| Title | : | Darkly |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0593706552 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780593706558 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 416 |
| Publication | : | Expected publication November 26, 2024 |
When an ad for an internship with the Louisiana Veda Foundation poses this question, seemingly every high school student in the country rushes to apply. Arcadia “Dia” Gannon has been obsessed with Louisiana Veda, the late game designer whose obsessive creations have attained a cultlike status, ever since she and her mom played Disappearing Act—but Dia has never won anything in her life. So she’s shocked when she’s chosen as an intern, along with six other teenagers from around the world.
Little is known about Louisiana Veda. Her game-making empire, Darkly, was renowned for its ingenious, terrifying toys and games, rife with hidden symbols and secrets. But after Veda’s mysterious death, Darkly went bankrupt, and production was discontinued. The remaining games are priced like highly sought-after works of art, with the rarest and most notorious items commanding tens of millions of dollars at auction.
Now the interns are thrust into the enigmatic heart of Louisiana Veda’s operation, and Dia immediately questions everything: Who are these other kids? Why do they all seem to have something to hide? And why was she really chosen? It soon becomes clear that this summer will be the most twisted Darkly game of all.
Darkly Reviews
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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.
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"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. -
ARC for review. To be published November 26, 2024.
Pessl’s NIGHT FILM is one of my all-time favorites. I did not like her previous foray into YA, NEVERWORLD WAKE, anywhere near as much, but this sounded so very good….I was hopeful.
This book is somewhere in the middle, good, but not great. However, since it is YA, but I enjoyed it as an adult, even “good” is high praise.
Arcadia “Dia” Gannon has been obsessed with the late game maker Louisiana Veda for years. Now her foundation is running an easy contest to select seven young interns from around the world for a summer internship. Dia figures she’s got no chance, but it’s also the dream of a lifetime, so she enters.
She is shocked when she is selected, along with six other seventeen year olds, Poe, Franz, Cooper, Torin, Everleigh and Mouse.
Louisiana is a cult figure even in death. Her company, Darkly, was famous for its, well, dark, complicated, sublime board games filled with tricks and secret symbols. After Louisiana’s death the company went bankrupt and no more games were produced. Those that exist are now collector’s items and sell for immense sums.
So the interns are involved in a mystery. Why were they chosen? Why aren’t they staying in London as they were told they would? Is someone still playing games?
OK, so, the perfection part of this book? These games. I would love to get my hot little hands on any one of them; I don’t even need one of the special prototypes, just a regular one would be fine. Because they sound INCREDIBLE. They are “the secret club at the end of the alley you can reach only by following the faint footsteps in a locked graveyard yesterday.” Gimme, gimme, gimme!
The game within the story is pretty good too. Some of the other aspects of the book were maybe a bit more typical in terms of what I expect from YA, but it’s all well written and nicely done. I hope this finds a wide audience. And I hope Pessl has more adult books on the horizon as well.
***Edited to add. A quibble with the ending. I don’t know about the differences between U.S. and English law, but they are usually hew pretty closely. I’m a lawyer, and yes, lawyers suck, I totally agree with you there, and, in fact, I am the worst, so we’ll get that out of the way, but…..I don’t think this had to end the way Dia thought. There’s something fairly big she’s missing. Her lawyer would see it right away. I could be wrong but…. -
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
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 being in a board game in real 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 good. I had an idea of the plot twist at the end but there were a few earlier in the book 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. -
4.5 stars, only because I didn’t like this quite as much as Night Film but it still blew my mind…
I’ve read all of this author’s books and she’s certainly the author that comes to mind when I think of a rug pulled out from beneath my feet. That was definitely the case here!
Pessl has definitely returned to her Night Film roots with this novel, which was giving me vibes of it but for a YA audience. I liked seeing Gia piece everything together, and the random letters and photos scattered throughout definitely added to the story.
All the twists and turns! I freely admit I was LOST partway through the book, but that ending! I loved it and it blew my mind! I couldn’t believe it and I didn’t see it coming at all.
It’s been a long wait for a new book by this author but it was so great to be back in one of her well crafted worlds.
Who knows? I might come back and just make this a full 5 stars. We’ll see. Honestly, I probably will. -
Complex and captivating, DARKLY showcases Pessl's signature wit and flair for unexpected twists, evoking questions that haunt long after the final page is turned. An absolute delight into the uncanny.
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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. -
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. #PRHInternationalPartner
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I’ve been chasing the dark euphoria that Marisha Pessl’s Night Film enveloped me in when I first read it years ago, never quite finding it, never quite believing it could be found. But here, in her latest novel Darkly, I’ve rediscovered it. Exciting, dangerous, puzzling, obsessive, murderous, lonely, beautiful, hopeful, and yes dark, this book is a thrill ride that left me reeling. Plan on not being able to put it down for the last 100 pages or so. What a creeping wonder. What a shadowy delight.
