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Into Darkness
Fifteen-year-old Alexandra Spencer’s life was not supposed to turn out this way. She was not supposed to go on trial for a crime she did not commit. She was not supposed to be found guilty. And she was not supposed to be sent to Elder Grey Detention Centre, a place of horrors many don’t survive.
She is however, supposed to be the daughter of the wealthiest, most influential man in the post-apocalyptic New Zealand city of New Phoenix.
But apparently, she isn’t.
Shell-shocked and struggling to understand why she is no longer a member of the city’s ruling family, Alexandra is torn from her privileged life by the churlish young guard, Will Metcalfe, and forced to trek for three weeks through deadly wilderness to her place of imprisonment. Her journey with Will is a constant battle for survival, where she is never sure who is the real enemy. It is also journey into the truth about the safe and lavish world from which she has been cast. Through Will, she learns of a mutant race called Drifters living in the wilderness who are being preyed upon by New Phoenix’s guards—Drifter’s blood being a life saving cure-all elixir for the city’s inhabitants.
As Alex struggles to cope with her new life in Elder Grey, an act of friendship ends in tragedy. When someone she thought was an enemy pulls her from her despair, Alex discovers that old friends cannot be trusted, prejudice is another word for fear, and trust, not blood ties, make a family.
She is however, supposed to be the daughter of the wealthiest, most influential man in the post-apocalyptic New Zealand city of New Phoenix.
But apparently, she isn’t.
Shell-shocked and struggling to understand why she is no longer a member of the city’s ruling family, Alexandra is torn from her privileged life by the churlish young guard, Will Metcalfe, and forced to trek for three weeks through deadly wilderness to her place of imprisonment. Her journey with Will is a constant battle for survival, where she is never sure who is the real enemy. It is also journey into the truth about the safe and lavish world from which she has been cast. Through Will, she learns of a mutant race called Drifters living in the wilderness who are being preyed upon by New Phoenix’s guards—Drifter’s blood being a life saving cure-all elixir for the city’s inhabitants.
As Alex struggles to cope with her new life in Elder Grey, an act of friendship ends in tragedy. When someone she thought was an enemy pulls her from her despair, Alex discovers that old friends cannot be trusted, prejudice is another word for fear, and trust, not blood ties, make a family.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2015
2 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
Hayley Barrett
5 books17 followersHayley Barrett began writing in the aftermath of the devastating Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 as a way of escaping from the ongoing terror of the natural disaster. Not totally happy with her efforts, in 2012 she commenced a novel writing course. Into Darkness, her first novel, is the result of the course and two years hard work.
Hayley lives in Rolleston, ten minutes south of Christchurch, New Zealand, with her husband and three children. When she isn’t driving her kids to their sports practices, games and other after school activities, she enjoys playing squash, relaxing in the sun and reading. Most days she wishes there were more hours available to spend writing.
Hayley lives in Rolleston, ten minutes south of Christchurch, New Zealand, with her husband and three children. When she isn’t driving her kids to their sports practices, games and other after school activities, she enjoys playing squash, relaxing in the sun and reading. Most days she wishes there were more hours available to spend writing.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 14, 2015
Into Darkness tells a story of a girl, Alex, who has been falsely accused and comdemned to go the Elder Grey Detention center where the worst criminals are helding captive. The City withdraws two guards to accompany her to the detention center and during their journeys, she will discover the dark sides of not only her city but also her guards, Eton and Will. I love this book, more than I imagined. I was hooked at the beginning. I thought it was such an original and unique way to introduce us to the characters, which have amazing personalities, portraying the real complex of human nature. Everybody has their dark side and everybody has their good sides nothing is black and white. The writing is perfect for this action packed fantasy ! It was fast paced, I finished the book under 5 hours! What I like with this storyline is the thoughts behind justice, jail system, the government, what people with powers can do and the manipulation they elaborate, the tales, to keep things quiet. Will is probably my favourite character, he is smart, modest,humble and not wanting to make a scene, really discreet. For the first time, the girl protagonist didn't annoy me like other fantasy books, she was actually really brave, strong and learned a lot through her experience. At the beginning, she was protrayed like a spoiled brat, Princess as Will calls her but with time you can clearly see the evolution of her character.
Thank you to the author for giving me an ebook copy in exchange of an honest review.
Trang- Book Blogger
www.bookidote.wordpress.com
Thank you to the author for giving me an ebook copy in exchange of an honest review.
Trang- Book Blogger
www.bookidote.wordpress.com
October 14, 2015
Into Darkness by Hayley Barrett opens with Alexandra, a very spoiled young daughter of a very important man in the City, who is on trial for breaking the Youth Conduct Code. She is shocked and utterly devastated when everyone she knows betrays her and she is given a severe sentence.
Alexandra is then assigned two armed guards to escort her on a 3 week journey through the harsh and dangerous New Zealand bush to the Earl Grey Detention Centre - a terrible place with cruel guards, poor conditions, ill treatment of inmates, bullying amongst the prisoners, and the dreaded Assembly. The trio have to defend themselves from strange and deadly animals in the bush as well as surviving encounters with the frightening Drifters, and then there is the issue of trust between Alexandra and her guards where she wonders if she is actually safe with either of them.
