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Our Lady of Fire #1
What Is Dark Within Me
Alejandra Ruiz is a young witch plagued by the disappearance of her best friend, Violet. In a desperate bid for clues, she strikes a dark deal with the enigmatic Knowing One—the Prince of Lies and Shadows. But the power she needs to uncover the truth about Violet's disappearance comes at a staggering the heart of the next person who falls in love with her.As Alejandra delves deeper into Violet's case, the mystery takes an ominous turn, revealing a truth far more dangerous than she believed. With no choice but to make an ally of an enemy, she finds herself caught in a dangerous dance with the Knowing One, their attraction a sinister force of its own.Alejandra must navigate treacherous alliances, deadly betrayals, and sacrifices that blur the line between salvation and damnation. And as she uncovers the depths of her new power, her destiny intertwines with the fate of the Knowing One’s realm.Enter a world of forbidden desires and heart-wrenching choices in this gothic romance that will enthrall readers until the final, haunting page.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
November 15, 2023
Sometimes love makes you a hypocrite because you would do anything to hold on to it, even forget all of your morals, but still judge others for doing the same. So are we heroes or villains for doing so? Both and neither.
Alejandra is the kind of friend we all deserve, the kind of warrior the world needs and the kind of lover one would literally die for. I think you get the idea, she's kinda cool.
I am obsessed with the story - I love that everything seems to be upside down but there are still so many details that I recognized. There is so much grief but nonetheless hope.
Thank you for trusting me with an ARC, I really enjoyed your book 🖤
Alejandra is the kind of friend we all deserve, the kind of warrior the world needs and the kind of lover one would literally die for. I think you get the idea, she's kinda cool.
I am obsessed with the story - I love that everything seems to be upside down but there are still so many details that I recognized. There is so much grief but nonetheless hope.
Thank you for trusting me with an ARC, I really enjoyed your book 🖤
November 30, 2023
I absolutely LOVE the lost memory/second life trope, but this completely missed the mark for me.
The chapters were wayyyy too long. The writing was so choppy. I feel like the author was trying so hard to keep it in third person but kept slipping back to first person by accident. The story itself doesn’t tend to flow well when the story is being told in third person, but the character is talking to herself, and also has *another person in her head who isn’t named* talking to her at the same time. I kept finding myself losing focus of the story because I had to go back and figure out who was saying what.
The plot itself was interesting. Like I said before, I love the main trope of this book, but the rest was just so eh. The main character was extremely shallow and childish. And of course, it’s a fantasy, so nothing is “realistic,” but there were a lot of plot holes in Alejandra’s origin story. She’s a witch, barely had any training, but somehow knows how to fight and wield her powers. Unfortunately, I saw the only plot twist from the get-go, which was kind of disappointing, but whatever.
Nicolas was a good main character, but he was WAY too nice… Lmao. This was not enemies to lovers by any means. And Garm’s character in general was effing WEIRD… I feel like the author could’ve made a more likable, golden retriever-energy character without making him a LITERAL dog with human hands.
Lastly, even without the Persephone and Underworld references, I immediately got Hades vibes from Nic when his Doberman attacked Alejandra. It’s giving… A Touch of Darkness but… not. Then he gives her the “choice” to leave, just like Hades. This just seemed so heavily inspired by several other books that I just couldn’t enjoy it.
After the story is over, the relationship between the two main characters seems like an afterthought. I really feel like this could’ve been done SO much better.
And to the author: GIRL. Nicolas’s… y’know… DID NOT have to be a different color than the rest of his body. And you didn’t not have to remind your readers of it both times out of the TWO scenes you wrote. That was so weird dude.
The chapters were wayyyy too long. The writing was so choppy. I feel like the author was trying so hard to keep it in third person but kept slipping back to first person by accident. The story itself doesn’t tend to flow well when the story is being told in third person, but the character is talking to herself, and also has *another person in her head who isn’t named* talking to her at the same time. I kept finding myself losing focus of the story because I had to go back and figure out who was saying what.
