In Between Darkness

by M.J. Castleton

In a world where the time of your birth seals your fate forever, the lines between day and night are absolute.

Asha Calloway, born into daylight, is destined to receive her powers from the Sun Gods on her eighteenth birthday. Her future is bright, but a secret darkness plagues her.

Raised to fear the night and those who walk within it, Asha has always abided by the strict curfew that separates her people from the cursed Moonkind. The stories of their merciless powers and cruel Moon Gods are enough to keep her up at night.

But a week into her studies at an elite Sun academy, Asha's restless nights take a dangerous turn. A sleepwalking episode leads her past the boundaries of her world and directly into the path of Ryder Stormwood, a lethal and magnetic Moonkind.

He is everything she has been taught to fear... so why is she so drawn to him?

In a realm so intent on keeping light and dark separate, can love survive in the space between?

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Dark, Fantasy Romance, Dark Romance

539 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 24, 2025

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book - the premise of it sounds so interesting but I’ve DNF’d it about 4% in. The writing is just terrible. It’s not well written at all, it sounds like something a high school student wrote up for English class. A real shame but the juvenile writing is such a turn off.

[Crystal Sisneroz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would make a good movie because the premise was interesting but the writing absolutely killed it. The entire book didn't use a word over middle school reading level. The fact that the author used the phrase "kisses his teeth together" at all should be a crime, but using it repeatedly, felony behavior. The author didn't respect their own readers intelligence, spelling out exactly what each action or dialogue meant after it happened. No nuance. No subtlety. The dialogue was as juvenile as the writing, which made the smut scene make me physically cringe. It was just overall a weird experience.

[Catherine D · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF- I really struggled to work out if I was enjoying this book or not but then I gave up at 74%. It’s such a shame because the plot has real potential, the magic system felt original, despite some parts of the story being very similar to forth wing. Bonding with flying things, mind speaking, shadow daddy. It was just so poorly written that I couldn’t get on board. The main characters had no chemistry, the banter was not bantering, important scenes felt rushed, the dialogue was basic. I actually stopped when the smut started as it made me cringe. I just wish this was executed better.

[Jéssica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it !

The magic system is like nothing I ever read.

I just want more !!!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

needs work

Very good plot line, but the writing definitely needs some work. Some sentences sound too robotic and others are far too over explained. But otherwise can’t wait for the 2nd book!

[Despoina Sourla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot is absolutely perfect; it's not just clever, but delivered with a pace that keeps you in constant suspense right up until the final page. Every twist came at just the right moment, proving how masterfully designed the mystery was.
The characters, however, are the heart of this book. I empathized, worried, and even came to love the most controversial among them.
I highly recommend it to every fantasy lover looking for something more than a simple adventure. It’s a fantasy story that’s worth every minute of your time.
After the stunning conclusion, all I can say is: I am eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment!

[Laurieann · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow!

Well this book is seriously putting me into a slump .. I haven’t read anything like this & now I’m going to have to wait for the next one to get a fix again 🤯
Asha & Ryder are living rent free in my mind right now and for the foreseeable future - a fierce & loveable FMC & troubled but protective MMC .. yesss please 🥵 I can’t wait to see the rest of the characters grow with this series and where the world takes us. It literally can’t come soon enough 😍😍

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the magic in here. I love a strong FMC and the fighting scenes. I wish there was a bit more description in some areas like the animals and the faces of them. I feel the description was focused on the feet and wings.

Also would like to learn more of how the roommate and her became best friends instead of it being implied since they were roommates, as they talked maybe a handful of times and she kept saying she was blowing her off to be with Ryder so didn’t make sense how Charlie ended up knowing what was going on to be able to report back to his mom.I get that he was a deceiver but I was a bit confused on others powers as she lowkey skipped all her classes or maybe I rushed over that part.

I was also a bit confused as to why Alex didn’t question her or say anything on why a night person (Ryder) was on the sun side when Ryder came out swinging lol or maybe I’m imagining the map wrong and it’s somewhere in between both colleges. I just expected a bit more hatred on his side since he was yapping how they were ugly and disgusting in class so was strange to see him back down so fast

Over all great concept good story line just wish there was more a bit more character background/detail also I kept trying to think how do you kiss teeth I kept trying it lol when I saw it was just a lil giggle

Ps I loved this book I think it’s great the author is very nice and sweet she took time out of her day and answered some questions I had.

