set to take place between Athan and Aurelia seemed like something I'd fall madly in love with. I really couldn't wait to dive straight in. No apologies friends, this is going to be a lengthy review.

Now, in all fairness, the prologue threw me off a little bit and I want to let anyone else know that picks this book up that it's a little misleading. Keep reading, because the rest of the book will pull back and let you take in everything that led up to that little moment in time. I finally understood the intent after I'd read through a few chapters. To see our two characters in a moment when their war torn world had turned them against one another, and then to see the story unfold that got them to that point. To avoid spoilers, I can't say more. I will say, I almost wish that prologue hadn't been there. I very much enjoyed just getting to know our two protagonists, and I kind of wish I would have skipped and it read it at the end.

Oh, and trust me, these two protagonists will steal your heart just as easily as they did mine. I loved the fact that this story is told from a dual POV, and loved it even fiercer for the fact that both Athan and Aurelia get an even amount of the story telling space. Being allowed to see things unfold from both of their perspectives is really what made this book soar. To be able to see events, sometimes cataclysmic, and their effects on the world at large was grand. To be able to see how those events affected not only Athan and Aurelia, but their whole small worlds, was even better. I felt like it gave me a lot of time to love them, to see their personalities unfold, and to really see the cleverness that was hidden in each of their minds. Two young people, trapped under the thumbs of their elders, but with enough passion and intelligence to do loads more if only they had the chance. That, was my favorite part.

Which is why this book started to weigh on me after a while, alas. Although Joanna Hathaway does an excellent job of building this sweeping world, and the war threatening to tear it apart, the battles and coupes are the main focus of this book. I grew tired of listening to political intrigue after a while. Some chapters felt like they could have been wrapped up in many less pages, if only Athan or Aurelia would stop thinking so incessantly and actually act. I know this was all for the benefit of the brewing uprising. I know that this was a way to get the reader really entrenched in the treachery of it all. For quite a long while, I was a happy to follow along. It wore me down though, and soon I just wanted more of Athan and Aurelia. More of their brightness, and their intelligence, and less of their terrible parents and their war.

This story is solid. The premise of this book is beautifully handled, and I loved a lot of what I read. The writing does justice to the vast story that it creates, and Hathaway easily shows her prowess as an author. There was honestly a lot here that made me smile. It just stretched on quite beyond what I was expecting. The ending, especially, was like stumbling down a steep hill with nothing to hold onto. I grasped at every little scene that hinted at the promise that things were coming around to the prologue I mentioned above. Instead, it rolled into an ending that leaves things open for the next book, like I assumed it would. This is the first in a series, and the ending has no qualms with letting you know that.

My deepest wish is that the next book has more action. I need more romance, more familial relationships, more plotting and scheming by our protagonists. Preferably, I'd love to see a little less military precision. I think now that all the cards have been laid out on the table, there's some promise of that and I'm excited once again. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Dark of the West by Joanna Hathaway is a very vividly written book. I really enjoyed the characters. Altan Dakar, is the youngest son of General Dakar. General Dakar was the ruler of Savient for the past ten years. Altan is such an interesting character. His internal conflict is one of my favorite things about this book. I loved how complex of a character he is. I felt like he had so much dimension to him.

No Aurelia on the other hand, I am still not totally sure how I feel about her. She is a super naive character without a lot of depth. I found myself feeling disappointed with her. Then the love between these characters developed so fast that it did not come across as being something that I could believe in.

Dark of the West is quite engaging and it is very well written. I found myself really enjoying the story. This book has something for everyone in it. You have politics, scheming, military, romance, friendships, internal struggle, and enemies to lovers. I think this book is way more than just a fantasy novel. I think anyone would enjoy this Political Fantasy novel.

I LOVED this book and am now obsessed with this world. A fantasy world at war inspired by World War II-era Europe? It is just as beautiful and bittersweet as it sounds.

Some books move so slowly you feel as though your soul is being sucked away. Other books move at a steady progression, building and building, while you know a sudden crescendo will bring it all crashing down. This is the latter and it’s still building.

