Thank you NetGalley for letting me read another fantastic book by this author in exchange for an honest review. Though I really enjoyed Night film I enjoyed this one even more. Similar to Night Film, I had no idea what was going on for a large part of the book and I certainly wasn't smart enough to put all the pieces together. Despite this, I couldn't stop reading. I loved seeing how the story came together and it was so imaginative and fun! I really want to go back and reread it knowing the ending to see what was hidden along the way that I wasn't smart enough to catch. This author is definitely becoming an auto read for me.

Dramatically interesting and impressive tale of horror and mystery with a super interesting tale and unique score. very interezting.

Super good! Would read it again., thanks to the publisher & author for the ARC copy! Loved the main characters! The suspense and not knowing what was going to happen next.

I’m still giving this 5 stars even though there are a few flaws. I found the story very interesting and novel. Really kept my interest.

I agree with some reviewers that some of the characters lacked depth. Not sure why there were seven participants, fewer would have worked and those could have been more developed.

I disliked how both love interests were WASPy pretty boys. I mean really? It’s 2024, let’s get creative. Those characters are very 1980s.

And as a veterinarian, I have to point out the irresponsible pet ownership on display. 😂

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

In her latest YA novel, Darkly, Marisha Pessl takes us on a gripping journey through a world of games, secrets, and unexpected betrayals. From the very first page, I was drawn into a mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.

I thought Darkly was brilliant, especially for fans of Pessl's earlier work, Night Film. Just like its predecessor, this novel is filled with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Pessl has a knack for blending psychological depth with thrilling plots, which makes this book hard to put down.

As a high school English teacher, I appreciated how accessible the writing is for younger readers while still delivering all the excitement that older readers crave. The characters are richly developed, and I found myself constantly trying to figure out who might betray me—the reader who loves and trusts them—by the time I reached the end.

Pessl’s vivid descriptions create an immersive atmosphere that pulls you deeper into the story. With her sharp wit and engaging dialogue, Darkly is a must-buy for anyone looking to escape into a captivating world of intrigue and suspense. Don’t miss out on this fantastic read!

PHENOMENAL READ!

I love everything about this book from the very start. Author, Marissa Pessi, is an eloquent writer who drew me deep into the characters, their backstories, and the mysterious Darkly Universe!
Character development, story complexity, continual non-stop mayhem! I also loved that every few chapters there was a picture or letter adding to the complexity of the story as it progressed. I found myself excited when a chapter ended and the next started with a little glimpse into the bigger picture.
I did not want this story to end! In fact I was pleasantly delighted when I thought the book was concluded after a chapter, but the chapters kept going and I am so glad they did as WOW! What an ending!

The premise sounded like something I’d be into, and while I was invested in the story, I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I wanted to. I still gave 4 stars because I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would! It’s a page turner for sure, and I would recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I think I'm settling somewhere around a 3-3.5/5. This book was fun and easy to read, but it really had a lot more potential.

Starting with the pros: the setting, the idea of Darklys, and Valkyrie itself. I thought the locations the gang visited were interesting and well-defined, lending to the overall vibe of the story. I enjoy board games and video games, so the thought of playing a Darkly seems intriguing - but an immersive one like Valkyrie would be quite cool.

And the cons: there was far too many instances of cut to black, then being told what happened in retrospect. It was overused and wasted almost all the tension that the story tried building. It got to the point that I was never worried about the MC if she found herself in a precarious position at the end of a chapter, since it inevitably would cut to half an hour later where everyone's totally safe and discussing the crazy thing that just happened. The characters also all blended amongst each other by the end: we were given caricature of each person, which then was either obnoxiously over-blown or totally forgotten about within a few pages. Dia's introduction was the worst of them all, we hear about how much she likes to dress like an old person, act like she's from another generation, and is called "Nana" at school, but once she's on the plane it never really comes up again (save for the occasional reference to an old movie or how outdated guns work). Finally, the classic problem of centering the plot around the concept of a super hard to beat game... at times the tricks to Valkyrie seemed glaringly obvious, but at others it would have been quite literally impossible to solve without knowing Louisiana's personal history. That doesn't seem too in line with the Darkly spirit, imo.

