The Sweetest Dark (The Sweetest Dark, #1)

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The Sweetest Dark (The Sweetest Dark #1)

by Shana Abe (Goodreads Author)

3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 · rating details · 694 ratings · 306 reviews

For fans of Lauren Kate and Libba Bray, The Sweetest Dark is filled with thrilling romance, exciting adventure, and ancient magic. Shana Abé brilliantly captures the drama of post-Victorian England, while unfolding a passionate love story that defies time.

“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d ha...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published April 2nd 2013 by Bantam

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Jul 10, 2012 Mimi Valentine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Mimi by: Candace

Shelves: arc, gorgeous-covers, pure-awesomeness, best-of-2012, boys-i-wish-were-real, reviewed

In my thesaurus for this book, The Sweetest Dark is synonymous to beautiful. Ordinary is not-a-fat-chance. And Shana Abe is something of a genius for creating a story so lush, so beautiful, and so different from your classic paranormal book! I just HAVE to break it down! :')

The world: Taking place in England during World War I, The Sweetest Dark is also set in the world of Shana Abe's adult Drakon series. Even though it may not be a big secret, I don't want to give away the type of creature tha...more

18 likes · like · see review

May 21, 2013 Nenia Campbell rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: gorgeous-covers, netgalley, x-2013s, ya-baby-ya, did-not-finish-or-skimmed, arc-stands-for-a-readers-xmas, heroine-is-bland-and-watery, hero-wants-to-be-edward-cullen, wanted-to-like-this-but, could-have-been-really-awesome, uf-pnr, whiny-whiny-angst-angst-angst, bad-and-unreedemable, romance-bleh

You can read more reviews at my blog, The Armchair Librarian.

Another beautiful cover hiding a bad book. I shudder to think about the potential allegory in there for my dating life. Yes, indeed.

The Sweetest Dark is typical YA. If you told me that The Sweetest Dark was the pretext for a YA-tropes drinking game, I would believe you. Girl has mysterious power. Nobody understands her boo-hoo her life sucks. Girl goes off to develop mysterious power. Girl finds two Boys that like her because of Reason...more

8 likes · like · see review

Mar 28, 2013 Marii rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, d-arc, young-adult, cover-crush, in-my-kindle, favorites, fantasy, readings-2013, paranormal, historical-fiction, cute-reading

How can I begin this review? I totally loved this book. There are a few details I didn't like, but I think I'm fine with them. Even though they bothered me for a while, when I got to the end of the book I had totally forgotten about them.

I had never before read a book written by this author so I didn't have an idea of what I was about to face. The beginning itself was a surprise. I loved they author style, pure poetry. I couldn't help the feeling of being a little girl again while reading this...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 27, 2013 AH rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-edelweiss, read-july-2012, dragons, young-adult, historical, babr-reviews

Breathtakingly beautiful.

“Those nights, in the sweetest dark, we shared our dreams.”

I’ve always been fascinated by dragons. The dragon is one of the most fearsome yet regal of all the fantasy creatures. To me, dragons evoke strength, power, and wealth. There’s a lot to be said for a dragon’s ability to find and hoard shiny – read valuable – objects. The idea of a race of dragon shifters called The Drakon living amongst humans has always intrigued me. Shana Abe’s Drakon series is one of my favori...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Shambhawi P. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: heroes-to-die-for, i-heart-you, made-me-cry, netgalley-or-edelweiss

Why does this book have a sequel? The ending was perfect - heartbreaking but perfect.

You know - one of those moments when reading a book you have guessed what is to happen and yet while you keep dreading that and your heart breaks and scatters all over the place, you cannot wish for anything else to happen because a happier ending might not always be the better one?

I am crying as I write this review - because this book tells the story of the kind of love people dream about. I did not expect myse...more Why does this book have a sequel? The ending was perfect - heartbreaking but perfect.

You know - one of those moments when reading a book you have guessed what is to happen and yet while you keep dreading that and your heart breaks and scatters all over the place, you cannot wish for anything else to happen because a happier ending might not always be the better one?

I am crying as I write this review - because this book tells the story of the kind of love people dream about. I did not expect myself to like this book so much even as I was reading it. It was predictable - annoyingly so. It was very cliche - from the hastily drawn love triangle to lonely heroine with powers unbeknownst to her and bitchy spoilt girls rounding up on the said poor heroine. During the first few chapters I had to drag myself through the book. The last few chapters too I had to drag myself through - only because I could not bring myself to put the book down.

This book is not without flaws - I'll admit that. The beginning was really weak. The characterizations - in the beginning - were inconsistent, especially that of Armand and Sophie. There were hardly any reasons why Armand was so attracted to Lora or Lora to Jesse for that matter - but all the while in an almost fairytalesque way it reminded me true love does not need reasons. I know, right now I feel like a parody of my self that rants over insta-love too.

