Darien’s world changed the moment he decided to sacrifice himself for the one that he loved most and the people who supported him. But now it seems that his sacrifice may have been for nothing at all, as he finds himself back in the conflict, but on the other side of the war. The carnage he died to stop is back yet again and it’s up to him to find a way to stop it without betraying his oaths to either side. But is it possible? And does he really care if it is? And what about the woman he loved so much that he sacrificed his very soul to save her? Will Meiran ever understand what he did? Will she even care? Darklands by M.L. Spencer may not even be able to answer all of these questions.

This is a story not about redemption, but about sacrifice and honor and what many will do to preserve their own honor, whether it might be right or wrong. The characters in this story are definitely flawed, and you may find yourself rooting for the ones that aren’t actually ‘good’ after all (or maybe they are?). Darklands by M.L. Spencer is a story of good and evil, but there’s no definite understanding of what (or who) those things might be. I loved this book and I’ll be looking for more to find out what’s going to happen next for the Rhen, the Black Lands, Azar, Quin, Darien and a whole lot more. Because you never know what might happen next.

M.L. Spencer’s Darklands is a beautiful, dark story, the third book in the epic Rhenwars Saga. Darien is a character that readers will love to follow, a man who has sold his soul to the demon and who is on a mission to lead his people and save them from a terrible curse. The people of the Dark Lands do not particularly love him, and coupled with his internal conflict, reconciling with dread truths about himself and the land, the protagonist has a lot on his plate. Read as he overcomes obstacles, faces his demons, and learns to trust in himself.

Darklands is a tantalizing read with numerous plot points that will interest readers. It will appeal to readers who are into dark fantasies. The author did a brilliant job in exploring the psychology of the protagonist and readers will enjoy navigating the complex mind and dark soul of the protagonist. The writing is exceptional, highly descriptive and loaded with passages of vivid imagery. The story is strongly built around the conflict, which is powerful and sophisticated, pulling the reader irresistibly in and compelling them to want to watch out for the denouement. I love books that take me into strange and exciting places, books that literally transport me into the inner workings of the protagonist’s mind, and M.L. Spencer’s offering is just that. The setting is epic, captured in its lofty detail, a land where evil hovers. This is an exciting and entertaining read and I couldn’t help imagining the images on screen. Looking forward to the next book in the series.