Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I was granted access to From Darkness via NetGalley. Thank you to whoever approved my request and apologies for taking so long to get to it. My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

From Darkness is an interesting spin on Greek mythology that follows two Australian teens, one dead for most of the book and the other left living, both hopelessly tangled with the Underworld. Bonus: it's sapphic!

I loved both main characters, the familiar Greek mythology elements, and all of the wonderful Australian setting references. This book does an excellent job of building tension and setting up a plot that demands to be read with undivided attention.

Where this book falls short for me is how overwhelming the "romance" is. Yes, this is YA and teens are ruled by their hormones, but wow. The lust on some of these pages erases all traces of plot and character development. If this were a gay romance I might be more forgiving, teen boys definitely go through a phase of being unable to stop thinking with the wrong head, but having been a teen girl at one point I do consider myself well qualified to say teen girls do indeed have more mental control than that.

Overall this is an interesting mythology retelling with a sapphic romance element, and I do think it's well done. If YA fantasy is your thing, especially if you're into mythology and/or LGBTQ+ stories, consider picking this one up!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

DNF @ 20%

I really wanted to love this one as I adore anything queer and greek mythology and the premise sounded so good, but the writing style just wasn’t for me and I didn’t like the main characters as much as I was expecting too.

Overall, I still recommend reading other reviews and checking this book out if you love greek mythology and sapphic rep!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ari and Alex were the best of friends, they went everywhere together. After a fatal accident leaves Ari without Alex, Ari is overwhelmed with guilt. When a snakebite brings Ari to the brink of death, a Summoner of Souls comes from the underworld to take her for judgement. When the Summoner sent to collect Ari turns out to be her long lost friend, Alex, who spares her life; will Alex and Ari be able to rebalance the scales of life and death? And what punishments await Alex in the underworld?

3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 because 3 stars doesn't do this novel justice. There was alot of Greek Mythology in this novel, but it was subtle enough not to make it feel disjointed in our modern world. Ari, at age seventeen, has the typical tragic storyline and essentially hates herself because of it. My main gripe comes from when Alex is back with her. Ari is so hot for Alex now that they're teenagers and it pulls you out of the story completely multiple times. I understand hormones rage, but the way she reacts to any movement Alex makes is like a dog in heat. It's so unrealistic and a bit creepy if I'm being honest. This is the biggest complaint I have about this story and it knocked it down atleast a full star for me. The other half a star is lost on the final confrontation. You are built up for a big fight, and the girls are given a deadline to set things right but they spend all but a few hours of it sleeping and making out?! What?

Overall, the bones of a great story are there, and it is actually pretty spectacular for a debut novel. I recommend this for anyone 16+ because of how graphic/horny they main character is. It makes this novel completely inappropriate for younger age groups. Let me know what you think, fellow readers. Am I being too harsh on poor hormonal Ari? Or was it just as off-putting for you?

I really wanted to love this book. From the synopsis it had everything I enjoy. Guilt ridden characters, grief being handled, mythology, and exploration of death. Sadly, the story felt way too oddly paced for me to really enjoy it. For the first 50% we still were dealing with them in their town, and it was slow paced. Then it ramped up the pace so quickly it reminded me of roller coasters. Yet, even then the conclusion came to such a quick end, (the way the threat was handled left me completely underwhelmed, specially coming from a story dealing with Fates and Gods.)

I spent my time wanting to like Ari but failing to do so, yet wanting more and more of Alex who we seemed to just get those "She's so mysterious" type feelings. The Hunter was the most interesting character in the whole story, which surprised me because I wasn't expecting him at all. Yet thanks to how fast the last good percentage of the book progressed, I felt like he was thrown in just to help Ari get through everything. Which brings me to my most bummed feeling about the story of all. Ari wasn't able to do much herself at all. Alex and The Hunter seemed to do it all, tell her all, and even the way that Ari defeated the threat felt like she only managed it because she was told to and underestimated.

My other regret is how the blame Ari held on herself for Alex's death was sort of there, but you didn't actually feel it. There were a few passages sure, but minus the portion where there is forgiveness, and the finale, her blaming herself felt as a small afterthought and then addition.

This said, there were pros in the book!

The romance was tender and probably one of my most liked version of old friends to lovers.
The mythology ties were intriguing enough, and I'd love a spinoff story of just Alex and the Hunter doing their Summoner jobs.

