I never thought for a moment that I was going to enjoy this book as much as I did. Based on the description, cover, etc, I just thought it was something YA and not necessarily awesome YA but that was okay because I wasn't looking for a trading commitment when I stumbled over it. And then it surprised me.

Going in it feels like it's going to be a giant trope but the story really works and the characters are interesting. I'm not going to give it five stars because I can see two easy ways to vastly improve it (and I'm a little surprised neither was used.) but I would happily give it a solid 4 and will definitely watch for this author in the future.

This review is based on an advance copy that I received for free.

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the arc!

What a unique mystery/thriller!! An adventure from start to finish. One of my favorite genres is YA mystery so I had high hopes for this and it did not disappoint! The games were one of my favorite aspects of this book!! It made the book tense, exciting, and transports you directly into the world. This book was fast-paced and every twist kept me trapped within the pages! I do wish that the ending had a little but more but this was still a really great book!! This was my first book by Marisha Pessl and I will absolutely be reading more!

This is a top notch mystery that keeps the reader guessing literally to the last page. I don't say that lightly. Many puzzle mystery books promise that, but this one fooled or misled me repeatedly. The book's descriptor gives enough information about the plot to make it unnecessary to recap here. However,Darkly keeps the reader's interest in several ways: the newspaper articles, personal letters, and photos scattered throughout the book for the reader to study for clues (I have to admit I only scanned these, I was reading on my phone and the ability to look at these with great detail was unavailable to me). and the fact that there are so many intricately layered puzzles to solve. Obviously the the central one of the contest- find the missing boy (which seems less important as the novel goes on), but also why these contestants were selected out of the hundreds of thousands who applied? who can be trusted- the other contestants, the lawyers, the ship captain? who set up the game in the first place? who wants it taken down? and the biggest puzzle of all - just who was Louisiana Veda, the mysterious gamemaker? I raced through this book and heartily recommend it. I am downgrading it only because there were many characters' whose development was a bit thin; but the breakneck pace will keep most reader's thoroughly entertained. I was given an electronic ARC for an honest review.

The focus of this book is games. The central character is Louisiana, a quiet woman with a brilliant mind for subterfuge and hidden clues. Louisiana's dark and lonely childhood molded her into the board game designer that made her famous, and she went on to create treasured games that were not easy to solve. Games that were intricate in design, detail and rules. I loved the descriptions of the game boards, the rules, the clues, and the physical designs that were shared in the pages. I was left wishing that I could see a Darkly game board for myself! When one of the games comes to life, I was as excited as the players to join the immersive experience. The author created a rich environment to spark creativity and rivalry, and I enjoyed the clues and the links to Louisiana's life that helped you solve the riddles. You'd think that finding George, the missing boy, would be central to the story. But it isn't. He is almost an afterthought - you hope he is okay, but are too caught up in the game to give him too much thought until the end. If this was a movie, I would be raving about the set design. From the intricacies of the game boards, to the live game setup, to the game factory, to Louisiana's home. There are secrets in the walls, links in the architecture ... everything ties together. I was hoping at the end that we would find Louisiana alive and well. This is a story that captivates you .. you want to find out what happens next, what happened already, and you just want to play the game! I loved everything about this book!

Beautifully written, creepy, twisty tale about family, curiosity, and who we are as women. I loved the main character's journey, and it was well-paced and well-plotted. The love story at the end was a slight bit forced, but overall didn't detract from the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the arc!

As a longtime fan of Pessl’s, I was excited to read this — while I hoped her next book would not be YA, I appreciated the abundant creativity here and wasn’t disappointed by the book at all. The games! THE GAMES. Also even though I’m a fan of her books, I have to say that I was caught first by the cover — how gorgeous?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this incredible book.

When Darkly came up as a choice on NetGalley I was so excited. I have been waiting fir this book and was not disappointed.

There is nothing I can say that hasn't already been said. This book is fantastic. A must read!!!

Highly, highly, highly recommend.

This was a really unique thriller that had some great twists and turns. The game aspect of it was really fun!

