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Darkness #3
Dwellers of Darkness
Some days feel like years, but in Ember Brycin’s case just the opposite is true. She had only been in the Otherworld for a day or two when she returned back to the Earth's realm. But it is three years later on Earth. Em is now 22. It would matter if she was human, but she’s not. She is a Dae, part Demon and part Fay, with a little Dark Dweller thrown in to make her even more of a freak.
Seeing Seattle rebuilt only confirms she has been gone three years. For her it was not long ago that the Seattle area was just rubble of concrete and death. All done by her hand.
One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is her undeniable connection to Eli Dragen, who is sexy, gorgeous, and even more volatile and frustrating. But her problems go way past him. The Seelie Queen of the Otherworld still holds Mark, Em’s father, and her friends, Ryan, and Josh as hostages. Em needs to rescue them without, once again, getting caught and being used as a pawn to help the Queen regain possession of Earth. At the same time Ember is in hot water with Lars, the Unseelie King, after breaking her contract with him.
As some secrets have come to light others seem to become even more enigmatic. The only truth Ember knows is,everyone is harboring secrets. As Eli’s past is revealed, Em understands more clearly why he acts the way he does and how much their lives are intertwined. But she also knows Eli is holding something back, something that could change their relationship forever.
Em herself continues to wrestle with her feelings toward Torin and her own secret she’s withholding from Kennedy. As the tension for war mounts between the Seelie and Unseelie (Light and Dark), the tension at the Dark Dweller’s compound mounts even more as they prepare to obtain the sword no matter what the price. But is Ember the answer to the location of the sword? Is she the one to fulfill the prophecy? As usual nothing is ever what it seems.
Seeing Seattle rebuilt only confirms she has been gone three years. For her it was not long ago that the Seattle area was just rubble of concrete and death. All done by her hand.
One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is her undeniable connection to Eli Dragen, who is sexy, gorgeous, and even more volatile and frustrating. But her problems go way past him. The Seelie Queen of the Otherworld still holds Mark, Em’s father, and her friends, Ryan, and Josh as hostages. Em needs to rescue them without, once again, getting caught and being used as a pawn to help the Queen regain possession of Earth. At the same time Ember is in hot water with Lars, the Unseelie King, after breaking her contract with him.
As some secrets have come to light others seem to become even more enigmatic. The only truth Ember knows is,everyone is harboring secrets. As Eli’s past is revealed, Em understands more clearly why he acts the way he does and how much their lives are intertwined. But she also knows Eli is holding something back, something that could change their relationship forever.
Em herself continues to wrestle with her feelings toward Torin and her own secret she’s withholding from Kennedy. As the tension for war mounts between the Seelie and Unseelie (Light and Dark), the tension at the Dark Dweller’s compound mounts even more as they prepare to obtain the sword no matter what the price. But is Ember the answer to the location of the sword? Is she the one to fulfill the prophecy? As usual nothing is ever what it seems.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2014
845 people are currently reading
2943 people want to read
About the author
Stacey Marie Brown
65 books6,356 followersStacey Marie Brown is a lover of hot fictional bad boys and sarcastic heroines who kick butt. She also enjoys books, travel, TV shows, hiking, writing, design, and archery. Stacey swears she is part gypsy, being lucky enough to live and travel all over the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
June 26, 2022
„You can‘t choose who you love; it chooses you.“
This is a one POV book told by the POV of Ember.
I really loved how Ember and Eli still have tension and chemistry even by the third book of the series now. It actually became even more in this book. They both have the "touch her/him and I´ll kill you" vibes and I absolutely love that. I liked their character development and the further development of their relationship. The sexual tension was high! I mean that scene on the Harley...whew.....
Really loved the side characters and I really liked the newly added ones. I loved Kennedy getting stronger and having a really good character development. I liked how all of their backstories got explained a bit more and I love the "found family" vibes for the dark dwellers. There was a little less West in this for me (I can´t wait for his novella). Also I have to say that two of the newly added side characters felt a bit like a copy of characters from the Savage Lands series.
I liked the plot, although the middle part felt a bit slow too me. It was slower in action than the rest of the book and it felt like a lot of info dumping happened. Other than that I really enjoyed it. I loved that the weird love triangle thing from the second book was finally dissolved and I loved to get more background information on the characters themself and their history. Really loved the plot twists in this, most of them I didn´t see coming and they took me by surprise.
Overall it was a really good book and I can´t wait to dive into the last book of the series.
trigger warnings: loss of loved ones, torture, mentions of rape, mentions of cheating, trauma, panic attacks
This is a one POV book told by the POV of Ember.
I really loved how Ember and Eli still have tension and chemistry even by the third book of the series now. It actually became even more in this book. They both have the "touch her/him and I´ll kill you" vibes and I absolutely love that. I liked their character development and the further development of their relationship. The sexual tension was high! I mean that scene on the Harley...whew.....
Really loved the side characters and I really liked the newly added ones. I loved Kennedy getting stronger and having a really good character development. I liked how all of their backstories got explained a bit more and I love the "found family" vibes for the dark dwellers. There was a little less West in this for me (I can´t wait for his novella). Also I have to say that two of the newly added side characters felt a bit like a copy of characters from the Savage Lands series.
I liked the plot, although the middle part felt a bit slow too me. It was slower in action than the rest of the book and it felt like a lot of info dumping happened. Other than that I really enjoyed it. I loved that the weird love triangle thing from the second book was finally dissolved and I loved to get more background information on the characters themself and their history. Really loved the plot twists in this, most of them I didn´t see coming and they took me by surprise.
Overall it was a really good book and I can´t wait to dive into the last book of the series.
trigger warnings: loss of loved ones, torture, mentions of rape, mentions of cheating, trauma, panic attacks
February 7, 2015
This is not "New Adult." This is "Young Adult" that takes sex all the way and doesn't look back.
Why do I say that? Because this is the most immature cast of characters I have ever had the misfortune to know. The grammar is atrocious. The sex scenes are ridiculous. The passionate, heated arguments between Ember and Eli are nothing short of painful. The foreshadowing is so obvious that it practically slaps you across the face. The relationships between the characters - particularly between Ember and her mother, and Ember and Torin - are so flat and repetitive I can't stand to read anymore.
Actually, that last part applies to everything in this book and its two predecessors: So flat and repetitive that I can't stand to read any. fucking. more.
Ember and Eli argue constantly. Sometimes they have sex, then they argue again. Sometimes they pause to eat, then they look at each other suggestively and speak with their eyes. Then they argue. Then they have sex again. Eli insults Ember or laughs at her when she falls or slips up. She obsesses over him and drools every time he's within smelling distance. Their relationship is so ridiculous and toxic I have to wonder if the author has ever had an adult relationship.
And everyone in the house can always hear them having sex, including Ember's mother who just laughs it off because Ember is so "headstrong and stubborn," and she "takes after her mother!" That's just tacky and awkward and not at all fun to read about. I'm a grown ass woman and while my parents no doubt know I have sex, I respect them enough not to rub it in their face by having marathon sex with merely one wall separating us.
Lorcin will ALWAYS be waiting at the edge of the magical boarder waiting for someone to step out. The guy has shown up so many times at this point that I genuinely believe he's the smartest guy on this version of Earth. Seriously - three books in and they can't shake him. Fuck it. He wins.
Ember's friends will ALWAYS be held captive by the Queen and Ember will ALWAYS do whatever she has to do to free them. This is the worst. We're three books in and Ember is being manipulated in the same way by every villain in the two worlds. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... Fool me multiple times throughout three books in the exact same way? I mean fuck it. Why is Ember even alive at this point?
Sadly this is the first book about "Fae" that I have ever read. I just don't jive with the whole concept of fairies, so I avoid books that focus on multiple 'realms' and things with wings. This series didn't do my impression of the Fae-genre any favors.
Awful. Just absolutely awful.
Why do I say that? Because this is the most immature cast of characters I have ever had the misfortune to know. The grammar is atrocious. The sex scenes are ridiculous. The passionate, heated arguments between Ember and Eli are nothing short of painful. The foreshadowing is so obvious that it practically slaps you across the face. The relationships between the characters - particularly between Ember and her mother, and Ember and Torin - are so flat and repetitive I can't stand to read anymore.
Actually, that last part applies to everything in this book and its two predecessors: So flat and repetitive that I can't stand to read any. fucking. more.
Ember and Eli argue constantly. Sometimes they have sex, then they argue again. Sometimes they pause to eat, then they look at each other suggestively and speak with their eyes. Then they argue. Then they have sex again. Eli insults Ember or laughs at her when she falls or slips up. She obsesses over him and drools every time he's within smelling distance. Their relationship is so ridiculous and toxic I have to wonder if the author has ever had an adult relationship.
And everyone in the house can always hear them having sex, including Ember's mother who just laughs it off because Ember is so "headstrong and stubborn," and she "takes after her mother!" That's just tacky and awkward and not at all fun to read about. I'm a grown ass woman and while my parents no doubt know I have sex, I respect them enough not to rub it in their face by having marathon sex with merely one wall separating us.