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NEW MARISHA PESSL LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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When Arcadia sees the advert inviting applications for an internship at the Louisiana Veda Foundation she toys with the idea of applying. A summer in London would be a welcome break from the chaos that is her family antiques business. And the Veda group are, amongst certain people, renowned for their links to the Darkly games.
Arcadia soon finds herself amongst the lucky group of seven interns, tasked with trying to locate a missing boy who seems to have vanished after playing one of the company’s games.
There’s a mysterious island, a number of bizarre occurrences that slowly help the group to work out some of the details they will need and an unnerving sense of someone conspiring against them. The ultimate prize is a previously unheard of Darkly game…or is it?
A tightly woven web of intrigue, Darkly was a clever book. As the story progressed I found myself catching glimpses of details that pointed to a quite different story being resolved. Highly entertaining and one I’d recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication. -
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...
Releases 11/26/24!
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. -
Special Topics in Calamity Physics was cerebral, Night Film is still one of only a handful of books that truly scared me, and Neverworld Wake was a wild time loop ride that I was unable to put down. Darkly is a masterclass in gothic atmospheric writing. The storyline is intelligent, captivating, and a perfect homage to both tabletop and roleplaying gaming. The characters hold enough mystery that everyone is a suspect and Arcardia, the main character is smart and quick witted, which is refreshing as I didn't have to question everything she did as being idiotic. The mystery surrounding Louisiana Veda and her gaming company is the gameboard and the reader is the pawn tasked with collecting bits of knowledge to piece together what happened and be ultimately rewarded. I absolutely loved this latest novel and have already been recommending it to everyone I know who enjoys dark, cerebral works of art. I cannot wait to see what Pessl comes out with next and I will be the first in line to read whatever it is.
For fans of Marisha Pessl, gothic mysteries, and tabletop board games and mysteries where the player is the detective tasked with solving a crime.
Thank you to NetGalley, Marisha Pessl, and Delacorte Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. -
3.5 stars
Okay, we love Valkyrie and the weird complex messiness that is that living board game with horror elements and high stakes. I also really liked the descriptions and the settings with the choppy water and the rundown buildings and the bougie school. Also I’m always a big fan of the multimedia pieces - though, caveat, some of these snippets and things felt random or not in line with what was happening in the main text.
I thought the two potential love interests were unnecessary and a distraction to Dia and the plot as a whole. I also thought that this book is not in conversation with current YA books - these teenagers feel like characters from a YA book from when I was in high school. Like, the things that kids would be bullied for and overall school culture (as well as how kids dress and act and talk) are so different now that it just felt weird to read a book like this that (presumably) takes place in 2024. Plus there were too many characters and I kept forgetting that Torin existed.
Also the loooong wind down after the climax was totally unnecessary. We did not need to see nearly so much of the post-Valkyrie resolution.
This sounds very negative but honestly genuinely enjoyed the mystery elements and the high stakes game and the setting. -
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. -
ARC received! Thank you so much, Delacorte Press!!
I've been anxiously anticipating more from Marisha Pessl every since the triumph that was
Neverworld Wake. I can't tell you how excited I am to read this! -
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
I DEVOURED this. Usually I don't love mysteries, but the combination of setting and the hook of a mysterious board game creator on a semi haunted island? I'm HOOKED. The only thing I didn't love was the romance! Fabulously well done story. -
I became a fan of Marisha Pessl after reading her "Special Topics in Calamity Physics," so you can imagine my excitement when I discovered her new book. "Darkly" is a dark YA thriller that dives into the mysterious world of a reclusive game designer, old-school board games, and obsessive players caught up in the enigmatic Darkly games.
The story centers on Arcadia "Dia" Gannon, an outsider and loner who helps her mother run their antique shop. Her only friends are two elderly employees at the shop. With her anachronistic mannerisms, she’s the odd one out at school, often the target of ridicule. When the Louisiana Veda Foundation, based in England, announces an international contest for a summer internship, Dia, a self-professed game addict, applies with little hope of success.
To her great surprise, Dia is chosen, along with six other teenagers: Poe from France, Franz from Germany, Cooper from the USA, Torin from Ireland, Everleigh from Iceland, and Mouse from Nigeria. Upon arriving in England, the interns are thrust into a real-life board game filled with tricks, hidden symbols, secrets, and danger. What follows is a grand adventure that puts their lives at risk.
This is a complex story packed with adventure, mystery, suspense, and plenty of twists. I devoured it and found myself wanting to live in its world forever. The plot races from the beginning, constantly picking up pace and growing darker as it immerses the reader into its richly imagined world. There are countless adventures and mishaps, all underscored by a fascinating array of games.
The book is interspersed with illustrations, letters, diagrams, news articles, maps, and photos, all of which enhance the narrative. It’s beautifully written, capturing the reader's imagination from the first chapter. Pessl’s unique style - her poetic language, creativity, wit, and humor -creates a distinctive reading experience. Yes, the prose may be a bit purple at times, but that’s part of its charm and doesn’t interfere with the story's flow.
Tension and drama are key to keeping readers hooked, and this book delivers in spades. While Dia is the most fully fleshed-out character, each of the interns has their own backstory and secret. Amidst the suspense and adventure, there’s also a gentle touch of youthful romance. The plot moved swiftly, keeping me fully engaged and anxious to know what would happen next. However, the ending felt a bit abrupt, leaving me with some questions, though most loose ends were tied up.
Pessl rises above clichés to craft an original story, with twists and turns that keep the reader alert and engaged. Sometimes the technique is not enough if the content is not revolutionary, but this is not the case here. In this case, the "how" is what makes the book, and the "what" is reasonable. I wasn't entirely pleased with the open ending, even though most loose ends were tied up; I would have preferred a more conclusive resolution.
In sum, "Darkly" is a mesmerizing book that I absolutely loved. Dysfunctional families, brilliant game scenes, puzzles, and intrigue are just some of the ingredients that take this book to the next level. The characters, setting, and dialogue feel real, even if the teenagers are far from average. The dark atmosphere is convincingly sketched, making for a gripping read. Marisha Pessl has crafted an extraordinary tale that I highly recommend.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my blog:
https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2024... -
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC. Night Film by Marisha Pessl is one of my favourite thrillers of all time and it’s been a while since we got a new release from her so I was beyond excited to get this ARC!
It definitely didn’t disappoint and was just as twisty and well plotted as I’ve come to expect from this author. I didn’t see any of the twists coming and the multi media elements sprinkled throughout the book added a layer of realism. The board games themselves were so well thought out and the island where most of the book is set was eerie and creepy.
I didn’t care for the romance and to be honest I never really felt connected to any of the characters. The ending really disappointed me, not the final reveals, but the last page was just so out of left field and ridiculous. There were also many glaring errors and inconsistencies that made it obvious this was written by an author from the US. The biggest one that really irked me and showed a lack of research was the reference to pound notes. The pound notes in the manor I can forgive because they were still being printed when the house was abandoned but a character in present day “throws a wad of pound sterlings” onto a table to pay for their drinks in a club/pub. This in itself is an issue because in England we don’t leave money on tables, you have to pay directly either before or after your meal or drinks. We also don’t have “motels” and most of our houses are two storeys, you’ll rarely see an entire street of one storey houses like you do in the US. It might seem nitpicky but it really took me out of the story.
Apart from that I really enjoyed this and I definitely recommend this to thriller fans and also fans of this author’s previous work. It has the same tone and immaculate writing that made me fall in love with Night Film. This will be released on 28th November so there’s still a little wait but I promise it’s worth it! -
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. -
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.
I received a DRC from the publisher from Netgalley.com
S-L, L-M, V-M -
I received this ARC from NetGalley. Thank you, NetGalley!
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. -
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. -
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. -
Book:
DARKLY by Marisha Pessl
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc (Nov)
Review:
4⭐
DARKLY is a thrilling tale that follows Dia, who applies for an internship working with Darkly. While interning, Dia is taken on a whirlwind adventure, uncovering secrets and lies.
I had a lot of expectations for this book since I've previously read Pessl's work and loved it. Though DARKLY didn't meet all of my expectations, it was still devorable, though not as easily as I would have liked, with a mystery that kept me guessing and reguessing. And then those last few chapters. Mind-blown+confusing all at the same time. As the mystery unraveled, I couldn't begin to understand how Dia figured it out. I was also left confused by the last few chapters, that revelation seemingly cut short---almost like an incomplete thought.
This may not have hit all of the marks, but it was still a great read. -
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! -
I was intrigued by the premise of this book when I saw the blurb as I love a mystery and a story that involves games too.
I did like the short chapters which meant the pace was quick and kept me engaged just enough. I also enjoyed how everything was revealed and then interlinked together, that part was very well thought out and written.
I found that the story became convoluted with ideas and at times, especially when explaining previous games and the current one, it became confusing. I didn’t form any connection to the characters and the romance parts felt forced as there was no chemistry between them. The ending was also an issue for me, it felt very rushed and out of character.
The book had alot potential but unfortunately for me personally it fell a little bit short. I would give this a 3.5/5 overall
Thankyou to NetGalley and Walker Books UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