The plot itself was interesting. Like I said before, I love the main trope of this book, but the rest was just so eh. The main character was extremely shallow and childish. And of course, it’s a fantasy, so nothing is “realistic,” but there were a lot of plot holes in Alejandra’s origin story. She’s a witch, barely had any training, but somehow knows how to fight and wield her powers. Unfortunately, I saw the only plot twist from the get-go, which was kind of disappointing, but whatever.
Nicolas was a good main character, but he was WAY too nice… Lmao. This was not enemies to lovers by any means. And Garm’s character in general was effing WEIRD… I feel like the author could’ve made a more likable, golden retriever-energy character without making him a LITERAL dog with human hands.
Lastly, even without the Persephone and Underworld references, I immediately got Hades vibes from Nic when his Doberman attacked Alejandra. It’s giving… A Touch of Darkness but… not. Then he gives her the “choice” to leave, just like Hades. This just seemed so heavily inspired by several other books that I just couldn’t enjoy it.
After the story is over, the relationship between the two main characters seems like an afterthought. I really feel like this could’ve been done SO much better.
And to the author: GIRL. Nicolas’s… y’know… DID NOT have to be a different color than the rest of his body. And you didn’t not have to remind your readers of it both times out of the TWO scenes you wrote. That was so weird dude.
July 17, 2024
I absolutely loved this! I devoured every word. This was so well written, with characters that jump out of the book!! You’re left with a cliffhanger that makes you want to scream, but that’s half the fun!!! I cannot wait to continue this series!!!
April 3, 2024
Loved the overall story line. I still have so many questions left unanswered which is low key annoying. Loved nic but why did I need to know about his skin being two shades darker ???
December 3, 2023
at no point did I know what was going on in this book
June 21, 2024
Loved the vibes but the story line just wasn't hitting😑
November 16, 2023
I'm not a fan of the lost memory trope so me giving it four stars is already a good starting point. The tension was there. The banter with the forced proximity and collaboration, that was my favorite part.
The magic system/world-building didn't feel overwhelming, I just thought it lacked in credibility big time (names like Nicolas, Bonnie and Roland really don't convey dark saints energy). I lost interest when the tension turned into basic romance, but that's just me longing for drama.
The subplot was good, though not very original (I'm currently reading another book about a witch collaborating with an evil lord person to find a girl she loves. just saying). It did stay relevant and interesting until the end, and it didn't feel like a pretense to write romantasy.
I don't know why I felt disconnected from the story, my guess is the lack of credibility, not only because of the names but the evil place being so chill and casual with like three people around (I know there's probably more people than this but it didn't feel like it, we never saw them) and Nicolas, the supposedly fearful powerful being who never really portrays those things. He's nice. He's just nice.
The smut was almost good, if it didn't have some gross words and descriptions I personally heavily dislike in books (did we really need to be told twice about the difference in skin color on his...)
[arc review, honest opinion]
The magic system/world-building didn't feel overwhelming, I just thought it lacked in credibility big time (names like Nicolas, Bonnie and Roland really don't convey dark saints energy). I lost interest when the tension turned into basic romance, but that's just me longing for drama.
The subplot was good, though not very original (I'm currently reading another book about a witch collaborating with an evil lord person to find a girl she loves. just saying). It did stay relevant and interesting until the end, and it didn't feel like a pretense to write romantasy.
I don't know why I felt disconnected from the story, my guess is the lack of credibility, not only because of the names but the evil place being so chill and casual with like three people around (I know there's probably more people than this but it didn't feel like it, we never saw them) and Nicolas, the supposedly fearful powerful being who never really portrays those things. He's nice. He's just nice.
The smut was almost good, if it didn't have some gross words and descriptions I personally heavily dislike in books (did we really need to be told twice about the difference in skin color on his...)
[arc review, honest opinion]
October 28, 2023
*I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review*
"I merely want you to understand this: if it came down to you or the world and everyone in it, I would choose you every time."
