Danielle L. Jensen

Unwanted betrothals, assassination attempts, and a battle for the crown converge in Danielle L. Jensen's Dark Skies, a new series starter set in the universe of the YA fantasy Sarah J. Maas called "everything I look for in a fantasy novel." A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides. A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath – and his heart – to the test. A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE With Mudamora falling beneath the armies of the Corrupter, Lydia and Killian strike a bargain to save those they love most—but it is a bargain with unintended and disastrous consequences. Truths are revealed, birthrights claimed, and loyalties questioned—all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world.

Dark Skies

Emily B

4.5 STARS:

While I did enjoy the first book "Dark Shores", I will admit there were moments it dragged for me. This book, though, hardly gave me a moment of rest. There always seemed to be something happening. Yet, despite it's pace, it still made sure to have moments to build up the characters. 

While I still prefer Marcus more to Killian (which shocked me a bit, I must admit), I think I prefer Lydia more than Teriana. However, all four characters are nearly equal in my enjoyment, so the margins between are slim. I just like Lydia a little more because her character development was slightly more impressive. 

The romance of this book was very well executed. It was very easy to get behind, despite it being a different trope than I'm used to (strangers/friends-to-lovers). I also really enjoyed the side characters. They all felt like they had dimensions to them.

There are still some mysteries involved with the plot that I'm looking forward to seeing uncovered. The stakes were raised exponentially in this book, and I am looking forward to seeing how the heroes progress. 

I really do recommend this story if you want a fun, fantasy adventure. It has a lot of things that will appeal to many readers. I'm hoping the next book continues the momentum, so we'll see how it goes.

Megan Lowe

3.5 stars.

I’m not really sure what to think about this book. I have faith that, obviously, this story will join up with Teriana and Marcus’s but I’m not sure if it quite held my attention.
I liked Killian. I liked his band of girls.
I’m not sure I liked Lydia. She did what she needed to do, but felt a little weak to me.
I think my main problem with this book is just how much doesn’t go for them. It’s hard to read something constantly getting worse. There weren’t many bright spots in this book.
I also felt it was a little slow to start, but the magic system was better explained in this book.
There are shades of an infamous “seventh” book in a series, in this one, but I hope it all comes together eventually!

Bethany

** spoiler alert **
           I like Lydia much better than I thought I would, and her relationship with Killian is enjoyable to watch play out...it's very romantic 💕

Aundreya Rich

** spoiler alert **
           Rating 4.5 stars rounded up 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Ok friends.... there is really only one word needed to describe this book. EPIC!!!!


The beginning starts off with Killian, protecting the wall to Mudamora only to be be tricked by The Currupter and followers of the Seven god. Now under siege, Killian is marked by the God of War, and although it is an honor, he feels he has let down everyone and is a disgrace. 
Because of his failures he knows he will lose his head, until Princess Malahi has other plans for him and swears him in as her personal guard for life. 


If you read Dark Shores you remember Lydia is drowned by the hands of Marcus, but Lydia lives! Saved by xyanthier stone she finds herself in a foreign land at war. 
After an attack, Lydia is left with a choice to save a life and lose some of her own, or leave Killian to die. Her choice leads her to be marked as a healer by the Gods she is just learning to believe in. 

In this epic war tale, Killian and Lydia strike a deal to save their people along with those in need. 
There are creepy monsters.
Blood and gore 
A love that wants to be a triangle but a very odd shaped one 😂
Good guys
Corrupt government 
And the ray of light that we get to see Teriana, Marcus, Killian, and Lydias story come together. 
Think game of thrones meets Rome! 

My only complaint is the love story is such a slow burn... it’ll be burning for a year till I get book 3 and I am not great at waiting. 

Thanks for another epic world created Danielle. I don’t know how you do it

Caitlin

Danielle L Jensen is without a doubt not only one of my favorite authors discovered this year, but one of my favorite authors period. Not a single page of any of her books have let me down, yet. Her worlds are so vivid and action packed and her characters are so well fleshed out, so well understood, and easy to fall for. The magic system, the Roman inspired politics, the strategies, the twists….it all adds up to such a phenomenal second act here. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel going into a sequel that switched gears to two new main characters, but god, somehow it was PERFECTION. I need at least 7 more books in this series. AT LEAST.

Paola C

Following my excitement for Dark Shores, I had high expectations for this book, and it delivered.

In Dark Skies we follow Lydia and Killian who are in the middle of a war in Mudamora. The last time we saw Lydia in Dark Shores, we thought she was killed by Marcus, but she lived and went through a portal and landed on the other side of the Dark Shores, which until recently Lydia herself did not believe it existed. Killian is a new character introduced, he is one of the Marked of the God of War, so he's basically a badass. 

