{"id":258,"date":"2024-09-03T13:02:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T13:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=258"},"modified":"2024-09-03T13:02:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T13:02:00","slug":"book-review-the-dark-mountain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=258","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: The Dark Mountain"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Dark Mountain<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

by Yona Katz<\/p>\n

Genre:<\/strong> Young Adult \/ Fantasy<\/p>\n

ISBN: <\/strong>9798327968967<\/p>\n

Print Length:<\/strong> 185 pages<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span>Buy from Amazon<\/span>\n <\/div>\n

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Reviewed by Lauren Haytaka<\/em><\/p>\n

Innocence is both a weapon and a weakness in this intricate, multifaceted fantasy.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This second installment in The Rise of Penumbra series takes readers from the otherworldly realm of the Stars to the shadowy depths of Adama.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here, the banished Star, Hosheh, has established his military headquarters within the Dark Mountain. With ambitions of revenge, Hosheh relies on General Kadmiel, his right hand, to carry out his will. Only Kadmiel finds himself torn between his Master and his feelings for Ranan, an innocent recruit. Is revenge the only way forward?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Just like in The Valley of Stars<\/em>, Katz excels at worldbuilding in The Dark Mountain<\/em>. In Adama, life is raw and untamed, a stark contrast to the regimented and disciplined society of the Stars. The land is teeming with vibrant flora and fauna, presenting beauty and danger to its inhabitants.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Dark Mountain, with its labyrinthine tunnels and shadowy halls, reflects Hosheh\u2019s complex and secretive nature. Within its walls, the Adamians\u2014recruited from all walks of life, with a particular focus on criminals and the wrongly accused\u2014form a diverse community bound together by the promise of a new beginning and a shared mission. While the Stars above are obsessed with order and light, Adama thrives on chaos and survival.<\/p>\n

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Caught between the two worlds is Kadmiel, who, like Asha in The Valley of Stars<\/em>, is filled with curiosity about the forbidden. While Asha is obsessed with learning about Adama, Kadmiel is fascinated by the Stars, highlighting the misconceptions and marvels each society holds about the other. Despite Kadmiel\u2019s reserved personality, he comes alive when uncovering new information, a passion that sometimes overshadows his relationship with Ranan. Unlike Asha, whose love for Yusra develops over time, Kadmiel\u2019s relationship with Ranan is established from the start. Kadmiel\u2019s growth as a character happens independently, often making Ranan seem flat in comparison. However, Katz has hinted that she will bring all four characters\u2014Asha, Yusra, Kadmiel, and Ranan\u2014equally into the forefront of the third novel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The most significant drawback of The Dark Mountain<\/em> is the inconsistent portrayal of Hosheh. In The Valley of Stars<\/em>, Hosheh is presented as an enigmatic figure\u2014a brilliant Star without an equal who was cast out from society. His connection with Asha builds on his reputation, making him seem like a deadly and frightening antagonist.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, seen through Kadmiel\u2019s eyes, Hosheh appears as a caricature of his former self, stomping on his cape when angry and delivering long-winded speeches that portray him as a childish mad scientist instead of a genuinely terrifying being. Yet, there are other tantalizing moments when Hosheh appears as commanding as his former portrayal in The Valley of Stars<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Where The Dark Mountain<\/em> excels over the first book is in its pacing. Katz demonstrates finer control over the narrative, skillfully weaving multiple storylines. Kadmiel\u2019s fascination with the Stars, developing relationship with Ranan, and growing doubts about his Master are all intricately interlaced. He juggles overseeing dwindling recruits, strengthening alliances, and investigating the mysterious poisoning of select army members. Even as they intersect, each storyline is clear and engaging, and the pacing remains consistently strong throughout the novel.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, The Dark Mountain<\/em> propels Yona Katz\u2019s The Rise of Penumbra series into darker and more intricate territory, broadening the universe from the Stars to the tumultuous world of Adama and deepening the narrative established in The Valley of Stars<\/em>. The characters\u2014Asha, Yusra, Kadmiel, and Ranan\u2014each bring a unique perspective, as does Hosheh, with a thread of humanity connecting them all. Katz has crafted a narrative that promises a fascinating conclusion.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>Buy from Amazon<\/span>\n <\/div>\n

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Thank you for reading Lauren Haytaka\u2019s book review of The Dark Mountain <\/em>by Yona Katz! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.<\/p>\n

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The post Book Review: The Dark Mountain<\/a> appeared first on Independent Book Review<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Dark Mountain by Yona Katz Genre: Young Adult \/ Fantasy ISBN: 9798327968967 Print Length: 185 pages Buy from Amazon Reviewed by Lauren Haytaka Innocence is both a weapon and a weakness in this intricate, multifaceted fantasy. This second installment in The Rise of Penumbra series takes readers from the otherworldly realm of the Stars […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=258"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}