The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski

Darcy Jones doesn’t remember anything before she was five, when she was abandoned outside a firehouse in Chicago. She’s never really belonged anywhere, but for now, she’s at least content to start the school year with friends. But then Conn shows up, and there’s something about him that makes her feel and want things she never allowed herself to feel and want before—until she finds out that Conn isn’t who she thinks he is. He’s not even from this world—and it turns out that neither is she. As Darcy navigates a new world where the Great Chicago Fire never happened and she is hated on impulse for who she is, a Shade, she struggles to piece together a past she now desperately needs to know. Confronted with the darkness of the past and the danger of her present, Darcy knows that for once she can’t just run away—she has to face her demons if she wants to save herself and those she’s come to care for.

The Shadow Society is a skillfully written and stunning story of betrayal, secrets, and love. I found it impossible to put this book down for so many reasons, but most of all, it was because I became so deeply invested in these characters’ lives. Initially, I found it harder to connect with Darcy’s character because of the somewhat stylized nature of Rutkoski’s writing, but I later found that this is actually what really swept me into Darcy’s story. I needed to find out who Darcy really was, how she would overcome all the obstacles thrown her way, and especially what her relationship with Conn would turn out to be. These vividly real characters combined with an eerily enchanting backdrop of an alternate Chicago and Rutkoski’s beautiful storytelling make The Shadow Society such a gorgeous and worthwhile read—and one that will stay on your mind for a long time.

The Shadow Society appeals to fans of Divergent by Veronica Roth, Unraveling by Liz Norris, and Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from publisher Macmillan