Did I love this? Yes, absolutely. Am I already ready to reread it? Also yes. I'm a sucker for reading books set in Australia, and maybe it's because most books I see are set outside of my country, and reading one set in your country gives you an opportunity to truly understand. And then the author added in mythology and the underworld and I immediately fell in love with every aspect of this book. It took me. a little bit to get into at the start, but as soon as I got past that I didn't ever want to put it down!

This book was really good! Both characters were well done and relatable, and the flashbacks to when they played together as kids was fun and cute. The way that ancient Greek underworld myths are woven into the story with a touch of the author's own imagination was incredible. The blooming relationship between the main characters was cute, but as I personally don't like too much romance in my books, the way that the main character kept thinking about her friend got a bit annoying after a while. Still, an amazing read!

This has taken a few days to write a review because of how astounding it is and I honestly had me at a loss for words.
I am so thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this phenomenal book, which is Kate's debut novel!

What I liked about From Darkness:
• Fast-paced.
•It has characters that are part of the LGBTQ+ community and isn't negative about it.
• It is descriptive about the Worlds without droning on or being over the top and is great if you have a graphic imagination.
•Sapphic romance.
•Any intimacy is very appropriate and tasteful.
•The main character development progresses quite quickly.
•Loving someone so much you risk your life to save them.
•Greek mythology!


The ending seemed to me, too quick and easy, I don't mean that in a disrespectful way, I mean that I was shocked because I was expecting it to be harder.

I absolutely adore this story, the struggle that the MC went through, the realism is out of this world. If you are wondering "should I read this book?" The answer is --> Absolutely, 100% you should!


Thank you Neytgalley, Interlude Press and Kate Hazel Hall for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

TW:
•Child death
•Mental illness & institutionalization
•Death of an animal
•Pregnancy difficulties/almost miscarriage

"From Darkness" is a fantasy novel centered around a teenager named Ari, who is grieving the loss of her best friend, Alex. One day, she sees Alex reappear, summoning her into a portal that leads to an underworld.

This book was packed with friendship, romance, and adventure and it was a really captivating read.

“Seven years ago, two children tried to swim nearly a mile through rough seas to reach the shore. Only one child made it.”

What an incredible debut novel, oh my goodness! There was sapphic goodness, Greek mythology, and all set on the Australian coast. This is definitely a new favourite and I need everyone to read it! This book follows the story of Ari, who lost her best friend Alex to the sea when she was a child and has blamed herself for what happened that day ever since. One day when Ari is bitten by a snake and starts losing her own life, the summoner sent to guide her to the afterlife suddenly decides to defy the rules of life & death in order to save Ari’s life. Because That summoner? She’s Alex, who has been escorting souls to the underworld for 7 years. But this causes a great imbalance between the mortal world and the underworld, and dark things start happening around Ari’s small town. Now the two girls must figure out how to stop these things from happening and keep Alex from being drawn back to the underworld.

I was so invested in this story omg. From the first chapter I was hooked (that first chapter is one of the best I’ve ever read). The world building was incredible, the characters stole my heart, and the romance made me swoon. Also, the inclusion of some Greek mythology with a twist was wonderful. This author SURE CAN WRITE! This book also deals with some tougher themes in a beautiful way, such as grief and survivor’s guilt, so it definitely made me cry.

As you can tell, I loved this book! The story was touching, atmospheric, and super duper gay. I really can’t recommend this one enough!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Interlude Press for giving me this eARC in exchange for an honest review*

Do you want a sapphic portal fantasy that'll make you google pictures of sinkholes and recoil in horror? Here it is! This delightful debut novel has made me so excited to see what else Kate Hazel Hall will create. It has such a unique take on fantasy elements incorporated into the real world. With sensitively handled themes such as grief and forgiveness, and a heartwarming romance, I'm so glad I picked this one up.

Ari Wyndham blames herself for the death of her best friend, Alex, when she was nine. Now sixteen, she's bitten by a deadly tiger snake and a summoner is sent to collect her soul. The summoner is Alex. Recognising each other, Alex refuses to let Ari die, but the consequences of this transgression are worse than they could have imagined. Savage dog packs, sinkhole portals, and a trip to the underworld await you in this sapphic fantasy.

One of the highlights of this book was the uniqueness of the storyline and plot elements. I'll admit I don't often read portal fantasies so maybe I'm just blown away by how cool they are! Incorporating the Greek underworld, with Australian wildlife, a sapphic romance, and feral dog packs so wonderfully in quite a small book demonstrates the author's talent for creating an original story.

The writing style was perfect for the book. It was simultaneous an easy, fast-paced read, while also having a strong focus on building a magical atmosphere. It was set partially in reality, but it felt like anything could happen. I adored the fairy-tale feel.

