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Where the Dark Stands Still
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy (2024)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.
Those who enter the wood do not always return…
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.
Those who enter the wood do not always return…
336 pages, ebook
First published February 27, 2024
1707 people are currently reading
119962 people want to read
About the author
A.B. Poranek
2 books1,371 followersA. B. Poranek grew up sharing her time between Ontario, Canada and rural Poland, and eventually completed a veterinary degree at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. A lover of mythology and history, she enjoys exploring both in her writing. When she isn't off on yet another inadvisable adventure, she can be found in London, where she spends her free time drawing strange creatures and trying to keep her plants from dying.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,723 reviews
February 27, 2024
This book is a Miyazaki lover’s DREAM! 4.25 stars.
Extremely reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle with a hint of Princess Mononoke and just a dash of Spirited Away all wrapped up in Polish folklore with a magic forest, a sentient and neglected crumbling manor in the woods (which you know I LOVE), a well crafted and lovable cast of characters, and beautifully lush writing.
I had a fantastic time with this book. This is an absolute triumph of a debut novel that has me anxious for what we’ll see from Poranek in the coming years.
Extremely reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle with a hint of Princess Mononoke and just a dash of Spirited Away all wrapped up in Polish folklore with a magic forest, a sentient and neglected crumbling manor in the woods (which you know I LOVE), a well crafted and lovable cast of characters, and beautifully lush writing.
I had a fantastic time with this book. This is an absolute triumph of a debut novel that has me anxious for what we’ll see from Poranek in the coming years.
March 25, 2024
we love sentient houses, strange forests, and howls moving castle vibes!!!
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May 20, 2024
“ ‘I end and begin in the Driada, and that is how it will be for eternity. The wood must always have a warden.’ ”
Where the Dark Stands Still is an enchanting debut balances a cozy cottage-core vibe with the creepiness of a demon-infested magical woods. I have seen it described as a mix Howl’s Moving Castle and Polish Folklore, and, if we added Beauty and the Beast into the mix, I think that is an apt description. This is an atmospheric tale that has a lot going for it. The elements of the sentient house, magical woods, and spirits are among the strongest for me as they create this added layer of whimsy that really create the cozy vibes. I was also pleasantly surprised with some more unexpected queer representation in this one. Overall, if you’re looking for a bit of a classic romantic fantasy with a small but mighty found family, a Howl-esque old spirit, and some Slavic folklore, I’d recommend checking this one out!
I also liked this one enough to make a playlist for it, so there y’all go.
“Children do foolish things until they are old enough to understand they are foolish—until their father teaches them to weave the straw hangings found in every Stodola home, or their mother explains why she ties their hair with crimson ribbons.”
I am not someone who knows much about Slavic folklore at all (and I also don’t want to spoil), but I found the way that the Leszy was portrayed to be compelling and quite interesting. The forest housed a lot of spirits that were great additions to the story and the way the woods functioned and the Leszy’s purpose fit. There is another Slavic mythologic figure that comes into the story a little later that kind of enters a bit dramatically and very abruptly turns this book from a more cosy read into an action packed ending, and I’m not really sure if they’re done well, but I didn’t dislike it? Overall, I thought the Polish folklore was really interesting to read about and it was cool to not really be able to guess what was going to happen based off the introduction of folkloric elements since I was unfamiliar with them.
“That was when Liska knew that there was something wrong with her that could not be prayed away. The thing inside her, it made people afraid.”
The setting of this book is in a relatively newly monotheistic society after shifting from worshipping pagan gods, making the village that Liska comes from very against gods and magic. Because of this, Liska has a really negative relationship with her magic as she suppresses it so that she will be accepted. (sound familiar?) Liska coming terms with her magic and her fears is an interesting plotline that is explored well. It is obvious that the magic here is a metaphor for a lot of things that aren’t accepted in spaces that mirror those from this book especially through the dialogue. At one point, Liska is convinced the church was right about her and the dangers of her magic and the Leszy says to her, ‘No,’ he says sharply. ‘The church is clever.’ in regards to it demonizing magic in order to push it’s own agenda. I kept thinking about how this especially mirrored the queer experience as Liska continued to suppress who she was. This was really well done and I really love how magic was used to symbolize real world topics.
“ ‘Impressed?’ he asks, amused. ‘I think I might be going into shock.’ ‘I do have that effect on women,’ he says casually.”
The characters of this one really made it for me. The Leszy is a sassy, petulant 700-year-old spirit that feels a bit Howl-esque and Liska is able to bite back in a really fun way. They both have this really great dry humor (see: “The people of Wałkowo are used to my visits by now,’ he says. ‘At least I assume so, since they’ve stopped screaming at the mere sight of me.’ ” ) that bounces well and is entertaining to read. The way their relationship progressed felt pretty realistic too; however, the weakest part of this book for me was their romance. I found the previous romance that the Leszy was in to be significantly more compelling and, while I did really enjoy Liska and the Leszy’s interactions and sass, I just didn’t really feel a romantic connection. I also am a bit of a pet name hater and “not-so-clever fox” got really old really fast (seriously, that’s so long). There were also a few moments that I found to be a bit cringe and cliché, but I do think that a lot of those factors played really into subverting expectations for the ending of this book which I really loved. I was also really just neutral about the relationship, which is pretty impressive for a romance that is between a 17-year-old girl and a 700-year-old forest so kudos to the book, I guess? The good news is that, although this is categorized as a fantasy romance, I would argue that the romance is very much on the backburner with this one and the main relationship between Liska and the Leszy is more structured to learning to love and trust again in any capacity.
“… she is not defined by her magic, for better or for worse.”
Where the romance fell short, the found family went hard. Liska radiated kindness throughout the whole book so watching her kind of collect these new inhabitants in the house and bond with the house and the wood felt very natural and was honestly just really sweet. The backbone of this book really is the found family here and just the way that Liska is able to create these really safe, beautiful spaces for others as someone who was denied that for so long. With that ability to create these spaces, Liska also starts deconstructing her view of herself and moving away from how the church views her, allowing for growth and self-love.
“What is fate but an excuse to surrender responsibility?”
There were some points during the second half of the book where I was starting to lose steam and wasn’t super invested, but the last two chapters of this book really tied the whole thing together for me. It subverted my expectations in a way that really worked. A lot of things that made me cringe a little were seen in a new light and I really appreciate the direction Poranek took with this one. It really was the perfect ending for me and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
3.5/5
Where the Dark Stands Still is an enchanting debut balances a cozy cottage-core vibe with the creepiness of a demon-infested magical woods. I have seen it described as a mix Howl’s Moving Castle and Polish Folklore, and, if we added Beauty and the Beast into the mix, I think that is an apt description. This is an atmospheric tale that has a lot going for it. The elements of the sentient house, magical woods, and spirits are among the strongest for me as they create this added layer of whimsy that really create the cozy vibes. I was also pleasantly surprised with some more unexpected queer representation in this one. Overall, if you’re looking for a bit of a classic romantic fantasy with a small but mighty found family, a Howl-esque old spirit, and some Slavic folklore, I’d recommend checking this one out!
I also liked this one enough to make a playlist for it, so there y’all go.
“Children do foolish things until they are old enough to understand they are foolish—until their father teaches them to weave the straw hangings found in every Stodola home, or their mother explains why she ties their hair with crimson ribbons.”
I am not someone who knows much about Slavic folklore at all (and I also don’t want to spoil), but I found the way that the Leszy was portrayed to be compelling and quite interesting. The forest housed a lot of spirits that were great additions to the story and the way the woods functioned and the Leszy’s purpose fit. There is another Slavic mythologic figure that comes into the story a little later that kind of enters a bit dramatically and very abruptly turns this book from a more cosy read into an action packed ending, and I’m not really sure if they’re done well, but I didn’t dislike it? Overall, I thought the Polish folklore was really interesting to read about and it was cool to not really be able to guess what was going to happen based off the introduction of folkloric elements since I was unfamiliar with them.
“That was when Liska knew that there was something wrong with her that could not be prayed away. The thing inside her, it made people afraid.”
