Darkly, once a game-making empire renowned for its ingenious and utterly terrifying toys and games, now lies dormant after Veda’s mysterious death. The remaining games are priced like rare works of art, with some fetching millions of dollars at auction.
As Dia and her fellow interns delve into the heart of Darkly, they discover hidden symbols, buried clues, and a web of intrigue. Who are these other teens, and what secrets do they keep? Why were any of them really chosen? The answers lie within the twisted labyrinth of Darkly—a chilling and addictive read by Marisha Pessl.
This summer will be the most twisted Darkly game of all."
I was so excited for a new book from Marisha Pessl! I loved Special Topics in Calamity Physics back when I read it what feels like ages ago, and I subsequently loved Night Film and its unique storytelling format. Darkly is just as layered and intricate as Pessl's previous work and I really loved diving back into her storytelling.
In Darkly, we are immersed in the world of Darkly Games, a mysterious brand created by the enigmatic Louisiana Veda. Seven teenagers from around the globe are selected for an exclusive internship—an opportunity that delivers far more than any of them anticipated. I was completely hooked by this twisty, unpredictable story.
The protagonist, Dia Gannon, is a devoted fan of Louisiana’s games and knows far more than the average player, making this internship a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity she can’t pass up. Raised in her family’s antique shop by her eccentric mother, Dia’s life has always been a bit unconventional. Her obsession with Louisiana’s games and disappearance drives her, and as the story unfolds, she comes face-to-face with answers to questions the world has long asked about Louisiana—answers she may not be ready for.
There are six other interns we get to know, and I enjoyed getting to know each character and where they fit into this particular Darkly puzzle. Admittedly, however, I did sometimes have difficulties remembering who was who among some of the other characters, as I felt their individual personalities were not developed past some more general characteristics. I felt like the author put a focus on a few characters, such as Poe, but then others just seemed there as plot devices and lacked anything overly memorable about them.
Darkly's dark and mysterious atmosphere made it hard to put down and easy to become immersed in. I loved never knowing where the story would go next, and the sheer number of secrets waiting to be unearthed was thrilling. The games themselves were utterly fascinating, leaving me wishing they existed in the real world—though I’m certain I’d be terrible at them, haha. Pessl’s hallmark complexity shines in how the games are seamlessly woven into the narrative, which blurred the line between game and reality in a way that was both unsettling and exciting at the same time.
The ending also offered a satisfying conclusion to the many mysteries presented throughout the story. There were moments when the ending seemed the slightest bit rushed, as if Pessl wanted to wrap up as many threads as possible in a limited amount of time. However, I also feel like once certain things are discovered and everything comes to light things do tend to happen quickly anyway, so it didn't feel too abrupt.
Overall, I highly recommend Darkly to anyone who enjoys a good twisty story that has layers and layers of secrets to unearth. If you've enjoyed Marisha Pessl's books in the past, I think you'll also be pleased with this one.
Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org
