The Dark Days Club: A Lady Helen Novel by Alison Goodman (Epub)

Description

The first book in the dark and compelling Lady Helen trilogy, set during the Regency period, will appeal to teenagers and adults alike. London during the Season is a whirl of balls, dinners and promenades – and, for a select few, the relentless battle against demons.

Jane Austen’s high society and Cassandra Clare’s supernatural underworld collide in the first book in the Lady Helen trilogy, perfect for fans of historical fiction and fantasy.

London, April 1812. Lady Helen Wrexhall is set to make her curtsy to Queen Charlotte and step into polite Regency Society. Unbeknownst to Helen, that step will also take her from the glittering ballroom of Almacks and the bright lights of Vauxhall Gardens into a shadowy world of demonic creatures, missing housemaids and deadly power.

Standing between those two worlds is Lord Carlston, a man of dubious reputation and infuriating manners. He believes Helen is destined to protect humanity, but all he can offer is danger, savagery and the possibility of madness. Not the kind of destiny suitable for a young lady in her first London Season. This delightfully dangerous adventure of self-discovery and difficult choices has all the unnerving dark magic of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and the swashbuckling action of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

User’s Reviews

From School Library Journal Gr 8 Up—As 18-year-old Lady Helen Wexhall prepares for her audience with Queen Charlotte at Buckingham Palace in 1812 London, she is constantly admonished by her aunt and uncle not to mention her mother, Lady Catherine, to the queen. Helen’s mother and father drowned at sea, a result of her mother’s wild and reckless pursuit of intrigue and excitement. Her aunt and uncle adopted her and her brother, and while her brother is as staid and stolid as they are, Helen shows the same reckless streak, intelligence, and curiosity as her mother. When her lady’s maid mentions that one of the other housemaids is missing, Helen undertakes her own investigation. As she enters a season of parties and social affairs, she meets Lord Carlson, whose family has the ancient duty of investigating a cabal of demons who have infiltrated all levels of London society and want to bring an enlightened world back into a darker age. Although warned against Lord Carlson, she finds herself drawn more and more into his work, which seem to parallel her own and plunge her into greater danger. The first of a series, this Regency romance/supernatural mash-up introduces Lady Helen and Regency London as well as the underworld of the deceivers. Fast-paced, rich in description, with fascinating characters and excitement, this tale from Australian author Goodman will leave fantasy fans wanting more. VERDICT With mass crossover appeal, this genre-pushing tale will be enjoyed by those who don’t usually read historical romances or supernatural works.—Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas –This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Reviews from Amazon users, collected at the time the book is getting published on UniedVRG. It can be related to shiping or paper quality instead of the book content:

⭐ This book was easily one of my favorites of the year combining a delightful Regency setting with a dark and twisty paranormal lore that I enjoyed the hell out of.So what to say about this one? First up, I really enjoyed the female friendships in this story. As I think I’ve mentioned in the past, I feel like that aspect is often missing from YA fantasy & science fiction. We get a ton of the “girls who aren’t like other girls” and who prove it by either interacting with next to no other ladies in the course of the story, or who are at odds and/or look down on the few they do meet with. Not so in this one! Lady Helen, despite having concerns that are decidedly not like those the rest of the Ton have to deal with, doesn’t isolate herself from other women. From the sadly “ruined” friend she takes care to worry and look out for to her high society companions to her maid, Darby, Helen respects and admires most of the women around here, even if she is occasionally exasperated by them or, in the case of her aunt, feels stifled by them. Even in the latter cases, we never get the impression that Helen feels the women to be “lesser” to the men around her simply for being women, and that is SO, SO refreshing to read in YA, especially in a period novel.The magical rules of the world were definitely something I hadn’t seen before either. The secret society operating loosely under the British government is something I’ve seen before, but never quite with the angle this one takes on and certainly not quite as immersed in the gorgeous Regency details like this one is. The closest I think I’ve come to this feel in a book is SORCERY AND CECELIA (which by the way I DEFINITELY recommend), but that has a much more humorous outlook than DARK DAYS CLUB.I will say bits of the romance and slight love triangle were hard for me, though this is one of those books where I honestly don’t know how to explain quite why? Really Lady Helen was the star for me, and I would have been perfectly happy for her to tell both of her would-be (or trying to assure he wouldn’t be in the case of one) suitors to leave her be while she saved the world LOL. I’ve noticed I’m a little harder on romantic subplots in my larger SFF stories lately. Not sure what the shift is, but oh well. LOLIn any case, this book really was fantastic, and as is always a good sign, I’ve already preordered the next book!

