Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've heard so many good things about this book, and I keep seeing praise posts all over Instagram and tiktok, so I really REALLY wanted to love this book! In the end, though, I have mixed feelings about it.

I started reading this book on 22nd April. Come 18th May, I still had only made it 30% into the book. The first 30% were so slow and I felt like nothing happened and I didn't really get to know the characters at all, and it put me off of reading it. On the 18th May though, I decided I just need to push through, and my goal was to make it to 50% that day. To its credit, the book did pick up a bit after the 35% mark and I ended the day on 66%. Today is the 19th May and I've read the last third of the book. The ending is packed full of action and was actually really good! The ending was both heartbreaking and beautiful, and I do feel that it had very much a fairytale vibe to it.

What I liked:
- Liska and the Leszy, once I felt like I got to know them a bit, and their banter, which was great!
- Liska learning to embrace her true self
- The side characters, including the sentient house
- The story was giving Beauty and the Beast as well Howl's Moving Castle vibes throughout
- The epilogue, which I won't spoil, but very much felt fairytale-like!

What I didn't like:
- The pacing; too slow at the start and then all the action at once towards the end
- The Leszy always calling Liska a "not-so-clever Fox"; it got very tedious over time.
- It felt like the author was almost trying too hard with the Polish vocabulary at times

Some of my favourite quotes:

If only we could go back to that time, Liska thinks, when we were young and full of stories.

'Impressed?' he asks, amused.
'I think I might be going into shock.'
'I do have that effect on women,' he says casually. 'Most people, really.'

'Don't you know?' the Leszy says, wry and enigmatic at once. 'Anything can be a door. You simply need to know how to open it.'

'You utterly mad, imperious thing,' he breathes. 'You did it. You freed your magic.'

'But – but what do I do now?'
'What you always do, Liska. You keep going.'


Final thoughts:
Where the Dark Stands Still is a good story about learning to embrace the darker sides of yourself and coming to terms with who you are, that you don't have to change because someone will love you for who you are and that there is a place in the world for you! Overall, the themes were good and I enjoyed the characters and dialogue, as well as the work building, but I did feel like it was quite slow at the start, which I think has put others off of the book as well. If you can make it past the first 30%, the book becomes quite enjoyable though, and I think if I were to reread it, I might enjoy the beginning more than I did the first time around.

3.5⭐, rounded up becaude of the ending.

"Where the Dark Stands Still" by A.B. Poranek is an engaging fantasy that transports readers to a small village on the edge of the spirit-wood, where magic is feared and its practitioners are deemed monstrous. The protagonist, Liska Radost, unexpectedly unleashes her own powers with dire consequences and is subsequently caught by the Leszy, the demon warden of the wood. The Leszy offers Liska a perilous bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish, setting the stage for a tale filled with dark enchantment and intrigue.

Poranek excels in creating an eerie and atmospheric setting. The spirit-wood and the Leszy's crumbling manor are vividly described, immersing readers in a world where danger lurks in every shadow. Liska's journey into this sinister environment is compelling, as she navigates her fear of magic and the enigmatic nature of her captor. The tension is palpable as Liska discovers that she is not the first to make such a bargain and that her predecessors have mysteriously vanished. This mystery drives the narrative forward, keeping readers hooked as Liska delves into the Leszy's past.

However, while the book is rich in atmosphere, it occasionally lacks depth in character development and plot progression. Some of Liska's interactions with the Leszy and other characters feel rushed, and more exploration of their backstories and motivations would have added layers to the story. Additionally, the pacing can be uneven at times, with certain revelations and plot twists occurring too abruptly. Despite these shortcomings, "Where the Dark Stands Still" remains a solid three-star read, offering a haunting and intriguing tale that will captivate fans of dark fantasy and mysterious bargains.

⭐ 4/5

I really enjoyed this story. I was hooked from the very beginning. I was captivated by Liska's determination and the leszy was very intriguing and the mystery of his character had me coming back over n over again. I was giving the amazing chance to read this book from netgalley and because I had to keep putting it down (Joy's of a large family) I also purchased the Audible aswell as I was Enchanted with the book that much.

The ending I'm still unsure how I feel. I'm happy with the ending but i feel there is still just a little more i would like to know / expand on.

Overall was a great read and helped me out of my reading slump

This was a beautiful and whimsical read that had me completely captivated. AB's writing is stunningly well done and the descriptions of the world and it's characters were divine. This is a magical story that consumed me, I would highly recommend!

Beautifully written, captivating and what a storyline. I absolutely loved this book. I loved the lavish descriptions and the creativeness of the characters. The magic of the book was fantastic and it really grabbed my attention and had me hooked.

