Hope is the dawn amid the darkness.

After the disastrous confrontation in the Badlands, Astrea barely has the strength to survive renewed attacks by the Paragon and the Helosian Empire. With aetherium escalating an ever deadlier war, Astrea and her new allies must find a way to destroy it—and those who harness its power for evil gains.

But knowing who to trust in the brutal fight for control isn’t easy, and Astrea struggles to determine whether old foes and mysterious newcomers are truly on her side.

When they receive word of another large aetherium deposit, this time in the unforgiving northern reaches of Novaria, the alliance races to beat Victor Nazarov and the Helosian Emperor there. But as one enemy fails, another gains strength.

Should Astrea and her friends fall short of victory, their sacrifices will be forgotten amid the ashes of a world consumed by darkness.

The final stand is near…
  • Author: H.E. Bauman
  • Release Date: October 7, 2024
  • Genre: Fantasy, Romance
  • My Rating:
  • ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
  • 🌶️/5 

Get Toward Dawning Light

I’m still not over finishing this series, about 2% into the book I was already crying. H.E. has a way with words. I’ve gotten so attached to the characters it was hard to say goodbye. 

This review will most likely have spoilers for the whole series, so if you are planning to read the series SKIP THIS PART 😜

He was gone. She would never see him again. She would never share another meal with him, walk Kalama’s streets in search of cinnamon pancakes, or even find him up late in his observatory. He was gone, forever

The grief Astrea is going through, hits a little too close to home for me. I lost my Nana last year, it felt like I was reliving that pain with Saros’s passing and Astrea trying to figure out her life now without her uncle- her last blood relative. I’m still waiting for her to call me to ask if I would like lunch brought to me at work. I miss her voice, her smile, fck everything about her I miss.

 At least she still has Cressida, and the Nikaphoroses, the people who took her and Saros in, the people who love her unconditionally. I absolutely love their dynamic-relationship of showing you don’t have to be related by blood to be someone’s family. Because sometimes blood relatives suck, The One for insistence, terrible uncle. 

“I’m sorry,” Astrea whispered. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help Cress or save him”

“Oh, my sweet, sweet girl” Sasali pulled Astrea into a tight hug, like she had many times over the years when Astrea had been just a child “You have nothing to apologize for”

Not only does she still have the Nikaphoroses but her loving fire welding husband Jin. who would do anything for, knows her like the back of his hand. Can tell when something is bothering her, when she needs something, He has learned her tells and I love them together. They are a couple I want the happiest ending for. Also Jin’s team becoming part of her “new” family, heck even Marko and Lucian are part of that now.

“We have to move forward,” Astrea said. “Together, like we always have.”

“Together.” He kissed her forehead. “Always”

And to throw more stress onto Astrea, she finds her father or he found her. After all this time, the guy comes out of nowhere, saying he heard she was looking for him.

Astrea’s breath caught in her chest, a painful stab to her lungs. Her father. Her father. Her father.

First, how? How Did he find her? Without any magic it must have been difficult. I’m sure the other ex-Paragon members were helping him out or maybe even members still of the Paragon who also hate the direction their new One- Viktor Navaros is leading them down..

Enter Theo, the man who switched sides and may have had a hand in helping the new ex-Paragon members with trusting the new alliance with Astrea and the team.

It was nice while it lasted without having to worry about when Nazarov would dreamwalk, but of course villains like to make a grand entrance. But it’s not only Nazarov we have to worry about, Kaius has gone off the deep end with his new appointed power.

 And with the Kalama military defecting to their side as well, it gives them a fighting chance to get Kaius out of the palace and put Eliana in her rightful place as Empresses.


✨💜Tropes💜✨

  • 🌌 Slow Burn
  • 🌙 Healer and empath FMC
  • 🗡️ Deadly cinnamon roll MMC
  • 🌌 Elemental magic
  • 🌙 Destiny vs. free will
  • 🗡️ Post-industrial world building with a subtle 1920s vibe
  • 🌌 Estranged Friends to Lovers
  • 🗡️ Large & inclusive found family
  • 🌌 Mental health rep

Darkened Skies Series



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