What Is Dark Within Me follows Aleja in her desperate attempt to find her missing friend. She calls upon the The Knowing One to strike bargain to aid her in her search.
I really enjoyed this book! The first half was intriguing for sure, but the last 30% was electric. Enemies to lovers, second chance, and a different take on fated mates mixed with magic, the devil, and the seven deadly sins, perfection.
Aleja is a badass, no matter how much power she possesses, no matter what life or what realm, she's a fucking QUEEN. And Nicolas, our sweet, obsessive, loving, morally gray shadow daddy, I LOVE him. I would call him a cinnamon roll but there's all the murders to keep in mind (; Great read, can't wait for the next book. Thank you L B Black!
"I merely want you to understand this: if it came down to you or the world and everyone in it, I would choose you every time."
What Is Dark Within Me follows Aleja in her desperate attempt to find her missing friend. She calls upon the The Knowing One to strike bargain to aid her in her search.
I really enjoyed this book! The first half was intriguing for sure, but the last 30% was electric. Enemies to lovers, second chance, and a different take on fated mates mixed with magic, the devil, and the seven deadly sins, perfection.
Aleja is a badass, no matter how much power she possesses, no matter what life or what realm, she's a fucking QUEEN. And Nicolas, our sweet, obsessive, loving, morally gray shadow daddy, I LOVE him. I would call him a cinnamon roll but there's all the murders to keep in mind (; Great read, can't wait for the next book. Thank you L B Black!
December 3, 2023
It was OK. It's better than other books I've read from Tik tok for sure. I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the best headspace for this but some moments were very confusing descriptive wise. The story as a whole was intresting. I think working on describing a scene better would be beneficial cause there were many moments even with rereading passages I was confused on what I was supposed to be seeing especially in the first half of the book.
April 1, 2024
I liked the plot. Definitely had its spicy scenes. Eager for the next to come out!
July 6, 2026
DNF. The main female character was extremely unlikeable and I just didn't feel like torturing myself this week. I did enjoy Garm's parts.
June 5, 2024
This was delightful!!! I loved the premise, characters, and atmosphere of this read. I would not want to spoil any part of this. So, if you read the synopsis and find yourself intrigued... READ IT!
March 25, 2024
the parts that were good, i liked. past lives lovers always slaps and i feel like that’s no different here but there was something that felt.. off the whole time. i couldnt fully immerse myself in the world.
overly simple names like Bonnie and Nic (Nicolas) will always break my immersion when they’re meant to be these incredibly powerful, evil (?) Dark Saints. the writing itself felt choppy at times where it was hard to follow. felt like a lot of “she passed out and woke up somewhere else” which like… i dont know. i think there could have been more exposition or exploration of the past lives to help us get from Point A to Point B.
i really started skimming toward the end. i had a hard time following some of the more lively action scenes after so much of the book up until that point felt very dialogue heavy. speaking of which, i feel like a lot of the conversations just went in circles. like everyone was confused but just ket saying words anyway.
violet’s influencer career and the constant reminder of true crime podcasts also broke my immersion a lot. but i’m also just a general hater of true crime girlie pops.
i wish there was more on aleja and her background and her family. nic was just nice to a fault, and the deal he made in the beginning with aleja felt meh. there were rules established within the universe but it constantly felt like the rules didnt matter.
i’ll probably still read the next book but maybe not 🤷🏻♀️
also please… garm. the thought of a doberman hellhound with HUMAN-ish hands? that shit took me out. i dont care what universe this is, if my dog is opening car doors with human-ish hands i’m calling the police.
when nic was like “we were villains” i was like, coulda had me fooled. nothing about them felt inherently villainous, but then again maybe i just missed it. the language and writing/descriptions of things felt overly simple, and fluffy.
overly simple names like Bonnie and Nic (Nicolas) will always break my immersion when they’re meant to be these incredibly powerful, evil (?) Dark Saints. the writing itself felt choppy at times where it was hard to follow. felt like a lot of “she passed out and woke up somewhere else” which like… i dont know. i think there could have been more exposition or exploration of the past lives to help us get from Point A to Point B.
i really started skimming toward the end. i had a hard time following some of the more lively action scenes after so much of the book up until that point felt very dialogue heavy. speaking of which, i feel like a lot of the conversations just went in circles. like everyone was confused but just ket saying words anyway.
violet’s influencer career and the constant reminder of true crime podcasts also broke my immersion a lot. but i’m also just a general hater of true crime girlie pops.
i wish there was more on aleja and her background and her family. nic was just nice to a fault, and the deal he made in the beginning with aleja felt meh. there were rules established within the universe but it constantly felt like the rules didnt matter.
i’ll probably still read the next book but maybe not 🤷🏻♀️
also please… garm. the thought of a doberman hellhound with HUMAN-ish hands? that shit took me out. i dont care what universe this is, if my dog is opening car doors with human-ish hands i’m calling the police.
when nic was like “we were villains” i was like, coulda had me fooled. nothing about them felt inherently villainous, but then again maybe i just missed it. the language and writing/descriptions of things felt overly simple, and fluffy.
April 19, 2025
Dnfd. I just don’t really get what’s going on. The chapters are too long and choppy.
Aleja was annoying af. Refusing to listen when Nic was trying to explain something. Then kicking off that he didn’t tell her. She was exhausting.
The 1* is for how much I loved Garm
Aleja was annoying af. Refusing to listen when Nic was trying to explain something. Then kicking off that he didn’t tell her. She was exhausting.
The 1* is for how much I loved Garm
November 26, 2023
A pleasant surprise. The Dark Within Me is a dark romantic fantasy with touches of gothic imagery, art history, unique magic, and mystery. Once this book got going I was hooked, overall I felt this book was a solid 3.75 stars but I pushed it to 4 with such a good ending. I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes & really enjoyed Nicolas & Aleja’s dynamic. There were a couple times where it twisted and I didn’t see it coming in the slightest. This is my favorite work from LB Black yet.
Forced Proximity,
Perilous Search for Missing Friend,
Enemies to Lovers,
Dark Magic/Occult
Witches & Mythical Creatures
1.5 🌶️
Hot Winged Dark Powered MMC
Reminded me a bit of the bargainer, serpent and the wings of night, and one dark window. Although the plot is very unique and it’s own, I would check this one out if you enjoyed any of those titles. I hope for a little more character development and connection in the next one, but overall this was a really fun read!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions and thoughts are my own per usual <3
Forced Proximity,
Perilous Search for Missing Friend,
Enemies to Lovers,
Dark Magic/Occult
Witches & Mythical Creatures
1.5 🌶️
Hot Winged Dark Powered MMC
Reminded me a bit of the bargainer, serpent and the wings of night, and one dark window. Although the plot is very unique and it’s own, I would check this one out if you enjoyed any of those titles. I hope for a little more character development and connection in the next one, but overall this was a really fun read!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions and thoughts are my own per usual <3
July 26, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4 star read
This was an enjoyable read, a super interesting take on the underworld, deadly sins, and the dark arts. It's really nice to read such a unique story that's been well thought out and well executed. There is Indepth World Building and character development. Black is definitely a talented author!
There was a bit of repetition that pulled you out of the story. Where maybe things were moved around in editing, but not cut from their original place so you'd read the same paragraph twice, just in different parts of the book. Also, I found the time jumps quite jarring. Sometimes, you didn't realise that the characters had moved on by weeks or months, I think if the pacing and time changes were worked on, this would be a 4-5 star book.
I don't know if I'll continue on with the series, so I read this as if it was a standalone, and I enjoyed it.
This was an enjoyable read, a super interesting take on the underworld, deadly sins, and the dark arts. It's really nice to read such a unique story that's been well thought out and well executed. There is Indepth World Building and character development. Black is definitely a talented author!
There was a bit of repetition that pulled you out of the story. Where maybe things were moved around in editing, but not cut from their original place so you'd read the same paragraph twice, just in different parts of the book. Also, I found the time jumps quite jarring. Sometimes, you didn't realise that the characters had moved on by weeks or months, I think if the pacing and time changes were worked on, this would be a 4-5 star book.
I don't know if I'll continue on with the series, so I read this as if it was a standalone, and I enjoyed it.
November 3, 2023
I received a free ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
WOW, what a wonderful world this is! I was immediately drawn in by the concept but then the author continued to deliver. The first third of the book immediately draws you in with mystery.
I love how the couple is built up. Aleja has such a good heart but she comes fully equipped with fire and isn’t afraid to use it. Then there’s the Knowing One. Who has such a fascinating lore attached to him and who I could listen to talk all day.
The second half of this novel is nonstop amazingness. When I think of enemies to lovers done right, this is the type of dynamic I imagine. Seeing them play off each other, fully realize themselves and what that means was such a wonderful treat.
I can’t wait to see more!
WOW, what a wonderful world this is! I was immediately drawn in by the concept but then the author continued to deliver. The first third of the book immediately draws you in with mystery.
I love how the couple is built up. Aleja has such a good heart but she comes fully equipped with fire and isn’t afraid to use it. Then there’s the Knowing One. Who has such a fascinating lore attached to him and who I could listen to talk all day.
The second half of this novel is nonstop amazingness. When I think of enemies to lovers done right, this is the type of dynamic I imagine. Seeing them play off each other, fully realize themselves and what that means was such a wonderful treat.
I can’t wait to see more!
May 17, 2025
La trama estaba un poco revuelta a ratos, y no entendí el “sistema de poder”. Si Aleja no quería pertenecer a su familia poq podía ser tan buena bruja, en que momento Violet se hizo bruja.
Pero dejando de lado los huecos, me pareció una historia muy linda, muy romántica, me encanta el trope de “Fear me but fear my wife more” y Nic lo cumplió. Me encantó como se volvía loco de amor por Aleja pero no quería asustarla, y cuando le dio el cuaderno de todo lo q iba a compartirle cuando regresara me derretí de amor.
El final fue lo que menos me gustó Poq siento que estuvo demasiado apresurado pero si me engancho a leer el siguiente para saber que pasa en los trials.
Fue entretenido y me divertía mucho la personalidad de Aleja. ❤️
Pero dejando de lado los huecos, me pareció una historia muy linda, muy romántica, me encanta el trope de “Fear me but fear my wife more” y Nic lo cumplió. Me encantó como se volvía loco de amor por Aleja pero no quería asustarla, y cuando le dio el cuaderno de todo lo q iba a compartirle cuando regresara me derretí de amor.
El final fue lo que menos me gustó Poq siento que estuvo demasiado apresurado pero si me engancho a leer el siguiente para saber que pasa en los trials.
Fue entretenido y me divertía mucho la personalidad de Aleja. ❤️
March 3, 2026
I did love this book, and im looking forward to the next installment, however, I feel the MMC could have been a lot lot darker in comparison to what his character is supposed to be. The whole book had the potential to be darker and that would have given this book that 5 star rating for me. I loved the plot and story line, it just lacked that gothic Dark academia style that would have suited this so well
May 20, 2024
I really enjoyed the story line and plot overall, it had some really amazing character development and I enjoyed seeing the FMC come into her power. It did fall kind of flat for me personally, it was more a me thing than the writing (because the writing was done really well). Def a good fantasy/romance if you’re looking for one!
August 2, 2024
I’m truly giving this 3.5⭐️. This plot is very interesting to the point where I kept wanting to flip the pages and find out what happened next. I did however think the burn between the main characters could have been more of a burn and actually had more spice to it or gave us a little more to it. Overall, it was good and I definitely will read the second.