After a long and harrowing journey, Alexandra is not given any reprieve on arrival at the detention centre and learns the rules the hard way. She ponders how she will ever survive her sentence and if she can trust anyone on the inside. And how can she fight back when her enemies have friends in high places and bribery and corruption is rampant within its walls?
Into Darkness is a brilliant read. It is really well written and all the characters are well developed and complex. Alexandra is a likeable leading character and grows slowly throughout the story, probably due to her sheltered upbringing in the City. She is thrown into many situations that are new to her and that are very unsettling and her journey through the bush and her experiences in the detention centre shake her up and force her to see the truth for what it really is. Will is a great character and I enjoyed reading his interactions with Alexandra. I loved their connection with each other and the story really played on my emotions towards the end of the book. The minor characters were all interesting and showed different sides to their personality, and it is clear that everyone is hiding a damaging secret.
The story is fast paced, there is lots of action, intrigue, romance and adventure, and I was constantly surprised by all the plot twists, especially the shocking turn of events near the end of the book. The way the book ended, I feel you could read it as a stand alone story, but indications are the series will progress, and if so, I would love to continue reading it.
Alexandra is then assigned two armed guards to escort her on a 3 week journey through the harsh and dangerous New Zealand bush to the Earl Grey Detention Centre - a terrible place with cruel guards, poor conditions, ill treatment of inmates, bullying amongst the prisoners, and the dreaded Assembly. The trio have to defend themselves from strange and deadly animals in the bush as well as surviving encounters with the frightening Drifters, and then there is the issue of trust between Alexandra and her guards where she wonders if she is actually safe with either of them.
After a long and harrowing journey, Alexandra is not given any reprieve on arrival at the detention centre and learns the rules the hard way. She ponders how she will ever survive her sentence and if she can trust anyone on the inside. And how can she fight back when her enemies have friends in high places and bribery and corruption is rampant within its walls?
Into Darkness is a brilliant read. It is really well written and all the characters are well developed and complex. Alexandra is a likeable leading character and grows slowly throughout the story, probably due to her sheltered upbringing in the City. She is thrown into many situations that are new to her and that are very unsettling and her journey through the bush and her experiences in the detention centre shake her up and force her to see the truth for what it really is. Will is a great character and I enjoyed reading his interactions with Alexandra. I loved their connection with each other and the story really played on my emotions towards the end of the book. The minor characters were all interesting and showed different sides to their personality, and it is clear that everyone is hiding a damaging secret.
The story is fast paced, there is lots of action, intrigue, romance and adventure, and I was constantly surprised by all the plot twists, especially the shocking turn of events near the end of the book. The way the book ended, I feel you could read it as a stand alone story, but indications are the series will progress, and if so, I would love to continue reading it.
April 4, 2016
As a whole I enjoyed this book but certain parts in the way the story is told nearly drove me batty! I think a lot has to do with being too short for all it contains. But the adventure is still a good one.
Alex (Alexandra) is the spoiled daughter of the city Judge. But when she takes the fall on a petty crime, the results are far from what she expected. She is sentenced to a year in a prison camp. The journey there is dangerous and once she is there. the stakes will be even higher.
We have her guards who may or may not be trustworthy, blood-drinking Drifters, poisonous pigs, and criminals who hate that her father is the one that saw them sent away. Lots happening. The journey to the prison is the first half of the story, then the second half is the prison itself.
I loved seeing how Alex grows and mature as a character. She stands up for herself and others. She has flaws (such as being too trusting and naive) but she works though them making her a more believable character. The romance is mostly light and boy does she question it. While an important part of the story, it is not overly focused on which was a nice change of pace.
What bothered my most were odd reference about her memory. We get a reference to a hospital stay but not why. It is mentioned several times that she should remember characters or situations but doesn't. And she doesn't question more about it! I kept thinking there was going to be some huge twist to the story with it but it just kept being dragged out. There are other things, places and descriptions that I felt were too lightly glossed over. An extra sentence or two to better explain things would be nice.
Another thing I found odd was the dystopian setting mix of technology vs not. They have cell phones, can do paternity and genetic testing and altercations but don't have cars? Or even horses or something? Medicine is either Elixir or random (and forbidden) herbs. Just a very strange mixture. With the lack of description it make things very hard to visualize this world.
Overall, it is worth a quick read but I was not super impressed. Raw potential but I feel it needed more refinement. Still, it was reasonably enjoyable.
*I was given a digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair/honest review*
Alex (Alexandra) is the spoiled daughter of the city Judge. But when she takes the fall on a petty crime, the results are far from what she expected. She is sentenced to a year in a prison camp. The journey there is dangerous and once she is there. the stakes will be even higher.
We have her guards who may or may not be trustworthy, blood-drinking Drifters, poisonous pigs, and criminals who hate that her father is the one that saw them sent away. Lots happening. The journey to the prison is the first half of the story, then the second half is the prison itself.
