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The Edge of Everything #2
The Brink of Darkness
Things have changed for seventeen-year-old Zoe ever since the otherworldly events that brought her together with the mysterious bounty hunter she calls X. In order to save Zoe and her family, X has done the unthinkable - he's given up his freedom and returned to captivity in the Lowlands.
X is determined to break the lords' hold on him once and for all, but being stripped of his power pushes him toward a darkness he's never experienced and a past he's never known. The secrets that surface could be the key to reuniting X and Zoe... or they could mean the destruction of everything they have been fighting for.
Gripping and full of heart, this epic continuation of Jeff Giles' series - which already has rave reviews from New York Times bestselling authors Kami Garcia, Melissa de la Cruz, and Cassandra Clare, among others - will bring readers right to the edge of everything.
X is determined to break the lords' hold on him once and for all, but being stripped of his power pushes him toward a darkness he's never experienced and a past he's never known. The secrets that surface could be the key to reuniting X and Zoe... or they could mean the destruction of everything they have been fighting for.
Gripping and full of heart, this epic continuation of Jeff Giles' series - which already has rave reviews from New York Times bestselling authors Kami Garcia, Melissa de la Cruz, and Cassandra Clare, among others - will bring readers right to the edge of everything.
341 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
June 28, 2018
I had read the first book in this series and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one.
I love love love Zoe and X. She’s smart and sassy and he’s just so good and loyal. Together they are adorable and it sweet to see them react to each other. Of course Val and Dallas are fun and I could have had a million more scenes with Ripper and it wouldn’t have been enough. There are a few new characters who were fantastic, but I’ll let you find those.
Plot wise, it was not at all what I expected. I was captivated at the direction it went and thank god the dog lived or I would have been so pissed. The build up was mild, then all of a sudden it was over, and while the ending is satisfying, my main complaint is that I just wanted more.
Overall, this has been a unique story with characters who were easy to root for from the very beginning. I think this is the end of the series, but I’m 10000000% here for another book.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for providing the arc free of charge**
I love love love Zoe and X. She’s smart and sassy and he’s just so good and loyal. Together they are adorable and it sweet to see them react to each other. Of course Val and Dallas are fun and I could have had a million more scenes with Ripper and it wouldn’t have been enough. There are a few new characters who were fantastic, but I’ll let you find those.
Plot wise, it was not at all what I expected. I was captivated at the direction it went and thank god the dog lived or I would have been so pissed. The build up was mild, then all of a sudden it was over, and while the ending is satisfying, my main complaint is that I just wanted more.
Overall, this has been a unique story with characters who were easy to root for from the very beginning. I think this is the end of the series, but I’m 10000000% here for another book.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for providing the arc free of charge**
April 15, 2018
I was curious to find out if author Giles could keep up the awesomeness, cinematic adventure and LOL humor of THE EDGE OF EVERYTHING in his sequel, THE BRINK OF DARKNESS (my god, I love that title). In answer - he can. In spades. He hits the ground running with one of the best (supernaturally swoony) YA prologues I've ever read (I really like authors who don't make me wait for the kissing). One of the things I love most about this author's writing is his talent for quickly establishing so many vile yet lovable denizens-of-hell characters (a rarefied writing skill if there ever was one). Jeff Giles is not afraid to dive fully into wildly outrageous territory & to wantonly mix genres to great effect. Zoe and X continue to be one of the greatest supernatural couples of YA Fantasy, but I have to admit, Dallas is still one of my absolute most favorite characters of all time. If there is not an upcoming Dallas spin-off book series, HBO series and rap album, I will personally consider it to be the greatest travesty in the entire history of the entertainment industry.
#TeamTheUkrainian #TeamTheEmperorOfMellow #TeamMundZuc #TeamX
#TeamTheUkrainian #TeamTheEmperorOfMellow #TeamMundZuc #TeamX
March 15, 2021
3 out of 5 stars
I was hoping this book to be better and more enjoyable than the 1st book and fortunately it was. I'm glad this book turned out to be a 3 star book for me, since I was excited for this duology, but the first installement was a bit disappointing.
I was hoping this book to be better and more enjoyable than the 1st book and fortunately it was. I'm glad this book turned out to be a 3 star book for me, since I was excited for this duology, but the first installement was a bit disappointing.
August 4, 2018
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
The Edge of Everything series continues where we left off… X, the bounty hunter 17-year-old Zoe fell in love with, has given up his freedom and returned to the Lowlands in order to save Zoe and her family. Stripped of his powers, X is determined to break the lords’ hold on him and learn about his past. Those secrets could be the key to reuniting X and Zoe… or they could mean the destruction of everything they have been fighting for.
The short review...
The first book, The Edge of Everything was a sleeper hit for me early last year! When I saw the sequel I was quite happy to snatch it up and get reacquainted with everyone... X was in a pretty tough spot where we left off but I LOVE how we got back into the story and zoomed from 0 to 60. Zoe is lovelorn but spends some quality time with her best friends Dallas and Val, and these moments really shine! GAH and there is her mom and little brother, Jonah plus the sweet dogs. My favorite though was the quality time with Ripper! And I haven't even mentioned the new characters...
The first book focused on X and Zoe's romance in the real world with the supernatural coming to play so I wondered where we would go heading into the sequel... and I'm happy to report we were headed for hell! X is certainly a favorite of mine, I quite enjoyed what a persistent man he is and that he was so focused on a mission beyond returning to Zoe. They spend quite a bit of the book apart but I really enjoyed how connected they still were the entire time... and that end!! There were some crazy twists that lead to some perfect outcomes. This is a duology that I highly recommend!
Cover & Title grade -> A+
The cover on the original, The Edge of Everything wasn't bad but it did NOTHING to sell this paranormal story! That is not true with the new artwork for the sequel, The Brink of Darkness, which makes me so, so happy! I quite enjoyed the first book and found the second completing the story in a way that hit that sweet spot... much like these matching covers! These are calling to sit on your bookshelves now...
Why read The Brink of Darkness (and The Edge of Everything too if you missed it)?
-All the characters!
The Edge of Everything had just the right amount of characters to tantalize us about the Lowlands (hell) but also to give Zoe a real life with friends and family. Well The Brink of Darkness ups the ante by giving us more villains and allies alike, all from the Lowlands! These are not good people, but they have spent some time paying for their crimes and now are changed... It's deliciously grey all around!
-A scenic jaunt through the Lowlands!
The Edge of Everything revealed the Lowlands to use piece by piece as Zoe learned of them which was perfect for the paranormal romance vibe of the story... Now for The Brink of Darkness we have some loose ends to tie up for X and that means some extensive time in the Lowlands! This is not the hell from the Bible and boy is it one fun ride, there are some creepy places that just fit the world that Giles has created.
-The her and his stories!
While told in dual POVs between X and Zoe, The Edge of Everything is definitely Zoe's book. It was her romance to have and X also helped her to get some closure she needed. The Brink of Darkness is X's time to shine... and we get all the dirt and its dark and lovely and perfectly suits the Lowlands. I won't say more so those that haven't read the first book won't be spoiled but suffice to say there are murderers that you want to meet.
As a Writer...
This was a fascinating duology. The world building was quite spot on. We only got enough from The Edge of Everything that we could understand X and where he came from so that Zoe knew who she was falling in love with. So to take what we know and expand it into what we got in The Brink of Darkness... WOW!
I loved how we started with what is essentially a paranormal romance and it developed into a paranormal finding of oneself for both X and Zoe in her own way. All the ground work for the sequel was laid in the first book so that they smoothly transitioned. I really appreciate how this wasn't pulled into a third book, a duology was enough to tell the story!
The Brink of Darkness is the perfect sequel to The Edge of Everything! It sweeps in after a great paranormal romance and gives us the closure we need for X and the Lowlands world we became fascinating with. Plus there are tons of characters that you will totally fall for (there is room for a spin off for some of these characters!) I highly recommend this duology.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
July 4, 2018
3.5 Stars
I had been anticipating The Brink of Darkness by Jeff Giles since I finished The Edge of Everything, and this instalment is definitely more X-centric. I enjoyed the setting and the main characters, but I was disappointed with the slow pacing. The book was still enjoyable, however, I wish I could have enjoyed it as much as I had been hoping.
full review on The Candid Cover
I had been anticipating The Brink of Darkness by Jeff Giles since I finished The Edge of Everything, and this instalment is definitely more X-centric. I enjoyed the setting and the main characters, but I was disappointed with the slow pacing. The book was still enjoyable, however, I wish I could have enjoyed it as much as I had been hoping.
full review on The Candid Cover
July 16, 2018
Previous books in the series:
The Edge of Everything - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!
So I read the first installment last year when it came out and I liked it. I didn't love it but I really enjoyed the plot.
This is set a short period of time after the events of the first novel following the love story of X and Zoe.
When it comes to plot, the first book was much more action packed. This book was much more character driven which sometime I like if the characters are interesting ones.