What I liked about this book is that it fills the holes from the beginning of Dark Shores and we get to see the point of view of Lydia and find out her reaction when she figures out the events of the first book. I appreciated that we got to see more of the world that Teriana is able to travel and the connections between all of the characters. It felt like the introduction of Killian served a purpose to the overall story and not just this book. 

I cannot wait to read Gilded Serpent to see how it all ends.

Unwanted betrothals, assassination attempts, and a battle for the crown converge in Danielle L. Jensen's Dark Skies, a new series starter set in the universe of the YA fantasy Sarah J. Maas called "everything I look for in a fantasy novel." Now a Kirkus Best Book of 2020! A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides. A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath – and his heart – to the test. A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE With Mudamora falling beneath the armies of the Corrupter, Lydia and Killian strike a bargain to save those they love most—but it is a bargain with unintended and disastrous consequences. Truths are revealed, birthrights claimed, and loyalties questioned—all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world. Readers may read either Dark Shores or Dark Skies first! Suggested series reading order: 1. Dark Skies or Dark Shores 2. Dark Shores or Dark Skies 3. Gilded Serpent (coming spring 2021) At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Fran

First off, Danielle L. Jensen is now one of my top three authors. I read The Bridge Kingdom this summer, which was so amazing I immediately wanted to read Danielle’s other works. As if by fate, Dark Skies was offered as a 1,99 deal on Kindle not long ago. 

I follow Danielle on Instagram, where she mentioned that Dark Shores and Dark Skies can be read out of order, so I chose to start with Dark Skies.


“Always she’d tried to fight her battles with words, but some people refused to hear her voice.” 


Both The Bridge Kingdom and Dark Skies have some similar plot elements, including a great deal of political intrigue and battle/warfare, but these themes are more prominent in Dark Skies. Immediately, the plot elements and the world-building gave me Game of Thrones vibes, which is very positive to me! 

The Celendor Empire and The West are both unaware of each Kingdom’s existence. But, whereas The Empire is based on ancient Rome, the world of The West has a more savage/magical/adventurous vibe (kinda similarly to Winterfell or The North in GoT) where they believe in numerous gods. Their Gods, The Six, guard the people of The West by granting them special marks.

Lydia is a bookworm from The Empire, with a mysterious birth origin. When meddling in dangerous politics, she mistakenly gets her friends captured, and then an attempt at her life is made and she manages to flee to The West.

There, she meets Killian, a warrior marked by the God of War. After the Corruptor’s armies invaded Mudamora on his watch, he’s been disgraced by the people and believed to have lost his godsent support. Together, Killian and Lydia set out to save their friends and Mudamora.


“There was a rumor that those marked by the God of War felt no fear. That Killian felt no fear. But the dull throb of blood in his ears and the thundering beat of his heart belied that rumor. Killian knew fear. He just didn’t run from it.” 


Dark Skies was, perhaps most importantly, refreshing. Although I’ve made connections to Game of Thrones, I’d just like to point out that Danielle’s books are some of the most original works I’ve read this year. Her worldbuilding is impeccable – from the descriptions to the atmosphere she creates and the believability of the worlds themselves. This is true for both her Dark Shores series and The Bridge Kingdom. I’m thoroughly impressed by her craftsmanship.

Despite how much I loved it, I have to admit that Dark Skies took me a while to get into. I’m not a big fan of political intrigue at the beginning of a story. As I’ve yet to fall properly in love with the characters, I’m not able to feel the sympathy that is perhaps required to engage with the story. However, once Lydia appeared in The West and started seeing more of Killian… Well, I’m a sucker for a slow burn romance. Literally, give me so much as a hint of romance or sexual tension and I will keep reading to see where my newfound ship goes.

Lydia is one of the most relatable characters I’ve read. She’s now up there with Tessa Grey on my favourites list. She’s a bookworm, and kinda timid (hello me??), but she’s also strong in her way, and very, very brave. For me, her character arc is one of the best aspects of Dark Skies, and what sucked me into the story and this world.

In the end, I devoured this book, and there’s no doubt about my 5-star rating.

Dark Skies and Dark Shores are unique in the way that these stories run parallel to each other, during the same time frame but with different characters. So, now I’m excited to read Dark Shores and see what happens on the “other side” of this story. In April 2021, Danielle’s releasing the third instalment in the series: Gilded Serpent, which is the continuation to both of the books and will follow all four perspectives! I have a feeling it’s only going to get better from here.

Bring it on!

Aubrey Erskine

I love how Jensen has set up this series, that you can start with either Dark Shores or Dark Skies. I did start with Dark Shores last year and I loved Teriana and her people along with Marcus and his army of misfits. I feel like we learned something of Lydia at the end of that book but I honestly can’t remember and while reading Teriana's story my thoughts never really turned to Lydia. Turns out Lydia did have a story to tell though, one full of deception, love and heartache. 

