Day After Day (The Day Trilogy Book 2)

Just thinking about not seeing Raffe again makes me want to go to a hole somewhere and cry myself into oblivion So it won't happen. Because I said so. View all 45 comments. Let's talk about the story: There may be spoilers so if you haven't read the book try to avoid this paragraph This book continues the story of the first one.

Main characters Penryn What I liked about Penryn in this book is her courage to do things on her own. Raffe Well as I mention in the review of the first book I really like Raffe's sence of humor. Paige Paige is one of my favorite characters in this book. Me while reading the book favorite sentences: I clear my throat. She'll puke just to make a point. You should be afraid. You gave me the opportunity to crawl back to life when no one else could. Also I can't wait to see this and the first book on screen. View all 60 comments. Things can always get worse. I have to say, I love that Ee took it to the place she did.

This book is terrifying, but not in the way you might expect.

Sure, there are some suspenseful moments, and more than a few scenes that will get your adrenaline going, but the real horror in this story comes from a surprising source. Not the angelic invaders, not the monsters that come buzzing out of the darkness in this latest installment, but the humans. So above the rest of the animals on this planet. Penryn is a survivor in the true sense of the word. This makes her a complicated character by nature and one not everyone might warm to because those same instincts drive her to put herself and those she loves above all others.

She has to make hard decisions in this book, has to choose which battles to fight, and those choices were part of what made this such a compelling read. So prepare yourself, because this book pulls no punches. It picks up the blink after its predecessor ended and provides the same non-stop action, the same gritty, dirty and sometimes ugly story of post-apocalyptic survival. This is easily my favorite YA series of all time and after this latest installment I have infinite faith in Susan Ee to continue to deliver. Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest View all 85 comments.

This may have something to do with Raffe and Penryn not being very exciting apart from each other, because for the first half of the book, I struggled to stay interested. On the positive side, the second half does pick up after Penryn and Raffe reunites and the horror aspect that we saw at the end of Angelfall really starts to shine through. There are only so many times Penryn can save Paige before it loses its appeal.

But I don't know how I'll be able to wait so long. View all 42 comments. View all 19 comments. There are a lot of themes of good vs. As far as I'm concerned, the only message in this book that mattered is: I understand it, and I admire Penryn for it. I have a baby sister, I love her. We are the same age apart as Penryn and Paige. It hasn't always been smooth sailing, but I will do everything I can to make damn sure she has a happy life. Nobody hurts my baby sister. A good sibling vengeance story will get me every time. I loved it in the Fever series, and I love it in this book.

I really enjoyed this book This is one of the situations where I find myself to be the odd man out.

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I think every single one of my friend loved the first book in this series, whereas I enjoyed the originality of the first book, but was largely indifferent to it. However, I'm happy to find that I liked this book a lot more than the first. Don't get me wrong, there was absolutely nothing I disliked about this book.

Penryn is a strong female character, with a tremendous sense of morality and loyalty to her family and friends that I admire, and the romance was well done in that it developed over time and was not the focus of the book. I had some problems with the plot, particularly towards the second half of the book, but overall, I think my reaction to the book is just one of chemistry.

It happens with people, and apparently, it happens with books and the characters within. In life, you meet a lot of people. Some, you like, for no fucking reason. Some, you hate on the spot, despite the fact that they are perfectly pleasant, perfectly nice, completely inoffensive whatsoever, and yet, try as you might For me, the Angelfall series is a perfect example of chemistry gone wrong. This book has pretty much everything I could ever want, action, a light romance, awesome characters, horror, death, blood.

What can I say? I'm starting to sound like I don't like this book. I liked it a lot. I just find myself largely indifferent to the characters; that is a matter purely of personal taste, and not a reflection on the book itself. I truly did enjoy this book. I didn't remember much from the first book.

I didn't need to. This book summarizes the ending of the previous book well enough so that I didn't have any trouble being reimmersed into the World After. We are back in the Silicon Valley and it it a fucking glorious mess. This is what I loved. This is what I wanted. This is what I didn't get much of from the first book. People are scared, hungry, in hiding. They're forming into groups, gangs, because you can't survive alone, not in a world like this. Penryn, broken Paige, and their schizophrenic mother have just escaped the aerie, and are with the Resistance, planning to slowly retake their world from the destructive Angels.

