I don’t even know what to say!!! This was sooo interesting I honestly loved everything about this book!! Such a great read.

This was a very enjoyable book and I really liked where it was going, I did find the ending a little rushed but It was still a good time to read!

I received this book as an arc, thanks to @netgalley and the author @amdunnewin. I really enjoyed reading this original book!

All the Dark Souls is part of the All the Dark Souls Trilogy. The story is about Joss Brevyn, the last heir in a long line of executioners. But she’s special, because in a profession that is mostly male, Joss is a woman. But even though she’s a woman, the same rules apply: “Kill the condemned within three tries, or be tortured and killed yourself.” Joss has a perfect reputation with her mark yet to miss, and even though she spends her free time as a healer (quite the opposite of her job), the town sees her just as a deathsman.

Along the way Joss and her assistant Henrik come across a man whose been quite beaten up. They decide to take him home, but the man and Joss alike are hesitant to reveil their true identities. The man they bring home is called Aric Kayden and he has definitely seen better days. He was supposed to assasinate an important figure in this story, but failed and thus was left bleeding on the side of the road until Joss and Henrik found him there. They take care of him, heal him and make sure he got the time to get better. While healing from his wounds Aric is haunted by the memories of the target he didn’t kill, especially by those memories of the people who paid him to do so.

There’s an undeniable attraction between Joss and Aric, but even despite this attraction they can’t bring theirselves to tell the truth. For Aric that would be to tell Joss that the masked figures who hired him knows where he is and that his original target is the mysterious prisones who was recently sentenced to death. To hold up the deal he had made, he had to make sure the execution goes on as planned and he has to eliminate anyone who stand in the way of him doing so. That includes Joss, who will be the prisoners executioner. Bound by their duties, they both assume this next kill will be easy, but when one of them has a change of heart, that sparks a chain reaction that could put one, or maybe even both of them, in grave danger.

I thought this was a very original story, with Joss being a female executioner. I also like the contradiction of her being a healer too. The story was fast-paced and the characters were well written out. It often felt a bit like a setting like in the Witcher and I really enjoyed that. I am really curious how Joss and Aric will continue their journey and how this will end. This should be very exciting!
“Not everyone who leaves comes back. Sometimes the silence is the goodbye.” – Joss
“Kindness takes courage.” – Aric

#book73 # readingchallenge #femalexecutioner #historicalfiction #Joss #Aric #executioner #medievaltimes #Witchervibes #books #arc #AllTheDarkSoulsTrilogy

This story was short and mostly exposition. It wasn't easy to pick it up after getting to a certain point due to my lack of interest, as nothing exciting was really happening.

Very interesting concept, however a very short story. I really liked the characters and the writing, but the book was very plot driven and the ending felt very rushed. I truly enjoyed the pacing of the book for the first 70% but the last chapters really lost me, which is sad, because this story had so much potential in my eyes. I can't elaborate much further because nothing really stuck to me in the end.

I enjoyed the read. The quality of the writing was good, and I particularly appreciated its vivid descriptions, which effortlessly painted a clear picture of the scenes in my mind.

Joss assumes the role of an executor, a vocation passed down through generations. Escaping this destiny seems impossible—failing to kill thrice leads to her own demise. On the other hand, Aric, an assassin, survives an execution attempt on his latest target only to be left for dead. Enter Joss, who discovers him and alters their fates.

Although I have mixed feelings, I was engrossed and racing through the pages, drawn into the unfolding narrative. However, around the midpoint, the pacing seemed to falter, posing a challenge for me. But I pushed through and thought overall it was really good. I recommend it! 3.5 stars

I was drawn in by the synopsis, but I quickly realized this wasn’t something I’d usually pick up. The idea of a female executioner was intriguing but I found myself getting bored. For such a short book it did take a long time to get through mostly because I found myself not wanting to pick it back up. I will say things did pick up the last 3rd of the book. Not sure if I will continue the trilogy.

Absolutely brilliant. A quick, immersive read that held my attention throughout the duration of the novel. Joss and Henrik were everything!

I read this in one sitting and I wasn't expecting to love it this much. It's a different kind of FMC from what I usually read, and I liked seeing more into the reality of executioners at the time. They were chosen and had to comply with the duty that was given to them, setting them apart from the rest of society. The fact that it was a woman added even more stigma around her. I really liked Joss, and Aric is still so mysterious, that I really feel like I need more answers and will need to find book 2 ASAP. I recommend it for anyone wanting to know more about the historical role of an executioner and looking for hidden identities, very slow burn and action.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

Joss is an executioner. A female one at that. And if she fails in her duty, she will suffer the same penalty as a man: Death by Execution.

