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Marked Souls #4
Darkness Undone
The war between good and evil has raged for millennia, and as a powerful new enemy ascends, the Marked Souls are pushed to the ragged edge…
Sidney Westerbrook has always studied darkness and damnation from a sensible distance. Now, to earn his place as a league Bookkeeper, he must discover why Chicago is such a battleground of soul-linked warriors. But the research becomes personal when he finds himself over his head and under attack — and at the mercy of a waif with demon-lit eyes and a deep yearning in her heart.
Alyce Carver has been alone longer than she can remember, battered by the living nightmares that haunt her city. Cornered by yet another gang of demons, she unwittingly joins forces with a handsome scholar who can salvage her past, and she in turn may be the key to his investigations. But she won’t let him go until he shows her everything she’s been missing.
What begins as an experiment in possession becomes a trial by desire so powerful it threatens both their lives, even as it binds their souls.
Sidney Westerbrook has always studied darkness and damnation from a sensible distance. Now, to earn his place as a league Bookkeeper, he must discover why Chicago is such a battleground of soul-linked warriors. But the research becomes personal when he finds himself over his head and under attack — and at the mercy of a waif with demon-lit eyes and a deep yearning in her heart.
Alyce Carver has been alone longer than she can remember, battered by the living nightmares that haunt her city. Cornered by yet another gang of demons, she unwittingly joins forces with a handsome scholar who can salvage her past, and she in turn may be the key to his investigations. But she won’t let him go until he shows her everything she’s been missing.
What begins as an experiment in possession becomes a trial by desire so powerful it threatens both their lives, even as it binds their souls.
373 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
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Jessa Slade
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"Wonderfully addictive!"
~New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter
“Dark and sexy and intense."
~New York Times Bestselling Author Nalini Singh
“[F]or readers who love J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, the Marked Souls series will hit the spot."
~RT BOOK Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 28, 2012
Alyce Carver is possessed by a repentant demon. She was possessed in of the Salem Witch Trails. Alyce was very fragil because of the demon possssion, so to protect her the demon repressed her memories. When Alyce went to doctors for help because she thought she was crazy due to her seeing devils. So now she hides during the day and at night she ventures out to kill ferales which she refers to as devils. When Alyce tracks a group of ferales to an alley she is in for a surprise. She finds a human man trying to fight the ferales and losing. While she is trying to fight, he keeps trying to protect her so she knocks him out. After she kills the ferales she takes the stranger to her nearest hidey-hole so that she can care for him. Because there is something about him that not only draws her but also her demon.
Sidney Westerbhrook has been sent to the Chicago based league of talyan, to look into the rumor of female talyas who are bonding with the warriors. Each mated pair fight together, it seems that together they are stronger than if they fight alone. The biggest huddle that Sidney will have to overcome is the fact that the last bookkeeper betrayed them so their trust will be hard to earn. On Sidneys' first night in Chicago he wants to go out with the warriors while they hunt. But they tell him to stay in and rest from his jouney. Sidney goes out anyway and he finds himself facing off against a group of ferales.
This is the fourth installment of Ms Slade's Marked Souls series. This is a great story. You have a love that seems like it is doomed before it even gets started. This story is full of romance and plenty of action. I have enjoyed this series from the start and each book just keeps getting better.
Sidney Westerbhrook has been sent to the Chicago based league of talyan, to look into the rumor of female talyas who are bonding with the warriors. Each mated pair fight together, it seems that together they are stronger than if they fight alone. The biggest huddle that Sidney will have to overcome is the fact that the last bookkeeper betrayed them so their trust will be hard to earn. On Sidneys' first night in Chicago he wants to go out with the warriors while they hunt. But they tell him to stay in and rest from his jouney. Sidney goes out anyway and he finds himself facing off against a group of ferales.
This is the fourth installment of Ms Slade's Marked Souls series. This is a great story. You have a love that seems like it is doomed before it even gets started. This story is full of romance and plenty of action. I have enjoyed this series from the start and each book just keeps getting better.
March 7, 2012
I get to talk about the newest Marked Souls book!!!!! This series, I might or might not have mentioned, is on my very short list of series with a world that makes me want to day dream. I’m the first to admit that it’s had it’s ups and downs with me. I still, to this day, would cheer on someone punching Archer in the balls, but the series as a whole rocks. I think one of the things I like, beyond the nuts and bolts of what makes up this series, is the idea that, sure the characters might have the unique skills to help them overcome, but ultimately they need love to conquer the great evil. Without that very important factor, they probably wouldn’t win. It’s an intangible weapon the big bad guys can’t fight against.
Following Vowed in Shadows is a hard task. The third book in this series scared me, because the hero could have been a hard sell. But, I think it might be my favorite in the series. That said, I really enjoyed Darkness Undone! You had the same elements that I love about this series, a well developed world, a tortured alpha hero and a heroine who deserved to be loved. Oh, and there’s huge danger and possibly world domination at stake should they fail.
This series focuses on the perpetual battle of good and evil. Specifically, these books deal with demons seeking redemption through possessing a person and molding them to be an immortal, damned warrior. The battle has always been on a small scale, fighting the evils of some lesser demonic creatures, but within the context of these books, the balance is changing. Where the ranks of the talya, the term used to describe the warriors, have always been male, they are acquiring female talya. Not only that, but they have the audacity to bond with a male talya and form a new weapon. One the talya don’t know how to handle anymore because female talya have been gone for ages.
I was really excited when I learned that this book would be looking into the dark corners of the Marked Soul’s world, and take a glimpse at the rouge talya. They’ve been mentioned in the previous books, but you didn’t see any. Until now. *insert appropriate suspenseful music* Alyce, unlike other talya, has been alone since accepting her demon, or teshuva as the repentant ones are called. I love the heroines in this series. They’re each different. In book one you had Sela, who despite arguing so much I wanted someone to duct tape her mouth shut, is a take charge kind of heroine. In book two, you had Jilly, who kicked ass and took names. In book three, there was Nim, who accepted her new life and motored on better than the men. I didn’t know what to expect from Alyce, but I was in love with her after the first ten pages.
Despite being hundreds of years old, Alyce is still innocent and naïve and a complete bad ass. I always love a character who owns who they are, and Alyce does that. She sees what she wants, accepts that she can be better and goes after it. She might be my new favorite heroine of the series. Read the first fight scene, and tell me if you aren’t blown away by her bad self.
Sidney, for all that he steps onto the scene as the league’s new Bookkeeper, is a talya fighter. Can I just say here that I have this mental image of David Tennant playing a variation of Dr Who as Sidney? The book opens with him, and you get a real punch of his dry, English sense of humor. This isn’t a story comment, but the way his POV was written came off to me, as so very British. I was tickled.
