"This Dark Descent" is a fun read that combines a high stakes political fantasy with our favorite elements of "games" plots like Hunger Games. The story features 4 main characters: Mikira, Arielle, Reed, and Damien. Mikira is the daughter of a disgraced horse breeder/horse racing champion who finds herself desperate to save her family. Arielle is an immigrant girl living alone and practicing illegal magic just to scrape by. Reed is a studious and mysterious stray who is undyingly loyal to Damien, and Damien is a ruthless lord who will stop at nothing to climb to amass political power. It is Damien who brings the group together in hopes of winning the, Illinir a violent horse race that ends in either victory or death, and they're each desperate enough to agree, despite the stakes.

I loved the dynamic in this group. This book is in the YA genre but each of the characters still held incredible depth and dealt with some serious issues. This book includes:

- found family
- betrayal
- horse racing
- Jewish lore
- unwilling allies
- not exactly enemies but def not friends that become lovers
- love of family
- high stake politics
- magic

This story was engaging and well-written, and I have a feeling it will be a huge hit. I recommend this book to lovers of "The Fourth WIng" who I just know will eat this little group of damaged misfits right up!

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Narrators are great. Sometimes multiple narrators are jarring; this book is done beautifully.

The story is really well developed as are the characters. I’m really enjoying the Judaic mythology incorporated into the story. I did not read the full description before listening, and it was a nice surprise to recognize so much of a culture that many know nothing about.

Diving into "This Dark Descent" by Kalyn Josephson was an intriguing journey. The promise of a "Scorpio Races" vibe initially captured my interest, but I felt it stumbled in places. The abundance of happenings made it a bit hard to keep track.

The dual POV was a great touch, yet one side of the story drew me in more, leaving me craving deeper insights. Knowing it's part of a series gives hope that the world and all its fascinating elements will be explored further.

While it left me wanting more, I'm optimistic the upcoming books will unravel the full potential of this world.

I received an audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

This book is if the hunger games and hidalgo had a baby with magic powers and I enjoyed it so much! I haven’t read a book with golem lore in so long I loved this rendition.

Mikira had me laughing out loud and wanting to strangle her in equal measure.

Ari I absolutely adored. Her battle with fear, guilt and darkness was so deeply entrancing.

Having two narrators was a great touch as both of their voices perfectly fit each girl and her personality. They both really added to the experience.

I 100% will be continuing with this series!

This was so good! I was worried about the YA target audience … but This Dark Descent was fun and engaging. An unlikely group of four comes together in an attempt to win a magical horse race. Drama and twists with just a sprinkle of romance.

Excellent narration!

Its been 24 hours since I finished this book and I cant stop thinking about it! Amazing. But please write the next one fast, I need to know what happens!

This character-driven fantasy novel was suspenseful, smart, and richly complex in its world-building. Even the horses had such distinct personalities that I anxiously followed their character arcs! I definitely see the comparison to Six of Crows, & I believe fans of the ragtag heist crew hijinks of Kaz, Inej et al will not be disappointed when they meet Mikira, Arielle & co.

I can’t wait for the second installment in this series! Brb, gotta go read this author’s entire back catalog.

Thank you so much to the publisher & to Netgalley for the ARC of this audiobook, which I tore through in a few days. I loved it!

‘This Dark Descent’ by Kalyn Josephson was a breathtaking, original, suspenseful, richly written story full of adventure, unique magic, rich Jewish folklore, great LGBTQIA+ rep, light romance, multifaceted, super clever characters making chess-level strategic moves left and right, and high stakes that had me stressed and on the edge of my seat the whole time. I had so much fun.

There was a teeny bit of telling and not showing when it came to character and romance development, but I still really enjoyed this. I adored Mikira, Arielle, Reid, and Damien.

The multi-casted audiobook (I LOVE multi-cast audiobooks with my whole heart) featured a stunning performance by narrators Laurel Lefkow and Rebecca Norfolk, bringing FMC’s Mikira and Arielle to stunning life. It was amazing.

100% recommend!

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘺 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 (𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬-𝘺𝘰𝘶!). 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

3.5 Stars
This book started slow for me but picked up fairly quickly. I enjoyed the dual POVs, though I would've loved more on how the magic Ari uses works. I'm very interested to see where the next book takes us because I wanted more from that ending for sure. I also wanted so much more of Reid and Mikira. This was a fun and interesting story, though I found it a bit lacking, but I'll still read the next book to find out what happens next lol. I did like the audiobook version enough to pre-order the physical book though!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson
5/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•••Spoiler free review below•••

This Dark Descent is a fantasy story of magical horse racing and one girl's dream to save her family's ranch with mobster like characters and secrets at every turn. We follow Mikira, blackmailed into racing by a wealthy heir and forcibly teamed up with an illegal enchanter, who is determined to do whatever it takes to win. All of our characters have something to prove and their own motivations for every choice they make. This story is fast paced, exciting, and will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very last race. I highly recommend adding this one to your fall tbr.