Lorcin will ALWAYS be waiting at the edge of the magical boarder waiting for someone to step out. The guy has shown up so many times at this point that I genuinely believe he's the smartest guy on this version of Earth. Seriously - three books in and they can't shake him. Fuck it. He wins.
Ember's friends will ALWAYS be held captive by the Queen and Ember will ALWAYS do whatever she has to do to free them. This is the worst. We're three books in and Ember is being manipulated in the same way by every villain in the two worlds. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... Fool me multiple times throughout three books in the exact same way? I mean fuck it. Why is Ember even alive at this point?
Sadly this is the first book about "Fae" that I have ever read. I just don't jive with the whole concept of fairies, so I avoid books that focus on multiple 'realms' and things with wings. This series didn't do my impression of the Fae-genre any favors.
Awful. Just absolutely awful.
August 20, 2024
⭑ ⭑ ✩ ✩ ✩
This series is like a train wreck I can’t look away from. Eli and Ember are beyond toxic together, but somehow it’s working out for them. Ember is always diving head first into danger, and Eli isn’t far behind, so I’m surprised nobody has ended up dead YET. One huge issue I continue to have with this is how the author CONSTANTLY mentions how ‘stubborn and full of pride’ Ember is. If I read about it one more I might actually lose it. If Ember could get over herself, this wouldn’t be a 4 book series, but I suppose that’s the point.
Embers pride issues has this series dragging as the issues that constantly come about could be solved easily if she would just get over it. Since book two it seems the only thing happening is Ember trying to rescue her family but going about it the wrong way, and the plot continues to go in circles. Not to mention for someone with trust issues, she continues to put her trust in the most untrustworthy people 😵💫
I usually enjoy books with some smut, but this one had way too much and they were beyond cringe. 50% of the book was them going at it when everyone around them could hear them. Talk about uncomfortable…Lastly, the ‘love triangle’ was driving me up a wall and didn’t even make much sense. I’ve been praying Torin would just disappear, I’m sick of reading about him. I’m dedicated to finishing the series, but lord it’s getting beyond repetitive.
Pre-Read 💐:
I’ve about had it with this love triangle nonsense 😩
This series is like a train wreck I can’t look away from. Eli and Ember are beyond toxic together, but somehow it’s working out for them. Ember is always diving head first into danger, and Eli isn’t far behind, so I’m surprised nobody has ended up dead YET. One huge issue I continue to have with this is how the author CONSTANTLY mentions how ‘stubborn and full of pride’ Ember is. If I read about it one more I might actually lose it. If Ember could get over herself, this wouldn’t be a 4 book series, but I suppose that’s the point.
Embers pride issues has this series dragging as the issues that constantly come about could be solved easily if she would just get over it. Since book two it seems the only thing happening is Ember trying to rescue her family but going about it the wrong way, and the plot continues to go in circles. Not to mention for someone with trust issues, she continues to put her trust in the most untrustworthy people 😵💫
I usually enjoy books with some smut, but this one had way too much and they were beyond cringe. 50% of the book was them going at it when everyone around them could hear them. Talk about uncomfortable…Lastly, the ‘love triangle’ was driving me up a wall and didn’t even make much sense. I’ve been praying Torin would just disappear, I’m sick of reading about him. I’m dedicated to finishing the series, but lord it’s getting beyond repetitive.
Pre-Read 💐:
I’ve about had it with this love triangle nonsense 😩
December 7, 2016
My original Dwellers of Darkness audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Dwellers of Darkness is the third book in the young adult/new adult paranormal fantasy series by Stacey Marie Brown. They really should be read in order. It is the story of Ember Brycin who has discovered that she is part fay and part demon and has unwillingly become embroiled in a battle between Light, the Seelie, and Dark, the Unseelie.
In this installment, Ember has returned from the Otherworld with her Mum Lily, who I found to be a rather unlikeable character for a mother, and with her best friend Kennedy, who is starting to play a significant role. Ember is back with the Dark Dwellers and moody, badass Eli who is marginally annoyed with her for having vanished for three years because time moves at a different pace on earth. I have to admit the repetitive arguing – sex – arguing – sex between Ember and Eli became a tad maddening at times. But Cal and Simmon, the two pixies, added some lovely humor to the story and have become my favorite characters alongside Eli, of course. For a while, there did not seem to be much happening plot-wise, but then the pace picked up and the plot moved forward and so, thankfully, did Ember and Eli’s relationship. Ember is determined to rescue her Dad and captive friends from the Seelie Queen. Together with a diverse group of friends, family, and foe, she sets off to find a sword that can kill the Queen. Due to the obvious foreshadowing, the developments at the end of the book were not as surprising as I would have liked. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed listening to this, but it was not my favorite installment of the series. The story continues in Blood Beyond Darkness, which is the final part of this series, and I will definitely pick it up in the future.
Michelle Sparks continues her excellent performance of this series. She really brings these characters to life and gets all the emotion across in a wonderful manner. Her pacing is superb and she is a great fit for Ember. Excellent narration. There were no issues with the production quality.
Story 3.5 stars / Narration 5 stars
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
Dwellers of Darkness is the third book in the young adult/new adult paranormal fantasy series by Stacey Marie Brown. They really should be read in order. It is the story of Ember Brycin who has discovered that she is part fay and part demon and has unwillingly become embroiled in a battle between Light, the Seelie, and Dark, the Unseelie.
In this installment, Ember has returned from the Otherworld with her Mum Lily, who I found to be a rather unlikeable character for a mother, and with her best friend Kennedy, who is starting to play a significant role. Ember is back with the Dark Dwellers and moody, badass Eli who is marginally annoyed with her for having vanished for three years because time moves at a different pace on earth. I have to admit the repetitive arguing – sex – arguing – sex between Ember and Eli became a tad maddening at times. But Cal and Simmon, the two pixies, added some lovely humor to the story and have become my favorite characters alongside Eli, of course. For a while, there did not seem to be much happening plot-wise, but then the pace picked up and the plot moved forward and so, thankfully, did Ember and Eli’s relationship. Ember is determined to rescue her Dad and captive friends from the Seelie Queen. Together with a diverse group of friends, family, and foe, she sets off to find a sword that can kill the Queen. Due to the obvious foreshadowing, the developments at the end of the book were not as surprising as I would have liked. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed listening to this, but it was not my favorite installment of the series. The story continues in Blood Beyond Darkness, which is the final part of this series, and I will definitely pick it up in the future.
Michelle Sparks continues her excellent performance of this series. She really brings these characters to life and gets all the emotion across in a wonderful manner. Her pacing is superb and she is a great fit for Ember. Excellent narration. There were no issues with the production quality.
Story 3.5 stars / Narration 5 stars
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
August 13, 2016
For someone who doesn't usually like paranormal books, I don't know what it is about the way Stacey writes this series that has me so uterally obsessed with it. I'm always left dying for more. Scrolling back through the last chapter just so I can get just another minute of Eli and ember. And on this one, Stacey surely doesn't disappoint, she does it again. Hard hitting drama, off the charts steamy sexual chemistry, heartbreak, pain, loss, and of course the ever present half truths. It's maddening, infuriating, addictive and amazing. I felt like I was riding an emotional rollercoaster on this one. I went from happy to scared to hot to confused to scared to pissed off but it didn't end there. I'm telling you. Full on Emotional. Roller. Coaster. I am team Eli all the way and some times I understand their
Need to rile each other up, it's hot as hell. But with the bond with Torin, the way he acts, Joshua, the biker chick who's name I won't even mention, there's drama at every turn. Just when you think you have something figured out, honey think again. It's almost like navigating a maze blindfolded. I feel bad for Ember that it seems like she can't get full truths. And the deals with the King or queen. Drama. Drama. DrAma. Throw in a sprinkle of a love triangle and jealousy, topped with one of the sexiest characters in a book, and you have one hell of a combination. See what I mean, why i love Stacey, her writing and this series!?!? Do you really want to ask what I want to rate this? 5 stars, of course.
January 12, 2019
1.5 stars
Whelp, this book was trash.
Ember isn't really whinny but she is the most clueless heroine ever. There is always some secret being kept from her that "shatters" her when revealed. This has happened non stop for three books now so it's a recurring theme.
The betrayal at the end could literally have been figured out from the last book. It was just painful to see it play out, she went from sensible to stupid pretty fast.
To be honest, this book was not really going anywhere. She always gets in trouble, she always makes deals she shouldn't be making, shes always kept outside the loop and "shattered" by some secret and no matter what Lorcan is always there to whisk one of her friends away and ransom them for something. I'm almost certain this book can be skipped even because nothing of worth happened.
Whelp, this book was trash.
Ember isn't really whinny but she is the most clueless heroine ever. There is always some secret being kept from her that "shatters" her when revealed. This has happened non stop for three books now so it's a recurring theme.
