“Instead of talking about the glory of battle and the amount of kills they would achieve, the Veirlintus and Galenvargs respected the Leigheasan custom of celebrating life. They shared their game and told stories that made them look foolish, brave, and everything in between. Couples danced and embraced each other for what could be the last time. As the Faileas Herimen enjoyed the last of the waning light, a portion of the Duine army was moving into position outside Dún. Instead of a beautiful valley to gaze upon at sunset, the Faileas Herimen looked out to see a sea of soldiers and an alternating series of trebuchets and siege towers.” ~ excerpt from The Great War by D. W. Saur
It has been centuries since The Great War and the four sects of Sori have come to live in relative peace and harmony. Sori’s Caomhnóir judges the occasional crimes in Bala’s markets and the severity of punishments deter the majority from temptation. Besides the crimes committed in Cala’s boundaries, the sects of Sori saw an era of prosperity.
Though the sects prospered, this euphoric state was not destined to last forever. A dark, almost ghost-like, figure arrives in Sori and begins to upset the balance the land has come to enjoy. The figure plots and manipulates members of the Galenvarg and Veirlintu sects into rebellion. Upon the arrival of the figure, the Goddess Nantosuelta selects a Leigheasan named Maya as her chosen one to eliminate the threat and prevent another Great War.
To many Leigheasan, Maya was not capable of being a chosen one. She had not completed their rite of passage, was powerless, and isolated herself from those her age. With Nantosuelta’s blessing, Maya begins her quest to find her powers, prevent war, and establish herself as a leader among the Leigheasan.
Awards
2022 Book Excellence Awards: Dark Days was a Finalist in Young Adult Fiction
2021 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards: Dark Days was selected as Honorable Mention in the Young Adult category for Action.
2021 American Fiction Awards: Dark Days was a finalist in the Epic/High category
2021 Feathered Quill Book Awards: Dark Days was selected as a Finalist in the category of Science Fiction/Fantasy.
2021 Feathered Quill Book Awards: Dark Days was selected as a Finalist in the category of Teens (13-18)
2020 Royal Dragonfly Book Award: Dark Days won a Royal DragonFly award in the category of Young Adult Fiction.
2020 Royal Dragonfly Book Award: Dark Days won a Royal DragonFly award in the category of Science Fiction/Fantasy.
Reviews
Kirkus Review: “An impressive first installment with a remarkable, series-worthy hero.” The full review is available via: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dw-saur/dark-days/
BookLife: “Like The Hunger Games and Earth’s Children, Dark Days follows the adventures of a young heroine armed with intelligence, pluck, and extraordinary talents. YA readers will recognize Maya as an exemplar of Girl Power Lit.”
Book Excellence Awards: “Readers will fall in love with and root for Maya, who is a powerful and magnetic character. They will also revel in the wit and humor in the story along with action and adventure sequences, shown by the clever dialogue and fight scenes.”
5-star review from Readers’ Favorite: “Author D. W. Saur has crafted an excellent fantasy novel that delivers on so many fronts and is unique to the genre in giving its female protagonist a powerful mission with no romantic subplots or distractions. What results is a compelling tale of independence, fighting spirit, and self-discovery, which is only enhanced by the author’s excellent commitment to character and worldbuilding. ” –Review by K.C. Finn
5-star review from Readers’ Favorite: “Dark Days by D.W. Saur was an incredibly rich and detailed story. This young adult novel was dark enough to keep me riveted and descriptive enough to maintain my attention until the end. The narrative drove the story forward and allowed the characters enough breathing room to grow. The action never stopped, the pace was fast enough to keep the plot going and the arc was exciting.” – Review by Rabia Tanveer
D. W. Saur 