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Darkest Hour Saga #1
The Darkest Night
"Do you remember Cinderella? Yes, well, that twit didn't have to pay rent."
Owner and operator of Bits and Pieces, and resident expert on charms and glamours, Elsa Karr is a witch with a sour frown and a list of things to do as long as Thor's hammer. Top of the list is saving her father's shop from ruin. If she isn't trying to claw her way out of debt, she's arguing with her cat, Fenris, or shoveling carts of cake into her gob. She's not interested in romance or the vampire who rents the flat above her shop. All she wants is a little peace and chocolate--fine, all right! All right! The vampire is kind of screw-all cute. (Curse him.)
The disgraced son and heir of the Wingates House vampire clan and a mad-man to boot, Marshall Ansley spends most of his time working and dodging his mother's phone calls. Marshall is beyond family. He's beyond everyone, actually. Don't be daft, he especially doesn't do...Christmas. But behold, the plague brings an original flavor of annoyance this year when his boss tasks him with acquiring the account of a recluse fey and her upcoming Gothic clothing boutique, Sinister Stitches. That is the ONLY reason he's bothering with his shrewish landlord. No, that's it. No...really. Fine, if you insist, the witch might be a tad bit...all right, she's adorable. (Damn her.)
Scrooge meets Scrooge. Dominant meets Dominant. Tempers...spark. In each other, they may unfold a tale that only comes to pass on the darkest of nights.
Reader Warning: This is a rather twisted retelling of Cinderella and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Expect an apologetic, rakish vampire prince, and a cake-eating troll with power to smite him to ash. Enjoy!
Owner and operator of Bits and Pieces, and resident expert on charms and glamours, Elsa Karr is a witch with a sour frown and a list of things to do as long as Thor's hammer. Top of the list is saving her father's shop from ruin. If she isn't trying to claw her way out of debt, she's arguing with her cat, Fenris, or shoveling carts of cake into her gob. She's not interested in romance or the vampire who rents the flat above her shop. All she wants is a little peace and chocolate--fine, all right! All right! The vampire is kind of screw-all cute. (Curse him.)
The disgraced son and heir of the Wingates House vampire clan and a mad-man to boot, Marshall Ansley spends most of his time working and dodging his mother's phone calls. Marshall is beyond family. He's beyond everyone, actually. Don't be daft, he especially doesn't do...Christmas. But behold, the plague brings an original flavor of annoyance this year when his boss tasks him with acquiring the account of a recluse fey and her upcoming Gothic clothing boutique, Sinister Stitches. That is the ONLY reason he's bothering with his shrewish landlord. No, that's it. No...really. Fine, if you insist, the witch might be a tad bit...all right, she's adorable. (Damn her.)
Scrooge meets Scrooge. Dominant meets Dominant. Tempers...spark. In each other, they may unfold a tale that only comes to pass on the darkest of nights.
Reader Warning: This is a rather twisted retelling of Cinderella and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Expect an apologetic, rakish vampire prince, and a cake-eating troll with power to smite him to ash. Enjoy!
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2014
About the author
Sophie Avett
12 books42 followersSophie Avett is kind of a nerd. Like not even one of the cute, hip ones everyone brags about nowadays. More like the socially awkward hippie who eats way too much bread and dreams about being a dragon from behind towers of mythology books. Um...yeah. Picture old, tattered paperbacks and comic books--mostly Batman and Wonder Woman--dwarfing a tiny desk, with just barely enough room for the troll who writes there and the 70 pound hell-hound that insists of laying it's wet nose on top of her bare foot.
Granted not the most exciting existence, but she tries to make up for it by writing romances populated with her own peculiar ilk of paranormal beasties. Trolls, wyverns, the obscure Nordic brownie--she likes to keep things interesting. And bloody. (And mostly naked--but, we'll keep that bit between us.)
Sophie Avett loves to hear from her readers. (Hi, mom.)
DISCLAIMER: I write fantasy. I buy reference books. Therefore, I review reference books. I will NEVER review a fiction book as Sophie Avett. Such things are frowned upon. Also, I try to be as helpful and as accurate as possible with reference book reviews because they really are an expensive investment. So, NO--I don't know those people. Nor did they ask me to review for them. I'm just tryna help another reader/author out with info. :)
Granted not the most exciting existence, but she tries to make up for it by writing romances populated with her own peculiar ilk of paranormal beasties. Trolls, wyverns, the obscure Nordic brownie--she likes to keep things interesting. And bloody. (And mostly naked--but, we'll keep that bit between us.)
Sophie Avett loves to hear from her readers. (Hi, mom.)
