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The Bleed-Through Effect

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Charlotte and Simon are ready to move on with their lives after dismantling the black-ops agency known as Quantym. But Charlotte begins suffering from nightmares and disturbing visions, and she fears events on the Periphery—her parallel life—are impacting her via the bleed-through effect.

In a dual timeline between the main reality and the Periphery, Charlotte and Simon must confront the blurred lines between strength and weakness, love and loyalty, and their past and future.

As they struggle to regain control over their lives, a catastrophic secret is revealed, a vengeful lover on a quest for power closes in, and Charlotte must figure out a way forward...even when the past refuses to let go.

325 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2025

2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read

About the author

A.A. DaSilva

2 books57 followers
AA DaSilva holds a degree in clinical laboratory science and brings her love of science and writing together via science fiction romance.

Born and raised in New England, she enjoys spending precious quality time with her husband and two sons, reading dark gothic romance, and hiking through the woods in every season.

Her multi-award-winning Periphery series explores fate, strength, and the choices that determine our destiny.

Her third book, a standalone contemporary romance, is forthcoming in 2026. For the latest updates on new releases and events, sign up for email updates and follow her on socials.

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Autumn.
188 reviews
July 29, 2025
This was fast paced from page one. It picks up right where the first one ends and does not stop until the last page.

So many complex characters. This one was a little harder to follow than the first definitely more sci-fi less romance but I surprisingly enjoyed that aspect.

Jared and Mitch… while Mitch I just hate, I think Jared is a far more complex and misunderstood character. I was happy to see things play out the way they did.

The number of times I panicked for both Sy and Charolette. This was way dicier than the first book that’s for sure.

Overall this was a 4 star giving the duology a 4 star rating over all!

Thank you AA Dasilva, and Iris Influencer Society for books in exchange for review and book tour.
Profile Image for Reader Views.
4,731 reviews329 followers
July 5, 2025
A.A. DaSilva’s The Bleed-Through Effect is a high-concept sci-fi thriller that straddles the line between speculative physics and psychological suspense. Through a deeply unsettling exploration of parallel realities and morally ambiguous characters, the novel shapes a haunting vision of how far ambition and control will take you when unchecked by ethics.

At the heart of the story is Charlotte Cardoza. She’s a gifted scientist who’s thrown into existential chaos as she experiences conflicting memories and parallel lives. Her emotional confusion is raw and makes her character easy to sympathize with. The juxtaposition between her gentle connection with Simon and her manipulative, dangerous relationship with Jared is handled like a master. These dynamics add not only romantic tension but psychological depth to the narrative.

Jared is both a fascinating and disturbing character. His character operates with chilling precision, like a predator cloaked in charm. Through his eyes, readers glimpse the terrifying potential of power untampered by morality. His twisted justifications and ability to bounce between love and violence underscore the book’s deeper theme: What happens when science allows us to play God across infinite versions of ourselves? The interesting concept of “jumpers” using defibrillation to transfer consciousness between realities is fresh and intriguing. The author smartly anchors these abstract theories with emotional consequences. The Bleed-Through Effect is less about the tech and more about the human cost of living multiple lives. The ethical debate over “designer deaths” is especially compelling, raising questions about identity, grief, mortality, and consent.

The writing style is tight, direct, and emotionally charged. Dialogue feels authentic, and internal monologues reveal just enough without having to overexplain. The pacing moves briskly, alternating between eerie calm and explosive confrontation. Charlotte’s public revelation and Jared’s violent reaction mirror the larger power struggle at play.

While the writing is sharp and immersive, there may be scenes that unsettle some readers due to the borderline coercive nature. For example, the forced romantic encounter between Jared and Charlotte. Though it’s thematically consistent, it risks blurring lines of consent in ways that warrant content consideration. The stakes are high and appropriately dark, but clearer lines around agency might strengthen Charlotte’s character arc and reader empathy. Additionally, complex scientific explanations presented could benefit from slight simplification or integration with character emotions to avoid alienating readers unfamiliar with quantum or medical terminology.

