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After Dark (The 19th Year #1)

by Emi Gayle (Goodreads Author)

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 275 ratings · 80 reviews

What eighteen year old Mac Thorne doesn't know will probably kill her. In exactly eight months, five days, three hours and thirteen minutes, Mac has to choose what she'll be for the rest of her life. She has no choice but to pick. As a Changeling, it's her birthright. To Mac, it's a birthchore. Like going to school with humans, interacting with humans, and pretending to be...more

Paperback, 344 pages

Published October 31st 2012 by J. Taylor Publishing (first published October 20th 2012)

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Nov 01, 2012 Arden rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was an addictive read! It had a unique storyline and interesting characters that I really loved. My only complaint is that the book ended too quickly and I wanted more world building.

The main character Mac is a changeling and she can shift to any supernatural creature that she wants after dark, but she has to chose one form before she turns 19. Mac is paired up with a classmate, Winn, who is smart but tough and the two of them end up closer than Mac could have imagined. Winn is a human thou...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Parajunkee.com rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

PJV Quickie: Another surprise read of the year, ‘After Dark‘ had me instantly enthralled and unable to put down. With a kick-butt heroine and a very creative story-line, I was in insta-love with Emi Gayle and her perfectly constructed main character Mac.

Review:

Mac, the darling of this story is a Changling. This means she can transform herself into different supernatural creatures at will. She fluctuates depending on her mood and need. By her 19th year though, Mac will have to choose what creatur...more PJV Quickie: Another surprise read of the year, ‘After Dark‘ had me instantly enthralled and unable to put down. With a kick-butt heroine and a very creative story-line, I was in insta-love with Emi Gayle and her perfectly constructed main character Mac.

Review:

Mac, the darling of this story is a Changling. This means she can transform herself into different supernatural creatures at will. She fluctuates depending on her mood and need. By her 19th year though, Mac will have to choose what creature she must become and then take the reigns as the leader of that particular sect. The whole idea is just tantalizing in it’s originality. Not to mention Gayle feeds you bits and pieces slowly, which unlike some paranormal plot-lines that leave you confused, just adds to the mystery of the plot.

The main character was a gem of a creation. She was head-strong, tough and stubborn, all winning traits for me personally in a paranormal themed novel. On top of her spirit, she also made a great transition in the novel, leading her from respectable to lovable. At first glance she seems like a very high-brow type of supernatural creature, who looks down upon the humans she must associate with, but as she is slowly drawn more into the human world she realizes how much she does want to live within it a bit more, even while she is getting pressure from others to stay out, make decisions and other pressures. I thought it was a wonderfully constructed book and the cast of characters were just over-the-top fun to read about.

Yet, overall the originality of ‘After Dark’ was the lure for me. While stuffed full of vampires, faeries and other supernatural creatures, it paints them in a new and creative light, bringing forth the paranormal themes we all know and love, but stuffing them within a world that was different then anything I’ve read before in a YA novel. I call this the surprise read of the year, mainly because the cover and description of this book really look and read like EVERY other YA paranormal novel out there, yet the book is anything but.

A MUST read for young adult paranormal and young adult urban fantasy fans.

Recommendations:

Fans of young adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy reads should really like. If you enjoy the grittier in the genre, such as Cynthia Hand’s creations, or Richelle Mead, you should really enjoy. The novel was safe for teen reads and I recommend this for 13+. Adults will also enjoy, the character is mature and while there are some touchy subjects, nothing is graphic.(less)

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Oct 18, 2012 Alana ~ The Book Pimp rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading-challenge, arc, ebooks, paranormal-romance, series-r-us, series-urban-fantasy, shifter-were, to-review, vampires, young-adult, covers-genres-and-themes-oh-my-r

I received an ARC eBook from J. Taylor Publishing. My thoughts are my own, and I received no compensation for my review.

I really, really, really enjoyed this. Yes, it's YA, and it's 'tame' rather than 'spicy' on the romance. If you can handle the younger characters, more innocent (no sex) romance, enjoy paranormal shenangins (shifters, vamps, and fae, oh, my!), and a whole new take on the supernatural 'world' then run out and get your own copy once it's out on the shelves.

So unique!

More to com...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Novareylin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

After Dark has some really great characters. Above all my favorite is the main character, Mac. I love female characters with male names! But Mac is more than just a name, she is one tough cookie! And being supernatural in a world full of humans you would have to be. She’s done a great job at keeping her secret until she meets Winn and finds out about the book he’s reading.