I loved seeing how Alex grows and mature as a character. She stands up for herself and others. She has flaws (such as being too trusting and naive) but she works though them making her a more believable character. The romance is mostly light and boy does she question it. While an important part of the story, it is not overly focused on which was a nice change of pace.
What bothered my most were odd reference about her memory. We get a reference to a hospital stay but not why. It is mentioned several times that she should remember characters or situations but doesn't. And she doesn't question more about it! I kept thinking there was going to be some huge twist to the story with it but it just kept being dragged out. There are other things, places and descriptions that I felt were too lightly glossed over. An extra sentence or two to better explain things would be nice.
Another thing I found odd was the dystopian setting mix of technology vs not. They have cell phones, can do paternity and genetic testing and altercations but don't have cars? Or even horses or something? Medicine is either Elixir or random (and forbidden) herbs. Just a very strange mixture. With the lack of description it make things very hard to visualize this world.
Overall, it is worth a quick read but I was not super impressed. Raw potential but I feel it needed more refinement. Still, it was reasonably enjoyable.
*I was given a digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair/honest review*
January 4, 2016
If you ever wondered what a dystopian society in New Zealand would look like, this is the book for you. Barrett imagines a dystopian future set in a landscape we Americans might not be familiar with, adding another touch of interest to a genre that has had a lot of books. Though it follows some of the similar dystopian tropes: corrupt government, government controls the lives of the average citizen, speaking out can mean your life; there are a lot of interesting takes on the dystopian story that keep the reader engagaed from beginning to end. Alexandra is the spoiled daughter of a wealthy judge until she's sent to Elder Grey, the worst prison in the society. But first she has to survive the 3 week journey through the dangerous New Zealand bush. She finds an unexpected friend, and maybe something more in her guard, and many secrets to her past. Not to mention the science fiction element of the Drifters, humans with unexplained abilities and a need for human blood. This was an excellent, fun read and perfect for fans of dystopian love stories.
September 20, 2022
The book begins with the spoiled daughter of a judge being sentenced to prison for a crime she didn't commit. INTO DARKNESS chronicles the dystopian adventures of Alexandra as she travels from the comfort of the city to a youth detention center in the New Zealand bush. There are elements of The Hunger Games and other popular dystopian novels that will appeal to many readers, and I had a difficult time putting this book down. The adventure and romance was top notch; however, the novel seemed about 100 pages too short. I would have loved more detail and world building and to see more of the backstory of Alexandra and the other characters revealed.While some of the details seemed glossed over for brevity, I was very impressed with this book, and I hope to read more from Hayley Barrett.
The ending is quiet open, so there is hope that there will be a sequel.
The ending is quiet open, so there is hope that there will be a sequel.
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May 4, 2016All in all, I really liked this one.
Alex drove me crazy for the first few chapters - to the point where I thought I was going to have to drop out of the book tour because I thought I was going to have to write less than a four star review. But Alex really begins to grow as a person, and by the end I actually really liked her, though she wasn't my favorite person.
I did wish that there was more time spent in the prison system in this dystopian world, and less time spent on Alex's and Will's travels to Elder Gray prison - the book was spent about 50%-50% evenly.
There were some other minor things that drove me crazy - there's talk of technology, yet there aren't any vehicles or other forms of transportation, that just seemed off. There's talk of Alex being in a hospital, but no explanation of why, but that's how her father finds out she isn't really her daughter (but why did it take her father so long to find out the truth, when her mother's been dead all these years? What changed? I thought there was going to be more to the story, but nothing...). The whole bit about the hospital just seemed thrown into the story line so that Alex's father can find out he isn't really her father.
It also drove me a little crazy that they made the outback seem so scary and so dangerous (and the chances of surviving so few), and then the author talks so much about the "drifters" that were vampire-like creatures, yet the journey wasn't really that scary and the drifters you meet were much nicer, friendlier, and personable then the humans, with one exception.
All in all, however, I really liked the world that the characters were living in, and I did really like the story line, the pacing and the character development was great. Even though I did have some issues with the book, overall I really enjoyed this one, especially about a 1/3 of the way in and the whole rest of the book. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed, but maybe that's also because I was upset that the book was over?
Alex drove me crazy for the first few chapters - to the point where I thought I was going to have to drop out of the book tour because I thought I was going to have to write less than a four star review. But Alex really begins to grow as a person, and by the end I actually really liked her, though she wasn't my favorite person.
I did wish that there was more time spent in the prison system in this dystopian world, and less time spent on Alex's and Will's travels to Elder Gray prison - the book was spent about 50%-50% evenly.
There were some other minor things that drove me crazy - there's talk of technology, yet there aren't any vehicles or other forms of transportation, that just seemed off. There's talk of Alex being in a hospital, but no explanation of why, but that's how her father finds out she isn't really her daughter (but why did it take her father so long to find out the truth, when her mother's been dead all these years? What changed? I thought there was going to be more to the story, but nothing...). The whole bit about the hospital just seemed thrown into the story line so that Alex's father can find out he isn't really her father.
