The Dark Days Deceit

October 1, 2018
Lady Helen's adventures continue in the conclusion of Goodman's (The Dark Days Pact, 2017, etc.) trilogy.Christmas in Bath: Lady Helen and the brooding Lord Carlston are now the Grand Reclaimer dyad seeking the Grand Deceiver. But Helen's impending marriage to Duke Selburn, who cherishes Helen and wishes to protect her, provides impediment after impediment to Reclaimer business. As with the previous volumes, this carefully researched tome mixes a cerebral examination of gendered roles in the Regency (and perhaps today) with an original fantasy premise. The previously introduced characters are all back, from Maori Quinn (one of the few characters who provides diversity in the white, wealthy world of Regency high society) to Aunt Leonore, who demonstrates that women can be powerful regardless of magical gifts. Goodman's assured writing and masterful grasp of historical milieu create a world where doing one's hair can take hours--and is done even when the end of the world is at stake. The slow burn, punctuated by murder, forbidden declarations of love, and surprising plot twists, provides readers who have come this far with exactly what they want; the explosions, literal and figurative, of the climax even leave room for a happy ending that also involves the wielding of great power while being female.You'll never see the Regency the same way again. (Historical fantasy. 13-adult)

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November 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 Lady Helen's wedding is fast approaching, but her mind is preoccupied with ferreting out and slaying the Grand Deceiver, a demonic duo trying to open a rift between worlds. Helen's strong connection to Lord Carlston?not her intended?can probably be explained away by their being two-thirds of the Grand Reclaimer trio, but knowing it doesn't keep her from having inappropriate thoughts or feelings about him. As the victim count climbs, Lady Helen and Lord Carlston come to suspect those closest to them, but can they stop the Deceiver before their lives and those they love are forfeit? The concluding book in the Dark Days Club trilogy is a delightful Regency romance with plenty of demon fighting thrown in for those without a taste for love and manners. Goodman has mastered the art of setting the scene, whittling down her descriptions of the era and its conventions and mores to details that enhance rather than overshadow the plot. Familiar characters return, and their progress toward the ultimate confrontation is strategic and satisfying.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2019
Lady Helen (The Dark Days Club and others) finds it harder than ever to negotiate her secret Reclaimer duties with Regency-era expectations--especially since her demon-fighting partner Lord Carlston is not her soon-to-be husband. Helen strives to claim her worth as a woman with power while preparing for a supreme showdown with the Deceivers in this highly enjoyable trilogy finale.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)