The setting of this book is in a relatively newly monotheistic society after shifting from worshipping pagan gods, making the village that Liska comes from very against gods and magic. Because of this, Liska has a really negative relationship with her magic as she suppresses it so that she will be accepted. (sound familiar?) Liska coming terms with her magic and her fears is an interesting plotline that is explored well. It is obvious that the magic here is a metaphor for a lot of things that aren’t accepted in spaces that mirror those from this book especially through the dialogue. At one point, Liska is convinced the church was right about her and the dangers of her magic and the Leszy says to her, ‘No,’ he says sharply. ‘The church is clever.’ in regards to it demonizing magic in order to push it’s own agenda. I kept thinking about how this especially mirrored the queer experience as Liska continued to suppress who she was. This was really well done and I really love how magic was used to symbolize real world topics.
“ ‘Impressed?’ he asks, amused. ‘I think I might be going into shock.’ ‘I do have that effect on women,’ he says casually.”
The characters of this one really made it for me. The Leszy is a sassy, petulant 700-year-old spirit that feels a bit Howl-esque and Liska is able to bite back in a really fun way. They both have this really great dry humor (see: “The people of Wałkowo are used to my visits by now,’ he says. ‘At least I assume so, since they’ve stopped screaming at the mere sight of me.’ ” ) that bounces well and is entertaining to read. The way their relationship progressed felt pretty realistic too; however, the weakest part of this book for me was their romance. I found the previous romance that the Leszy was in to be significantly more compelling and, while I did really enjoy Liska and the Leszy’s interactions and sass, I just didn’t really feel a romantic connection. I also am a bit of a pet name hater and “not-so-clever fox” got really old really fast (seriously, that’s so long). There were also a few moments that I found to be a bit cringe and cliché, but I do think that a lot of those factors played really into subverting expectations for the ending of this book which I really loved. I was also really just neutral about the relationship, which is pretty impressive for a romance that is between a 17-year-old girl and a 700-year-old forest so kudos to the book, I guess? The good news is that, although this is categorized as a fantasy romance, I would argue that the romance is very much on the backburner with this one and the main relationship between Liska and the Leszy is more structured to learning to love and trust again in any capacity.
“… she is not defined by her magic, for better or for worse.”
Where the romance fell short, the found family went hard. Liska radiated kindness throughout the whole book so watching her kind of collect these new inhabitants in the house and bond with the house and the wood felt very natural and was honestly just really sweet. The backbone of this book really is the found family here and just the way that Liska is able to create these really safe, beautiful spaces for others as someone who was denied that for so long. With that ability to create these spaces, Liska also starts deconstructing her view of herself and moving away from how the church views her, allowing for growth and self-love.
“What is fate but an excuse to surrender responsibility?”
There were some points during the second half of the book where I was starting to lose steam and wasn’t super invested, but the last two chapters of this book really tied the whole thing together for me. It subverted my expectations in a way that really worked. A lot of things that made me cringe a little were seen in a new light and I really appreciate the direction Poranek took with this one. It really was the perfect ending for me and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
3.5/5
dnf
June 25, 2024I'm going to soft DNF this for now @16% - this is just much more YA than I'm in the mood for right now- I'll likely pick it up again in the future.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
I keep seeing this book pop up - so I'm making the executive decision to give it a go. Thank you to my digital library for a skip the line pass.
A sweeping gothic fairytale romance for fans of A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer and Gallant by V.E. Schwab. 😍
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Cursed Forest
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Twisted Bargain
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Love Eternal
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
I keep seeing this book pop up - so I'm making the executive decision to give it a go. Thank you to my digital library for a skip the line pass.
A sweeping gothic fairytale romance for fans of A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer and Gallant by V.E. Schwab. 😍
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Cursed Forest
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Twisted Bargain
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ A Love Eternal
July 7, 2024
“You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch.”
beauty and the beast meets howl's moving castle with polish folklore & cultural influence and a whole lotta magic & forest 💚
there are lots of cozy cottagecore vibes and its a slower pace standalone, but it's an impressive debut novel. the magic system was intriguing with its interweaving of folklore creatures, and i found myself surprised at some revelations. there was a solid romance with some fun banter and a surprisingly charming found family. shoutout to the queer rep as well!
it was bittersweet but very touching, and i look forward to more stories from Poranek.
“There is a thing we do,” the Leszy says, “where we rearrange ourselves, cutting off pieces here and there to fit a mold that was never meant for us. I know something of that. But becoming the Driada’s warden taught me one thing: if the world had not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself.”
beauty and the beast meets howl's moving castle with polish folklore & cultural influence and a whole lotta magic & forest 💚
there are lots of cozy cottagecore vibes and its a slower pace standalone, but it's an impressive debut novel. the magic system was intriguing with its interweaving of folklore creatures, and i found myself surprised at some revelations. there was a solid romance with some fun banter and a surprisingly charming found family. shoutout to the queer rep as well!
it was bittersweet but very touching, and i look forward to more stories from Poranek.
“There is a thing we do,” the Leszy says, “where we rearrange ourselves, cutting off pieces here and there to fit a mold that was never meant for us. I know something of that. But becoming the Driada’s warden taught me one thing: if the world had not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself.”
April 11, 2024
All of my feelings about this book contradict each other. The story was unique, yet the flow was ordinary. The characters had some depth, yet I felt no attachment to them. The beginning was slow, but the ending was rushed. I'll try to break things down as best as I can.
✅ GORGEOUS world-building and lore
I'm not familiar with Slavic folklore at all, so this was a fresh dive for me. The mythology was so interesting, and I loved learning about the creatures, the magic, the world. I can't vouch for this book at all in terms of accuracy of anything, so we'll have to look to other reviewers for that. But from a newbie's perspective -- love!
❓ Okay main characters with lots of trauma
Objectively, our main character Liska is great. She's kind but cunning, afraid but determined. The Leszy, I feel, could be a hit-or-miss as a male lead. He's your typical uber-powerful, cold magical boy with white hair. I get that most readers find this type of character to be sexy and attractive, but I'm personally more of a smiley boy type of reader. ANYWAY. On paper, I appreciated both characters, but I didn't really feel any strong connection towards any of them.
✅ Lovable side characters!!
Now, the side characters, on the other hand... LOVED them. I was really interested in their personalities... I mean, we have a sentient house, a couple of spirits, a kid that's not really just a kid... a fun cast with distinct personalities. I wish we'd gotten a bit more of their backstories, but the bits and pieces that we got were definitely interesting.
❌ Pacing isn't great
The story was incredibly slow for the first 70%, then BAM everything hits you right in the face. There was a lot of build up in the beginning, which is fine, but then the climax was much too rushed in comparison.
❓ Ending is crazy!
The ending was impactful and emotional, albeit a little predictable, but also kind of perfect for this book? While not completely satisfying, I feel like any other ending would have felt off or inappropriate. Anyway, prepare your hearts!
Favorite Quotes
✅ GORGEOUS world-building and lore
I'm not familiar with Slavic folklore at all, so this was a fresh dive for me. The mythology was so interesting, and I loved learning about the creatures, the magic, the world. I can't vouch for this book at all in terms of accuracy of anything, so we'll have to look to other reviewers for that. But from a newbie's perspective -- love!
❓ Okay main characters with lots of trauma
Objectively, our main character Liska is great. She's kind but cunning, afraid but determined. The Leszy, I feel, could be a hit-or-miss as a male lead. He's your typical uber-powerful, cold magical boy with white hair. I get that most readers find this type of character to be sexy and attractive, but I'm personally more of a smiley boy type of reader. ANYWAY. On paper, I appreciated both characters, but I didn't really feel any strong connection towards any of them.
✅ Lovable side characters!!
Now, the side characters, on the other hand... LOVED them. I was really interested in their personalities... I mean, we have a sentient house, a couple of spirits, a kid that's not really just a kid... a fun cast with distinct personalities. I wish we'd gotten a bit more of their backstories, but the bits and pieces that we got were definitely interesting.
❌ Pacing isn't great
The story was incredibly slow for the first 70%, then BAM everything hits you right in the face. There was a lot of build up in the beginning, which is fine, but then the climax was much too rushed in comparison.
❓ Ending is crazy!
The ending was impactful and emotional, albeit a little predictable, but also kind of perfect for this book? While not completely satisfying, I feel like any other ending would have felt off or inappropriate. Anyway, prepare your hearts!
Favorite Quotes
Look toward the light, she reminds herself. Then you will not see the shadow behind you.
“What is fate but an excuse to surrender responsibility?”
“There is a thing we do, where we rearrange ourselves, cutting off pieces here and there to fit a mold that was never meant for us. [...] If the world has not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself.”
