The Dark Days Club is the first book I have read by Alison Goodman but I can tell you it won’t be my last. I have been on a historical fiction kick lately and the second I cracked the cover on this book, I was pulled into the story and couldn’t put it down.

Lady Helen Wrexhall is eighteen and has been raised since she was eight by her aunt and uncle due to the death of her parents. To add another layer to her story, we find out that Helen’s mother was seen as a loose cannon and Helen’s guardian’s biggest fears are that her mother’s reputation will create problems for Helen. Since Helen is now of age, her presentation to the queen and her season is what will determine whether she finds a match amongst the gentlemen of society.

The thing I love about historical fiction (if they are done well) is that they bring me into the story and Goodman does a fantastic job of setting up the story here by showing the restrictions women had placed upon them during the 1800’s. To be a lady in Regency London meant you had to follow the rules or become an outcast or even put into an asylum. Admittedly the first quarter of the book is really setting up the story and while it built slowly, it didn’t bother me.

Lady Helen is an interesting character. She starts out as someone who is focused on making her family proud and that means she can’t embarrass them. She also still very much loves her mother and father and when she hears disparaging comments about her mother, she has to fight her reaction to defend her because she knows it will cause a stir. In addition to that, she doesn’t really know her mother’s history and that is something she wants to remedy. As she is introduced to new people throughout the novel, Helen begins to learn more about her mother and it only reinforces her love for her mother.

I don’t want to say too much about the Reclaimers and the Dark Days Club but as Helen becomes more involved with Lord Carlston and the Club, she learns more about herself and what is important to her. The paranormal aspect is what adds a twist to this story and separates it from other historical fiction novels I have recently read. I loved the idea of this small group of people that possess the strength and ability to protect the world from these demons who wreak havoc on society (at all levels). The fact that the main character is someone who has restrictions placed upon her by society and she has to figure out how to make it all come together while still maintaining her reputation was just another fantastic layer to this story that I loved.

Lord Carlston is another main character and he definitely has a history…and it isn’t good. His wife was murdered a few years back and everyone within Helen’s circle believes he killed her. Because of that, he left but now that he is back as Helen’t mentor, his reputation makes it even more difficult for them to connect. Thankfully Lord Carlston has some really well placed friends in society which helps them do what they need to. I actually enjoyed seeing what he would do next to get where he needed to or have Helen where he needed her to be. In the beginning he is definitely closed off but as the story progresses I loved seeing him open himself up to sharing his fate with someone who really understands what it means (or will mean) to be a Reclaimer. And despite decisions that Helen made, he was always willing to support her and protect her…which I loved.

The secondary characters are also well done and they help move the story along. From Lady Margaret and her brother to Helen’s friends and family, all are well developed and add to the story. One thing I have to say is I wanted Helen’s brother to support her more. I get it…he was also restricted by society and it had been driven into his head what is/is not acceptable behavior but I wanted him to be more accepting of who Helen is whether he agreed with her or not. I was glad that in the end he came through and look forward to seeing how their relationship adjusts as the series moves forward.

Goodman definitely did her research for this book. Between the clothes, the society nuances, and the overall atmosphere, I felt like I was navigating society right alongside Helen and I loved every minute of it. After I finished the book, I found her pinterest page just so I could see all the images that she describes and uses throughout the book. Consider checking it out if you are curious – I love those sorts of things and this only helped me to picture everything that was being described.

If you are looking for a book that has a page turning story, a historical bend, and some great characters, definitely check this one out. I loved the twists and turns Goodman has put into this story and I can’t wait to see what the next book in this series brings. The Dark Days Club has made my list of favorites and I will be looking forward to more from Goodman.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!