Into The Light

Into The Dark #2

by Caroline T. Patti

Mercy’s family is back together and the threat of danger appears to have passed. But any relief she feels is short lived as she is ripped from her body and thrown in jail. Gage and Nathaniel’s plans to break Mercy out won’t exactly be easy. Stuffed full of a chemical binding agent, Mercy is trapped inside the body of a convict without the ability to breach and set herself free. Unfortunately for Mercy, being trapped in jail becomes the least of her problems when she meets her evil twin, Justice.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy

300 pages, ebook

First published August 23, 2016

About the author

Caroline T. Patti is the author of the Into the Dark, Into the Light, and the Nettie series, which includes: The World Spins Madly On, Too Late to Apologize, A Little Faith and Life After You and The Broken Road (Sept 2016). Caroline is a former teacher, librarian and coach. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two daughters. When she's not writing, she's probably on Twitter.

Reviews

[Kathy Osborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sequel of Into the Dark series. Into the Light started right where Into the Dark left off, but also have past history between Nathaniel( Breacher), Isadora (Mercy's aunt) and Ariana (Mercy's mother).

Mercy has strong feelings for Nathaniel, but also has feelings about Gage, but doesn't want to hurt either one so she doesn't act on her feelings.

Nathaniel and Gage are getting along, but the tension remains such under the surface. However, the games are about to begin with Mercy, Nathaniel and Gage in middle of a tug war between The Assembled and Isadora or are there more secrets to be revealed.

What is Isadora hiding? Why is everyone after Mercy, including her newly made sister, Justice?

As Mercy's powers increase, the threat to her family increasing and the struggle for power begins.

This is a very fast paced read and it will have you page turning until the end.
I enjoyed the HEA as it was a good ending to a good story.

I recommend this book if you enjoy paranormal and make sure to read Into the Dark too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Part 2 of In the Dark Series
Characters: Very detailed and developed
Fast Paced

5 Koala Paws

[czai · Rating 2 out of 5]

this review is also posted at: the Blacksheep Project. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

* * *

This book was a real pain to read. Sorry.

Into the Dark was a book that I think had a pretty interesting concept but lacks on certain aspects like the uniqueness of the heroine, and the lack of world building, and the romance. And despite its faults, I forgave it because it was a first book and I believed that the second book would offer answers and make things better. But I was stand corrected.

I'm not saying that Into the Light is bad. I think that it's just not my read. Let me tell you why it didn't work for me (and possibly this is going to be a rant like in The Reaper so forgive me).

Ohmygosh, I don't even know where to begin...

Let me first go with my main problem with the book -- what everyone is really fighting for. They're fighting for 'freedom'. I guess that's the best term for it. But no, it's not like your dystopian-we're-being-oppressed-and-unequally-treated freedom. The setup is basically this: god created guardians to guide people to 'into the light' but the a guardian fell in love with a human. Main cause of problem: forbidden love. Reason why it lasted so long: everyone has generally been stubborn and prideful and selfish. UGH. WHY?

Let me explain. Everyone's stubborn because they strongly wanted to happen whatever it is they wanted to happen. When they disobeyed god, god punished them - they became breachers (which also became a very conflicting concept in terms of calling them immortals -- which I will rant about later). Which I'd say is fair. Eternally living in the earth is painful. The breachers' desire to live (despite being called immortals) cost so many, MANY lives. Imagine: they've been living for years, decades even (it was not mention. ugh) and they HAD to enter a host body in order to stay on earth. The WORSE part is that the only was they can get out of the body is to kill the person (which they basically did so many times. AND I ETERNALLY HATE THEM FOR THAT!). These, of course, make them stubborn and selfish or me. --BUTTTTT the question is: why did they want to live for years if it was painful? They want love and freedom. But they could have done that in one life time. Why spend more than one life? Why rob humans of their life? BECAUSE THEY ARE THAT SELFISH!

--ABOUT THE BREACHERS: They were said to be immortals. In a way, they are. When they take over a human body, they take over that life. They can never leave that body unless the kill it. When they kill it, they can move on to another body. OKAY? BUT in reality they are not immortal. This was later revealed in the novel. When they leave a human body and did not enter another human body in a specific period of time, they die/disappear/move on to purgatory (or afterlife or WHAT!) -- that's basically how I understand it.

