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Descent into Darkness #2
The Dark That Hides Us
>Light. Darkness. Power. Magic. The Children of the Elements are back in the epic sequel to the instant bestseller, The Light That Blinds Us.
Alexis, Demi, Blaise and Caeli lie in wait as the Haven prepares for the Battle of a fight for light over darkness, good over evil. And Mortem fast approaches, threatening to engulf all in shadow. As the night wears on, secrets are spilled and truths come to light. The world is not all that it seems and there might be a little darkness, lurking just below the surface, within us all . . .
Dive back into the fantasy world that masterfully intertwines themes of mental health and the bonds of found family. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and Legendborn, from TikTok and BookTok star @andydarcytheo.
Alexis, Demi, Blaise and Caeli lie in wait as the Haven prepares for the Battle of a fight for light over darkness, good over evil. And Mortem fast approaches, threatening to engulf all in shadow. As the night wears on, secrets are spilled and truths come to light. The world is not all that it seems and there might be a little darkness, lurking just below the surface, within us all . . .
Dive back into the fantasy world that masterfully intertwines themes of mental health and the bonds of found family. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and Legendborn, from TikTok and BookTok star @andydarcytheo.
432 pages, Paperback
Published April 24, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
March 27, 2025
The first in this series set down a very compelling tale and introduced us to some great characters and an exciting plot ahead.
I was eager to get back to the story and the follow up which would see us thrown into a well awaited battle. It was a slow burner and one that steadily made its way to the crux of the story and I was definitely in the mood for a bit more pow pow pow straight off the bat but that was just personal preference. I loved the darker turn it took and the intrigue that started to build towards the end of the book.
The writing in this was great and I love the centre to the story. The elementals, the magic and the prophecies, the friendships and the growing relationships between our main characters. I’m super intrigued into the next twist and where it will take us in the next book!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
I was eager to get back to the story and the follow up which would see us thrown into a well awaited battle. It was a slow burner and one that steadily made its way to the crux of the story and I was definitely in the mood for a bit more pow pow pow straight off the bat but that was just personal preference. I loved the darker turn it took and the intrigue that started to build towards the end of the book.
The writing in this was great and I love the centre to the story. The elementals, the magic and the prophecies, the friendships and the growing relationships between our main characters. I’m super intrigued into the next twist and where it will take us in the next book!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
April 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Once again, Andy has completely blown me away with the second instalment of the Descent into Darkness series. He writes with the confidence and skill of a seasoned author, not someone on their debut series.
I adored The Light That Blinds Us, and The Dark That Hides Us gave me that same breath of fresh air feeling in the YA Fantasy space. The transition between the two books is seamless—it genuinely felt like I hadn’t stopped reading. This picks up right where book one ends, and you’ll want to strap in because it takes you on one hell of a ride.
The writing remains beautiful—captivating, immersive, and gripping from the very first page. It’s packed with action, twists, emotional punches, and moments that had me absolutely sobbing.
Blaise steps into the spotlight alongside Alexis, and we get to dig deeper into each character’s background. I loved being back with this group and seeing how much they’ve grown since the first book. Found family is one of my favourite tropes, and this foursome delivers it perfectly.
The standout element, though, is the mental health representation. Andy handles it with such care, nuance, and maturity. It never feels heavy handed or overwhelming—just honest, thoughtful, and incredibly well executed. Not many authors can pull that off.
I’m so excited to continue with what is quickly becoming one of my favourite series.
Once again, Andy has completely blown me away with the second instalment of the Descent into Darkness series. He writes with the confidence and skill of a seasoned author, not someone on their debut series.
I adored The Light That Blinds Us, and The Dark That Hides Us gave me that same breath of fresh air feeling in the YA Fantasy space. The transition between the two books is seamless—it genuinely felt like I hadn’t stopped reading. This picks up right where book one ends, and you’ll want to strap in because it takes you on one hell of a ride.
The writing remains beautiful—captivating, immersive, and gripping from the very first page. It’s packed with action, twists, emotional punches, and moments that had me absolutely sobbing.
Blaise steps into the spotlight alongside Alexis, and we get to dig deeper into each character’s background. I loved being back with this group and seeing how much they’ve grown since the first book. Found family is one of my favourite tropes, and this foursome delivers it perfectly.
The standout element, though, is the mental health representation. Andy handles it with such care, nuance, and maturity. It never feels heavy handed or overwhelming—just honest, thoughtful, and incredibly well executed. Not many authors can pull that off.
I’m so excited to continue with what is quickly becoming one of my favourite series.
November 6, 2025
Eindelijk is hij uit. Dit verhaal boeide me echt niet. Ik heb deze auteur ontmoet en hij is zo aardig. Ik wil het boek daarom echt leuk vinden, maar dit was niks voor mij. Het lukte me prima om dit boek er onderweg bij te pakken. Maar zodra ik thuis was raakte ik het niet meer aan. Mezelf geforceerd om m uit te lezen vandaag. Ik ga er nog even goed over nadenken of ik het derde boek ga kopen wanneer die uit is (iets in mij wil toch de hele serie gelezen hebben).
April 7, 2026
Je n’ai vraiment pas aimé ce tome. C’est dommage parce que j’avais bien aimé le précédent. C’est pratiquement une grosse bataille de 300 pages, vraiment pas mon genre. C’est dommage parce que j’aimais bien l’univers, mais je ne vais pas lire la suite.
⭐️⭐️ : Pas aimé
⭐️⭐️ : Pas aimé
June 10, 2025
3 ⭐
I enjoyed this book but nowhere near as much as the first.
For me at times I just wanted more action, while there was a big build up to the battle I would have loved more of it and sooner as I think that would have helped with the pace.
I will continue with the series as these are a great read with interesting world building
I enjoyed this book but nowhere near as much as the first.
For me at times I just wanted more action, while there was a big build up to the battle I would have loved more of it and sooner as I think that would have helped with the pace.
I will continue with the series as these are a great read with interesting world building
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2025
“For even when the day goes dark, the light of our lives will shine on and we will burn brighter than the dark that hides us” 🔥
Thank you so much NetGalley for approving this ARC for me in exchange for my honest review 🤎
Wow. What can I say. Andy you have gone and done it again!
It was amazing to dive back into the world with our children of the elements and to discover what going to happen next. I knew there was going to be lots of dark paths and twists and turns and I couldn’t wait for them to unfold!
I absolutely loved how fast paced this book was. The tension and build up towards the battle was written perfectly and it made the whole experience feel full of suspension. The way Andy describes the battle field is so immersive you are made to feel as though you are fighting along side our characters. I was always left feeling 100 different emotions while reading what our characters were experiencing. It was a rollercoaster of emotions for sure!