DISCLAIMER: I write fantasy. I buy reference books. Therefore, I review reference books. I will NEVER review a fiction book as Sophie Avett. Such things are frowned upon. Also, I try to be as helpful and as accurate as possible with reference book reviews because they really are an expensive investment. So, NO--I don't know those people. Nor did they ask me to review for them. I'm just tryna help another reader/author out with info. :)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 26, 2015
When I started reading this, it took me a bit to get used to the language. There is a lot of proper language, it's Victorian age. Sophie did an excellent job with the writing. The style, the language brings this full circle into an unforeseeable love story, with some secrets thrown in there.
Marshall Ansley is a vampire who lives in the apartment above a little shop called Bits and Pieces. Elsa owns Bits and Pieces, and is a witch. Marshall is known to be a player and Elsa is not what one would call a model. Marshall is handsome, sexy and knows it. Elsa is not a size 1, with a perfect everything, but she is hard working, with an attitude and a secret.
These two come to an agreement that will benefit both of them. Elsa agrees to help Marshall find a potential client, in return Marshall will take Bits and Pieces on as a client. Together they start their journey on a ship called Palatine Light.
Thus begins their new adventure together and the longer they are on the ship, the more they reach out to the other.
Marshall Ansley is a vampire who lives in the apartment above a little shop called Bits and Pieces. Elsa owns Bits and Pieces, and is a witch. Marshall is known to be a player and Elsa is not what one would call a model. Marshall is handsome, sexy and knows it. Elsa is not a size 1, with a perfect everything, but she is hard working, with an attitude and a secret.
These two come to an agreement that will benefit both of them. Elsa agrees to help Marshall find a potential client, in return Marshall will take Bits and Pieces on as a client. Together they start their journey on a ship called Palatine Light.
Thus begins their new adventure together and the longer they are on the ship, the more they reach out to the other.
January 8, 2015
Awesome Read
Amazing start to a series, Many times these serials are only 50 odd pages or so, barely giving you enough to wet your appetite before ending, and having you buy the next one. Not the case with this book. 100 odd pages, about the size of a normal book on its own, and full of masterful plot and world building rivaling any other book out there. We come in and find a woman trying to save the store her father left to her, she is stuck under bank payments, lack of customers, and a bleak future. A shut-in and rather crabby, she doesn't like going out, and her only real source of entertainment is checking out the man she rented her upstairs to, Enter in the sexy half vampire-ish guy and a proposition she can't refuse. Lust and Desire build between the two, each of them hiding their monster from the other, neither able to fight the attraction between them.
Amazing start to a series, Many times these serials are only 50 odd pages or so, barely giving you enough to wet your appetite before ending, and having you buy the next one. Not the case with this book. 100 odd pages, about the size of a normal book on its own, and full of masterful plot and world building rivaling any other book out there. We come in and find a woman trying to save the store her father left to her, she is stuck under bank payments, lack of customers, and a bleak future. A shut-in and rather crabby, she doesn't like going out, and her only real source of entertainment is checking out the man she rented her upstairs to, Enter in the sexy half vampire-ish guy and a proposition she can't refuse. Lust and Desire build between the two, each of them hiding their monster from the other, neither able to fight the attraction between them.
December 20, 2014
This is one of those kindle part books. This was part 1,offered free. From a marketing stand point this makes sense, and it's not something I have a problem with.
I find the idea behind this to be rather interesting. The writing is good in terms of style, and it has been proofread and edited.
I just found the main characters, in particular the hero, to be rather unlikable. Okay, unlikable mostly applies to the heroine. The heroine has some positives - she isn't skinny - but she is also rather uninteresting.
I find the idea behind this to be rather interesting. The writing is good in terms of style, and it has been proofread and edited.
I just found the main characters, in particular the hero, to be rather unlikable. Okay, unlikable mostly applies to the heroine. The heroine has some positives - she isn't skinny - but she is also rather uninteresting.
February 16, 2025
10 stars of unique awesomeness!!
Read this years ago but sadly can't find it on amazon anymore, luckily i have my original epub version transferred to my kindle, and the paperback signed version by the author. Not my preferred reading style cos I'd love to read this awesome book again.
What a shame the author hasn't written anymore, she is so incredibly talented.
This book is everything! Unique plot and storyline, characters, world building it is stunning and I've yet to find anything similar!
Incredible characters and some of the hottest sex scenes I've ever read.
What a fucking crime not to continue writing!!!!
Talent like this amidst the legion of mediocre is just criminal when the mediocre thrive and the sublime dont.
The most under rated book ever.
The most diverse and interestingly unique characters I've ever read.
Fuck I'm pissed!!
Read this years ago but sadly can't find it on amazon anymore, luckily i have my original epub version transferred to my kindle, and the paperback signed version by the author. Not my preferred reading style cos I'd love to read this awesome book again.
What a shame the author hasn't written anymore, she is so incredibly talented.
This book is everything! Unique plot and storyline, characters, world building it is stunning and I've yet to find anything similar!
Incredible characters and some of the hottest sex scenes I've ever read.
