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The Dark Light
Mia is torn between two guys—and two worlds—in this epic, romantic fantasy.
Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she’s concerned, that’s about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.
That is, until Sol arrives. Mia’s not one to fall for just any guy, but she can’t get Sol—or the brilliant tattoo on his back—out of her mind.
Then Mia’s brother goes missing, and Mia’s convinced that Sol knows more than he’s sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol’s not who Mia thought he was—and neither is she.
Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she’s concerned, that’s about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.
That is, until Sol arrives. Mia’s not one to fall for just any guy, but she can’t get Sol—or the brilliant tattoo on his back—out of her mind.
Then Mia’s brother goes missing, and Mia’s convinced that Sol knows more than he’s sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol’s not who Mia thought he was—and neither is she.
483 pages, Hardcover
First published August 28, 2012
39 people are currently reading
4162 people want to read
About the author
Sara Walsh
2 books145 followersSara Walsh is British, but happily lives in Annapolis, Maryland. She graduated college with a degree in psychology, but soon decided that telling stories was much more fun.
During a road trip to Wyoming, a local news event became the inspiration for the The Dark Light: A boy mysteriously reappeared a decade after disappearing. Thinking of all the places the boy could have been, and surrounded by the open plains, the two things came together, rapidly snowballing to become The Dark Light, the author’s first novel for young adults.
When not writing, Sara is usually reading, drowning in tea, or frolicking around town with the world's cutest St. Bernard.
During a road trip to Wyoming, a local news event became the inspiration for the The Dark Light: A boy mysteriously reappeared a decade after disappearing. Thinking of all the places the boy could have been, and surrounded by the open plains, the two things came together, rapidly snowballing to become The Dark Light, the author’s first novel for young adults.
When not writing, Sara is usually reading, drowning in tea, or frolicking around town with the world's cutest St. Bernard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
September 12, 2012
"He said there were lights in Crownsville - that nothing good happened when they came here."
THE REVIEW OF WRONG ASSUMPTIONS
3.5 stars. I want to go a full 4, but point number 6 is a big reason why I didn't have it in me to give up that extra half point.
1. The Cover made me think this was standard YAPNR fare. You know the type of book - one minute you're swooning over a dangerous young man, the next you're wanting to to beat the ever-loving crap out of a girl for being stupid enough to fall prey to the once-swoony-guy now turned stalker. I was wrong. Although, I'm not going to lie, I do like the cover, even if it SO does not represent what the book is about. A hot guy with an awesome back tattoo on a black and white portrait is not so bad...
2. The Summary Blurb led me to believe we were going to be dealing with a major love triangle. After all, the first friggin line of the summary is : Mia is torn between two guys. I decided to read the book because people said it was good, so I went into this deciding not to be too hard on the love triangle. ONLY THERE WAS NO LOVE TRIANGLE. At least, not once you got past the first few chapters, there wasn't. I was wrong.
3. I thought from the first 15 or so percent that this was a book about aliens. Boys were disappearing in a barrier of lights - what did you expect me to think?!? Alas, there are no aliens. I was wrong.
4. I thought the book was going to keep up with the simplistic and easy style of writing that we encountered on the front end. Please keep in mind that simplistic was not an insult here. I was kind of liking how the book's style of writing reminded me of Cynthia Hand's (Unearthly series) to start. But then a whole lotta WTF?!? started kicking in and that went out the window. Take a dash of Burn Bright (strange world and creatures), a pinch of Angelfall (I ran smack into some creepy moments I wasn't expecting), and a smidgen of Legend of the Seeker (don't sue me for not reading past the first section of the Sword of Truth books, but the barrier dividing worlds felt reminiscent of what I saw on the t.v. series version) and we're walking close to the edge of what was going on here.
5. I assumed that the characters were humans with magic abilities. So, it's pretty safe to say by now that I failed a lot.
6. I'd assumed this was a series. Who knows, maybe it still will be at some point because Goodreads has been known to add book 2 additions to the database way after the fact. For now, I'm assuming that Dark Light is a standalone. The ending was wrapped up nicely but there was enough wiggle room to come back with another installment. Here's where I'm going to register my one and only gripe. It may only be one gripe, but this is kind of a big one : I think there was too much information crammed into one book. There were too many people, too many creatures, too much world building and rules and lore, etc. to have to learn for ONE book. Even though I was fascinated by how unique the story was, I didn't want to have to learn EVERYTHING about Sol and Mia's backstory in one book. If this truly is the end of the road, I will say that the execution of facts should have been spread out between a trilogy, with a few extra adventures thrown in. As it stands, something about the ending feels a little too convenient.
7. I assumed that I'd have fun reading this book. Okay, so that was my only right assumption. This book was fun! Other than my complaints about too much info dumping, I appreciated the one-of-a-kind world. And I looooved (yes, the 4 o's were necessary) Sol. His passion for his people and land reminded me of my steadfast obsession with Dimitri Belikov. Maybe not at the same epic level, but Sol was more than just a hot guy. He had great strength of character.
Okay, so there was a land called Brakaland (I kept calling it boom shakalaka in my head) and a person called Bromasta (really? The bro-masta???), which were so out of place for a sci-fi turned fantasy type of book, but whatever.
Call me wrong if you want to, but my final genre decision will be that this starts out as a science fiction type of story and evolves into a fantasy. I wouldn't call the book a pnr. If that's what you want out of a story, you'll be disappointed. Expect to have to pay attention to what's going on or you might miss something. If you don't want to invest in that, this probably isn't the book for you. If you like reading about something that isn't the same old story, give this one a shot. It was definitely uh...different. Yeah.
Overall, I enjoyed this one!
paranormal-to-read
April 27, 2012ME.WANT.THIS.BOOK!!!
August 31, 2016
Nope.
Yes, that's the heart of my review.
It's really not a bad book per se.
But I kind of wanted to set it on fire every time I picked it back up, because I was expecting so much more... and disappointment burns. And I wanted to burn it right back.
Let's start with the protagonist, shall we? Mia. Lovely, darling Mia.
Here's the thing: if you give me a heroine who simply dives headfirst into whatever she thinks is the right course of action without considering the possible consequences for her and those around her, a heroine who whines internally but never raises her voice and demands some fucking answers, a heroine who melts into a puddle of gush at the sight of a six-pack but then claims she's not “one of those girls”, a heroine who abuses and slaughters the English language with atrocious textspeech yet can't bring herself to make her fucking point when actually talking out loud – I'm not going to be happy. At all.
According to Mia, there is something very intense about Sol, a pull, a draw that transcends the physical. But still she goes on and on about his profile and eyes and voice all the same - talk about transcending the physical - and we never get to actually feel that something ourselves.
Or you could say we do.
Situation of danger? No fear! His eyes make us feel so safe, don't they, Mia - he's surely able and willing to save your ass. After just a couple days of knowing you. Makes perfect sense, you trusting donkey.
Okay, I'll make an effort - there's a good side to this. To her.
Unlike other heroines who stare at the guy, moon and drool and do nothing much else, Mia does stupid things while drooling. But still, she takes action! That's good, right? Right.
There is nothing outright unlikeable about her, either, other than her being mildly idiotic and evidently not having read Harry Potter.
But still: she gets a bit better nearing the end - so much so that the ragefest turned into mild annoyance.
Mild annoyance that was also caused by the secondary characters - or rather by the whole novel, because so much about this felt random, illogical or splendidly convenient that I couldn't really separate the characters' faults from those of the plot, because their actions drive the plot. (Duh.)
They're fine people. They're honourable and brave and sometimes even mildly clever. But there's nothing special about them - and I don't mean speshul, I actually mean relevant or original or particularly lovable (all referring to personality, not the physical aspect, because a lack of creativity on that front is not something I can fault the author with). I don't know these characters at all, even after having spent three hundred pages by their side.
It's well written in that it's not badly written, but a fantasy novel needs a style of narration that's completely different from what a contemporary YA requires in terms of atmosphere and immersion in a certain environment. This is a world I don't know, and I want to feel it and see it.
Guys, this feels insipid as fuck to me.
How's the water? Is it clear or murky? Is the air hot, still, windy? What does it smell like? What does the forest look like - is it thick and dark, or sparse and sunlit?
It gets a little better:
Even though it could get even better. And even though, while saying that those shrieks are neither human nor animal makes it sound cool and scary, you still haven't explained how you figured that out - or how it makes you feel.
Or wait, no, you did: "That doesn't sound good," I said. No shit.
The romance is outstandingly meh, because as hot and kind and brave Sol might be, I still don't know a thing about him, other than whose son he is and the fact that he's good at holding crying girls.
Mia is just as insipid a character, and that obviously makes for a rather dry and lacking romance. I literally didn't feel a thing.
Which is exactly the same thing I could say about the whole book - it didn't make me feel a thing. It has some original and very creative elements, but I can only say that while analysing the story coldly and distantly, because from up close nothing struck me as noteworthy, being utterly emotionless in its narration and expression.
There is no colour and no feeling. In spite of the occasional melodrama that makes the prose feel heavy and the protagonist look like a moron.
Here, have another taste:
Also the story often feels underdeveloped and, in the end, noticeably unresolved with regards to a particular aspect of the character relationships. (Not the romance, babygirls, fear not. Or at least, not the romance.)
I'll leave you with another little statement that awakened the ragebeast:
Straight from Mia's sweet little mouth.
Aaand I'm out.
Yes, that's the heart of my review.
It's really not a bad book per se.
But I kind of wanted to set it on fire every time I picked it back up, because I was expecting so much more... and disappointment burns. And I wanted to burn it right back.
Let's start with the protagonist, shall we? Mia. Lovely, darling Mia.
Here's the thing: if you give me a heroine who simply dives headfirst into whatever she thinks is the right course of action without considering the possible consequences for her and those around her, a heroine who whines internally but never raises her voice and demands some fucking answers, a heroine who melts into a puddle of gush at the sight of a six-pack but then claims she's not “one of those girls”, a heroine who abuses and slaughters the English language with atrocious textspeech yet can't bring herself to make her fucking point when actually talking out loud – I'm not going to be happy. At all.
jst saw AM in libr. Gt bg nws! TTYL!You could say this is not all that relevant, but it simply drives me bugfuck. BUY A FUCKING VOWEL.
According to Mia, there is something very intense about Sol, a pull, a draw that transcends the physical. But still she goes on and on about his profile and eyes and voice all the same - talk about transcending the physical - and we never get to actually feel that something ourselves.
Or you could say we do.
I'd never seen anything like it - a younger guy holding an older man's gaze with a self-assurance beyond his nineteen years....LOL wut.
Situation of danger? No fear! His eyes make us feel so safe, don't they, Mia - he's surely able and willing to save your ass. After just a couple days of knowing you. Makes perfect sense, you trusting donkey.
Okay, I'll make an effort - there's a good side to this. To her.
Unlike other heroines who stare at the guy, moon and drool and do nothing much else, Mia does stupid things while drooling. But still, she takes action! That's good, right? Right.
There is nothing outright unlikeable about her, either, other than her being mildly idiotic and evidently not having read Harry Potter.
"Wow. So my name isn't Mia Stone and I'm actually an illegal alien. [She's not really, so it's not a spoiler. And no, that's not a spoiler either.] It's a lot to take in." Sol shook his head.I CANNOT deal with this shit.
"Those things don't define who you are, Mia."
"You sure about that?" I asked, unconvinced.
But still: she gets a bit better nearing the end - so much so that the ragefest turned into mild annoyance.
Mild annoyance that was also caused by the secondary characters - or rather by the whole novel, because so much about this felt random, illogical or splendidly convenient that I couldn't really separate the characters' faults from those of the plot, because their actions drive the plot. (Duh.)
They're fine people. They're honourable and brave and sometimes even mildly clever. But there's nothing special about them - and I don't mean speshul, I actually mean relevant or original or particularly lovable (all referring to personality, not the physical aspect, because a lack of creativity on that front is not something I can fault the author with). I don't know these characters at all, even after having spent three hundred pages by their side.
It's well written in that it's not badly written, but a fantasy novel needs a style of narration that's completely different from what a contemporary YA requires in terms of atmosphere and immersion in a certain environment. This is a world I don't know, and I want to feel it and see it.
A vast and beautiful land surrounded us. Forests grew on the valley slopes. A fast-flowing river coursed to our right. To the west stood a distant row of mountains, their caps golden beneath the rapidly sinking sun. How they could be there, when we were still so close to Crownsville, I could not explain. But there they were. And with snow on the peaks, too.