But Jesse, bless my heart for it cannot hold any more love towards this boy, Jesse more than made up for any flaws this book may or may not have. He was beautiful. He was wonderful. He was the most perfect hero ever. His love for Lora had no bounds as he showed again and again and over again. For me, he was the soul of the entire book and the sole reason it got 4 stars instead of measly two.

I was a bit apprehensive of Lora at the beginning but she grew on me. Maybe it was because there was less poor-girl-who-is-torn-between-two-perfect-guys bullshit in her than the blurb seemed to suggest. Most probably it was how she interacted with Jesse as the book continued - and how the two of them fell in love. Yes, I am a hopeless romantic. And YES, everything about this book revolves around Jesse for me.

And as much as I hate love triangles, I really can't complain about the one in this book. I can actually understand why it is there and admit that yes, this series needs it. I am still not much convinced on Armand as a potential leading guy though I guess the sequel will change that.

This is a cool new take on dragon stories - which I admit I don't read much. Abe's writing is beautiful though it seems to purplish on the prosing at times. I'll definitely check out her other books ASAP.

The strongest part of the book though - for me - was the ending. I had guessed it from the get go, and yet it did not dull my emotions any. For that only I would commend Abe. The last chapter and that Epilogue were perfect. The story could very well end here than continue off to another book. But I will continue with it - and not just because I already have the sequel beckoning me on my reader. Because I am hopelessly hooked and I really wish the sequel will be good enough.

And also, did I mention that Jesse is perfect? I did? Well, he is.

4 Stars.

This ebook was provided to me by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.(less)

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Mar 24, 2013 Snuggles with Rainbows rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: absolute-trash, arc-review, all-copies-should-be-burned, awful, meh, half-empty-half-full, precious-cover, waste-of-my-time

I’m going to make this review as short and painless as possible. I don’t want to be here writing or dwelling on my feelings, and I’m sure you have more important things to tend to too. So why did I hate it this much? Here is a very short list:

1. The Hodge Podge Story Telling

From the start of the book, the story is all over the place. It was very difficult to follow along…at times I was super confused.

2. Are you trying to be Charles Dickens?

With the orphans, the mean care takers of the orphans,...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Candace rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sometimes there are those books that hit you so hard, so powerfully, that you know that there are no words to describe it, there's no way to get your point across how amazing the book is. The Sweetest Dark was like that for me. This was so much perfection within it's pages that I nearly cried at the beauty. And trust me, I had tears in my eyes a few times, but that was mostly because of what's going on in the story.

First of all, Lora is everything I could ever want in a character and more. She'...more Sometimes there are those books that hit you so hard, so powerfully, that you know that there are no words to describe it, there's no way to get your point across how amazing the book is. The Sweetest Dark was like that for me. This was so much perfection within it's pages that I nearly cried at the beauty. And trust me, I had tears in my eyes a few times, but that was mostly because of what's going on in the story.

First of all, Lora is everything I could ever want in a character and more. She's gone through a lot in her life as she lived in an orphanage and was sent to an insane asylum for awhile. She has no memory of when she was a small child and knows nothing about her early life. But she was incredibly lucky and got accepted as a charity student at an exclusive boarding school in south England. Here she is ridiculed and taunted but Lora is no meek weakling, oh no, she speaks right up with the quickest retorts I've ever heard! Being picked on, while you see it does bother her, she doesn't let it show. She just carries on with her head held high. I have so much admiration for her and her ability to take things in stride. She's heard a voice all her life in her head and she hears music in her head and she doesn't understand any of this. But as things are revealed to her she's shocked, she's hesitant to believe it, but she doesn't go crazy and do some stupid things, nor get angry at the messenger. She accepts it all quite quickly, but not so quickly it was unrealistic. Lora is most certainly going on my favorite heroine's list as I'm quite sure she is as perfect of a main character as I could ever dream of.

Now straight away when Lora arrives at Iverson she meets Jesse. Jesse is one of those characters that stands out because he's so different. He has more of a quiet and gentle nature and has this ability to just take things in stride. He doesn't much care about what everyone thinks of him as there's a much grander picture in his head as he knows far more then most people. I can't say as I've read many books with a character anything like him, but I think he'll be on my favorites list because he just radiates this goodness.

We meet Armand nearly straight away and Lora and him have some very humorous banter. He's an aristocrat and to Lora that means he's a snobby jerk. She's not one to let him get away with an attitude and her quick retorts only seemed to make him like her more. He seems to be drawn to her for some reason and as the story unfolds we see why.

Now you would think that perhaps two men in this story would mean there's a love triangle, right? Well, I think it's quite clear who Lora loves and there's no question of it. She really has no temptations for the other though she does soften up for him. And there is a connection there, but you'll have to read the book for that as it's spoiler. But I definitely did not feel it was a love triangle.

The romance was sweet. Very gentle and sweet. It wasn't this all consuming fire and rage, it was just quiet and beautiful. I loved it. But it most definitely made me cry. Oh yes, it did.

