I’m so excited to be on tour with Intisar Hanani’s Darkness Beyond the Door! This is a phenomenal read and an epic end to the Intrepid Path series! Let’s check.
About the book:
Name: Darkness outside the door
Author: Intisar Hanani
series: The fearless way
Page length: 486
Publication date: July 21, 2022
Publisher: Snow Wings Pub.
Synopsis: Only Rey knows the extent of the corruption at the heart of Menaiah’s kingdom, from the noble lord who betrayed her to the Circle of Wizards whose wards protect the slave-owners from exposure. Injured and imprisoned on a slave ship, Rey’s options are quickly running out. When a desperate escape attempt goes horribly wrong, she finds herself in the debt of a terrifying fairy sorceress.
Now Rey will not rest until she saves her fellow prisoners and frees her land from the darkness that has taken over. To succeed, she’ll need all the allies she can find, including Bran, the thief who may have stolen her heart. But Bren harbors bloody secrets of her own, and the curses surrounding Rey have clawed their way into her mind. With her debts looming and time running out, all the truth in the world may not be enough to save her kingdom or herself.
LINK: https://books2read.com/adatd
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My review:
Wow. Just…wow! This book is a brilliant conclusion to the Intrepid Path series and I loved every action-packed, suspenseful minute.
The character development and growth, especially with Rey, is so well done. She goes through so much and she learns a lot about herself, society, justice and more. She’s so bad she doesn’t even realize it! Strong, smart and resilient, Ray seems even more determined when she learns about and becomes a victim of human trafficking. Ray fights not only for himself, but also for other victims. She has a lot of integrity and a strong sense of right and wrong, but when she breaks her own moral code, she realizes what must be done to get justice in a corrupt and inefficient system.
“I don’t think you’ve ever been lost,” he says thoughtfully. “You just find a new way.”
I also really like the disability representative. Rae has some physical disabilities and often feels limited in what she does, but she begins to see her worth and refuses to accept her disability. Her growth as she learns to love her body is phenomenal and there are many important moments where she begins to see her worth. I think the impact of her new family, and especially her growing relationship with Bren, has a lot to do with her growing confidence and sense of self-worth and significance.
The romance between Rey and Bren is a love that develops slowly. This couple is so different in their life choices, morals and views on justice and society, but they both learn so much from each other. Rey and Bran face many obstacles, but their feelings for each other, their quirky jokes and conversations, and their undeniable chemistry are wonderful. I also really like the family that Ray is becoming a part of. It feels like Rey finds a sense of belonging with them, and their time together shows a corresponding admiration and respect. Above all, they all like each other and enjoy each other’s company. They make a great team and are a wonderful support to each other.
There’s still a lot I like about the story. The plot is layered, action-packed, and tense, especially when Rey uncovers a mysterious and nefarious plot that, when exposed, threatens to change everything. Plus, there’s plenty of political and social intrigue, the world-building is exciting and vivid, the themes are powerful and thought-provoking, and the writing is masterful. I actually devoured all three books in two days. I just couldn’t give it up!
Some wounds cannot be reached with words or bandages.
I love Hanani’s writing style! I love the use of dialogue, description and imagery, symbolism and the inclusion of tropes – it’s fantastic! This is the type of storytelling that brings the characters, the world, and the plot to life so vividly that you don’t want the story to end. And I love that even though the story has a satisfying ending, there are definitely opportunities for spin-offs or sequels. This may be wishful thinking on my part, but I would love to revisit this world and these amazing characters!!
Later this year I plan to make a list of my favorite fantasy series and this one will be at the top of the list. This is a phenomenal read that I won’t soon forget. Many thanks to MTMC Tours and the publishers for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
rating:
Favorite parts:
everything. I loved literally everything about the book. From the gorgeous cover to the convoluted plot, the characters, the love story, TAKINS!!!!
Favorite lines:
We are all a little broken in our ways.
It’s hard to trust you when someone has already betrayed me, and you, whom I considered a friend, do the same to me with a smile.
If the city is only good in brutality, I’ll follow the country route.
A good thief is worth a lot. A good friend is worth even more.