I loved the character developments within this book and seeing our characters become more powerful and strong (especially when being forced to be independent) was amazing to see. They are such incredible characters and they have been written so perfectly. As much as I love Alexis, it was amazing to see more of our other characters and I personally loved seeing more of Incantus. (Shout out to our boy Gibbious) 🐶
I love how we get to see more of the dark side of things in this book and how it affects everyone and everything around our characters. AND THE TWISTS! Did not see those coming at all! 😱
I love a book that makes you feel all the emotions; shock, sadness, envy, horror, uncertainty and happiness, and it’s safe to say, the book gave us all the feelies! ❤️
Thank you Andy for a wild adventure! I cannot wait to see what more you bring for us! (And how many more emotions you want to us to experience) 👀
Thank you so much NetGalley for approving this ARC for me in exchange for my honest review 🤎
Wow. What can I say. Andy you have gone and done it again!
It was amazing to dive back into the world with our children of the elements and to discover what going to happen next. I knew there was going to be lots of dark paths and twists and turns and I couldn’t wait for them to unfold!
I absolutely loved how fast paced this book was. The tension and build up towards the battle was written perfectly and it made the whole experience feel full of suspension. The way Andy describes the battle field is so immersive you are made to feel as though you are fighting along side our characters. I was always left feeling 100 different emotions while reading what our characters were experiencing. It was a rollercoaster of emotions for sure!
I loved the character developments within this book and seeing our characters become more powerful and strong (especially when being forced to be independent) was amazing to see. They are such incredible characters and they have been written so perfectly. As much as I love Alexis, it was amazing to see more of our other characters and I personally loved seeing more of Incantus. (Shout out to our boy Gibbious) 🐶
I love how we get to see more of the dark side of things in this book and how it affects everyone and everything around our characters. AND THE TWISTS! Did not see those coming at all! 😱
I love a book that makes you feel all the emotions; shock, sadness, envy, horror, uncertainty and happiness, and it’s safe to say, the book gave us all the feelies! ❤️
Thank you Andy for a wild adventure! I cannot wait to see what more you bring for us! (And how many more emotions you want to us to experience) 👀
November 11, 2025
I gave this a chance hoping it would be better than the first, but it was unfortunately even worse. For the first half we have to put up with cringey teen romantic drama. The romances in this series are insufferable. Nobody tells the truth and they just slag around trying to make each other jealous. I wasn't rooting for any of them. Also teens using pet names like darling and my love really didn't work for me.
Then the entire second half is one big, repetitive battle. Again with no stakes because they always have the healing crystals, super suits and super Saiyan mode to fall back on. I find the writing style can be quite jarring. There was one sentence written four times with a different word emphasised each time. It made absolutely no sense to do so and if I wasn't such a completionist I would have DNF'd right then and there. Safe to say I won't be gambling my time on book 3.
Then the entire second half is one big, repetitive battle. Again with no stakes because they always have the healing crystals, super suits and super Saiyan mode to fall back on. I find the writing style can be quite jarring. There was one sentence written four times with a different word emphasised each time. It made absolutely no sense to do so and if I wasn't such a completionist I would have DNF'd right then and there. Safe to say I won't be gambling my time on book 3.
May 7, 2025
I really enjoyed the first one but for some reason I just couldn’t fully get into this. I just kinda got bored towards the middle and I feel like if the book had been less bloated it could’ve been much more of a fun read.
January 19, 2026
Alexis continues to be the best part of this series. His character development, trail of thought, and overall storyline is handled with so much care and love and he really feels like such a real person. Truly a stellar main chara-
…what’s that? You thought this was Blaise’s book? Yeah me too. I mean, the book is literally red and my edition has red sprayed edges. The prologue literally starts with Blaise, immediately making us feel like he is the thematic link in all of this. The central premise involves Valentina, a person he was romantically affiliated with in the last book. This all primed me for Blaise introspection, Blaise PoV, and Blaise becoming a character I learn to love (not like, LOVE) just as I did Alexis. But instead we only get a few meagre chapters and the book continues to keep us in Alexis’ head, and this is where I very quickly and steadily realised this series has a massive problem.
Maybe it’s just an issue with me as a reader rather than the text itself, but I got to be brutally honest: I only care about Alexis. He’s the only character who makes me want to read more, because he’s the only character Theo puts effort into writing about. This wasn’t such a huge issue in the first book because it was an introduction to this amazing world and characters who have a lot of potential, but this book is meant to be the defacto mid point of this story. I’m supposed to care about EVERYBODY. I’m supposed to feel sad when a character dies, or devastation when a character gets fatally injured, but I didn’t. It sounds cruel, but I even laughed when one character died. Not because death is funny, but because their death was so predictable and forced it bordered on comical. I didn’t react with anything other than a minor ‘oh no’ until we got to the parts that actually affected Alexis. Yet again, he is the only thing I truly and utterly care about. This entire series hinges on how much you like Alexis, so I truly am lucky I love him to pieces. I loved him so much, in fact that I was scared to read this book because I knew it was Blaise’s. But now I realise that I COULD’VE loved Blaise if the book just let me. Like I said, he has a lot of potential just like the rest of the cast - but it never comes through and it’s so painful. And this is not only an issue because we don’t get enough content of him, he’s just not very well integrated to the story. He feels like an afterthought in what is meant to be his own book. Every character sometimes feels that way. Everyone, of course, except for Alexis.
I’m still going to read the next book because I’m cautiously optimistic. I suspect Caeli is next, and without spoiling too much, her setup in this book points to a really strong arc for her. But that’s only if she actually gets time to shine in the spotlight like she’s meant to. I’m also very intrigued by the next book’s hook and premise. I’m getting the feeling that the REAL story starts here and that’s always fun to look forward too.
This series is so close to greatness. I know the author can achieve it. He just needs to extend his writing prowess beyond the protagonist.
…what’s that? You thought this was Blaise’s book? Yeah me too. I mean, the book is literally red and my edition has red sprayed edges. The prologue literally starts with Blaise, immediately making us feel like he is the thematic link in all of this. The central premise involves Valentina, a person he was romantically affiliated with in the last book. This all primed me for Blaise introspection, Blaise PoV, and Blaise becoming a character I learn to love (not like, LOVE) just as I did Alexis. But instead we only get a few meagre chapters and the book continues to keep us in Alexis’ head, and this is where I very quickly and steadily realised this series has a massive problem.
Maybe it’s just an issue with me as a reader rather than the text itself, but I got to be brutally honest: I only care about Alexis. He’s the only character who makes me want to read more, because he’s the only character Theo puts effort into writing about. This wasn’t such a huge issue in the first book because it was an introduction to this amazing world and characters who have a lot of potential, but this book is meant to be the defacto mid point of this story. I’m supposed to care about EVERYBODY. I’m supposed to feel sad when a character dies, or devastation when a character gets fatally injured, but I didn’t. It sounds cruel, but I even laughed when one character died. Not because death is funny, but because their death was so predictable and forced it bordered on comical. I didn’t react with anything other than a minor ‘oh no’ until we got to the parts that actually affected Alexis. Yet again, he is the only thing I truly and utterly care about. This entire series hinges on how much you like Alexis, so I truly am lucky I love him to pieces. I loved him so much, in fact that I was scared to read this book because I knew it was Blaise’s. But now I realise that I COULD’VE loved Blaise if the book just let me. Like I said, he has a lot of potential just like the rest of the cast - but it never comes through and it’s so painful. And this is not only an issue because we don’t get enough content of him, he’s just not very well integrated to the story. He feels like an afterthought in what is meant to be his own book. Every character sometimes feels that way. Everyone, of course, except for Alexis.
