Sophie Reads YA: Alison Goodman

ARC Review: The Dark Days Deceit (Lady Helen #3) by Alison Goodman

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The Dark Days Deceit
Series: Lady Helen #3
Author: Alison Goodman
Published November 15th 2018 by Walker Books Ltd

Goodreads Synopsis
The thrilling, genre-bending conclusion to Lady Helen's demon-hunting adventures, set in the glittering Regency world.

Lady Helen has retreated to a country estate outside Bath to prepare for her wedding to the Duke of Selburn, yet she knows she has unfinished business to complete. She and the dangerously charismatic Lord Carlston have learned they are a dyad, bonded in blood, and only they are strong enough to defeat the Grand Deceiver, who threatens to throw mankind into chaos. But the heinous death-soaked Ligatus Helen has absorbed is tearing a rift in her mind. Its power, if unleashed, will annihilate both Helen and Carlston unless they can find a way to harness its ghastly force and defeat their enemy.

In the final book of the trilogy that began with THE DARK DAYS CLUB and continued with THE DARK DAYS PACT, the intrepid Lady Helen's story hurtles to a shocking conclusion full of action, heartbreak, and betrayal.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

I love this series - there's no bones about it, it's one of my all time favourites. YA historical fiction is always a genre that I adore, and when I first read The Dark Days Club, I was immediately drawn in by the similarities with Pride and Prejudice. When the email came in that review copies were available for the third and final book, I jumped at the chance.

Following the turmoil of The Dark Days Pact, Helen is now engaged to be married to the Duke of Selburn, though her heart lies with Lord Carlston. They are linked by the Ligatus that Helen absorbed, now the Grand Receiver, and its power is slowly destroying them both from the inside. Knowing that the final battle is coming, Helen and Carlston are thrown together to train to destroy the Grand Deceiver once and for all. However, the upcoming nuptials is interfering, and Selburn, though somewhat supportive, is jealous of the time the two are spending together.

The action in this book is fantastic. Obviously, as the last of the trilogy, a lot happens, and within the 500+ pages, there are no lulls in the action. From the get go, something is happening, and with all the twists and turns, I could hardly put the book down. The cast of the Dark Days Club, from Helen and Carlston, to Darby, Quinn, Delia, etc., all play really important roles in the story, and there are numerous sub plots that all intertwine at the climax of the story. Each of the character, no matter how big or small a role you might think, play a huge part in getting to end of the story.

The romance is so swoony in this series. Carlston and Helen are one of my ultimate OTPs, and though Selburn does put a bit of a damper on it all, the chemistry is always there, and he can not get away from true love. Not even a dead traitor of a wife can get in the way of Helen and Carlston's happiness.

The ending of the book was the most perfect thing I could've asked for. Nothing would've been better, and though I'm sad that the series is over, I'm overjoyed with how Goodman chose to end the series. If you haven't picked up this perfect, well-researched series yet, what are you waiting for? I can't recommend this enough, and am so looking forward to more from Goodman in the future.

Dates Read:

November 17-19, 2018

Rating
5 Stars

Alison Goodman

Waiting on Wednesday: The Dark Days Deceit (Lady Helen #3) by Alison Goodman

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5 Stars

ARC Review: The Dark Days Pact (Lady Helen #2) by Alison Goodman

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The Dark Days Pact
Series: Lady Helen #2
Author: Alison Goodman
Published January 26th 2017 by Walker Books

Goodreads Synopsis
June 1812. Just weeks after her catastrophic coming-out ball, Lady Helen Wrexhall—now disowned by her uncle—is a full member of the demon-hunting Dark Days Club. Her mentor, Lord Carlston, has arranged for Helen and her maid, Darby, to spend the summer season in Bristol, where Helen can sharpen her Reclaimer powers. Then the long-term effects of Carlston’s Reclaimer work take hold, and his sanity begins to slip. At the same time, Carlston’s Dark Days Club colleague and nemesis will stop at nothing to bring Helen over to his side—and the Duke of Selburn is determined to marry her. The stakes are ever higher for Helen, and her decision will truly change the world…
Goodreads

Review
See my review of book 1, The Dark Days Club.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

The Dark Days Club was one of my favourite books I read last year. Goodman managed to perfectly recreate the Regency Era, adding her own twist with the Reclaimers. I was dying to get my hands on the sequel, and as soon as my copy arrived, I dove straight in.

In The Dark Days Pact, Helen is recovering from the fall out of her coming out ball. For the summer, she's fled to Bristol, in order to get away from the gossip, and come to terms with her new found Reclaimer powers. Being the first true female Reclaimer is a learning curve, and she has to work harder than her peers to get over the stain of her mother's past, and to prove to the others that she is as good as them, if not better. However, Carlston, her mentor and friend, is suffering from the after effects of Reclaiming, and whenever he's around Helen it seems to be worse. Now that they know the stakes are higher than ever, they can afford for anything to get in the way, even if they both know they want to be with each other. Helen has to fight to ensure Carlston isn't punished, or worse, and to juggle the Duke of Selburn, who, somehow, still wants to marry her.

This book started just after the events of The Dark Days Club, and the action seemed to be there from the very start. We had just some time to deal with the change of scene - which Goodman described wonderfully - before the plot fully took hold, and we dove right into the story. Helen keeps getting problems thrown at her from every side possible, and it's a wonder she managed to deal with them all, and not collapse. That's part of her charm, as she is vulnerable at times, and knows she has some weaknesses, her sex being on important one, but she will do anything she can to protect those she cares about, even if that could bring about her own downfall.

There's a bit of romance, and again, there is a love triangle, but I'm still definitely on Carlston's team. Don't get me wrong, I don't think there's anything wrong with Selburn, but Carlston and Helen's chemistry is off the chain, and I hope, in the finale, they get together. With their interactions in this book, they fell more and more, and I need them to be together, please?

The ending of the book was cruel, and, once again, I find myself dying for the next book. Why is 2018 still so far away?! Hopefully Lady Helen #3 will be a January publication. If you enjoy fantasy and history mixed together, with a Pride and Prejudice feel, this series is definitely for you!

Dates Read:

January 13-15, 2017

Rating
5 Stars

Alison Goodman

Waiting on Wednesday: The Dark Days Pact (Lady Helen #2) by Alison Goodman

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#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen #1) by Alison Goodman

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The Dark Days Club
Series: Lady Helen #1
Author: Alison Goodman
Published January 21st 2016 by Walker Books

Goodreads Synopsis
London, April 1812. Eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall is on the eve of her debut presentation to the Queen. Her life should be about gowns and dancing, and securing a suitable marriage. Instead, when one of her family's housemaids goes missing, Lady Helen is drawn to the shadows of Regency London.

There, she finds William, the Earl of Carlston. He has noticed the disappearance, too, and is one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of powerful demons that has infiltrated every level of society. But Lady Helen’s curiosity is the last thing Carlston wants—especially when he sees the searching intelligence behind her fluttering fan. Should Helen trust a man whose reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her headstrong sense of justice lead them both into a death trap?

In The Dark Days Club, internationally best-selling author Alison Goodman introduces readers to a heroine who is just as remarkable as Eona—and yet again reinvents an established literary genre, making it her own.
Goodreads

Review
As you've probably seen by now, I adore Regency Era fiction. That has always been a favourite of mine since I read, and watched, Pride and Prejudice, and I try to read as many YA Regency Era books as I can. When I heard about this book, I immediately pre-ordered it, but life and uni got in the way, and I haven't been able to read it until recently. However, I am glad I waited until I could truly appreciate the book, because it was amazing! It was such a accurate representation of the era, that it almost felt like I was living in the time period, albeit with the added paranormal twist.

The Dark Days Club has many of the essential regency elements. The protagonist, Lady Helen Wrexhall, is preparing for her Presentation at Court, and is about to join the London Ton for the Season, with the hopes of securing a husband. As one of the richest heiresses around, her prospects are good, though the fact her late mother is considered a traitor does put a slight taint on her name. At St James' Court, she makes the acquaintance of the mysterious Lord Carlston, who has his own issues to contend with - namely the fact many believe he murdered his missing wife. They become more connected when one of Helen's uncle's housemaids goes missing, and the circumstances of said disappearance are strange to say the least. After more and more weird occurrences, Lord Carlston tells Helen about the Dark Days Club, and organisation with the mission to rid England of the evil that is brewing, and, what's more, Helen possesses the power needed to aid the mission.

Helen was a wonderful MC. She seemed perfect for the era, though she had a bit more get up and go from the norm. Having to live with her overbearing uncle, who wants nothing more than to marry her off, and get rid of her 'taint' once and for all, and well meaning, but critical aunt, she never felt right at home. She misses her parents more than anything, and can't believe the rumours about her mother. When she discovers that her mother wasn't a traitor, and instead was helping save England, she feels vindicated, but, of course, can't tell anyone. Because of the gossip surrounding Lord Carlston, and the general restriction of the time, she and he can't meet up and work whenever they want. The spark between them grows and grows with every meeting, and the romance is so slow building that I wanted to scream at times. However, I can see really good things between them in book 2 ;).

Carlston isn't the only love interest that Helen has. There's also a Duke who's quite keen, though his hatred for Carlston is problematic. There is a bit of a love triangle, but because the romance isn't a big part of the story, it's not annoying, at least not for me. Because of how strict Helen's life is, and how society was at this time, some of the characters, including her own brother, Hayden, come across as stuffy, but there's many, including her maid, who make up for it all.

Now that I've read this, and loved it, I am dying to get my hands on The Dark Days Pact. This book was just setting up for the main action coming, and if this is anything to go by, it will be epic.

Dates Read:
August 16-17, 2016

Rating
4 Stars