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The Memoirs of Lady Trent #6
Turning Darkness Into Light
As the renowned granddaughter of Isabella Camherst (Lady Trent, of the riveting and daring Draconic adventure memoirs) Audrey Camherst has always known she, too, would want to make her scholarly mark upon a chosen field of study.
When Lord Gleinheigh recruits Audrey to decipher a series of ancient tablets holding the secrets of the ancient Draconean civilization, she has no idea that her research will plunge her into an intricate conspiracy, one meant to incite rebellion and invoke war. Alongside dearest childhood friend and fellow archeologist Kudshayn, must find proof of the conspiracy before it’s too late.
TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT is a delightful fantasy of manners, the heir to the award-winning Natural History of Dragons series, a perfect stepping stone into an alternate Victorian-esque fantasy landscape.
When Lord Gleinheigh recruits Audrey to decipher a series of ancient tablets holding the secrets of the ancient Draconean civilization, she has no idea that her research will plunge her into an intricate conspiracy, one meant to incite rebellion and invoke war. Alongside dearest childhood friend and fellow archeologist Kudshayn, must find proof of the conspiracy before it’s too late.
TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT is a delightful fantasy of manners, the heir to the award-winning Natural History of Dragons series, a perfect stepping stone into an alternate Victorian-esque fantasy landscape.
413 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2019
128 people are currently reading
6,747 people want to read
About the author
Marie Brennan
167books3,170followersMarie Brennan a.k.a. M.A. Carrick
Marie Brennan is a former anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for material. She recently misapplied her professors' hard work to Turning Darkness Into Light, a sequel to the Hugo Award-nominated series The Memoirs of Lady Trent. As half of M.A. Carrick, she is also the author of The Mask of Mirrors, first in the Rook and Rose trilogy. For more information, visit , Twitter , or .
Marie Brennan is a former anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for material. She recently misapplied her professors' hard work to Turning Darkness Into Light, a sequel to the Hugo Award-nominated series The Memoirs of Lady Trent. As half of M.A. Carrick, she is also the author of The Mask of Mirrors, first in the Rook and Rose trilogy. For more information, visit , Twitter , or .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 465 reviews
October 3, 2019
[4.5/5 stars] Marie Brennan delivers again! Although the first Memoirs of Lady Trent book garnered mixed emotions from me, the series quickly developed into one of the most personally meaningful ones I’ve ever read. It spoke to me on so many levels, foremost of which was Lady Trent’s passion for understanding dragons. The whole caboodle was summarized beautifully with this quote:
The characters were great. I love that they felt relatable because they all had prominent flaws. Flaws that risked making them unlikable at times (which for me always makes them far more interesting to read about� Robin Hobb’s Elderling series comes to mind as a prime example of this aspect). But they were also focused and impassioned, and the magic of the book was experiencing the highs and lows of their discovery journey.
The format was also a positive aspect. Told using an epistolary technique, it broke up the same old story presentations and was done cleverly enough that I didn’t feel anything lacked because she didn’t utilize more traditional layouts. It added more personality to an already effervescent read.
If I had any one complaint about the story, it was that I didn’t find the content of the text they were translating very interesting. The whole book kind of revolved around it, and I appreciate what it added to the story, but I would’ve preferred something different (I have a specific in mind but I don’t want to give any spoilers. The discovery is half the fun of this read!). As far as objections go, that one’s pretty minor.
Overall, If I could have one job, dragon naturalist would be at the very top of the list. Lady Trent allowed me to live vicariously through the characters, and will always have a special place in my heart. I’m so glad the storyline continued, even if it had a new focus with the next generation of researchers. It appealed to my highly organized and detail-oriented bookseller self on another level. Brennan seems to get what makes me tick� I think we’d get along.
Recommendations: this would be a rather difficult book to fully appreciate if you haven’t read Memoirs of Lady Trent first. It’s a next-generation continuation focused on the development of Lady Trent’s most famous discoveries. I’d recommend reading that series first, and please give it a bit to get going. I had a love/hate relationship with A Natural History of Dragons, but eventually came to adore the series as a whole. It’s dragon-tastic and completely endearing to obsessed souls like myself. Dragons rock. Even though this continuation wasn’t about dragons, it still had all the same appeal as the first series channeled into even more of an academic focus. So this one was kind of book-tastic instead, and I didn’t hate it.
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at
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It’s the way we find the things we’re passionate about and then chase them with everything we’ve got.It’s precisely what I love about the series because it focuses on highly skilled people with a relentless determination for following their passions, having grand adventures, and making epic discoveries. The specific focus for Turning Darkness Into Light was on transcribing ancient Draconian texts, and I have to say I ate up every detail. The only downside to this spinoff is that if had absolutely nothing to do with dragons, which was a bummer, but I frankly was so absorbed that I didn’t notice their absence until well into the book.
The characters were great. I love that they felt relatable because they all had prominent flaws. Flaws that risked making them unlikable at times (which for me always makes them far more interesting to read about� Robin Hobb’s Elderling series comes to mind as a prime example of this aspect). But they were also focused and impassioned, and the magic of the book was experiencing the highs and lows of their discovery journey.
The format was also a positive aspect. Told using an epistolary technique, it broke up the same old story presentations and was done cleverly enough that I didn’t feel anything lacked because she didn’t utilize more traditional layouts. It added more personality to an already effervescent read.
If I had any one complaint about the story, it was that I didn’t find the content of the text they were translating very interesting. The whole book kind of revolved around it, and I appreciate what it added to the story, but I would’ve preferred something different (I have a specific in mind but I don’t want to give any spoilers. The discovery is half the fun of this read!). As far as objections go, that one’s pretty minor.
Overall, If I could have one job, dragon naturalist would be at the very top of the list. Lady Trent allowed me to live vicariously through the characters, and will always have a special place in my heart. I’m so glad the storyline continued, even if it had a new focus with the next generation of researchers. It appealed to my highly organized and detail-oriented bookseller self on another level. Brennan seems to get what makes me tick� I think we’d get along.
Recommendations: this would be a rather difficult book to fully appreciate if you haven’t read Memoirs of Lady Trent first. It’s a next-generation continuation focused on the development of Lady Trent’s most famous discoveries. I’d recommend reading that series first, and please give it a bit to get going. I had a love/hate relationship with A Natural History of Dragons, but eventually came to adore the series as a whole. It’s dragon-tastic and completely endearing to obsessed souls like myself. Dragons rock. Even though this continuation wasn’t about dragons, it still had all the same appeal as the first series channeled into even more of an academic focus. So this one was kind of book-tastic instead, and I didn’t hate it.
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at
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April 14, 2020
This book is one of the ones I read for the O.W.Ls readathon and I'm so glad. I have been meaning to pick this up since I bought it when it came out as I so loved the Lady Trent books and this did not disappoint at all. It's another series which is great escapism and so fun to read as it's all about science and archaeology and more. Also there's always a lady who's amazing as the lead, which I love, and it's set in a time period which is both an age of discovery and an age of magical beings in Scirland, an alternative version of here with dragons and more...