The MOMENT I finished I went back to read the Prologue straight away and it just hit me SO. DAMN. HARD. Seriously, read the book and then read the prologue again. Good luck keeping those tears at bay. I knew it likely took place later in Aurelia and Athan’s story, but it doesn’t take place at the end of this book and we are still learning about these two, their relationship and what will bring them to that point in the prologue. There is still so much to come.

And let me just say, this book is written and plotted fantastically. Ingeniously. The characters have a well of depth, much of it still to be discovered. Hathaway paints these characters well. They are young. They are impressionable. They want to be heard and want to please. They are teenagers. They are realistic.

As I was reading, I couldn’t help but think of movies like Atonement – and I just have this sickening feeling we are headed down a very similar path, but I also can’t look away. I know this story is gritty and the world Hathaway has written is sweeping and golden in its detail. I know there are dark things to come and things are only just beginning but I have to know. I have to know these two will eventually get their mountain.

This is a story about the desperation of war and love and finding your voice. THIS is the type of story that will stick with you. THIS is the type of story that should be written and I’m so very grateful it was.

It took me a little while to get into the world. It's always a bit jarring when fantasy collides with technology, but that's just a personal thing. I loved the characters and the development throughout the novel. Gorgeous world-building (yes, even when I had difficulty in the very, very beginning I adored the world-building). Absolutely would recommend to anyone who reads the genre. Huge fan of this one.

Dark of the West is a brilliant debut by Joanna Hathaway - full of political intrigue, secrets, hidden love stories, feuding families and a war that may or may not be avoidable.

I don't know exactly what I thought I was going to be reading when I first started, all I knew was that I was intrigued. That spark just kept growing bigger and bigger as the book went on. There is a lot of political plots and nations described throughout the book, so I would highly recommend having this gorgeous illustrated map bookmarked whilst you're reading, particularly in the first third of the book while you get the lay of the land.

It was a very unusual, but not unwanted, experience reading a novel which was framed in a dystopian manner - but one which is based more in a historical setting, rather than in a futuristic setting. Reading about trucks and petrol was a shock for a fantasy novel.

Hathaway ensured that the two characters had their two very own distinct voices and the lessons they learned throughout the book were very personalised to their characters.

Aurelia is nothing like a helpless Princess, and Athan is nothing like a spineless General's son. The way they learn to come into their own is described in an absolutely brilliant way and it's not motivated by romance, it's motivated by the desire to do right.

The slow-burn romance was fantastic and I'm really looking forward to see where Aurelia and Athan go in book two.

*thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This has been my favorite ARC from Netgalley so far! Joanna Hathaway's writing tears the reader out of the real world, and submerges them in the WWW2 inspired lands in the pages. The best part is, with Athan as a pilot, the reader gets to see so much of it, and discover the cultures and history. The star cross lovers, Athan and Aurelia, provide more than a sweet romance soured by war. Both characters allow the reader to experience the opulence and intrigue of royal life, and the dangers and adventure of soldier life. Hathaway didn't rely heavily on the romance though, featuring complex family ties that are both toxic and endearing as well as the loyalty to friendship. I adore this book, and my only complaint was the prologue. Most of my tension for the book came from discovering the land and the building intricacies of the side characters. The prologue knocked the wind out of Athan and Aurelia's relationship as it exposed too early on how they would end up.
I love this book and would recommend it for anyone with a passion for WW2 inspired fantasy, and anyone who loves a regal, star crossed lover story.

Dark of the West- 3.5/5 Stars
So, don't get me wrong, this was an interesting read, but I really don't think it was for me. I thought Hathaway's writing style was great and I really liked the way she wrote, but the pacing was a little off in my mind. It took over 100 pages (in the eARC, so who knows how long in real pages that is) for the main conflict to really kick off. I also thought the prologue being so far in the future was a little odd- I kept waiting for that interaction to happen, but it was so far in the future that we didn't even get close to that point in this book! I probably would recommend reading this book if you like slow burns, political intrigue, and international relations. It's also a great book if you're into history/WW2 and planes, which I'm not, but I thought the planes were super cool. One aspect that I was a little annoyed with is the fact that this book is billed (on Goodreads at least) as a fantasy, but I didn't see any real fantastic elements to it.
All in all, Dark of the West was an interesting book, and while it was not my favorite, I do think I will read the next book when it comes out.

