This Dark Descent: A high-stakes, swoonworthy YA fantasy steeped in Jewish folklore

by Kalyn Josephson

Enter the corrupt world of Veradell, where warring monarchs vie for a kingdom full of forbidden magic, illicit romance and cut-throat horse racing. Steeped in Jewish folklore, This Dark Descent is an explosive YA fantasy by Kalyn Josephson, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows.

Mikira Rusel is out of options. With her father imprisoned and facing rising debts, there’s only one way to save her family from ruin: enter the Illinir, a high-stakes, cross-country horse race known for its high death toll as much as its flashy prize money.

To have any chance of success she’ll have to recruit Ari, an unlicensed enchanter, Damien, a lord in the midst of a succession battle, and Reid; the brooding horse trainer who will be the key to Mikira’s survival.

All her accomplices have reasons of their own to help Mikira - and their own blood feuds to avenge. And as alliances deepen and romances form, Mikira will have to discover where everyone’s true loyalties lie.

In a world as dangerous as this, remember to keep your enemies close and your friends closer . . .

• ISBN10: 1035012146
• ISBN13: 9781035012145
• Publish Date: 28 September 2023 (first published 26 September 2023)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Mikira's family used to be famous for breeding enchanted horses. Unfortunately, the times have changed, and her family is slowly drowning in debt. There's nothing slow about the drowning, not with a certain Lord determined to take everything they have.

For a moment, it looked like Mikira was going to lose everything. Then Damien Adair stepped into her world, bringing Arielle Kadar with him. Together, they have what it takes to help Mikira regain her family's legacy. The question is, will she trust them to get her through this?

My Review:

Okay, you put any book in front of my face and promise that it's an equestrian version of Six of Crows, and you know I'm going to read it. That said, I want to preface this review by saying I didn't end up loving This Dark Descent quite as much as I liked.

This Dark Descent is broken into multiple perspectives. The two dominant perspectives are Mikira's and Arielle's. I really enjoyed how different their worldviews were. I wish we had gotten more time to know each character before things started.

For me, the horse race is both the best and worst parts of the book. Best, because it's daring and dramatic. It also has some of the best pacing for the novel. Unfortunately, the race also comes with a few triggering events (on this note, if you don't want to read about animals dying, skip this book).

Overall, This Dark Descent has a straightforward plot. I won't say it's predictable (though readers will see certain twists coming). I enjoyed certain elements, even while I struggled to stay connected. It is still worth the read for the magical system and characters.

Highlights:
Magical World
Teaming Up to Change the World
Horse Race Meets Magic

Trigger Warnings:
Animal Violence/Death

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