I don't like X, I find him very bland which is weird cause he's meant to be the mysterious tourched soul of the book but I really just don't connect with him.
There's nothing wrong with Zoe like she's fine, I think that there could of been a better protagonist in this book.
One charcaters that I still remain love for was Dallas, I just really like him and he's very quirky and funny.
When it comes to the romance, I couldn't care less. X and Zoe are very cringey and their descriptions of eachother were cringey.
I think that things could have been more centred around the plot rather than this romance that I actually haven't heard anybody that I know praise.
This was a fine sequel, its available to buy now and hopefully Jeff Giles writes some more books that top this.
The Edge of Everything - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!
So I read the first installment last year when it came out and I liked it. I didn't love it but I really enjoyed the plot.
This is set a short period of time after the events of the first novel following the love story of X and Zoe.
When it comes to plot, the first book was much more action packed. This book was much more character driven which sometime I like if the characters are interesting ones.
I don't like X, I find him very bland which is weird cause he's meant to be the mysterious tourched soul of the book but I really just don't connect with him.
There's nothing wrong with Zoe like she's fine, I think that there could of been a better protagonist in this book.
One charcaters that I still remain love for was Dallas, I just really like him and he's very quirky and funny.
When it comes to the romance, I couldn't care less. X and Zoe are very cringey and their descriptions of eachother were cringey.
I think that things could have been more centred around the plot rather than this romance that I actually haven't heard anybody that I know praise.
This was a fine sequel, its available to buy now and hopefully Jeff Giles writes some more books that top this.
June 16, 2019
Very satisfying ending, which is unusual for a duology! Could he do more? Of course! And I would read them, yes indeed! But that aside, this was a wonderful continuation/conclusion of the fascinating story that started in the Edge of Everything! Love the characters, especially X and Ripper, but also Zoe and Rufus and new addition, Tim. There's plenty of romance, laughter, but also action, suspense, and a healthy dose of heartbreak to keep the stakes high. The Lowlands is a fabulous, fascinating creation, and the one thing that kept this from being 5 stars was that I had a whole ton of questions still, just about the mechanics of this world, that I would love to see answered!
January 18, 2018
I made no secret of my love for Zoe and X and their between-two-worlds romance after reading The Edge of Everything and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this ARC. Mwhahaha! Welp. It was phenomenal. Ripper made a big showing in this book (as do so many strong girls and women), which made me happy happy, but we also get to meet some new characters who are pretty kick ass and help to solidify X's story line. I was enchanted, as always, with the unique depiction of hell and its inhabitants and rulers. There's a lot of violence in the Lowlands (it's hell) and it's disturbing at times (what you'd expect of hell)--but somehow Giles succeeds at infusing so much hope and love into the most tragic circumstances. I'm a big fan of this series and would love to see a third book!! All the stars for Zoe and X!!!
April 1, 2020
pooled ink Reviews:
4.5 Stars
OMG I LOVED IT. MY HEART IS SO FULL AND HAPPY.
The Brink of Darkness takes a nightmarish hell that nevertheless manages to warm the heart and thrill the soul. A fantastic sequel, this book brings X's tale to new heights that will have you riveted to your seat, biting your nails in anticipation, and hugging the book tightly to your chest with a sweet sigh when finished. Beautifully shared, humor, charm, and horror bleed through these pages as an innocent bounty hunter fights for his freedom and for a love thought impossible.
Read my FULL review here: https://pooledink.com/2018/07/02/the-...
4.5 Stars
OMG I LOVED IT. MY HEART IS SO FULL AND HAPPY.
The Brink of Darkness takes a nightmarish hell that nevertheless manages to warm the heart and thrill the soul. A fantastic sequel, this book brings X's tale to new heights that will have you riveted to your seat, biting your nails in anticipation, and hugging the book tightly to your chest with a sweet sigh when finished. Beautifully shared, humor, charm, and horror bleed through these pages as an innocent bounty hunter fights for his freedom and for a love thought impossible.
Read my FULL review here: https://pooledink.com/2018/07/02/the-...
January 23, 2018
A beautiful, darkly satisfying jewel of a novel. A continuation of the story of Zoe and X from "The Edge of Everything", "The Brink of Darkness" takes us to grim and tortured places... but it shines with emotion and surprises with lightning-strikes of smart humor that can unexpectedly make you laugh out loud. The story is a moving exploration of themes of love, family, friendship and redemption. For the best experience, I recommend reading both books back-to-back!
*I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
March 14, 2018
"You don't believe you're going to get out of here."
