Title: Dark Skies

Author: Danielle L. Jensen

Pub. Date: May 5, 2020

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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 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. 

This will be a spoiler free review. I listened to the Audible audiobook.

Talk about slow burn romance.

Omfg.

I was dying inside.

I just wanted to force them to kiss and break the tension between them.

Just like with Dark Shores, this book didn’t disappoint. I was a little disappointed going in, since it wasn’t about Teriana and Marcus (I seriously need the next part of their story jfc), but Killian and Lydia…oh boy. I loved them. I loved how we got the see scenes from Dark Shores from Lydia’s point of view, and how she ended up in Mudamora.

Dark Shores and Dark Skies take place during the same time period, and it explores how Lydia impacted events in Dark Shores and further expanded the world that Danielle so masterfully created. I mean, you can’t help but get wholly absorbed and immersed in this world. Just like with her other books, the world and the characters just come to life on the page and in your mind. You’re instantly transported into the story.

I honestly wasn’t expecting to like Lydia as much as I did. Simply because we spend a whole book with Teriana hurt and betrayed and basically railing against her friend. But then we learn that things didn’t play out at all like Teriana thought, and Lydia has this silent strength that is really endearing. She ends up in way over her head, and just grows and becomes this very capable bad ass. For someone who’s life is completely uprooted, she handles it pretty freaking well.

Then you have Killian. I’ve said it before, you name a character Killian, and I’m going to love him. Guess what, he doesn’t disappoint, at all. His character is honorable, he has his flaws and he’s always trying to do the right thing. What more can you ask for?

Also, the sheer fact that he found Lydia’s glasses and brought them to her

This book is full of twists and turns. There’s betrayal and the “bad” guy isn’t just the evil Queen or the blight affecting the land. I really didn’t expect the ending, and I’m curious to see if a certain someone is going to be making an appearance in book 3. I really wouldn’t mind if this person didn’t, but I bet they do. It would be an even bigger plot twist. But like, the ending itself was, mind blowing-ly (is that a word?) tense and I couldn’t wait to finish it, even though I was beyond stressed.

I’m SO ANNOYED with how it ended between Lydia and Killian, and I need book 3, like, yesterday. I groaned and breathed “no” while listening at work, because that couldn’t be how this book was going to end.

Once again Danielle did not disappoint. I’ve said it a few times now, she’s a master and her books just come to life and draw you in. Her characters are so good and so engaging that you have to like them. That and how she writes their relationships is perfect. If you haven’t yet, you should definitely pick up Dark Shores and Dark Skies! You’re seriously missing out and depriving yourself of some really, really good books.