Guys, this feels insipid as fuck to me.
How's the water? Is it clear or murky? Is the air hot, still, windy? What does it smell like? What does the forest look like - is it thick and dark, or sparse and sunlit?
It gets a little better:
The golden dusk faded to peach, pink, and then lavender. Distant shrieks - not human, not animal - carried from the forest and higher ground.
Even though it could get even better. And even though, while saying that those shrieks are neither human nor animal makes it sound cool and scary, you still haven't explained how you figured that out - or how it makes you feel.
Or wait, no, you did: "That doesn't sound good," I said. No shit.
The romance is outstandingly meh, because as hot and kind and brave Sol might be, I still don't know a thing about him, other than whose son he is and the fact that he's good at holding crying girls.
Mia is just as insipid a character, and that obviously makes for a rather dry and lacking romance. I literally didn't feel a thing.
Which is exactly the same thing I could say about the whole book - it didn't make me feel a thing. It has some original and very creative elements, but I can only say that while analysing the story coldly and distantly, because from up close nothing struck me as noteworthy, being utterly emotionless in its narration and expression.
There is no colour and no feeling. In spite of the occasional melodrama that makes the prose feel heavy and the protagonist look like a moron.
Here, have another taste:
“It's probably time I gave up pretending I can use this,” I said, and handed back the sword. “We're not destined to be together.” Our hands touched and I realized how prophetic my statement was. I held on for maybe a second too long before releasing the sword to Sol's steady hand.
Not destined to be together? Willie loved symbolic moments. This one sucked.
Also the story often feels underdeveloped and, in the end, noticeably unresolved with regards to a particular aspect of the character relationships. (Not the romance, babygirls, fear not. Or at least, not the romance.)
I'll leave you with another little statement that awakened the ragebeast:
"America gets blamed for everything that goes wrong on this planet, but you can't blame us for this."
Straight from Mia's sweet little mouth.
Aaand I'm out.
October 21, 2012
Rating: 4.5 Stars
The Dark Light is one of the few novels I can claim has truly taken me by surprise. I am usually one of those readers who look up a novel before I pick it up, reading over both the positive and negative reviews and finally deciding whether or not I want to read it. Thus, I am quite aware of where the story is headed during the first few chapters and am prepared for any unsuspecting let downs. The Dark Light, however, was an exception to this ritual. I had seen its gorgeous cover on more than one blog during its blog tour weeks, so when I saw it, yet again, in my local library, I knew I had to check it out. Surprisingly, I simply dove into this novel headfirst and was shocked, surprised, thrilled, and absolutely exhilarated by the story I found inside its pages. The Dark Light was everything I ever dreamed of and wanted from a well-written urban fantasy novel with mixed genres, but it was also so much more.
The Dark Light, from the surface at least, seems like every other young adult paranormal romance. We have our protagonist, Mia, who has a tough family life as she lives with her half-brother and Uncle Pete who is drunk most of the time. We have our school-boy-crush who finally asks Mia out to prom and, we have our bad-boy-extraordinaire, Sol. When Sol moves into Crownsville, he has naturally caught the eye of every guy and girl in the small town, not only because of his unexpected move or killer good-looks, but because of the large tattoo that adorns his back. Mia, however, has seen the tattoo before on the ankle of her half-brother and hoping to find answers about the father she shares with her sibling, she goes looking for answers. Crownsville is a dangerous place though, for young boys have gone missing, presumed to be kidnapped, for a few weeks now. Thus, when Jay, Mia’s brother, is sucked away by an ethereal light with only Sol and Mia as the sole witnesses, Mia is determined to find her brother at all costs, especially if it means making the enigmatic Sol, who clearly knows more than he’s letting on, talk and spill his secrets.
I don’t think there are enough words – or the right words really – to express just how much I loved this book! While The Dark Light starts out slow and mysterious, it slowly picks up into a fast-paced action novel, filled with phenomenal world-building, three-dimensional characters, and breathtaking plot twists. I am one of those extremely nit-picky and critical readers when it comes to world-building, but I loved the manner in which it was explained here. Walsh introduces us, for the first time in YA Literature, to the concept of parallel universes, a theory I’ve been obsessed with over the past few years. Thus, with this unique idea in mind, we are thrown into the world of Brakaland, Sol’s world where magic reigns free – or used to – and dangerous demons are a thing of every day. Each and every original element of Walsh’s world is revealed to us in time, making this a wonderfully-written debut that avoids the usual qualms of boring info-dumping. Furthermore, Walsh takes some age-old ideas, such as demons, and puts her own creative spin on them. In addition, she ensures that we are constantly reminded of how close to our own world this parallel universe is and the inner workings of her realm were remarkably crafted.
Yet, the complex world-building aside, what made me love this novel so much were the characters. Mia is a protagonist I absolutely loved. She is, first and foremost, a normal human girl; thus, when she is thrown into a world of rebellions, evil sorcerers, and demons, she remains strong in the only way she knows how. While most kick-ass heroines these days seem to wield swords, Mia’s strength lies in her inner ability to persevere on, remain courageous in the face of danger, and use a mature sense of level-headedness. Furthermore, I found that she was easy to relate to as her actions mirror those of us if we had been thrown into a parallel universe. More than that though, Mia is a character I appreciated for her tough family situations and strong friendships, but while we do sympathize with Mia occasionally, we are rooting for her success even more.
While I have to admit that Mia was my favorite character, I should probably admit that she’s my favorite female character. (Sorry Vermillion, you kick-ass shape-shifter!) Sol, on the other hand, was my favorite character overall. (Once again, sorry Delane, you sweet, sweet best friend!) Gosh, what can I say about Sol? We know he’s hot, we know he’s sexy, we know he has a huge tattoo across his back. What I didn’t expect, however, was Sol’s depth, kindness, and understanding. Yes, he carries an aura of a typical bad-boy, but he’s not. In reality, Sol is a true sweetheart: he is passionate about his country, he is a loyal friend, he is a courageous fighter, he is a wonderful listener, and he is an empathetic guy. What more could you possibly ask for? Plus, Sol carries a heavy burden and the gentle unveiling of his past, his secrets, and who he really is amidst the turmoil in Brakaland is a remarkable and deep story as well. Furthermore, I loved the romance between Sol and Mia, primarily because there was no love triangle, but it was also evident that these two really understood each other. For them, the most important aspect of each other was their personalities and flaws opposed to their outer beauty, even though there was plenty of that as well. It was a slow and mostly subtle romance for the majority of the novel and when that changed to become a beautiful love story, I was a melting pot of mush. ;)
The Dark Light, like every other novel out there, isn’t perfect. Yet, it is one that I was thoroughly invested in and loved with all my heart. It is fair, however, to claim that the ending was a little disappointing. Mia and Sol’s final showdown with the villain in this novel, who is, believe me, evil, was wrapped up all a little too quickly for my liking and the entire scene just screamed, “convenient”! Nevertheless, despite that qualm, I still enjoyed The Dark Light immensely! It ends off in a very conclusive manner, wrapping up everything nicely while leaving just a few plot threads loose and prepared for a sequel, if there ever should be one. I love these types of endings as they give way for so much more imagination on part of the reader and I know I spent days thinking about this story, even after I was finished with it. Overall, this is a novel I would highly recommend. Its small flaw didn’t alter my perception or enjoyment of this novel in the least and I was amazed and simply blown away by the depth of the characters, complexity of the world-building, and originality of the plot. If you pick just one more debut novel this year, let it be this one. I haven’t read a YA Novel this good in a loooong time and believe me, it won’t let you down!
I was so enamored with this book that I actually decided to interview Sara Walsh, the author of this phenomenal debut! Check out my interview with Sara, here! :D
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
The Dark Light is one of the few novels I can claim has truly taken me by surprise. I am usually one of those readers who look up a novel before I pick it up, reading over both the positive and negative reviews and finally deciding whether or not I want to read it. Thus, I am quite aware of where the story is headed during the first few chapters and am prepared for any unsuspecting let downs. The Dark Light, however, was an exception to this ritual. I had seen its gorgeous cover on more than one blog during its blog tour weeks, so when I saw it, yet again, in my local library, I knew I had to check it out. Surprisingly, I simply dove into this novel headfirst and was shocked, surprised, thrilled, and absolutely exhilarated by the story I found inside its pages. The Dark Light was everything I ever dreamed of and wanted from a well-written urban fantasy novel with mixed genres, but it was also so much more.
The Dark Light, from the surface at least, seems like every other young adult paranormal romance. We have our protagonist, Mia, who has a tough family life as she lives with her half-brother and Uncle Pete who is drunk most of the time. We have our school-boy-crush who finally asks Mia out to prom and, we have our bad-boy-extraordinaire, Sol. When Sol moves into Crownsville, he has naturally caught the eye of every guy and girl in the small town, not only because of his unexpected move or killer good-looks, but because of the large tattoo that adorns his back. Mia, however, has seen the tattoo before on the ankle of her half-brother and hoping to find answers about the father she shares with her sibling, she goes looking for answers. Crownsville is a dangerous place though, for young boys have gone missing, presumed to be kidnapped, for a few weeks now. Thus, when Jay, Mia’s brother, is sucked away by an ethereal light with only Sol and Mia as the sole witnesses, Mia is determined to find her brother at all costs, especially if it means making the enigmatic Sol, who clearly knows more than he’s letting on, talk and spill his secrets.
I don’t think there are enough words – or the right words really – to express just how much I loved this book! While The Dark Light starts out slow and mysterious, it slowly picks up into a fast-paced action novel, filled with phenomenal world-building, three-dimensional characters, and breathtaking plot twists. I am one of those extremely nit-picky and critical readers when it comes to world-building, but I loved the manner in which it was explained here. Walsh introduces us, for the first time in YA Literature, to the concept of parallel universes, a theory I’ve been obsessed with over the past few years. Thus, with this unique idea in mind, we are thrown into the world of Brakaland, Sol’s world where magic reigns free – or used to – and dangerous demons are a thing of every day. Each and every original element of Walsh’s world is revealed to us in time, making this a wonderfully-written debut that avoids the usual qualms of boring info-dumping. Furthermore, Walsh takes some age-old ideas, such as demons, and puts her own creative spin on them. In addition, she ensures that we are constantly reminded of how close to our own world this parallel universe is and the inner workings of her realm were remarkably crafted.
Yet, the complex world-building aside, what made me love this novel so much were the characters. Mia is a protagonist I absolutely loved. She is, first and foremost, a normal human girl; thus, when she is thrown into a world of rebellions, evil sorcerers, and demons, she remains strong in the only way she knows how. While most kick-ass heroines these days seem to wield swords, Mia’s strength lies in her inner ability to persevere on, remain courageous in the face of danger, and use a mature sense of level-headedness. Furthermore, I found that she was easy to relate to as her actions mirror those of us if we had been thrown into a parallel universe. More than that though, Mia is a character I appreciated for her tough family situations and strong friendships, but while we do sympathize with Mia occasionally, we are rooting for her success even more.
While I have to admit that Mia was my favorite character, I should probably admit that she’s my favorite female character. (Sorry Vermillion, you kick-ass shape-shifter!) Sol, on the other hand, was my favorite character overall. (Once again, sorry Delane, you sweet, sweet best friend!) Gosh, what can I say about Sol? We know he’s hot, we know he’s sexy, we know he has a huge tattoo across his back. What I didn’t expect, however, was Sol’s depth, kindness, and understanding. Yes, he carries an aura of a typical bad-boy, but he’s not. In reality, Sol is a true sweetheart: he is passionate about his country, he is a loyal friend, he is a courageous fighter, he is a wonderful listener, and he is an empathetic guy. What more could you possibly ask for? Plus, Sol carries a heavy burden and the gentle unveiling of his past, his secrets, and who he really is amidst the turmoil in Brakaland is a remarkable and deep story as well. Furthermore, I loved the romance between Sol and Mia, primarily because there was no love triangle, but it was also evident that these two really understood each other. For them, the most important aspect of each other was their personalities and flaws opposed to their outer beauty, even though there was plenty of that as well. It was a slow and mostly subtle romance for the majority of the novel and when that changed to become a beautiful love story, I was a melting pot of mush. ;)
The Dark Light, like every other novel out there, isn’t perfect. Yet, it is one that I was thoroughly invested in and loved with all my heart. It is fair, however, to claim that the ending was a little disappointing. Mia and Sol’s final showdown with the villain in this novel, who is, believe me, evil, was wrapped up all a little too quickly for my liking and the entire scene just screamed, “convenient”! Nevertheless, despite that qualm, I still enjoyed The Dark Light immensely! It ends off in a very conclusive manner, wrapping up everything nicely while leaving just a few plot threads loose and prepared for a sequel, if there ever should be one. I love these types of endings as they give way for so much more imagination on part of the reader and I know I spent days thinking about this story, even after I was finished with it. Overall, this is a novel I would highly recommend. Its small flaw didn’t alter my perception or enjoyment of this novel in the least and I was amazed and simply blown away by the depth of the characters, complexity of the world-building, and originality of the plot. If you pick just one more debut novel this year, let it be this one. I haven’t read a YA Novel this good in a loooong time and believe me, it won’t let you down!