"I want it far too much to believe it."
Um yeah this is amazing. Just as charming and mysterious and imaginative and romantic and creepy as the first book, with possibly MORE laughs, heart, and witty dialogue than the first. (The Russian! omg.) The lovely, lovely sentiments of finding humanity in broken people and in pits of despair, and people overcoming their darkness is just so...healing. A good book for our times.
This is going on a treasured place on my bookshelf.
One more because I loved this:
"How brazen you are!" said Dervish. "What on earth are they teaching girls up here these days?"
He didn't seem to expect an answer.
"Science," said Zoe. "Core strength. How to stand up to assholes."
"I want it far too much to believe it."
Um yeah this is amazing. Just as charming and mysterious and imaginative and romantic and creepy as the first book, with possibly MORE laughs, heart, and witty dialogue than the first. (The Russian! omg.) The lovely, lovely sentiments of finding humanity in broken people and in pits of despair, and people overcoming their darkness is just so...healing. A good book for our times.
This is going on a treasured place on my bookshelf.
One more because I loved this:
"How brazen you are!" said Dervish. "What on earth are they teaching girls up here these days?"
He didn't seem to expect an answer.
"Science," said Zoe. "Core strength. How to stand up to assholes."
March 14, 2018
I loved the first book in this duology, THE EDGE OF EVERYTHING, and THE BRINK OF DARKNESS fulfills the promise of that book and more. Zoe and X become only more compelling in this novel, and Giles manages to deepen their love story while also filling the pages with action, suspense, and a cast of brilliantly conceived secondary characters who add wonderful texture and meaning. Aside from being page-turning and satisfying and entertaining, the novel also has beautiful things to say about love and hope, guilt and regret, what it means to be both strong and kind, and the perils of being fully human and vulnerable.
January 15, 2018
Humorous and original, THE BRINK OF DARKNESS is action packed with characters it is so easy to care about. I really enjoyed the Lowlands. It's such a unique setting—a fascinating depiction of hell. I'm amazed at how the book can have such dark themes and scenes, while still being full of hope. Reading Giles' work is so effortless. The pacing just sweeps you along, and this duology has some of the best dialogue I've ever read. I can't wait to see what Giles writes next!
January 25, 2018
I loved reading the final chapters in X and Zoe's story! What a vibrant, terrifying, and exhilarating ride! If you missed The Edge of Everything, grab it now and read it before this eagerly-awaited sequel arrives. Though this series is unlike anything else out there, I highly recommend it for fans of Divergent and other high-stakes fantasy worlds.
July 10, 2018
4.5 stars
The Brink of Darkness is the sequel to the amazing and thrilling The Edge of Everything. As divine as it is horrid, as funny as it is touching and sad, as sweet as it is rough around the edges, The Brink of Darkness is a stunningly crafted - wild, thrilling and beautiful.
The Brink of Darkness continues the story of Zoe, a young human teenager whose life has been thrown into chaos after meeting X, a boy raised in the Lowlands, the only living person amongst thousands of damned souls. In The Edge of Everything, Zoe and X risked everything for a chance to be together, yet to save Zoe and her family, X sacrificed his freedom and was forced to return to the Lowlands. No longer allowed to walk the earth as a bounty-hunter, X doesn’t know when he will see Zoe again - but neither he nor Zoe have given up hope of a brighter future.
I instantly loved The Edge of Everything and I instantly fell back into love with everything about this story, the characters and the writing style when I started The Brink of Darkness. There is so much that I love about these two books. The Brink of Darkness continues not long after The Edge of Everything concludes, and it was easy to fall back into the rhythm of the story. I love that there are just the two books in this series. I am assuming from the ending of The Brink of Darkness that it is the conclusion of X and Zoe’s story. While I would love more of X, Zoe and their family and friends, I am so very pleased with the arch of this story and the ending they are given.
Zoe is a force of nature. Her love for those she loves, her compassion and strength are almost as fantastic as her endless wit and sense of humour. Some of the lines she comes out with are just brilliant. Her friends, Val and Dallas, are hilarious, diverse and so very loveable. Zoe’s family also bring warmth to this story, from Zoe’s caring and quirky mother to Zoe’s amazing and sweet younger brother. They are the perfect offset to the darkness of X’s life in the Lowlands.
The majority of The Brink of Darkness closely follows X and his return to the Lowlands. Remind me never to commit an act that would have me spend eternity there - no detail is spared and the horridness is at times overwhelming. Yet this perfectly captures the depravity of X’s upbringing and the desperation to free him. But even in this darkness there is friendship, humour and hope.
