Blood Beyond Darkness

Darkness #4

by Stacey Marie Brown

After months of searching, Ember and her friends have finally located the Sword of Light, the only weapon capable of destroying Queen Aneira and ending her rule. This is Ember’s destiny. Or so she thought. Now a pact to save the man she loves changes everything.

In this final installment in the Darkness Series, when the truth comes to light, Ember will learn some things are better left in the dark as her world is ripped even further apart. It is no longer a rabbit hole, but a never-ending black void full of endless lies, betrayals, and secrets.

The fight for Earth has begun, and Ember will have to make the ultimate sacrifice to save millions of innocent lives and those she loves.

But this price may be too high—even for her.

Genres: Fantasy, Fae, Paranormal, New Adult, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

335 pages, ebook

First published August 25, 2014

About the author

Stacey 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.

Reviews

[Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3/3.5 stars to Blood Beyond Darkness

“Your body we can train, and train we will, but your mind and heart are what will win this war. And it will win, Ember. It must.”

“He held me with a deep desperation that set me on fire. We kissed with awareness of knowing it would be our last. He pulled away first, leaning his forehead into mine. “Now go save the world, woman.”

‘Blood beyond Darkness’ is the final instalment of the Darkness series by Stacey Marie Brown. After finally locating the icon that will end the Seelie Queen’s reign and end her life for good, Ember and Eli have been taken back to the Queen’s lair as captives, shackled in irons and destined for a cruel, slow death, with the sword now out of their hands and survival out of their reach. As dark and uninhibited Ember’s powers have always been, as much as she struggled with its disparaging capacity, Ember has come to somewhat accept the responsibility of playing host to them for better or worse…that is until the Queen strips Ember of her gifts, taking them for herself, leaving Ember vulnerable and without her identity and her fire.

“You have grown weak in mind and body…but this is the most important.” He tapped on my head again and then at my heart. “These are the most powerful weapons you can have.”

Still coming to terms with friendship betrayals and duplicity, Ember finally once and for all finds out the damning truth in all its unsettling dismay from the one person who is her enemy, shattering her world and breaking her heart into splinters. Ember thought the Queen was her biggest threat, but Ember’s trusted ones just may be the biggest fabricators of them all, the threats she did not see coming…and their secrets are the ones who tear her world asunder. Battling deep wounds, Ember cannot forget the bargain she made with the Queen, the bargain which will instantaneously claim her loves life should she wield the Sword of Nuada against Aneira. Can Ember trade the lives of millions and the survival of both worlds for the life of one man…the one man who walked into her life and changed everything when she looked into those deep, green penetrating eyes and knew he was meant for her. This is not just a battle of power and magic anymore but it one of will, mind and heart, of love versus duty – but if Em is the one whom the prophecy speaks of, will her heart survive a world without Eli Dragen? Did Ember only revive Eli only to suffer watching him die again because of a deal she made?

“Whatever materialises tomorrow, you know I will always follow you, woman, wherever you go. Even in death.”

They are still on the hunt for Kennedy, who was kidnapped by Lorcan and hasn’t been found since, but minor rivalries are soon set aside as is the Dark Dwellers’ desire to return to their homeland because they would not have a home to go back to if there is nothing left for them – a greater evil needs to be vanquished and an army must be rallied as the fate of Earth and the Otherworld rests in the hands of the autocratic Queen Aneira and the precarious hands of Ember Brycin. Lives are not guaranteed and now technically a princess, next in line for the throne, Ember has not only the responsibility of dethroning the current sovereign, but learning to rule as a leader when the time comes…but is Ember ready to lead a court and the truth is she may not want to. Her wants are not her own anymore, paths are laid ahead for her, eradicating her own choices and Ember might lose herself in the process to make sacrifices that her heart cannot handle.

“I didn’t know what was better: trying to be someone you were not, or accepting what you were.”

This book opens with a big bang of action and twists from the very beginning, it’s explosive and thrilling. It’s gripping and fast paced, with all the things you seek in a paranormal romance rooted in a world of magic and the Fae. This series is not without its problems and I’ve had dilemmas with this series from the get-go, but it is vastly enjoyable because of the characters and the humour, its just not life changing. It explores the darkness of secrets and lies, the power they hold, whether keeping them is worth the anguish they cause and the lives they destroy. Secrets can shatter everything and not even Ember’s fire can heal the aftermath once the truth has been unleashed. Majority of the characters are morally grey and what people do is often driven by duty, circumstance, and determined by forces internal and external, sometimes that which Is also out of their reach. It’s important to understand that there is no moral code for most of these characters (what with being a different species altogether), they accept what is and what they are as the Fae have never nor will ever play fair but that doesn’t mean that they don’t grow, change and adapt once lightness enters their world and Eli Dragen is a brilliant example of this.

“But I was a different person then. We have changed since being on Earth. You changed me. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I’ve never had someone who has completely undone me. I probably won’t ever do the right thing, but I won’t be without you. Not anymore.”

In addition, it deals with complex family dynamic and relationships, how those relations change after heartache and disloyalty and whether crimes can be overlooked if the intention of a crime paints it differently based on intent and motivation. How judgments, perceptions of the mind and surface level thinking can forbid the mind of ever seeing past what it wants which is something Ember deals with a lot. Her own pain can sometimes stem from the barricades her own mind creates and establishes. Stacey Marie Brown has crafted intriguing and addicting characters, some of which I adore, some which I don’t and some that have made me fall on my ass and slapped me silly with shock, changing my perceptions of them. Overall, despite this series’ downfalls and imperfections, it did have the potential to be extraordinary and brilliant, and I was let down on that front, but it still managed to pull me in enough to be absorbed and for that I am glad to have read it. Much like Shatter Me I felt like the end wasn’t ‘the end’ and I can see a whole new set of books that could be written, continuing this series on for Ember and Eli and their adventures post-war.

“Eli and I would always be complicated. Things would never be easy for us, but he was my home. He got me on a level no one else ever would. Beyond blood, beyond darkness or light we were connected. We would fight for the new world together. And we would fight for each other. Always. I probably should seek therapy for that.

