What do you think?
Rate this book
The Nature of Darkness
A starship captain. A bounty hunter. A web of secrets and lies.
Four years after a galaxy-wide war that tore them apart and reshaped the world they knew, former soldiers and friends Jace and Athena couldn’t have more different lives. Jace is a merchant captain, delivering cargo with a small but loyal crew. Athena is a bounty hunter, alone and in hiding after faking her death to escape the new regime. She hasn’t seen Jace since the fateful day they were separated; he thinks she didn’t survive, and she believes he abandoned her to save himself.
When a mysterious organization hires them both to assassinate a key official, Athena and Jace are reunited under less than pleasant circumstances. Blackmailed into working together, they must navigate a deadly new galaxy filled with mercenaries, crime lords, and monsters. But as they unravel the truth and realize not everything is as it seems, the friends-turned-enemies must face something entirely worse: their changing feelings and the truth of what happened on the day they were separated.
Author's Note: The Nature of Darkness is the first in a series of interconnected novels but can be read as a stand-alone. The sequel will follow different characters.
Four years after a galaxy-wide war that tore them apart and reshaped the world they knew, former soldiers and friends Jace and Athena couldn’t have more different lives. Jace is a merchant captain, delivering cargo with a small but loyal crew. Athena is a bounty hunter, alone and in hiding after faking her death to escape the new regime. She hasn’t seen Jace since the fateful day they were separated; he thinks she didn’t survive, and she believes he abandoned her to save himself.
When a mysterious organization hires them both to assassinate a key official, Athena and Jace are reunited under less than pleasant circumstances. Blackmailed into working together, they must navigate a deadly new galaxy filled with mercenaries, crime lords, and monsters. But as they unravel the truth and realize not everything is as it seems, the friends-turned-enemies must face something entirely worse: their changing feelings and the truth of what happened on the day they were separated.
Author's Note: The Nature of Darkness is the first in a series of interconnected novels but can be read as a stand-alone. The sequel will follow different characters.
411 pages, Paperback
Published June 10, 2024
10 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
About the author
A.M. Crafton
2 books26 followersA.M. Crafton is a science fiction author who loves enemies-to-lovers, Lord of the Rings, and her day job of teaching English as a foreign language. She is currently a graduate student who travels frequently and lives abroad. You can connect with her @a.m.craftonwrites
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 10, 2024
My very first book is here and I'm so proud of it! Welcome to the world of Andromeda North, where you will find angst, space battles, and enemies to lovers. I hope you love Jace, Athena, and the Odyssey crew as much as I do!
May 13, 2024
aaaah this was so good - 4.7
First of all, thank you so much to A.M. Crafton for the opportunity to be one of your ARC readers! The Nature of Darkness was amazing and I loved every moment of it <3
I'm a sucker for post-war settings and traumatized ex-soldiers. Just something about the struggle to return to something that resembles normal while combating emotions and memories that you would rather forget. Now throw in some best friends turned enemies, a little revenge plot or two and a rebel uprising all mixed up in too many secrets and lies to count and you have The Nature of Darkness.
The pacing was great, the action never felt forced and there was quite a bit of it. A lot was explained but it never felt info-dumpy or like it was dragging. And that prologue! It really hooked me, it was so vivid and intriguing! The similes were perfect and there were so many of them. I also really liked how gritty it was, it felt more realistic and there were a lot of darker aspects that I was personally drawn to.
The characters were well fleshed out with distinct personalities and emotions, all of them felt unique however briefly we saw them. Their individual choices really showed who that person was and I particularly liked how even if a person went through the same thing as another it affected each one differently. I loved the relationships between all the characters as well and the loyalty and trust of the found family of the Odyssey. The Nature of Darkness was definitely very emotionally character driven and it worked really well to highlight on the good and bad of human nature. The PTSD that quite a few of the characters including our two MCs struggle with really added an extra layer of depth to the characters and their decisions and was really well written.
While the worldbuilding wasn't extensive, I loved it. The names and descriptions of the different places and how the characters viewed them and compared them to other places really made you feel like you were in another galaxy and gave you a glimpse into the character's lives and pasts.
And since we're kind of on the topic, all the little things made my astronomy and mythology loving self so ecstatic. I was constantly in a “NO WAY” state whenever certain names or connections were mentioned. LIKE THE FACT THAT ANDROMEDA IS A GALAXY THAT ACTUALLY EXISTS! Then there were the gods which were incredibly fascinating and I'm really hoping we'll learn more about them, but anyway, all I'm saying is Cassiopeia was a very clever choice there. I loved all the references to the “Old World” and Greek mythology. It was interesting how even though they left our galaxy however long ago the influence of civilizations of the past was still there-sometimes without anyone even realizing-taken with them light years away and never truly forgotten.
Overall, the writing was beautiful and the emotions were so bittersweet, the world and the characters drew me right in and the ending was absolutely incredible! This was an amazing debut, you can really see the care the author took crafting this masterpiece and I cannot wait to see how the Andromeda North series continues.
I would definitely recommend The Nature of Darkness to fans of Dune and Star Wars (specifically Rogue One), The Illuminae Files, The Diabolic and Cities of Smoke and Starlight. It also had that dystopian kind of early uprising feel of Legend as well as the mythological war vibe in Divine Rivals.
First of all, thank you so much to A.M. Crafton for the opportunity to be one of your ARC readers! The Nature of Darkness was amazing and I loved every moment of it <3
I'm a sucker for post-war settings and traumatized ex-soldiers. Just something about the struggle to return to something that resembles normal while combating emotions and memories that you would rather forget. Now throw in some best friends turned enemies, a little revenge plot or two and a rebel uprising all mixed up in too many secrets and lies to count and you have The Nature of Darkness.
The pacing was great, the action never felt forced and there was quite a bit of it. A lot was explained but it never felt info-dumpy or like it was dragging. And that prologue! It really hooked me, it was so vivid and intriguing! The similes were perfect and there were so many of them. I also really liked how gritty it was, it felt more realistic and there were a lot of darker aspects that I was personally drawn to.
The characters were well fleshed out with distinct personalities and emotions, all of them felt unique however briefly we saw them. Their individual choices really showed who that person was and I particularly liked how even if a person went through the same thing as another it affected each one differently. I loved the relationships between all the characters as well and the loyalty and trust of the found family of the Odyssey. The Nature of Darkness was definitely very emotionally character driven and it worked really well to highlight on the good and bad of human nature. The PTSD that quite a few of the characters including our two MCs struggle with really added an extra layer of depth to the characters and their decisions and was really well written.
