4.5

Sentient houses, cat-like spirits, horny-boys and a girl with badass butterflies.

I would have liked a bit more tension/flirtation with the romance but it was a lovely, magic filled story with deep dark woods, forgotten gods and the power you find within. ( )

Originally posted on Just Geeking by.

Content warnings:
This book contains scenes of violence, blood, body horror, decomposing bodies, death, ritual sacrifice, religious zealotry, prejudice, and rumour-mongering.

There are flashback scenes that show an emotionally abusive relationship between a wife and her husband. There is a reference to child abuse (off page).

Inspired by the Polish wild lands A.B. Poranek explored as a child, Where the Dark Stands Still tells the story of Liska, a young woman fleeing her village for the demon and spirit-filled wood, the Driada. Born with magic in a society ruled by the Church, Liska has lived with the fear of discovery since childhood. At the start of the book, we don’t know what has sent Liska fleeing into the dangerous forest, we just know that she is desperate enough to put all her faith in a mythical flower that will grant her one wish.

Liska intends to use that wish to get rid of her magic for good.

Against all odds, she manages to find the flower and more than she expected. Like all humans who wish to travel through the Driada, she had made an offering to the Leszy, the demon who rules the forest. An offering to grant her protection on her path. Not only does she step off her path, but she is there to steal from him because the flower that she needs to solve all her problems belongs to the Leszy…

He catches her in the act, and offers her a bargain; one year of her life serving him in the Driada, and then he will grant her wish. He will take her magic.

The more time she spends with the Leszy, the more Liska learns about him and her situation. There are secrets on top of secrets, and just when she thinks she has learned everything, she finds there is more to know. When she finds out that there have been other companions, and that they’ve mysteriously vanished, leaving their belongings behind in the Leszy’s mansion, it becomes even more imperative that she uncovers those secrets before her year of servitude is up.

Eerie forest scenes are juxtaposed with the warmth and humour of a sentient manor house and sassy house spirit. Fans of Howl’s Moving Castle will enjoy this one, as will readers who like books with fairytale and folktale vibes. Where the Dark Stands Still successfully encompasses all of these while managing to stand on its own with interesting characters and a strong plot.

While there is a romance that includes ‘the young girl falls in love with an immortal’ trope, this book doesn’t rely completely on it. The romance is just one part of the book, and if you’re not a fan of romances or this trope, there’s plenty more to enjoy. There’s a huge amount of character growth and the ending of this one was very satisfactory. I particularly liked the way that Poranek wrote Liska as a rational heroine who weighs up the information in front of her rather than run screaming just because something difficult is presented to her.

Where the Dark Stands Still is a perfect standalone novel, but I would love to see Poranek return to the world she has created in it. The world-building is so intriguing and has so many possibilities. This is a brilliant debut novel and one that I recommend checking out if you love dark dangerous forests, magic, stubborn demons and sassy characters.

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( )

I like folklore and especially like reading about ones I am less familiar with. This is a fantasy using Polish folklore. I didn’t find it as engrossing as some folklore-inspired fantasies, but I would read more such books by this author. ( )

When I saw reviews stating this book had a "Howl's Moving Castle" vibe, I excitedly awaited the book's release. I have always been a fan of the whimsical and magical world created by Diana Wynne Jones in "Howl's Moving Castle," and I was eager to see how this new book would capture that enchanting feeling.

Liske hails from a small farming village named Stodola. On the day of the festival of Kupala Night, she leaves her village behind determined to find a flower said to grant a wish. You see, Liske carries within her magic. Magic is forbidden and Liske knows that the Church frowns upon such things. Plus Liske has come to see her magic as a burden and thus needs to be rid of it. Unfortunately, Liske meets the Leszy, who offers to help her with the condition she stays with him for a year.

But while there seemed to be inspiration from "Howl's Moving Castle", it also had the originality that set it far apart from the magical world of Howl, Sophie, and their whimsical journey. This book held its uniqueness with its characters and the storyline, steeping it from Slavic mythology. The characters and storyline draw you into the pages of the book, hold you captivated, and keep you hooked until the end.

This book was not a disappointment. Rather, it was the complete opposite. Even now, I still find myself going back to parts of the novel that I rather enjoyed. With a mixture of "Howl's Moving Castle", Beauty and the Beast, and Hades and Persephone, this book can stand on its whimsical charm and magical storyline. I would highly recommend this fantasy romance to anyone who is looking for a way to begin their journey into the fantasy romance genre. Its Slavic mythology will entice you to divulge within its pages and keep you glued to beautiful characters, a whimsical world, and a fantasy storyline you will enjoy.