Between Light and Dark

by Elissa Wilds

Our world is the battleground in a timeless struggle between light and dark, goodness and evil. A human woman is compelled by The Yearning to mate with an immortal being so that she may give birth to the Earth Balancer, mankind's savior.

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Elissa Wilds is an award-winning author of paranormal romantic fiction and metaphysical/new age non-fiction.

Reviews

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Nov08

How much influence does the cover of a book have on your purchase? After much discussion with fellow readers, there are two distinct camps. The first (like me) pays little to no attention to a book’s cover, but members of the second have confessed to buying a book solely because of its cover. After reading “Between Light and Dark” by Elissa Wilds, I admit its cover is very reminiscent of the story within and will likely influence some of my friends from the second group above. The cover screams sexy paranormal romance and we all know that's a big seller right now.

Laurell has returned to her family home to try and put her mother’s death behind her. After a lifetime of feeling ‘not good enough’ or ‘not beautiful enough’ for her big star mother, Laurell isn’t sure that what she’s doing could be called grieving. But the sudden surge of desire for a total stranger is so strong and so weird that Laurell’s sure it must just be because of the recent turmoil in her life. If only!

Axiom is god made flesh. His mission is to impregnate and protect the mother of the ‘Earth Balancer’ child, whose birth is necessary to safeguard the stability of the battle between light and dark. He is a Grey warrior god and only by completing this mission will he be considered worthy enough to gain a seat on the Council. Going to Earth will mean he must fight the grey darkness within himself to be successful, but as a warrior god he has no intention of letting anything sway his concentration. Of course, that was before he realized how strong the ‘Yearning’ would be, or how much he would come to care for Laurell.

This book has a very dark feel to it. Wilds’ choice of words and settings paints a picture of urgency and implacability to her characters. She uses her knowledge of wicca and studies of the paranormal to give reality to the situations her characters find themselves in. Both the hero and heroine find commonality in their feelings of self worth fostered on them by the way others have treated them in the past. And her characterization of the gods is closer to the Greeks or Romans in that they tend to act and think like humans with extra powers rather than all-wise beings.

That said, I had a difficult time really identifying with Laurell. She fought her future constantly and even when she accepted her ‘destiny’, she just had to be contrary. For most of the book, I just wanted to smack her and suggest that the gods try again later with someone more worthy. Does that make me as bad as her mother? I don’t think so. My animosity stemmed from Laurell’s internal childishness and her inability to forgive, even under such serious circumstances. When I dislike a heroine, it becomes very hard for me to enjoy the rest of the story. And this book was no different. There were also some issues with sudden jumps in characters and locations that jarred, and some of the motivations of all involved still elude me.

“Between Light and Dark” is a debut novel (as far as I could learn) for this author and I’m sure that Elissa Wilds’ writing will change a bit as she continues her career. I hope she’ll add some love to her romances without losing her descriptive prowess. She’s certainly a writer I’ll be watching.

[Mara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will start this "review" with a wish, that the author will never read it (as I don't take pleasure in bashing someone's hard work), and a couple of disclaimers, books are personal experiences, and I swear I let the night pass before trying to write something about this story.

So, I let the night pass, but I still think Between Light and Dark is repulsive. There are plenty of fake sci-fi romance out there in which the heroine is kidnapped as a breeder for an alien race. They are cheesy and silly and I usually don't like them much. This story for me overcome this and went ugly.
In a religious overtone, which this book has, whether it wants it or not, the captivity doesn't only rape the heroine, it takes away her free-will.

Rape: if she says no, thanks no, any force used is rape. Call it yearning, call it mate-bond (I actually did not think that something worse could exist.) The fact that you show her the evil her child will help destroy doesn't really help. She could be drugged, she thinks she has been drugged, so why this vision shouldn't be an effect of drugs? Mystery...

Free-will: it's when I choose willingly good or evil. I choose. Not someone kidnaps me and "drugs" me so I can't say no. It will happen anyway, because you said in an other life I accepted... In an other life, I wasn't me.

These were the points the triggered my strongest reaction. They could be ignored if they're not something that bothers you.

Unfortunately I don't think the rest of the book is that much better. Characters and plot went haywire.
Laurel has a huge rage towards her dead mother, who never supported her, to the point that refuses her undead help and guidance. But she has no problem with the god and the coven who kidnapped her. She actively collaborates with them. Why? You can't forgive your mother, but you can forgive this?
You never see the moment she decides these are not crazy people and she understands the "honour" she has been given (and sorry I seethe thinking that forced motherhood is an honour..sigh). She sees evil and gets that, but you actually lack the clicking moment. (The same with the witching abilities..when did she decided she wanted them trained?)

