#this dark descent

[aroaessidhe]

 2023 ACE & ARO books - part 2

LOVE LETTERS FOR JOY - June 6 - pan ace MC

A SONG OF SALVATION - July 11 - demi MC

ETHERA GRAVE - July 18 - ace MC , sequel

THIS DARK DESCENT - Sep 26 - ace-spec MCs

BEING ACE - Oct 10 - ace anthology

LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD - Oct 17 - ace lesbian MC

part 1 / part 3 / part 4

#asexual books #aroace books #asexual #2023 books #ace books #love letters for joy #a song of salvation #ethera grave #this dark descent #being ace #let the dead bury the dead #wren martin ruins it all #the siren the song and the spy #queer books #fourth world #one world #i should have just labelled this ace books bc there's no aro ones here (from the info i have) :/ #2023 aroace books

[bookishlyvintage]

All the unread Owlcrate editions on my tbr ~

#owlcrate #special edition #books #book stack #stack challenge #bookstagram #bookblr #booklr #immortal longings #masters of death #after the forest #this dark descent #divine rivals #what the river knows #the unmaking of june farrow #the longest autumn #heartless hunter

[books-to-add-to-your-tbr]

Title: This Dark Descent

Author: Kalyn Josephson

Series or standalone: series

Publication year: 2023

Genres: fiction, fantasy, romance, LGBT+, mythology

Blurb: Mikira Rusel's family has long been famous for breeding enchanted horses, but their prestige is no match for their rising debts. To save her ranch, Mikira has only one option: she must win the Illinir, a treacherous horse race whose riders either finish maimed or murdered...yet, each year, competitors return, tempted by its alluring prize money and unparalleled prestige. Mikira's mission soon unites her with Arielle Kadar, an impressive yet illicit enchanter just beginning to come into her true power, and Damien Adair, a dashing young lord in the midst of a fierce succession battle. Both have hidden reasons of their own to help Mikira...as well as their own blood feuds to avenge.

#this dark descent #our deadly designs #kalyn josephson #series #2023 #fiction #fantasy #romance #lgbt #mythology

[deathsweetblossoms]

“So be angry, my lion, and let the world tremble in your wake."

This Dark Descent

#I’m a little obsessed with them #I want the whole book from only their pov #this dark descent #Kalyn josephson #Arielle x Damien #Ari x Damien #DEMIROMANTIC REP #three star read though because Mikira’s pov kind of ruins it for me #and also I hate books where animas die like this lol #2024 reads

[oracleofmadness]

Wow! So unexpected! In a great way!

The Lgbtq rep (yes!!!), the excitement, the nonstop action but with staggering emotions and character development! Really fun read.

I enjoyed this immensely. I feel like this is a great book to pick up if anybody is ever in a book slump. This has everything needed to take a person's (at least mine!) mind off the real world. Basically, this just delivered and hit me in a good way.

Definitely recommend this!

Out September 26, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

#book #bookish #books #bookworm #book review #currently reading #read #bookblogger #reading #fantasy #This Dark Descent #kalyn josephson

[qbdatabase]

This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson Mikira Rusel’s family has long been famous for breeding enchanted horses, but their prestige is no match for their rising debts. To save her ranch, Mikira has only one option: she must win the Illinir, a treacherous horserace whose riders either finish maimed or murdered ...

#aromantic #asexual #bisexual #daily book #demiromantic #demisexual #FM romance #Jewish #mga #queer rep #refugee #animals #book series #fantasy #female protagonist #lgbtqia #mythology #queer books #YA books #This Dark Descent #Kalyn Josephson #bookblr

[someonelookingpraediti]

OwlCrate Unboxing

Power has a Price October 2023

It's definitely Autumn - this box proves that! The theme is "Power has a Price".

The featured book is "This Dark Descent", by Kalyn Josephson. It's a really nice special edition, with a completely redesigned cover, artwork on the inside of the dust jacket, foiling on the hardcase, stencilled edges. It has two different artwork endpapers, and loads of interesting stuff inside, like family trees, a dedicated signature page, a bound-in author letter, and a bonus chapter. It's just that the plot doesn't look that good? I might be wrong, it might be better than it sounds.

The first item is a scarf. This is inspired by "Once Upon a Broken Heart". It's a cool item to get, and it's a really nice design! I'm not a big scarf wearer - I don't like things too near my face, but I imagine this will be a big hit.

Next is a sticker set. These are based on "The Poppy War", which I haven't read. They're good stickers because they're transparent so they're quite versatile, but they don't look good unless they're against a plain white background.

Next is a spoon rest. I don't need one, but I'll use it, because it's such a nice design! It's all autumnal, with pumpkins and mushrooms! This is inspired by "The Nature of Witches". This is a really good quality item, and really unusual.

The last item is a lip balm, based on "The Priory of the Orange Tree". I've had a lip balm from this creator before, and like the other, this one doesn't smell or taste of anything (it's supposed to be snow cream spiced latte inspired) but unlike the last one, I'm actually not allergic to this one!

