This was probably my least favorite book in the series, but not because it was poorly written. The writing, the murder mystery, and the suspense were top-notch once again. I'm just not a huge fan of police thrillers. Still, I really enjoyed reading it, especially since we got to see James and Ben again. I also loved how all three books came full circle in the end and turned out to be connected.

As for the romance... Dal Maclean somehow takes my least favorite tropes, this time it's miscommunication, and turns them into something that hits me to my core. That takes an incredible amount of talent as a writer, and it makes me so sad that she isn't writing anymore. It feels so unfair!

I also really wish we'd gotten an epilogue where both couples were alive, well, and happy because the ending felt more like an HFN than a HEA. Still, this is a wonderful series, and I'd happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a romantic subplot.

I have to admit, the beginning was a bit of a struggle for me. The book throws you straight into a world that's basically our own but with magic, plus a whole bunch of made-up terms. I'm really hoping the final published edition includes a glossary. But once I got my bearings, I was completely hooked. This is a genuinely terrifying post-apocalyptic world that I would never want to find myself in. And of course, the end of the world didn't just bring monsters. It also exposed the worst of humanity. Outside of Dawnrider, where the FMC, Lirien, has been living in relative safety, the survivors have formed all kinds of gangs and factions, and not all of them are led by good people.

Speaking of Lirien, the whole world blames her for the catastrophe. They call her the Worldbreaker, even though she was only nine years old and couldn't control her powers. She's doing everything she can to make amends, but of course a bunch of narrow-minded men keep getting in her way. Lirien is such a fantastic character. She's strong, brave, clever, resourceful, loyal, and she truly believes in her plan to save humanity. Then Vox, the MMC, kidnaps her, and she throws herself into helping him with that same determination, despite the hostility from the rest of his crew and despite Vox's own hatred toward her, which, to be fair, is completely understandable.

As for Vox... well, I'm sorry to say he hasn't become my new book boyfriend just yet. He's definitely a complex and compelling character, and I loved watching his story unfold, but most of the time I just wanted to punch him in the face. I won't spoil anything, but I fully expect some absolutely legendary groveling from this idiot in book two.

The best character, though, is definitely Jessie. Just trust me. The moment you meet her, you'll understand. She's the voice of reason with absolutely no filter, and I adore her. I really hope we get more of her in the sequel, especially since I've already started shipping her with Zint.

For most of the book, I kept thinking, okay, this is interesting, this is well written, but it's not blowing me away. Then somewhere near the end, the story completely pulled me in. There were a few twists that had me absolutely fuming, nervously biting my nails, and genuinely stressed over what was happening. I'm so curious to see how everything will be resolved because, naturally, the book ends on a cliffhanger. Our main characters are in a very bad place, and I honestly have no idea what's coming next.

I also want to mention the worldbuilding because it's incredibly solid. It never feels like the world exists only to serve the plot, and I never got the sense that it would fall apart the moment you started asking questions.

While reading, I kept thinking about The Handmaid's Tale, Mad Max, and Snowpiercer. Snowpiercer, in particular, was exactly how I pictured the class divide on Dawnrider. Then I reached the acknowledgements and discovered that those were some of the author's inspirations while writing Defy the Dusk. So yes, dystopian is soooooooo back, and if you're a fan of the genre, you definitely shouldn't miss this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

What a beautiful book. And what beautiful writing. It's one of those stories that completely pulls you in until the outside world stops existing. It's definitely a long book, but I never wanted it to end. I would've happily stayed with these characters for another hundred pages. (And somehow a book about surfing made me want to watch a surfing competition in real life, even though I know absolutely nothing about the sport.)

Despite all their loneliness and the walls they've built around themselves, Sidney and James are such gentle, vulnerable people underneath. Watching them slowly learn to trust each other and finally let someone in was impossible not to get emotional over.

I spent the entire ending expecting one final epilogue where, nearly forty years after their wedding, Sidney and James would finally get to marry officially 💔 It happened in my head, and that's the ending I'm sticking with.