While the worldbuilding wasn't extensive, I loved it. The names and descriptions of the different places and how the characters viewed them and compared them to other places really made you feel like you were in another galaxy and gave you a glimpse into the character's lives and pasts.
And since we're kind of on the topic, all the little things made my astronomy and mythology loving self so ecstatic. I was constantly in a “NO WAY” state whenever certain names or connections were mentioned. LIKE THE FACT THAT ANDROMEDA IS A GALAXY THAT ACTUALLY EXISTS! Then there were the gods which were incredibly fascinating and I'm really hoping we'll learn more about them, but anyway, all I'm saying is Cassiopeia was a very clever choice there. I loved all the references to the “Old World” and Greek mythology. It was interesting how even though they left our galaxy however long ago the influence of civilizations of the past was still there-sometimes without anyone even realizing-taken with them light years away and never truly forgotten.
Overall, the writing was beautiful and the emotions were so bittersweet, the world and the characters drew me right in and the ending was absolutely incredible! This was an amazing debut, you can really see the care the author took crafting this masterpiece and I cannot wait to see how the Andromeda North series continues.
I would definitely recommend The Nature of Darkness to fans of Dune and Star Wars (specifically Rogue One), The Illuminae Files, The Diabolic and Cities of Smoke and Starlight. It also had that dystopian kind of early uprising feel of Legend as well as the mythological war vibe in Divine Rivals.
March 1, 2024
I LOVED this book. The Nature of Darkness is such a fun, engaging, beautifully written space adventure!! I thoroughly enjoyed it and I was completely drawn into the universe, characters, story, and the overall atmosphere of all of it together! Short version of my review is this: if you like character driven sci-fi without being bogged down by all sorts of technobabble, GO READ THIS.
Now, here’s the long version. I am going to spew all my thoughts without spoiling any story details, so I’ll do my best to keep it organized with bullet points:
• The Worldbuilding is fantastic. All of the descriptions of locations and environments were so well done. Each scene in the book was so easy to picture in my mind, just like a movie. The prologue immediately drew me in because of how vivid everything was!
• The characters are all very lovable. There wasn’t one I disliked (except the villains, of course, and that’s the point), and they were all so well written. The author did a great job of giving the characters distinct personalities, and nobody felt cookie cutter or like an NPC.
• The pacing is so great!! Reading this book was an absolute breeze. Nothing felt boring or like it was dragging, and even though it’s science fiction, there’s nothing too wordy or difficult to understand. You’ll keep reading way past when you planned to stop (I’m speaking from experience lol) 🤪 Also, the book is spice free which is something I really appreciate when I’m reading!
• THE ENDING. 💯
• On a more nerdy note, the history of the world presented in the book is extremely interesting. I would happily read a textbook about this universe’s lore 😂
I’m so happy this book exists, because there aren’t enough like it!! If you enjoyed books like A Crash of Fate or Lost Stars, if you’re a Star Wars fan in general, or even if you like video games like Mass Effect, you’ll love this book!! :)
Now, here’s the long version. I am going to spew all my thoughts without spoiling any story details, so I’ll do my best to keep it organized with bullet points:
• The Worldbuilding is fantastic. All of the descriptions of locations and environments were so well done. Each scene in the book was so easy to picture in my mind, just like a movie. The prologue immediately drew me in because of how vivid everything was!
• The characters are all very lovable. There wasn’t one I disliked (except the villains, of course, and that’s the point), and they were all so well written. The author did a great job of giving the characters distinct personalities, and nobody felt cookie cutter or like an NPC.
• The pacing is so great!! Reading this book was an absolute breeze. Nothing felt boring or like it was dragging, and even though it’s science fiction, there’s nothing too wordy or difficult to understand. You’ll keep reading way past when you planned to stop (I’m speaking from experience lol) 🤪 Also, the book is spice free which is something I really appreciate when I’m reading!
• THE ENDING. 💯
• On a more nerdy note, the history of the world presented in the book is extremely interesting. I would happily read a textbook about this universe’s lore 😂
I’m so happy this book exists, because there aren’t enough like it!! If you enjoyed books like A Crash of Fate or Lost Stars, if you’re a Star Wars fan in general, or even if you like video games like Mass Effect, you’ll love this book!! :)
September 2, 2025
3.5 stars
June 10, 2024
I am so grateful to have received an ARC of this book from the author, and let me tell y’all, I thoroughly enjoyed it!! As a major Star Wars (especially Rogue One) fan who also loves space heists, gods, and romance, this book checked all the boxes for me. The action was fast-paced and engaging, the description pleasing to read and not too clunky, the settings and world building intriguing and very real-feeling yet fantastical and faraway, and best of all the characters. The characters in this book were all so wonderfully written. Each one was complex and stood out from the rest, and their backstories, personalities, skills, strengths, weaknesses, and morals all perfectly intertwined to create a lovable cast you can’t help but root for. Puppy dog-eyed, sunshine boy Jace is my newest addition to the book boyfriend club, and Lydia is me if I was in a sci-fi romance in a galaxy far, far away. Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun, adventurous, romantic read that you won’t want top put down. Be warned though, The Nature of Darkness absolutely will tug at your heartstrings. I can’t wait to see what this author (who I now have the honor of calling a friend :) will do next not only with the Andromeda North series, but with whatever she choses to write next!
August 18, 2024
No pun intended but this book was out of this world. A grand adventure taking place across different worlds, A.M Crafton’s debut novel was a satisfying read that sucked me in from the beginning. I normally don’t read sci fi genres but im glad I read this as a palate cleanser from typical fantasy books because it allowed me to experience the genre and how the author plays with it in a bounty way. When gods have left the galaxy, we find bounty hunters and smugglers meet as their past lives force them to work on a mission that will change their world and a world controlled by a new galactic force, for the cruel and wicked have inherited the galaxy. I can’t think of a single bad thing about this book so here’s all the great stuff I want to point out: fully realized and fleshed out characters with their own unique personalities and motives that help compliment and go off of other characters, beautifully imagined and unique sci fi styles from the imagery of the old polytheistic gods to the high tech weapons and ships, a well rounded twist on the enemies to lovers troupe, and diverse worlds with their own zeitgeists. So: if you love adventure sci fi with great characters I highly recommend this.
May 14, 2024
The Nature of Darkness by A.M. Crafton is an action packed debut Sci Fi novel that is Mr. And Mrs. Smith meets Star Wars. It is a dual POV standalone in an interconnected universe (Book two follows some beloved side characters). Athena is a strong willed bad ass FMC assassin who does not take shit from anyone but also grapples with traumatic experiences in an utterly human way. Jace is a love struck golden retriever MMC and has my whole heart.
