The Dark Days Deceit

<p><b>Another favorite series delivers a low blow, crushing my girlish hopes of the epic finale and heartstopping romance</b>. <br /><br />What do you expect from a series that ended previously on a high note of girlish squicks and dancing around the room? Right. You expect <i>epic</i> conclusion. You expect <i>the high</i> to be even higher. You definitely do not expect the series to soar into the sky and then crash down on earth with <b>80 percent of the boring content</b> of talking, walking, wedding preparations then <i>more</i> talking. And what romance? What feelings? The high I felt from interactions between the characters in book 2 is gone; disappeared into the <b>zero chemistry land</b>. I literally spent a whole hour of mulling around after I finished the book, seriously contemplating maybe something was wrong with me and I somehow missed all the awesome parts? But then I ran all the events in my head and didn't notice any gaps in my memory. This book <i>indeed</i> was dull to the brim. <br /><br />Granted, I had my own theory who the villain is and expected to be correct on that front <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="5701c220-ecf7-45d5-b15b-4e974f0d3c18" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="5701c220-ecf7-45d5-b15b-4e974f0d3c18"> Yes, I was correct about Selburn being the Grand Deceiver, at least a part of it, but the dullness of the plot in no way helped me to feel excited about that fact. On the contrary, when the moment of revelation came I read it and thought, 'Boring! Give me something, at least!'</label> And you know that feeling when some of your beloved secondary characters die and you feel like a part of your world is dying as well? Yeah, I didn't feel it <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="15416a78-ebe7-4da1-bfe8-93f3d74c228c" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="15416a78-ebe7-4da1-bfe8-93f3d74c228c">Delia and Margaret's deaths didn't stir one bit of sadness in me; my eyes stayed dry and my frown only deepened.</label> <br /><br />And I am not even touching the topic of romance and <b>useless love-triangle</b>. Come on, where's my Helen/Carlston searing chemistry? Where're my star-crossed lovers? Did Helen seriously start to think she is in love with Selburn and blushed in his presence all the time? I want to vomit at such notice, my tolerance for nonsense is very low if not absent at all. <br /><br />I guess I am giving this book 3 stars only in regard to the whole series that holds and <i>will</i> hold a special place in my heart. I will just pretend that <i>The Dark Days Deceit</i> was, indeed, a <i>deceit</i> that never happened, therefore I will think of my own ending where the death of the whole world is <i>better</i> than such a <b>pitiable finale</b>.</p>

yeah, no offence, but the covers in this series are terrible.<br /><br />and even WORSE is that it's coming out in <i>november</i><br />---<br />THIS IS CALLED THE DARK DAYS DECEIT and i just saw Sept. 2018 so i'll be in my grave until then.<br />---<br />when will I GET SOME NEWS

Ooops! Big error. I just read book three before reading book 2. Oh well, no point going back and reading book 2 now because I know what happens ?<br /><br />So, just review book 3 anyway. It was pretty good and it rounded up all the loose ends. It seemed a little long but I was happy with the end result of the love triangle. The final battle was really exciting. Helen has come a long way since that first book. <br /><br />Goodman is not afraid to kill off fairly major characters and there are a couple of sad deaths. However a lot is learned about the way their magic powers work and the way the book ends suggests that the author could intend to continue. I hope so.

While I still really enjoyed this book and read it in a single day, it was definitely my least favourite in the series. The magic system goes pretty much haywire here, there's a lot that I was confused about and most importantly: while I love a good slow burning romance, I also want that to properly pay off and that decidedly did not happen here in my opinion. You think I read three books about these characters to be happy with a single page of romantic conclusion? Nope.<br /><br />This is still one of my favourite YA fantasy series ever, I love the setting, the characters, the plot. All of that is true for the first two as well as this one, but I really was hoping for more in the romance section here. Lots of swooning and angst but no actual action, and after three books of pining (mostly on my part) that was quite unsatisfactory. An epilogue would have been honestly enough. I don't think that's asking for too much. Excuse me while I go be salty somewhere hoping there'll be a follow up novella or something :P

Good solid 3 stars. It all gets a bit long and repetitive by book three. Not bad just like I felt “over it” by the end. I definitely would still recommend it. <br /><br />I really appreciated this trilogy. I’m shelving it in my “new-adult-gems” GR shelf because the characters are over 18 and this is the type of NA I am always searching for—the kind that isn’t basically porn!