Penryn has no idea where Raffe is. All she gets is flashes of his thoughts and dreams, projected by the sword he has left her. Raffe is so tantalizingly close, yet so far away. It's a tough life made tougher when Paide, Penryn's broken sister gets kidnapped. Penryn will do anything to get her back.

A lot better this time around. Things just made more sense, and there is more of what I wanted to see. Call me morbid, but I love reading about a broken world. It's what drew me into post-apocalyptic fiction, and dystopian fiction. It's what hooked me in The Walking Dead , and I felt that this book delivered that scenario so much more than the previous one.

We get to see more of the remnants of society as they cower in fear and try to raise a meager resistance. We get to see people imprisoned, starving, willing to go to the extent of cannibalism because they are so desperate for sustence. It is a gripping setting and scenario, it's not overly detailed on a grander scale, since Penryn only knows what she sees, so it is fine with me. This book moves fast. There is too much action at times, for me, because I'm the sort of person who needs a moment of quiet and introspection amidst all the chaos.

The thought of angels getting into frat boy parties and swigging champagne and chilling with gorgeous "daughters of men," was absurd to me in the previous book, and it remains completely stupid to me in this book. I liked the fact that this book did not feel the need to force Penryn and Raffe together unnecessarily. It shows that Penryn is independent, it shows that she is capable of survival without Raffe, however foolhardy her actions are, at times.

And it makes the eventual reappeance of Raffe so much better, when it finally happens. It felt like taking a deep breath after holding it in for so long. I liked most of them. I really enjoyed Penryn's character, she is strong, she means well, but she is imperfect, and so very human. Penryn makes foolish decisions, she makes mistakes, and she realizes those mistakes.

I liked that about her. Penryn knows all too well that no matter how good your intentions, no matter how bravely you try to act, no matter how much of a hero you try to me, shit can always go wrong. I liked the other characters in the book, and how well they were portrayed. I find myself altogether fascinated and horrified by Paige and Penryn's intrepid, unstoppable, and completely insane mother. She is truly bulletproof, and I can only shake my head, aghast, at her actions throughout the story. Penryn is not altogether strong, she has her moments of weakness.

She aches, thinking about Raffe but there are better things to think about. Priorities, Penryn has them! Penryn allows herself a few moments of wanting him and missing him, but really, it's the end of the world, and she ain't got no time for romance when her SISTER's missing. I felt the romance was very well done; it was light, it was believable, and I love the fact that Ms.

Ee has the courage to not force Penryn and Raffe together unbelievably and unnecessarily. Altogether, a really good book, with likeable characters, in an interesting setting. You want your kick-ass heroine, you got your kick-ass heroine. Finish writing this book, damnit! View all 10 comments. View all 53 comments. I don't know how many books are planned for this series but it seems to fall prey to what would be called "middle book syndrome" in a trilogy.

The story plods along, giving the novel a weighted feel which made it easy to put aside at times something that could never be said for the previous book. My rating leans towards the positive because I did enjoy this sequel - Ee has a talent f 3. My rating leans towards the positive because I did enjoy this sequel - Ee has a talent for balancing gory, gritty action scenes with playful and hilarious banter - but I admit that I was expecting something more from possibly my most anticipated book of this year.

Still, the last fifty pages exploded with flashes of everything I love - action, humour, unexpected plot turns and romance - and I adore Penryn enough to know I will be returning for more. Readers will surely recognise the author's delightfully sarcastic touches of humour straight away - I found myself laughing aloud multiple times, even when I'd been cringing in horror and sat tense on the edge of my seat just moments earlier. I think this is what I like most about Ee's writing: This rarely works for me; I almost always find the humour draining the scary atmosphere out of each scene or the jokes falling flat amid the descriptions of gore Penryn is as badass as ever, always in the centre of the battle and fighting for the ones she loves.

Raffe also returns though not often enough if you ask me for hilarity and sexual tension. My main issue is the lack of progression in this book. Angelfall took us on a wild journey that presented us with so much fascinating information, angel lore and complexly-woven characters and relationships. World After , on the other hand, takes baby steps and reminds us of many things we already know: While it wasn't a bad read, I felt like it could have all happened in a few chapters rather than spread over an entire book. The greatest progress made by this sequel is in the character development of Penryn's mother.

