A review by natashaleighton_
Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine

dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Addie LaRue meets The Last Tale of The Flower Bride in this decadently rich and atmospheric tale of desire, ambition, obsession and betrayal that slow-burn, gothic fantasy lovers are sure to enjoy.

If you’ve followed my reviews for a while, you’ll know that I’m a sucker for a good gothic (or gothic adjacent) novel , so couldn’t pass up the chance to read Maddalena and The Dark—especially when the setting is as lush, and darkly lyrical as this was. 

Set against the opulent backdrop of 18th C Venice, we follow the lives (and alternating POVs) of two fifteen year old girls Maddalena, the charismatic daughter of a Venetian nobleman, and Luisa, an orphan and longtime resident of convent and famed music conservatory, Ospedale della Pietà. 

After Maddalena’s legitimacy is called into question, her family send her off to the infamous conservatory in an effort to bolster her marriage prospects. Yet from the moment she arrives, Maddalena finds herself drawn to in the shy but extremely talented Luisa. 

And before long, the girls are the best of friends, leading Maddalena to reveal her greatest secret: the sea can grant all of her desires—as long as she keeps making offerings to it. But it’s after Maddalena encourages Luisa to make an offering of her own, when things really start to get interesting. 

I really enjoyed this! The slow burn intensity and evocative nuance that we explore through Madeline and Luisa’s relationship, and the imbalance of power that we see slowly shift between them was intoxicatingly gripping.

Maddalena, our spoilt and calculating noble was probably the most fascinating of our protagonists. Flawed, motivated by selfishness, and eager to preserve the trappings of her incredibly privileged life— I absolutely adored the morally grey pragmatism of her initial schemes, and for a time was actually rooting for her. 

Ultimately, though it was the naïve and far too trusting Luisa that I came to love the most. As an Orphan who’s lived at the conservatory for most of her life, Luisa’s ambitions are small: to gain the first violin spot and train with Vivaldi. But thanks to Maddalena’s influence, we see Luisa finally grow into her own confidence and self worth, and finally strive for something she’s never dreamed of before—her own happiness. Making the aftermath that results from their magical bargains even more poignant. 

Overall, a satisfyingly eerie read with sapphic undertones that’s perfect for fans of historical fiction and magical realism—just don’t go into this expecting a happy ending. 

Also, a huge thank you to Headline for the finished copy. 
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