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daphx00's review against another edition
3.0
Three stars until I figure out if I think it deserves more stars. I guess not - it felt like a real plot/climax only came into the story when I was two or three chapters from the end.
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I was eagerly anticipating the release of A Beautiful Dark and I was ridiculously excited when I got the chance to read it via Netgalley. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations (which were, admittedly, very high).
Skye is a talented young girl, who is eager to learn and an unbeatable skier. When two new guys arrive in town and enroll in the same school as Skye, her world is rocked. Devin, calm and cool, and Asher, hot and enfuriating, are both trying to get her attention. But for what?
The reason that this book didn't live up to my expectations is the following. Even though we meet Skye, discover she has certain powers and see two supernatural guys battling for her attention, the plot isn't revealed until we're only 2 or 3 chapters from the end. Up until that point, the main focus is on Skye's feelings towards the two guys and even though I liked seeing her trying to decide between 'good' and 'bad', the entire plot wasn't apparent in the story, only a slight buildup. I have to admit, the book got pretty exciting in said last chapters, and the ending was something I really didn't see coming (well done!). But there's a catch; this book has a rather open ending and I was quite confused by that, until I read that this is the first book in a planned trilogy - which I wish I had known before reading.
Davies has delivered a well written story that surely will have readers hooked - but it wasn't the high I expected it to be. I will, however, be eagerly awaiting the sequel.
My overall rating: 3/5
Three plus for Jocelyn's debut A Beautiful Dark and me counting the days until book 2 will be available.
(this review is published on my blog, http://lvngbooks.blogspot.com)
--------------
I was eagerly anticipating the release of A Beautiful Dark and I was ridiculously excited when I got the chance to read it via Netgalley. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations (which were, admittedly, very high).
Skye is a talented young girl, who is eager to learn and an unbeatable skier. When two new guys arrive in town and enroll in the same school as Skye, her world is rocked. Devin, calm and cool, and Asher, hot and enfuriating, are both trying to get her attention. But for what?
The reason that this book didn't live up to my expectations is the following. Even though we meet Skye, discover she has certain powers and see two supernatural guys battling for her attention, the plot isn't revealed until we're only 2 or 3 chapters from the end. Up until that point, the main focus is on Skye's feelings towards the two guys and even though I liked seeing her trying to decide between 'good' and 'bad', the entire plot wasn't apparent in the story, only a slight buildup. I have to admit, the book got pretty exciting in said last chapters, and the ending was something I really didn't see coming (well done!). But there's a catch; this book has a rather open ending and I was quite confused by that, until I read that this is the first book in a planned trilogy - which I wish I had known before reading.
Davies has delivered a well written story that surely will have readers hooked - but it wasn't the high I expected it to be. I will, however, be eagerly awaiting the sequel.
My overall rating: 3/5
Three plus for Jocelyn's debut A Beautiful Dark and me counting the days until book 2 will be available.
(this review is published on my blog, http://lvngbooks.blogspot.com)
freadomlibrary's review against another edition
4.0
I was a little apprehensive to start this series since I'd heard a lot of mixed reviews but I was really surprised to find myself really enjoying it.
I thought the setting was great and incredibly perfect for this type of story. It really lent a lot of suspense and mystery to what was already brewing there. All you really know from the start is that these two strange guys are angels but the mythology or history that makes them up I found to be very interesting. Definitely a new angle on the old fallen angel story. I really liked that you could reach something deeper into a seemingly simple concept. Light and dark go way beyond colors and sides, they could be interpreted way deeper than it was explored in this first installment. The way those two things reflect the fallen angels' powers were also intriguing. How each side manifests a different concept was cool and original.
I liked the main character, though at times she could be a little annoying. Definitely felt that her feelings and standing on what was going on around her was believable.
The only things that I did not enjoy were the half-assed love triangle. I feel like the main character wasn't caught between two boys, she know who she wanted, she was only intrigued by the other options. If you're going to have a love triangle it should be 50/50. That's what makes it a triangle.
And also the ending. I am not a fan of cliffhanger and this one was huge! It's crazy how quickly things escalated in those final pages and it left me itching for more though I think that was on purpose.