What a great thriller! I’ve loved Marisha Pessl since her debut novel, and was curious about how her writing style would transfer to YA. As a teacher, I was hoping I could introduce my students to her writing. Luckily, this book is great!! It’s thrilling, engaging, and I love how it focuses on games. I could see a middle schooler or high schooler falling in love with this book. I definitely recommend

After reading Night Film by Marisha Pessl years ago and absolutely loving it, I always thought to myself, you must request anything new by her.
I was lucky to get accepted to review her new book, Darkly and I had a blast with this mystery thriller!

Not only is Darkly captivating and gripping, but the world building and characters in this is well done.
I haven't thought about physically playing a board game before in my life but after reading this, I feel the need to grab my game piece, spin the wheel and jump into the action!

Summary:

Darkly is about an enigmatic woman named Louisiana Veda. She has built a game-making empire and then dies under mysterious circumstances. Her company named “Darkly” is on the brink of bankruptcy, and the games she created can go up to millions and are highly prized by collectors.

It’s discovered early in the book that there is one last game that was created before her untimely death. The game "Valkyrie" has gone missing since Louisiana Veda died and her company decides to do an internship for seven lucky teenagers from all over the world.

Our main character Arcadia (aka Dia) Gannon has loved "Darkly" games her whole life and is an amazing puzzle solver. She knows everything about Louisiana Veda, her company and all of the mysteries surrounding the woman, or so she thinks…

Dia gets the surprise of her life! She's chosen as an intern and must go to London for a life changing experience. While she's there, she must figure out who to trust, what happened to the missing "Darkly" game, and who really is Louisiana Veda.

Thoughts:

✔️ The world building is amazing! I’m a bit sad that this game-making company doesn’t exist in real life. When Dia and others end up getting involved in the missing "Valkyrie" game, I was mesmerized and captivated by the details, experience and creepy feel of the game!

✔️ The characters are great! I’m not big on YA but I enjoyed this one. It’s not romance heavy or have unrealistic expectations and characteristics for teenagers.

✔️ Pacing and overall length of the book works well. The plot twists are also good. I had an idea of the one at the end but there were a few earlier that I did not see coming.
Well done Pessl!

I’m very impressed by Pessl’s writing and world building. Just like Night Film, this new book feels like it’s alive and you’re fully engaged in its spell.

DNF @ 10%
I really, really wanted to like this. All the good reviews got me so excited. I love puzzle mysteries. I couldn’t get past chapter 3. By chapter 2 I had already started skimming cause of the abundance of unnecessary details and just how cringe the main character was to me. It was too much. I couldn’t take how we were introduced to every character like how you might in the beginning of a D&D campaign. You know when you give a lengthy run down of your character. Not to mention that chapter 1 was predominantly info dump on the game creator’s history. Yet in those 3 chapters I was never shown why her getting this internship is important and why as the reader I should care or want to follow her on this journey. Maybe things get better when they actually reach the main plot, but I literally couldn’t get to it without needing to take fourteen breaks each chapter. And they’re short chapters. It’s like drinking a way too sugary drink.
I still stand behind that this book can be good. Just look at the other reviews. However, because of the narrative style, I don’t think it’s going to be for everyone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

Mixed media; extremely clever and entertaining; amazingly complex without it being confusing; suspenseful, addicting, and far from predictable; obsessed with the plot and the characters (especially the MC), I'm convinced that this author is just brilliant; the twist at the end had me completely mind blown and in awe.
I would kill for a sequel...

Special thank you to Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press, Marisha Pessl, and Netgalley for a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever wondered what The Breakfast Club would look like if they were tasked to play an incredibly difficult boardgame that has caused people to come up missing? If so, welcome to Darkly.

Darkly, a company founded by the now deceased but still enigmatic Louisiana Veda, heralded for the wildly complex boardgames she designed, offers an exclusive, paid, summer internship to 7 lucky teens from around the world. Arcadia, "Dia," is selected, becoming one of "The Veda Seven." With a cult-like following and the notoriety surrounding Veda, she's a household name even many years after her death.

When The Veda Seven arrive to start their internship, they learn that they're tasked with finding a previously unknown Darkly game that's circulating and has already caused one teen to go missing. They must identify the thief and locate the missing boy, before they too go missing. Or worse.