X and Zoe’s love story has always been epic - from the intense feelings they have for each other to the fight they must wage for X’s freedom, one that spans the worlds of both the living and the dead. I loved this continuation of their story. I commend Jeff Giles for creating such a unique world, diverse and amazing characters and a story that is compelling, heartwarming and thrilling.
I highly recommend first The Edge of Everything and its sequel The Brink of Darkness to any reader who enjoys supernatural tales of friendship, romance, humour and an epic fight for freedom.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
The Brink of Darkness is the sequel to the amazing and thrilling The Edge of Everything. As divine as it is horrid, as funny as it is touching and sad, as sweet as it is rough around the edges, The Brink of Darkness is a stunningly crafted - wild, thrilling and beautiful.
The Brink of Darkness continues the story of Zoe, a young human teenager whose life has been thrown into chaos after meeting X, a boy raised in the Lowlands, the only living person amongst thousands of damned souls. In The Edge of Everything, Zoe and X risked everything for a chance to be together, yet to save Zoe and her family, X sacrificed his freedom and was forced to return to the Lowlands. No longer allowed to walk the earth as a bounty-hunter, X doesn’t know when he will see Zoe again - but neither he nor Zoe have given up hope of a brighter future.
I instantly loved The Edge of Everything and I instantly fell back into love with everything about this story, the characters and the writing style when I started The Brink of Darkness. There is so much that I love about these two books. The Brink of Darkness continues not long after The Edge of Everything concludes, and it was easy to fall back into the rhythm of the story. I love that there are just the two books in this series. I am assuming from the ending of The Brink of Darkness that it is the conclusion of X and Zoe’s story. While I would love more of X, Zoe and their family and friends, I am so very pleased with the arch of this story and the ending they are given.
Zoe is a force of nature. Her love for those she loves, her compassion and strength are almost as fantastic as her endless wit and sense of humour. Some of the lines she comes out with are just brilliant. Her friends, Val and Dallas, are hilarious, diverse and so very loveable. Zoe’s family also bring warmth to this story, from Zoe’s caring and quirky mother to Zoe’s amazing and sweet younger brother. They are the perfect offset to the darkness of X’s life in the Lowlands.
The majority of The Brink of Darkness closely follows X and his return to the Lowlands. Remind me never to commit an act that would have me spend eternity there - no detail is spared and the horridness is at times overwhelming. Yet this perfectly captures the depravity of X’s upbringing and the desperation to free him. But even in this darkness there is friendship, humour and hope.
X and Zoe’s love story has always been epic - from the intense feelings they have for each other to the fight they must wage for X’s freedom, one that spans the worlds of both the living and the dead. I loved this continuation of their story. I commend Jeff Giles for creating such a unique world, diverse and amazing characters and a story that is compelling, heartwarming and thrilling.
I highly recommend first The Edge of Everything and its sequel The Brink of Darkness to any reader who enjoys supernatural tales of friendship, romance, humour and an epic fight for freedom.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
February 15, 2019
*ARC provided by Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review*
Noooooooo. I hate that I have finished this book. I never wanted to reach the last page!! I've been putting it off for so long just so I wouldn't have to but I caved since I missed X and Zoe too much.
Jeff quickly became one of my favorite authors with The Edge of Everything but he has permanently cemented his place on my auto-buy list with this book!
My favorite thing about Jeff's books so far is the dialogue. Jeff has the funniest most refreshingly unique banter between his characters that almost every other line makes me laugh so hard that I tear up.
This book takes place a bit after the events of the last book and I was excited for the chance to explore more of this world. From the very first page, I wasn't disappointed. I was pulled from the start and I have yet to let this world go.
TBoD was told in four parts but the last two were my favorite even if I spent most of them in tears. They were brutal and pulled at all of my heartstrings.
I love almost all of the characters but I loooove Jonah the most! He is my favorite character, after X, of course. Every single one of his lines were my favorite! He was so adorable that my face hurt from all the smiling!
My heart yearns for more from these characters! I will never be able to get them out of my head especially sine they all felt so realistic to me.
Also, even though most of the plot line was predictable, it didn't take away from my reading experience at all. I cared too much for these characters to not be immersed in their stories and I can't wait to see all the others Jeff will create next!
6/5 stars!!!
Noooooooo. I hate that I have finished this book. I never wanted to reach the last page!! I've been putting it off for so long just so I wouldn't have to but I caved since I missed X and Zoe too much.