4.5 stars

A young adult fantasy novel which focuses on the *family relationships* more than the *romance*?! What!!

The relationships between Athan and his brothers and father and between Ali and her brother and mother are significantly more important than the romance between them (though the romance does come to the front in the last quarter of the book). I loved this emphasis, particularly with Athan's family in the first half of the book. Hathaway did such a great job with showing all the different sides of the family dynamic.

This book is a slow-moving political fantasy. I think a lot of people will be disappointed by it because they will go into it expecting high stakes adventure fantasy and it's not that kind of book. This book focuses on policies and treaties between different countries. It focuses on the political side of war, not the actual warfare. I personally love books like this. Despite the fact that this book uses the airplanes as a selling point, there isn't an actual dogfight until more than halfway through the book.

Don't read this book expecting a lot of action, but give it a shot if you like political fantasy with really well-developed characters. This was almost a five-star read for me but there were a few weak points (that cliff-hanger ending, Ali's naivety, a lack of a map) that I hope will be resolved in the sequel.

***A copy of this book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

Aw heck yes!!

This is being compared to The Winners Curse by: Marie Rutkoski which is high praise indeed as it's one of my beloved favourites. And Joanna Hathaway totally deserves the comparison. This book has everything action, suspense, espionage, war, politics and romance. I am sure everyone will find something they enjoy with in these pages.

The book starts off slow but it is needed as it sets the stage for an incredible tale. The writing is amazing it makes you feel like your right there feeling and seeing everything with Athan and Aurelia. All the decisions and the inevitable bittersweet relationship and that ending.. You can definitely tell the author did her research on WW1 and WW2 as shows in her world building and setting. It was incredible. I loved reading about Athan's trips in the fighter plane it was quite fascinating. Now don't get me wrong we all know that sometimes the most dangerous place to be is in a palace fielding through deceit and self preservation. I really felt for Aurelia And the relationship oh my I don't think I have read a more perfect romance that was doomed from the beginning. The love letters truly added to the experience. .

Overall this is a great addition to the alternate history and fantasy genre and Joanna Hathaway is an author to look out for. I will be recommending this book up and down the aisles I needed book two yesterday.

Dark of the West is Joanna Hathaway’s debut novel and the first novel in the Glass Alliance series. I have to say, even after only reading this one novel by her; Hathaway is going to be an author worth keeping an eye on.
Dark of the West is exquisitely written, there are so many details that bring the world to life. The characters feel real, as do the events surrounding them. It’s described as a YA fantasy, but I feel like that doesn’t do the new series justice. It has so much depth to it. There’s politics, war, espionage, familial battles, and even a pair of star crossed lovers. It’s got a little something for everyone, and that’s what truly makes it perfect.
I went into Dark of the West with high expectations. Those expectations were possibly higher than was fair, but I am pleased to say that all of them were met. Dark of the West is as beautifully written as the cover may indicate. Inside there’s a whole world built on the intricacy of human interactions and politics. It’s wonderfully done.
The prologue was what drew me in immediately. I’m not always a fan of having the prologue be an excerpt from a later point in a series, but in this instance, it’s applied well. We started off right into the thick of things, which is smart because it grabs our attention. But it also offered a warning for what was to come, and personally, I couldn’t be more thankful for that.
I’ll confess that it did take me a while to really get to like the two main characters from the series. I was intrigued by the story, thanks to the prologue. But I wasn’t feeling connected to the characters right away. In all it probably took me about five chapters, give or take, to really feel like Aurelia and Athan were coming to life.
I actually really loved the slow build involved there. There was no rush – but over time these characters became more and more real. Their hopes and fears were made clear, as were the ways they were being pulled into the core plot.
There was more than one moment during this novel that I found myself anxiously turning the pages to see what happened next. While I didn’t read it all in one sitting, it was a near thing. And I certainly stayed up past my bedtime thanks to this one.
I love a book that makes me think, and Dark of the West certainly did that. There were so many different plots and schemes going on. I couldn’t help but theorize about the truth of some of them while questioning the veracity of some of the very events seen by the main characters’ own eyes.
I know it’s too soon to even begin hoping for information on the sequel, but I am very much looking forward to any news. So far there’s an untitled book listed on Joanna Hathaway’s Goodreads account. I’m hoping that it’s going to turn into the second Glass Alliance novel.