I am excited and hope for a book 2 even if it ends up being a bigger book to get everything in I would love to read it. Also low key high key wanted the end to be a why choose cuz River is adorable 😭🫶🏼

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a great book! I am a fourth wing junky currently and was looking for another great read. I came across this author on tik tok and her book got my attention. In this world or light and dark,sun and moon, we follow the journey of our young main character Asha! We meet friends and foes along the way as she learns to wield her unexpected powers and learns the secrets of her birth. This book not only held my attention but demanded to be finish leaving me on a cliff hanger wanting more! I cannot wait for the next book to come out in January!

[Kris Morrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing wasn’t the most poetic thing I’ve ever read but the story was cool! I’ll read book 2 when it comes out

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry but I had to DNF this book... I got about 5 chapters in and even though the premise of the book is fantastic, the writing of the book was throwing me off as if I was reading a child's essay for school.
If the book gets republished and is written a little more better than what it is I'll take another crack at it.

[Jo-Ann Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! I am left wanting more and wish the second book was out!! Totally devoured this book. I loved the magic, the world and am left wanting more.

[Khadija Salman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up after the first two chapters. Is this supposed to be for 14 yr olds? Because that’s what the writing reflects. It was so hard to get past which is a shame because the premise is actually intriguing.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very fortunate enough to be chosen as a beta reader for this amazing new author and the first instalment of this fast paced adventure blew me away from the first page to the cliff-hanger on the last page. I loved it so much I purchased the book on Monday and read it again in a few days. Second time around and it is as brilliant as the first reading.

The characters are vividly realistic, as is the description of the academy, landscape and the beautiful but dangerous creatures that have been brought to life within the story.

The tense and tumultuous relationship between Asha Calloway and Ryder Stormwood kept me turning the pages, the adventure that ensued was riveting and exciting and one particular scene between Asha and her best friend Nala was written with such emotional depth, it reduced me to tears.

I would love to write more, but I don’t want to give out any spoilers. All I can say is that if you are a reader who loves romance, fantasy, adventure, magic and humour (yes, there are laugh out loud moments too!) then this is THE book to read!

I am so excited to read the second instalment. It can’t come soon enough!

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good premise and world-building, but mixed execution
What worked well:
The concept of a world divided between “Sun-kind” and “Moon-kind,” and the idea of a protagonist who doesn’t fit the expected mold, is strong and engaging. The setting and its rules gave me plenty to imagine and care about. The magic system and the academy setting provide interesting conflict and stakes. The forbidden draw between Asha and Ryder adds emotional tension that works. It was an easy read, with a pace that kept things moving and a story I was curious to see through. Many readers will find enjoyment in the twists and the characters’ discoveries.

Where it fell short / why not 4 or 5 stars:
The writing style felt uneven at times. The prose leans toward the simpler side, with predictable phrasing, a high frequency of “I”-statements, and occasional over-explanation of what the characters are thinking or feeling. While the world and plot had freshness, the emotional connection between characters or the depth of some relationships didn’t always feel fully realised. I found myself wanting more from certain arcs before moving on.
Some parts of the narrative felt rushed or slightly under-developed (for example, back-story or certain plot transitions), which limited immersion for me.

Final thoughts:
If you’re looking for a light-to-medium fantasy romance with an interesting premise, lots of potential and a setting that offers scope for what might come next, this book delivers a satisfying start. However, if you prefer very polished prose, deep emotional exploration of characters or a fully self-contained arc, you might feel a bit of what could have been. I’m hopeful for what comes next from the author, and I’ll likely continue with the series.
Three stars — a solid read, and with some refinement it could be even stronger.

[Siobhan Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across this book through the author’s TikTok as one of her videos showed up on my FYP. From the minute I saw her synopsis on the story, I knew it was going to be something I’d enjoy. Fantasy is a genre I’ve not really read a lot of since I was a kid but have started to again within the past year with the likes of the ACOTAR series and similar. I definitely put this first book in the trilogy up there with the others I’ve read recently.

I loved getting immersed in this new magical world. The author creates a colourful picture of Palidonia and the sun and moon kinds. There is no detail too small and I got lost in the story within the first few chapters. The FMC & MMC have great chemistry and their slow burn is 🥵

There were so many twists and things I wasn’t expecting. I’m usually good at being able to guess what’s coming next but I didn’t predict how this story was going to unfold. I loved not being able to already figure it out before things happened.

I definitely recommend giving this book a read. You will fall in love with Asha and Ryder and the story. 10/10 for me and I cannot wait for book two.

