A review by _fallinglight_
The Black by D.J. MacHale

4.0

This book was a vast improvement to book 1. I'm this close to loving it but there were minor problems, though nothing as deflating as how book 1 was. The new characters and their stories here were far more compelling though Damon, our villain, still felt a little cartoonish, bland but I can't deny he had a very intriguing background. Was not expecting the whole ancient Greece thing, that definitely added richness to the story. I especially enjoyed getting Ree's perspective and it only proves D.J. MacHale could write adult fiction and it would be so amazing. There were a few recycled plot points and mannerisms from previous books but nothing too bad. Writing wise, it wasn't as clunky as The Light but there were two glaring typos there but it's no NBD, as Marshall's dad would say. My only complaint was how sanctimonious it could come across and how I'm disappointed there's a hell equivalent coming from Pendragon and Solara where stuff was explained so differently and better, like the mythos there is better, but I digress. Really tho, I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much it was so hard to put it down and stop for anything else until I finished. It made me feel the magic again. Can't wait to read the conclusion now.