Overall a nice start to a trilogy
I thought the setting was great and incredibly perfect for this type of story. It really lent a lot of suspense and mystery to what was already brewing there. All you really know from the start is that these two strange guys are angels but the mythology or history that makes them up I found to be very interesting. Definitely a new angle on the old fallen angel story. I really liked that you could reach something deeper into a seemingly simple concept. Light and dark go way beyond colors and sides, they could be interpreted way deeper than it was explored in this first installment. The way those two things reflect the fallen angels' powers were also intriguing. How each side manifests a different concept was cool and original.
I liked the main character, though at times she could be a little annoying. Definitely felt that her feelings and standing on what was going on around her was believable.
The only things that I did not enjoy were the half-assed love triangle. I feel like the main character wasn't caught between two boys, she know who she wanted, she was only intrigued by the other options. If you're going to have a love triangle it should be 50/50. That's what makes it a triangle.
And also the ending. I am not a fan of cliffhanger and this one was huge! It's crazy how quickly things escalated in those final pages and it left me itching for more though I think that was on purpose.
Overall a nice start to a trilogy
ninettef's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
alyssaindira's review against another edition
3.0
Hey guys, so I just finished A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies and holy shat what a dam cliffhanger!!!! Gahhhhhhhh! I am literally out of my mind. I knew I was getting really close to the end of the book, but I didn't think it'd end like that! Ah!! My mind is spinning. Goodness. How dare the author....ahhh. Okay...I think I got a little ahead of myself. Restarting, I enjoyed this novel. It didn't have too much details, but just enough to keep things interesting. It was easy to fall into the storyline. And easier to fall in love with Asher. Who is one of the mysterious boys who shows up at Skye's 17th bday party and proceeds to turn her life upside down. And then there is Devin. But I shall not speak of him. That kind...tortured...conflicted...seemingly peaceful soul. Gah. Okay, back to my love Asher. Dark, wild and handomse. Charmer. Flirter. Player. Teaser. Hot. Love. My baby. I swear this whole novel I was just changing in my head "I love asher, I love Asher". Okay, can you tell how much I love Asher? No? Okay. Lol. He was the best thing about this novel I swear.... Ahhh. I just loved all the bantering and teasing. Even though he played with Skye's emotions a bit. But then again, so did Devin. Ugh. Men. So.... Back to where I was- AAAH. Gods those last few chapters were a whirlwind. I really want to read the second book, like now. But I have so many other books to read and with semester starting soon... Gahhhh. I really want to read the sequel A Fractured Light, sooner rather than later. But, sometimes fate is out of our hands. Literally. (That was a really bad joke in regards to the context of this book but whatever). Bye.
redentrapy's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning of this book was a little slow and predictable. It starts out like every other young adult book out there. About half way through it starts getting interesting. After I got to chapter 12 I read 200 pages in one day. The ending is unpredictable and it ends on a cliffhanger so you can't wait to read the next one. The characters are what makes this story. They are deep and well developed and mysterious. Especially at the end when the choice comes its completely unpredictable. You both love and hate Devin and Asher, but you just can't help but melt for both of them. Skye's character bugs me a little. She's whiny and why me why me through most of it. She runs away from herself instead of controlling herself and that is why she keeps getting into trouble and being whiny. But I can understand where she's coming from to a point. Overall good. The ending was worth reading through the dull parts.
lisa_sutto's review against another edition
5.0
I'm giving this five stars, mostly because I was so hooked! I read it in about 4-5 hours. In saying that, it is an easy read and I was riding the hype of a book I had just finished So I will see if I'm as hooked after the second book.
Perfect for people who like books like the Fallen series - Becca Fitzpatrick or the Starcrossed series - Josephine Angelini.
The story is sometimes predictable, but worth it all the same just to see what happens in the end. Can't wait to read the 2nd book!!
Perfect for people who like books like the Fallen series - Becca Fitzpatrick or the Starcrossed series - Josephine Angelini.