This book follows the granddaughter of Lady Trent, Audrey. She's a scholar in the making and she's determined to do something that will make her name and live up to her family's reputation. When she is approached to translate a new set of Draconian tablets which were found at a recent excavation, she can't resist despite the weird caveats of the owner.
The book is a mystery for many reasons, we're told the story through a variety of reports, diary entries, translations and more. There's a few other characters like Kudyashen (a Draconian) and Cara (niece of the tablet-owner) who also feature and who are fascinating too. Ultimately, the tale is a discovery of the past and a look to the future.
This could easily stay as a standalone, but I have to say I hope we see more of Audrey and her companions as her story seems like just the beginning and the nostalgia I had for the Lady Trent series was also super. If you're looking for escapism I'd highly recommend Lady Trent and this as they're both exactly what I felt in the mood for. 4.5*s overall :)
This book follows the granddaughter of Lady Trent, Audrey. She's a scholar in the making and she's determined to do something that will make her name and live up to her family's reputation. When she is approached to translate a new set of Draconian tablets which were found at a recent excavation, she can't resist despite the weird caveats of the owner.
The book is a mystery for many reasons, we're told the story through a variety of reports, diary entries, translations and more. There's a few other characters like Kudyashen (a Draconian) and Cara (niece of the tablet-owner) who also feature and who are fascinating too. Ultimately, the tale is a discovery of the past and a look to the future.
This could easily stay as a standalone, but I have to say I hope we see more of Audrey and her companions as her story seems like just the beginning and the nostalgia I had for the Lady Trent series was also super. If you're looking for escapism I'd highly recommend Lady Trent and this as they're both exactly what I felt in the mood for. 4.5*s overall :)
July 25, 2019
And here I am, continuing my tradition of reading series out of order. I mean, it was fine¹ when I did that with the Xuya series, and I also believe that while sequels don't have to stand on their own, spin-offs absolutely should, so why not try and read something when there are five books of worldbuilding before that one? This kind of thing obviously can't go wrong².
You don't need to have read the Memoirs of Lady Trent series to understand Turning Darkness Into Light. However, I think it could be much more meaningful to you if you had, as some of the characters from that series are often mentioned, and as this novel is told entirely through letters, lists, journal entries and translations of ancient tablets. This is a really interesting choice, and I loved this somewhat mixed-media aspect, but this format isn't really suited to descriptions that don't feel like awkward infodumps, which is probably the reason I still have no idea how a Draconian looks like.
This is the story of Audrey Camherst (Lady Trent's granddaughter) as she translates ancient tablets from a long-lost Draconean civilization in a place where anti-Draconean sentiment seems to be on the rise, and betrayal could be lurking on every corner. It's also the story of the Four who hatched from a single shell - yes, this novel has a story within a story, which is an aspect I loved.
More than anything, Turning Darkness Into Light is about the importance of narratives, of the stories we choose to tell, and how they shape our understanding of ourselves as much as of "the other", and how nothing is ever "just a story". Writing fiction is, and has always been, inherently political.
It also makes some really good points about how bigotry isn't something in which only extremists engage, and the subtle, non-violent kind is just as dangerous as the unsubtle, violent one, as the two are tied together. One can't exist without the other.
The positives end there. I don't have much else to say; Audrey as a character didn't stand out that much to me, and neither did most characters, Cora being the only exception. I appreciated that the portrayal of an antagonistic relationship between a man and a woman that had an undercurrent of attraction but didn't turn into a romance, as an idea, but I didn't really believe it as much as I'd hoped. The format didn't help with that, as I felt it added a lot of distance between me and the characters.
This is a solid novel, if not a really memorable one, and the Memoirs of Lady Trent is one of the series that I'm considering and will maybe start this year.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
¹ narrator: it was not fine. She struggled for half of the first novella she tried
² narrator: keep telling yourself that.
You don't need to have read the Memoirs of Lady Trent series to understand Turning Darkness Into Light. However, I think it could be much more meaningful to you if you had, as some of the characters from that series are often mentioned, and as this novel is told entirely through letters, lists, journal entries and translations of ancient tablets. This is a really interesting choice, and I loved this somewhat mixed-media aspect, but this format isn't really suited to descriptions that don't feel like awkward infodumps, which is probably the reason I still have no idea how a Draconian looks like.
This is the story of Audrey Camherst (Lady Trent's granddaughter) as she translates ancient tablets from a long-lost Draconean civilization in a place where anti-Draconean sentiment seems to be on the rise, and betrayal could be lurking on every corner. It's also the story of the Four who hatched from a single shell - yes, this novel has a story within a story, which is an aspect I loved.
More than anything, Turning Darkness Into Light is about the importance of narratives, of the stories we choose to tell, and how they shape our understanding of ourselves as much as of "the other", and how nothing is ever "just a story". Writing fiction is, and has always been, inherently political.
It also makes some really good points about how bigotry isn't something in which only extremists engage, and the subtle, non-violent kind is just as dangerous as the unsubtle, violent one, as the two are tied together. One can't exist without the other.
The positives end there. I don't have much else to say; Audrey as a character didn't stand out that much to me, and neither did most characters, Cora being the only exception. I appreciated that the portrayal of an antagonistic relationship between a man and a woman that had an undercurrent of attraction but didn't turn into a romance, as an idea, but I didn't really believe it as much as I'd hoped. The format didn't help with that, as I felt it added a lot of distance between me and the characters.
This is a solid novel, if not a really memorable one, and the Memoirs of Lady Trent is one of the series that I'm considering and will maybe start this year.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
¹ narrator: it was not fine. She struggled for half of the first novella she tried
² narrator: keep telling yourself that.
February 25, 2022
Spoiler Free Series Review:
I honestly was not expecting to love this as much as I did. I finished this in 48 hours and picked it up on a whim when I was overwhelmed by denser reads on my tbr and some really long books that I wouldn't be finishing anytime soon. I LOVE Lady Trent and knowing she would not be the main character in this companion novel had me nervous but it was such an engaging mysterious read. I loved the mixed media format and the project Lady Trent's granddaughter was solving. It also had some really touching messaging that I couldn't help relate to our world today. This book came out in 2019 and I can see that bleed into how characters need to handle their current political climate after events of book 5 of Lady Trent. For all those reasons this is a 5 star for me. Do I love Audrey as much as Isabella? No but she only had one book and I am convinced that if given a whole series with her I would have grown to love her as much as I did her grandmother. That said I did fall in love with the side character Cora and she must be protected at all costs, I loved her so much and if you like Sterris in Mistborn Era 2 you will also love her.
I honestly was not expecting to love this as much as I did. I finished this in 48 hours and picked it up on a whim when I was overwhelmed by denser reads on my tbr and some really long books that I wouldn't be finishing anytime soon. I LOVE Lady Trent and knowing she would not be the main character in this companion novel had me nervous but it was such an engaging mysterious read. I loved the mixed media format and the project Lady Trent's granddaughter was solving. It also had some really touching messaging that I couldn't help relate to our world today. This book came out in 2019 and I can see that bleed into how characters need to handle their current political climate after events of book 5 of Lady Trent. For all those reasons this is a 5 star for me. Do I love Audrey as much as Isabella? No but she only had one book and I am convinced that if given a whole series with her I would have grown to love her as much as I did her grandmother. That said I did fall in love with the side character Cora and she must be protected at all costs, I loved her so much and if you like Sterris in Mistborn Era 2 you will also love her.
September 17, 2022
For those unfamiliar with Brennan's books, she previously authored The Memoirs of Lady Trent Series, a completed five book series. Turning Darkness Into Light is a standalone book set in the same world, starring Lady Trent's granddaughter. (This is your warning that if you haven't completed the Lady Trent series, there are massive spoilers for the series in this book, so please read the full series first!)
Audrey was an interesting character that felt very true to her age and place in the world. She has the burden of famous relatives that she feels the need to live up to -- but she's very much her own person as well, with her own interests and desires. Brennan is excellent at writing distinct, fascinating, smart, and imperfect characters, and Audrey fits all of those descriptions.
TDIL is a mix of Audrey's diary entries, letters back and forth between her and her sister, diary entries from other characters, letters by other characters to off-screen characters, news articles, etc. I loved the footnote banter on the translation. BUT do not there is a LOT going on with the format, so it'll help to be in the right mindspace to track the story through a complicated format when you start reading!
Brennan's brilliance with nuanced characters, plot twists, and interesting character arcs really shone through. By the end I was smiling so hard--I love where the story went, love how Audrey grew and handled everything, love so so much about the ending. And the last part of the book made me really appreciate the building blocks sprinkled in earlier in the story.
Looking forward to the next thing Brennan writes!
ARC provided by Tor Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Audrey was an interesting character that felt very true to her age and place in the world. She has the burden of famous relatives that she feels the need to live up to -- but she's very much her own person as well, with her own interests and desires. Brennan is excellent at writing distinct, fascinating, smart, and imperfect characters, and Audrey fits all of those descriptions.
TDIL is a mix of Audrey's diary entries, letters back and forth between her and her sister, diary entries from other characters, letters by other characters to off-screen characters, news articles, etc. I loved the footnote banter on the translation. BUT do not there is a LOT going on with the format, so it'll help to be in the right mindspace to track the story through a complicated format when you start reading!
Brennan's brilliance with nuanced characters, plot twists, and interesting character arcs really shone through. By the end I was smiling so hard--I love where the story went, love how Audrey grew and handled everything, love so so much about the ending. And the last part of the book made me really appreciate the building blocks sprinkled in earlier in the story.
Looking forward to the next thing Brennan writes!
ARC provided by Tor Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 19, 2019
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Read the full review and more at .
🐲 A big thank you to Titan Books for the review copy. This has not influenced my opinion in any way. 🐲
As a self-proclaimed geek, I love all scholarly things and this book is packed full of them. Throw in the fantasy element with a glorious Victorian backdrop and you get absolute Heaven.
I adored working alongside Audrey, Kudshayn and Cora in their quest for enlightenment about the past and future of their civilisation. Their absolute devotion to knowledge and justice was contagious and I couldn’t stop turning page after page, hoping they would find exactly what they were looking for, and fearing so badly they wouldn’t.
Perfect for Marie Brennan fans, old and new!
August 23, 2019
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum
It was heartbreaking for me when the original Memoirs of Lady Trent series, even knowing all good things must come to an end. And so, when I found out that Marie Brennan would be returning to the world with Turning Darkness into Light, to say I was thrilled is an understatement. And that’s not all; I was even more excited when I learned that the new book would follow Audrey Camherst, the granddaughter of Isabella the Lady Trent, who has followed in the footsteps of her famous grandmother into the field of Draconean studies.
However, presented in a series of letters, journal entries, articles, and study notes, the novel offers quite a change from Memoirs of Lady Trent beyond just the change in protagonist. Also, while Turning Darkness into Light is a standalone and can be read without any prerequisites, be aware that this book contains MASSIVE spoilers for the previous series. You have been warned!
The story opens as Lord Gleinheigh, an avid collector of antiquities but a third-rate scholar, capitulates to demands for a suitable translator to decipher his collection of ancient clay tablets believed to hold the secrets of the Draconean civilization. Naturally, given her distinguished academic family as well as her own achievements in linguistics, Audrey Camhurst was one of the first names to come to mind. Her appointment would also have the added benefit of not being a threat to the insufferable and blustering Lord Gleinheigh, who won’t trust any of his male peers. But as it turns out, Gleinheigh is even more paranoid and protective of his treasures than anyone thought, sending his niece Cora to spy and report on Audrey’s findings, under the pretense of being her assistant.
Meanwhile, believing that no translation would be proper or complete without the presence of an actual Draconean on the team, Audrey recruits her friend Kudshayn, a fellow archaeologist to help her with the project. Together, they begin to painstakingly piece together the story of the ancient tablets, revealing a breathtaking creation myth about the four dragon siblings who hatched from a single egg. But even as their work is taking place, a conspiracy is brewing behind the scenes, unknown to our protagonists. With anti-Draconean sentiment is still rampant in the society, there are certain factions who don’t wish for Audrey and her team to succeed, and they are willing to go to great lengths to sabotage their work.
Let me first say I was very impressed with the way Brennan was able to convey so much information in epistolary format, to say nothing of the incredible story she was able to tell. She has managed to expand upon the world of Memoirs of Lady Trent and more, and it’s safe to say fans of the series who wanted more about the mysterious Draconean civilization will be very happy with this novel. For me, one of the main highlights was the as the draconic mythology, as well as the character of Kudshayn who provided readers with so much new insight into his people’s history, culture, and way of life—right down to the unique ways Draconeans communicate. It is no wonder they are so misunderstood in the society, leading to clashes in public opinion.
If I have one criticism though, it would be the limitations of the novel’s structure. That said, I know how tough it is to write an epistolary novel. As much as I loved what Brennan has done here, because so much of the story is conveyed in the form of letters, I missed the immediacy of the narrative. Granted, this is considered a fantasy of manners, so to be sure there is an air of formality to the prose. This did make Audrey’s voice sound a little stiff (compared to the Memoirs of Lady Trent in which Isabella’s attitude was that of an accomplished old woman who was beyond giving a fig what readers thought of her anymore) and made it a little harder to connect with the characters.
Still, I have to say I really enjoyed Turning Darkness into Light. Like the previous series, I believe it will appeal greatly to readers who love science and the simple pleasures of discovery and learning. It was a joy to follow the story, especially at the beginning, when my attention was fully captivated by the mystery of the tablets and wondering what ancient secrets they might reveal.