February 10, 2024
Where the Dark Stands Still is a charming, romantic fantasy perfect for fans of For the Wolf and Howl’s Moving Castle. With endearing characters, beautiful writing, and a lush setting this story feels straight out of a fairytale.
I adore all of the characters in this book. Liska is strong and determined but also kind and caring. It was incredible watching her heal her relationship with magic and grow beyond the constraints of her village. The Lesky is everything you want from a fantasy love interest—a tortured boy with a prickly personality that hides a caring heart. Liska and the Lesky’s relationship was adorable and heart-wrenching. Their banter was hilarious and really reminded me of Sophie and Howl’s dynamic in Howl’s Moving Castle.
With a magical forest as threatening as it is beautiful and a temperamental sentient manor, Where the Dark Stands Still has a rich fairytale atmosphere inspired by Polish folklore. The magic is simple but beautifully woven throughout the story.
Unfortunately, something about the last third of the book didn’t quite work for me. A major reveal brings a shift in the story that really interested me. However, I feel like the story rushed to the end after this reveal. I would have liked more time for this last arc of Liska and the Lesky’s relationship. Furthermore, having this reveal earlier would've helped build tension for the final confrontation and made the bittersweet tone shift feel more appropriate. The rushed pacing of the final act is particularly jarring because the majority of the book has a slow, meandering, almost cozy pace.
Where the Dark Stands Still was a stunning debut and I would happily read more from A.B. Poranek in the future.
Thank you McElderry Books for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
I adore all of the characters in this book. Liska is strong and determined but also kind and caring. It was incredible watching her heal her relationship with magic and grow beyond the constraints of her village. The Lesky is everything you want from a fantasy love interest—a tortured boy with a prickly personality that hides a caring heart. Liska and the Lesky’s relationship was adorable and heart-wrenching. Their banter was hilarious and really reminded me of Sophie and Howl’s dynamic in Howl’s Moving Castle.
With a magical forest as threatening as it is beautiful and a temperamental sentient manor, Where the Dark Stands Still has a rich fairytale atmosphere inspired by Polish folklore. The magic is simple but beautifully woven throughout the story.
Unfortunately, something about the last third of the book didn’t quite work for me. A major reveal brings a shift in the story that really interested me. However, I feel like the story rushed to the end after this reveal. I would have liked more time for this last arc of Liska and the Lesky’s relationship. Furthermore, having this reveal earlier would've helped build tension for the final confrontation and made the bittersweet tone shift feel more appropriate. The rushed pacing of the final act is particularly jarring because the majority of the book has a slow, meandering, almost cozy pace.
Where the Dark Stands Still was a stunning debut and I would happily read more from A.B. Poranek in the future.
Thank you McElderry Books for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
June 15, 2024
➳ 4 ☆! 🦌
spoiler free!
🎧 - mad woman + young & beautiful
ᯓᡣ𐭩 now i breathe flames each time i talk
my cannons all firin' at your yacht
they say, "move on", but you know i won't
and women like hunting witches too
doing your dirtiest work for you 🍂🍄🌿
➳ what did i just read & why did i like it?! and your telling you're telling me this is a debut? that's amazing! let me first start off by saying: this may not be for everyone! depending on the genres you gravitate more towards :) but if you love folklore stories, howl's moving castle, old manors, cozy fantasy books, polish folklore, cottage core + more, i think you should give this a TRY! the cover is so gorgeous, im actually in awee. but yeah i feel like you'd have to appreciate the book, yk? like i thought i wasn't gonna like this and it was going to give me the ick, but i surprised myself! 😭 for example, not everyone loves 'the cruel prince' ( which is totally fine!even tho thats my baby HAHA) but to those who do, it reminded me of it (setting wise only) but yeah i enjoyed myself <3 and some of the quotes in here had ME!! im just mad i didn't save it for the autumn szn 🍂 you could probably also pick this up at your local library instead of buying!
˗ˏˋ꒰plot ꒱ 350 pages for a standalone fantasy is GOOD. the only thing that threw me off was the pacing at times. the beginning was okay, the middle was picking up... the ending was BIT rushed, but i adore the epilouge. (which is rare) afterall, it's just a tale as old as time, but AUGH that ending. 😭 and i though the writing was super good for a debut! someone just try this so we can scream about it tgt <3
˗ˏˋ꒰ overall experience ꒱pretty enjoyable! again, maybe this isn't for everyone which is so understandable, but im glad this was still a 4! i found myself annotating a lot, and aw the ending was so bittersweet, but ive come to terms with it <3 its just a tale and i get it. ALSOO i love how the author incorporated where she was from! she is polish and she based this off the stories she was told growing up with her own twists <3 cant wait to see what comes next!
˚₊‧꒰ა character under-study ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
˗ˏˋ꒰liska ꒱ her character really grew on me! i will say shes brave, i would be SCARED to go into the woods by myself no joke. and might i say, both our characters have very traumatizing pasts 😭 and i feel so bad for how she was treated, and she deserves everything she has now! fearless, you might say. ofc, i have other fmcs that i love, but im glad liska had depth and wasn't boring! :) her and some of elias' moments had me crying n swooning 🍂
˗ˏˋ꒰leszy (elias) ꒱ i was so, so conflicted at first 😭 might i add, he has antlers. OKAY BUT ITS NOT WHAT YOU THINK. anyways i did grow to like him, and i like how he was different from other fmcs yk? yeah he was dark and mysterious but he has other sides to him and he wasn't such a sterotype! i thought i was gonna get scared or icked out by him but i didn't tbh, and i grew to really like him <3 i feel bad for his past too. him and liska, were... AHGAW. but enough of the
not so clever fox. anyway, i mean just LOOK AT THE COVER OK? i also couldn't forget out side characters! they added to the story too <3
˚₊‧꒰ა mini playlist ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
✧ snow on the beach
✧ exile
✧ out of the woods
✧ say dont go
✧ into the unknown
✧ monster
✧ ivy
✧ runaway
young & beautiful
ᯓᡣ𐭩 hot summer nights, mid-July
when you and I were forever wild
————————
➳ "if only we could go back to that time, liska thinks, when we were young & full of stories
➳ " you are so brave, liska," he says. "braver than you know, infuriatingly so, in fact. just look at what you've done to me, turned me soft despite all my grand efforts to resist your relentless charm.
chapters - 7, 14, 15, 22, 24, 26, 31, 32
bottom line: just have fun reading y'all, i hope everyone is well and having a great june! if you're a fantasy lover, maybe try this! or if you want to get into it <3 notheless a great standalone, and i cant wait to see what world i get to delve into. where reading will take me next! bye! <3 💌
🌿🍄🍂🦌
ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ POST READ 🌲
wait nooo why did i enjoy that sm?! this is a literal folklore tale and i ate it upp! but oh that ending (but looking back on it it fits) 😭 but be ready to try this, they may not be for everybody but its def something to give a shot at! cant wait to rant about this, 4 stars, rtcc!! <3 JUST LOOK AT THE COVER
ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ preview! 🍂
picked this up on a whim, but tbh it looks pretty interesting! the cover is actually gorgeous irl, I'm not kidding 😭 but tell me why he has antlers? look, you don't have to find every 'love interest' in a book attractive, BUT ANTLERS. hmmm but the artist did a great jobb. yk what, I'll stop complaining, cheers to happy reading!! <3
spoiler free!
“of women, he’s heard it said: “she will be the end of me,” or “she will be my undoing.” none of that is true for liska radost. She is not the end of anything, but the beginning of everything. he has been dead a long time, and she is his resurrection.”🌙
🎧 - mad woman + young & beautiful
ᯓᡣ𐭩 now i breathe flames each time i talk
my cannons all firin' at your yacht
they say, "move on", but you know i won't
and women like hunting witches too
doing your dirtiest work for you 🍂🍄🌿
➳ what did i just read & why did i like it?! and your telling you're telling me this is a debut? that's amazing! let me first start off by saying: this may not be for everyone! depending on the genres you gravitate more towards :) but if you love folklore stories, howl's moving castle, old manors, cozy fantasy books, polish folklore, cottage core + more, i think you should give this a TRY! the cover is so gorgeous, im actually in awee. but yeah i feel like you'd have to appreciate the book, yk? like i thought i wasn't gonna like this and it was going to give me the ick, but i surprised myself! 😭 for example, not everyone loves 'the cruel prince' ( which is totally fine!
➳ "impressed? he asks, amused.
"i think i might be going into shock."
"i do have that effect on women," he says casually. "most people, really."
