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Learn moreBookseller recommendation
“What a thrilling ride! A high-stakes, dangerous horse race with magical horses, blood-thirsty competitors, and deadly trials entangled in rival noble houses' political scheming is a recipe for utter chaos, glorious revenge, and sweet victory. This story plays out like a strategic chess game with morally grey characters with questionable motives controlling the pieces, and it is entirely wonderful! I love the chemistry between the four main characters and how each grows throughout the story. I may have sobbed one or two... maybe three times. This thrilling fantasy is one to read! The audiobook is amazing to listen to on Libro.fm!”
— Anna • The Well-Read Moose
Bookseller recommendation
“Wonderful audio with two incredible readers. The story itself is very reminiscent of some of my favorite teen fantasies when I was a teenager, especially The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. So much fun!”
— Katie • McLean & Eakin Booksellers
Bookseller recommendation
“The audio version of this book is a showstopper. I have a hard time with my attention wandering while listening to a book and I kid you not when I found myself repeatedly frozen in one spot in my apartment while this tale unfolded. I was HOOKED. Completely and wholly absorbed into the story. Both narrators did a 10/10 job! If you're struggling for a good audio and you love a fun fantasy this is the one. It reminds me greatly of The Scorpio Races by the great Maggie Stiefvater which is a beloved book of my teens. Download it and listen immediately!”
— Katie • McLean & Eakin Booksellers
Called a "fierce and darkly magical thrill ride" by acclaimed author Ava Reid, NYT bestselling Kalyn Josephson delivers a spellbinding fantasy full of intrigue, romance, and pulse-pounding action, perfect for fans of The Shadows Between Us and The Scorpio Races.
Every ten years, the citizens of Veradell gather for the Illinir, a treacherous horse race famous for its alluring prize money and high body count. Tough-as-nails Mikira Rusel, the last in a line of renowned horse breeders, is desperate to win this year's race at any cost. But to make it to the track, she'll need to gather new friends and escape the crosshairs of old foes . . .
A beautiful rogue enchanter with a hidden past just beginning to come into her true power.
A dashing and ambitious young lord in the midst of a fierce succession battle.
A brilliant, prickly loner loyal only to his friends, and his loveable but mysterious pet cat.
A ruthless aristocrat determined to protect his family's prestige -- and unrivaled power.
Each one has their own vengeful secrets to protect and reasons to help -- or hinder -- Mikira's odds of winning the Illinir. And in a world as dangerous as this, who among them will be left standing at the finish line?
A Macmillan Audio production from Roaring Brook Press.
Kalyn Josephson is a New York Times-bestselling author who works as a technical writer in the tech industry, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. She grew up in San Luis Obispo, California, and graduated from Santa Clara University with degrees in biology and creative writing. Currently, she lives in the Bay Area with two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an even tinier owl). She is the author of the Storm Crow duology as well as the middle grade series Ravenfall.
Reviews
"This Dark Descent runs a breathless and delightfully twisting course full of danger and heartbreak, machinations and magic. I loved it and I canโt wait for more!โ โMelissa Caruso, author of the Swords and Fire series
"A riveting, clever Jewish fantasy that had me racing through the pages. With dangerous magic, high-stakes political intrigue, and a stunning cast of characters (and animal companions!), This Dark Descent is sure to leave readers begging for the sequel." โAllison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic
"Kalyn Josephson has crafted a rich world and a tightly-plotted story that kept me reading well into the night. Anchored by the emotional nuance of the two leads, this tale of horse-racing, magic, and power is not to be missed." โEmily Lloyd-Jones, international bestselling author of The Drowned Woods
"Brimming with action, political intrigue, and a touch of romance, This Dark Descent is a fierce and darkly magical thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat." โAva Reid, award-winning author of Juniper & Thorn
"A deliciously dark and fast-paced novel that I could not put down from the minute I picked it up! Full of twists and turns you won't know who to trust. Josephson is a master at crafting gripping and intense scenes that make you feel as though you are in the middle of the action yourself. Truly an incredible story that you don't want to miss!" โJoss Diaz, Kepler's Books
"A breathless exploration of the differences - and lack thereof - between monsters and men, with a glimmering romantic thread woven through secrets, lies, and hidden plots. I read it all in one sitting!" โBeth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of Give the Dark My Love and Night of the Witch
"Josephson weaves an enchanting fantasy with lore steeped in Jewish culture, a cast of whip smart characters, and more perilous twists and turns than any race track. Hang on to your hats - This Dark Descent is a truly thrilling ride!" โRosiee Thor, author of Fire Becomes Her
"This Dark Descent transports readers into an epic world of scheming lords and those desperate enough to step into their crosshairs for a chance at survival . . . I loved it so much, I read it twice!" โShannon Price, author of The Endless Skies and A Thousand Fires
"This Dark Descent explodes out the gate like an enchanted horse in a death-defying race. A skillfully layered world, high stakes action, and dynamic character relationships rife with complex motivations and compelling backstories unite for a gripping read that kept me utterly absorbed from the first page to the last." โNicki Pau Preto, author of the Crown of Feathers trilogy and the House of the Dead duology
"Josephson presents...ever-evolving figures with interestingly complementary approaches to the world and the circumstances they find themselves in. Jewish history strongly informs the backstory of this fantasy worldโs people." โPublishers Weekly