All in all, Marie Brennan has written another winner, building upon the brilliance of her Lady Trent series. Once more, she has changed the way we think about dragons with her unique perspective on these fantastical creatures, greatly expanding on her world-building, making this fan very happy.
It was heartbreaking for me when the original Memoirs of Lady Trent series, even knowing all good things must come to an end. And so, when I found out that Marie Brennan would be returning to the world with Turning Darkness into Light, to say I was thrilled is an understatement. And that’s not all; I was even more excited when I learned that the new book would follow Audrey Camherst, the granddaughter of Isabella the Lady Trent, who has followed in the footsteps of her famous grandmother into the field of Draconean studies.
However, presented in a series of letters, journal entries, articles, and study notes, the novel offers quite a change from Memoirs of Lady Trent beyond just the change in protagonist. Also, while Turning Darkness into Light is a standalone and can be read without any prerequisites, be aware that this book contains MASSIVE spoilers for the previous series. You have been warned!
The story opens as Lord Gleinheigh, an avid collector of antiquities but a third-rate scholar, capitulates to demands for a suitable translator to decipher his collection of ancient clay tablets believed to hold the secrets of the Draconean civilization. Naturally, given her distinguished academic family as well as her own achievements in linguistics, Audrey Camhurst was one of the first names to come to mind. Her appointment would also have the added benefit of not being a threat to the insufferable and blustering Lord Gleinheigh, who won’t trust any of his male peers. But as it turns out, Gleinheigh is even more paranoid and protective of his treasures than anyone thought, sending his niece Cora to spy and report on Audrey’s findings, under the pretense of being her assistant.
Meanwhile, believing that no translation would be proper or complete without the presence of an actual Draconean on the team, Audrey recruits her friend Kudshayn, a fellow archaeologist to help her with the project. Together, they begin to painstakingly piece together the story of the ancient tablets, revealing a breathtaking creation myth about the four dragon siblings who hatched from a single egg. But even as their work is taking place, a conspiracy is brewing behind the scenes, unknown to our protagonists. With anti-Draconean sentiment is still rampant in the society, there are certain factions who don’t wish for Audrey and her team to succeed, and they are willing to go to great lengths to sabotage their work.
Let me first say I was very impressed with the way Brennan was able to convey so much information in epistolary format, to say nothing of the incredible story she was able to tell. She has managed to expand upon the world of Memoirs of Lady Trent and more, and it’s safe to say fans of the series who wanted more about the mysterious Draconean civilization will be very happy with this novel. For me, one of the main highlights was the as the draconic mythology, as well as the character of Kudshayn who provided readers with so much new insight into his people’s history, culture, and way of life—right down to the unique ways Draconeans communicate. It is no wonder they are so misunderstood in the society, leading to clashes in public opinion.
If I have one criticism though, it would be the limitations of the novel’s structure. That said, I know how tough it is to write an epistolary novel. As much as I loved what Brennan has done here, because so much of the story is conveyed in the form of letters, I missed the immediacy of the narrative. Granted, this is considered a fantasy of manners, so to be sure there is an air of formality to the prose. This did make Audrey’s voice sound a little stiff (compared to the Memoirs of Lady Trent in which Isabella’s attitude was that of an accomplished old woman who was beyond giving a fig what readers thought of her anymore) and made it a little harder to connect with the characters.
Still, I have to say I really enjoyed Turning Darkness into Light. Like the previous series, I believe it will appeal greatly to readers who love science and the simple pleasures of discovery and learning. It was a joy to follow the story, especially at the beginning, when my attention was fully captivated by the mystery of the tablets and wondering what ancient secrets they might reveal.
All in all, Marie Brennan has written another winner, building upon the brilliance of her Lady Trent series. Once more, she has changed the way we think about dragons with her unique perspective on these fantastical creatures, greatly expanding on her world-building, making this fan very happy.
August 28, 2019
I received a copy of this one from the published in exchange for a review.
This book is a standalone story set in the same world as the Lady Trent series but I was assured I could read this book without having read the Lady Trent books and that is what I did. I think people who have read the previous series will be at a bit of an advantage and, after having read some other reviews, apparently there are some spoilers in this book for the other series but I don't mind that and I really enjoyed this one.
I often see Marie Brennan's books described as a 'fantasy of manners' and I love that term. I think it describes this book perfectly. I loved the writing style, it's quaint, not action packed but there's still enough happening to keep you interested throughout. I also loved the way this story was structured using diary entries and letters. I enjoyed piecing the story together in this way. As I said, I think readers of the Lady Trent series will be at a bit of an advantage when reading this as they will have a more solid understanding of the world and the cultures. These weren't really explored in detail in this book as, I assume, the author thinks you will already have this information from her previous books however, this didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story whatsoever.
I loved Audrey as a character too. She was vivacious and passionate about both her life and her work but she still had some recklessness in her. Enough to make her fun to read about but not so much that you spent the time rolling your eyes at her actions. I liked how she challenged ideals in this world by becoming a scholar and not joining society and finding a husband etc. and I also really loved that this isn't constantly looked down upon as it is in some books. I loved reading her diary entries as she had a witty nature and her narrative kept the story driving forwards. I wish I knew a little bit more about the Draconeans though but I do plan to rectify this by reading the Lady Trent series (hopefully) very soon.
Overall I thought this was a really fun and enjoyable read with some really great characters. I definitely believe this can be read as a standalone story and be enjoyed as such however, if you are the type of person who likes to know all of the details about the setting and cultures then I would probably pick up Marie Brennan's previous series first.
This book is a standalone story set in the same world as the Lady Trent series but I was assured I could read this book without having read the Lady Trent books and that is what I did. I think people who have read the previous series will be at a bit of an advantage and, after having read some other reviews, apparently there are some spoilers in this book for the other series but I don't mind that and I really enjoyed this one.
I often see Marie Brennan's books described as a 'fantasy of manners' and I love that term. I think it describes this book perfectly. I loved the writing style, it's quaint, not action packed but there's still enough happening to keep you interested throughout. I also loved the way this story was structured using diary entries and letters. I enjoyed piecing the story together in this way. As I said, I think readers of the Lady Trent series will be at a bit of an advantage when reading this as they will have a more solid understanding of the world and the cultures. These weren't really explored in detail in this book as, I assume, the author thinks you will already have this information from her previous books however, this didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story whatsoever.
I loved Audrey as a character too. She was vivacious and passionate about both her life and her work but she still had some recklessness in her. Enough to make her fun to read about but not so much that you spent the time rolling your eyes at her actions. I liked how she challenged ideals in this world by becoming a scholar and not joining society and finding a husband etc. and I also really loved that this isn't constantly looked down upon as it is in some books. I loved reading her diary entries as she had a witty nature and her narrative kept the story driving forwards. I wish I knew a little bit more about the Draconeans though but I do plan to rectify this by reading the Lady Trent series (hopefully) very soon.
