Darkness Of Light (Darkness Series Book 1)

Sum up the book in just a couple words.Amy: A unique, suspenseful and completely addicting story built upon overpowering emotions and staggering secrets.Celeste: A fabulous, layered story with a seriously intense romance brewing.The cover.Amy: The cover is beautiful. Memorizing and dark.. I just love it!Celeste: The cover caught my attention right away. It's dark AND light and the edges are blurry, which is like the power shimmering. And then Ember's eyes. SO PRETTY.The main characters: Ember and Eli.. And how about some Torin too?Amy: Eli, Ember as well as Torin, all had this mysterious, intriguing side to their character.. something about them that always kept you guessing and wondering throughout the story.. It takes a very creative thought process and clever writing style to keep readers guessing till the very end and I'm so happy to say that Stacey Brown pulled it off beautifully. The characters were all written so amazingly well! And they complimented each other, the scenes and the entire storyline so perfectly. Eli and Ember have this bewildering magnetism, both as individual characters and together, as a couple if you will, that is completely captivating. The witty and intense banter between these two is so entertaining.. you won't want to put the book down, I swear on it.Celeste: These were some intense protagonists. I could feel the energy rippling off of them, especially when they were together. It was more than just physical attraction. They are both strong, but instead of repelling each other they are drawn together. I liked Torin, he's that nice cute guy you need to make out with a few times, but he isn't the one that gets your heart racing and palms sweaty...if ya know what I mean...Need more inspiration? Check out Stacey Marie Brown's <a href="[...]">Pinterest board</a> for Darkness of Light *fans selves*The romance.Amy: I think I can honestly say that there isn't much depth to Eli's vocalized words in the first half of the story (there's a reason for this!) but yet we can somehow feel every.single.thing that he's thinking and feeling from that crazy insane glare of his! (GAH!) Eli and Ember have a instantaneous connection that is so raw and explosive! The whole time I was reading, I'm thinking to myself, "He's totally inflatuated with her. No, I was wrong.. He's not. Wait, HE SO IS! Nope, he hates her. YES! No. Yes. No. OMG YESSSSSSSSS! What is wrong with this guy?!" Eli stirred contradictory feelings in Ember, infuriating, unnerving and calming her all at the same time! At times, he was so cruel and aloof, pushing Ember to tears and confused anger, making me want to seriously dropkick him across the room, but there was also something else too.. a burning attraction and powerful feelings that he couldn't always hide. Eli's brief moments of weakness made me crazy! (Totally in a good way!) This is one of the most epic, consuming and frustrating romances I've ever encountered in a book and I WANT MORE!Celeste: Whiplash! But that is what makes is so freaking good! I loved how Eli calls Ember by her last name. Brycin. It was hot. Ok, I admit it, he could have called her anything and I would have melted. This romance is based on some serious physical chemistry, and then something else to make blow off the charts. Let's bring on the sexy time please! I reallllly want to put a quote in here, but it will spoil. You have to experience Eli and Em's relationship yourself for the first time. However, tweet me and I will give you this HOT quote. Trust me, this romance will make you want to be Ember.The paranormal surprises.Amy: Ember knows she's different and that something just isn't quite right, but she has no idea that her world is about to unleash an unfamiliar kind of danger. A danger she never even knew existed and OMG I can't wait to read more about it! I had no idea where this story was going (which is part of the reason I loved it so freakin' much!) but let me just say, once the secrets were spoken, I was shocked, excited and even more addicted then I was before!Celeste: I had no idea what the supernatural element was in this novel and I loved it! Ember knew that there was something special about her, but she tried to be as normal as possible. We learned as she learned, and I was dying to find out what she was too. All the small tidbits along the way kept me turning the pages faster and faster. No one wanted to tell her, and it was killing her (me lol).The plot and the pace. Any gripes?Amy: I LOVE when I'm wrong when it comes to the direction of a plot.. And boy was I continuously thrown off track here! Pure awesomeness! This story was constructed perfectly and it unraveled equally as well. HURRY UP FALL.. I NEED BOOK 2!Celeste: I loved the story line and the pacing was fantastic. I loved the slow world building with just the right amount of action and kissy time. I never felt confused or that I had to go back and reread. Yay! I probably could have done without the BFFs, Ryan and Kennedy, but there presence was not overwhelming so they didn't add or take away from the story.The Ending.Amy: *repeats* HURRY UP FALL.. I NEED BOOK 2!! As Celeste said earlier, WHIPLASH! What a roller coaster ride! Stacey's writing is amazing! That ending was insanely good and totally unexpected!Celeste: Stacey, I need the next book this very second!! Where is Eli?? What will happen? Ember was always strong, but now she is turning into a true heroine and I can't wait to see what she does next to save the world.Would you rec?Amy: YES YES YES!Celeste: A million times YES! This book has it all: a great story, the paranormal element, and a smoking hot romance!

I liked this story. Ember was at times a little immature for me, but that’s to be expected in a book with a more YA audience. I am hoping as the series progresses that she grows and matures.The story itself was well done and an interesting take of the genre.I listened to this via audible and I really like the narrator. I thought she did a fabulous job and her voice was easy to listen to.

I saw this book years ago, and for whatever reason, I didn't pick it up. Well, this week it was recommended to me and I decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed. It was a light read with enough mystery to keep me interested. My only criticism is the story repeated the same interaction with the main characters so many times I began to fast forward through pages. The hot and cold game was too much. I also wish the characters were older. I don't love adult themes and fantasies mentally played out by someone who doesn't even drive.

I almost did not finish this book, after the first 3 chapters because I thought it would be too juvenile for me, but glad I pushed on. Great plot and world-building, but the FMC was a bit annoying at times, toward the end, I really started to like her character. On to read book 2!