So even with Mac being tough and seriously knowing her own strength of character her birthday is coming up and she has elders...more

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May 09, 2013 Mel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindled-it, favorite-couples-and-otps, leading-men, favorites, mythology, re-read-worthy, leading-ladies, best-of-2012

This book was so good. I thought the story of a changeling, someone who has the ability to change into any mythological creature was a really fresh idea. I loved the main girl, Mac who happens to be the changeling. She was a character that had to grow on me because in the beginning I felt she was arrogant and a bit rude but as the story goes on, she starts to change realizing that it's okay to have human friends and feel human emotions. When Mac realized that she didn't have to be this impenetra...more This book was so good. I thought the story of a changeling, someone who has the ability to change into any mythological creature was a really fresh idea. I loved the main girl, Mac who happens to be the changeling. She was a character that had to grow on me because in the beginning I felt she was arrogant and a bit rude but as the story goes on, she starts to change realizing that it's okay to have human friends and feel human emotions. When Mac realized that she didn't have to be this impenetrable one-woman army, I thought she was at her best. I loved when she was able to show vulnerability and open up to other people, especially Winn. Winn was so great, he's apart of that new class of main guys who tend to be a lot brainier and sweeter as compared to the brooding bad boy types. Winn was just the cutest guy. He was always honest and patient with Mac and no matter how crazy things got for her, he was right there by her side with his unwavering support.

I loved the relationship between the two, it was a process and they took their time getting to know each other. It was a refreshing change that they didn't even really like each other very much right off, only harboring a secret mutual interest but once they started to spend more time together and their comfort around each other grew, they were able to act on the feelings they both shared. They had some seriously cute moments and I couldn't help fangirling over the vast majority of them. Mac and Winn were a great team. They balanced each other out really well and trusted each other fully, even when things got rocky.

The story also had plenty of other great characters as well, like Mac's surrogate parents Alina and Lucas and Mac's fabulous demon friend Suze, who always looked out for Mac and Winn, he also added some more humor to the story.

The fact that Mac was being pushed by the council to choose what form she had to take permanently was interesting because she was perfectly content using all of them, not really forming a connection to any particular one unlike most changelings. She was more interested in living her life, not taking on a bunch of political responsibilities she didn't want. Even though the council kept getting on her case, Mac never let them push her into doing something she didn't want to, she always stood her ground and stayed true to her beliefs, which I really admired about her.

Overall, I loved this book and would totally re-read it.(less)

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Apr 24, 2013 Lolita rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-that-i-own, e-books, already-released, got-a-copy-for-review-reviewed

I got a copy for review in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars without a doubt. I loved this book, it was so addictive and one of the most original stories I have come across in some time. I loved the idea behind the plot, but also the way this book is written. And the characters where likeable too. The only two complains I have is that I would’ve preferred more world building and I want more of this book.

The main idea of this story is pretty original. Lead character Mac is a changeling and ca...more I got a copy for review in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars without a doubt. I loved this book, it was so addictive and one of the most original stories I have come across in some time. I loved the idea behind the plot, but also the way this book is written. And the characters where likeable too. The only two complains I have is that I would’ve preferred more world building and I want more of this book.

The main idea of this story is pretty original. Lead character Mac is a changeling and can shift to every supernatural creature she wants, but she has to choose one form before she turns 19. The story starts off mysterious and a bit confusing and only bit by bit we find out more about the world and the characters. Normally I like to have explanations pretty soon, but the author did a good job of making the mysteriousness not too bad. Ofcourse I wanted to have more explanations, but the story was so good, that I didn’t mind waiting for them.

This book was so addictive and even though it still took me quite some time to finish it, once I picked the book up I didn’t want to stop. I really liked the story and even though some parts where a bit predictable, there were also many parts that surprised me. Also the writing style of the author feels original and fresh and she even managed to make the romance scenes original, while these are often a bit cliché.

The characters are very likeable too. Form the first page on I already liked Mac, she is stubborn and strong and insists every time on her right to make her own choices. There are quite some side characters and while I think some could have gotten a bit more attention, the ones that got enough attention where likeable and had their own personalities. There were a few side character that I often confused and from who I didn’t know from their name who was who. So the lead character was really likeable, but some side character could’ve used a bit more attention.