She becomes more than the token crazy person in World After and we see her for what she really is: This aspect of the book was fantastic, IMO. A good sequel that could have been better with more careful plotting and pacing - perhaps the author intends this series to be longer than it needs to be as is often the case.

But I enjoyed World After a lot and I'm not surprised to see other reviewers expressing their continued love. I just hope the third book doesn't take so long! View all 17 comments. Scroll down for my full review.

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Also, because Amazon actually sent me an ARC!!!: Friday night when I got home and sat down to crack this baby open: When my family wanted to go out to dinner, then shopping, then a million other things that weren't reading: All weekend, when my family had other plans for my precious reading time: Then on Sunday when I finally got to start reading: As I was reading: When Raffe view spoiler Scroll down for my full review. When Raffe view spoiler [finally hide spoiler ] made his first appearance: Last night when I finished the book: I only discovered Angelfall last year, but it quickly became a favorite.

Penryn "My dad once told me life would get complicated when I grew up. I'm guessing this isn't what he meant. My mom, on the other hand, agreed with him, and I'm guessing this kind of thing is exactly what she meant. I probably flagged a hundred passages in my ARC, including those highlighting her quick wit, her sharp-tounged quips, and her banter with Raffe.

But I also loved her inner monologues, where she pondered how best to escape an inescapable situation, how to protect her family, and what to make of her feelings for Raffe. I voted Penryn to the top of my "favorite heroines ever" list the very first time I read Angelfall , but I've come to appreciate her character even more with this sequel. Not only is she a skilled fighter who would do anything and risk anything to keep her family safe, but she's also very smart and calculating, and she has a remarkable talent for keeping cool in situations that would find anyone else running for the hills with their tail between their legs.

Penryn is the epitome of what I want in a protagonist because even though she is all these things, she is still just a girl, emotional and vulnerable and just trying to make it to the next day. The Sword "I've mentioned that names have power, right? Do you realize that when she fights battles, she's going to have to announce herself to the opposing sword? She'll be forced to say something ridiculous like, 'I am Pooky Bear, from an ancient line of archangel swords. This thing is sentient, can tell who's got a hold of it and what their intentions are, and it.

And Penryn has to hide her. The disguise Penryn comes up with is, well, degrading and demoralizing to the sword and anyone who knows exactly what it is. As is the name Penryn accidentally gives it. Those were some of my favorite parts in the story because not only did they show how connected to the sword Penryn already was, they also added some much-needed levity to an otherwise disheartening story. Raffe "Something catches his eye and he walks to the window.

A formation of angels flies past the moon. He leans toward the glass, almost pressing his face to it as he looks up at the angels. Every line of him tells me he longs to fly with them. BUT, through the sentient power of that awesome, badass sword, we get glimpses of him in the past, sort of like his perspective through the sword's eyes.

So, even though he's not there , he's still with us. I think it's because of this -- and her fear for her family -- that Penryn is able to continue, to keep going when it all seems pointless. He still wants his wings back, and now he's fighting with a rage that only comes from grief.

He believed Penryn to be dead, and so he undertook his previous mission with single-minded intensity. Raffe can be hard and cruel and unforgiving, but he is not wholly unfeeling. In fact, I believe there's more emotion locked up in his angel heart than we're ready to see yet, which is why we've only been given glimpses so far. The Romance "The candlelight flickers a soft glow along his jawline, along his lips. I'll tell you what's addictive: Between his quips about Penryn being a lowly human to the condescending way he berates her every action, you'd think he can't stand her.

But quite to the contrary, this is a defense mechanism. Push her away so that he's not tempted to make the same mistakes his Watchers did. And it's kind of hot to watch the tension between these two, even knowing it won't amount to anything I can feel it. Raffe can feel it. Even Penryn, who thinks Raffe has no feelings for her, feels it The sword helps her along that path, though. I'm pretty sure nobody ever ordered my mom around -- ever. The unruliness of the women in your family must go back for generations. You're like a plague upon the land. And yet, this series just would not be the same without her.

Far from being a detriment to all of Penryn's well-laid plans, she actually makes things easier for Penryn Her antics tend to keep everyone occupied while Penryn does all the heavy lifting. Paige is more feared than even their mother now, though, and so Penryn spends a good chunk of time battling her feelings toward her sister and also clashing with others, all in an effort to keep little Paige safe.

But the changes inflicted on Paige in the first book have left her stronger and more capable, and it's time Penryn gave her the benefit of the doubt. Everything else in this novel is just icing on the cake. Beliel, Obi, and Dee Dum are all present and accounted for, and causing the kind of trouble you'd expect from all of them. Penryn gets herself into a jam a time or two Plans are being cemented for the evil angels to fully possess our world and everything it has to offer.

And all the while I'm screaming at Raffe to give us some hope. If you enjoyed Angelfall , I have no doubt you'll love this sequel equally as much. The writing, the characters, the world You've seen what they've survived, what they're willing to do for each other, and you just want them to be okay in the end.

And you also know that it's going to be a long, long wait for the next book. Bring on the Angelfall movie already!!! This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue. View all 14 comments. No official publication date No Summary Not even book title! I want to read the sequel: View all 3 comments. Angelplay could be fun, right? They are actually all waiting for the judgement day! That clears things up. And they fight with angels too. Like, wrestling and stuff.

The Dark Days Pact (Lady Helen, #2) by Alison Goodman

They also might or might not have some lion parts. View all 55 comments. D uhuh the angel sure is nice Oct 27, That scorpion picture will haunt my dream! Brrrrr Dec 16, Yet he cares so much about Helen, and he doesn't take care to make it less obvious. He suffers quite a lot, in this particular book. Darby is her usual feisty self, and she and Mr.

We learn a lot about Mr. Hammond, and I adore him so much. His sister, Margaret, is annoying as ever but in an endearing way. A character that becomes very important in this book is Delia; her addition to the main plot was surprising, but in the end, very welcoming. Selburn is unfortunately in this book, more in second half, and honestly he is the peskiest of flies. In the first half the book, the focus is on training Helen and Darby, and for Helen, making the deal with the man to get the journal. But the man, Lowry, wants something that Helen refuses to give, and then she finds out that Carlston is looking for the journal not knowing that she is too , so Helen must sneak around and try to find out more, in order to steal the journal herself.

But plans never go planned, and so there is a lot of close calls and nighttime excursions. The romance is so obvious and wonderful assuming you like Carlston. I didn't really see Selburn being part of the romance in The Dark Days Club, and as annoying as he is, I still don't see him being a real threat. Romantically speaking, it's all Helen and Carlston. While Carlston isn't a big softie, he gets romantic for a moment! The bond they have goes beyond being Reclaimers, or sharing energy, or whatever: I'm hoping Goodman works that out, in the end, because there really is no other ship to be boarded.

The ending is good in some ways, and painful in others. I love how exciting the ending is! It was a mad race to make this or that happen, and so every single character in this book was converging to one spot. All of our main characters are still alive and well and survive the scuffle. I did mention that the ending is slightly painful, and it is.

It's a cliffhanger that has little to do with Reclaimers and Deceivers. Still, I have hope, and I'm very excited to read the next book. What I Did Not Like: I will complain about a thing that I can't say specifically because that would be spoiler-y. Remember how I said that there isn't really a love triangle? That is very true, because Helen is in love with Carlston, and vice versa.

Never mind that Carlston is still technically married his wife has been missing for six or so years. Never mind that the Duke of Selburn is obnoxiously obsessed with Helen and won't stop asking her to marry him. Why does he persist? She has rejected him so many times. Again, I'm complaining about a thing that happened in this book that I can't say specifically.

But, it's a thing that I want to see disappear very quickly, in book three, if possible. Personally and this is just a theory, and not a spoiler , I'm hoping that Selburn is the Grand Deceiver. We still don't know who is, by the end of this book though we get some more information about the Grand Deceiver. I'm hoping it's Selburn, because he is so slimy in a nice way. He's too protective and invasive, in terms of Helen and her business.

Sure, it would be convenient if he were the Grand Deceiver, but still. A girl can hope. Would I Recommend It: Despite the not-love-triangle, I really enjoyed this book, and I'm loving this series. So many aspects of the story are strengthened - Helen, the plot revolving the Grand Deceiver, the journal not spoiling , the romance that ONE scene, mercy. There are even seeds about Carlston's wife, and Helen's parents, and a darker matter about Reclaimers and Deceivers. This book sets up for an intense showdown in book three!