Read this book if you like:
- magical enchantments
- high stakes adventure
- Jewish folklore
- animal companions
- morally grey mobsters

This Dark Descent will be released September 26th and if it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
.
.
.
Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

My main issue with this book is that it didn't hold my attention or capture my intrigue enough to get very into the story. I found myself zoning out a lot and unable to keep up with all the things going on. But I was so interested in the world that had been created and the way it was all so unique. The idea of the race and having such high stakes for everything was so interesting.

I liked the way that the action was written, and that tended to be what pulled me in. But I didn't connect with any of the characters enough to actually really get into the in-between things and to get into the heart of the story. I really wish it had peaked my interest more and that I had been able to get into it.

I did love the talk of religion and oppression and the way that was woven into the overall arc of the story. It was refreshing to see it done outside of the real world and to be able to relate to such different characters in that way.

If you are a fantasy lover, thought, you might want to check this out!

I had a good time reading this one. The characters were complex and easy to root for, the magic system was well-developed, and the stakes were high enough that it keeps you hooked until the end.

Our two leads, Mikira and Arielle, are hard-headed women (in a good way) determined to make a better life for them and their respective families. Out of the two, Mikira was my favourite. She was fiery and short-tempered (a hint as to how fiery, she was told "Punching the prince in the face is treason." 😏), sassy and intelligent, yet very much likeable. Arielle was more a subdued, quieter power. They quickly develop a strong and believable friendship.

The plot quickly became evident (a big relief as many of the books I've read lately are essentially plot-less for 25-50% of the book) and it doesn't take long until we are thrust into the Illinir, a dangerous horserace where maiming and murdering is legal if not encouraged. The race sequences are well written and interesting, though the time between each race seem to be mostly filler. It was at these times that I felt myself becoming slightly bored with the story.

The magic system is interesting and well-developed. I look forward to seeing where it goes in the second installment. Unfortunately, other world-building is sorely lacking. We know that there are at least two countries and that they are at war (a war similar to the one described in Divine Rivals, but not as well developed), the citizens from the losing side having their culture and identity essentially banned. We understand that each country has a distinct magic system. Other than those things, we don't know how this world really functions.

Though I'm neither Christian nor Jewish, I could tell that there was a poignant conversation going on about these real world religions in the background. I wouldn't say that Christianity was being criticized, rather a critical view was taken in relation to cultural appropriation and oppression of other religions/cultures perpetuated by Christians. If you are unable to tolerate this and find such discussions offensive, do yourself (and everyone else) a favour and skip this book.

Finally, we get some LGBTQIA+ rep. Mikira is bisexual and Arielle is demisexual (there is a fade to black sex scene). Additionally, the LGBTQIA+ community is accepted in this world so no fighting for one's right to love who you love.

I'm looking forward to the second installment!

This Dark Descent is a dual-POV fantasy novel that centers on the Illinir, a cutthroat series of four cross-country horse races over enchanted terrain that occurs every ten years.

Mikira comes from a long line of renowned enchanted horse breeders. However, her family has racked up a considerable amount of debt to a noble house. To save her family's ranch and keep her father from forced servitude, Mikira makes a deal with the lord of that house. If she can win the Illinir without using an enchanted horse, she'll save her family.

Despite Mikira's experience in underground horse racing, the task is daunting. The Illinir is violent and only riders with enchanted horses can win. Without a sponsor, it's impossible. As Mikira searches for a sponsor, she's blocked at every turn because the lord she made a deal with has forbidden people from sponsoring her. With no one else to turn to, Mikira teams up with Damien Adair, a mysterious young lord from a rival noble house. Damien is rumored to be treacherous, but he's also determined to sponsor a rider to win the Illinir. He's in a succession battle, and if his rider wins, he'll be named head of his house. Damien also knows how they can win without an enchanted horse.

Enter Arielle, an unlicensed enchanter. Ari's magic is different from other enchanters. She's a Kinnish refugee who uses old, outlawed Kinnish magic that's undetectable. As an unlicensed enchanter, Ari is often screwed out of her profits and is desperate for an enchanter's license. If she agrees to help, Damien can provide her with a way to become a legitimate enchanter. The three join together along with Damien's right-hand man, Reid.

I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy the horse racing aspect of this book because that's not something I'm interested in, but I was so engrossed by this book that as soon as I finished it, I started it again. The characters are all so complex and interesting, each with their own motives. Both girls are so different, and I really appreciated how the novel didn't make one type out to be better than the other. I adored the Kinnish aspects of the story, too. I fully intend on reading the next book in this series. Also, the audiobook is narrated by Laurel Lefkow and Rebecca Norfolk, who both did a wonderful job.

This Dark Descent is perfect for readers who like high-stakes fantasy, Jewish folklore, a band of misfits coming together, slow-burn romance, and political intrigue. It has good LGBTQ rep - Mikira is bi and Ari is demisexual/demiromantic - and there's no homophobia in the world. Damien also reminds me of Kaz Brekker for any Six of Crows fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for giving me an early copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advanced audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest unbiased review. I was looking forward to this release and was excited to get approved for it. The narration was great and audiobook version is wonderful.