November 29, 2023
Impulsively downloaded this after seeing i think the authors tiktok? It delivered - enemies to lovers, forced proximity, badass FMC, shadow daddy, lovable sidekick pet. The writing was a little choppy at times, but overall a good story and I cant wait for book two!
May 6, 2025
Everything I want in a fantasy book
I don’t know how to put my thoughts into words but high level, this was phenomenal. Amazing world building, magical system, lore and characters.
I’m patiently waiting for book 2!
I don’t know how to put my thoughts into words but high level, this was phenomenal. Amazing world building, magical system, lore and characters.
I’m patiently waiting for book 2!
July 17, 2025
Riveting!
I haven’t been this sucked into a book in a long time. The writing? Fantastic. The plot?? AMAZING. Garm? The sweetest hellhound best boy ever. Do yourself a favor and read this book!
I haven’t been this sucked into a book in a long time. The writing? Fantastic. The plot?? AMAZING. Garm? The sweetest hellhound best boy ever. Do yourself a favor and read this book!
March 29, 2024
La verdad se me hizo una historia muy lenta, un poco confusa y no era lo que esperaba, sin embargo, me mantuvo entretenida y si quiero saber qué pasa después, a esperar unos meseeees
December 3, 2025
It has everything I ask for in a book. I even got the visceral reaction at the end. BUT WHY WERE THE CHAPTERS 97 YEARS LONG?? Immediately downloaded the next book.
June 16, 2026
Tired
This type of story has been done SO many times, and that’s okay but that also means the bar is raised past an 7th grade reading level especially when it’s spicy.
The plot holes leave gaps in every aspect of the story. The relationship between the main characters does not have enough development for how strongly they speak about how they feel. On paper with the lore, yeah sure I get the whole trope but it made me cringe with how the pacing speeds past important elements of self discovery and then slows to a snail pace when the most mundane things are happening.
These characters did not have enough heart to heart in depth conversations or experiences. The fight scenes, LAZY! Every fight the protagonist just loses consciousness and I know why because when there is any bit where she has to explain physical interaction it’s confused and terrible. I get a great description of the protagonist’s goosebumps and nothing for wielding a blade.
This is slop, I’m a fast reader and I finished out of spite but I’m disappointed I did.
This type of story has been done SO many times, and that’s okay but that also means the bar is raised past an 7th grade reading level especially when it’s spicy.
The plot holes leave gaps in every aspect of the story. The relationship between the main characters does not have enough development for how strongly they speak about how they feel. On paper with the lore, yeah sure I get the whole trope but it made me cringe with how the pacing speeds past important elements of self discovery and then slows to a snail pace when the most mundane things are happening.
These characters did not have enough heart to heart in depth conversations or experiences. The fight scenes, LAZY! Every fight the protagonist just loses consciousness and I know why because when there is any bit where she has to explain physical interaction it’s confused and terrible. I get a great description of the protagonist’s goosebumps and nothing for wielding a blade.
This is slop, I’m a fast reader and I finished out of spite but I’m disappointed I did.
August 18, 2025
I get what the author was trying to do with the part one plot twist, but it really feels like that came out of nowhere. Outside the binding, there was no build up or anything other than “this scary demon dude is so nice to me and his weird demon dog is enamored with me. That’s not really enough for me to feel invested in that twist. It’s just kind of like okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get into the drama. That’s just not good enough.
Aleja is also unnecessarily cruel to Nicolas. Sure, he’s the one that made the deal with her great great grandfather, but he’s the one that offered his own descendants. The number of “fuck you”s she’s hurled at him just in part one alone is crazy. She’s mourning her missing friend, sure, but I just don’t find her likable as a character.