Now world building, I love world building and want to know as much as possible about the world in which the book takes place. This book actually didn’t provide much world building, especially not at the beginning. And while most times I would hate that I didn’t here, I actually enjoyed the mystery and finding out alongside Mac more about the world. Mac the lead character actually knows very less about the world she inhabits and finds most things out along the way. What I did mind was the fact that even though Mac can shift into any form, we still don’t get an idea what the powers and limitations of each form are. Probably because there are so many supernatural creatures, that it would e boring to explain it all, but I would still like to know more about each of them. Mainly I was just so intrigued and fascinated by the story and the original world that I wanted to know more and I felt like there just wasn’t enough world building to satisfy me.

To conclude: I loved this book, it was addictable and original. I loved the story and the main character. Some side characters would’ve profited from more attention. Also I would’ve liked more world building, mainly because I was fascinated by this original world this author has created. I really can’t wait to read the next book!(less)

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Nov 17, 2012 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars

A fabulous first from Emi Gayle!

Talk about your coming of age story! What eighteen year knows what, or rather who, they want to be for the rest of their life? Mac doesn’t either and there lies problem of the story. Enter one cute, brainy classmate and our story gets interesting. Mac is on a journey and Winn has the map. They must work together to solve the problem. Will Mac be able to put aside the prejudice attitudes she has grown up with to work with a “human”?

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Nov 02, 2012 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Alright, I have to admit that this book really gave me the unexpected. Within the first 30 pages I was ready to put it down. I'm not sure if the plot was moving too slow, or the way it was written. I set it down and looked at other reviews before I continued I saw that a few of my bloggers friends had read and love it. So I continued. I'm glad I did cause this book freaking ROCKED!

What I loved most about this book is the great plot. We have a young strong-willed girl faced with some BIG decision...more

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Oct 22, 2012 The Cover Contessa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-releases, 2012-reads, paranormal

I want to thank J. Taylor publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of this awesome book to read for an honest review. When I was offered this book I was super excited. It's been on my list for a while and I couldn't wait for it to come out.

Blurb from Goodreads:
What eighteen year old Mac Thorne doesn’t know will probably kill her.
In exactly eight months, five days, three hours and thirteen minutes, Mac has to choose what she’ll be for the rest of her life.
She has no choice but to pick. As a Chan...more

6 likes · like · see review

Nov 09, 2012 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-releases, arc-wishlist, publishers-arc, genre-urban-fantasy

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0

*Review*

“Within the cloak of the human form, we are hidden. She with the most at stake needs knowledge of all our races. The choice she must one day make! For the Changeling, the form desired most becomes hers.”

After Dark, by Emi Gayle, is the first book in her 3-part trilogy called The 19th Year. It is the story plain and simple of Maya MacKenzie (Mac) Thorne who is a Changeling. She has the ability to transform into any supernatural being she wants to by night....more *Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0

*Review*

“Within the cloak of the human form, we are hidden. She with the most at stake needs knowledge of all our races. The choice she must one day make! For the Changeling, the form desired most becomes hers.”

After Dark, by Emi Gayle, is the first book in her 3-part trilogy called The 19th Year. It is the story plain and simple of Maya MacKenzie (Mac) Thorne who is a Changeling. She has the ability to transform into any supernatural being she wants to by night. By day, she manages to become human and hides the fact that she is different from the rest of her schoolmates. Mac also has two guardians in Lucas (vampire) and Alina (Fairy) that look after her needs and are supposed to guide her and train her while she decides on what she wants to be when she turns 19.

Mac has a tough choice ahead of her and isn’t afraid of taking her time in making her final decision. As a Changeling, she and the rest of her ilk are the only ones who are given that choice. Changelings are also expected to become the leaders of a certain sect depending on what supernatural being they choose. Mac sticks to her choice of not rushing into choosing her destiny before she is ready and thwarts any attempts by the Council into making the choice for her.

“Dawn conceals what the darkness reveals. What is it that’s found within darkness?”

Then, of course, there is Winn (Wineford Thomas) and his sister Zoe who become a part of Mac’s world. What can I say about Winn that hasn’t already been said? He is the geek of the story and one that people treat with lack of respect. He knows things about Changelings that no other human understands thanks to getting his hands on a book called the Carriage. He becomes smitten with Mac and understands that there is a chance that Mac will choose to become Human against the wishes of the council if he has anything to say about it. In the end, Mac and Winn will discover a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to Mac’s choice as a Changeling as well as Mac’s own mother’s fate and choices she made in order to help her daughter.

