Under Darkened Skies

By: H.E. Bauman

Narrated by: Brielle Rose

Length: 16 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

A librarian with a secret. A prince looking for redemption. A dark discovery that will force them to confront their truths.

Astrea Sovna is destined to die. As a Lightbringer, she’s expected to serve the Helosian government as a battlefield healer; but when the court seer—Astrea’s uncle—has a vision of her being killed in the line of duty, he forbids her to reveal her powers.

Until now, Astrea has gone unnoticed as a junior librarian. But when she gets reassigned to a diplomatic project to strengthen ties between Helosia and one of its neighbors, she finds herself saddled with her past, in the form of returned war hero and her ex-best friend, Prince Varojin Auris.

Forced to work together, Astrea soon learns that although Varojin has been out of her life for years, he’s still the kind, patient friend she remembers. As they navigate old friendships and imperial politics, the pair discovers that the mysterious shadows stalking the city are leaving a trail of murder victims in their wake. And when Astrea becomes a target, a dear friend gets caught in the crossfire…

As Astrea and Varojin begin searching for answers, they realize there is much more to the emperor’s project than political niceties. If the shadows aren’t stopped, Astrea’s future—and the security of the entire continent—hangs in the balance.

©2023 H.E. Bauman (P)2024 H.E. Bauman

Fantasy romance post industrial

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook, the narrator brought the characters to life. I had a great time listening to this audiobook: highly recommended!

Plot was amazing

Under Darkened Skies progresses very slow but once it picked up I can not stop myself from listening to the audiobook. This book has a nice balance of world-building, romance, political intrigue and magic.

Wonderful!

This is a slow-burning, richly woven fantasy that combines gaslamp elements with a traditional magic system. Astrea is a junior librarian who has hidden her magic following her uncle’s vision that foretold her death in battle. Mages are conscripted to the military in this world. However, her quiet life is upended when she is reassigned to a diplomatic project, forcing her to confront her past with her former best friend and returned war hero, Prince Jin.

Bauman takes her time in building the world, explaining the magic system and setting the stage for the unfolding drama. The pacing is deliberate, gradually escalating the tension and drawing readers into the complex political landscape. For those who enjoy a story that allows them to fully immerse themselves in the setting and get to know the characters, this approach is a welcome one, though it might be slower for readers seeking immediate action.

The characters are the best part. The slow-burn romance and the estranged friends-to-lovers trope are handled well. The relationship feels earned and satisfying. Bauman excels in character development, not just for the leads but also for the supporting cast. Each character feels well-rounded and integral to the plot.

The mystery aspect is equally compelling. The shadows stalking the city and the trail of murder victims add a layer of suspense. As Astrea and Jin delve into the investigation, the slowly evolving mystery made me eager for them to piece together the clues.

If you enjoy a story that gradually builds its intrigue and has a lot of emotional depth, this book is definitely worth a read. And the audiobook is beautifully done! HIGHLY recommend the audio version.

Thanks to R&R Booktours and the author for the copy. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.

Excellent story and narration

I was so excited to listen to this book. A librarian with a secret, and in need of some serious mental health help? Yes please, can relate. A sweet, handsome,and patient hero? Give me more. Supportive friends and family willing to lie and die for you? Here for it. The characters are not perfect, which makes them even more lovable. I am excited to see them grow and change.

So far the plot has seemed a little slow for my attention span. But I think it's intentional to give us the slow burn and build up that we need to see us through the action. There is definitely an air of mystery about the plot instead of fast-paced, actioned-packed adventure.

The world building has been awesome. A wonderful mixture of magic and modern technology. The history has been very interesting and I can see it getting more in depth as the story is continued. I'm excited to see where this goes in book 2!

Simply spectacular

Between the wonderful story and Brielle’s excellent performance of narrating it, I thoroughly enjoyed Under Darkened Skies and will be eagerly awaiting book 2!