"North must not meet South"

What if you grew up and only knew half of the world and thought there was nothing beyond the ocean but more ocean? In the Empire of Celendor, a conquering empire, there is believed to be nothing beyond the Endless Seas. There are rumors of the dark shores though and what lies there but no one really knows for certain...or do they?

The book is told from two POV's, Lydia and Killian. Lydia resides in the city of Celendrial, raised as a Cel lady by one of the top Cel Senators and raised as his own. While she was raised as a lady though she is outcasted thanks to her skin color, but has no interest in polite society and instead dreams of more scholarly pursuits. She’s a warrior at heart though and willing to do anything to protect those she loves once she learns of threats against them. Her best friend, a Maarin sailor, and her people have been keeping a secret about the existence of the dark shores across the seas. She entrusts Lydia with this secret in an attempt to help her escape a political marriage but things go sideways. Plots of murder and extending the Cel kingdoms reach end with Lydia finding herself in a whole new world full of god and goddesses at war through their peoples with her only ally a handsome yet infuriating solider.

Killian resides in the kingdom of Mudamora in the hidden world of the dark shores. He is a boy marked by on of the six (gods/goddesses) and therefore holds more responsibility than most. His mark is for strength in battle but his reputation is one of debauchery. After a catastrophic attack at the wall he was to defend a war is now upon his kingdom and his god seeming to have turned his back on him. His reputation is in shreds and he’s now part of a political game he never wanted to be apart of. On top of all of that he meets a mysterious girl in the streets who is now in danger thanks to him and is spouting wild tales of a faraway land he's never even considered existing.

If you are looking for a nice long and drawn out slow burn this is the book for you. While there were not a lot of romantic scenes, there was a lot of tension. Lydia and Killian did have some cute moments though. While there was some romance I feel like it really took a backseat to everything else that was going on. That's just how Lydia and Killian are as characters though, they're pragmatic and prioritize the needs of others above their own wants. I loved the moments that they did have though.

I started off my reading thinking that the pacing was too slow but then realized I just wanted Killian and Lydia to cross paths and was being impatient. The book starts with them in their respective kingdoms living these drastically different lives. I couldn't fathom how their lives could possibly intertwine. And when they finally did? Just wow. I loved that scene and how strong Lydia was, able to hold her own and show her real strength. 

One thing I love about Jensen is her inclusivity which I praised in my review of Dark Shores as well. We get a mix of races, with white not being the race not in power in Celendrial. In the other half of the world racism doesn't even seem to exist, no one is judged by their skin color nor their sexual preferences. Gay, lesbian, bi it doesn't effect the life you can have there and no one even bats an eye if you are. 

Like I mentioned at the beginning of my review you can start with either Dark Skies or Dark Shores. I personally recommend starting with Dark Skies. I think it cleared up things a bit faster, but that could just be because I haven't read Dark Shores in over a year. Will reread and get back to you. I'm very curious to see the direction this series will take though. Both end in huge cliffhangers and it'll be interesting to see how they come together. Will the next book be from four POV's or will we got back to just Teriana and Marcus and then Killian and Lydia? All I do know is that Jensen has created an amazing new world to explore.

Princess Irene Uddon

I have never been more in love with a book like I have right now with Dark Skies & Dark Shores. If its possible I will give this book more than 5 stars cause its really good. Its compelling, thrilling and exciting since I flipped it page after page. 

You can read either Dark Skies or Dark Shores first cause the 2 books are happening at the same time. Dark Skies is about Lydia. Gods! How I hated protagonist that are weak and helpless. But that is not the case here! Lydia is such a huge mystery to me when I first read Dark Shores, and I have fallen in love with her on this book pages after pages. I love how strong, resiliant and fearless she is. Fearless in a way she will swallow her fear to save the people she love. I love that she hated being weak, that she dont want to be the kind of woman who cowers behind her Prince Charming and waited to be rescued. In this book she is her own f*cking Prince Charming and I love that.

I love that the author weave and made this book amazingly and beautifully written. The flow of the story is amazing, im totally speechless! I thought Jensen outdid herself on The Bridge Kingdom but this series is A MASTERPIECE! Its neither fast paced nor slow paced. The flow of the story is unbelievable addicting. Every charaters are outstanding and well thought! 

Im so friggin in love with Killian! I cant even describe how or why, just i know i love him. 

There is a lil bit romance. It was not elaborated cause the book is all focused on the war which I love. I value plot more than romance & smut so this book is now one of my fave! We also have new characters here that came straight out of nightmares. I love the magic system which is the Marked one. Love that it shows here that you can always have powers but it will come with a cost. And in this case being a healer means giving your life essence to the other to heal them. Its a give & take which is genius! 

I can babble more about this book all day but If you havent read it pls do! Its amazing! 

Manon van Heumen

This was once again really good! I didn't know this would be from completely different povs, but it worked well. I was sucked into the story, and enjoyed it.

Dark Skies

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