Book Recap: The Dark Light by Sara Walsh

Cover Inspection:
Looks like a raunchy romance novel, doesn't it?
Well... you're WRONG.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

Mia is torn between two guys—and two worlds—in this epic, romantic fantasy.Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she’s concerned, that’s about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.

That is, until Sol arrives. Mia’s not one to fall for just any guy, but she can’t get Sol—or the brilliant tattoo on his back—out of her mind.

Then Mia’s brother goes missing, and Mia’s convinced that Sol knows more than he’s sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol’s not who Mia thought he was—and neither is she.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.5
Plot	2.5
Writing	2.5
Characters	2.5
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:

The story is set in modern day Crownsville, Nebraska. Then. the main character travels to another dimension called Brakaland. In Brakaland, magic and magical creatures exist.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

Mia is the main character in The Dark Light. She is hardworking, determined, smart. She's mature beyond her years. She lives with her uncle (who, according to her, is irresponsible) and her younger brother, Jay.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:

There have been "light shows" in the town of Crownsville, and kids have been disappearing whenever it appears. One night, Mia's brother disappeared! Sol, the new kid at school, seems to know why her brother disappeared. So, together, they travel to another dimension to rescue Mia's brother.

LOVE:

I love the fact that Sol kept his mystery until the very end of the book. It kept me guessing as to who or what Sol actually is. Come to think of it, his mystery and evasiveness is the main thing that kept me glued to this book.

I also loved Sol's character. He is such a mysterious guy. The broody and tormented works for him just fine. This is the kind of story where the reader would just have to figure out (along with the character) just who (or what) the love interest is. Why does he have a tattoo that big? Why the broad shoulders? Why act like a man when a guy is just in high school? Sol is a sexy mystery any girl reader would be thrilled to unravel.

There is a VERY slow, yet simmering romance in this book. Actually, there wasn't much romance as I expected. From the looks of the book cover, it is safe to assume that this is a sort of book that is bordering on raunchy. This is not the case. This book is far from being raunchy. This is a fantasy book. If you are looking for action and adventure, then you will enjoy this book. The entire book consisted of travels and facing terrifying creatures. There was a good amount of action, especially near the end of the book.

There is an Alice in Wonderland concept in this book - a headstrong girl enters a world filled with creatures and magic. In truth, I am amazed by the author's imagination. She was able to create a world where:

• barriers absorb living creatures,
• mines can be opened to unleash demons in order to breed them,
• human like creatures with not one, but two, hearts.

NO LOVE:

This book started out very slowly. It took a while for the story to pick up and for things to make sense. Also, there were too many paragraphs on too many chapters dedicated on Sol's appearance - wide shoulders, long arms, muscled chest. I get it. He's hot and sexy and has the capability to make any girl hot and bothered. No need to repeat that fact every now and then. In addition, the story seemed repetitive, especially in the middle part - demons attack, Sol saves the day. Were it not for my curiosity to find out what Sol really is and to find out if Mia and Sol will end up together at the end of the book, I would have set this book aside.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:

I like Mia's character. (This is one of the very few books where I liked the main character.) She's simple and honest. Most of all, she's sensible and hardworking. She knows her priorities, probably because she was forced to grow up very early in life. Also, she is very relatable - she thinks the way an ordinary teen would think.

MUSINGS:

The first part of the book does not read like a fantasy book at all. It reads like a mystery book. The fantasy element presented itself only when Mia entered the otherwolrd. So don't expect magic and fantasy as soon as you turn the first page.

Yes, the book may be likened to the Iron Fey, particularly The Iron King - a girl traversing a magical world with the help of hunky guys. Nevertheless, this one is darker and more dreary, with less humor and more ogling at a magical broad-shouldered boy.

The writing was very easy to understand and to get into. No nonsense and direct to the point! There's not much description in the book, but it works given that the story is driven by the mystery surrounding the disappearances and Sol's role in everything.

All in all, it was a fairly good read. It has good parts, and bad ones, like most books. Its not one of the best I've read this year, but its one of the good ones out in YA jungle. For sure, lovers of fantasy books with hunky guys accompanying the female lead would devour The Dark Light.

DOODLES:

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AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

Sara Walsh

SIMILAR READS:

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

CONTENT REVIEW:

profanity: mild
violence: moderate
sexual content: mild
mature themes: mild
age recommendation: 13+