I liked the supporting cast of characters, especially the unique mixture that is the Council. You have aspects of fire, water, the stars, earth, air/land, night/day, and peace/war. My only real complaint throughout this entire book was that even tough Mac is a tough heroine; she fails to ask important and life altering questions of her peers and is pushed into the corner by a council intent on choosing for her. She fails to realize, in time, that she is being used as a pawn by others and has to rely on Winn in order to save her from being pushed into the wrong direction.

I am definitely looking forward to reading Day After the second book in the trilogy. I liked the world building that Gayle has created as well as the hidden danger that awaits Mac at every angle. I liked Mac as a main protagonist. She is smart and cunning and has the ability to transform into almost anything at a moment’s notice. As I said before, I also like Zoe who apparently has the ability to see and speak to ghosts.

Released: October 31st 2012 by J. Taylor Publishing (less)

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Nov 28, 2012 Suzanne (Paranormal Pages) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As one of my most anticipated reads this year, I'm happy to say that After Dark didn't disappoint. Emi Gayle did an excellent job in building Mac's world, where she lives as a human during the day but can change to any super natural creature at night, as easily as taking a breath. But when she reaches 19, she must choose which creature she wants to be for the rest of her life.

By the time most changelings have reached the age of 18, as Mac is now, they've already made their decision. But Mac has...more As one of my most anticipated reads this year, I'm happy to say that After Dark didn't disappoint. Emi Gayle did an excellent job in building Mac's world, where she lives as a human during the day but can change to any super natural creature at night, as easily as taking a breath. But when she reaches 19, she must choose which creature she wants to be for the rest of her life.

By the time most changelings have reached the age of 18, as Mac is now, they've already made their decision. But Mac has no clue as to what she will choose and is starting to feel pressured to make a decision.

One night, she sees Winn, a geek guy from school leaving the library with a book she knows is about her former home. She knows she needs to see this book as she asked very few questions about herself while she was growing up and now feels it's information she needs to know. She doesn't even know where she came from. She has been raised by a faery mother and vampire who aren't her real parents and aren't even a couple, just her guardians. She feels the need to know more about herself before she'll be armed with the right information to make her decision.

Mac is a great main character, obviously tough and mostly unafraid, no need to be when she can become anything she wants so easily. But I did find it a bit ridiculous that she didn't know something as basic as where she came from, and had never questioned any of this information. She loathes humans and the fact that she has to spend her days in the human world. So when she appears to be in danger, she's not happy to hear that the best way for her to stay safe is to spend even more time with humans.

Winn is a hot geek and extremely likeable character. I really enjoyed the relationship he had with Mac and their interactions together. They have a slow build romance which I love. There is a fantastic host of secondary characters in this book which contribute to making this a thoroughly enjoyable read.

There is mystery and suspense as we learn about changelings along with Mac while also trying to figure out who's behind the attacks on her.

An interesting plot with a sweet romance, no love triangle and no cliffhanger. What more could I ask for. I'm really looking forward to book 2, Day After.(less)

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Sep 17, 2012 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved loved loved this book. This book has everything you can want in a paranormal story. Fairies, Vampires, Witches, Ghosts, even Demons. I loved the characters and the entire story line. I can't wait for the next book.

18 year old Mac is a Changeling. She can change into any paranormal entity she wants to be. She has until she is 19 to choose which type she wants to remain as. She has so many questions she needs the answers to. Who can help her choose the right one? Could it be one of her p...more

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Nov 21, 2012 JenRider rated it 3 of 5 stars

That was something I haven't read in a while..Nice book with a very subtle romance that is too cute for words..Many secrets and a lot of "right" questions..Can't wait to unravel them all..really interesting..it kept me captivating till the last page..patiently waiting for the next one..

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Oct 01, 2012 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-read

awesome! snagged an ARC and discovered a PNR lover's delight! A story ripe with supernatural creatures, a multifaceted main character and a hero who made this nerd-girl's heart swoon, hehe! AFTER DARK (The 19th Year, #1) did not disappoint, so excited to know there will be more to come! :D

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Aug 27, 2012 Terri Rochenski rated it 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads really needs the .5 star system. Pooh.

4.5 stars from me.