The betrayal at the end could literally have been figured out from the last book. It was just painful to see it play out, she went from sensible to stupid pretty fast.
To be honest, this book was not really going anywhere. She always gets in trouble, she always makes deals she shouldn't be making, shes always kept outside the loop and "shattered" by some secret and no matter what Lorcan is always there to whisk one of her friends away and ransom them for something. I'm almost certain this book can be skipped even because nothing of worth happened.
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April 27, 2025
RATING: 3/3.5 stars to Dwellers of Darkness
“I’ve come to recognise this week that you are a serious pain in the ass. I will probably come to regret telling you this, but I’ve realised I can live without you, Dragen. I just don’t want to.”
A grin hinted at his mouth. “Ditto, Brycin.”
Ember has unknowingly been lost to the Otherworld for three years on a rescue mission whilst only a few days has passed for her off of Earth. She is now 22 and Ember has missed three years of her human life. With her mother, Lily, back from the dead, Ember is reeling from outrageous truths, pain and mysteries that have been hidden from her several years by her loved ones. Her relationship with her mother Is not what it was and is far too fractured to ever be the same. As much as Lily tells Ember, she hides twice as much from the daughter she has claimed to protect all these years. But her problems extend much farther than that and things are far from safe. Eli Dragen is not the same man Ember left behind; she comes back to a severe looking, rage ignited, unfeeling beast of a man who is riding a brittle edge of instability - not only different in appearance (having shaved his head!), Eli appears much more dangerous and merciless than Ember has ever known him to be – he is a fraction of what he was, submitting to his Dark Dweller instincts and is nothing less than vicious and animalistic. As much as they both can’t stand the other’s presence the sexual chemistry between them is too passionate and palpable to ignore. Eli is still the elusive man with the shady, reserved past and Em understands that she knows so little of the man she has strong and growing feelings for. Eli is a complicated man (all the best characters are) and Ember has never battled so much with her heart. Being independent and as a product of loss and grief, Ember has a stubborn will and a distrustful nature and is terrified probably among everything else of ever surrendering her heart and wresting control of it to place in another’s hands, not even if that man is Eli Dragen.
Aneira, the Seelie Queen, is slaughtering her way through Earth, weakening her enemy and crushing Ember’s spirit in the process, and this is not just a war of dominance and power, Aneira has made it her personal mission to break and splinter Ember by using her weaknesses to propel Em’s own downfall – the war is personal. He plans are much bigger than the Otherworld for she plans to merge both worlds and become the ruler of all lands, revealing the Fae and enslaving the humans. Believed to be the prophesised one, Ember has bag loads of responsibility on her shoulders and the Unseelie King never lets her forget this, makes her pay off her debt and remakes his bargain with her, binding her with magic – which includes questing to find the sword of light, the only weapon that can destroy the queen.
After breaking her bargain and breaching her contract with the Unseelie King, Ember has a price on her head and awaits the dangerous consequences of breaking an oath to the most powerful man on the planet. There are external threats many but whilst staying with the Dwellers, their situation is far from peaceful and diplomatic. Whether she likes it or not, Em is part Dark Dweller and they stay at the Dweller ranch for their own safety; friction rubs everybody up the wrong way and oppositions and trepidations are high. Though the tension is palpable between Lily and the Dwellers they agree that the rescue efforts are first priority to retrieve West, Mark, Josh and Ryan from the Queen’s castle – Ember being the glue that holds them all together. Ember knows her loved ones are still concealing secrets what with fabrications imbedded in the Fae’s very nature, but she cannot help but feel that when the lies come to pass they may just break her forever. Em’s past only becomes more imprecise and every truth only comes with its own set of unanswerable questions.
The Dark Dwellers’ past is still just as nebulous, and they are tight with their own secrets especially Eli, and Em struggles to make peace with the assassins they truly are and the brutalities they have committed in their long histories. Ember is gravely worried for her brave Knight Torin’s safety and survival, who is being held hostage in the Otherworld and being punished direly for his betrayal. Ember cannot feel the bond she shares with him anymore and cannot bury the deep anguish and guilt she feels about not only Torin’s torture but the world’s, the lives she has taken, the people she unwittingly hurts and the calamitous capacity of her powers are always brimming under the surface ready to be unleashed and fighting her to be free every step of the way. This is a battle of Light and Dark in the Fae world, but Ember is also in a battle of the dark and light inside of her vying for supremacy and she may just like surrendering to the darkness that dwells inside of her. Regardless of the difficulties and mammoth changes, Ember always finds a way to adapt.
Kennedy, now torn from her human life and family is now a key player in this war and must learn Druid knowledge, powers and the history of centuries in limited time, to aid in their efforts to break the Dweller’s curse and redeem their friends. Being the last living Druid, Kennedy is an invaluable and coveted commodity and the threats to her life are just as vast as Ember’s. Ember and Kennedy are possibly the last living of their kinds, extremely powerful beings with strong bloodlines and I think that not only are they going to be integral in this war but in the survival of both worlds. Kennedy’s growth in this book is substantial and she adapts admirably well to her new heritage. Her relationship with Ember only grows stronger. I have to admit that Kennedy changes quite a bit, she alters the power play at times too and I’m not quite sure if I like this new change or not.
I think Ember can sometimes overdo it with her conveyances: how much she tells us of her strength, her independence, that she detests being controlled, owned and dictated. The repetitive reinforcement of this is unnecessary and rather than shoving traits of the main lead down the reader’s throat, show us instead through the character in question’s actions and movements through the story as opposed to drilling into us so we would subconsciously accept it instead. Ember’s stubbornness has always been a character trait of hers that I like but at times she allows it to become a character flaw which is where the author can sometimes get it wrong and it can border on imbecilic at times, making her seem ignorant and clouds her judgment much like it does in the first book. It also propels her to become too subjective at times and not see the truth as it is. Though I do have issues with her character, Ember is still adorable, hilarious and sarcastically humorous and I enjoy reading her and though I didn’t think it possible I love Eli more.
I don’t mind the back and forth between Ember and Eli because their inharmoniousness in regard to each other stems from their clashing stubborn natures and the barriers, secrets and locked histories barricading them. If their relationship wasn’t one that required conscious maintenance and commotion, then it would be out of character for them both and equally unrealistic. Their relationship grows in this book, and they are more open with each other than they used to be – they progress even with the weight of situations (and themselves) pushing them back. Though they haven’t been together very long, they make an incredible pairing for this story.
Like the other books in the series so far, much of the plot and scenario is predictable, I can see things coming before they happen and oftentimes/most times that which I hypothesise comes true. This series comes with its issues and I have ongoing discord with it because I do like it a lot, I love the characters too, but I can’t say that it is extraordinary and up there with the best of them. This book is a good read, and with every book this series does get better but It is a decent tale and I love it for the personalities and their charming encounters. It has many themes and conceptions I love such as drama, angst, multiple kinds of relationships (not just romantic relationships) truckloads of action and steamy romance. There is more backstory about different characters; they grow and develop with the circumstances around them and they deal with them accordingly and as best they can, and I love them for it. I like the world building, the pace is good and we have two main characters who are alluring and intriguing but both equally just as frustrating and exasperating but I do love them for it I have to say. We get more history, we meet more creatures and species of the otherworld and different Fae and amongst their quests there is comedic relief and mocking banter which always offsets a book nicely for me if it is done well because a book without humour is like cake without the icing.
…After that ending that had me shedding tears like a dam, I’m too eager for that final instalment!
“Falling, with no idea where you are going or how far the ground is from you, is bizarre. When you can see the ground, you know when the end will come. You can anticipate it. But this was a sickening loop of “Is it now? Now? How about now?” All you know is your death is at the bottom, and you will meet it faster than you want.”
Theories whilst reading:
Thoughts whilst reading/Favourite Parts:
Favourite Quotes:
“Following duty or what you think is right will only hurt you in the end. There is a reason life stepped in with you, even though it came in a form of a dickhead Dark Dweller.” – Cal
“You can’t choose who you love; it chooses you.” - Cal
“My lady, beware. The fight is now on. No one messes with a pixie.” - Simmons
“I couldn’t break into someone’s private stuff so blatantly.” – Ember (obviously)
“I know you feel guilt and pain. You’ve been through a lot, but you without your emotions, isn’t you. Those feelings make you who you are. Why you love so passionately, protect your loved ones so fiercely, and act like a stubborn mule. It’s why people are drawn to you, even against their will.” - Eli
“I don’t want someone trying to be my protector; I want a partner. If we are in this together, we are in this as equals. I am no delicate little girl. I need the truth all the time. Harsh or scary as it might be.” - Ember
“I was leaving the man whom I should probably be standing on a cliff at sunset with and heading for the man I had chosen, who was probably tearing into a bloody deer carcass at the moment. I was such a romantic.” - Ember
“You need to experience everything. It builds character, and you develop a higher tolerance to the amount of pain you can handle.” - Lars
“You fate is about to be sealed. I hope you are ready.” - Lars
“My heart suddenly surged with emotion. After almost losing him, there was no question how I felt. Even in the middle of this mess, he could soothe me, cause me to feel stronger. I could take on the world if he were here by my side. Whatever was ahead of us, we would get through it – together.”
