The Dark Days Pact

December 1, 2016
Following the events of The Dark Days Club (2016), Lady Helen is back, still grappling with propriety and power. Amid the seasonal intrigue in Brighton, Lady Helen Wrexhall has begun her Reclaimer training in earnest, supported by a motley crew: Lady Margaret and her brother (who have an unexpected past); Delia Cransdon, not quite ruined by a failed elopement; stalwart servants Darby and Mr. Quinn (a Pacific Islander, the only person of color in a sea of Regency white); and of course the enigmatic and entirely too attractive Lord Carlston, who may be slipping into madness from his repeated encounters with the terrifying Deceivers who walk among and feed off humankind. Goodman delicately balances multiple strands, tying together a slow but steady plot that moves inexorably to an action-packed climax, with a love triangle that is thematically perfect: Selburn celebrates and cherishes Helen, while Carlston pushes her. In love as in her Reclaimer powers, Helen must determine her willingness to break the rules and be her own woman, making mistakes along the way and pushing back against those, both human and Deceiver, who seek to control her. It all plays out against an impeccably researched and detailed Regency setting, and if too much time is spent in Helen's head--well, she has a great deal to understand, and it's not surprising if it's taking her time to find her way through. The fantasy/Regency/history mashup readers didn't even know they wanted. (Historical fantasy. 13 & up)

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January 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Following The Dark Days Club, this is the second book in this well-received series that blends Regency romance with supernatural adventure. In this installment, Lady Helen has moved to a fashionable seaside resort town, purportedly to recover from an incident in London that introduced her to the Dark Days Club and the hidden, esoteric work of the Reclaimers. However, her time is actually devoted to training so that she can fight the demonic Deceivers. Before Lady Helen's training is complete, she uncovers a supernatural conspiracy and struggles to learn the truth about it while also protecting her mentor, Lord Carlston, who is fighting his own internal demons. A fast-moving plot, intriguing paranormal elements, and a developing love triangle make this book hard to put down. Diverse, well-drawn supporting characters add depth, and readers will find it difficult not to root for the first female Reclaimer-a strong yet relatable protagonist. VERDICT This stand-alone series title is recommended as a first purchase. With obvious appeal to fantasy readers, this novel will also draw teens who enjoy historical fiction and mysteries.-Sunnie Scarpa, Wallingford Public Library, CT

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