In a lot of ways Sid follows the mold of the heroes. He has some deep, dark guilt that holds him back, which inevitably makes him who he is for the story. He runs away from the relationship, doing perhaps irreversible harm to his intended woman, and blunders around a bit. I liked Sidney, maybe because I’ve been wanting a bookish kind of hero, that could also slay monsters.
As with all of the Marked Souls books, they deal with the ongoing battle of Heaven vs Hell. This is the first book that faces a new antagonist, so I was curious about where this was going. I’ll say, I couldn’t quite decide who the big bad guy was going to ultimately be. There are henchmen, a big boss trouble maker that might make everyone miserable in the future, and a villain the talya must vanquish.
Unlike the other books, Darkness Undone didn’t spend a lot of time explaining the terms and background like they what transpired in the first three books. The characters are already familiar with the world, but it is difficult to pick up all the nuances after not reading the other books for so long. So, reference the glossary if you need to. There are some events that you know will happen at certain points in the story, because that’s where they’ve happened thereabouts in the other books, so there is some predictability there. But! I think that’s some of the beauty of these books. They’re dark and gritty, and still cling to this idea that love is a weapon.
I gave Darkness Undone 4 stars, because it’s a great continuation of the series. I’m excited to see where it’s going to go next. You get a heroine who is different, and a hero you swoon for.
Following Vowed in Shadows is a hard task. The third book in this series scared me, because the hero could have been a hard sell. But, I think it might be my favorite in the series. That said, I really enjoyed Darkness Undone! You had the same elements that I love about this series, a well developed world, a tortured alpha hero and a heroine who deserved to be loved. Oh, and there’s huge danger and possibly world domination at stake should they fail.
This series focuses on the perpetual battle of good and evil. Specifically, these books deal with demons seeking redemption through possessing a person and molding them to be an immortal, damned warrior. The battle has always been on a small scale, fighting the evils of some lesser demonic creatures, but within the context of these books, the balance is changing. Where the ranks of the talya, the term used to describe the warriors, have always been male, they are acquiring female talya. Not only that, but they have the audacity to bond with a male talya and form a new weapon. One the talya don’t know how to handle anymore because female talya have been gone for ages.
I was really excited when I learned that this book would be looking into the dark corners of the Marked Soul’s world, and take a glimpse at the rouge talya. They’ve been mentioned in the previous books, but you didn’t see any. Until now. *insert appropriate suspenseful music* Alyce, unlike other talya, has been alone since accepting her demon, or teshuva as the repentant ones are called. I love the heroines in this series. They’re each different. In book one you had Sela, who despite arguing so much I wanted someone to duct tape her mouth shut, is a take charge kind of heroine. In book two, you had Jilly, who kicked ass and took names. In book three, there was Nim, who accepted her new life and motored on better than the men. I didn’t know what to expect from Alyce, but I was in love with her after the first ten pages.
Despite being hundreds of years old, Alyce is still innocent and naïve and a complete bad ass. I always love a character who owns who they are, and Alyce does that. She sees what she wants, accepts that she can be better and goes after it. She might be my new favorite heroine of the series. Read the first fight scene, and tell me if you aren’t blown away by her bad self.
Sidney, for all that he steps onto the scene as the league’s new Bookkeeper, is a talya fighter. Can I just say here that I have this mental image of David Tennant playing a variation of Dr Who as Sidney? The book opens with him, and you get a real punch of his dry, English sense of humor. This isn’t a story comment, but the way his POV was written came off to me, as so very British. I was tickled.
In a lot of ways Sid follows the mold of the heroes. He has some deep, dark guilt that holds him back, which inevitably makes him who he is for the story. He runs away from the relationship, doing perhaps irreversible harm to his intended woman, and blunders around a bit. I liked Sidney, maybe because I’ve been wanting a bookish kind of hero, that could also slay monsters.
As with all of the Marked Souls books, they deal with the ongoing battle of Heaven vs Hell. This is the first book that faces a new antagonist, so I was curious about where this was going. I’ll say, I couldn’t quite decide who the big bad guy was going to ultimately be. There are henchmen, a big boss trouble maker that might make everyone miserable in the future, and a villain the talya must vanquish.
Unlike the other books, Darkness Undone didn’t spend a lot of time explaining the terms and background like they what transpired in the first three books. The characters are already familiar with the world, but it is difficult to pick up all the nuances after not reading the other books for so long. So, reference the glossary if you need to. There are some events that you know will happen at certain points in the story, because that’s where they’ve happened thereabouts in the other books, so there is some predictability there. But! I think that’s some of the beauty of these books. They’re dark and gritty, and still cling to this idea that love is a weapon.
I gave Darkness Undone 4 stars, because it’s a great continuation of the series. I’m excited to see where it’s going to go next. You get a heroine who is different, and a hero you swoon for.
March 5, 2012
You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2012/03/...
This is the first book I’ve read by Jessa Slade (I know, shame on me), and all I can say is…wow! Sidney Westerbrook, fresh from London, a bit stiff in his tweeds, is attacked by lesser demons in a rather dark Chicago alley. Along comes the lovely Alyce Carver, feral, wild, and unearthly, and rescues him from almost certain death. All I could think of during her fight with the demons was the fight between River and the Reavers in Serenity (if you haven’t seen that movie, download it, buy it, whatever you need to do), but I digress. I couldn’t help comparing Alyce with River during the entire novel, and it really endeared her to me. She very old, yet she was never properly bonded with her demon, resulting in certain…oddities. Lots of divergent traits, our Alyce has. These oddities are something that Sid is happy to research, since he is to be the Chicago League’s temporary Bookkeeper. What is a Bookkeeper in this case, you might ask? Well, each member of the League is possessed by a repentant demon, or teshuva. They’ve taken on the responsibility to protect their respective areas from lesser demons. The problem is that Sid is inexplicably drawn to Alyce, but he’s determined to maintain his distance. After all, his job is to catalog the history and traits of the talyan and their mates, from a distance. You can bet that’s not gonna happen, but it’s not for his lack of trying…
Darkness Undone knocked my socks off. Yes, it’s the 4th in the Marked Souls series, and since it’s the first one I read, I had a bit of catching up to do, but that’s ok. It was very easy to get attached to each member of the League and especially our main couple, Alyce and Sidney. Well, it was easy to love Alyce. Sid took a bit longer:-D Ahh, Sid. It’s fairly likely you’ll want to slap him more than a few times as you read Darkness Undone. His resistance to love is eye-rolling at times, but he has his reasons. You’ll still want to shake him though, hard. Jessa Slade has created a rich, dark, complex world and populated it with equally complex characters. Luckily, she included a handy glossary in the back. Don’t let that scare you. It’s a pretty short list, and if this is your first read from her, you’ll only have to consult it once or twice. Seriously, her world of possessed humans is all her own. The light of the talyan is counteracted by the darkness of the djinn-men, or humans possessed by not-so-nice angels, and she introduces a villain, Thorne, that you find is not all black and white. He’s pretty firmly in the grey zone, and I found myself sympathizing with him at different points. Don’t worry though, he commits plenty of nasty.