“I love you”. My eyes transferred to his.
His bad-boy grin tugged the side of his mouth. “Love is not a substantial enough word for how I feel about you, Brycin. Never has been.”

Warning: Mentions of marital affairs, cheating, sexual abuse and physical abuse.

Concerns I had/issues/downfalls:

1) Ember struggles with the lies of her true parentage and hates Lily for not telling her, but she doesn’t have the same reaction with her biological father – she seems to accept this more which is inconsistent.
2) If Ember’s Dae powers are now gone, how could she still accept Eli’s blood after the Strighoul attack?
3) I don’t lick to nit-pick but there were many spelling/grammatical errors. I’m also pretty sure that there is an incorrect name substitution in one scene.
4) I think the author could have explored the world more and missed out on opportunities to expand and dive deeper into certain parts of the story and the characters.
5) The scenes can sometimes be abrupt and lack flow.
6) Throughout the series things are mentioned never to be addressed again.
7) The details of the story can be hazy through the series and the story lacks in necessary details of plots and storyline.
8) Not everything is completely resolved – there are many loose ends left untied.
9) Plot inconsistencies.
10) Character inconsistencies.
11) The abruptness of Owen and Jared’s death didn’t sit well with me.
12) The final battle scene was lacking for me.
13) Predictable – I had already guessed some of the major plots and reveals which made them underwhelming. My other theories for the story were never far off either. I even predicted one of the biggest reveals in the book toward the end.
14) The eye communication between Eli and Ember has always baffled me and I thought we would find out in this last book why they are connected in that way. It was the one thing more than anything I wanted to know, and we don’t find out at all – this was a huge let down and highlights another loose end which was not resolved. Was it because they were always destined to be mated? – even this is not clear. It was always obvious that their relationship was deeper than it appeared, that they were connected substantially and apparently there was no real reason for it.
15) We don’t find out why Ember’s body accepted Eli’s blood twice – even without her Dae powers.
16) Though I was beyond relieved that Eli survived death, the ending felt too dreary and somewhat isolating. They are all separated, the world is not the same and there was something about it that left me feeling empty, unsatisfied and distraught. The last chapter before the epilogue also seemed abrupt, so much so that I kind of felt like I ran face first into a brick wall.
17) Though there was joviality, I understand that people have changed because of what they have endured and what with war approaching, but I missed what the characters used to be and I would have liked to see that.
18) I would have liked to see another side to Cole too – he came across as having one dimension and I don’t think his character was done justice – he had the potential to be incredible but he wasn’t.
19) In ‘Dwellers of Darkness’ Lars says that though the infinity dragon symbol was used to represent the Dragon caves on most maps, it has nothing to do with Eli as the infinity dragon is also his family’s sigil. Ember doesn’t quite believe that this has no tie to Eli. – It’s never resolved as to what role Eli’s family has to play in the connection to the map or the prophecy. Is it just Aisling’s way of subtly hinting at her murderers? To, in veiled terms let Ember know what role he had to play in her death?
20) We still don’t know how exactly Eli and Torin knew each other?
21) How exactly did Aisling, by herself find the sword and hide it? she had to have had a Druid working with her to break whatever spell had to have been initially put on it and to place another on it when she again concealed it - and if so where are the Druids in hiding?

Things I liked/Favourite Parts/shocking parts:

1) I love a good rescue: When Lars and his Demons came in to save Ember and her friends and family.
2) Mark and Ember’s reunion.
3) Ember and Ryan’s reunion.
4) West’ rescue.
5) When Lars calms Ember down in her grief.
6) When I found out how exactly Torin was tortured.
7) I liked the mother daughter relationship between Ember and Lily – exploration of other relationships beyond romantic ones always heightens a books value for me.
8) When Eli tells Ember he loves her.
9) Sexy times in Lars’ office….
10) ‘Sprinkle pixie dust’, ‘I believe in pixie power’ – I don’t think I’ve loved Cal more.
11) One of my favourite aspects of this whole series are the pixie wars with Eli.
12) Kennedy and Lorcan…did NOT see that one coming.
13) Eli’s firm ass sure likes to have an audience…not that I’m complaining.
14) Gabby and Alki.
15) Eli, I really don’t think you should so hastily reject Nic’s offer of having a threesome.
16) Eli, you infuriating man…. you have my heart you beast.
17) I liked Lorcan’s redemption arc.
18) Doggy pile.
19) When Eli says he wants to be included in Ember’s birthday plans.
20) Ember’s birthday celebrations with her family
21) Can I have some Eli ass too?
22) When Eli gave Ember her non-birthday present.
23) When I thought Cal and Eli were killed by the Lamprog. I think I would have died if Cal had died.
24) Lorcan saving Eli.
25) When they have one final family dinner with the Demons and Dark Dwellers.
26) The last 100 pages or so were equally thrilling as much as they were torture to read.
27) Owen and Jared’s death.
28) When Samantha finally got what was coming to her.
29) When Josh is killed.
30) When Torin sacrifices himself so Ember and the rest can get to safety.
31) Chapters 30/31 destroyed me – From there onward I was a snivelling mess.
32) When Eli dies – felt like I was free-falling into despair.
33) When the Queen stomps on Simmons, severing his wings.
34) Loved the banter and sarcasm.
35) Eli being alive.

Queries/Thoughts whilst reading:

1) We hear so much talk of these water fairies, why didn’t we see one?
2) I like the role that Lars plays in this book and throughout the series.
3) Poor Torin – he is going through quite a dark battle after losing so much. I hope he gets what he wants and deserves in the future.
4) Though Aneira had a stricter upbringing, priming her for her future role, I think it was cruel of their father for treating both daughters differently.
5) I think the right decision was made for Em not to be Queen – I never saw her fit into that box or any box for that matter.
6) I think Eli knows what his fate is.
7) I think Lorcan falling for Kennedy somewhat makes him see sense. Makes him see how Eli changed and why he did for Ember.
8) This author tortures you with the beginning of the epilogue – I remember feeling so empty and void of emotion thinking Eli was dead but still holding hope for him.

Favourite Quotes:

“Surprised you’re not jealous. The guard is riding my ass so close I’m thinking he just made me his bitch.”
“Jealous? Hell, I already got you guys t-shirts saying ‘Bitch’ and ‘Master Bitch’.”

“The way you’ve been shadowing my ass, I thought you’d prefer me down on all fours.” Eli winked at the man.’

“Fire is faint and weak. No flame. No spark. Build fire. Blaze and burn.”

“Do not insult the lives of those lost in your name. You think they would not wish to be alive again? If they had the chance, do you think they would squander a moment of it? They did not perish for you to live a half-life!”

“Remember, tread carefully when you attempt to blur the line between right and wrong. It can be different from where you are standing.”

“Merely because you love someone, doesn’t mean they will love you back. Love doesn’t work like that. Hearts don’t love on command…or with logic.”

“Love came in many ways and with various people. They fit into your life differently. It wasn’t who was right or wrong or good or bad. At the end of the day, it was who made you laugh and feel he was the person you wanted to spend your life with. The image of Eli’s cocky grin, his green eyes glinting with mischief, struck me hard. He was there. Always.”

“Sometimes in the most tragic or sad situations, laughter was a necessity.”

“You are the best thing to have happened to me. I am so thankful for you and every second you blessed my life. Live. Live for all those who love you.” - Lily

“Sometimes we choose destiny and sometimes destiny chooses us. The day you came strolling into my life at the police station it picked me. And I am glad I was far too stubborn and stupid to see what was in front of me.” – Eli

“I loved, lived, fought, messed up, and fell on my face – a lot. But I was me, and I was proud of that.”

“The world was in pieces, but there was nowhere else I wanted to be. I finally found my place in this crazy world. Yeah…and that included being next to one tall, cocky, pain-in-the-ass Dark Dweller.”

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4,5 stars)

"Whatever materializes tomorrow, you know I will always follow you, woman, wherever you go. Even in death."

This is a one POV book, told by the POV of Ember.

I loved how the sexual tension and chemistry between Eli and Ember has been kept throughout this whole series. It never got boring or dull. I loved these two together and they definitely give off power couple vibes.

What I absolutely loved in this book were the side characters and all the character development and the different relationships that started to build. It felt like even more depths was added to them. I especially loved Kennedy and how she has developed as a character. I can´t wait to dive into her and Lorcans series next. I liked how everything came together and everybody kind of found their place in this "found family" dynamic.

I liked the plot a lot, some of the plot twist I didn´t see coming at all. It felt like a good ending to the series with everything coming together nicely. I have to say there were a lot of C names, we have Cal, Cole and Coop (Cooper) so also all of them quite similar to each other, which made it a bit confusing for me at times. I kept confusing Cal and Cole until I remembered again who was who. I liked the pacing, it definitely sped up in the ending.

Overall it was an amazing read and a fantastic ending to this series. I can´t wait to dive into the novella and the other series in this world next.

trigger warnings: depression, panic attacks, loss of loved ones, war

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before Reading

"The ultimate sacrifice?"

Eli better not fucking die.
He NEEDS to live for Ember.
Ember can't sacrifice him...there's no way. Right? RIGHT?



After Reading



HOT DAMN THAT BOOK WAS GOOD.
The plot was FANTASTIC.
The end was PHENOMENAL.

Ember & Eli: a summary








Overall, it's just...

[Leo C. (leo_bookslover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ de media para estos 4 primeros libros más la novela corta desde el POV de Elighan porque me ha mantenido enganchada de principio a fin!!

La verdad es que me he reconciliado con esta autora gracias a esta serie que me ha sorprendido gratamente después de la decepción de los dos últimos libros de su otra serie, "Savage Lands". Seguiré leyendo sobre este mundo y sus personajes, así que me alegra no tener que despedirme definitivamente de ellos. Ha terminado la primera parte pero seguro que aún quedan historias por disfrutar y batallas por por superar...
Me ha dado pena la desaparición de ciertos personajes a los que les cogí cariño pero en una guerra como la que han librado los Fae de la luz contra los de la oscuridad, era de esperar que no todos saldrían ilesos.
Un final adecuado y que me ha dejado con ganas de más. Especialmente, me gustaría ver a Torin feliz por fin. ¡Qué mala suerte ha tenido! Los dioses le envían una pareja destinada, él está todo entregado peroooo, las cosas no salen como hubiera deseado. La autora habrá tenido sus motivos, como los de liar la historia y dejar a Ember, nuestra protagonista, en una encrucijada entre dos intereses amorosos, pero yo hubiera preferido que se lo hubiera ahorrado 🤷‍♀️. Única queja que tengo, aunque espero que se solucione en alguno de los siguientes libros.

[Jackie - Fire & Ice Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Beyond Darkness was above and beyond better than what I thought it was going to be. I knew that this book was going to be extremely good, but it was epic. I have been a fan of this series since book 1 Darkness of Light. I have followed Eli and Ember's journey, and I freaking love those characters like they are my family members. Stacey has created a world that I will never forget, and I hope you guys won't forget this awesome series as well.


I cried, I laughed, I yelled, I cursed, and at one point I thought my heart had stopped beating. Blood Beyond Darkness was by far the best book that Stacey Marie Brown has written. Half of the time I did not know up from down. I literally could not book this book down. I can not tell you how long I stayed up just to finish this book. To say I devoured BBD is just a statement. I lived it, I breathe it, and most of all I loved it. Stacey kept me on the edge of my seat biting my nails because I was afraid of what was going to happen next. It is crazy, I am sitting here crying as I am writing this review. I know for a fact that my review will not even come close to how I felt about this book. I am so sad to see this series end, but at the same time I can't wait to get my hands on Stacey's next book. If you have not read this series, I think you definitely should, because you are missing out on one kick ass series.


Best part, but yet worse part about this book...all of the characters really grew up in this book. Don't get me wrong they were still crazy and funny, but it is just something about knowing you or someone you love may die that changes the way you see the world. Before I talk about Eli and Ember, I want to talk about Kennedy, Embers best friend.


Kennedy was one of the main people that really grew up in this book. She was always the quiet and reliable friend. But in this book she was a leader. At first I was hesitant about this new Kennedy, but I changed my mind quickly. I really liked this new Kennedy. I think Ember was really shocked at first too. That is just how much she changed. That battle at the end... yeah AMAZING!


Ember and Eli on the other hand did not really change that much, and I am so glad Stacey kept them mostly the same. Their flirty banter with each other has always been so cute , but it was even better this time around. The sexual chemistry between them was always hot, but this time it was burning up the pages, and I loved every moment of it. I have always loved Eli, but I love him even more. He was so sexy, protective, sweet, just... he was Eli. Stacey, Thank you. That is all I have to say.


Okay, I hope someone agrees with me. Simmons and Cal; which are the 2 pixies, are the funniest. They were cracking me up through out the entire book. I freaking almost peed my pants while reading the scene with the glitter and Eli! They were the best most loyal pixies ever!


Thank you Stacey for this awesome world, and these amazing characters. You are a extremely talented author, and I am so stoked to read your next book. Again if you have not read this series, please give it a read because you are in for a serious treat!

[itsmeesahara❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐⭐⭐✨

“Love is not a substantial enough word for how I feel about you, Brycin. Never has been.”

Wow I did not expect this at all, what an ending😮!! Though I initially thought that the first half of the book was like a filler but thinking about it now I like seeing the scenes of Kennedy with Lorcan😏😍. Their banter was refreshing compared to Ember and Eli’s hot & cold relationship.

Speaking of Ember, she was still stubborn as hell even at the ending and it was kinda annoying😞. All throughout the series I felt that she was always being saved. She is powerful, it was mentioned several times. With her Dae and Dark Dweller powers combined she kept losing, even at the end she had to be saved.. I expected a lot from her 😞.

As for the war between the Seelie(Light) & Unseelie(Dark) wow just wow!! I love it! What makes me like it more was the losses, it made it believable. It was heartbreaking💔 but believable. I wish there was a little bit more of the battle. I would’ve loved to see how Nic lost his eye😳.

All in all I may not be a fan of Ember but I liked the series. 👌🏻👍🏻

[Pam Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Blood Beyond Darkness Stars

I liked it but didn’t love it.

So many things I didn’t like. Some I did.
But I felt it was just meh. :(

It makes me sad because I was hoping this book would redeem it for me for the series.

MAJOR Spoilers of what I didn’t like so if you don’t want it ruined DON'T CLICK!!!!
1. Garett and Kennedy.. Why did she make Garett so weak in this book? If they had just treated him like any other part of the family he probably wouldn’t have acting so childish.
2. Josh, to find out he redeems himself only to die.
3. Ember.. oh let me count the ways.
Whining she is going to kill Eli if she kills the Queen.
She gets mad that her mother isn’t her mother. Yet she doesn’t care about her father.
Eli killing her mother or possibly.. blah blah blah
4. Owen and Garett’s deaths.. Really wtf.
5. No one can hold a Day’s powers without going crazy.. Soo we just find out at the end.

I think I was just over all disappointed, I wanted more from this book.

I am looking forward to West! :)

*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*

[Ewa (Fedra) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread 2025
Ja wiem, to jest w cholerę schematyczne romantasy, ale jest coś takiego w tej serii, że lubię do niej co jakiś czas wracać.

Ma taki rollercoaster angstu i wybuchowy ładunek emocji w relacji głównych bohaterów, że miłośnicy takiego kierunku będą zadowoleni :)
Dodatkowo bardzo lubię niemal wszystkie postacie poboczne oraz fakt, że nic nie jest czarno-białe.

Tylko naprawdę, uwaga na:
- główna para kręci się w kółko, raz kocham, raz nienawidzę,
- Ember, gdy coś jej nie pasuje uwielbia uciekać se gdzieś w cholerę,
- głupotki w fabule i w decyzjach bohaterów,
- nikt nigdy nie powie całej prawdy do samego końca i ciągle wychodzą jakieś nowe rewelacje 😅
- błędy i literówki wołają czasem o pomstę do nieba

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pardon me if I break down in tears throughout this whole review. A series that I have come to love so much has ended for me. I’m so sad.

I feel like I waited forever (it really wasn’t forever) and then it ended too fast because in typical Heather fashion, I devoured this book as soon as I got it. 330 pages done. I don’t even remember what time I went to bed that night. I just kept reading.

In Blood Beyond Darkness we have our characters that we love returning and we have the characters we hate returning (read that as the evil freaking queen). Ember has decisions to make that are so tough, she has truths thrown at her that are so hard to hear, and amidst all that she has to prepare for battle.

There was so much Eli and Ember in this book! I LOVED it. These two and their back and forth quick witted banter are amazing to follow during this journey. They play off each other so well, especially when one is upset with the other one. The chemistry between these two is explosive, chaotic, and absolutely crazy hot. I love them together.

Simmons and Cal are two of my most favorite characters in this book/entire series also. Cal cracks me up. If you have a pixie that you have ticked off, you should worry about pee in your soup and glitter on your butt. :D

There were moments that I laughed out loud, moments when I had tears running down my face, and one moment where I literally gasped, had my hand over my mouth in horror, and felt completely heartbroken. I can’t tell you what moment it is, because that would spoil it, when you get to it, you will know what I am talking about.

Stacey Marie Brown does not let your emotions off the hook until the very last few pages. You have no idea how it is going to end. You can hope, I did plenty of that. I think I might have even said a prayer in the middle of the battle that she would change directions. Cuz praying AFTER the book has been written is going to change the words on the page. :)

Blood Beyond Darkness was so amazing. Tons of drama, the crazy hot scenes between Eli and Ember, the different characters that have become like family to Ember back in this final book to play the role they were destined to play.

Now I am going to find a corner to cry in until Stacey releases another book for me to read.

I want more Eli and Ember though.

Yes, I might have whined that a bit.

Thank you so much for my copy of Blood Beyond Darkness. It was even more than I imagined it would be. 5 stars!

[Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Overall this was a satisfying conclusion to the series. It wrapped everything up nicely. I wasn't left with many questions when the story ended, although I think the author could write a whole new set of books based on what happens after the events in the final book.

This series took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I have. I really fell in love with the characters in the series. There were so many, but each one was unique. The plot was interesting and all of the books were well paced. None of them felt like filler books. Don't get me wrong, this series was not without its problems. The back and forth between Ember and Eli was a bit much at times and some decisions the main characters made had me wanting to smack them, but these issues were not enough to take away from my enjoyment of the story as a whole. I'm glad I decided to give this series a chance.

[Jaime (Two Chicks on Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome finale! Gah I want to read West's book now but my Kindle needs to be charged!

[JenacideByBibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opinion: This is book 4 in the Darkness series by Stacey Marie Brown, and let me tell you…it’s on f*****g fire. I did a review on book 1, Darkness of Light, where I ranted and raved about how AMAZING the first book was. Though I did receive the first book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I naturally had to order the rest of the series on my kindle right away. So instead of giving you a play by play of each book, and because I honestly didn’t want to take the time to write a review in between each book (yeah, it’s that good), I decided that I would just review the last book in the series. This way I can give a general review of the entire series as a whole.

This series started out with our main character, Ember, discovering the truth about why she is so different from everyone around her. Not only is there actually mythical creatures and demons in the world, but she is a mixed breed that is called a Dae – a half demon and half Fae (fairy). This series takes the reader into the life of Ember as she struggles to find out about a world that she should be calling home. As Ember struggles to grasp her new reality, she and her fellow dark dwellers are forced to now deal with the war that is slowly brewing between the creatures of the darkness and the creatures of the light. Soon Ember is taken under the wing of Lars, the Unseelie King of the Dark, to be able to control her powers and defeat Aneira, the Seelie Queen of the Light who wants to steal her powers and destroy Earth. Soon the first knight of Queen Aneira, Torin, tries to help Ember and claims that he would do anything to keep her safe. But Ember has to decide who she can and cannot trust, and in this world, just because creatures are from the light…it doesn’t mean they are good. As the complicated relationship between Ember and Elighan starts to grow and become something more, Ember discovers that she has a much deeper past into this other realm and with Torin than she might think. This series is full of blindsiding twists, heart wrenching drama, and magnificent adventures that will keep readers on edge until the very end.

I finished this series a few weeks ago, but I have just now gotten around to finishing up my review for it. This series definitely has a lot of the same themes as The Mortal Instruments, but ends up having more mature content in it once you get past the first book. I could not put this series down, and the only time I did was so that I could eat, sleep (very little sleep was involved I will admit), and go to work. Since I have already compared this series to The Mortal Instruments, I might as well give a few more options as to how they are similar and different. Firstly, the obvious fact that the Darkness series ventures from being YA Fantasy in the first book to Mature Adult Fantasy throughout the rest of the series whereas The Mortal Instruments stays in the YA genre. Secondly, the overall storyline is about demons, Fae creatures, gnomes, magic, and a yearning for the realm of the magical to want to abolish Earth for making them hide for so long. Thirdly, we have a love triangle between our main heroin and two VERY different brooding male characters. Elighan is very much like Jace from The Mortal Instruments in the sense that they are both arrogant, obnoxious, and have an overly fantasized notion in their heads that they are the most terrible thing to walk any realm. So be prepared for the exciting, and at times annoying, flying emotions that surround Torin, Ember, and Elighan. Fourthly, deaths are not always as they seem to be. No, I will not explain further. ;)

I loved this series, but of course I wish there was A LOT less sexual content. I am not one for that genre at all, so the fact that I so willingly and easily looked over those parts of the series and can STILL claim my love for it…must tell you how amazing it really is. I am honestly very surprised that this series is not more popular or more well-known. These are books that you can get completely lost in and that will make you forget what a social life even is. Though I do wish the main character, Ember, could be a bit less melodramatic about everything, I still think she is one fierce female and a force not to f*** with. I thought the ending was perfect, I loved the twist and how the author showed that not everything is what it seems or about one character.

If you haven’t bought this series yet, YOU NEED TO GET ON IT!! I cannot stress this enough, you NEED to read this. It’s a YA/Adult Fantasy that has the volume on full blast and refuses to be turned down. Enjoy this as much as I did, you need it in your life!

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved and hated this book at the same time.

I have to admit that I have never read a book with this type of story line. I loved the fact that instead of the MC being full fae she was part demon. It made her more intriguing. You seen that she wasn't just light. She had a darkness that influenced every decision she made. Most of her decisions were very annoying. But it was good to read about a character with light and dark in them.

The ending. Gosh, that ending. I just can't even deal with how upset I am with that ending. I seriously don't even know what to say because I was so disappointed in it... Yeah, it was an HEA, but I just really really did not like how it ended.

I was glad to FINALLY not have the constant arguing between Eli and Ember. Yeah they still bickered but it was cute relationship bickering, not full blown arguing.

All in all, I was seriously disappointed with this book and what makes it even worse it that it was the finale. -.-

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um, well this was an interesting ending. I'm not sure how what I expected, but I don't think it was that.

This series had hooked me from the start because of it's uniqueness. I liked the play on dark and light and good vs evil. Also the main character was a part fae part demon. Both sides wanted her for their own gain - one to use her, one to kill her - and I liked how Ember navigated those waters and chose how to use her powers, or should I say how she wanted to use her powers because nothing ever works out how you want it to.

The fourth and final book in the life of Ember is where we see all sides come together in all out war. One thing I really liked was how the author did not shy away from the realities of war. People die. People you like die. We lost some main characters who I thought were safe but who's deaths hit me harder than I expected. I'm generally not a fan of war books that end with everyone surviving and riding off into the sunset. It makes the pain more believable if losses were encountered. It also makes the situation more believable but eh, some authors just can't kill their characters.

Another thing I liked about this book and the series were the side characters. They weren't all just cardboard cutouts. No, they each had their own distinct personalities and lives. They added to the story and made it more well-rounded. From the humans to the Dark Dwellers, they kept this alive for me. Also, Mark is the unsung hero of this story.

So overall, I enjoyed it. The ending wasn't really where I saw it going and it didn't feel natural. I thought the author opened up a great story line with the prophecy meaning but then just seemed to take the easy way out in order to give her MC a happier ending. Eh, but it was still enjoyable. Now off to read West's story because this guy is interesting.

[Jess - Reader of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Why, mouth, why? Why must you always open and say shit to make things worse?”

Did I skim the chapters ahead (after you-know-what happened) looking for Eli’s name to see when big kitty and Ember would interact again?! Yes, you better believe I did. So what?! Sue me. I have needs. And Eli with Ember is one of them 💃🏻 And let me tell you about those too… crap on ash bark, that training room scene was 🥵 And I see what you did there at the end, Stacey. 👀 sneaky sneaky 😏

What a finale!!!!! For Ember and Eli at least because the overall story is far from being over. Please tell me the Lightness or Collector series is about Ken and Lorcan because if that’s not the case, can you please write it?! I NEED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not sure if I’m being clear… I. N. E. E. D. I. T. 🙈😫 I went from cursing Lorcan in my head to, “So, Lorcan, tell me more….” 😎 5 stars ⭐️

P.S.: having them mentioning Portugal, which was where I grew up, was so freaking cool!!!! 😎

[Tee Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to form with her ability to keep her readers on edge and salivating at every turn, Stacey Marie Brown kept the momentum going and then some with this final installment in the Darkness Series! Secrets revealed leave you on edge, the raw animal passion between Eli and Ember leaves you breathless, and the loss when all the dust settles will make your heart hurt. It was one hell of a journey, and fans of the series will love it!

Ember and Eli had been through a horribly traumatic ordeal when we left them last, and this installment picks up right after. In the hands of Aneira, the sword gone, and Ember unable to wield it in order to carry out her task of killing the queen…well, let’s just say things started out in the category of “couldn’t get any worse”. But with a slew of allies on every side, it’s really hard to keep these two down, and thus began the process of regrouping and preparing for the inevitable. Aneira would either die at the hands of the woman destined to kill her, or annihilate anyone in her path.

There were SO many unexpected reveals this time around, and Eli and Ember went through a lot of emotional turmoil and growth as they prepared to face their roles in the battle. My heart broke as secrets started to slowly shove them farther and father apart, especially at a time when they needed each other most. But it was also amazing, because they both realized that what they felt was so much more than any predestined fate could push aside.

When the time for the final battle came, I was a mess of nerves and crossing of fingers and toes so that our favorite characters would somehow make it through to the other side. It was a harrowing, action-packed, grueling, stab to the heart as the ultimate showdown against the evil queen played out. You will hate her and wish her a cruel and horrifying end before all is said and done! As much as I always want my favorite series to end on a happy note, I loved that we didn’t get an unrealistic “everyone gets their happy ever after” here, even though it was painful to read. Don't get me wrong, I never endorse a story that is fickle with a reader's heart. But I think everything happened the way it needed to, and we are left with an ending that is bittersweet but just right!
Quotes:

“Someone else thought you needed a…how did he put it…jumpstart. It was his idea to get you back into training.”
“Eli?”
“Yes, or as I am starting to think of him: the lawn furniture.”~Loc 998

He cupped the back of my head, rolling me underneath him. “If you do, you will find yourself one unrelenting stalker. A shadow on your ass.”
“Oh, goodie. My own personal butt brigade.” ~ Loc 2136

The juniper juice had long since been drunk. Left at the bottom stood a bitter, pissed of pixie.
“Your ass is mine, Dark Dweller.” Cal smacked the glass.
“Bring it, Princess.” Eli muttered through bites. ~Loc 2215



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[Desirae (Dee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars isn't enough.

Blood beyond darkness

Wow. Just. I'm speechless. Stacey has really stepped it up a notch in this book. Not only has she succeeded, yet again, to completely devastate me and keep me up all night with her book, but she has surprised me with the way the story unfolded. She kept me on my toes through the whole story. The book and the way she wrote it was one of those, can not put down, type reads. It was seamless. It was flawless. It was amazing. Epic. Her writing style is one that will have you so emotionally invested in the story and the characters, it feels real. You feel those ups and downs, fears and excitement right along with the characters. You take the journey and when you see the end, you are ultimately devastated it's over. You want to turn around and read it again, and that my friends is how I felt about this book.

There is so much going on that I didn't know which way was up sometimes. So much i couldn't believe. I felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest at some points. I could actually feel it beating faster as certain parts, which I won't spoil, happened. That's just how Stacey writes. She pulls those emotions out of you. Not only do you read them, you live them right along with the characters. I laughed at the banter between Eli and Em. I cried during the battle. I may have even fist pumped a few times. I wanted to suit up and fight with them. I chewed on my nails, doubted what I though I knew, and swooned over the man who thought he didn't deserve love. I didn't think she could make me love Eli anymore than I already did, but I do. Eli may go down as one of the top 10 book boyfriends I have. He will be one of the ones you never forget, I know I won't. Her books are one of my fall back books, and BBD may be at the top. This may be my favorite of the series. So much drama, angst and love... And let's not forget steam. Oh, and surprises!! You will be surprised and on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds. Stacey's curve balls will keep you guessing how everything will happen and what will go down. You will be pleasantly surprised just as much as I was. I don't know if I found the words to clearly express how much I loved this book and this series. Like I said in the beginning, speechless.


If you haven't read this series, you need to. Stacey Marie Brown is an author to watch, she's going places.

[Metessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crap on ash bark, I never thought I was gonna get through this book!

Repetitiveness really hurt this Saga. In this book, right off the bat Ember does something impulsive and dangerous, gets herself attacked, and Eli comes in to save her. Of course she's a complete ingrate because she's mad at him and wants him to stay away from her. Sound familiar! It would be nice if our heroine could at least save herself on occasion.

Again 17+, lots of sexual content, which is really kinda a bad deal because otherwise this series, in my opinion, is a teen read. The characters may be new adult age but the series lacks maturity. There is little character growth for our protagonist after book 2, and the flow of books 3 & 4 actually regress back to the young adult vibe of Darkness of Light. The only character that had significant growth was Kennedy and I liked her better before.

I also feel the "romance" is crude and lacks finesse.