Have you ever thought it'd be cool to be a changeling? Change into a fairy or siren? A dragon? Troll? Mac, the MC, has unbelievable changeling abilities - she can choose to be anything. Anything you've read about before.

This story is the beginning of her journey in finding which form she'll choose for the rest of her life. Before she turns 19, Mac must decide her fate - demon or angel, vampire or witch - and take her place on the...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Lynda R. Young rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a fun story about a teen who thinks she doesn't belong in the human world, doesn't like people, and far prefers enjoying the freedom of being a changeling at night. Her freedom is messed up when she is forced to choose a single form by her 19th birthday, which is only nine months away. To make the decision she needs to find out more about herself and that means spending time with a human boy her age who owns a mysterious book.

I like the main character, Mac. Even though she doesn't like...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Hazel G. ( I ♥ Mr. Grey) *Fifty Shades obsessed* . rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, paranormal-romance, paranormal-young-adult, young-adult, fantasy

After Dark is book one in The 19th Year and a YA Fantasy/Paranormal written by Emi Gayle. I read this as a R2R with Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.

The Review:
This book was different then most fantasy/paranormal books in that the main character is a changeling. I liked the mix up to the paranormal lore the author uses and the rules and world building she creates for the reader and her characte...more After Dark is book one in The 19th Year and a YA Fantasy/Paranormal written by Emi Gayle. I read this as a R2R with Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.

The Review:
This book was different then most fantasy/paranormal books in that the main character is a changeling. I liked the mix up to the paranormal lore the author uses and the rules and world building she creates for the reader and her characters. The idea of a human by day, changeling by night who has to choose her permanent form by the adult age of nineteen in the paranormal world was original and fun. The heroine, Mac, is spunky and full of life and she doesn't just sit by idly and let others fight her battles. She’s tough and pragmatic if not a bit sarcastic which only adds to her charm. All her life, she’s shied away from the fragile humans around her even though she lives among them. But forced to hide behind them in order to protect herself from certain elements of the supernatural community, she pairs up with Winn, a human boy who has something she wants. I really liked Winn. He taught Mac more than elements of her supernatural side as he seemed to genuinely want to help her discover who she really was, and he cared for her in a way she needed in order to connect with her human disguise.

I loved all the different characters we meet in this book. Their individual personalities ranged from quirky to serious and each one had a purpose.

Dislikes…
To me, this book started out slow. It took me several chapters to get into it but once the action picked up, I was hooked. I also felt like some of the dialogue and action sequences were confusing. I had to go back and re-read certain parts several times to understand what was happening. A few times the writing was choppy and didn't flow well.

The Wrap Up:
I really enjoyed this book. It was unique and fun. It left off with a bit of a cliffy so I’m looking forward to reading book two, Day After, with a projected release date of April 2013, and seeing where the journey of Mac and Winn heads next.
(less)

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Sep 30, 2012 Stefan Eveline rated it 5 of 5 stars

The cover is beautiful :)!
Mackenzie (Mac) is a beautiful girl she is 18 years old, is very stubborn funny and naive.She is a Changeling that means she can change into any form that exist.She loves to change every night and is happy when she can change.The day she needs to be human because she goes the school with the humans.She loves his family Alina a fairy and Lucas a vampire.They are very funny and protective.I love them.
She hates the humans but ironically she fell in love with a human Winn T...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Penumbra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: character-angels, character-fae, character-geeks, character-family-members, character-student, character-shifters, character-teenagers, character-vampires, character-virginal-hero-heroine, character-witches, character-wizards, favorite-ya-stories, favorite-paranormal-stories, format-ebook, free-ebook, het, het-romance, humor, hurt-comfort, injury-illness, little-or-no-smexing, magic, magical-beings-and-creatures, main-character-likeable, main-couple-likeable, mythological-creatures, mythology, own, paranormal-romance, paranormal, pov-teenage-female, reviewers-requested, read-in-2012, romance, secondary-characters-likeable, series, series-first-book, shifters, supernatural-beings, supernatural-abilities, violence, young-adult-paranormal, young-adult, young-adult-romance, ya-paranormal-romance, pov-first-person, published-2012, publisher-j-taylor-publishing, fantasy, young-adult-fantasy

I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher through the Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Fanatics group for an honest review, thank you.

(view spoiler)...more I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher through the Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Fanatics group for an honest review, thank you.