I’m still going to read the next book because I’m cautiously optimistic. I suspect Caeli is next, and without spoiling too much, her setup in this book points to a really strong arc for her. But that’s only if she actually gets time to shine in the spotlight like she’s meant to. I’m also very intrigued by the next book’s hook and premise. I’m getting the feeling that the REAL story starts here and that’s always fun to look forward too.
This series is so close to greatness. I know the author can achieve it. He just needs to extend his writing prowess beyond the protagonist.
May 8, 2025
★★★★★ ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.
Andy Darcy Theo, you absolute genius. The Dark That Hides Us completely wrecked me… in the best, most soul-shattering way possible. I don’t even know how to put into words how OBSESSED I am with this book. It’s dark, emotional, utterly captivating, and so gorgeously written that I found myself rereading lines just to soak in the beauty of it and not to mention so damn good I couldn’t put it down (no seriously, I bought the audiobook cause I couldn’t be left on a cliffhanger and needed to head out so listened to it on my journey! 😭)
The characters?? Don’t even get me started. They feel so real it’s like they’ve clawed their way out of the pages and taken up permanent residence in my heart. The emotional depth, the found family vibes, the tension, the betrayals, the yearning, it’s all so chef’s kiss perfect. Every relationship feels raw and authentic, and the way Andy handles trauma, healing, and hope is masterful. 🥹
And let’s talk about the plot. The stakes are so high and every chapter had me holding my breath. I was gasping, crying, screaming internally (and sometimes out loud). There were moments I had to close the book and just stare at the wall to process what I’d read. (Not to mention chapter 28 - I was sat there like FINALLY 🙂↔️ iykyk😜)
AND THAT. ENDING.
The cliffhanger absolutely destroyed me. My jaw was on the FLOOR. I genuinely don’t know how I’m supposed to function after that. I need Book Three like yesterday Andy!!! How am I supposed to wait after THAT??! Andy, please. I am BEGGING.
This series has ruined all other books for me, nothing else compares right now. I’m in a full-blown book hangover and I don’t want it to end. If you’re reading this and haven’t picked up the series yet, drop everything. Go read it right now!!!
Utterly phenomenal. Haunting. Beautiful. Unforgettable.
Book of the year for me, hands down.
10/10 would sell my soul for an early copy of the third book, so S&C, Andy - let’s make this happen 🔥
Thank you Andy for this masterpiece! Now please, give us more!!
Andy Darcy Theo, you absolute genius. The Dark That Hides Us completely wrecked me… in the best, most soul-shattering way possible. I don’t even know how to put into words how OBSESSED I am with this book. It’s dark, emotional, utterly captivating, and so gorgeously written that I found myself rereading lines just to soak in the beauty of it and not to mention so damn good I couldn’t put it down (no seriously, I bought the audiobook cause I couldn’t be left on a cliffhanger and needed to head out so listened to it on my journey! 😭)
The characters?? Don’t even get me started. They feel so real it’s like they’ve clawed their way out of the pages and taken up permanent residence in my heart. The emotional depth, the found family vibes, the tension, the betrayals, the yearning, it’s all so chef’s kiss perfect. Every relationship feels raw and authentic, and the way Andy handles trauma, healing, and hope is masterful. 🥹
And let’s talk about the plot. The stakes are so high and every chapter had me holding my breath. I was gasping, crying, screaming internally (and sometimes out loud). There were moments I had to close the book and just stare at the wall to process what I’d read. (Not to mention chapter 28 - I was sat there like FINALLY 🙂↔️ iykyk😜)
AND THAT. ENDING.
The cliffhanger absolutely destroyed me. My jaw was on the FLOOR. I genuinely don’t know how I’m supposed to function after that. I need Book Three like yesterday Andy!!! How am I supposed to wait after THAT??! Andy, please. I am BEGGING.
This series has ruined all other books for me, nothing else compares right now. I’m in a full-blown book hangover and I don’t want it to end. If you’re reading this and haven’t picked up the series yet, drop everything. Go read it right now!!!
Utterly phenomenal. Haunting. Beautiful. Unforgettable.
Book of the year for me, hands down.
10/10 would sell my soul for an early copy of the third book, so S&C, Andy - let’s make this happen 🔥
Thank you Andy for this masterpiece! Now please, give us more!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2026
Again, I read this book when it came out but I’m going to write a review now! The third book is also on the way in the post so I’m writing reviews of the prior books beforehand tehe
The Dark That Hides Us is the sequel to The Light That Blinds Us and I really enjoyed it! The plot remained fast-paced and engaging, and the characters were just as entertaining! The gang are preparing for an attempt to defeat Mortem, the shadow-wielding antagonist of this series, but it isn’t without its hardships and they aren’t sure they’re going to succeed. Alexis is grappling with his own powers and the fact that Mortem is his biological father, and his mental health is declining once more.
The ending to this book was in short a GAPING cliffhanger. The reveal that Alexis’s adoptive parents know far more than they’re letting on was honestly so surprising, and the man in the woods? Just when we thought Alexis’s life couldn’t get any more tumultuous lol. The potential it has to lead to such conflicting plot twists and revelations in the third book has me so excited. The Shadow That Finds Us can’t come fast enough and I’m looking out my window every day waiting for that post to come. I’m a menace
4.5 stars!
The Dark That Hides Us is the sequel to The Light That Blinds Us and I really enjoyed it! The plot remained fast-paced and engaging, and the characters were just as entertaining! The gang are preparing for an attempt to defeat Mortem, the shadow-wielding antagonist of this series, but it isn’t without its hardships and they aren’t sure they’re going to succeed. Alexis is grappling with his own powers and the fact that Mortem is his biological father, and his mental health is declining once more.
The ending to this book was in short a GAPING cliffhanger. The reveal that Alexis’s adoptive parents know far more than they’re letting on was honestly so surprising, and the man in the woods? Just when we thought Alexis’s life couldn’t get any more tumultuous lol. The potential it has to lead to such conflicting plot twists and revelations in the third book has me so excited. The Shadow That Finds Us can’t come fast enough and I’m looking out my window every day waiting for that post to come. I’m a menace
4.5 stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2026
The Light That Blinds Us was the creation of a very compelling fantasy where we were introduced to The Children of the Elements. I was so eager to get back into this world I immediately picked up book 2.
The Dark That Hides Us follows Alexis, Demi, Blaise & Caeli as they prepare for a big magical conflict - The Battle of Stonehenge. As the battle approaches the characters discover the darkness within themselves along with betrayals, & hidden truths.
The characters evolved so much more within this book, not only as individuals but as a group. Their friendships battle to survive under the immense pressure they are under but like book one the found family dynamic is a strong part of the story.
