Beyond the Darkness: Darkness Series, Book 3

by Lilly Gayle

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2026

About the author

I write paranormal and historical romance. I have two grown daughters, two grand daughters, two grandsons, and have been widowed from my husband of 42 years since 2022. I'm also a reader, who enjoys many genres.

Reviews

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the Darkness, by Lilly Gayle, is a paranormal romance with a strong vein of suspense. It opens in a very grounded way: Haley Connors is trying to rebuild her life after disaster and divorce, only to find her “three dates” mistake, Josh Patterson, has turned into a steady, public, hard-to-prove kind of stalking nightmare. When local law enforcement can’t or won’t act, she hires private investigator Axle Travers, a high school acquaintance, and the case starts like a tense small-town game of cat-and-mouse. Then the floor drops out. Axle’s past is tangled up with a blood bank, missing bodies, and something that looks a lot like vampires hiding in plain sight, and Josh’s obsession begins to intersect with a much bigger, older darkness.

I appreciated the way Gayle commits to the feeling of being trapped in “normal” systems that do not protect you. The early scenes with Haley are claustrophobic in a believable way; the air goes thin every time Josh pops up in another public place and keeps his tone just polite enough to dodge consequences. When her cat goes missing, and she’s desperate for someone to take it seriously, the book doesn’t pretend there’s an easy switch you can flip to make stalking feel acceptable. That frustration has weight. It also makes the later escalation hit harder, because you can feel how long Haley has been bracing for impact.

This is not only a stalking story; it’s also a story about secret wars and secret species. We get the Blue Book Task Force hunting vampires, divisions among vampires themselves, and the sense that “the monster” is not a single thing. I found that part oddly fun and sobering at the same time. Fun because the mythology has names, factions, and rules that give it shape. Sobering because it makes Axle’s life feel like a constant negotiation between loyalties, survival, and ethics, especially when his abilities cross lines that a decent person would rather not cross. And when the action finally goes fully supernatural, it does not do it halfway. The cave confrontation is fast, brutal, and messy in the way a real fight for survival would be, even with immortal creatures in the mix.

By the end, what stuck with me was the tone of devotion and the cost that comes with it. Axle and Haley’s connection is written as something fierce and chosen, not cute or convenient, and the book allows that love to feel both comforting and dangerous. The final note also refuses to make things too neat. There’s relief--a sense of “we made it,” and there’s still that itchy feeling that something is watching from the treeline. I’d recommend Beyond the Darkness to readers who like paranormal romance that leans toward suspense, where the relationship grows under pressure, and the world keeps widening until it’s far bigger than the couple’s original problem. If you like danger, loyalty, and a romance that has to earn its light, you’ll probably tear through this novel.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started out a bit slower than the previous two, action wise, but the descriptions by Gayle regarding Heley's feelings of helplessness, vulnerability and "like the walls were closing in" were so realistic I could feel her isolation. Totally captivated, I doubled down knowing Gsyle wouldn't let her FMC suffer such injustice alone. Enter Axle. He has his own set of issues and a tightwire of sorts to walk, but he wants to help people in need. He and Haley have a history, one he certainly never forgot. He's more than willing to step up and get involved, especially since the police aren't taking the matter seriously.
There's an intersection between Josh's obsessions, Haley and Axle (and his abilities). It creates a Thrilling and exciting cocktail of emotions and adrenaline as you read the story. Haley abd Axle are working to put an end to Josh's reign of terror. They're also having to Dodge those interested in eliminating (or hunting) vampires. I felt for Axle reading this story. He was working with what he had, trying to valance competing expectations, and struggling with withholding information that could be Leather in the wrong hands.
This is more than a love story. It demonstrates how groups faction, loyalties sway, and how truth can be twisted by the wielder. It's a nice compliment to the first 2 books in the series even though there's a change in the focal point of the plot. I'm interested to see if Gayle will continue to extend the series.

I was gifted a copy of this book and voluntarily provided this review. I did read the entire series and believe that this book can definately be read as a standalone (though instill highly recommend the others as well). Happy Reading Y'all 📚

[Yvonn M · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when you’re stalked by an evasive, psychotic predator with no moral compass, especially when that stalker becomes an unstoppable immortal?

Haley is at a loss. After local law enforcement fails to protect her, she turns to her old high school sweetheart, Axel Travers. Now the owner of a PI firm, Axel anxiously takes on Haley’s case, willing to do whatever it takes to save her from her stalker, Josh.

However, Axel is hiding dark troubles of his own, buried within his DNA. Though he doesn't yet understand the full extent of the biological experiments performed on him in the past, he refuses to let his secrets stop him from putting Haley first and protecting her.

As they work together, the memory of one drunken night years ago resurfaces, stirring feelings that prove their connection never truly faded. Set against a vivid backdrop of Asheville and the surrounding areas post-Helene, the setting acts as a character itself, adding depth to a dramatic tale. With a rich vampire faction history and a tense alliance between supernatural groups and humans, the action never falters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lisa Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am actually giving this book 3.5 stars.
I did enjoy the book, but as it was book 3 in the series, and I haven’t read the first 2, I did feel it might’ve been better/easier to follow the nuances of the story more easily if I had.
I, personally, found the book a bit slow going at first but after Axel’s secret is revealed to Haley, I felt it moved at a much quicker pace.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[DENICE · Rating 4 out of 5]

AXLE AND HALEY

I received this book for free and am giving my honest and voluntary review.

The third and final book of the Darkness series. I liked the way the story flowed, even though there were a few lulls. Haley and Axel made two great main characters and their history led to a remarkable reunion when Haley was threatened by a stalker. Throw in the vampires and the story took on an intrigue that kept this reader enthralled.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He did not expect the company to be run by vampires or the doctor who has turned him into something very different without the curse. He is about to be confronted by a former love who needs help from a stalker who is no longer human. He now needs to decide what he should do, hide the monster inside him or tell her all about it. See just how it will all go
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a fantastic read

[Jennifer Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. I loved the whole series. I cannot wait to read more of these books. I recommend this book to any and everyone who loves paranormal romance.

I have received an advance copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.