Title: Where the Dark Stands StillAuthor: A.B. Poranek
Pages: 336
Publication Date: February 27, 2024
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood – the Leszy – who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.
Those who enter the wood do not always return…
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I loved this beautifully written story! Steeped in Polish folklore and mythology with some Beauty and the Beast vibes, it’s dark and immersive and so atmospheric. I couldn’t get enough of the rich setting and the characters. And the romance! Soooo good!
The story follows Liska, who is a bit of an outcast in her village because she has to hide her magic from the witch-fearing villagers. She longs to belong and hates her magic, which propels her to find a way to rid herself of it. When she goes into the woods to find a way to take away her magic, Liska ends up making a deal with the Leszy – if she serves him for one year, he will grant her wish.
If you like Gothic romances, I would definitely recommend checking this one out! The setting and plot are as intricately woven as the characters, and the found family aspect is wonderful. The “House Under the Rowan Tree” takes on a life of its own and feels like a character in its own right. I also love the mystery of Leszy and how his story unfolds. And Liska’s journey toward self-acceptance as she learns more about her ability and faces a dangerous god and other obstacles stands out as one of the highlights of the story. This and many other themes resonated with me long after I finished the book.
Liska and Leszy’s individual stories are fascinating, and their love story is EVERYTHING I love in a romantasy. It’s heart-warming and funny, and it ripped my heart out and put it back together, and I’m not upset about it. lol They have such great banter, and the push and pull between them is delicious. My word, they make slow-burning romance look good, and I so wanted them to find happiness together.
Special thanks to NetGalley and TBR & Beyond Books for providing me with a copy of the book and having me on the tour. All thoughts are my own.
All changes in the world but the ways of men.
Of women, he’s heard it said: “She will be the end of me” or “She will by my undoing.” None of that is true for Liska Radost. She is not the end of anything, but the beginning of everything. He has been dead a long time, and she is his resurrection.
“If I look like a monster,” he says roughly, “the no one will be surprised when I do monstrous things.”
If the world has not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself.
What is fate but an excuse to surrender responsibility?
A. B. Poranek grew up in Ontario, Canada but spent her summers in the Polish countryside, raiding her grandfather’s library and helping care for his chickens. Her love of animals led her to pursue a degree in Veterinary Medicine, though she never stopped writing along the way. She now lives in Versailles, France, where she spends her free time doodling and wrangling her void demon (read: cat), Neptune.
Author Links:
- Website: https://www.abporanek.com/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/abporanek
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abporanek/
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47049416
Thank you for you review of this book. I was curious, but I my galley request was declined. Now, I know I can buy the book without worrying whether or not I’ll like it.
Oh, that’s too bad. Getting declined is always such a bummer. 🙁
This one sounds fantastic!
Sounds terrific! And that cover alone makes me want to check it out!
Right! It’s so gorgeous.