What do you think?
Rate this book
Where the Dark Stands Still
Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood – the Leszy – who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.
Those who enter the wood do not always return…
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.
Those who enter the wood do not always return…
336 pages, ebook
First published February 27, 2024
About the author
A.B. Poranek
2 books759 followersA. B. Poranek grew up in Ontario, Canada but spent her summers in the Polish countryside, raiding her grandfather’s library and helping care for his chickens. When she isn't off on yet another inadvisable adventure, she can be found in London, where she spends her free time doodling and trying to keep her plants from dying.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,642 reviews
February 27, 2024
This book is a Miyazaki lover’s DREAM! 4.25 stars.
Extremely reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle with a hint of Princess Mononoke and just a dash of Spirited Away all wrapped up in Polish folklore with a magic forest, a sentient and neglected crumbling manor in the woods (which you know I LOVE), a well crafted and lovable cast of characters, and beautifully lush writing.
I had a fantastic time with this book. This is an absolute triumph of a debut novel that has me anxious for what we’ll see from Poranek in the coming years.
Extremely reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle with a hint of Princess Mononoke and just a dash of Spirited Away all wrapped up in Polish folklore with a magic forest, a sentient and neglected crumbling manor in the woods (which you know I LOVE), a well crafted and lovable cast of characters, and beautifully lush writing.
I had a fantastic time with this book. This is an absolute triumph of a debut novel that has me anxious for what we’ll see from Poranek in the coming years.
March 25, 2024
we love sentient houses, strange forests, and howls moving castle vibes!!!
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Instagram
May 20, 2024
“ ‘I end and begin in the Driada, and that is how it will be for eternity. The wood must always have a warden.’ ”
Where the Dark Stands Still is an enchanting debut balances a cozy cottage-core vibe with the creepiness of a demon-infested magical woods. I have seen it described as a mix Howl’s Moving Castle and Polish Folklore, and, if we added Beauty and the Beast into the mix, I think that is an apt description. This is an atmospheric tale that has a lot going for it. The elements of the sentient house, magical woods, and spirits are among the strongest for me as they create this added layer of whimsy that really create the cozy vibes. I was also pleasantly surprised with some more unexpected queer representation in this one. Overall, if you’re looking for a bit of a classic romantic fantasy with a small but mighty found family, a Howl-esque old spirit, and some Slavic folklore, I’d recommend checking this one out!
I also liked this one enough to make a playlist for it, so there y’all go.
“Children do foolish things until they are old enough to understand they are foolish—until their father teaches them to weave the straw hangings found in every Stodola home, or their mother explains why she ties their hair with crimson ribbons.”
I am not someone who knows much about Slavic folklore at all (and I also don’t want to spoil), but I found the way that the Leszy was portrayed to be compelling and quite interesting. The forest housed a lot of spirits that were great additions to the story and the way the woods functioned and the Leszy’s purpose fit. There is another Slavic mythologic figure that comes into the story a little later that kind of enters a bit dramatically and very abruptly turns this book from a more cosy read into an action packed ending, and I’m not really sure if they’re done well, but I didn’t dislike it? Overall, I thought the Polish folklore was really interesting to read about and it was cool to not really be able to guess what was going to happen based off the introduction of folkloric elements since I was unfamiliar with them.
“That was when Liska knew that there was something wrong with her that could not be prayed away. The thing inside her, it made people afraid.”
The setting of this book is in a relatively newly monotheistic society after shifting from worshipping pagan gods, making the village that Liska comes from very against gods and magic. Because of this, Liska has a really negative relationship with her magic as she suppresses it so that she will be accepted. (sound familiar?) Liska coming terms with her magic and her fears is an interesting plotline that is explored well. It is obvious that the magic here is a metaphor for a lot of things that aren’t accepted in spaces that mirror those from this book especially through the dialogue. At one point, Liska is convinced the church was right about her and the dangers of her magic and the Leszy says to her, ‘No,’ he says sharply. ‘The church is clever.’ in regards to it demonizing magic in order to push it’s own agenda. I kept thinking about how this especially mirrored the queer experience as Liska continued to suppress who she was. This was really well done and I really love how magic was used to symbolize real world topics.
“ ‘Impressed?’ he asks, amused. ‘I think I might be going into shock.’ ‘I do have that effect on women,’ he says casually.”
The characters of this one really made it for me. The Leszy is a sassy, petulant 700-year-old spirit that feels a bit Howl-esque and Liska is able to bite back in a really fun way. They both have this really great dry humor (see: “The people of Wałkowo are used to my visits by now,’ he says. ‘At least I assume so, since they’ve stopped screaming at the mere sight of me.’ ” ) that bounces well and is entertaining to read. The way their relationship progressed felt pretty realistic too; however, the weakest part of this book for me was their romance. I found the previous romance that the Leszy was in to be significantly more compelling and, while I did really enjoy Liska and the Leszy’s interactions and sass, I just didn’t really feel a romantic connection. I also am a bit of a pet name hater and “not-so-clever fox” got really old really fast (seriously, that’s so long). There were also a few moments that I found to be a bit cringe and cliché, but I do think that a lot of those factors played really into subverting expectations for the ending of this book which I really loved. I was also really just neutral about the relationship, which is pretty impressive for a romance that is between a 17-year-old girl and a 700-year-old forest so kudos to the book, I guess? The good news is that, although this is categorized as a fantasy romance, I would argue that the romance is very much on the backburner with this one and the main relationship between Liska and the Leszy is more structured to learning to love and trust again in any capacity.
“… she is not defined by her magic, for better or for worse.”
Where the romance fell short, the found family went hard. Liska radiated kindness throughout the whole book so watching her kind of collect these new inhabitants in the house and bond with the house and the wood felt very natural and was honestly just really sweet. The backbone of this book really is the found family here and just the way that Liska is able to create these really safe, beautiful spaces for others as someone who was denied that for so long. With that ability to create these spaces, Liska also starts deconstructing her view of herself and moving away from how the church views her, allowing for growth and self-love.
“What is fate but an excuse to surrender responsibility?”
There were some points during the second half of the book where I was starting to lose steam and wasn’t super invested, but the last two chapters of this book really tied the whole thing together for me. It subverted my expectations in a way that really worked. A lot of things that made me cringe a little were seen in a new light and I really appreciate the direction Poranek took with this one. It really was the perfect ending for me and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
3.5/5
Where the Dark Stands Still is an enchanting debut balances a cozy cottage-core vibe with the creepiness of a demon-infested magical woods. I have seen it described as a mix Howl’s Moving Castle and Polish Folklore, and, if we added Beauty and the Beast into the mix, I think that is an apt description. This is an atmospheric tale that has a lot going for it. The elements of the sentient house, magical woods, and spirits are among the strongest for me as they create this added layer of whimsy that really create the cozy vibes. I was also pleasantly surprised with some more unexpected queer representation in this one. Overall, if you’re looking for a bit of a classic romantic fantasy with a small but mighty found family, a Howl-esque old spirit, and some Slavic folklore, I’d recommend checking this one out!
I also liked this one enough to make a playlist for it, so there y’all go.
“Children do foolish things until they are old enough to understand they are foolish—until their father teaches them to weave the straw hangings found in every Stodola home, or their mother explains why she ties their hair with crimson ribbons.”
I am not someone who knows much about Slavic folklore at all (and I also don’t want to spoil), but I found the way that the Leszy was portrayed to be compelling and quite interesting. The forest housed a lot of spirits that were great additions to the story and the way the woods functioned and the Leszy’s purpose fit. There is another Slavic mythologic figure that comes into the story a little later that kind of enters a bit dramatically and very abruptly turns this book from a more cosy read into an action packed ending, and I’m not really sure if they’re done well, but I didn’t dislike it? Overall, I thought the Polish folklore was really interesting to read about and it was cool to not really be able to guess what was going to happen based off the introduction of folkloric elements since I was unfamiliar with them.
“That was when Liska knew that there was something wrong with her that could not be prayed away. The thing inside her, it made people afraid.”
The setting of this book is in a relatively newly monotheistic society after shifting from worshipping pagan gods, making the village that Liska comes from very against gods and magic. Because of this, Liska has a really negative relationship with her magic as she suppresses it so that she will be accepted. (sound familiar?) Liska coming terms with her magic and her fears is an interesting plotline that is explored well. It is obvious that the magic here is a metaphor for a lot of things that aren’t accepted in spaces that mirror those from this book especially through the dialogue. At one point, Liska is convinced the church was right about her and the dangers of her magic and the Leszy says to her, ‘No,’ he says sharply. ‘The church is clever.’ in regards to it demonizing magic in order to push it’s own agenda. I kept thinking about how this especially mirrored the queer experience as Liska continued to suppress who she was. This was really well done and I really love how magic was used to symbolize real world topics.
“ ‘Impressed?’ he asks, amused. ‘I think I might be going into shock.’ ‘I do have that effect on women,’ he says casually.”
The characters of this one really made it for me. The Leszy is a sassy, petulant 700-year-old spirit that feels a bit Howl-esque and Liska is able to bite back in a really fun way. They both have this really great dry humor (see: “The people of Wałkowo are used to my visits by now,’ he says. ‘At least I assume so, since they’ve stopped screaming at the mere sight of me.’ ” ) that bounces well and is entertaining to read. The way their relationship progressed felt pretty realistic too; however, the weakest part of this book for me was their romance. I found the previous romance that the Leszy was in to be significantly more compelling and, while I did really enjoy Liska and the Leszy’s interactions and sass, I just didn’t really feel a romantic connection. I also am a bit of a pet name hater and “not-so-clever fox” got really old really fast (seriously, that’s so long). There were also a few moments that I found to be a bit cringe and cliché, but I do think that a lot of those factors played really into subverting expectations for the ending of this book which I really loved. I was also really just neutral about the relationship, which is pretty impressive for a romance that is between a 17-year-old girl and a 700-year-old forest so kudos to the book, I guess? The good news is that, although this is categorized as a fantasy romance, I would argue that the romance is very much on the backburner with this one and the main relationship between Liska and the Leszy is more structured to learning to love and trust again in any capacity.