Overall I thought this was a really fun and enjoyable read with some really great characters. I definitely believe this can be read as a standalone story and be enjoyed as such however, if you are the type of person who likes to know all of the details about the setting and cultures then I would probably pick up Marie Brennan's previous series first.
February 11, 2024
[4.5] Honestly I just love this series so much and am sad to see it go.
February 1, 2020
When Audrey Camherst is offered a chance to translate a unique cache of Draconean literature, she leaps at the opportunity. But a political storm is brewing. Her work may shatter her dreams and destroy her grandmother’s legacy�
This was pure joy from start to finish. The characters are a delight, the political plot is thrilling, there’s plenty of ill-advised but highly entertaining Camherst escapades along the way and Marie Brennan gets to go to town with her myth-making and political commentary. I got pretty much all my favourite things in one book (complete with footnotes).
4.5 stars
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Turning Darkness Into Light is set a couple of decades after Within the Sanctuary of Wings, and as such contains spoilers for the Memoirs of Lady Trent. While this novel theoretically stands alone, you’ll get far more out of it � and out of the Memoirs � by reading them in chronological order.
This was pure joy from start to finish. The characters are a delight, the political plot is thrilling, there’s plenty of ill-advised but highly entertaining Camherst escapades along the way and Marie Brennan gets to go to town with her myth-making and political commentary. I got pretty much all my favourite things in one book (complete with footnotes).
4.5 stars
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Turning Darkness Into Light is set a couple of decades after Within the Sanctuary of Wings, and as such contains spoilers for the Memoirs of Lady Trent. While this novel theoretically stands alone, you’ll get far more out of it � and out of the Memoirs � by reading them in chronological order.
March 17, 2020
At the halfway point of this book I was thinking that it was fine, and very enjoyable, but slight. I still think it's slight, but in a really powerful, interesting way: it's a book about how three people working in a library for six months, and their evolving friendships, can have as much impact on history and society and power as any manner of more exciting goings-on. It's particularly interesting when viewed against the other books in the series which are much more traditional adventure stories. I liked so much about this - the worldbuilding, the characters, the style - but ultimately I really appreciated what it was trying to say, amidst the not-insignificant charm.
June 26, 2022
By chance, finally came up on my library holds just a few days after an impulse purchase of , so I read them within a day of each other. They both are about overcoming hatred and divisions in a time of increasing violent extremism, though one is a fantasy novel and one is a memoir, so they bounced off each other in interesting ways.
Turning Darkness Into Light was first, a standalone continuation of the Lady Trent series (beginning with ). Those books were all about tolerance, beginning with the trials of a young woman with a scientific mind living in a Victorian-like society where she is supposed to make an advantageous marriage and have lots of babies. That series gradually broadened the horizons of empathy and acceptance, from women's rights to class issues to xenophobia and racism, until
It is now decades in the future, and Lady Trent's granddaughter, Audrey, a young and very capable philologist with an emphasis on draconean translations, has been hired to translate a newly discovered set of ancient plaques that appear to be the draconean's founding myth. Hijinks ensue, because of course, and it turns out that there is a conspiracy among a few sects of humans who are essentially human supremacists, willing to use violence to maintain the segregation between species and assert the right of humans to dominate and control the draconeans, through any means necessary. In 21st century speak: they want to spark a race war.
Audrey is a very believable heroine, and of course Isabella makes an appearance or two. There is less gallivanting in this novel--most of it takes place in one house--but it expands on the theme of acceptance of difference and defence of universal rights begun in the first series. It is recognizably more modern, and some of the dialogue from the human supremacists could be lifted with very few changes from a Heritage Front website.
It was utterly engrossing, well-plotted and -paced, and well written.
And then the next day I read , the memoir of a Canadian who is radicalized as a Vancouver teen, progressing from the new skinhead subculture through to a very public leadership position in various white supremacist organizations, and who then ... leaves. Only he doesn't just leave. He does very substantial work over a number of years to fully understand the harm of what he's done, make meaningful apologies, atone, and then dedicate his life to helping others leave violent extremist groups and assisting the populations and communities they target.
It, too, was completely engrossing. I couldn't put it down and finished it in a few hours. The writing wasn't the most polished I've come across, and at times the storytelling felt a bit scattered and disorganized, but overall it comes together in an encouraging and hopeful story about repentance, change and redemption.
There's only one substantial point I disagree with the author on, and it's his argument that hate speech laws etc. serve to drive the speech and actions underground where, he says, it becomes impossible to discuss and dispel them, and he says this makes hate groups and their actions stronger. But his own story belies this (not to mention the research showing how properly-enforced hate speech regulations make it much more difficult for hate groups to recruit and radicalize potential members): if it weren't for the social and professional consequences of his actions, the possibility of jail time, the increasing penalties placed on his own hate speech, etc., what would have been the incentive for him to leave those groups behind? Yes, his children brought to him the possibility of unconditional love and opening his heart again; but it's also the knowledge that his actions potentially harm his children and their prospects that encourages him to think again. Yes, his encounter with a formerly-Jewish person who hears his story of his skinhead and white supremacist years with forgiveness and compassion is clearly a significant turning point; but without the social and professional consequences of his hate actions, what would have impelled him to have that conversation?
Not to mention the fact that as a white man he's never had to have the "debates" about his own rights and humanity, not just in person but broadcast on television and the internet, and the recaps of those debates in the press, ad nauseum, and the way they suffuse the entire culture so you never know when you're meeting or talking to someone if they think you're a person or not, so he doesn't know the harm that having those debates and conversations in public can cause. Which is ironic, because he does discuss at length in other parts of the book the toxic shame that results from membership in a group that is routinely discriminated against. Well, where does that come from?
In Turning Darkness Into Light, Audrey's former love interest, Aaron, is an irritating and interesting young man of a type that will be known to many women reading this: Extremely smart. Charming. Good conversationalist. Flattering. Pays attention and treats your opinions with respect. But also steals your ideas and takes credit for them, never acknowledges or apologizes for what he's done, and when you get to know him better, has some pretty appalling opinions about other demographics. Kind of like Tony McAleer portrays himself in the memoir, though I doubt he ever did much to hide his opinions on other races when he met women as a young man. In the novel, Aaron is brilliant, attentive, charming, funny, adventurous ... and he steals Audrey's work and belongs to one of the less-violent anti-draconean factions. Kind of like Tony in his respectable white-supremacist-businessman phase, he doesn't dole out the bloodshed, but he does promote hatred. (This is all back-story to the novel, by the way; Audrey recaps it almost as soon as Aaron is introduced, so these actions are not part of this novel. No spoilers!)
And Audrey does not scorch and salt the earth of their former relationship. She makes it clear that she finds the views repugnant, but leaves the door open for him to re-enter her life if he changes those views. Normally, I would take a pretty dim view of that decision: of course he's never going to change! But it's hard to be so certain on the heels of The Cure for Hate.