“Judge a man by his actions, not his words. He had almost died for me, and he was still by my side.”
“Here I go again. It was no longer a rabbit hole, but a never- ending black void full of constant lies and secrets.”
“With or without the sword of Nuada, I would take down the Queen of Light, plunging her into the darkness – for good. No one fucks with my family.”
“I’ve come to recognise this week that you are a serious pain in the ass. I will probably come to regret telling you this, but I’ve realised I can live without you, Dragen. I just don’t want to.”
A grin hinted at his mouth. “Ditto, Brycin.”
Ember has unknowingly been lost to the Otherworld for three years on a rescue mission whilst only a few days has passed for her off of Earth. She is now 22 and Ember has missed three years of her human life. With her mother, Lily, back from the dead, Ember is reeling from outrageous truths, pain and mysteries that have been hidden from her several years by her loved ones. Her relationship with her mother Is not what it was and is far too fractured to ever be the same. As much as Lily tells Ember, she hides twice as much from the daughter she has claimed to protect all these years. But her problems extend much farther than that and things are far from safe. Eli Dragen is not the same man Ember left behind; she comes back to a severe looking, rage ignited, unfeeling beast of a man who is riding a brittle edge of instability - not only different in appearance (having shaved his head!), Eli appears much more dangerous and merciless than Ember has ever known him to be – he is a fraction of what he was, submitting to his Dark Dweller instincts and is nothing less than vicious and animalistic. As much as they both can’t stand the other’s presence the sexual chemistry between them is too passionate and palpable to ignore. Eli is still the elusive man with the shady, reserved past and Em understands that she knows so little of the man she has strong and growing feelings for. Eli is a complicated man (all the best characters are) and Ember has never battled so much with her heart. Being independent and as a product of loss and grief, Ember has a stubborn will and a distrustful nature and is terrified probably among everything else of ever surrendering her heart and wresting control of it to place in another’s hands, not even if that man is Eli Dragen.
Aneira, the Seelie Queen, is slaughtering her way through Earth, weakening her enemy and crushing Ember’s spirit in the process, and this is not just a war of dominance and power, Aneira has made it her personal mission to break and splinter Ember by using her weaknesses to propel Em’s own downfall – the war is personal. He plans are much bigger than the Otherworld for she plans to merge both worlds and become the ruler of all lands, revealing the Fae and enslaving the humans. Believed to be the prophesised one, Ember has bag loads of responsibility on her shoulders and the Unseelie King never lets her forget this, makes her pay off her debt and remakes his bargain with her, binding her with magic – which includes questing to find the sword of light, the only weapon that can destroy the queen.
After breaking her bargain and breaching her contract with the Unseelie King, Ember has a price on her head and awaits the dangerous consequences of breaking an oath to the most powerful man on the planet. There are external threats many but whilst staying with the Dwellers, their situation is far from peaceful and diplomatic. Whether she likes it or not, Em is part Dark Dweller and they stay at the Dweller ranch for their own safety; friction rubs everybody up the wrong way and oppositions and trepidations are high. Though the tension is palpable between Lily and the Dwellers they agree that the rescue efforts are first priority to retrieve West, Mark, Josh and Ryan from the Queen’s castle – Ember being the glue that holds them all together. Ember knows her loved ones are still concealing secrets what with fabrications imbedded in the Fae’s very nature, but she cannot help but feel that when the lies come to pass they may just break her forever. Em’s past only becomes more imprecise and every truth only comes with its own set of unanswerable questions.
The Dark Dwellers’ past is still just as nebulous, and they are tight with their own secrets especially Eli, and Em struggles to make peace with the assassins they truly are and the brutalities they have committed in their long histories. Ember is gravely worried for her brave Knight Torin’s safety and survival, who is being held hostage in the Otherworld and being punished direly for his betrayal. Ember cannot feel the bond she shares with him anymore and cannot bury the deep anguish and guilt she feels about not only Torin’s torture but the world’s, the lives she has taken, the people she unwittingly hurts and the calamitous capacity of her powers are always brimming under the surface ready to be unleashed and fighting her to be free every step of the way. This is a battle of Light and Dark in the Fae world, but Ember is also in a battle of the dark and light inside of her vying for supremacy and she may just like surrendering to the darkness that dwells inside of her. Regardless of the difficulties and mammoth changes, Ember always finds a way to adapt.
Kennedy, now torn from her human life and family is now a key player in this war and must learn Druid knowledge, powers and the history of centuries in limited time, to aid in their efforts to break the Dweller’s curse and redeem their friends. Being the last living Druid, Kennedy is an invaluable and coveted commodity and the threats to her life are just as vast as Ember’s. Ember and Kennedy are possibly the last living of their kinds, extremely powerful beings with strong bloodlines and I think that not only are they going to be integral in this war but in the survival of both worlds. Kennedy’s growth in this book is substantial and she adapts admirably well to her new heritage. Her relationship with Ember only grows stronger. I have to admit that Kennedy changes quite a bit, she alters the power play at times too and I’m not quite sure if I like this new change or not.
I think Ember can sometimes overdo it with her conveyances: how much she tells us of her strength, her independence, that she detests being controlled, owned and dictated. The repetitive reinforcement of this is unnecessary and rather than shoving traits of the main lead down the reader’s throat, show us instead through the character in question’s actions and movements through the story as opposed to drilling into us so we would subconsciously accept it instead. Ember’s stubbornness has always been a character trait of hers that I like but at times she allows it to become a character flaw which is where the author can sometimes get it wrong and it can border on imbecilic at times, making her seem ignorant and clouds her judgment much like it does in the first book. It also propels her to become too subjective at times and not see the truth as it is. Though I do have issues with her character, Ember is still adorable, hilarious and sarcastically humorous and I enjoy reading her and though I didn’t think it possible I love Eli more.
I don’t mind the back and forth between Ember and Eli because their inharmoniousness in regard to each other stems from their clashing stubborn natures and the barriers, secrets and locked histories barricading them. If their relationship wasn’t one that required conscious maintenance and commotion, then it would be out of character for them both and equally unrealistic. Their relationship grows in this book, and they are more open with each other than they used to be – they progress even with the weight of situations (and themselves) pushing them back. Though they haven’t been together very long, they make an incredible pairing for this story.
Like the other books in the series so far, much of the plot and scenario is predictable, I can see things coming before they happen and oftentimes/most times that which I hypothesise comes true. This series comes with its issues and I have ongoing discord with it because I do like it a lot, I love the characters too, but I can’t say that it is extraordinary and up there with the best of them. This book is a good read, and with every book this series does get better but It is a decent tale and I love it for the personalities and their charming encounters. It has many themes and conceptions I love such as drama, angst, multiple kinds of relationships (not just romantic relationships) truckloads of action and steamy romance. There is more backstory about different characters; they grow and develop with the circumstances around them and they deal with them accordingly and as best they can, and I love them for it. I like the world building, the pace is good and we have two main characters who are alluring and intriguing but both equally just as frustrating and exasperating but I do love them for it I have to say. We get more history, we meet more creatures and species of the otherworld and different Fae and amongst their quests there is comedic relief and mocking banter which always offsets a book nicely for me if it is done well because a book without humour is like cake without the icing.
…After that ending that had me shedding tears like a dam, I’m too eager for that final instalment!
“Falling, with no idea where you are going or how far the ground is from you, is bizarre. When you can see the ground, you know when the end will come. You can anticipate it. But this was a sickening loop of “Is it now? Now? How about now?” All you know is your death is at the bottom, and you will meet it faster than you want.”
Theories whilst reading:
Thoughts whilst reading/Favourite Parts:
Favourite Quotes:
“Following duty or what you think is right will only hurt you in the end. There is a reason life stepped in with you, even though it came in a form of a dickhead Dark Dweller.” – Cal
“You can’t choose who you love; it chooses you.” - Cal
“My lady, beware. The fight is now on. No one messes with a pixie.” - Simmons
“I couldn’t break into someone’s private stuff so blatantly.” – Ember (obviously)
“I know you feel guilt and pain. You’ve been through a lot, but you without your emotions, isn’t you. Those feelings make you who you are. Why you love so passionately, protect your loved ones so fiercely, and act like a stubborn mule. It’s why people are drawn to you, even against their will.” - Eli
“I don’t want someone trying to be my protector; I want a partner. If we are in this together, we are in this as equals. I am no delicate little girl. I need the truth all the time. Harsh or scary as it might be.” - Ember
“I was leaving the man whom I should probably be standing on a cliff at sunset with and heading for the man I had chosen, who was probably tearing into a bloody deer carcass at the moment. I was such a romantic.” - Ember
“You need to experience everything. It builds character, and you develop a higher tolerance to the amount of pain you can handle.” - Lars
“You fate is about to be sealed. I hope you are ready.” - Lars
“My heart suddenly surged with emotion. After almost losing him, there was no question how I felt. Even in the middle of this mess, he could soothe me, cause me to feel stronger. I could take on the world if he were here by my side. Whatever was ahead of us, we would get through it – together.”