“… she is not defined by her magic, for better or for worse.”
Where the romance fell short, the found family went hard. Liska radiated kindness throughout the whole book so watching her kind of collect these new inhabitants in the house and bond with the house and the wood felt very natural and was honestly just really sweet. The backbone of this book really is the found family here and just the way that Liska is able to create these really safe, beautiful spaces for others as someone who was denied that for so long. With that ability to create these spaces, Liska also starts deconstructing her view of herself and moving away from how the church views her, allowing for growth and self-love.
“What is fate but an excuse to surrender responsibility?”
There were some points during the second half of the book where I was starting to lose steam and wasn’t super invested, but the last two chapters of this book really tied the whole thing together for me. It subverted my expectations in a way that really worked. A lot of things that made me cringe a little were seen in a new light and I really appreciate the direction Poranek took with this one. It really was the perfect ending for me and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
3.5/5
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 25, 2024I'm going to soft DNF this for now @16% - this is just much more YA than I'm in the mood for right now- I'll likely pick it up again in the future.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
I keep seeing this book pop up - so I'm making the executive decision to give it a go. Thank you to my digital library for a skip the line pass.
A sweeping gothic fairytale romance for fans of A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer and Gallant by V.E. Schwab. 😍
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Cursed Forest
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Twisted Bargain
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Love Eternal
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
I keep seeing this book pop up - so I'm making the executive decision to give it a go. Thank you to my digital library for a skip the line pass.
A sweeping gothic fairytale romance for fans of A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer and Gallant by V.E. Schwab. 😍
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Cursed Forest
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Twisted Bargain
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Love Eternal
February 10, 2024
Where the Dark Stands Still is a charming, romantic fantasy perfect for fans of For the Wolf and Howl’s Moving Castle. With endearing characters, beautiful writing, and a lush setting this story feels straight out of a fairytale.
I adore all of the characters in this book. Liska is strong and determined but also kind and caring. It was incredible watching her heal her relationship with magic and grow beyond the constraints of her village. The Lesky is everything you want from a fantasy love interest—a tortured boy with a prickly personality that hides a caring heart. Liska and the Lesky’s relationship was adorable and heart-wrenching. Their banter was hilarious and really reminded me of Sophie and Howl’s dynamic in Howl’s Moving Castle.
With a magical forest as threatening as it is beautiful and a temperamental sentient manor, Where the Dark Stands Still has a rich fairytale atmosphere inspired by Polish folklore. The magic is simple but beautifully woven throughout the story.
Unfortunately, something about the last third of the book didn’t quite work for me. A major reveal brings a shift in the story that really interested me. However, I feel like the story rushed to the end after this reveal. I would have liked more time for this last arc of Liska and the Lesky’s relationship. Furthermore, having this reveal earlier would've helped build tension for the final confrontation and made the bittersweet tone shift feel more appropriate. The rushed pacing of the final act is particularly jarring because the majority of the book has a slow, meandering, almost cozy pace.
Where the Dark Stands Still was a stunning debut and I would happily read more from A.B. Poranek in the future.
Thank you McElderry Books for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
I adore all of the characters in this book. Liska is strong and determined but also kind and caring. It was incredible watching her heal her relationship with magic and grow beyond the constraints of her village. The Lesky is everything you want from a fantasy love interest—a tortured boy with a prickly personality that hides a caring heart. Liska and the Lesky’s relationship was adorable and heart-wrenching. Their banter was hilarious and really reminded me of Sophie and Howl’s dynamic in Howl’s Moving Castle.
With a magical forest as threatening as it is beautiful and a temperamental sentient manor, Where the Dark Stands Still has a rich fairytale atmosphere inspired by Polish folklore. The magic is simple but beautifully woven throughout the story.
Unfortunately, something about the last third of the book didn’t quite work for me. A major reveal brings a shift in the story that really interested me. However, I feel like the story rushed to the end after this reveal. I would have liked more time for this last arc of Liska and the Lesky’s relationship. Furthermore, having this reveal earlier would've helped build tension for the final confrontation and made the bittersweet tone shift feel more appropriate. The rushed pacing of the final act is particularly jarring because the majority of the book has a slow, meandering, almost cozy pace.
Where the Dark Stands Still was a stunning debut and I would happily read more from A.B. Poranek in the future.
Thank you McElderry Books for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
July 7, 2024
“You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch.”
beauty and the beast meets howl's moving castle with polish folklore & cultural influence and a whole lotta magic & forest 💚
there are lots of cozy cottagecore vibes and its a slower pace standalone, but it's an impressive debut novel. the magic system was intriguing with its interweaving of folklore creatures, and i found myself surprised at some revelations. there was a solid romance with some fun banter and a surprisingly charming found family. shoutout to the queer rep as well!
it was bittersweet but very touching, and i look forward to more stories from Poranek.
“There is a thing we do,” the Leszy says, “where we rearrange ourselves, cutting off pieces here and there to fit a mold that was never meant for us. I know something of that. But becoming the Driada’s warden taught me one thing: if the world had not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself.”
beauty and the beast meets howl's moving castle with polish folklore & cultural influence and a whole lotta magic & forest 💚
there are lots of cozy cottagecore vibes and its a slower pace standalone, but it's an impressive debut novel. the magic system was intriguing with its interweaving of folklore creatures, and i found myself surprised at some revelations. there was a solid romance with some fun banter and a surprisingly charming found family. shoutout to the queer rep as well!
it was bittersweet but very touching, and i look forward to more stories from Poranek.
“There is a thing we do,” the Leszy says, “where we rearrange ourselves, cutting off pieces here and there to fit a mold that was never meant for us. I know something of that. But becoming the Driada’s warden taught me one thing: if the world had not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself.”
June 15, 2024
➳ 4 ☆! 🦌
spoiler free!
🎧 - mad woman + young & beautiful
ᯓᡣ𐭩 now i breathe flames each time i talk
my cannons all firin' at your yacht
they say, "move on", but you know i won't
and women like hunting witches too
doing your dirtiest work for you 🍂🍄🌿
➳ what did i just read & why did i like it?! and your telling you're telling me this is a debut? that's amazing! let me first start off by saying: this may not be for everyone! depending on the genres you gravitate more towards :) but if you love folklore stories, howl's moving castle, old manors, cozy fantasy books, polish folklore, cottage core + more, i think you should give this a TRY! the cover is so gorgeous, im actually in awee. but yeah i feel like you'd have to appreciate the book, yk? like i thought i wasn't gonna like this and it was going to give me the ick, but i surprised myself! 😭 for example, not everyone loves 'the cruel prince' ( which is totally fine!even tho thats my baby HAHA) but to those who do, it reminded me of it (setting wise only) but yeah i enjoyed myself <3 and some of the quotes in here had ME!! im just mad i didn't save it for the autumn szn 🍂 you could probably also pick this up at your local library instead of buying!
˗ˏˋ꒰plot ꒱ 350 pages for a standalone fantasy is GOOD. the only thing that threw me off was the pacing at times. the beginning was okay, the middle was picking up... the ending was BIT rushed, but i adore the epilouge. (which is rare) afterall, it's just a tale as old as time, but AUGH that ending. 😭 and i though the writing was super good for a debut! someone just try this so we can scream about it tgt <3
˗ˏˋ꒰ overall experience ꒱pretty enjoyable! again, maybe this isn't for everyone which is so understandable, but im glad this was still a 4! i found myself annotating a lot, and aw the ending was so bittersweet, but ive come to terms with it <3 its just a tale and i get it. ALSOO i love how the author incorporated where she was from! she is polish and she based this off the stories she was told growing up with her own twists <3 cant wait to see what comes next!
˚₊‧꒰ა character under-study ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
˗ˏˋ꒰liska ꒱ her character really grew on me! i will say shes brave, i would be SCARED to go into the woods by myself no joke. and might i say, both our characters have very traumatizing pasts 😭 and i feel so bad for how she was treated, and she deserves everything she has now! fearless, you might say. ofc, i have other fmcs that i love, but im glad liska had depth and wasn't boring! :) her and some of elias' moments had me crying n swooning 🍂
˗ˏˋ꒰leszy (elias) ꒱ i was so, so conflicted at first 😭 might i add, he has antlers. OKAY BUT ITS NOT WHAT YOU THINK. anyways i did grow to like him, and i like how he was different from other fmcs yk? yeah he was dark and mysterious but he has other sides to him and he wasn't such a sterotype! i thought i was gonna get scared or icked out by him but i didn't tbh, and i grew to really like him <3 i feel bad for his past too. him and liska, were... AHGAW. but enough of the
not so clever fox. anyway, i mean just LOOK AT THE COVER OK? i also couldn't forget out side characters! they added to the story too <3
˚₊‧꒰ა mini playlist ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
✧ snow on the beach
✧ exile
✧ out of the woods
✧ say dont go
✧ into the unknown
✧ monster
✧ ivy
✧ runaway
young & beautiful
ᯓᡣ𐭩 hot summer nights, mid-July
when you and I were forever wild
————————
➳ "if only we could go back to that time, liska thinks, when we were young & full of stories
➳ " you are so brave, liska," he says. "braver than you know, infuriatingly so, in fact. just look at what you've done to me, turned me soft despite all my grand efforts to resist your relentless charm.
chapters - 7, 14, 15, 22, 24, 26, 31, 32
bottom line: just have fun reading y'all, i hope everyone is well and having a great june! if you're a fantasy lover, maybe try this! or if you want to get into it <3 notheless a great standalone, and i cant wait to see what world i get to delve into. where reading will take me next! bye! <3 💌
🌿🍄🍂🦌
ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ POST READ 🌲
wait nooo why did i enjoy that sm?! this is a literal folklore tale and i ate it upp! but oh that ending (but looking back on it it fits) 😭 but be ready to try this, they may not be for everybody but its def something to give a shot at! cant wait to rant about this, 4 stars, rtcc!! <3 JUST LOOK AT THE COVER
ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ preview! 🍂
picked this up on a whim, but tbh it looks pretty interesting! the cover is actually gorgeous irl, I'm not kidding 😭 but tell me why he has antlers? look, you don't have to find every 'love interest' in a book attractive, BUT ANTLERS. hmmm but the artist did a great jobb. yk what, I'll stop complaining, cheers to happy reading!! <3
spoiler free!
