I received this book as an ARC.

I had not read the first book in the series prior to receiving this ARC. I read through both books and found that this book did not offer much more to intrigue me than the first one. While I think the idea of the book was interesting, I still was not that engaged with any of the characters and could not contain my interest in the individuals or story as a whole.

If I could rate this 3.5, I would. I was honored to be selected as an e-ARC reader for Our Deadly Designs. My favorite things about This Dark Descent (Widget, Reid, Ari, Mikira, and Damien) are all present for this sequel. I think the thing that I struggled with the most in this book is what I loved the most in This Dark Descent - the relationships. I understand the struggles they all needed to go through, but it was the interactions between Reid, Mikira, Ari and Damien that I missed the most. I confess I wasn’t a huge Talyana fan in the first book, so having to deal with her throughout the book wasn’t my favorite (this is not a commentary on the great romance representation - swap out Talyana for another male or female and I would’ve been all for it). I really enjoyed the aspects of forgiveness and what it means to be fearless. Ari was my favorite character (aside from Widget) in both books, so having this be an Ari-heavy book was a dream. She is such a complex and wonderful character. If you enjoyed Book 1, I recommend Book 2!

A really brilliant duology with a fascinating magic system, this was a joy to read. Every twist and betrayal was exactly what the plot needed, and I really enjoyed the book!

Thank you to the publisher for giving me a copy to review.

I read the first book this dark descent last year and absolutely fell in love with the characters, the story, and the world Kalyn created. As much as I loved book one, this sequel was 10x better. The author explored some themes deeper than in the first book, and other new ones, she made me love characters I never thought I could have any positive feelings for. I could have easily read this book in one sitting given the time, the pace held my interest and new twists kept me turning the page, some I caught hints of, others were fun surprises.

The raw emotion tied in with witty banter and comedic timing balanced each other perfectly. A stunning representation of Ace love, a reminder that not all love looks the same and that’s okay, it doesn’t diminish the validity.

The theme of forgiving self, a very very hard lesson for many to learn, and so important was weaved eloquently throughout the various character arcs as well as the reminders that asking for help doesn’t make you weak, trusting others isn’t always foolish, and bravery comes in the face of fear not the avoidance.

4.5/5 stars rounded up
This was a fitting conclusion to this unique duology. The magic system is an interesting one with different folklore included. The various points of view were well done as each character takes you along for the ride from their side of the story. You feel sorry for them, frustrated at their decisions and then cheer them on. I do wish we had been able to see more of Mikira and Reid as their chemistry was phenomenal in the first book.

I was given a copy by the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!) and all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to preface saying that I read this book at a really weird point in my life just mentally so that skews this review quite a bit.
I was SO excited to read this sequel after the first book. I love this world and that it's super unique and the concepts are fairly fresh. I love the characters and their complex nature.
However, this book ended up falling kind of flat for me. A lot of what I really liked of the first book was not in the second. This is more because it is the squeal, however part of the reason I loved the first book was the relationship dynamics between Ari, Mikira, Reid, and Damien. Their relationships weren't as present in the same way, so I didn't enjoy it as much.
I also thought the plot wasn't as interesting. It went a very different direction than what I was expecting, which is a positive and a negative.
With all that being said, I would like to reread this at some point to see if I like it more then but over all a fairly solid read. I am so excited for it to be published.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great sequel. I was so gripped by this book!

Spellbinding fantasy meets Jewish Mythology!

Mikira, Damien, Reid, and Ari have growing problems in Enderlain. The community is searching for the lost heir while Damien seems to be pushing his friends away. Mikira is interested in joining the rebels, Reid keeps scientifically investigating enchanted cells, and Ari struggles to control her building power that’s becoming even more dangerous. The friends seem to be going their separate ways while they try to find their own paths. A darker force is growing in Enderlain. Will the group pull together and fight or be defeated separately?

Likes/dislikes: The dynamics of the relationships are so different from the first book of this series. Even with their struggles, the characters learn to appreciate each other more. The story takes a different turn from what the series originally had but character development is still good.
Mature content: PG for kissing.
Language: PG-13 for 17 swears, no f-words.
Violence: R for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: The mixed ethnicity includes olive, golden brown, white, and bronze skin tones.

As a huge fan of This Dark Descent, I was so eager to read the sequel - and it didn't disappoint. I was riveted by the twisty intrigue that Josephson put my favorite characters through, and I loved the character development that we get to see after the excitement of the Illinir. Each of the characters is thrown into a new role and given new hurdles to overcome, all while figuring out how to do small things like reform a corrupt society and save all of humanity. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and couldn't put the book down. I honestly wish the series would go on forever because I never want to let these characters go.

Also, shoutout to Widget, one of my top 5 literary cats.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it. The cover is gorgeous and perfect for the book. I love this book and it's for sure gonna get a couple re-reads