Tag: danielle l. jensen

ARC/ALC Book Review: Defy the Dusk (The Sundering Duet #1) by Danielle L. Jensen

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Dystopian Fantasy Romance
Length: 672 pages
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: November 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When darkness means certain death and survival depends on reaching the dawn, the woman whose magic broke the world will carve another path: defy the dusk. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom comes the first book in a gritty post-apocalyptic fantasy duology.

In the Sundered world, there are two options: Ride the dawn, or face what rises in the night.

Twenty years ago, Lirien’s magic fractured the world and unleashed nocturnal creatures that brought civilization to its knees. Amidst the carnage came salvation: The most powerful survivors were invited to board Dawnrider, a high-speed rig that would deliver those aboard into a new era.

The rest of humanity was left to die.

Instead, a king rose from the darkness to lead them.

In the years since, Lirien has dedicated her magic to Dawnrider while secretly plotting to overthrow the tyrant who rules the rig with an iron fist. But just as Lirien is ready to strike against him, she is violently abducted by Vox—the king of the feralists.

The mercurial Vox gives her two choices: Fight the creatures that hunt the night or be fed to them. Lirien agrees to join his ranks, but embarks on a strategy of seduction that will return her to Dawnrider.

Yet as Vox pushes the limits of her magic, Lirien begins to question whether defying the dusk is the true path to salvation. Intoxicated by both Vox and his war against the night, Lirien must decide where her loyalties truly lie—and how far she’s willing to go for redemption.

Thank you PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook and Del Rey for the gifted eARC.

YUUUUUUP.

I just love getting my hands on a DLJ book. I have been waiting to read this for awhile and it delivered. This world was WIIIIIIILD and gruesome and unforgiving and brutal. I liked the complexity of the situations and the way different people choose to find their way. I loved the train and traveling concept. It was interesting. Add in a handmaid’s tale vibe and the atmosphere was haunting.

The romance was a genuine slow burn. BLESSSSS. The traversing from enemies to reluctant allies to maybe lovers to […] was something I was all over. Vox and Lirien had insane chemistry and I appreciate getting to see a couple with a lot of page time so that I can fall in love with them too.

DLJ does a fantastic job of building out casts with an array of personalities and vileness. I hate the antagonists (complimentary) as much as I love the found family. The plot beats were great and the action kept things rolling just right. I just really enjoyed how much this book made me think. And also cringe. Good heavens the straxi were sending me into orbit. I can’t even look at artwork of them much less picture them in my mind without freaking out.

🎧: The audiobook is STELLAR. DUET Y’ALL. DUET. Do it. You won’t regret it. The narrators were amazing.

Absolutely sat to see what happens in book two!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Dystopian fantasy romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 2ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: creature attacks, blood/gore, loss of life, kidnapping, abuse, forced breeding

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Book Review: The Tempest Blade (The Bridge Kingdom #6) by Danielle L. Jensen

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 26 hrs
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publisher: Audible Originals
Release Date: October 9th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The heart-pounding finale to the USA Today bestselling Bridge Kingdom series.

A fugitive on the run, Ahnna has one return to Ithicana with warning of the greatest threat her homeland has ever faced. But as she escapes into the wilderness, it is with the man who broke her heart hunting at her heels—and James wants more than justice. He wants revenge.

Desperate to prove his loyalty to his family, James ventures into dangerous territory to capture his father’s killer. But the longer he follows Ahnna’s trail, the more his certainty of her guilt is tested—and the more the passion they once shared reignites.

As schemes twist tighter and war brews, Ahnna and James discover that the enemy isn’t each other—it is the masterminds manipulating them both in pursuit of power. Yet their greatest obstacle remains, because their loyalties are to opposing sides in the battle to come. As the storms of the Tempest Seas lower their defenses, James and Ahnna must choose where their hearts on the battlefield, or in each other’s arms.

BEST DANG CONCLUSION I COULD HAVE IMAGINED.

Tis no surprise, I am a DLJ stan. Easily one of my top five favorite fantasy authors WITH GOOD REASON Y’ALL. The first two books in this series are a duo I reread practically every year and I can declare that this is number three on my favorite list for this series. BECAUSE OMG.

I’m so happy that we got all the POV’s!!!! It felt epic and enhanced and getting every nuanced angle from all of the powerful players of this series was exactly what the ending needed. I was shocked that I barely noticed this book was 26 hours long. Every page has depth and is packed with action and longing and begging for everything to end up okay.

DLJ writes fantastic twists and intense scenes. The emotions I am forcibly put through are exactly what my dreams are made of when I pick up a book like this. MAKE ME FEEL SOMETHING.