I am not generally a sci fi reader, but have wanted to broaden my genres and this was a nice step from fantasy and romance to an intergalactic experience. The book draws you in, the prose is well thought out and engaging and the world building had me thinking I was running along through the galaxies with them.
For people who care about spice/no spice, this was in my opinion a no spice book that could be geared toward upper YA or NA (a lot of gore and violence for young YA IMO) but do not get me wrong, the swoon worthy romance is still there *cue rabbit like foot kicks*
And the ENDING!!!! Can I just say I threw my kindle across the room. Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far.
4.5 stars ✨
I am not generally a sci fi reader, but have wanted to broaden my genres and this was a nice step from fantasy and romance to an intergalactic experience. The book draws you in, the prose is well thought out and engaging and the world building had me thinking I was running along through the galaxies with them.
For people who care about spice/no spice, this was in my opinion a no spice book that could be geared toward upper YA or NA (a lot of gore and violence for young YA IMO) but do not get me wrong, the swoon worthy romance is still there *cue rabbit like foot kicks*
And the ENDING!!!! Can I just say I threw my kindle across the room. Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far.
4.5 stars ✨
March 1, 2024
This story is gripping!! I was hooked from Chapter 1. The perfect mixture of romance, adventure and mystery.
May 13, 2024
After reading the synopsis, I knew I had to read this book! I always love a good space opera and it had been awhile since I picked one up. It did not disappoint!
It was a story with heart. There was action and adventure and excitement, but also characters with depth and their struggle to process the war they had been through and the current situation they found themselves in.
I loved the dynamic between Jace and Athena - the tension of two people that were friends and then enemies; who were separated, but can't get the other out of their head now that they are reunited. I always love a good romantic subplot and this one kept me invested the whole time!
The politics and world building weren't too complicated, but still fleshed out really well. I liked the references to the "old world" and how their ancestors came from earth but now humans live across the galaxy. It's a cool way to explain humans in space!
I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a book with Star Wars vibes and a great romantic subplot, who want to escape our world for a little bit and go on an exciting space adventure!
It was a story with heart. There was action and adventure and excitement, but also characters with depth and their struggle to process the war they had been through and the current situation they found themselves in.
I loved the dynamic between Jace and Athena - the tension of two people that were friends and then enemies; who were separated, but can't get the other out of their head now that they are reunited. I always love a good romantic subplot and this one kept me invested the whole time!
The politics and world building weren't too complicated, but still fleshed out really well. I liked the references to the "old world" and how their ancestors came from earth but now humans live across the galaxy. It's a cool way to explain humans in space!
I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a book with Star Wars vibes and a great romantic subplot, who want to escape our world for a little bit and go on an exciting space adventure!
June 8, 2024
All around I think this was a fun book. Fans of Star Wars will love this story about war-torn romance among the stars. Beware though. The ending will leave you screaming.
Strengths of this novel: Great chemistry between golden retriever MMC and badass FMC. I also appreciated that this novel tackled the harsh realities of rebellions, than not everything works out for the heroes, and that war is ugly. Plus there were some really fun action scenes.
Weaknesses: if you’re someone who’s bothered by plot holes or logic leaps and needs every single thing to make sense, it might be hard for you to suspend your disbelief at some parts. However, if you’re just along for the ride, buckle up.
While I think there were great elements to this novel, the execution in terms of writing style, originality, and plot fell just a bit shy of great for me. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and am impressed by the quality of this debut. I look forward to the next in the series!
Strengths of this novel: Great chemistry between golden retriever MMC and badass FMC. I also appreciated that this novel tackled the harsh realities of rebellions, than not everything works out for the heroes, and that war is ugly. Plus there were some really fun action scenes.
Weaknesses: if you’re someone who’s bothered by plot holes or logic leaps and needs every single thing to make sense, it might be hard for you to suspend your disbelief at some parts. However, if you’re just along for the ride, buckle up.
While I think there were great elements to this novel, the execution in terms of writing style, originality, and plot fell just a bit shy of great for me. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and am impressed by the quality of this debut. I look forward to the next in the series!
August 28, 2024
If you like Star Wars you will LOVE this
April 17, 2024
“What was pain if it was all you had ever known?”
“The Nature of Darkness,” by A. M. Crafton
Jace is a merchant captain, delivering cargo with his crew. Athena is a bounty hunter after faking her death to escape the new regime. They haven’t seen each other since the day they separated; Jace thinks she died, and Athena thinks he abandoned her. When they are both hired to assassinate someone important, they reunite.
This was a space adventure with gods, thieves, revolutionaries, corrupt government, and complicated emotions between Jace and Athena. Both the main characters are interesting and dynamic and their growth during the book was very good. It has enemies to lovers tropes and also second chance trope. I liked the space setting and theme mixed in with slight religion and dystopian type feel. 4 out of 5 stars, a lot of fun.
-Gods
-Space
-Thieves/Assassins
-Enemies To Lovers/Second Chance
Thank you for the ARC, Booksirens.
“The Nature of Darkness,” by A. M. Crafton
Jace is a merchant captain, delivering cargo with his crew. Athena is a bounty hunter after faking her death to escape the new regime. They haven’t seen each other since the day they separated; Jace thinks she died, and Athena thinks he abandoned her. When they are both hired to assassinate someone important, they reunite.
This was a space adventure with gods, thieves, revolutionaries, corrupt government, and complicated emotions between Jace and Athena. Both the main characters are interesting and dynamic and their growth during the book was very good. It has enemies to lovers tropes and also second chance trope. I liked the space setting and theme mixed in with slight religion and dystopian type feel. 4 out of 5 stars, a lot of fun.
-Gods
-Space
-Thieves/Assassins
-Enemies To Lovers/Second Chance
Thank you for the ARC, Booksirens.
May 29, 2024
Thank you to A.M. Crafton for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up.
The New Federation has been in power for four years after a bloody revolution that deposed the Northern Empire and left all former Imperial soldiers enemies of the state. Jace Reyes has been making do as a smuggler, with hacking wiz Lydia and surly former comrade-in-arms Reese as crew. Athena Weaver, on the other hand, has had to turn to a life of bounty hunting (sometimes assassination) after being left for dead in the final bloody battle of the war. Fate brings them together when she stows away on his ship and is uncovered in a routine search by Federation soldiers, leading to a bounty on her head. Despite Athena's best attempts to avoid working with the man she thinks abandoned her, a mysterious benefactor comes to them both with a job: kill the New Federation general responsible for so much bloodshed, or he'll turn them in for the bounty money. But the job isn't all that it seems; will the history between Jace and Athena be enough to pull them together, or will it rip them apart? Great for people who love Star Wars (including the gritty parts), space operas, and friends-to-enemies-to-lovers with a side of betrayal and angst.
