Sunday, January 22, 2017

Review: The Dark Days Pact by Alison Goodman


The Dark Days Pact by Alison Goodman
Book Two of the Lady Helen series
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers 
Publication Date: January 31, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

June 1812. Just weeks after her catastrophic coming-out ball, Lady Helen Wrexhall—now disowned by her uncle—is a full member of the demon-hunting Dark Days Club. Her mentor, Lord Carlston, has arranged for Helen and her maid, Darby, to spend the summer season in Bristol, where Helen can sharpen her Reclaimer powers. Then the long-term effects of Carlston’s Reclaimer work take hold, and his sanity begins to slip. At the same time, Carlston’s Dark Days Club colleague and nemesis will stop at nothing to bring Helen over to his side—and the Duke of Selburn is determined to marry her. The stakes are ever higher for Helen, and her decision will truly change the world…

What I Liked:

The Dark Days Pact is an excellent follow-up to The Dark Days Club - it follows none of the sequel slump pattern that we've seen so often in Young Adult trilogies. I liked The Dark Days Club very much, though at times I found that book to drag a little. This sequel was thoroughly intriguing and entertaining, with a lot of action and revelations, and a little bit of angst. I enjoyed this book immensely and I am looking forward to reading the final book in the series.

Lady Helen is well on her way to becoming a fully trained Reclaimer, and an official member of the Dark Days Club. Mr. Pike comes to Bristol to swear her in, and he also gives her a task: obtain an important journal of a secretive nature. But it's clear that Mr. Pike has another intent - spy on Lord Carlston, and get rid of him. But Lord Carlston has been showing signs of deterioration, in his health. Time is running out to find a cure, which also hinges upon the journal. Helen must get the journal before Carlston does, or risk breaking her oath as Club member. But she doesn't trust anyone except Carlston, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Quinn, and Darby, and she doesn't think Mr. Pike is honorable. The journal itself isn't what it seems, and Helen's decision about what to do with it will have consequences she can't comprehend.

This sequel moves at a faster pace than The Dark Days Club, which I appreciated. I loved The Dark Days Club, but there were definitely times when I really felt the length of the book (500+ pages). This book is also around that page length, but it has more action and intrigue, in my opinion. Helen was always getting up to something sneaky, which I thought was hilarious (good for her!). 

You can clearly see Helen's growth, in this novel! Much of this book is focused on her training as a Reclaimer, and so we see her grow in that way, but also in general. She stands up for herself and doesn't let herself get shuffled around. When her oath to the Days Days Club comes up against her loyalty to her friends, and Carlston, she doesn't meekly follow one side or the other. She seeks more information and bides her time, but ultimately, she makes decisions. I wouldn't say she is totally decisive at first, but she really grows into a stronger character. There are so many feminist moments in this book in which I was cheering for Helen. Especially every time she told Selburn she didn't need a protector - you go, girl! 

That being said, it's interesting how Goodman worked that strong, feminist attitude into Helen's character. It was always there, but I like how Helen really stands up for herself, especially towards the end. She definitely is confined by societal rules and customs, but at the same time, she makes choices for her reasons, and not society's. Recall that this series is set in the 1800s - so it's painfully obvious that, historically speaking, this is a "man's world", and females are subservient (given the time period). But Helen doesn't appreciate having to hide behind a man - and she doesn't let it happen. Again, she is still confined by society's "rules" for women, but she does things her way. She has to come to terms with some difficult decisions, like dressing as a man for disguise, and cutting her hair, but Helen is a tough girl.

Along those lines - Goodman has done a fantastic job in building the world of this series. The novel is set in 1800s England, so there was a lot of research that needed to be done to write this book. Goodman has quite the eye for detail! I read a lot of adult historical romance novels, so I'm very used to this setting, but I must say, Goodman really outdoes herself with the world-building. Drop in all the monsters and supernatural powers and important magical objects and we've got a very interesting world in a realistic historic setting. Well done by the author!

This book is told in third-person, limited to Helen, and I liked this mode of storytelling. First-person is so common in Young Adult literature, but I think I much prefer third-person. Goodman writes it very well. 

The other characters besides Helen are incredibly important and so well-fleshed out as well. Carlston is arguably a protagonist, equally as important as Helen. He is ailing and clearly not getting better, and no one can figure out what is causing his deterioration. Fits of temper and bursts of madness are evidence to his deterioration, and try as they might, Helen and the gang can't hide this from Mr. Pike (who clearly wants Carlston gone). But Carlston shines in this book; he trains Helen efficiently, and he never tries to control her (like, dare I say, Selburn attempts to do). I wouldn't say that Carlston is sweet or tender - he is a quietly brooding warrior with a bit of a temper. Yet he cares so much about Helen, and he doesn't take care to make it less obvious. The poor man! He suffers quite a lot, in this particular book. 