“Judge a man by his actions, not his words. He had almost died for me, and he was still by my side.”
“Here I go again. It was no longer a rabbit hole, but a never- ending black void full of constant lies and secrets.”
“With or without the sword of Nuada, I would take down the Queen of Light, plunging her into the darkness – for good. No one fucks with my family.”
June 13, 2014
A true disappointment
This book had so much potential. The story was pretty good and built to what you expect will be an epic ending. Yet there were a few issues with the story. At one point a character arrives from Otherworldly. It has been established that time there moves much slower. Yet from what the author does time went much faster for this one person. Or weeks of work were done in two days.
Ember has really flattened as a character. She is the weakest, most vulnerable uber bad @## I have ever read. It's the third book and she doesn't use this power that can level cities when her loved ones are in danger. Ember is clueless most of the time and learns nothing from her previous failures. She continues to make epicly bad decisions that make no sense. She's a powerhouse victim that supposedly people are afraid of but Ember is nothing anyone is concerned with.
Another thing that really bugged me was how the author uses Iron for everything. What good is a book with Fae if the main character is bound by iron which limits her powers...sometimes. Ember is either weakened or unaffected depending on the scene. No consistency and it's a boring plot device.
The ending really killed this book. Nothing gets resolved. Nothing at all. This book is completely unimportant. It's the same story I've read. 'I've got your friends. You'll do what I say blah blah blah'. I've already read that story. After no growth of the story or characters I can't continue with this series.
This book had so much potential. The story was pretty good and built to what you expect will be an epic ending. Yet there were a few issues with the story. At one point a character arrives from Otherworldly. It has been established that time there moves much slower. Yet from what the author does time went much faster for this one person. Or weeks of work were done in two days.
Ember has really flattened as a character. She is the weakest, most vulnerable uber bad @## I have ever read. It's the third book and she doesn't use this power that can level cities when her loved ones are in danger. Ember is clueless most of the time and learns nothing from her previous failures. She continues to make epicly bad decisions that make no sense. She's a powerhouse victim that supposedly people are afraid of but Ember is nothing anyone is concerned with.
Another thing that really bugged me was how the author uses Iron for everything. What good is a book with Fae if the main character is bound by iron which limits her powers...sometimes. Ember is either weakened or unaffected depending on the scene. No consistency and it's a boring plot device.
The ending really killed this book. Nothing gets resolved. Nothing at all. This book is completely unimportant. It's the same story I've read. 'I've got your friends. You'll do what I say blah blah blah'. I've already read that story. After no growth of the story or characters I can't continue with this series.
March 7, 2014
Diving back into Stacey Marie Brown’s twisted, sexy, and addicting fantasy world is always a treat, and this was one of my most anticipated reads for 2014! After reading Eli’s point of view in the Beast in the Darkness novella, I was so anxious yet terrified of his reunion with Ember. Sparks were bound to be flying, but there was a whole lot of betrayal, drama, and danger that they would have to face first.
Picking up right where we left off, this installment throws us right into the aftermath of Ember’s return from the Otherworld. Eli is PISSED, and oh my you couldn’t cut through that tension with a chain saw if you tried. It was painful to watch this couple that I had celebrated finally getting together suddenly so at odds, and as more drama fell into their laps there was never a dull moment. Ember was determined to rescue her captive friends from the ever-threatening Seelie Queen, but there were so many things pulling at her on any given day. Her mom Lily was frustratingly prejudice against the Dark Dwellers that Ember was growing to care for, Lars was fit to be tied after Ember’s betrayal, and Torin was a constant question mark when it came to her emotions. It was an action-packed, exciting, and emotional leg of the journey for everyone involved!
Through all of the twists and turns what stood out most was the underlying heartache and smoking-hot sexual frustration that Ember and Eli were dealing with after their separation. My heart broke seeing Eli’s pain through his perspective, so I couldn’t help but feel like he was justified in being so angry with her; it just broke him when she disappeared without a trace. When Ember just popped back home, still smelling like him even though it had been 3 years their time, he kind of just went into full-on ass mode for awhile there. But watching these two duke it out, lash it out, and then finally make-up-sex it all out…yep, that was some thoroughly entertaining and hot as hell relationship drama!! And that it’s mixed in with all of the paranormal fantasy thrills just made it that much more awesome!
Never one to keep her readers in monotony, there were once again some huge unexpected twists this time around, and I personally can’t wait to see what they mean for these characters as the series continues. But once again, a raving 5 stars for the Darkness series from this reviewer!
Quotes:
“You better follow her. She’s mad,” Cooper said. “I wouldn’t mess with her when she’s this pissed and didn’t get her breakfast.” ~Loc 859
Smiling, I kissed him once more, taking his hands into mine. “Come on, Cooper will have plenty of other opportunities to see my ass.” I directed my words toward the other side of the door.
“You said plural, right? Like in more than once?” Cooper asked back. ~Loc 1313
“Okay, fuck-toy, grab my meat stick.” He handed me another skewer from the fridge. He seized my legs and flung me over his shoulder.
“Geez, how many sexual innuendoes can you stuff into one sentence?” Laughing, I folded over his shoulder.
“I’m a genius with them.” ~Loc 2590
My eyes widened, but Eli had a huge grin on his face. “Seriously. Best day. Ever.”
“Remember when you said payback is a bitch?” My eyebrow curved. “Yeah, she’s going to be one tonight.” ~Loc 2948
Find this and more of my reviews at:
http://www.autumnreview.com/search/la...
Picking up right where we left off, this installment throws us right into the aftermath of Ember’s return from the Otherworld. Eli is PISSED, and oh my you couldn’t cut through that tension with a chain saw if you tried. It was painful to watch this couple that I had celebrated finally getting together suddenly so at odds, and as more drama fell into their laps there was never a dull moment. Ember was determined to rescue her captive friends from the ever-threatening Seelie Queen, but there were so many things pulling at her on any given day. Her mom Lily was frustratingly prejudice against the Dark Dwellers that Ember was growing to care for, Lars was fit to be tied after Ember’s betrayal, and Torin was a constant question mark when it came to her emotions. It was an action-packed, exciting, and emotional leg of the journey for everyone involved!
Through all of the twists and turns what stood out most was the underlying heartache and smoking-hot sexual frustration that Ember and Eli were dealing with after their separation. My heart broke seeing Eli’s pain through his perspective, so I couldn’t help but feel like he was justified in being so angry with her; it just broke him when she disappeared without a trace. When Ember just popped back home, still smelling like him even though it had been 3 years their time, he kind of just went into full-on ass mode for awhile there. But watching these two duke it out, lash it out, and then finally make-up-sex it all out…yep, that was some thoroughly entertaining and hot as hell relationship drama!! And that it’s mixed in with all of the paranormal fantasy thrills just made it that much more awesome!
Never one to keep her readers in monotony, there were once again some huge unexpected twists this time around, and I personally can’t wait to see what they mean for these characters as the series continues. But once again, a raving 5 stars for the Darkness series from this reviewer!
Quotes:
“You better follow her. She’s mad,” Cooper said. “I wouldn’t mess with her when she’s this pissed and didn’t get her breakfast.” ~Loc 859
Smiling, I kissed him once more, taking his hands into mine. “Come on, Cooper will have plenty of other opportunities to see my ass.” I directed my words toward the other side of the door.
“You said plural, right? Like in more than once?” Cooper asked back. ~Loc 1313
“Okay, fuck-toy, grab my meat stick.” He handed me another skewer from the fridge. He seized my legs and flung me over his shoulder.
“Geez, how many sexual innuendoes can you stuff into one sentence?” Laughing, I folded over his shoulder.
“I’m a genius with them.” ~Loc 2590
My eyes widened, but Eli had a huge grin on his face. “Seriously. Best day. Ever.”
“Remember when you said payback is a bitch?” My eyebrow curved. “Yeah, she’s going to be one tonight.” ~Loc 2948
Find this and more of my reviews at:
http://www.autumnreview.com/search/la...
March 28, 2014
Not going to lie, I definitely kept reading chunks and stopping instead of doing one straight sitting just so I could make it last a little longer. I was dreading finishing it because I just love this series to pieces! Dwellers of Darkness picks up right where Fire in the Darkness left us and takes off like a rocket.
Ember continues to make me love her as our protagonist. She is beyond stubborn and bad-ass and can dish it as well as she can take it. Plus I'm so happy to see her take charge of her feelings in this one, though I know... I just know there is a secret we have yet to discover that is going to explode in her face and I'm dying to know what that is. I'm hoping she'll be able to right everything with her tough interior and exterior though.