I was so enamored with this book that I actually decided to interview Sara Walsh, the author of this phenomenal debut! Check out my interview with Sara, here! :D
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
November 15, 2012
After reading several reviews of this book, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who was taken by surprise. That cover screams standard PNR fare. The summary had me believing we were dealing with a sci-fi filled with body-snatching aliens. What I got was a quirky fantasy that doesn't feature a love triangle, despite what the first line of that synopsis might imply.
The Dark Light is quirky in that nothing about this novel is typical. It's not your typical fantasy realm with a bunch of crazy-sounding names and places, though those are there and they are hilarious. (One guy's name is Bromasta. BROMASTA. Bromasta? Seriously?) This book is set in our world and a fantasy realm with a ridiculous name. And though this book packs as much as it possibly can into 500 pages, I still felt like both worlds/settings were described more than adequately for me to envision them clearly.
The characters are anything but stereotypical. Upon first inspection, they might seem it, but as Sol helps Mia to unlock the secrets to her past -- her heritage -- pieces fall into place and nothing is as it seems anymore. I connected with Mia immediately. Her voice was realistic and though she's had a less-than-ideal upbringing, she's making the most of it for herself and for her younger brother. Mia's friends are all a bit quirky, as well, and though they give her a hard time, they endeared themselves to me, much the same as Mia did.
When Mia's brother goes missing, she enlists the help of the new guy. Sol is mysterious and keeps to himself and because of a strange tattoo, she thinks he might have something to do with -- or at least knows something about -- her brother's disappearance and the disappearances of the other local boys. Sol isn't very forthcoming at first, but Mia kind of forces his hand. I loved that they got off to a bit of a rocky start, but eventually Sol comes clean with Mia and a whole new world has opened up to Mia. Literally.
As with a standard fantasy novel, you have to pay attention. So much information is thrown at you, and it can be hard to keep track of. I love fantasy novels, and I had no problem with this aspect. I don't think you have to love fantasy novels to enjoy The Dark Light, though, because for all of its otherworldy idiosyncrasies, there were lots of real world facets thrown in there, as well. I found this novel extremely fun and engaging, and if you give it a chance, I hope it surprises you, too.
This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
The Dark Light is quirky in that nothing about this novel is typical. It's not your typical fantasy realm with a bunch of crazy-sounding names and places, though those are there and they are hilarious. (One guy's name is Bromasta. BROMASTA. Bromasta? Seriously?) This book is set in our world and a fantasy realm with a ridiculous name. And though this book packs as much as it possibly can into 500 pages, I still felt like both worlds/settings were described more than adequately for me to envision them clearly.
The characters are anything but stereotypical. Upon first inspection, they might seem it, but as Sol helps Mia to unlock the secrets to her past -- her heritage -- pieces fall into place and nothing is as it seems anymore. I connected with Mia immediately. Her voice was realistic and though she's had a less-than-ideal upbringing, she's making the most of it for herself and for her younger brother. Mia's friends are all a bit quirky, as well, and though they give her a hard time, they endeared themselves to me, much the same as Mia did.
When Mia's brother goes missing, she enlists the help of the new guy. Sol is mysterious and keeps to himself and because of a strange tattoo, she thinks he might have something to do with -- or at least knows something about -- her brother's disappearance and the disappearances of the other local boys. Sol isn't very forthcoming at first, but Mia kind of forces his hand. I loved that they got off to a bit of a rocky start, but eventually Sol comes clean with Mia and a whole new world has opened up to Mia. Literally.
As with a standard fantasy novel, you have to pay attention. So much information is thrown at you, and it can be hard to keep track of. I love fantasy novels, and I had no problem with this aspect. I don't think you have to love fantasy novels to enjoy The Dark Light, though, because for all of its otherworldy idiosyncrasies, there were lots of real world facets thrown in there, as well. I found this novel extremely fun and engaging, and if you give it a chance, I hope it surprises you, too.
This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
September 1, 2014
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
"Sol continued on, his back toward us. From shoulder to shoulder, from neck to hip, was a huge tattoo. It was a bird, a massive bird, with wings outstretched, talons down, its head proud and errect. Against Sol's tanned skin, it burst in vibrant reds, blues, greens, and golds. He must have known we'd see it as he passed, yet there was not a hint of self-consciousness in the way he walked. He simply ambled by, knowing we watched, not caring either way."
From just glancing at the cover and reading the sypnosis,The Dark Light seems like a typical, formulaic paranormal romance book, but if you look past the deceiving cover, blurb, and read the book, you will find an interesting, complex world in store for you. Trust me, the cover and sypnosis does not give this book justice nonewhatsoever. It's actually more than that. You have to just discover the magic of this book for yourself. The Dark Light is full of surprising turns, twists, and intriguing world that has a lot of potential going for it, and plenty of heart-pounding action at the end. The Dark Light is a book, to simply put it as, somewhat bland. I just want something more sophisticated, more jucier, and more riveting..
17-year-old Mia lives a normal life here in Crownsville with her uncle, Pete, and her ten-year-old, Jay. Nothing really exciting happens here in her town except for the strange, mysterious lights that she sees every once in a while. Just as her life could have been more perfect and normal, her beloved brother somehow disappears into thin air and the worried Mia goes on this quest to help save her brother. Just then, she realizes that this new, enigmatic, gorgeous guy named Sol could be the key to finding her brother. Mia finds herself thrusts into an unfathomable world that connects to her hometown where nothing is what they seems like and everything she thought she knew changes her life forever...
Mia is definitely not my favorite heroine, but she does have her undeniable loyalty and determination to save her brother and all the missing children which is an admirable aspect on her part. But somehow as I read further on, I learned that her character is somewhat lacking. I have three words to sum up what I thought of her: boring and annoying. I sort of expected Mia to be more compelling, have a kick-ass side, and depth to her name. I couldn't fully conect with Mia and at times, I'd put The Dark Light down because she was quite dull and irritating. During the course of the book, Mia is unequivocally annoying because of her actions such as doing something really reckless that could possibly endangered the lives of her comrades and so much more. (I think I counted two times or more..) I wished she has some fiery spirit to her instead of being the dull, flat heroine she is.
On the other hand, Sol is a much more complex character with deeper insight and depth. He is kind-hearted, brave, and very endearing that which I enjoyed reading the most. He has a strong insight for his people and does countless, admirable decisions. Sol has a concealed side that which he kept locked up in his heart until one day, Mia finds the key to tear down the walls that lay in his heart and get to understand who Sol really is. Sol's amiable qualities were indeed admirable and amazing to read, but he is devoid of swoon-worthiness that makes him stand out among the swoon-worthy guys in YA literature. Don't get me wrong, he has his wonderful moments, but I was looking for something more...
The romance between Sol and Mia is mediocre at best and a bit too rushed in my opinion. It wasn't overly cheezy, but there were several cute, laugh-out-loud moments and made my heart warmed up a bit.
The villain of The Dark Light (who wanted to destroy the world) is one of the most weakest aspects that it's almost laughable. The so-call-Surezain is considered a dangerous enemy and yet, he did almost nothing outrageously horrifying throughout the book. (Well besides kidnapping little boys, starving them, and other insignificant acts) You would think Surezain would go all Sparta on his enemies or devise some strategic, well-planned trap, but however, none of that occurred which was mildly disappointed on his part. Furthermore, we were expected to be afraid of this powerful leader, but I didn't get any chills or goosebumps that I was waiting for. Same thing goes for Mia whom faces Surezain in a showdown and just The climax was just way too easy! I was expecting an epic showdown of some sort! What adds to my constant level of frustration is that she didn't wield her sword like Delane had taught her or go all bad-ass on her enemies. What was the point?
Now onto the world-building--IMO, it's just average (Nothing too extraordinary or special). There are some info-dumps now and then, but nothing too difficult to get through. I didn't like how everything is all crammed up in only one book. Due to this large, extensive world, I'd like a series out of this, so it could be better and further developed. As you read along, you will come in contact with demons, shadow imps, frightening creatures that prowled in the dark and the brief explanations about them. Seriously, shadow imps! If that doesn't make you want to crack open this book, I don't know what will! To me, that aspect of this complex world-building was just simply fascinating.
Despite my criticism of The Dark Light, there were some scenes where you will be anxiously gripping the book and holding on through the thread of every single word. The pace during the beginning of the book was fairly okay, but at the end, everything started falling in place and the tension got more urgent and real.
Overall, The Dark Light was a reasonably, intriguing book but had some flaws and positive qualities. My main problem of this book was that I had very high expectations and expected something out-of-the-box, but unfortunately, The Dark Light didn't reach my goals the way I wished it had. The Dark Light didn't wow me with its creative premise, plot, and characters, but I'm most certain that it will give readers something to pause, reflect, and enjoy. I'm glad I got to experience a unique and a bit different kind of take in the paranormal genre. Readers of paranormal and fantasy will find this book absolutely immersing and invigorating to read. The Dark Light is a special kind of gem out there in YA literature--one that you must not judge it by a cover or synopsis and simply revel in this treasure.
P.S The Dark Light has one hell of a cover! 8D
"Sol continued on, his back toward us. From shoulder to shoulder, from neck to hip, was a huge tattoo. It was a bird, a massive bird, with wings outstretched, talons down, its head proud and errect. Against Sol's tanned skin, it burst in vibrant reds, blues, greens, and golds. He must have known we'd see it as he passed, yet there was not a hint of self-consciousness in the way he walked. He simply ambled by, knowing we watched, not caring either way."
From just glancing at the cover and reading the sypnosis,The Dark Light seems like a typical, formulaic paranormal romance book, but if you look past the deceiving cover, blurb, and read the book, you will find an interesting, complex world in store for you. Trust me, the cover and sypnosis does not give this book justice nonewhatsoever. It's actually more than that. You have to just discover the magic of this book for yourself. The Dark Light is full of surprising turns, twists, and intriguing world that has a lot of potential going for it, and plenty of heart-pounding action at the end. The Dark Light is a book, to simply put it as, somewhat bland. I just want something more sophisticated, more jucier, and more riveting..
17-year-old Mia lives a normal life here in Crownsville with her uncle, Pete, and her ten-year-old, Jay. Nothing really exciting happens here in her town except for the strange, mysterious lights that she sees every once in a while. Just as her life could have been more perfect and normal, her beloved brother somehow disappears into thin air and the worried Mia goes on this quest to help save her brother. Just then, she realizes that this new, enigmatic, gorgeous guy named Sol could be the key to finding her brother. Mia finds herself thrusts into an unfathomable world that connects to her hometown where nothing is what they seems like and everything she thought she knew changes her life forever...
Mia is definitely not my favorite heroine, but she does have her undeniable loyalty and determination to save her brother and all the missing children which is an admirable aspect on her part. But somehow as I read further on, I learned that her character is somewhat lacking. I have three words to sum up what I thought of her: boring and annoying. I sort of expected Mia to be more compelling, have a kick-ass side, and depth to her name. I couldn't fully conect with Mia and at times, I'd put The Dark Light down because she was quite dull and irritating. During the course of the book, Mia is unequivocally annoying because of her actions such as doing something really reckless that could possibly endangered the lives of her comrades and so much more. (I think I counted two times or more..) I wished she has some fiery spirit to her instead of being the dull, flat heroine she is.
On the other hand, Sol is a much more complex character with deeper insight and depth. He is kind-hearted, brave, and very endearing that which I enjoyed reading the most. He has a strong insight for his people and does countless, admirable decisions. Sol has a concealed side that which he kept locked up in his heart until one day, Mia finds the key to tear down the walls that lay in his heart and get to understand who Sol really is. Sol's amiable qualities were indeed admirable and amazing to read, but he is devoid of swoon-worthiness that makes him stand out among the swoon-worthy guys in YA literature. Don't get me wrong, he has his wonderful moments, but I was looking for something more...
