The Darkness Within Us

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

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 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!!

I enjoyed reading more about this world and the sisters that could take over the world.

I've read The Shadows Between Us, so I was not expecting this amazing fiery FMC because of how the sister was portrayed previously. But Chrysantha is strong willed and a delight to read.

Eryx and Chrysantha's relationship made me smile with pure joy at multiple times throughout the book. I enjoyed reading about them getting to know each other, the scheming, and all the twists and turns along the way.

There are similarities with this and the first book in the series and even though you could read this as a standalone, I think it is better if you read book one first. As you will know the King and Queens story, therefore enjoy hearing about what they do afterwards, and also make the sisters relationship more endearing.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I never thought we would get a novel from Chrysantha, and I can’t say I was clamoring for one, but I am beyond happy that we got one. This book absolutely hooked me. Fantasy Romance and enemies to lovers is already an easy sell for me. Regency era is always fun but especially when there’s a new season of Bridgerton out. And I just happened to watch part 1 of Season 3 right before starting this book. And it gave me everything I needed to help hold me over until part 2 drops.

I absolutely loved Chrysantha. It’s so interesting to get inside the head of a character that was absolutely despised by our FMC in the first book of this Companion Series, her sister Alessandra. Chrysantha is cunning and witty and such a force to be reckoned with. She’s also for sure crazy but I love that for her. This was absolutely a case of “I support women’s rights, but more importantly I support women’s wrongs”.

I also appreciate the discussion around women’s sexuality. If a man has many lovers he’s just a man. If a woman has more than one lover she’s a whore. But Chrysantha is having none of that. She wants what she wants, when she wants, how she wants, and is absolutely sick of societal norms and, frankly, anyone else’s opinion. My only slight issue with the sexual content is that this book is marketed as YA and I feel as though at some point it teetered from upper YA to maybe being more NA, but those lines have become more and more blurred these days. And not having NA exist as a recognized genre within publishing has made it difficult for books to be properly shelved. Alas, as an adult who thoroughly enjoys both sexual content and sexual tension, this book hit every beat I wanted from it. On my scale it was about 1/2 a chili pepper to 1 chili pepper when it came to the actual spice, but it definitely fell heavily on the side of thick tension, which I loved.

Chrysantha is the definition of a strong independent woman. I loved how she took no shit and fought for what she wanted. Following along with her tricks, her whims, and yes, her attempted murders, was an absolute joy. We also got multiple moments with the couple from the first book, which was fun.

This book is technically a companion novel, so you don’t have to read the first book in the series, but I’m glad that I did. I think it adds a fair amount of context that would benefit you in your read of this novel. However, it is definitely not necessary and I know that many people were divided when it came to their enjoyment of The Shadows Between Us but I think it’s evident that the author writing only continues to improve. I read The Shadows Between Us a few years ago and gave it a 4 stars, but I think on a re-read it could possibly be more of a 3.5 star read. I don’t really do quarter stars anymore but this book, The Darkness Within Us, is definitely at least a 4.5 star read, if not a 4.75 star.

I absolutely recommend that people pick this book up, even if they didn’t particularly love the first one. This book was an absolute joy of a read and will be perfect to pick up when it releases July 9th, after all of Bridgerton season 3 is out and you’re desperate for something to satiate you.

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.