The romance between Sid and Alyce is everything I like in my love stories: lots of push and pull, frustration, cold shoulders, resistance, desire, and plenty of heat. Kick ass fight scenes punctuate this wonderful book, and did I mention the writing is top notch? I didn’t? Well, it is, and Alyce has a dry wit that will delight you, and frankly, make you want to give her a hug. Exploring her mysterious past and mining her relationship with Sid and the League was a delight, and I can’t wait to return to this wonderful world. This series will appeal to Urban Fantasy and Paranormal fans alike, and it’s a must for your bookshelf. I’ll be devouring books 1 through 3, like, now, and will count the days until the next one!
This is the first book I’ve read by Jessa Slade (I know, shame on me), and all I can say is…wow! Sidney Westerbrook, fresh from London, a bit stiff in his tweeds, is attacked by lesser demons in a rather dark Chicago alley. Along comes the lovely Alyce Carver, feral, wild, and unearthly, and rescues him from almost certain death. All I could think of during her fight with the demons was the fight between River and the Reavers in Serenity (if you haven’t seen that movie, download it, buy it, whatever you need to do), but I digress. I couldn’t help comparing Alyce with River during the entire novel, and it really endeared her to me. She very old, yet she was never properly bonded with her demon, resulting in certain…oddities. Lots of divergent traits, our Alyce has. These oddities are something that Sid is happy to research, since he is to be the Chicago League’s temporary Bookkeeper. What is a Bookkeeper in this case, you might ask? Well, each member of the League is possessed by a repentant demon, or teshuva. They’ve taken on the responsibility to protect their respective areas from lesser demons. The problem is that Sid is inexplicably drawn to Alyce, but he’s determined to maintain his distance. After all, his job is to catalog the history and traits of the talyan and their mates, from a distance. You can bet that’s not gonna happen, but it’s not for his lack of trying…
Darkness Undone knocked my socks off. Yes, it’s the 4th in the Marked Souls series, and since it’s the first one I read, I had a bit of catching up to do, but that’s ok. It was very easy to get attached to each member of the League and especially our main couple, Alyce and Sidney. Well, it was easy to love Alyce. Sid took a bit longer:-D Ahh, Sid. It’s fairly likely you’ll want to slap him more than a few times as you read Darkness Undone. His resistance to love is eye-rolling at times, but he has his reasons. You’ll still want to shake him though, hard. Jessa Slade has created a rich, dark, complex world and populated it with equally complex characters. Luckily, she included a handy glossary in the back. Don’t let that scare you. It’s a pretty short list, and if this is your first read from her, you’ll only have to consult it once or twice. Seriously, her world of possessed humans is all her own. The light of the talyan is counteracted by the darkness of the djinn-men, or humans possessed by not-so-nice angels, and she introduces a villain, Thorne, that you find is not all black and white. He’s pretty firmly in the grey zone, and I found myself sympathizing with him at different points. Don’t worry though, he commits plenty of nasty.
The romance between Sid and Alyce is everything I like in my love stories: lots of push and pull, frustration, cold shoulders, resistance, desire, and plenty of heat. Kick ass fight scenes punctuate this wonderful book, and did I mention the writing is top notch? I didn’t? Well, it is, and Alyce has a dry wit that will delight you, and frankly, make you want to give her a hug. Exploring her mysterious past and mining her relationship with Sid and the League was a delight, and I can’t wait to return to this wonderful world. This series will appeal to Urban Fantasy and Paranormal fans alike, and it’s a must for your bookshelf. I’ll be devouring books 1 through 3, like, now, and will count the days until the next one!
March 11, 2012
Darkness Undone by Jessa Slade
Paranormal Romance –March 6th, 2012
4 ½ stars
In Darkness Undone, Jessa Slade continues her Marked Souls series with an unlikely and bookish hero and a fragile appearing heroine with a lost memory.
Sidney Westerbrook is on a mission to prove himself to his esteemed father - a Bookkeeper for the Marked in London. But Sidney soon finds himself finds himself caught up in more than recordkeeping when he unexpectedly meets a new and undocumented talya named Alyce who is demons possessed. But Alyce does not know her history or what she is! The only thing she knows is that she has survived mental and physical abuses. When she sees Sidney, she instantly realizes that he is the key to her sanity. However, Sidney is merely human and Alyce is a prize for the other demon possessed men. Although Sidney is extremely attracted to Alyce, he knows she is better off away from him. Still, he will do his best to help her uncover her past and integrate with the rest of the Marked.
This was a stellar novel. I was really taken by the humble and earnest Sidney. He wants to prove himself but feels a bit intimidated by the powerful men he works with. When he finds and befriends Alyce, he is amazed at how much he likes her and how much she likes him! Alyce appears at first to be a sweet, naïve, lost orphan. You want her to find her past and put the pieces of her life together. Sidney seems to the best companion because he is bookish and not intimidating, and Alyce knows she can really take care of herself. It was fun to read the ‘small’ and fragile looking Alyce be a bit of the aggressor as she tries to seduce Sidney. But this is because she feels safe and connected to him, and poor Sidney keeps trying to fight his attraction to her. However, Sidney has surprises and depths of his own which make this story more complex. This book is definitely not what is seems from the beginning!
Two characters embarking on a journey of self-discovery, passion and the fight against evil make for absorbing and powerful reading.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Paranormal Romance –March 6th, 2012
4 ½ stars
In Darkness Undone, Jessa Slade continues her Marked Souls series with an unlikely and bookish hero and a fragile appearing heroine with a lost memory.
Sidney Westerbrook is on a mission to prove himself to his esteemed father - a Bookkeeper for the Marked in London. But Sidney soon finds himself finds himself caught up in more than recordkeeping when he unexpectedly meets a new and undocumented talya named Alyce who is demons possessed. But Alyce does not know her history or what she is! The only thing she knows is that she has survived mental and physical abuses. When she sees Sidney, she instantly realizes that he is the key to her sanity. However, Sidney is merely human and Alyce is a prize for the other demon possessed men. Although Sidney is extremely attracted to Alyce, he knows she is better off away from him. Still, he will do his best to help her uncover her past and integrate with the rest of the Marked.
This was a stellar novel. I was really taken by the humble and earnest Sidney. He wants to prove himself but feels a bit intimidated by the powerful men he works with. When he finds and befriends Alyce, he is amazed at how much he likes her and how much she likes him! Alyce appears at first to be a sweet, naïve, lost orphan. You want her to find her past and put the pieces of her life together. Sidney seems to the best companion because he is bookish and not intimidating, and Alyce knows she can really take care of herself. It was fun to read the ‘small’ and fragile looking Alyce be a bit of the aggressor as she tries to seduce Sidney. But this is because she feels safe and connected to him, and poor Sidney keeps trying to fight his attraction to her. However, Sidney has surprises and depths of his own which make this story more complex. This book is definitely not what is seems from the beginning!