It is interesting to see how others act towards her because of this. Some are fine with it. Others are not. A few can’t quite figure it out - they cuddle her because she is a woman and therefore frail, yet they recognize that she is quite proficient at her job and highly capable.

The story begins with Joss finding an injuried man in the side of the road partly hidden among the foliage.

After this, the story slowly unfolds with a budding romance, assassinations and political intrige.

This is the first in a trilogy.
The very comprehensive worldbuilding is compressed in a rather short book, which unfortunately makes the plot feel slow for most of the story. Which in turn makes the majority of the book feel like a prequel instead of the first actual book in a series.
That being said: The worldbuilding is both interesting and well researched.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this e-arc.
I actually really enjoyed this but even though it's short it took me so long to read. It wasn't something I would personally binge because of the way the book is setup. I did quite enjot this book though and the romance was very cute allow not perfect obviously.

Super cool cover and i love the title. I liked the premise of the book and i did. like the characters. I don’t think i’ve ever read a book like this and i quite enjoyed it actually!

"All the Dark Souls" by A. M. Dunnewin is an enthralling and atmospheric start to the trilogy. This book weaves a haunting tale of mystery, magic, and complex characters set against a dark and immersive world. Dunnewin's skillful storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats, as they follow the protagonist's journey through perilous challenges and self-discovery. The author expertly balances elements of fantasy and emotional depth, creating a richly layered narrative that stays with the reader long after the final page. With its compelling plot twists and evocative prose, "All the Dark Souls" is a gripping introduction to a trilogy that promises more thrills and surprises to come. Fantasy lovers will find themselves fully immersed in this gripping tale of light and shadow, destiny and choice.

I love the concept of a woman executioner, and the historical details were great, but it felt like nothing happened the entire book.

It seems like it should be a novella or a prologue to another book because it was so short.

Basically I just wish it was longer.
I enjoyed it for vibes alone though.

Wonderful and great read, The author’s writing style was very good and easy to follow. I can clearly understand the descriptions and interactions between characters perfectly. However the change of character pov was very different and difficult to read with. All in all it’s a great book and I look forward to the next one!

This was a deliciously dark, lonely tale with a romance subplot. I’m not even sure if it could be considered fantasy, but it held the same atmosphere as fantasy! It reminded me a lot of Skyrim with certain elements (sadly no dragons). The plot and intrigue really makes up for the lack of dragons and magic though. The characters were very likable, and all held good and bad traits that made them feel very realistic and well-thought out. The mystery and intrigue held up til the end, and caused me to second guess what I thought I knew about everyones secrets. The betrayal stung hard because I found myself not agreeing with one characters decisions along the way, but that made the character all the more realistic. There were parts that had my jaw on the floor, and/or gasping, parts that had me confused as hell, and parts that had me smiling. The glimpse into the royal family at the end gave a perfect premise for book two, and left me with intrigue. Upon reading the acknowledgements, I realized just how well-researched and thought out this book is. The author put a lot of time into researching the material for the concept of this book, which I highly respect! Overall, a very well-rounded read!

I did sometimes find it difficult to submerse myself, solely due to the fact that it is written in 3rd person, and often switches POV mid chapter, sometimes several times in one chapter. That is simply something that I didn’t enjoy as much, but it didn’t take away too much from my overall enjoyment of the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for this eARC of All The Dark Souls.

All The Dark Souls is an intriguing story featuring the main female character as the last in the long line of executioners.
She is also a healer, which is a stark contrast.
The world building in this novel is vastly described and you can tell a lot of research has gone into this world building. The characters and their development pulls this book together but the pacing is somewhat slow. This novel is short compared to some fantasy novels and it did feel like there was a lot of information and not a lot of action.
Overall it was a good read.

There’s nothing I love more than a complex female character!

I would have loved this book to go on far longer and cannot wait for the next one!

Female executioner?! Where do I sign up?!! This book was such a great take on an old practice we never delve deep in. I can't even think of one instance where any book, show or movie showed the behind the scenes of a executioner's life.....a female one at that. This was a great palette cleanser, the writing was good, Dunnewin was able to build out a great story in under 200 pages and left me wanting for more. I can't wait to continue this trilogy. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, solid 3 stars for me!

I really loved the main character of this story! She was a bada** and I loved the world that was built in the story. The pacing was a little off, but I still found it to be engaging and enjoyable!