I highly recommend both books, and think they make a great pair to read together, particularly with violent extremism and far-right politics on the rise in so many places. There's a lot of good and a lot of hope to get from each.
Turning Darkness Into Light was first, a standalone continuation of the Lady Trent series (beginning with ). Those books were all about tolerance, beginning with the trials of a young woman with a scientific mind living in a Victorian-like society where she is supposed to make an advantageous marriage and have lots of babies. That series gradually broadened the horizons of empathy and acceptance, from women's rights to class issues to xenophobia and racism, until
It is now decades in the future, and Lady Trent's granddaughter, Audrey, a young and very capable philologist with an emphasis on draconean translations, has been hired to translate a newly discovered set of ancient plaques that appear to be the draconean's founding myth. Hijinks ensue, because of course, and it turns out that there is a conspiracy among a few sects of humans who are essentially human supremacists, willing to use violence to maintain the segregation between species and assert the right of humans to dominate and control the draconeans, through any means necessary. In 21st century speak: they want to spark a race war.
Audrey is a very believable heroine, and of course Isabella makes an appearance or two. There is less gallivanting in this novel--most of it takes place in one house--but it expands on the theme of acceptance of difference and defence of universal rights begun in the first series. It is recognizably more modern, and some of the dialogue from the human supremacists could be lifted with very few changes from a Heritage Front website.
It was utterly engrossing, well-plotted and -paced, and well written.
And then the next day I read , the memoir of a Canadian who is radicalized as a Vancouver teen, progressing from the new skinhead subculture through to a very public leadership position in various white supremacist organizations, and who then ... leaves. Only he doesn't just leave. He does very substantial work over a number of years to fully understand the harm of what he's done, make meaningful apologies, atone, and then dedicate his life to helping others leave violent extremist groups and assisting the populations and communities they target.
It, too, was completely engrossing. I couldn't put it down and finished it in a few hours. The writing wasn't the most polished I've come across, and at times the storytelling felt a bit scattered and disorganized, but overall it comes together in an encouraging and hopeful story about repentance, change and redemption.
There's only one substantial point I disagree with the author on, and it's his argument that hate speech laws etc. serve to drive the speech and actions underground where, he says, it becomes impossible to discuss and dispel them, and he says this makes hate groups and their actions stronger. But his own story belies this (not to mention the research showing how properly-enforced hate speech regulations make it much more difficult for hate groups to recruit and radicalize potential members): if it weren't for the social and professional consequences of his actions, the possibility of jail time, the increasing penalties placed on his own hate speech, etc., what would have been the incentive for him to leave those groups behind? Yes, his children brought to him the possibility of unconditional love and opening his heart again; but it's also the knowledge that his actions potentially harm his children and their prospects that encourages him to think again. Yes, his encounter with a formerly-Jewish person who hears his story of his skinhead and white supremacist years with forgiveness and compassion is clearly a significant turning point; but without the social and professional consequences of his hate actions, what would have impelled him to have that conversation?
Not to mention the fact that as a white man he's never had to have the "debates" about his own rights and humanity, not just in person but broadcast on television and the internet, and the recaps of those debates in the press, ad nauseum, and the way they suffuse the entire culture so you never know when you're meeting or talking to someone if they think you're a person or not, so he doesn't know the harm that having those debates and conversations in public can cause. Which is ironic, because he does discuss at length in other parts of the book the toxic shame that results from membership in a group that is routinely discriminated against. Well, where does that come from?
In Turning Darkness Into Light, Audrey's former love interest, Aaron, is an irritating and interesting young man of a type that will be known to many women reading this: Extremely smart. Charming. Good conversationalist. Flattering. Pays attention and treats your opinions with respect. But also steals your ideas and takes credit for them, never acknowledges or apologizes for what he's done, and when you get to know him better, has some pretty appalling opinions about other demographics. Kind of like Tony McAleer portrays himself in the memoir, though I doubt he ever did much to hide his opinions on other races when he met women as a young man. In the novel, Aaron is brilliant, attentive, charming, funny, adventurous ... and he steals Audrey's work and belongs to one of the less-violent anti-draconean factions. Kind of like Tony in his respectable white-supremacist-businessman phase, he doesn't dole out the bloodshed, but he does promote hatred. (This is all back-story to the novel, by the way; Audrey recaps it almost as soon as Aaron is introduced, so these actions are not part of this novel. No spoilers!)
And Audrey does not scorch and salt the earth of their former relationship. She makes it clear that she finds the views repugnant, but leaves the door open for him to re-enter her life if he changes those views. Normally, I would take a pretty dim view of that decision: of course he's never going to change! But it's hard to be so certain on the heels of The Cure for Hate.
I highly recommend both books, and think they make a great pair to read together, particularly with violent extremism and far-right politics on the rise in so many places. There's a lot of good and a lot of hope to get from each.
August 21, 2019
2.5 - 3 stars.
Do you like dragons, mystery and ancient antiquities with a bit of an Indiana Jones feeling? If the answer is yes then TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT might be the book for you. It is marketed as a standalone fantasy and it can standalone, however I do believe that readers of Marie Brennan’s Lady Trent series will have a great advantage when reading this.
This book has a feminist tone all the way through and the main protagonist, Audrey is commissioned to study and translate some rare tablets recently found. Audrey is a young but accomplished academic type, from a family of similar types. Audrey was likeable, she took risks and she knew that she needed help. That help came in the shape of Kudshayn, another archeologist.
With Kudshayn, my confusion about the world only grew and I have to say I struggled with being in the dark through most of the book. There is little world building and assumptions are made that the reader can just go with what’s happening and accept the odd, vague reveal about the world and species existing. The Draconean species and culture was not explained adequately and I do believe that to standalone, more world building was needed.
The book is told in a variety of styles, the contemporary, many letters and some newspaper articles. I enjoyed the variety of storytelling styles. Audrey’s POV is occasionally interspersed by Kudshayn and another POV. The story builds and builds around this translation of tablets to a great crescendo, involving a variety of characters and criminal activity.
This was an interesting but sometimes frustrating read for me. I loved the cover, the idea of the story and Marie Brennan’s writing was enjoyable in the main. I would consider going back and reading the Lady Trent series.
Thank you to Titan Books for the review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog here.
Do you like dragons, mystery and ancient antiquities with a bit of an Indiana Jones feeling? If the answer is yes then TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT might be the book for you. It is marketed as a standalone fantasy and it can standalone, however I do believe that readers of Marie Brennan’s Lady Trent series will have a great advantage when reading this.
This book has a feminist tone all the way through and the main protagonist, Audrey is commissioned to study and translate some rare tablets recently found. Audrey is a young but accomplished academic type, from a family of similar types. Audrey was likeable, she took risks and she knew that she needed help. That help came in the shape of Kudshayn, another archeologist.