(view spoiler)
(less)

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May 08, 2013 The Three Bookateers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: guest-blogger-lily

Taken from our book blog: The Three Bookateers

hese days all paranormal books are supernatural with that little touch of romance, After Dark is no different. The main character, Mac Thorne, is a changeling – a unique race of supernatural beings that can change into any form they please, from human to ice giant – you name it Mac can do it. But there are catches; She is stuck being human during the day and cannot change forms until nightfall. On top of that by her 19th birthday she can only pick o...more Taken from our book blog: The Three Bookateers

hese days all paranormal books are supernatural with that little touch of romance, After Dark is no different. The main character, Mac Thorne, is a changeling – a unique race of supernatural beings that can change into any form they please, from human to ice giant – you name it Mac can do it. But there are catches; She is stuck being human during the day and cannot change forms until nightfall. On top of that by her 19th birthday she can only pick one race, and then she must lead that race. Pressure much?

At first she absolutely loathes humans and hates her life until she meets Winn – A HUMAN – and he completely changes her perspective on life. She at first is drawn to him because he holds a book that is about her birthplace. Problem is the whole book is written in Latin so of course she needs him to translate it for her. In the process they start to fall in love with each other – and through Winn – Mac finds out more about herself than she has in her whole 18 year existence and she starts to base all her decisions off her feelings for him.

I simply liked this book. It wasn’t amazing but it was an enjoyable read. I found this book to be clichéd with the idea that a unique supernatural’s life is changed by a human, in which she falls in love with later and can’t bear to live without him. Maybe the book would’ve been better if the characters were more developed and the love story wasn’t rushed. I would’ve also liked it if we found out more about who Mac is than see her being all lovey-dovey with Winn all the time.

Also, the way Mac bases all her decisions off Winn is naive and reflects her youth and irresponsibility to wield the power she holds. At the same time I admire the way she follows her heart instead of what listening to what everyone else is telling her to. Her rebellion against tradition and expectations on her foreshadows change and creates suspense. Although, sometimes I found her rebelliousness unnecessary and it seemed like she was being selfish and inconsiderate of the responsibility that she has to the world.

Now the good things about After Dark. I enjoy the paranormal genre, especially ones with a good love story. Although this book did disappoint in the love department, I loved the supernatural side of it. I loved the idea of a changeling being able to change into any supernatural or human form because it kept the book interesting. I mean who wouldn’t want to be able to change into a fairy, a ghost, a giant or a dragon? The possibilities are endless.

I also loved the characters in the story – Sal – Mac’s fashionably devil friend; Lucas – Mac’s dangerous vampire foster parent; and Elina – Mac’s beautiful fairy foster mother. I found these characters to be important supporting characters in Mac’s life and I also found them to be very interesting and entertaining additions in the novel.(less)

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Oct 31, 2012 Danielle Smiley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fantasy, my-e-books, favorites

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Publisher Type: Indy/Small Print
Rating: * * * * *

My Review:
I've gotta say, After Dark is the perfect YA Urban Fantasy!!! The premise is creative and unique (and I heart that big time!), with fun twists on what you thought you knew about the paranormal. The plot is engaging with great mystery and just the right amount of romance (and yummy chemistry galore!!!). It's simply an amazing read; one that is terribly hard to put down once you start. And then there's the cast!!! Ma...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Ornella rated it 3 of 5 stars

The blurb for this one really intrigued me. There aren't that many books out there were the main supernatural creature is a changeling, usually they are just mentioned in passing. I really liked what the author did with this one, brought a whole new spin to it that I really liked, not to mention the politics, beliefs and traditions that came with it.

If I were to rate the book solely based on the plot and concept it would have gotten 5 stars, because I sure as hell didn't see who the 'bad guys'...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Ebere rated it 3 of 5 stars

I found the beginning of this book was a little slow. It felt like the author was purposely trying to be intriguing but it felt a bit forced and hard to understand at first. It has a unique storyline with fascinating characters.

The main character Mac is a changeling and she can shift to any supernatural creature that she wants but only after dark. At the age of 19 she has to choose one form to be forever and then take her place on the Council of super naturals. I love the idea that you get the...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Leigh rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, reviewed

After Dark is an action packed paranormal romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end and leave you wanting more.