This book was very much the stereotypical space opera, just without the aliens; the main characters live in a high-tech, war-torn world where high-risk ventures such as smuggling and bounty hunting are the norm. The main plotline is a high-risk assassination job with a secondary romance, but there's also a revolutionary effort against a tyrannical government going on in the background. I very much enjoyed the worldbuilding in this novel; while it might seem Star Wars-esque to begin with, I think Crafton was able to create a distinct world with it's own political complexities using the tropes from sci fi that we all know and love. I would definitely read another book in this universe. Or just a book about the universe; it's history sounds fascinating.
However, I struggled to connect with the main characters. This isn't because they weren't fleshed out either; I think that Crafton clearly created realistic people doing realistic things (except maybe falling in love too fast, but that can be forgiven given the genre). Athena was strong-willed, badass, but clearly dealing with severe PTSD and abandonment issues. Jace had a strict honor code, cared deeply about his crew, and was wracked with survivor's guilt. They both grew over the course of the narrative. No clear reason why it would be hard to connect emotionally with them. I think it's because Crafton tried to do a little bit too much at once; between the details of the world and it's complex politics, the breadcrumbs of foreshadowing sprinkled in the narrative, and the complexities of writing characters with PTSD, I think there was just too much going on to connect deeply with the characters the way I wanted to. I also could never get behind the way Athena handled her secret; it's one of those moments where you feel like screaming at the character that they're being an idiot and everything's going to blow up in their face. But that's a me problem, not a book problem; it was totally in character for her.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book for the world alone, and I look forward to watching Crafton grow as an author.
3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up.
The New Federation has been in power for four years after a bloody revolution that deposed the Northern Empire and left all former Imperial soldiers enemies of the state. Jace Reyes has been making do as a smuggler, with hacking wiz Lydia and surly former comrade-in-arms Reese as crew. Athena Weaver, on the other hand, has had to turn to a life of bounty hunting (sometimes assassination) after being left for dead in the final bloody battle of the war. Fate brings them together when she stows away on his ship and is uncovered in a routine search by Federation soldiers, leading to a bounty on her head. Despite Athena's best attempts to avoid working with the man she thinks abandoned her, a mysterious benefactor comes to them both with a job: kill the New Federation general responsible for so much bloodshed, or he'll turn them in for the bounty money. But the job isn't all that it seems; will the history between Jace and Athena be enough to pull them together, or will it rip them apart? Great for people who love Star Wars (including the gritty parts), space operas, and friends-to-enemies-to-lovers with a side of betrayal and angst.
This book was very much the stereotypical space opera, just without the aliens; the main characters live in a high-tech, war-torn world where high-risk ventures such as smuggling and bounty hunting are the norm. The main plotline is a high-risk assassination job with a secondary romance, but there's also a revolutionary effort against a tyrannical government going on in the background. I very much enjoyed the worldbuilding in this novel; while it might seem Star Wars-esque to begin with, I think Crafton was able to create a distinct world with it's own political complexities using the tropes from sci fi that we all know and love. I would definitely read another book in this universe. Or just a book about the universe; it's history sounds fascinating.
However, I struggled to connect with the main characters. This isn't because they weren't fleshed out either; I think that Crafton clearly created realistic people doing realistic things (except maybe falling in love too fast, but that can be forgiven given the genre). Athena was strong-willed, badass, but clearly dealing with severe PTSD and abandonment issues. Jace had a strict honor code, cared deeply about his crew, and was wracked with survivor's guilt. They both grew over the course of the narrative. No clear reason why it would be hard to connect emotionally with them. I think it's because Crafton tried to do a little bit too much at once; between the details of the world and it's complex politics, the breadcrumbs of foreshadowing sprinkled in the narrative, and the complexities of writing characters with PTSD, I think there was just too much going on to connect deeply with the characters the way I wanted to. I also could never get behind the way Athena handled her secret; it's one of those moments where you feel like screaming at the character that they're being an idiot and everything's going to blow up in their face. But that's a me problem, not a book problem; it was totally in character for her.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book for the world alone, and I look forward to watching Crafton grow as an author.
June 7, 2024
A first novel?
No way, it is as good as a long-seasoned writer. and that is for sure.
My star rating is 8 out of 5 if that were possible.
This book got my interest from word go, but I was hooked by the middle of the second chapter.
The universe and the people in it were so well constructed and very believable. The story was brilliantly paced, not too slow in the beginning and accelerating to the end. A wonderful romance that was so due, but so squashed for so long with lies, half-truths and emotions locked from a past that neither party was able to share. A very true and believable romance where time and issues had passed by, that by the time things should have come together, the fear of the untold and the lies stalled and made moving forward almost impossible.
Around the plot is a glorious storyline about two opposing forces in a bitter fight, and the depths one of them will go to recruit is stunning.
Prices are paid for the sins of the past that will raise a silent cheer for sure. I was sad that two of the earlier MC's suddenly disappeared without much comment as we moved on, but I feel they will be back in future books and this was the grounding for them, as this story was really Athena and Jace's story, and it was told so well.
I think you will be shocked, hurt, and have tears of joy in various measures throughout this book, and will wonder just how things will pan out and will love come out in the end.
Now, I received a free ARC copy of this book, but can clearly say this feedback is true honest and my own.
This is a must read and a copy should be on everyone’s bookcase. It is up there for me with Rober Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, which does two things, shows my age, and talks about an author not everyone will know. Well worth a read after this book.
Enjoy this book, and join me in line for the next stage of the journey.
No way, it is as good as a long-seasoned writer. and that is for sure.
My star rating is 8 out of 5 if that were possible.
This book got my interest from word go, but I was hooked by the middle of the second chapter.
The universe and the people in it were so well constructed and very believable. The story was brilliantly paced, not too slow in the beginning and accelerating to the end. A wonderful romance that was so due, but so squashed for so long with lies, half-truths and emotions locked from a past that neither party was able to share. A very true and believable romance where time and issues had passed by, that by the time things should have come together, the fear of the untold and the lies stalled and made moving forward almost impossible.
Around the plot is a glorious storyline about two opposing forces in a bitter fight, and the depths one of them will go to recruit is stunning.
Prices are paid for the sins of the past that will raise a silent cheer for sure. I was sad that two of the earlier MC's suddenly disappeared without much comment as we moved on, but I feel they will be back in future books and this was the grounding for them, as this story was really Athena and Jace's story, and it was told so well.
I think you will be shocked, hurt, and have tears of joy in various measures throughout this book, and will wonder just how things will pan out and will love come out in the end.
Now, I received a free ARC copy of this book, but can clearly say this feedback is true honest and my own.