If I could, I’d paint five golden stars on a Savient aeroplane and ask Athan Dakar to put on a spectacular air show for Joanna Hathaway and her stunning YA fantasy novel debut, Dark of the West! This glorious novel of political intrigue, schemes, romance, war, the consequences of our choices, and family tensions will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, possibly biting your fingernails, with anticipation of what comes next.

Narrated from dual perspectives, we follow the lives of Aurelia Isendare and Athan Dakar—a strong and beautiful princess in a northern kingdom of Hathene, Etania and a Savien pilot who is the youngest son of a brutal General with a violent agenda. The two meet and become instant friends with a hint of something more that will leave your stomach fluttering with butterflies.

Athan Dakar is one of the greatest pilots in his class and makes Top Flight with the best scores. He is torn between wanting more than a soldier’s life and repeatedly has his sights set on the Western Mountains, far away from an impending war that doesn’t make any sense. Athan spends the novel trying to figure out why he blindly follows a path and a cause he doesn’t believe in. With intense expectations from his father and two older brothers, and this immense fear that he will lose his best friend, Cyar, if he does not obey his father’s every order, Athan continues to be a pawn in his father’s war.

Princess Aurelia Isendare is stuck in a royal court with feelings of utter helplessness. Her mother is queen and her brother, Reni, is next in line for the throne and they both leave her completely out of the politics of their world. With Ambassador Havis, her betrothed, leering at her around every corner, Aurelia desperately seeks a purpose. She wants to attend her father’s university and prolong her impending loveless marriage to a man who can be bought for the highest bid. But when she meets Cyar and Athan, they open her mind to the happenings in the South—more specifically Resya, which is also the other half of her lineage. The only crushing factor in this beautifully crafted novel is that Athan goes by the alias of Athan Erelis so Aurelia has no idea he is a Dakar.

The overall pressing issue is that the north and south are on the brink of war with people called the Nahir who follow a man named Seath in the Kingdom of Resya. Though we only hear the name in passing, and have a brief glimpse of him in Dark of the West’s prologue, Seath is an enigma that the reader has yet to meet. We don’t fully know exactly where his loyalties lie, only that he is an important symbol in this war with Resya, and to the General’s agenda as he tries to overthrow King Rahian and claim the south for himself.

Upon meeting a long-lost cousin from Resya, Aurelia and Lark discuss politics and he teaches her that not everything is black and white. That maybe a great peace can come out of a sit-down between Etania and the Nahir if only someone would listen. So Aurelia does. She listens since her mother and brother refuse to and she stumbles across great war crimes that Arrin Dakar, Athan’s older brother, may have committed in the General’s blood thirsty agenda to control the South.

Set in a fantasy world with modern technology like airplanes, automobiles and firearms, and extremely valuable natural resources like oil and its extraction, Dark of the West enthralled me. I had never read a fantasy novel that included such entities that I am accustomed to in my everyday life until now, and it was thrilling! It captivated my dreams when I set the book down and claimed my waking thoughts.

I’m immensely grateful to Joanna Hathaway for taking me on one of the best flights of my imagination. And many thanks to NetGalley and the wonderful staff at Tor Teen for granting me early access to this gem of book.

Joanna Hathaway’s Dark of the West is the exciting first book in her ambitious debut YA Fantasy series, Glass Alliance. Inspired by the political landscape of WWII, the worldbuilding in this novel is lush and intricate, and manages to feel familiar and yet unique all at the same time. I think this is a series that is going to have a little bit of something for everyone: political intrigue, war mongering, spies, assassinations, epic battle scenes, just to name a few. As exciting as all of that sounds, however, what really makes the story come alive are the star crossed lovers at its heart, Athan and Aurelia,

I loved the portrayal of these two young people. Athan is a gifted pilot and the youngest son of a famous and ruthless general. The general’s primary rival, is the Queen of Etania, who also happens to be Aurelia’s mother. When Athan’s mother is unexpectedly gunned down by a sniper, Athan’s father is convinced that the Queen is behind it and sends Athan on a mission to avenge his mother’s death and to help his father overthrow the Queen. It is while on this mission that Athan meets and falls in love with Aurelia, the one person he shouldn’t be with.