The time period is during World War I. I don't think I've read a lot of books set in this time. Automobiles seem to have been invented and electricity is a new thing. I really liked it. And I loved the setting of the old mansion the school is set in and the island it's on.

The plot of the story is quite brilliant. Many of you perhaps know what Lora is, but for those that don't I won't spoil it for you. Just know that she's not a vampire, or a ghost, or a zombie or anything like that. She's something beautiful and special. And the way the story was told it seemed as though it could be real. And as Lora learns more about it we only wish for more, more, more! I wanted to know more, see more, experience more of it. It was brilliant.

This story was hard for me to put down because it was so good, but it was one that I enjoyed most when I could savor it. For that reason I read it more slowly and over the period of a day and a half rather than devouring it in one evening. But when I finished I wanted to turn the book over and begin again. The writing in the book is simply beautiful. There were passages I bookmarked because they were so gorgeous and they completely blew me away.

I honestly cannot recommend this book any more highly. I know it doesn't come out until August or September, but this is one you must add to your wishlist and pre-order if you can. It is most certainly going on my favorites list and is one I know I will reread time and time again. I've already added the authors other books to my wishlist as I need more of this gorgeous writing and beautiful storytelling.

This deserves more than 5 stars, but that's all I can give it, so 5/5 stars for this one!

This review was first posted on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com (less)

8 likes · like · see review

Mar 13, 2013 Tonyalee rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, 2013, ya, netgalley-arcs

3.5 stars

This is one of those books that stands out in originality and uniqueness. The creature featured here is different, beautiful and one I haven't read much about. It was refreshing stepping out of the "norm" in this paranormal world we all fancy. Although this story was beautiful and a whole and the writing was phenomenal, I couldn't love this one.

Abe's writing is detailed and beautiful. She goes above and beyond with her details and descriptions. It was interesting reading in a different...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 23, 2013 Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: could-not-put-it-down-books, fantasy, favorite-series, romance, supernatural, young-adult, shapeshifters, dragons

I love Shana Abe's Drakon books and this one is no exception. I love the world, but this was bittersweet being much later than the others and the amazing world the Drakon had built is gone. It begins much as many YA books with a young girl who is "different" and is growing up in an orphanage without knowledge of her parents or where she came from. But from the time she is chosen to attend an exclusive boarding school as a charity case, the unique story really begins. In 1915 she goes to the sout...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Liviania rated it 5 of 5 stars

I bought THE SMOKE THIEF a few years ago for about a dollar based on a vague recollection of someone complimenting Shana Abé's style. It just rocketed up my to read list because her young adult debut THE SWEETEST DARK blew me away. (I just have to find it, first.)

First of, Abé's style does deserve being complimented on its own. She has a smooth, almost poetic, way of writing that draws you into the magical atmosphere of her drákon-inhabited England. The majority of THE SWEETEST DARK's action tak...more I bought THE SMOKE THIEF a few years ago for about a dollar based on a vague recollection of someone complimenting Shana Abé's style. It just rocketed up my to read list because her young adult debut THE SWEETEST DARK blew me away. (I just have to find it, first.)

First of, Abé's style does deserve being complimented on its own. She has a smooth, almost poetic, way of writing that draws you into the magical atmosphere of her drákon-inhabited England. The majority of THE SWEETEST DARK's action takes place at the Iverson School for Girls, on the coast of England during World War II. It's all very gothic, aside from the lack of moors.

Eleanore "Lora" Jones grew up in an orphanage and spent much of her childhood in a mental institution due to the music she heard running through objects all around her. Now seemingly cured, she is chosen to be a scholarship student supported by Duke Idylling. There she encounters Jesse, the supposedly mute gardener who speaks to her, and Armand, the duke's discontented son. And there the music begins to return. Jesse knows what it means and helps Lora discover her power.

I liked how Abé handled the love triangle. Armand is clearly into Lora, but she turns him down cleanly and clearly because she prefers Jesse. There's no dithering about when she's obviously more into one of the choices. I also liked that it wasn't the center of everything. Although there's nothing magical about the girls in the school, Lora does have to live with them. Thus learning to navigate their company takes some of her attention. I liked that not all of the girls were horribly stuck-up and that some were more friendly than they first appeared.

The way history interweaves with the paranormal plot also works well. London-born Lora is quite conscious of the threat posed by German bombs. And, inevitably, the war does reach her doorstep. Even with dragons on your side, war leaves devastation in its wake.

THE SWEETEST DARK made me forget the paranormal fatigue I've been feeling. It's a swoony book that I'll probably read multiple times before the promised sequel comes out in summer 2013. If you've ever enjoyed a paranormal romance, then read THE SWEETEST DARK. It's one of the best books of the year.(less)

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Aug 01, 2012 Hilda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, young-adult, tears, magic

With every fiber of my being, I love The Sweetest Dark. It was beautiful, magical, dark, and absolutely sweet!