Two characters embarking on a journey of self-discovery, passion and the fight against evil make for absorbing and powerful reading.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
March 12, 2012
Darkness Undone is book four in Jessa Slade’s Marked Souls series and she works her magic once again. Leave it to Jessa Slade to draw us in, intrigue us with her gritty urban fantasy, get us addicted to those all powerful Alpha Males, tease us with little bits of Darkness Undone, then to give us this wonderful tilt.
In Darkness we Meet Sidney Westerbrook a trained observer, one who knows how to put his emotion to the side, a geek, in short a bookkeeper. From the beginning we know Sid is not your average Alpha Male we see in the Talyans, for starters, he is human. Sent from London to work as Chicago’s temporary bookkeeper and just a wee bit arrogant and condescending when it comes to the Talyans.. He knows his place and is all set to take over as London’s bookkeeper as soon as his father steps down. He has come to Chicago with his own agenda, he wants to observe the bonding between male and female talyans. He wants to see what causes it and what it does to the talyans and most of all he wants to figure out why it is only happening in Chicago. For all his superiority, the Chicago team really doesn’t want him there. They know he has his own agenda and feels they are the wild cards of the talyan nation..
On Sid’s first night in Chicago, he is sent to his room like the good little bookkeeper they want him to be. After all, why should they trust a bookkeeper? There last one betrayed them, emmbezzled from them and destroyed archives. Add that to his obvious attitude, why ever would they want him around? Sid of course has a curious mind, sitting alone in his room is not what he came for so off he goes, wandering the streets of Chicago. Typical overly intelligent person, smart as can be but the common sense of a turnip. I mean face it, it’s like the blond who goes into the basement in the spooky house when she hears something.. You just know he is gonna die!!
Alyce, a tiny spitfire of a rogue talyan has been running around Chicago, hiding in cubby’s and fighting demons for years. Not remembering where she came from, even who she is, she is lost, constantly starving and her only “friend” is a Djinn man... One night she happens upon a man who is under attack and she saves him. The thing is, he sees her, really sees her. He knows what she is and how she became what she is. The problem is he wants to take her to others “like her” he wants to teach her on his terms. How could a girl not fall for such a man. Still, she is cautious and afraid not wanting to trust anyone but Sid. This quiet, determined woman, just out of adolesence wants nothing to do with anyone but Sid.
Sid and Alyce have to learn to accept who they are and what they are. Where they stand in the world of Talyans and Demons.. Sid must face his family dynamics, the attitude of the Talyans and the fact that he can not live an isolated existance. He is a man who was born to love with an intensity no one expects (isn’t it always the sexy nerds who surpirse you? Still waters and all that). Alyce has to learn to trust people, to know that others fight the same fight and that she is not alone.
We see bits and pieces of the other Talyans, but the secondary characters that really get your attention are Nanette and Fane .. They learn about loss and who they can really trust. We also meet an intriguing new enemy.. Well a couple of them, one who makes you wonder, can a Djinn become a fighter for good and one who is just deliciously evil. I won’t expound on any of the above cuz well, I am just mean..
While I love the Bad Boy Alpha Male type, in reality I am a sexy nerd kinda girl. There is just something powerful about a quiet man who is intelligent. Not a weak man, a man who focuses on other things.. Oh yeah Sid is sexy, stupid sometimes but oh so sexy. In many ways Alyce is the stronger one of the two. The one who is willing to live and die for what she believes in.
This was a most excellent story a nice twist in the plot and introduces is to an entire slew of possibilities. Normally a transitional book can be dry and oftimes have characters that come off as dull and but Jessa has worked wonders.. She moves the Chicago Talyans into their new battle with humor, style and steam. I really do love this series.. most excellent job Jessa!!
Shauni
Tea and book and Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
In Darkness we Meet Sidney Westerbrook a trained observer, one who knows how to put his emotion to the side, a geek, in short a bookkeeper. From the beginning we know Sid is not your average Alpha Male we see in the Talyans, for starters, he is human. Sent from London to work as Chicago’s temporary bookkeeper and just a wee bit arrogant and condescending when it comes to the Talyans.. He knows his place and is all set to take over as London’s bookkeeper as soon as his father steps down. He has come to Chicago with his own agenda, he wants to observe the bonding between male and female talyans. He wants to see what causes it and what it does to the talyans and most of all he wants to figure out why it is only happening in Chicago. For all his superiority, the Chicago team really doesn’t want him there. They know he has his own agenda and feels they are the wild cards of the talyan nation..
On Sid’s first night in Chicago, he is sent to his room like the good little bookkeeper they want him to be. After all, why should they trust a bookkeeper? There last one betrayed them, emmbezzled from them and destroyed archives. Add that to his obvious attitude, why ever would they want him around? Sid of course has a curious mind, sitting alone in his room is not what he came for so off he goes, wandering the streets of Chicago. Typical overly intelligent person, smart as can be but the common sense of a turnip. I mean face it, it’s like the blond who goes into the basement in the spooky house when she hears something.. You just know he is gonna die!!
Alyce, a tiny spitfire of a rogue talyan has been running around Chicago, hiding in cubby’s and fighting demons for years. Not remembering where she came from, even who she is, she is lost, constantly starving and her only “friend” is a Djinn man... One night she happens upon a man who is under attack and she saves him. The thing is, he sees her, really sees her. He knows what she is and how she became what she is. The problem is he wants to take her to others “like her” he wants to teach her on his terms. How could a girl not fall for such a man. Still, she is cautious and afraid not wanting to trust anyone but Sid. This quiet, determined woman, just out of adolesence wants nothing to do with anyone but Sid.
Sid and Alyce have to learn to accept who they are and what they are. Where they stand in the world of Talyans and Demons.. Sid must face his family dynamics, the attitude of the Talyans and the fact that he can not live an isolated existance. He is a man who was born to love with an intensity no one expects (isn’t it always the sexy nerds who surpirse you? Still waters and all that). Alyce has to learn to trust people, to know that others fight the same fight and that she is not alone.
We see bits and pieces of the other Talyans, but the secondary characters that really get your attention are Nanette and Fane .. They learn about loss and who they can really trust. We also meet an intriguing new enemy.. Well a couple of them, one who makes you wonder, can a Djinn become a fighter for good and one who is just deliciously evil. I won’t expound on any of the above cuz well, I am just mean..
While I love the Bad Boy Alpha Male type, in reality I am a sexy nerd kinda girl. There is just something powerful about a quiet man who is intelligent. Not a weak man, a man who focuses on other things.. Oh yeah Sid is sexy, stupid sometimes but oh so sexy. In many ways Alyce is the stronger one of the two. The one who is willing to live and die for what she believes in.