The Bleed-Through Effect by A.A. DaSilva will strongly appeal to fans of mind-bending science fiction, dystopian thrillers, and ethically charged narratives. Readers who enjoyed Dark Matter and Recursion, both by Blake Crouch, or An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green, will likely find DaSilva’s work both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. It’s also ideal for readers of psychological domestic thrillers who are drawn to layered power dynamics, as seen in books like Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris or The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.

Profile Image for Heather Byrd.
172 reviews3 followers
July 21, 2025
4.5/5. What a great series!!!

I loved the whole idea of this story. What if we really did have other periphery lives we are living simultaneously? What if we could travel to those periphery lives and still retain our memories from each reality? Would you want to remember? Would you want to know what your other lives were like?

It’s a fascinating story that reminds me of the Matrix and Marvel multiverse but easier to follow and understand. The characters are deliciously evil and heroic. And the character growths are well done. It was so fun reading about these characters and the turmoils they go through to find their values and boundaries. The suspense throughout was never ending and kept me guessing and theorizing.

I’m pretty sure this one will stick around in my brain rent free from time to time.
Profile Image for A. Gordon.
Author 1 book36 followers
July 5, 2025
Sit down and buckle up! This sequel kept me on the edge of my seat the entire ride. But it's the darn twist at the end that had me yelling at the pages! And oh, how I want to spill--but I won't because you need to experience the frustration and fear to appreciate how smart Charlotte really is. I loved the multiple pov's (especially through the villain's eyes), and the authors ability to write multiple timelines without confusing me. DaSilva's writing is so concise and clear, I stayed on track without feeling like she was writing down to me. If you want a fast-paced thriller romance with a STEM FMC, do not miss this book! (But read Periphery first--or you will be confused!)
Profile Image for myfictionaladventure.
35 reviews21 followers
August 28, 2025
I love this book! Such great characters and ideas. The book also moved at a great pace; I could not put it down!
Profile Image for Morgan Robinson.
118 reviews5 followers
August 1, 2025
The second book of the Periphery was an amazing ending! It was packed with a ton of action and it was so hard to put down! There were moments of worry, panic, and passion. The storyline was so great, I’m so glad I picked up these books!
Profile Image for Book Reviewer.
226 reviews20 followers
June 19, 2025
The Bleed-Through Effect, by AA Dasilva, is a psychological sci-fi thriller that dives headfirst into the concept of parallel realities, trauma, and manipulation. At its heart are Jared, a convicted man with a mind engineered for revenge and dominance, and Charlotte, his estranged wife with a savant-like gift rooted in a head injury. Their fates remain twisted together across alternate realities, manipulated by a shadowy government-backed organization called Quantym. Through its dual narratives set in "Reality 1" and "Reality 2: On the Periphery," the story weaves a suspenseful and often unnerving look at identity, memory, and control, with time travel and consciousness jumping driving the plot.

Jared is magnetic in the worst way: terrifying, cold, and obsessive. His presence has a pull that makes you sick and fascinated at the same time. Charlotte, on the other hand, is caught between trauma and rebirth. Her pain feels honest, her resistance hard-won, and her journey into healing, especially with Simon, is tender without becoming sappy. The writing is punchy and emotional, shifting smoothly between the brutal and the intimate. Characters bleed, cry, shatter, love, and rage with sharp detail. That said, the book can be emotionally heavy, especially with Jared’s manipulative cruelty and the twisted power games that unfold.

I do feel that the pacing slowed under the weight of explanation in some areas of plot. The science, while clever and well thought out, gets a little thick at times. When the characters speak about memory retention, parallel jump logistics, or bleed-through phenomena, it’s like being dropped into a quantum physics lecture. Still, it’s minor when you’re hanging off the edge of your seat during the intense scenes. The best parts are when the emotional stakes meet the speculative sci-fi. Moments where love, betrayal, memory, and pain collide in these chilling and cinematic flashes.

The Bleed-Through Effect is the gripping sequel to Periphery, picking up where Charlotte’s fractured world left off. If you’ve read Periphery, this follow-up feels like a descent into deeper, darker waters. And if you haven’t, you’ll still be able to follow the story, but you’ll miss some of the emotional weight. This book is best suited for readers who love high-stakes science fiction layered with trauma, passion, and moral gray zones. It’s intense. It’s clever. It doesn’t flinch. And for those who like their thrillers to feel both cerebral and personal, this one hits hard in all the right places.
Profile Image for N.N. Heaven.
Author 6 books2,132 followers
July 31, 2025
If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would in a heartbeat. The Bleed-Through Effect is an intelligent and emotionally charged sequel that somehow manages to surpass the brilliance of Periphery…and that’s saying something.

From page one, I was completely hooked. The stakes are higher, the tension sharper, and the emotional depth hits even harder. Charlotte and Simon are back, and their journey is more riveting than ever. As Charlotte begins to suffer from chilling visions and dreams—echoes from her alternate life in the Periphery—the lines between realities begin to blur.

AA DaSilva weaves a dual-timeline narrative that had me hanging on every word. The plot is fast-paced but never rushed, balancing adrenaline-pumping action with beautifully intimate character moments. The writing is, once again, cinematic and vivid. I could see every scene play out in my mind like a movie I never wanted to end.

The emotional stakes are just as compelling as the physical ones. Charlotte continues to be a phenomenal protagonist: layered, vulnerable, strong. And Simon? He’s as magnetic as ever. Their chemistry crackles off the page, but their bond is what truly anchors the story.

But let’s talk about the villains. Wow. I loved to hate them in the best possible way. They are so well-developed that they leap off the page. Their motivations are chilling and believable. DaSilva delivers a masterclass in crafting layered, unforgettable antagonists that challenge the heroes at every turn and raise the stakes to an entirely new level.

There are twists I didn’t see coming and reveals that had me frantically turning the pages.

I loved this book. Every second of it. It’s smart, thrilling, and emotionally rich. If Periphery left me begging for more, The Bleed-Through Effect left me stunned in the best possible way.

Highly, highly recommend this sequel for fans of sci-fi, romance, and stories that make you feel as much as they make you think. AA DaSilva has outdone herself.

My Rating: 5++ stars

Reviewed by: Lana

This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...
Profile Image for Colleen Driscoll.
Author 16 books5 followers
June 29, 2025
The Bleed-Through Effect by A. A. DaSilva is a carefully crafted romantic thriller with elements of science fiction that has you jumping through alternate realities in a space continuum, with bad guys chasing after the good guys and the good guys trying to figure out what in the world is happening.
The story picks up where Charlotte and Simon left off in Book 1 The Periphery. (IMO reading that book first will increase your enjoyment of The Bleed-Through Effect!) But even if one starts with The Bleed-Through Effect, DaSilva does such a great job developing characters, you will think they are real and appreciate the relationship schematics. I love Charlotte and Simon together, and they both exhibit patience, unconditional love, and understanding. Charlotte’s first husband Jared and his father Mitch are purely evil schemers who have nefarious plans to jump into different but simultaneous realities to control lives for money, power, and control. Unfortunately, they need Charlotte to give them the code to finish their scheme. Jared infiltrates her dreams, and truth be told, I had nightmares, too! So much so that I finally had to carve out a day to read the rest of the book so I could sleep at night. Mitch made my neck hair prickle.
Jumping story lines from different realities was a little confusing in the beginning, but at the start of each chapter, the author noted the character’s POV and reality so that helped clarify any confusion. I found the plot fast paced, action filled, and though provoking. The author also creates multiple moral dilemmas within the story line. I definitely give The Bleed-Through Effect 5 stars. DaSilva skillfully keeps two realities separate but intertwined! Genius!
Profile Image for Vicky.
Author 26 books69 followers
May 14, 2025
THOUGHTS: This is the perfect sequel to the first book “Periphery”. Like the first one in the duology, this one involves Charlotte, Simon, and Jared—Charlotte’s dead husband. Or is he? The black ops company Quantym is not as defunct as Charlotte and Simon think it is and Jared and his father, Mitch, are after Charlotte in multiple universes because of her ability to understand and manipulate the multi-verses.

Like the first book, the characters are well-crafted and you find yourself hoping for a good outcome for Charlotte and Simon while wanting the demise of Jared and Mitch. There is a lot that goes on here and you have to pay attention to all the twists and turns or you’ll forget which one of the universes you’re in and what’s going on in each. Yes, it can be a challenging read, but the writing is so vivid that you’ll be engaged in the story. And there’s a satisfying ending that lets you know everything is going to be okay for Charlotte and Simon. I will note, though, that there are some rough scenes so be sure to check the "warning" labels if you are sensitive.

Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Profile Image for K.J. Sweeney.
Author 1 book47 followers
October 23, 2025
The Bleed-Through Effect is the second book in the Periphery series. Set in a world where there are seven realities, all linked, but with a progression through each one. Quantum has managed to find a way to travel between the different realities and are planning to offer designer deaths which allow those who are willing to pay enough to travel to the reality that suits them best.
This is a romance of sorts, it follows Charlotte as she comes to terms with what her husband really is and the feelings that she has for Simon. Simon is so much better for Charlotte in many ways, but there were a few times in this book that I thought that he showed a few red flags, with his reactions to things that happened.
The book was gripping and I was desperate to find out what was going to happen to Charlotte and Simon. As I said, although there is romance, it really played a secondary role to the action that was going on.
This is a gripping read that I couldn't put down. Read book one first, but don't miss this one either.
324 reviews12 followers
August 2, 2025
Our Review: If non-stop action, dystopian theories and super evil bad guys make the top three spots on your To Be Read list, anything by AA DaSilva are the ones for you. In book 2 of her Periphery Series, she takes things to a higher level as Charlie and Simon work to solve the problems created by Mitch and Jared Cardoza, masterminds of Quantym and world domination in general.
If you are into letting your imagination run wild, if you don’t mind a little—to—a—lot of violence, this is the one for you.

Based on a scale of 1-5, The Bleed Through Effect merits a 6.
Veronica Lynch, Wild Women Authors
2 reviews
November 17, 2025
The Bleed-through effect, second in the series of Periphery is an awesome read! The author takes your mind on a thrilling ride having you run in circles and wonder what’s going happen next? It is such a great read, and the way the “world” she created is layed out is top tier. Perfect mix of real life and dystopian world where anything is possible. Can’t wait to see what AA Dasilva comes out with next. Five stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1 review
July 7, 2025
The Bleed Through Effect is an amazing continuation of where The Periphery left off! This book brings the story and its readers to a whole new level of intensity. AA DaSilva is a master at her craft, bringing us on this journey of romance, drama and suspense! I can't say enough about how this book pulled me and held me captive until the very last page! So well done!
1 review
June 8, 2025
The bleed through effect kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed every character and felt empathy even for the not so good lead Jared. A.A.DaSilva developed each character so well I feel as though I know and them. I recommend this entertaining and thought provoking work to everyone.
2 reviews
August 14, 2025
Fantastic read from start to finish! I was gifted part one and could not wait for part two to be released! The story sucks you in and beautifully mixes reality with sci-fi. This book has everything you could ask for romance, drama, mystery and so much more! You will not be disappointed!
Profile Image for Dinah's Bookshelf.
127 reviews3 followers
August 6, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level:🌶️🌶️

OH MY FREAKIN GOSH!
Friends, I think I’m really liking Sci-Fi—okay, besides Star Wars and Avatar 😜.

The Bleed Through Effect, sequel to Periphery, absolutely blew past my expectations. At first, I was a little overwhelmed trying to track the different worlds (seriously, how did the author map all this out?!), but once things clicked into place, it was a WILD ride through multiverse madness, psychological suspense, and swoony soulmate vibes.

And SIMON. Just... yes. Absolutely love him.
The blend of Sci-Fi and romance was unexpectedly addictive—think strong FMC in STEM with disturbing visions and deep emotional arcs, all tangled in the chaos of the bleed-through effect. Once the worlds collided, I was hooked.

Fated mates? Multiverse theory? Betrayal, spice, and Rhode Island of all places? Count me in.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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