The romance between Sol and Mia is mediocre at best and a bit too rushed in my opinion. It wasn't overly cheezy, but there were several cute, laugh-out-loud moments and made my heart warmed up a bit.
The villain of The Dark Light (who wanted to destroy the world) is one of the most weakest aspects that it's almost laughable. The so-call-Surezain is considered a dangerous enemy and yet, he did almost nothing outrageously horrifying throughout the book. (Well besides kidnapping little boys, starving them, and other insignificant acts) You would think Surezain would go all Sparta on his enemies or devise some strategic, well-planned trap, but however, none of that occurred which was mildly disappointed on his part. Furthermore, we were expected to be afraid of this powerful leader, but I didn't get any chills or goosebumps that I was waiting for. Same thing goes for Mia whom faces Surezain in a showdown and just The climax was just way too easy! I was expecting an epic showdown of some sort! What adds to my constant level of frustration is that she didn't wield her sword like Delane had taught her or go all bad-ass on her enemies. What was the point?
Now onto the world-building--IMO, it's just average (Nothing too extraordinary or special). There are some info-dumps now and then, but nothing too difficult to get through. I didn't like how everything is all crammed up in only one book. Due to this large, extensive world, I'd like a series out of this, so it could be better and further developed. As you read along, you will come in contact with demons, shadow imps, frightening creatures that prowled in the dark and the brief explanations about them. Seriously, shadow imps! If that doesn't make you want to crack open this book, I don't know what will! To me, that aspect of this complex world-building was just simply fascinating.
Despite my criticism of The Dark Light, there were some scenes where you will be anxiously gripping the book and holding on through the thread of every single word. The pace during the beginning of the book was fairly okay, but at the end, everything started falling in place and the tension got more urgent and real.
Overall, The Dark Light was a reasonably, intriguing book but had some flaws and positive qualities. My main problem of this book was that I had very high expectations and expected something out-of-the-box, but unfortunately, The Dark Light didn't reach my goals the way I wished it had. The Dark Light didn't wow me with its creative premise, plot, and characters, but I'm most certain that it will give readers something to pause, reflect, and enjoy. I'm glad I got to experience a unique and a bit different kind of take in the paranormal genre. Readers of paranormal and fantasy will find this book absolutely immersing and invigorating to read. The Dark Light is a special kind of gem out there in YA literature--one that you must not judge it by a cover or synopsis and simply revel in this treasure.
P.S The Dark Light has one hell of a cover! 8D
March 28, 2015
This was the highlight to my Spring Break. The Dark Light takes place in a little town call Crownsville. This is the described as the most boring town known to man according to the characters. Or atleast until five kids go missing, and a new guy named Sol appears out of nowhere. Things continue to ramp up when her own younger brother goes missing, and Mia just might be the only person that can find him and the other missing kids. Everything is not what it seems in this book, and you will be engrossed in every twist and turn.*BookWhisperer Reviewer HayBug*
*This review was created for the middle school young adult audience.*
*This review was created for the middle school young adult audience.*
April 22, 2017
The Dark Light by Sara Walsh
3.5 stars
Whimsical Writing Scale: 2.75
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 4
Swoon Worthy Scale: 3.25
Villain Scale: 3
Character Scale: 4.5
Plotastic Scale: 3.5
Cover Thoughts: The cover is absolutely beautiful. I love the cover. I think it’s the tattoo. I love covers with tattoos on them especially if they are on a guy. I mean have you seen the Lords of the Underworld covers? Muscley-backs for the win!
3.5 stars
For as long as Mia Stone can remember she has seen lights in Crownsville, Nebraska. No one has ever talked about it and it’s just something everyone accepts. Until boys from neighboring towns go missing and Mia sees a cloaked figure in the light. One day, Sol arrives. Mia thinks nothing of it, but while she’s hanging out with her friends she sees a tattoo on his back. Her little brother has the same tattoo. Questions begin to run through Mia’s mind and then Jay goes missing. Mia’s convinced Sol is hiding something from her and she’ll stop at nothing to find Jay. If you’ve read the actual summary on Goodreads, Amazon, or anyplace with The Dark Light’s summary, you’ll have seen the big printed open headway.
Mia is torn between two guys—and two worlds—in this epic, romantic fantasy.
Do not listen to this. It is a lie. OK? Don’t believe me? Trust me and about five other reviews I skimmed that said the same thing. I’m just reiterating it. This is definitely a hard book to rate. It’s not a hard book to like or maybe even for some love. I enjoyed it at times and others I would find myself drifting in and out of caring. This book isn’t short and it’s wordy at times, but it doesn’t bog down the story. There were a few info dumps but they weren’t really big info dumps that are hard to get past or make sense of. Walsh creates a beautiful world and I’m just not exactly sure what I feel for it a 100%.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 2.75
The main female character is Mia. I liked Mia, but I didn’t love her. For a good quarter of the book I really liked her and then the main plotline falls into place and I started to feel as lost and disoriented as Mia. I didn’t like her as much. She was still interesting, but she lost some of her spunk. She did regain it back again, but I just didn’t connect with her the whole entire time. She was a good sister and that’s probably her best trait/ quality. She always put Jay before herself and that’s admirable in a YA heroine. Not very many older siblings in YA have a believable relationship with their sibling.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 4
The main male character is Sol. I wish I could say Sol is swoon worthy, but he isn’t when we are first introduced to him. My first thoughts of him were that he was a cold and it was a turn off. I found myself liking him a lot more towards the ending, but I don’t think I’ll be writing his name on a notebook anytime soon. Sol was lacking in that swoon worthy charisma charm that I love from book boys. He did have a few moments where he would have those little moments, but they were easily thrown out the window. There’s an age 14 and up warning on my jacket’s flap. I find this warning very misleading. Usually when there’s this warning it means sexy time.
Swoon Worthy Scale: 3.25
The Villain- In all honesty the villain is a pretty cardboard cutout of a villain. Yea, he’s done some pretty terrible stuff, but nothing during the course of the book other than I wasn’t really put off by him in anyway and I don’t fear him. I feel like if he was in a great villain battle he would be one of those villains that just couldn’t hang and Voldemort would Advada Kadavira him or just break his wand in front of the entire legion of Death Eaters.
I think if he would’ve done something shocking like I don’t know sacrifice virgins, it wouldn’t even been a lot more scary. Think about it. That scared me to death when I read about in the Fallen Angels series. It isn’t cool, but it was a good tactical plot to make me afraid of the villain.
Villain Scale: 3
There wasn’t a huge cast of characters but there was a few. Willie, Mia’s best friend, she’s a girl by the way. I hope Willie is short for Wilma or some really old name because I would hate my parents if they named me that. I liked Willie, but in all honesty she was just there. I didn’t care for half the stuff that she said and her wittiness didn’t charm me. There’s Jay, Mia’s brother, I think he’s cute. We don’t really get to see much of him. I think it would be cool if we got Seriously, don’t read that spoiler unless you’ve read the book. Delane is Sol’s best friend and I guess he may have been the guy that the heading of the summary was implying but even Mia laughed at the prospect of that when Sol mentioned it. Delane was cool, but he’s far too in lust with Vermillion to see anything else. I did really like him though. Speaking of Vermillion, I think her character is freaking awesome. I’ve never heard of a species like hers before and I found her interesting and new.
Character Scale: 4.5
This is a very fantasy like book, but it isn’t high fantasy. The world of Brakaland is absolutely stunning and Walsh did an excellent job of creating creatures that creeped me out. I don’t want to run into a visage demon at all. I want to see more well done concepts like this. I do come across them, but not often. This is just a concept that I really liked. I’m not a hundred percent sure what the lights had to do with Brakaland and the Barrier. I’m sure they mentioned it and I zoned out. If anyone could clear that up for me it would be nice. This book was good, but not great. I thought I would be blown away and I wasn’t. I was also surprised though since this book is completely different from what I expected it to be, but in a good way. It’s hard to say exactly how I feel about The Dark Light. I liked it a lot, but didn’t love it. Some things did blow me away though. Definitely give this book a shot. I know it looks paranormal, but it’s more fantasy. Not a fan of fantasy? Don't let that stop you either because it is a good book.
Plotastic Scale: 3.5
Cover Thoughts: The cover is absolutely beautiful. I love the cover. I think it’s the tattoo. I love covers with tattoos on them especially if they are on a guy. I mean have you seen the Lords of the Underworld covers? Muscley-backs for the win!
December 6, 2012
An intriguing paranormal story with a mesmerizing secret. I don't know which made more excited to read this book, the cover or the synopsis. Based on the synopsis alone I knew this was going to be paranormal read I was going to enjoy, and I did! Sara Walsh did not disappoint me. She created a story that wasn't at all what I was excepting. There is this enticing air of mystery surrounding the entire story that I loved. That one element alone is what kept me invested with the story. I wanted answers, and the deeper I got into the storyline the more I learned, and more I realized this was not a story I could even try to figure out what was going to happen next. Surprisingly, the more answers I got, the more questions I had.
Mia's small town in on edge. There are strange things happening, and with the mystery behind kids's disappearances, reports of weird lights, and other unexplainable things going on, that's understandable. Mia is an amazingly strong character. She's someone I felt bad for and admired all at the same time. She works hard to keep her family together, which basically means she does all she can to help and protect her younger brother. With no father or mother around (nor have they ever been around), she and her brother live with an Uncle who's hardly there at all. I love the bond Mia and her brother Jay have. She'd do anything for him, and it shows in all she does and ends up doing when she sets off to find him after he disappears.
I at first thought this was a story that had aliens in it. I know, I don't know what I was thinking, but I guess something about "mysterious lights" had me think space ships. Boy, was I wrong! This is far from crop circles and aliens abducting kids. I loved the world that Sara introduced me to with The Dark Light. The originality of the story is my favorite part of the book, because it's unlike anything I've read. I liked the mythology, learning about the history of the people who made up this world, and the surprising twists with some of those characters. I think this is the first time in a long time I wasn't able to figure out who anyone really was, and what was going to happen next. I loved that! Mia's journey is full of surprises, action, plenty of mystery, and a sweet romance that despite lacking that intensity I love about YA romances, was one I still enjoyed.
Mia's got a fabulous love interest in our mysterious hottie, Sol. If you love a guy with a tattoo that takes up his entire back (I loved finding out what the significance was with this), who's tall, dark and brooding, then you'll love Sol. Here's the thing with Sol, he's not like other guys. He's mysterious, not dangerous, but there's something about him that like Mia, had me wanting to find out about his secrets. He's commanding, sure of himself in a way that doesn't make his cocky, but it instead makes him come across as just different. The more I got to know Sol, the more I liked him! Trust me, Sol's got some pretty interesting secrets that make it hard not to love him.
My only compliant with this book is I felt it was a bit too long. At almost 500 pages in length, I felt there was a point between the middle and close to the end of the book that lost some of it's interest for me. I think if the book had been a just a little shorter that might not have happened. I didn't have any problems with the storyline until that point, and because I had already invested myself in the story I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen, and I'm glad I did, because the scenes after that were great. Over all this was a book I enjoyed! With the way the story ended I'm really curious to find out if there will be a sequel. If there is, I'm totally picking it up.
Mia's small town in on edge. There are strange things happening, and with the mystery behind kids's disappearances, reports of weird lights, and other unexplainable things going on, that's understandable. Mia is an amazingly strong character. She's someone I felt bad for and admired all at the same time. She works hard to keep her family together, which basically means she does all she can to help and protect her younger brother. With no father or mother around (nor have they ever been around), she and her brother live with an Uncle who's hardly there at all. I love the bond Mia and her brother Jay have. She'd do anything for him, and it shows in all she does and ends up doing when she sets off to find him after he disappears.
I at first thought this was a story that had aliens in it. I know, I don't know what I was thinking, but I guess something about "mysterious lights" had me think space ships. Boy, was I wrong! This is far from crop circles and aliens abducting kids. I loved the world that Sara introduced me to with The Dark Light. The originality of the story is my favorite part of the book, because it's unlike anything I've read. I liked the mythology, learning about the history of the people who made up this world, and the surprising twists with some of those characters. I think this is the first time in a long time I wasn't able to figure out who anyone really was, and what was going to happen next. I loved that! Mia's journey is full of surprises, action, plenty of mystery, and a sweet romance that despite lacking that intensity I love about YA romances, was one I still enjoyed.