NOW, given this nature of breachers, here's what they should have done instead: live one human life (if they really want to live because Nathaniel did! but then he didn't. lol.) and when they leave that body, let themselves die/disappear or whatever the heck it is that happens to them!! Because later on in the book, Nathaniel was 'dying' so he entered another human body which basically caused a more problems. UGH. Just how selfish can they be?

must.stop.this.rant.about.breachers.

ANYWAY, setting that issue aside. I haven't talked about this so-called god. And this so-called god is also prideful and stubborn. Here's why: (1) he doesn't want to directly kill or punish those who disobeyed thus all the inconveniences -- the breachers, the annoying ability of breachers, and the hunters. (2) because god is selfish and prideful he doesn't want Mercy to overpower him so he wants to kill her. She's like GOD. She has this unusually strong ability to stop and give life and breach bodies as she wishes and manipulate thoughts. (and I'm basically like HOW!? How can a god-like human be born? but that's basically beyond me). and (3) god's actually pretty sensible if you ask me. He wants to kill the breachers because he basically wants to bring balance to the world.

but.really.i.must.stop.this.lengthy.rant.

OVERALL, Into the Light is a disappoint sequel and final book (for me). I was not able to fully talk about everything but several things annoyed me (check out points below!).BUT this does not mean that the book was not good. It just isn't my read. I was disappointed that it didn't give me what I was hoping for -- further family relationship, further character on Mercy (because she's too bloodydamn generic!), a decent explanation for things, and an accepted ending.

(to save you from my lengthy rant) POINTS ARE: (1) there was a good development on Gage (his acceptance of being a human and his romance life), (2) there was a lack of family relationship, (3) so much romance on this book (just.too.much. notgoodforme), (4) characters felt selfish and prideful (and I'm like: please stop!), (5) Mercy is such a martyr (too generic, gets annoying sometimes), (6) Nathaniel's POV was really good (but I didn't like the events. made me hate his reasons for living eternally. just WHY?), (7) plot twists! breachers are NOT immortal, (8) I didn't have the feels (you know those moments when you're suppose to feel sorry or maybe cry? but then you didn't feel it. sadlife.)

BUT please don't make me stop you from grabbing this book. It might not just be for me. Check out these reviews from goodreads: Nancy (The Avid Reader), Stephanie Ward, and Hannah Orr.

[E.M. Fitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having previously enjoyed the first in this series, Into The Dark, I was geared up and ready to dive right back into the world of body snatchers and mysterious bad boys who come to the rescue. Into The Light doesn't disappoint!

We pick the story back up after Mercy has already made a deal with the devil (figuratively). But it's only the beginning of her troubles. This story twists and turns and somersaults back over itself! We go deep into the history of the Breachers, Nathaniel's past, the origin of Gage. Honestly, it's just chock-full and if I went any farther, I know I'd spoil something. If you enjoyed the first in this series, you will love the second. That I can tell you!

Action, romance, heart-wrenching losses, and life beyond earth. Check out Into The Light

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Into the Light' is the addicting sequel to Into the Dark, a young adult paranormal novel that revolves around our main character - Mercy - and her ability to Breach (jump into another person's body). I absolutely adored the first book in the series and I hated having to wait for this novel to release. Luckily, it was SO worth the wait! I loved almost every aspect of this book, which is rarely the case when it comes to sequels. There's so much that happens throughout the story, I can't begin to touch on it all - so I'm just going to say that it was an amazing ride and hope that will suffice.

All of our favorite characters from the first book are back in this novel, and we get to know each of them even better than I thought possible. Especially evil aunts and creepy twin sisters...you don't expect to feel anything besides dislike for the "villain" - but that's precisely what happened for me with these two characters especially. I loved getting to know Justice as her own person - how she's the same as Mercy on some levels, but entirely herself for everything else. She's an intriguing character and plays a huge part in the book, which I loved. Nathaniel and Gage are back - and both are book boyfriend worthy, so there's obviously a bit of a love triangle happening. It's hard to root for just one of the guys when both of them are sweet, brave, and will do absolutely anything for Mercy. The story was fascinating and had a great plot with some big twists you don't see coming. The entire story is pretty fast paced, so I ended up devouring the entire thing in one sitting of a few hours. Once I started reading, I couldn't make myself stop! I had to see what happened and how it all went down. The only issue I had was at the very end - when the big battle is going to be fought. There's only a few paragraphs describing all of it - it felt really disproportionate to the rest of the book. I wanted it to be much more detailed and to feel like I was right there along with Mercy and the gang as it went down, but it felt empty. The author definitely has the talent and ability to write out an awesome fight scene, but for some reason it doesn't happen. Lots of buildup for a not so impressive finish. Which is why I gave it four stars instead of five.