The story is sometimes predictable, but worth it all the same just to see what happens in the end. Can't wait to read the 2nd book!!
owlswithfins's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing! It's the perfect book in that there's mystery, suspense, romance, and twists throughout. It left me on a cliffhanger and now I must read the sequel!!!
missbookiverse's review against another edition
I got myself into this mess of a book because I saw it on NetGalley and read the name "Jocelyn Davies" but what my brain thought was "[a:Jaclyn Dolamore|3009541|Jaclyn Dolamore|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1250436377p2/3009541.jpg]" (probably because I thought of the cover for [b:Between the Sea and Sky|9583173|Between the Sea and Sky|Jaclyn Dolamore|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316739374s/9583173.jpg|13018159]). So I requested it and got approved. Then I realized that the author was not Jaclyn Dolamore and that the synopsis didn't sound like something I wanted to read. Damn.
But I gave it a go. I read 14 chapters (which equals about 40% of the book) and it's just boring and blah. It's not badly written or anything but it's your typical paranormal story. Smart heroine who is hot but doesn't know it, quirky best friends and about 3 guys who are madly in love with her. Two of them are cousins and total cliché opposites. One sexy, dark and outgoing, the other one quiet and mysterious. I'm sorry but I just don't care enough to finish this.
But I gave it a go. I read 14 chapters (which equals about 40% of the book) and it's just boring and blah. It's not badly written or anything but it's your typical paranormal story. Smart heroine who is hot but doesn't know it, quirky best friends and about 3 guys who are madly in love with her. Two of them are cousins and total cliché opposites. One sexy, dark and outgoing, the other one quiet and mysterious. I'm sorry but I just don't care enough to finish this.
xom4e's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’ve loved this book since high school so my rating is bias but I’m obsessed with this book and will be forever. It is STILL just as great as I remembered it being in high school and the many times I’ve reread it after that. Forever a favorite YA book!
michalice's review against another edition
4.0
Original review at Much Loved Books
We start A Beautiful Dark by being introduced to Skye who is celebrating her birthday with a surprise party thrown by her friends in their local Coffee Shop. Near the end of the party two mysterious strangers, Asher and Devin, crash the party and begin to fight. The boiler suddenly explodes and the party is over.
At school the next day, Skye meets these strangers again, and discovers they are new students and unluckily for Skye, they share a lot of classes. But Skye can't shake the feeling something is not right with them, and we soon find out what it is.
What can I say about A Beautiful Dark, not only do I love the simplicity of the cover, but it is also a debut novel. From the moment I opened the book I was hooked and I had to find out what was going on with Skye's eyes, and what role do Asher and Devin play in this. I had my own theories about who or what they were, and although I was correct in my thinking, I had my ideas backwards.
I really liked the writing style of A Beautiful Dark and how the events that were happening were affecting the relationship of the characters, you could feel the tension and strain of the different relationships, and wanted it to fix itself to get everything back on track. Reading A Beautiful Dark I was rooting for Skye to make a choice that I wanted her to make, then I would find myself changing my mind and want her to make a different choice.
I really liked how A Beautiful Dark paced itself, with events happening, but didn't feel like they were rushed or forced to happen, and the end....I really liked the build up to the end and the introduction of a new character, but I really need to find out what happens next but I'm afraid I will be waiting a long time.
We start A Beautiful Dark by being introduced to Skye who is celebrating her birthday with a surprise party thrown by her friends in their local Coffee Shop. Near the end of the party two mysterious strangers, Asher and Devin, crash the party and begin to fight. The boiler suddenly explodes and the party is over.
At school the next day, Skye meets these strangers again, and discovers they are new students and unluckily for Skye, they share a lot of classes. But Skye can't shake the feeling something is not right with them, and we soon find out what it is.
What can I say about A Beautiful Dark, not only do I love the simplicity of the cover, but it is also a debut novel. From the moment I opened the book I was hooked and I had to find out what was going on with Skye's eyes, and what role do Asher and Devin play in this. I had my own theories about who or what they were, and although I was correct in my thinking, I had my ideas backwards.
I really liked the writing style of A Beautiful Dark and how the events that were happening were affecting the relationship of the characters, you could feel the tension and strain of the different relationships, and wanted it to fix itself to get everything back on track. Reading A Beautiful Dark I was rooting for Skye to make a choice that I wanted her to make, then I would find myself changing my mind and want her to make a different choice.
I really liked how A Beautiful Dark paced itself, with events happening, but didn't feel like they were rushed or forced to happen, and the end....I really liked the build up to the end and the introduction of a new character, but I really need to find out what happens next but I'm afraid I will be waiting a long time.