eruwen's Book Journey

If you take every ounce of literary talent and weave it with a tapestry meant to ensnare the reader into rapture, despair, and an ache that is not easily doused with words alone... it's 'Where Darkness Bloomed.' I have not been this taken by a story in so long, and much like the cosmos, this story can endure any ebb or flow for a reader. Its stories can transcend simply reading to read something - it can be felt, devoured and dissected. As a reader that loves to break out her tabs and highlighters and find every inch of beauty written in the words, this is a perfect story to find monumental moments behind every scene. Simply put - its genius incarnate.

Would I recommend? - With every breath I breathe, I will recommend this one to any reader. Literally ANY. You don't even have to love Greek mythology to adore the intricate beauty of this one.

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I cried so many times during this book - tears of beauty, tears of utter devastation, tears of understanding, and finally, tears of pride for the characters within.

The women in this are fierce in not only their strength to endure, or strength to bend wills, but in their strength of soft understanding and compassion. It's truly insane to see how easily woven the timelines are - of what happens in the Underworld, in Troy, on Olympus. How the Fates created the tapestry, but the women are the ones to weave it into its final creation.

And the men - THE MEN. I'm always going to be a ladies first kind of girl, finding their brilliance to be my favorite part of every story. But the way Stark wrote Hades, Achilles, Hephaestus - I was jaw dropped on the floor for them. For their iron wills, for their fallen hearts that longed to be seen for more than what they were crafted for, and mostly for the way they stand beside the women. Not overshadowing; strengthening. Standing by their side or holding them up from behind with a warmth of a lovers' touch.

It's more than yearning between the men and women of this story, it's a deep ache to rewrite the history of scars and wind them into love-kissed new beginnings.

MORE THOUGHTS

★ The war and ravage of Troy is, of course, a well-known part of Greek mythology and history, and Stark spares no words to describe its brutal savagery. Both in the start and the tumultuous ending. Both in Troy and when judgement comes to call in the Underworld. It's felt as deeply as the wounds left in battle scars, how much the world changed for a taste of pride and power.

★ I'm ruined to ever not loves Hades/Persephone after this one. As this is my first recount of their love story in a book, I can honestly say I'm locked in for them until the very end of time.

★ If Stark writes it, I'm going to read it. It's the law of the land now and I am merely its servant.

I could go on forever saying all the pretty things I love about this book, but I digress - add it to your TBR immediately and find out for yourself when it releases in September!

Thank you so so much to K. D. Stark for trusting me to receive an eARC of this one. Truly, I'm overwhelmed with how much this one moved me and will be forever grateful for your trust in allowing me to review its splendor!