This was a most excellent story a nice twist in the plot and introduces is to an entire slew of possibilities. Normally a transitional book can be dry and oftimes have characters that come off as dull and but Jessa has worked wonders.. She moves the Chicago Talyans into their new battle with humor, style and steam. I really do love this series.. most excellent job Jessa!!
Shauni
Tea and book and Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
January 7, 2025
For as long as he can remember all the hero ever wanted in life was to be a BookKeeper. As the second born son. however, the secret world of the demon possessed should have remained just that-a secret. But his older brother was disillusioned with the inheritance so with an eager heart, the hero began to take over his training. He fought hard and worked hard to earn the respect of his father but knew that it would take something truly special to finally be accepted by the rest of the coven.
Traveling to America, to Chicago to observe the group of demon possessed first hand and study their history and present, he is met with a cold welcome. Hard to blame the men and woman who fight every night battling evil demons from dismissing the geeky and rather weak hero as an annoyance. Still, on his first night in the big city, fate seems to smile upon him and tosses a rogue possessed female into his path.
Unknown to the rest of his kind and completely ignorant of the world and about herself, the girl immediately clings to him. He in turn is a little disturbed by her sudden and consuming attachment and event though he desires her he treats her as nothing but a bug under his microscope. He's never harsh with her or mean but he has the BookKeeper's detachment. Meaning he sees everything through a filter, never truly experiencing the world as himself. Regardless, he fights hard to see her protected and safe among the other possessed when they start out mistrusting. They've never heard of a possessed individual surviving as long as the heroine did by herself and ignorant of what she's become.
But all her life the heroine was surrounded by good and evil. As a servant in the days of witch burning, she knows that devil's truly exist and she knows that she harbors evil inside of her that compels her to kill other demons but she has no idea what to do with all her powers. As such, her presence causes a disturbance with her new companions and it can only be balanced out by her finding her mate. Too bad the only man she's ever loved, the only one she trust implicitly and with such fierce loyalty, doesn't feel the same about her.
But as the story goes on, the hero finds himself drifting more and more from the role as BookKeeper and deeper into the role of warrior and lover. When he finds himself possessed, it's the final straw and he knows he can never return home, never see his father again. But deep inside he knows that none of this matters because he can never see himself leaving the heroine. Though he restricts his feelings until the very end, at the last he's finally able to admit to himself that all he ever wants to be is the man who loves her.
Another stellar addition to the series and one that sees a different change of pace then the first 2 books i've read. The first major difference in this story is the fact that the hero isn't possessed at first, it's the heroine. And she's a bad ass, bare footed fighter but she's childlike both is her brilliant loving openness towards the hero but also in the fact that she does come across as a little crazy.
The hero, even when he's taken over by his own demon is never truly a warrior in the sense of being like the other hero's but i enjoyed that. He was deeply flawed and rather cold at times. He was an outcast from the others because of his tendency to act superior to them and never taking the time to actually see them. He thought about himself and how the heroine could benefit his rank as a BookKeeper even when she obviously thinks the world of him. But he changes as the story goes on. He becomes less and less a bystander and more involved in the battle surrounding him. And the heroine learns that she's not helping him or herself by being so vulnerable and learns that a man must see what he'll lose if he doesn't step up.
I will say that i didn't LOVE this book as much as I LOVED the first 2 of the series but I found this amazing in it's own right and still highly recommend this author to anyone looking for a more in depth romance novel.
Traveling to America, to Chicago to observe the group of demon possessed first hand and study their history and present, he is met with a cold welcome. Hard to blame the men and woman who fight every night battling evil demons from dismissing the geeky and rather weak hero as an annoyance. Still, on his first night in the big city, fate seems to smile upon him and tosses a rogue possessed female into his path.
Unknown to the rest of his kind and completely ignorant of the world and about herself, the girl immediately clings to him. He in turn is a little disturbed by her sudden and consuming attachment and event though he desires her he treats her as nothing but a bug under his microscope. He's never harsh with her or mean but he has the BookKeeper's detachment. Meaning he sees everything through a filter, never truly experiencing the world as himself. Regardless, he fights hard to see her protected and safe among the other possessed when they start out mistrusting. They've never heard of a possessed individual surviving as long as the heroine did by herself and ignorant of what she's become.
But all her life the heroine was surrounded by good and evil. As a servant in the days of witch burning, she knows that devil's truly exist and she knows that she harbors evil inside of her that compels her to kill other demons but she has no idea what to do with all her powers. As such, her presence causes a disturbance with her new companions and it can only be balanced out by her finding her mate. Too bad the only man she's ever loved, the only one she trust implicitly and with such fierce loyalty, doesn't feel the same about her.
But as the story goes on, the hero finds himself drifting more and more from the role as BookKeeper and deeper into the role of warrior and lover. When he finds himself possessed, it's the final straw and he knows he can never return home, never see his father again. But deep inside he knows that none of this matters because he can never see himself leaving the heroine. Though he restricts his feelings until the very end, at the last he's finally able to admit to himself that all he ever wants to be is the man who loves her.
Another stellar addition to the series and one that sees a different change of pace then the first 2 books i've read. The first major difference in this story is the fact that the hero isn't possessed at first, it's the heroine. And she's a bad ass, bare footed fighter but she's childlike both is her brilliant loving openness towards the hero but also in the fact that she does come across as a little crazy.
The hero, even when he's taken over by his own demon is never truly a warrior in the sense of being like the other hero's but i enjoyed that. He was deeply flawed and rather cold at times. He was an outcast from the others because of his tendency to act superior to them and never taking the time to actually see them. He thought about himself and how the heroine could benefit his rank as a BookKeeper even when she obviously thinks the world of him. But he changes as the story goes on. He becomes less and less a bystander and more involved in the battle surrounding him. And the heroine learns that she's not helping him or herself by being so vulnerable and learns that a man must see what he'll lose if he doesn't step up.
I will say that i didn't LOVE this book as much as I LOVED the first 2 of the series but I found this amazing in it's own right and still highly recommend this author to anyone looking for a more in depth romance novel.
April 20, 2012
I'm giving this one 3 1/2 stars. Much as I like Jessa Slade and this series, I had trouble getting into this one. For the first 1/3 or so of the book, I found it very difficult to get into either of hte lead characters (Sydney, the tempprary bookkeeper from London, and Alyce, the new female talyan). The book did get a lot better somewhere around page 150 - 175 (of an ebook about 320 pages long) which is why I am able to go to the 3 1/2 star rating. Here's why:
Sydney starts out as a fairly uninvolved, unemotional, reserved & withdrawn character with a bit of a superiority complex. Now, keep in mind he is a bookkeeper who has been taught fro mthe get go that he is supposed to be an observer, not a participant and that he needs to be impartial and unemotional in order to report on, learn about, and guide the talyan - and he is from London - so the characterization fits him...it's just not a very interesting read (at least, not to me). He comes across very 2 dimensional and flat to me for the first 150 pages or so. Then something happens to Sydney and things change (gee, aren't you suprised?). He becomes more rounded and he is more interesting at that point. He isn't as flat and boring, nor is he as detached - although he keeps trying to convince himself that he is still uninvolved, detached, and impartial.