Mia's got a fabulous love interest in our mysterious hottie, Sol. If you love a guy with a tattoo that takes up his entire back (I loved finding out what the significance was with this), who's tall, dark and brooding, then you'll love Sol. Here's the thing with Sol, he's not like other guys. He's mysterious, not dangerous, but there's something about him that like Mia, had me wanting to find out about his secrets. He's commanding, sure of himself in a way that doesn't make his cocky, but it instead makes him come across as just different. The more I got to know Sol, the more I liked him! Trust me, Sol's got some pretty interesting secrets that make it hard not to love him.
My only compliant with this book is I felt it was a bit too long. At almost 500 pages in length, I felt there was a point between the middle and close to the end of the book that lost some of it's interest for me. I think if the book had been a just a little shorter that might not have happened. I didn't have any problems with the storyline until that point, and because I had already invested myself in the story I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen, and I'm glad I did, because the scenes after that were great. Over all this was a book I enjoyed! With the way the story ended I'm really curious to find out if there will be a sequel. If there is, I'm totally picking it up.
August 23, 2012
Review also found on Making the Grade: YA Lit Reviews
It’s not often that I dive into a book with very, very little knowledge of what to expect. THE DARK LIGHT is an example of such a novel …Strange lights around town? Would it be about an alien encounter or some other type of other-worldly invasion? …A mysterious boy named Sol? Is he the alien? …And LOOK at that cover! Ooo, la la, is this book going to be super steamy? Seriously, prior to reading it, I though THE DARK LIGHT would be one hot alien encounter…
Was I ever wrong… (But in a very, very good way!)
Thankfully, THE DARK LIGHT turned out to be nothing like a certain alien series that many of us already know so well. NOT that being similar to that series is a BAD thing, but now after reading I am so glad that ALL of my earlier assumptions were entirely off base.
Fact numero uno: There are no aliens. THE DARK LIGHT is a highly developed fantasy, overflowing with more magic and terrifying creatures than many works of fiction that I have read recently. So no, there are NO ALIENS. Mia is a small town girl who works as a waitress and looks after her young brother, Jay. She’s the type of girl that I would like to know, as she always makes sure to take care of others, she has her head screwed on right and, most importantly, she has a backbone. She’s a fairly easy girl to like.
Then there is Sol, the strange new boy who is certainly easy on the eyes and just as likeable as Mia. He’s not just a hot body with no brain. Though I couldn’t help but feel that he is not as fully developed as some of the other characters in the book, which I think is largely due to the “air of mystery” that lays over him for a large part of the story. Sadly, the truth is a little too obvious to the reader and too slowly figured out by Mia. Regardless, it is a relief to read a book about a man who isn’t “just” about his looks. Sol has BRAINS and BRAWN and RESOURCEFULNESS, too.
Fact numero dos: This book is not all about being shirtless. In fact, contrary to the subtle gasps that the cover may elicit from roaming eyes, there are FAR less steamy scenes in this book than practically every other novel involving romance that I have read. Some may then conclude that the cover is misleading, but I would have to disagree. After reading the book, the cover is more about the imagery on the BACK of the character portrayed and not so much about their positions. While there is certainly an intensity to the attraction between the two main characters, it is NOT the driving factor within the story.
Thank goodness, too, that the time one assumes (by looking at the cover) would be spent on kissing scenes is instead spent on dynamic story/world building and on developing the main character to the point that you ache when anything happens to her.
The mystery within this novel is unveiled slowly. The pace is almost at a small town crawl at the start, but eventually it progresses into an other-worldly adventurous sprint to the finish. What starts out as a story about disappearances in a small-town eventually leads to an epic journey that spans across multiple worlds and dimensions. In the end, THE DARK LIGHT is a tale that makes you realize just how small our world really is.
Now, if only we can receive some news about a sequel…
I highly recommend THE DARK LIGHT to fans of The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa or Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo.
It’s not often that I dive into a book with very, very little knowledge of what to expect. THE DARK LIGHT is an example of such a novel …Strange lights around town? Would it be about an alien encounter or some other type of other-worldly invasion? …A mysterious boy named Sol? Is he the alien? …And LOOK at that cover! Ooo, la la, is this book going to be super steamy? Seriously, prior to reading it, I though THE DARK LIGHT would be one hot alien encounter…
Was I ever wrong… (But in a very, very good way!)
Thankfully, THE DARK LIGHT turned out to be nothing like a certain alien series that many of us already know so well. NOT that being similar to that series is a BAD thing, but now after reading I am so glad that ALL of my earlier assumptions were entirely off base.
Fact numero uno: There are no aliens. THE DARK LIGHT is a highly developed fantasy, overflowing with more magic and terrifying creatures than many works of fiction that I have read recently. So no, there are NO ALIENS. Mia is a small town girl who works as a waitress and looks after her young brother, Jay. She’s the type of girl that I would like to know, as she always makes sure to take care of others, she has her head screwed on right and, most importantly, she has a backbone. She’s a fairly easy girl to like.
Then there is Sol, the strange new boy who is certainly easy on the eyes and just as likeable as Mia. He’s not just a hot body with no brain. Though I couldn’t help but feel that he is not as fully developed as some of the other characters in the book, which I think is largely due to the “air of mystery” that lays over him for a large part of the story. Sadly, the truth is a little too obvious to the reader and too slowly figured out by Mia. Regardless, it is a relief to read a book about a man who isn’t “just” about his looks. Sol has BRAINS and BRAWN and RESOURCEFULNESS, too.
Fact numero dos: This book is not all about being shirtless. In fact, contrary to the subtle gasps that the cover may elicit from roaming eyes, there are FAR less steamy scenes in this book than practically every other novel involving romance that I have read. Some may then conclude that the cover is misleading, but I would have to disagree. After reading the book, the cover is more about the imagery on the BACK of the character portrayed and not so much about their positions. While there is certainly an intensity to the attraction between the two main characters, it is NOT the driving factor within the story.
Thank goodness, too, that the time one assumes (by looking at the cover) would be spent on kissing scenes is instead spent on dynamic story/world building and on developing the main character to the point that you ache when anything happens to her.
The mystery within this novel is unveiled slowly. The pace is almost at a small town crawl at the start, but eventually it progresses into an other-worldly adventurous sprint to the finish. What starts out as a story about disappearances in a small-town eventually leads to an epic journey that spans across multiple worlds and dimensions. In the end, THE DARK LIGHT is a tale that makes you realize just how small our world really is.
Now, if only we can receive some news about a sequel…
I highly recommend THE DARK LIGHT to fans of The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa or Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo.
August 29, 2012
The cover for The Dark Light is very misleading. While it fits the book perfectly, it makes readers think the book is a paranormal romance. I went into the book thinking that is what I was going to get. Wrong! The Dark Light is fantasy and not only that; it’s awesome fantasy!
The Dark Light is thoroughly captivating from the very start. It starts off very mysteriously and I was hooked. Crazy things were happening in the town of Crownsville and no one there could explain them. There were these insane lights, missing kids, and somehow they were connected. I had no guesses as to what was going on and let me tell you, I was curious. For the first 100 pages or so I could not put the book down. The beginning really does a great job of capturing the reader’s attention, as does the end, but I have to say that the middle of the book was a little lacking. The book is almost 500 pages and there is a lot of information contained in the pages and most of it is included in the middle of the book. It dragged a bit but it really is all necessary information. It was definitely interesting I just would have preferred a bit more action to keep the pace going. The action does pick up again though and it’s worth the wait!
The Dark Light almost has two sets of characters; the people from Crownsville and the people/creatures from the other world, Brakaland. The Crownsville characters are very easy to connect with. Mia is your typical teenage girl, worrying about work, her crush, and her little brother. Her best friend, Willie, is a truly good friend and she’s hilarious. Pete is a bit confusing in the beginning but he’s easier to understand by the end. Jay is a cute kid who is a little too serious for his age. The second set of characters is a little harder to connect with. They are part of this other world and their world is very different. Everyone is raised differently and they are much more serious. Sol, Delane, Rip, and the others are good characters just in different ways from the others. They’re all brave, smart, kind, and Delane is pretty funny. Once their history is explained they are much easier to understand and like. I really enjoyed the contrasts of the two worlds.
I have to say that Brakaland is probably what made the book so awesome. At first I was a little confused about what exactly was going on and where exactly everything was going on but it didn’t take long for everything to come together and make sense. Brakaland is a unique fantasy land unlike any other. It’s full of demons, kings, mythological creatures, and so much more. The history of Brakaland is fascinating and while much of it was explained in The Dark Light I have high hopes for a second book so I can find out even more!
Overall, The Dark Light was nothing at all like what I expected and I think that’s what I loved the most about it. Sara Walsh is another author I will be on the lookout for. Can’t wait to see what she does next!
The Dark Light is thoroughly captivating from the very start. It starts off very mysteriously and I was hooked. Crazy things were happening in the town of Crownsville and no one there could explain them. There were these insane lights, missing kids, and somehow they were connected. I had no guesses as to what was going on and let me tell you, I was curious. For the first 100 pages or so I could not put the book down. The beginning really does a great job of capturing the reader’s attention, as does the end, but I have to say that the middle of the book was a little lacking. The book is almost 500 pages and there is a lot of information contained in the pages and most of it is included in the middle of the book. It dragged a bit but it really is all necessary information. It was definitely interesting I just would have preferred a bit more action to keep the pace going. The action does pick up again though and it’s worth the wait!
The Dark Light almost has two sets of characters; the people from Crownsville and the people/creatures from the other world, Brakaland. The Crownsville characters are very easy to connect with. Mia is your typical teenage girl, worrying about work, her crush, and her little brother. Her best friend, Willie, is a truly good friend and she’s hilarious. Pete is a bit confusing in the beginning but he’s easier to understand by the end. Jay is a cute kid who is a little too serious for his age. The second set of characters is a little harder to connect with. They are part of this other world and their world is very different. Everyone is raised differently and they are much more serious. Sol, Delane, Rip, and the others are good characters just in different ways from the others. They’re all brave, smart, kind, and Delane is pretty funny. Once their history is explained they are much easier to understand and like. I really enjoyed the contrasts of the two worlds.
I have to say that Brakaland is probably what made the book so awesome. At first I was a little confused about what exactly was going on and where exactly everything was going on but it didn’t take long for everything to come together and make sense. Brakaland is a unique fantasy land unlike any other. It’s full of demons, kings, mythological creatures, and so much more. The history of Brakaland is fascinating and while much of it was explained in The Dark Light I have high hopes for a second book so I can find out even more!
Overall, The Dark Light was nothing at all like what I expected and I think that’s what I loved the most about it. Sara Walsh is another author I will be on the lookout for. Can’t wait to see what she does next!
October 18, 2015
THE RUN-DOWN
In Crownsville, and the surrounding towns, boys around the age of ten are disappearing. When Mia's brother becomes one of them she'll do whatever she can to get him back. All she knows is that her brother disappeared in a strange flash of light and that the new student at school, Sol, knows more than he says. With the help of Sol, she'll try to find her brother and discover that everything is not as it seems...
MY OPINION
This book took me completely by surprise.
Based on both the cover and the synopsis, I was expecting a generic paranormal read.
The cover is the usual paranormal cover.
And in the synopsis we have both a hint of a love triangle and a hot new guy that the main character yearns for, both of these scream "generic paranormal read".
Let's make this clear:
1. This is not a paranormal read
This is more of a fantasy read than a paranormal read. It not only has a fantasy feel to it, but it's nothing like your usual fantasy novel. Meaning: this is not your generic book.
2. There is no love triangle
I have no idea who wrote that into the synopsis, but they're completely off the mark.
"Mia is torn between two guys and two worlds in this epic, romantic fantasy."
Mia is not torn between two guys, she likes only one guy. There is a brief "relationship" at the beginning of the book, but that relationship does not carry on into the story and is, in fact, never mentioned again.
Now that we got that out the way, I can say that I very much enjoyed this book. It definitely exceeded my expectations. I went into this book fully expecting the usual paranormal read. Since I have been disliking paranormal reads lately, I thought that this was to be added to the pile. The switch in genre expectations (from paranormal to fantasy) was not the only surprise. The entire storyline was unexpected!
I know, I know, I'm being extremely vague in this review, but the truth is, I can only say so much without giving away the plot. The surprise in the plot was one of the things I loved most about this book. I do not want to give the surprise away. I loved being surprised, I want you to be surprised too.
IN CONCLUSION
This was a very unexpected read. I loved the fantasy elements, the imagination in it, and the surprise that came with it.
I definitely recommend this book and am looking forward to what Sara Walsh will write next.
