When darkness means certain death and survival depends on reaching the dawn, the woman whose magic broke the world will carve another path: defy the dusk.

From the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom comes the first book in The Sundering duet - a gritty post-apocalyptic fantasy duology.

In the Sundered world, there are two options: ride the dawn, or face what rises in the night.

Twenty years ago, Lirien’s magic fractured the world and unleashed nocturnal creatures that brought civilization to its knees. Amidst the carnage came salvation: the most powerful survivors were invited to board Dawnrider, a high-speed rig that will deliver those aboard into a new era.

The rest of humanity was left to die.

Instead, a king rose from the darkness to lead them.

In the years since, Lirien has dedicated her magic to Dawnrider while secretly plotting to overthrow the tyrant who rules the rig with an iron fist. But just as Lirien is ready to strike against him, she is violently abducted by Vox—the king of the feralists.

The mercurial Vox gives her two choices: Fight the creatures that hunt the night or be fed to them. Lirien agrees to join his ranks but embarks on a strategy of seduction that will return her to Dawnrider.

Yet as Vox pushes the limits of her magic, Lirien begins to question whether defying the dusk is the true path to salvation. Intoxicated by both Vox and his war against the night, Lirien must decide where her loyalties truly lie—and how far she’s willing to go for redemption.

“Propulsive and unstoppable, Defy the Dusk is a furious machine of a book, with a tremendous heart at its core.” Victoria Aveyard, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Tempest

“The stakes couldn’t be higher in Defy the Dusk, an action-packed post-apocalyptic fantasy where the dark is deadly. Nobody writes enemies to lovers (and back again!) like Danielle L. Jensen.”—Jennifer Estep, New York Times bestselling author of Queen of Foxes

“Fantasy fans, this is a must-read. A fresh, gritty, high-octane world is the perfect backdrop for a memorable cast locked in a fight for survival that is sure to grip readers from the first page.”— Elise Kova, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Arcana Academy

“Defy the Dusk has all my favorite things: found family, wickedly great worldbuilding, and a hero and heroine having a sexy good time (with some murder on the side!).”— New York Times bestselling author Katee Robert

“This is a thrilling post-apocalyptic fantasy set in a brutal world where monsters rule the night, and the only way to survive is to outrun them. Between the nonstop action and the angsty forbidden romance, I had to keep turning the page.”— Demi Winters, New York Times bestselling author of The Ashen series

© Danielle L. Jensen 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026