Anyways, I’m obsessed with every character, every love story, and literally every single thing about this book. DO NOT PASS THIS SERIES UP. IT IS COMPLETE. YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE NOW.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: war themes and loss of life, a baby nearly drowns, near death experiences, animal attacks

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Book Review: Scorched Earth (Dark Shores #4) by Danielle L. Jensen

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Upper YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 752 pages
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: August 5th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The thrilling finale in Danielle L. Jensen’s Dark Shores series, which Sarah J. Maas calls “everything I look for in a fantasy novel.”

Lydia and Killian escaped their enemy’s grasp, but not without consequences. While they race to destroy the blight, Lydia fights an internal war against the Corrupter’s influence knowing defeat means death for those she loves. Tormented by a battle that can’t be won with blades, Killian must find the queen they risked everything to rescue without falling prey to Corrupter’s weapons, both living and dead.

Teriana and Marcus thwarted assassination, but now must live with the dark truths that have been revealed. As Teriana hunts for allies, she must face the dire circumstances of her imprisoned people, driving her to strike a dangerous deal with the Empire. Consumed by guilt over his crimes, Marcus embarks on an ambitious campaign to save those he condemned, which risks him becoming the conqueror the Empire desires him to be.

With the blight consuming everything in its path and the Empire crushing everyone who stands before it, Reath is falling beneath the tide of evil. Secrets will be revealed that break hearts even as they forge new alliances, but only the greatest sacrifices of all will turn the tide in the battle for the liberty of every nation on Reath.

ONE OF THE BEST.

I have been waiting for this book for so long and it delivered 1000x over. If you haven’t picked up this series yet YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD. DLJ does not miss and I hope she has a few more YA/NA stories in the future.

This is one of those big thick books where I don’t even notice the page length. It’s amazing as a physical read, it’s amazing on audio. I am obsessed with every single one of these characters. I loved their arcs and journey the ROMANCE, the action and tension, JUST EVERYTHING. I could go on and on about how beautifully crafted each POV was in this plot. (The only thing I would beg for were some POV chapters from a few others I love).

Without wanting to cross into spoiler territory, I will say it ends in all the ways you could hope for. Expect to feel every single emotion, shed a few tears, and ponder the fact you’ll never get to read this book for the first time again.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: vague fade to black
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: war themes with high loss of life, near death experiences

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Book Review: A Curse Carved in Bone (Saga of the Unfated #2) by Danielle L. Jensen

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: May 13th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A shield maiden fights to break the shackles of prophecy—and to overcome the betrayal of the man who broke her heart—in this searing conclusion to the Norse-inspired fantasy romance duology that began with the bestselling A Fate Inked in Blood.

The secret of her divine heritage revealed, Freya finds herself on a path that will see thousands of lives lost to the magic in her blood. Desperate to avoid this dark fate, she risks an alliance with Skaland’s greatest enemy to seek answers from the seer who foretold her future—the same seer who sent Bjorn to kill her.

While Freya still seethes with rage over Bjorn’s betrayal, the blood oaths that bind her demand that she keep him close as she hunts for a way to avert the looming war. Her magic draws her to the front lines of an old enmity, embroiling her with Nordeland’s Unfated—children of the gods who serve the king she was raised to fear. The same king who, unlike Bjorn, is now willing to fight at her back. For despite the desire that burns hot between Bjorn and Freya, his growing distrust of her chosen path threatens to drag them further apart.

As war approaches, gods and mortals must choose their weapons. Yet the fiercest battle will be the one Freya wages within herself. With the magic of two goddesses burning in her veins, she must weave the threads of destiny to decide her own fate: Will she be the shield that protects her people or the curse that destroys them?

Thank you PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook.

DLJ NEVER DISAPPOINTS.

I just love being back in the world’s DLJ creates. I love her writing and story telling and have been chomping at the bit to get my hands on this book. No notes, I am in love with Freya and Bjorn.

I had some spice issues in book one and was [pleasantly] surprised that this book only had one true long open door scene? Not mad. I felt like the plot was really focused on the action and dynamics happening between Freya and the goddesses, warring clans and everything in-between. The last battle scene was incredibly well written and was intense waiting for those final moments.

I loved the relationship between Bjorn and Freya. It feels so fated and romantic and you can see the care flowing between them even when the [rightful] anger is set to boil. It’s a love that doesn’t give up and I loved any moment they got together.

Also the audiobook is fantastic (dual POV with two narrators). Highly recommend.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance:
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2 open door
  • Violence: high

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