⭐ 4.5 stars, actually.It’s not often I give an author I’ve rated 3 stars in the past another chance, but boy am I glad I did. So maybe I was a bit harsh with her Eon series (Asian-aspired gender-bending YA) or maybe its that Paranormal historicals is far more suited to her style, or it might be I was bowled over by the amount of authentic-seeming historical details here.Or maybe its just I am as fascinated by Lord Carlston as this book’s genteel protagonist, Helen.This plot is so chock full of mysteries (was Helen’s mother a traitor? why does she see mysterious blue light around people sometimes? Why would the disgraced Carlston pay attention to her? What happened to her missing maid, Berta?) and exquisite details of the Regency era (naming the dances at a ball, believable descriptions of gowns and cravats, the name of historical shops) that you don’t notice that most of the book is really just Helen going to different parties (until the last third when she breaks out of the mold and goes to clandestine meetings and a public hanging).Helen herself has agency, in an era when her entire life is controlled by men and she is constantly being told what to do, she makes choices. Threatened on all sides by complete ruin if she doesn’t accept a suitor’s marriage proposal– she ekes out her own space by requiring him to ask her again after a potentially momentous ball when her own future might be drastically changed. she doesn’t hesitate to sneak out of the house when it is a matter of keeping her word, yet tries her best to please her Aunt with obedience.And the mysterious, passionate, athletic, dark and angsy Lord Carlston? Delicious. There’s only one scene which required a bit of hand fluttering at my throat, sadly. I wished for more of their sparring (verbal and non verbal).This is described as “Buffy meets Jane Austen” but really its more like Jane Austen meets secret alchemical society fighting demons. (maybe another reviewer’s comparison to the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare is more apt). Helen’s no bubbly cheerleader and the wry wit of Buffy isn’t here–everything is dreary and serious.While a minor bad guy is taken down, and Helen’s choice is made for her, this book is obviously setting up plot elements that lead to a darker, sinister Big Bad in upcoming books. Off I go to find out if the promise of cool plot and sparky romance is born out in the second book, ordering now.

⭐ I’m back to buy the (rather pricey) sequel before I’ve closed out the first book — I don’t have a higher recommendation than that.If you are a persnickety Regency reader like me, you’ll enjoy this one. It’s written in comfortably modern English, though utterly free of anachronisms — you won’t need a vocabulary list to understand what’s going on, nor do you need to remember the differences between barouches, landaulets, and curricles — but OMG, is it authentic. Reading the author’s note afterward made it clear where some of the differences came from — she actually made and ate the recipes, wore the clothes (and undies), learned and danced the dances. It makes a surprising difference — you know what it would feel / taste / smell like if you were doing it too.I find myself compelled to speak up in defense of the heroine — this novel really brought home to me how little leeway there was for genteel women in 1812. Early on, we experience the absolute ruin of one of the heroine’s friends — from an incident that would not have ruined her even 60 years later. Made me realize that the elaborate constraints of the late Victorian era did leave room for eccentric ladies of good breeding to break the mold and have adventures, while there was absolutely no such flexibility in Regency times for unmarried women. This heroine has extraordinary abilities, and they really do present her with a poignant dilemma.The plot line is intriguing, the characters are believable, and the reading experience is engrossing. If you enjoy the book as much as I did, you won’t want to stop reading, and will be back to buy the second volume like me. But you don’t have to — the first story is adequately resolved and the reader is not left hanging. All in all, I’d call this a hum-dinger of a read.

