4.5 stars

I’ll be completely honest and say that while I enjoyed the beginning of this story, I wasn’t invested in the plot or the characters until probably close to the halfway point. And then I just didn’t want to stop reading.

The only complaint I’m going to make–and it did not affect my rating–is that the author said that the Empire is based on the Roman Empire. To me, based on implies a similar structure and culture but renaming things to suit the new world. That isn’t the case here. Pretty much all the terminology is Roman names. Legatus, Centurion, Consul, Legionnaire, togas, etc, etc. It was pretty much “I’ll just take the Roman Empire, change the name, and set it in a fantasy world.” It just annoyed me a bit.

However, I can say that the clash of cultures, of a religious land versus a godless land, the different races and mindsets…it was all so well done.

By the end I was invested in the romance and the conflict, and just wondering what would happen next. I’m honestly hoping for more godly encounters in the next installment. It was amusing to see the godless soldiers react when presented with the vast power of the gods.

I am absolutely obsessed with anything Danielle L Jensen writes!! Badass killer females pirates versus hot gladiator like soldiers vs possessed pagan gods..... LIKE WHAT MORE COULD YOU THROW IN THAT COULDRON OF LITERATURE?!
Jensen is known for compelling narratives, powerful females, heartthrob love interests and magical settings, and the Dark Shores did not disappoint.

Much of the book addresses not only allegiance, blood thicker than water, religion but also war and sovereignty. A lot of the main conquerors are forcing small villages to assimilate to their empire and throughout the novel the underlying tone of the poeple’s right to self determination, a concept which is not blatantly said but prevalent in the story and modern day circumstances.

Danielle L Jensen has not disappointed me with a book to date. Definitely an auto-buy author. I recommend this for YA readers (although TW for gore and violence) adult fantasy readers and anyone who loves kickass female pirates... what more is there to love?

3.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2019/05/27/dark-shores-dark-shores-1-by-danielle-l-jensen/
Dark Shores is a story about two people, both with secrets, brought together in an unlikely alliance in order to protect the people they love.

I confess that I got off to a shaky start with this one. Ultimately it redeemed itself and was an entertaining read but it was touch and go there for a while.

Dark Shores brings to us a world divided into East and West. The Celendor Empire in the East is heavily inspired by Ancient Rome, particularly it’s desire to conquer and become rich on the spoils. It remains oblivious to the West however and particularly to the ways to reach it’s shores, until that secret is spilled in a moment of unguarded naivety.

The tale is told from two POVs. Teriana is a young woman of the seas. Her mother is captain of the Quincense that regularly travels between East and West bearing goods for trade. Teriana is one of the Maarin. The Maarin are devoted to their Gods and indeed protected by them for keeping the secrets that prevent the ambitious war mongering East from discovering the rich plunder on the soils of the West.

Marcus is the commander of the infamous 37th legion. A legion that is well known for their ruthless tactics in conquering the East. Marcus has something of a history with his own family, who gave him up as a tithe to the Empire, but all isn’t quite as simple as it may at first seem – the family are keeping a secret that could lead to their downfall and the problem with secrets is they have a way of coming out of the woodwork.

I’m going to start this review with why I struggled at the start. Firstly, as the book began I found Teriana a little annoying – simply put she came across as very immature which made it difficult to buy into her being the Second Mate on board a ship particularly when her actions serve to put everyone and everything she knows in danger. On top of that the initial chapters felt too modern – Teriana and her friend acted like teenagers from the modern era – not one that is akin to a civilisation from many many moons ago. Okay, I don’t expect the language to be all ‘ye olde worlde’ but I think there has to be some sort of nod to the fact that this isn’t a modern world and attitudes might not be quite as they are today. The other area that I took issue with was the Celandon empire, trading on a regular and quite long standing basis with seafarers from the West, and yet never having turned their attention in that direction – until a certain secret is spilled. In fairness, the reasoning behind why the Celandon Empire couldn’t conquer the West becomes more apparent as the story unfolds so I advise patience on that front.

I’m not going to give too much more away about the plot other than to say that Teriana and Marcus are thrown together and in spite of their mutual distrust have to learn to rely on each other if they’re to succeed in keeping the people they love alive and, after a shaky start, I found myself enjoying the story more than I’d expected.

