Where the Dark Stands Still

I absolutely adored the characters, the storyline and the use of polish folklore. The story carries a sense of adventure and enchantment that I haven’t seen in many fantasy books. The love story is not the main focus and it doesn’t feel forced, which felt quite refreshing. Definitely recommend!!

This book has the best vibes - dark gothic but sweet. The magic system wasn’t as flashed out as I would liked it to be. But the found family in an old manor which is in a wood with many demons was just the best <3

Atmospheric gothic romance meets polish folklore with lovable characters and, best of all, some fable vibes. While slower paced, the dark fairytale mood makes this a perfect read for a cozy evening, especially with halloween right around the corner! The romance was suprisingly solid and the dynamic between Liska and the Leszy is fantastic. Not to forget the wonderful implementation of found famaily, can only recommend with a chefs kiss!!.

This book was described as Howls Moving Castle but darker and with polish mythology. I think that sums it up pretty well and I ate that whole thing up like it was the sweetest treat. It has kinda eery but still cozy vibes yet at the same time the stakes are very high. Poranek brings us into a magical forest with dark and dangerous monsters and a moody yet intriguing wielder of magic called the Leszy. Both him and Liska, our protagonist, are amazing characters and undergo a sweet development that not only leads them closer to each other but also to some other creatures they stumble upon in the house under the rowan tree which ends up in a beautiful found family trope. I loved Poraneks writing and am ready to read anything else she might publish in the future because this was amazing!

4,25 This book was soooo good. I loved the magic system, the magic house, the forest… The pacing was really great, and I really fell in love with the characters and their development. I enjoyed the excursion into Slavic mythology and the questioning of religious beliefs, even though a guide to the mystical creatures would have been really helpful. This was such a captivating read!