Feeling rejected, Charlie, an artist, is drawn into a destructive new relationship with her sexy older co-worker, a 'semifamous' local musician who's obviously a junkie alcoholic.

But things don't go as planned in the Arizona desert, because sweet Mikey just wants to be friends.

After spending time in treatment with other young women like her-who cut, burn, poke, and otherwise hurt themselves-Charlie is released and takes a bus from the Twin Cities to Tucson to be closer to Mikey, a boy she 'like-likes' but who had pined for Ellis instead. Seventeen-year-old Charlie Davis, a white girl living on the margins, thinks she has little reason to live: her father drowned himself her bereft and abusive mother kicked her out her best friend, Ellis, is nearly brain dead after cutting too deeply and she's gone through unspeakable experiences living on the street. You’ll never see the Regency the same way again.Īfter surviving a suicide attempt, a fragile teen isn't sure she can endure without cutting herself. The slow burn, punctuated by murder, forbidden declarations of love, and surprising plot twists, provides readers who have come this far with exactly what they want the explosions, literal and figurative, of the climax even leave room for a happy ending that also involves the wielding of great power while being female. Goodman’s assured writing and masterful grasp of historical milieu create a world where doing one’s hair can take hours-and is done even when the end of the world is at stake. The previously introduced characters are all back, from Maori Quinn (one of the few characters who provides diversity in the white, wealthy world of Regency high society) to Aunt Leonore, who demonstrates that women can be powerful regardless of magical gifts. As with the previous volumes, this carefully researched tome mixes a cerebral examination of gendered roles in the Regency (and perhaps today) with an original fantasy premise. But Helen’s impending marriage to Duke Selburn, who cherishes Helen and wishes to protect her, provides impediment after impediment to Reclaimer business. Lady Helen’s adventures continue in the conclusion of Goodman’s ( The Dark Days Pact, 2017, etc.) trilogy.Ĭhristmas in Bath: Lady Helen and the brooding Lord Carlston are now the Grand Reclaimer dyad seeking the Grand Deceiver.

The Dark Days Deceit by Alison Goodman