With Kudshayn, my confusion about the world only grew and I have to say I struggled with being in the dark through most of the book. There is little world building and assumptions are made that the reader can just go with what’s happening and accept the odd, vague reveal about the world and species existing. The Draconean species and culture was not explained adequately and I do believe that to standalone, more world building was needed.
The book is told in a variety of styles, the contemporary, many letters and some newspaper articles. I enjoyed the variety of storytelling styles. Audrey’s POV is occasionally interspersed by Kudshayn and another POV. The story builds and builds around this translation of tablets to a great crescendo, involving a variety of characters and criminal activity.
This was an interesting but sometimes frustrating read for me. I loved the cover, the idea of the story and Marie Brennan’s writing was enjoyable in the main. I would consider going back and reading the Lady Trent series.
Thank you to Titan Books for the review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog here.
August 23, 2019
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Turning Darkness Into Light by Marie Brennan is a fun historical fantasy featuring dragons. It's part of the Lady Trent universe, but you don't need to be familiar with that series to understand this novel. I haven't read that series yet and I'm looking forward to it, but I'm sure I would have gotten much more enjoyment out of this if I was already familiar with that series. I have to admit that I did feel out of the loop from time to time. Otherwise I particularly enjoyed the mixed media / epistolary format of the novel. Unfortunately I wasn't very interested one way or another in the cast of characters. Perhaps if I were more familiar with the author's style and the previous novels set in this world. I'm definitely going to have to try more from Brennan in the future.
Turning Darkness Into Light by Marie Brennan is a fun historical fantasy featuring dragons. It's part of the Lady Trent universe, but you don't need to be familiar with that series to understand this novel. I haven't read that series yet and I'm looking forward to it, but I'm sure I would have gotten much more enjoyment out of this if I was already familiar with that series. I have to admit that I did feel out of the loop from time to time. Otherwise I particularly enjoyed the mixed media / epistolary format of the novel. Unfortunately I wasn't very interested one way or another in the cast of characters. Perhaps if I were more familiar with the author's style and the previous novels set in this world. I'm definitely going to have to try more from Brennan in the future.
April 20, 2020
Marie Brennan’s delightfully bizarre breed of palace intrigue never fails to impress me.
Part fantasy, part comedy of manners, part spy novel, Turning Darkness into Light was an airy but stimulating followup to Brennan’s beloved Lady Trent series, this time featuring our previous heroine’s plucky granddaughter Audrey and her dragon friend Kudshayn.
Audrey (and Kudshayn too, for that matter) are scholars, not naturalists, so this is a slightly different type of story, though set in the same universe and populated with recurring or related characters and unifying themes with Brennan’s earlier series. And for those who are big fans, yes, Lady Trent does make many appearances in the text.
The focus is on Audrey though, which I enjoyed because it’s a fresh spin on a universe I like very much. Human-dragon relations (and all their accompanying problems) are at the forefront here, but the tone is kept light and the book is packed with clever humor, clamorous highjinks, and a charming mystery.
But it’s really Brennan’s (and thus Audrey’s) tone and humor that make this book (like the Lady Trent series) a standout. The plot is a good one too, but it’s Brennan’s witty dialogue and wry observations via her heroines that gets me every time.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Part fantasy, part comedy of manners, part spy novel, Turning Darkness into Light was an airy but stimulating followup to Brennan’s beloved Lady Trent series, this time featuring our previous heroine’s plucky granddaughter Audrey and her dragon friend Kudshayn.
Audrey (and Kudshayn too, for that matter) are scholars, not naturalists, so this is a slightly different type of story, though set in the same universe and populated with recurring or related characters and unifying themes with Brennan’s earlier series. And for those who are big fans, yes, Lady Trent does make many appearances in the text.
The focus is on Audrey though, which I enjoyed because it’s a fresh spin on a universe I like very much. Human-dragon relations (and all their accompanying problems) are at the forefront here, but the tone is kept light and the book is packed with clever humor, clamorous highjinks, and a charming mystery.
But it’s really Brennan’s (and thus Audrey’s) tone and humor that make this book (like the Lady Trent series) a standout. The plot is a good one too, but it’s Brennan’s witty dialogue and wry observations via her heroines that gets me every time.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
April 21, 2025
2025 reread: While I still enjoyed this reread, I don’t think it was quite as good as the original five books, mainly because I just miss Lady Trent’s narration. Audrey was a good main character, and I think on its own this book is great, but just in comparison with how much I loved the main series, this volume just doesn’t hold up as well. Moving this from a five star to a four star. Still good, just personally not as great as the original five books. Also, I think it being an epistolary novel weakened it a bit for me
Original review: I absolutely LOVED this book! It was amazing, and such a great continuation of the original series. Audrey was a great character to follow, and I loved her personality (she was reading those bitches to filth!!). Definitely one of the best books I've read in a while.
Original review: I absolutely LOVED this book! It was amazing, and such a great continuation of the original series. Audrey was a great character to follow, and I loved her personality (she was reading those bitches to filth!!). Definitely one of the best books I've read in a while.
August 27, 2019
This was a delight - a fantasy tale that praises research in archeology and makes you understand the power of myth on culture
Full review -
Full review -
May 17, 2021
It was such a pleasure to re-dive in to that series again! I'm a huge fan and U will keep recommending that series to everyone!
September 24, 2023
4.5 stars
Even though I adore the Memoirs of Lady Trent series, I was not expecting to love this companion standalone as much as I did. Being back in this world honestly felt like coming home and it brought me so much comfort and joy.
I loved following Audrey Camhurst, the granddaughter of the one and only Lady Trent, and I really appreciated that this is truly HER story. Yes, she has the same wit and dry humour as her grandma, and she also seems to have inherited the disastrous skill to stumble into trouble, yet she is 100% her own person. I loved that we get a couple of mentions and cameos from the characters I loved in the main series, but also appreciated that this narrative shines completely on its own.
I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of this story, especially considering that Audrey has to use her language skills to solve it all. And the character dynamics between Audrey and her two fellow 'investigators' were, unsurprisingly, absolutely delightful!
I do have to admit that the translations of the epic myth that's being decoded didn't really hold my attention at first, but I loved how it tied into the overall narrative in the end.
As someone who loves linguistics, storytelling and anthropology, this was just a joy to read!
Even though I adore the Memoirs of Lady Trent series, I was not expecting to love this companion standalone as much as I did. Being back in this world honestly felt like coming home and it brought me so much comfort and joy.
I loved following Audrey Camhurst, the granddaughter of the one and only Lady Trent, and I really appreciated that this is truly HER story. Yes, she has the same wit and dry humour as her grandma, and she also seems to have inherited the disastrous skill to stumble into trouble, yet she is 100% her own person. I loved that we get a couple of mentions and cameos from the characters I loved in the main series, but also appreciated that this narrative shines completely on its own.
I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of this story, especially considering that Audrey has to use her language skills to solve it all. And the character dynamics between Audrey and her two fellow 'investigators' were, unsurprisingly, absolutely delightful!