˗ˏˋ꒰plot ꒱ 350 pages for a standalone fantasy is GOOD. the only thing that threw me off was the pacing at times. the beginning was okay, the middle was picking up... the ending was BIT rushed, but i adore the epilouge. (which is rare) afterall, it's just a tale as old as time, but AUGH that ending. 😭 and i though the writing was super good for a debut! someone just try this so we can scream about it tgt <3
˗ˏˋ꒰ overall experience ꒱pretty enjoyable! again, maybe this isn't for everyone which is so understandable, but im glad this was still a 4! i found myself annotating a lot, and aw the ending was so bittersweet, but ive come to terms with it <3 its just a tale and i get it. ALSOO i love how the author incorporated where she was from! she is polish and she based this off the stories she was told growing up with her own twists <3 cant wait to see what comes next!
˚₊‧꒰ა character under-study ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
˗ˏˋ꒰liska ꒱ her character really grew on me! i will say shes brave, i would be SCARED to go into the woods by myself no joke. and might i say, both our characters have very traumatizing pasts 😭 and i feel so bad for how she was treated, and she deserves everything she has now! fearless, you might say. ofc, i have other fmcs that i love, but im glad liska had depth and wasn't boring! :) her and some of elias' moments had me crying n swooning 🍂
➳ liska pulls back, panting fuiously. she wants to cut his throat. she wants to kiss him, but most of all, she wants him to feel how she feels, if only for a moment.🌿
˗ˏˋ꒰leszy (elias) ꒱ i was so, so conflicted at first 😭 might i add, he has antlers. OKAY BUT ITS NOT WHAT YOU THINK. anyways i did grow to like him, and i like how he was different from other fmcs yk? yeah he was dark and mysterious but he has other sides to him and he wasn't such a sterotype! i thought i was gonna get scared or icked out by him but i didn't tbh, and i grew to really like him <3 i feel bad for his past too. him and liska, were... AHGAW. but enough of the
not so clever fox. anyway, i mean just LOOK AT THE COVER OK? i also couldn't forget out side characters! they added to the story too <3
➳ "you were so full of hope, so maddeningly tenacious. and then, oh then. liska, the worst thing of all happened." his voice cracks, and he looks away."i fell in love."🍄
˚₊‧꒰ა mini playlist ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
✧ snow on the beach
✧ exile
✧ out of the woods
✧ say dont go
✧ into the unknown
✧ monster
✧ ivy
✧ runaway
young & beautiful
ᯓᡣ𐭩 hot summer nights, mid-July
when you and I were forever wild
————————
➳ "if only we could go back to that time, liska thinks, when we were young & full of stories
➳ " you are so brave, liska," he says. "braver than you know, infuriatingly so, in fact. just look at what you've done to me, turned me soft despite all my grand efforts to resist your relentless charm.
chapters - 7, 14, 15, 22, 24, 26, 31, 32
bottom line: just have fun reading y'all, i hope everyone is well and having a great june! if you're a fantasy lover, maybe try this! or if you want to get into it <3 notheless a great standalone, and i cant wait to see what world i get to delve into. where reading will take me next! bye! <3 💌
🌿🍄🍂🦌
ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ POST READ 🌲
wait nooo why did i enjoy that sm?! this is a literal folklore tale and i ate it upp! but oh that ending (but looking back on it it fits) 😭 but be ready to try this, they may not be for everybody but its def something to give a shot at! cant wait to rant about this, 4 stars, rtcc!! <3 JUST LOOK AT THE COVER
ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ preview! 🍂
picked this up on a whim, but tbh it looks pretty interesting! the cover is actually gorgeous irl, I'm not kidding 😭 but tell me why he has antlers? look, you don't have to find every 'love interest' in a book attractive, BUT ANTLERS. hmmm but the artist did a great jobb. yk what, I'll stop complaining, cheers to happy reading!! <3
March 8, 2024
DNF @ 30%
I GET IT. SHE’S A NOT-SO-CLEVER FOX.
why do i keep doing this to myself.
I GET IT. SHE’S A NOT-SO-CLEVER FOX.
why do i keep doing this to myself.
March 19, 2024
I’m writing this with tears blurring my vision! So hang tight!
I genuinely loved this story so so much. The beautiful writing and prose—the inviting and atmospheric world!
The pushes and pulls of religion meets folklore meets witchcraft?!
The creepy/eldritch horror and allure of demons and ghosts and a sentient manor ?!
I loved Liska so much. So very gentle but strong and unwavering in her resolve.
I will be leaving out jam for jaga. I love her very much.
And I can’t even speak of my favorite character bc again the TEARSSSSS!!!! *plants fern in my garden aggressively*
for fans of For the Wolf and Howls Moving Castle.
This very beautiful story will wrap you up in the softness of a freshly bloomed flower petal and then squeeze you BREATHLESS with a gnarled branch. Hang on tight!
I genuinely loved this story so so much. The beautiful writing and prose—the inviting and atmospheric world!
The pushes and pulls of religion meets folklore meets witchcraft?!
The creepy/eldritch horror and allure of demons and ghosts and a sentient manor ?!
I loved Liska so much. So very gentle but strong and unwavering in her resolve.
I will be leaving out jam for jaga. I love her very much.
And I can’t even speak of my favorite character bc again the TEARSSSSS!!!! *plants fern in my garden aggressively*
for fans of For the Wolf and Howls Moving Castle.
This very beautiful story will wrap you up in the softness of a freshly bloomed flower petal and then squeeze you BREATHLESS with a gnarled branch. Hang on tight!
May 22, 2025
I couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened in this book but I was entertained
Thank you McElderry Books for choosing me in the giveaway!
Thank you McElderry Books for choosing me in the giveaway!
February 2, 2024
5 ★ Steeped in Polish folklore and accompanied by the most stunning prose, loveable characters, and beautiful romance, A.B. Poranek has crafted the book of my dreams. There aren't many books that leave me beyond words, but Where The Dark Stands Still is one of them. Poranek's debut is a marvel of a book and her talent for writing dances across the pages. The descriptions of the Driada and the House under the Rowan Tree are nothing short of breathtaking. It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel because the quality of it is on par with an experienced author.
Where The Dark Stands Still is YA excellence. It's everything I want in a book. The romance? Perfection. The found family? So cute. The atmosphere? Top tier. The world? Unforgettable. The chapter titles? So cool. The ending? Devastating and perfect. Liska Radost is the type of female protagonist I love — she's gentle, smart, and strong. A healer, she's an outcast in the village of Stodoła, where magic is deemed evil. After her magic is exposed, she runs off to the Driada, but as all villagers know, you cannot enter the Driada without paying the price to the forest demon, the Leszy. What unravels next is one of the best stories I've ever read. I don't want to give too much of the plot away because the magic of this masterpiece is one you need to witness yourself.
If you're a fan of YA romantic fantasies like Sorcery of Thorns, Belladonna, Divine Rivals, and Once Upon a Broken Heart, this book will be your newest obsession and A.B. Poranek is an author you need to keep an eye on. (And dare I say this book is better than all of those comparisons?) Where The Dark Stands Still has the same magical feeling as a Stephanie Garber book, a similar writing style to that of Margaret Rogerson's, and the romance you would find in a Rebecca Ross novel. If you loved any of those books or authors, please do me a favor and preorder this one! You won't regret it. This book was my favorite of 2023 and was the first 5-star read I had in over 4 months.
If the world has not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself. 🥹
You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch." Excuse me? This quote? The Leszy, the man that you are.
Liska Radost (my clever fox) the Leszy (my demon boy) Jaga, (my silly little not-quite cat), and Maksio, (my strange boy), I will love you all forever. A.B. Poranek, I will read everything you write. <3
Where The Dark Stands Still is YA excellence. It's everything I want in a book. The romance? Perfection. The found family? So cute. The atmosphere? Top tier. The world? Unforgettable. The chapter titles? So cool. The ending? Devastating and perfect. Liska Radost is the type of female protagonist I love — she's gentle, smart, and strong. A healer, she's an outcast in the village of Stodoła, where magic is deemed evil. After her magic is exposed, she runs off to the Driada, but as all villagers know, you cannot enter the Driada without paying the price to the forest demon, the Leszy. What unravels next is one of the best stories I've ever read. I don't want to give too much of the plot away because the magic of this masterpiece is one you need to witness yourself.