Theo has continued to create a world cloaked in shadow filled with danger, secrets, fear & emotional tension. The atmosphere flows from chapter to chapter making this a really compelling read.
What continues to standout for me is the mental health representation. Theo treads delicately & handles it with the utmost care. He makes it feel relatable & the message I kept getting was It's okay not to be okay.
By far my favourite series of the year so far & I cannot wait to start book 3 & I'm already hoping it's not going to end there.
The Dark That Hides Us follows Alexis, Demi, Blaise & Caeli as they prepare for a big magical conflict - The Battle of Stonehenge. As the battle approaches the characters discover the darkness within themselves along with betrayals, & hidden truths.
The characters evolved so much more within this book, not only as individuals but as a group. Their friendships battle to survive under the immense pressure they are under but like book one the found family dynamic is a strong part of the story.
Theo has continued to create a world cloaked in shadow filled with danger, secrets, fear & emotional tension. The atmosphere flows from chapter to chapter making this a really compelling read.
What continues to standout for me is the mental health representation. Theo treads delicately & handles it with the utmost care. He makes it feel relatable & the message I kept getting was It's okay not to be okay.
By far my favourite series of the year so far & I cannot wait to start book 3 & I'm already hoping it's not going to end there.
May 23, 2025
Congrats to Andy on his second book!! So happy to see how far he’s come and obviously super proud of him 🫶🏻
Now let’s get into it!!!
This book was INSANE. From start to finish, we follow both Alexis and Blaise on their journey, their fight against Mortem, and of course their battles navigating teen love and angst. This book was so much fun. What kind of person writes a nearly 200 page battle??? Andy obviously.
I will say, I think I may have enjoyed The Light That Blinds Us more, but I think that’s solely because it was a quest plot and I am such a sucker for quests.
It was so fun seeing more of the Children of the Elements and I think they got even more fleshed out in this book. Of course my heart shattered, was mended, shattered again, mended again a thousand times reading about Alexis and Demi. But I found myself even more excited for Blaise and Caeli in this book?? Their relationship just had so much tension and I’m really glad how it all turned out.
And speaking of how it turned out. Wow…just wow. Mortem dead (and sadly Crescent too, Andy I have some words for you), Ziya learning of Alexis’s shadow powers, ALEXIS’S PARENTS MAY HAVE ABDUCTED HIM??? ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE ELEMENTS HAVE DARKNESS INSIDE THEM??? I am literally freaking out so so so much. I need book 3 so bad. I need to KNOW!!!
Now let’s get into it!!!
This book was INSANE. From start to finish, we follow both Alexis and Blaise on their journey, their fight against Mortem, and of course their battles navigating teen love and angst. This book was so much fun. What kind of person writes a nearly 200 page battle??? Andy obviously.
I will say, I think I may have enjoyed The Light That Blinds Us more, but I think that’s solely because it was a quest plot and I am such a sucker for quests.
It was so fun seeing more of the Children of the Elements and I think they got even more fleshed out in this book. Of course my heart shattered, was mended, shattered again, mended again a thousand times reading about Alexis and Demi. But I found myself even more excited for Blaise and Caeli in this book?? Their relationship just had so much tension and I’m really glad how it all turned out.
And speaking of how it turned out. Wow…just wow. Mortem dead (and sadly Crescent too, Andy I have some words for you), Ziya learning of Alexis’s shadow powers, ALEXIS’S PARENTS MAY HAVE ABDUCTED HIM??? ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE ELEMENTS HAVE DARKNESS INSIDE THEM??? I am literally freaking out so so so much. I need book 3 so bad. I need to KNOW!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.25 stars.
I want to start off by saying I’m so obsessed with the character art and I wish more books included this, it was beautiful.
The story really jumps in the deep end from the get go I feel like as we deal with the repercussions of book 1, we start really deeping the gravity of the situation and the stakes attached if they fail. The book had some lovely highs which felt like stolen moments considering everything they were dealing with, and the lows were heartbreaking and quite cutthroat at points.
I also love how book 2 ended as it felt so open ended so I’m obviously quite optimistic we will get more from this world and some of our fav characters.
I highly recommend this for fans of YA fantasy with diverse characters and great world building.
I want to start off by saying I’m so obsessed with the character art and I wish more books included this, it was beautiful.
The story really jumps in the deep end from the get go I feel like as we deal with the repercussions of book 1, we start really deeping the gravity of the situation and the stakes attached if they fail. The book had some lovely highs which felt like stolen moments considering everything they were dealing with, and the lows were heartbreaking and quite cutthroat at points.
I also love how book 2 ended as it felt so open ended so I’m obviously quite optimistic we will get more from this world and some of our fav characters.
I highly recommend this for fans of YA fantasy with diverse characters and great world building.
April 17, 2025
Thank you to Andy and Simon & Schuster UK for giving me an early copy for an honest review and taking me out of those 2 years misery 💖✨️😌
Where do I even begin?! I've been sweeped off my feet, thrown across the room, heart hammering in my chest, rocking back and forth, and then stitched right back up again. [Then thrown in a spiral with that epilogue]
But first and foremost, can we give 13 year old Andy a standing ovation 👏🏼 of the masterpiece he's written!!
This exhilarating read was filled with twists after twists, emotionally wrecking my heart and soul, a therapy session that leads to a good cry , and most of all, a darkness that begins to rise.
Andy has once again captivated readers by weaving together the complexities of the mind in his beautifully crafted book. It tackles not only the struggles within but also the intense physical challenges that provoke me with anxiety. I found myself in deep reflection, wondering if I was experiencing a personal therapy session or simply engaging with Alexis's journey—it's a mystery we'll never unravel! These characters are my home [even Mortem, that man had me giggling], and I couldn't have had it any other way 🧡✨️
The stakes are high, the darkness rises, and a battle brims. Take it from me...he said, "You aren't ready?!" I say .I should have taken that statement seriously!!"
I can not give much away, but those 2 years were worth every second of these finely written pages with each and every line being delicately thought out. Andy is one of those authors where you thank the Fates for making him a writer !!! 👏🏼
Not long until this gem releases into the world, so if you haven't already preordered, then I urge you to 🤺
You don't want to miss the adventures, the trials and tribulations, and the fight against light and darkness, that is, The Dark That Hides Us.
Where do I even begin?! I've been sweeped off my feet, thrown across the room, heart hammering in my chest, rocking back and forth, and then stitched right back up again. [Then thrown in a spiral with that epilogue]
But first and foremost, can we give 13 year old Andy a standing ovation 👏🏼 of the masterpiece he's written!!
This exhilarating read was filled with twists after twists, emotionally wrecking my heart and soul, a therapy session that leads to a good cry , and most of all, a darkness that begins to rise.
Andy has once again captivated readers by weaving together the complexities of the mind in his beautifully crafted book. It tackles not only the struggles within but also the intense physical challenges that provoke me with anxiety. I found myself in deep reflection, wondering if I was experiencing a personal therapy session or simply engaging with Alexis's journey—it's a mystery we'll never unravel! These characters are my home [even Mortem, that man had me giggling], and I couldn't have had it any other way 🧡✨️
The stakes are high, the darkness rises, and a battle brims. Take it from me...he said, "You aren't ready?!" I say .I should have taken that statement seriously!!"