Jeff quickly became one of my favorite authors with The Edge of Everything but he has permanently cemented his place on my auto-buy list with this book!
My favorite thing about Jeff's books so far is the dialogue. Jeff has the funniest most refreshingly unique banter between his characters that almost every other line makes me laugh so hard that I tear up.
This book takes place a bit after the events of the last book and I was excited for the chance to explore more of this world. From the very first page, I wasn't disappointed. I was pulled from the start and I have yet to let this world go.
TBoD was told in four parts but the last two were my favorite even if I spent most of them in tears. They were brutal and pulled at all of my heartstrings.
I love almost all of the characters but I loooove Jonah the most! He is my favorite character, after X, of course. Every single one of his lines were my favorite! He was so adorable that my face hurt from all the smiling!
My heart yearns for more from these characters! I will never be able to get them out of my head especially sine they all felt so realistic to me.
Also, even though most of the plot line was predictable, it didn't take away from my reading experience at all. I cared too much for these characters to not be immersed in their stories and I can't wait to see all the others Jeff will create next!
6/5 stars!!!
May 24, 2022
an extra star for having an ending that wasn't TOO happy but also wasn't TOO depressing, helped preserve the world of the 'lowlands' created throughout the two books
much better than the first book in the series
in terms of the plot and language, nothing extraordinary, but entertaining enough
ripper and jonah are two of my most favorite characters i've ever read, i simply needed more content from them
much better than the first book in the series
in terms of the plot and language, nothing extraordinary, but entertaining enough
ripper and jonah are two of my most favorite characters i've ever read, i simply needed more content from them
August 19, 2018
Just like the first book, I could hardly set this book down! Excellent world building, characters, plot, it is just everything I love in a book! Enough dark twistedness with a uniquely imaginative world that is traversed by loveable characters be they main characters or side characters and an epic romance that had me sitting on the edge of my seat until the very end!
I truly hope this author writes another book/series bc his writing is simply fantastic!
I truly hope this author writes another book/series bc his writing is simply fantastic!
July 19, 2018
I was one of those lucky dogs who received an ARC of The Edge of Darkness, the first book in this duology, and I absolutely fell in love with the characters, the story, the crackling wit and, best of all, the dialogue. This final book, The Brink of Darkness, is just as engaging, funny, sweet, sad, and cry-yourself-ugly as the first. Seriously, my eyes were swollen and my nose was running by the final page.
It's that good.
BOD begins not long after the end of EOD: X is damned to Hell, no longer a bounty hunter with kickass power and Zoe is damned to living on earth without a home, without X. She still has her fabulous friends, Val and Dallas (How could you not love those two). She still has her adorable brother, Jonah, with his innocent but astute observations. And she has the most understanding mother in the world who gets that her daughter fell in love with a bounty hunter from Hell but that doesn't mean she's happy about it.
The first part of the book focuses on X and as much as I missed him with Zoe, I loved getting to know him that much better. X knows his mother, who he has never met, is banished somewhere in the Lowlands and he makes a deal with Regent: if he brings Ripper, his psychopath mother figure, back from earth, Regent will help him find his mother. It's a heartbreaker of a deal but all parties, even the marvelous Ripper, understand.
With the Russian guard ("I'm not Russian, I'm Ukrainian".) forever in a tracksuit and wearing a gold chain necklace that says "Mama", wielding a baseball bat at his side, X proceeds further into into the Lowlands into what only can be best described as the true Hell. And this is where the book gets dark dark dark. Cringe-worthy dark. Sad dark. Painfully dark.
When the book flips back to Zoe, it's a relief. She's got her own angsty stuff going on, but at least it's not Hell. True, her house was destroyed and the family has to live with Rufus, the laid back dude in love with her mother. Uhura, one of the dogs that Jonah loves is dying. And, worse, her friends, who now know about X, are pissed at her. Why? First, she never told them about him and isn't that what friends are for, letting them know you have hooked up with someone, even if they are from Hell? And second, he's a bounty hunter from Hell with an evil overlord who destroyed her house, almost killed her brother and, dude, in case she forgot, X is from HELL.
It's an awesome book. I tore through BOD, laughing out loud, gasping, and then hiding from everyone because I was crying. Again. The author, Jeff Giles, has a gift with words and story and characters that he needs to share with readers more often. I'll miss Zoe and X but I would love to meet who else he has waiting for us.
It's that good.
