REVIEW: The Dark Days Club
The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
Page Count: 482 pages
Release Date: December 14, 2015
My Rating: 5/5 Stars!
Goodreads Synopsis:
London, April 1812. On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?
My Review:
I didn't know what to expect from this book going in, but just... WOW. I'm more than pleasantly surprised - I LOVED IT, and ordered the sequel immediately after finishing! I loved this book so much that I don't even know where to start this review, but let's try to begin.
Me after finishing this book ^^^^ This is a paranormal novel set in Regency-era London, and it reads like Buffy x Jane Austen. There's balls and dresses, courtship drama and sense/sensibilities (or lack thereof!) but there's also demons and mystery and demon slayers and secret societies. And it works SO WELL.
The historical elements of the book are meticulously researched, and are present enough that the reader feels completely immersed in the culture and time period without it ever seeming "textbookish." Because the world is so detailed and realistic, the paranormal elements seem completely believable and realistic as well! The demons aren't overdone and it never turns into a paranormal/magical free-for-all: it's a perfect balance of historical drama, super-interesting plot, page-turning mystery, and a dash of paranormal entities.
The characters were amazing, especially the protagonist Lady Helen Wrexhall, and antihero/possible villain/possible love interest Lord Carlston. There's female friendships, interesting familial dynamics, and a believable, non-annoying love triangle. First: Lady Helen. She was the perfect "strong" character, a mix of Buffy and Elizabeth Bennet. She's vivacious and independent while still being kind and having a sense of era-appropriate manners. She wants to be free and respected, but also respects her family members/family name and wants to uphold propriety (to some degree). I connected so much with her as a character!
Lady Helen summed up ^^^ And then we have Lord Carlston. He returns to London with a mysterious, possibly dangerous past and rumors and gossip surround him. He's the epitome of a tortured soul, with questionable, shades of gray morals--and he is portrayed SO PERFECTLY.
Lord Carlston summed up ^^^ All in all, I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, fantasy, paranormal, strong heroines, slow-burn romance, complex societal and familiar dynamics, Regency period, secret societies, or exciting, mysterious plots!