Nobody knows who started the Louisiana Veda Foundation. They don't know what the foundation is actually doing. They only know that it's named after the enigmatic genius behind the Darkly game company and aims to preserve her legacy. When the foundation announces a worldwide contest to find 7 student interns, eager teens apply in droves. Dia Gannon, the reclusive daughter of a hairbrained antique shop owner in Missouri, doesn't know exactly what about her essay got her one of the coveted spots, but she's not turning down her opportunity to explore the life of her idol.

Dia finds herself whisked away to a mysterious location in England alongside six very different strangers, all of whom get swept up into a dangerous game alongside her. Together, they'll have to unravel Louisiana Veda's final mystery or die trying.

Part Willy Wonka and part cult horror, Darkly is a fantastical story that consistently dives into unexpected territory. Marisha Pessl meticulously plays her cards close to the chest and I can honestly say that for most of the novel, I didn't guess what was going on before the reveals came along. That being said, it does make for a pretty hard novel to describe in a review! There are so many eccentric elements in the story. They are logistically wild and I often found myself thinking that there is no way this story could actually happen in real life, but they were also pretty fascinating. It made for great reading!

Dia is a smart, reliable MC, even though the novel tries a little too hard to make her look like an outsider when she seems, by most accounts, like any other awkward teen. The other characters, particularly the other interns, were great additions that added fresh perspectives and suspicions. I particularly liked Poe, a wealthy French student who immediately takes to Dia, and Everleigh, a girl whose motives are muddy from the start. I also loved The Captain, whose dedication to the long-dead Louisiana was equal parts charming and concerning.

Bit by bit, challenge by challenge, the novel pulls itself together to form something that definitely felt unique. Though it certainly had some jaw-dropping qualities, I'm a little torn about the book's final chapter or two. The final scene is a clever callback, but I'm not unsure it satisfies given everything we know by the end of the novel.

In short, the novel is really kooky and fun and infuriating at times, but I'm not going to say much more than that. It's strengths lie in it's mysteries, so you're welcome for all my vagueposting. Now read it!

4.5 stars! It's not a wonder to me that it Marisha Pessl only puts out a book every few years. Her novels are chock full of mystery and suspense and puzzles and the language is so rich! There's also always some photos/letters/clues about what's really going on within the story.
Arcadia Gannon (Dia) is wasting away in her family's antique shop. She gets an opportunity to intern for Darkly, a board game company that puts Milton Bradley to shame. The CEO/creator of Darkly, Louisiana Veda, has been dead some thirty years and a contest is put forth to find the Darkly's stolen game, Valkyrie.
Dia and 6 other kids from around the world ae plunged headfirst into the mystery of Darkly, Louisiana and charged with finding the stolen Darkly game. They also must find a boy who started playing Valkyrie and seemingly disappeared. This novel is not to be missed and it will intrigue you long after it's over. If only there really were board games like the ones described in Darkly.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this e-arc.*

Here's "Darkly" by Marisha Pessl.

["Arcadia “Dia” Gannon has been obsessed with Louisiana Veda, the game designer whose obsessive creations and company, Darkly, have gained a cultlike following. Dia is shocked when she’s chosen for a highly-coveted internship, along with six other teenagers from around the world. Why her? Dia has never won anything in her life.

Darkly, once a game-making empire renowned for its ingenious and utterly terrifying toys and games, now lies dormant after Veda’s mysterious death. The remaining games are priced like rare works of art, with some fetching millions of dollars at auction.

As Dia and her fellow interns delve into the heart of Darkly, they discover hidden symbols, buried clues, and a web of intrigue. Who are these other teens, and what secrets do they keep? Why were any of them really chosen? The answers lie within the twisted labyrinth of Darkly—a chilling and addictive read by Marisha Pessl.

This summer will be the most twisted Darkly game of all."]





TO BE UPDATED SHORTLY





#netgalley #arcs #arcteammember
#darkly #marishapessl #thriller #yathriller #murdermystery #yamurdermystery #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

I need more! I really hope there is a sequel to this book because the ending had my jaw on the floor & I was very confused. I already want to re-read it & see if I pick up on anything else on the second read through.

This book had me from the first few chapters! I was immediately invested. I loved the games, the dark past, the mysteries, suspense & the secret society that was the Darkly games. Right off the bat it remind me of The Inheritance Games, just darker😂 I was trying to figure out what was going to happen & I definitely didn’t guess the twist (or twists really because there were a few to me).

The little glimpses into the past in the form of letters, pictures, blueprints & newspaper articles were so fun to see throughout the book! As soon as I finished reading I had to go back & look at all of them again to see if I could piece some of it together.

Would definitely recommend this book!! & I really hope we get another book because I have so many unanswered questions.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Childrens & Marisha Pessl for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Darkly is a really cool story!! It has all the darkness, magic, mystery, and misunderstood teen outcasts I love in this kind of book.

The story is based around a woman named Louisiana Veda who once made super intricate and artistic horror themed board games (Darklies) who died, but decades later her company hosts an essay contest for an internship. There's all kinds of mystery and intrigue surrounding the woman, the games, and especially a game she made that went missing.

Arcadia (Dia), along with six other teenagers all with unusual names, wins the internship but quickly finds out it's not what she expects. The interns end up playing a scary version of one of the games, and starts uncovering all kinds of crazy secrets about Louisiana's life and her games.

I had a great time reading this book, I flew through it! Trying to figure out what was going on was so much fun and I didnt see the end coming at all. There was a good level of darkness mixed with light heartedness and the main characters were all very well written!

Thanks so much to Penguin Teen Canada for the advanced copy!

I've always meant to read Marisha Pessl's work but never got around to her previous books, perhaps because of the length and how complicated her writing is, full of references and interactive elements. In Darkly, Pessl turns to young adult, making her style more accessible while keeping the mysteries and clues. Darkly follows Dia Gannon, who has won a coveted internship with the game company founded by Dia's idol, Louisiana Veda. Dia joins a small group of teenagers and is plunged into a world of games, secrets, and puzzles to unravel. This book is a wild ride, sometimes getting a little off the rails, but very intriguing and captivating, especially thanks to the atmosphere and carefully created puzzles and layers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for this advanced copy. The twists and turns of Dia Gannon’s adventurous internship were something that could’ve only come from the mind of Marisha Pessl in the best way. I felt the same excitement I had reading Night Film for the first time. Pessl has built an entire world in Darkly with symbolism, mixed media and elaborately mysterious characters. I loved this book. My only regret is that I can’t read it for the first time again. It was a true adventure.

The synopsis had me hooked right away, a “thriller” about board games?! Heck yes, sign me up! However, this was not what I thought it was going to be and left me wanting so much more! This did not feel like it was about an actual board game, this felt very fantasy-esque, magically, murder-mystery dinner party & D&D vibes but not in a good way. I really wanted to like this story but after the first like 5 chapters it lost my attention, didn’t give me a reason to care & was a tad bit confusing. The games needed to be explained better, the characters needed to give me a reason to care for them & feel like 17 year olds & the story needed a bit more info to completely understand the story.

Overall, I wanted to give this a 3, but the synopsis almost felt like a lie so I lowered it to a 2. This had such great potential but the execution was lacking.

This was a super interesting read. I did not wanna stop.
Really makes me wish I could see these games in real life. They sound awesome.

This book was hard to put down and when I did, I would end up picking it back up a few minutes later needing to know what will happen next. The story just reels you in and the twists and turns keep you reading. This was a great read. But I do have a couple complaints.

The beginning, first 2-3 chapters, is mostly describing things, was kinda hard to get through personally. This book has a lot of descriptions of everything. Most unnecessary in my opinion, it felt it was to fill up space. But if you don’t mind that, this is a great book to read, the plot just pulls you in.

And Dia gives “main character” but not in a bad way. She just always has a solution, always gets something before anyone else, and always finds something that puts the clues together. It makes me think what’s the point of the other characters in this book that are here on this island if they aren’t providing much help. They’re just there to be there, if not to be suspicious of.

But those are just small things that I was able to get by and was able to enjoy the rest of the book. This has got mystery, a couple of plot twists, and always has you wondering what’s going on. Couldn’t have solved it myself, lol.

Thank you Random House Children’s for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I could not put this book down. Darkly is a YA mystery thriller that brings just the right mix of creepy intrigue without too much horror, which is exactly what I needed to still be able to go to sleep at night. The story follows a group of 17-year-old interns who win a chance to intern with the legendary board game creator Louisiana Veda, famous for her eerie but captivating games. Arcadia “Dia” Gannon, the main character, is quiet, book-smart, and kind of “grandmotherly.”

The interns are flown to a foggy, abandoned island outside London, where Veda’s old game factory is. The suspense builds as they dig into the mystery surrounding a stolen game that resurfaced and apparently led to a teenage boy's disappearance. The descriptions were well done and the world of Louisiana Veda was very imaginative. I never felt like anything in the book was bland. I really hope there's a sequel, because I want more! I would recommend this for those who love a good creepy mystery.

With Darkly, Pessl has opened a gate into a world most curious and magical. Part game, part investigation, part life-affirming inspiration.

Like the Agatha Christie books of my youth, Darkly ushered me in, dusted me off, gave me a cuppa, and thrust me into participation, playing and searching right along with those on the page.

This book brings the screams, the yelps, the gasps, the fevered heartbeats, and the joy and excitement.

Darkly wants you. Answer the call.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Darkly was SUCH a good book. It had a great premise, dynamic characters, and I loved the twists and turns. It was entertaining the whole way through, and instantly hooked me!

A really enjoyable read! Although classified as young adult, it is definitely a treat for adult readers as well, with literary prose and a fast-moving plot. And the author's worldbuilding (if that's the right word) is incredibly creative.

The tale is primarily told from the perspective of 17-year-old Arcadia (Dia) Gannon, who lives in a small Missouri town where she and her mom operate a struggling antiques store. Dia's life changes dramatically when she's selected, along with six other teenagers, for an internship with the mysterious Veda Foundation. Louisa Veda created incredible board games that were wildly strange and popular, then died under mysterious circumstances. Now the teens face danger and intrigue in an attempt to find an elusive missing game. This definitely kept me turning the pages as quickly as possible to find out what happened next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Truly a perfect read for spooky season (or any time, let's be honest). Pessl's worldbuilding is exquisite and immersive from the very start -- I can't imagine any reader who won't come away from reading this wishing Darkly games were actually available to purchase! The twists felt natural and the sense of urgency throughout made this mystery truly impossibly to put down. Board games will never be quite the same again!

DARKLY is a twisted, heart-pounding, page-turning story about what a person would do to uncover the truth. It’s a combination of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Clue, and The Goonies—all the best pieces of those puzzles.

I can’t say enough good things about this story! The writing was eerie and imaginative and suspenseful. It made me feel like I was there, on the island, on this dangerous adventure uncovering the true secrets of the DARKLY empire with Dia and these seemingly genius teenagers.

But nothing is ever truly as it seems—is it?

If you love suspense, mystery, with familial secrets and an unsettling gothic atmosphere—you will love this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Pessel does a good job setting the stage for an intriguing story. 6 teens sent to a remote island with no idea why they were chosen…definitely creepy and intriguing. As the story continued to unfold the reader is effortlessly pulled along for the ride, trying to keep up with the fast paced action.

This is all I’ve ever wanted from a book with my only compliant being that it had to end!

Outsmarting a devilish board game has never been hard for Dia as it gave her a chance to escape a life just as ordinary as the antiques she sells so when an internship from the estate of the developer pops up she finds herself spiraling through a labyrinth of deceit and Deadly with a group who are just as eager to solve the mystery but maybe not for the same reasons.

Where to begin?

The storytelling in this is so beautifully crafted as we slowly unravel the secrets behind the skeletons locked away in the closet of infamous genius creator Louisiana we also just play the lost game Valkyrie. Both of these mysteries circle each other and gain speed the closer we get to the end shattering once they meet in a way that was so satisfying and scratches that itch I look for when it comes to books like this.

There’s so much I want to share about the plot and how beautifully paced it is to set up suspense and red herrings but any details could give it away for the next reader and we can’t have that now can we?

The characters were amazing in this sort of Breakfast Club like way where they all come from different walks of life and part of figuring out the game is understanding those you are playing with, or against in some cases. Dia was perfect as this strong yet uncertain narrator who holds her own even when she feels like she’s falling behind but she’s crafty in a way that as a player she is rewarded for simply paying attention and I couldn’t get enough. I loved the deceit and skillfully crafted dance all of the interns partake in as they try to win the game and outsmart the thief who took it as well as each other as there can only be one winner.

I’ve read a few other books where they have this sort of setup but truly I cannot express just how well done and creepy this was in a way that I would love to play but understand I would absolutely lose.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

"A must-read thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page from the New York Times bestselling author of Night Film.

There's nothing special about Dia Gannon. So why was she chosen for an opportunity everyone would kill for?

Arcadia "Dia" Gannon has been obsessed with Louisiana Veda, the game designer whose obsessive creations and company, Darkly, have gained a cultlike following. Dia is shocked when she's chosen for a highly-coveted internship, along with six other teenagers from around the world. Why her? Dia has never won anything in her life.

Darkly, once a game-making empire renowned for its ingenious and utterly terrifying toys and games, now lies dormant after Veda's mysterious death. The remaining games are priced like rare works of art, with some fetching millions of dollars at auction.

As Dia and her fellow interns delve into the heart of Darkly, they discover hidden symbols, buried clues, and a web of intrigue. Who are these other teens, and what secrets do they keep? Why were any of them really chosen? The answers lie within the twisted labyrinth of Darkly - a chilling and addictive read by Marisha Pessl.

This summer will be the most twisted Darkly game of all."

I mean modern technology with a Gothic edge? Oh yes please!

Now this is more like it! This was great fun, exciting, intriguing, original - all the good stuff. Dia Gannon is not your average teenager; she is brilliant, helps run her mother's antique business and is more comfortable with the people and things of much older eras (like her octogenarian fellow employees). She is stunned when she gains one of the 7 coveted internships with the Louisiana Veda estate, maker of the most intricate, fascinating and unbelievably popular games in the world. But this turns out not to be a job with a corporation but complete immersion in Louisiana's world and her final game. It is non-stop action and intrigue, full of puzzles and mystery and bizarre situations, complex plotting and lots of drama. The characters in Dia's world are well-drawn, but the other interns are all brilliant and self-centered and maintain a certain distance from the reader as well as Dia. All in the interest of sowing distrust and suspense, no doubt. And behind it all is the mystery of Louisiana Veda - creative saint or monster? Highly recommended.