The writing is fantastic in just about every way. The book is full of vivid imagery and rich descriptions that made it so easy to slip inside the world she created. I felt as though I were right beside Mercy and the guys during the entire story. The author uses the first person point of view, which I personally love, but switches it up a bit by having multiple narrators. I liked getting to "see" things happen from the different viewpoints, because no two characters are exactly the same and may think or feel different things at different times, etc. It makes the book more interesting and fun, in my opinion, which is exactly what happened in this novel - although I would've been fine with just Mercy as the narrator. First person is almost always the way to go - I think - and this one was no exception. Overall, it was a fantastic novel and one heck of a sequel! If you enjoyed the first book, then you really need to read this one - you won't be disappointed!

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Hannah Michaels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so lucky I had this book immediately after finishing the first one, because I needed it.

At the end of the first book, they've temporarily disarmed the threat at hand, and Gage, Nathaniel, and Mercy are trying to figure out how to proceed. In the beginning of this book, they're still lost but have found some sense of "normal"--or as normal as you can be being able to jump into other people's bodies.

My favorite thing about this book was that we knew who Justice was in the end of the first book, but at the beginning of Into The Light, we kind of hate her. We think she's this evil being, and she radically changes through the whole book, and she ends up being part of their dynamic. It's amazing! She's "new" and introduced to the world, so her innocence about everything is absolutely so endearing. I love it.

The book wasn't that long (for me anyways, I love a lengthy read) but even so, we're carried on this intense journey that makes you feel like you've walked a thousand miles. SO MUCH HAPPENS! The dynamic changes, there's huge feelings involved, there's a huge plan that's been hidden behind the scenes entirely in book one! You feel things for characters you thought you hated! It's marvelous! Everything that the first book set up is DESTROYED by this book--but in only the best ways! There's just so much happening that it gives you whiplash. The "bad guy" wasn't even the bad guy! PLOT TWIST.

The sole reason that I didn't rate this five stars is because, for me, the ending was a little anticlimactic. We find the new threat and at the end, the very final "battle" for right and wrong, life and death, love and loss, only a few paragraphs total and the threat is gone. I felt that part to be a little lacking. I might have enjoyed it a little more if the final confrontation was a little tougher or had more substance.

Into The Light was fantastic. Mercy is just the right mix of innocent and ferocity. For being a teenager and finding out that her life isn't what she thought it was, I felt like she handled a lot really well! And Nathaniel is a snarky dreamboat.

PICK THIS UP. Worth the read! You'll finish the first and second ones in a weekend. Guarantee it!

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know which book I liked the best Into The Dark or Into The Light. I think I loved one just as much as the other. I’m not sure which one I actually devoured the quickest. Both were well written and had so many twist and turns I didn’t know which way was up or which way was down. I think I was at the end of the book before I even knew what hit me. I loved being right there with Mercy, Nathaniel and Gage as they went on their journey’s or at least that is how I felt. I would get so lost in Into The Light I would literally not know where or even who I was. Yes Into The Dark series is that good.

Mercy has such a big heart that she would give her own life for any of her family or friends. She cared for both Nathaniel and Gage but she soon realizes there may be more to her and Nathaniel’s relationship than just friends but she doesn’t want to say anything because she knows that would just break Gage’s heart and in no way does she ever want to do that. She is torn between what to do. She is very confused about a lot of things going on her life at the moment.

Mercy finds out about a lot of secrets about herself that her mother kept for her; her whole life. She has her mother back now after losing her when she was only ten years old. Mercy will keep her family together this time if it kills her. But Mercy soon learns that there are some people in her life that have betrayed her. Can she ever trust them again?