[Brooke Easton · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this book is not on your TBR it needs to be, my heart was stolen by the characters and the world of this book!

This book follows Asha Calloway and her journey discovering her powers. The magic each character gets will be discovered their 18th birthday, however the time they are born will matter greatly, if they are born during the day they will be sunkind, these powers are helpful, gifts!

If are born during the night they will be moonkind, which their powers can be destructive, harmful, only awake during the night which is where Ryder Stormwood resides.

The sunkind and moonkind are forbidden to interact!

Asha is born into sunkind but plaged with insomnia and sleepwalking, often finding herself places she shouldn’t be!

The romantic elements of this book are on point!

In between darkness has such an amazing plot and I loved every second of reading it, there are so many twists and turns you don’t see coming, that just pull you in.

Bonus there are magical creatures too !

[Samira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lately I’ve been downloading free samples of books I’m interested in to make sure I like the writing style. For this book I am so glad I did.

I read up until chapter four and could not read any further.. it felt as if I was reading one of my own stories I wrote when I was a teenager. The thoughts of the FMC felt robotic, the sentences were short and some things were overexplained. For instance, isn’t it obvious curls stretch when they get wet and shrink when they dry? Why does it matter to even mention this in the book.

In addition, the interaction with the sidekick felt so obvious, unnatural and rushed to me. It just made me cringe the entire time.

So many people seem to love it and it makes me wonder if it’s just me - but by reading some of the other reviews I can conclude that the writing style needs a big adjustment.

The plot was really interesting to me and that’s why I think it has potential. It’s what got me interested but I definitely prefer a more complex writing style.

[Juliene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The premise is SO unique and unlike anything I have read before. I will absolutely be reading the next book in January when it releases.

The only reason I did not give 5 stars was due to the spicy scene. It was very wordy and really did not match the tone or writing of the rest of the book; there were too many variations in the descriptions of their sexual interactions and it just sounded a little off to me. I felt it was trying too hard to be spicy rather than just embracing Asha and Ryder’s attraction for one another and letting it come naturally. It felt forced and kind of threw off the build up to them finally getting together for me.

Apart from this, I really enjoyed MJ Castleton’s story telling and world building. The characters were fascinating, the world, magic, and creatures were easy to understand and visualize, and the story flowed well. Can’t wait for the next book!!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. The premise was good, I liked the idea of the split of the two academy’s and the sun and moon gods. I liked that the story moved quickly, we aren’t kept waiting for the main characters to meet, and for their relationships to evolve. Loved the side characters and their relationships with the main characters. And best of all there was a good storyline, good storytelling, more than enough going on to keep you on your toes. And I really didn’t see the twist on who the bad guys were until they were revealed at the end. It was a surprise, and I’m not easily surprised. A great foundation for what I hope will be a great series of books. A little different from the romantasy books out there, in that the storyline is as engaging as the relationship between the MmC and FMC characters and I loved that.

[Tanya Gray · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can I really DNF a book after just glancing at the first page?

I know that might sound harsh, but hear me out. I picked this one up after seeing it all over BookTok, the premise sounded so unique that I couldn’t resist giving it a try. Unfortunately, the moment I read the first page, I knew it wasn’t for me. I skimmed through the book to see if the same issue persisted and sadly the same issue ran throughout.

The book is written in first person, and nearly every sentence starts with “I.” As others have mentioned, the writing (at least from what I saw) feels more like something from a high school student than a finished book.

I genuinely admire anyone who has the dedication to write and finish a story, but I’d strongly encourage the author to work with an editor to refine the prose because the concept itself is fantastic, but the execution really lets it down.

[Valerie Castleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially due to the amount of pages, I expected there to be a lot of padding and maybe boring descriptions, but I was pleasantly surprised; every page had me soooo interested and hooked to the point where I couldn't put it down. It is up there with some of my favourite books of all time. I absolutely loved all the magic and romance, and there was just enough spice to not overpower the plot.
I thought the description of all the characters was out of this world, such handsome men and gorgeous women. The mythical creatures were one of my favourite aspects in this book because they were so different to anything i have read before. I strongly advise you all to read this book, it will have you as mesmorised as it did me. I'm so excited for the next book, i'll be waiting on the edge of my seat and I cant wait to delve back into this masterpiece.