“of women, he’s heard it said: “she will be the end of me,” or “she will be my undoing.” none of that is true for liska radost. She is not the end of anything, but the beginning of everything. he has been dead a long time, and she is his resurrection.”🌙
🎧 - mad woman + young & beautiful
ᯓᡣ𐭩 now i breathe flames each time i talk
my cannons all firin' at your yacht
they say, "move on", but you know i won't
and women like hunting witches too
doing your dirtiest work for you 🍂🍄🌿
➳ what did i just read & why did i like it?! and your telling you're telling me this is a debut? that's amazing! let me first start off by saying: this may not be for everyone! depending on the genres you gravitate more towards :) but if you love folklore stories, howl's moving castle, old manors, cozy fantasy books, polish folklore, cottage core + more, i think you should give this a TRY! the cover is so gorgeous, im actually in awee. but yeah i feel like you'd have to appreciate the book, yk? like i thought i wasn't gonna like this and it was going to give me the ick, but i surprised myself! 😭 for example, not everyone loves 'the cruel prince' ( which is totally fine!
➳ "impressed? he asks, amused.
"i think i might be going into shock."
"i do have that effect on women," he says casually. "most people, really."
˗ˏˋ꒰plot ꒱ 350 pages for a standalone fantasy is GOOD. the only thing that threw me off was the pacing at times. the beginning was okay, the middle was picking up... the ending was BIT rushed, but i adore the epilouge. (which is rare) afterall, it's just a tale as old as time, but AUGH that ending. 😭 and i though the writing was super good for a debut! someone just try this so we can scream about it tgt <3
˗ˏˋ꒰ overall experience ꒱pretty enjoyable! again, maybe this isn't for everyone which is so understandable, but im glad this was still a 4! i found myself annotating a lot, and aw the ending was so bittersweet, but ive come to terms with it <3 its just a tale and i get it. ALSOO i love how the author incorporated where she was from! she is polish and she based this off the stories she was told growing up with her own twists <3 cant wait to see what comes next!
˚₊‧꒰ა character under-study ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
˗ˏˋ꒰liska ꒱ her character really grew on me! i will say shes brave, i would be SCARED to go into the woods by myself no joke. and might i say, both our characters have very traumatizing pasts 😭 and i feel so bad for how she was treated, and she deserves everything she has now! fearless, you might say. ofc, i have other fmcs that i love, but im glad liska had depth and wasn't boring! :) her and some of elias' moments had me crying n swooning 🍂
➳ liska pulls back, panting fuiously. she wants to cut his throat. she wants to kiss him, but most of all, she wants him to feel how she feels, if only for a moment.🌿
˗ˏˋ꒰leszy (elias) ꒱ i was so, so conflicted at first 😭 might i add, he has antlers. OKAY BUT ITS NOT WHAT YOU THINK. anyways i did grow to like him, and i like how he was different from other fmcs yk? yeah he was dark and mysterious but he has other sides to him and he wasn't such a sterotype! i thought i was gonna get scared or icked out by him but i didn't tbh, and i grew to really like him <3 i feel bad for his past too. him and liska, were... AHGAW. but enough of the
not so clever fox. anyway, i mean just LOOK AT THE COVER OK? i also couldn't forget out side characters! they added to the story too <3
➳ "you were so full of hope, so maddeningly tenacious. and then, oh then. liska, the worst thing of all happened." his voice cracks, and he looks away."i fell in love."🍄
˚₊‧꒰ა mini playlist ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
✧ snow on the beach
✧ exile
✧ out of the woods
✧ say dont go
✧ into the unknown
✧ monster
✧ ivy
✧ runaway
young & beautiful
ᯓᡣ𐭩 hot summer nights, mid-July
when you and I were forever wild
————————
➳ "if only we could go back to that time, liska thinks, when we were young & full of stories
➳ " you are so brave, liska," he says. "braver than you know, infuriatingly so, in fact. just look at what you've done to me, turned me soft despite all my grand efforts to resist your relentless charm.
chapters - 7, 14, 15, 22, 24, 26, 31, 32
bottom line: just have fun reading y'all, i hope everyone is well and having a great june! if you're a fantasy lover, maybe try this! or if you want to get into it <3 notheless a great standalone, and i cant wait to see what world i get to delve into. where reading will take me next! bye! <3 💌
🌿🍄🍂🦌
ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ POST READ 🌲
wait nooo why did i enjoy that sm?! this is a literal folklore tale and i ate it upp! but oh that ending (but looking back on it it fits) 😭 but be ready to try this, they may not be for everybody but its def something to give a shot at! cant wait to rant about this, 4 stars, rtcc!! <3 JUST LOOK AT THE COVER
ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ preview! 🍂
picked this up on a whim, but tbh it looks pretty interesting! the cover is actually gorgeous irl, I'm not kidding 😭 but tell me why he has antlers? look, you don't have to find every 'love interest' in a book attractive, BUT ANTLERS. hmmm but the artist did a great jobb. yk what, I'll stop complaining, cheers to happy reading!! <3
April 11, 2024
All of my feelings about this book contradict each other. The story was unique, yet the flow was ordinary. The characters had some depth, yet I felt no attachment to them. The beginning was slow, but the ending was rushed. I'll try to break things down as best as I can.
✅ GORGEOUS world-building and lore
I'm not familiar with Slavic folklore at all, so this was a fresh dive for me. The mythology was so interesting, and I loved learning about the creatures, the magic, the world. I can't vouch for this book at all in terms of accuracy of anything, so we'll have to look to other reviewers for that. But from a newbie's perspective -- love!
❓ Okay main characters with lots of trauma
Objectively, our main character Liska is great. She's kind but cunning, afraid but determined. The Leszy, I feel, could be a hit-or-miss as a male lead. He's your typical uber-powerful, cold magical boy with white hair. I get that most readers find this type of character to be sexy and attractive, but I'm personally more of a smiley boy type of reader. ANYWAY. On paper, I appreciated both characters, but I didn't really feel any strong connection towards any of them.
✅ Lovable side characters!!
Now, the side characters, on the other hand... LOVED them. I was really interested in their personalities... I mean, we have a sentient house, a couple of spirits, a kid that's not really just a kid... a fun cast with distinct personalities. I wish we'd gotten a bit more of their backstories, but the bits and pieces that we got were definitely interesting.
❌ Pacing isn't great
The story was incredibly slow for the first 70%, then BAM everything hits you right in the face. There was a lot of build up in the beginning, which is fine, but then the climax was much too rushed in comparison.
❓ Ending is crazy!
The ending was impactful and emotional, albeit a little predictable, but also kind of perfect for this book? While not completely satisfying, I feel like any other ending would have felt off or inappropriate. Anyway, prepare your hearts!
Favorite Quotes
✅ GORGEOUS world-building and lore
I'm not familiar with Slavic folklore at all, so this was a fresh dive for me. The mythology was so interesting, and I loved learning about the creatures, the magic, the world. I can't vouch for this book at all in terms of accuracy of anything, so we'll have to look to other reviewers for that. But from a newbie's perspective -- love!
❓ Okay main characters with lots of trauma
Objectively, our main character Liska is great. She's kind but cunning, afraid but determined. The Leszy, I feel, could be a hit-or-miss as a male lead. He's your typical uber-powerful, cold magical boy with white hair. I get that most readers find this type of character to be sexy and attractive, but I'm personally more of a smiley boy type of reader. ANYWAY. On paper, I appreciated both characters, but I didn't really feel any strong connection towards any of them.
✅ Lovable side characters!!
Now, the side characters, on the other hand... LOVED them. I was really interested in their personalities... I mean, we have a sentient house, a couple of spirits, a kid that's not really just a kid... a fun cast with distinct personalities. I wish we'd gotten a bit more of their backstories, but the bits and pieces that we got were definitely interesting.
❌ Pacing isn't great
The story was incredibly slow for the first 70%, then BAM everything hits you right in the face. There was a lot of build up in the beginning, which is fine, but then the climax was much too rushed in comparison.
❓ Ending is crazy!
The ending was impactful and emotional, albeit a little predictable, but also kind of perfect for this book? While not completely satisfying, I feel like any other ending would have felt off or inappropriate. Anyway, prepare your hearts!
Favorite Quotes
Look toward the light, she reminds herself. Then you will not see the shadow behind you.
“What is fate but an excuse to surrender responsibility?”