Mercy has Gage and Nathaniel chasing after her in more ways than one. Besides the fact that they are both in love with her they have to go chasing after her when she jumps from her body and then hijacks someone else’s’.

Mercy is new to this Breacher stuff and just goes flying all over the place not knowing where she Is going to wake up next. Nathaniel and Gage won’t leave her alone because they are afraid she will jump. But Mercy can jump with both of them looking at her and she does just that and lands herself in jail. Now how is she going to get out of this one? Want to know? Grab your copy of Into The Light to find out.

[Anelise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Month9Books, in exchange for an honest review.

Writing this review will be harder than writing Into the Dark because I try my best to avoid all spoilers which is harder for sequels, but I’ll do my best.

Into the Light is the continuation of Into the Dark and starts with a flashback in Nathaniel's PoV. In every chapter that's written in his perspective, it's a flashback of Nathaniel's past. Again, like Into the Dark, every chapter changes perspective. It's good and helps understand the plot a bit more, knowing what the other characters are thinking.

Mercy has feelings for both Nathaniel and Gage (really?) but she doesn’t act upon them because she doesn’t know what to do, but she does end up with somebody in the end.

One thing I loved about this book was Justice. I mean, I didn’t totally love her in the beginning, but who did? When Justice was introduced at the end of Into the Dark, she was seen as a bad guy, or just a creepy replica of Mercy (no biggie). So going into this book, Justice was seen as a villain until later in the story when more information is revealed. Mercy didn’t totally trust Justice, but then again, who would trust their supposedly evil twin sister born right from your own rib? I sure wouldn’t! I don’t know, I just found Justice to be a pretty cool character in the end.

Also, I think that Mercy handled everything thrown at her pretty well, considering she was just a teen and is still growing up.

Even though this review is all over the place, and it probably makes no sense (hey! You try writing this when you’re half asleep!), but Into the Light was a fascinating read and I loved it way more than Into the Dark.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been eagerly awaiting Into the Light, and it did not disappoint!

Caroline Patti drops us straight back into the paranormal city setting that she artfully crafted in the first book, Into the Dark. Mercy Clare, a high school student with the uncanny ability to inhabit the bodies of other people, finds herself kidnapped and imprisoned - quite literally - both in a foreign body and an actual prison facility. Gage and Nathaniel, her friends (and possibly more...) must figure out how to reclaim her on multiple levels. Add in the question of who body-snatched her, and why, and a whole new field of mysteries unfold for our heroine and her heroes.

Mystery, drama, suspense, a healthy helping of romance, and enough plot twists to keep even Scooby Doo on his toes...Into the Light was a fun, engaging read with good attention to detail and a satisfying conclusion. The paranormal aspect was well thought out, and I would enjoy reading more stories set in this world.

This is definitely YA so I can't give it to my K-6 patrons, but there are several teens in my circle who will be getting a recommendation. Several of them have read Into the Dark and have it on their to-read lists already.

[Maia Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow- this book is just as good as the first one! Once again, we have Mercy, Gage and Nathaniel and the story pretty much picks up right where the first book ended. You get to know them all even better and there's a few new characters introduced that I just loved to hate. Action packed with tons of intriguing twists, I was completely captivated and found myself quite unable to put this one down until I saw what would happen next! The emotions ran high in this one as there's love, betrayal and tons of mystery unveiled. The writing was just spectacular and the author has a way of just capturing you in the pages with the eloquent writing. I was sitting on the edge of my seat quite a few times as I gnawed my nails down to the quick- it was that good! This series is absolutely awesome so far and I can't wait to see if the author will grace us with another book in the near future! A must read for anybody who like YA adventure , sci-fi, mystery or just a really good read!

[Esther Haddie's Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received an e-ARC of this book in exchange for honest review.

If you are looking for an addictive Paranormal. I would say this is for you. Mercy Clare's character is very different from what I usually read. That is a good thing. Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort-zone in order to find something new we might like. I do know how else to present Mercy's abilities other than to compare them to astral projection. A soul taking leave of the present body to be hosted by another, right?

Caroline brings in her own twist to the Paranormal universe. I may not be big on paranormal sometimes, but I can I like this one. The plot is adventurous; characters are awesome. The way each are portrayed are very different from what I've seen around.

Aug. 30th