Eli Dragen, mother humping dominant sexy green-eyed hot beast, you. This man is all strength and muscles and protectiveness and I can never get enough of him. I absolutely loved to see that toughness crack slightly towards Ember in this installment, yet at the same time the intenseness just continues to build between him and Ember and I couldn't have loved it more. I know there's more were missing from him, and I can only hope it doesn't destroy anything. ELI FOREVVVER!
It's not just him and Ember I love, though they play the biggest roles.. I love the story. I absolutely adore the world of Fae and Dark Dwellers and all that is light and dark. I love the age range of the story and the romance, and betrayals, and snarky friendships. It's got a little (or maybe a lot) of everything I adore in a book.
The end of the book... man! I wanted to rip the queen in half, know everybody's secrets, slap and kiss Eli at the same time, and scream for the next book. I heart this series so freaken hard. I will definitely not be looking forward to the series coming to an end, however I can only hope for an epic and earth shattering happily ever after. Love this series!!
Find this review at Shortie Says
Ember continues to make me love her as our protagonist. She is beyond stubborn and bad-ass and can dish it as well as she can take it. Plus I'm so happy to see her take charge of her feelings in this one, though I know... I just know there is a secret we have yet to discover that is going to explode in her face and I'm dying to know what that is. I'm hoping she'll be able to right everything with her tough interior and exterior though.
Eli Dragen, mother humping dominant sexy green-eyed hot beast, you. This man is all strength and muscles and protectiveness and I can never get enough of him. I absolutely loved to see that toughness crack slightly towards Ember in this installment, yet at the same time the intenseness just continues to build between him and Ember and I couldn't have loved it more. I know there's more were missing from him, and I can only hope it doesn't destroy anything. ELI FOREVVVER!
It's not just him and Ember I love, though they play the biggest roles.. I love the story. I absolutely adore the world of Fae and Dark Dwellers and all that is light and dark. I love the age range of the story and the romance, and betrayals, and snarky friendships. It's got a little (or maybe a lot) of everything I adore in a book.
The end of the book... man! I wanted to rip the queen in half, know everybody's secrets, slap and kiss Eli at the same time, and scream for the next book. I heart this series so freaken hard. I will definitely not be looking forward to the series coming to an end, however I can only hope for an epic and earth shattering happily ever after. Love this series!!
Find this review at Shortie Says
April 1, 2020
3.5 ⭐⭐⭐✨
I really love the concept of the story, it really has potential. Dwellers of Darkness, the third book in the series, we finally get to have some questions answered. We were able to understand Eli more and who’s Ember’s real father. What I really didn’t like was the SECRETS (obviously Lily has tons of it.) Why can’t they just tell her the truth?! 🙄
As for Eli, I was really happy that they finally got to be together, FINALLY, but at the end of the book he went back on being cold again.
I really hope🙏🏻 the fourth book will be a good finale 😊
“Judge a man by his actions, not his words.”
I really love the concept of the story, it really has potential. Dwellers of Darkness, the third book in the series, we finally get to have some questions answered. We were able to understand Eli more and who’s Ember’s real father. What I really didn’t like was the SECRETS (obviously Lily has tons of it.) Why can’t they just tell her the truth?! 🙄
As for Eli, I was really happy that they finally got to be together, FINALLY, but at the end of the book he went back on being cold again.
I really hope🙏🏻 the fourth book will be a good finale 😊
“Judge a man by his actions, not his words.”
September 15, 2015
Moning's Fever series meets The Mortal Instruments. Probably should have went with a trilogy instead of a saga.
17+, lots of sexual content. There's some new developments but it's pretty boring overall. The love triangle was so poorly developed I never invested in it, so the tension and heartache associated with that isn't of interest to me.
IMO this book should have concentrated more on the supporting characters, I don't feel connected to them and I'm a bored with the main characters.
17+, lots of sexual content. There's some new developments but it's pretty boring overall. The love triangle was so poorly developed I never invested in it, so the tension and heartache associated with that isn't of interest to me.
IMO this book should have concentrated more on the supporting characters, I don't feel connected to them and I'm a bored with the main characters.
June 1, 2019
Stunning!!
I wanna freaking scream, damn it, my friends can't catch a break. Every single book gets better and better. More secrets, more betrayals, lies and treachery. There were parts where I had to set it down and just breathe. Even after a bunch of revelations, there is much being hidden. I loved the trip to Greece, it felt like a Tomb Raider quest. I just cannot see how they are gonna get out of this alive, but the fate of human kind is counting on it, and they don't even know it. The Queen is a leech, evil bitch!!!
I wanna freaking scream, damn it, my friends can't catch a break. Every single book gets better and better. More secrets, more betrayals, lies and treachery. There were parts where I had to set it down and just breathe. Even after a bunch of revelations, there is much being hidden. I loved the trip to Greece, it felt like a Tomb Raider quest. I just cannot see how they are gonna get out of this alive, but the fate of human kind is counting on it, and they don't even know it. The Queen is a leech, evil bitch!!!
March 8, 2019
Yup, I'm still invested. This series is fun with just enough drama to keep me coming back for more. And now, I just have to see how they stop the Queen!
With the ending of the previous book being so fast paced, the beginning of this one was a nice change. Ember is back from the Otherworld - with some strays she picked up along the way - and now she must prepare to fight the coming Queen and also figure out where the Sword of Light is hidden. But she's also got some family issues to deal with.
I really like Ember for the most part. A lot has been thrown at her, but she's adapting and staying strong. While she doesn't always make the best decisions *cough* like the one at the end of this book *cough*, you can still see her reasoning for it. She definitely leads with her heart which has helped in some situations and has royally effed up others. And she's definitely too trusting. I mean, I TOLD YOU SO was yelled at the end of the book.
Then there's the 2 boys: Eli and Torin. Oh Torin. What has happened to you? I thought he was a really interesting character in the previous books but here he's the exact opposite of everything he was prior. I know the Queen tortured him but his attitude is very forceful and he really doesn't understand the difference between duty and love. On the other side, we have Eli who's just a loose cannon. A bad boy to the core who Ember cannot get enough of - despite everyone's protests. I do like them together. I think they play off of each other well but I just wish they all would talk more.
And that's the biggest issue with these books. I'm not about to be 4 books into the series and so much of the drama could have been avoided if people would just tell the whole story upfront. It's like, haven't you learned what keeping things hidden does? They obviously come out at the worst time and then everyone gets angry and there's no coming back from it.
Also Josh - go to hell.
Now onto the final book!
With the ending of the previous book being so fast paced, the beginning of this one was a nice change. Ember is back from the Otherworld - with some strays she picked up along the way - and now she must prepare to fight the coming Queen and also figure out where the Sword of Light is hidden. But she's also got some family issues to deal with.
I really like Ember for the most part. A lot has been thrown at her, but she's adapting and staying strong. While she doesn't always make the best decisions *cough* like the one at the end of this book *cough*, you can still see her reasoning for it. She definitely leads with her heart which has helped in some situations and has royally effed up others. And she's definitely too trusting. I mean, I TOLD YOU SO was yelled at the end of the book.
Then there's the 2 boys: Eli and Torin. Oh Torin. What has happened to you? I thought he was a really interesting character in the previous books but here he's the exact opposite of everything he was prior. I know the Queen tortured him but his attitude is very forceful and he really doesn't understand the difference between duty and love. On the other side, we have Eli who's just a loose cannon. A bad boy to the core who Ember cannot get enough of - despite everyone's protests. I do like them together. I think they play off of each other well but I just wish they all would talk more.
And that's the biggest issue with these books. I'm not about to be 4 books into the series and so much of the drama could have been avoided if people would just tell the whole story upfront. It's like, haven't you learned what keeping things hidden does? They obviously come out at the worst time and then everyone gets angry and there's no coming back from it.
Also Josh - go to hell.
Now onto the final book!
July 12, 2017
These are like crack! I can't stop reading them! On to book 4!
February 7, 2022
“I always hated that sentiment. Other people makes us whole. You are whole without having someone else. The person only added to your awesomeness.”