If you're a fan of YA romantic fantasies like Sorcery of Thorns, Belladonna, Divine Rivals, and Once Upon a Broken Heart, this book will be your newest obsession and A.B. Poranek is an author you need to keep an eye on. (And dare I say this book is better than all of those comparisons?) Where The Dark Stands Still has the same magical feeling as a Stephanie Garber book, a similar writing style to that of Margaret Rogerson's, and the romance you would find in a Rebecca Ross novel. If you loved any of those books or authors, please do me a favor and preorder this one! You won't regret it. This book was my favorite of 2023 and was the first 5-star read I had in over 4 months.
If the world has not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself. 🥹
You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch." Excuse me? This quote? The Leszy, the man that you are.
Liska Radost (my clever fox) the Leszy (my demon boy) Jaga, (my silly little not-quite cat), and Maksio, (my strange boy), I will love you all forever. A.B. Poranek, I will read everything you write. <3
April 3, 2025
3,75/5
May 18, 2025
So What’s It About?
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.
Those who enter the wood do not always return…
What I Thought
2024 is truly the Year of Evil Magical Woods for me, but this addition was sadly a big disappointment. I understand the vision, but at the end of the day, this was just a somewhat silly and forgettable read for me.
The main thing that did not work for me was the Leszy, Liska’s love interest and a “morally gray” ancient wizard in the form of a pretty young man who is so taut and angular and mercurial etc etc. The Leszy is just vaguely rude and standoffish to Liska, using the same pet name for her a million times, until it turns out that he’s been manipulating and grooming human sacrifices to the evil god he bound himself to and she was going to be the next one, but she’s just sososo pretty and special that he can’t kill her!!!!
The whole “needing to make human sacrifices” thing started because of a very arrogant, reckless decision he made as a young man, and I want to be clear that I’m not inherently opposed to this…I’m just disappointed that the book took the most boring and stereotypical approach to exploring the topic by barely touching on any growth over his hundreds of years alive, instead pinning his transformation on the fact that he has now met Liska. “I’m too horny to murder her in order to placate the hunger of the dark god I’m bound to” is probably one of the most questionable applications of “she’s not like other girls” I’ve seen in a while, but here we are.
The other funny thing about this is that Liska’s response to discovering this is bizarrely understated. Her anger quickly settles back into this sort of exasperated fondness; Oh, you naughty demon, what am I going to do with you?? There’s no real grappling with the depth of this betrayal or what it means for their relationship moving forward. The OTHER other funny thing is that the book sort of half-heartedly flings us the argument that he lied to and sacrificed these humans for the greater good, so he’s not really that bad, so let’s go back to talking about his cheekbones and him being teasingly condescending to Liska please!!
I also feel that the books’ plot is almost entirely comprised of Liska doing random reckless things to piece together everything that the Leszy is lying to her about or purposefully withholding from her. This book would probably be 50-75 pages at most if he wasn’t continuously lying to her until it became impossible for him to do so anymore.
The influences here are extremely clear, and the author even specifically mentions Howl’s Moving Castle, Naomi Novik, and Margaret Rogerson in the acknowledgments. Wrt Howl, you’ve got the girl who runs away to live with an eccentric wizard for whom she works as a servant. She forms a found family with oddball companions, she and the wizard fall in love after lots of bickering, and she frees him from the curse he’s under. The Naomi Novik influence can be seen in the incorporation of Slavic folklore and a girl getting involved with an “evil” wizard living in strange, enchanted woods. I see the Margaret Rogerson influence in some of the romance beats, banter, atmosphere, and writing, too. While the influences are very clear, the result just feels like it lacks the true strengths and magic of all three (and I do not say this just because I vastly prefer the sopping wet little meow meow of a pathetic loser disgrace that Howl is in the books as opposed to the much more romantic movie version). If you like magical woods and somewhat vibes-y YA fantasy, this might be an okay quick read, but I can think of plenty of books in both of those categories that I much prefer.
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.
Those who enter the wood do not always return…
What I Thought
2024 is truly the Year of Evil Magical Woods for me, but this addition was sadly a big disappointment. I understand the vision, but at the end of the day, this was just a somewhat silly and forgettable read for me.
The main thing that did not work for me was the Leszy, Liska’s love interest and a “morally gray” ancient wizard in the form of a pretty young man who is so taut and angular and mercurial etc etc. The Leszy is just vaguely rude and standoffish to Liska, using the same pet name for her a million times, until it turns out that he’s been manipulating and grooming human sacrifices to the evil god he bound himself to and she was going to be the next one, but she’s just sososo pretty and special that he can’t kill her!!!!
The whole “needing to make human sacrifices” thing started because of a very arrogant, reckless decision he made as a young man, and I want to be clear that I’m not inherently opposed to this…I’m just disappointed that the book took the most boring and stereotypical approach to exploring the topic by barely touching on any growth over his hundreds of years alive, instead pinning his transformation on the fact that he has now met Liska. “I’m too horny to murder her in order to placate the hunger of the dark god I’m bound to” is probably one of the most questionable applications of “she’s not like other girls” I’ve seen in a while, but here we are.
The other funny thing about this is that Liska’s response to discovering this is bizarrely understated. Her anger quickly settles back into this sort of exasperated fondness; Oh, you naughty demon, what am I going to do with you?? There’s no real grappling with the depth of this betrayal or what it means for their relationship moving forward. The OTHER other funny thing is that the book sort of half-heartedly flings us the argument that he lied to and sacrificed these humans for the greater good, so he’s not really that bad, so let’s go back to talking about his cheekbones and him being teasingly condescending to Liska please!!
I also feel that the books’ plot is almost entirely comprised of Liska doing random reckless things to piece together everything that the Leszy is lying to her about or purposefully withholding from her. This book would probably be 50-75 pages at most if he wasn’t continuously lying to her until it became impossible for him to do so anymore.
The influences here are extremely clear, and the author even specifically mentions Howl’s Moving Castle, Naomi Novik, and Margaret Rogerson in the acknowledgments. Wrt Howl, you’ve got the girl who runs away to live with an eccentric wizard for whom she works as a servant. She forms a found family with oddball companions, she and the wizard fall in love after lots of bickering, and she frees him from the curse he’s under. The Naomi Novik influence can be seen in the incorporation of Slavic folklore and a girl getting involved with an “evil” wizard living in strange, enchanted woods. I see the Margaret Rogerson influence in some of the romance beats, banter, atmosphere, and writing, too. While the influences are very clear, the result just feels like it lacks the true strengths and magic of all three (and I do not say this just because I vastly prefer the sopping wet little meow meow of a pathetic loser disgrace that Howl is in the books as opposed to the much more romantic movie version). If you like magical woods and somewhat vibes-y YA fantasy, this might be an okay quick read, but I can think of plenty of books in both of those categories that I much prefer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2025
6 stars. easily.
this book ends on page 335 actually! crazy how the last 33 pages are completely blank. i stayed up til 3am to finish this and my eyes are swollen from sobbing. i’m still ugly crying as i type this. i’m unwell. feeling hollow, feeling numb.
i can’t bring myself to write a proper review, so let me just say this book was beautifully written and end this review with some of my fav quotes. though i do have over 100 highlights bc this was simply a masterpiece.
okay edit: now that it’s the next day and i’ve cried it all out, i just wanna expand on my initial review a little bit. firstly, LOVE a sentient house. i’m always so delighted when i find a book that features one. secondly, love love love the cast of characters. i’m always a sucker for found family and i really enjoyed this one. third, i love eliasz. i cannot talk about him without starting to tear up but just know i love him and thought he was such a good character. the romance subplot was immaculate. fourth, i also loved liska. it’s always so refreshing when the fmc is soft yet strong. i want more fmcs like that. the journey she went on to come into her own and learn to accept herself was so wonderful. lastly, the setting was so perfect. so atmospheric and it sucked me in with the magical prose. it felt like a dark fairytale.
“You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch.”
“‘If I look like a monster,” he says roughly, “then no one will be surprised when I do monstrous things.’”
“if the world has not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself.”
“‘I must tell you, my dear fox,” says the Leszy, “that you deserve someone far better than me. And yet—” His fingers brush the tip of her ear, linger there. “And yet, and yet and 𝘺𝘦𝘵, I am a selfish creature, and I do not want to let you go.’”
“‘Do not go back to that village, Liska.” He holds her gaze, steadfast. “Stay here with me. Stay, and you can have all the power and magic you desire. Stay, and you can be anyone you want.’”