⭐ Goodreads acquaintance will know that I am tough on period fiction and rarely give a book five stars. But I could not have been more impressed with Alison Goodman’s grasp of Regency history and culture; everything in the context rang true for me. With that strong background, I was ready to accept a wild tale with fantasy elements. And she delivers a corking adventure story!Lady Helen is on the brink of her debut. Despite her birth, making the right impression on London society is going to be a tricky matter for her because of the mystery and scandal attached to her parents, especially her mother. Will she take after that disgraced lady? Her aunt and uncle, serving as her guardians, are each concerned in their own way about her prospects. Helen fully understands the constraints of her world and her position, and she wants to please but is feeling the stirrings of an unfamiliar rebelliousness.Then, of course, things start to happen, from the return of a dangerous relative to a mysterious message delivered by the queen. Soon Lady Helen’s life is spinning way-y-y out of her control. She learns at a whirlwind pace about the dark underpinnings of London society, and not just the obvious ones; about the secret attempts to control chaos and maintain the order of British society; and about the strange imperatives singing in her bloodstream.The elements of the story are familiar to the readers of mystery and fantasy. There are the two possible suitors, the light and the dark (guess which one she will favor); the loyal servants and the disloyal; the twists and reveals; the doubts about embarking on a life outside the predictable. But for the most part these elements avoid cliché—thanks to that impeccably depicted setting. Unlike many Regency heroines in modern hands, Helen is fully integrated into her culture and accepts its rules; she isn’t in a constant state of impatience with society’s norms.A brilliant start to a trilogy I hope to read in its entirety.

⭐ I originally found the first volume of this series at a closeout center. I read it and could not tell you how much I freaking enjoyed this. It’s a masterful blend of Regency Romance and supernatural paranormal threat. There is a great love triangle, mysteries within mysteries and so many plot lines running thru the trilogy that it will keep you up late turning the pages desperate to see what happens next. I have never really read any regency books before but have bought many because I was enchanted by the time period. I highly recommend this trilogy to people looking for something new and fun to read.

⭐ “Welcome to the Dark Days Club”Well this book was quite the delight. A lovely regency romance and dark fantasy, filled with mystery, dangerous secrets, rivalry and lust. I made quick work of this one. The book is well written and overall pretty well paced. I must admit though it requires some patience because each character’s course of action is largely dictated by the societal norms of the. So some of the characters interactions can be a bit trying.One thing I absolutely loved about this book is that it has a lovely amount of wit. I absolutely adore characters who are witty.Helen is a quick, witty, curious, loyal and strong. One thing I do enjoy about her is that unlike some heroines she is rational. She is just cautious enough, without having to be paranoid. Helen thinks for herself and is willing to entertain the ideas of the impossible. When she is revealed to have gifts she never dreamed possible Helen is forced to make a choice: choosing the life she’s always believed she’d have or one in which she would be able serve a greater purpose but her life would be constant danger.”Sometimes there is no right choice”That certainly proves to be true in Helen’s life. Because no matter what choice she makes someone gets hurt. And finally Helen decides that she can only do what she thinks is right. Because she finally realized that in the end you cannot have everyone happy. It is a simple truth of life.Joining Helen we have a colorful cast of characters from the mysterious, dark, handsome and commanding Lord Carlston, to the witty, kind and loving Duke of Selburn, and the fiercely loyal, sassy, willful Darby.There are still however, many unanswered questions and the battle against good and evil is clearly just getting started.

