Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek // Book Review

If you’re as obsessed with Miyazaki as I am, then this is the book for you. Thanks to McElderry Books for the gifted copy.

Here’s more about 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.

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My thoughts

This is my kind of fantasy. Good writing. Good plot. Good characters. And it definitely felt like I was watching a version of Howl’s Moving Castle, but entirely different at the same time. That’s my favorite part about retellings; retell the story but make it your own. Many authors try and fail (IMHO), but Poranek is able to capture the essence of Miyazaki while putting her own spin on the world.

Using the Polish woods as her background, Poranek creates a world that anyone with an imagination and love for the beauty of the earth can get lost in. I feel entranced by this story and the characters within it. From the not-cat to the boy who couldn’t speak to the various monsters and magical elements, this is a book to get lost in and I was happy to roam the woods of Driada even with the worry that something could possibly kill me. The mysterious trees with eyes. The monsters who will lull you into a false sense of security. And the demon who lives in a manor in the middle of the forest protecting the humans from all forms of magical beings.

Similarly to Howl’s Moving Castle, the characters felt lifted right from that story. Liska is a magical girl who sets off into the woods to find a cure for her magic. Leszy is a demon who gave his heart to an old god and now must guard the Driada until he dies. And through their incongruent chemistry, they become the kinds of characters you root for and hope for the best. Liska is docile, but carries more magic in her finger than any other person. I loved the moral struggle she had with it. Being told her whole life that she’s a witch and that nothing good can come from her magic, you see Liska open up a lot throughout the story finding that her magic is a blessing and not a curse. Leszy, on the other hand was a more elusive character. I really wanted to understand him a bit more, but Poranek kept him close to the chest and we only get glimpses until the very end.

Overall, a stunning a debut beautifully written even with some great quotes to walk away with. I will definitely be reading more from this author!