*Spoilers Ahead*

Blurb

What would you risk to save your family?

Deep in the slums of Penumbra, fiercely protective Charlie Carroway thought he had left the nightmares of his childhood behind and finally found a place to call home. But when an old enemy sets their sights on his adoptive family, shattering his dreams of outrunning his dark past, Charlie knows he has no choice. Risk everything. Save the children.

Trapped in the middle of an uneasy alliance between a fugitive witch and a brutal Witch Hunter, Charlie must make a desperate attempt to save his family, or face losing them forever. With enemies on all sides, and conspiracy festering at the heart of their nation, the last thing Charlie needs is these new, confusing feelings. Surrounded by danger, can Charlie find the courage to protect his loved ones – without losing himself?

Your purchase includes The Swallow’s Flight, a prequel telling the story of how thirteen-year-old Charlie escaped from the Spike.

Content warnings provided. This book contains material that is not suitable for young readers. 100% of proceeds are donated to charities supporting survivors of child sex abuse.

This was one of the earlier books I read when first becoming an arc reader, and yet another wonderful indie read. Lily’s The Dying Light was the second book I read of theirs, and the handful of times I’ve read it since its debut in 2021, still has me wanting more. I gave the book 5/5 stars as it’s well deserved. Well deserved that the characters felt real as you and me, the dark fantasy elements adding that substance to the already deep and dark plot, and that are parts of the book that feel relatable. (In terms of growing up and facing discrimination of sorts. You’ll know what I mean once you pick up this book).

Here is my Goodreads review:

Emotional. Thought-provoking. And a book where even when everything seems impossible, there is a way to find the light.

Lily’s book, The Dying Light, is just that. We follow Charlie Carroway, a sixteen year old boy who’s had more than his fair share of problems from facing abuse and thinking that no matter what he does, it’ll never be enough. But then there are those light-hearted moments that give us the chance to see another side of Charlie. The hopeful side. The one that urges us to keep rooting for him, to tell him that everything will be okay. That he will finally be safe and in charge of his own destiny.

Penumbra and Elysia are two of the main places in The Dying Light, and the contrasts between the two are like night and day. Or rather, they provide both a haven for some characters, but also as a grim reminder for others. Such as Charlie who is from Penumbra, but has to deal with the trauma he experienced there, and at one point Elysia would’ve been a safe haven if certain events didn’t follow once he was there.

I can’t tell you how many times I cried while reading this dark fantasy novel. I could feel myself in Charlie’s shoes, wanting so desperately to help him, but then there were other characters like Vasco, Alexandra, and so many more I implore you to meet that help him. And not just physically helping him escape or shake him to where he can just tell him how he is, or that he needs help. They talk to him. They try to understand how they can help him.

This book touches on so many elements from the standpoint of survivors of sexual trauma and abuse, or the mental abuse that so many people go through, specifically in this novel. It’s consistent and not over dramatized or for a better word: glossed over. Each of Lily’s characters are thrown into this world where everything may seem dark, but to have each other’s back is how they get through the worst of situations.

They never forget the ones they love and care about.

The overall plot kept taking me in so many different directions that I was shocked each time. Plot twists that had me wanting more, and to the point where I ended up reading over half the book in one day. I never wanted to put the book down. And when I finished it, I was left with the feeling that Charlie’s journey wasn’t over, but what was given to us in just The Dying Light, as well as the sneak peek of The Swallow’s Flight, a prequel, is astounding.

Like I said, The Dying Light is the second book of Lily’s I’ve read, and in the universe where Charlie Carroway lives and breathes, there are many hidden truths that either make or break the characters. And remember, it’s a dark fantasy novel, so not everyone may get the happy ending they want or deserve.

Also, it’s imperative that you read the content warnings before going forward. Another thing I’m grateful were included when I first read The Dying Light.

Happy Reading!