What I loved about this story is that it is presented to us from the viewpoints of both Athan and Aurelia. We get to see firsthand from each side what is happening with regard to the war preparations since war appears to be imminent. But then we also get to see firsthand just how conflicted both Athan and Aurelia are when it comes to their wanting to remain loyal to their families, but also the undeniable attraction they feel for one another. Athan’s chapters were my favorites because in addition to witnessing all of the internal conflicts he is struggling with, we also get exciting chapters where he is in the sky, either flying training routes or actually engaged in battles in the air. I kept thinking of Star Wars and Top Gun while reading those scenes and they were just such an adrenaline rush.

I did have a few issues with the book, however, which is why I’ve rated it what I have. Aside from those flying scenes, I found the pacing of the first half of the novel to be somewhat slow. I also wasn’t a big fan of the prologue, which drops some pretty big spoilers about where the story is ultimately going as it pertains to Athan and Aurelia. While that information made for an exciting beginning, it ended up leaving me frustrated as Athan and Aurelia don’t even cross paths until almost the halfway point of the first book. I honestly think I would have preferred no prologue. Even with those couple of issues, however, I still found Dark of the West to be a very solid first book in this series and I look forward to seeing how we end up at the scene we are presented with in the prologue. 3.5 STARS

A spectacular debut by Joanna Hathaway with an expansive world, complex politics, extensive histories, breath taking areal battles and compelling characters. The world was detailed and well thought out and was the best part of the book.

The writing style is great but it's a bit dense so it took me ages to get used to it. Where it shined was the descriptions of action especially the areal battles where I was literally holding my breath while reading. The more emotional moments were especially poignant.

Overall I was incredibly satisfied with this and recommend this to everyone even if this doesn't seem like your thing.

I received this as an e-arc from Netgalley (thank you Netgally and Macmillan-Tor/Forge) in exchange for an honest review.

"Nothing's gained without sacrifice". These are the words of General Dakar, ruler of Savient for the past ten years. The General controls Savient and several NE territories near the Black Sea. West of Savient is the small kingdom of Etania ruled by a Queen (Sinora Lehzar) with powerful ties to Resya, located south of the Black Sea. Having married the King of the Northern realm of Etania, she became Queen upon his death despite her Southern roots. Enemies became allies, friends became foes in war games of intrigue in the quest to expand kingdoms and avenge the death of loved ones.

Altan Dakar, youngest son of General Dakar, loved the exhilaration of flying but did not want to train for the officer corps. He wanted to "fade from Father's radar". The General however, demanded loyalty. "Loyalty...is what you die for. Loyalty is deeper than blood". Altan must become a "Top Flight" pilot.

Aurelia Isendare is an Etanian princess raised with every imaginable luxury. She has lived a protected life never having ventured outside the palace. Most important to Aurelia is honor. "I greatly admire anyone who risks his own life for the service of others. That is honorable".

Alliances between kingdoms are fluid, ever changing. Each ruler has an agenda. Why had General Dakar come to visit Etania? What lies, deception and betrayals will ensue? Princess Aurelia and young Safire Pilot Altan have an instant connection. What might the future hold for them in the chaotic atmosphere of war?

"Dark of the West (Glass Alliance#1)" by Joanna Hathaway is a YA fantasy novel. The challenges faced by Aurelia and Altan during this world war fantasy were difficult ones. Despite trying to be loyal and honest, deception and betrayal made them "opposites who loved". The inclusion of a map marking the wartime territories would have enhanced this reader's experience. I'm thrilled that a map will be provided in the final copy.

Thank you Macmillan-Tor/Forge , Tor Teen and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Dark of the West".

More a 2,5 * out of 5

In fact I couldn't finish this book, and stop at 63 %.
What is sad is that I wouldn't have believe it possible for the first half of my read. Some things were a bit annoying for sure, but I still liked it very much, enough to read on.
I loved all the characters, especially Athan: their personality, their presences, their dialogues, all was near perfect.
And as good characters are what makes a good read was me, it was enough...till it wasn't.