I've not read many books set in Australia, and it's mostly reinforced my idea that I would definitely get bitten by a snake and die on my first day. There's a big focus on nature, from the old forests to the untameable oceans; it makes the perfect setting for the unnatural disturbances that arise.

With a little trip into the underworld, we see the atmospheric writing come to life. It's a creepy idea of the afterlife, but it's also so intriguing. I'm not going to say too much so this can remain spoiler-free, but I loved the characters and conflict introduced down there. It's a harsh world, but it remains full of unlikely allies and friends.

The one issue I had with the book was the pacing. The ending slowed down considerably, and it loses some of the strength it had earlier in the novel. It began to feel a bit lacklustre when I was expecting a bright climax. To be fair to the author, I find these small issues common in debut novels, so it didn't negatively impact my thoughts too much.

The romance was so heartwarming and cute. I could see people who love slow-burns grumbling about how quickly things fall into place, but I loved it. Intense childhood friendship leading into 'wow she's hot' is something I'm always here for. I often find sapphic romances in fantasy don't get the page time they deserve, so I'm happy to announce that From Darkness has a brilliant amount of adorable scenes.

Childhood friends to lovers is a trope I adore in queer romance because it's so common for us to look back on intense friendships and go 'oh, maybe that was gayer than I originally realised'.Just imagine the romantic potential of 'I blame myself for my best friends death, and now she's appeared to take my spirit to the underworld, but she remembers me and will face any punishment to keep me safe,' that's what we're dealing with here, it's so good. It's so good.

Another thing I enjoyed was this isn't a book about figuring out your identity. I completely understand why those stories are so often told, especially in YA, but it was a nice change to have characters who actually know who they are, and what they want. It was also lovely to have a book with no homophobia; there are conflicts and challenges, but it's not related to our duos sexuality.

Finally, there's such a strong focus on grief and forgiveness. This book shows how difficult it is to forgive yourself for terrible accidents. Ari struggles heavily all her life because she wholeheartedly blames herself for Alex's death. I love that Ari slowly learnt that sometimes horrible things happen, and could set herself on the path to healing.

(Thanks to NetGallery and Interlude Press for providing an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review)

This book is a lovely Greek inspired tale of romance and passion and friendship! I LOVED the mythology behind it and the girls both felt very real. The underworld was my favorite part and where the story got really interesting! I’m excited to see what more tales this author has.

What a wonderful story - it takes you on a journey and I can't ask more than that.

Ari is a 16 year old in a small Australian town. She has a baby sister on the way, a loving family, and a crushing amount of guilt. Her best friend drowned when they were young and she feels she is to blame. When the fates play out though, she finds herself face to face with Alex, defying the rules, and needing to understand the darkness swallowing her town.

As a reader, I find it rare to find novels set in Australia, and rarer still that they have fantasy elements. This novel mixes coming of age, sexuality, romance, and Greek mythology into a beautiful tale. It has hallmarks of a great quest, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I would absolutely recommend it for teen readers, anyone who loves a little mythology in their reading, maybe even fans of Isobelle Carmody.

3.5 stars (but I round down rather than up in my reviews)

Thanks to NetGalley and Interlude Press for an ARC. Expected release: 3rd November 2020.

In this debut novel, a young girl named Arielle is still struggling with the death of her best friend, who drowned in the ocean seven years prior. When Ari is bitten by a tiger snake in the bush near her home, in a small Australian coastal town, a Summoner from the underworld appears to carry her soul to its resting place. This Summoner is Ari’s best friend Alex, who has been escorting souls to the underworld since she died. When they recognise each other, Alex chooses to saves Ari. But this has devastating effects: the underworld deities are angry, and the balance between the two worlds is disrupted, impacting Ari’s loved ones and her hometown. Can they reverse the damage they’ve caused? And will Ari lose Alex all over again?

The premise of this novel immediately intrigued me; fantasy, Sapphic romance and Greek mythology – three of my favourite things. Having said that I wasn’t expecting too much, as I knew this was a debut and I also prefer adult fantasy to YA. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story, and how much I felt for the characters. The romance was adorable and relatable, being a queer womxn myself (although it did begin almost immediately – whether you like this or not is personal preference, I just love a slow burn romance!) The Greek-style underworld was also well fleshed-out - the mythology was explained thoroughly, but also expertly moulded it to fit the world that the author had built. I’m not usually keen on modernisations of mythology, but this novel struck a great balance.