“He is a demon, and he has done monstrous things, but he makes her feel whole. Perhaps that, more than anything, is what got them here—a boy who loves too little and a girl who loves too much, two threads tangled on the loom of history.”
“Of women, he’s heard it said: “She will be the end of me,” or “She will be my undoing.” None of that is true for Liska Radost. She is not the end of anything, but the beginning of everything. He has been dead a long time, and she is his resurrection.”
“In nature, everything balances itself. There can be no winter without summer, no shadow without the sun. You are my soul, Liska Radost. I lived seven hundred years to find you.”
“For that brief splinter of time, the Driada feels like a different world entirely—a transient place where the dark stands still, waiting for the light to arrive.”
this book ends on page 335 actually! crazy how the last 33 pages are completely blank. i stayed up til 3am to finish this and my eyes are swollen from sobbing. i’m still ugly crying as i type this. i’m unwell. feeling hollow, feeling numb.
i can’t bring myself to write a proper review, so let me just say this book was beautifully written and end this review with some of my fav quotes. though i do have over 100 highlights bc this was simply a masterpiece.
okay edit: now that it’s the next day and i’ve cried it all out, i just wanna expand on my initial review a little bit. firstly, LOVE a sentient house. i’m always so delighted when i find a book that features one. secondly, love love love the cast of characters. i’m always a sucker for found family and i really enjoyed this one. third, i love eliasz. i cannot talk about him without starting to tear up but just know i love him and thought he was such a good character. the romance subplot was immaculate. fourth, i also loved liska. it’s always so refreshing when the fmc is soft yet strong. i want more fmcs like that. the journey she went on to come into her own and learn to accept herself was so wonderful. lastly, the setting was so perfect. so atmospheric and it sucked me in with the magical prose. it felt like a dark fairytale.
“You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch.”
“‘If I look like a monster,” he says roughly, “then no one will be surprised when I do monstrous things.’”
“if the world has not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself.”
“‘I must tell you, my dear fox,” says the Leszy, “that you deserve someone far better than me. And yet—” His fingers brush the tip of her ear, linger there. “And yet, and yet and 𝘺𝘦𝘵, I am a selfish creature, and I do not want to let you go.’”
“‘Do not go back to that village, Liska.” He holds her gaze, steadfast. “Stay here with me. Stay, and you can have all the power and magic you desire. Stay, and you can be anyone you want.’”
“He is a demon, and he has done monstrous things, but he makes her feel whole. Perhaps that, more than anything, is what got them here—a boy who loves too little and a girl who loves too much, two threads tangled on the loom of history.”
“Of women, he’s heard it said: “She will be the end of me,” or “She will be my undoing.” None of that is true for Liska Radost. She is not the end of anything, but the beginning of everything. He has been dead a long time, and she is his resurrection.”
“In nature, everything balances itself. There can be no winter without summer, no shadow without the sun. You are my soul, Liska Radost. I lived seven hundred years to find you.”
“For that brief splinter of time, the Driada feels like a different world entirely—a transient place where the dark stands still, waiting for the light to arrive.”
Read
January 28, 2025DNF @ 25%
as soon as i saw not-so-clever-fox, i knew…
as soon as i saw not-so-clever-fox, i knew…
March 19, 2024
5 stars for the magical house.
1 star for the dry, ya romance.
I really, really wanted to like this one. It was described to me as a mix of Howl’s Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke, but make it Polish. How could I not love it?
While it was very heavily inspired by Dianne Wynne Jones’ HMC, the author even mentions this in her author’s note, it lacked the relationship that developed between the characters, especially the romance that developed between Howl and Sophie.
This entire book, although was very original in its magical world, lacked feeling. It’s almost like the author forgot that the two main characters Liska and The Lezy were supposed to fall in love.
It took me awhile to finish this and it dragged in parts. A glossary for all of the Polish or Slavic folklore terms would have been nice. Also a map of the world would have been great too. I’m not sure if the kingdoms mentioned in the book once existed or if they were original kingdoms and countries created just for this book.
I think this author has a lot of potential, and for a debut book, this wasn’t terrible. However, I hope her next book has more emotional depth.
Also am I the only one who finds it kind of unbelievable that a 700+ year old wizard is going to fall in love with a naive village girl? I’m getting tired of these crazy age gaps in fiction.
1 star for the dry, ya romance.
I really, really wanted to like this one. It was described to me as a mix of Howl’s Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke, but make it Polish. How could I not love it?
While it was very heavily inspired by Dianne Wynne Jones’ HMC, the author even mentions this in her author’s note, it lacked the relationship that developed between the characters, especially the romance that developed between Howl and Sophie.
This entire book, although was very original in its magical world, lacked feeling. It’s almost like the author forgot that the two main characters Liska and The Lezy were supposed to fall in love.
It took me awhile to finish this and it dragged in parts. A glossary for all of the Polish or Slavic folklore terms would have been nice. Also a map of the world would have been great too. I’m not sure if the kingdoms mentioned in the book once existed or if they were original kingdoms and countries created just for this book.
I think this author has a lot of potential, and for a debut book, this wasn’t terrible. However, I hope her next book has more emotional depth.
Also am I the only one who finds it kind of unbelievable that a 700+ year old wizard is going to fall in love with a naive village girl? I’m getting tired of these crazy age gaps in fiction.
September 17, 2024
✩ 4 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Gothic
➼ Sentient Manor
➼ Witch x Demon
➼ Polish Folklore
➼ Dark Fairytale
➼ Forbidden Magic
➼ Magical Creatures
➼ Curse/Bargain
➼ Dark Creepy Forest
Where the Dark Stands Still is a dark fairy tale reminiscent of the classic Grimm’s Fairy Tales. I think what it most reminded of though was The Bear and the Nightingale. This story has a Polish influence rather than Russian, but both featured demons, house spirits, evil creatures in the forrest, and a girl with concealed magic who holds the key to saving her village. Considering that this is a debut novel, I am very impressed. The writing and pacing were excellent and both the main and side characters were perfectly written.
I listened to the audiobook and I do think that added to my overall enjoyment since I doubt I would have been able to pronounce many of the included Polish names and terms on my own. I can see myself enjoying this less if I had been stumbling over word pronunciations so maybe keep that in mind if you choose to pick this up. Standalone books rarely earn a favorites slot from me, but this one is certainly worth the read. I’m expecting big things from this author. Looking forward to reading her future works.
What to Expect:
➼ Gothic
➼ Sentient Manor
➼ Witch x Demon
➼ Polish Folklore
➼ Dark Fairytale
➼ Forbidden Magic
➼ Magical Creatures
➼ Curse/Bargain
➼ Dark Creepy Forest
Where the Dark Stands Still is a dark fairy tale reminiscent of the classic Grimm’s Fairy Tales. I think what it most reminded of though was The Bear and the Nightingale. This story has a Polish influence rather than Russian, but both featured demons, house spirits, evil creatures in the forrest, and a girl with concealed magic who holds the key to saving her village. Considering that this is a debut novel, I am very impressed. The writing and pacing were excellent and both the main and side characters were perfectly written.
I listened to the audiobook and I do think that added to my overall enjoyment since I doubt I would have been able to pronounce many of the included Polish names and terms on my own. I can see myself enjoying this less if I had been stumbling over word pronunciations so maybe keep that in mind if you choose to pick this up. Standalone books rarely earn a favorites slot from me, but this one is certainly worth the read. I’m expecting big things from this author. Looking forward to reading her future works.
October 19, 2024
5✨ So good. 😭
February 2, 2025
˗ˏˋ 5 ★ ˎˊ˗
just the other day, i was thinking how i don’t really have a book i can claim as my favorite with my whole chest — then i picked this one up. it was such a beautifully composed, unique, atmospheric story with stunning motifs and the loveliest cast of characters. eliasz and liska endeared themselves to me immediately with their complexities and consistent motivations and drives. i so genuinely cared for both of them, which is a huge testament to the author’s composition of them.
not to mention that i loved their romance so much. the subtlety, the yearning, the steady building of it — because they both had their own reasons to fear it but wanted each other so desperately. the flirty banter, the lingering looks, the disbelieving touches — both of them knowing how they feel, how the other feels, and the ratcheting tension of it. the way their mortal wounds healed one another with every interaction. (him comforting her!!! WHILE??!! kill me please that is one of my favorite microtropes.) the love as religious fervor, as worship, as blasphemy. and the ending was such a perfect culmination for all of it. there was no other conclusion that would have been simultaneously as rewarding and devastating to my wellbeing.
bars:
✧ of women, he’s heard it said: “she will be the end of me,” or “she will be my undoing.” none of that is true for liska radost. she is not the end of anything, but the beginning of everything. he has been dead a long time, and she is his resurrection.
