Audiobook Review: Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis

I am so here for the deliciously dark and angry books that are coming this fall. If you’ve fallen in love with Beth’s other work, be prepared to be completely enamored with this Nedra. The world absolutely needs more anti-heroes so grab this one, out now!

 

Give the Dark My Love (Give the Dark My Love, #1)

by Beth Revis
Published by: Razorbill
on September 25, 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Sci-Fi
Pages: 368
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Goodreads

When seventeen-year-old Nedra Brysstain leaves her home in the rural, northern territories of Lunar Island to attend the prestigious Yugen Academy, she has only one goal in mind: learn the trade of medicinal alchemy. A scholarship student matriculating with the children of Lunar Island's wealthiest and most powerful families, Nedra doesn't quite fit in with the other kids at Yugen, who all look down on her.

All, except for Greggori "Grey" Astor. Grey is immediately taken by the brilliant and stubborn Nedra, who he notices is especially invested in her studies. And that's for a good reason: a deadly plague has been sweeping through the North, and it's making its way toward the cities. With her family's life--and the lives of all of Lunar Island's citizens--on the line, Nedra is determined to find a cure for the plague.

Grey and Nedra continue to grow closer, but as the sickness spreads and the body count rises, Nedra becomes desperate to find a cure. Soon, she finds herself diving into alchemy's most dangerous corners--and when she turns to the most forbidden practice of all, necromancy, even Grey might not be able to pull her from the darkness.

 

Review

Give the Dark My Love opens with a captivating scene where you see a girl missing a piece of herself – metaphorically and physically. You’re curious what has happened here.

Nedra and her family live in a working class village when she is awarded the opportunity to study alchemy at a prestigious school. Torn at the idea of having to leave her family without her earnings, her father insists that she can not let this opportunity pass her by. Why? Because a plague is consuming the underprivileged sections of her country and she hopes to use medicinal alchemy to lessen the deadly effects and solve the mysteries surrounding the plague. Like, why does it only seem to consume the underprivileged communities? What is the root cause? Why can it sometimes be headed off and others no?

Nedra is absolutely the antiheroine we needed. As she uncovers the history behind this disease – alongside losing much of what is important to her – it would be easy to let Nedra redeem herself. But I prefer her harnessing the limited power she has.

The audiobook uses dual narration, with Nedra and Grey mostly trading off. I was far more interested in Nedra’s journey and enjoyed her narrator.