The Dark Days Club

Wow. That's good. I've been recommending it all over the place... The Regency details are fantastic; some of them disagree with what I "know" from reading Regency romances, but they work so smoothly that instead of doubting the author's research, I'm doubting all the previous Regencies I've read. It's not a period I've ever researched independently. The magic aspect is fascinating - and works smoothly with the Regency characters. Lady Helen is a perfectly ordinary young noblewoman, and when she discovers she has special powers and that she's needed to fight a terrible foe - her first thought is that fighting isn't appropriate for a lady. She's not a modern girl in Regency dress; she's been thoroughly taught manners and propriety of the show more period, and has to make her choices with that information and attitude. I was pretty sure Lord Carlston had bigger secrets than even Lady Helen attributed to him - but the short story at the end, from his point of view (the novel is entirely Lady Helen) gave me quite a bit of info I was not expecting. I started reading rather wincingly - I dislike horror, and this sounded (from the blurb) like it could slide too far in that direction. It doesn't, for me, because Helen always makes her own choices - she's never, or hardly ever, helpless. Actually, the only times she's helpless is in the face of her uncle and aunt - the Deceivers are easier to deal with. It's a very long book, but once I got into it I didn't notice - the story swept me up. And I am definitely looking forward to the next one. show less

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?

Goodman's research into Regency society really shines throughout the book. Attention is paid to "the ton", fashions, publications, etc. Important figures of the era appear: Lord Byron and his lover Caroline Lamb, Beau Brummell, quite a few artists.

Helen is a fabulous heroine because, even though she's curious about everything, fairly ballsy, and can throw a man to the floor, she remains firmly rooted in the period. For example, she doesn't sigh and whine about needlework, because it's simply a part of her life. And, of course, she's clever and all that other good stuff.

LORD CARLSTON *shrill yelling* I mean, he's pretty ok I guess. Dastardly and cinnamon roll-y at the same time. Damn him to hell. *more yelling, show more punctuated by crying* F%$&ing LORD CARLSTON

Also, a huge cast of excellent supporting characters.

I really loved the world-building (besides the well-researched historical bits I mean). It's pretty straightforward and uncluttered. Goodman doesn't suddenly throw a thousand kinds of magical creatures at you. "Oh there are demons. AND ALSO WITCHES AND VAMPIRES AND FAIRIES AND..." None of that (it's not always bad, but more often than not it feels overdone). The demonic classifications didn't come across as stupid-sounding, and they're pretty kick-ass/terrifying. Magical items, some alchemy....it's easy to follow and a delight.

The book starts off pretty slowly, but I didn't mind that at all. A good change from being 15 pages in and having your heroine already inducted into a secret society and battling the bloodthirsty hordes. There isn't a lot of touchy-feely romance (THERE IS SOME DEFINITE DEMON-KILLING-FUELED STEAM IN A FEW PLACES THOUGH), probably to stay true to the era, where almost everything was improper when within 2 feet of the opposite sex. Also fine. I NEED THE REST OF THE SERIES ASAP THOUGH BECAUSE THE SLOWBURN ROMANCE I CAN FEEL COMING IS KILLING ME. But it's fine.

So: well-researched and bursting with historical detail, a perfect (but not in the annoying way) heroine, a ridiculously villainous (tasty, not-so-villainous) lord, a wealth of other amazing characters, world-building to die for.

READ IT. show less

This book is rich is descriptive historical details and while I could see that causing the story to drag, it only added to my reading experience. Seriously, the level of research that went to this book is incredible (just read the authors note at the end to see what I mean).

I also really love our main character- Helen's hesitancy at risking her entire reputation, family's reputation, life and soul is entirely believable and seems far more likely than the numerous other headstrong heroines who simply embrace their supernatural destinies with no care to the lifelong consequences.

Carlston is supremely intriguing- dark and dangerous with an edge of irredeemability that Helen (and the reader) still longs to redeem. Their slow-burn will show more hopefully be as well done over the rest of the series as it was in this first installment.

I love Darby and the friendship between her and Helen-- something I did miss in this book was the one dimensional friendship that we see between Helen and Millicent- for purported best-friendship Helen confides very little in her (but then again, considering the level to which young ladies were chaperoned, it would make far more sense for Helen to be closer with a maid she sees every day within the privacy of her rooms versus a friend she may only see once a week or so and then always in the public eye).