What a fucking crime not to continue writing!!!!
Talent like this amidst the legion of mediocre is just criminal when the mediocre thrive and the sublime dont.
The most under rated book ever.
The most diverse and interestingly unique characters I've ever read.
Fuck I'm pissed!!
March 2, 2015
Let me start by saying first, a note to the author, despite the change in the title, "The Darkest Night: A BBW Fairy Tale. I think the former was better. The book itself only suggested the image briefly and didn't resolve heavily on that aspect. The issues is subtle and threaded in the storyline, but isn't the revolving door it could have been. Had I skimmed the newer title, I would have never picked up the task of reading this book. I have found that many of these BBW centers around self-esteemed issues, and tend to portray weaker women (note: although still quite stronger than 90% of the leading ladies in recent Contemporary releases). They repetitively over preach the issue to mind numbing agony. I avoid these books and it might be a point to consider in future title creation.
As for the book itself, I have a confession to make. I am aware that I started this book twice and walked away without reading through the first chapter. I know for a fact that my mind set wasn't set at that time. It was only due to the fact that the book threatened to delete itself permanently off my iPad and Kindle app (believed to be the work of dark magic here), that I took up the task to read it.
I am happy that I made this last attempt because this book held a variety of things that made it good. One of those things was the crafty structure of each sentence. I am utterly jealous of those who have the talent to string a set of words into a piece of creatively descriptive art. They also seem to possess more skill at saying something in one small line of sentence than it takes me to do in a whole paragraph. This story is very well put together and I literally could see the scene where the, "Ice clung to her pale lashes, tiny shards smattered across the curve of her right cheek and the entirety of her forehead in a random sparkling design. Her full, pouty mouth softened and curved." The words flow practically better than the current water pressure here at my house.
The second thing I enjoyed was that this story tipped into different levels of intensity. At one point you are left wondering if this is all Ecchi and tease that leaves you irritated at the world when you finish it. Then the story dips just beyond that safely virginal outline and slaps you in the face with DBSM scenes. There is so many levels that that work well with this title and it all fits perfectly without some scenes even coming to an intended conclusion. Love to read erotica? But damn, sometimes they can be over kill in a book (*cough* FSOG *cough*). Bravo for a book that can confidently end a highly erotic scene and still leave its readers with enough content to let them draw it to its own conclusion.
There are also levels of this story that build it beyond the first floor flat like other stories. There is ongoing side conflicts threaded into the story and add to the plausible factious situations. These conflicts constantly beg to be answered thus dragging you by the collar of your neck to keep reading on.
I also find this story likable because these unlikely characters are powerful, but still flawed, and yet still open to the possibility that they are even more powerful then we are currently aware of. Who likes a story where the lead is an expert many and all things, skilled at everything, beautiful, rich, socially loved and welcomed by anyone, holding a position of power, possessing unrealistic career position at a barely legal young age, and born with the ultimate rare mutated super powers beyond your average super hero that they can overcome any obstacle thrown in their way? Not this book. It takes all of those plot devises and reads brings them in at almost their opposites.
For my list of accumulative dislikes for this story, I have very few.
One, There was only one error I caught for editing. I highlighted it. It lacked an ending quotation mark. It was at the end of a paragraph and the speaker didn't change at the opening of the next one. I am no grammar Natzi so catching one means it stood out.
And lastly, this is unfortunately a part of a series which means it end unfinished. However, at 182+ pages, the subsequent books averaging the same page numbers, any hard core reader enthusiast can come to rationalize somewhat at paying the $0.99 - $2.99 for it. It is a common practice these days to produce incomplete partial stories in increments of 20-76 pages at $2.99 - $3.99 each additional part. Common sense will over rule desire here folks. I doesn't care at how compelling the story maybe. You can find a friend here, I am sure, that can summarize the entire thing in have the pages and free of the cost. This series can be justifiable to anyone conscience if one chooses to purchase it.
One last thing, I press the matter that a story worthy of a lengthy review, doesn't always follow a negative path.
As for the book itself, I have a confession to make. I am aware that I started this book twice and walked away without reading through the first chapter. I know for a fact that my mind set wasn't set at that time. It was only due to the fact that the book threatened to delete itself permanently off my iPad and Kindle app (believed to be the work of dark magic here), that I took up the task to read it.
I am happy that I made this last attempt because this book held a variety of things that made it good. One of those things was the crafty structure of each sentence. I am utterly jealous of those who have the talent to string a set of words into a piece of creatively descriptive art. They also seem to possess more skill at saying something in one small line of sentence than it takes me to do in a whole paragraph. This story is very well put together and I literally could see the scene where the, "Ice clung to her pale lashes, tiny shards smattered across the curve of her right cheek and the entirety of her forehead in a random sparkling design. Her full, pouty mouth softened and curved." The words flow practically better than the current water pressure here at my house.
