This is a spoiler free review.
Give the Dark my Love
Written by Beth Revis
Written by Beth Revis
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: September 25, 2018
Pages: 368
Source: Library
Source: Library
Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository
Recommended Age: 13 and up!
Summary:
When seventeen-year-old Nedra Brysstain leaves her home in the rural, northern territories of Lunar Island to attend the prestigious Yugen Academy, she has only one goal in mind: learn the trade of medicinal alchemy. A scholarship student matriculating with the children of Lunar Island's wealthiest and most powerful families, Nedra doesn't quite fit in with the other kids at Yugen, who all look down on her.
All, except for Greggori "Grey" Astor. Grey is immediately taken by the brilliant and stubborn Nedra, who he notices is especially invested in her studies. And that's for a good reason: a deadly plague has been sweeping through the North, and it's making its way toward the cities. With her family's life--and the lives of all of Lunar Island's citizens--on the line, Nedra is determined to find a cure for the plague.
Grey and Nedra continue to grow closer, but as the sickness spreads and the body count rises, Nedra becomes desperate to find a cure. Soon, she finds herself diving into alchemy's most dangerous corners--and when she turns to the most forbidden practice of all, necromancy, even Grey might not be able to pull her from the darkness.
(Summary from Goodreads)
Review:
Give the Dark my Love was a book that I hadn't heard much about in the reviewer community and I was curious about it mainly because of the gorgeous cover. I am so glad that I decided to pick it up as it is a delicious fantasy story about an antiheroine who falls into darkness while trying to do what's right.
When seventeen-year-old Nedra Brysstain leaves her home in the rural, northern territories of Lunar Island to attend the prestigious Yugen Academy, she has only one goal in mind: learn the trade of medicinal alchemy. A scholarship student matriculating with the children of Lunar Island's wealthiest and most powerful families, Nedra doesn't quite fit in with the other kids at Yugen, who all look down on her.
All, except for Greggori "Grey" Astor. Grey is immediately taken by the brilliant and stubborn Nedra, who he notices is especially invested in her studies. And that's for a good reason: a deadly plague has been sweeping through the North, and it's making its way toward the cities. With her family's life--and the lives of all of Lunar Island's citizens--on the line, Nedra is determined to find a cure for the plague.
Grey and Nedra continue to grow closer, but as the sickness spreads and the body count rises, Nedra becomes desperate to find a cure. Soon, she finds herself diving into alchemy's most dangerous corners--and when she turns to the most forbidden practice of all, necromancy, even Grey might not be able to pull her from the darkness.
(Summary from Goodreads)
Review:
COVER
The cover is what attracted me to this book. I thought the cover was really pretty and I also liked the title, but I don't think the cover has to do much with the overall plot of the book.
The cover is what attracted me to this book. I thought the cover was really pretty and I also liked the title, but I don't think the cover has to do much with the overall plot of the book.
WORLD-BUILDING
Nedra is from the north of Lunar Island where she likes her life however, a deadly plague starts spreading through the North causing her to leave in order to learn at Yugen Academy a prestigious school. I liked learning about the world throughout the book and learning about how different her home in the North was from the Academy and her life there.
Then there are the characters.
LIRA
When her own family falls prey to the plague, Nedra's anger gets worse and she throws her whole self into necromancy becoming a full-on necromancer. Nedra would do anything to keep her family safe including performing any evil she could. Everything dark within her took flight as she put forth her anger with the world and became a different person. Despite being an antiheroine, I found myself rooting for her because of all the pain she'd been through.
GREY
Grey is the second main character who also has a point of view within the book. He is a classmate of Nedra's who becomes her best friend and boyfriend. He is a privileged handsome and rich student who is accustomed to the best and doesn't know fear like Nedra does. He gave frequent "It will get better" speeches to Nedra despite not knowing exactly what she was going through. At times Grey's POV seemed a little odd and out of place considering he's the love interest and the whole main focus of the book is on Nedra's character and her descent into darkness, though I still liked Grey as a character.
Nedra is from the north of Lunar Island where she likes her life however, a deadly plague starts spreading through the North causing her to leave in order to learn at Yugen Academy a prestigious school. I liked learning about the world throughout the book and learning about how different her home in the North was from the Academy and her life there.
Then there are the characters.
