This Safe Darkness (Sols & Shades, #1)
The Hunt was intended to make us an example, not a threat. That changes now.
Thirty-year-old Orelle Bren knows the best way to avoid death is to play by the rules of a society that only values women as wives and wombs. Though it would be nice to reclaim the dream life her ex-husband stole from her, Orelle would gladly settle for a loveless engagement that exempts her from being among the ten unwed, childless women drafted for the annual Hunt.
It's supposed to be an honor, being selected to leave their underground utopia to eliminate the Sols-humans who've been mutated with corrupt magic by exposure to the sun.
But Orelle knows it's a glorified death sentence, especially for someone who's already in a daily battle with their own body.
When her desperate attempts at enticement fail and she's cast above into the fatal world of light, an unexpected ally challenges Orelle to find a new dream of living-and maybe even loving-out of spite. To do that, there are few lines she won't cross to uncover the true monsters before becoming one herself, or something even worse: prey.
This Safe Darkness is a romantic dystopian fantasy and the first book in the Sols & Shades duology that follows a disabled woman fighting to live out of spite in the deadly world of light after her eviction from the underground haven.
A weaponized lottery, circadian rhythm magic system, and slow-burn romantic sub-plot that'll make you writhe over a simple wrist touch make this the perfect read for fans of The Hunger Games, The Handmaid's Tale, Blood Over Bright Haven, and Gild.
338 pages
English edition · First published 2026 by Foreword Books LLC · ISBN 9798993362342
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Ratings and reviews
☀️🌒 𝓐 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 𝓑𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓾𝓷 🌒☀️ <i>In a world where the sun has turned deadly, people have been forced to live underground, building a society shaped by strict rules… especially for women. Orelle has spent years learning how to survive within those expectations, even if it means settling for a life that doesn’t quite feel like her own. At thirty, all she really wants is something stable, something safe enough to keep her out of danger. Because every year, women like her are chosen for the Hunt, sent above ground to face creatures altered by the sun… and very few make it back. When Orelle is forced into that fate herself, survival becomes something much harsher than simply following the rules. Thrown into a world that was never meant to sustain her, she’s pushed to her limits and forced to confront not only what’s waiting for her above… but also everything she’s been taught to accept below.</i> This was one of those books I ended up flying through without even realizing it. The pacing made it so easy to stay hooked, and I was genuinely invested from early on. It’s the kind of read that just pulls you in and keeps you turning pages. The concept itself was really interesting. I'm intrigued by anything with underground societies and survival elements, and this had such a strong foundation. I also really liked the underlying themes about women’s roles in society and the frustration that comes with that. It added an extra layer to the story that made it feel more impactful. I also appreciated having an older FMC. It didn’t necessarily make her more relatable for me, but it was refreshing to see someone in her 30s at the center of the story, which we don’t get nearly enough of. But the romance didn’t fully work for me. It felt like it appeared out of nowhere, and I never really got the buildup I was hoping for. I wish it had been developed a bit more, because it could have felt much more natural and convincing. I did enjoy some of the relationships Orelle forms along the way, though. I think those added a nice emotional layer to the story and made certain moments hit a bit harder. I also found myself wishing the worldbuilding had been explored a bit more. The ideas are definitely there, and they’re interesting, but I wanted a little more depth to fully bring everything to life. That being said, since this is the start of a series, I’m hoping it expands more in the next book. Overall, I came away from this feeling… pleasantly surprised. It’s not a perfect read, but it was engaging, fast-paced, and had enough going for it that I’m definitely interested in continuing. Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5
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