Mac Thorne, an eighteen year old Changeling, who is human by day and can change into any supernatural being at night. On her nineteenth birthday, she will have to choose what form she will be for the rest of her life. This is a decision she has been dreading. Mac is forced to mingle with humans during the day where she meets Winn Thomas. He has a book that m...more

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Mar 11, 2013 equilibri rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: stupidity-is-a-crime, burn-in-book-hell, hour-of-the-eye-roll, ya-super-naturally

Another disappointment. Boring plot, with nothing much happening, obnoxious dumb MC, clichéd supporting characters, dull school-project-pairing-equals-instant-romance scenario. Gave it a fair chance but couldn't make myself finish.

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Nov 29, 2012 April rated it 3 of 5 stars

Eighteen year old Mac is a changeling. She can change into any suernatural being she wants after dark. Thing is by her nineteenth birthday she has to choose which one she wants to be forever. Mac is already having a hard time choosing when she meets a geeky boy named Winn who has this book that seems to have things about her that she was never told. So now Mac has to find out what has been kept secret from her.

I started After Dark with great expectations, maybe too great. This book has a great...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Toni rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release, nook-books-i-own, r2r, arc, favorites

OMG I Freaking love this book!!! It is one of the most orginial books I have read!! I like how you have it all Vampires, Faries, witches, dragons, demons, sirens and so on!

Mac a 19 year old who thinks she knows it all, who turns out to know nothing at all and needs the one thing she says she never will!!!
I loved the charcters from the first page to the last!!! The book was addictive and I didnt want to put it down! Emi Gayle opens a different new world to us, full of action, twist and love! Plea...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Jenea Whittington rated it 4 of 5 stars

I spotlighted this a a couple of weeks ago as a Waiting on Wednesday pick. So I was really excited when I received an early copy. I found myself hooked from the start, and I didn't stop reading it till I was completely finished with it.

First off, Mac is our main character and she is a Changling. She can change herself into any supernatural being she chooses. The things is she has to choose one form before she turns 19. With this decision come a big responsibility. There are so many things that...more I spotlighted this a a couple of weeks ago as a Waiting on Wednesday pick. So I was really excited when I received an early copy. I found myself hooked from the start, and I didn't stop reading it till I was completely finished with it.

First off, Mac is our main character and she is a Changling. She can change herself into any supernatural being she chooses. The things is she has to choose one form before she turns 19. With this decision come a big responsibility. There are so many things that she was never aware of, that no one told her, she is in for a fight.

Mac is a snarky, and stubborn and she starts off not really caring the human world. But living like a human by day, she doesn't realize how sucked into it she really is. After she is paired with Winn for a project for school, we watch her feeling start to change. There are so many question of why she is being rushed to make a decision that she starts to look for the answers. But, Mac has the kinda personality that just doesn't take crap from anyone which causes her some problems along the way. I really enjoyed her and watching her search for answers. And she did turn out the badass that I thought she would.

Winn is the geeky, but really cute boy that she is paired with. He has a great personality and stick with Mac even through all the bizarre things that happen around him. The relationship building between him and Mac was fun to watch and sweet to say the least. I am rooting for them all the way.

I have to say that I enjoyed all the characters in this. They were interesting and were so different from each other that you have a wide range of personalities. But each one of them has an agenda, and a reason for the sudden push for Max to make a decision. I have to mention Suze, who is demon but is also Mac's friend. He is hilarious, and smart-alecky. I absolutely adored him.

The world building was fascinating, stock full of demons, fairies, vampires and any other supernatural being you can think of. We got it. But all of them together, not at war with each other but working together was unique and engrossing. You're suck into a world where you really aren't sure who is good and who is evil. The twist keep you on your toes and keep you guessing on what is really going on. The pace was slow at times, but you have more than enough going on that you keep wanting to know more. It ends on a small cliffhanger, so I am looking forward to getting my hands on Day After. I would definitely recommend this one if you are a fan paranormal, romance and want a fantastic read.(less)

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May 08, 2013 CJ rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a doozy for me. I want to say I loved it!! What I mean is, the magical creatures popping up everywhere are pretty awesome and the male lead made me want to reach into the pages and grab him for myself. I mean, I've figured out my hero-type and it is NOT alpha male bad boy, it is super-smart and with a hint of mystery.

There were drawbacks to this read. I found the writing to be inconsistent in ways that make it difficult to follow the actual movements and actions of the characters....more This book was a doozy for me. I want to say I loved it!! What I mean is, the magical creatures popping up everywhere are pretty awesome and the male lead made me want to reach into the pages and grab him for myself. I mean, I've figured out my hero-type and it is NOT alpha male bad boy, it is super-smart and with a hint of mystery.