Overall the supernatural elements kept me guessing as Goodman laid out the world's rules for Helen and the readers. This book does involve a lot of telling and a lot of Helen not yet harnessing her true powers- but that leaves me extremely excited for the sequel with Helen finally free to train and to truly exercise the extent of her abilities. show less

I enjoyed this heaps. It's a subjective five-star, but I heartily recommend this to those who think Regency demon-wrangling with some romance on the side sounds like their cup of tea. Because this is just plain great tea.

Helen is a great heroine, both sensible and sensitive, wrestling with what a woman can and cannot do, but not wanting to be too outrageous, thank you very much. (When young ladies are told so much to "be yourself", it's good to read a book where a young lady wrestles so thoroughly and believably with just what "herself" might be.) The fantasy is dark (and tentacled without being ridiculous) and the Regency details are frothy (and copious) but also include a lot of the grit that Austen elides (including Luddite riots and show more political assassinations that I had not known about before now - yay learning something new). show less

ETA one week later: although I disliked this first book, I loved the second and third ones and am so glad I kept reading. (I wouldn't have if I didn't already own books two and three.) I stayed up hours past my bedtime to finish both book two and book three and I have NO regrets. I absolutely recommend this series as a whole, but readers should be ready for a slight shift between the first and second books. The pace of the story picks up, characters are fleshed out into real people, and the focus is more on balancing the monster fighting and Helen's public persona than just her quest to be a good society girl. Also, the further I read, the more obvious it became that Goodman planned this

I was telling a friend last night as I finished show more book three that I couldn't think of a trilogy that improved so much between the first and latter books. I still can't--The Dark Days Club is a slog if you don't enjoy the Regency intricacies, but The Dark Days Pact and The Dark Days Deceit are a real treat.

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The first half of this book is steeped in what it’s like to be part of Regency life. Moderately interesting, but the author was clearly more taken with the story’s window dressing than with the plot. The monster hunting finally begins after the midway point, but somehow even that was slow—everyone was standing around talking instead of fighting or even really reacting to a big scary monster killing a prostitute.

There were a number of other little things that bothered me. One of them, as an example, was the portrayal of all the other female characters around Helen. She ignores her best friend through much of the book and, instead of confiding in her, Helen instead enlists her lady’s maid. Darby, the maid, is a stereotypical sidekick in a number of ways. Although she’s clearly Helen’s friend and confidant, she is also portrayed as “lower” than Helen. Because Helen ignores her BFF, is Darby’s employer, and because the only other woman she interacts with is desperately in love with Carleton (and is therefore subtly positioned as either competition or a future adversary), Helen really has no significant and equal relationships with women her age.

However, the writing wasn’t bad, and this isn’t a bad book. I would have been a lot more patient with it, however, if there hadn’t been so many little things that annoyed me. show less

"Sometimes there is no good choice."

This is really more of a 3.5 rating, but I am rounding up. This was a wonderful book...but one I definitely recommend to read as much as you can in one sitting. It's a bit daunting - there's a lot of atmosphere, plot and characters to get to know and the pacing can feel pretty slow as you get to know the time and the people.

But the Dark Days Club, once you get to know it, is interesting and a great twist on a typical historical story. Helen's story felt real - her struggle to live by social norms but also try to help Darby and Lord Carlston. It was a fun adventure and I did enjoy it!

Not my usual type of story but you know the lengths I will go to complete a challenge:) At least I did start with book 1. This is a regency romance and dark fantasy, filled with mystery, dangerous secrets, rivalry, and lust. Yeah...lots of lust but toned down quite a bit. I liked Helen more than I thought I would. She's quick, witty, curious, loyal and strong. Unlike some heroines she is also rational and just cautious enough, without being paranoid. She thinks for herself and is willing to entertain the ideas of the impossible. When she is revealed to have "gifts" she never dreamed were possible she finds that she is forced to make a choice: choosing the life she's always believed she'd have or one in which she would be able serve a show more greater purpose but would mean her life would be in constant danger. As Helen reasons..."Sometimes there is no right choice". We also have a colorful cast of back-up characters...the mysterious, dark, and handsome, and commanding Lord Carlston...the witty, kind and loving Duke of Selburn... and the fiercely loyal, sassy, willful Darby. However, there still remains many unanswered questions and the battle against good and evil is only just beginning. I believe it will continue without me though. show less