“There is a thing we do, where we rearrange ourselves, cutting off pieces here and there to fit a mold that was never meant for us. [...] If the world has not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself.”
March 19, 2024
I’m writing this with tears blurring my vision! So hang tight!
I genuinely loved this story so so much. The beautiful writing and prose—the inviting and atmospheric world!
The pushes and pulls of religion meets folklore meets witchcraft?!
The creepy/eldritch horror and allure of demons and ghosts and a sentient manor ?!
I loved Liska so much. So very gentle but strong and unwavering in her resolve.
I will be leaving out jam for jaga. I love her very much.
And I can’t even speak of my favorite character bc again the TEARSSSSS!!!! *plants fern in my garden aggressively*
for fans of For the Wolf and Howls Moving Castle.
This very beautiful story will wrap you up in the softness of a freshly bloomed flower petal and then squeeze you BREATHLESS with a gnarled branch. Hang on tight!
I genuinely loved this story so so much. The beautiful writing and prose—the inviting and atmospheric world!
The pushes and pulls of religion meets folklore meets witchcraft?!
The creepy/eldritch horror and allure of demons and ghosts and a sentient manor ?!
I loved Liska so much. So very gentle but strong and unwavering in her resolve.
I will be leaving out jam for jaga. I love her very much.
And I can’t even speak of my favorite character bc again the TEARSSSSS!!!! *plants fern in my garden aggressively*
for fans of For the Wolf and Howls Moving Castle.
This very beautiful story will wrap you up in the softness of a freshly bloomed flower petal and then squeeze you BREATHLESS with a gnarled branch. Hang on tight!
February 2, 2024
5 ★ Steeped in Polish folklore and accompanied by the most stunning prose, loveable characters, and beautiful romance, A.B. Poranek has crafted the book of my dreams. There aren't many books that leave me beyond words, but Where The Dark Stands Still is one of them. Poranek's debut is a marvel of a book and her talent for writing dances across the pages. The descriptions of the Driada and the House under the Rowan Tree are nothing short of breathtaking. It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel because the quality of it is on par with an experienced author.
Where The Dark Stands Still is YA excellence. It's everything I want in a book. The romance? Perfection. The found family? So cute. The atmosphere? Top tier. The world? Unforgettable. The chapter titles? So cool. The ending? Devastating and perfect. Liska Radost is the type of female protagonist I love — she's gentle, smart, and strong. A healer, she's an outcast in the village of Stodoła, where magic is deemed evil. After her magic is exposed, she runs off to the Driada, but as all villagers know, you cannot enter the Driada without paying the price to the forest demon, the Leszy. What unravels next is one of the best stories I've ever read. I don't want to give too much of the plot away because the magic of this masterpiece is one you need to witness yourself.
If you're a fan of YA romantic fantasies like Sorcery of Thorns, Belladonna, Divine Rivals, and Once Upon a Broken Heart, this book will be your newest obsession and A.B. Poranek is an author you need to keep an eye on. (And dare I say this book is better than all of those comparisons?) Where The Dark Stands Still has the same magical feeling as a Stephanie Garber book, a similar writing style to that of Margaret Rogerson's, and the romance you would find in a Rebecca Ross novel. If you loved any of those books or authors, please do me a favor and preorder this one! You won't regret it. This book was my favorite of 2023 and was the first 5-star read I had in over 4 months.
If the world has not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself. 🥹
You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch." Excuse me? This quote? The Leszy, the man that you are.
Liska Radost (my clever fox) the Leszy (my demon boy) Jaga, (my silly little not-quite cat), and Maksio, (my strange boy), I will love you all forever. A.B. Poranek, I will read everything you write. <3
Where The Dark Stands Still is YA excellence. It's everything I want in a book. The romance? Perfection. The found family? So cute. The atmosphere? Top tier. The world? Unforgettable. The chapter titles? So cool. The ending? Devastating and perfect. Liska Radost is the type of female protagonist I love — she's gentle, smart, and strong. A healer, she's an outcast in the village of Stodoła, where magic is deemed evil. After her magic is exposed, she runs off to the Driada, but as all villagers know, you cannot enter the Driada without paying the price to the forest demon, the Leszy. What unravels next is one of the best stories I've ever read. I don't want to give too much of the plot away because the magic of this masterpiece is one you need to witness yourself.
If you're a fan of YA romantic fantasies like Sorcery of Thorns, Belladonna, Divine Rivals, and Once Upon a Broken Heart, this book will be your newest obsession and A.B. Poranek is an author you need to keep an eye on. (And dare I say this book is better than all of those comparisons?) Where The Dark Stands Still has the same magical feeling as a Stephanie Garber book, a similar writing style to that of Margaret Rogerson's, and the romance you would find in a Rebecca Ross novel. If you loved any of those books or authors, please do me a favor and preorder this one! You won't regret it. This book was my favorite of 2023 and was the first 5-star read I had in over 4 months.
If the world has not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself. 🥹
You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch." Excuse me? This quote? The Leszy, the man that you are.
Liska Radost (my clever fox) the Leszy (my demon boy) Jaga, (my silly little not-quite cat), and Maksio, (my strange boy), I will love you all forever. A.B. Poranek, I will read everything you write. <3
March 8, 2024
DNF @ 30%
I GET IT. SHE’S A NOT-SO-CLEVER FOX.
why do i keep doing this to myself.
I GET IT. SHE’S A NOT-SO-CLEVER FOX.
why do i keep doing this to myself.
September 17, 2024
✩ 4 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Gothic
➼ Sentient Manor
➼ Witch x Demon
➼ Polish Folklore
➼ Dark Fairytale
➼ Forbidden Magic
➼ Magical Creatures
➼ Curse/Bargain
➼ Dark Creepy Forest
Where the Dark Stands Still is a dark fairy tale reminiscent of the classic Grimm’s Fairy Tales. I think what it most reminded of though was The Bear and the Nightingale. This story has a Polish influence rather than Russian, but both featured demons, house spirits, evil creatures in the forrest, and a girl with concealed magic who holds the key to saving her village. Considering that this is a debut novel, I am very impressed. The writing and pacing were excellent and both the main and side characters were perfectly written.
I listened to the audiobook and I do think that added to my overall enjoyment since I doubt I would have been able to pronounce many of the included Polish names and terms on my own. I can see myself enjoying this less if I had been stumbling over word pronunciations so maybe keep that in mind if you choose to pick this up. Standalone books rarely earn a favorites slot from me, but this one is certainly worth the read. I’m expecting big things from this author. Looking forward to reading her future works.
What to Expect:
➼ Gothic
➼ Sentient Manor
➼ Witch x Demon
➼ Polish Folklore
➼ Dark Fairytale
➼ Forbidden Magic
➼ Magical Creatures
➼ Curse/Bargain
➼ Dark Creepy Forest
Where the Dark Stands Still is a dark fairy tale reminiscent of the classic Grimm’s Fairy Tales. I think what it most reminded of though was The Bear and the Nightingale. This story has a Polish influence rather than Russian, but both featured demons, house spirits, evil creatures in the forrest, and a girl with concealed magic who holds the key to saving her village. Considering that this is a debut novel, I am very impressed. The writing and pacing were excellent and both the main and side characters were perfectly written.
I listened to the audiobook and I do think that added to my overall enjoyment since I doubt I would have been able to pronounce many of the included Polish names and terms on my own. I can see myself enjoying this less if I had been stumbling over word pronunciations so maybe keep that in mind if you choose to pick this up. Standalone books rarely earn a favorites slot from me, but this one is certainly worth the read. I’m expecting big things from this author. Looking forward to reading her future works.
March 13, 2024
''Whisked away to his crumbling manor [...] she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past''
!
!
September 27, 2024
¿PERO QUÉ MARAVILLA ACABO DE LEER??😍😍
Tenía un poquito de miedo de empezar este libro ya que es la primera vez que leo una novela del género de fantasía, pero de verdad que no me arrepiento de nada
Reconozco que los dos o tres primeros capítulos se me hicieron un poco bola ya que son un poco introductorios, pero una vez que ya empieza a desarrollarse más la historia, ya no puedes dejar de leer
Este libro me ha echo sentir tantas emociones que no sé ni cómo explicarlo. Me ha hecho reír, morir de ternura, estar en tensión, e incluso me ha echo soltar alguna que otra lagrimita. Este libro es precioso.
Si buscáis un libro de fantasía pura, sin duda tenéis que leeros este libro. Brujas, espíritus, demonios, duendes y sobre todo mucha, mucha pero que mucha magia. Perfecto para iniciar con el género de fantasía. 🧚🏻🪄
Se ha convertido en uno de mis libros favoritos sin lugar a duda. Ojalá este libro fuese más conocido🥹❤️
Tenía un poquito de miedo de empezar este libro ya que es la primera vez que leo una novela del género de fantasía, pero de verdad que no me arrepiento de nada
Reconozco que los dos o tres primeros capítulos se me hicieron un poco bola ya que son un poco introductorios, pero una vez que ya empieza a desarrollarse más la historia, ya no puedes dejar de leer
Este libro me ha echo sentir tantas emociones que no sé ni cómo explicarlo. Me ha hecho reír, morir de ternura, estar en tensión, e incluso me ha echo soltar alguna que otra lagrimita. Este libro es precioso.
Si buscáis un libro de fantasía pura, sin duda tenéis que leeros este libro. Brujas, espíritus, demonios, duendes y sobre todo mucha, mucha pero que mucha magia. Perfecto para iniciar con el género de fantasía. 🧚🏻🪄
Se ha convertido en uno de mis libros favoritos sin lugar a duda. Ojalá este libro fuese más conocido🥹❤️
June 21, 2024
So What’s It About?
Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood – the Leszy – who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.
Those who enter the wood do not always return…
What I Thought
2024 is truly the Year of Evil Magical Woods for me, but this addition was sadly a big disappointment. I understand the vision, but at the end of the day, this was just a somewhat silly and forgettable read for me.
The main thing that did not work for me was the Leszy, Liska’s love interest and a “morally gray” ancient wizard in the form of a pretty young man who is so taut and angular and mercurial etc etc. The Leszy is just vaguely rude and standoffish to Liska, using the same awkward pet name for her a million times, until it turns out that he’s been manipulating and grooming human sacrifices to the evil god he bound himself to and she was going to be the next one, but she’s just sososo pretty and special that he can’t kill her!!!!
The whole “needing to make human sacrifices” thing started because of a very arrogant, reckless decision he made as a young man, and I want to be clear that I’m not inherently opposed to this…I’m just disappointed that the book took the most boring and stereotypical approach to exploring the topic by barely touching on any growth over his hundreds of years alive, instead pinning his transformation on the fact that he has now met Liska. “I’m too horny to murder her in order to placate the hunger of the dark god I’m bound to” is probably one of the most questionable applications of “she’s not like other girls” I’ve seen in a while, but here we are.
The other funny thing about this is that Liska’s response to discovering this is bizarrely understated. Her anger quickly settles back into this sort of exasperated fondness; Oh, you naughty demon, what am I going to do with you?? There’s no real grappling with the depth of this betrayal or what it means for their relationship moving forward. The OTHER other funny thing is that the book sort of half-heartedly flings us the argument that he lied to and sacrificed these humans for the greater good, so he’s not really that bad, so let’s go back to talking about his cheekbones and him being teasingly condescending to Liska please!!
I also feel that the books’ plot is almost entirely comprised of Liska doing random reckless things to piece together everything that the Leszy is lying to her about or purposefully withholding from her. This book would probably be 50-75 pages at most if he wasn’t continuously lying to her until it became impossible for him to do so anymore.
The influences here are extremely clear, and the author even specifically mentions Howl’s Moving Castle, Naomi Novik, and Margaret Rogerson in the acknowledgments. Wrt Howl, you’ve got the girl who runs away to live with an eccentric wizard for whom she works as a servant. She forms a found family with oddball companions, she and the wizard fall in love after lots of bickering, and she frees him from the curse he’s under. The Naomi Novik influence can be seen in the incorporation of Slavic folklore and a girl getting involved with an “evil” wizard living in strange, enchanted woods. I see the Margaret Rogerson influence in some of the romance beats, banter, atmosphere, and writing, too. While the influences are very clear, the result just feels like it lacks the true strengths and magic of all three (and I do not say this just because I vastly prefer the sopping wet little meow meow of a pathetic loser disgrace that Howl is in the books as opposed to the much more romantic movie version). If you like magical woods and somewhat vibes-y YA fantasy, this might be an okay quick read, but I can think of plenty of books in both of those categories that I much prefer.
Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood – the Leszy – who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.
Those who enter the wood do not always return…
What I Thought
2024 is truly the Year of Evil Magical Woods for me, but this addition was sadly a big disappointment. I understand the vision, but at the end of the day, this was just a somewhat silly and forgettable read for me.
The main thing that did not work for me was the Leszy, Liska’s love interest and a “morally gray” ancient wizard in the form of a pretty young man who is so taut and angular and mercurial etc etc. The Leszy is just vaguely rude and standoffish to Liska, using the same awkward pet name for her a million times, until it turns out that he’s been manipulating and grooming human sacrifices to the evil god he bound himself to and she was going to be the next one, but she’s just sososo pretty and special that he can’t kill her!!!!
The whole “needing to make human sacrifices” thing started because of a very arrogant, reckless decision he made as a young man, and I want to be clear that I’m not inherently opposed to this…I’m just disappointed that the book took the most boring and stereotypical approach to exploring the topic by barely touching on any growth over his hundreds of years alive, instead pinning his transformation on the fact that he has now met Liska. “I’m too horny to murder her in order to placate the hunger of the dark god I’m bound to” is probably one of the most questionable applications of “she’s not like other girls” I’ve seen in a while, but here we are.
The other funny thing about this is that Liska’s response to discovering this is bizarrely understated. Her anger quickly settles back into this sort of exasperated fondness; Oh, you naughty demon, what am I going to do with you?? There’s no real grappling with the depth of this betrayal or what it means for their relationship moving forward. The OTHER other funny thing is that the book sort of half-heartedly flings us the argument that he lied to and sacrificed these humans for the greater good, so he’s not really that bad, so let’s go back to talking about his cheekbones and him being teasingly condescending to Liska please!!
I also feel that the books’ plot is almost entirely comprised of Liska doing random reckless things to piece together everything that the Leszy is lying to her about or purposefully withholding from her. This book would probably be 50-75 pages at most if he wasn’t continuously lying to her until it became impossible for him to do so anymore.
The influences here are extremely clear, and the author even specifically mentions Howl’s Moving Castle, Naomi Novik, and Margaret Rogerson in the acknowledgments. Wrt Howl, you’ve got the girl who runs away to live with an eccentric wizard for whom she works as a servant. She forms a found family with oddball companions, she and the wizard fall in love after lots of bickering, and she frees him from the curse he’s under. The Naomi Novik influence can be seen in the incorporation of Slavic folklore and a girl getting involved with an “evil” wizard living in strange, enchanted woods. I see the Margaret Rogerson influence in some of the romance beats, banter, atmosphere, and writing, too. While the influences are very clear, the result just feels like it lacks the true strengths and magic of all three (and I do not say this just because I vastly prefer the sopping wet little meow meow of a pathetic loser disgrace that Howl is in the books as opposed to the much more romantic movie version). If you like magical woods and somewhat vibes-y YA fantasy, this might be an okay quick read, but I can think of plenty of books in both of those categories that I much prefer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2024
5 stars for the magical house.
1 star for the dry, ya romance.
I really, really wanted to like this one. It was described to me as a mix of Howl’s Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke, but make it Polish. How could I not love it?
While it was very heavily inspired by Dianne Wynne Jones’ HMC, the author even mentions this in her author’s note, it lacked the relationship that developed between the characters, especially the romance that developed between Howl and Sophie.
This entire book, although was very original in its magical world, lacked feeling. It’s almost like the author forgot that the two main characters Liska and The Lezy were supposed to fall in love.
It took me awhile to finish this and it dragged in parts. A glossary for all of the Polish or Slavic folklore terms would have been nice. Also a map of the world would have been great too. I’m not sure if the kingdoms mentioned in the book once existed or if they were original kingdoms and countries created just for this book.
I think this author has a lot of potential, and for a debut book, this wasn’t terrible. However, I hope her next book has more emotional depth.
Also am I the only one who finds it kind of unbelievable that a 700+ year old wizard is going to fall in love with a naive village girl? I’m getting tired of these crazy age gaps in fiction.
1 star for the dry, ya romance.
I really, really wanted to like this one. It was described to me as a mix of Howl’s Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke, but make it Polish. How could I not love it?
While it was very heavily inspired by Dianne Wynne Jones’ HMC, the author even mentions this in her author’s note, it lacked the relationship that developed between the characters, especially the romance that developed between Howl and Sophie.
This entire book, although was very original in its magical world, lacked feeling. It’s almost like the author forgot that the two main characters Liska and The Lezy were supposed to fall in love.
It took me awhile to finish this and it dragged in parts. A glossary for all of the Polish or Slavic folklore terms would have been nice. Also a map of the world would have been great too. I’m not sure if the kingdoms mentioned in the book once existed or if they were original kingdoms and countries created just for this book.
I think this author has a lot of potential, and for a debut book, this wasn’t terrible. However, I hope her next book has more emotional depth.
Also am I the only one who finds it kind of unbelievable that a 700+ year old wizard is going to fall in love with a naive village girl? I’m getting tired of these crazy age gaps in fiction.
March 18, 2024
Excuseee meee? 😭😭😭
I was promised Howl's moving castle x polish folklore. Not Howl's moving castle x polish folklore x EMOTIONAL DAMAGE 😤
Like... I was supposed to read sth cozy. Funny. Not making me weep in the middle of the night. Like... I did not agree to sth like that.
I mean I was like: shut up and take my money (and I still stand by that: shut up and take my money and give me collectors edition or sth). And not like: shut up and take my heart and break it into thousands of pieces. There is a difference between those two for ducks sake (but I can give u my kidney for special edition... just saying... I've got 2...)
***
Anyways. Moth Mariusz made my day. Leszy Eliasz killed me. Father Paweł made me cry (bc I can only see one particular Mr Paweł and his: przemyślcie to sobie...like XD just kill me already) (+ why not father Mateusz? It would be perfect 😭)
And idk if I finished this book or it finished me (but I kinda thing that it's the latter)
I was promised Howl's moving castle x polish folklore. Not Howl's moving castle x polish folklore x EMOTIONAL DAMAGE 😤
Like... I was supposed to read sth cozy. Funny. Not making me weep in the middle of the night. Like... I did not agree to sth like that.
I mean I was like: shut up and take my money (and I still stand by that: shut up and take my money and give me collectors edition or sth). And not like: shut up and take my heart and break it into thousands of pieces. There is a difference between those two for ducks sake (but I can give u my kidney for special edition... just saying... I've got 2...)