Now, where should I begin? The Sweetest Dark completely took me by surprise with its gorgeous prose. The moment I finished this book, I just went into total lockdown. I don’t want to ever leave this beautiful, shady world of The Sweetest Dark.

The first adjective that came into my mind when I described it is… beautiful. The Sweetest Dark is beautiful in such ethereal way. The writing is f...more With every fiber of my being, I love The Sweetest Dark. It was beautiful, magical, dark, and absolutely sweet!

Now, where should I begin? The Sweetest Dark completely took me by surprise with its gorgeous prose. The moment I finished this book, I just went into total lockdown. I don’t want to ever leave this beautiful, shady world of The Sweetest Dark.

The first adjective that came into my mind when I described it is… beautiful. The Sweetest Dark is beautiful in such ethereal way. The writing is flowing and I couldn’t flip through the pages fast enough. The characters are strange and each of them has their own dark side. I felt the harsh, frosty atmosphere that Lora faced as a poor orphan. She grew up in an orphanage and therefore, she learned about the world in hard way. She’s deeply suspicious of people and sometimes I do hope that she would soften a bit. But in spite of her flaws, Lora is a character you can’t hate. Or maybe it’s her flaws that make her feel very real.

I was shivering when I read the romance part. The feelings that each character feel are so tangible that maybe, if I reached my hands enough, I could touch them. Although it is hinted that there would be love triangle, it’s clear which guy Lora falls for. I like both guys although I always have to pick my side. Armand is dangerous, and I could feel the need to possess from him. Jesse is beautiful, undemanding, and special in his quiet way.

I think The Sweetest Dark is truly a hidden gem and it deserves all recognition it can get. This book would appeal most to people who love internal conflicts because of the small amount of action scenes. Lora’s story is the kind that would grip you until you finish reading. It would leave you with honey taste in your mouth. The Sweetest Dark is lovely, magical, and it’s dripping with sweetness. It’s like a bedtime story told in whispering voices… full of magic, enchantment, and beauty.

Shadows swallowed me in slippery black. The air took on a richer, loamy note. The ground crunched with leaves, and ferns slapped at my shins and knees, painless. I splashed through brooks and left footprints in peat. Crickets called in time to my stride, a steady chee, chee that never broke.

I was running swifter than a hart, swifter than even the advancing night, because that was outside the forest and everything surrounding me here was enchanted, as I was. I didn’t know where I was going, but it didn’t matter. Sooner or later I’d run out of land, and then I would turn back.(less)

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Jun 05, 2013 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-paranormal, historical-romance, young-adult, recommend-but

Wow, this book really sucked me in and I couldn't put it down. I think the gorgeous cover is what drew me to the book in the first place, but the story was even better. I'm not a huge fantasy reader, but books like this really draw me to the genre. The story is about an orphan girl in the early 1900's in England. She's found alone wandering around the London streets at the age of 10 and can't remember anything about her life. She hears music that no one else can hear and a voice inside her. She...more

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Jun 03, 2013 Cassie Gutman rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'll start with the things I liked. I loved the historical setting this story took place in. It was set during World War I, and it was clear the author did her research. Everything was accurate and detailed, adding to the believability of the story as a whole. Though this doesn't happen very often, I actually wanted there to be more of the historical stand point. As in, while all the students are hanging up at Iverson, Lora seems to be the only one actually concerned that their country is in the...more

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May 27, 2013 Michelle rated it 1 of 5 stars

My first read from Shana Abe. The summary intrigued me and to be honest, I had high expectation from it. It was set in 1913, during the beginning of World War I, the heroine heard strange music, and she was admitted to a mental asylum before attended the boarding school (read: gothic). What not to love, right?

Wrong.

First off, the good thing about this book. The writing was okay. In fact, the prologue was beautifully written, in my opinion, almost lyrical. It definitely set out a good start to a...more

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May 18, 2013 Ruby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, teen, dragons, shifters, fantasy, young-adult

This review was first posted on Ruby's Reads.

I don’t usually go in for dragon stories–I have a feeling these are going to be famous last words–but I’m familiar with Shana Abe’s Drakon books. They–or, rather, Shana–have been recommended to me since I’m a fan of alpha heroes. So, when I heard that Shana Abe was going to write a young adult novel, I automatically added it to my TBR. I was particularly excited about it because I’ve had such a bad run with YA historicals and historical fantasies. I k...more This review was first posted on Ruby's Reads.

I don’t usually go in for dragon stories–I have a feeling these are going to be famous last words–but I’m familiar with Shana Abe’s Drakon books. They–or, rather, Shana–have been recommended to me since I’m a fan of alpha heroes. So, when I heard that Shana Abe was going to write a young adult novel, I automatically added it to my TBR. I was particularly excited about it because I’ve had such a bad run with YA historicals and historical fantasies. I knew, from having read The Smoke Thief, that I could expect an enjoyable read.