Alyce is a long term possessed who knew truely balanced with her teshuva for some unknown reason. She is almost schizophrenic (but not quite), she has little memory, hasn't moved into the current times (let alone the current century), is skittish, and she is very hard to relate to. Then the discovery of why she never and her teshuva never fully intergrated and balanced is figured out, the probelm is fixed and her character becomes far more stable. At this point, the reader can better relate to her. There are two new "big bads" to replace the now dead Corvus so the battle on a more personal front for the talyan continues (rather than just the major "save the world" theme). The talyan only know about one of these new players though - and the end of the story leaves us wondering if we are down to one or if there are still two (probably still two, but it could go either way).
Things do move forward series-wise, the HEA becomes more interesting once we can better relate to the characters (I guess that's a compliment to Jessa Slade that she has written these two characters so well that their personalities makes it difficult to get behind them right away - we feel about the both of them like the rest of talyan do...and that's not an easy thing for a writer to do), and I can't say that I didn't like the book. It just wasn't my favorite and I had trouble getting into it at first (could have been my mood of the moment I suppose) but it wasn't a bad book and if you follow the series, then you really should read it so you understand the changes in the djinn men activity, know who the new "big bads" are and are aware of the potential changes coming down the pike between the talyan and the guardians (yup, there are two or three key scenes around that as well). It's possible to skip this one and still know what's up, but if you can get past the first 1/3 or so of the book, you'll find it's decent the rst of the way through.
Sydney starts out as a fairly uninvolved, unemotional, reserved & withdrawn character with a bit of a superiority complex. Now, keep in mind he is a bookkeeper who has been taught fro mthe get go that he is supposed to be an observer, not a participant and that he needs to be impartial and unemotional in order to report on, learn about, and guide the talyan - and he is from London - so the characterization fits him...it's just not a very interesting read (at least, not to me). He comes across very 2 dimensional and flat to me for the first 150 pages or so. Then something happens to Sydney and things change (gee, aren't you suprised?). He becomes more rounded and he is more interesting at that point. He isn't as flat and boring, nor is he as detached - although he keeps trying to convince himself that he is still uninvolved, detached, and impartial.
Alyce is a long term possessed who knew truely balanced with her teshuva for some unknown reason. She is almost schizophrenic (but not quite), she has little memory, hasn't moved into the current times (let alone the current century), is skittish, and she is very hard to relate to. Then the discovery of why she never and her teshuva never fully intergrated and balanced is figured out, the probelm is fixed and her character becomes far more stable. At this point, the reader can better relate to her. There are two new "big bads" to replace the now dead Corvus so the battle on a more personal front for the talyan continues (rather than just the major "save the world" theme). The talyan only know about one of these new players though - and the end of the story leaves us wondering if we are down to one or if there are still two (probably still two, but it could go either way).
Things do move forward series-wise, the HEA becomes more interesting once we can better relate to the characters (I guess that's a compliment to Jessa Slade that she has written these two characters so well that their personalities makes it difficult to get behind them right away - we feel about the both of them like the rest of talyan do...and that's not an easy thing for a writer to do), and I can't say that I didn't like the book. It just wasn't my favorite and I had trouble getting into it at first (could have been my mood of the moment I suppose) but it wasn't a bad book and if you follow the series, then you really should read it so you understand the changes in the djinn men activity, know who the new "big bads" are and are aware of the potential changes coming down the pike between the talyan and the guardians (yup, there are two or three key scenes around that as well). It's possible to skip this one and still know what's up, but if you can get past the first 1/3 or so of the book, you'll find it's decent the rst of the way through.
March 16, 2012
This review was originally posted at Vampire Book Club.
It’s rare that I fall for the heroine of a paranormal romance before the hero. But that’s exactly what happened with Jessa Slade’s fourth Marked Souls novel Darkness Undone. From the very beginning I was fascinated by Alyce. The rogue talya didn’t understand she was possessed by a repentant demon like the others in this series have been. No, Alyce was sure the devil was inside her and that she may be crazy.
When Bookkeeper Sidney comes across her, he thinks he has quite a find. He records talya activity and bringing in a rogue — much less a female — would be quite the feather in his cap. He just doesn’t understand why he’s so drawn to her. Being so analytical, he’s been trained to turn off his emotions. He doesn’t want to love. And he certainly knows better than to get involved with a demon-possessed talya.
But this is what makes the book different than so many other paranormal romances. These two may fall into bed together fairly early — one of those primal instincts type things — but there are some heavy consequences and the scenes as their relationship develops are more mild than those before they understood or recognized their emotions. Alyce understands their bond intuitively, which isn’t a surprise as all her talya abilities have been innate. The man who examines talya life and records the warriors’ behavior has no clue.
He’s also kind of a dick for a third of the book. Really, for quite some time I only liked him while he was kissing Alyce. However — and it is a big however — he needs time to grow and change, and when he does you’ll be glad you stuck with Sid. He opens up and will make readers all sorts of gooey inside as he acknowledges his feelings for Alyce — then fights to prove it to her.
Darkness Undone has enough stop the bad guy action to keep crossover urban fantasy fans engaged and the kind of relationship development romance fans demand. Plus, Slade’s prose is straight-up cutting with wit. I’m a sucker for wry humor and the woman has it covered well.
Sexual content: Sex scenes
It’s rare that I fall for the heroine of a paranormal romance before the hero. But that’s exactly what happened with Jessa Slade’s fourth Marked Souls novel Darkness Undone. From the very beginning I was fascinated by Alyce. The rogue talya didn’t understand she was possessed by a repentant demon like the others in this series have been. No, Alyce was sure the devil was inside her and that she may be crazy.
When Bookkeeper Sidney comes across her, he thinks he has quite a find. He records talya activity and bringing in a rogue — much less a female — would be quite the feather in his cap. He just doesn’t understand why he’s so drawn to her. Being so analytical, he’s been trained to turn off his emotions. He doesn’t want to love. And he certainly knows better than to get involved with a demon-possessed talya.
But this is what makes the book different than so many other paranormal romances. These two may fall into bed together fairly early — one of those primal instincts type things — but there are some heavy consequences and the scenes as their relationship develops are more mild than those before they understood or recognized their emotions. Alyce understands their bond intuitively, which isn’t a surprise as all her talya abilities have been innate. The man who examines talya life and records the warriors’ behavior has no clue.
He’s also kind of a dick for a third of the book. Really, for quite some time I only liked him while he was kissing Alyce. However — and it is a big however — he needs time to grow and change, and when he does you’ll be glad you stuck with Sid. He opens up and will make readers all sorts of gooey inside as he acknowledges his feelings for Alyce — then fights to prove it to her.