EDIT, January 21st, 2017 --- Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. This book is incredibly far away. HOW can I wait, after that ending (<i>The Dark Days Pact</i>)!? Tell me it isn't so...<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1459129143ra/18573020.gif" width="500" height="300" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br><br><br><br><br>Book One - <i>The Dark Days Club</i> - was sooooooo good! I need the sequel, and this one!

This is the third and final book in a trilogy that's best described as: Jane Austen meets Buffy. A Regency lady discovers that she is one of the few people able to fight and kill demons, which take over human bodies and feed on souls. With the help of her mentor, the brooding Lord Carlston, she has to learn how to fight them, while also keeping her secret superhero alter-ego hidden from high society English ton. <br /><br />It's one of those trilogies where each book builds on the one before it, and makes the story richer and richer, while raising the stakes. It also features one of the longest running and best plot twists of all time. High octane demon-fighting, Regency social politics, angst-ridden romance and the best heroine of all time - I could read about Lady Helen forever. I've already put in my request for a sequel.

<a href="https://fafasbookcorner.wordpress.com/2019/01/31/review-the-dark-days-deceit/" rel="nofollow noopener"> Review posted on Fafa's Book Corner! </a><br /><br />Beware spoilers ahead!<br /><br />Trigger warning: Death, physical violence, drugging someone, manipulation, cheating, sexism, misogynistic society, graphic fight scenes, and abuse of power/authority.<br /><br />The Dark Days Deceit was read for the theme Reborn Tales. For a book group called The Theme Thieves.<br /><br />Lady Helen is preparing for her wedding to the Duke of Selburn. She receives a letter from her aunt Lenore saying that she will be visiting soon. This scares Helen as her aunt isn't aware that she is a Reclaimer. And any of her recent activities.<br /><br />Lord Carlston meanwhile is looking for Lady Elise. Thus far there have been no findings. Lord Carlston and Lady Helen get into a fight. Lady Helen fears that her marriage to the Duke of Selburn will be put to the test. As her aunt and many other friends start joining the party Lady Helen is having a hard time completing her Reclaimer duties. With Deceivers more prominent Lady Helen and Carlston soon find themselves backed in a corner. Can the two defeat the Grand Deceiver and make it out alive?<br /><br />I have been a longtime fan of this series! So I was really looking forward to this installment. I am happy to say that I enjoyed it! As per usual this is book is written in third person limited following Helen. There are chapter numbers and letters. There are dates and the year. Plus there is a lace like pattern on the tips of the pages. <br /><br />The Dark Days Deceit was so tense! The beginning from the end was tense. With maybe a few nice and peaceful moments. And a hilarious scene. There was even tension between Helen and Carlston. At first it was just that they were mad at each other. But then it shifted to romantic tension. Which I think was done very well.<br /><br />Some new characters are introduced. Lord Henry and Lady Georgina who are going to be Helen's in-laws soon. Aunt Lenore and Andrew come back in this book. A few new Reclaimers come in as well.<br /><br />There was some more world building present. Particularly with the Grand Deceiver. The Ligatus also comes into play. And how it's effecting Lord Carlston, Lady Helen, and Darby. I really enjoyed all the information and how it fit in with the plot. The plot twists and reveals were so good!<br /><br />As always I loved reading about the relationship Lady Helen has with those around her! I was surprised at the friendship with Lady Georgina. I assumed that we weren't supposed to like her. The author instead chose to add more layers. Which I really appreciated. Her mentoring with Sprat was also sweet to read about! I really like Sprat. And was so happy that she played a huge role in the story.<br /><br />It was nice to read about Helen's aunt and brother. I was happy when they came back in. They provide a good support for her. Really great family dynamics. The author also surprised me by adding some layers to Helen's uncle. While he is awful and sexist, he cared about them. In his own way. He set up Helen's bank account as he did with his wife.<br /><br />The romance was pretty good to! I enjoyed reading about the love triangle. And the back and forth that Helen went through. I wasn't happy with how the love triangle ended. But I commend Helen's strength.<br /><br />I did have a few problems. I'm kind of upset about Selburn being the Grand Deceiver. I think that there was a better way to end the love triangle. Also about Lady Margret and Delia's deaths. It felt like all Helen wasn't left with too many female friends.<br /><br />Overall I enjoyed this installment! I highly recommend this series.