Axiom is a robot, sorry god, made flesh. So he's basically an asshole, sorry, someone who doesn't know human reactions and feelings. So he keeps trampling her, stamping on them as a safe bet.
With no sarcasm (on my part), I don't see how and when they fell in love (or better how she fell). They do not share any moment outside the sex. Do you realize lust and love are somewhat different, don't you?

The rest of the characters is no better. Given that they are helping the birth of the next saviour, you'd think they would be more focused on this rather than pettiness and other silliness.

You can read Karin's for a less personal one star review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/.... There are no 5 star review that I could suggest as a balance to mine, sorry.

[Arminzerella · Rating 1 out of 5]

Laurell has just lost her mother and grandmother and she stands to inherit quite a bit of money and property. Before she can properly wrap her mind around these changes, she is whisked off by the Gray God, Axiom to be the mother of the child - his child - who will save the world from darkness and those that bring it (the Umbra).

This had an auspicious beginning and I hoped Laurell would linger in her family’s home and unravel some of the secrets of her past, but before she can even get interesting Axiom shows up and hauls her off and suddenly, inexplicably, they’re crawling all over one another with “the yearning,” which wasn’t hot at all – just abrupt (and he describes it as ‘mating,’ which I don’t find all that sexy either). Between Light & Dark is a mishmash of poorly developed story lines that could have gone more interesting/convincing places if it didn’t have to come back to Laurell and Axiom getting it on (for the sake of heaven and earth).

* Laurell has endometriosis (and associated issues and feelings about not being her resulting infertility), but she’s over it as soon as Axiom says, Oh no, my dear, you *will* be fertile – I’m just that potent.

* Laurell leaves behind her former life without even once looking back (she’s a student working on her thesis in religion) – she’s never really upset about not following the path she’s laid out for herself or the plans she’s made for her future.

* Laurell just happens to be a “natural” witch (from a long line of witches), convenient as she’s now staying with a coven and can be trained to use her powers. This training is only lightly touched upon, but apparently it’s enough for her to be proficient when Axiom’s darker nature gets the best of him.

While many of these plots might take predictable directions, in Elissa Wilds’ hands they take no direction. So my question for her is why throw it into the mix if it doesn’t make any waves at all? The characters barely feel the effects of the conflicts they’re written into and reading this just feels like going through the motions – words, words, words, words, but nothing happens. There’s so much going on and yet nothing’s going on.

Everyone gets what they want in the end – love, sex, motherhood, a decent inheritance, closure, partnership, mad witch skillz. There’s even some foreshadowing – will the child really be the force of good that saves the world? Unless there’s some real depth in the sequel I don’t really want to know.

[Trupti Dorge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to like this book so much. I thought it’s going to be just another story where the evil forces or demons attack the earth or are planning to attack the earth and how the good guys, shape shifters, witches and what not in paranormal, get together to defeat them. Well, this book had all of it and more.

The relationship between Laurell and other people from the coven was nicely depicted. The hero Axiom reminded me of Tarzan, in a good way, lol. I think it was because just like Tarzan he was unknown to the human ways. His direct approach to things and situations was cute. And surprisingly there wasn’t sex on every page as the book Blurb suggests. The setting of the story was beautiful, the plot imaginative and the ending perfect.

A very good debut novel by Elissa Woods. I just wish the chants the witches said were more imaginative and lyrical. If you have ever read a Nora Roberts novel where the witches are the main characters, you’ll know what I am talking about. All in all, a good read.

[Inara · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I read the blurb of this book it sounded interesting and I thought it to be the kind of book I´d enjoy reading. Sadly in this case it wasn´t true and it had everything to do with the heroine of this story. I really disliked her almost from page one I just couldn´t help it. Her characterization just didn´t click with me.
The plot? Well, I found the plot rather silly too especially the so-called "Yearning" which wanted to make the heroine jump the hero at first sight.
Why? Not because she´s horny, gods no, there´s a much higher and nobler reason for her instant attraction to the hero!
You want to know? Because they´re predestined to bond and produce a child to save the world. Sigh...
Of course there are many obstacles in their way but I admit I started skimming through the book because I didn´t want to spend too much time on a book I couldn´t warm up to and with characters I didn´t care about.
It´s a pity but this book fell flat for me...

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting from the start. There was plenty to keep me reading and to make it interesting (I know. Weird take for me taking MONTHS to read it. Busy. Life.) when I did start it up again though the main character got a little annoying. Coming off overly childish and petty got old but she quickly got over it and finally made her peace with the male main character. Over this book gets 4 stars and I would recommend reading it again. If you love witchy spells and magic stuff this book is for sure going to entertain you!

[Rebecca Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazinh

I e joyed e dry second of this book. The anticipation and excitement on every page. Would read it again and again.

[Teresa Maid · Rating 4 out of 5]

#3

A good read, I do hope to read others . This is one of my favorite types of genres. Thanks!

[Paranormal Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

All her life the heroine has felt abandonment and judgement by those around her. Abandoned by her father who died when she was a baby. Judged by her vain mother who considered her daughter less than good enough. And now abandoned by her grandmother, the only person who loved her-the only person who even acknowledged she was alive. The heroine's trust issues and emotional walls make it hard to get close to people. She has no friends and now she has no family. And then she sees him.

The tall dark man in a tailored suit who she feels this intense and crazed desire for. He approaches her in the cemetery, while she's visiting her grandmothers grave and she pretty much assaults him with this need to touch him. Never thing she knows she's waking up in a limo and being carried off to god knows where. The most alarming this about this kidnapping is the fact that she is not scared. Angry yes. But she's not afraid of this stranger even though he's clearly out of his mind. He tells her he is a god who has taken human form to complete a mission that will allow him to take a position of power among his people. The mission? Apparently, they are to sleep together and produce the Earth Balancer. A child that will suppress the growing darkness on the planet and create a balance between light and darkness. He tells her she volunteered for this mission in her previous life and that this Yearning, he calls it, this overwhelming desire between them is meant to make it impossible to deny each other.

Well, at least until the job is done and she is pregnant. She escapes the first chance she gets....and immediately encounters one of these creatures intending to kill her and her yet to be conceived child. Apparently, this mission she is destined for is the real deal, but that doesn't mean she has to like it. She hates lack of control and this Yearning for the hero is driving her crazy. She tries to seduce him, just to speed the process up and get this child created, but he turns her away.

The hero is learning to be human himself and these strange feelings and desires are hard to comprehend. Is it the yearning? Or is it the girl? Either way, everything he says or does seems to be the wrong thing and things between them are very tense for most of the book. The heroine again makes it hard to get close to her because she is a very bitter woman. She holds onto a grudge and she can never forgive. She is also horribly insecure with both her body and her self-worth. She can't see that the hero desires her for more than the mission, for more than the Yearning but because he is a man and she is a woman.

When the Yearning occurs and the heroine conceives, she expects this desire between them to fade. When it doesn't she becomes frightened of what she is feelings and what it means. But the hero is very good at being honest. They become lovers all the while watching their child grown inside her at an excelled rate. They become closer and closer until the heroine admits she is falling in love with him. But the hero is a creature of light and dark and being on earth and being close to the Balancer is drawing the dark side of him to the surface. He fears hurting the heroine or the child. More so, he fears returning to his plane of existence when the child is born. No longer does the desire for power competes with the desire to live and die as a mortal man surrounded by his family.


I liked this book because it had interesting characters and a plot that while has been done before, still managed to capture my attention. The heroine was a struggle to identify with because she was so bitter and distrusting. I felt that wall she puts between herself and the world and it made it hard for me to like her even though I understood her. At the heart of her she was a insecure child who feared abandonment and rejection. I can certainly relate to having body issues but I felt she had the tendency to self-centered when it came to other people’s emotions. Granted the hero was hard to read because he was just coming to understand human emotions and the way to react them but she snapped at him and turned a cold shoulder whenever she was offended. The plot was a tad bit on the slow side despite the apparent attempt to induce a suspenseful atmosphere, but overall, I liked it. I'd read it again if nothing else and that is deserving of a 3-star rating.

[Juli · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Earth about to be overrun by demons, one woman has to come to terms with her magickal legacy, and accept the love of a god, and magickal instruction of which she is sorely in need, or all on Earth shall suffer for it.
Part Charmed, part Alice Hoffman, part Hitchcock, Elissa Wilds' first novel Between Light and Dark is a delightful read, and I look forward to getting my hands on the sequel Darkness Rising! I think lovers of Paranormal Romance should enjoy this.

[Gardavson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice book. Very different take on romance. I never really connected with the heroine though. She had enough go on that it should have been easy, but she was just too emotionally detatched, at least until closer to the end. It was good, but lacked greatness. I liked the coven, and the interaction with them.

[Dawnda Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything You Want in a Book

This book has romance, love, witchcraft, mystery,godly realms, fear, excitement, & action packed. What more could you want? I enjoyed reading this book.

[Tree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for a romance novel...but still a romance novel. Just a fairly original one.

[Debra Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written!

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book on the next one now

[Sharon Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book despite the fact that a woman was kidnapped.

[Sharon M. Schaeffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read.

It was quite different from my usual read; however, it kept my attention. We deal with good and evil each day we are given.

[Anne]

Way too slow and boring . . .