✧ ”tell me how to save you.” [ . . . ] “i am already saved.”
✧ ”you are my soul, liska radost. i lived seven hundred years to find you.”
✧ ”i wish i could do it over,” he murmurs. “without secrets, without fear, without the demon between us.”
✧ she is beautiful, and he is going to die for her.
soundtrack:
♫ from eden — hozier
♪ i bet on losing dogs — mitski
♫ beautiful things — benson boone
♪ cannon ball — damien rice
just the other day, i was thinking how i don’t really have a book i can claim as my favorite with my whole chest — then i picked this one up. it was such a beautifully composed, unique, atmospheric story with stunning motifs and the loveliest cast of characters. eliasz and liska endeared themselves to me immediately with their complexities and consistent motivations and drives. i so genuinely cared for both of them, which is a huge testament to the author’s composition of them.
not to mention that i loved their romance so much. the subtlety, the yearning, the steady building of it — because they both had their own reasons to fear it but wanted each other so desperately. the flirty banter, the lingering looks, the disbelieving touches — both of them knowing how they feel, how the other feels, and the ratcheting tension of it. the way their mortal wounds healed one another with every interaction. (him comforting her!!! WHILE??!! kill me please that is one of my favorite microtropes.) the love as religious fervor, as worship, as blasphemy. and the ending was such a perfect culmination for all of it. there was no other conclusion that would have been simultaneously as rewarding and devastating to my wellbeing.
bars:
✧ of women, he’s heard it said: “she will be the end of me,” or “she will be my undoing.” none of that is true for liska radost. she is not the end of anything, but the beginning of everything. he has been dead a long time, and she is his resurrection.
✧ ”tell me how to save you.” [ . . . ] “i am already saved.”
✧ ”you are my soul, liska radost. i lived seven hundred years to find you.”
✧ ”i wish i could do it over,” he murmurs. “without secrets, without fear, without the demon between us.”
✧ she is beautiful, and he is going to die for her.
soundtrack:
♫ from eden — hozier
♪ i bet on losing dogs — mitski
♫ beautiful things — benson boone
♪ cannon ball — damien rice
September 27, 2024
¿PERO QUÉ MARAVILLA ACABO DE LEER??😍😍
Tenía un poquito de miedo de empezar este libro ya que es la primera vez que leo una novela del género de fantasía, pero de verdad que no me arrepiento de nada
Reconozco que los dos o tres primeros capítulos se me hicieron un poco bola ya que son un poco introductorios, pero una vez que ya empieza a desarrollarse más la historia, ya no puedes dejar de leer
Este libro me ha echo sentir tantas emociones que no sé ni cómo explicarlo. Me ha hecho reír, morir de ternura, estar en tensión, e incluso me ha echo soltar alguna que otra lagrimita. Este libro es precioso.
Si buscáis un libro de fantasía pura, sin duda tenéis que leeros este libro. Brujas, espíritus, demonios, duendes y sobre todo mucha, mucha pero que mucha magia. Perfecto para iniciar con el género de fantasía. 🧚🏻🪄
Se ha convertido en uno de mis libros favoritos sin lugar a duda. Ojalá este libro fuese más conocido🥹❤️
Tenía un poquito de miedo de empezar este libro ya que es la primera vez que leo una novela del género de fantasía, pero de verdad que no me arrepiento de nada
Reconozco que los dos o tres primeros capítulos se me hicieron un poco bola ya que son un poco introductorios, pero una vez que ya empieza a desarrollarse más la historia, ya no puedes dejar de leer
Este libro me ha echo sentir tantas emociones que no sé ni cómo explicarlo. Me ha hecho reír, morir de ternura, estar en tensión, e incluso me ha echo soltar alguna que otra lagrimita. Este libro es precioso.
Si buscáis un libro de fantasía pura, sin duda tenéis que leeros este libro. Brujas, espíritus, demonios, duendes y sobre todo mucha, mucha pero que mucha magia. Perfecto para iniciar con el género de fantasía. 🧚🏻🪄
Se ha convertido en uno de mis libros favoritos sin lugar a duda. Ojalá este libro fuese más conocido🥹❤️
August 23, 2024
Oh my god where to start. First of all as a native polish person I have never ever ever read a book as cringe as this one.
Bestie took out a polish dictionary and was like “wow this word sound really smart and mysterious, I’m gonna use it in a context that doesn’t make sense 😃”.
Trying to make polish language sound exotic is a crime in of itself and my heart goes out to all those poor Irish folks that Rebecca Yarros ripped off in the Fourth Wing same as miss Poranek did here - now I know how y’all feel.
If you want to get a glimpse of how this book reads try typing “She took off her śmierdzące skarpetki” into google translate.
All of this is a shame really because I was pretty excited to read a book set up within polish folklore. Miss Poranek you did your heritage a disservice. Try and live with that.
Bestie took out a polish dictionary and was like “wow this word sound really smart and mysterious, I’m gonna use it in a context that doesn’t make sense 😃”.
Trying to make polish language sound exotic is a crime in of itself and my heart goes out to all those poor Irish folks that Rebecca Yarros ripped off in the Fourth Wing same as miss Poranek did here - now I know how y’all feel.
If you want to get a glimpse of how this book reads try typing “She took off her śmierdzące skarpetki” into google translate.
All of this is a shame really because I was pretty excited to read a book set up within polish folklore. Miss Poranek you did your heritage a disservice. Try and live with that.
March 13, 2024
''Whisked away to his crumbling manor [...] she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past''
!
!
August 26, 2025
A typical YA fantasy with a romance between an ancient magical being and a barely legal young girl. And what's worse, in this one, the love interest sounded SO OLD. I couldn't see him as a love interest when he mostly sounded like an older mentor to her - sometimes even like a grandfather. There was a point towards the end where the story could have gone down a gothic horror route, and I was so there for it. Loved the way the mystery was seeminlgy resolved, but of course that wasn't the end of it, and I did expect it to continue being the basic YA romance that it was.
Another issue I had was a personal pet peeve, namely that I don't like it when foreign words are used just to add some "exotic" flavor and not in a meaningful way. Here, it was the word "czarownik" (which is basically the same as the Slovenian "čarovnik," so I would cringe every time I heard it). My only problems here were that it was used in the singular all the time, even when talking about multiple "czarownicy," and that it was used in Polish in contrast to the English "witch." I assumed, due to the setting, that they were all speaking Polish anyway, so why was one "witch" and the other "czarownik"?
“You're a witch.” [...]
“I mean, you're czarownik. A female czarownik.”
So "czarownica"? I don't understand this mixing. Just do a wizard/witch contrast or czarownik/czarownica since the masculine versions tend to have better connotations. Not a huge issue, but it felt a bit jarring to me.
Another issue I had was a personal pet peeve, namely that I don't like it when foreign words are used just to add some "exotic" flavor and not in a meaningful way. Here, it was the word "czarownik" (which is basically the same as the Slovenian "čarovnik," so I would cringe every time I heard it). My only problems here were that it was used in the singular all the time, even when talking about multiple "czarownicy," and that it was used in Polish in contrast to the English "witch." I assumed, due to the setting, that they were all speaking Polish anyway, so why was one "witch" and the other "czarownik"?
“You're a witch.” [...]
“I mean, you're czarownik. A female czarownik.”
So "czarownica"? I don't understand this mixing. Just do a wizard/witch contrast or czarownik/czarownica since the masculine versions tend to have better connotations. Not a huge issue, but it felt a bit jarring to me.
March 18, 2024
Excuseee meee? 😭😭😭
I was promised Howl's moving castle x polish folklore. Not Howl's moving castle x polish folklore x EMOTIONAL DAMAGE 😤
Like... I was supposed to read sth cozy. Funny. Not making me weep in the middle of the night. Like... I did not agree to sth like that.
I mean I was like: shut up and take my money (and I still stand by that: shut up and take my money and give me collectors edition or sth). And not like: shut up and take my heart and break it into thousands of pieces. There is a difference between those two for ducks sake (but I can give u my kidney for special edition... just saying... I've got 2...)