Part two kinda dragged. I feel like the only reason Nicolas loves Aleja is because she used to be his wife. Like, there’s no real chemistry between the two and the new sexual nature of their relationship feels a little forced. I expected more build up to their first encounter, of whatever kind, than what we got. It was one conversation of “I feel it when you’re stupid horny, take care of it” and then the next time she was stupid horny she sought him out even though he made it clear he wouldn’t be with her until she overtly asked. For me, that means something. He’s also consistently putting half boundaries in place around their intimacy that kind of confuse me because he doesn’t really adhere to them.
I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. I just really didn’t connect with Aleja as a character and I feel like the plot was raced through. I would have really liked more stakes building, though, I was pleased with the world building and magic system. If the book were longer, it could have been fleshed out a bit more, but for such a short novel, I think the amount we got was adequate.
“I’m not the one who’s going to have to face her.” More of that. More of that through the rest of the book. When Aleja finally owns her power and steps into herself, she’s actually kind of incredible. No more simpering, no more whining, just a woman scorned and ready to burn the world to ash. Still, the relationship between her former self and Nicolas is more believable than the relationship between him and her current self.
If the end of the book Aleja is who we get in book two rather than the Aleja we were introduced to in the beginning, I’m inclined to continue the series. The ending was more chaotic and rushed than I prefer, but it’s understandable given what it was hypothetically setting up for book two. This wasn’t my favorite book, I didn’t particularly like it, really. That being said, I think book two will be exponentially better given the growth we saw at the end of book one. Fingers crossed.
Aleja is also unnecessarily cruel to Nicolas. Sure, he’s the one that made the deal with her great great grandfather, but he’s the one that offered his own descendants. The number of “fuck you”s she’s hurled at him just in part one alone is crazy. She’s mourning her missing friend, sure, but I just don’t find her likable as a character.
Part two kinda dragged. I feel like the only reason Nicolas loves Aleja is because she used to be his wife. Like, there’s no real chemistry between the two and the new sexual nature of their relationship feels a little forced. I expected more build up to their first encounter, of whatever kind, than what we got. It was one conversation of “I feel it when you’re stupid horny, take care of it” and then the next time she was stupid horny she sought him out even though he made it clear he wouldn’t be with her until she overtly asked. For me, that means something. He’s also consistently putting half boundaries in place around their intimacy that kind of confuse me because he doesn’t really adhere to them.
I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. I just really didn’t connect with Aleja as a character and I feel like the plot was raced through. I would have really liked more stakes building, though, I was pleased with the world building and magic system. If the book were longer, it could have been fleshed out a bit more, but for such a short novel, I think the amount we got was adequate.
“I’m not the one who’s going to have to face her.” More of that. More of that through the rest of the book. When Aleja finally owns her power and steps into herself, she’s actually kind of incredible. No more simpering, no more whining, just a woman scorned and ready to burn the world to ash. Still, the relationship between her former self and Nicolas is more believable than the relationship between him and her current self.
If the end of the book Aleja is who we get in book two rather than the Aleja we were introduced to in the beginning, I’m inclined to continue the series. The ending was more chaotic and rushed than I prefer, but it’s understandable given what it was hypothetically setting up for book two. This wasn’t my favorite book, I didn’t particularly like it, really. That being said, I think book two will be exponentially better given the growth we saw at the end of book one. Fingers crossed.
February 13, 2024
Rating- ⭐️⭐️ 2/5
What is Dark Within Me is dark fantasy that blends the occult, true crime, art history and magic. Alejandra is reeling from the recent disappearance of her best friend, Violet, who went on a hike and was never seen again. As a descendent of the Ruiz family which is notorious for its practice of the dark arts, Aleja resorts to unconventional methods to find out what happened to Violet. Her path leads her to the Knowing One, chief of the Otherlanders, a figure she’s always dreaded. As Aleja follows leads on Violet’s last known days, it becomes more and more clear that her best friend was keeping secrets from her. Not only does she discover truths about Violet, she also discovers dark truths about herself.