This month's pin is inspired by "Howl's Moving Castle".

#unboxing #owlcrate #power has a price #this dark descent #kalyn josephson

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 3.5/5

Book Blurb: The Shadows Between Us meets Six of Crows in this spellbinding new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, and pulse-pounding action, where the eldest daughter of a renowned family on the verge of ruin joins forces with a mysterious, rogue enchanter and a handsome, ambitious heir to win a deadly race.

Mikira Rusel’s family has long been famous for breeding enchanted horses, but their prestige is no match for their rising debts. To save her ranch, Mikira has only one option: she must win the Illinir, a treacherous horserace whose riders either finish maimed or murdered. Yet each year, competitors return, tempted by its alluring prize money and unparalleled prestige.

Mikira’s mission soon unites her with Arielle Kadar, an impressive yet illicit enchanter just beginning to come into her true power, and Damien Adair, a dashing young lord in the midst of a fierce succession battle. Both have hidden reasons of their own to help Mikira -- as well as their own blood feuds to avenge…

Steeped in Jewish folklore, This Dark Descent is a pulse-pounding new fantasy full of forbidden magic, sizzling romance, and epic stakes. In a world as dangerous as this, will the need for vengeance butcher Mikira’s chances of winning the Illinir … or will another rider’s dagger?

Review:

A high stakes horse racing competition, forbidden magic, political games, and betrayals await as two girls find their fates forever changed when their paths cross and they join forces with each other and an ambitious heir. Mikira Rusel is the daughter of a renowned enchanted horse breeding family. Yet despite her family's prestige, they have debts to pay and in order to save her family's ranch she is forced to enter and win the Illinir, a deadly horserace where raiders normally finish maimed or murdered. The prize money is amazing and the prestige won would be unparalleled. Yet in order to win she needs the help of Damien Adair, a dashing and deadly lord in a succession battle for the title of heir and Arielle Kadar, a illicit enchanter who has only begun to scratch the depths of her power. Damien and Arielle both have their own revenge plans and blood feuds and agree to help Ari. Yet winning was never easy and with so many people out to get them, can they trust each other or will betrayal destroy them? Mikira wants to atone for all the things she's done and the situations she's gotten her family in, yet she just keeps messing up. Damien is ruthless and wants the title of the house, yet he finds himself falling for Arielle. The lengths he'll go to to protect her and those he holds close is ruthless, yet so is the anger he has for anyone who betrays him. Arielle has spent her life an outcast, and wants nothing more than to get an official license to do her magic, yet she is beginning to hear a voice in her head and losing time, as well as the fact that her magic is growing as well as her blood lust. I loved Damien and Arielle and had a lot of fun with their story, the weak part of the story for me was Mikira, I just couldn't connect with her and found her to be so annoying by the end. I really didn't care that much about her story and was more interested in what Damien, Arielle and Reid ( Damien's friend/servant who works with magic and has a cat and is a bit grumpy) were up to. This is the first book in the series and I am curious to see where the next book goes. If you enjoy horse racing/magic/succession politics, then give this book a go!

*Spoiler: Mikira enters into a race to win a bet against Rezeh, the rich lord who wants her farm and is holding her father hostage, and in order to do so she needs Damien's sponsor and Arielle to make her a magic horse. She loses but Rezeh makes a counter offer, she spy on Damien and get him some evidence to get rid of Damien and then she'll be given another chance to race again in another bet. Reid finds out and tells Damien and Arielle. Mikira is angry at them all and says that they are her enemy now (girl look at what you did, you literally betrayed them all and didnt say or do anything, they have a right to be mad at you and the fact that you act so self righteous when you lie, cheat, and betray people too?? get over yourself). Damien does kill people and does end up winning the title to the succession but he finds out that Mikira was the one to have evidence of him killing the two men who had attacked Arielle. Arielle begins hearing a voice in her head egging her on and stealing her body, she later discovers it is a spirit taking over her body as her powers grow. Rezeh was sent to jail but the book ends with Arielle visiting him (only because the spirit in her body is controlling her). Damien and Arielle get together as a couple, while Mikara is hinted at being bisexual (but it really doesn't feel like she has any love interests which is completely fine). *

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #this dark descent

[acourtofpaperandink]

Book Review: This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson

Post by: BookGirl Title This Dark Descent By: Kalyn Josephson Cover: Not a big fan of this cover. I get that it’s supposed to look like statues but with it all one color the details get lost. I just don’t think it’s very eye catching. Story: ★★★ So this is a YA fantasy that follows two main characters, Mikira and Arielle. Mikira is trying to save her family’s failing enchanted horse ranch.…

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#kalyn josephson #this dark descent #ya book #yabooks

[aroaessidhe]

Aro & Ace books: Dark YA high fantasy

(in this instance by dark I mean spooky or gothic vibes, dark aesthetic, supernatural elements related to death)

Beneath The Citadel - one of the 5 MC's is an ace girl

Vespertine - MC is word-of-god aroacespec (no romance in the story)

