The Simple Summary (for the series):
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3 out of 4
What I liked: World, characters, romance, tropes, prose, Christian elements (first book)
What I didn't like: Grammatical issues (lack of capitalization, wrong word used, etc.), Christian elements (second book), content (half of first book, second book as well)
Content:
Major: Physical touch/romance (e.g. getting excited at the touch of someone), infidelity
Minor: Non-descriptive violence
Mention: Abuse/murder (mentioned frequently in the second half of book one as well as all of book two; scars are shown), drunkenness
As of now (October of the great year 2024), there are only two books in The Darkest War series; Isabella has announced she's working on a third. (Based off the ending of the second book, this is happy news.)
Overall, I liked them; they are, however, being docked a point for grammar problems (see What I didn't like.)
Prose/Content
I thought the simpler style was pleasant. Not overbearing or pounding me with adjective after adjective (nothing against them!), but pulled enough description in to keep me imagining. And, I being sensitive to violence, Isabella gave just enough details to show what was going on without resorting to graphic imagery (this side-eye goes to you, Giver.) Content (violence, etc.) through the first book was pretty mild until about halfway through, then for the rest of the series it amped up. It was manageable, yes, and not too dark.
My quips about grammar have already been made, so I shall try to stop now.
Throughout the first book, it's solely Isadora's point of view. In TEH, we see Drykan's perspective as well (that mostly falls into an every-other-chapter pattern).
World
The world building was unique yet simple. A kingdom in the future where the land is divided into constant Day and persistent Night? Count me in.
Characters/Plot
The Darkest War
First off, I am one of those people who doesn't mind a couple tropes. Unpopular opinion, but I like love triangles (to a degree; bad love triangles will be bad love triangles). Isadora loved Lucien, and the plan was to marry him.
But the war between the two kingdoms forced things to change; Isadora was arranged to marry Prince Drykan of the Day instead. Not that Isadora was happy about that at first.
Isadora feared for losing her freedom; Drykan later tells her that they both lose their freedom in this. The two agree to be friends for a bit, and some of the tension eased between them.
Queen Aurella (who isn't actually Drykan's mother) controlled the strings when it came to what became public when it came to the arranged marriage. Both Isadora and Drykan played "lovebirds" for the media. Tensions with the war settled for a time.
(Though I have a love-hate relationship with Aurella--at the end she was a hero of sorts. I still despise her despicable blackmailing. Not cool, lady.)
New tensions rise as Mirana (Isadora's sister) disappears from the Day's castle. Clues and warnings were sent (as well as a few people murdered--royal drama, am I right?), until finally the day of the wedding comes.
And Isadora lets the one behind it all into the castle.
Well played, Lucifer Lucien. Well played.
(Oh and Lucien, Isadora, and Drykan are all young adults. No teenage marriage here, folks.)
The Evanescent Hope
The gang that survived after the marriage take refuge in the empty castle of the Day (Lucien went back to the Night). Drykan lost his trust in Isadora and self-isolated; Isadora was afraid to make up with him.
Isadora invited a few ladies to stay in the castle to keep her company; slowly life returned to how it had been.
Then Isadora got poisoned. Suspects are narrowed down, only to end with the Day losing valuable allies (but at the same time gaining Rhory. No more needs to be said).
Well played, Saoirse. Well played.
Miscellaneous
The dictionary defines "evanescent" as: quickly fading out of sight or memory. Fitting, as trying to survive in hiding, while pretending that you're dead, isn't the ideal day in most people's lives.
I, personally, found the Christian elements in book two to be a bit strong for my taste (It's one of those things I just don't like), but I know some people very much enjoyed such things (and I understand why it's there). I shall say no more.
Overall: A few quips, but worth the read.