Darkness Undone has enough stop the bad guy action to keep crossover urban fantasy fans engaged and the kind of relationship development romance fans demand. Plus, Slade’s prose is straight-up cutting with wit. I’m a sucker for wry humor and the woman has it covered well.
Sexual content: Sex scenes
April 19, 2012
First I want to thank Goodreads and Jessa Slade...love winning first-read books!!! I only wish I would have read the first three books before I read this one, but I do plan on reading them in the near future (and will probably re-read this one). I have to admit I was confused in the beginning and was thankful for the glossary in the back. Overall I enjoyed Ms. Slade's writing style and storyline. I'm thrilled to have found and new author to follow and am excited to share her books with my reading buddies.
To earn his wings as a League of Talyan Bookkeeper, Sidney Westerbrook leaves London to study why Chicago contains an exorbitant level of otherworldly combat. Though he preferred research from a distance, he knows field work is an inconvenient truth of his mission. However, the Chicago League Chief Liam Niall refuses to allow him to join their night patrol on his first evening in the city; suggesting he adapt to the time change first.
Thus Sidney goes out on the town alone. However, Westerbrook realizes the stupidity of his actions when two feralis attack him. His shoulder injured, he expects to be a mangled corpse only a female talya warrior intercedes as Alyce Carver is not bound by strict League rules as a rogue battling evil ferales solo. They are attracted to one another, but Sid is a London based Bookkeeper, and Alyce is a rogue unaffiliated talyan and is expected to mate with one of her kind.
I know, I like my alpha males too, but Sidney is a beta hero that you will fall for from the first page. Alyce isn't your typical heroine either, but as their story unfolds they both strenghten as characters.
I highly recommend this series (not as a stand-alone book) to those who enjoy the paranormal romance and urban fantasy genres.
To earn his wings as a League of Talyan Bookkeeper, Sidney Westerbrook leaves London to study why Chicago contains an exorbitant level of otherworldly combat. Though he preferred research from a distance, he knows field work is an inconvenient truth of his mission. However, the Chicago League Chief Liam Niall refuses to allow him to join their night patrol on his first evening in the city; suggesting he adapt to the time change first.
Thus Sidney goes out on the town alone. However, Westerbrook realizes the stupidity of his actions when two feralis attack him. His shoulder injured, he expects to be a mangled corpse only a female talya warrior intercedes as Alyce Carver is not bound by strict League rules as a rogue battling evil ferales solo. They are attracted to one another, but Sid is a London based Bookkeeper, and Alyce is a rogue unaffiliated talyan and is expected to mate with one of her kind.
I know, I like my alpha males too, but Sidney is a beta hero that you will fall for from the first page. Alyce isn't your typical heroine either, but as their story unfolds they both strenghten as characters.
I highly recommend this series (not as a stand-alone book) to those who enjoy the paranormal romance and urban fantasy genres.
May 23, 2012
Original Review Posted - here
Seeing as to how this book is number 4 in the series and I haven't read 1-3, I am just a little confused on some parts due to not having the entire back story. With that said, this book was still pretty amazing on it's own. Just know, in advance, that it is surely not a "stand alone" type of book in a series.
Sidney, a trained observer - is in Chicago to observe the relations between male and female Talyans. The set back? He is there facing the Chicago group - who just happen to have been betrayed by their last observer and they make it no secret that they would love for him to be anywhere but there. With them. Fun times for all!
While in Chicago, he meets Alyce. How you ask? Well, she saved his life of course! :) - Alyce also happens to be a Talyan. The kicker? She doesn't know who she is, what she is or where she came from. All she knows is this man she just saved wants to take her to people "like her." Sidney sees Alyce for the Talyan that she is and is hell bent on showing her that person. We watch as the two of them together go on a journey of finding themselves while sorting out and facing just about every aspect of their lives that they can. I was intrigued with this book. While the main characters kept me captivated, the secondary characters were far from forgetful!
--- I know this review is a bit more vague than my normal ones; but like I said, I am missing some back story! It is still an awesome read though!
Seeing as to how this book is number 4 in the series and I haven't read 1-3, I am just a little confused on some parts due to not having the entire back story. With that said, this book was still pretty amazing on it's own. Just know, in advance, that it is surely not a "stand alone" type of book in a series.
Sidney, a trained observer - is in Chicago to observe the relations between male and female Talyans. The set back? He is there facing the Chicago group - who just happen to have been betrayed by their last observer and they make it no secret that they would love for him to be anywhere but there. With them. Fun times for all!
While in Chicago, he meets Alyce. How you ask? Well, she saved his life of course! :) - Alyce also happens to be a Talyan. The kicker? She doesn't know who she is, what she is or where she came from. All she knows is this man she just saved wants to take her to people "like her." Sidney sees Alyce for the Talyan that she is and is hell bent on showing her that person. We watch as the two of them together go on a journey of finding themselves while sorting out and facing just about every aspect of their lives that they can. I was intrigued with this book. While the main characters kept me captivated, the secondary characters were far from forgetful!
--- I know this review is a bit more vague than my normal ones; but like I said, I am missing some back story! It is still an awesome read though!
June 29, 2014
"Darkness Undone" by Jessa Slade. Book 4 in the Marked Souls series.
This book was ok. As far as I know (as I'm writing this, Jun. 29, 2014) there are no more books written in this series except for a Christmas novella (Book 4.5). This book starts off with a new ongoing storyline from the other previous three books. New main characters are introduced, not seen before in the previous books, which is ok, but I was expecting the book to be about a character we've already seen (ie: Echo). The main characters of Sidney (Sid) and Alyce were likeable.
Sidney is from London. He's come to Chicago to take over as Bookkeeper for the talyan league. He's ready to study them and be the best bookkeeper ever. It's his chance to show the Bookkeeper Council in London that he can solve the mystery of the mated-talyan bond. Little did he know he would find a rogue female talya, who he can't stop thinking about. But a Bookkeeper must remain emotionless to what happens to talya, just record what is happening.
Alyce is suffering from memory loss. She doesn't remember who she is. All she knows is that she's possessed by the devil, and others are too. And there are monsters in the world that she is compelled to fight. Then she finds Sidney and he knows what she is! She will finally get some answers. Hopefully one of those answers will be why she is so drawn Sidney.
Like I said, this book was ok.
This book was ok. As far as I know (as I'm writing this, Jun. 29, 2014) there are no more books written in this series except for a Christmas novella (Book 4.5). This book starts off with a new ongoing storyline from the other previous three books. New main characters are introduced, not seen before in the previous books, which is ok, but I was expecting the book to be about a character we've already seen (ie: Echo). The main characters of Sidney (Sid) and Alyce were likeable.