In fact I think that I enjoyed the story more once the protagonists left the shores of Celandon behind. I enjoyed the adventures at sea, the choppy waters and the dangers that had to be faced in order to find the route to the East. I enjoyed the way the Gods play into the story with their meddling and I enjoyed discovering more about the West. I thought that what was really well done here was that although the Celandon’s are trying to conquer in some respects they didn’t really come across as the baddies. I liked the way the legion comes into their own displaying their discipline, tactics and loyalty, setting up boundaries and establishing a strong foothold.

Now, you may be able to see a romance in the offing between our two main characters and that is the case. Fortunately this isn’t rushed and in fact when the two do eventually give in to their own feelings they still have a good deal of trust issues to work through. I liked that they didn’t overnight forget their bad history.

Overall this was a fun read that I found more enjoyable than I expected to following the opening chapters. I would advise that if you’re expecting a world of really rich world building based on history then this probably isn’t the read for you but if you’re in the market for an adventure and a budding romance then this could be just what you’re looking for.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publishers, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Dark Shores is a tale of political intrigue that questions whether everything can be easily classified as 'right' or 'wrong'. I really thought I'd enjoy this book because the premise sounded amazing and so many other people adored it. Sadly, it left me feeling disappointed.

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Writing: 3/5

As always, I'll start with the positives. There was a very diverse cast of characters and the word building- based off of Ancient Rome- was convincing. Throughout the novel, we are told that Marcus is a legendary commander and his tactic of conquering by gaining the trust of and then manipulating the people is brilliant but in the most terrifying and unsettling way.

Teriana was a Maarin sailor, a part of a peaceful trading people. There were two main continents, with a vast swath of sea between them and the Maarin were the only ones who knew that both these continents existed. They lived by the principle, 'East must not meet West,' because they thought that if the East and West knew that they both existed they would destroy each other. I found this to be an interesting idea but I also found it hard to believe that they managed to keep a whole other continent a secret for so long.

The plot was very confusing and unrealistic. I wasn't sure if Teriana was trying to save the Maarin or help Marcus conquer the west or sabotage the conquering of the west. I couldn't tell if Marcus wanted to conquer the west or help Teriana or help the Arinoquian people or defy the evil senator. There were a lot of plot details that didn't fit in or make any sense. Furthermore, I could not bring myself to care about the characters. Teriana was annoying and immature despite what she may think about herself and Marcus was stubborn and forever drowning in self-hatred.

Teriana and Marcus had nothing between them. Their seemingly heart-rending romance sprung from nowhere and the whole enemies-to-lovers trope was very forced. I didn't feel any love, affection or chemistry between them but then suddenly, nearer to the end of the book, Marcus was being incredibly protective over Teriana and they were both swooning over each other. That's the problem I have with YA fantasy because normally the characters are intriguing and the plot is gripping but then an unrealistic insta-love romance, which adds nothing to the storyline, is randomly thrown in and ruins everything- which is what happened in Dark Shores.

Honestly, I think it was a case of, 'it's not you, it's me' with this book. I can understand why so many people loved it and I think it did have the potential to be amazing but it the end I couldn't connect with the characters and I found the plot to be a bit superficial.

Note: The title and blurb heavily imply that Dark Shores is a swashbuckling adventure akin to Pirates of the Caribbean. It's not. It's based on Ancient Rome and is more about fighting, military strategy and politics.

Thank you to Tor Teen and the author for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’m a bit torn with this book. There were many things I liked and many I liked not so much.What annoyed me the most was that I expected pirates and didn’t get any. Teriana, the supposed pirate is actually a trader. Not the usual trader, but not necessarily a pirate either. But actually I want to say what I enjoyed first.

I really enjoyed the setting and world building. It was quite detailed, with the Celendor Empire based on society in ancient Rome and conquering everything they can. Then there are the Dark Shores, that have many different states and clans. These continents are on different ends of an ocean, knowing nothing of each other. Only the Maarin, a seafearing people, trade with both. I liked the descriptions of history and conflicts, of (trade) relationships and society. I’m not sure if queerness is accepted or completely accepted, but there are at least two gay characters and nobody bats an eyelash and just accepts them the way they are.

And I really, really liked the main characters. Both of them. Teriana is fierce and speaks sarcasm fluently. She would do anything for the people she loves, even if that means betraying them. Teriana is smart and knows how to fight, with words as well as with knives. And she is black, as are all Maarin.
Marcus is the embodiment of a Cel, tall, well built, the right looks. He has a certain reputation and while some things are true, others aren’t. I wouldn’t say he’s actually a very soft guy, because he definitely isn’t. But he has his principles and he acts according to them.
They are forced together and while Teriana tries to give Marcus a hard time, he is actually quite nice to her, but both of them have their goals in mind which often sparks conflicts. I liked how their relationship was described and how it changed during the story.

Of course they also have relationships outside of each other. There definitely was a focus on Marcus and his friends. And I loved their friendships! Marcus is friendly with each man in his legion, even though he is their commander. But especially Felix and Servius are his closest friends, knowing things about him nobody else knows, always there for him and they’re always looking out for each other. Their relationship is described really well, their bond obvious. I also liked how Teriana becomes friends with them and starts to like them.
But then there’s Teriana and her best friends Lydia and Bait. Lydia is kind of unnecessary and Bait… is there when the story needs it and absent during most of the time. I know next to nothing about him. Or anyone else close to Teriana, really. Maybe with the exception of her mother. I hope to see more of them in book 2.

The story was kind of slow at some points. But this didn’t trouble me much because in that way it was possible to bring more politics into the story. Unfortunately there was some unnecessary romance as well which seemed forced and hurried. I would have liked it in a sequel, but this way it just didn’t seem entirely plausible.

But all together, I really did enjoy this book. Some things made me roll my eyes, but I still loved the characters and the setting, even though there were no pirates. The writing was good to read, fast paced and detailed, but not boring. It fit the story really well.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

I struggled with the pacing and gave up at 55%. However, it might be a me thing but I just could not connect with the plot. But the writing was still good and it has great characters and world building.

million years ago, back when I read more than four books a month and actually had time to post reviews, I read Danielle L. Jensen's debut novel, Stolen Songbird and really enjoyed it. So, I was pretty eager to try out this book and see where this sweeping, epic story about pirates and soldiers was going to take me.

And where did it take me, you might wonder.

Far. But also not far enough.

First of all, let it be known that despite what the synopsis tries to tell you, this book is not in fact about pirates. In fact, the very word 'pirate' is used exactly once in this entire book. So, I accuse this synopsis of false advertising and getting my hopes up for a story that was very different from what this one turned out to be.

That said, the story that we did get wasn't a bad story. I was still entertained. It was a quick, page-turner that made you want to keep reading. It's a book that according to Goodreads I had been "reading" for weeks. But in reality, I only actually read it in a few hours.

It was quick and fluid and easy to read and I'm sure many of you will enjoy it.

So, before you get too excited, allow me to point out some of its flaws.

The pacing in this book is a bit off at times. Sometimes it's good. Like I said, it's fast and fun. Other times it drags and it feels like we're a ship without a sail, waiting and hoping for something to move us along.

The world building had something missing to it. We get a good amount of info on the Celendorian, but nothing at all on the Dark Shores, despite the book's title. I wanted more details on these two worlds and the endless sea that separated them.

The romance was also nice, but also not? At times I liked it. Other times I wanted it to step aside. This was true near the end of the novel in particular where it felt like the romance was the main focus for a bit.

Also, just as a side note and general criticism on all YA, why do authors feel the need to cram complex enemies to lovers subplot onto us. I love that trope, but lately, it's gotten to the point where it feels forced. And if you plan for your books to be a series, why force them into love in book one? Why not drag it out and make it believable?

Anyway, in the end, I liked this one. It was nice. It was enjoyable. But I didn't love it, no matter how I tried. And I did try. I couldn't fully dive into it. Maybe it was because I expected a pirate adventure and Teriana and her people are very clearly not pirates? Maybe I wanted more epic battles and a more fleshed out romance? Maybe I just didn't love it because it simply wasn't for me.

Who knows.

Hopefully, some of you do get to read it and do end up liking it. I'm certain that many will end up enjoying it because it really is a pretty decent book.

Here it is, this beautiful book with such wonderful cover and lovely characters!

I admit, the first quarter had a bit of info dumping and the way the characters got to come along on the journey sounded a bit off, that's when I took a break from reading, but when I picked it up again I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed it.