I highly recommend this series if you like historical fiction, paranormal fiction, steampunk fiction. I'm not a huge fan of Cassandra Clare's books, but this series reminds me a little of The Infernal Devices, in terms of the world-building. My heart will be shriveled and withered by the time book three is published! I'm not sure I can handle the ending of this book for so long.

But I'm trusting Goodman to deliver a fair and good ending, for Helen, and Carlston, and Darby, and Quinn, and the others. I'm looking forward to getting book three in my hands as soon as possible! The Dark Days Pact -- cool! Want want want WANT! Holy guacamole, I need this book. I think your enthusiasm level for this sequel will be directly tied to how much you liked Carlston in the first book.

I just wasn't his biggest fan and kept waiting for Selburn to show up here while also weirdly hoping he turns out to be the Grand Deceiver? If you don't remember the first book very well, this one sums up a lot of the basics when Helen explains the world to Delia: It allows the creatures to feed upon human en 3. It allows the creatures to feed upon human energy by skimming a tiny amount from many people.

It is not their preferred way of feeding, of course; they would much rather glut upon the energy of one person at a time It is all so There are too many of them to destroy, and so we must live alongside them. We cannot, however, have their existence known And if she informs him of her assignment she'll have committed high treason. A good part of the story is her trying to retrieve Benchley's journal, usually dressed as a guy. A few parts of this series are just a bit weird to me sometimes, but I do like it overall! And it really does have one of the best historical settings I've found. All of the details are incredible!

And the second half of this story definitely picks up. I'd recommend this series if you liked The Infernal Devices, These Vicious Masks, or any other historical stories with demon hunting! Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC! The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon release. View all 7 comments.

Desire to give a book the highest rating and praise it; to convince more friends to read it pff, pages is nothing when the plot Actual rating: It is how one writes a sequel. View all 16 comments. Lady Helen is still just as awesome as she was before. She's stronger this time around and I really enjoyed seeing her work out the new facets of her powers. The rest of the gang is all here and they're definitely in for some changes. There are a lot of twists and revelations in this book and I was on the edge of my After reading and loving The Dark Days Club, I knew I would be devouring the sequel as soon as I could.

There are a lot of twists and revelations in this book and I was on the edge of my seat for the last quarter of it. I just couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Be prepared for anything and everything, but it's the ending that just might kill you in the most delicious way. The third book has quickly become a title that I would do horrible things for. I can't wait to see what happens next. Jan 19, Laura rated it liked it Shelves: Part of her training is learning to disguise herself as a man convincingly since woman are restricted to the places they can go among other things.

Lady Helen is put in an interesting predicament when the Dark Days Club give her an assignment to find Benchley's journal and not to tell Lord Carlston who may be slipping into madness. That's as deep into the plot that I'm willing to go because spoilers. And so is the Duke of Selburn. A lot of the secondary characters are back. The historical accuracy is still phenomenal.

Except this time with the story set in Brighton, we're getting something a little different than Lady Helen in gowns at balls doing the Regency London thing. Besides the fact that she is dressed as a man a good amount of time allowing her to go around town freely, get a beer at the bar, or say There are also fun scenes going into detail about bathing machines and dipping with Martha Gunn, the most famous dipper in Brighton yes, in real life. The people, places, and moments in history that show up in the book were once again my favorite part.

The romance becomes a much bigger focus in the second book. I liked how it stayed somewhat in the background in The Dark Days Club. It was slow-burning, but now that it has sort of gotten there I don't exactly care who Lady Helen "likes" because there is a much bigger situation among us.

She doesn't have time to kiss him or the other guy for that matter.

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Not to mention, I just don't care much for romance. Also, Lord Carlston is a larger character in this book than he was in the first. I enjoyed how mysterious he was, but now that we know him It was definitely personal preference that made me enjoy this one less than the first. I still liked the story. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I would've hoped. If you don't mind Carlston as a character or a bit of romance to spice up a novel, you won't have these issues.

If you enjoy well-researched historical fiction with a paranormal twist and don't mind romance, this would be a great series for you to try out. I cannot get on the Carlston fan-wagon. I am so team Selburn and I will forever dream of him winning the hand of Helen. Carlson just is way to broody, which would usually work for me but man is he a guard dog.