LIRA
When her own family falls prey to the plague, Nedra's anger gets worse and she throws her whole self into necromancy becoming a full-on necromancer. Nedra would do anything to keep her family safe including performing any evil she could. Everything dark within her took flight as she put forth her anger with the world and became a different person. Despite being an antiheroine, I found myself rooting for her because of all the pain she'd been through.
GREY
Grey is the second main character who also has a point of view within the book. He is a classmate of Nedra's who becomes her best friend and boyfriend. He is a privileged handsome and rich student who is accustomed to the best and doesn't know fear like Nedra does. He gave frequent "It will get better" speeches to Nedra despite not knowing exactly what she was going through. At times Grey's POV seemed a little odd and out of place considering he's the love interest and the whole main focus of the book is on Nedra's character and her descent into darkness, though I still liked Grey as a character.
FRIENDSHIP/FAMILY
Nedra's family is her main reason for turning to necromancy. She is determined to save them from the plague with whatever means necessary, even if she has to destroy the rest of the world. I loved Nedra's relationship with her sister, Ernesta, and especially loved when they switched places with each other and pretended to be the other one which was the cutest.
Nedra's family is her main reason for turning to necromancy. She is determined to save them from the plague with whatever means necessary, even if she has to destroy the rest of the world. I loved Nedra's relationship with her sister, Ernesta, and especially loved when they switched places with each other and pretended to be the other one which was the cutest.
PLOT
Give the Dark my Love is a hero to villain story, about a girl named Nedra who is from the northern territories where she lives with her father, mother and twin sister. She is studying at the prestigious Yugen Academy where she is determined to find a cure for the plague decimating the North and other poor parts of the Island. She is studying under a scholarship unlike most of the other students who are rich and privileged. Nedra turns to the most forbidden practice of alchemy which is necromancy and this starts her descent into darkness. It's a kind of anti-heroine origin story, that is full of human grief and struggle.
Give the Dark my Love is a hero to villain story, about a girl named Nedra who is from the northern territories where she lives with her father, mother and twin sister. She is studying at the prestigious Yugen Academy where she is determined to find a cure for the plague decimating the North and other poor parts of the Island. She is studying under a scholarship unlike most of the other students who are rich and privileged. Nedra turns to the most forbidden practice of alchemy which is necromancy and this starts her descent into darkness. It's a kind of anti-heroine origin story, that is full of human grief and struggle.
ROMANCE
The romance in this book is a sweet almost innocent touch at first. Grey cares about Nedra from almost the beginning, though she is willing to risk everything including him in order to achieve her goal and stand up for what she believes in. Grey and Nedra share a cute romance until she realizes she has to do what she needs to do and can't go back to just his love. One line that I loved was when he told her, "if you choose necromancy...I will not follow you into that darkness", and she answers, "Oh Grey, what do you know of darkness?" I thought that was a brilliant line and how much their relationship changed throughout the book.
WRITING
I really liked Beth Revis' style of writing for this book. I thought she brought Nedra and Grey to life and I felt for Nedra in her situation.
The romance in this book is a sweet almost innocent touch at first. Grey cares about Nedra from almost the beginning, though she is willing to risk everything including him in order to achieve her goal and stand up for what she believes in. Grey and Nedra share a cute romance until she realizes she has to do what she needs to do and can't go back to just his love. One line that I loved was when he told her, "if you choose necromancy...I will not follow you into that darkness", and she answers, "Oh Grey, what do you know of darkness?" I thought that was a brilliant line and how much their relationship changed throughout the book.
WRITING
I really liked Beth Revis' style of writing for this book. I thought she brought Nedra and Grey to life and I felt for Nedra in her situation.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Give the Dark my Love is a beautiful but tragic story. Nedra is a girl who is willing to risk everything to help the Island's people and her own people. This book is very slept on and I think everyone should read it. It is a brilliant hero-villain story.
Quotes from the Book:
“A good book will give you answers to questions you didn't know you had. A great book will give you questions to answers you thought you knew.”
Give the Dark my Love is a beautiful but tragic story. Nedra is a girl who is willing to risk everything to help the Island's people and her own people. This book is very slept on and I think everyone should read it. It is a brilliant hero-villain story.
Quotes from the Book:
“A good book will give you answers to questions you didn't know you had. A great book will give you questions to answers you thought you knew.”
My Rating: 4 out of 5 Crowns