Oh my holy moly. This is easily one of the best books I've read in 2024 so far. It's such a strong debut and I can't wait for what Poranek comes up with next.

What an absolutely enchanting, dazzling tale this was! I couldn't even imagine when starting how much I'd adore this story. The writing is truly magical. I loved the use of Polish folklore, there's so much to explore there. The lore was beautifully entangled with the growing relationship between Liska and the Leszy.

If you like Howl's Moving Castle and Beauty and the Beast, this one is for you.

his is a beautifully written story about belonging and magic, full of whimsy, eeriness and warmth. Like many fairy tales of Russian/ Polish/ Slavic origins, it is morally grey and has a bittersweet end. However the elevator pitch that this is Howl’s Moving Castle meets Uprooted is not far off the mark. The MC is likeable, the romance is believable and the story is engaging. I devoured this in two sittings and while I didn’t entirely love the ending, I accept that it fit the story and was a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommend.

What a wonderful unique little book this is! Where the Dark Stands Still is a beautifully written YA fantasy. Steeped in Polish folklore, the story ensures you experience each and every little emotion and will stay with you for a long time after you've closed the book. Liska is terrified of her magic and desperate to be a good girl. She makes a deal with a demon called the Leszy and finds herself hidden in his dangerous wood. I just loved the character of the Leszy, but the side characters in this novel just steal the show, from an angry house sprite to a broken down sentient house.
It was a little slow in the middle but this novel was pretty close to perfect. I absolutely adored it. I have the feeling this will be a stunning little standalone but it makes me so excited for more books by this author. A brilliant read.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

This story has Slavic folklore, magic, gothic themes, and darkly charming characters. I especially liked the cute nicknames given to Liska. Where the Dark Stands Still offers escapism into a world I wish existed.

Where the dark stands still is my new favourite book. Slavic story with ghibli feeling. The very last sentence left the most peaceful feeling I’ve ever experienced.

I have been so excited to read this book and I was not disappointed!
Where the Dark Stands Still has a magical forest, polish folklore and just felt like such a cosy magical read.
I found myself struggling to put this down because it felt so different to anything else I’ve read lately.
I really liked the characters and the pacing - it just felt spot on.
I feel like this was left open for a potential sequel so I am really hoping for more!

The story
The character
The folklore

Everything was just perfect
Such a great debut

Was totally addicted to this book from page 1

Ok so this was honestly my favourite book this year so far!

Much like a number of recent novels, this story centres around a dark and mysteriously dangerous woodland with a Manor House in its centre however this story is somewhat different than the rest.

Full of a dark and beautifully brooding atmosphere and heart achingly slow burning romance, this book delivers the perfect balance between dark fantasy and fairytale-like wonder. I devoured every carefully crafted word and immersed myself into the excellently built world of the Driada.

I was in awe of the beauty of the writing and the twists and turns kept me interested throughout. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes their fantasy novels with some romance and intrigue baked into the storyline. Perfect book for those who enjoyed One Dark Window, For The Wolf etc

Where The Dark Stands Still was such an atmospheric read, steeped with magic and Polish folklore.

It was a little slow to start with, but it soon had me completely hooked with its gothic romance and lovable characters. Jaga was a particular sassy little favourite of mine!

It really reminded me of Sorcery of Thorns and My Throat an Open Grave, many have also said it has Howl’s Moving Castle vibes too - one I definitely need to read!

I loved the gothic atmosphere, the banter and the romance with Leszy and Liska, the magical elements and just the general fairytale vibes from this one. 100% be looking to read any future Poranek books!

Where the Dark Stands Still is full of gorgeous writing and is a really immersive experience to read. The world building is brilliantly effective and I loved the way the story is revealed bit by bit - you can sort of predict what’s going to come out next but you’re never really sure. I enjoyed the feeling of being a little bit in the dark; it played into the story so well. The plot I thought was clever and twisty without being either too convoluted or too predictable. There were elements of horror and cautionary tales very much in keeping with the Polish folk tales it’s drawn from and I loved the inclusion of Polish words (I got a kick out of figuring out how to pronounce them correctly). It reminded me of Little Thieves by Margaret Owen and will likely appeal to fans of that series.

Liska is a great MC; she is likeable but realistically flawed and naive and I was rooting for her from the start. The author did a great job of making the Leszy vaguely terrifying to begin with and then more approachable and more of a real character the more we got to know him. The peripheral characters are great too; I especially loved Jaga - you can tell the author has a cat because it feels like she’s exactly written the thoughts of one!

Honestly, I absolutely loved it. I stayed up til midnight to finish it and it had me in tears. The ending was perfectly executed. It’s a triumph of a debut novel and an easy 5 star rating for me. A book I know I’ll go back to and read again and again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book!