***
Anyways. Moth Mariusz made my day. Leszy Eliasz killed me. Father Paweł made me cry (bc I can only see one particular Mr Paweł and his: przemyślcie to sobie...like XD just kill me already) (+ why not father Mateusz? It would be perfect 😭)
And idk if I finished this book or it finished me (but I kinda thing that it's the latter)
I was promised Howl's moving castle x polish folklore. Not Howl's moving castle x polish folklore x EMOTIONAL DAMAGE 😤
Like... I was supposed to read sth cozy. Funny. Not making me weep in the middle of the night. Like... I did not agree to sth like that.
I mean I was like: shut up and take my money (and I still stand by that: shut up and take my money and give me collectors edition or sth). And not like: shut up and take my heart and break it into thousands of pieces. There is a difference between those two for ducks sake (but I can give u my kidney for special edition... just saying... I've got 2...)
***
Anyways. Moth Mariusz made my day. Leszy Eliasz killed me. Father Paweł made me cry (bc I can only see one particular Mr Paweł and his: przemyślcie to sobie...like XD just kill me already) (+ why not father Mateusz? It would be perfect 😭)
And idk if I finished this book or it finished me (but I kinda thing that it's the latter)
September 15, 2024
sometimes family is just a village girl, a czarownik, a skrzat, and a rusalka living together in a magical house
May 24, 2024
I never want to see or hear the words "not so clever fox" ever again
January 15, 2025
Moja ocena zmieniała się właściwie z każdym przeczytanym rozdziałem. Zawsze w trakcie lektury zbieram sobie w magazynie z tyłu głowy to, co później chciałabym o książce powiedzieć. No więc tu było dość chaotycznie, ale w tym momencie, na chwilę po tym, jak skończyłam, a w oczach stanęły mi łzy, powiem tak:
⭐️ Witam Państwa w historii BARDZO WYRAŹNIE inspirowanej Ruchomym zamkiem Hauru. Jeśli jesteście czytelnikami szukającymi świeżości i oryginalności fabularnej/strukturalnej to nie to miejsce. Ale jak uwielbiacie Zamek i podobne historie, to będziecie się czuć jak u siebie
⭐️ Pierwotnie myślałam, ze dostrzegę tu ducha Niedźwiedzia i słowika, ale nie, to jednak nie jest ta historia. Sarkazm i lekkość Hauru przeważa
⭐️ Ostatnie zdanie i łzy w oczach. Nie wolno tak. A już myślałam, że udało mi się w finale opędzić łzy
⭐️ Finał w ogóle bardzo mi się podobał, a może raczej jego rozwiązanie? Plus cudownie melancholijny, ale jednak słodki epilog
⭐️ Jak na moje mogło tu być więcej językowej stylizacji, bo potocyzmy psują klimat
⭐️ To jest powieść YA, więc sporo tu rozwiązań prostych, znanych (lubianych albo nie); nie udaje się autorce zawsze umknąć przed schematami
⭐️ Magiczny dom w środku lasu zawsze na mnie działa, co ja poradzę
⭐️ Podobnie jak czarodzieje-diwy i czarodzieje-księżniczki
⭐️ Bardzo lubię Liskę!
No i tyle w sumie pamiętam na ten moment.
Ps: Teraz to bym chętnie przeczytała Niedźwiedzia i słowika
⭐️ Witam Państwa w historii BARDZO WYRAŹNIE inspirowanej Ruchomym zamkiem Hauru. Jeśli jesteście czytelnikami szukającymi świeżości i oryginalności fabularnej/strukturalnej to nie to miejsce. Ale jak uwielbiacie Zamek i podobne historie, to będziecie się czuć jak u siebie
⭐️ Pierwotnie myślałam, ze dostrzegę tu ducha Niedźwiedzia i słowika, ale nie, to jednak nie jest ta historia. Sarkazm i lekkość Hauru przeważa
⭐️ Ostatnie zdanie i łzy w oczach. Nie wolno tak. A już myślałam, że udało mi się w finale opędzić łzy
⭐️ Finał w ogóle bardzo mi się podobał, a może raczej jego rozwiązanie? Plus cudownie melancholijny, ale jednak słodki epilog
⭐️ Jak na moje mogło tu być więcej językowej stylizacji, bo potocyzmy psują klimat
⭐️ To jest powieść YA, więc sporo tu rozwiązań prostych, znanych (lubianych albo nie); nie udaje się autorce zawsze umknąć przed schematami
⭐️ Magiczny dom w środku lasu zawsze na mnie działa, co ja poradzę
⭐️ Podobnie jak czarodzieje-diwy i czarodzieje-księżniczki
⭐️ Bardzo lubię Liskę!
No i tyle w sumie pamiętam na ten moment.
Ps: Teraz to bym chętnie przeczytała Niedźwiedzia i słowika
July 3, 2025
Where the Dark Stands Still is reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle and Uprooted by Naomi Novik, but it leaves a lot to be desired. I think its biggest shortcoming is the unwillingness to allow consequential conflict between the two main characters, particularly in the first half. The Leszy is an immortal demon, but he is also a protector; that realization isn't followed by the expected recontextualization because he never feels otherworldly or threatening, and Liska is never wary around him. The two get into situations where they help each other and fall in love. Because there’s nothing getting in their way besides the usual romantic fumbles—no clash of values, no differing viewpoints from being two extremely different people, no instinctive hatred of one another to overcome—their relationship doesn’t feel like a victory. This is a good story, but my enjoyment of it was significantly dampened by the feeling that its emotional highs came unearned.
2.5/5
2.5/5
April 13, 2025
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch.’
Where the Dark Stands is an exquisite tapestry of polish folktales, mystical magic, and a tender love.
The story centers on Liska Radost, a healer's daughter and one who is desperate to maintain some normalcy and a sense of belonging, but that is difficult to achieve when she is corrupted with ungodly magic since she was a child. She can sense spirits, see them, hear them, but that peculiarity is not tolerated among her people which forced her to stifle it. And so Liska embarks on a quest to find the legendary fern flower and make her wish—for her magic to be gone.
This quest unravels a dark and mystical world and Liska is entangled in a bargain with the demon warden of the wood—the Leszy.
This a fantastic read for fans of dark fairytalesque stories with the promise to deliver an enchanting tale and emotional damage.
The vibrant mysticism and cottage core aesthetics does make it seem to be something out of a Studio Ghibli movie.
The pacing did feel a little slow in the first half but I was still captivated by the exhilarating setting and magic.
Liska's journey from a 17-year-old who is struggling with her grief and accepting who she truly is to someone who chose to take action and carve her own path was quite emotional for me. I adore these empowering stories that lift up young women from a place of despair to a place where they are a force to be reckoned with.
There were dark undertones to the story and bittersweetness, be ready to be hurt but also experience a splendid fairyrale!
Trigger warning: violence, deaths, gore, religious bigotry, grief, blood, injury, animal deat*, self-harm, body horror, murder, 17 year old and ancient in a romantic relationship (offpage intimacy/brief mention).
‘You are not a monster, Liska Radost. You are sunlight, and you breathe life into everything you touch.’
Where the Dark Stands is an exquisite tapestry of polish folktales, mystical magic, and a tender love.
The story centers on Liska Radost, a healer's daughter and one who is desperate to maintain some normalcy and a sense of belonging, but that is difficult to achieve when she is corrupted with ungodly magic since she was a child. She can sense spirits, see them, hear them, but that peculiarity is not tolerated among her people which forced her to stifle it. And so Liska embarks on a quest to find the legendary fern flower and make her wish—for her magic to be gone.
This quest unravels a dark and mystical world and Liska is entangled in a bargain with the demon warden of the wood—the Leszy.
This a fantastic read for fans of dark fairytalesque stories with the promise to deliver an enchanting tale and emotional damage.
The vibrant mysticism and cottage core aesthetics does make it seem to be something out of a Studio Ghibli movie.
The pacing did feel a little slow in the first half but I was still captivated by the exhilarating setting and magic.
Liska's journey from a 17-year-old who is struggling with her grief and accepting who she truly is to someone who chose to take action and carve her own path was quite emotional for me. I adore these empowering stories that lift up young women from a place of despair to a place where they are a force to be reckoned with.
There were dark undertones to the story and bittersweetness, be ready to be hurt but also experience a splendid fairyrale!
Trigger warning: violence, deaths, gore, religious bigotry, grief, blood, injury, animal deat*, self-harm, body horror, murder, 17 year old and ancient in a romantic relationship (offpage intimacy/brief mention).
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