What I did not expect was to love it. I got a third of the way through and I was already on the internet making sure it was going to be a series. Here, finally, was a novel that worked as a historical and a fantasy both, with a heroine who didn’t feel transported from the 21st Century United States. Specifically, an impoverished heroine who wasn’t about to risk her entire future by having a smart mouth, or by spouting radical opinions that hadn’t even been thought of in her era. More on this another time–Small and I have had numerous discussions about this.

I think that Lora was the first heroine that I’ve really like in a long time. She’s kinda classy. I liked that she knew when to stand up for herself and when to toe the line. I also love that, while there were two potential romantic leads, it becomes clear pretty early on, which boy is the object of Lora’s affections. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t rooting for the other guy…I totally am, and I still think there’s hope…but I liked that Lora wasn’t all, “I love him. NO! I love him.” She has a genuine connection with both of them, and I think all of the relationships in the novel will evolve naturally–just like in real life!

If I had one complaint–and it certainly wasn’t the gorgeous, detailed setting!–it was that I think Shana Abe presumed a little too much on her previous readership. Since it’s been so long since I read The Smoke Thief, I can’t really lay claim to any knowledge of the Drakon folklore, and I don’t count myself as a loyal follower. I had to double check that “Rue” was a character I’d met before (she’s the heroine of The Smoke Thief), and certain details scratched at my mind like I should have recalled them. Sadly, I didn’t. Instead of frustrating me, however, not knowing these details made me really excited about going back and reading Abe’s Drakon books. I’ve left them unfinished for far too long!

If you haven’t already read The Sweetest Dark, you should. It will satisfy you to the last page, even as it leaves you eager for more of its wonderfulness.(less)

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May 18, 2013 Sandy Shen rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: nah, light romance readers.

Shelves: death, love, love-fifty, magic, young-adult, historical-fiction-ya, ditched-series

Title: The Sweetest Dark
By: Shana Abe
Rating:3.3 stars

QUICKIE REVIEW

The Sweetest Dark was a light read and quite sweet to read. The plot was interesting and the writing was rather cute and... musical. But in the end, it was the characters that really defined my rating. Lora Rose Jones was a rather interesting, shy, and innocent young girl in the beginning. But as time passes, she becomes a bit more docile and... mystical. She didn't really fit into the story and was a bit shallow throughout the

...more

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May 07, 2013 Tahlia Newland rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fantasy

This book is totally gush-worthy, the best young adult fantasy I've read in a very long time, perhaps ever. Why? Because it's heart-achingly beautiful. The prose is poetic, the words as ethereal as the girl who turns into smoke and then a dragon. The story is unique with a dreamy pace all of its own, and the characters are rich and endearing, particularly Jesse who as well as physical beauty has the beauty of a pure soul.

It's a bittersweet tale, but oh, so sweet, and not the frivolous saccharin...more This book is totally gush-worthy, the best young adult fantasy I've read in a very long time, perhaps ever. Why? Because it's heart-achingly beautiful. The prose is poetic, the words as ethereal as the girl who turns into smoke and then a dragon. The story is unique with a dreamy pace all of its own, and the characters are rich and endearing, particularly Jesse who as well as physical beauty has the beauty of a pure soul.

It's a bittersweet tale, but oh, so sweet, and not the frivolous saccharine of some stories. The sweetness here is somehow soulful, the characters bearing witness to another layer of existence, not apart from our world, but hidden within, like a silken undergarment. Jesse, Lora and Armoud share an existence where stones have their own melody, boys can belong to the stars and connections between people can be so deep that they communicate without words as easily as they breathe.
It's a simple story, orphan girl ends up in posh school due to the war, meets magical boy who knows her soul and much more. The local Duke's son takes an interest in her, and it could have dissolved into a typical angst-ridden love triangle, but thankfully it didn't. The girl is not torn, her heart is clear, and the magical boy is not jealous, he sees too far, knows what's to come, shares wisdom beyond his years. The Duke's son has our sympathy, for despite his popularity and his riches, he is a lonely soul.

Lora is a Drakin, only she never knew it until she met Jesse who has been waiting for her all his life and calling her to his side. His absolute dedication to her is not an ordinary love, it is completely magical, forged in the time beyond time, undeniable and unassailable, and thankfully the author does not cheapen it with the idea of love at first sight, or the entanglements of a mind that wants to diminish it with labels.