This is Pessls’ first YA book but you can see the intricacies of her will known writing within these pages. Lovely and bright and intriguing is how I’d describe this!

This is a very interesting book! I enjoyed the story telling and how the book flowed! I loved the characters a lot!

Arcadia “Dia” Gannon is our protagonist and much like a Willie Wonka story, she has won the lucky lottery ticket. She and a handful of other mismatched geniuses of sorts have been shuttled to an island for an "internship."

The internship is with the most famous game design company in the world. There is a huge following due to the lore surrounding now passed creator Louisiana Veda. When Dia arrives, she learns that the internship is closer to a game - a real life game where staying alive is main theme.

Pessl can build a world out of anything and I am here for it! I loved the world, was confused about the game, but enjoyed every minute of it. If you love a game-themed story, a when-there-were-none style setting or just want to follow a group of highly unusual protagonists, this book is for you!
#randomhouse #delacortepress #darkly #marishapessl

Thank you to Marisha Pessl, NetGalley, and Random House Childrens for the opportunity to review the ARC that I received for this captivating tale. I very much liked the characters and the twists and turns of this story. I thought that Valkyrie was an intriguing thing all its own, and I could have read more. You never really saw what was going to happen, and those that I thought were behind everything, it changed every chapter. I appreciated this immensely and will be getting a copy when it comes out. Everyone should read this, you will not be disappointed!

With how much I loved Neverworld Wake, I was expecting this book to be amazing. Neverworld Wake is my favorite young adult book of all time. And when I heard that this was about board games, another favorite thing of mine, I was very excited. However, this book disappointed me in many ways. Let's use the CAWPILE rating system to talk about the book.
Characters - didn't seem very much like young adults in the way that they talked. I liked the main character but really didn't care about anyone else, and the romance seemed very forced.
Atmosphere - One of the only parts I liked. I enjoyed the setting very much.
Writing - The writing quality was fine. But like I mentioned with the characters, the teen dialogue did not feel realistic.
Plot - this was the weakest part for me. The actual board game they play isn't really a board game. I never really understood the rules of the game. To be about board games, you would expect more board games in the book. The ending was very predictable. Not to mention that the main character's decision on the last page made no sense.
Intrigue - I was not really intrigued enough to keep going. I only finished the book because I had received the ARC, and I needed to write this review. This is a book I would have normally DNFed.
Logic - The logic in this book really didn't make much sense. I never quite understood why the characters were doing the things they were doing. Everything felt very forced, and it was like I could feel the author plotting the book.
Entertainment - overall, I did not find this book to be very entertaining and gave it two stars.

I'm a big Pessl fan and this book did not disappoint (even though it was YA, which isn't quite my speed). Really kept me reading to figure out the mystery.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc!

<b>Releasing Nov 26, 2024</B>

This book was so good! Such a great and unique storyline. The perfect spooky setting. It had great twists and turns. I am a fan of mysteries/thrillers so this was right up my alley. The ending left me like :O

Definitely worth a read!

Oh boy! This book gives me serious Burtonesque vibes, with its alluring puzzles and mind-blowing, visionary world-building. The plot feels like games within games—complex, chaotic, and utterly captivating. As a reader, you want to dive into the challenges yourself and solve the intricate puzzles, but the pace is so fast, you have to be quick, agile, and a marathon reader just to keep up with Arcadia (or "Paradise" as Poe calls her) and the other six teenagers. And honestly, you might fail. Instead of pushing your brain to its limits, I suggest just sitting back and devouring the book, letting yourself get swept away by the experience without burning out!

I’m giving it four stars, though I’m conflicted. Marisha Pessl’s incredible world-building and game design deserve a perfect 10, but the character development held me back. The six other characters (and if you count Choke Newington, seven—an interesting name for someone caught in a bizarre love triangle, though there’s little romance here) felt defined more by their abilities than their emotional depth. I could barely differentiate between them. Poe, for example, left me with nothing but negative feelings, thanks to his arrogance and superiority. I didn’t connect with the characters or feel the camaraderie I expected from this ‘partners in crime’ type of story. That cost the book a star.

