The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman is the perfect mix of historical romance and intrigue! In it, we meet Lady Helen Wrexhall, a young lady about to make her debut before the Royal Court. She should be focusing on dresses and marriage; however, one of the family’s maids disappears and she is drawn into the darkness of Regency England.

Helen soon discovers that she is descended from a Reclaimer; one who “reclaims” energy from the souls that are being drained by Deceiver demons. The Deceivers, usually in a lovely human disguise, are preying on young women about town and draining them until they are dead. With a miniature from her late mother, she soon learns that Deceivers are visible to her, and that she, too, is a Reclaimer.

Only the ill-reputed Lord Carlston is able to teach Helen the ways of the Reclaimer world. As he does, he introduces her into the underbelly of London’s Dark Days Club; a club devoted to wiping out the cabal of demons attacking souls around the city. While they work together to recognize Helen’s full potential, there is a flurry of mystery around them and sparks begin to fly. Propriety is soon the last thing on Lady Helen’s mind.

Alison Goodman creates a Regency England that is dark, rich, and addictive. Her world-building is exactly on-point and the characters come to life right off the pages. Soon you are lost in the whirlwind of balls, gowns, and fighting demons. Helen is a fantastic protagonist and is easy to fall in love with. You will find yourself relating to her struggles and rooting for her to come out on top.

The only downside to this novel is that it will be a full year before the sequel is released!