Beyond The Black Door - demi girl MC, ace boy LI, ace trans man SC (see also In The Ravenous Dark - major side character is ace & nonbinary)

Clariel - aroace coded girl MC

What We Devour - ace girl MC (f, m/f)

This Dark Descent - demidemi girl MC (m/f) and questioning aroacespec girl MC (latter only vague so far)

#aspec books / aspec database

#aspec books #asexual books #aroace books #beneath the citadel #beyond the black door #this dark descent #what we devour

[bookishlyvintage]

Owlcrate October 2023: Power Has a Price [x]

#unboxing #owlcrate #this dark descent #stenciled edges #the priory of the orange tree #the poppy war #the nature of witches #once upon a broken heart #howls moving castle #book box #fantasy #ya fantasy #bookblr #booklr #bookish #book lover #bookstagram

[jessryno]

Book Review: This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson

Post by: BookGirl Title This Dark Descent By: Kalyn Josephson Cover: Not a big fan of this cover. I get that it’s supposed to look like statues but with it all one color the details get lost. I just don’t think it’s very eye catching. Story: ★★★ So this is a YA fantasy that follows two main characters, Mikira and Arielle. Mikira is trying to save her family’s failing enchanted horse ranch.…

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#kalyn josephson #this dark descent #ya book #yabooks

[lilibetbombshell]

#arc review #arc reader #arc reviewer #book review #book reviewer #book blog #book blogger #book influencer #netgalley #roaring brook press #this dark descent #kalyn josephson #new release #new book #new book release #book series #dark fantasy #fantasy series #romantasy #supernatural fantasy #ya fantasy #ya fantasy romance

[just-a-bookish-reader]

This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson

a book review

"That name had meant something once; Mikira would see that it did again."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The combination of a high fantasy world (albeit, replete with guns), dark fantasy detailing, vibes, and themes, as well as the past and present of Jewish people and our experiences, makes for a novel that entrances the reader - all while keeping the story somewhat grounded in reality- all the way through to the last page. When challah bread is mentioned for the first time, it's nearly startling, despite knowing that the book was going to have Jewish mythology, which I - a Jewish woman - should be used to, the mention of simple bread nearly took me out from whatever spell Kalyn Josephson's writing was putting on me.

Kalyn Josephson doesn't just toss around Hebrew words or Jewish terms throughout the story, she saves them. She sprinkles them about - acting more like the binding gems in the very story, than anything else. She doesn't call the Jewish people "Jewish," but instead "Kinnish," yet still preferring to call challah bread by it's official name, as well as golems. While this could simply be something that the author preferred while writing, it is also possible that it was done so that the spare moments these words were used felt more powerful, acting as a quick reminder of the real world connections, as well as making the text a bit more accessible to non-Jewish (or goyim or gentile) readers who might be intimidated by a main character being Jewish instead of Kinnish.

While potentially lessening the harshness of the topics and conversations brought up by the events for those outside of them, for Jewish readers - or at least myself - it's a gentle reminder that we have a character in young adult fantasy that we can point to and go "hey look, its me!" all the while we remember the history that Josephson's novel is built upon.

While I of course wish more time had been spent on discussing sexuality and gender, I completely understand that there wasn't much time to do so with the complex world and story and character arcs that Kalyn Josephson was developing, and I look forward to seeing more of these topics in the next book.

In this stunningly epic and creative world, the political intrigue remains at the heart of the story. Even as Mikira races for her life, even as Arielle uncovers lost bits of magic from her culture, a larger game is being played. One hinted at in the beginning, only to reach a fever pitch much later on. As though a game of chess, each noble family, each noble house sits as the pawns to make expert moves for their power, and anyone else simply is trod underfoot as the races go on, Mikira none the wiser except for her side of the story. Each move, every step, is carefully calculated and detailed by the author, leading up to a grand finale to tie up the first book in a new duology from Kalyn Josephson - complete with queer representation, Jewish representation, and helps to build excitement for the follow through in the next book.

Coming out September 26, 2023!

#this dark descent #kalyn josephson #netgalley #arc #advanced reader copy #4 stars #book review

[theydidntstaydead]

some games i enjoy a very normal amount!!

AMERICAN MCGEE'S ALICE (2000) BAYONETTA (2009) LITTLE NIGHTMARES (2017) AMNESIA: THE DARK DESCENT (2010) MANHUNT (2003) SILENT HILL 2 (2001) RULE OF ROSE (2006) BIOSHOCK (2007) INSIDE (2016) ALICE: MADNESS RETURNS (2011) LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW (2012) HAUNTING GROUND (2005)

#video games #american mcgee's alice #bayonetta #little nightmares #amnesia game #amnesia the dark descent #manhunt game #silent hill #silent hill 2 #rule of rose #bioshock #inside game #alice madness returns #lollipop chainsaw #haunting ground #favorite games #horror games

[spaghettibastard]

Dark Descent

#xenomorph #aliens: dark descent