Really excited about the build up of this new world. Also, Ember learning who she is and what is true or not? There is so much more to that story!!! Couldn't wait to know more.

Reviews: 4 ½ out 5 StarsDarkness of Light by Stacey Marie Brown first piqued my interest after reading Candace from Candace's Book Blogs review; I love the cover and the girls different coloured eyes but I also found the synopsis to be really intriguing. It also has everything I enjoy in a YA Paranormal novel:A snarky, lovable and strong heroineA bad boy hero who happens to be hotOne of my fave paranormal beings (I won't reveal what they are to avoid spoilers)Kick-butt action sequences &A complicated romanceEmber Brycin is independent, snarky, always in trouble and a social outcast, she has always known she was different but doesn't know why, things have a way of exploding around her and she see's things which are only seen in fairy-tales but to her are very real which has caused her a load of grief, living with her amazing step father, Mark after the brutal death of her mother she tries for normal but things don't come easily for her - at all. After being blamed for the latest school explosion, she is sent off to Silverwood, a school for delinquents and this is where she meets the mysterious and enigmatic Eli Dragen.I love reading about bad boys and Eli was badass personified! His care factor was zero and although he ran hot and cold there was a reason behind it; he wasn't forthcoming at all when it came to providing Ember with answers about what was happening and his mood swings and abruptness made me dizzy. He grated on my nerves at times but he was also there in the times he was needed and protected Ember which I really liked, he came across as a tortured character so I'm definitely eager to learn more about him.It is difficult writing about the plot without giving too much away and I also don't want to spoil what Ember comes to learn about herself and how she is to be used as a pawn in a war because of what she is. It was fast-paced and you could never tell who could be trusted or not and from events which happened at the end, things are about to get really exciting.The secondary characters were developed well, the bad guys were written to perfection and Ember's friends and step father were each wonderful, I am especially keen to learn more about Kennedy because I think there is something quite unique about her. Torin also left me intrigued, I'm curious about his motives and whether he can be trusted but I don't really think anyone from the `otherworld' could be.The romance is smexy and complex; there are some intense moments between Eli and Ember that I loved reading about - the banter between this couple was fantastic and I hope we see further progression with the relationship in the next book; I'm really hoping though we don't get a full-blown Ember-Torin-Eli love triangle.I loved Stacey Marie Brown's writing! It was detailed and engaging and left me needing more; the world-building is brilliant and the questions we are left with only makes me all the more eager for the next installment.Overall, Darkness of Light is an action packed debut for Stacey Marie Brown filled with startling revelations, wonderful characters and a creative world - I can't wait to read the next book, Fire in the Darkness which has an anticipated September/October 2013 release date.

Edit: after finishing book one, I went back to savage lands as book 6 was just released.. well you sneaky sneaky one, as soon as Ember and Eli popped up I knew I had to go back, and I can say, the rest of the darkness series was very good, so I won’t be changing my review stars fro book one. However I will say stick with it, as book 2 is great, and there on….I choose this series because of the an other series… and This was so slow :/ I was skipping lines, it was so repetitive and a tad boring. Nothing truly magical happened. I don’t think I will purchase the 2nd one. I probably would have continued if it was on KU.Sorry.

I did this whole world backwards and started with the Lightness series. Oops! But that hasn't changed my opinion of it. I absolutely ADORE Savage Lands so decided to go back to the beginning with the Darkness Series and it did not disappoint.I originally thought this was mature YA but it's definitely more NA (and more up my street).I went straight into book 2 and 2.5 (there's an Eli novella people, do not forget that) and am now fully immersed in book 3.I just love Stacey's world building and characters so much!

I wasn't sure about this book when I first started it. It took a lot to carry on as I thought it was going to be all misunderstood teenagers and school dramas! But if you can get past it you get to the interesting part about Fae and other worldly creatures and what Ember is and what she us capable off. I'm glad I stuck with as I think it's going to get very interesting.

After reading another series by this author I was really looking forward to starting this book. Maybe it's me but I just couldn't get my head into it. I couldnt even finish it and closed it off at the 'pee pee dance' ridiculous language supposedly from a young woman old enough to feel passion, love and filled with supposed incredible power.i know it's paranormal but for me it still needs to be slightly believable. I suppose the idea behind the story is quite good, college girl doesn't know she has some kind of power drumming through her, meets a guy, doesn't know he's a super natural being, a lot of 'faff' about not feeling normal like her geeky mates, 3/4 into the book gets attacked in the woods where trees come alive and wrap themselves around her for protection. I didn't get any further, it's around this time that the 'pee pee dance' is used, phrases you would use for a 3 year old not a college girl in ANY world but for me it was long drawn out first book without much to keep me turning the page. I really struggled but tried to persevere.

I have received an ARC copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for it.After reading the first chapter I wasn’t sure if I will like or hate this book. Ember didn’t show much character in here, but then? Wow. The story is getting so good and Ember is basically kicking some butts!Instantly I did not like Sheriff or the Principal. They were like: Seriously? Are you abusing your position and power you have? I felt for Amber. She lost her Mother and it was not a pretty death (if any can be). She was murdered. And for a 13 year old girl it’s a tragedy, which causes her to start seeing and hearing things. After years of treatments and change of school, place and home people believe it’s better. But… Now, 5 years later, she is getting worse. Unexplained things are happening around her and she seems to be in centre of them. To add more confusion, a handsome, mysterious guys is showing in her life.I’m not sure if I am already in love with Eli. Some things he does and says, make me question his intentions towards Ember.The story is really well build and even if the pace is slow at the beginning, it’s so worth reading! It left me wanting more, and I was so happy that I had it on my Kindle already! The main and secondary characters are really well developed.