Darby is her usual feisty self, and she and Mr. Quinn get close. We learn a lot about Mr. Hammond, and I adore him so much. His sister, Margaret, is annoying as ever (but in an endearing way). A character that becomes very important in this book is Delia; her addition to the main plot was surprising, but in the end, very welcoming. Selburn is unfortunately in this book, more in second half, and honestly he is the peskiest of flies. 

In the first half the book, the focus is on training Helen and Darby, and for Helen, making the deal with the man to get the journal. But the man, Lowry, wants something that Helen refuses to give, and then she finds out that Carlston is looking for the journal (not knowing that she is too), so Helen must sneak around and try to find out more, in order to steal the journal herself. But plans never go planned, and so there is a lot of close calls and nighttime excursions.

The romance is so obvious and wonderful (assuming you like Carlston). I didn't really see Selburn being part of the romance in The Dark Days Club, and as annoying as he is, I still don't see him being a real threat. Romantically speaking, it's all Helen and Carlston. While Carlston isn't a big softie, he gets romantic (for a moment!) in this book. The bond they have goes beyond being Reclaimers, or sharing energy, or whatever: it's clear that they both love each other. I'm hoping Goodman works that out, in the end, because there really is no other ship to be boarded. 

The ending is good in some ways, and painful in others. I love how exciting the ending is! It was a mad race to make this or that happen, and so every single character in this book was converging to one spot. All of our main characters are still alive and well and survive the scuffle. I did mention that the ending is slightly painful, and it is. It's a cliffhanger that has little to do with Reclaimers and Deceivers. Still, I have hope, and I'm very excited to read the next book. 

What I Did Not Like:

I will complain about a thing that I can't say specifically because that would be spoiler-y. But. Remember how I said that there isn't really a love triangle? That is very true, because Helen is in love with Carlston, and vice versa. Never mind that Carlston is still technically married (his wife has been missing for six or so years). Never mind that the Duke of Selburn is obnoxiously obsessed with Helen and won't stop asking her to marry him. Which is weird! Why does he persist? She has rejected him so many times. Again, I'm complaining about a thing that happened in this book that I can't say specifically. But, it's a thing that I want to see disappear very quickly, in book three, if possible.

Personally (and this is just a theory, and not a spoiler), I'm hoping that Selburn is the Grand Deceiver. We still don't know who is, by the end of this book (though we get some more information about the Grand Deceiver). I'm hoping it's Selburn, because he is so slimy in a nice way. He's too protective and invasive, in terms of Helen and her business. Sure, it would be convenient if he were the Grand Deceiver, but still. A girl can hope.

Would I Recommend It:

Despite the not-love-triangle, I really enjoyed this book, and I'm loving this series. Dare I say this book is even stronger than The Dark Days Club? Perhaps it is. So many aspects of the story are strengthened - Helen, the plot revolving the Grand Deceiver, the journal (not spoiling), the romance (that ONE scene, mercy). There are even seeds about Carlston's wife, and Helen's parents, and a darker matter about Reclaimers and Deceivers. This book sets up for an intense showdown in book three! I highly recommend this series if you like historical fiction, paranormal fiction, steampunk fiction. I'm not a huge fan of Cassandra Clare's books, but this series reminds me a little of The Infernal Devices, in terms of the world-building. 

(I like this series SO much better than The Infernal Devices, mind you.)

Rating:

4 stars. My heart will be shriveled and withered by the time book three is published! I'm not sure I can handle the ending of this book for so long. But I'm trusting Goodman to deliver a fair and good ending, for Helen, and Carlston, and Darby, and Quinn, and the others. I'm looking forward to getting book three in my hands as soon as possible!


Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

28 comments:

  1. I'm so looking forward to reading thi :P !!! Great review :)
    Kariny @ kariny's boox frenzy

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  2. We've never really heard of this book, and we're really glad you enjoyed it! :) That odd love square or some-funny-shape thing seems a bit off-putting though, we don't like the idea of it very much. It sounds like a sub-plot that wasn't executed very well. But besides that, amazing world building, great character growth and being set in the past - it seems like an awesome read. Thanks for sharing your review with us!
    ~ Pendragons 

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    1. Thanks! I'm hoping the romance works out in the end. The story itself is so, so good. Thank YOU!