Can someone please JUST TELL HER?! Or else I will!!!!!!!!!! It’s in your goddamn name ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ Ah 😮💨 I just had to get it out of my chest, you know. Because I can’t enjoy her relationship with big kitty until she finds out, spirals out of control and finally forgives him. Because I won’t accept any other scenario. I mean, we can skip the whole “out of control” thing. 👀 But I know Ember…. So, yeah, that’s not going to go well 😬
Seeing how things are right now and what I know from Savage Lands… oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. I have fears. And concerns. But mostly fears. Sooooo many fears. 😦 Ken and the black kitty are going to be a thing aren’t they? 👀 I can’t wait to see Ryan’s reaction to THAT 🙈 Now Torin let’s chat… I didn’t mind you. I actually like love triangles when bonds are forced upon you because it makes it less “oh poor me, I don’t know how to just f*cking choose” and more “damn, this sh*t is powerful and hard to control.” But now Torin, you’re just annoying. Please, go self sacrifice yourself. Thanks. 5 stars ⭐️
Can someone please JUST TELL HER?! Or else I will!!!!!!!!!! It’s in your goddamn name ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ Ah 😮💨 I just had to get it out of my chest, you know. Because I can’t enjoy her relationship with big kitty until she finds out, spirals out of control and finally forgives him. Because I won’t accept any other scenario. I mean, we can skip the whole “out of control” thing. 👀 But I know Ember…. So, yeah, that’s not going to go well 😬
Seeing how things are right now and what I know from Savage Lands… oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. I have fears. And concerns. But mostly fears. Sooooo many fears. 😦 Ken and the black kitty are going to be a thing aren’t they? 👀 I can’t wait to see Ryan’s reaction to THAT 🙈 Now Torin let’s chat… I didn’t mind you. I actually like love triangles when bonds are forced upon you because it makes it less “oh poor me, I don’t know how to just f*cking choose” and more “damn, this sh*t is powerful and hard to control.” But now Torin, you’re just annoying. Please, go self sacrifice yourself. Thanks. 5 stars ⭐️
December 13, 2014
Woo! Ember and Eli's chemistry burns up the pages. I thought my Kindle might explode at one point.
I love misfit teams thrown together and this is one rag-tag group of anti heroes and adventurers out to save the world. The chemistry, by-play and teasing between them all is ever amusing and totally entertaining.
Cal and Simmons are a hoot! They remind me of Brownies Franjean and Rool in the movie Willow. These two add fun comedic entertainment to the whole book. I especially love the trick they play on Eli. ;)
I love misfit teams thrown together and this is one rag-tag group of anti heroes and adventurers out to save the world. The chemistry, by-play and teasing between them all is ever amusing and totally entertaining.
Cal and Simmons are a hoot! They remind me of Brownies Franjean and Rool in the movie Willow. These two add fun comedic entertainment to the whole book. I especially love the trick they play on Eli. ;)
October 22, 2019
Great read.
Well another great read...getting a bit more action and insight about Embers life.
Ember's and Eli's relationship is still fiery and explosive. But there is still more secrets being kept from her about him. She also learns more about the Unseelie King.
Still along way to go and more secrets to unfold .
Well another great read...getting a bit more action and insight about Embers life.
Ember's and Eli's relationship is still fiery and explosive. But there is still more secrets being kept from her about him. She also learns more about the Unseelie King.
Still along way to go and more secrets to unfold .
March 7, 2023
An absolute roller coaster ride of a book! Full of action that had me gobbling the pages, revelations and spice, it was a fantastic read all round.
February 5, 2023
01/17/2023: Reread!
11/07/2020: Reread!
This review MAY contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.
Wow, this fucking book! It was tantalizing from the beginning and it did not let up for a moment. It was one astonishing ride that I am grateful to have had. I can only imagine that reading this book is as adrenalizing as Ember felt riding on the back of Eli's Harley.
I am pretty impressed with the plot in this series and where the story is going. It really does get so much more intense in this book. There are high stakes and conflicts around every corner. I am liking the foreshadowing coming back from previous books and shocking me with new developments. The plot feels very well put together. Everything fits and works perfectly. I love the plot twists and the suspense to know more.
I really love this intricate cast of characters. The chemistry and interactions between these characters really vitalizes the story. The plot is excellent and very clever, but the characters are the meat of the story. They make it worth reading. I have come to really adore most of these characters. I love how the addition of Cal and Simmons brings some humor to the series that was lacking in the first book. I love how developed most of the characters are and how they embody the concept that no one is purely bad or good. Most of these characters have a bit of both, and I like that. It makes them seem more real. Everyone has flaws so it is good to see some in these characters. I have come to love them so much.
The romance in this series is so hot. It burns and devours. There is more love-to-hate in this book with Eli and Ember. They seem to go back and forth between aggression and passion with all the events happening in the story. An underlying theme is trust. Every time Ember feels her trust has been shattered she closes herself off and their relationship takes the hit. They build it back up in the only way they can - by yelling at each other and throwing biting comments back and forth until they can't deny their attraction anymore. And damn, if it isn't glorious! I wasn't sure that I would like their romance when I read Darkness of Light, but it has grown into something I can't get enough of.
The world-building was well written. Most of the characters take a trip to Greece and the details were very vivid.
As with the last book, I found way too many grammatical errors in this book. It could use a serious editing session. I can't usually enjoy a book with spelling or grammatical errors, but surprisingly they did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, I want to scream out to everyone to read this series. I personally wasn't fully invested until book two, so if you decide to give it a try I would keep going because it definitely gets better in book two. This book was infinitely better than book two. This series has become one of my favorites. I am eager to read the next book in the series. Stacey Marie Brown is now on my auto-buy list!
More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction
11/07/2020: Reread!
This review MAY contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.
Wow, this fucking book! It was tantalizing from the beginning and it did not let up for a moment. It was one astonishing ride that I am grateful to have had. I can only imagine that reading this book is as adrenalizing as Ember felt riding on the back of Eli's Harley.
I am pretty impressed with the plot in this series and where the story is going. It really does get so much more intense in this book. There are high stakes and conflicts around every corner. I am liking the foreshadowing coming back from previous books and shocking me with new developments. The plot feels very well put together. Everything fits and works perfectly. I love the plot twists and the suspense to know more.
I really love this intricate cast of characters. The chemistry and interactions between these characters really vitalizes the story. The plot is excellent and very clever, but the characters are the meat of the story. They make it worth reading. I have come to really adore most of these characters. I love how the addition of Cal and Simmons brings some humor to the series that was lacking in the first book. I love how developed most of the characters are and how they embody the concept that no one is purely bad or good. Most of these characters have a bit of both, and I like that. It makes them seem more real. Everyone has flaws so it is good to see some in these characters. I have come to love them so much.
The romance in this series is so hot. It burns and devours. There is more love-to-hate in this book with Eli and Ember. They seem to go back and forth between aggression and passion with all the events happening in the story. An underlying theme is trust. Every time Ember feels her trust has been shattered she closes herself off and their relationship takes the hit. They build it back up in the only way they can - by yelling at each other and throwing biting comments back and forth until they can't deny their attraction anymore. And damn, if it isn't glorious! I wasn't sure that I would like their romance when I read Darkness of Light, but it has grown into something I can't get enough of.
The world-building was well written. Most of the characters take a trip to Greece and the details were very vivid.
As with the last book, I found way too many grammatical errors in this book. It could use a serious editing session. I can't usually enjoy a book with spelling or grammatical errors, but surprisingly they did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, I want to scream out to everyone to read this series. I personally wasn't fully invested until book two, so if you decide to give it a try I would keep going because it definitely gets better in book two. This book was infinitely better than book two. This series has become one of my favorites. I am eager to read the next book in the series. Stacey Marie Brown is now on my auto-buy list!
More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction
August 28, 2017
4 Dwellers of Darkness Stars
OOOOOk….
I am liking the action and where the story it going. Ember is growing on me more and more, and so is her band of misfits.
Not a big fan of her mother or her “uncle” I think they don’t realise how powerful she really is and treat her like a child. Granted sometimes she acts like it but I forgive her that.
I am feeling some big <3’s for Torin, but I believe Eli and Torin were put into Embers life for a reason and I hope they understand her choice was from her heart. That’s kind of all you can ask for.
Josh… ohhh Josh… I Called it.. Buttttt NOOOOOOO.. It was almost too easy to predict that part of the story.
I am looking forward to the conclusion.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
OOOOOk….
I am liking the action and where the story it going. Ember is growing on me more and more, and so is her band of misfits.
Not a big fan of her mother or her “uncle” I think they don’t realise how powerful she really is and treat her like a child. Granted sometimes she acts like it but I forgive her that.
I am feeling some big <3’s for Torin, but I believe Eli and Torin were put into Embers life for a reason and I hope they understand her choice was from her heart. That’s kind of all you can ask for.
Josh… ohhh Josh… I Called it.. Buttttt NOOOOOOO.. It was almost too easy to predict that part of the story.
I am looking forward to the conclusion.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
August 12, 2015
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the other two as I found it just became repetitive. I had thought that Eli and Embers relationship would have progressed to a state where they no longer bickered like children but it just isn't the case. The animosity at first made sense they each had reasons to dislike the other regardless of their physical attraction but by book three I expect this to have moved on instead it still seems that all they can do is argue and have sex. I honestly have found this story to be a bit tedious by now. I don't think I will continue as the character development just isn't going anywhere and the plot was quite monotonous. Overall enjoyed the previous books but need to progress and the characters need to grow up, feel like they're all still kids.
April 23, 2014
This book has hit a seize up point with me.
I do like this series, to date it has been reasonably fine. However now, the whole love triangle, on again/off again factor has driven me to distraction.
The book has become painstaking with constantly rehashing the same scenarios. The romance has become repetitive to the point of making it all very ho hum.
I'm about half way through. Aside from the first third of the novel resurrecting too much background info from the previous novels, so far I consider that nothing very new has happened. So, at the end of the day I've put this on my to-be-finished-later pile and I won't be getting the next novel any time soon.
I do like this series, to date it has been reasonably fine. However now, the whole love triangle, on again/off again factor has driven me to distraction.
The book has become painstaking with constantly rehashing the same scenarios. The romance has become repetitive to the point of making it all very ho hum.
I'm about half way through. Aside from the first third of the novel resurrecting too much background info from the previous novels, so far I consider that nothing very new has happened. So, at the end of the day I've put this on my to-be-finished-later pile and I won't be getting the next novel any time soon.
January 7, 2017
Is it sad that I just reread this whole series and I still don't really want to read the last book. I remember loving this series but there was just TOO many secrets going on in it. It got annoying and I forgot about the kinda annoying connection Ember had to Eli. I usually love mate like connections and somewhat asshole type guys but Eli could sometimes be too much of an ass and ember just forgave everyone way to easily just because of their connection and that the people were family or like family. God it got annoying. I just can't even read the last one because it this book ended with the reveal that there are even more and possibly WORSE secrets! It's just too much
January 14, 2015
No Make-up scene :( after Beast in the Darkness (Darkness #2.5)
by Stacey Marie Brown I kind of expected a great scene between the main characters. Missing the romance in the second half of the book. Still have 15% to go! Look forward reading more!
by Stacey Marie Brown I kind of expected a great scene between the main characters. Missing the romance in the second half of the book. Still have 15% to go! Look forward reading more!
March 22, 2020
Reread 5 stars to 4
February 8, 2018
For a good portion of the beginning of the book, I just wanted to punch both Eli and Ember. They did nothing but bicker. And it was cute and funny in the beginning. But it got insufferable after the first book. And then I had to deal with it in the second book. And then again for the beginning of this book. It was almost unbearable. -.-
I was really happy with the way the story line picked up in this book. More things started clicking into place for me. There was more edge of your seat action in this book. And I loved seeing all the characters come to work together. I also loved that Ember was the glue to that group.
I am annoyed we have to wait until book 4 to finally start learning real things about Eli. He has been this mystery throughout the whole series. We've been given this miniscule amount of information about him to keep us intrigued. But all I want is to know him.
I, again, guessed right at so many things in this book. I am all for foreshadowing. But like the simple and subtle type of foreshadowing. The forshadowing in this series is so apparent that it slaps you right in the freakin' face. I really wish it wasn't like that because I seen the plot twists coming a mile away.
While writing this review I didn't know how many stars I wanted to give this book. I really enjoy the story line. And this book definitely made me do happy dances. But it also infuriated me. And because of that I can't justify giving this book more than like 3.5 stars.
I was really happy with the way the story line picked up in this book. More things started clicking into place for me. There was more edge of your seat action in this book. And I loved seeing all the characters come to work together. I also loved that Ember was the glue to that group.
I am annoyed we have to wait until book 4 to finally start learning real things about Eli. He has been this mystery throughout the whole series. We've been given this miniscule amount of information about him to keep us intrigued. But all I want is to know him.
I, again, guessed right at so many things in this book. I am all for foreshadowing. But like the simple and subtle type of foreshadowing. The forshadowing in this series is so apparent that it slaps you right in the freakin' face. I really wish it wasn't like that because I seen the plot twists coming a mile away.
While writing this review I didn't know how many stars I wanted to give this book. I really enjoy the story line. And this book definitely made me do happy dances. But it also infuriated me. And because of that I can't justify giving this book more than like 3.5 stars.
April 23, 2014
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
I'd say this book was more of 4.5 Olives. It really is an interesting book with lots of action and tons of secrets that make you want to rip out your hair...in a good way. Oh and there's a love triangle *GASP* ... I know I know... I tend to hate these types of stories, but it works for me in this one. It's not really overt, and while it's a main theme in the story, it doesn't suffocate it. There's still plenty of other things to love about the Darkness series. Such as a bad ass chick named Ember who is being chased by a wicked queen hell bent on taking over the Earth as we know it and merging it with the Otherworld, the world where Faes are from.
This queen is after Ember. She wants to take control of her and her powers to bring about her evil plans. Oh and there are tons of hotties in the form of bad ass Dark Dwellers who aren't quite wolves but sort of resemble them and panthers. It's pretty neat. Ember and her friends embark on a quest to take down the queen, find love, reestablish friendships, and mourn those who are lost in the war. Tons of drama, action, magic, and more that paranormal lovers will sure to gobble up.
Now my little martini hookers, if you haven't read the 1st two books in the series... yourealllllllllllllllllly need to in order to fully understand what's going on. This series is like Harry Potter in the sense that while each book has a satisfactory ending, each book builds on top of the others.
You can check out my reviews for Darkness of Light & Fire in the Darkness. Also there's a really nifty interview from Stacey where she talks about her series and what to expect. You can read that interview here. This interview will give you a more in depth look into the series and the author that created it!
Soooo, with all that being said, here are my thoughts on book 3, Dwellers of Darkness. It may seem a bit spoilery to those who haven't had a chance to read the series yet, so you've been warned!
The book opens up with Ember and her friends escaping the clutches of the wicked queen while in the Otherworld, though not without some bumps and bruises. Also not everyone escaped. Her dad Mark and her friends Ryan and Josh are still hostages. And poor Torin! He had risked everything to help Ember and her mother and Kennedy escape. Now that the queen knows of his treachery, what will become of him?
Back on Earth they discover that instead of being gone maybe a few days it's been 3 years. And all the while Ember was gone, Eli, a Dark Dweller, has gone nearly insane. Eli's blood runs within Ember's body, and while she was gone he couldn't feel her as he normally does and so to him he thought she was dead. He had no idea where she had gone to after she left him and the security he provided her while she stayed at the Dweller's compound.
When he finally feels her presence, he's angry with her, and hates himself for the relief that washes over him, knowing she is alive. He doesn't want to fall for her. She is a Dae and one of his sworn enemies. Her kind is hated by all Fae and the downfall of his race and the expulsion from their beloved home in the Otherworld was at the cost of the Dae. So there's a lot of hate there and try as he might, he can't forget her or the heartache he felt at her absence.
With the queen's minions on their tail, the escapees and Eli flee back to his compound where they can regroup and figure just how in the heck they're going to be able to take down their formidable foe. Eli and Ember must also deal with their feelings and emotions. Fueled by lust, they fight their attraction and use their anger as a cloak to mask their heart's desires. Ember also has to contend with the feelings she can't run from for Torin, the man she's been promised to since birth. They have an unbreakable bond and she must discern if what she feels for Torin is real or not. What's a girl to do? Who is she going to choose? All the while... will she live long enough for it to even matter? There's so many variables, and both Torin, Eli, and mother (who she thought was dead but was later found alive in Fire in the Darkness) are keeping secrets from her. Secrets she needs to discover in order to stand up and fight against the enemy.
I thought the pacing was perfect for this story, and I agreed with the hard choices Ember had to make. They weren't easy, but they were from the heart, and now she has to live with those choices and let the cards lay where they fall. I wish we got more answers then more questions in this book, but I guess that's what keeps us readers interested and I'm anxiously waiting for book 4. Stacey Marie Brown has crafted a unique world that you sometimes wish were real. Heck, she made me love the book despite the love triangle...and that's a feat in itself because I usually hate a book on contact if there's mention of one. LOL.
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January 8, 2023
The next book better be a banger because this book slogged. The plot and revelations were incredibly predictable and a lot of Aneira’s dialogue is just cringe and very juvenile. She reads like a bootleg Amarantha (ACOTAR). I also noticed 5 spelling/grammar errors, which is 5 too many.
I’m going to finish this series because I genuinely like Ember and Eli (low key I like them more than Brexley and Warwick from Savage Lands) but I’m very bored with the plot at this point. Also I SWEAR if an important character was just casually killed off page I will be enraged at this book and it will be demoted to 2 stars.
I’m going to finish this series because I genuinely like Ember and Eli (low key I like them more than Brexley and Warwick from Savage Lands) but I’m very bored with the plot at this point. Also I SWEAR if an important character was just casually killed off page I will be enraged at this book and it will be demoted to 2 stars.
July 24, 2019
4,5*
Though I think Ember could have developed a bit more in this book, like Kennedy for instance, I loved the story in general.
Was the story flawless, no. There were some inconsistenties and sometimes the events felt a bit repetitive, but they didn't really bother me. It still kept me glued to the (digital) pages.
I just really hope book 4 will be a good finale!
Though I think Ember could have developed a bit more in this book, like Kennedy for instance, I loved the story in general.
Was the story flawless, no. There were some inconsistenties and sometimes the events felt a bit repetitive, but they didn't really bother me. It still kept me glued to the (digital) pages.
I just really hope book 4 will be a good finale!
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