Review of ‘Amber & Dusk’ (Amber & Dusk #1)

Synopsis

Lyra Selene weaves a lush and thrilling story of sacrifice, secrets, and star-crossed love set in a Parisian-inspired world where the sun never sets in this remarkable YA fantasy debut.

Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d'Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies.

So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City, a glittering jewel under a sun that never sets, to take what is hers.

But her hope for a better life is quickly dimmed. The empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to seize what should be her rightful place, she'll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay.

An extraordinary, vividly rendered YA debut.

Review

Amber & Dusk was difficult to judge, partly because of the characters and partly due to the pacing of the novel

Sylvie embarks on this journey to find her roots and find acceptance in her power. She has many scars from the mental, emotional, and physical abuse she suffered at an orphanage, so this has left a dark stain on her soul, which is expected. However, when she finds herself in the Palais, she finds she has traded one toxic environment for another. what is bothersome about this is in the face of adversity, instead of thriving despite the toxic environment, Sylvie thrives because of it. Now maybe that was not Selene’s intent regarding her writing, but that is the tone the narrative took which is off-putting for a protagonist meant to be the heroine of the story.

Now, there are times where her humanity and compassion come through, but then there are times when Sylvie’s narrative is rather harsh, a bit narcissistic, and even cruel that it makes her off-putting. However, it is the perfect reflection of the environment she is in strips them of their names, giving them nicknames that reflect their abilities, stripping the court of their identities and their humanity. The Empress is tyrannical and uses her court as hostages and weapons for her needs.

Final Thoughts

It is not a bad story, and with the flowery and descriptive language, it does make for a decent read. However, it lacks a level of substance that would have otherwise kept the reader more engaged. It is easy to put the novel down and forget about it, and with the jarring pacing and predictable dynamics and reveal near the end, it ended up falling flat. (★★★☆☆)

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.