Teriana is a fierce girl with fire in her soul and Marcus is a soldier who thinks strategies before using his sword. It was a good combination, though I wish they had more opportunities to show it - that she was more cunning and he was more ruthless. I also liked how slowly their feelings changed and how those feelings changed them in return just as slowly.

The description of Celendor overpowered the description of the "new world", but I loved it. I also loved the Gods Terina believed in and how they worked (the world itself was intriguing with the split between the two sides and the"doors" between them).
The side characters added a bit of humour and reinforced some qualities of the main characters.

My only complaint here would be the way the book ended. It was a bit abrupt, with too many questions unanswered. Overall, I feel that we barely scratched the surface of what this series can become, so I am expecting a lot of action in the sequel, but I liked it so far and I'll be waiting eagerly for the next book to come out.

3.5-4 stars

Before picking this one up, I hadn’t yet read anything by Danielle Jensen. I’m so glad I got approved for this title!

Politicial intrigue.....
A scheming senator.....
Blackmail....
Legions.....
Seafaring people (I don’t want to call them pirates since they’re traders).....

You will be sucked in immediately from the first pages. Into the world of Marcus and Teriana. Each of them residing on different sides of the spectrum. But you’ll find they have much more in common then they would ever believe.

Thank you again to Netgalley for the ability to read and review! Even if I took awhile to process my thoughts :)

Every now and then you come across the first book in a new series and you just know that it’s going to be something big. Dark Shores is that book. Imagine this – a powerful empire that has conquered all the nations in their known world and is ruled by a corrupt elite that will stop at nothing to take it’s taxes in coin, or children forced into servitude, discovers that there is a whole new world connected to their own through a nation of free and seafaring traders known as the Maarin. They have legions of career soldiers at their disposal, unlimited funds, and an insatiable desire to bring everything and everyone under their control. In light of these circumstances it seems only natural that the Celendor Empire would kidnap, torture, and murder hundreds of the Maarin traders until one of them begrudgingly agrees to lead two legions across the seas and aid them in their conquests.

Unfortunately for Celendor, the Maarin that they torture in talking is seventeen-year-old Teriana – a sarcastic, quick-witted, spitfire of a girl who is as intent on subterfuge and disruption as she is on saving the lives of her crew and the rest of the Maarin that are being held by the Empire as collateral. What makes matters worse is that this mission is not merely a matter of crossing the Endless Seas into unknown lands populated by warrior nations and setting up a new regime. That would be far too simple. Instead this quest requires a touch of magic and permission from the gods. Gods who just so happen to be at odds as to whether or not the Cels should be permitted to cross the seas, if East should be allowed to meet West, and who may or may not have forsaken Teriana for breaking her most sacred of vows.

Can you say drama?

Written in split narrative between Teriana’s and Marcus’ point of view, the tension between their perspectives can seriously be cut with a knife. Their conversations and introspections provide the perfect avenue for character development and world building without being onerous, while their arguments and escapades deliver the excitement and adventure that make this an epic read.

Marcus is everything that you would expect from a legion commander – heady, calculating, and utterly ruthless. His every move plays into a larger strategy making it impossible to determine what’s genuine and what’s manipulation. And yet, he’s not the monster that the Empire wants him to be. He has a soft heart and a reverence for human life that leaves him constantly at odds with his orders. With Marcus, nothing is ever as it first appears as there are endless layers of motives, planning, and deceit making it impossible to gauge his true intentions. As a result, there is a tactful balance between the construction of a fearsome reputation and the pursuit of softer, much more personal desires. It helps too that he is a fatally flawed character, that he carries the kinds of secrets that could destroy lives and nations, and that he is deeply touched by all of the horrible things that he has done in the name of the Empire. It makes him human, relatable, and incredibly enigmatic.

Teriana on the other hand is brash, impulsive, and completely irreverent. Her stubbornness, the frequency with which she puts her foot in her mouth as the result of her sass, and her unwavering loyalty to the Maarin that makes her the perfect counter to Marcus’ disciplined and calculating nature. She wears her heart on her sleeve, embraces her emotions, and lives life to the fullest no matter the risk. She’s the kind of person that I’d happily loose all of my spare change to gambling with because because she’s the life of the party and instantly likeable, and of course, almost all of the men in the Thirty-Seventh feel the same way.

It’s always a pleasure to read characters with depth and complexity, especially in YA and fantasy, where it seems that so many can fall into stereotypes and tropes. It’s even better when you can watch these characters change and grow as the story progresses, and in this regard Dark Shores does not disappoint. Teriana, Marcus, and even the varied cast of secondary characters are full of revelations and change, and yet it’s clear that there is still so much more to come.

And we can’t forget to mention the fantastic world that Jensen has created. The contrast between East and West couldn’t be more stark with the Cels being godless, oppressed, and regimented to a tee while the people of the West are deeply spiritual and relish freedom in a way that the Cels can never comprehend. With the Celendor Empire inspired by Ancient Rome, there is just enough history to make this work of fantasy feel deeply rooted and real. Everything from the structure of the political system to the organization of the legions rings true, and yet enough liberties have been taken to keep everything fresh and original. Throw into the mix the Seven gods of the West with their realms, powers, and god-touched individuals and you truly have a war between worlds. The reverence for the Six and the fear of the Seventh creates a dynamic and magical experience that is easy to get swept up in. It’s detailed, magical, and so entrancing that it leaves you wanting more.

I can’t wait to see where this series goes, what the Six and the Corrupter have in mind for the Dark Shores, and the Thirty-Seventh and Forty-First legions will succeed in their mission of establishing a route through which they can conquer the West. There are so many sub-plots to be explored, battles to be fought, and questions to be resolved that next book can’t help but be even better than the first. I loved every second of Dark Shores and my only regret is that I bought my copy on publication day and that I will now have to wait (impatiently) for the next instalment to be released.

Having read Seafire by Natalie C. Parker, I was ready for another sea worthy adventure. Thus, I could not wait to check out this book. Sadly, for me this book was just "fine". I did get the sea adventure but it was not just about the sea. There were politics in place as well. While, I did not mind that, it actually came down to the characters.

I agree with other readers that Teriana came off as a bit more childish then seventeen. In addition, I would have expected someone like her who seemed like a sea captain to be more like an adult. Whereas, Marcus was the more mature one in the story. These two were the main voices of this book.

This was a fast read but at the same time a slow one. Fast and slow because the chapters were short but I felt like nothing really thrilling was happening. The latter half of the story is better. I might read the next book just to see what happens further in this series.

I enjoyed this one. I thought it was going to be a straight pirate story but turned into so much more. It had everything *Stephon voice*.....women captains, lecherous senators, striking soilders, battle between gods, and a brand new world.

I loved the ending, bu now I'm sad to have to wait for the continuation!

I found both Marcus and Terianas perspectives compelling. They were each dealing with their own guilt and wanting to protect the people they love, even if those people have turned their backs on them. They have more in common than they realize. I really enjoyed the complexities of their relationship and the enemies to allies banter they had going on. Despite being held against her will, Teriana is still fierce and sarcastic. I do find it funny that the summary says a pirate with a will of iron since thats not really the case. I was a little disappointed that Teriana was separated from her ship and her crew, but I enjoyed her relationships with some of the soldiers. As for Marcus, he's one of those flawed characters who has been made to do terrible things to survive, but is still capable of compassion. He's very intelligent and the way he strategizes was incredible. I also enjoyed his friendships with some of the soldiers.

I loved how the plot was filled with blackmail and meddling gods. The ocean journey was intense and very entertaining. It was so gripping I finished it in a couple days. I had a feeling early on that some of the gods wanted things to unfold the way they did. I thought Cassius made a pretty good villain since I understood his motivations while still thinking he was a despicable character. His son Titus really had me wondering what his true motivations were. The whole situation with Terianas best friend was messed up and I would have liked more time spent on that issue. This story has a pretty big romantic subplot which I didnt mind. I liked how it grew slowly over the course of the book and added some great conflict. I dont think having a steamy scene right after someone says they need a bath was very appealing though.

I thought the world was very interesting, but I wish we got to know more about some of my favorite elements like the gods, their guardians, and the different god marked powers. Im hoping we get to explore these elements in more depth when the rest of the series comes out. The way people can travel long distances in a short amount of time through crystal caves was also pretty awesome. I got some serious Roman vibes from Celendrial, especially with their names, dress, and conquest. The sea faring Maarin have very dark skin and blue eyes like the ocean they call home. Teriana herself wears braids. Some other representation was the romantic relationship between the two male soldiers that guard Teriana. The writing was easy to get lost in. It had a good mix of dialogue, action and self reflection from the characters. Im super happy I found another amazing book by a Canadian author.