All I know is Carlston is still technically married and that should be a red flag to Helen. The Dark Days Club still absolutely loathes Carlston which I think kind of draws Helen to him even more than usual and they are wanting to do anything to get him out of their neat little club even though he is the best they have. But at the end of the last book, after some unfortunate events, he is becoming a little I just liked the parts including the brothel and no, nothing like weird about it.

Lady Helen 3 Title Reveal!

I just like the neat little preteen we meet. This series is really unique and I am going to continue! Jan 22, Giselle rated it really liked it Shelves: An Advance Reader Copy was provided by the publisher for review. Quotes have been pulled from an ARC and may be subject to change. We're back in the Regency Era with Helen and Carleston. The second book usually ends up being the "filler," but even though this was the second in the series, it didn't feel like that. The book progresses along and even if it was a little slow, I still enjoyed it.

There's so much to digest, that you won't be able to put this book down. I just love Goodman's writing. S An Advance Reader Copy was provided by the publisher for review. She writes with incredible detail that paints a very vivid picture of the world she has created. I like how the era is represented, where lords and ladies dance and their relationships aren't on full display. How different woman were treated in a man's world and how high society versus low class was managed.

It was wonderfully researched. Oh and don't forget about tha epic ending. I need book three? Ahhh my mind is full of questions and fears and what ifs!!!! We cannot follow when we must lead.

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We must make our own rules. Oct 12, Kassidy rated it really liked it Shelves: I really enjoyed this sequel! I loved the development of the characters and the darkness of the story. The plot definitely picked up in this one. Jan 14, Keertana rated it it was amazing Shelves: This sequel picks up promptly where The Dark Days Club left off with Lady Helen in Bath for the summer, having been cast aside by her aunt and uncle. Now that Helen has discovered that she is a Reclaimer, she is under the tutelage of Lord Carleston as he trains her to join the Dark Days Club.

But nothing is quite as it seems Lord Carleston is prone to illness, a strange Lord Pike is stirri Rating: Lord Carleston is prone to illness, a strange Lord Pike is stirring trouble, Helen is confident she's seen a Deceiver in town, and the Duke of Selburn has followed Helen to Bath to renew his offer of marriage. Add to the mix Helen's best friend, Delia, who escapes being sent to an asylum to join Helen and Helen's new vows as a Reclaimer, which compel her to follow the King's orders--even if that means listening to Lord Pike--and The Dark Days Pact is a hell of a ride.

What I love most about this book is the fact that Helen is caught between her upbringing as a noble woman and her duties as a Reclaimer, which demand her to dress and behave as a man on more than one occasion. As the only female Reclaimer in the Dark Days Club, Helen is an anomaly and watching her navigate the constructs placed upon her gender, while keeping to her vows as a Reclaimer, was a wonderful journey. Goodman excels at capturing the intricacies of gender--the fact that the men of the Dark Days Club see Helen as a noble woman despite her strength and contributions to the society--and I loved watching Helen re-define the boundaries to fit her.

Of course, in Victorian England, there is constantly a push-and-pull of societal expectations and the heart, and this comes to light particularly in the romance. The Duke of Selburn can give Helen a good name--something her reputation rather needs--but Carleston understands that she needs freedom and trusts her to follow her instincts instead of constantly protecting her. It's not a love triangle, because it is clear who Helen favors of the two men, but the war between love and duty is one that becomes even more clear in this novel. We see that not only Helen but Hammond, his sister, Helen's maid Darby, and even Lord Carleston are all battling this same war.

We finally unravel the many secrets of his past and, what's best for me is that we see Lord Carleston out of his element. Enemies from his past, such as Lord Pike, plant doubts in the mind of Lady Helen and as Carleston's "illness" gets worse, he acts rashly and out of turn. Carleston isn't entirely in control of his actions and to see him go from a confident leader to a weak figurehead, of sorts, is a twist--one that is as difficult for him as it is for the secondary characters and Helen, especially.

I loved seeing the changing relationship dynamics that this brought, though. And, of course, the plot just continues to thicken. Though we get many answers in this sequel, there are just as many questions remaining and Goodman wastes no time in elaborating upon her world-building. We meet so many more members of the Dark Days Club, understand the bond between Reclaimer and Terrene better, and even have our assumptions about Deceivers put to the test.