In Crownsville, and the surrounding towns, boys around the age of ten are disappearing. When Mia's brother becomes one of them she'll do whatever she can to get him back. All she knows is that her brother disappeared in a strange flash of light and that the new student at school, Sol, knows more than he says. With the help of Sol, she'll try to find her brother and discover that everything is not as it seems...
MY OPINION
This book took me completely by surprise.
Based on both the cover and the synopsis, I was expecting a generic paranormal read.
The cover is the usual paranormal cover.
And in the synopsis we have both a hint of a love triangle and a hot new guy that the main character yearns for, both of these scream "generic paranormal read".
Let's make this clear:
1. This is not a paranormal read
This is more of a fantasy read than a paranormal read. It not only has a fantasy feel to it, but it's nothing like your usual fantasy novel. Meaning: this is not your generic book.
2. There is no love triangle
I have no idea who wrote that into the synopsis, but they're completely off the mark.
"Mia is torn between two guys and two worlds in this epic, romantic fantasy."
Mia is not torn between two guys, she likes only one guy. There is a brief "relationship" at the beginning of the book, but that relationship does not carry on into the story and is, in fact, never mentioned again.
Now that we got that out the way, I can say that I very much enjoyed this book. It definitely exceeded my expectations. I went into this book fully expecting the usual paranormal read. Since I have been disliking paranormal reads lately, I thought that this was to be added to the pile. The switch in genre expectations (from paranormal to fantasy) was not the only surprise. The entire storyline was unexpected!
I know, I know, I'm being extremely vague in this review, but the truth is, I can only say so much without giving away the plot. The surprise in the plot was one of the things I loved most about this book. I do not want to give the surprise away. I loved being surprised, I want you to be surprised too.
IN CONCLUSION
This was a very unexpected read. I loved the fantasy elements, the imagination in it, and the surprise that came with it.
I definitely recommend this book and am looking forward to what Sara Walsh will write next.
August 21, 2012
Read Full Review at Bewitched Bookworms
Mysterious new world!
What I love most about paranormal stories is, when you have no clue what to expect and when you start a story without knowing anything! When we meet Mia – nothing tells that this is story will have some paranormal aspects until her brother disappears and Mia sees strange lights…
I was shocked when I realized the direction Sara Walsh is going with The Dark Light! It was definitely not what I expected, not at all – but it made the story just more intriguing and mesmerizing! I wanted to know about the strange new world Sarah Walsh created here!
Mia – strong heroine!!
Mia was a great character, easy to relate to and wonderfully strong. Clearly, she was no damsel in distress waiting to be rescued by the white knight! No, Mia knows and wants to protect herself and her little brother… Both, had not an easy life and no true parental advice, which is why Mia had to grow up way too sooon and needed to fill this role for her brother. I absolutely adored the sibling relationship between Mia and XX. It was heart meltingly wonderful and touching!
Sol – our mysterious tattooed (hot) boy!
Of course this story has a mysterious boy. And… I know how we love to play this game of getting glimpses behind the wall of mystery. This is always something that glues me to the pages, and in fact this never gets old for me! Sol was exactly how I wished him to be! Strong, bad ass and uner
Unique Storyline with a sweet romance!
I loved the story – it was face paced and a fantastic journey! I loved discovering this new world together with Mia! It had the perfect amount of action and intrigue that kept me flying through the pages! The romance between Sol and Mia was sweet and cute – but it lacked the final amount of spark. This chemistry between those two strong willed people could have played out with more intensity for my taste.
Mysterious new world!
What I love most about paranormal stories is, when you have no clue what to expect and when you start a story without knowing anything! When we meet Mia – nothing tells that this is story will have some paranormal aspects until her brother disappears and Mia sees strange lights…
I was shocked when I realized the direction Sara Walsh is going with The Dark Light! It was definitely not what I expected, not at all – but it made the story just more intriguing and mesmerizing! I wanted to know about the strange new world Sarah Walsh created here!
Mia – strong heroine!!
Mia was a great character, easy to relate to and wonderfully strong. Clearly, she was no damsel in distress waiting to be rescued by the white knight! No, Mia knows and wants to protect herself and her little brother… Both, had not an easy life and no true parental advice, which is why Mia had to grow up way too sooon and needed to fill this role for her brother. I absolutely adored the sibling relationship between Mia and XX. It was heart meltingly wonderful and touching!
Sol – our mysterious tattooed (hot) boy!
Of course this story has a mysterious boy. And… I know how we love to play this game of getting glimpses behind the wall of mystery. This is always something that glues me to the pages, and in fact this never gets old for me! Sol was exactly how I wished him to be! Strong, bad ass and uner
Unique Storyline with a sweet romance!
I loved the story – it was face paced and a fantastic journey! I loved discovering this new world together with Mia! It had the perfect amount of action and intrigue that kept me flying through the pages! The romance between Sol and Mia was sweet and cute – but it lacked the final amount of spark. This chemistry between those two strong willed people could have played out with more intensity for my taste.
July 19, 2012
The Dark Light by Sara Walsh is a fantastic paranormal fantasy with a touch of romance and mystery intertwined into the story. When I first began reading this book I wasn’t sure where exactly it was going to take me. From the premise I guessed that the story had something to do with aliens, but as I began reading it I quickly realized it was something way cooler and stranger even. In the beginning we are introduced to Mia a small town waitress who spends her time going to school, working and taking care of her little brother Jay. The two live with their not-so-reliable uncle Pete in the town of Crownsville where mysterious lights are often scene. Not too long before Jay’s disappearance we’re introduced to Sol the hot, incredibly ripped, older looking new kid at Mia’s school. From the beginning Mia realizes there’s something definitely different about Sol, in particular the massive bird tattoo on his back that coincidentally matches the tattoo that Jay (her brother) has on his ankle. Not to long after Jay goes missing (after following a few bright lights into a field) does Mia believe that Sol has something to do with the disappearances of not only her brother but several other kids from surrounding counties. Here is where the adventure really begins. I loved the synopsis for this book because it doesn’t give much away but just enough to intrigue you. I won’t give away any spoilers but this book was amazing! What a wild ride it was! Walsh blew me away with her story building, the intensity of the attraction between Mia and Sol and the impeccable writing. Although this story is definitely targeted at YA, I can easily see an adult enjoying it. Walsh’s story and writing reminded me often of one of my favorite writers, Karen Marie Moning. From shadows, to visage demons, to shape-shifters, to equinox portals this story is filled with paranormal elements that will keep readers excited and intrigued. Don’t let the synopsis trick you this story is more than just about inexplicable lights and a hot guy in town, it’s genius! Walsh deals with several different elements from mystery to romance to the paranormal. Lets just say the journey through Brakaland will blow you away. ;)
September 8, 2012
3,5 stars
This book was okay. I did not identify with the main character.At first she was ok...but later she start making a lot of dumb decisions..
This book was okay. I did not identify with the main character.At first she was ok...but later she start making a lot of dumb decisions..
January 27, 2014
just go read this book, you wont regret it.
September 2, 2012
Eh. Just ehhhh. While reading this book I paused periodically to say aloud to anyone around me, "I can't believe this character is so dumb." Mia, you were not trained to fight demons or use swords. Stop thinking that running into harm's way to help someone who is more capable of defending themselves is heroic. It is not. It is stupid. You are distracting them. Also, just because you are involved in an issue does not mean you have the "right" to go on a mission. No. You can come if you actually have a use that will help achieve your goal. How nice that you want to save your brother. Get out of the way and let the competent people do the job.
Walsh does a great job at making Mia helpless and clumsy- not like Bella Swan who just complains about being clumsy and occasionally tripping, more as a plot device to make her seem human and less like the vampires than anything else. Mia is just plain hopeless, but worse, she is in denial and won't get out of everyone else's way.
Mia, when told to be careful not to trip, looks so hard at her feet that she bangs her head and falls over. Mia, when being defended by other people, will jump into danger, swing her sword wildly, and trip over her own feet. Stay put, Mia! I was not rooting for Mia to succeed. I was rooting for her to get out of the way. But a book about a character who sits in the house waiting for all the supporting characters to solve her problems would be a really dumb book. So why make Mia the protagonist??? I ask you.
Mia does not relate normally to other people. I get that she had a messed up childhood, but she doesn't even act like someone in that situation would act. Her reaction to finding out more information about her father made absolutely no sense. I was baffled as to what she could possibly be thinking. She has a brain, right? )
Sol is your typical mysterious hot paranormal boy character. I was actually really slow at guessing his secrets- my fault, not the book's- it was totally obvious if I hadn't just assumed that nothing interesting was going to happen in the book.
I was not impressed by the plot or the world building. The concept of the alternate world was cool, but not developed at all. Super shallow. Lots of exposition. Ok, there's some kings and there's a bad guy who wants to let the worlds destroy each other and then rule over everything himself (this is not even a spoiler, seriously, its just obvious) and there's a lot of different species. That's nice. It's like lists of types and then one representative of each will appear and play a short role. That's it. The book would've had to be a lot longer to make any of the setting-details more vivid, at the rate things were going.
The extra star is because for some reason, I felt compelled to keep reading through all the agonizing-ness to find out what happened. So it had some kind of plot that kept the action moving. Still, I don't think I would've missed anything had I not read this at all.
One exception to all this negativity- there was one line that was really funny. Mia was opening bolts on prison doors to let out the prisoners "like an activist in an animal lab." Just a random surprising simile that made me grin. So, 2 stars. But I did not like this book.
Walsh does a great job at making Mia helpless and clumsy- not like Bella Swan who just complains about being clumsy and occasionally tripping, more as a plot device to make her seem human and less like the vampires than anything else. Mia is just plain hopeless, but worse, she is in denial and won't get out of everyone else's way.
Mia, when told to be careful not to trip, looks so hard at her feet that she bangs her head and falls over. Mia, when being defended by other people, will jump into danger, swing her sword wildly, and trip over her own feet. Stay put, Mia! I was not rooting for Mia to succeed. I was rooting for her to get out of the way. But a book about a character who sits in the house waiting for all the supporting characters to solve her problems would be a really dumb book. So why make Mia the protagonist??? I ask you.
Mia does not relate normally to other people. I get that she had a messed up childhood, but she doesn't even act like someone in that situation would act. Her reaction to finding out more information about her father made absolutely no sense. I was baffled as to what she could possibly be thinking. She has a brain, right? )
Sol is your typical mysterious hot paranormal boy character. I was actually really slow at guessing his secrets- my fault, not the book's- it was totally obvious if I hadn't just assumed that nothing interesting was going to happen in the book.
I was not impressed by the plot or the world building. The concept of the alternate world was cool, but not developed at all. Super shallow. Lots of exposition. Ok, there's some kings and there's a bad guy who wants to let the worlds destroy each other and then rule over everything himself (this is not even a spoiler, seriously, its just obvious) and there's a lot of different species. That's nice. It's like lists of types and then one representative of each will appear and play a short role. That's it. The book would've had to be a lot longer to make any of the setting-details more vivid, at the rate things were going.
The extra star is because for some reason, I felt compelled to keep reading through all the agonizing-ness to find out what happened. So it had some kind of plot that kept the action moving. Still, I don't think I would've missed anything had I not read this at all.
One exception to all this negativity- there was one line that was really funny. Mia was opening bolts on prison doors to let out the prisoners "like an activist in an animal lab." Just a random surprising simile that made me grin. So, 2 stars. But I did not like this book.
October 28, 2012
(You guys, I had reviewer's block so if I'm redundant, sorry! I'm afraid I may squeal too much if I unleashed my full thoughts. Redundancy is the best I can do!)
Crownsville is a town where strange lights dance across the sky, lights that are enchanting, but usual. In this small town, Mia lives with her little brother, Jay and her Uncle Pete, a guy who's not that reliable and comes home late at night. Everything's normal, but kids have been disappearing almost every week near Crownsville. Then, Sol enters the scene. Mysterious and older than he says with a giant tattoo on his back, Mia's more than suspicious. Then Jay gets kidnapped and Sol is there. But no matter what Sol says, Mia knows that she saw a hooded figure and that the lights are part of it. And that Sol knows more about the kidnappings than he's letting on. But...exactly what?