[Christina Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hands down one of my FAVOURITE reads of 2025. The pace of the plot kept me hooked to the point that I spent my entire day off, just existing within this totally unique magic system. The characters are interesting and well rounded, the plot twists were amazing, and the spice? 😮‍💨🙏🏼 I read this book on kindle and I'm now HANGING out for payday to order a physical copy to have as a trophy for my shelf. HIGHLY recommend reading this if you're a fan of magic schools, shadow daddies, and unique magical creatures! I found this book in Tiktok and the author is just the loveliest person! I'll be recommending this book to literally anyone who will listen. So if you're on the fence, do it! you won't be disappointed! 🫶🏼

[Cassie Price · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where do I even begin?…. I’m giving this book one star simply for the fact that the plot itself had so much potential. This story could have been so much better had it not been for the writing. I felt like this book was a culmination of daydreams written by a teenager during their study hall. The interactions between the characters were so unrealistic that it actually made me cringe on almost every single page. Again, this story has the potential to been a 5 star read, but I just cannot get past the juvenile writing. I really hope the author works with an editor, beta readers and arc readers before they publish the second book. I’d be really interested to see where the story goes but I’d rather not spend the time reading it if it’s written like this one.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved how different this book was! The way the author built the world of the Sun and Moon people—how they’re kept apart, their unique gods, and their distinct gifts—was so creative and immersive. I only guessed one thing before it happened, and usually, I can figure out plot twists pretty easily, so that was such a fun surprise!

There were so many little details that I adored, but I don’t want to spoil anything for new readers. Just know that every piece of this story felt intentional and magical. And that ending? Definitely not what I was expecting, and it 10000% made me go absolutely feral for book two!

If you love fantasy worlds divided by light and dark, forbidden connections, and stories that keep you guessing, this one’s a must-read.

[Gabriellejross · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 76%. Idea was good but that’s about it. I never DNF books and I rarely write a review. But this was categorically the worst written fantasy book I’ve ever tried to read. It was so juvenile in the way it was written. Every problem that the FMC had… it was magically fixed on the second try at it. There was no depth to the characters, there was an attempt to fit in every basic trope and they all were done awfully. The spicy scene made me want to cringe. SO many plot holes. FMC could magically portal places but conveniently chose not to when it didn’t fit in the storyline. The only good thing about the book was the idea and everything else was basic and also executed terribly. A good example of how NOT to write a book.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book!!!! Despite others opinions, she worked hard on this book. I have been in a slump couldn’t find a book that can draw me in and this did that. I couldn’t put the book down I loved the concept being drawn to someone knowing she shouldn’t and the emotional depth displayed between Asha and Ryder was a huge contribution to that.

Having to navigate all of it by herself. Having to overcome new challenges at every turn, this was an emotional rollercoaster of a read but those are always the best books to read especially when you feel like you can connect with the characters. I have to say I didn’t like the ending bc who likes a cliffhanger haha, but gives me something to look forward to. I cannot wait to see what the author has in mind for the next book!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH. MY. GOD. I don’t even have the words to express how much I loved this book. The found family, forbidden love, and most amazing grumpy/sunshine I was hooked from literally the first page. The magic system in this book is so original and the writing makes you fall in love with all the characters. There is truly never a dull moment I was eagerly turning each page wanting more. SPOILERS ISH!!!!!!! The last 100 or so pages though, why you have to do us like that I think I’ve been broken lol I really hope there will be another book in this series because the way it was left… I can’t. I will definitely be reading anything this author puts out in the future the way I was so drawn into this world and could picture everything so perfectly thank you!

[Claire Venter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am obsessed with this book. Asha is a great character, funny and relatable. Usually I get bored of too much character building but this girl had me from the start.

The plot is great, I did not guess the ending at all! Complete surprise. Which is awesome because fantasy has become a predictable lately!

Not that Spicy, but still sexy as hell. Ryder is dark and mysterious, the type that wouldn’t be the good guy for her, he would rip the world and kill everyone inside for her.
This book had me reading until 2am! Definitely recommend.
If you loved fourth wing and zodiac academy you will love this book.

[Katie Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay but the plot??? Loved. I’m always skeptical of reading books by indie authors but literally, I’m SHOOK. MMC is 100% daddy, love him. The concept is sick, it’s not giving different variant of another fantasy book which a lot of books do that.
I was gasping and crying by the end. I really hope this is going to be a relatively long series because there’s so much that can be done here and I don’t wanna let the MMC go 😭
My only critique would be some of the wording used during the spicy scene lol. Didn’t love “manhood” “womanhood” and “rosebud” but honestly other than that I 10/10 recommend!