The Darkness Within Us

By Author / Illustrator

Tricia Levenseller

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Pushkin Children's Books

ISBN

9781782694274

Format

Hardback

Published

18-07-2024

Synopsis

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

Or so she thought. 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.

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Reviews

Chrysantha has won. She has cleverly played the game of being a beautiful but simpleton girl, married an aging duke - who thankfully, hasn't long to live - and will inherit his wealth upon his death. Freedom to be her true self at last and live her life the way she wants too.

However, life throws curve balls and one is heading her way. How will she manage to keep her freedom, money and safety in a world that is dominated by men? Eryx Demos, who claims to be the duke's estranged grandson, has turned up to claim his inheritance, the one that belongs to Chrysantha. There is no way that she is going to let a man take everything away from her again, even if he is good looking and mysterious. She needs to find out what he is hiding, but will she be able to handle what she discovers?

The Darkness Within Us, a standalone story, focuses on Alessandra's sister, Chysantha, who had a brief mention in the first book The Shadows Between Us. The relationship between the two sisters is fractured; they compete with each other and there is not much love lost between them. This is due to the way their father divided and treated them as they grew up. Will they ever be able to put their differences aside and find out how much alike they really are?

This book is only suitable for the 15+ reader due to the many sexual scenes within its pages. The story also contains references to abuse, death, violence, misogyny and a mysterious demon! However, this is not a dark read as it has an entertaining, humorous banter between the two warring characters, along with their slow burning attraction.

All of the above has been cleverly well written throughout, (this popular YA author has a wonderful imagination) and makes for a pacey, roller-coaster read. Get a copy and enjoy.

336 pages / Reviewed by Linda Brown, school librarian