ZOMG you guys have absolutely no idea how much I've been dying for this book! When I got it in the mail, my mouth literally dropped open and I started squealing. So. Much. I forever love S&S. but honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into. Me? I was thinking "Vamps? Weres? Nah, too cliché. Maybe...another paranormal species that Sara created?" but you guys, you guys, it was way better than all that! I was in another world. (Literally)
The world-building? Absolutely amazing. Creating a new world is never easy, especially when it's like a parallel universe except with demons, magic, a tyrant, and that "destroy-the-known-world" plan. It seemed creepy, dangerous, and enchanting all at once and I found myself drawn into the world, waiting to see what else was in it, what else I would discover about it. It wasn't too far-fetched and explanations for things that couldn't be possible (as in, would be too far-fetched even for books) made sense.
Mia was, in short, annoying in the beginning. She kept whining on and on about her brother, thinking she could save him, but messing things up in the way. But, like all characters, she ended up growing on me. I have to give it to her though; she was strong and she was stubborn. In the good ways, of course! She just had this quality that made you love her as a character!
Sol definitely fit the whole mysterious-hot-love-interest persona perfectly! He was definitely protective of Mia and had his share of secrets. I loved him and I think he was definitely a fit for Mia! He's quiet and careful, but at the same time, risks so much. Eep! Squeal time. Haha, I think I'm gathering too many book boyfriends!
As for plot, some things you could definitely predict, but about 80% of the story surprised and shocked me! It was unpredictable and full of action. I loved it and it kept me on my toes throughout the entire book. What would happen next? What secrets would be uncovered? You had no idea until it actually happened and I'm pretty sure the entire house heard my squeals of surprise! Plot twists were definitely full in number here.
Walsh deftly weaves an incredible story full of twists and action in an unpredictable world. The Dark Light is a page-turner for sure and you'll love everything: romance, characters, plot, world. Intriguing and magical, the synopsis doesn't do it justice! There's way more underneath the cover and I loved it all! Definitely pick this one up soon!
Crownsville is a town where strange lights dance across the sky, lights that are enchanting, but usual. In this small town, Mia lives with her little brother, Jay and her Uncle Pete, a guy who's not that reliable and comes home late at night. Everything's normal, but kids have been disappearing almost every week near Crownsville. Then, Sol enters the scene. Mysterious and older than he says with a giant tattoo on his back, Mia's more than suspicious. Then Jay gets kidnapped and Sol is there. But no matter what Sol says, Mia knows that she saw a hooded figure and that the lights are part of it. And that Sol knows more about the kidnappings than he's letting on. But...exactly what?
ZOMG you guys have absolutely no idea how much I've been dying for this book! When I got it in the mail, my mouth literally dropped open and I started squealing. So. Much. I forever love S&S. but honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into. Me? I was thinking "Vamps? Weres? Nah, too cliché. Maybe...another paranormal species that Sara created?" but you guys, you guys, it was way better than all that! I was in another world. (Literally)
The world-building? Absolutely amazing. Creating a new world is never easy, especially when it's like a parallel universe except with demons, magic, a tyrant, and that "destroy-the-known-world" plan. It seemed creepy, dangerous, and enchanting all at once and I found myself drawn into the world, waiting to see what else was in it, what else I would discover about it. It wasn't too far-fetched and explanations for things that couldn't be possible (as in, would be too far-fetched even for books) made sense.
Mia was, in short, annoying in the beginning. She kept whining on and on about her brother, thinking she could save him, but messing things up in the way. But, like all characters, she ended up growing on me. I have to give it to her though; she was strong and she was stubborn. In the good ways, of course! She just had this quality that made you love her as a character!
Sol definitely fit the whole mysterious-hot-love-interest persona perfectly! He was definitely protective of Mia and had his share of secrets. I loved him and I think he was definitely a fit for Mia! He's quiet and careful, but at the same time, risks so much. Eep! Squeal time. Haha, I think I'm gathering too many book boyfriends!
As for plot, some things you could definitely predict, but about 80% of the story surprised and shocked me! It was unpredictable and full of action. I loved it and it kept me on my toes throughout the entire book. What would happen next? What secrets would be uncovered? You had no idea until it actually happened and I'm pretty sure the entire house heard my squeals of surprise! Plot twists were definitely full in number here.
Walsh deftly weaves an incredible story full of twists and action in an unpredictable world. The Dark Light is a page-turner for sure and you'll love everything: romance, characters, plot, world. Intriguing and magical, the synopsis doesn't do it justice! There's way more underneath the cover and I loved it all! Definitely pick this one up soon!
August 4, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Dark Light by Sara Walsh
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Won a giveaway
(This review is a little late. I read this book back in September! The first review was originally posted HERE, on December 28, 2012)
For the year of 2012, I have not given many five-star ratings (most of my reviews are on Goodreads), but this book definitely deserved all five stars. I do not understand why the overall rating of this book is so low. This book is incredible.
Summary (from Goodreads):
Mia is torn between two guys--and two worlds--in this epic, romantic fantasy.
Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she's concerned, that's about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.
That is, until Sol arrives. Mia's not one to fall for just any guy, but she can't get Sol--or the brilliant tattoo on his back--out of her mind.
Then Mia's brother goes missing, and Mia's convinced that Sol knows more than he's sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol's not who Mia thought he was--and neither is she.
What I Liked:
I am going to be honest - I had very high expectations for this book. I am a sucker for fantasy, paranormal, and a little science fiction. This book met all of my expectations and then some. I expected to see a weak-ish protagonist in the beginning of the book, with tunnel vision (to find her brother), and at the end of the book, she is defiant and brave, but still wary and concerned about herself and others. I definitely saw the character development in Mia. I liked her from the start, because she cared about her brother more than anything else. But I also liked how she attacked situations head-on, considering the factors that came on both sides of the decision.
On the topic of protagonists, I liked Sol. He is one of my favorite heroes of Young Adult literature this year. And it is not because he is described as absolutely gorgeous - tall, brooding, and oh so ripped - but also because he is fierce and loyal, yet gentle and sweet. He seems so sure of himself, but not in a cocky, arrogant way; and yet, sometimes, he is nervous and hesitant in his actions and feelings.
I loved the fantasy in this book - because Sol and Delane are warriors, which ups my respect for them. Delane is a cute, funny character, but he is serious and stern when he needs to be. I loved how Ms. Walsh ties the royalty and lands and wars aspects into this book. It is epic! Trust me. I could go on and on (but I will not).
What I Did Not Like:
I cannot say that there was much that I did not like. This sounds stupid, but it is so true. I loved this book so, so much.
Would I Recommend It:
YES! To all fantasy lovers out there, this is definitely a book for you.
Rating:
5 stars. I really hope this book is not a standalone, because I want more! Wonderful debut, Ms. Walsh!
The Dark Light by Sara Walsh
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Won a giveaway
(This review is a little late. I read this book back in September! The first review was originally posted HERE, on December 28, 2012)
For the year of 2012, I have not given many five-star ratings (most of my reviews are on Goodreads), but this book definitely deserved all five stars. I do not understand why the overall rating of this book is so low. This book is incredible.
Summary (from Goodreads):
Mia is torn between two guys--and two worlds--in this epic, romantic fantasy.
Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she's concerned, that's about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.
That is, until Sol arrives. Mia's not one to fall for just any guy, but she can't get Sol--or the brilliant tattoo on his back--out of her mind.
Then Mia's brother goes missing, and Mia's convinced that Sol knows more than he's sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol's not who Mia thought he was--and neither is she.
What I Liked:
I am going to be honest - I had very high expectations for this book. I am a sucker for fantasy, paranormal, and a little science fiction. This book met all of my expectations and then some. I expected to see a weak-ish protagonist in the beginning of the book, with tunnel vision (to find her brother), and at the end of the book, she is defiant and brave, but still wary and concerned about herself and others. I definitely saw the character development in Mia. I liked her from the start, because she cared about her brother more than anything else. But I also liked how she attacked situations head-on, considering the factors that came on both sides of the decision.
On the topic of protagonists, I liked Sol. He is one of my favorite heroes of Young Adult literature this year. And it is not because he is described as absolutely gorgeous - tall, brooding, and oh so ripped - but also because he is fierce and loyal, yet gentle and sweet. He seems so sure of himself, but not in a cocky, arrogant way; and yet, sometimes, he is nervous and hesitant in his actions and feelings.
I loved the fantasy in this book - because Sol and Delane are warriors, which ups my respect for them. Delane is a cute, funny character, but he is serious and stern when he needs to be. I loved how Ms. Walsh ties the royalty and lands and wars aspects into this book. It is epic! Trust me. I could go on and on (but I will not).
What I Did Not Like:
I cannot say that there was much that I did not like. This sounds stupid, but it is so true. I loved this book so, so much.
Would I Recommend It:
YES! To all fantasy lovers out there, this is definitely a book for you.
Rating:
5 stars. I really hope this book is not a standalone, because I want more! Wonderful debut, Ms. Walsh!
November 22, 2012
I have to agree with many of the reviews I have read about this book, there are quite a few things that you see upfront that are pretty misleading such as the cover and also some of the synopsis. I think what many people expected, myself included was for this to be another paranormal romance. Especially considering the opening line of the synopsis. But it's not really like that at all, I was actually pretty pleased by that fact. It starts as a pretty average story, then quickly things get pretty exciting. I loved the style of Sara's writing, and I think the talent really showed in how fluid the story was. When it came yo all of the action scenes, etc. It was like watching a movie scene play out in words on paper.
The story was pretty interesting, I wasn't to sure where things were going sometimes but Sara does a really good job of covering all the tracks to make sure you're caught up if you find yourself getting a little confused. I think it's partially due to just how quickly some of the scenes go, you're not really able to process exactly what happened in some of the more delicate scenes. There is a lot about the story that I loved, from the mystery, and all of the awesomeness that was Brakaland. Brakaland was such an awesome place, it was like stepping back into Medieval times, but more modern and with demons and all kinds of other crazy things there too. It's so hard to explain, but trust me it is quite the experience.
Mia was a fantastic character, her and Vermillion were by far my favorites. Two head strong independent female characters, I love seeing that in books. Sol was also really great, and as you can probably imagine there is a lot of mystery surrounding him when him and Mia first meet. And it is quite the story, I can assure you of that. But some of the other wonderful characters in the book include Jay (Mia's Brother), Delane and Bromasta. Those are all the "good side" characters, and I really enjoyed them all in their own ways. Oh and did I mention one of them is a Shape-Shifter? How awesome is that? I will leave it to you to figure out who though.
The ending of this book was a little bit of both good, and not so good. I absolutely loved the massive fight scene, it was incredible. But after that, things just started to drop off a little. I can't argue the fact that the way things went did make sense considering all of the different outcomes, I guess I was just looking for a little more added spark when it came to the very ending. But overall I was pleased with it. Everything was explained, and I really did like the way things played out.
Overall I would say it's a book that you should read if it sounds interesting to you. Don't base the book on the cover and expect it to be a cheesy paranormal romance or something. It is much more than that, and I was really happy to see it. There is a little something for everyone in this book and I really think it's one readers would enjoy if they are willing to give it a shot.
September 3, 2012
Also posted on my blog: http://jana-thebookgoddess.blogspot.c...
Wow. Let me just say how much I very much enjoyed this book. I had such high expectations from it, and it didn't disappoint. This debut by Sara Walsh is such an exhilarating read from start to finish, and a must read for fantasy fans.
When I first came across this book (I think it was for its cover reveal), I thought it was paranormal. Guys, be aware this is fantasy. You guys know how very picky I am of fantasy but I really love the other world Sara Walsh created. It was actually something that I've never seen before, and the magic and action was just the perfect touch.
The MC, Mia, was such a likeable character. She was very relatable, kind and caring. I guess you can call her your typical YA heroine but something about her just really intrigue me from the very first page. How much she cares for her little brother and her family is just SO sweet. But the only thing that kinda annoyed me about her is how sometimes I don't agree with her decisions, and some of her stupid actions. Like getting out of a car at night to look at some weird lights. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT. EVER. Well, maybe it's just me but.
Anyway, let's talk about Sol and his tattoo. I could be here forever and say a lot about his sexy tattoo, but I won't. All you just need to know about Sol and his tattoo is that this guy surprised the hell out of me. There were some revelations and secrets uncovered throughout the book and I was just reading it with my mouth open like a frigging fish. Sol is just so unpredictable and mysterious - so if you like guys like that, read this book!
The romance was very slow, and developed at a right pace. Sure, I was screaming at them to hurry up and kiss already (don't mind me) but you gotta admit that their way is better.
This bit from the summary really confused the hell out of me after I read this book - "Mia is torn between two guys". From reading that you would think there would be a love triangle. BUT THERE ISN'T. Sure, there was this guy from her small town. But you seriously wouldn't consider him as a real love interest. The dude was on the page for only a second.
