Darkness of Light by Stacey Maries Brown
Kindle Edition, 298 pages
Published February 13th 2013 by Twisted Fairy Publishing
Age Group: YA
Series: Darkness #1
Summary:
Freak. Witch. Crazy. Schizo.
Ember Brycin has been called them all. She’s always known she’s different. No one has ever called her normal, even under the best circumstances. Bizarre and inexplicable things continually happen to her, and having two different colored eyes, strange hair, and an unusual tattoo only contributes to the gossip about her.
When the latest school explosion lands her in a facility for trouble teens, she meets Eli Dragen, who’s hot as hell and darkly mysterious. Their connection is full of passion, danger, and secrets. Secrets that will not only change her life, but what and who she is—leading her down a path she never imagined possible.
Between Light and Dark, Ember finds a world where truth and knowledge are power and no one can be trusted. But her survival depends on finding out the truth about herself. In her pursuit, she is forced between love and destiny and good and evil, even when the differences between them aren’t always clear. At worst, she will incite a war that could destroy both worlds. At best, she will not only lose her heart but her life and everyone she loves. Once the truth is out, however, there will be no going back. And she’ll definitely wish she could.
Darkness of Light has made me excited for paranormal books again. They used to be the kind of young adult book that I read the most, but then I kind of started to drift away from them. Darkness of Light reminded me why I love them so much. It is probably one of the best books I have read all year. I could not put it down. It has just enough mystery to keep you guessing and keep you flipping pages, but not too much to where you are pulling your hair out just to get some answers. Don’t get me wrong, Ember doesn’t get any satisfying answers from anyone until 3/4th into the book, but there is always so much going on that it didn’t frustrate me. The plot was always moving forward. I never felt like it was stagnant or stalled in anyway. I loved the character development and the creatures in this book seemed fresh and unique.
Ember just wanted to know what she was. But at the same time, she kept holding out hope that she was normal. She saw all these crazy things happening around her, and I think on some level she always knew that she was different, but she just didn’t want to admit it to herself. If I were her, I would have demanded answers much sooner, or done my own research to try and figure it out. I would have been experimenting with my powers. Anything to try and see what was going on. Especially because she was getting in trouble for the strange things that were happening. I felt bad for her though. The cops labeled her a trouble maker, and she thought she was crazy and that she was having hallucinations. That must have really taken a toll on her.
Eli was just as mysterious. I couldn’t figure out what he was or what Ember was. That was one of the things that I loved about Darkness of Light. Stacey Marie Brown did such an awesome job telling an amazing story but still maintaining the mystery to keep you maddeningly interested. I have a few books on my TBR pile before I can get to the sequel and it is driving me crazy already! I just want to skip everything else I have to read so I can read the next book.
I loved the romance between Eli and Ember. Eli knew a lot more than Ember in terms of the paranormal. He grew up knowing what he was and what she was and he was supposed to hate her. It was interesting watching him struggle with himself and what he felt for her. Of course, for Ember that meant that he seemed hot and cold all the time. But I thought the build up between them was great. They would make a few steps towards friendship, and then something would inevitably happen that would push them further apart. I really like the two of them together, but in the end of the book I just wished that Eli would have taken a stand and done more for Ember. I guess we will see what happens in the next installment.
Darkness of Light is a fantastic book! I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t even realize I was done with the book or how much time I had spent reading the book until I came up for air at the last page. I just lost myself in the story completely. Which is something I love. I can’t wait to read the next book. There are so many things I want to find out. I want to see more of Telin, a character we really only got to see in dreams so I don’t have much of an opinion on him yet, and I really really want to see what is going to happen with Eli, as well as learning more about Ember’s powers. Darkness of Light is one of the bext paranormal books I have read all year. This is going to be an amazing series.
Stacey Marie Brown by day is an Interior/Set Designer, by night a writer of Paranormal Fantasy, Adventure, and Literary Fiction. She grew up in Northern California, where she ran around on her family’s farm, raising animals, riding horses, playing flashlight tag, and turning hay bales into cool forts. Even before she could write, she was creating stories and making up intricate fantasies. Writing came as easy as breathing. She later turned that passion into acting, living and traveling abroad, and designing. Though she had never stopped writing, moving back to San Francisco seemed to have brought it back to the forefront and this time it would not be ignored.
When she’s not writing she’s out hiking, spending time with friends, traveling, listening to music, or designing.Connect with Stacey:
Danielle Young
One of the things that intrigues me about this series is the fact that it is not all sunshine and rainbows. There is a darkness to the story a sadness. Plus I love stories that keep me guessing. Thanks for the giveaway!
Christy @ Love of Books
Sheesh … I thought that first sentence in the top blurb was talking about me. lol. This totally sounds like my kind of book, and if you liked it, then I’d probably like it! 🙂
Beautiful Disaster
Your review has me interested in reading this series.
Thanks 🙂
evrythngzen
sounds interesting, I love that it’s almost like a constant battle for some balance.
sarah corbin
( Bizarre and inexplicable things continually happen to her, and having two different colored eyes, strange hair, and an unusual tattoo only contributes to the gossip about her. ) that part which i copied from above and pasted has me very interested in reading this book!!! im wanting to know what is happening to her…thanks for the giveaway!!!!
Mary Preston
I’m always up for a great paranormal read.
Natasha D
That it is paranormal and it sounds like something I would love to read!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Angie
Let me just say that the covers are gorgeous! I’m glad that it’s one of the best paranormal books you read this year!
Lisa Vazquezanzua
What intrigues me most is really everything said in the overview of the book. It’s really not one thing or another it’s the whole story. I have to know what this “other world” is all about and why she has two different color eyes. This series is going to be SO GOOD!!! This is definitely a story I’m going to LOVE!! The cover is gorgeous! Love it!! I’m putting this series more at the top of my TBR list.