To begin with he context is weird: we're supposed to be in a fantasy world, but a world without magic, just another world. A rather modern one, with electricity and cars and planes. But it never sounded right. I was always surprised, for most part of the book, to suddenly have to remember that it wasn't some classical fantasy world, pre-industrial, but some modernist one. I don't know exactly why, probably because I had so little historical or global context. It always seemed artificial, theatrical, a cardboard world, where to play the story.

Another point irked me: I never could understand anything about the factions, the kingdoms, the different people. Reading the ARC I hadn't the world map (which will be in the definitive version) and I was uterlly lost all along the book. North, South, the Nabir, so many new characters, with all the own mysterious agendas... I just couldn't keep track of anything really precise and helpful.

The world is supposed to be in wartime but it never felt like it. There were tons of political discussions and intrigues, and allusions to battles, but still this impression of artifice. It didn't help that politics nearly always bore me, but still, I always had the impression that most of the intrigues were only developed to give more angst to the impossible love-story - which was irritating in the long run.

All in all, I felt that the book was much to slow. I don't mind at all long books, when all is necessary; but there, if it didn't felt really diluted (the writing is thorough at very well thought) it really felt elongated. Probably to give more depth to the thwarted relation, but a narrative technique which managed to eventually tire me.

However, I probably would have finish the book if I had been hoping for some satisfying ending, but alas the (rather sinister and over the top) prologue had convinced me since the very beginning that I shouldn't hope for any happy conclusion in this first book of the series.

So I decided to quit, which is a shame, because I really loved how the author manages to bring alive her characters...

Dark of the West (Glass Alliance #1) by Joanna Hathaway is an unexpected and sprawling debut YA fantasy. The world-building and scope of this novel are grand and point to an incredibly detailed history. The author does a wonderful job of mixing the WWII-esque political elements and classic fantasy elements. Hathaway's cast of characters are also quite intriguing, including the secondary characters, and all are well developed. I particularly enjoyed reading Athan's POV chapters, as he flies his airplane in training and battle most especially. My real issue with this series opener was the prologue. It didn't really grab me, but I'm certainly glad I continued on because Hathaway's storytelling skills are great as the story continues. If you're interested in World War II set YA historical fiction like Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein along with your fantasy, then I highly recommend Joanna Hathaway's debut novel.

This first installment in a new fantasy series reveals a world on the brink of war, caught up in secrecy and political intrigue. It centers around Aurelia, princess of the kingdom Etania, and Athan, lieutenant pilot and youngest son of Savient's conquerer and military general. In their high-profile positions, the pair become embroiled in rumors about Aurelia's mother's dark past, the general's ambitions, and the terrorist group the Nahir who are trying to conquer both lands. After Athan's mother is murdered, he accompanies his father to Etania to spy on the queen, who his father believes is the murder. Athan and Aurelia soon begin to suspect that the political conflicts are more complicated than they've been told; they uncover evidence of some shocking war crimes by the general's army, and Aurelia meets a Nahir fighter who doesn't seem evil at all. The pair's lives become even more complicated when they start to develop feelings for each other. Now neither one is sure who is innocent, who wants what, and what everyone is even fighting for.

I really enjoyed this book. The plot, characters, and writing style are all well-crafted. The romance was slow-building and believable, and did not completely take over the plot as is the case with many other YA novels. Author Joanna Hathaway invites us into a world that is unique but at the same time familiar; the kingdoms are completely fictional, yet the technology, cultures, and political attitudes of the time all bear strong similarities to pre-World War I Europe. The setting was completely believable, and I came away wanting to learn more about this world. The book also delves deeply into questions about the ethics or war and battle, especially how complicated wars can be and how there isn't always a clear "right" side to take. The characters' internal battles are so complex and high-stakes that readers will be surprised by their decisions and constantly wondering what they would do in the same position. The book also ends on a major cliffhanger, where the stakes are as high as ever.

I had a few minor critiques as I read: some characters (Arrin, Kalt, Violet) were flat and underdeveloped, and while that doesn't detract from the story, it felt a little unrealistic in places (why is brilliant Aurelia best friends with shallow Violet?) I hope we get more depth to their characters in the sequels. The story also slowed down a bit when Athan was fighting in Landare--all the flight scenes got tedious. I also don't understand the title. Overall, however, this was a well-developed, enjoyable read that holds plenty of promise for the rest of the series. I'd give it 4.5 stars.

