4.5 stars

Read if you like:
💪 Strong FMC
❤️‍🔥Female rage
🗽Oppression being challenged
🔮Magical abilities
🤐A life-changing secret
🛏️Forced proximity
😍Enemies to lovers

✅ The writing is very simple, easy to read at a fast pace and nods to modern day trends eg mood reading

❓Not much world building vs Fourth Wing/ACOTAR/Belladonna but probably because it’s still fairly short compared to those books and is aimed at a younger audience

❓MC does do some infuriating and inexplicably dumb things that don’t seem to align with her character which is a frustrating lack of character development

❓Some parts felt very rushed and glossed over eg the friendship with her sister is formed in three letters and some tea?

❓The author also spent so much time building up one relationship at the start only for it to just be ¯\(ツ)/¯

🌟 Picks up and becomes unputdownable around halfway which earned it the 4.5 - the second I can’t put a book down, the stars go up

Honestly, Tricia Levenseller NEVER MISSES!!! I absolutely loved reading Chrysantha’s story, and once again two morally grey characters won me all the way over. I loved the romance in this, but Chrysantha’s journey, her relationship with her staff, and her relationship with her sister stole the show for me. I love the way Tricia Levenseller writes fantasy about women - it is so thoughtful and sensitive to the potentially misogynistic pitfalls of the genre, without ever feeling heavy handed or overly didactic. These are strong, fierce women trying to find their way in a world where all the rules are written by men, and these books are angry and funny and messy and joyful all at once.

Thank you so very much to netgalley and teh publisher/author for accepting my request to read and review this book before its release date.

I recently read The Shadows Between Us and I really really enjoyed it, so much so that I was thrilled to see this on netgalley and read from Chrysantha's perspective.

Let me start by saying this.... Eryx Demos.... ERYX DEMOS..... YES. I did not expect his.... afflcition, to be aprt of this series. My monster romance loving self was SHOOK.

Took me a hot minute to warm up to him but when I did... I DID.

I have relasied that Tricia Levenseller is the BEST and writing morally gray characters that, while you find them truly horrible, you are rooting for them fiercly. Chrysantha was a total badass, doesnt take anyone crap and challenges EVERYONE around her. I found her perspective to be even more interesting than her sisters.

I also love how Tricia Levenseller SEAMLESSLY leads us through so many twists and turns wthout giving the reader whiplash, but enough to be constantly engaged. Her books are short but very very sweet, I zoom through them so fast every time.

Overall, really enjoyed it, I have a few nit pick things like the sisters drama and constant competition being a bit frustrating, and some of the dialogue being a little questionable ever now and then, but on a whole highly enjoyable.

The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 18 July 2024

Chrysantha Stathos has won.

By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, Chrysantha Stathos has become a wealthy duchess. And, once her elderly husband dies, she will have all the freedom, money, and safety she's ever wanted.

However, a man claiming to be the estranged grandson of Chrysantha's lecherous late husband has turned up to steal her inheritance. To make matters worse, her little sister is going to be queen and is rubbing it in her face.

Chrysantha decides that the only thing to do is upstage Alessandra at her own wedding. And as for this grandson, he has to go. Never mind that he's extremely handsome and secretive with mysterious powers... No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants.

I was a huge fan of “The Shadows Between Us,” so when I saw this ARC available, I was thrilled. I devoured it in one sitting, just like the previous instalment. It was a fun and easy read, with seamless writing and a spot-on narrative. The characters were well-crafted and provided non-stop entertainment.

If you enjoyed the first in the series, then you will not be disappointed with this instalment.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Pushkin Press , and the author, Tricia Levenseller, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

3.5⭐. Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC.

I loved The Shadows Between Us, and so was eager to try out this spin-off. Disappointingly, this didn't quite reach the charm and fun of the first novel. A large part of my struggle to enjoy this as much as Shadows is that I didn't quite like the male love interest Eryx all that much. He starts off insufferable and borderline sexist just from his first interaction with Chrysantha the protagonist. Fortunately, he does learn the error of his ways and went through sufficient character growth to become a believable and even likeable romantic partner for her. Overall, the romance isn't terrible, but it took a long while for me to actually care about them as a couple.