I can not give much away, but those 2 years were worth every second of these finely written pages with each and every line being delicately thought out. Andy is one of those authors where you thank the Fates for making him a writer !!! 👏🏼
Not long until this gem releases into the world, so if you haven't already preordered, then I urge you to 🤺
You don't want to miss the adventures, the trials and tribulations, and the fight against light and darkness, that is, The Dark That Hides Us.
March 16, 2025
I waited patiently for this one and it was really worth the wait! This one goes so much darker than I had anticipated. The depth of darkness in this one was not what I was expecting. It had me emotionally invested and really nervous about what was happening because you really didn’t know what to expect. And when some of the bigger plot twists happen you don’t see them coming either! It was full of sneaky little moments that made me gasp out loud. I really enjoyed it and I cant wait to see what the future brings for the characters next.
May 5, 2025
4.75⭐️
This series is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson - specially the ones who are obsessed with his sarcastic wit during life-threatening situations😂
Look up “action packed” in the dictionary and you’ll find a photo of this right next to it!
This book picks up right where The Light that Blinds Us left off, and it’s set mostly during a single massive battle. As someone who sometimes struggles with reading/keeping up with long fight scenes, I have to say ADT did an amazing job with this one!
The fight scenes were amazing and not only full of action but also full of emotion.
Now for me, the best thing about this series is the characters - both main and side! No character is boring or 2D, I just can’t wait to read and discover more about them.
The relationships in this book - both romantic and platonic - are so captivating. Hot take: Everyone deserves an Incantus in their life - someone who looks after you, cares about you deeply regardless of your successes or failures, and someone who full heartily believe in you.
The end of this books left me with a actual CHILLS! I can’t wait for the next book , while also knowing it will probably completely break my heart (ps hoping that we’ll get more POVs on the next one 👀)
This series is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson - specially the ones who are obsessed with his sarcastic wit during life-threatening situations😂
Look up “action packed” in the dictionary and you’ll find a photo of this right next to it!
This book picks up right where The Light that Blinds Us left off, and it’s set mostly during a single massive battle. As someone who sometimes struggles with reading/keeping up with long fight scenes, I have to say ADT did an amazing job with this one!
The fight scenes were amazing and not only full of action but also full of emotion.
Now for me, the best thing about this series is the characters - both main and side! No character is boring or 2D, I just can’t wait to read and discover more about them.
The relationships in this book - both romantic and platonic - are so captivating. Hot take: Everyone deserves an Incantus in their life - someone who looks after you, cares about you deeply regardless of your successes or failures, and someone who full heartily believe in you.
The end of this books left me with a actual CHILLS! I can’t wait for the next book , while also knowing it will probably completely break my heart (ps hoping that we’ll get more POVs on the next one 👀)
July 28, 2025
What did i just read...
The final chapter before the epilogue.. What does that mean... Who was the man alexis saw in the prologue... Don't tell me it's Incantus... It can't be... But Alexis' prophecy... The man being pale... "illuminated"
What are Stephanie and Jackson hiding?
Andy darcy theo... What are you gonna put me through in the third book... And why do i feel like it's gonna kill me more so than this one did...
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The final chapter before the epilogue.. What does that mean... Who was the man alexis saw in the prologue... Don't tell me it's Incantus... It can't be... But Alexis' prophecy... The man being pale... "illuminated"
What are Stephanie and Jackson hiding?
Andy darcy theo... What are you gonna put me through in the third book... And why do i feel like it's gonna kill me more so than this one did...
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 3, 2025
This book played with my emotions as much as the world is mess right now. Andy Darcy Theo has a lot to answer for, and I’m not sure whether I would want to shake him or pray to him. Either way off to stare at the wall and wonder why all fantasy characters must suffer.
December 27, 2025
this book was not for me tbh🫠
I'm a huge fan of the writing, I absolutely love the characters and I truly am invested in the progression of the story, however this book itself felt like a drag💔 and took me almost the whole month to finish.🫠
I'm a huge fan of the writing, I absolutely love the characters and I truly am invested in the progression of the story, however this book itself felt like a drag💔 and took me almost the whole month to finish.🫠
May 2, 2025
ANDY DARCY THEO... WHAT THE FUCK
March 8, 2025
✨ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐬 ✨
by: Andy Darcy Theo, @andydarcytheo
release date: 24th of April, 2025
🌊 🍃 🔥 💨
First of all, I feel so deeply honoured, that Andy felt like sending this book for me to read this early 🥹 thank you so so much, this means a lot to me 🫶🏼
Just like with 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐔𝐬, I knew right from the first chapter that this reading experience would be just incredible. But to be honest, I already knew that before even reading a single page of this book ❤️🔥
This book was definitely one of my most anticipated reads for this year, and let me tell you, this book didn’t disappoint! I was super excited (and scared, thanks to Andy) to dive back into the Elemental world, to see what kind of things Alexis, Demi, Blaise and Caeli would deal with this time.
The story and the way it was written is just incredibly beautiful 🥹 I had so many chills, tears and smiles while reading, this book was definitely an emotional journey! And oh how the plot TWISTED at times 🫣 (stay tuned for a reaction video)
While in previous book we got to know Alexis, in this book we also get to know our precious Blaise better ❤️🔥 and oh my how I loved that 🥹🫶🏼
This book was definitely everything and even more I could’ve ever ask for or imagine, this is a ✨𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦✨ 🤌🏼
So thank you Andy for writing this book, I love it so much 🥹🫶🏼 I can’t wait for you all to read this story as well 🫵🏼❤️🔥
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (5)
𝐑𝐔𝐍, 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤, 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐬 ❤️🔥
🌊 🍃 🔥 💨
by: Andy Darcy Theo, @andydarcytheo
release date: 24th of April, 2025
🌊 🍃 🔥 💨
First of all, I feel so deeply honoured, that Andy felt like sending this book for me to read this early 🥹 thank you so so much, this means a lot to me 🫶🏼
Just like with 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐔𝐬, I knew right from the first chapter that this reading experience would be just incredible. But to be honest, I already knew that before even reading a single page of this book ❤️🔥
This book was definitely one of my most anticipated reads for this year, and let me tell you, this book didn’t disappoint! I was super excited (and scared, thanks to Andy) to dive back into the Elemental world, to see what kind of things Alexis, Demi, Blaise and Caeli would deal with this time.
The story and the way it was written is just incredibly beautiful 🥹 I had so many chills, tears and smiles while reading, this book was definitely an emotional journey! And oh how the plot TWISTED at times 🫣 (stay tuned for a reaction video)
While in previous book we got to know Alexis, in this book we also get to know our precious Blaise better ❤️🔥 and oh my how I loved that 🥹🫶🏼
This book was definitely everything and even more I could’ve ever ask for or imagine, this is a ✨𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦✨ 🤌🏼
So thank you Andy for writing this book, I love it so much 🥹🫶🏼 I can’t wait for you all to read this story as well 🫵🏼❤️🔥
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (5)
𝐑𝐔𝐍, 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤, 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐬 ❤️🔥
🌊 🍃 🔥 💨
January 8, 2026
It was a very fun and entertaining experience to read. It took me less time to get into the action than it did with the first book
June 16, 2025
Congrats Andy on your next book!