My only real issue was that the build up was quite long; about 50% of the book had passed before much action occurred, and when it did, a lot happened at once and very quickly. It wasn’t confusing per se as it was written well and was fun, but the pacing just felt a bit off. Additionally, as the romance was such a prominent element of the plot, I would have liked a slightly more emotional and romantic ending. Instead the conflict was resolved very quickly and the novel wrapped up without much time for reflection.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and found it a quick read. It's so nice to see good queer representation in a YA novel. Too often, queerness becomes the focus of all narrative and character development, however Kate Hazel Hall has created likeable, well-rounded queer characters, whose sexuality is not their only identity marker.

From Darkness is a wonderful novel that brings together all the elements I love; romance, magic, adventure, and there's some mythology thrown in too! The romance is a bit quick, BUT if you figure Ari has loved Alex for years, it makes it more believable. A good part of the novel takes place in the Underworld (mythology aspect) which I found super fun and intriguing. And, I love that the author didn't shy away from the darker parts of the story, it added a level of depth to it that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The pacing is quick and because of that, I felt some details were lacking in places I would've loved to have more...lots of build up to short little bits of adventure.

All in all, this was a wonderful queer story that everyone should take time to read!


Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for an e-arc to read and honestly review. They also have a CW list here - www.interludepress.com/content-warnings

I really enjoyed this. I love that story about how love knows no bounds and how much guilt can eat us when we feel we harmed someone we love. I loved the fantasy element to this. I got huge day of the dead vibes and loved it!

This fall has really been the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to excellent LGBTQIA+ new releases! Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to greatly enjoy Each of Us a Desert, by Mark Oshiro, The Bone Shard Daughter, by Andrea Stewart, The Dragon of Ynys, by Minerva Cerridwen, The Left Handed Booksellers of London, by Garth Nix, and The Four Profound Weaves, by RB Lemberg. Each of these books featured some really top tier representation that doesn’t often get much mainstream attention.

Ok. So. From Darkness:

Summary:

Death wasn’t the end of their story. Alex drowned seven years ago; now she works as a summoner, ferrying souls to the underworld when they die. When she is sent to collect the soul of someone with a familiar face, she suddenly has a choice to make. What happens if she doesn’t want to let her friend die? Can you rebel from death?

This story weaves aspects of the Greek underworld into life in a small Australian town, setting the backdrop for an engaging look into friendship and romance. Weird fiction at its finest.

If you are looking for an antidote to the whole garbage “Kill your gays” trope, look no further. These girls refuse to let death stop them. Make no mistake though, this book hits some dark notes. It is not an easy read.

Characters:

Ari - Guilt personified. No really. She is deeply immersed in struggling with guilt in the years following a severe childhood trauma; when she was nine, she witnessed the death of her best friend, who drowned while they were swimming together.

Alex - Never really had a chance to really live. Drowned seven years ago.

First line: “Ari watched a wave slip through the deep blue channel between the reef and the rock.”

Great line: “Ari had a hoard of perfect moments with Alex and she kept them carefully in her memory so that they would always be there.“

Side note: Hey, you know what is an excellent sign that a book was written by a thoughtful author and that the editing process almost definitely included a sensitivity reader? This extremely welcome acknowledgement perfecting the book: “This novel was written on lands belonging to the Wadawurrung and Gadubanud peoples of the South-West coast of Australia. These lands were never ceded. I acknowledge the continuing connection of the rightful owners to their lands, waterways and cultures, and offer my deepest respect to their elders, past, present and emerging.” The only other time I can think of where I have encountered a similar acknowledgment is the creator’s note on each episode of the podcast Unwell, from producer Hartlife NFP. I appreciate that attention was drawn to this fact.

And, AND the publisher has provided content warning. They are mildly spoilery, but can be found here if you need them: https://interludepress.com/content-warnings

Good people made this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Interlude Press for granting my request for a review copy of this book!

✨From Darkness✨

Thank you to Netgalley, Kate Hazel Hall and interlude press for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
✨
This story follows Ari, a 16 year old girl who lives in a small coastal town in Australia. When Ari was young, she and her best friend Alex were inseparable, until one day Alex drowned on a swim to a little island and back. Ari has never quite gotten over Alex’s death. When Ari is bitten by a snake, a beautiful girl comes to summon her to the underworld however, Ari refuses to go, and this act of defiance tips the precarious balance of life and death and causes a rift in her world. Strange things start to happen as the dark magic emerges. Will Ari be able to save her world and the person she cares about most of all?
✨
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 (overall)
❤️❤️❤️❤️/5 (romance)
🧭🧭🧭🧭.5/5 (adventure)

Review:
This sapphic romantic fantasy brings elements of everything I love and combines it in one novel. Romance, magic, adventure and Greek mythology all thrown in!

