The Darkness Within Us

by Tricia Levenseller

Overview

A #1 New York Times-Bestseller!

A USA Today-Bestseller!

An Indie Bestseller!

A Goodreads Choice Award Nominee!

“A delicious fantasy full of tension, treachery, and highly addictive romance.” ―Stephanie Garber, # 1 New York Times-bestselling author of Caraval

Chrysantha Stathos has won.

By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, she has become a wealthy duchess. And, once her elderly husband dies, she will have all the freedom, money, and safety she’s ever wanted.

Or so she thought.

A man claiming to be the estranged grandson of Chrysantha’s lecherous late husband has turned up to steal her inheritance. To make matters worse, her little sister is going to be queen and is rubbing it in her face.

Chrysantha decides that the only thing to do is upstage Alessandra at her own wedding. And as for this grandson, he has to go. Never mind that he’s extremely handsome and secretive with mysterious powers . . . No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants.

Featuring spray-painted and stenciled edges, The Darkness Within Us is a wickedly delightful companion novel to Tricia Levenseller's The Shadows Between Us.

The Darkness Within Us is perfect for readers who love:

- Enemies to Lovers

- Ambitious, Morally Grey Heroines

- Unputdownable Romantasy

- Gorgeous Bookshelfs

- Rebecca Ross Books

- Lauren Roberts Books

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250840783
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	01/27/2026
Series:	The Stathos Sisters
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.38(w) x 8.25(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Tricia Levenseller is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Darkness Within Us and several other YA romantasy novels, including Daughter of the Pirate King. Tricia grew up in Oregon, where she spent her childhood climbing trees and playing make believe. She now lives in Utah with her bossy dog, Rosy, where she writes full time. When she’s not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing video games, and finding tasty restaurants to frequent.

Editorial Reviews

The Darkness Within Us:

“The Darkness Within Us features a clever and deadly heroine who is just as much a beauty as a beast. Fans of Alessandra are sure to fall just as hard for Chrysantha.” —Kathryn Purdie, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Bone Crier’s Moon and The Forest Grimm

"Chrysantha’s and Eryx’s wickedly charming personalities clash in the most pleasing and seductive ways ...Banter and sexual tension abound in this enjoyable enemies-to-lovers fantasy." —Kirkus

"Levenseller has an exceptional grasp of banter and seduction ... A wickedly good time." —School LIbrary Journal

The Shadows Between Us:

"Dark, mesmerizing, and completely addictive. With a gripping mystery and layered characters, it's a glittering tale of love and the pursuit of power. Put simply: it's the Slytherin romance we've all been waiting for." —Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times- and USA Today-bestselling author of Stalking Jack the Ripper

“A decadent and wickedly addictive fantasy, full of schemes and court intrigue, and delightful descriptions of food, which I am always a fan of.” —Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series

“A wickedly fun romp with corsets and jeweled daggers … The Shadows Between Us will heat up the page—and your heart.” —Emily R. King, author of The Hundredth Queen Series

"A viciously satisfying romance featuring two well-matched opponents." —Booklist

Daughter of the Pirate King:

“With a cunning plot, robust writing, and complicated characters, any reader will enjoy being manipulated in Levenseller's capable hands." —Anna Banks, author of the New York Times-bestseller Of Triton

"Levenseller makes an impressive debut with this funny, fast-paced, and romance-dashed nautical fantasy, set in an alternate world of pirates, sirens, and myriad islands....This one’s not to be missed." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"True adventure with swashbuckling, sword fighting, and a great problem-solving heroine." —School Library Journal

"A rip-roaring high seas escapade with a tinge of fantasy, Daughter of the Pirate King will engage and enthrall its teen audience." —Shelf Awareness

From the Publisher

2024-04-05
The underestimated sister of a soon-to-be queen has her own tale to tell in this companion novel to Levenseller’s The Shadows Between Us (2020).

Nineteen-year-old Chrysantha and her younger sister, Alessandra, who’s the fiancee of the Shadow King, don’t have the best relationship. Chrysantha has always been jealous of how easily Alessandra achieves success, while Alessandra thinks Chrysantha is a fool. For her part, Chrysantha uses this reputation as a facade and a means to an end while she patiently awaits the demise of her lewd—and wealthy—husband, the Duke of Pholios. With Chrysantha’s assistance, the 64-year-old duke dies, allowing his widow to drop the charade and focus on being independent and spending money according to her own whims and desires. That is, until distractingly handsome 18-year-old Eryx Demos arrives, claiming to be her late husband’s heir who’s ready to take control of the estate. Combining her objectives of outshining Alessandra at her royal wedding with enjoying some captivating arm candy and gaining Eryx’s trust in order to stab him in the back, Chrysantha takes up the job of molding Eryx into a proper duke. Chrysantha’s and Eryx’s wickedly charming personalities clash in the most pleasing and seductive ways, so that even though the plot feels repetitive at times, there’s still much to delight in. Chrysantha’s skin is “dark beige”; Eryx is “tanned” and has “tawny-brown hair.”

Banter and sexual tension abound in this enjoyable enemies-to-lovers fantasy. (Fantasy romance. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews