When Candles Fall – Book Review
A dark post-apocalyptic fairy tale in which monsters are real
Fairy tales don’t always start with castles and princes, or have happy endings. Sometimes they begin when the world is already broken. I was very intrigued by the concept of this story, and super grateful to get a review copy. Let’s talk about it (spoiler-free, as always).
Dennis Doucet’s When Candles Fall is a grim, imaginative twist on the familiar fairy-tale quest: a young princess forced from her kingdom must survive a dangerous wasteland and fight to reclaim what was taken from her.
Elizabeth Clarke has spent her life preparing to rule the last known civilization in a world constructed from the ruins of our own. When Inquisitor Alexandra Monroe murders her father and usurps the throne, she throws Elizabeth into the lawless wilds known as the Black. What follows is a desperate odyssey of ruthless enemies, unsettling horrors, and the kind of unlikely allies that can make-or-break a mission.
This is a dark fantasy. It hits you with some tough stuff within the first few pages, so don’t go into it expecting a fluffy fantasy. It’s hard-hitting. Raw. Visceral. And a unique blending of two of my favorite genres.
A premise that combines post-apocalyptic peril with old-school fantasy elements in a way that feels particularly unique. There is an exiled princess, a stolen throne, a perilous quest, and a band of unlikely companions, but instead of enchanted forests and dragons, readers will find rusted metal, cannibals, fanatics, bandits, and a world where survival is never guaranteed.
On the surface, When Candles Fall seems to be a story about resilience, ambition and what happens to someone groomed for power when they have to find out who they are without its protection. Elizabeth’s journey is a darker “once upon a time,” where hope and terror live hand in hand. It’s not an easy journey, but it’s an interesting one, for sure.
I found myself rooting for Elizabeth pretty much from as soon as I met her. I wanted to be skeptical of Joshua but he won me over with his heart of gold.
It’s written in multi-POV with chapters from Elizabeth, Hector, Joshua, Torg, and Charlie. There are 60 chapters total, and I felt the chapter breaks were nicely organized. The pacing of the plot worked well, allowing the story to move faster where it needed to, and slow down when needed for the reader.
All in all, I give it high marks in all areas. I didn’t want to put it down, and found myself turning pages late into the night just to see what happens next.
If you like dark fantasy, dystopian fiction, survival adventures, and fairy tales with an edge, then add this one to your reading list. As a debut novel, I was impressed and would read more from this author.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle editions. Now on Kindle Unlimited. When Candles Fall: A Post-Apocalyptic Fairy Tale