Book will also be featured in a few more upcoming posts.

Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

A quick read filled with magic, ah ate to love relationship and mysteries untold. I loved the sense of family and friendship and both characters were headstrong and amazing on their own, despite the rough start of their interactions in the book.

4.5 stars!!
Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen is the first book in the Dark Shores series, and I have to tell you, I already can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Teriana is a Maarin and a pirate aboard her mother’s ship…second in command to be exact. Traveling the world with her family, she and her people hold a lot of secrets. Specifically, those that would put the rest of the world in danger from the Celendor Empire. When Teriana finds herself in a situation where she believes her best friend has betrayed her and now, she has to decide whether to give up her family or give up those on the Dark Shore, she decides her family is more important.

I loved Teriana. She was in a horrible situation where there wasn’t really a good decision no matter what she decided. Despite her circumstance, she stood by her decision and did whatever she could do to thwart the path forward for Marcus and his legion. With that said, she couldn’t help to be drawn to Marcus and even make friends of the soldiers around her as she spent so much time with them. In the long run, this opens up the door for some heartbreak though as she is keeping some secrets right alongside Marcus.

Marcus is the commander of the most notorious Thirty-Seventh, a legion within the Celendor Empire. He definitely has not had an easy life and his circumstances clearly dictate his life. He may have power and strength with his legion but in the end, he is a tool for the empire and unless he wants his men/friends to suffer, he will follow through with what the empire tells him. His current situation means that he has to force Teriana to give him what he needs (information) so he can accomplish his mission no matter what he really wants. As he and Teriana become closer, they learn more about each other and that only makes things more difficult. I loved how as the story progressed, there were more layers to Marcus and we find out he isn’t necessarily everything the empire wants you to think he is.

I expect the secrets that Marcus and Teriana are keeping are really what is going to get them in trouble soon. I kind of wished that the connection between what happened to Lydia and Teriana’s current situation with Marcus had been exposed as well as Marcus’ role in the whole thing. I am bracing myself for that to come…hopefully in the next book. With that said, the romance bit is done well. Both of these characters are aware of the limitations of any relationship they currently have and despite that, they still have a connection and I can’t wait to see what happens next for them as they have some pretty big obstacles headed their way.

The guy who is pulling all the strings, (i.e. the bad guy) is really trying to grab as much power as he can and that includes in another part of the world. He is definitely not likable and while he appears to be biding his time on some things, he isn’t afraid to threaten and blackmail anyone to get what he wants.

The secondary characters are well done too. I thought Teriana’s mother, aunt, and friends were developed enough to support the story and they all had a purpose. Whether it be to add context to the repercussions of decisions Teriana made or provide guidance on figuring out a solution. Lydia has a pivotal role in the story, but I did want to know more about what happens with her as it felt a bit abrupt. I hope we get more of that storyline in a future book.

Overall, I enjoyed this first book in the series very much and I thought Jensen did a great job creating the world these characters inhabit. The action is almost non-stop in this book and it includes epic battles, dangerous voyages, and gods that might have an agenda. Layer all of that with some romancey parts and some great characters and I’m in! I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series and encourage you to pick this up when you can.

Though the premise--two conflicted young folks with exciting lives (she's a pirate, he's an elite soldier) being forced to work together on a quest both of them hate--had promise, as a whole, Dark Shores fell flat. Immediately upon opening the book, readers are faced with a pile of characters and some twisty politics. The POV rotates between the self-absorbed heroine, Teriana, the daughter of a pirate captain, and her supposed romantic lead, Marcus. None of the relationships in this book feel authentic, and the there is not consistent pacing. Over all, I would give this one a pass or go back to Jensen's Malediction trilogy.

Politics, betrayal, daring nautical adventures, fearsome gods, magic, and romance fill the pages of Danielle L. Jensen’s new YA fantasy series opener DARK SHORES.

Ever since I first discovered the writings of Danielle L. Jensen in The Malediction series, she became an auto-buy author for me. I love how her books featured compelling, yet flawed characters. She has this knack for making them face dangers while confronting personal moral dilemmas, all the while setting her stories in fascinating worlds readers want to visit and experience.