BOD begins not long after the end of EOD: X is damned to Hell, no longer a bounty hunter with kickass power and Zoe is damned to living on earth without a home, without X. She still has her fabulous friends, Val and Dallas (How could you not love those two). She still has her adorable brother, Jonah, with his innocent but astute observations. And she has the most understanding mother in the world who gets that her daughter fell in love with a bounty hunter from Hell but that doesn't mean she's happy about it.
The first part of the book focuses on X and as much as I missed him with Zoe, I loved getting to know him that much better. X knows his mother, who he has never met, is banished somewhere in the Lowlands and he makes a deal with Regent: if he brings Ripper, his psychopath mother figure, back from earth, Regent will help him find his mother. It's a heartbreaker of a deal but all parties, even the marvelous Ripper, understand.
With the Russian guard ("I'm not Russian, I'm Ukrainian".) forever in a tracksuit and wearing a gold chain necklace that says "Mama", wielding a baseball bat at his side, X proceeds further into into the Lowlands into what only can be best described as the true Hell. And this is where the book gets dark dark dark. Cringe-worthy dark. Sad dark. Painfully dark.
When the book flips back to Zoe, it's a relief. She's got her own angsty stuff going on, but at least it's not Hell. True, her house was destroyed and the family has to live with Rufus, the laid back dude in love with her mother. Uhura, one of the dogs that Jonah loves is dying. And, worse, her friends, who now know about X, are pissed at her. Why? First, she never told them about him and isn't that what friends are for, letting them know you have hooked up with someone, even if they are from Hell? And second, he's a bounty hunter from Hell with an evil overlord who destroyed her house, almost killed her brother and, dude, in case she forgot, X is from HELL.
It's an awesome book. I tore through BOD, laughing out loud, gasping, and then hiding from everyone because I was crying. Again. The author, Jeff Giles, has a gift with words and story and characters that he needs to share with readers more often. I'll miss Zoe and X but I would love to meet who else he has waiting for us.
February 15, 2018
THE BRINK OF DARKNESS by Jeff Giles, the sequel to An Edge of Everything, narrates a trip through hell lightened with moments of humor and love. Giles continues his tradition of strong women characters who fight injustice and battle for those they love, even if it means risking everything. Whether they have superpowers or not, Zoe, Ripper, Sylvie, Maudlin dominate a story where you would have thought a soul-hunter from the Lowlands would be the star. The visual language gives a cinematic experience; rich and scary, gory and touching. Here’s hoping the movie rights of this will be snapped up! Totally grateful I received an ARC of this FIVE STAR book - the rest of you will have to wait till July 2018.
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June 24, 2018DNF @ 21%
I think I just lost interest for this series, but this is not a bad book in any sense at all, hence why I have not rated it with any stars. I just don’t think that reading this right now is worth my time.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the e-ARC.
I think I just lost interest for this series, but this is not a bad book in any sense at all, hence why I have not rated it with any stars. I just don’t think that reading this right now is worth my time.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the e-ARC.
July 11, 2018
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
X and Zoe live worlds apart. That is not an exaggeration. X is a prisoner of the Lowlands for the rest of his existence. Zoe lives a normal life in Montana. But neither of them is happy as long as they aren't together. And this time, X has a plan. And it is not a very solid one.
Having been born in the equivalent of what we call hell to a dead mother and a living father, must find a way out of there and into Zoe's arms. There is one way only he sees to that: finding where his mother has been imprisoned since the day he was born. But there are entities in the Lowlands that are firmly set against it; evil, bitter beings that will not let him succeed that easily.
But he is not alone. Friends can be found, even in such a dreadful place, and Zoe has also set her mind on helping her loved one escape. The pair of them will have to fight, argue and plan their way out of hell in order to be together. Can X's plan really work?
The Brink of Darkness is a thrilling fantasy plot, walking and in hand with an exciting love story. One can only feel interested by the graphic and clever depiction of the Lowlands, the equivalent of what we nowadays call Hell. There is a variety of in-depth characters; some are cunning, some are compassionate and some plain cruel. But Jeff Giles has managed to create solid reasons for each one's character and way of acting; and that is plainly brilliant. The reader can actually find quite a few very lovable and simply relatable people in the story.
There are lots of hard scenes, but that should be expected; after all, it is a book involving... hell. However, there are also a lot of pleasant, heart-melting moments that will make you sigh in relief. There is also quite a lot of humor involved.
Jeff Giles has managed to also touch some sensitive subjects in a really gentle way: the pain of losing or growing up without a parent, anxiety and loss of loved ones. It never gets awkward. On the contrary, the reader feels that the story is gently handling these matters.