There were drawbacks to this read. I found the writing to be inconsistent in ways that make it difficult to follow the actual movements and actions of the characters. Almost like there were gaps in the writing. There were places where I wasn't sure who was talking, where people were standing, etc. This really takes me out of a book. In the beginning, I wasn't even sure if I could keep going. But, damn, are there compelling things about this one.

The plot is very cool, and dealt with in a way that doesn't make it all feel overly angsty. There's a crazy amount of myth, and a unique spin on colliding the paranormal with our everyday world.

The main character is both great and frustrating. A lot of the mystery surrounding her is focused around the fact that she is not asking enough questions about her past. Yet, the way she stubbornly tries to figure out what is truly going on/going to happen to her WITHOUT asking the right people the right questions really rings true once you hit certain points of the novel. There's a very realistic spin on it all.

The Guy. Winford. How can anybody be sexy with that name. But he's GREAT! Disheveled, heads-in-the-clouds sexy professor type (but in high school and Mac's first good look at him is all abs, abs, abs). Then he opens up and he's this wonderful grounding presence throughout the novel. He makes you like the main character even better.

I think the pacing in this book is fantastic, and makes it a more enjoyable read than the execution of the ideas should allow for. It is flawed, but thoroughly enjoyable. My final complaint is that the climax of the book didn't feel as dramatic and threatening as I think it was intended to be. That said, you get the most magical creature battle action in those final pages, and that was super satisfying.

Basically, I'm conflicted on this one. But for the sake of the things I loved about it, I am giving it a 4, not the 3 it may deserve (this is for totally personal, selfish reasons).(less)

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Nov 01, 2012 Tana rated it 4 of 5 stars

After Dark (The 19th Year #1) by Emi Gayle

Emi Gayle has written a unique paranormal romance/urban fantasy novel, I really enjoyed the characters, the story flows well and I found I had a hard time putting it down till I reached the end. Emi Gayle has done a fantastic job writing the first novel in the series, you know it’s good when a reader finishes the book and goes looking to see when the next book is coming out as I wanted more right away.

I liked that is was a bit different from what I have...more After Dark (The 19th Year #1) by Emi Gayle

Emi Gayle has written a unique paranormal romance/urban fantasy novel, I really enjoyed the characters, the story flows well and I found I had a hard time putting it down till I reached the end. Emi Gayle has done a fantastic job writing the first novel in the series, you know it’s good when a reader finishes the book and goes looking to see when the next book is coming out as I wanted more right away.

I liked that is was a bit different from what I have read lately in these genre’s, there were a few times I wished for more clarification on a few things but maybe more will be clarified in the next book. I still really enjoyed After Dark.

Mac is a changeling who basically can become any creature she wants, the only downfall is once Mac turns 19 years of age she has to decide on one form and keep that form for the rest of her life. Presently Mac is 18 years old, living among the humans and attending high school. It funny because Mac hates going to school and living with humans who she really only tolerates. When Mac meets Winn things change a bit for her, for one she ends up hanging around his friends and Winn. At first Mac only starts this friendship because Winn has a book that holds secrets to her life past and future.

But nothing is that simple, of course Mac and Winn start to have feelings for each other, and this is a great romance in the making. I loved it because Winn is not your typical character in the paranormal romance department who gets the girl. Winn and Mac make you laugh out loud, I loved Mac character she is strong independent, and quite snarky at times. Its great watching her realize she is falling for Winn.

So I will say I have rated After Dark a 4 star rating and I would recommend it to any of my friends who enjoy paranormal/urban fantasy/romance novels. And I seriously cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

Thanks to J.T. Publishing and Emi Gayle for the chance to read After Dark.(less)

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About Emi Gayle

Emi Gayle just wants to be young again. She lives vicariously through her youthful characters, while simultaneously acting as chief-Mom to her teenaged son and searching for a way to keep her two daughters from ever reaching the dreaded teen years.

Ironically, those years were some of Emi's favorite times. She met the man of her dreams at 14, was engaged to him at 19, married him at 20 and she's s...more

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Quotes from After Dark

“I might be smarter than I look, and I might even know more than you.” — 3 people liked it

“I will be your extrapolator of extrapolated extrapolates.” — 2 people liked it

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After Dark (The 19th Year #1)

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