With a nightmare inducing underground realm (really though, don’t read this before bed), this story was definitely a perfect October/fall read for me. Larkin’s fight for survival as she descends into the madness that lurks beneath the kingdom intensifies at each turn of the page. I was glued to my seat as I read this story, wondering just what dangers Larkin and her party will be facing next. If you’re easily triggered by gore, death, and violence, then you might approach this story with caution. While I’m not one that is easily triggered, it’s important to evaluate and make the decision for yourself. However, I do encourage everyone to try this book if you’re into thrilling dark fantasy tales that will give you goosebumps.
In Eight Will Fall, magic is outlawed and eight criminals led by seventeen-year-old Larkin have been sent down into an underground realm to kill the ancient evil plaguing them. As they descend, they must use magic to defend themselves against the unspeakable horrors that they’ll encounter. Larkin will find a friend in Amias, a fellow criminal with a dark and notorious past. Soon they’ll realise their fates, and everyone else’s are entwined in ways they could never have imagined. In order to survive, they must first come to terms with the fact that they weren’t meant to return.
This story caught me by surprise several times, it moves very quickly, but I thought it was fairly easy to follow despite having eight characters to focus on. The story is told through Larkin’s perspective, a young woman disillusioned by life and the kingdom she lives in. Her magic ability is due to the fact that she’s an empath, which allows her to siphon the emotions of others into all sorts of magic. Though she keeps a tight rein on her own emotions, the injustices that she and her family suffer due to who they are make them hard to keep in check. It’s these intense emotions that wind up labelling her as a criminal. There’s a darkness in Larkin that manifests throughout the story, and I’ll admit, I liked that aspect of it quite a bit.
I do wish we’d gotten to know the other characters better, mainly because some of their backstories really jumped off the page, begging to be told. Elfina’s story is one I wish had been more thoroughly explored. Things with the other characters seem to move very quickly, making me wish it were a longer story. Amias and Larkin’s relationship is sweet, moving along the same pace as the story.
Depending on what kind of reader you are, you might be able to see the gore described in this book to perfection. Unfortunately for me, I am that type of reader. I couldn’t unsee some of the descriptions I’d read, again, definitely not a bedtime read. The descriptions of the Reach are vivid, and I was just as desperate as Larkin and her crew to find the escape.
Something I didn’t love about the story was that I never truly felt like I got to know the world that Larkin was a part of. I truly wanted to know a little more about the kingdom aside from the little tidbits that we got here and there. I was also a little disappointed in the magic system, partially because there was so much potential there. If there had been a little bit more explanation on the magic system, I feel like it would have added another dimension to the story.
All in all, I think I would rate this story a 7/10. It’s a fun and fast read, with some really scary elements that will chill readers as they come across them. Again, I would read with caution because of some of the gore, but otherwise, I encourage you to add this to your TBR!
Eight Will Fall is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of November 26th 2019.
Will you be picking up Eight Will Fall? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
In a land where magic is outlawed, eight criminals led by seventeen-year-old Larkin are sent on a mission to kill an ancient evil that plagues their kingdom. Descending into an underground realm full of unspeakable horrors, Larkin and her party must use their forbidden magic to survive what lies in wait, teeth sharp and jaws deadly.
As she fights for her life, Larkin finds a light in Amias, a fellow outlaw with a notorious past. Soon Larkin and Amias realize their fates are entwined. The eight of them were chosen for a reason.
But as the dangers multiply and her band of felons are picked off one by one, Larkin must confront a terrible truth: They were never meant to return.
Sarah Harian crafts a thrilling, high-octane fantasy adventure that explores the often-thin line between light and darkness, good and evil.
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