Aurelia Isendare is a princess of a small kingdom in the North, raised in privilege but shielded from politics as her brother prepares to step up to the throne. Halfway around the world, Athan Dakar, the youngest son of a ruthless general, is a fighter pilot longing for a life away from the front lines. When Athan’s mother is shot and killed, his father is convinced it’s the work of his old rival, the Queen of Etania—Aurelia’s mother. Determined to avenge his wife’s murder, he devises a plot to overthrow the Queen, a plot which sends Athan undercover to Etania to gain intel from her children. Athan’s mission becomes complicated when he finds himself falling for the girl he’s been tasked with spying upon.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The summary of this book, focusing the fantasty world the author created, and the romance between the two main characters, really interested me in this book. I was looking forward to learning more about this world and see the chemistry between the characters.

The character’s of this book, including the protagonists Aurelia and Althan, were all intriguing and memorable. Aurelia, the female main character, was the more interesting to me. She’s strong and fun to get to know. She also goes through the most amount of growth throughout the book. Althan is a bit more subtle than Aurelia, but is still a unique narrator and protagonist. They have great chemistry and I enjoyed watching their relationship flourish. The supporting characters, including the protagonist’s family, were well rounded and engaging as well.

Since the book is an alternating P.O.V. narrative, jumping between Aurelia and Althan, it slows down the pacing of the story. However, there is a lot of tension and intrigue to help. While there are some high-intensity moments, such as when Althan’s mother is killed, but much of the action that takes place is less action-oriented and more subversive. There’s a lot of political drama, which isn’t my favorite kind of plot to read, but would be very interesting to people who enjoy political, less-action-oriented, conflicts.

This book was billed as a fantasy story, so I was really looking forward to seeing the world that the author created. The setting is very similar to WWI/WWII Europe, which fighter jets, military boats and similar technology. I was expecting so more fantasy elements, because of the way this book was described, and was sad to find them lacking. While I understand the book can be considered fantasy because the countries are fictional, but other than the names of the countries and rulers, I felt like it could have been a historical fiction novel.

Dark of the West is Joann Hathaway’s fantasy debut. If you’re a fan of political and espionage drama, you’ll love the subtle tension and conflicts in this book. The two main characters, who share narration, are interesting and have great chemistry. I was hoping for more of a fantasy novel and might appeal more to those who enjoy historical novels.

Oh goodness team. I tried, I tried to take this book slowly and read a bit at a time, but I really wasn’t given that option once I got into the thick of this remarkable novel.

Joanna, has one of the most striking voices I’ve read in awhile. DofW is a multilayered, complex, breath-catching novel that pulled me in from that first heartbreaking prologue.

Set amidst a rich world, full of histories, the story is placed amidst the backdrop reminiscent of the world wars. The tension between the countries spanning over two continents, is so political, so dynamic that you immediately are drawn into the intrigue. This is only intensified as we follow along with Athan, a pilot and the son of a northern general who led a recent revolution and still has sticky fingers, and Aurelia, Princess of one of the northern kingdoms ruled by her southern continent mother who seems to have ties to the insurgency going on in southern colonies.

The kicker? Aurelia’s mother may have been the cause of death for Athan’s father.

There is an incredible amount of material packed into this novel, and yet the pacing was beautiful. I do recommend looking at a map a time or two before you get too far in. This book has a distinct and realistic outlook on the messy complications of family, love, and revolution. Additionally, expect to be kept on your feet whenever Athan takes flight, those actionpacked sequences are stunning.

I loved Auriela and Athan, mostly because our spirited protagonists are deeply flawed as any 16 and 17 year old would be. Hot headed, and easily persuadable, with strong convictions to help what they can in the world. To me the true-to-life depiction of these teenagers, and how hard it is to navigate in a world of lies created by adults spoke to my heart. As did the slow burn romance that highlights the elation and difficulties of first love.

Dark of the West was one of my top anticipated reads of 2019, and I was left speechless from the rich and complex world building, political plots, and memorable characters that seemed to leave a whole in my chest when I was done. It’s out this Tuesday, and trust me you’ll want to have it in your hands.

Thank you to NetGalley, Joanna Hathaway, and Tor Teen for this lovely ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.