I do have to admit that the translations of the epic myth that's being decoded didn't really hold my attention at first, but I loved how it tied into the overall narrative in the end.
As someone who loves linguistics, storytelling and anthropology, this was just a joy to read!
May 8, 2022
4.6�
Works as a standalone - necessary details essential to the story are provided - however, not much world building is there (which I believe is done in the Lady Trent prequel series). In this book, the protagonists are translating ancient tablets which is an account of a lore of Draconean civilization.
The story is in epistolary format which was quite interesting in itself, and you get to know the lore bit by bit - creating the curiosity factor which kept the pages turning. I liked the way the lore turned out to be, and what it represented in that world. The main character (Audrey) was a bit naïve at times, so in a way it is a story of finding herself (more like a sub-plot). Also, I liked how the author showed Cora's (side character) back story in the form of some letters - it was quite well done, in an empathetic way.
All-in-all, it was a unique experience for me. Looking forward to the Lady Trent prequels.
Works as a standalone - necessary details essential to the story are provided - however, not much world building is there (which I believe is done in the Lady Trent prequel series). In this book, the protagonists are translating ancient tablets which is an account of a lore of Draconean civilization.
The story is in epistolary format which was quite interesting in itself, and you get to know the lore bit by bit - creating the curiosity factor which kept the pages turning. I liked the way the lore turned out to be, and what it represented in that world. The main character (Audrey) was a bit naïve at times, so in a way it is a story of finding herself (more like a sub-plot). Also, I liked how the author showed Cora's (side character) back story in the form of some letters - it was quite well done, in an empathetic way.
All-in-all, it was a unique experience for me. Looking forward to the Lady Trent prequels.
March 8, 2020
Audrey is Lady Trent's granddaughter - and she has much to live up to. Most of the book was tied up in Audrey's hatred for Aaron - though I quite enjoyed the character development she goes through (learning not to and to ).
November 7, 2019
What a joy and a delight. I love this world and I was VERY happy to revisit it. It has not gotten any less fascinating or beautiful or dangerous. Audrey is amazing, Cora is perfect, and Kudshayn must be protected AT ALL COSTS.
Ten out of ten, would read many many more.
Ten out of ten, would read many many more.
April 28, 2020
I don't think anyone is more skeptical of a latecomer sequel than me: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Dead to me. Toy Storys 2-4? Hard pass. Iron Gold ? It's best for everyone if we pretend that didn't happen.
So it was "with dread but cautious optimism" (kudos if you get that reference), I picked up Turning Darkness Into Light, the legacy sequel set decades after Within The Sanctuary of Wings and focused on Lady Trent's granddaughter, Audrey. Unlike previous novels, this one is entirely epistolary, which frankly I wasn't sure would pay off at first. But I appreciated the author's desire to challenge herself, not content to rest on her laurels anymore than her protagonist.
To my astonishment and relief, the book proved to be every bit a worthy successor as I could hope for. Audrey is clearly different from her grandmother, yet openly wrestles with the weight of expectations. Surprisingly the plot isn't lost in the epistolary constraints, and in fact even hinges on it, using perspective to toy with our understanding of characters and building up to a breathless, can't-stop-now finale. I was deeply impressed and hope that whatever comes next for Marie Brennan is worth comparing to this one.
So it was "with dread but cautious optimism" (kudos if you get that reference), I picked up Turning Darkness Into Light, the legacy sequel set decades after Within The Sanctuary of Wings and focused on Lady Trent's granddaughter, Audrey. Unlike previous novels, this one is entirely epistolary, which frankly I wasn't sure would pay off at first. But I appreciated the author's desire to challenge herself, not content to rest on her laurels anymore than her protagonist.
To my astonishment and relief, the book proved to be every bit a worthy successor as I could hope for. Audrey is clearly different from her grandmother, yet openly wrestles with the weight of expectations. Surprisingly the plot isn't lost in the epistolary constraints, and in fact even hinges on it, using perspective to toy with our understanding of characters and building up to a breathless, can't-stop-now finale. I was deeply impressed and hope that whatever comes next for Marie Brennan is worth comparing to this one.
February 5, 2021
For some strange reason, my review of this has vanished, along with the book from my read shelf... So I'll just quickly say again:
I loved this book. Not just as much as I did the main Lady Trent series, but I think that could easily change with more of the same main character. It is in the same witty style that I enjoyed in the previous series, and I devoured it in no time.
I loved this book. Not just as much as I did the main Lady Trent series, but I think that could easily change with more of the same main character. It is in the same witty style that I enjoyed in the previous series, and I devoured it in no time.
November 17, 2019
The Lady Trent novels has been one of my very favorite series of the last few years, so I was eager to dive back into her world via the adventures of her granddaughter, Audrey Camhearst. Audrey has followed in her grandfather's footsteps as a philologist, so when she is asked to translate the archaeological find of the century -- a series of tablets that appear to be an epic of the ancient Draconians -- she jumps at the chance, despite a number of red flags on the situation. The story of what happens next blends a whole lot of my favorite things: political intrigue, the challenges of translating ancient folklore while learning about a new cultural context, people of different backgrounds and with competing interests figuring out how to work together as a team, multiple female characters to love and hate (in the latter case, because she was a terrible person, but a fascinating terrible person). It's an epistolary narrative, which doesn't always work for me, but in this case I found it an effective way to get multiple points of view on what was going on. And it also goes well with the main series, which was written in the style of a memoir.
So if you read and loved the Lady Trent books, absolutely read this. If you read them and didn't love them, I'd still say maybe -- the style is different, the context is different, and Audrey is quite distinct from her grandmother Isabella, even though they are both scholars. If you haven't read them, I'd say this book has enough context to make it work, but there are major spoilers, especially for the final book in the series, so be aware of that.
So if you read and loved the Lady Trent books, absolutely read this. If you read them and didn't love them, I'd still say maybe -- the style is different, the context is different, and Audrey is quite distinct from her grandmother Isabella, even though they are both scholars. If you haven't read them, I'd say this book has enough context to make it work, but there are major spoilers, especially for the final book in the series, so be aware of that.
December 31, 2019
THIS IS SO GOOD. SO VERY GOOD. I need to read more of this series and very much hope there are more of Audrey's adventures on the way
January 8, 2023
This was delightful! While it took me a bit to connect to the characters because of the mixed media format, I do love Audrey as a main character. She lacks a bit of the dry humour of her grandmother and makes slightly more reckless choices, but I still loved her and rooted for her.
March 24, 2024
Well done!
April 4, 2022
A wonderful addition to the series.
I loved this evolution in this world where dragons are part of reality.
Wishing for more.
I loved this evolution in this world where dragons are part of reality.
Wishing for more.
May 30, 2024
This was such a fun story - its somehow both very different from The Memoirs of Lady Trent while also being very similar in tone and type of story. I really liked Audrey as a main character and I liked seeing all the excerpts of diaries & letters as well as other media.
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