The secondary characters were the best! Sara has written some of my favourite ever: Vermillion. I loved her. And Delane's probably my favourite character from the whole book. The rest of the characters are really fully fleshed out and after you read the book it feels like you've known them for ages. Which is a good thing, peeps.
The ending was just perfect. This is currently a stand-alone and I love how she left us all satisfied yet leaving things open later. Such a fun and exciting read throughout.
Wow. Let me just say how much I very much enjoyed this book. I had such high expectations from it, and it didn't disappoint. This debut by Sara Walsh is such an exhilarating read from start to finish, and a must read for fantasy fans.
When I first came across this book (I think it was for its cover reveal), I thought it was paranormal. Guys, be aware this is fantasy. You guys know how very picky I am of fantasy but I really love the other world Sara Walsh created. It was actually something that I've never seen before, and the magic and action was just the perfect touch.
The MC, Mia, was such a likeable character. She was very relatable, kind and caring. I guess you can call her your typical YA heroine but something about her just really intrigue me from the very first page. How much she cares for her little brother and her family is just SO sweet. But the only thing that kinda annoyed me about her is how sometimes I don't agree with her decisions, and some of her stupid actions. Like getting out of a car at night to look at some weird lights. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT. EVER. Well, maybe it's just me but.
Anyway, let's talk about Sol and his tattoo. I could be here forever and say a lot about his sexy tattoo, but I won't. All you just need to know about Sol and his tattoo is that this guy surprised the hell out of me. There were some revelations and secrets uncovered throughout the book and I was just reading it with my mouth open like a frigging fish. Sol is just so unpredictable and mysterious - so if you like guys like that, read this book!
The romance was very slow, and developed at a right pace. Sure, I was screaming at them to hurry up and kiss already (don't mind me) but you gotta admit that their way is better.
This bit from the summary really confused the hell out of me after I read this book - "Mia is torn between two guys". From reading that you would think there would be a love triangle. BUT THERE ISN'T. Sure, there was this guy from her small town. But you seriously wouldn't consider him as a real love interest. The dude was on the page for only a second.
The secondary characters were the best! Sara has written some of my favourite ever: Vermillion. I loved her. And Delane's probably my favourite character from the whole book. The rest of the characters are really fully fleshed out and after you read the book it feels like you've known them for ages. Which is a good thing, peeps.
The ending was just perfect. This is currently a stand-alone and I love how she left us all satisfied yet leaving things open later. Such a fun and exciting read throughout.
October 25, 2012
Read more of my reviews at Dazzling Reads
Did you say fantasy? Oh my God! that's my favorite word and here we have a supernatural-fantasy tale (yes, both a the same time) that delivers the best of both genres plus a cast of authentic and charming characters that left me craving for more!
The first hundred pages of The Dark Light were a bit slow but considering that this book is almost 500 pages long, waiting for only a 100 pages until the first Wow-moment arrived was practically nothing. Once the story takes off, I was blown away with an unexpected fantasy twist. Yes, unexpected. First of all, the cover represents very well our two main characters, their relationship, and part of the mystery of tattoos that we encounter on this novel. But the cover doesn't give anything else away, which is good since I was greatly surprised to discover the marvelous fantasy twist that definitely glued me to the book until I reached the last page. In addition, the concept of The Dark Light kept me highly intrigued. The two parallel worlds, the mysterious lights, the Solenetta, the different kind of people/creatures/razes, etc. There is certainly a lot going on on The Dark Light! Oh, and did I mention that it has tones of jaw-dropping and fist-pumping action? Totally badass!
In what concerns the characters I have to say that I love Mia as our protagonist. She is intelligent, strong, lovable and realistic at the same time. Then we have Sol, our mysterious hot hero. He is definitely something worth swooning for, and even though at the beginning he was very mean to Mia, later in the story I was able to fall for him as much as Mia did. And then, there is Delane. Delane is Sol's friend (also a love interest) and he is such a compelling character. Delane's unique personality pop-outs from the pages giving readers the perfect fix of charming-ness! There are also many other characters such as Pete, Mia's father, Jay, etc, that complete and enrich the cast of The Dark Light.
There is also a love story between Mia and Sol, but it was very subtle, even delicate and its slow building feels much more closer to reality and easy to relate to than the typical starcrossed love story. However, at times I was desperately wishing for Mia and Sol to just kiss and confess each other's feeling. Still, I loved how Miss Walsh developed this part of the plot but I still wish I had more.
With kick-ass action, intriguing mystery, a breath-taking hero, a dangerous world, and a nail-biting plot, The Dark Light by Sara Walsh is a great debut novel that will leave readers dying for more!
September 1, 2012
When you first get into the book you're assaulted by a barrage of many new names and places. The story moved at an incredibly slow place and the main character thus narrative had a very dull, monotonous tone. God, it dragged.
The two love interests in this book was boring and difficult to like. It also felt inorganic, like the author was trying to make you like them by portraying them in a certain way. Yes, one of them with is supposedly hot with broad shoulders, but his personality and dialogue was dry as a dishwater. His act was getting old I was snoring a third way into the book, even though the plot technically started getting somewhere. It lost me by then. Just wasn't interested anymore.
Admittedly I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought it would be some sort of paranormal since it's set in a small town with mysterious disappearing children. But it turned out to be this strange alternate dimension story that was 'fantastic' but hard to swallow. The world just did not appeal to me, it just wasn't believable.
I did not enjoy the characters. None were compelling, especially the MC who was completely unlikeable. We're supposed to felt sympathetic but I just wanted the misery of reading to end. I felt that her plight and the main driving conflict of the story (to save her brother) wasn't enough for me. I just couldn't get into this book. It was such a chore to try and read.
The two love interests in this book was boring and difficult to like. It also felt inorganic, like the author was trying to make you like them by portraying them in a certain way. Yes, one of them with is supposedly hot with broad shoulders, but his personality and dialogue was dry as a dishwater. His act was getting old I was snoring a third way into the book, even though the plot technically started getting somewhere. It lost me by then. Just wasn't interested anymore.
Admittedly I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought it would be some sort of paranormal since it's set in a small town with mysterious disappearing children. But it turned out to be this strange alternate dimension story that was 'fantastic' but hard to swallow. The world just did not appeal to me, it just wasn't believable.
I did not enjoy the characters. None were compelling, especially the MC who was completely unlikeable. We're supposed to felt sympathetic but I just wanted the misery of reading to end. I felt that her plight and the main driving conflict of the story (to save her brother) wasn't enough for me. I just couldn't get into this book. It was such a chore to try and read.
September 17, 2012
I really liked the premise of this but the characters were the downfall to this story.
Sol and Mia are the main characters and they let me down, especially Mia. Sol was just alright. I was expecting him to be this badass character but he was just your typical hero.
Mia, on the other hand, didn't cut it. I didn't connect with her at all and I found her annoying with the decisions she made. Sol and Mia's relationship was...ok. I guess it worked. I liked them together more than I liked them on their own. I thought the relationship moved a little too fast for my liking though.
I still think that this story has some potential(if done right)so hopefully the next one will be an improvement. *fingers crossed*
Sol and Mia are the main characters and they let me down, especially Mia. Sol was just alright. I was expecting him to be this badass character but he was just your typical hero.
Mia, on the other hand, didn't cut it. I didn't connect with her at all and I found her annoying with the decisions she made. Sol and Mia's relationship was...ok. I guess it worked. I liked them together more than I liked them on their own. I thought the relationship moved a little too fast for my liking though.
I still think that this story has some potential(if done right)so hopefully the next one will be an improvement. *fingers crossed*
November 5, 2015
Fantasy has always been a favorite genre of mine. There is just something that I love about being in a simpler time where men fight with honor (and a sword) rather than with guns and bombs. Guns and bombs are so inelegant.
The Dark Light blew my friggin' mind. Maybe if I had sought out a few more blurbs about the book, I wouldn't have been so shocked to discover that it was Fantasy and not Science Fiction like I originally thought it was. I mean who could blame me? The sample I downloaded to my Kindle was set in modern times with various references to the "bright lights" that had plagued the town for years. Following the bright lights were also reports of missing children. Has to be alien abductions, right?
Wrong. The lights turned out to be evidence of a portal to a parallel dimension that exists alongside ours (think Faerie or the Edge if you're an Ilona Andrews fan).
The crossover between the two worlds isn't something often encountered in Fantasy and I quite enjoyed it. Toss in a perfectly wretched bad guy, numerous interesting and diverse races of people, and starcrossed lovers (and giant spiders, orc-like demons, and various other monsters), and you have The Dark Light, a book I could not put down. LOVED it.
The Dark Light blew my friggin' mind. Maybe if I had sought out a few more blurbs about the book, I wouldn't have been so shocked to discover that it was Fantasy and not Science Fiction like I originally thought it was. I mean who could blame me? The sample I downloaded to my Kindle was set in modern times with various references to the "bright lights" that had plagued the town for years. Following the bright lights were also reports of missing children. Has to be alien abductions, right?
Wrong. The lights turned out to be evidence of a portal to a parallel dimension that exists alongside ours (think Faerie or the Edge if you're an Ilona Andrews fan).
The crossover between the two worlds isn't something often encountered in Fantasy and I quite enjoyed it. Toss in a perfectly wretched bad guy, numerous interesting and diverse races of people, and starcrossed lovers (and giant spiders, orc-like demons, and various other monsters), and you have The Dark Light, a book I could not put down. LOVED it.
August 20, 2012
The Dark Light by Sara Walsh is one of those all around awesome type of books. I loved every page - it was enticing, lovely, and completely fresh and new.
Sara Walsh's world was fascinating. I was utterly captivated and loved finding out all the pieces of the puzzle alongside Mia. The Dark Light of a wonderful blend of fantasies and I loved it.
The plot was SO GOOD! I loved that there was romance, but it was more downplayed. It was an aspect of the story but it wasn't completely front and center. I could never guess what was going to happen next.
The characters were wonderful. I loved Willie - she absolutely cracked me up. Mia was such a fantastic main character - she was very real and so easy to relate to. I loved Sol and how mysterious he was. Delane was a complete hoot.
I simply cannot wait to see more from Sara Walsh in the future! The Dark Light was an absolute winner for me - I am already counting down until I get another book from her! Sara Walsh is a rising star in YA and I cannot see wait to see where she goes next.
Sara Walsh's world was fascinating. I was utterly captivated and loved finding out all the pieces of the puzzle alongside Mia. The Dark Light of a wonderful blend of fantasies and I loved it.
The plot was SO GOOD! I loved that there was romance, but it was more downplayed. It was an aspect of the story but it wasn't completely front and center. I could never guess what was going to happen next.
The characters were wonderful. I loved Willie - she absolutely cracked me up. Mia was such a fantastic main character - she was very real and so easy to relate to. I loved Sol and how mysterious he was. Delane was a complete hoot.
I simply cannot wait to see more from Sara Walsh in the future! The Dark Light was an absolute winner for me - I am already counting down until I get another book from her! Sara Walsh is a rising star in YA and I cannot see wait to see where she goes next.
August 9, 2013
Wow, that was not what I was expecting from the cover and the synopsis...
To be honest, I wasn't expecting much and that really blew my mind with the fact that not only is this a good book, it was actually a GREAT book. I figured it was just another love triangle involving a good boy and a bad boy and angels or some such over done nonsense. No, no, and no. It's none of the above. Ifs a true adventure fantasy and it was pretty damned awesome.
To be honest, I wasn't expecting much and that really blew my mind with the fact that not only is this a good book, it was actually a GREAT book. I figured it was just another love triangle involving a good boy and a bad boy and angels or some such over done nonsense. No, no, and no. It's none of the above. Ifs a true adventure fantasy and it was pretty damned awesome.
May 30, 2012
Lucky me, I read the ARC! What a riveting story! Really great character development...Mia and Sol are characters that pull you in and make you care about what happens to them. World-building is amazzzzing and very different from anything I've read in this genre. Also, there's a really sexy romantic arc. Pick it up when it comes out!
April 24, 2012
Action packed and compulsively readable, THE DARK LIGHT pulls you in with the mystery of the strange lights on the horizon and rash of sudden disappearances, and takes you on a fantastical journey full of magic, romance, and adventure.
July 31, 2015
Ugh I am desperately hoping there's going to be another book. I freaking loved the world building in this book. Why create something so wonderful just for it to end way to soon. This is a story I'd actually enjoy reading more about. I'm still crossing my fingers but it's most likely in vain.
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