I'm sorry to say, I'm not sure why, but I just couldn't really get into this one. 90% of this book is one battle. One. It means this book is non-stop action much like the first, but I was just getting bored of it and it felt sluggish to me because I just wanted to get on with it! It's so hard to explain this but there was SO much happening, but also nothing at all? I didn't feel connected to the characters and everyone was just overly whiny to me at certain moments after getting the really good psychological stuff from their backgrounds that is written so well. Much like the first book with Alexis. I was so sad to see how that was watered down much like Blaise in this one.
It's hard to really accurately pinpoint what it is that just isn't making me feel for these characters. The only time I truly felt connected to them was when their backgrounds as children were delved into. The deaths that came in the book didn't move me at all. *Le sigh*
Will I be reading the next book? Yes. I'm just not sure it will be different.
I'm sorry to say, I'm not sure why, but I just couldn't really get into this one. 90% of this book is one battle. One. It means this book is non-stop action much like the first, but I was just getting bored of it and it felt sluggish to me because I just wanted to get on with it! It's so hard to explain this but there was SO much happening, but also nothing at all? I didn't feel connected to the characters and everyone was just overly whiny to me at certain moments after getting the really good psychological stuff from their backgrounds that is written so well. Much like the first book with Alexis. I was so sad to see how that was watered down much like Blaise in this one.
It's hard to really accurately pinpoint what it is that just isn't making me feel for these characters. The only time I truly felt connected to them was when their backgrounds as children were delved into. The deaths that came in the book didn't move me at all. *Le sigh*
Will I be reading the next book? Yes. I'm just not sure it will be different.
March 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you so much to Andy Darcy Theo & Simon and Schuster UK for giving me this ARC!
where do i even begin?? andy’s gone and done it again with The Dark That Hides Us, totally beating ‘second book syndrome’ (let’s be honest, I never doubted him).
Everything about this book blew me away, from the character development, THE MANY PLOT TWIST, the action scenes, amazing pacing, especially the more insight into the Elemental side of things!
The characters!! I loved seeing Alexis, Blaise Caeli and Demi again (and yes I totally lost my mind over certain parts of the story). Was everyone in this book sassier than ever? YUP and I absolutely loved it!! I was losing my mind annotating everything I could. No peace for the readers in this one though.
100% recommend! you won’t be disappointed
thank you so much to Andy Darcy Theo & Simon and Schuster UK for giving me this ARC!
where do i even begin?? andy’s gone and done it again with The Dark That Hides Us, totally beating ‘second book syndrome’ (let’s be honest, I never doubted him).
Everything about this book blew me away, from the character development, THE MANY PLOT TWIST, the action scenes, amazing pacing, especially the more insight into the Elemental side of things!
The characters!! I loved seeing Alexis, Blaise Caeli and Demi again (and yes I totally lost my mind over certain parts of the story). Was everyone in this book sassier than ever? YUP and I absolutely loved it!! I was losing my mind annotating everything I could. No peace for the readers in this one though.
100% recommend! you won’t be disappointed
March 22, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this eARC!
I thought the first book was fun, but this one was a bit more of a mixed bag for me. I'll start off with the positives:
- The writing style, as with the first book, was well done. It flowed well and, while it was very 'ya', I think it was really effective in getting the story across.
- It was very ambitious to have the majority of the book be one large battle (I don't think this is a spoiler, as it's very much set up in the first book) and the author pulled it off. It's no mean feat to be able to keep up a breakneck battle pace for 400+ pages but he did. There weren't any sections that felt like they slowed or dragged at all.
- I think the character work improved a little from the first book. There was actually some development of the side characters, and I enjoyed Blaise's journey in particular as he felt a bit one-note in the first book. I do wish I'd had a little more of him though, as most of the book still focussed on Alexis and I felt that he'd had his time already.
So I think the overall writing in terms of style and character development did improve from the first book, but the problems I had with the first book were also a lot more prominent:
- The book felt a little bit like a collection of 'epic moments' that, while cool for those those moments, didn't really have much substance holding them together. It felt a little bit like the author had imagined some scenes and really wanted to put them in, but didn't really consider how they would fit in with the rest of the story.
- Depsite the fact that I think the characterwork improved a little from the first book, it still didn't really work for me. The majority of characters felt like an amalgamation of one or two traits/tropes (Incantus is the 'wise mentor', Ziya is the 'smart hacker', Caeli is the 'snappy teenage girl', Serena is the 'sassy warrior', etc) and I just didn't find them very interesting. This can be fine in one or two characters, but I think the main villain of the book really suffered from this too. He was just 'the evil wizard' and there was really nothing else to him. No proper motivation, only a tiny bit of backstory that didn't really give any kind of insight into his character at all, really cheesy 'mwahahaha I'm so evil' dialogue and a complete lack of charisma or prescence. He was just such a boring villain, which was a shame because it meant that the plot surrounding him sort of fell apart as I couldn't get invested. I also found the protagonist Alexis a bit boring in this book. In the first one, there was actually some evidence of some darkness to him and I was really interested as to where that would go, but here he just spends the whole book going "I'm so evil :(" and then never actually does anything actually bad (killing undead enemies doesn't count).
- The main quartet felt a bit overpowered. Every time the battle got somewhat difficult for them, they'd just suddenly unlock a new ability and it was all fine. It felt really unearned as there wasn't really any kind of sense of progression or hitting milestones, they could just suddenly do it. It was cool to envision them defeating their enemies at first, but it quickly got quite repetitive and meant that there weren't really any stakes. Speaking of the lack of stakes, it didn't really feel like there were many consequences. I don't really want to be too specific for fear of edging into spoilers, but I didn't appreciate the fake-out deaths which were just explained by a character saying 'idk it was destiny I guess'.
And here are just some more kind of 'neutral thoughts', that I wasn't quite sure where to put in this review:
- I wasn't quite sure which age group this book was aimed towards. There's a weird mixture of choices would belong in a ya novel aimed at the lower age range of teens (villains called 'Dr Sinner', sassy protagonists), and then also implied sex. It didn't hugely impact my reading experience, but it was just something that I noticed.
- The dialogue really worked sometimes and then really didn't work at other times. I liked a lot of it, it was really good at showing the emotions of the characters. But, at other times it felt really cheesy and a bit out of place. In some really tense moments, the pov character would suddenly say something snarky or silly and it just really took me out of it. There were also many moments of dramatic romantic monologues and, while they were really well written and beautiful, I couldn't help thinking that 17 year olds do not talk like that.
- I don't expect a huge amount of intricate worldbuilding from a ya book, but some more would have been nice. There were some glimpses we got, but I feel like I have no idea how the elemental world and powers work and I would have liked some more.
