panI struggled to buy into the premise of Marisha Pessl‘s standalone YA thriller as very little about it actually makes sense. It‘s further hampered by one-dimensional characterisation (I struggled to remember who was who in the Veda Seven), a rote love triangle between two equally blah male characters. What really threw me out was how little research Pessl had done on English law or geography, which irritated me throughout the whole book.
pickI really enjoyed the games part of this book. I liked the story, mystery, and these dark board games coming to life. I thought it was a solid book. I did feel like the pacing was off, I found myself bored during some parts, and the characters were a bit flat. 4/5
pickThis was a fun little #audiobook mystery. Never felt incredibly invested in any of the characters, but I thought the story was kind of clever.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
so-soThe atmosphere and background is amazing, but Dia and the interns are pretty flat which makes the over-the-top twists a bit absurd.
pick🤯😅 Read this yesterday. I couldn‘t stop until after midnight. It was the first thing to bring me back to the feels of one of my *fave* books, Night Film… also by Pessl. While I didn‘t think it achieved perfection all the way through (the end was fine, but not mind-blowing), there was enough perfection throughout to truly be satisfying. 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 (4.5 sparkly stars)
Next up: Knit One, Kill Two for #CoffeeBeanBookClub #cbbc & #ThematicCozies !
Haven‘t read Pessl since Special Topics in Calamity Physics was new, but I‘m very excited to start this one!
pickI love this author! Darkly is a YA coming of age novel drenched in intrigue, danger, and mystery. I enjoyed it, but felt at times that Pessl‘s talent was wasted on this story and these characters. The language the teens used was beyond their years, and their insights didn‘t really come from their own experiences. Still, the scope and intricacies of the story is amazing and engaging.
so-soArcadia 'Dia' Gannon applies for an internship with Louisiana Veda Foundation. Veda was a feted creator of intricate board games which now go for thousands of dollars apiece. Although Veda is dead, her foundation is apparently carrying on her work & 7 lucky applicants will have the chance to work for the company. The application is surprisingly simple, just answer one question: what would you kill for?
pickThis is a wonderful book filled with secrets, lies, and twists. It's also about finding your place in the world and taking your future into your own hands. It comes out on Nov. 26th. 5 stars.
pickI loved NIGHT FILM and Pessl‘s latest YA novel reminds me a bit of that one with its multimedia approach & the attention to detail. Louisiana Veda created a revolutionary & successful board game enterprise, Darkly. Years after her death, an internship is announced & Arcadia, 17, nicknamed “Nana” by her peers for her penchant for pearls, work in an antique shop & having only octogenarians for confidants, is shocked to be selected! Mysterious & fun!
Darkly | 
