Stacey Marie Brown

I stumbled across this book randomly and thought I would give it a try. OMG I was not disappointed! Loved it!

The plot was action-packed and drove me to keep reading...as in finished it in a day...and could not/did not want to put it down. It has a good amount of darkness in the plot with a post-apocalyptical setting, and some darker situations, which pushes what would otherwise be a young adult story to a solid new adult story. As usual though while the plot was well done, it was the show more characters that really did it for me.

I loved Zoey and Ryker's characters and that they both had awesome levels of badassness. Also, Ryker= muscled ferocious growly protective VIKING FAE...ENOUGH SAID! Their relationship is a slow burn that develops throughout the book and at a pace that actually makes sense since it is stemming from the enemies to lovers trope (which I won't lie, I am a sucker for). I also freaking loved the addition of Sprigg to the plot, since he added the right level of comical relief and a little bit of cuteness.

Cannot wait to start the next book!! show less

Dropped down to 3 stars. I still love the atypical post apocalyptic situation they're in. There has been some character growth and more things explained, even if they were predictable. This series is still interesting however I'm starting to really have an issue with some recurring plot points.

Something out of her control lands her with the leader of some group (whether it's she grew up there, someone brought her there, or essentially kidnapped) and then all of a sudden she's expected to "be show more on their side" but when shit goes wrong she's a "traitor". And each time she just jumps on the bandwagon like she's right where she wants to be. WHY?? You knocked her out and brought her here then said you don't trust her and need her to do things? She's labeled as a traitor to everyone. She didn't choose this. So annoying. It seems to keep happening. I'm sure she's going to be taken by another faction and then be labeled a traitor when she's rescued or one of the 4 other factions that want her but don't trust her, steal her back.

Then there's the way she just goes along with it. Sure you kicked my ass but I'll fight for you. Sure everyone keeps betraying me but I'll believe in you.

I'm going to keep reading but if the next one doesn't add something new in there I'm done. show less

ABR's original Darkness Of Light audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Darkness of Light is the first book in a paranormal romance series which is classified as New Adult. The series consists of four books in total.

The main character, Ember Brycin, is a bit of an outsider due to her unusual appearance (she has two different colored eyes) and due to the fact that things tend to explode around her. She also has hallucinations, or that is what she assumes they are. show more After the latest explosion at her school, Ember is sent to a juvenile facility where she meets the mystifying Eli Dragen, whom she feels instantly attracted to.

Ember and Eli have this love/hate relationship going on which was quite entertaining. Eli was totally unpredictable and could change from bad ass, cocky biker boy to really quite charming, protective and helpful in seconds. The banter between Ember and Eli was fun. Dry humor, sarcastic comments and a heroine who can’t help but say what she thinks.

The romance was clean and in my opinion, would have been suitable even for a younger age group. But there is the hint of a potential love triangle to be developed in the series, so who knows where this will go. In book one, there is nothing more than a few kisses.

For the majority of this book, Ember is trying to work out who and what she is. There were lots of clues to an otherworldly existence around her, but Ember was very slow on the uptake, a bit too naive, really. Therefore, the main action does not really start until about three quarters through the book, when things are finally revealed to her and Ember starts on a dangerous quest where she has no idea whom she can really trust.

Ember has two good friends at school and lives with her stepdad Michael. Her Mum was killed some years ago. Then there is Torin, who initially appears in Ember’s dreams, the other candidate for the potential love triangle. All these characters were well developed and interesting. There was a good balance of romance, action and mystery.

The writing was flawless. It flowed well, was nicely paced and interlaced with lots of humor. It definitely held my attention throughout. It was a really good introduction to the fantasy world created by Stacey Marie Brown, and I am certainly interested enough in the plot and feel invested in the characters to want to get book two to find out how the story continues. Considering that I don’t usually read any fantasy books that is saying a lot.

Michelle Sparks did an excellent job narrating. I hope she will continue as narrator for book 2 in the series. She really made Ember sound like an eighteen-year-old girl. Michelle Sparks was very good at expressing emotions. I would certainly listen to other audiobooks narrated by her. There were no issues with the production.

A definite recommendation for paranormal romance fans, maybe enjoyed more by YA/NA readers at the lower end of the age spectrum. Saying that, I am a very “mature” adult and I definitely enjoyed it.

Audiobook provided for review by the author. show less

Wow...okay let me just start by saying that this book almost got me to fail my test! It got me to stay up and read it all day till three in the morning when I finally finished it! I had to get up at five and take a freaking test, hate that book! Haha Just kidding! I LOVED IT! Who cares about a test anyway?:D (Its good that she wasn't there and a test was next day) But seriously I couldn't stop reading it! I think it was a while since I read that good of a book! I mean it was really really show more good, the kind of good that makes you forget everything and just keep reading it! If you read a description, it doesn't really give out much, there is soo much more to the story! The plot was amazing! But what really got to me were the characters!
I really through that I can never read a book with liking ALL of the characters in the book. But heck this book proved me wrong because I honestly liked all of the characters, even the creepy evil ones! I especially loved the main two characters and their connection! Ember was an amazing character. She went through a lot in her life, with trying to find out who she really is and I just loved her sense of humor, and how she didn't take shit from anyone, even the hot, definitely bipolar, bad boy Eli, with not so bad boy name..:D Ember, oh I swear he is a definition of bipolar! You never know what will come from him. He can be sweet and hot and sexy, totally gorgeous...oh wait I'm suppose to be talking about personality, wrong direction, lets go back. So I was saying he showed his sweet, sensitive, charming side, but than again there was a dark, not so sweet, kind of a jerk side, and a total bad-ass side. His bipolar character really surprised me, in a good way, because I actually liked it(; I laughed a lot in this book, especially the eye conversations between Eli and Ember. I loved the tension between them too, especially the awkward ones with people around...Haha.
I also liked how the author kept us guessing through out the story! The twist were awesome! I just loved this book! I can't wait till the next one comes out! I definitely recommend to read it, like now!! show less