The second thing I enjoyed was that this story tipped into different levels of intensity. At one point you are left wondering if this is all Ecchi and tease that leaves you irritated at the world when you finish it. Then the story dips just beyond that safely virginal outline and slaps you in the face with DBSM scenes. There is so many levels that that work well with this title and it all fits perfectly without some scenes even coming to an intended conclusion. Love to read erotica? But damn, sometimes they can be over kill in a book (*cough* FSOG *cough*). Bravo for a book that can confidently end a highly erotic scene and still leave its readers with enough content to let them draw it to its own conclusion.
There are also levels of this story that build it beyond the first floor flat like other stories. There is ongoing side conflicts threaded into the story and add to the plausible factious situations. These conflicts constantly beg to be answered thus dragging you by the collar of your neck to keep reading on.
I also find this story likable because these unlikely characters are powerful, but still flawed, and yet still open to the possibility that they are even more powerful then we are currently aware of. Who likes a story where the lead is an expert many and all things, skilled at everything, beautiful, rich, socially loved and welcomed by anyone, holding a position of power, possessing unrealistic career position at a barely legal young age, and born with the ultimate rare mutated super powers beyond your average super hero that they can overcome any obstacle thrown in their way? Not this book. It takes all of those plot devises and reads brings them in at almost their opposites.
For my list of accumulative dislikes for this story, I have very few.
One, There was only one error I caught for editing. I highlighted it. It lacked an ending quotation mark. It was at the end of a paragraph and the speaker didn't change at the opening of the next one. I am no grammar Natzi so catching one means it stood out.
And lastly, this is unfortunately a part of a series which means it end unfinished. However, at 182+ pages, the subsequent books averaging the same page numbers, any hard core reader enthusiast can come to rationalize somewhat at paying the $0.99 - $2.99 for it. It is a common practice these days to produce incomplete partial stories in increments of 20-76 pages at $2.99 - $3.99 each additional part. Common sense will over rule desire here folks. I doesn't care at how compelling the story maybe. You can find a friend here, I am sure, that can summarize the entire thing in have the pages and free of the cost. This series can be justifiable to anyone conscience if one chooses to purchase it.
One last thing, I press the matter that a story worthy of a lengthy review, doesn't always follow a negative path.
January 28, 2015
I give this 5 stars
Marshall and Elsa find Madame Mari, but they also find love. Both are stubborn, an ex of Marshall's boards the ship and causes some trouble and hurts Elsa, she sees what Elsa is and taunts Elsa with everything. She says vile things to Elsa to knock her down and Elsa can't fight it any longer. Marshall finds Elsa has left the ship, he is devastated when he doesn't find her. Marshall buys into the ex's lies and becomes involved with her again.
Elsa has to sign paperwork for Bits and Pieces and she knows she will see Marshall. When they come face to face, she starts with, "Vampire", and he comes back with, "Witch", like from the start of their relationship.
Once Elsa leaves, Marshall finds out his ex is the cause of Elsa leaving the ship. He breaks things off with the ex, but now he must win Elsa over. He needs to make her face him, truly face him. Elsa must decide if she can give Marshall her heart by showing him her secret. So romantic, sexy and down right awesome. Sophie did a fantastic job writing this story.
Marshall and Elsa find Madame Mari, but they also find love. Both are stubborn, an ex of Marshall's boards the ship and causes some trouble and hurts Elsa, she sees what Elsa is and taunts Elsa with everything. She says vile things to Elsa to knock her down and Elsa can't fight it any longer. Marshall finds Elsa has left the ship, he is devastated when he doesn't find her. Marshall buys into the ex's lies and becomes involved with her again.
Elsa has to sign paperwork for Bits and Pieces and she knows she will see Marshall. When they come face to face, she starts with, "Vampire", and he comes back with, "Witch", like from the start of their relationship.
Once Elsa leaves, Marshall finds out his ex is the cause of Elsa leaving the ship. He breaks things off with the ex, but now he must win Elsa over. He needs to make her face him, truly face him. Elsa must decide if she can give Marshall her heart by showing him her secret. So romantic, sexy and down right awesome. Sophie did a fantastic job writing this story.
February 28, 2015
Recently it has been very popular for ebooks to be release in parts- not certain why, I think most people find it annoying. The first part is typically free (or free for a limited time, or something like that). I guess the first part is supposed to hook the reader for the rest of the book which you then have to buy. Too bad this one failed to hook me. Despite it's short length, I barely finished it I was so bored.
October 4, 2014
A quick read. Still trying to decide if I want to read the rest of the series.
January 21, 2015
So bad I did not finish it.
September 15, 2015
Good premise, but it was confusing sometimes as what I was reading didn't seem to be connected to the scene happening. It would take me a little bit to figure it out.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews