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lynguy1's review
4.0
DESTINY’S DARK LIGHT by Sara Dobie Bauer can be classified as a paranormal romance, an urban fantasy, or a supernatural suspense novel. It is set in Charleston, South Carolina and is suspenseful, enjoyable and entertaining.
Cyan Burroughs is a light witch prophesied to battle the dark sorcerer Dorcha. Unfortunately, Cyan’s powers are still dormant until a witch flips a trolley in downtown Charleston killing and injuring many. Cyan drags Liam Cody from the wreckage and helps him extract his girlfriend from his car. When Cyan sees Liam’s face, she knows that he is the man that she is destined to love.
Who caused the accident and why? Who is the Dorcha? Will Cyan’s powers fully awaken or will they sputter? Will the dark witches or the light witches end up winning the ultimate battle? Will Cyan survive? Will Liam survive? Will Liam and Cyan love each other or will it be one-sided?
Both Cyan’s and Liam’s characters had significant depth for such a short novel. Some of the supporting characters were mildly quirky and made the book even more enjoyable.
While this is the first book I have read by Sara Dobie Bauer, I look forward to reading more of her novels. Overall, I was immediately drawn into the story line and enjoyed unraveling the mystery of who the Dorcha was. The cover was perfect for this novel.
Many thanks to Pen and Kink Publishing, Sara Dobie Bauer and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Cyan Burroughs is a light witch prophesied to battle the dark sorcerer Dorcha. Unfortunately, Cyan’s powers are still dormant until a witch flips a trolley in downtown Charleston killing and injuring many. Cyan drags Liam Cody from the wreckage and helps him extract his girlfriend from his car. When Cyan sees Liam’s face, she knows that he is the man that she is destined to love.
Who caused the accident and why? Who is the Dorcha? Will Cyan’s powers fully awaken or will they sputter? Will the dark witches or the light witches end up winning the ultimate battle? Will Cyan survive? Will Liam survive? Will Liam and Cyan love each other or will it be one-sided?
Both Cyan’s and Liam’s characters had significant depth for such a short novel. Some of the supporting characters were mildly quirky and made the book even more enjoyable.
While this is the first book I have read by Sara Dobie Bauer, I look forward to reading more of her novels. Overall, I was immediately drawn into the story line and enjoyed unraveling the mystery of who the Dorcha was. The cover was perfect for this novel.
Many thanks to Pen and Kink Publishing, Sara Dobie Bauer and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
cpickard's review
5.0
Cyan is a light witch, raised by her witch family with the knowledge, from several prophecies, that she will become the savior of the white witches in a great war and fall in love with a beautiful stranger. Her life seems completely planned out, but as they do, things get a little more complicated once the prophecied times begin.
Destiny's Dark Light is an exciting and romantic thriller full of far more twists and turns than one would expect for a story wrapped around a pretty straightforward prophecy. I loved the characters, they feel right at home in Charleston and each have distinct and imperfect (read:realistic) personalities. While not as sprawling as a lot of Urban Fantasy I've read (which is how I would classify this) the compact story feels right, giving an intimate view into the main characters' story.
The ending felt a bit rushed after the complex, but neatly laid out build-up but was nevertheless satisfying. Would recommend to a friend.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Destiny's Dark Light is an exciting and romantic thriller full of far more twists and turns than one would expect for a story wrapped around a pretty straightforward prophecy. I loved the characters, they feel right at home in Charleston and each have distinct and imperfect (read:realistic) personalities. While not as sprawling as a lot of Urban Fantasy I've read (which is how I would classify this) the compact story feels right, giving an intimate view into the main characters' story.
The ending felt a bit rushed after the complex, but neatly laid out build-up but was nevertheless satisfying. Would recommend to a friend.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
anovelreader's review
2.0
A fated battle between light and dark magic with the future of the world hanging in the balance? Add in a little romance and pedigreed Southern witches and you have the definition of my jam. Unfortunately, the pacing, character develop, and aspects of the romance didn't work for me.
Cyan Burroughs, who comes from two lines of famous witches, is prophesied to be the Loach — a light witch who will take down the Dorcha (a dark witch) in a battle for the fate of the world. Her loving witchy family runs a bookstore in Charleston, South Carolina. The novel starts just before Cyan's powers begin to awaken after she finally meets her fated love, Liam, who unfortunately is in love with another woman. From here, Cyan with the help of her family scramble to identify the Dorcha and save the world.
On a positive note, I loved the concept of these ancient witch lineages and the family dynamics. The plot twist made it interesting. I felt that the ideas here are promising.
At the same time, it was hard for me to follow the dialogue and quick transitions. Overall, there was also a lot more telling than showing and the story felt a bit rushed for my tastes. I also got hung up on the inconsistencies. For instance, in one scene Liam is worried about meeting Charleston’s “poshest” even though we’ve already heard that he has an expensive wardrobe designed specifically to charm and impress guests at one of Charleston’s high-end restaurants (and he also comes from money).
I can forgive a lot for a good romance, but it was also tough to root for this couple. Liam’s first impression of Cyan — again, his fated love — is that “she had the tight little body of a woman who’d be fun in bed.” I’m all for fun in bed, but it felt out of place. It is a bold move to have the hero start the story very much in love — even proposing marriage — to another woman. Within 20 pages, the fiancé falls into a coma after an accident and much of Cyan and Liam’s early interaction takes place at her bedside. There is also what feels like a random interlude with another woman. I’m not even in the majority of romance readers who refuse to read books with any form of cheating, but it was a tough sell for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy to review.
Cyan Burroughs, who comes from two lines of famous witches, is prophesied to be the Loach — a light witch who will take down the Dorcha (a dark witch) in a battle for the fate of the world. Her loving witchy family runs a bookstore in Charleston, South Carolina. The novel starts just before Cyan's powers begin to awaken after she finally meets her fated love, Liam, who unfortunately is in love with another woman. From here, Cyan with the help of her family scramble to identify the Dorcha and save the world.
On a positive note, I loved the concept of these ancient witch lineages and the family dynamics. The plot twist made it interesting. I felt that the ideas here are promising.
At the same time, it was hard for me to follow the dialogue and quick transitions. Overall, there was also a lot more telling than showing and the story felt a bit rushed for my tastes. I also got hung up on the inconsistencies. For instance, in one scene Liam is worried about meeting Charleston’s “poshest” even though we’ve already heard that he has an expensive wardrobe designed specifically to charm and impress guests at one of Charleston’s high-end restaurants (and he also comes from money).
I can forgive a lot for a good romance, but it was also tough to root for this couple. Liam’s first impression of Cyan — again, his fated love — is that “she had the tight little body of a woman who’d be fun in bed.” I’m all for fun in bed, but it felt out of place. It is a bold move to have the hero start the story very much in love — even proposing marriage — to another woman. Within 20 pages, the fiancé falls into a coma after an accident and much of Cyan and Liam’s early interaction takes place at her bedside. There is also what feels like a random interlude with another woman. I’m not even in the majority of romance readers who refuse to read books with any form of cheating, but it was a tough sell for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy to review.
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