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  3. Urgh. I'm so torn. I liked the first one! And I want to read this. But I loathe the Duke's addition and to keep dragging out his interest will bug me. Also you and others are making me really nervous about the end and how whatever it is affects the romance and triangle. I don't know if I should just read this or wait until book 3. Hmmmm. Great review!

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    1. I remember your split feelings! But you ended up enjoying the book, right? I hope book three is the best of the series!

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  4. This sounds like a series I need to catch up with! But the cover is confusing me, did the publisher do a redesign? This isn't anything like the cover for book one. Although I like this one better:-)

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    1. They did! I really hate that trend that Penguin has going on... I like the old cover better for book one, but I love this cover of book two. The new book one's cover is a little weird.

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  5. Somehow I don't remember if I saw anything on the first book so this seems like a fascinating new series for me to look up.
    That triangle sounds more distracting than actual. Love hearing that the heroine is strong and coming into her own.

    Great review, Alyssa!

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    1. The first book had a vastly different cover! It's unfortunate that the "love triangle" exists but like you said, it's more of a dis distraction than an actual triangle. UGH.

      Thank you, Sophia!

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  6. I finally bought book 1 recently and I'm really glad to hear you really liked this one too, Alyssa! I hope to get started with the series soon! =D

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    1. Yaaasss! I hope you love the books, Pili! Get ready for the ending of this book!

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  7. I have had The Dark Days Club sitting on my shelf for a while but haven't read it yet. I would say that it is time to pull it out but I may need to wait until the third book comes out to read them all since this one has a bit of a cliffhanger. Great review!

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    1. Oh, I think you should read the first book, Carole! Or maybe binge-read the series next year? It's worth the read!

      Thank you, Carole!

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  8. YAAAY, I'm excited for the Helen/Carlston romance! From your review, it sounds like I'm going to really enjoy this book! I'm liking the sound of a feisty Helen and the more fast paced story (: Glad you enjoyed this!
    Awesome review, Alyssa!

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    1. SO much Helen/Carlston happening in this book! There was a super swoony scene that I shared on Swoon Thursday at some point. :D Thank you, Cyn!

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  9. This book looks freaking hardcore!! Want to reeeead!!! - http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com

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    1. It was great! If you read it, I hope you enjoy it, Gingi!

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  10. This sounds like a great read! I like that this story seemed to move faster then the first book. I feel once you get into a second book in a series you want it to progress more and see where the series is going. Great review!

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    1. Me too, I loved the change of pace! It was a great sequel, though I could do without the pesky "love triangle" and the cliffhanger. Oh well! Thank you, Kristyn!

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  11. I still need to read the fist book, but I've heard great things about it. I hope I can read it soon.
    So glad you enjoyed it!

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    1. I highly recommend the series! Perhaps binge-read the books next year, Lis? Thank you!

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  12. YES, I loved this book, Helen's growth, the feminist aspect, the secondary characters, the world-building, everything! The love triangle-ish aspect did bother me a little, but I have full faith in Goodman and am dying to get my hands on the sequel! Wonderful review!

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    1. Everything worked in this book! With the exception of the weird love triangle/non-love-triangle. I'm sure Goodman won't let that aspect of the ending of this book stick. But ugh! Not knowing hurts!

      Thank you, Keertana!

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  13. Lovely review Alyssa :D So glad you enjoyed this one. <3 I'm unsure if I will like it or not. Sigh. Didn't fully love book one.. but still really curious about this one :) Just, yeah. Better not be a triangle in book three :\ But glad there wasn't really one in this book, haha :)

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    1. Yeah, if I were you, I would wait until book three publishes, and then maybe binge-read the series. It's painful, waiting for each book to publish. But the story is so good!

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  14. Just finished this one and you were spot on! It was a great read and I really enjoyed the character development of Helen in this book. The ending was a killer! I agree that a love triangle doesn't exist mainly because Helen absolutely has no love for Selburn but I'm not so sure with Lady Elise and Carlston. I am looking forward to a great continuing story to end the trilogy! I've been disappointed too many times with the last book of a trilogy being the weakest story written. I'm sure you may agree. We shall see..

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    1. YAY! I am so glad that you enjoyed it! I think the love triangle is so unnecessary, but with the constraints of this society/time period, I suppose the whole marriage-for-duty thing would work as a great plot twist... I'm not a fan, in any case. *sigh* Oh well! I love the series and I'm sure the romance will work out. Let's hope!

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