***
Anyways. Moth Mariusz made my day. Leszy Eliasz killed me. Father Paweł made me cry (bc I can only see one particular Mr Paweł and his: przemyślcie to sobie...like XD just kill me already) (+ why not father Mateusz? It would be perfect 😭)
And idk if I finished this book or it finished me (but I kinda thing that it's the latter)
May 5, 2024
This was a charming, cottagecore version of Howl's Moving Castle.🍄 Packed full with demons, magical misfits, sentient manors, a menacing forest, magic aplenty, and a slow-burn romance. (It's YA, with absolutely no spice. So if that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere.)
The main characters each had heartbreakingly sad backstories of their own that show their complexities and emotional depth. Then you see them grow together in their small moments of tenderness for each other and in their banter with one another. The romance was just done well,🤌🏼 although it was definitely a subplot.
💫“You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch.”
I was definitely caught off guard by the ending. I mean, props to A.B. Poranek for not doing what every other author does and being predictable... But what the actual fuck? She is bold as hell. I sat with emotional damage after finishing this for way longer than I care to admit.
Overall, this book was totally worth it imo. It was a quick and easy read. I thought the plot was great with strong characters. It simultaneously kept my attention and cracked my cold, dead heart.
💫"In nature, everything balances itself. There can be no winter without summer, no shadow without the sun. You are my soul. I lived seven hundred years to find you.”
Update (5/5/24)- I keep coming back to this book and have decided it deserves 5 stars. I loved it way too much.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
The main characters each had heartbreakingly sad backstories of their own that show their complexities and emotional depth. Then you see them grow together in their small moments of tenderness for each other and in their banter with one another. The romance was just done well,🤌🏼 although it was definitely a subplot.
💫“You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch.”
I was definitely caught off guard by the ending. I mean, props to A.B. Poranek for not doing what every other author does and being predictable... But what the actual fuck? She is bold as hell. I sat with emotional damage after finishing this for way longer than I care to admit.
Overall, this book was totally worth it imo. It was a quick and easy read. I thought the plot was great with strong characters. It simultaneously kept my attention and cracked my cold, dead heart.
💫"In nature, everything balances itself. There can be no winter without summer, no shadow without the sun. You are my soul. I lived seven hundred years to find you.”
Update (5/5/24)- I keep coming back to this book and have decided it deserves 5 stars. I loved it way too much.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
June 19, 2024
3.75 ☆
The mmc is a 700-year-old with antlers….
The writing was very poetic and beautiful. I was invested in the folklore. I enjoyed the story and the fmc learning her magic. I just wasn't fully attached to the characters.
I enjoyed the pacing of their relationship. I like how the fmc stood her ground and wasn't afraid to do what she wanted.
I thought everyone's relationships were heartwarming. I loved the small found family in this and how they would all literally die for each other.
I have to say I did not like the ending at all. I was shocked and needed to know what happened after the last sentence. It put me through too much. I need full closure.
✿ ✿ ✿
▫︎ Magic & spells
▫︎ Forced proximity
▫︎ Beauty and the Beast vibes
✿ ✿ ✿
Short to the point synopsis
Liska Radost has magic. Her village tells her magic is evil and she will not use it. Liska goes to the dark and magical woods and she meets the Leszy (warden of the woods) who offers her a wish (to get rid of her magic) in exchange for one year of serving him. The question is if she can survive him.
The mmc is a 700-year-old with antlers….
The writing was very poetic and beautiful. I was invested in the folklore. I enjoyed the story and the fmc learning her magic. I just wasn't fully attached to the characters.
I enjoyed the pacing of their relationship. I like how the fmc stood her ground and wasn't afraid to do what she wanted.
I thought everyone's relationships were heartwarming. I loved the small found family in this and how they would all literally die for each other.
I have to say I did not like the ending at all. I was shocked and needed to know what happened after the last sentence. It put me through too much. I need full closure.
✿ ✿ ✿
▫︎ Magic & spells
▫︎ Forced proximity
▫︎ Beauty and the Beast vibes
✿ ✿ ✿
Short to the point synopsis
Liska Radost has magic. Her village tells her magic is evil and she will not use it. Liska goes to the dark and magical woods and she meets the Leszy (warden of the woods) who offers her a wish (to get rid of her magic) in exchange for one year of serving him. The question is if she can survive him.
September 15, 2024
sometimes family is just a village girl, a czarownik, a skrzat, and a rusalka living together in a magical house
May 7, 2024
4.25 ⭐️
consider me ✨enchanted✨. i’m actually still in tears so i’ll need to collect myself before actually writing this review.
all you really need to know is that i’m fairly certain Miyazaki ghost wrote this book, there’s an ancient sentient house, adorable magical sidekicks + a grumpy MMC who is predictably pining from afar (also canonically furry but… we honestly don’t need to think about that too hard).
also brb gotta go consume every other piece of Polish folklore fantasy i can get my grubby little hands on.
PS: if anyone catches AB Poranek on the street… let them know i have beef and we WILL be renegotiating the whole “standalone” thing
consider me ✨enchanted✨. i’m actually still in tears so i’ll need to collect myself before actually writing this review.
all you really need to know is that i’m fairly certain Miyazaki ghost wrote this book, there’s an ancient sentient house, adorable magical sidekicks + a grumpy MMC who is predictably pining from afar (also canonically furry but… we honestly don’t need to think about that too hard).
also brb gotta go consume every other piece of Polish folklore fantasy i can get my grubby little hands on.
PS: if anyone catches AB Poranek on the street… let them know i have beef and we WILL be renegotiating the whole “standalone” thing
December 17, 2023
What a beautiful and magical story! Poranek has woven such a lush and lasting tale infused with Polish folklore - absolutely entrancing.
September 16, 2024
Polish Beauty and the Beast and Howl’s Moving Castle.
Liska knows that magic is monstrous, so when her own powers causes harm, she sets off into the woods to find a cure for her magic. She stumbles upon the demon warden of the wood – the Leszy – who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Enter a crumbling manor, a cat who is not a cat, and a demon who may be hiding his own secrets.
A czarownik with a tree for a heart, a meddling house-spirit, a rusałka with a newfound conscience, and Liska herself, a mere village girl, all living under the same semi-sentient roof.
I always struggle with books trying to present centuries old beings as a ‘boy’. Frequently. Liska seeing a boy between the cracks sounds sweet, but also feels like a mismatch to the Leszy’s own traumatic past and 700-year age difference.
I didn’t buy into the hype, so I did go in with tepid expectations. This meant I was kind of expecting the similar vibes to Naomi Novik and wasn’t disappointed by a fairly standard story when I was promised something extremely unique and original.
This wasn’t bad, and I think if you want an atmospheric fairytale book for fall, this could be for you! However, this just didn’t grab my attention and I couldn’t attach myself to the characters. For me, it felt like a cookie cutter YA romance with a bonus of folklore.
The ending… people were devastated, sobbing, screaming… I was not one of those people. Maybe because I had seen those things, I was expecting something, so predicted the end. Even so, I am now wondering if I am cold hearted.
Barely three stars. 🌟
If you enjoyed this, I would recommend The Bear and the Nightingale or Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.
Bookstagram
Liska knows that magic is monstrous, so when her own powers causes harm, she sets off into the woods to find a cure for her magic. She stumbles upon the demon warden of the wood – the Leszy – who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Enter a crumbling manor, a cat who is not a cat, and a demon who may be hiding his own secrets.
A czarownik with a tree for a heart, a meddling house-spirit, a rusałka with a newfound conscience, and Liska herself, a mere village girl, all living under the same semi-sentient roof.
I always struggle with books trying to present centuries old beings as a ‘boy’. Frequently. Liska seeing a boy between the cracks sounds sweet, but also feels like a mismatch to the Leszy’s own traumatic past and 700-year age difference.
I didn’t buy into the hype, so I did go in with tepid expectations. This meant I was kind of expecting the similar vibes to Naomi Novik and wasn’t disappointed by a fairly standard story when I was promised something extremely unique and original.
This wasn’t bad, and I think if you want an atmospheric fairytale book for fall, this could be for you! However, this just didn’t grab my attention and I couldn’t attach myself to the characters. For me, it felt like a cookie cutter YA romance with a bonus of folklore.
The ending… people were devastated, sobbing, screaming… I was not one of those people. Maybe because I had seen those things, I was expecting something, so predicted the end. Even so, I am now wondering if I am cold hearted.
Barely three stars. 🌟
If you enjoyed this, I would recommend The Bear and the Nightingale or Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.
Bookstagram
September 27, 2024
i do not want to write a review for this book because i'll likely just burst out in tears while doing so but i have to... i need to get my thoughts out. i'll try to make it pretty lol
small summary: after having to hide her powers her whole life to fit in, liska radost finally goes out to a dangerous forest to seek a special flower that can grant her her wish to banish them. but once she finds the flower, she meets the demon warden of the wood, the leszy, who tells her that he will grant her the wish after a year of servitude. she soon discovers the twisted origins of the bargain, the wood and the leszy himself.
this romantasy is YA !!