This is a must read and a copy should be on everyone’s bookcase. It is up there for me with Rober Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, which does two things, shows my age, and talks about an author not everyone will know. Well worth a read after this book.
Enjoy this book, and join me in line for the next stage of the journey.
August 2, 2025
“You’d stay?”
Don’t hope, she wanted to say. You shouldn’t have any faith in me. I’m no saint.”
*4 STARS*
This book was crazy. I loved the concept and world building so much—as a Star Wars nerd, it fit right in with the detailed background the films had. The science fiction mixed with fantasy was an incredible combination, and it was so cool to see the blend of the gods of ancient times and the futuristic “New World” with foreign planets, space travel, and new technology.
Jace and Athena were a pleasure to read about. Their romance was kind of calm, and I liked how even through all of the faults they had and the events dividing them, they continue to be tethered to each other. I feel as if it could’ve been more monumental if we had more glimpses of the past: that background that establishes how things were before. I felt as if I was almost missing a piece of the puzzle sometimes. What made them truly want each other and have that connection? But they were still sweet, and their contradicting personalities were perfect. I like how Athena’s shrewdness and daring combines with Jace’s honesty and good heart.
But more than the romance, the plot was SO invigorating, and honestly, it’s what kept me reading. Crafton has this way with writing a fight scene that keeps you hooked. There was always a new twist or turn, and each of those scenes was described really well. I couldn’t put the book down during those moments. If you aren’t a fan of romance, I’d read it just for the plot—the romance takes up a lot of the time, but the plot got me even more hooked on this one.
Also, the ending? Seriously, everything went down here. It was insane, and I was reading with a hand over my mouth for the last few chapters. IT WAS SO SCARY.
Ultimately, I’d recommend reading this book if you like a mix of heavy worldbuilding and LOTS of sci-fi and plot twists, a light enemies-to-lovers romance, and a hint of fantasy in the background. It was a pretty solid book, and I’m so excited for Reese’s and Lydia’s story. <3
(And a final note—I nerded out SO hard at the Greek mythology references, everywhere. LOVED)
Don’t hope, she wanted to say. You shouldn’t have any faith in me. I’m no saint.”
*4 STARS*
This book was crazy. I loved the concept and world building so much—as a Star Wars nerd, it fit right in with the detailed background the films had. The science fiction mixed with fantasy was an incredible combination, and it was so cool to see the blend of the gods of ancient times and the futuristic “New World” with foreign planets, space travel, and new technology.
Jace and Athena were a pleasure to read about. Their romance was kind of calm, and I liked how even through all of the faults they had and the events dividing them, they continue to be tethered to each other. I feel as if it could’ve been more monumental if we had more glimpses of the past: that background that establishes how things were before. I felt as if I was almost missing a piece of the puzzle sometimes. What made them truly want each other and have that connection? But they were still sweet, and their contradicting personalities were perfect. I like how Athena’s shrewdness and daring combines with Jace’s honesty and good heart.
But more than the romance, the plot was SO invigorating, and honestly, it’s what kept me reading. Crafton has this way with writing a fight scene that keeps you hooked. There was always a new twist or turn, and each of those scenes was described really well. I couldn’t put the book down during those moments. If you aren’t a fan of romance, I’d read it just for the plot—the romance takes up a lot of the time, but the plot got me even more hooked on this one.
Also, the ending? Seriously, everything went down here. It was insane, and I was reading with a hand over my mouth for the last few chapters. IT WAS SO SCARY.
Ultimately, I’d recommend reading this book if you like a mix of heavy worldbuilding and LOTS of sci-fi and plot twists, a light enemies-to-lovers romance, and a hint of fantasy in the background. It was a pretty solid book, and I’m so excited for Reese’s and Lydia’s story. <3
(And a final note—I nerded out SO hard at the Greek mythology references, everywhere. LOVED)
May 2, 2024
Pure wonderous cinematic space opera at its finest.
What a fantastic debut. I absolutely loved this novel in so many ways. It presents a universe both different and familiar and characters both flawed and loveable. Like the finest operas (space or otherwise), there is just the hint of romance pushing things forward, but let's be clear - this is about the characters and events and a "broken" universe. I found it fascinating that, despite the pastiche of loving references to both Star Wars and Star Trek (not to mention Firefly and a thousand other things) it manages to be its own thing. One gets the feeling that neither the fallen Northern Empire nor (certainly) the New Federation are "good guys." The good guys are the ordinary people, just trying to get by in a universe that doesn't care.
In a whole host of ways...it reminds me of Jessie Mihalik's work, though I enjoyed this work a great deal more - I found it much more nuanced and captivating. Here the romance is secondary to everything else.
I was shocked that for a novel which, I assume, is self-published...it has a wonderful graphic layout with unique fonts and love and care put into it (having read a lot of self-published work - I'm genuinely impressed!). There were a few issues with the table of contents on the ebook (I'm assuming those will be resolved before pub) - but I don't knock it for that. I'm a tough grader on these sorts of things, so this is real praise.
4 stars...if only barely. I don't know what holds me back from saying 5 stars other than a few overt Star Wars/Trek references that just felt out of place for a universe set thousands of years later and in a whole different galaxy. They were simply unnecessary and pulled me out of the world.
All that being said. I heartily recommend this to anyone looking for a fun space opera to read and I'll be looking forward to this author's work in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What a fantastic debut. I absolutely loved this novel in so many ways. It presents a universe both different and familiar and characters both flawed and loveable. Like the finest operas (space or otherwise), there is just the hint of romance pushing things forward, but let's be clear - this is about the characters and events and a "broken" universe. I found it fascinating that, despite the pastiche of loving references to both Star Wars and Star Trek (not to mention Firefly and a thousand other things) it manages to be its own thing. One gets the feeling that neither the fallen Northern Empire nor (certainly) the New Federation are "good guys." The good guys are the ordinary people, just trying to get by in a universe that doesn't care.
In a whole host of ways...it reminds me of Jessie Mihalik's work, though I enjoyed this work a great deal more - I found it much more nuanced and captivating. Here the romance is secondary to everything else.
I was shocked that for a novel which, I assume, is self-published...it has a wonderful graphic layout with unique fonts and love and care put into it (having read a lot of self-published work - I'm genuinely impressed!). There were a few issues with the table of contents on the ebook (I'm assuming those will be resolved before pub) - but I don't knock it for that. I'm a tough grader on these sorts of things, so this is real praise.
4 stars...if only barely. I don't know what holds me back from saying 5 stars other than a few overt Star Wars/Trek references that just felt out of place for a universe set thousands of years later and in a whole different galaxy. They were simply unnecessary and pulled me out of the world.
