Where the Dark Stands Still

Dnf at 40%. Too slow and flat characters I just couldn't get into.

3,25 ⭐️ Beauty and the Beast meets Frozen, meets Howl's Moving Castle with Russian mythology. I liked it but I wasn't that interested in the characters and their journey. The universe was interesting but I just didn't feel any attachment to any of it really.

When I tell you I've been waiting to read this book since the moment I saw its cover, I'm dead serious. The fact that it is based on Polish folklore and magic is a plus. Like usual in fantasy fiction that pulls from geographical and historical lore, Where the Dark Stands Still had an abundance of atmosphere and gorgeous descriptions. I loved Leszy from the beginning and the deal she makes with a demon of the wood had me hooked. The writing is beautiful, a bit slow in a couple places and very heavy on Polish terms (google is my savior) and the story is set solidly in the wood but my oh my, this setting was done so well that I didn't require traveling or switching around to keep me invested. A.B. Poranek writes lusciously and I loved getting lost in a lore inspired world filled with gray characters, magic, and bargains.

So so good, cozy and creepy and sweet and beautiful. Loved it