The tension in the majority of the book is in the character relationships and Lora learning to transform into a dragon, but the end sees an unexpected event that raises the stakes to where many lives are at risk and people have to push themselves to their limits and beyond, because if they don't hundreds will die.
Death hovers in the background of the whole story, dead parents, dead brothers, the price of a gift and the deaths of the war that comes closer as the story progresses, but it is not morbid, on the contrary, this stark background gives the story a fragility and vibrancy that leaps off the page and into your heart.
Yeah, I loved it! 5 stars

I received this book free from the publisher in return for an honest review.
(less)

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May 06, 2013 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction-fantasy, suspense-mystery, young-adult, non-erotic, paranormal, historical

The Sweetest Dark had a little bit of everything, romance, a gothic setting, a mystery, a lot of paranormal elements. I enjoyed Ms. Abe’s writing style which is rich and layered. The main character, Lora was interesting and I found myself reading on to learn more about her. Some of the chapters in between the main ones threw me off a little at first but then as I read on they became clearer to the overall plot.

The book does have some historical inaccuracies about what happened during first half...more

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May 02, 2013 Hannah Cobb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fantasy

Brought up in the hungry and brutal world of an orphan in 1915 London, Lora Jones wants nothing more than a chance at a normal life. An unexpected scholarship to Iverson, a school to educate young ladies, seems too good to be true. Lora is not a lady. She is an orphan with a lot of secrets and very few ladylike skills. But Iverson offers a chance at a coveted new beginning, so Lora does her best to ignore the glorious music that no one else ever hears, and the strange, savage voice inside her he...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Big Book Little Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

Caroline for www.bigbooklittlebook.com
Copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The first thing that drew my attention to The Sweetest Dark was the stunning cover. A beautiful girl in a gorgeous dress is a common occurrence in the YA book cover world. But in this incidence, it was the mysterious sweep of smoke, appearing to form the dress itself, which added an intriguing and original element to the cover, tempting me to investigate the synopsis.

While I found the earlier part of...more Caroline for www.bigbooklittlebook.com
Copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The first thing that drew my attention to The Sweetest Dark was the stunning cover. A beautiful girl in a gorgeous dress is a common occurrence in the YA book cover world. But in this incidence, it was the mysterious sweep of smoke, appearing to form the dress itself, which added an intriguing and original element to the cover, tempting me to investigate the synopsis.

While I found the earlier part of Lora’s life interesting, providing essential background to her strength of character and realism to the world building- how would society react to a sensitive child with an ambiguous past with unusual abilities and no social filter? -It wasn’t until Lora arrived at Iverson collage, with its impressive façade, secret passages, snobbish inhabitants and of course two very different, but equally compelling boys, that I truly got sucked in to the story.

Don’t be mistaken to believing that this is another frustrating love triangle to survive (I have complicated love-hate feelings toward s love triangles), there is no battle between “Team Jesse” and “Team Armand” to capture the fair maidens heart. It is very clear from the start where Lora’s affections lie. However, both Jesse, the golden haired, selfless, self assured and wise, groundskeeper, and snarky Lord Armand, who’s contrasting darkness isn’t only due to his hair color, have equally important roles to play in Lora’s acceptance of her true nature and her other than normal life.

I really enjoyed the early 20th century setting. Not only did the time period became even more significant as the story unfolded, but I also found it really interesting to explore the additional challenges a non-contemporary setting provided. Lora has to hide her unusual abilities and fledgling relationship from everyone while coming to terms with the life altering discovery of her true nature and she has to do so in an environment divided by social class and gender inequality, on the cusp of medical advances in psychiatry, while the ominous cloud of WWI provides an underlying tension.

Abe’s writing is beautiful. Lyrical prose and lush descriptions combined with the characters’ unique sensory perspective combine together to create an absorbing world. The romance was sweet and intense. While I will happily read steamy, descriptive adult scenes, I also love when an author has the ability wrap me so entirely within a romance, that they are able to induce exquisite, butterfly in stomach, heart racing tension from a simple brush of fingertips .

Verdict: Once caught in it’s clutches, I found myself racing through the pages of The Sweetest Dark and as soon as I had finished I found myself online investigating the sequel. Scheduled for publication in August, The Deepest Night is high up on my wish list.(less)

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Apr 24, 2013 Margaret Mcgaffey rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a lyrical novel about difference, discovery, and destiny. Eleanor has struggled through her young life, knowing nothing of her family or where she came from and looking paler than the other children in the orphanage where she grew up since being found wandering the streets mute. Her differences and the way the walls themselves sang out to her in cacophonous music were believed to be insanity, a weakness not tolerated when you are an abandoned child with no family to protect you.

She suffe...more This is a lyrical novel about difference, discovery, and destiny. Eleanor has struggled through her young life, knowing nothing of her family or where she came from and looking paler than the other children in the orphanage where she grew up since being found wandering the streets mute. Her differences and the way the walls themselves sang out to her in cacophonous music were believed to be insanity, a weakness not tolerated when you are an abandoned child with no family to protect you.

She suffers incarceration in a mental hospital with rough electric shock treatments that permanently scar her wrists and ankles where the leather restraints cut in until finally she learns not how to become like others but to ignore the music of the world around her well enough to be released. It’s wartime now, and this changes things. Instead of being sent to a workhouse, she’s offered an unexpected opening to a private school as a charity case. Here, her strangeness finds purpose. She learns an unlikely, but amazing truth.