📖 The plot is exquisitely crafted leaving the characters (and the reader) unsure of where the game within a game begins and ends, while also being a bit creeped out-all without causing confusion for the reader. It all expertly ties in and circles back into a literary masterpiece. Even one or the MCs names is tied into the plot in a way that I love. The game itself is central to the plot, leaving the reader (if they so choose) to try and figure out how to "beat" the game.

The surreal exploration into humanity brings up many questions that will have readers questioning everything, even after they've finished the book.

It has well executed twists and turns, with shocks that I didn't see coming. There's one thing that I suspected might be the case, but the way it ends up revealed I didn't expect. 🚲

Interspersed within are clippings of related newspaper articles, letters to various people from the past, and pictures. I love these additions and think they add to the immersion while greatly enriching the story.

✍️🏼 I've never read anything by Pessl before, but now I know I need to ASAP. Her writing is beautiful. Full of rich descriptions and writing that's almost lyrical at times, it's a joy to read - a literary feast for your brain. The dialogue felt very realistic and natural.

🗺 I love the Darkly world Pessl created. It's so well described that I had to do a quick Google to ensure it isn't an actual place that's been slightly changed.

⏳️ The pacing is excellent. On the faster side, there's never any slow points.

👥 I found the characters to be well developed and loved their varied backstories. The cast is ethnically diverse, which I appreciate. I love the nuance that went into developing this cast and how Pessl highlights various facets of human nature. No one knows who to trust or where is safe.

💞 It's YA, so it isn't romance heavy, but there is some light romance in the background at times. It's well done and realistic. There's a teeny tiny bit of a love triangle, or hints of it, rather. It's well done, and such an itty bitty part that it likely doesn't even warrant a mention.

📚 If you like: Death at Morning House (Maureen Johnson), The God of the Woods (Liz Moore), An Academy for Liars (Alexis Henderson), or Night Film (Marisha Pessl) then I think you would enjoy this book.

Thank you to @marishapessl and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Stunning read from start to finish that brings the tiny details together like a 1,000 piece puzzle. If you like a good mystery, give it a read. I sincerely yearn for a sequel, please!

Pessl expertly crafts a narrative that pulls you in from the very first page. The protagonist, Arcadia "Dia" Gannon, is a brilliantly conceived character who feels both relatable and extraordinary. As she embarks on an internship at the enigmatic Darkly board game company, the stakes quickly rise, leading her on a quest filled with unexpected twists and chilling revelations.

Pessl has built a gothic Willy Wonka world, full of mysterious abandoned buildings and intriguing games. I loved her main character Dia, and going along on her adventure from the US to England, to search for two missing people: an enigmatic game designer, and a young player of a long-lost game. This book is a feat of imagination and it's a great read even if you're not a regular YA reader.

**3.5 STARS**

Content Warning: violence

I saved this arc to read for Fall and honestly after reading it, it was the perfect book for spooky season:

Likes:

+ There is a famous, mysterious game maker named Louisiana Veda. Her board games are rare and highly coveted. So when a chance to win one of these games presents itself to Arcadia Gannon, she takes it. The whole history and mystery about Louisiana Veda is very fascinating and interesting! It kept me hooked to the story because of the lore about her life and the unique games she created. It made me want to see one of these games in real life! The story is dark, and thrilling with some good twists.

+ There is a group of kids who are chosen for this internship but they realize their internship is actually an investigation! One person will win the grand prize if they can help the company who manages Louisiana’s empire with their quest – so who will win? Can these kids trust one another? There are many instances where I didn’t trust any of the kids and I liked that it kept me guessing.

+ I love the atmosphere and how spooky the island is where the kids have to stay during their quest. It’s the island where Louisiana Veda lived and her game factory which is all boarded up now. It’s dark, creepy and these kids are always trying to go in there in the dead of night. And speaking of creepy – the game itself where the kids have to participate – is straight out scary (if I ever had to encounter that in real life).

Dislikes:

~ There is a love triangle that wasn’t needed but since it’s there, I wish was more developed.

Final Thoughts:

This book was really entertaining especially because of the game-come-to-life concept and how dark the lore and history is about Louisiana Veda. I was intrigued from start to finish loved all the chills and thrills I had while reading this! You won’t find me playing Valkyrie haha, but I would definitely want to see these board games because they sound amazing. I hope there is a sequel to this book because I feel like there’s more to be explored in this fascinating world of Darkly!