All that being said. I heartily recommend this to anyone looking for a fun space opera to read and I'll be looking forward to this author's work in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 5, 2024
Firstly thank you A.M. Crafton for picking me to receive and ARC!!!
I have not read many books that take place in space. Though I did grow up watching Star Wars and Star Trek. This book made me feel nostalgic and reminded me of a Star Wars movie. There were many aspects that reminded me of Rogue One. Also the references throughout the book to Star Wars, Star Trek and Greek Mythology were AMAZING! I loved all those little Easter eggs and they made me laugh when they came up. Now onto the characters!
First we meet Athena Weaver the FMC of the story. Athena is a bounty hunter with a past that’s hard to forget that she’s also trying to run away from. The more I read the more I felt like she was a bit like Jyn Erso from Rogue One. She was strong and Fierce but he secrets had secrets. Watching her learn to trust again and see the MMC for who he was to her was one of my favorite parts.
Next we meet Captain Jace Reyes, the MMC of the story. I’m gonna be honest I was picturing him as a mix between Captain Kirk and Carswell Thorne. I would describe him as a cinnamon roll MMC. He was definitely the sunshine to Athena’s grumpy. His interactions with Athena and his one off comments were another part of the book that I loved. And the romance between the FCM & MMC? I loved their slow burn from friends to enemies to lovers. Finally seeing them come together and their first kiss? 🫠🫠 oh and the Gala scene????? 🤩🤩🤩
Overall I throughly enjoyed this book and if you are looking for a book with deception, secrets, slow burn redemption, undercover work, strong FCM, cinnamon roll MMC and space warfare then this is not a book you are gonna want to miss!! This book was out of this world 😉
I have not read many books that take place in space. Though I did grow up watching Star Wars and Star Trek. This book made me feel nostalgic and reminded me of a Star Wars movie. There were many aspects that reminded me of Rogue One. Also the references throughout the book to Star Wars, Star Trek and Greek Mythology were AMAZING! I loved all those little Easter eggs and they made me laugh when they came up. Now onto the characters!
First we meet Athena Weaver the FMC of the story. Athena is a bounty hunter with a past that’s hard to forget that she’s also trying to run away from. The more I read the more I felt like she was a bit like Jyn Erso from Rogue One. She was strong and Fierce but he secrets had secrets. Watching her learn to trust again and see the MMC for who he was to her was one of my favorite parts.
Next we meet Captain Jace Reyes, the MMC of the story. I’m gonna be honest I was picturing him as a mix between Captain Kirk and Carswell Thorne. I would describe him as a cinnamon roll MMC. He was definitely the sunshine to Athena’s grumpy. His interactions with Athena and his one off comments were another part of the book that I loved. And the romance between the FCM & MMC? I loved their slow burn from friends to enemies to lovers. Finally seeing them come together and their first kiss? 🫠🫠 oh and the Gala scene????? 🤩🤩🤩
Overall I throughly enjoyed this book and if you are looking for a book with deception, secrets, slow burn redemption, undercover work, strong FCM, cinnamon roll MMC and space warfare then this is not a book you are gonna want to miss!! This book was out of this world 😉
June 6, 2024
The Nature of Darkness is an action packed adventure among the stars and the first book in the authors Andromeda North series.
This Sci-Fi story receives high marks for its attention grabbing storyline and execution that ranks up there with some of the best in the genre.
Athena Weaver is a bounty hunter, and professional thief currently wrapping up a job on the desolate planet of Navaaria, only to discover her way out has left without her.
Stowing away on one of the ships in port her past and future are about to collide.
Jace Reyes, Captain of the Merchant ship Odyssey is eager to leave the Navaaria port and the clearance holdups are driving him mad.
Of all the planets in all the galaxy, of all the ships in all the ports, Athena stows away on his.
Four years have passed since the fateful day during a military campaign he’d seen her die while Athena believed Jace had abandoned her.
Their fates are about to entangle again in a most engaging and immersive stand-alone read that is riveting, expertly written, imaginative in its world building, and populated by a cast of stand out characters who keep the plot energized.
I was absolutely invested in this epic of a book as the adventure, politics, religion, intrigue , romance, and suspense kept me highly entertained.
I eagerly await the next book in the series which will feature side characters Reese and Lydia.
Highly Recommended!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This Sci-Fi story receives high marks for its attention grabbing storyline and execution that ranks up there with some of the best in the genre.
Athena Weaver is a bounty hunter, and professional thief currently wrapping up a job on the desolate planet of Navaaria, only to discover her way out has left without her.
Stowing away on one of the ships in port her past and future are about to collide.
Jace Reyes, Captain of the Merchant ship Odyssey is eager to leave the Navaaria port and the clearance holdups are driving him mad.
Of all the planets in all the galaxy, of all the ships in all the ports, Athena stows away on his.
Four years have passed since the fateful day during a military campaign he’d seen her die while Athena believed Jace had abandoned her.
Their fates are about to entangle again in a most engaging and immersive stand-alone read that is riveting, expertly written, imaginative in its world building, and populated by a cast of stand out characters who keep the plot energized.
I was absolutely invested in this epic of a book as the adventure, politics, religion, intrigue , romance, and suspense kept me highly entertained.
I eagerly await the next book in the series which will feature side characters Reese and Lydia.
Highly Recommended!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 10, 2024
I'm normally not one for sci-fi, but I enjoyed this read! Crafton was able to create a world that was believable and wasn't bogged down in hard to understand/pronounce jargon and character names. If anything, the references to Star Wars and Star Trek gave this world a quirky nod to dystopian literature and the feeling that this world could follow after us in a couple millennium. The style of the book feels more akin to fantasy fiction while being placed in a sci-fi world. As a reader who enjoys fantasy/adventure books, I mean this as a compliment!
Crafton does a great job fleshing out the characters and the further along the book got, the more invested in each of them I was! I would love to learn more about these characters and this world in future books! The characters each have their flaws and their personalities really come through the pages. This is a bunch that you could imagine yourself adventuring across the galaxy with!
My only disclaimer would be to say this book leans heavily into tropes. While there's lots of action and the pace keeps up the entire book, it's one where you can tell everything will have a happy ending, so it's not too stressful. Even so, the last couple of chapters had me on the edge of my seat wondering how Crafton was going to work everything out in the end. If tropes are not your vibe, this might not be the book for you. But if you enjoy a good trope and happy endings, I can happily recommend that you read The Nature of Darkness!
Crafton does a great job fleshing out the characters and the further along the book got, the more invested in each of them I was! I would love to learn more about these characters and this world in future books! The characters each have their flaws and their personalities really come through the pages. This is a bunch that you could imagine yourself adventuring across the galaxy with!