It also drove me a little crazy that they made the outback seem so scary and so dangerous (and the chances of surviving so few), and then the author talks so much about the "drifters" that were vampire-like creatures, yet the journey wasn't really that scary and the drifters you meet were much nicer, friendlier, and personable then the humans, with one exception.
All in all, however, I really liked the world that the characters were living in, and I did really like the story line, the pacing and the character development was great. Even though I did have some issues with the book, overall I really enjoyed this one, especially about a 1/3 of the way in and the whole rest of the book. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed, but maybe that's also because I was upset that the book was over?
November 17, 2015
I'm in love with a boy and his name is Will Metcalfe. Haha
But, seriously, this book was great. I was completely into it from beginning to end. A lot of stories that have the characters tromping through the woods on a journey have sections that are just plain boring. That wasn't the case here. I never felt the need to skim just to get the story moving.
The story starts with Alexandra being sentenced to an unimaginable hardship by the very people she thought were supposed to save her. She isn't a criminal. She's just a girl with a misguided sense of loyalty to a man who isn't who she thinks he is. Not only do they send her away, but she must first endure a trip on foot through dangerous lands, accompanied only by two guards. She must face things she never even knew existed but the hardest thing of all is letting go of her old life and realizing she is no longer that person.
Alexandra is such a great characters. She's strong and loyal with a little bit of that teenage naivete thrown in. Then there's Will ... hmmm but I'm going to let you fall in love with him yourself. You're going to if you give this book a chance!
But, seriously, this book was great. I was completely into it from beginning to end. A lot of stories that have the characters tromping through the woods on a journey have sections that are just plain boring. That wasn't the case here. I never felt the need to skim just to get the story moving.
The story starts with Alexandra being sentenced to an unimaginable hardship by the very people she thought were supposed to save her. She isn't a criminal. She's just a girl with a misguided sense of loyalty to a man who isn't who she thinks he is. Not only do they send her away, but she must first endure a trip on foot through dangerous lands, accompanied only by two guards. She must face things she never even knew existed but the hardest thing of all is letting go of her old life and realizing she is no longer that person.
Alexandra is such a great characters. She's strong and loyal with a little bit of that teenage naivete thrown in. Then there's Will ... hmmm but I'm going to let you fall in love with him yourself. You're going to if you give this book a chance!
October 29, 2015
FULL OF HAIR YANKING SURPRISES!
***I received a ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review***
This book had me on the edge of the seat since the beginning! It shows how this girl, Alex, takes the fall for a crime and is forced to go to a prison where the prisoners hate her as her dad is the judge. This is full of surprises, and definitely has you ready to yank your hair out. I admit the book was a bit short, but quality made up for the quantity. The characters were greatly developed, and matured along the way in more ways then one. This definitely has me wanting more of Hayley Barrett's books!
Makayla Redmon
Cutting Muse Blog Review
***I received a ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review***
This book had me on the edge of the seat since the beginning! It shows how this girl, Alex, takes the fall for a crime and is forced to go to a prison where the prisoners hate her as her dad is the judge. This is full of surprises, and definitely has you ready to yank your hair out. I admit the book was a bit short, but quality made up for the quantity. The characters were greatly developed, and matured along the way in more ways then one. This definitely has me wanting more of Hayley Barrett's books!
Makayla Redmon
Cutting Muse Blog Review
October 29, 2015
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
Actual rating - 2.5
I felt quite sorry for the main character at the start of this, but I can't say I really liked her.
This one bored me early on unfortunately. It lost my interest, and it just couldn't get it back.
Overall, Not awful, but couldn't keep my interest.
Actual rating - 2.5
I felt quite sorry for the main character at the start of this, but I can't say I really liked her.
This one bored me early on unfortunately. It lost my interest, and it just couldn't get it back.
Overall, Not awful, but couldn't keep my interest.
November 20, 2015
'Into Darkness' by Hayley Barrett is an action-packed and sometimes chilling tale of a young girl's journey into a truly great unknown.
Alexandra, daughter of a judge and girlfriend of Marcus, a highly-ranked guard in the city in which they live, starts off the story sentenced to just short of a year's stay in Elder Grey Detention Centre, a place that only tales of horror stem from. The reason for her sentencing is minor compared to those who are already "prisoners" in Elder Grey - she participated in a party that Marcus basically forced her into having, but he is not willing to give up his position and power in society, so he has her take the fall, and she, being in what she considers love with him, blindly goes along with his wishes.
After she is sentenced, revelations start to occur, including the fact that her father, the judge, is not really her father at all. He is even one of the ones who sentenced her to her stay in Elder Grey. This revelation, among others that occur throughout the story, paint Alexandra as a victim of circumstances beyond her control.
Will is one of the guards sent to help her get to Elder Grey safely. This seemed ironic since no one at Elder Grey in any position of power that truly mattered seem worried about her safety in the least. Even though their time together starts off on quite the wrong foot, Will and Alexandra find common ground and have their share of battles, both with each other, and which they fight together. The ups and downs of their relationship, from one in which she hates him, to one in which she isn't quite sure what to make of him, to one where she can't imagine life without him once they have to separate upon her entrance into Elder Grey is written very well, and made the plot flow very nicely. It was also nice to see her relationship develop with Will as she fought against emotions for him since she had been promised to be married to Marcus, a man who, it is learned as the novel progresses, sees her as more of a way to have the personal gains he seeks than a woman whom he can love and treat properly.
Alexandra makes friends along the way, even in Elder Grey where she thinks everyone will be against her. Some whom she thinks would never help her turn into allies, while others stay foes, but all the while, there are twists and turns along the way to make readers guess at what might come next.
It did take me a while to get into the novel. I became much more invested in reading when Alexandra made it to Elder Grey. Some of what happened there reminded me of how a stint in prison might have gone in The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King, since Alexandra had not really committed much, if any, kind of crime, but she was mixed in with people who had committed murder and other unspeakable acts. Besides taking a while to get into it, however, I enjoyed the story and the ending posed a nice transition into what will hopefully be another adventure for Alexandra and her friends.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen,' A Young Adult Novel
Alexandra, daughter of a judge and girlfriend of Marcus, a highly-ranked guard in the city in which they live, starts off the story sentenced to just short of a year's stay in Elder Grey Detention Centre, a place that only tales of horror stem from. The reason for her sentencing is minor compared to those who are already "prisoners" in Elder Grey - she participated in a party that Marcus basically forced her into having, but he is not willing to give up his position and power in society, so he has her take the fall, and she, being in what she considers love with him, blindly goes along with his wishes.
After she is sentenced, revelations start to occur, including the fact that her father, the judge, is not really her father at all. He is even one of the ones who sentenced her to her stay in Elder Grey. This revelation, among others that occur throughout the story, paint Alexandra as a victim of circumstances beyond her control.
Will is one of the guards sent to help her get to Elder Grey safely. This seemed ironic since no one at Elder Grey in any position of power that truly mattered seem worried about her safety in the least. Even though their time together starts off on quite the wrong foot, Will and Alexandra find common ground and have their share of battles, both with each other, and which they fight together. The ups and downs of their relationship, from one in which she hates him, to one in which she isn't quite sure what to make of him, to one where she can't imagine life without him once they have to separate upon her entrance into Elder Grey is written very well, and made the plot flow very nicely. It was also nice to see her relationship develop with Will as she fought against emotions for him since she had been promised to be married to Marcus, a man who, it is learned as the novel progresses, sees her as more of a way to have the personal gains he seeks than a woman whom he can love and treat properly.
Alexandra makes friends along the way, even in Elder Grey where she thinks everyone will be against her. Some whom she thinks would never help her turn into allies, while others stay foes, but all the while, there are twists and turns along the way to make readers guess at what might come next.
It did take me a while to get into the novel. I became much more invested in reading when Alexandra made it to Elder Grey. Some of what happened there reminded me of how a stint in prison might have gone in The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King, since Alexandra had not really committed much, if any, kind of crime, but she was mixed in with people who had committed murder and other unspeakable acts. Besides taking a while to get into it, however, I enjoyed the story and the ending posed a nice transition into what will hopefully be another adventure for Alexandra and her friends.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen,' A Young Adult Novel
May 9, 2016
Wow- this is a truly stunning dystopian adventure! I was completely captivated from the very beginning and was almost obsessive with finishing it as quick as I could! The writing is phenomenal, the storyline highly original and intriguing and the characters were so complex and intricate! The story was fast-paced with layers of intrigue and action that kept me gripped the whole time. There were quite a few twists thrown in that had me gasping and racing to see what would happen next. The characters were very well built with layers of complexity that are slowly revealed all throughout. I was completely engrossed with this book and was left thinking about ti for days afterwards! I highly recommend to everybody- young or old!
October 28, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Double Dragon eBooks and NetGalley.)
I think other people might enjoy this book, but for me it was a bit of a miss. I found the whole book quite confusing, and I lost interest pretty early on. I just felt bored and irritated and even the unexpected deaths couldn’t interest me.
5 out of 10
I think other people might enjoy this book, but for me it was a bit of a miss. I found the whole book quite confusing, and I lost interest pretty early on. I just felt bored and irritated and even the unexpected deaths couldn’t interest me.
5 out of 10
March 31, 2018
The story:
Fifteen-year-old Alexandra Spencer has led a life of privilege. That all disintegrates when her boyfriend Marcus begs her to take the fall for a minor crime that he committed, and she is sentenced to a year at Elder Gray prison – by her own father. Forced to cross a danger-filled, dystopian landscape just to get to Elder Grey, she must learn to toughen up or die, to say nothing of survive the brutal prison itself.
Read the rest of the review on Young Adult Book Central:
http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaindie...
Fifteen-year-old Alexandra Spencer has led a life of privilege. That all disintegrates when her boyfriend Marcus begs her to take the fall for a minor crime that he committed, and she is sentenced to a year at Elder Gray prison – by her own father. Forced to cross a danger-filled, dystopian landscape just to get to Elder Grey, she must learn to toughen up or die, to say nothing of survive the brutal prison itself.
Read the rest of the review on Young Adult Book Central:
http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaindie...
