This Dark Descent

By: Kalyn Josephson

Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow, Rebecca Norfolk

Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2023 Kalyn Josephson (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"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."—Allison 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."—Emily Lloyd-Jones, international bestselling author of The Drowned Woods

"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 world’s people." —Publishers Weekly

The horse dies

This book is not a fun time. Though well written and the characters are lovable, the endless misery Mikirah suffered made me miserable, especially at the double edge loss of her horse, Iri.

Horses and Heresy

Being a horse girl through and through, I devoured this book and really appreciated the research the author did to accurately portray horse riding throughout this book.
Aside from that, this book inspired me to research further into Jewish mythology and I found her magic system to be unique and intriguing enough that I am chomping at the bit for the sequel.
I enjoyed the dynamics between the 4 main characters and the organic growth that occured between them. It was not all sunshine and instant trust with complexities added into the relationships that I loved.
Overall, one of my favorite reads of 2023 and I cannot wait for the next book.