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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
772 people are currently reading
6500 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 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 ???
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!
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!
December 3, 2023
at no point did I know what was going on in this book
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.
November 22, 2023
Thanks to BookSirens I was able to be part of L.B. Black’s ARC team and, uh, I may or may not be hooked on this series for the rest of my life (I’m writing this review mostly due to that).
You know, when there’s some kind of eternal love, I become a sucker. There’s something about being immortal and continuing to love the same person over centuries and millennia, and also about reincarnation and finding (searching for it or not) and loving the same soul in the previous lives, the current one, and all that will come after. I just… I just can’t, alright? It just got me. Every time. So… it’s not a wonder I fell so hard for Nicolas.
It’s not only about that (but it does have more than a bit of spice, just a warning there). If you like things bigger than ourselves, you can jump right in. And we never know what the universe has stored for us until you light a black candle, but make sure you know what you’re bargaining for, the Knowing One doesn’t have that title just for show.
I have this idea about angels and demons and… creatures, that this book makes me see differently. I never thought of the ones in here like angels and demons, they were everything but, but… you will see! The problems escalate quickly and the risk just grows and grows, disproportionately, and there isn’t any other way to get things right than by playing. But, you know, right? You can never win if you don’t bet, though you can also lose everything if you do. What’s life if not a constant bet, huh? Just saying!
Before I go down my own rabbit hole with that philosophical thought, there’s something I really didn’t like, and that was the cliffhanger at the end! UGH, I need the second book so BADLY! I need to read more about Nicolas, he’s the kind of… creature who pushes me to try my luck in love and sparks my usually quiet desire to fall in love, but he’s one of his kind and is taken! I respect her, I do. Oh! And the friendship! Of another level. So, yeah, I do need to know what happens next.
You know, when there’s some kind of eternal love, I become a sucker. There’s something about being immortal and continuing to love the same person over centuries and millennia, and also about reincarnation and finding (searching for it or not) and loving the same soul in the previous lives, the current one, and all that will come after. I just… I just can’t, alright? It just got me. Every time. So… it’s not a wonder I fell so hard for Nicolas.
It’s not only about that (but it does have more than a bit of spice, just a warning there). If you like things bigger than ourselves, you can jump right in. And we never know what the universe has stored for us until you light a black candle, but make sure you know what you’re bargaining for, the Knowing One doesn’t have that title just for show.
I have this idea about angels and demons and… creatures, that this book makes me see differently. I never thought of the ones in here like angels and demons, they were everything but, but… you will see! The problems escalate quickly and the risk just grows and grows, disproportionately, and there isn’t any other way to get things right than by playing. But, you know, right? You can never win if you don’t bet, though you can also lose everything if you do. What’s life if not a constant bet, huh? Just saying!
Before I go down my own rabbit hole with that philosophical thought, there’s something I really didn’t like, and that was the cliffhanger at the end! UGH, I need the second book so BADLY! I need to read more about Nicolas, he’s the kind of… creature who pushes me to try my luck in love and sparks my usually quiet desire to fall in love, but he’s one of his kind and is taken! I respect her, I do. Oh! And the friendship! Of another level. So, yeah, I do need to know what happens next.
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. ❤️
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.
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*
November 30, 2023
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not sure if it’s just me and life being crazy, but there were quite a few moments in this book where I was lost or confused about what was happening. Other than that I enjoyed this story. I loved Aleja’s character. She was strong and loyal to those she loved. At first I thought her “inner monologue” was cringey but it has a purpose that I now understand. At some points the plot was predictable, but I will say I was not expecting Aleja to be a Dark Saint and have no memory. It was a great twist! The ending is not what I expected but I’m intrigued to read the next book.
Thank you to L.B. Black and BookSirens for the free ARC!
I’m not sure if it’s just me and life being crazy, but there were quite a few moments in this book where I was lost or confused about what was happening. Other than that I enjoyed this story. I loved Aleja’s character. She was strong and loyal to those she loved. At first I thought her “inner monologue” was cringey but it has a purpose that I now understand. At some points the plot was predictable, but I will say I was not expecting Aleja to be a Dark Saint and have no memory. It was a great twist! The ending is not what I expected but I’m intrigued to read the next book.
Thank you to L.B. Black and BookSirens for the free ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
November 25, 2023
In 'What is Dark Within Me' by L.B. Black, Aleja searches for her missing friend and fellow witch Violet who disappeared during a hike. Her search leads her to desperately seek help from the Knowing One, a powerful man who makes deals with some of the many people who attempt to bargain with him. The Knowing One has already taken the lives of three of Aleja's own family members due to a deal he made with her descendants, so when she ends up bound to him and sharing his magic, to save Violet she has to learn how to use his magic, learn whether she can trust him, and learn about herself.
I was drawn to the book because the premise seemed refreshing - a welcome break from the heavy Fae-heavy books I've read a lot of recently. Obviously I'm the one choosing to continue reading books in those worlds, however it is is still nice to see a different take with the races/types of characters in this book. I won't go into spoilers but I liked the lore about the characters in the Knowing One's realm, and their enemies and I thought that this book did bring something new and interesting!
Within this book, I felt the story had two main elements - the story of Aleja and the Knowing One's search for Violet and the story of Aleja and the Knowing One themselves. The search for Violet was one that I found most original, and I honestly didn't know where the story would end up, which as a reader was good to be kept on my toes! The development of the storyline between Aleja and the Knowing One was more predictable given the enemies-to-lovers trope, however I did like the two of them together.