4.5 stars

This romantasy based on Polish folklore was the most gorgeously written book I've read. It was so beautiful, the prose was so haunting, the imagery came right off the page. The half a star off five is due to the pacing; while it's a stunning book, it does get a little slow going into the middle, but overall it was a fantastic book and it was so great to read something with Polish setting. That was new to me and as a Fantasy Addict I adore seeing new settings and mythology steeped into the genre.

Where the Dark Stands Still transports readers into a charming and enchanting world, blending elements of romance and fantasy with the allure of a classic fairytale.

As readers embark on this magical journey, they are drawn into a realm where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, and where love and adventure intertwine in unexpected ways. With its lush descriptions and captivating storytelling, it evokes a sense of wonder and whimsy, inviting readers to lose themselves in its spellbinding narrative.

For fans of romantic fantasy and fairytales alike, this novel promises an enchanting escape into a world where darkness and light collide, and where love has the power to conquer even the most formidable of obstacles.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

“Its a beautiful sort of devastation, a glittering chaos, and it ends as quickly as it began.”

“Grief is like a chronic ache, I think - It’s always there, bit sometimes you notice it more and sometimes less, and sometimes its unbearable and sometimes you think it might be gone for good.”

GENRE: Fantasy
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐.75/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc
Would I recommend to others?: Yes, to those who are interested in Eastern European folklore!

Review:
This book was a lovely read, in which I rated it is as a 3.75 stars and rounded it up to 4 in here. One of my favourite folklore is Eastern European and this is my first time reading Polish Mythology! This book gave me cozy fantasy vibes with cottagecore adventure (is there such a thing? This book makes it a thing for sure!)

I enjoyed getting to know our main characters: Liska and Leszy. I enjoyed getting to know the background behind their magic, the reason why they are the way they are and how it shaped them. I truly enjoyed the mentions of their past and the way it was added as flashbacks to strengthen our understanding of them as characters. Half the time, I was like “omg why did they become this way?” So I truly enjoyed that part in this book. I also loved the addition of the cute side characters: Spirits, past human souls & mythical characters taking their shapes are humans. The conversation Liska has with them is adorable, cozy and feeds so nicely into the story!

I loved the adventure and character development of Liska, as we get to know her and see how she struggled to fit in and does her best to change herself so that she can be accepted in her village of Stodola:
She will do anything to prove that she is not dangerous, that she belongs, to the village and her people.”

“It’s not a curse, little one.” He kneels in front of her, looking up. “It’s merely a challenge. We are all given burdens in life. God simply gave you a heavier load because he believes you are strong enough to carry it. Your magic is a test, and you must resist at all costs.”

“You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch.”

Additionally, we get to see the effect of the church and pagan beliefs and how they blended together in the Polish village. This is evidential throughout the story. We even get to see memories from when Liska was a child and trying to navigate her magic:
Children do foolish things until they are old enough to understand they are foolish.”

I think, for me, what lacked in “where the dark stands still” is a little bit of the pace and the fact that majority of the things don’t happen till around 55-60% of the book. I do know this is common with fantasy but it was just a bit too slow for my liking. This was obviously not enough to push me away from the story and keep me from reading it! I did thoroughly enjoy it but it didn’t Wow me.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy slow paced fantasy books that focus on Polish Mythology and that has a bit of romance and cottagecore-cozy vibes (but filled with action)! The author refers to this as a strange and spooky found family at the House Under the Rowan Tree and I couldn’t agree more. I entirely loved the spooky vibes of the forest, the house & the story in general.

Thank you Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this arc!

Where to start - this book had me hooked from the beginning! It felt cosy and familiar, but at the same time, I didn't know what to expect.

Reading this book felt like I had stepped into a Studio Ghibli film. The descriptions of the manor, Jaga and Leskys heart reminded me of Howls Moving Castle, a book and movie I adore.

Watching the relationship between Liska and Lesky develop was one of my favourite parts, I especially loved when he showed Liska how he viewed her and she realises that she is enough as she is, and she doesn't need to change for anyone.

I am a sucker for a declaration of love, and the Leskys was perfect. "Of women, he’s heard it said ‘she will be the end of me’, or ‘she will be 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."

I had a feeling that something wasn't quite right with Maksio, but I'm so glad he didn't turn out to be evil (at one point I was concerned he was there at Weles command). Maksio and Jaga were the perfect side characters, adding heartfelt moments and sarcastic comments.

I can't get over the ending and the epilogue! All I can do is hope that we will get a sequel or novella one day, as all I want is to see Liska and Eliasz together!

A 5-star read for me, I can see myself picking this up frequently and it becoming a comfort read!