In Darkly, Arcadia "Dia" Gannon, a devoted fan of game designer Louisiana Veda, is shocked when she’s chosen for an exclusive internship at Darkly, the game-making empire once led by Veda before her mysterious death. Alongside six other teens from around the globe, Dia enters the dormant company where Veda’s intricate, terrifying creations have become rare, coveted artifacts. As the group uncovers hidden symbols, buried secrets, and intriguing puzzles within the labyrinth of Darkly, they begin to wonder why they were chosen—and what the true nature of this summer internship really is. In a chilling, immersive read by Marisha Pessl, these teens find themselves drawn into a dangerous game that may be the most twisted one yet.

The entire execution was gripping, and I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel to explore more unanswered questions in this universe.

The fast-paced trajectory, the missing boy mystery, the unrevealed past of Louisiana Veda and her traumatic childhood, the secrets behind Derringer Street, and the files with cryptic names—everything built up tension and kept me on the edge of my seat. The shocking conclusion and nonstop action made me want to dive back into this Darkly universe immediately. If I were younger, I’d definitely want to play Valkyrie!

Overall, I fell in love with this book and its dark, mesmerizing, multi-layered world. I need another book from Pessl ASAP!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Delacorte Press for sharing this remarkable YA mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

Darkly by Marisha Pessl follows Dia, a young woman who is obsessed with games referred to as Darkleys. The creator of these games died suddenly years ago but her legacy lives on through the cult following her games have gotten. Now, there is an application to come and be an intern with the game creator’s foundation. The only question, “What Would You Kill For?” What comes next is a dark and atmospheric mystery that will have you staying up late to solve.

I really loved this book. I was so intrigued by the premise and the first 25 percent of the book. I actually had dreams about the games in this book because they were so well described, yet still mysterious. This is a Young Adult book but I feel like any reader looking for an interesting mystery would like this book. The characters are all unique to follow with their own motivations.

I wish this book would have been a little longer. I wanted to live in this world for about 100 more pages. The last bit of this ended up feeling a little rushed which is a common thing in Young Adult books. I just wanted a little more.

I still really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend. The atmosphere is so good. I haven’t been this wrapped up in a book in a long time and I’ll continue to think about this book for awhile.

Let me first say that Marisha Pessl is one of MY FAVORITE AUTHORS EVER. No one will ever surpass her for me. I reread her books yearly. I loved her "Special Topics in Calamity Physics" so much that I almost carry it with me everywhere, like a comfort blanket as a child does. I always recommend everyone read all of her books. But this newest one is absolutely superb. When "Darkly" is published, RUN to the bookstore and stock up, because it truly is the best. What a fantastic, intelligent, exquisitely written thriller!
I truly say that I will read anything she writes, even the side of a cereal box. I am off to read it again, but it was so, so, so good.

When Dia is chosen for a prestigious internship, she is thrilled to learn more about the infamous Louisiana Veda and her company. She loves the games of Darkly and can't wait to get her foot in the door of what could be her ticket to a better life. But when she, along with the six other teens who have also won internships, arrives in London, things take a different path. The Veda Seven are quickly shuttled to a remote island and tasked with solving a decades-long mystery that is the key to finding a missing boy.

With twists, turns, puzzles, and plenty of surprises, Dia has to decide who to trust and find her way through the most treacherous Darkly game of all. Can she follow the hidden clues to solve not only the mystery of the game but keep herself and the others alive? The further things go, the more dangerous it becomes, and once she's gone so far, it may just be too late to turn back.

This is a perfect read for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes' Inheritance Games and Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious series. Readers will love the mystery and layers upon layers of intrigue as the characters work their way through the clues. Some of the characters are a little harder to follow than others, but for the most part each character has their own motives and abilities. The setting is also well written and adds to the danger and drama the characters face as the story progresses.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm always intrigued by the creativity and imagination of a Marisha Pessl book and Darkly is no different. Darkly has some of the same noir and paranoia vibes as Night Film did, but since it's a young adult book it was dialed back with a much softer ending.

I loved the whole story being built around the legacy of a woman who built board games and the way they were valued as highly as art. With lots of mysteries happening at once, the pages flipped quickly to figure out what was going on. I enjoyed how the reader was pulled into the game itself that the characters were playing. My only grump is that the ending went on a little too long and a random twist was tossed in at the last moment that seemed slightly predictable and almost too neat.

Overall, this was a fantastic read and one I would highly recommend!