My only disclaimer would be to say this book leans heavily into tropes. While there's lots of action and the pace keeps up the entire book, it's one where you can tell everything will have a happy ending, so it's not too stressful. Even so, the last couple of chapters had me on the edge of my seat wondering how Crafton was going to work everything out in the end. If tropes are not your vibe, this might not be the book for you. But if you enjoy a good trope and happy endings, I can happily recommend that you read The Nature of Darkness!
June 1, 2024
This is a emotional, vibrant, and action-packed novel! I never really read sci-fi/space before, but 'The Nature of Darkness' makes it easy to be immersed in the world! The plot makes sense–certain events trigger the following events which all advance the story, and I loved it! The writing was very intraperson-focused. You know exactly what the characters are thinking and feeling, and I loved that in this book in particular.
The book built up the character's history/backstory in a way that made me openly grin when they came face-to-face the first time in the story. The action was so exciting! I could easily seen this book playing out as an exciting space movie, keeping me on the edge of my seat! This book also gives you so many of the wonderful tropes we know and love in an enemies-to-lovers romance. The MMC is a sweetheart, which I personally LOVE the most in romance. Throughout the whole book, I was truly rooting for Athena and Jace. When they have their moments (no spoilers) I was smiling ear to ear and flipping out, and on the verge of tears in some parts. The ending is dramatic and gripping. I was hooked from start to finish.
If you're up for an exciting, action-packed, romance-space adventure, you should DEFINITELY check out this book! (THANK YOU A.M. Crafton for letting me be an ARC reader!)
The book built up the character's history/backstory in a way that made me openly grin when they came face-to-face the first time in the story. The action was so exciting! I could easily seen this book playing out as an exciting space movie, keeping me on the edge of my seat! This book also gives you so many of the wonderful tropes we know and love in an enemies-to-lovers romance. The MMC is a sweetheart, which I personally LOVE the most in romance. Throughout the whole book, I was truly rooting for Athena and Jace. When they have their moments (no spoilers) I was smiling ear to ear and flipping out, and on the verge of tears in some parts. The ending is dramatic and gripping. I was hooked from start to finish.
If you're up for an exciting, action-packed, romance-space adventure, you should DEFINITELY check out this book! (THANK YOU A.M. Crafton for letting me be an ARC reader!)
January 24, 2025
5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So, first, I received a free copy of this book from a giveaway the author hosted on Instagram, so thank you! I wasn't expecting to win and I was intending on buying the book either way. But this was a pleasant surprise! It was the first book giveaway I've won, and I'll be happy to buy the sequel/follow-up novel when that one comes out!
Now, onto the review!!
Athena and Jace were really fun characters to follow. Their personalities were dynamic, and their history left me craving more. I'm keeping the review spoiler-free, but I absolutely LOVED diving into their pasts and seeing how their separation happened from their own perspectives. This book definitely held my interest!
I also enjoyed the side characters, Reese and Lydia. I'm excited to see that these two will be the main focus in the next book! So, I'm seated!!
And the worldbuilding! It felt refreshing, and I'm looking forward to more! Nothing felt too redundant, and the pacing was good. The Andromeda Galaxy was honestly such an interesting choice for the setting!
Overall, this book is a really good debut! I'm glad I had the chance to read it!
So, first, I received a free copy of this book from a giveaway the author hosted on Instagram, so thank you! I wasn't expecting to win and I was intending on buying the book either way. But this was a pleasant surprise! It was the first book giveaway I've won, and I'll be happy to buy the sequel/follow-up novel when that one comes out!
Now, onto the review!!
Athena and Jace were really fun characters to follow. Their personalities were dynamic, and their history left me craving more. I'm keeping the review spoiler-free, but I absolutely LOVED diving into their pasts and seeing how their separation happened from their own perspectives. This book definitely held my interest!
I also enjoyed the side characters, Reese and Lydia. I'm excited to see that these two will be the main focus in the next book! So, I'm seated!!
And the worldbuilding! It felt refreshing, and I'm looking forward to more! Nothing felt too redundant, and the pacing was good. The Andromeda Galaxy was honestly such an interesting choice for the setting!
Overall, this book is a really good debut! I'm glad I had the chance to read it!
January 14, 2025
🌌💫🪐🌌
I adore this book so much. I’m so happy that other readers get to enjoy this book as well. I’ve always wanted to read a great space-opera, but it is so hard to find ones I know I’ll like. The Nature of Darkness fit so perfectly with everything I love—action, complex characters, found family (though it was kind of in the background, romance, and mythology.
Each character was written incredibly well with unique personalities, flaws, and motives. This is something I was so impressed by. Lots of books feel like the characters are just carbon copies of each other with a few different traits, but Jace, Athena, Reese, and Lydia (and the other minor characters) all felt so complex and fleshed-out. Each relationship felt real and emotional. I absolutely love Jace and Athena’s relationship full of tension and history. I can’t wait to see Reese and Lydia’s relationship play out in the next book!
Crafton’s writing flows so well with the story, and her description is beautiful. I so badly wish Jace and Athena’s story was longer, but I was happy with their ending. I can’t wait to read more books by A.M. Crafting.
I adore this book so much. I’m so happy that other readers get to enjoy this book as well. I’ve always wanted to read a great space-opera, but it is so hard to find ones I know I’ll like. The Nature of Darkness fit so perfectly with everything I love—action, complex characters, found family (though it was kind of in the background, romance, and mythology.
Each character was written incredibly well with unique personalities, flaws, and motives. This is something I was so impressed by. Lots of books feel like the characters are just carbon copies of each other with a few different traits, but Jace, Athena, Reese, and Lydia (and the other minor characters) all felt so complex and fleshed-out. Each relationship felt real and emotional. I absolutely love Jace and Athena’s relationship full of tension and history. I can’t wait to see Reese and Lydia’s relationship play out in the next book!
Crafton’s writing flows so well with the story, and her description is beautiful. I so badly wish Jace and Athena’s story was longer, but I was happy with their ending. I can’t wait to read more books by A.M. Crafting.
August 8, 2025
Action packed and high intensity. I love me some new indie books to add to my library and this is a definite favorite, indie or no. Rarely do I read a book where I can't choose a favorite POV, but choosing between Athena and Jace would be like choosing between my two children! Except, they're not my children, they're just lovely characters I am deeply attached to now, thank you. I tend to like fantasy over scifi but I don't confine myself to one genre for the heck of it. This is why. It had all the fun of fantasies but in space! It also doesn't fall into the trap of spice for spice's sake which I see more and more nowadays in indie and trad books, but mostly trad. I guess the saying sex sells has merit but when I read books without it it's like a crisp, relaxing breath of air I didn't realize I needed. It still indulged my romance loving side, so best of both worlds in this gal's eyes. I had a grand time with this book and I'm so happy I stumbled upon it. This is fate, destiny! The lore, history, world building, characters, not a single thing went wrong. Dare I say... perfection!?