Whilst the romance develops very quickly for my liking (hardcore slow burn lover over here👀🔥) it’s so sweet that you can’t help but root for them. Ari has lost Alex once and she won’t lose her again, she defies the natural balance and accomplishes things that no one ever has before, all in the name of saving her girl.

This book has a fair amount of action, there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the page. My favourite aspect of the book is that a big part of it takes place in the Underworld and Ari has to navigate her way through it in order to complete her task and return home... while hopefully keeping her heartbeat. I really enjoyed that it was a different take on a story of the underworld and wasn’t your typical Hades story. A satisfying ending had this book neatly wrapped up.

Whilst I really enjoyed the book I feel like there were long build ups for some short bursts of action and would’ve preferred a little more. But overall a really enjoyable story, great for those who love YA fantasy and suitable for a younger teenage audience. Definitely a good read for those that love Greek mythology. The author is definitely one to keep an eye out for!

Uno de los mejores viajes al inframundo
✭✭✭✭½

Ari y Alex son mejores amigas, de esas que son inseparables que se podrían considerar más que eso un amor casi de hermandad pero distinto. Un día Ari le pide a Alex que naden en el océano cuando eran apenas unas niñas, Alex acepta ya que Ari es una excelente nadadora y sabe que eso haría muy feliz a su mejor amiga, mientras nadan se dan cuenta que la corriente es más fuerte de lo que ellas tenían previsto y lamentablemente ese día solo una llega a casa. Dejando así a una pequeña niña sin su mejor amiga, sola en el mundo, sin saber como seguir adelante pasan los años y un día Ari encuentra a su alma gemela de una manera inesperada, el mundo vuelve a tener color, hasta que su nueva novia desaparece. Ari tendrá que aventurarse en el inframundo para poder salvar a su amada y ademas salvar a su pueblo y a todos los que ella ama aunque tenga que desafiar al dios de la muerte misma…¿Podrá lograrlo antes de que se oscurezca la luna?

From Darkness es una novela juvenil de Fantasía, Romance, Ciencia Ficción y ademas es LGTTQI+. Repleta de emociones esta novela logra cautivar al lector y mantenerlo cautivado quemándose las pestañas, es una historia que en verdad necesita que le den una oportunidad, el libro toca temas como lo son el duelo el aceptarte a ti mismo, afrontar tus miedos e incluso el valor de la amistad, el amor, la lealtad, la valentía y el perdón no solo hacia los demás si no que a nosotros mismos.

Esta novela es la primera de Kate Hazel Hall e hizo un excelente trabajo, comencé leyendo este libro sin saber a que iba o de que trataba y la verdad es uno de los libros que mas me ha gustado de este año, repito que considero que todos le deberían de dar una oportunidad a estar grandiosa obra, me gustaría tener la oportunidad de comprar el libro en físico ya que yo leí una copia avanzada gracias a NetGalley.

Si te gusta la fantasía, la mitología, el Romance y te fascina leer sobre la comunidad LGBTQ+ definitivamente debes leer este libro y si no pues quien sabe si este libro haga que te guste.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3456740641

I had high hopes for this book--it's not every day you get modern sapphic Greek mythology books, which combine all of my favorite things together. From Darkness follows the life of Ari years after the tragic death of her best friend, Alex. Ari blames herself for Alex's death even almost a decade later, wishing that she had not suggested the two of them swim to a faraway island and back as kids. Ari is soon confronted with her own mortality after a snake bites her and a beautiful young woman comes to take her away to the Underworld. The woman recognizes Ari and remembers her past life as Alex, Ari's best friend, and shirks her responsibility to bring Ari's soul to the Underworld by saving her life. Strange things start happening around their town and Ari and Alex must navigate both the complications of life and death, as well as their newfound feelings for each other. While a great premise, I was disappointed that it seemed as though the writing quality dropped off as the book went on. It's a quick and easy read and I never felt the pacing was too slow, but the dialogue and plot became more unbelievable as the book wore on, and not because it was about the Underworld. Hazel Hall does a great job of portraying the Underworld and those who roam and rule it, but I still felt that there was something missing to the characters. Alex and Ari's relationship develops extremely quickly and left me feeling a little discombobulated as I tried to figure out why their feelings for each other developed so quickly. Maybe that's just the slow burn addict inside of me. Still, the book is cute and leaves you feeling largely satisfied as you close the book.