I want to say more but the path of discovery through the novel is very well done, and I don’t want to spoil it. I will say that if you read the prologue, it’s already somewhat spoiled at least in the big picture, but so many skip that I’ll say only there’s a lot more to Eleanor than her unwilling caregivers expect.

The novel begins a little slowly, first with the obscure, but still revealing, prologue, and then a first chapter that smoothly brings us to the moment in her life where things change while still giving the background of her experiences. Here’s where the lyrical voice wins out, because the first chapter if not for the voice is really a summary or data dump. However, the voice makes the chapter a good read while the teasing glimpses into what Eleanor experiences are much better served than a deep, showing approach to her traumatic younger years. They form both a foundation and raise questions she herself cannot answer. It’s a technique that could easily not have worked. For me, it did.

Ultimately, this is a strange book not for those seeking a simple straightforward narrative. It uses unusual techniques and styles at times, but if you’re willing to put yourself into the author’s hands, you’ll win transportation into an England struggling under German bombs. You’ll see the lives of the nobility and those beneath them all wrapped around a tale of magic more ancient than humankind. I definitely enjoyed the journey, and wouldn’t be surprised to learn you do too.

This is another NetGalley title. The opinions are mine, but the opportunity to read outside of my chosen author list is wonderful.(less)

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Apr 23, 2013 Bibliojunkies rated it 4 of 5 stars

With a description so lovely I just couldn’t resist picking this one up. I thought the setting of 1915 and the geography added allure to the story and I just fell for it.

Lora’s entrance into the elite boarding school is most definitely an eye opener for her. It’s very much like Mean Girls where she has to hold her head high and endure the invasive stares and cruel comments from the spoiled rich girls. If they've mistaken her for fragile, then they quickly learn their lesson. She's learned a thin...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-angelica

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Nothing is fair for Lora Jones, not in war or life and especially not in love.

Opening Sentence: Are your eyes truly open?

The Review:

This was a beautiful and amazing story. The details are just breathtaking. A simple night sky in Abe’s universe becomes a picturesque expanse of never ending amethyst! I’ve never been so moved by the mere description of sights or people. Seeing through Lora’s eyes makes my own vision seem weak and wrong now. I...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Katie Cody rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal

An engaging read that captures the essence of teenager's struggles with trying to find themselves and turning it into a heart pounding fantasy adventure.

The story was written in a very descriptive manner, but what I liked most is that she could really make you feel like you were there by adding in descriptions for the other senses like touch, taste, and smell as well as sight.

Lora is different and its because of this that she has hidden much of herself away. I really liked her bravery and stren...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Ginny Lurcock added it

Shelves: 2013-reading-challenge, 2013-review-challenge, ft-dragons, genre-romance-paranormal, genre-young-adult, arc-netgalley

Netgalley told me this book was coming out yesterday and it came out on the second. This has been happening a lot lately, and had made me unduly cranky. I mean here I am trying to read books for their release date, and they either aren’t released yet- making me look like an idiot- or were already released- making me look like an idiot.

Fine, I thought, effe them. I’m just not going to read this one for the 9th. I’ll read it when I get to it.

Then I discovered that on the morning of the 9th I had n...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Mskchick rated it 4 of 5 stars

I won this book as a giveaway from the publisher. I was thrilled that Shana Abe is writing again. I LOVED her earlier adult books. Her last book was out in 2010, and I was desperately wishing for a new book, so I'm glad that this one is out now. I was a little leery because I have been burned by so many of my favorite authors of adult books doing YA books that I hated. While I would prefer another adult book from Abe, I was very happy to get this YA read.

Abe's writing is very dreamy and lyrical...more I won this book as a giveaway from the publisher. I was thrilled that Shana Abe is writing again. I LOVED her earlier adult books. Her last book was out in 2010, and I was desperately wishing for a new book, so I'm glad that this one is out now. I was a little leery because I have been burned by so many of my favorite authors of adult books doing YA books that I hated. While I would prefer another adult book from Abe, I was very happy to get this YA read.

Abe's writing is very dreamy and lyrical for the most part.
'Shadows swallowed me in slippery black. The air took on a richer, loamy note. The ground crunched with leaves, and ferns slapped at my shins and knees, painless. I splashed through brooks and left footprints in peat. Crickets called in time to my stride, a steady chee, chee that never broke.
I was running swifter than a hart, swifter than even the advancing night, because that was outside the forest and everything surrounding me here was enchanted, as I was. I didn’t know where I was going, but it didn’t matter. Sooner or later I’d run out of land, and then I would turn back.'
This book pacing was slower than her previous books, but I felt it was in keeping with the gradual self discovery of Lora and of Armand.

Lora (Elenore) was orphaned as an infant and send to live at a orphanage. She was a strange child, because she heard songs coming from the metals and the stones around her. She also heard a beastly voice in her head telling her to do monstrous things. She made the natural mistake of admitting this to the adults around her, and so she was sent to an insane asylum where she was "cured" by electroconvulsive shock therapy and freezing plunge baths. She merely learned to hide the fact that she heard the songs and voice. In fact, she managed to block out her ackowledgement to herself of what she heard, for the most part.

Lora was almost old enough to be discharged from the orphanage, and would probably have ended up going to a workhouse. World War I broke out, however, and when many of the children were evacuated from London, she was sent to be a charity student at Iverson, a boarding school in the south of England along the coast. Her classmates are all titled and wealthy, and typically spoiled and mean. She is taunted and belittled by her snobbish classmates. Lora fights back, though:
"Ladies, Eleanore ... dear me. It appears I've forgotten your surname already. Smith, or something like that?"
"Call me anything you like," I answered, pulling out my chair. "I certainly understand how someone with such an abnormally ting head would struggle to remember even the most undemanding facts. It must be quite a burden for you."

Lora is befriended right way by Jesse. Jesse is a very good looking boy who works as a groundskeeper. He is magical, though (a Starman). He has dreamed of Lora for years and know that the universe is going to bring them together. He tells Lora that she is a Drakon, and helps her as she learns to turn to smoke and then to a dragon. He tells her Dragon protects Star and Star adores Dragon.

Lora also meets Armand at the school. Armand is the son of the neighborhood duke of Idylling, who sponsors Lora to come to the school. Armand seems like a spoiled jerk through the beginning half of the book, but we learn that he is more than he seems. He is also a Drakon, although not full blooded and not as powerful as Lora. He flirts incessantly with Lora, even though she starts out hating him because he is so horrible to her. Eventually, he and Lora start to work together.

I don't want to tell all of the plot, because part of the joy is learning things as they gently and beautifully unfold. I did think the ending of this book was pretty abrupt, and I was surprised to found myself bursting into tears at the unexpected ending. I was expecting a HEA, and that definitely did not happen. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series, though, and I would happily recommend this read to others.

(less)

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Mar 31, 2013 Amyra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Nonostante il forte carattere YA del libro, l'ho apprezzato molto. Iniziamo col dire che è la prima opera di Shana Abe che leggo e penso di essermi persa qualcosa per essermi persa le sue serie precedenti. In questo libro incontriamo Lora, un'orfana che sente delle voci nelle pietre preziose e nei metalli, e che per questo viene mandata in un instituto di salute mentale, dove non la trattano proprio bene. Poi scoppia la guerra, e i ragazzi di Londra vendono mandati in campagna. Così si ritrova a...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Mrs. Kenyon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1-2013-books

Lora Jones has had a hard life. After being found alone and mute wondering the streets of London, she was placed in an orphanage. To make matters worse, she hears music where there is no music and a mysterious voice in her head telling her that she is more than she seems. At the age of 16 she is selected to attend an elite boarding school at Iverson. The school is housed in an old castle and is sponsored by the local duke. Her future is changed when she meets two boys. One is the duke's younger...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Isabella Iversen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

I was really caught by The Sweetest Dark, and the story is completely thought through. I believe in the environment, and the characters, and all in all, there are really only two things that makes me not to commend this book to the skies. Number one is very regrettable, but unfortunately true. The book is very credible, until the most crucial scene, about 100 pages in. The most important thing in the book so far is revealed, and I'm really sorry, but the author drops it completely on the floor....more

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Mar 23, 2013 CoffeeTimeRomance andMore rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Orphanages are dark, desolate places in the best of times, although Eleanore Jones has never known anything different. With the war getting near, London’s children are being sent away. Eleanore, though, cannot fathom why she is being sent to the illustrious girls' school, Iverson.

Time is drawing near for Jesse Holms to meet his destiny. His dreams of her will finally be realized, yet he must proceed with caution and care.

The stones that sing to Lora are nothing compared to Jesse’s song. He is th...more

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About Shana Abe

Shana Abé was born in Texas. She spent much of her childhood living in Colorado, with a brief stint in Mexico as a foreign exchange student, and, at age seventeen, lived in Japan as a model. Throughout her childhood, Abé wrote, completing what she calls "The Silliest Romance Novel Ever" during her free time during modeling shoots. Her writing focused on romance, as those were the types of books th...more

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“Is that why you came?'
'No, I came because I simply can't get enough of people looking down their noses at me. The girls at school are getting frightfully lax about it.'
'Are they? How remiss of them. We're taught from the cradle how to look down our noses, you know, we rich sons of bitches. Perhaps Westcliffe's curriculum is a tad too liberal these days.” — 8 people liked it

“nothing helped tea. It simply was what it was, which was boiling hot and flavorless.” — 2 people liked it

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