May 4, 2016
Fast-paced, Dark Tale of Abuse and Betrayal - The overall idea of the story was a good one and interesting. I liked the setting. However, this dark tale had too much abuse in it for me - it made me feel icky. And I couldn't really connect with the main character. Also, there was one part about the ending that I just did not like at all. But the story was fast paced and held my interest. I read it all in one sitting.
August 6, 2015
Fabulous book, an absolute page turner, I couldn't put it down. If you've read Hunger Games, Mortal Instruments, Daughter of Smoke and Bone or any similar books and loved them you'll love this one too. Can't wait for the next book.
March 22, 2017
Hayley Barrett has created a world where everything is controlled, she has built a fantastic, scary and sadistic storyline which had me entranced with from the very first word. It is a dual POV book which I love because I find it hard just to relate to one character, I want to be in all their minds, and she helps me with that perfectly in this. PLUS I love that she's a NZ Author well done Hayley on such an amazing dirty politics worldly book. XO
November 21, 2015
INTO DARKNESS, just by its title, had me itching to read it. Plus, I liked that the book is a dystopian novel that takes place in New Zealand. INTO DARKNESS also sounded like it would give the genre a new twist.
I liked the main characters Alexandra (Alex) and Will. Though Alex is naive and snobby, I felt that was a result of her upbringing and hoped her experiences trekking through the wilderness and being at Elder Grey would open her eyes to the way the world really is. I could see this was a perfect opportunity for her to really do some growing up, and I wasn't wrong. I also kept in mind she's only fifteen. That's super young to be sent to what basically amounts to be a prison.
At first I thought Will was going to be an angry character for the entirety of the book, but that wasn't the case. Whew! He's a realistic guy in my opinion, and there are a lot of things I liked about him. He's brave and honorable, and he's genuinely charming. All charm with no smarm. Ha!
INTO DARKNESS would have earned another star from me if there had been more background given. There are snippets of Alex's past, but it seemed like there was more of a focus on Will's past. Don't get me wrong, I was interested in him, too, but I wanted to find out more about Alex. What I did find out explained some things, but I wanted more, which is a good thing.
I also wanted to know more about New Phoenix, and the Drifters were a bit confusing. Parts of INTO DARKNESS were slow, but then a new character was introduced, and my interest picked up again.
If there's going to be a sequel to INTO DARKNESS, then I'm definitely going to read it. I think this story has a lot of potential, and I'd love to see where the author takes it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can find more of my reviews at my blog, Donnie Darko Girl.
I liked the main characters Alexandra (Alex) and Will. Though Alex is naive and snobby, I felt that was a result of her upbringing and hoped her experiences trekking through the wilderness and being at Elder Grey would open her eyes to the way the world really is. I could see this was a perfect opportunity for her to really do some growing up, and I wasn't wrong. I also kept in mind she's only fifteen. That's super young to be sent to what basically amounts to be a prison.
At first I thought Will was going to be an angry character for the entirety of the book, but that wasn't the case. Whew! He's a realistic guy in my opinion, and there are a lot of things I liked about him. He's brave and honorable, and he's genuinely charming. All charm with no smarm. Ha!
INTO DARKNESS would have earned another star from me if there had been more background given. There are snippets of Alex's past, but it seemed like there was more of a focus on Will's past. Don't get me wrong, I was interested in him, too, but I wanted to find out more about Alex. What I did find out explained some things, but I wanted more, which is a good thing.
I also wanted to know more about New Phoenix, and the Drifters were a bit confusing. Parts of INTO DARKNESS were slow, but then a new character was introduced, and my interest picked up again.
If there's going to be a sequel to INTO DARKNESS, then I'm definitely going to read it. I think this story has a lot of potential, and I'd love to see where the author takes it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can find more of my reviews at my blog, Donnie Darko Girl.
May 1, 2016
Into Darkness tells the story of a young woman who makes the mistake of trusting the boy she loves. Who of us hasn't done that? Luckily for most of us, however, our mistakes don't result in a treacherous journey across the bush where we will end up serving a year in a prison many do not survive for a crime we did not commit. Alexandra Spencer wasn't that lucky. Granted, her boyfriend is a Guard of the City and Alexandra's father is the Judge.... the trial should have been a formality which should have seen her back home that same day. It wasn't. Alexandra is faced with a number of horrors, the least of which is her journey to prison. She is faced with the fact that people she thought she could trust are the very ones betraying her and with learning that, sometimes, family isn't those related to you by blood. One of the perevailing themes in young adult literature, regardless of topic or setting, is the idea of finding one's tribe... that group of like-minded individuals who, together, are greater than the sum of their parts. Hayley Barrett's novel is no exception. What I liked most about this novel is that, despite the fact that it is post-apocalyptic, it stays true to the essence of what makes people, people. Aside from all of the psychological introspection in this book, I love the new take on another old tale: vampires. I don't know if the author has more books planned for this world, but I would be very interested in reading them.
There is some violence and there are references to drug use and abuse, but I feel comfortable recommending the novel to mature readers 15+.