This is such an intriguing world and though variations of this idea may have been done before--namely in The Infernal Devices --Goodman still manages to make her world wholly unique. I couldn't anticipate the grand majority of plot twists in this novel and the ending threw a knife in my gut; my emotions are a complete mess and I desperately need the sequel to know everything is going to be okay.

Goodman doesn't hesitate to do away with characters we're starting to love--or already do! For fans of The Dark Days Club, this sequel doesn't disappoint in the least. It's a wonderful blend of gender roles, romance, action, paranormal, and plot twists. Helen's difficulty in mastering her Reclaimer skills and fitting into the society of the Dark Days Club--so different from the life of a noble women--is utterly realistic and I love, love, love this strong-willed, determined heroine.

The secondary characters--a wonderful blend of genders, sexual identities, and class hierarchies--all make this a historical fantasy novel rooted in diversity and I am eager for more of Goodman's work. I, personally, love the Victorian Era and can never become tired of being thrown back into Jane Austen-esque novels with paranormal twists, so this is among my favorite series.

But, even if you aren't as obsessed with Victorian England as much as I am, give this series a shot--it's absolutely worth it and you'll discover a new go-to author as a result. View all 4 comments. Which means they failed me, Vikings books why did you fail me? I need to know this information! And also what is it with people rating books that have not even been released yet? Unless you've gotten an ARC, and read the book before we even get an official release date, why are you already rating the book?

That is just unfair to the author and fellow readers. View all 6 comments. London, To Lady Helen, My dearest friend, I have been following your adventures with anticipation for quite some time now. When you told me of a secret society that vanquished demons hiding among the populace, no one was more thrilled than me that you were to be a part of it. I lived vicariously through your missives for a while, and I was proud to call you a friend.

Then, of course, we could not communicate for a few months, and I must confess, some of the details of your trials slipped my London, To Lady Helen, My dearest friend, I have been following your adventures with anticipation for quite some time now. Then, of course, we could not communicate for a few months, and I must confess, some of the details of your trials slipped my mind. I hope you will not judge me too harshly when I say that I had difficulty recalling names and events.

When you spoke of losing the Colligat, I had to sift through my old letters to bring it back to mind. That said, since I will be judging you quite harshly from now, perhaps you would be fully justified in berating my poor memory. I do not know what it is that induced such a noticeable change in your personality during your stay at Brighton, but I do not remember you being such an indecisive soul.

Nor quite so preoccupied with the Bible. I appreciate your devotion to god and country, but perhaps you could save the repeated sentiments for someone else? I believed that you were a pragmatic person, not one steeped in religious fervour and prone to believing whatever she was told. Surely you of all people know that one must keep an eye out for agendas. I am sorry to say that your maid, the inimitable Miss Darby, sounds a thousand times more sensible than you. She, for one, is not constantly in denial about her feelings.

Keep your thoughts to yourself, Helen, but do not lie to yourself. It ill becomes your intellect. I somewhat sympathise with your keeping secrets from everyone, but you cannot play every side and hope to win. Your lack of conviction in your comrades is disheartening, to say the least. As for the Earl, the less said about that, the better. The incident at the tavern was equally appalling. I cannot, for the life of me, tell why you would attempt to punish a Deceiver that was clearly not doing much harm.

They do not sound pleasant, but you must know when to wage your battles. There is merit in diplomacy, even when the enemy is involved. I thought you would realise this when you met the Comte, but sadly you continued to disappoint me with your unilateral thinking. I do not ask you to abruptly alter your principles, but when new knowledge comes your way, do take the time to ponder it. Finally, with regards to your latest experiences, I have noticed that it seemed less adventurous altogether, though admittedly the stakes were higher.

Fascinating musical byways abound in the last part of a doggedly researched trilogy charting the history of late 60s soul. The Life and Music of Eric Clapton review — the sinner not the songs. Fox 8 by George Saunders review — wisdom in the woods. A deceptively childlike fable from the Booker winner is rich with ethical and environmental concerns. Invisible Britain edited by Paul Sng review — the voices of austerity. Testimonies from people struggling after eight years of hard Tory policies are more nuanced and complex than you might expect.

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