Review: This Safe Darkness by Alexis Maragold
“The sun shines brighter for those who’ve seen the night.”
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The Basics
Title: This Safe Darkness (Sols and Shades #1)
Author: Alexis Maragold
Published: 2026
Note: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: Foreword Books
Pages: 323
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Dystopian, Fantasy, Fantasy romance, Dystopian romance
Book Synopsis
Unwed and childless, Orelle Bren is a Tier Three, the lowest rank in the underground city of Caligo, but such was not always the case. Not long ago, she lived a privileged existence as the wife of the chancellor’s son, but when she failed to bear any children, her husband divorced her, shrouding her in disgrace and forcing her to endure the hardships that come with living at the very bottom of society. The near-rotten food and barely habitable housing she can endure, but there is one aspect of Tier Three life that terrifies her: the Hunt.
Every year, 10 women from Tier Three are selected to be Huntresses and participate in the Hunt, a televised event that sees the women ascend to the deadly surface and attempt to eradicate the Sols, humans transformed into monsters by the sun’s lethal rays. To be named a Huntress is supposed to be an honor, but everyone knows it’s a glorified death sentence. Only a few Huntresses have ever survived, and given her chronic health issues, she knows the odds would not be in her favor should she ever be selected. So, she attempts to flee, but is unsuccessful. And then, her greatest fear is realized: she is chosen for the Hunt.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: An intriguing premise and beginning, but ultimately underwhelms.
This Safe Darkness has a promising beginning, the type that piques your interest and has your fingers itching to turn the page. Unfortunately, though, that intrigue is short-lived, and before long, an inverse relationship develops between how much you’ve read and how much you want to keep reading. That is not to say the book becomes a laborious read; rather, its hold on your attention weakens, with your investment in the story transforming into something of a more passive nature.
The novel’s primary issue — and the cause of its waning allure — is its pacing. The story is lopsided, with the first half of the book struggling with sluggishness and the latter half suffering from hurriedness. The slow lead-up to the Hunt is followed by a breakneck series of events in the book’s final half. Skirmishes with Sols, deaths of characters, and major revelations all happen in quick succession, such that you are unable to process one thing before something else is dropped on you. In addition, most of the deaths fall flat because they occur before you truly know the respective characters. After all, how can you be expected to mourn someone who has only been mentioned a handful of times?
Another victim of the story’s poor pacing is Orelle and Kalden’s romance. From their very first meeting, there is an undeniable spark and attraction between them, which in and of itself would have been fine. Alas, though, their instant chemistry is accompanied by an immediate sense of trust and emotional closeness. Neither has to earn the other’s confidence; it just apparates into existence, resulting in a very unsatisfying relationship arc.
Also leaving a lot to be desired is the love triangle — or rather, the attempt at a love triangle — between Orelle, Gabe, and Kalden. I say attempt because the love triangle never really has any teeth to it. From Orelle and Kalden’s first interaction, it is as clear as day that they will end up together. Plus, a rekindling of affection between Orelle and Gabe is not only implausible given their painful history but also unlikely due to Gabe’s sparing appearance in the story. At a bare minimum, for a love triangle to be believable, neither love interest should feel like an extra.
Being scarce is not Gabe’s only shortcoming; his arc feels inconsistent and contradictory. At one point, it seems as though his character is undergoing a transformation, wherein he is attempting to right past wrongs. Then, in a whiplash-inducing moment, that notion of evolution is challenged. While I understand the author’s intent, I feel as though it was poorly executed. Perhaps if his character had been in the story more and, by extension, more fleshed out, his change in behavior would not have felt so out of left field and unfitting.
The Good
The book’s premise is an interesting one. A dystopian world, an underground city, an autocratic government, a hierarchical society, and an annual televised Hunt that feels like something out of The Hunger Games: the story has all the ingredients for a captivating tale. With additional editing and revisions, This Safe Darkness could be a great book.
One aspect of the book, though, that is already great is its protagonist. From her well-defined backstory to her clear character arc, Orelle is a laudable lead. You can see the ways in which her past has influenced her present, but you also witness her chart her own future by embracing all that she is and all that has happened to her. A particularly empowering moment is when she learns to view her disabilities as a testament to her strength and perseverance, rather than as the weakness the people of Caligo had led her to believe they were.
Also praiseworthy is the narrative style, namely the use of the first person and present tense from a single point of view. This imbues the story with a sense of immersion, placing you in the story, as opposed to observing the events from the outside. You see everything unfold in real time through Orelle’s eyes.
Overall
While not without merit, This Safe Darkness is ultimately a disappointing read. I had such high hopes for it at the beginning, but unfortunately, they were not met.
Have you read This Safe Darkness? If so, share your thoughts in the comments section below!
-Julia
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