Our Deadly Designs

Author Kalyn Josephson
Narrator Alex Wingfield, Laurel Lefkow, Rebecca Norfolk
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Run Time 13 hours and 49 minutes
Format Audio
Genre Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy romance, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Magical realism.

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What to expect

A cut-throat race to the throne, deadly magic and swoonworthy romances. Return to the corrupt world of Veradell in Our Deadly Designs by Kayln Josephson, the spellbinding fantasy follow up to This Dark Descent.

The Illinir may be over, but the race for Enderlain’s future has just begun. The hunt for the old king’s lost heir is on, and the first to find them will win the throne.

Mikira has allied herself with the rebels in pursuit of the lost heir, but the deeper her search takes her, the closer she gets to the royal family's wicked past.

Ari is struggling to control her own growing power as she grapples with a dark secret that may be her undoing.

Damien joins the race to find the heir and secure the crown, but as his influence at court grows, so does his paranoia and hunger for power.

Reid is trying his best to stay true to the friend who's always had his loyalty — and the flame who has his heart — while trapped in a web of chaos and lies.

But a darker force is festering in Enderlain’s underbelly, and Mikira, Ari, Damien, and Reid will need to find a way back to each other — and themselves — before the kingdom is torn apart.

Hearts will be broken and new bonds will be forged in this explosive finale to This Dark Descent, where spellbinding fantasy meets Jewish mythology in a cut-throat race for the throne — and Enderlain’s survival.

Critics Review

This Dark Descent runs a breathless and delightfully twisting course full of danger and heartbreak, machinations and magic. I loved it and I can’t wait for more!

Melissa Caruso, author of the Swords and Fire series

A riveting, clever Jewish fantasy that had me racing through the pages. With dangerous magic, high-stakes political intrigue, and a stunning cast of characters (and animal companions!), This Dark Descent is sure to leave readers begging for the sequel.

Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic

Kalyn Josephson has crafted a rich world and a tightly-plotted story that kept me reading well into the night. Anchored by the emotional nuance of the two leads, this tale of horse-racing, magic, and power is not to be missed.

Emily Lloyd-Jones, international bestselling author of The Drowned Woods

Brimming with action, political intrigue, and a touch of romance, This Dark Descent is a fierce and darkly magical thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Ava Reid, award-winning author of Juniper & Thorn

A deliciously dark and fast-paced novel that I could not put down from the minute I picked it up! Full of twists and turns you won’t know who to trust. Josephson is a master at crafting gripping and intense scenes that make you feel as though you are in the middle of the action yourself. Truly an incredible story that you don’t want to miss!

Joss Diaz, Kepler's Books

A breathless exploration of the differences – and lack thereof – between monsters and men, with a glimmering romantic thread woven through secrets, lies, and hidden plots. I read it all in one sitting!

Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of Give the Dark My Love and Night of the Witch

Josephson weaves an enchanting fantasy with lore steeped in Jewish culture, a cast of whip smart characters, and more perilous twists and turns than any race track. Hang on to your hats – This Dark Descent is a truly thrilling ride!

Rosiee Thor, author of Fire Becomes Her

This Dark Descent transports readers into an epic world of scheming lords and those desperate enough to step into their crosshairs for a chance at survival . . . I loved it so much, I read it twice!

Shannon Price, author of The Endless Skies and A Thousand Fires

This Dark Descent explodes out the gate like an enchanted horse in a death-defying race. A skillfully layered world, high stakes action, and dynamic character relationships rife with complex motivations and compelling backstories unite for a gripping read that kept me utterly absorbed from the first page to the last

Nicki Pau Preto, author of the Crown of Feathers trilogy and the House of the Dead duology

An uncommonly arresting fantasy that questions the price of goodness, the cost of magic, and the depths of humanity.

Booklist, starred review

Josephson presents . . . ever-evolving figures with interestingly complementary approaches to the world and the circumstances they find themselves in. Jewish history strongly informs the backstory of this fantasy world’s people.

Publishers Weekly

Original and engaging.

Kirkus Reviews

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