Last thought... It's telling when, in book 4, an author goes all Game of Thrones, starts killing off characters and it's not devastating to the reader.

[Nikki Jefford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap on ash bark! I'm pretty sure this was my favorite book in the Darkness Series. Way to go out with a bang, Stacey Marie Brown!

Pixie humor - hilarious! One of my favorite lines: "Never underestimate what six inches can do."

Earth shattering secrets revealed, the world turned inside out, hot sex, and a battle to the death. The Darkness Series has it all with incredible dialogue and humor to go with. I am a fan of Stacey Marie Brown for life!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me first off saying this: This is the final in the Darkness Series. There will not be spoilers for this book but possibly - most likely - for the first three books please keep that in mind.

I hate ending series. I had having to say goodbye to characters that I have grown to love and cannot wait to see what happens next, there are some series that seem endless and we all want them to end. Then there are those books you know if the author decide to write for those characters, for that world, forever, you wouldn't care. You would be ecstatic even. Well reader of this review, Stacey Marie Brown did that for me in this series. I NEVER wanted to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I never wanted this to end. So true to myself I refused to read this for a very long time. I can't say that i am upset with my decision because while it might be hard for me to say good bye, i know its a 1000 times harder for the author. I just still needed to come to terms.

I needed this book like air but I was terrified. Stacey breaks the bounds and goes against the grain in her books, she doesn't write want you want, what you expect. She gets here characters right down in the dirty, nasty, how the fuck are you going to get out of this situations. So yes I Was terrified, I needed, NEEDED a happy ending for these characters, but I know that Stacey could never give us an easy ending - and truthfully I am glad she didn't. This is what I love about her, and her writing. I was terrified and now I am at peace.

So onto this review? Right. *nods* *and cries*

Song Choice: "I Will Be There" by Odessa, "You're All I Have" by Snow Patrol, "Hold Me" By Weezer (i think that is more for me ;) ) "My Love" by Sia

First Thoughts: What a fantastic ending to a even more fantastic series. You know how some series kinda flop on the end book? Not this one, this one excels, not only that but it wraps up nicely with also giving the potential for the world/universe to be used again. ;) *wink wink* I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book, honestly if I could have I would have devoured it in one sitting but I needed to take my time, and I had a bit of a crying fest, i realize how insane I sound trust me I do. But this easily became of my all time favorite series, ever. Seriously. Stacey is one of my all-time-go-to-authors. I would read her grocery list if she would let me I am sure they would be just as thrilling :D

Thoughts on Plot: Oh so much that has yet to come but we have to build up to it right? And Stacey never makes it super easy on her characters which i admire and adore. This is what makes good writing, fucking fantastic. I loved every twist, and turn and round-about. While I saw a few things coming there were still some I was like, what the what the what?!?!?! And the sacrifice and love in this book - shit man. I can't even describe. The romance and love between Eli and Ember isn't flowers and butterflies, its raw, its gritty, its real. I just could drown in this, this was unglamoured, unleashed and just truly amazing. There was so much going on but never to the point you were overwhelmed or going, like slow down ma'am. The pacing was amazing. I was wondering for so long what was going on with Kennedy, she had quickly became one of my favorite characters from the beginning I am not sure why I latched on her so tightly but I did and all I can say is wow. There is are some shockers there. Read the book you will see ;) So overall with the amazing talent of this woman coupled with just everything this was a finale you will never forget. It will tattoo itself on your heart, and steal your breath away every time. Let me just say this one more time I was so scared, but I can honestly truly say you will be happy. While Stacey wasn't afraid to rip out our hearts more than a few times, its bearable to what it could have been.

Characters:

Ember: As always she is this amazingly strong, feisty woman, with the greatest sense of humor, but sense of reality that she just makes you want to be her, but also be her best friend at the same time. She is a hard one to tell what to do with her stubbornness, and she does what she needs to do. She will ask for forgiveness before permission. I love her she will remain I am sure to me one of the greatest female MCs i have ever read. (i gush i know but I just freaking love these books) The characters always make the book so much more, but these characters elevate this amazingly complex and intriguing plot to a whole new dimension. So amazing alright sorry. Ill stop for a bit ;)

Eli: *Swoon - fuck-me - worthy* This man is raw, he is gritty. He is who is he and he will not accept anyone who will not accept him for all of him. He is a beast, he is loyal, he is Eli. There is no one like him, I don't think there could ever be a match. He makes bad look good, and he makes any girl wanna squirm just a little ;)

Kennedy: Wow ... I can't go much into her because of spoilers but her time with Lorcan kind of changes here. I am still trying to decide who I Feel about certain things... :/

Lorcan: Prepare to be confused and just ripped apart

Lars: I actually really liked him in this book i mean i liked him in the last book but this idk something really changed me in this one with him.

The ending: Prepare for the tears, both happy and sad. But I promise you HEA <3 I am sad to see this series come to an end, but I know there will be more for this universe and I am honestly excited to see what else Stacey will have for us <3

For more Becca-ness check me out here: http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp...

[Savanna Cross-Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. It’s makes me have all the emotions ❤️ plus some good spice 🌶️

