Always Darkest

by Milly Philips

Saber Warren is obsessed.

...obsessed with learning the truth behind mysterious deaths of high schoolers on the island, and obsessed with Ansel James, her father's enigmatic, totally unattainable boss.

She didn't want to move to Bainbridge Island, a dark, damp, mysterious island in the Pacific Northwest.

She didn't want to finish her senior year in a new school, or live with a father she hardly knows.

She doesn't want to be drawn in to whatever is happening during the night on the island, a dark, compelling mystery, with an impossible explaination- vampires.

But she's obsessed.

And there is nothing more dangerous than a girl with an obsession.

Genres: Fantasy, Thriller, Romance, Dark

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2024

Reviews

[Char ღ Denae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was into Edward and Bella as much as anyone but THIS is the book I expected when I picked up Twilight. No insult intended to Ms. Meyer but her vamps were a bit unvampish, for me. I like my vampires darker and unpredictable, preferably with fangs. Though there are many similarities to Edward and the gang, these vamps are definitely not good vamps. They don’t even pretend to be.

The main plot of the story, is that high school kids keep turning up dead, drained of blood. A group of quirky, nonconformist misfits are trying to figure out what is killing them, and the answer is obvious but preposterous… until it’s not.

Always Darkest was creepy from beginning to end. It was dark, twisted, and unpredictable, and I really enjoyed it. The ending is a bit unexpected but there is the promise of a sequel, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next.

*Read the trigger warnings if there are situations that cause you intense reactions.*

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marissa (rissareads13) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saber is forced to move across the country from sunny Florida to rainy Washington to live with her somewhat estranged father after her grandma and caretaker passes away. On this island close to Seattle, she finds an eclectic mix of seemingly bored billionaires who are interested in Saber’s high school classmates. Once she comes to terms with her circumstances Saber forms a rag-tag group of friends, and together they get to the bottom of the strange happenings of their little island.

As a HUGE fan of vampire books, this one was surprisingly on par. I do wish we got a little more details of this specific vampire lore and the inner workings of vampirism, but overall it was an enjoyable read. I did struggle with the third-person narrative at first as it seemed to go back and forth on their limitations, but still a fun read!

[A. King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I love it when a book literally takes you through the full spectrum of emotions and this one did it perfectly! While there were a few errors in it (minor at best!) I have nothing but amaaaazing things to say about the plot and the way the story builds into something that truly takes your breath away.

Our main character has a dilemma. A big one. Can you imagine trying to take on the supernatural world with a ragtag little group of barely believers? I feel like it would end up feeling like an impossible task but somehow, they manage.

This does not have what I feel is a full on Happily Ever After that most people are looking for and it leaves me wondering if that means that it's going to have a follow-up book. In fact, I'm praying for it, because the ending for me makes me want... no ***need*** more! Please, please, PLEASE Milly Philips, tell me there is more coming!

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book for a YA read. I’m a huge fan of anything vampire. So of course I had to read this. And I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. This one gave me a Twilight/Lost Boys feel. Yes, I’m old lol. But it totally captured the feelings of both. It was dark and twisted, the characters were great. The world building was excellent. I’m really glad I grabbed this one. It was great.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always Darkest is a dark romance with vampires...yum! As always with a dark romance check your triggers! This book does have a slow start, but don't DNF it, the pace picks up and you'll be glad you kept reading. This book has a good storyline with twists to it. The characters are well written and are great for this type of story. Think of this one as Twilight on steroids!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a strong vampire romance concept, the characters were everything that I was looking for and was hooked from the first page. I enjoyed the overall feel of this and that the horror elements worked well overall. Milly Philips has a strong writing style and was glad I was able to read this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly intense and gripping read.

The characters were well written and complex and compelling. World building was excellent and impressive. The plot was intriguing and intense and exciting and well paced. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Smutty Demi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of Twilight and the vampire genre, this couldn't be missed on my TBR list. The book started a bit slowly and did not always hold my attention. The plot was nice, and the writing was also interesting. I would definitely try another book by this author.

[Cheyenne Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well dang! This book is a dark, creepy, and wild ride. This is such a delicious read that you will devour quickly and want for it to continue.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable vampire romance that has Twilight DNA. It was well-paced and attention-capturing. I recommend this book for those who like YA Vampire Romances of the throwback variety.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brittany Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always Darkest by Milly Philips is an amazing vampire horror romance. The story is entertaining, enjoyable, interesting, thrilling, horror, and more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitly a great read slow at times but I would definitely pick up another book from this author

[Steph Spone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. A bit predictable at parts, but it kept my interest.