- I just wanted to appreciate the artist for this book, because the artwork really was gorgeous!
I think some people who enjoyed the first book will still enjoy this- it has romance, epic battles and magic, everything you want!- but I think it just wasn't really for me. I don't think I'll be continuing with the series.
I thought the first book was fun, but this one was a bit more of a mixed bag for me. I'll start off with the positives:
- The writing style, as with the first book, was well done. It flowed well and, while it was very 'ya', I think it was really effective in getting the story across.
- It was very ambitious to have the majority of the book be one large battle (I don't think this is a spoiler, as it's very much set up in the first book) and the author pulled it off. It's no mean feat to be able to keep up a breakneck battle pace for 400+ pages but he did. There weren't any sections that felt like they slowed or dragged at all.
- I think the character work improved a little from the first book. There was actually some development of the side characters, and I enjoyed Blaise's journey in particular as he felt a bit one-note in the first book. I do wish I'd had a little more of him though, as most of the book still focussed on Alexis and I felt that he'd had his time already.
So I think the overall writing in terms of style and character development did improve from the first book, but the problems I had with the first book were also a lot more prominent:
- The book felt a little bit like a collection of 'epic moments' that, while cool for those those moments, didn't really have much substance holding them together. It felt a little bit like the author had imagined some scenes and really wanted to put them in, but didn't really consider how they would fit in with the rest of the story.
- Depsite the fact that I think the characterwork improved a little from the first book, it still didn't really work for me. The majority of characters felt like an amalgamation of one or two traits/tropes (Incantus is the 'wise mentor', Ziya is the 'smart hacker', Caeli is the 'snappy teenage girl', Serena is the 'sassy warrior', etc) and I just didn't find them very interesting. This can be fine in one or two characters, but I think the main villain of the book really suffered from this too. He was just 'the evil wizard' and there was really nothing else to him. No proper motivation, only a tiny bit of backstory that didn't really give any kind of insight into his character at all, really cheesy 'mwahahaha I'm so evil' dialogue and a complete lack of charisma or prescence. He was just such a boring villain, which was a shame because it meant that the plot surrounding him sort of fell apart as I couldn't get invested. I also found the protagonist Alexis a bit boring in this book. In the first one, there was actually some evidence of some darkness to him and I was really interested as to where that would go, but here he just spends the whole book going "I'm so evil :(" and then never actually does anything actually bad (killing undead enemies doesn't count).
- The main quartet felt a bit overpowered. Every time the battle got somewhat difficult for them, they'd just suddenly unlock a new ability and it was all fine. It felt really unearned as there wasn't really any kind of sense of progression or hitting milestones, they could just suddenly do it. It was cool to envision them defeating their enemies at first, but it quickly got quite repetitive and meant that there weren't really any stakes. Speaking of the lack of stakes, it didn't really feel like there were many consequences. I don't really want to be too specific for fear of edging into spoilers, but I didn't appreciate the fake-out deaths which were just explained by a character saying 'idk it was destiny I guess'.
And here are just some more kind of 'neutral thoughts', that I wasn't quite sure where to put in this review:
- I wasn't quite sure which age group this book was aimed towards. There's a weird mixture of choices would belong in a ya novel aimed at the lower age range of teens (villains called 'Dr Sinner', sassy protagonists), and then also implied sex. It didn't hugely impact my reading experience, but it was just something that I noticed.
- The dialogue really worked sometimes and then really didn't work at other times. I liked a lot of it, it was really good at showing the emotions of the characters. But, at other times it felt really cheesy and a bit out of place. In some really tense moments, the pov character would suddenly say something snarky or silly and it just really took me out of it. There were also many moments of dramatic romantic monologues and, while they were really well written and beautiful, I couldn't help thinking that 17 year olds do not talk like that.
- I don't expect a huge amount of intricate worldbuilding from a ya book, but some more would have been nice. There were some glimpses we got, but I feel like I have no idea how the elemental world and powers work and I would have liked some more.
- I just wanted to appreciate the artist for this book, because the artwork really was gorgeous!
I think some people who enjoyed the first book will still enjoy this- it has romance, epic battles and magic, everything you want!- but I think it just wasn't really for me. I don't think I'll be continuing with the series.
May 21, 2025
"For even when the day goes dark, the light of our lives will shine on and we will burn brighter than the dark that hides us."
4.25⭐
This book was one of my most highly anticipated reads for 2025 and it did not disappoint. I thought the first book was a lot of fun, I enjoyed the mental heath themes beautifully woven into the story and the quest was thrilling. This book picks up where the first one left off, they have retrieved the gems that supplement their elemental powers and now they're preparing for the Solstice and the eclipse that will bring darkness to the land and allow Mortem to imprint all Elementals to his Shadowless army. For a book that basically spanned only 1-2 days for the majority of it, Andy was able to pack so much action, feeling, backstory and connection in, and it was done in a way that was truly impressive. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know how this story would go and loved the way that the intrigue and revelations were deftly rolled out, building in tension as the book progressed. There were some really heart breaking and touching scenes in this story and I truly think Andy's background in psychology made this story all the more deeply meaningful.
This book was a real slow burner, it took me a while to get back into it when I first picked it up and if I am completely honest long, drawn out battle scenes are not my favourite thing, so I did struggle a bit to get through this book. But regardless, I still enjoyed it so much. The way Andy wrote the battle scenes was amazing, I really felt like I was at Stonehenge with the characters, in the thick of it. There were really no holds barred for all the creative ways these characters were basically tortured throughout this story, and because of this it was a lot darker than the first book. This really interested me, getting to see the darker sides of some of the characters and getting to explore how you can overcome darkness if you have the right support, good friends, people you can talk to and rely on, but also how easy it can be slip into darkness. Seeing Alexis contend with both sides of himself, watching as he dealt with his actions and getting to know his feelings about what happened was fascinating - I kept expecting him to tip over into a villain, and in some ways he kind of did, but there were moments where I fully expected him to become just like his father.
I enjoyed that this book delved into the POVs of other characters other than Alexis, getting to see some of Blaise's backstory was really amazing and also very sad. This was something I touched on it my first review too, that I felt like we didn't get to know the other characters very well but that was partly redeemed here. And if I can guess the format of the coming books in this series, I would assume we will get to know Demi and Caeli deeper too, I am assuming the next book will start from the POV of one of the two girls. I will say that I find the pacing in this series to be a little unbalanced at times. On one hand we have the slow burn of storyline, the battle took place over only 7-8 hours and yet it made up 80% of the plot of this book, then on the other hand we have these characters where some have only known each other for a few weeks or little more than a month and they're already talking like they've known each other their whole lives. I get that they have been through some really traumatic situations and that brings them closer together, but Alexis and Demi have grown up with each other and yet it felt like Alexis was just as close with some of the other characters he had really only just met recently. I think due to this juxtaposition between slow burn plot and fast moving character connections meant that I wasn't as deeply invested when certain characters were going through strife. I cared for them and rooted for them, but in my mind, I didn't feel that depth of connection when really many of their relationships were still relatively superficial.