For fans of: The House on Needless Street, The Bad Ones
Avail: Nov 26
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Genre: YA Thriller
Violence: 🪓
Spice: 🔥

Synopsis: It’s like a dream when Dia wins 1 of 6 coveted internships at mysterious board game company, Darkly. But dreams can easily morph into nightmares.

Thoughts: Words nearly fail me as I craft praise for this book, because it is so unique. Like if Willie Wanka were a Gothic horror novel. Or your favorite board game became an escape room peopled with all-too-corporeal spirits. Who might be trying to kill you. I was not sure what genre of book I was reading from moment to moment—mystery, thriller, horror, YA romance—and I loved it! While the plot is innovative, the characters are also richly developed. In particular, Arcadia “Dia” Gannon grabbed me from page 1. She is an old soul in a 17-year-old’s body, quirky in the best possible way, her vintage-clad shoulders carrying the weight of running a store & caring for the two old dears employed there as her flighty mother wafts about. She is the perfect heroine for this darkly Gothic tale. And for those writing nerds out there like me, Pessl is one the most skilled practitioners I’ve read at beginning “en media res.” In other words, she doesn’t plod along with details on how the character got from here to there. She throws us in the middle of the action. The end result? A well-paced novel that’s a treat to read.

"Darkly" is a beautifully crafted novel that immediately draws you in. Its intricate storytelling weaves a captivating tapestry of mystery, leading you into a world where every subtle hint promises a rich and complex narrative waiting to be discovered. This book is an adventure.

The captivating cover and skillful execution make this story truly remarkable. The fast-paced plot immerses you in the mystery of a missing boy, Louisiana Veda's mysterious past and troubled upbringing, the ominous Derringer Street, and the enigmatic layers of secrets, all building an atmosphere of escalating suspense. Each twist and turn will keep you spellbound. The conclusion, coupled with all the tension and relentless action, will leave you eager to delve back into the mesmerizing world of "Darkly." I already miss it.

I will say that the integration of the game within the narrative adds an enthralling layer, making it one of the novel's standout features. Perhaps my favorite part!! The games are depicted so vividly that you'll wish to experience them yourself, evoking the allure of a "secret club" and casting an enchanting spell over the story.

My only con is that I still have questions and wish for a little more from the ending. The twists were great, but maybe another chapter before the "epilogue" would have bumped this into a five-star read for me. Despite this, this book is still incredible, and I hope it reaches a wide audience. Despite this being more YA, I do not doubt that many will absolutely devour this book. I know; I'll definitely be reading more from Pessl.

4.25 -4.5 stars, but rounding down.

🖤✨

Thank you to the publishers at Random House for providing me with this ARC—all thoughts are my own. Be sure to dive into "Darkly"—you won't be disappointed. It was such a fun and unique read! The publication date is expected to be November 26, 2024.

Let me just start this review by saying I love board games. So, when I saw an arc for a thriller that involved complex board games, I was sold. And, then the board game descriptions made it seem less like a board game and more like an escape room in a box that you could try multiple times. And, I disliked how this board game designer is described as ‘revolutionizing board games’ when we barely hear about these board games, and the rule books seem more like storybooks than rulebooks with how long they are. This part of the story was really frustrating, especially when I was excited to see a book representing the board gaming community.

The characters were also not great. They didn’t feel like actual teenagers, and Poe was not very likable. We are told he is a genius, but his insights were sometimes painfully obvious, like deducing that someone who stole from a famous person might not have liked her. Also, all the characters introduced themselves to one another, and I don’t know if I’ve ever read a more obnoxious introduction than Poe’s. And, none of the other characters really made much of an impression.

The plot was pretty meh, and I don’t feel like there was a lot of logic behind it. There were a lot of parts that left me confused, and not in a good way. And, I also couldn’t tell if the world was supposed to have magic or not. Some things didn’t seem easily explained by logic, but the book seemed to be set in a world without magic.

I was really excited for this book, and it was pretty disappointing. Maybe I’m just not the target audience for this book, as others have enjoyed it. But, from the perspective of a teenager, a board gamer, and a lover of a good thriller, I was not impressed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's for this arc in exchange for an honest review.