Reviewed by HR Duby for Romance Authors that Rock
There is some violence and there are references to drug use and abuse, but I feel comfortable recommending the novel to mature readers 15+.
Reviewed by HR Duby for Romance Authors that Rock
September 3, 2015
Into Darkness by Hayley Barrett is set in post-apocalyptic New Phoenix in future New Zealand. This is clearly a novel to set-up characters and build a world.
Our main character, Alexandra Spencer needs to grow a spine. She chooses to take the fall for her boyfriend and ends up sentenced to a year in Elder Grey Detention Centre. Most of the book ends up telling the story, not of what happens at the centre, but the long journey to get to the jail.
I was 60% of the way through the book before the main character made it to jail, and I kept wondering why the journey took so long. Obviously, Alexandra needed to grow and change on the journey so that she would be able to make the choices she did at the end of the novel, but since the main plot point is that she goes to jail, the journey seemed to take forever.
This is an action-adventure novel, but it hinges on the romance between Alexandra and her guard, Will Metcalfe. Without the romance, Alexandra would not have made the choices she makes. That means, Alexandra is still wishy-washy and not making decisions on her own. I am not sure that's the kind of heroine I enjoy. I was irritated with her, especially for not being able to see how her city boyfriend was using her for her position and place.
I am sure the sequel will center on what happens next to Alexandra's motley group of prison friends as they are now struggling in the wild. They have discovered the vampiric Drifters and unlocked part of the secret: now they need to save the world.
I received a copy from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Our main character, Alexandra Spencer needs to grow a spine. She chooses to take the fall for her boyfriend and ends up sentenced to a year in Elder Grey Detention Centre. Most of the book ends up telling the story, not of what happens at the centre, but the long journey to get to the jail.
I was 60% of the way through the book before the main character made it to jail, and I kept wondering why the journey took so long. Obviously, Alexandra needed to grow and change on the journey so that she would be able to make the choices she did at the end of the novel, but since the main plot point is that she goes to jail, the journey seemed to take forever.
This is an action-adventure novel, but it hinges on the romance between Alexandra and her guard, Will Metcalfe. Without the romance, Alexandra would not have made the choices she makes. That means, Alexandra is still wishy-washy and not making decisions on her own. I am not sure that's the kind of heroine I enjoy. I was irritated with her, especially for not being able to see how her city boyfriend was using her for her position and place.
I am sure the sequel will center on what happens next to Alexandra's motley group of prison friends as they are now struggling in the wild. They have discovered the vampiric Drifters and unlocked part of the secret: now they need to save the world.
I received a copy from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2016
Alexandra, Alex, is the spoiled daughter of a judge. She is falsely accused of a minor crime and sentences to one year in Elder Grey, a harsh prison. Alex has to survive the three week journey to Elder Grey through the New Zealand bush, but can she can’t rely on her guards to keep her safe. Then when she gets to Elder Grey she has to survive those that know that her father sent them to prison.
I really liked this world. You do have the usual apocalypse, corrupt government, and people getting in trouble for fighting for the truth. I have to say that although Alex rubbed me the wrong way in the beginning it was because of growing up privileged. Once she got out in the bush and the prison she wised up and really grew. But I especially liked how there were no good and no bad people. Everyone was realistic and walked in the grey zone between the black and white.
My only complaint is that the book felt rushed in some spots. There are a couple clues about Alex and her past but they really were not expanded upon. I think if the book was a touch longer it would have made the story feel more complete.
Having said that, I really liked Into Darkness. It’s a great young adult dystopian story. I can’t wait to read other books by Hayley Barrett.
I received this book for free from Reading Addiction Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this world. You do have the usual apocalypse, corrupt government, and people getting in trouble for fighting for the truth. I have to say that although Alex rubbed me the wrong way in the beginning it was because of growing up privileged. Once she got out in the bush and the prison she wised up and really grew. But I especially liked how there were no good and no bad people. Everyone was realistic and walked in the grey zone between the black and white.
My only complaint is that the book felt rushed in some spots. There are a couple clues about Alex and her past but they really were not expanded upon. I think if the book was a touch longer it would have made the story feel more complete.
Having said that, I really liked Into Darkness. It’s a great young adult dystopian story. I can’t wait to read other books by Hayley Barrett.
I received this book for free from Reading Addiction Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2016
Sometimes you love a book because of the story, and sometimes the lead character just steals your heart. Don’t get me wrong, the plotline was great, fast-paced and action packed, and yet Alexandra simply stole the show for me. The character development was masterfully crafted, and it was a joy to watch Alexandra evolve from a sheltered city girl – a judge’s daughter, who’s been sentenced to a year in a dreaded jail, Elder Grey, into a strong and brave young woman, who isn’t afraid to stand up for herself and even her new friends, who she made despite the non-spoken rule of Elder Grey – each to their own.
Besides the great main character, this dystopian novel deals with many important social issues – system injustice, prejudice, favoritism, corruption and inequality. The idea of scientific experiments, which eventually resulted in the creation of Drifters – super-humans, who need human blood to support their powers, was also brilliant.
