#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER - A powder keg of dark secrets and mind-bending puzzles, this must-read thriller is "addictively suspenseful" (The Washington Post) and "full of atmospheric thrills" (Los Angeles Times)--from the New York Times bestselling author of Night Film.
12 Years
8.2" x 5.5" Paperback
416 Pages
Young Adult Fiction, Thrillers & Suspense
Series Name: Darkly

Description

Book Synopsis

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER - A powder keg of dark secrets and mind-bending puzzles, this must-read thriller is "addictively suspenseful" (The Washington Post) and "full of atmospheric thrills" (Los Angeles Times)--from the New York Times bestselling author of Night Film.
The striking first edition paperback of Darkly will feature sprayed edges with a checkerboard design!
Your favorite game has come to life. And you don't want to find out what happens if you lose...
"Pessl is gargantuan: wildly smart, extremely surprising, a wordsmith, a queen. Read her." --E. Lockhart, #1 New York Times bestselling author of We Were Liars
A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Arcadia "Dia" Gannon has been obsessed with Louisiana Veda, the game designer whose obsessive creations and company, Darkly, have gained a cultlike following. Dia is shocked when she's chosen for a highly-coveted internship, along with six other teenagers from around the world. Why her? Dia has never won anything in her life.

Darkly, once a game-making empire renowned for its ingenious and utterly terrifying toys and games, now lies dormant after Veda's mysterious death. The remaining games are priced like rare works of art, with some fetching millions of dollars at auction.

As Dia and her fellow interns delve into the heart of Darkly, they discover hidden symbols, buried clues, and a web of intrigue. Who are these other teens, and what secrets do they keep? Why were any of them really chosen? The answers lie within the twisted labyrinth of Darkly--a chilling and addictive read by Marisha Pessl.

This summer will be the most twisted Darkly game of all.

"Complex and captivating." --Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows

Review Quotes

"Full of atmospheric thrills." --Los Angeles Times

"[A] crazy, funny, addictively suspenseful story." --The Washington Post

"[A]n engaging plot of puzzles that reveal hidden truths about identity and legacy....At its heart, Darkly is an examination of the objects and the moments that make us, that fuel our pursuits or haunt our visions -- and sometimes what we choose to do with the cards we're given." --USA Today

★ "Like a Darkly game, the whole is mesmerizing, improbable, deeply compelling, and best enjoyed after dark....Roll the die, flip the card: We have a winner." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Twists and connections are satisfying and surprising in this high-stakes thriller by Pessl, who takes familiar YA tropes and turns them on their head using confident prose." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Creative and unique, this is a special treat for readers who wish Jennifer Lynn Barnes's The Inheritance Games had been set in the world of Jumanji." --School Library Journal

"Pessl set forth with an ambitious concept, and the result is thrilling, mysterious, and full of shocking twists through the very last page." --Booklist

"[A] compelling, immersive story that has everything necessary to enthrall careful readers." --The Bulletin

"Darkly's central mystery is tantalizing; it's sure to entice readers who love a puzzle and will reward their efforts with a delicious twist." --BookPage

About the Author

Marisha Pessl is the author of the critically acclaimed young adult novel Neverworld Wake, as well as two New York Times bestsellers: Night Film and Special Topics in Calamity Physics. She lives with her husband and three daughters in New York.

Specifications

Dimensions (Overall): 8.2 Inches (H) x 5.5 Inches (W) x 1.1 Inches (D)

Weight: .9 Pounds

Suggested Age: 12 Years

Number of Pages: 416

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Sub-Genre: Thrillers & Suspense

Series Title: Darkly

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Theme: Psychological

Format: Paperback

Author: Marisha Pessl

Language: English

Street Date: October 28, 2025

TCIN: 1001892768

UPC: 9780593706589

Item Number (DPCI): 247-15-9183

Origin: Made in the USA or Imported

If the item details aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.

Shipping & Returns

Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1.1 inches length x 5.5 inches width x 8.2 inches height

Estimated ship weight: 0.9 pounds

We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.

This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO, Alaska, Hawaii

Return details

This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.

This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, delivered to the guest, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or picked up by the guest.

See the return policy for complete information.