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
ೃ⁀➷ worldbuilding and writing ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
alexa, play faerie soirée by melanie martinez 🧚♀️🌿🍁
THIS BOOK WAS SOOO BEAUTIFUL. SUCH a beautiful and mysterious world!! the whole forest aesthetic was so engaging and admirable, made everything much more intriguing. wasn't hard to follow along either— like a comforting fairytale, which are my fav types of books ever. i'm not used to reading books about forests and spirits and mystery, and i was surprised by how much this one spoke to me. i was also surprised by the writing! it was lovely, really enhanced the fairytale vibes.i even read the acknowledgements and i think i'd read her grocery list
both of these aspects made where the dark stands still feel like a warm hug 🫂🤎 it felt so cozy and it's the perfect type of book to read on a rainy autumn day. i loved those vibes soo much!! the plot made for such an interesting, sweet-but-heartbreaking story with a little bit of found family. it's about polish folklore so some names were a bit hard to memorize at first and tbh there are many thrown at you, but you really just need to know the ones that are repeated frequently. i really and truly adored it, read this if u liked beauty and the beast < 33
ೃ⁀➷liska radost ⋆.��࿔*:･ liska my sweetest babygirl 😭😭😭 i hate how she was treated in her past, how she had to hide herself in order to not spread word of her powers. she was regarded as if she was a monster yall— her mom really sucked at the beginning . but this girl had such a fierce and determined heart, so willing to help everyone, even demons. it's not like she was a people pleaser but she saw some good in everyone and was so very welcoming. really love her ❤️
ೃ⁀➷the leszy ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
alexa, play ghostin by ariana grande ☹️
i can't do this i can't i can't i can't leszy, a demon who did demonic things. also a demon with the heart of an angel. i can't believe everything he endured, everything he was forced to do. he really did have a heart, and the scenes with all of them together where he was happy just MELTED me from the inside out. here is an excerpt...
Liska and Maksio and Jaga are sitting with him in the parlor on a rare quiet evening. Maksio is winning at chess yet again, Liska is laughing at the Leszy's unamused expression (does his face really look that funny?), and Jaga is watching it all with the lazy contentment of a spirit who knows far more than she should. (He still does not know why he lets any of them stay. They are insufferable and nosy and agents of rampant chaos. Yet when he is around them, he feels as though he is full of firelight: warm and bright and... and dreadfully poetic, apparently.)
ೃ⁀➷vent(?) ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ i wanted to SQUEEZE HIM 😭😭😭😭😭 it's not fair at all!!!!! this story and the end took my heart and ripped it into a million useless pieces without my permission. this is not at all how i thought this book would be so i was shocked when i started sobbing and the tears wouldnt stop. it's the next day and i still cannot even get myself to look at the cover because it just hurts. everything reminds me of this book and tears start prickling my eyes and i hate it— how is this not the worst thing ever? liska, you're the strongest ever. leszy, liska and i love you so much. everything will be okay.
AB poranek has the ability to get u attached to characters so this is why this book affected me so much. it was such a surreal and beautiful experience, all of it. it's been so long since i loved a book this much and the first time that i really really cried over a book. iwant demand another one NOW. because that last line of the epilogue fucked me UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
i'm making it sound like the story is all tragic AF— it's not. i am just too attached to the characters in it. still, beware. for me it's one of those books you'll keep thinking of even when you've read books that are better, more popular etc. i'm just such a mess i want my heart and sanity back.
i've ran out of tears to cry incredible, incredible, unforgettable book 💓💓💓 i absolutely can't believe this is her debut! it's CRIMINALLY underrated . cannot wait for her next book and her other work. to me, this was ever-so-slightly reminiscent of once upon a broken heart (but make it gothic) so if that's something you liked you should try this, too.
i'm literally struggling for words-- never have i EVER cried this much over a book.. rtc maybe 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧
PRE-READ: I'M READING THIS I FINALLY GOT THE HARDCOVER. WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE MY EXCITEMENT this needs to be amazing
yall i wanna read this so baddddd i might buy it soon. i keep thinking about it 😭😭😭
small summary: after having to hide her powers her whole life to fit in, liska radost finally goes out to a dangerous forest to seek a special flower that can grant her her wish to banish them. but once she finds the flower, she meets the demon warden of the wood, the leszy, who tells her that he will grant her the wish after a year of servitude. she soon discovers the twisted origins of the bargain, the wood and the leszy himself.
this romantasy is YA !!
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
ೃ⁀➷ worldbuilding and writing ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
alexa, play faerie soirée by melanie martinez 🧚♀️🌿🍁
THIS BOOK WAS SOOO BEAUTIFUL. SUCH a beautiful and mysterious world!! the whole forest aesthetic was so engaging and admirable, made everything much more intriguing. wasn't hard to follow along either— like a comforting fairytale, which are my fav types of books ever. i'm not used to reading books about forests and spirits and mystery, and i was surprised by how much this one spoke to me. i was also surprised by the writing! it was lovely, really enhanced the fairytale vibes.
both of these aspects made where the dark stands still feel like a warm hug 🫂🤎 it felt so cozy and it's the perfect type of book to read on a rainy autumn day. i loved those vibes soo much!! the plot made for such an interesting, sweet-but-heartbreaking story with a little bit of found family. it's about polish folklore so some names were a bit hard to memorize at first and tbh there are many thrown at you, but you really just need to know the ones that are repeated frequently. i really and truly adored it, read this if u liked beauty and the beast < 33
ೃ⁀➷liska radost ⋆.��࿔*:･ liska my sweetest babygirl 😭😭😭 i hate how she was treated in her past, how she had to hide herself in order to not spread word of her powers. she was regarded as if she was a monster yall— her mom really sucked at the beginning . but this girl had such a fierce and determined heart, so willing to help everyone, even demons. it's not like she was a people pleaser but she saw some good in everyone and was so very welcoming. really love her ❤️
ೃ⁀➷the leszy ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
alexa, play ghostin by ariana grande ☹️
Liska and Maksio and Jaga are sitting with him in the parlor on a rare quiet evening. Maksio is winning at chess yet again, Liska is laughing at the Leszy's unamused expression (does his face really look that funny?), and Jaga is watching it all with the lazy contentment of a spirit who knows far more than she should. (He still does not know why he lets any of them stay. They are insufferable and nosy and agents of rampant chaos. Yet when he is around them, he feels as though he is full of firelight: warm and bright and... and dreadfully poetic, apparently.)
ೃ⁀➷vent(?) ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ i wanted to SQUEEZE HIM 😭😭😭😭😭 it's not fair at all!!!!! this story and the end took my heart and ripped it into a million useless pieces without my permission. this is not at all how i thought this book would be so i was shocked when i started sobbing and the tears wouldnt stop. it's the next day and i still cannot even get myself to look at the cover because it just hurts. everything reminds me of this book and tears start prickling my eyes and i hate it— how is this not the worst thing ever? liska, you're the strongest ever. leszy, liska and i love you so much. everything will be okay.
AB poranek has the ability to get u attached to characters so this is why this book affected me so much. it was such a surreal and beautiful experience, all of it. it's been so long since i loved a book this much and the first time that i really really cried over a book. i
i'm making it sound like the story is all tragic AF— it's not. i am just too attached to the characters in it. still, beware. for me it's one of those books you'll keep thinking of even when you've read books that are better, more popular etc. i'm just such a mess i want my heart and sanity back.
i'm literally struggling for words-- never have i EVER cried this much over a book.. rtc maybe 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧
PRE-READ: I'M READING THIS I FINALLY GOT THE HARDCOVER. WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE MY EXCITEMENT this needs to be amazing
yall i wanna read this so baddddd i might buy it soon. i keep thinking about it 😭😭😭
August 23, 2024
Oh my god where to start. First of all as a native polish person I have never ever ever read a book as cringe as this one.
Bestie took out a polish dictionary and was like “wow this word sound really smart and mysterious, I’m gonna use it in a context that doesn’t make sense 😃”.
Trying to make polish language sound exotic is a crime in of itself and my heart goes out to all those poor Irish folks that Rebecca Yarros ripped off in the Fourth Wing same as miss Poranek did here - now I know how y’all feel.
If you want to get a glimpse of how this book reads try typing “She took off her śmierdzące skarpetki” into google translate.
All of this is a shame really because I was pretty excited to read a book set up within polish folklore. Miss Poranek you did your heritage a disservice. Try and live with that.
Bestie took out a polish dictionary and was like “wow this word sound really smart and mysterious, I’m gonna use it in a context that doesn’t make sense 😃”.
Trying to make polish language sound exotic is a crime in of itself and my heart goes out to all those poor Irish folks that Rebecca Yarros ripped off in the Fourth Wing same as miss Poranek did here - now I know how y’all feel.
If you want to get a glimpse of how this book reads try typing “She took off her śmierdzące skarpetki” into google translate.
All of this is a shame really because I was pretty excited to read a book set up within polish folklore. Miss Poranek you did your heritage a disservice. Try and live with that.
February 19, 2024
4.5 rounded up
I loved this so much!!
rtc
December 22:
Ahh!! I'm so excited rn! going to start this soon!
The cover is giving A Far Wilder Magic vibes
Thank you Simon & Schuster😍
I loved this so much!!
rtc
December 22:
Ahh!! I'm so excited rn! going to start this soon!
The cover is giving A Far Wilder Magic vibes
Thank you Simon & Schuster😍
April 3, 2024
4.5 stars (rounded up)
The Bear and the Nightingale meets Beauty and the Beast meets Howl's Moving Castle in this highly atmospheric, delightfully peculiar, and beautifully bittersweet folkloric fantasy.
Now, I am not going to lie, this was 100% a coverbuy for me. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and I honestly think that only made my reading experience all the more enjoyable and impactful.
I'll admit that the first 3 or so chapters felt a bit too hectic to me, even though I was immediately captured by the dark fairytale vibe and irresistible air of intrigue. And holy smokes, am I glad I just trusted the author and read on, because as soon as the inciting incident had taken place and the setting shifted (at around 10% into the novel), I got totally hooked.
The writing has a slightly quirky and lyrical quality to it that kept me totally entranced, and I though it worked so beautifully with the darkly whimsical folklore vibe of this story. Moreover, the themes of grief, trauma, regret, and love (in all its devastating beauty) really get to shine through the emotionally rich prose, which is exactly why I got so deeply and tragically invested in these characters' lives.
And oh dear, do I adore these characters. Both Liska and The Leszy quickly proved to be extremely compelling and oddly loveable characters to me, and I really loved how much emotional depth and complex backstory we got for both of them. My poor heart was not ready for the journey I was about to embark upon with them, but by the end I had cried tears of both happiness and sorrow.
Their dynamic was entirely too wholesome, and I loved that they are strong characters on their own, but then became even stronger together. There is such a tender, subtle and heartachingly beautiful romance subplot in here that is masterfully woven into the fantasy/mystery elements of the story, which is exactly what made it so powerful. All the little moments of delightful exasperation, loving banter, and unexpected tenderness between them had me kicking my feet; THIS is how you do a delicious slow-burn romance!!
And add to all of that a wayward sentient house, malicious woods, and the most quirky and unconventional found family of magical misfits... how could I not fall head over heels in love? Everything about this story was just so perfectly well-balanced, intriguingly mysterious, and inexplicably charming, making it impossible to stop turning the pages.
Though, while a lot of the elements of Where the Dark Stands Still felt wonderfully familiar, I was completely caught off guard by the shocking ending. Kudos to the author for not following safe plot beats, and instead making some bold choices to deliver the sweetest type of emotional destruction; it only made me love the story more. Safe to say, this ending had me staring blankly at the wall for a good couple of minutes, making sure I will not forget this story anytime soon.
Similarly to Arden's Winternight trilogy, I honestly don't understand how Where the Dark Stands Still is marketed as YA. I mean, nothing against YA, many of my faves come from that age range, but this story had a level of emotional depth and is told in such a richly eloquent prose that makes it simply transcend that younger age range to me.
Where the Dark Stands Still is easily one of the boldest and strongest debuts I have ever read, and I will be keeping my eyes out for anything Poranek writes next! If you are looking for a cozy but dark character-driven fantasy full of Polish folklore, lovable eccentric characters, entrancing levels of mystery and intrigue, charming prose, and a beautifully bittersweet romance, then I can't recommend this highly enough!
The Bear and the Nightingale meets Beauty and the Beast meets Howl's Moving Castle in this highly atmospheric, delightfully peculiar, and beautifully bittersweet folkloric fantasy.
Now, I am not going to lie, this was 100% a coverbuy for me. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and I honestly think that only made my reading experience all the more enjoyable and impactful.
I'll admit that the first 3 or so chapters felt a bit too hectic to me, even though I was immediately captured by the dark fairytale vibe and irresistible air of intrigue. And holy smokes, am I glad I just trusted the author and read on, because as soon as the inciting incident had taken place and the setting shifted (at around 10% into the novel), I got totally hooked.
The writing has a slightly quirky and lyrical quality to it that kept me totally entranced, and I though it worked so beautifully with the darkly whimsical folklore vibe of this story. Moreover, the themes of grief, trauma, regret, and love (in all its devastating beauty) really get to shine through the emotionally rich prose, which is exactly why I got so deeply and tragically invested in these characters' lives.
And oh dear, do I adore these characters. Both Liska and The Leszy quickly proved to be extremely compelling and oddly loveable characters to me, and I really loved how much emotional depth and complex backstory we got for both of them. My poor heart was not ready for the journey I was about to embark upon with them, but by the end I had cried tears of both happiness and sorrow.
Their dynamic was entirely too wholesome, and I loved that they are strong characters on their own, but then became even stronger together. There is such a tender, subtle and heartachingly beautiful romance subplot in here that is masterfully woven into the fantasy/mystery elements of the story, which is exactly what made it so powerful. All the little moments of delightful exasperation, loving banter, and unexpected tenderness between them had me kicking my feet; THIS is how you do a delicious slow-burn romance!!
And add to all of that a wayward sentient house, malicious woods, and the most quirky and unconventional found family of magical misfits... how could I not fall head over heels in love? Everything about this story was just so perfectly well-balanced, intriguingly mysterious, and inexplicably charming, making it impossible to stop turning the pages.
Though, while a lot of the elements of Where the Dark Stands Still felt wonderfully familiar, I was completely caught off guard by the shocking ending. Kudos to the author for not following safe plot beats, and instead making some bold choices to deliver the sweetest type of emotional destruction; it only made me love the story more. Safe to say, this ending had me staring blankly at the wall for a good couple of minutes, making sure I will not forget this story anytime soon.
Similarly to Arden's Winternight trilogy, I honestly don't understand how Where the Dark Stands Still is marketed as YA. I mean, nothing against YA, many of my faves come from that age range, but this story had a level of emotional depth and is told in such a richly eloquent prose that makes it simply transcend that younger age range to me.
Where the Dark Stands Still is easily one of the boldest and strongest debuts I have ever read, and I will be keeping my eyes out for anything Poranek writes next! If you are looking for a cozy but dark character-driven fantasy full of Polish folklore, lovable eccentric characters, entrancing levels of mystery and intrigue, charming prose, and a beautifully bittersweet romance, then I can't recommend this highly enough!
April 26, 2024
Read this in a single sitting and loved this effortlessly lyrical romantasy bloomed in the dark woods, through earthy magic, and a "deal with the demon" trope that binds you with its magnetism. The folklore is so fascinating. And that ending! rtc.
14.12.23 would i like some dark magic? yes, please.
June 9, 2024
3.5
“of women he’d heard it said: ‘she will be the death of me’ or ‘she will be my undoing.’ none of that is true for Liska Radost. she will not be the end of anything, but the beginning of everything. he has been dead a long time, and she is his resurrection.”
“of women he’d heard it said: ‘she will be the death of me’ or ‘she will be my undoing.’ none of that is true for Liska Radost. she will not be the end of anything, but the beginning of everything. he has been dead a long time, and she is his resurrection.”
February 29, 2024
Dark and sad Beauty and the Beast
I read A.B. Poranek's Where the Dark Stands Still on a cold, wet Canadian December day, and that felt appropriate. To be sure, Orlica, the fantasy nation in which Where the Dark Stands Still takes place, is clearly based on Poland. But let's not overthink this: Poranek grew up in Canada but spent her summers in Poland. Canada and Poland are cold northern lands.
Liska's village Stodola is not like the cold, bright Canadian university town I live in. If there is such a thing as a University in Orlica, Liska knows nothing of it. Stodola is a small farming village where oppression wears a Christian face. Liska, a target of that oppression, runs away into the forest, where she binds herself in service to the Leszy, demon of the wood.
At the beginning the story looks much like Beauty and the Beast with a Slavic flavor. When I say, "at the beginning", I mean for the first half of the book. It varies from Beauty and the Beast, but it does hit the major beats of of the classic fairy tale. So much so that at the 69% point I thought, "This story seems to be approaching its end. How is there still a third of the book left to go?" The answer become obvious when the story suddenly took off in a new and more adventurous, not to mention violent, direction.
The publisher's summary reads, "Liska soon makes an unsettling discovery: she is not the first person to strike this bargain, and all her predecessors have mysteriously vanished." Although the publishers claim that Liska makes this discovery "soon", the event referred to here occurs after about three-quarters of the book. Furthermore, it comes as a complete surprise to Liska, and, I have no doubt, was meant to come as a surprise to the reader. It would have surprised me, had not the publisher spoiled it.
It's an uneven book. The last third is undoubtedly better than the first two-thirds, more exciting and full of challenging stratagems and a few fun new characters. I found it a mostly predictable hash of familiar plot elements told on an unusually dreary background. Readers who enjoy Slavic folklore will like it, however.
I think Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance reader copy of Where the Dark Stands Still. This review expresses my honest opinions.
Blog review.
I read A.B. Poranek's Where the Dark Stands Still on a cold, wet Canadian December day, and that felt appropriate. To be sure, Orlica, the fantasy nation in which Where the Dark Stands Still takes place, is clearly based on Poland. But let's not overthink this: Poranek grew up in Canada but spent her summers in Poland. Canada and Poland are cold northern lands.
Liska's village Stodola is not like the cold, bright Canadian university town I live in. If there is such a thing as a University in Orlica, Liska knows nothing of it. Stodola is a small farming village where oppression wears a Christian face. Liska, a target of that oppression, runs away into the forest, where she binds herself in service to the Leszy, demon of the wood.
At the beginning the story looks much like Beauty and the Beast with a Slavic flavor. When I say, "at the beginning", I mean for the first half of the book. It varies from Beauty and the Beast, but it does hit the major beats of of the classic fairy tale. So much so that at the 69% point I thought, "This story seems to be approaching its end. How is there still a third of the book left to go?" The answer become obvious when the story suddenly took off in a new and more adventurous, not to mention violent, direction.
The publisher's summary reads, "Liska soon makes an unsettling discovery: she is not the first person to strike this bargain, and all her predecessors have mysteriously vanished." Although the publishers claim that Liska makes this discovery "soon", the event referred to here occurs after about three-quarters of the book. Furthermore, it comes as a complete surprise to Liska, and, I have no doubt, was meant to come as a surprise to the reader. It would have surprised me, had not the publisher spoiled it.
It's an uneven book. The last third is undoubtedly better than the first two-thirds, more exciting and full of challenging stratagems and a few fun new characters. I found it a mostly predictable hash of familiar plot elements told on an unusually dreary background. Readers who enjoy Slavic folklore will like it, however.
I think Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance reader copy of Where the Dark Stands Still. This review expresses my honest opinions.
Blog review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,642 reviews