[Kristine Tallent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!!
At the end I wanted to scream COULD NOTHING GO RIGHT!! I swear this little girl had the worse luck EVER!!
But so glad for the ending ending ... I loved it!!!
I really liked these books!!!!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5*s
Awesome ending!
Blood Beyond Darkness is the final book in the Darkness series and what an ending it was, it was just brilliant!!
It has all been leading to the ultimate showdown between the Queen of Light –Aniera- and Ember Brycin – Dae, Dark Dweller, Abomination, Fire starter & prophesised one – in this epic finale. We start this book knowing that Ember and best part of her allies have been betrayed & captured after finally obtaining the only weapon capable of killing the Queen but Ember had been forced to make a deal for the man she loves and that could seriously hinder her quest to save Earth. Now, of course there is a lot more to this book than that but I think I will let you find out for yourself what happens next because I don’t want to give away a thing. Let’s just say that it’s everything you want in a finale, it has action, it has training, it has magic, it has fights, betrayals, alliances, heartbreak, incredible loss, sorrow, determination, sacrifice, violence and epic battles but it also has hope, faith, love and the sense of family, where everyone is willing to pay the ultimate price to be free & safe from tyranny and to keep Earth safe from one who would enslave them all and still has time to give us a ton more secrets that we don’t see coming and plenty of Ember & Eli sexytime too.
I have loved watching Ember grow in character throughout the books from a misunderstood teenager unaware of herself or her power, who finally begins to get answers about who and what she is leading her to acceptance. She had a rough journey when all she wanted was to keep the people in her life safe and everyone else wanted to use her for their own gains. Meeting Eli may have been the start of her journey of self discovery but he never thought he would fall for the enemy, the one kind of person he should hate with all of his being and bringing about one of the best couplings that I have ever read in a series. Even though they shouldn’t have fit, they did and their sexual tension was off the charts, not just hot but scorching, waiting for their stolen moments as they clashed time and time again until finally! They came together in an almost brutal passionate encounter that totally rocked my world. He was a savage, seemingly incapable of love and Ember couldn’t trust or let people in but I have never been more satisfied when they set aside their prejudice, fear & doubt for each other and even if they wouldn’t admit it – loved each other fiercely.
I expected this book to be awesome, I knew after reading the books before that it would be because they are consistently amazing and they have each blown me away each time – this is no exception – except possibly even better. I spelled out above what it has to offer, I was so invested in this series that I was routing for everyone and I refused to believe that Ember would fail. I loved that the book wasn’t just about one battle at the end and it was all about getting there – yes it did head to that – BUT there was a long way to go before we got to the showdown, there was more than one for a start, there were a good few spanners thrown into the works and the fact that I was still being shocked by secrets that were continuing to come out of the closet shows just how good this series had actually been. You may think that Ember is ready after all she had been through – but is she? She has a lot on her shoulders being burdened with a prophecy and everyone's belief in her. I think this series has been brilliant and this book is just the icing on the cake, I went through it all with them, I fought with them, I felt their betrayals, their losses, I felt their love and I believed in it all – I would recommend this series to anyone, Eli Dragen will be on my book boyfriend list for a long time and I can’t wait to see what Stacey Marie Brown comes up with next. Epic *****

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction · Rating 5 out of 5]

11/10/2020: Reread!

This review MAY contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Blood Beyond Darkness is such an incredible end to such an awesome series! I jumped into this book (and the series) with reckless abandon and I was swallowed whole. This series will seriously consume you. I read each book of this series in a day, all back to back. I couldn't get enough!

The plot of this book series is excellent! It is clever and is executed very well. This book is exciting and thrilling from start to finish. It will keep you on the edge in suspense. I loved the plot twists and the foreshadowing in the series was done quite well. The premise of the series is original and interesting. There were many grammatical errors in this book like there were in the other books in the series, but apart from that, the writing is quite good.

All of the emotions come full circle with the characters in this series in Blood Beyond Darkness. The family aspect that has developed between all of the characters is heartwarming. I like the idea that you choose family is present throughout the series. Most of these characters are family when they would normally be adversaries, all because Ember is the glue that holds them together. There are so many lives intertwined in this series. The chemistry between characters has been amazing in this series and I think that it only gets better in this book. You can feel how close the characters are becoming and what they mean to each other.

I loved the romance in this series, apart from book one. After the first book, the romance really became incredible. Eli and Ember travel the mountains and valleys of their relationship hitting every bump along the way. Their romance was full of conflicts and struggles, but they managed to overcome them. Their romance was full of every emotion you can imagine and it was so satisfying. I love the way things ended.

The ending was satisfying as a whole, but I honestly would have liked more. The ending leaves off after the villain is defeated, but after that, there is only an epilogue. The epilogue clears up the aftermath, but I would have liked some more interaction between the characters after the boss fight. Sometimes those emotions from the characters and their dialogues can say much more than an epilogue ever could. I am not saying that I didn't like the epilogue though, because I did. I just felt that there should have been more between the end of the fight scene and the epilogue.

Overall, I am jazzed with this book and with this series! It is hands down on my favorites list now! This is a series that I will definitely be rereading in the future. It has been an amazing ride from start to finish. If you love paranormal romance or urban fantasy with interesting characters, a well-developed plot, and fresh ideas then you will love this series! I highly recommend it! I am only glad that the Lightness series by Stacey Marie Brown is set in this same world and contains some of the same characters. I am excited to hear their stories as well.

More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction

[Colleen Mccormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing ending to an amazing series. I loved the way the author finished the story of Ember and Eli without tying it all up in a pretty bow. She ended it like she started it--with lots of twists and turns. Stacey has a way of making you fall in love with the characters and you become so invested in their lives. Ember is strong, sarcastic, but loving. Eli is just plain hot. And how could you not love Cal and Simmons. I do hope there will be another book in this series sometime in the near future. In the meantime I am really looking forward to her next series, "City in Embers."

[Miatta · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this series peaked at book 2 and went down from there. I think the action and romance and lust and everything really was amazing at that point and then just couldn't sustain. So I didn't really love this book.

I actually read her Collector series before this one, and that series is truly OUSTANDING (the fourth book hasn't come out yet) so I can tell that Stacey has gotten even better at spacing out the action, and climaxes. She is such a great author and I can not wait to read more and more of her work.

[Sousetsoso · Rating 1 out of 5]

WASTE OF TIME!!!
I'm not the type to stop a series or even a book unfinished because i hate it.. you never know if there'll be any change..
But i can't believe i wasted 3 days i could be reading something better (or something good in this case). I'm so pissed at myself, the series, the author, everything and everyone.
It's pretty obvious I'm not going for Stacey's books ever again.

[Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

image:


Beautiful ending to the series. I laughter and cursed and most of all cried!!! Some thing I knew, or felt it they will be like that and some, well, it broke my heart. Loved it and love this author!!!

x

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved it!! Amazing series from start to finish!! Not only was it an exciting read, it was fun with all the sarcastic humor.

[Alice hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Crazy series full of twists turns and excitement till the end. I LOVE this series. It is definitely one of my favorite series!!