Sidney is from London. He's come to Chicago to take over as Bookkeeper for the talyan league. He's ready to study them and be the best bookkeeper ever. It's his chance to show the Bookkeeper Council in London that he can solve the mystery of the mated-talyan bond. Little did he know he would find a rogue female talya, who he can't stop thinking about. But a Bookkeeper must remain emotionless to what happens to talya, just record what is happening.
Alyce is suffering from memory loss. She doesn't remember who she is. All she knows is that she's possessed by the devil, and others are too. And there are monsters in the world that she is compelled to fight. Then she finds Sidney and he knows what she is! She will finally get some answers. Hopefully one of those answers will be why she is so drawn Sidney.
Like I said, this book was ok.
March 21, 2012
decent beginning... pretty good ending... WAY confusing middle. The story jumped all over the place and while it followed along the same lines of the previous book sin the series it was all very convoluted and disconcerting. Who was good, who was bad and who was confused.
Sidney was highly frustrating and irritating up until the very end when he finally pulled his head out of his butt.
Alyce was so confusing at the beginning and then finally she became a strong female character.
This plot had sooo much potential with the twists in Sidney's life and the growth of Alyce's character, but there was just way to much over thinking, over analyzing, and overly in depth internalizing of issues. I'm all for a thoughtful and well planned growth in the relationship but this was just too much thinking and not enough feeling between the H/H.
I'm sure i'll read the next ones in the series, but i hope the next one lives up more to the potential.
Sidney was highly frustrating and irritating up until the very end when he finally pulled his head out of his butt.
Alyce was so confusing at the beginning and then finally she became a strong female character.
This plot had sooo much potential with the twists in Sidney's life and the growth of Alyce's character, but there was just way to much over thinking, over analyzing, and overly in depth internalizing of issues. I'm all for a thoughtful and well planned growth in the relationship but this was just too much thinking and not enough feeling between the H/H.
I'm sure i'll read the next ones in the series, but i hope the next one lives up more to the potential.
April 7, 2012
This book seemed so different from the others in the series, I think because of the couple, Sidney is a very beta man, while Alyce, described as a feral waif by one of the other characters, which fits her. They both didn't seem to fit with the rest of the group at first glance.
Sidney has always wanted to be the bookkeeper, so he has known about them, but always at a distance. But now he finds himself right in all the action and has a hard time adjusting.
Alyce has been a teshuva for a long time, but she doesn't know what or who she is and hasn't for a long time. Yet she finds herself drawn to Sidney who draws her into a world that opens her mind and makes her feel like she belongs.
It was fun to see Alyce accepted by all the others and for them to give Sidney crap. But at some point they all had to get over their issues and work together to save Chicago.
Sidney has always wanted to be the bookkeeper, so he has known about them, but always at a distance. But now he finds himself right in all the action and has a hard time adjusting.
Alyce has been a teshuva for a long time, but she doesn't know what or who she is and hasn't for a long time. Yet she finds herself drawn to Sidney who draws her into a world that opens her mind and makes her feel like she belongs.
It was fun to see Alyce accepted by all the others and for them to give Sidney crap. But at some point they all had to get over their issues and work together to save Chicago.
October 10, 2014
I was cutting grass and the audio book I was listening to at the time came to an end. I took a quick break, logged on to my local library and checked out and downloaded the first audiobook on the "helpful list of books I might be interested in" logged off and went back to cutting grass.
This is a really, really good book even if it was a last minute, mindless pick. Very interesting characters, the endless fight between good and evil, the members of the armies that fight and those that stand between. I will be looking for the three (?) that went before and those that will come after. It is that good.
This is a really, really good book even if it was a last minute, mindless pick. Very interesting characters, the endless fight between good and evil, the members of the armies that fight and those that stand between. I will be looking for the three (?) that went before and those that will come after. It is that good.
October 18, 2012
I received this as an advanced copy. I really enjoyed the book. Although I haven't read the others in the series (I want to now) I liked that you could still follow the book and understand it without having read the other ones. Jessa included enough background information so that you weren't confused and could understand and enjoy the book. I enjoyed the characters and was able to understand some of the terminology til I realized there was a glossary at the end of the book, which by the way was at the end! =) I couldn't put the book down and was glad for it. Thanks again Jessa!!
March 12, 2012
I'm not done but so far I like it but not as much as the previous books. I'm not sure if it's because when first introduced to Sid's character I got a mental picture of well me in male form.
Also Alyce is at this point in the book for me a bit weak. I'm become accustomed to Ms. Slade's female characters being strong if not physically then mentally and Alyce is not. I've not come to the point in the book where it's explained why she is mentally unstable.
Also Alyce is at this point in the book for me a bit weak. I'm become accustomed to Ms. Slade's female characters being strong if not physically then mentally and Alyce is not. I've not come to the point in the book where it's explained why she is mentally unstable.
April 20, 2012
I have waited breathlessly for DARKNESS UNDONE by Jessa Slade to come out. I was not disappointed! With great style and story, Ms Slade continues her Marked Souls series with yet another story that won't let you go. Sidney Westerbook has always wanted to be a league Bookkeeper. Alyce Carver doesn't want to be alone any longer. As usual, be careful what you ask for. A must read with a special place on my keeper shelf.
May 1, 2012
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I really enjoyed reading this book. I had to get use to some of the vocabulary at first but there is a glossary in the back and I didn't find it hard to learn. This is the first book that I have read from this author. Nim has to be one of my favourite characters, but of course I liked them all! I want to read all the other books now! It had me laughing out loud in parts, it has great romance, and lots of exciting action.
February 2, 2021
This is Jessa Slade's forth book in her Marked Souls series.This is the first one in this series that I've listened to and it was very good. I get the gist of her writing now and so it takes a bit of the edge off because you can see where it's going. On the other hand its still the ride getting there that makes it worth it all and this was done well. Now I just have to wait for the next one to come out.
December 12, 2012
This was a great addition to the Marked Souls series. I really liked the plot and the twist of the Christmas season and the meaning we imbue all the tchotchkes we have to celebrate the season.
The only reason I didn't it give it five stars is that if you haven't read any of the Marked Souls books you would probably be lost reading this one. It begins with the assumption that you understand this world, the Talyan, what everyone is fighting for and against.
The only reason I didn't it give it five stars is that if you haven't read any of the Marked Souls books you would probably be lost reading this one. It begins with the assumption that you understand this world, the Talyan, what everyone is fighting for and against.
Want to read
January 7, 2012Marked to it to read
February 23, 2012
Sidney and Alyce
Full review to come onFiction Vixen Book Reviews
Full review to come onFiction Vixen Book Reviews
May 10, 2013
this is just an amazing series and a hot hot cover. I loved it can't wait to read the others.
May 11, 2012
Review later...
February 11, 2017
This book was not as gripping as the previous 3 books in this series. I wasn't taken by the story line or the characters in the book and found it took forever to finish.
March 22, 2015
Not bad
July 7, 2013
great addition to a delightful series. I can't wait for Ecco's book
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