This is one of those reviews where I stare at my computer screen and struggle to put my opinions into words. This book is phenomenal, and I’m afraid I lack the writing skills to properly get my thoughts and feelings across in a way that doesn’t read like alphabet soup. I will try my best, however.

I want to start by saying that from the first book alone, I can already tell that this will be a new favorite epic fantasy series of mine (perhaps my favorite, but I need to hold my horses and read the other two books first). When finishing the novel, I was deeply upset to find how few ratings this has on Goodreads. This book is leagues better than many popular fantasy series I've read. Okay, I’ll stop my passionate ranting and get to the actual contents of this novel.

This book is not an easy read. I don’t mean the world-building, which gently eases the reader into the story, or the magic system, which is subtly sprinkled throughout the novel. No, I mean on an emotional level. The author did a fantastic job of making you feel what the character feels. Some moments are truly harrowing to the point that I felt a pang in my chest, and at the more extreme scenes, a slight burning in my eyes. Some moments made me frustrated, and there were little moments that made me smile while reading.

Pires is able to nail these emotional beats because he makes you care for these characters. Of course, with there being multiple POVs, you’re bound to have favorites and perhaps ones you don’t care much for, but even with the characters you might not prefer, you can’t help but admit that they all feel real. They’re human in the way that they’re flawed and do things that make you want to shake some sense into them. Their actions will frustrate you at times, but just like people, they’re not perfect, and they won’t always do the ‘right’ thing.

My absolute favorite thing about multiple POVs is when the characters begin to intertwine themselves in each other’s stories. Pires did this to perfection and in a way that felt completely natural. There are a few POVs that feel fully separated from the rest of the story, but then something is revealed, or a plotline is introduced that expertly weaves them into the narrative.

After finishing this novel, I immediately want to read the rest of the series. This is mostly due to the fact that Pires purposely doesn’t reveal or explain everything. Design of Darkness is a quintessential first book in an epic fantasy series; this is a taste of the rest of the story to come.

My final praise for this novel is the casual inclusivity. The queer relationship presented in this novel is beautiful. As someone who reads queer novels and epic fantasy often, the two worlds feel separated, so it was extremely refreshing to read. (Also, I will sacrifice my entire book collection for those two to have a happy ending, please, I’m begging.)

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. (P.S. I'm going to save up and buy physical copies of this series, I love the novels that much)

Design of Darkness pulls you into its world pretty quickly with a mix of dark fantasy, political intrigue, and emotional stakes that kept me interested throughout. I especially liked the dynamic between Arsenio and Mariana and how their journey across unfamiliar lands opened up the story in interesting ways. King Fogosombre also made for a genuinely unsettling villain without feeling overdone.

The worldbuilding is detailed and immersive, and there are some really vivid scenes involving magic and mysticism that stood out to me. At times I wanted a little more depth from certain side characters, but overall the story delivered a solid fantasy adventure with plenty of tension and atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy darker epic fantasy with a strong sense of adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy, this is my honest review.

Get ready to set sail, because Design of Darkness by RD Pires pulls you right off the docks and into deep, treacherous waters from the opening scene. The narrative sets a relentless pace with devastating attacks by King Fogosombre's forces, political maneuvering in the far-off lands of the Nokari Empire, and clashes with pirates on the open seas. A distinctly dark tone paired with the author’s direct, grounded prose keeps the survival stakes anchored, making every desperate choice feel immediate and real.

The expansive worldbuilding draws beautifully from East and Southeast Asian cultures, engineering a wholly original landscape that balances a sweeping, cinematic scale filled with magic and mystery with the organic, granular details that make a setting feel truly lived-in. Beneath the surface-level action, the book excels at grand political intrigue, weaving complex, cutthroat machinations that pull the characters into a much larger, darker current.

The crew navigating this world is wonderfully expansive, featuring a broad cast competing to be your favorite. Mariana? Arsenio? Kaori? I’m still undecided who I like best. Pires weaves queer representation into the narrative organically, even tackling the realities of homophobia and systemic oppression in this fantasy setting.

Charting an ambitious course, the author packs a staggering amount of scope into the story. The sheer volume of character perspectives offers a panoramic view of the unfolding rebellion and the encroaching darkness. The sudden ending leaves you standing right on the edge of the deck, eager to see where the tide will carry this sprawling cast next.

This first installment of The Tides That Reign series is a thrilling, impressive expedition. The rich worldbuilding, ruthless political intrigue, and high-stakes action make Design of Darkness a voyage absolutely worth taking.

There’s a classic epic fantasy feel here, but the queer representation and emotionally grounded cast give it a fresh identity of its own.