⭐ Lady Helen Wrexhall is getting ready for her presentation to Queen Charlotte and getting ready to take her place in society. She is an orphan being raised by her aunt and uncle after her mother’s scandalous death. Her uncle is something of a religions bigot who rules his household with an iron fist and is determined that Helen be married off as soon as possible.Helen is developing some special powers as she comes into womanhood and it looks like Lord Carlston has some answers to questions that are plaguing her. Unfortunately, Lord Carlston also has a scandalous past. He has been convicted in the the court of public opinion of the murder of his wife since she disappeared and no one knows what happened to her.Helen has to court scandal to find out what she needs to know about her mother, about herself, and about a world that has existed around her all her life. Lord Carlston is a member of the Dark Days Club who have been tasked with ridding England of supernatural creatures who prey on innocents. There are only eight of the Reclaimers including Helen who is brand-new against 10,000 of the Deceivers.I really enjoyed this story which is set in Regency England with its stark contrast between the lives of the upper-crust and the lives of most others in England. The author brought in the politics of the day by talking about the Luddites who are protesting the industrialization of the country. She also allowed out heroine to attend balls and wear lovely dresses.I could understand Helen’s conflict when she learns about her destiny and then learns that she might have a way to avoid it. She was drafted, she didn’t volunteer to fight monsters. Deciding what the right thing to do is forms the essential conflict of the book for Helen. Also, she needs to decide if she should marry the very charming Duke of Selburn who is her brother’s best friend and who likes her for herself or throw in her lot with Lord Carlston and become part of the Dark Days Club.This book begins a series. There are still secrets to be uncovered and decisions to be made. The book doesn’t really have a cliffhanger ending though. Helen has made a decision though the consequences aren’t clear.

⭐ I had been looking forward to The Dark Days Club from the moment that I first heard about it several months before its release. I had a copy from the library, but when I found out that if I bought the Kindle edition, I could add the Audible edition for only $4.50 or so. Sold!The Dark Days Club is the first entry in a Regency-set YA series by Alison Goodman. Lady Helen Wrexhall is preparing for her presentation at court. Lady Helen lives with her aunt and uncle. Her parents are dead, and Lady Helen doesn’t know much about the accident that led to their death, other than that it was Very Scandalous and should never be discussed. Ever.Lady Helen meets Lord Carlston at her presentation, and she is instantly drawn to this enigmatic young gentleman. He has recently returned to England after an extended sojourn on the Continent, following the death of his wife- an event with which he is suspected of being involved. Lord Carlston tells Lady Helen something incredible: that the world is filled with demons in human form, and that she is in possession of the skills needed to stop the infestation.And so, this Young Miss finds herself using subterfuge to meet with Lord Carlston, where discovers more about the nature of her powers, the demons who walk amongst Polite Society, and even the truth about her mother. Lady Helen is torn between her duty to protect her country from demons, and the desire for a normal life.The Regency era is my favorite genre of historical fiction. I don’t read a lot of paranormal fiction, and I was very interested to see how the two genres would work together. The result was nothing short of spectacular. I loved the concept of demons blending into all levels of English society, and only a handful of people were capable of stopping them. I especially enjoyed the camaraderie between Lady Helen and her maid Darby. Darby is the perfect foil for Lady Helen; at first she is wary about the revelation that Lady Helen has enhanced abilities, but she accepts these developments with stalwart resolution.I would absolutely recommend The Dark Days Club. It’s clear that Goodman spent a great deal of time researching the era; the story is infused with tiny details that enhance the narrative. This book doesn’t end on quite as much of a cliffhanger as it could have, but that does not diminish my excitement about the second book in the series, scheduled for release the end of 2017!

⭐ Story was OK but not great. To me it felt like everything was being dragged on for way too long and I like when the MC has a little more bite to her…which Lady Helen did not have. She definitely just went with the flow and it bugged me a lot. Also the amount of detail felt ridiculous. I feel like there’s usually a fine line on how much detail an author should include and Goodman went way overboard. And the love interest really wasn’t all that interesting. I was able to finish plus there were some interesting parts so overall just 3 stars.

⭐ This sat on my bookshelf for the longest time and I’m glad I finally read it for #RockMyTBR because it was worth the wait! Regency is an overdone historical genre sometimes but this was so well researched and well written. I enjoyed the setting a lot, it was very immersive. It also had the perfect touch of paranormal, not enough to overwhelm but enough to be interesting and add something new to the story. I loved Lady Helen! She was a great mix of era-appropriate and headstrong, intelligent woman. She didn’t seem like an anachronism. I also enjoyed the romance even though it is quite possibly the slowest burn I’ve EVER read. It’s. So. Slow!! But I liked that and I’m sure it will pay off. I’m curious to read the sequel and learn even more about the history of the demons and the reclaimers!

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