Personally I think I would have more easily been able to follow the story and characters (there are a lot) had I read the physical book, but that is just me personally. I struggled to keep track of who was who throughout the book and had a hard time connecting with them as well.

The story and concept is interesting and full of political intrigue. I enjoyed that Judaism and golems are incorporated in as well as representations of all types of sexuality (LGBQP). The story sets up for a sequel so it will be interesting to see what the plot is for the second novel. Overall I did enjoy the book and would recommend it for those who like fantasy - this included political intrigue, horse racing, family feuding.

DNF at 25%

While I did very much appreciate the world building and setting that was Jewish-inspired, the portion that I read felt very much closer to a Historical novel with a heavy hand on equestrianism. And as a personal preference, I tend to stray away from Historical and novels that have a regency feel because they don't peak my interest.

Objectively, for the first 25% that I read, I feel like the exposition into who these characters were before diving in to scenes that started moving the plot were lacking. I didn't get to feel invested into the main character's story and the reasons for why she acted the way she did.

With the magic, I wished for more to reel me in but I didnt get much more than a general feeling that magic existed in this world and that was it.

So, unfortunately it was for me but it might be for others. I might try to read this book in the future but for the moment, it just didn't work for me.

In order to save her father, Mikira must win a horse race, which should be no sweat since her family has been breeding enchanted horses. Only there's one problem. She's not allowed to use her own horse. All this business puts her in league with Arielle, an enchanter and Damian Adair, a young lord.

I wanted to like this book really, and I feel like I'm in the minority when I say this was a struggle for me. I felt a distance from the characters, like I was just passing by there story and not in the midst of it. I wanted to DNF this but I plowed through hoping it would win me over in the end. Unfortunately it did not, and I can say that this was not for me. Who is it for then? I guess someone who loves horses, maybe.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Laurel Lefkow and Rebecca Norfolk were fine narrators. Neither loved nor hated them.

A high stakes political fantasy and romance with Lords competing for family status, dangerous horse races, Jewish folklore, and mobsters. If you liked Six of Crows or Peaky Blinders, or maybe you're a fantasy loving horse girl, or better yet maybe you like unique world building. This is all of those things!

I found this to be an entirely unique and interestingly woven story, and kept wanting to see what was going to happen next. I'm looking forward to what plays out next in the continuation!

I received complimentary advanced digital and audio copies of this book from the publisher. All the opinions in this review are my own.

The idea for this story was really interesting to me, it had so many ideas that I thought were really different and original, like the Jewish mythology. Also, the magic was really interesting, especially the unique magic Arielle uses. I just wish it was explained more, they talk a little bit about her family and their history with the magic, but it doesn’t seem to be explored enough.

My biggest issue was the first half of the story was a little dull and boring. I was about ¼ of the way through, wondering when it was going to start picking up. Dual POV stories are hit or miss for me, and this one just didn’t do it for me. Sometimes when the perspective changes back and forth neither side is told well enough and it feels like something is missing, and I think this story suffers from that a little bit. More ideas needed to be explored in more detail.

This book overall just comes off as so-so for me. That’s not to say people out there won’t love this book, I’m sure that this is a perfect story for some. I think what troubled me is the comparison to the Six of Crows duology. I think that book series is so iconic and you’ve set the bar really high using it as a comparison, and this book doesn’t hit anywhere close to that for me. The political intrigue and romance left much to be desired and the things the book did well need more development.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #macmillanaudio for a e-copy of #ThisDarkDescent by Kalyn Josephson and narrated by Laurel Lefkow & Rebecca Norfolk to listen to and review.

What happens when you get tired of turning the other cheek?

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audioARC in exchange for an honest review:

This Dark Descent was so close to being everything I wanted it to be. It truly is a dark, villain origin story. A stunning concept filled with political intrigue, high stakes competition, enchantments and golems.

The concept is compelling and I would pick up book 2 but I’m still not sure if this story is plot driven or character driven. While I understand the comparison to Six of Crows it was missing once key ingredient that SoC delivered in spades. Connection to the characters.

Unfortunately, for me, I did not connect with the cast of characters like I wanted to. Between Ari’s self-loathing and flagellation and Mikira’s combinations of guilt and self-righteousness while make questionable choices, I found them a little exhausting. While I know their backgrounds, I don’t think they were explored in a way that allowed me to become attached.

I also don’t care about Damien or Reid at all. Both are key characters but even Damien who is at the centre of this story feels like a prop, a foil to Ari & Mikira.

A solid 3 stars for a compelling concept and interesting execution of Jewish folklore, but I needed more from this story.

It's dystopia, horse-racing, powerful women, romance, magic, and morally gray . . . everything.

How much more could we want? The writing is engaging and well-paced. The characters are interesting and imperfect. This Dark Descent was a heck of a read and I am looking forward to the sequel.