The Brink of Darkness is a sequel to The Edge of Everything, and I strongly suggest reading that as well. However, the book can stand perfectly well on its own, since the writer has successfully incorporated the basic information of the first book into the second one. Strongly recommended for fans of the fantasy genre.
X and Zoe live worlds apart. That is not an exaggeration. X is a prisoner of the Lowlands for the rest of his existence. Zoe lives a normal life in Montana. But neither of them is happy as long as they aren't together. And this time, X has a plan. And it is not a very solid one.
Having been born in the equivalent of what we call hell to a dead mother and a living father, must find a way out of there and into Zoe's arms. There is one way only he sees to that: finding where his mother has been imprisoned since the day he was born. But there are entities in the Lowlands that are firmly set against it; evil, bitter beings that will not let him succeed that easily.
But he is not alone. Friends can be found, even in such a dreadful place, and Zoe has also set her mind on helping her loved one escape. The pair of them will have to fight, argue and plan their way out of hell in order to be together. Can X's plan really work?
The Brink of Darkness is a thrilling fantasy plot, walking and in hand with an exciting love story. One can only feel interested by the graphic and clever depiction of the Lowlands, the equivalent of what we nowadays call Hell. There is a variety of in-depth characters; some are cunning, some are compassionate and some plain cruel. But Jeff Giles has managed to create solid reasons for each one's character and way of acting; and that is plainly brilliant. The reader can actually find quite a few very lovable and simply relatable people in the story.
There are lots of hard scenes, but that should be expected; after all, it is a book involving... hell. However, there are also a lot of pleasant, heart-melting moments that will make you sigh in relief. There is also quite a lot of humor involved.
Jeff Giles has managed to also touch some sensitive subjects in a really gentle way: the pain of losing or growing up without a parent, anxiety and loss of loved ones. It never gets awkward. On the contrary, the reader feels that the story is gently handling these matters.
The Brink of Darkness is a sequel to The Edge of Everything, and I strongly suggest reading that as well. However, the book can stand perfectly well on its own, since the writer has successfully incorporated the basic information of the first book into the second one. Strongly recommended for fans of the fantasy genre.
August 11, 2022
Is it possible a sequel can be better than the first book? Yes, it can! And this urban fantasy journey into the hellish Lowlands was epic!
I cheered for X and Zoe, and loved how they fiercely fought to be with each other despite the obstacles. So many of their scenes together are funny and sweet despite the misery of their surroundings.
On so many levels this book was more satisfying than the first as questions are answered, the lost are found, goodness reigns over evil, relationships are mended, and best of all … one. soul. rises. X.
I cheered for X and Zoe, and loved how they fiercely fought to be with each other despite the obstacles. So many of their scenes together are funny and sweet despite the misery of their surroundings.
On so many levels this book was more satisfying than the first as questions are answered, the lost are found, goodness reigns over evil, relationships are mended, and best of all … one. soul. rises. X.
August 21, 2018
It was a satisfying ending which wrapped up the story. I liked the Ukrainian, Ripper, and Tree but I don't think I would rush to recommend it to someone. It was one of those OK books.
April 27, 2020
4.5 stars
A great conclusion to this duology! I loved it!
A great conclusion to this duology! I loved it!
February 5, 2018
I loved this book just as much as the first one! I was immersed in their underworld and enjoyed their daring journey to escape.
January 30, 2018
Book 2 is everything Book 1 was but MORE. More Zoe & X, more amazing secondary characters, more high stakes action, more danger, more deep thematics, more pithy dialogue, more dark humor, and more LOWLANDS! The world creation is truly brilliant, like a delicious mash-up of Dante's Inferno and a disturbing Hieronymus Bosch painting. It made me stay up late, turn pages frantically and read exciting passages out loud. What more can you ask?! Highly recommend.
March 20, 2018
If there is such thing as a perfect ending to a series you wish would never end, this was it. I had forgotten how much I loved Giles’s characters. Zoe, X, Ripper, Dallas, Val…and some new ones: Plum, Maud, and my favorite, The Ukrainian. This book is empowering, dark, thrilling, and hilarious. Rarely do books make me laugh out loud, repeatedly, like his do. I'm sad to say goodbye, but it was an amazing ride and The Brink of Darkness is the perfect sendoff.
February 27, 2018
I loved The Edge of Everything, and the second title did not disappoint! The Brink of Darkness has everything I loved in the first book--steamy Zoe & X romance, fantastically hellish world building, captivating cast of secondary characters--all written with Giles signature humor and nods to the YA canon. Hoping for a third!
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