So, I clearly really enjoyed the story and the world but the reason I've given this book 4 stars rather than 5 is that I thought the main character of Aleja could have been a bit more nuanced. For most of the book it felt like she was alternating between anger and lust without much else in between. As the history of Aleja started to unravel, I saw how the anger was important to her character, but sometimes the anger (particularly towards the Knowing One) seemed a bit irrational. I wanted Aleja's emotions to be a bit more complex. There are different ways that righteous anger could be demonstrated than just shouting at someone and blowing things up, so going into the next book I'd like to see a bit more variety on how Aleja lets out her anger.
The book very clearly set up a sequel, with a really strong cliffhanger. I will definitely be reading book two of the Our Lady of Fire series when it releases because there's obviously lots more story to come and I'm eager to see how these characters develop. Overall, a strong book with an interesting world and a strong love story.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from BookSirens, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
I was drawn to the book because the premise seemed refreshing - a welcome break from the heavy Fae-heavy books I've read a lot of recently. Obviously I'm the one choosing to continue reading books in those worlds, however it is is still nice to see a different take with the races/types of characters in this book. I won't go into spoilers but I liked the lore about the characters in the Knowing One's realm, and their enemies and I thought that this book did bring something new and interesting!
Within this book, I felt the story had two main elements - the story of Aleja and the Knowing One's search for Violet and the story of Aleja and the Knowing One themselves. The search for Violet was one that I found most original, and I honestly didn't know where the story would end up, which as a reader was good to be kept on my toes! The development of the storyline between Aleja and the Knowing One was more predictable given the enemies-to-lovers trope, however I did like the two of them together.
So, I clearly really enjoyed the story and the world but the reason I've given this book 4 stars rather than 5 is that I thought the main character of Aleja could have been a bit more nuanced. For most of the book it felt like she was alternating between anger and lust without much else in between. As the history of Aleja started to unravel, I saw how the anger was important to her character, but sometimes the anger (particularly towards the Knowing One) seemed a bit irrational. I wanted Aleja's emotions to be a bit more complex. There are different ways that righteous anger could be demonstrated than just shouting at someone and blowing things up, so going into the next book I'd like to see a bit more variety on how Aleja lets out her anger.
The book very clearly set up a sequel, with a really strong cliffhanger. I will definitely be reading book two of the Our Lady of Fire series when it releases because there's obviously lots more story to come and I'm eager to see how these characters develop. Overall, a strong book with an interesting world and a strong love story.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from BookSirens, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
September 8, 2025
I don't read much romantasy but if you like to read the threads algorithm seems to predominantly show romantasy author posts. And L.B. Black's threads seem to speak right to me.
"what do you mean you wrote a romantasy book about a woman who summons the devil, not knowing he's already obsessed with her?"i'm sorry for being a millennial who grew up on Buffy, The Craft, and Supernatural, who has both religious trauma and female rage."
Relatable. So I had to read her book. Overall, I had an enjoyable time and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. But, the writing was at times clunky and threw me out of the story because I didn't know what was actually happening. Hopefully her writing improves the more she publishes.
I loved the world-building. Generally I will always root for a sympathetic "devil" character and I loved how this biblically-inspired structure of the Knowing One and the Dark Saints vs the Astraelis was set up, with their cultists and followers, rituals and consequences. It was fascinating though some elements didn't entirely seem logical but there's room to grow and flesh out this world a lot more.
Characters- honestly the standout was the hellhound Garm, he was funny but unsettling with his human hands. Alejandra- honestly doesn't have much of a personality beyond 1) missing her friend 2) gets angry easily 3) loves art. Many of the confusing elements are relating to her magic- it wasn't exactly clear what she does- sometimes described just as her being angry, closing her eyes, and then surfacing surrounded with fire and death which unfortunately made me think mostly of that baby from the Incredibles when he fireballs. Far too many scenes of passing out and waking up somewhere else. In terms of her anger, I'm all for feminine rage but sometimes I had a hard time seeing what she was so angry about. It made her seem more petulant and whiny than righteous with wrath. Nicholas, his main personality is obsession with Aleja. Ideally he gets developed more. He's who I'm more curious about. Though, maybe not needing to use "The Knowing One" title during sex scenes, I generally wasn't a fan of any of the dialogue in those scenes.
"what do you mean you wrote a romantasy book about a woman who summons the devil, not knowing he's already obsessed with her?"i'm sorry for being a millennial who grew up on Buffy, The Craft, and Supernatural, who has both religious trauma and female rage."
Relatable. So I had to read her book. Overall, I had an enjoyable time and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. But, the writing was at times clunky and threw me out of the story because I didn't know what was actually happening. Hopefully her writing improves the more she publishes.
I loved the world-building. Generally I will always root for a sympathetic "devil" character and I loved how this biblically-inspired structure of the Knowing One and the Dark Saints vs the Astraelis was set up, with their cultists and followers, rituals and consequences. It was fascinating though some elements didn't entirely seem logical but there's room to grow and flesh out this world a lot more.
Characters- honestly the standout was the hellhound Garm, he was funny but unsettling with his human hands. Alejandra- honestly doesn't have much of a personality beyond 1) missing her friend 2) gets angry easily 3) loves art. Many of the confusing elements are relating to her magic- it wasn't exactly clear what she does- sometimes described just as her being angry, closing her eyes, and then surfacing surrounded with fire and death which unfortunately made me think mostly of that baby from the Incredibles when he fireballs. Far too many scenes of passing out and waking up somewhere else. In terms of her anger, I'm all for feminine rage but sometimes I had a hard time seeing what she was so angry about. It made her seem more petulant and whiny than righteous with wrath. Nicholas, his main personality is obsession with Aleja. Ideally he gets developed more. He's who I'm more curious about. Though, maybe not needing to use "The Knowing One" title during sex scenes, I generally wasn't a fan of any of the dialogue in those scenes.
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