Dark Shores is the first book in an exciting new young adult, fantasy series that surpassed my high expectations.
The story is set in Celendrial, the crown jewel of the Celendor Empire—a world inspired by the ancient Roman Republic—and the undiscovered Dark Shores—the Western realm only rumored to be true. The worldbuilding is so well done, so vivid and touchable, that the writing just pulls you into the story.

Readers who are craving adventure by sea and land will find plenty to be excited about.

The wealth of Celendrial with its gleaming white buildings, towering statues, and enormous stone wharves contrast beautifully with the beauty, danger, and magic of the sea and lush and untamed lands of the Eastern Empire.

“It’s time for you to let go of the lies Mother Empire has whispered in your ear and start seeing the world for what it really is.”
”And what is that?”
”Inexplicable, Limitless. Her gaze went back to the ocean... Divine.”

The pirate’s daughter and an enemy soldier make a deadly bargain—to map the Dark Shores.

The story brings together two unlikely allies, Teriana, the daughter of a Maarin trading ship’s captain and Marcus, the notorious battle leader of the Thirty-Seventh legion, on a dangerous quest to reveal the sea path of the never-ending ocean between the East and the West.

Brash, tough, and loyal—Teriana will do anything to protect her people—even if that means revealing a secret entrusted to the Maarin by the very gods.

The sea is her home and running a ship second nature to her, but when it comes to dealing with Marcus, the legionnaire she is sworn to help, she is at a loss. How can one’s enemy become something more?

Marcus hates the tyrannical new ruler over Calendor, but when his family is threatened, he joins forces with a sea-faring group in order to keep them safe.

If it means working with the captain’s insufferable daughter, so be it. Finding a way to chart the Dark Shores and map the undiscovered country of the West means his family’s safety. What Marcus doesn’t expect is the admiration and respect he begins to feel for Teriana.

I loved how we see both the strengths and vulnerabilities these two characters share.

Told from their alternating perspectives, we see them both grappling with moral dilemmas and their growing attractions to one another even as enemies plot to use them both as bait for a treacherous plan that will reach across the shores and shake the very gods awake.

In the End

Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen is an exciting series opener with plenty of nautical and questing adventure. Politics, danger, and romance are carefully interwoven while exciting new worlds are discovered.

I tore through this one and cannot wait for the next installment. Recommended for fans of the author and readers of YA fantasy looking for watery adventure and vivid worldbuilding.

Dark Shores cements Danielle L. Jensen as a fantastic fantasy author- something I knew being a devoted fan from her Malediction Trilogy- but she really spreads her writing wings with Dark Shores.

I'm a big fan of political intrigue- especially when intermixed with a romance (and Jensen is a master at building tension between two potential lovers. The relationship between Teriana and Marcus is so complex, she is headstrong and brave, and he is so mysterious and has a mountain of responsibility on his shoulders. The two play off each other brilliantly.

Celendor is a fantastic setting, again Jensen has really upped her game with her world building, and proves yet again, that she knows how to write a battle. Wow!

Loved this book!

It took me a while to get into Dark Shores (about 20% into the book, to be more precise) because of what felt like a really slow prologue. A pivotal character from the beginning of the story is barely mentioned throughout the rest of the book and that was incredibly annoying, since her actions kicked off the main plot of the book.

After getting through the incredibly confusing start, I realized that Dark Shores was actually a brilliantly crafted fantasy world. The mythology is complex, and there’s so much tension and political conflict that I can’t wait for it all to unravel in the next few books. The writing itself is sophisticated, with moments of pure brilliance- witty dialogue, descriptive scenery, and broody soldiers.

However, Teriana brought the book down for me. For a fearless seafarer who holds tremendous sway among her people, she makes some truly dumb and incomprehensible decisions. She does not inspire confidence in me and her role in the story seems to be out of pure convenience.

Marcus saved the book for me. I can honestly say that I breezed through the latter half of this book because I wanted to keep reading Marcus’ story. He’s charismatic and has strong moral values, but what is most attractive about his character is that he is a respected leader.

I RATE DARK SHORES 4/5 STARS.

This book is not your typical pirate story. In fact, it is not a pirate story at all. The story is set in the Roman Empire and it is about power, love, friendship, battles, magic, and of course gods. This has a great world-building in the story; very detailed. Full of adventures. The characters are complex and full of attitude. I personally like Teriana's personality. She's very strong-willed and she knows what she wants.