Overall, I am so entertained by this series and loving the direction it's taking. The magic system is a bit soft, it seems some of the characters can do almost anything with their powers and I wish more time was spent truly understanding how it worked and what their limitations were, but really that's just a small criticism for me. I enjoyed the first book slightly better than this one simply because this one felt a bit more bloated and covered plotlines that aren't my favourite, which is a difficult thing to do given the very tight timeline Andy gave his characters, and he still managed to pull it off admirably. I am so excited to find out what happens next, and that thrilling cliffhanger at the end of this book had me wanting to pick up the next book straight away but alas, we have to wait for it to be written 😂
4.25⭐
This book was one of my most highly anticipated reads for 2025 and it did not disappoint. I thought the first book was a lot of fun, I enjoyed the mental heath themes beautifully woven into the story and the quest was thrilling. This book picks up where the first one left off, they have retrieved the gems that supplement their elemental powers and now they're preparing for the Solstice and the eclipse that will bring darkness to the land and allow Mortem to imprint all Elementals to his Shadowless army. For a book that basically spanned only 1-2 days for the majority of it, Andy was able to pack so much action, feeling, backstory and connection in, and it was done in a way that was truly impressive. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know how this story would go and loved the way that the intrigue and revelations were deftly rolled out, building in tension as the book progressed. There were some really heart breaking and touching scenes in this story and I truly think Andy's background in psychology made this story all the more deeply meaningful.
This book was a real slow burner, it took me a while to get back into it when I first picked it up and if I am completely honest long, drawn out battle scenes are not my favourite thing, so I did struggle a bit to get through this book. But regardless, I still enjoyed it so much. The way Andy wrote the battle scenes was amazing, I really felt like I was at Stonehenge with the characters, in the thick of it. There were really no holds barred for all the creative ways these characters were basically tortured throughout this story, and because of this it was a lot darker than the first book. This really interested me, getting to see the darker sides of some of the characters and getting to explore how you can overcome darkness if you have the right support, good friends, people you can talk to and rely on, but also how easy it can be slip into darkness. Seeing Alexis contend with both sides of himself, watching as he dealt with his actions and getting to know his feelings about what happened was fascinating - I kept expecting him to tip over into a villain, and in some ways he kind of did, but there were moments where I fully expected him to become just like his father.
I enjoyed that this book delved into the POVs of other characters other than Alexis, getting to see some of Blaise's backstory was really amazing and also very sad. This was something I touched on it my first review too, that I felt like we didn't get to know the other characters very well but that was partly redeemed here. And if I can guess the format of the coming books in this series, I would assume we will get to know Demi and Caeli deeper too, I am assuming the next book will start from the POV of one of the two girls. I will say that I find the pacing in this series to be a little unbalanced at times. On one hand we have the slow burn of storyline, the battle took place over only 7-8 hours and yet it made up 80% of the plot of this book, then on the other hand we have these characters where some have only known each other for a few weeks or little more than a month and they're already talking like they've known each other their whole lives. I get that they have been through some really traumatic situations and that brings them closer together, but Alexis and Demi have grown up with each other and yet it felt like Alexis was just as close with some of the other characters he had really only just met recently. I think due to this juxtaposition between slow burn plot and fast moving character connections meant that I wasn't as deeply invested when certain characters were going through strife. I cared for them and rooted for them, but in my mind, I didn't feel that depth of connection when really many of their relationships were still relatively superficial.
Overall, I am so entertained by this series and loving the direction it's taking. The magic system is a bit soft, it seems some of the characters can do almost anything with their powers and I wish more time was spent truly understanding how it worked and what their limitations were, but really that's just a small criticism for me. I enjoyed the first book slightly better than this one simply because this one felt a bit more bloated and covered plotlines that aren't my favourite, which is a difficult thing to do given the very tight timeline Andy gave his characters, and he still managed to pull it off admirably. I am so excited to find out what happens next, and that thrilling cliffhanger at the end of this book had me wanting to pick up the next book straight away but alas, we have to wait for it to be written 😂
May 22, 2025
After the trials of The Light That Blinds Us, we are thrust back into the profoundly and descriptively woven tapestry of the Children of the Elements. At once, the immersive way I felt coming back into this world was like I had never truly left. I enjoyed getting to delve into other characters point-of-views more this time around, though still found Alexis to be as enticing and fascinating of a main character to follow as ever. As they all take back control of their powers, broadening their sights on what—or even who—will ensue and threaten their lives post-combat, each of them hold fire for the battle of Stonehenge that will be make-or-break for their freedom.
Though, no battle is ever clear-cut or without bloodshed and anguish, and the Children of the Elements know this better than anyone, how unstable the line between losing their light and surviving can be. But when the darkness that they had long expected exists in places they hadn’t thought—even inside of themselves—the battle reveals swallowed and buried secrets that have never seen the light of day. With the friends distinct powers and lives hanging in the balance, lines blurry and future uncertain, death in many ways and forms is promised. And with another hefty cliffhanger to leave us tense with anticipation, what does that mean for the mystical world we thought we knew?
Overall, The Dark That Hides Us was formidable, thrilling and nothing short of a wild ride from start to finish. The worldbuilding continued on from the intricacy of The Light That Blinds Us, and my wish of getting to know more of the characters on a deeper level was granted tenfold. A big thing I love about Andy’s books are the highlights on mental health and how the emotional and painful scenes are handled with such care and thought. The sequel was battle-heavy, foot consistently on go, and it made for such a gripping and entertaining read. Yet, we still have that strong found-family aspect that keeps the book grounded with sincerity, which I loved. With that ending (and all the potentially unanswered questions) I am eager to see what is next for Andy’s series—and future books. This was such a fantastical, energetic book and I know that this series is going to become a firm favourite for many fantasy lovers.
Though, no battle is ever clear-cut or without bloodshed and anguish, and the Children of the Elements know this better than anyone, how unstable the line between losing their light and surviving can be. But when the darkness that they had long expected exists in places they hadn’t thought—even inside of themselves—the battle reveals swallowed and buried secrets that have never seen the light of day. With the friends distinct powers and lives hanging in the balance, lines blurry and future uncertain, death in many ways and forms is promised. And with another hefty cliffhanger to leave us tense with anticipation, what does that mean for the mystical world we thought we knew?
Overall, The Dark That Hides Us was formidable, thrilling and nothing short of a wild ride from start to finish. The worldbuilding continued on from the intricacy of The Light That Blinds Us, and my wish of getting to know more of the characters on a deeper level was granted tenfold. A big thing I love about Andy’s books are the highlights on mental health and how the emotional and painful scenes are handled with such care and thought. The sequel was battle-heavy, foot consistently on go, and it made for such a gripping and entertaining read. Yet, we still have that strong found-family aspect that keeps the book grounded with sincerity, which I loved. With that ending (and all the potentially unanswered questions) I am eager to see what is next for Andy’s series—and future books. This was such a fantastical, energetic book and I know that this series is going to become a firm favourite for many fantasy lovers.
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