And of course the romance… Will starts off as a menacing guard, whose task is to take Alexandra to her new destination. The way their relationship gradually developed into friendship and even more is another reason to read this wonderful novel. I absolutely loved it! Five stars!
Besides the great main character, this dystopian novel deals with many important social issues – system injustice, prejudice, favoritism, corruption and inequality. The idea of scientific experiments, which eventually resulted in the creation of Drifters – super-humans, who need human blood to support their powers, was also brilliant.
And of course the romance… Will starts off as a menacing guard, whose task is to take Alexandra to her new destination. The way their relationship gradually developed into friendship and even more is another reason to read this wonderful novel. I absolutely loved it! Five stars!
May 22, 2016
Into Darkness is set in a dystopian New Zealand and we are first met with a very spoiled Alexandra.
She has been found guilty by trial for breaking the Youth Conduct Code and her sentence is to be sent to the Elder Grey Detention Centre.
We follow her and her two armed guards on a perilous 3 week journey through the now harsh dystopia New Zealand. The Earl Grey Detention Centre is a place you do not want to end up in, especially the daughter of the city Judge.
I loved this story and was hooked from the start, I wanted to know what she had done to warrant her being sent to Elder Grey, ( a petty crime I might add) and what the place was all about - which we get in the second half of the book.
The author did a great job with the world she had created and it was a nice welcome change to being set in America.
4 stars
She has been found guilty by trial for breaking the Youth Conduct Code and her sentence is to be sent to the Elder Grey Detention Centre.
We follow her and her two armed guards on a perilous 3 week journey through the now harsh dystopia New Zealand. The Earl Grey Detention Centre is a place you do not want to end up in, especially the daughter of the city Judge.
I loved this story and was hooked from the start, I wanted to know what she had done to warrant her being sent to Elder Grey, ( a petty crime I might add) and what the place was all about - which we get in the second half of the book.
The author did a great job with the world she had created and it was a nice welcome change to being set in America.
4 stars
December 14, 2015
Into the Darkness had me hooked from the start. The main character Alex, had you feeling sorry for her half the time and wanting to shake her the other time! The journey to Elder Grey was full of twist and turns and you got a good feel for what life was like and the do's and don'ts of society. The character of Will Metcalfe grows on you and the action really kicks off once at Elder Grey - you never knew which twists and turns were coming. I wasn't ready for this story to end and truly hope the sequel isn't too far away. A fabulous read for teens and beyond - a page turner that I couldn't put down!
May 23, 2016
I received this as an arc from net galley in exchange for an honest review. Fifteen - year-old Alexandra Spencer ' s life was not supposed to turn out this way. She was not supposed to go on trial for a crime she did not commit. Wow. Absolutely fantastic read. CNPID. I loved the story and the characters. I loved Alexandra. She was my favourite character. Did not like the guards. Especially how they treated Alexandra. Wow. What a read. OMG. Didn't expect that. Wow. Those guards are gruesome. I loved the ending too. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. Definitely worth more than 5 *.
May 26, 2016
First of all, I’m a huge YA fan. I wasn’t sure what to expect in this story, but I am so glad I read it. Right from the beginning, I got curious with the “guilty” verdict. And then, the story had me at the edge of my seat.
I stayed up till 2 in the morning reading it and woke up at 6 to read before heading to work. Yes, it was that good. There are a lot of shocking moments and it’s so full of action. When I read, I usually get very attached to my characters. And I’m telling you, Will blew me away. He was probably my favorite in this story, but I love the way the author developed all of the characters.
I highly recommend this book. Now, I can’t wait for the sequel!
I stayed up till 2 in the morning reading it and woke up at 6 to read before heading to work. Yes, it was that good. There are a lot of shocking moments and it’s so full of action. When I read, I usually get very attached to my characters. And I’m telling you, Will blew me away. He was probably my favorite in this story, but I love the way the author developed all of the characters.
I highly recommend this book. Now, I can’t wait for the sequel!
August 9, 2015
I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I read the synopsis of this, and I just had to have it. I've read a lot of books similar to this, so naturally... I had high expectations. Were they fulfilled? Not quite, but it was an entertaining read, nevertheless. I just felt that there were too many loose ends left untied, and some of the drama literally happened for no reason.
Full review on my blog!:
http://originalbooker.blogspot.co.uk/...
I read the synopsis of this, and I just had to have it. I've read a lot of books similar to this, so naturally... I had high expectations. Were they fulfilled? Not quite, but it was an entertaining read, nevertheless. I just felt that there were too many loose ends left untied, and some of the drama literally happened for no reason.
Full review on my blog!:
http://originalbooker.blogspot.co.uk/...
October 15, 2015
I got this book from the Goodreads Giveaways.
I really liked this book. Didn't love it, but really liked it! It took a while for me to start caring about the main character, but it was generally fun and easy to read.
A perfectly good way to spend an evening!
I really liked this book. Didn't love it, but really liked it! It took a while for me to start caring about the main character, but it was generally fun and easy to read.
A perfectly good way to spend an evening!
May 5, 2016
Oh, I enjoyed this book so much! The world, the way things worked, yeah, it was fantastic, and I'd love to read more!
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