The absolute gem of the book is rightfully Chrysantha. Unapologetic, delightfully scheming, and cleverly snarky with her comebacks, she was the best part to read, much like her younger sister Alessandra from Shadows. Darkness gave me a satisfying portrayal of feminine rage; of women who do whatever it takes to survive in a patriarchal society that values them only as property. While female friendships weren't as centered in Darkness as Shadows, it did acknowledge the complicated relationship between the sisters, with Chrysantha working to make amends to the woman she hurt the most through her prior manipulations. Author Tricia Levenseller continues to handle her antiheroines with decent complexity rather than making them one-note Bad Bitches.

Owing to the fact that this series is YA, the ages of the main characters are 18-19, though it would have made more sense if they were all in their early 20s at the very least. The usage of the term "prostitute" is also outdated, given that sex workers have campaigned against it due to the stigma attached to it and prefer to be referred to as sex workers instead.

Overall, a decent edition this universe. Personally, as much as Darkness is marketed as a standalone that can be read on it own, I would still highly encourage reading Shadows first, given how much Alessandra ends up being mentioned in here.

Title: The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller
Release Date: July, 18th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Chrysantha Stathos has carefully crafted her image to hide her intelligence and ambition, earning herself wealth and status by age nineteen.

However, her plans are disrupted when her sister Alessandra marries the powerful Shadow King, and a man claiming to be the duke's grandson threatens her inheritance.
Determined to maintain her control, Chrysantha sets her sights on eliminating Eryx Demos, despite his allure and mysterious powers. She's determined to assert her dominance and ensure that she gets what she desires, no matter the cost.

"The Darkness Within Us" was a delightful surprise, offering a deeper look into Chrysantha's character, Alessandra's sister from "The Shadows Between Us." Despite initial doubts, Chrysantha proved to be a multifaceted and intriguing protagonist, blending fierceness with unexpected warmth. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Chrysantha and the enigmatic MMC kept me thoroughly engaged

Tricia Levenseller's adept world-building and engaging prose whisked me away into a thrilling adventure. Chrysantha's defiance of societal norms added layers to the narrative, creating a compelling story overall. With its captivating characters, enchanting romance, and compelling plot, "The Darkness Within Us" emerges as a standout fantasy read that I highly recommend.


Thank you to The Publisher Pushkin Press | Pushkin Children's Books ,The Author Tricia Levenseller & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

I read this in one sitting- much like all of Tricia Levensellers books!

I freaking loved this so much!!! Chrysantha is just incredible - she has fought so hard for her freedom and she is an iconic FMC. Eryx is swoon-worthy. He's delicious from the moment we meet him in his leather coat!!
Levensellers characters are just always fantastic and I cant not enjoy every book she writes.

I'm obsessed and can't wait for my physical Copy to arrive!!

It was a fun, quick and easy read. Even though it’s been years since I read the first book, I had no problem going back in the universe once again. The writing is still very enjoyable and the story’s pace was fine. The main characters were well thought out but I did not particularly like Eryx, he was unbearable at the beginning. I would still recommend this book to someone looking for an entertaining read.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I have been dying for this new release, I loved The Shadows Between Us, however, am always a bit wary of companion sequels where I loved the original characters so much, incase the new ones don't live up

Instead of joining Alessandra, this time we join her sister Chrysantha. Chrysantha has maneuvered herself into a marriage of convenience, waiting on her ailing husband to die, but sadly he isn't going quick enough and she is suffering through the time

However, after his inevitable death, she is now ready to be who she always should have been and enjoy her life without being told what to do. When along comes Eryx, who claims to be the grandson of her late husband and rightful Heir to the fortune

Chrysantha and Eryx must learn to live at the Manor, with neither backing down on what they want, which is currently to see the other gone. But along the way, this may change for one (or both) of them.... and what secrets will they learn about each other along the way

I loved this story! I generally don't start one of Tricias books unless I know I have a free night as I have always ended up binging them, and this was no exception.

If you loved the first book, I have no doubt you'll love this too. Can't wait for you all to meet Chrysantha and Eryx in July!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the early review copy, all opinions are my own