I was drawn to this book by its promise of dark fantasy. It wasn’t particularly scary or morbid as I expected from a novel about the occult, but it did involve some dark religious aspects and lots of death. I really enjoyed the aesthetic of the book, especially as I read this leading up to Halloween. The story fell flat for me when it came to the main characters. Aleja is an admirable character- she will stop at nothing to find out what happened to her best friend. However, there’s some disconnect with how she is written. I felt as though her tone came off as very childish at times, which contradicts what we come to know about her. Personally I would have liked to see the Knowing One and other Otherlanders as more morally ambiguous. On a positive note, I absolutely loved Aleja and Nicolas’ together. I need to know more about their backstory. I couldn’t put this book down once they became more involved. I rated this 3.5 stars but rounded up since my dislikes are personal preference. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What is Dark Within Me is dark fantasy that blends the occult, true crime, art history and magic. Alejandra is reeling from the recent disappearance of her best friend, Violet, who went on a hike and was never seen again. As a descendent of the Ruiz family which is notorious for its practice of the dark arts, Aleja resorts to unconventional methods to find out what happened to Violet. Her path leads her to the Knowing One, chief of the Otherlanders, a figure she’s always dreaded. As Aleja follows leads on Violet’s last known days, it becomes more and more clear that her best friend was keeping secrets from her. Not only does she discover truths about Violet, she also discovers dark truths about herself.
I was drawn to this book by its promise of dark fantasy. It wasn’t particularly scary or morbid as I expected from a novel about the occult, but it did involve some dark religious aspects and lots of death. I really enjoyed the aesthetic of the book, especially as I read this leading up to Halloween. The story fell flat for me when it came to the main characters. Aleja is an admirable character- she will stop at nothing to find out what happened to her best friend. However, there’s some disconnect with how she is written. I felt as though her tone came off as very childish at times, which contradicts what we come to know about her. Personally I would have liked to see the Knowing One and other Otherlanders as more morally ambiguous. On a positive note, I absolutely loved Aleja and Nicolas’ together. I need to know more about their backstory. I couldn’t put this book down once they became more involved. I rated this 3.5 stars but rounded up since my dislikes are personal preference. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2024
"I'll find you again, I swear. I'll crawl through any hell to get to you."
What Is Dark Within Me follows Aleja (MC) on a desperate endeavor to find her best friend, Violet, who has gone missing. Aleja desperately uses her family's dark magic and summons The Knowing One (Nicolas), seeking information and answers on Violets whereabouts. She strikes a bargain with him and by a twist of fate, their lives become entwined.
I LOVED this book. From the very beginning I could not put it down. I often have a difficult time at first getting into a new book and it takes me a few chapters to really get invested, but I'm not even kidding, the first chapter had me hooked. What is Dark Within Me is a very well written story where dark magic, the seven deadly sins, and demons are given a whole new spin and it even gives "fated mates" and love in multiple lives/lifetimes. Slow burn, enemies to lovers, and second chance romance all mixed in with dark magic and I could not get enough of Aleja and Nicolas' story, had me feeling ALL the emotions and I'm anxiously awaiting the next book!
*I received a free advanced reader copy and am leaving this review voluntarily*
What Is Dark Within Me follows Aleja (MC) on a desperate endeavor to find her best friend, Violet, who has gone missing. Aleja desperately uses her family's dark magic and summons The Knowing One (Nicolas), seeking information and answers on Violets whereabouts. She strikes a bargain with him and by a twist of fate, their lives become entwined.
I LOVED this book. From the very beginning I could not put it down. I often have a difficult time at first getting into a new book and it takes me a few chapters to really get invested, but I'm not even kidding, the first chapter had me hooked. What is Dark Within Me is a very well written story where dark magic, the seven deadly sins, and demons are given a whole new spin and it even gives "fated mates" and love in multiple lives/lifetimes. Slow burn, enemies to lovers, and second chance romance all mixed in with dark magic and I could not get enough of Aleja and Nicolas' story, had me feeling ALL the emotions and I'm anxiously awaiting the next book!
*I received a free advanced reader copy and am leaving this review voluntarily*
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