Listen. With this last book being published in a handful of months and the trilogy being soon complete, I’m going to need way more people to read the series because it is an underrated gem and EVERYONE IS SLEEPING ON IT.<br /><br />So here’s my plea: Get on it. Please. I’m sitting here, having just finished the final book, and I want to scream about it to an audience who would understand my blathering, but I can’t because a). this book isn’t being published until November and b). far too few have read the first two installments anyway. <b>THE DARK DAYS</b> series is legitimately one of my favorite historical fantasies. I’m always wary of bestowing such honorifics on series that are unfinished. However, now that I have read the complete series, I can say this with definitive measure. If you’ve ever wondered what a Jane Austen would be like if it contained a paranormal/supernatural element (but, you know, was actually good unlike some well-known books I could name), this is for you. Everything is so meticulously well-researched down to every little detail that I would like to commend Alison Goodman for that alone if everything else weren’t also of exceptional merit. I cannot overstate it enough. All of those details reel you in to the setting, fully immersing you into the time and place and then WHAM! smacking you full force with the fantastical elements that end up woven rather seamlessly throughout the narrative. How well-researched this series is might be my favorite thing about it, to be honest - and I love A LOT of things about it, no less the vibrant characters and a delicious, simmering, slow-burn romance full of tension and mutual aching (my weakness oh no!). There is something for everyone to enjoy from the thrilling action to the history to the unique magical qualities to the aforementioned romance to a bevy of other great relationships and, yes, especially Helen, our protagonist.<br /><br />Helen’s development and progression from the beginning of book one to the end of this one was not only a genuine treat, but earned as well. I’ve never been more fond of a fictional character and their trajectory. And it’s so satisfying! <b>THE DARK DAYS DECEIT</b> as a whole is satisfying and certainly one of the better series conclusions I’ve read so far this year. Sure, some of the major reveals were ones I called long ago. However, there were enough surprises and charm that my overall enjoyment never felt derailed. I love that I will be able to look back on this series with fondness rather than retroactive ambivalence due to a failure to stick the final landing. I AM SO RELIEVED. I will also, of course, be spending the next several months leading up to this book’s release politely shoving this series on every soul I encounter in my bookstore (thankfully, I get paid to push books on people and it is the BEST) because, again, everyone should stop sleeping on it. So really. Get on it. I’m doing you a favor, truly.<br /><br />P.S. <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="35ea6435-00d3-4c5d-bd77-c6d8bf6bde4c" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="35ea6435-00d3-4c5d-bd77-c6d8bf6bde4c">There’s also room somewhere for an epilogue/continuation? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. I would love nothing more.</label>

*3.5/5 stars*<br /><br />The Dark Days Deceit is great conclusion to this outstanding series! I would highly recommend this trilogy to anyone looking for a historical fiction with well built regency setting and many amazing deatils of the time, believable and charming characters, with a dash or two of romance and the paranormal. <br /><br />It has been some time since I read the first two books, but reading this one made me remember all the details pretty quickly and I was glad to be with the characters once again. <br /><br />That said, this one was not my favourite book of the series - that would be book two. The third and final book, while amazing, was my least favourite. But some book in a series always has to take that last place, this trilogy is still outstanding and well above many other YA historical fictions for me.<br /><br />One of my qualms was that the plot, and most of the revelation, was predictable. <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="f6672971-3489-4098-ad2e-ac8d4dac979c" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="f6672971-3489-4098-ad2e-ac8d4dac979c">Duke of Selburn being the Grand Deceiver was painfully predictable in this book. The plot with the other two Deceivers, which were made to seem like the Grand Deceiver, didn't actually throw me off at all. And it made the characetrs look kind of less bright than in the previous two books because I was forever waiting for them to get it.</label> And I wished for a bit more of the dark plot from book two, while this gave me more of the vibe of book one. At the same time, I liked the conclusion anyway. I liked how the plot of it was done, even if it wasn't exactly shocking, and some little details did surprise me. <br /><br />I also wished we got a tad bit more of the romance between Lady Helen and Carlston, this book seemed to be all about the obstacles. The whole series, really, which is part of the appeal of the romance, but in this book I felt like we didn't really move forward from book two with these two. Like all the progress in the romance was done in book two and not in this one, for most of this instalment. I loved Helen and Carlston so much, especially in book two, that I just wished to see more of them here, more progress. Which could've been done at least with an epilogue, to feel like the trilogy is well and truly wrapped too. <br /><br />But aside for some qualms, I was glad about the conclusion to the trilogy and savored the read from start to finish. Well written, well built world (both historical and fantasy side of it), well crafted characters. All in all, one of the best historical-fantasy fiction series I've read!