Her Dark Wings: devilishly brilliant… you’d be a fool to miss it!

The great love of Corey’s life has always been her best friend, Bree: closer than sisters, their bond is unbreakable. Or so Corey believes, until Bree betrays her, and Corey’s world is shattered. Corey finds herself heartbroken, furious and alone…
Only to discover that the Underworld – and Hades, Lord of the Dead – is closer than she thinks…

Hello, my name is Stephanie and I am self-confessed Melinda Salisbury number 1 fan. Anyone who has been here long enough will know that I love everything that Mel writes… and let me tell you, Her Dark Wings is NO different at all.

I was lucky enough to be sent a proof of this from the brilliant folk of David Fickling Books, and as soon as it arrived, I dropped the other thing I was reading and got straight to it. This book promised me so much I love to read: betrayal, a myth retelling, friendship. What was not to love?

Her Dark Wings tells the story of Corey – a young woman who is betrayed by her best friend. When something tragic happens to Bree and Corey is unable to get the closure she so deserves and wants, things in Corey’s life start to change drastically.

There’s so much about this book that I love that I could write 100s of words and STILL not give you (or Mel) quite the review this book deserves!

This story explores so many elements that I just love to read about. There’s threads of humanity. There’s the exploration of justice. There’s revenge and retribution. There’s friendship – this is a massive massive thing in the story. There’s love. There’s family. There’s a gorgeous ode to gardening and the power of growing things. There’s the power betrayal has on us. There’s finding yourself after you’ve lost yourself.

Something that has stuck with me to this day is the friendships in this story. Corey and Bree’s friendship is the most important thread running through this book. You feel the emotion between the girls. You FEEL Corey’s intense emotions to her former best friend so poignantly that you feel them yourself. We’ve all been there – we’ve all been betrayed by someone in our past, so we all know Corey’s emotions. Sure none of us end in the Underworld and have the Furies/Hades by our side – but we’ve been there. We’ve felt all of Corey’s thoughts. There’s a whole load of intensity in this story and I LAPPED it up.

A side note mention to Corey’s relationship with her family – there’s scenes throughout the story that absolutely made me bawl. I love how Mel writes relationships with families – they’re always complex, but so so brilliantly done.

Obviously this story isn’t just Corey and Bree. There’s the Furies (I have such a complex relationship towards these characters… because I love them so much, but they also betray Corey); there’s Hades (I love him, so much – the scene at the end just was *chef’s kiss* – anyone who has been around a while will know I have a proper affinity for the men that Mel writes); there’s the Boatman (who while he isn’t a massive part of the story had quite a profound effect on me); there’s Corey’s family (who I’ve mentioned a little bit, but honestly, just yeah… wonderful).

Side note 2: HOW GORGEOUS IS THAT COVER THO??

Okay. I still have so much more to talk about… but honestly, I need you all just to go out, buy this and then read it… then come back to me and talk to me about your thoughts.

Mel just gets storytelling. She’s a story weaver in the most amazing of ways: incredible settings, interesting and complex characters, weaving bits of magic and love through the plot to tell a story of humanity and loss.

My Goodreads review:

I’ve finished this and honestly, Mel just GETS IT. This is betrayal, finding yourself, finding your place in the world, magic, Hades and the Furies. This is gorgeous Corey asking all the questions and having to figure out the answers. This is a love letter to gardening and the power of seeds. I just adored it. I’d love to know what happens next – I’d love to revisit Corey’s world and her people. There’s so much about this that I’d love to go back and just devour again. Friendship, power and love: an important trifecta in this story.

A massive thank you for popping along to my blog today! If you’ve made it this far, I have some lovely news for you! Mel is going to be my first author feature on Friday – I can’t wait for you all to read my Q&A with Mel!

Have you read Her Dark Wings?
Are there any myths you’d love to be retold?
Do YOU also love Mel?

Talk to me in the comments. I need everyone to read this book because OMG.

S x