June 6, 2024
*Spoiler-free review*
I really enjoyed this book! There are so many elements that really impressed me from this debut author! The sci-fi worldbuilding is super accessible, the characters and character arcs are compelling and gripping from page one, and the romance is *chef's kiss* perfect!
The journey that this book takes you on is super satisfying, action packed, while still being easy reading with fun banter! The last 100 pages are an absolute ride that had me glued to the pages until i finished.
Overall, this book is so fun! I would 100% recommend it to anyone, especially fantasy/romantasy readers. The sci-fi elements are super accessible especially for people who haven't read much sci-fi before. What a great first book, and i cannot wait to read everything else this author releases!
I really enjoyed this book! There are so many elements that really impressed me from this debut author! The sci-fi worldbuilding is super accessible, the characters and character arcs are compelling and gripping from page one, and the romance is *chef's kiss* perfect!
The journey that this book takes you on is super satisfying, action packed, while still being easy reading with fun banter! The last 100 pages are an absolute ride that had me glued to the pages until i finished.
Overall, this book is so fun! I would 100% recommend it to anyone, especially fantasy/romantasy readers. The sci-fi elements are super accessible especially for people who haven't read much sci-fi before. What a great first book, and i cannot wait to read everything else this author releases!
June 11, 2024
This book was absolutely brilliant and is easily a 5-star read. I read it in two sittings, and only because I had to make myself go to bed!
THE NATURE OF DARKNESS is a fast-paced, exciting sci-fi romance that tells the story of Jace and Athena, two star-crossed lovers forced apart by a brutal war. Much happened in the years they were apart, and when they find each other again, things between them are super tense, which lead to a wonderful slow burn. Athena is a black cat; Jace is a golden retriever, and the romance in this book is so beautiful.
And the plot itself--wow. I was blown away by Crafton's ability to weave together such a great story, with an ending that tied all the strands together perfectly. I was literally hooked from the first chapter, which is rare for me. What a wonderful book, and I cannot wait to read the next one!
THE NATURE OF DARKNESS is a fast-paced, exciting sci-fi romance that tells the story of Jace and Athena, two star-crossed lovers forced apart by a brutal war. Much happened in the years they were apart, and when they find each other again, things between them are super tense, which lead to a wonderful slow burn. Athena is a black cat; Jace is a golden retriever, and the romance in this book is so beautiful.
And the plot itself--wow. I was blown away by Crafton's ability to weave together such a great story, with an ending that tied all the strands together perfectly. I was literally hooked from the first chapter, which is rare for me. What a wonderful book, and I cannot wait to read the next one!
May 20, 2024
I typically read romantasy with fae, vampires, and magic, so a book set in space is a little out of my norm, but I was so happy that I read The Nature of Darkness! It has been a very long time since a book made me stay up past my bedtime, but Jace and Athena captured my attention and I could not put it down! I was so invested in their story and what was going to happen that I spent many late nights reading "just one more chapter." I would highly recommend this book - the characters and plot are engaging, the world building is perfect, and the pace is right on track! I can't wait until the next book in the series!
February 6, 2025
It’s an interesting read that kept me entertained but also kind of confused (could be user error I’m not the most sci-fi forward girl). I was with it until the 60% mark and then it just fell off for me. I think the world building is super cool has so much potential, but it’s never really explained. Why are they fighting? Who are the priests? Why should I care which side wins? Like there was just so much missing. And then they left their crew mates to join the rebellion like what?? No communication which like actually made me frustrated. I think a well explained sequel could really redeem this but we’ll see 🤞
June 23, 2024
4.5 ⭐️’s!!
I REALLY enjoyed this book and LOVE the world! The main female character is badass and I loved getting to know her and the male main character. Overall, this book had me hooked and excited! It definitely got me to tear up, which I was not expecting, in the end, and I was left with a couple of big questions at the end of the book, but feel as though those will be answered when Crafton comes out with the second book!
Highly recommend! This is a book I will be thinking about for a while. I really really really enjoyed it!
I REALLY enjoyed this book and LOVE the world! The main female character is badass and I loved getting to know her and the male main character. Overall, this book had me hooked and excited! It definitely got me to tear up, which I was not expecting, in the end, and I was left with a couple of big questions at the end of the book, but feel as though those will be answered when Crafton comes out with the second book!
Highly recommend! This is a book I will be thinking about for a while. I really really really enjoyed it!
October 10, 2024
5/5, a beautifully written space opera that I want to be buried with <3
This review is geared toward people like me, who want to read indie books but struggle to find ones that don’t feel rushed or improperly edited (this isn’t a jab at indie authors, just something I’ve noticed a lot about independently published books): The Nature of Darkness is an absolute gem. The characters are well developed and the worldbuilding is thorough and engaging. I am not a huge fan of romance, but the way it was written in this book was so enjoyable. The description, the language; dude it was so perfect. If I read this blind I would have assumed it was one of those books you see in every store and think “Wow, I heard that book was good!”
Again, I’m often hesitant to pick up indie books because of biased reviews, but I can honestly say, as an honest and uninfluenced reader, that the other reviews are right. This is a beautiful story that I BEG my sci-fi and romance lovers to read <3
This review is geared toward people like me, who want to read indie books but struggle to find ones that don’t feel rushed or improperly edited (this isn’t a jab at indie authors, just something I’ve noticed a lot about independently published books): The Nature of Darkness is an absolute gem. The characters are well developed and the worldbuilding is thorough and engaging. I am not a huge fan of romance, but the way it was written in this book was so enjoyable. The description, the language; dude it was so perfect. If I read this blind I would have assumed it was one of those books you see in every store and think “Wow, I heard that book was good!”
Again, I’m often hesitant to pick up indie books because of biased reviews, but I can honestly say, as an honest and uninfluenced reader, that the other reviews are right. This is a beautiful story that I BEG my sci-fi and romance lovers to read <3
August 3, 2024
This was such a fun sci-fi adventure that kept me on my toes till the epilogue! If you like space and monsters this one is for you! Jace and Athena are compelling characters that had me deeply invested in their every thought and felt real because of the complexity of their feelings and decisions. I loved having older (mid-twenties) characters as well, nice to have characters with completely developed brains making decisions! Oooo! And the fmc is a badass, which we love to see 👏
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews