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Darkness Trilogy #1
Welcome to the Darkness
A typical teenager, seventeen-year-old Reed Hennessy doesn’t realize how lucky he is to lead a normal life until he loses everything, including his humanity. The attacker who slaughters his family and destroys their home turns out to be a vampire, a creature Reed had considered a myth.
Now a vampire himself, but with the unique ability to walk in sunlight, Reed struggles in the dark underworld he didn’t even know existed. His only two allies in his fight to stay alive are his reluctant mentor, Nathaniel, a vampire with over two hundred years’ worth of emotional baggage, and Sarah, a rookie cop with a secret ability of her own.
Together, Reed and his companions face a harrowing, cross-country journey before stumbling into a plot which could mean the end of everything for humans and vampires alike.
Now a vampire himself, but with the unique ability to walk in sunlight, Reed struggles in the dark underworld he didn’t even know existed. His only two allies in his fight to stay alive are his reluctant mentor, Nathaniel, a vampire with over two hundred years’ worth of emotional baggage, and Sarah, a rookie cop with a secret ability of her own.
Together, Reed and his companions face a harrowing, cross-country journey before stumbling into a plot which could mean the end of everything for humans and vampires alike.
349 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2013
About the author
L.M. Justus
7 books57 followersLisa Justus' path to becoming an author took a circuitous route through the University of Waterloo where she earned a Bachelor of Mathematics, followed by jobs in quality assurance and technical writing at a high-tech company. With a keen interest in creative fiction, she wrote her first fantasy novel as part of NaNoWriMo as well as an early chapter book for her kids when they were younger. She went on to write the YA paranormal fantasy Darkness Trilogy (Welcome to the Darkness, Darkness Reigns, and Embrace the Darkness). Most recently, she has branched out into cookbooks with her release of Simple & Delicious Vegan Recipes: For Everyone Who Loves Great Food.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 26, 2013
Welcome To The Darkness is a phenomenal read by L.M. Justus. Anyone who knows me knows I love me some vampire stories. I loved this one because it was so much more than a vampire story. Can you imagine waking up in the middle of the night to your family being slaughtered? Then the attacker turns on you and when you come to you realize you are no longer the same person but someone and something different. Well welcome to Reed Hennessy's world. Reed has everything one day and the next he has nothing not even his humanity is left.
Reed has become a vampire but he has a special ability that no one seems to understand and that is that he can still walk in the day when the other vampires can't. Reed struggles with being a vampire and the dark and seedy underworld that he know belongs to. Then he finds a mentor a vampire mentor who is over 200 years old Nathaniel to help him over navigate through this craziness of his new life. Reed also has Sarah who is a police officer and she has a secret of her own.
Reed is going to have to find his way in a new world with new people around him and new issues to deal with. How is Reed ever going to get over this? Will he be able to survive in a world where he is no longer human but a monster? This is a must read book if you love vampires! This is action packed and chuck full of surprises and with every page turning you get something new.
Reed has become a vampire but he has a special ability that no one seems to understand and that is that he can still walk in the day when the other vampires can't. Reed struggles with being a vampire and the dark and seedy underworld that he know belongs to. Then he finds a mentor a vampire mentor who is over 200 years old Nathaniel to help him over navigate through this craziness of his new life. Reed also has Sarah who is a police officer and she has a secret of her own.
Reed is going to have to find his way in a new world with new people around him and new issues to deal with. How is Reed ever going to get over this? Will he be able to survive in a world where he is no longer human but a monster? This is a must read book if you love vampires! This is action packed and chuck full of surprises and with every page turning you get something new.
April 22, 2013
Reed is teenage boy with a big problem. A vampire killed his family and now he's one of them. Or is he? With an uncanny ability to survive things that other vampires can't, it now seems the vampire horde has taken an interest in Reed. He teams up with Sarah, a young woman with an uncanny ability of her own, and Nathaniel, a hilariously uptight and ancient vampire. It's great fun watching as this trio learns to care for one other while they stumble through their myriad adventures. It's a fast-paced ride and the reader is drawn quickly from scene to scene, anxious to find out what happens next. And the end is worth the trip. Not to mention the end makes you want to read the next book.
It's great when a book you had the privilege to beta read comes out into the world. This is a fun romp of a novel that would appeal to all lovers of vampire fiction, young adults and adults alike.
It's great when a book you had the privilege to beta read comes out into the world. This is a fun romp of a novel that would appeal to all lovers of vampire fiction, young adults and adults alike.
August 12, 2013
I really enjoyed this gripping novel. Reed and Nathaniel with their interesting relationship, though vampire-ism provides a realistic, sarcastic humor, as well as Sarah and Reed's interesting encounter and odd friendship further the intrigue. After losing his family and discovering he is a vampire, the last thing he wants to do is learn to be one, but then Reed's (after) life gets a little (okay, a lot more) frightening, and he has to face his fears one way or another.
All in all, great read and DEFINITELY cannot wait for book two.
All in all, great read and DEFINITELY cannot wait for book two.
June 8, 2013
Check out the blog tour and my stop on Aug 19, there is a giveaway, and the first chapter to read my my post.
Wow, I devoured this book in a day, it was so intense. I was hooked from that first chapter, and didn't want to stop reading. I loved this take on vampires, and how our main character Reed, is different. I also love the alternating points of view. Each chapter will be from one point of view, and has that persons name at the start. That was great how it was done. I really liked Sarah too, and how she was different as a human. I thought the “Queen” for the vampires was creepy, and the King seemed charming, but off, lol.
Nathaniel was a great character too, as an older vampire who mentors young Reed. I do not want to give much away, but really liked this book. It has a whole different take on the world, and the crazy ideas the King has, and how we end up with some walking dead type creatures too, so things will change drastically and its very interesting.
I can’t wait to read the next book and see where this interesting idea goes. Its like vampires and the walking dead and the apocalypse thrown together. Very cool. There is some pretty gory areas in this book, just a warning, lol.
I give this great book 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend to the paranormal lovers out there, like me.
I was provided a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.
Wow, I devoured this book in a day, it was so intense. I was hooked from that first chapter, and didn't want to stop reading. I loved this take on vampires, and how our main character Reed, is different. I also love the alternating points of view. Each chapter will be from one point of view, and has that persons name at the start. That was great how it was done. I really liked Sarah too, and how she was different as a human. I thought the “Queen” for the vampires was creepy, and the King seemed charming, but off, lol.
Nathaniel was a great character too, as an older vampire who mentors young Reed. I do not want to give much away, but really liked this book. It has a whole different take on the world, and the crazy ideas the King has, and how we end up with some walking dead type creatures too, so things will change drastically and its very interesting.
I can’t wait to read the next book and see where this interesting idea goes. Its like vampires and the walking dead and the apocalypse thrown together. Very cool. There is some pretty gory areas in this book, just a warning, lol.
I give this great book 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend to the paranormal lovers out there, like me.
I was provided a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.
February 25, 2014
This book (Welcome to the Darkness by LM Justus) was exciting, suspenseful starting from page 1. Reed was a normal teenager and all of a sudden his world is turned upside down with such horror. Hard to put the book down because you want to see what happens next. Loved the characters, Reed, Nathaniel, Sarah and even The King.....at first. The Queen was pretty creepy and I didn't trust her one bit. The only disappointment with the book was, I got to the end and there was no more written (except probably in book 2 or 3 since it is a trilogy) so I'm eagerly waiting for Book 2 to come out. Deserves a 5 STAR RATING for sure. Entertaining and a "Goodread".
WHEN IS BOOK 2 COMING OUT??
June 7, 2013
I'll admit, typically a vampire novel is outside what I might usually pick up off the bookshelf... but I'm so glad I did. 'Welcome to the Darkness' was a quick and fun read, and would be perfect for teenage readers (although again, I thoroughly enjoyed it myself). From the very first chapter, I found myself wondering what would happen next... and then thinking, 'maybe I should just read one more page' until it was too late and I had finished it. Lucky for me, the book leaves room for a sequel, so I for one will eagerly be awaiting LM Justus's next release.
July 16, 2018
As a fan of the vampire genre, I found L.M. Justus' book "Welcome to the Darkness" hit all the right notes: angst, inner and external conflict, and good old blood lust. However, this is not a typical vampire novel. The ending is so compelling, I'm eager to read the rest of the series. Recommended for fans of plot-driven supernatural fiction.
June 16, 2014
This is going to be a review of book one & two, I read them back to back for the blog tour for book two, and my brain is combining them and I feel like two reviews would just be a regurgitation of itself.
To start off I need to say that this series isn't terrible. It is a unique take on the whole vampire mytho and it takes a very interesting twist leading into book two. It almost as a very dystopian feel to it which makes you impulsive enough as a reader to dive into that second installment.
It also wasn't engaging as I wanted it to be after reading the synopsis for the two books. I am always eager and excited to read a new vampire story. They are my first love in the paranormal realm and I find that people just don't write enough great vampire stories. They were left behind for shifters of every design, and other brave new supernatural worlds.
As a whole, this story boasted a very 80's feel to its vampire world. I only say this because I felt like the author pulled from a few of their favorite vampire worlds, (the vampire 'queen' was a young girl with tight blonde curls and blue eyes, and she was very ruthless.) Can we say vampire claudia. As much as this story was dark, it was almost very campy at moments which brought me right back into the story and made me appreciate it in the same way I do The Lost Boys. It very much took from a subtle vibe from that time of the vampire, it could be just me, but that's how I felt.
The characters I went in and out of feeling anything for them. I struggled with empathy towards them because they very selfish moments and also unfeeling moments that made me turn my head and hope people died, which is never a good thing.
As a whole, I have to commend the authors efforts with this story. They took a chance and created something unique in a world full of sparkly vampires and I have to respect that. They were legit baddies and that makes me smile.
*I received a FREE copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours*
To start off I need to say that this series isn't terrible. It is a unique take on the whole vampire mytho and it takes a very interesting twist leading into book two. It almost as a very dystopian feel to it which makes you impulsive enough as a reader to dive into that second installment.
It also wasn't engaging as I wanted it to be after reading the synopsis for the two books. I am always eager and excited to read a new vampire story. They are my first love in the paranormal realm and I find that people just don't write enough great vampire stories. They were left behind for shifters of every design, and other brave new supernatural worlds.
As a whole, this story boasted a very 80's feel to its vampire world. I only say this because I felt like the author pulled from a few of their favorite vampire worlds, (the vampire 'queen' was a young girl with tight blonde curls and blue eyes, and she was very ruthless.) Can we say vampire claudia. As much as this story was dark, it was almost very campy at moments which brought me right back into the story and made me appreciate it in the same way I do The Lost Boys. It very much took from a subtle vibe from that time of the vampire, it could be just me, but that's how I felt.
The characters I went in and out of feeling anything for them. I struggled with empathy towards them because they very selfish moments and also unfeeling moments that made me turn my head and hope people died, which is never a good thing.
As a whole, I have to commend the authors efforts with this story. They took a chance and created something unique in a world full of sparkly vampires and I have to respect that. They were legit baddies and that makes me smile.
*I received a FREE copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours*
June 25, 2013
2% into this book and I almost gave up. It’s a little early to be making judgments, but I found myself doing exactly that. The opening scene is the slaughter of Reed’s family. It should be fraught with emotion, and probably more than a little gore, but instead it was factual and over in a matter of pages. I didn’t feel attached to Reed, even though it was told in first person, nor was I sad for the family he just lost. I made the choice to give the book another chapter or two before making the final decision: give up or keep going.
I am SOOOO glad that I kept going! This book made a complete turn around, but it was slow transition. The second chapter brought in a new POV, Nathaniel. Where Reed is first person, Nathaniel is third. We are soon introduced to a THIRD, also third person, POV, Sarah, the rookie cop who blindly accepts the world into which she has been thrust. As the story progressed with the new characters, I found myself slowly buying into the world Justus has created. It wasn’t overly unique, but it was quirky and kinda fun.
By the time I had reached the end of the book, I was thoroughly enjoying the direction the plot had taken, and was actually kind of attached to the rag-tag crew this group of people/vampires had become. The story had become darker and more intense, so gradually that it had crept up on me. Suddenly I was very intrigued about where the series is headed. I’m curious to see if the next book succumbs to the growing darkness, and I desperately hope it does.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I am SOOOO glad that I kept going! This book made a complete turn around, but it was slow transition. The second chapter brought in a new POV, Nathaniel. Where Reed is first person, Nathaniel is third. We are soon introduced to a THIRD, also third person, POV, Sarah, the rookie cop who blindly accepts the world into which she has been thrust. As the story progressed with the new characters, I found myself slowly buying into the world Justus has created. It wasn’t overly unique, but it was quirky and kinda fun.
By the time I had reached the end of the book, I was thoroughly enjoying the direction the plot had taken, and was actually kind of attached to the rag-tag crew this group of people/vampires had become. The story had become darker and more intense, so gradually that it had crept up on me. Suddenly I was very intrigued about where the series is headed. I’m curious to see if the next book succumbs to the growing darkness, and I desperately hope it does.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2013
FAIRY THOUGHTS
Favorite Line(s) “I don’t mind if you get all fangy on me. Really,”
“I learned long ago that affection for another could be a very dangerous thing. It can be a great weakness used against you, as a method for ensuring compliance, thus I have attempted to remain distant from everything and everyone.”
“And so, my journey into the world of darkness and vampires had come to an end.”
Man talk about a messed up week! Reed's family is killed and he has become a vampire! While wondering around he is approached by Nathaniel. Who is also a vampire.
As a vampire he must let himself be known to the queen and when he does she sends him on a "mission" to kidnap a cop named Sophie.
This is about there adventure on the run from the Queen and some crazy twins that want to avenge the death of there father.
The deal with a crazy Queen, King, Twins, and Vampire. Oh did I mention the King has made a virus who will infect the whole human race and turn them into zombies!
It's a really good story, that you can totally sink yourself in to!
If anyone wants a action packed paranormal story then this is for you!
I was given this book in each age for an honest review (Xpresso)
FOUR CRAZY FAIRIES
Favorite Line(s) “I don’t mind if you get all fangy on me. Really,”
“I learned long ago that affection for another could be a very dangerous thing. It can be a great weakness used against you, as a method for ensuring compliance, thus I have attempted to remain distant from everything and everyone.”
“And so, my journey into the world of darkness and vampires had come to an end.”
Man talk about a messed up week! Reed's family is killed and he has become a vampire! While wondering around he is approached by Nathaniel. Who is also a vampire.
As a vampire he must let himself be known to the queen and when he does she sends him on a "mission" to kidnap a cop named Sophie.
This is about there adventure on the run from the Queen and some crazy twins that want to avenge the death of there father.
The deal with a crazy Queen, King, Twins, and Vampire. Oh did I mention the King has made a virus who will infect the whole human race and turn them into zombies!
It's a really good story, that you can totally sink yourself in to!
If anyone wants a action packed paranormal story then this is for you!
I was given this book in each age for an honest review (Xpresso)
FOUR CRAZY FAIRIES
July 29, 2013
I received this from the author in exchange for my honest review.
The story it’s captivating from the start as the book begins in full action. Reed Hennessy heard his parents scream and he ran to see what’s happening, trying at the same time to protect his sister. Little did he knew, these was the beginning to all his problems. The man who attacked his family was a vampire, but he didn't want Reed dead, that would of been easy, he turned him into a vampire. No vampires aren't a myth anymore for Reed, he is one and he is going to have a lot to deal with, starting with the death of his family and trying to figure out this vampire thing. The problem is that Reed isn't an ordinary vampire, the usual things doesn't kill him and he can even walk in the day light.
L.M. Justus wrote an amazing book, not like the ordinary books with vampires. It’s full of action and the characters are well formed. The best part is, the book it’s pretty scary at some points, but you will come to understand the true meaning of friendship, the trouble that Reed’s goes throw and the stuff he has to do in order to survive. Thank you for this opportunity. Loved the book!
The story it’s captivating from the start as the book begins in full action. Reed Hennessy heard his parents scream and he ran to see what’s happening, trying at the same time to protect his sister. Little did he knew, these was the beginning to all his problems. The man who attacked his family was a vampire, but he didn't want Reed dead, that would of been easy, he turned him into a vampire. No vampires aren't a myth anymore for Reed, he is one and he is going to have a lot to deal with, starting with the death of his family and trying to figure out this vampire thing. The problem is that Reed isn't an ordinary vampire, the usual things doesn't kill him and he can even walk in the day light.
L.M. Justus wrote an amazing book, not like the ordinary books with vampires. It’s full of action and the characters are well formed. The best part is, the book it’s pretty scary at some points, but you will come to understand the true meaning of friendship, the trouble that Reed’s goes throw and the stuff he has to do in order to survive. Thank you for this opportunity. Loved the book!
July 31, 2013
I enjoyed reading this from the beginning. It starts off pretty horrific with the killing of Reed’s family and I was left wondering what in the world can happen next? L.M. Justus does a great job of keeping the plot engaging but not to the point of ridiculousness. Reed goes through his ups and downs, even as a vampire. And what was really extraordinary is that I kept wondering if Reed was really a vampire considering everything that kills a vamp easily, doesn’t kill Reed.
Nathaniel is a very interesting character and it was nice to see his demeanor melt a little as you go through the story. He’s still a bit uppity but Justus explains everything very neatly so I didn’t have any questions about him at the end.
And although this book was a really fun read, I was very excited about the ending. I don’t want to say too much but it was completely worth reading and now I can not wait to start reading book two. The questions in this book were answered but the ending left questions all on its own!
Great vampire read… Totally bloody and gory and to the point (hah!).
Nathaniel is a very interesting character and it was nice to see his demeanor melt a little as you go through the story. He’s still a bit uppity but Justus explains everything very neatly so I didn’t have any questions about him at the end.
And although this book was a really fun read, I was very excited about the ending. I don’t want to say too much but it was completely worth reading and now I can not wait to start reading book two. The questions in this book were answered but the ending left questions all on its own!
Great vampire read… Totally bloody and gory and to the point (hah!).
March 26, 2014
This was like a complete, and utmost rip off of the Blood of Eden trilogy. Take a look at the synopsis for book 2: a virus.
Want to know what I was hoping? A completely unique concept. I mean, a virus in which there are human/vampire hybrids running around looking zombies. Blood of Eden apparently doesn't have that concept.
What I got? A rip off. Dominic sounds like Jackal, who apparently thinks that humans are "blood bags". Reed is like Allison, in which both actually gets attacked by psycho vampire – Reed's case: vampire going into insanity after many years. Allison's case: attacked by rogue vampires, which technically IS like insane vampires if you ask me – and Reed isn't even funny with his witty remarks. -_- The "Queen" is like a vampire master basically, ruling over a section in California, and if she really is permanently 12 or 13 as Reed says she looks, why is she a queen? O_o
Welcome to the Darkness certainly started with action, of course, but apparently from page one I was sort of losing hope... and losing hope quickly as I continued. The writing didn't click with me – AT ALL. I say didn't click because I feel dead and robotic and with fatigue. Which is basically me sometimes and I'm all no nonsense with books (it's the day where I feel totally crappy, want to do nothing and books will quickly catch my interest or go down the drain). I felt like I was Mia Hall, got into an accident in which I'm the lone survivor – sorry mom. I'm probably cruel for saying this. – and is basically trying to decide "if I stay" or go.
'scuse moi, but is she thinking those thoughts, or is it just telling? I'm very confuzzled and there is no italics to distinguish those thoughts. I mean, it's probably obvious, but still. It might not be a thought from the character.
Then there's the romance. I haven't gone there yet, but it was obvious from meeting numero uno. OOO, SHE'S GORGEOUS. *internal giddy dance and starts checking out said girl's butt inconspicuously* Or maybe the other way around: LOOK AT THOSE SEXY EYES. *faints* (She didn't faint. But the thought about those eyes were there.)
But I was completely done by this:
The writing feels really casual. Like kidnapping a female cop is just a typical day at the office or something. >_< The last couple of sentences didn't help matters either.
Or you could say . . . it was just the beginning.
And I had such high hopes. But a donkey came by and took those away. And that's probably putting it nicely (I could say it another way... vulgar language involved). -_-
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Review copy provided by the author (originally for blog tour)
Original Rating: 1.5 out of 5
This review and more posted over at Bookwyrming Thoughts
Want to know what I was hoping? A completely unique concept. I mean, a virus in which there are human/vampire hybrids running around looking zombies. Blood of Eden apparently doesn't have that concept.
What I got? A rip off. Dominic sounds like Jackal, who apparently thinks that humans are "blood bags". Reed is like Allison, in which both actually gets attacked by psycho vampire – Reed's case: vampire going into insanity after many years. Allison's case: attacked by rogue vampires, which technically IS like insane vampires if you ask me – and Reed isn't even funny with his witty remarks. -_- The "Queen" is like a vampire master basically, ruling over a section in California, and if she really is permanently 12 or 13 as Reed says she looks, why is she a queen? O_o
Welcome to the Darkness certainly started with action, of course, but apparently from page one I was sort of losing hope... and losing hope quickly as I continued. The writing didn't click with me – AT ALL. I say didn't click because I feel dead and robotic and with fatigue. Which is basically me sometimes and I'm all no nonsense with books (it's the day where I feel totally crappy, want to do nothing and books will quickly catch my interest or go down the drain). I felt like I was Mia Hall, got into an accident in which I'm the lone survivor – sorry mom. I'm probably cruel for saying this. – and is basically trying to decide "if I stay" or go.
Where was that damn hair elastic? The good white one: the only one that managed to keep her hair in a ponytail all day. Sarah scrabbled through all the junk in the top drawer of her bedroom dresser to find the darn thing so she could finish getting ready for work. Being late on her tenth day of work, not that she was counting, would be really lousy.
'scuse moi, but is she thinking those thoughts, or is it just telling? I'm very confuzzled and there is no italics to distinguish those thoughts. I mean, it's probably obvious, but still. It might not be a thought from the character.
Then there's the romance. I haven't gone there yet, but it was obvious from meeting numero uno. OOO, SHE'S GORGEOUS. *internal giddy dance and starts checking out said girl's butt inconspicuously* Or maybe the other way around: LOOK AT THOSE SEXY EYES. *faints* (She didn't faint. But the thought about those eyes were there.)
But I was completely done by this:
She was gorgeous, no joke. Young and beautiful, those greenish hazel eyes you could drown in . . . man; she was like a fantasy come to life. Too bad she probably thought I was a big time loser creep. Too bad I had to freaking kidnap her! Man, this was going to be a long night.
The writing feels really casual. Like kidnapping a female cop is just a typical day at the office or something. >_< The last couple of sentences didn't help matters either.
And so, my journey into the world of darkness and vampires had come to an end.
Or you could say . . . it was just the beginning.
And I had such high hopes. But a donkey came by and took those away. And that's probably putting it nicely (I could say it another way... vulgar language involved). -_-
------------------------
Review copy provided by the author (originally for blog tour)
Original Rating: 1.5 out of 5
This review and more posted over at Bookwyrming Thoughts
June 5, 2013
Originally posted on my blog: Tangled Up In Books
3.5 out of 5 Stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm always one for a good vampire book and, though I had a few issues with it, I still really enjoyed this book. It was different and a bit darker than the average vampire novel that I normally read. It was fast paced and kept me engaged from start to finish. Once I picked it up I was hooked and found it difficult to put it down.
This book was told in multiple POVs. Well three to be exact; Nathaniel, Sarah and Reed. Though what I found kind of odd and one of the things that annoyed me was the fact that when we were in Nathaniel or Sarah's POV everything was in the third person, but when it was Reed it was in the first person. I don't mind switching between narrators but when you then also throw in the constant back and forth between first and third person it just sort of felt a bit messy.
I was pulled in from the opening of the book, which is actually quite tragic as 17 year old Reed's family is slaughtered by a vampire and in the mix of it all he makes one huge mistake trying to kill the intruder, which ends up getting him turned. I felt for him immediately. To witness something so horrible happen to the people you love and then come to the realization that you've turned into the very thing that did this to them... I think he was probably my favorite character throughout the book. He's not the average vampire though, and has special gifts that set him apart from the rest. Which puts him on everyone's radar and not necessarily in a good way.
Youngling vamps aren't allowed to be out on their own without a mentor of sorts with them, teaching them the ropes and rules so that they don't expose their kind obviously. If one is found they're supposed to be killed. This is how we meet Nathaniel. Though when he comes across Reed, he decides to bring him in to the Queen instead of killing him when he finds out just how different Reed is. Nathaniel was funny at times, I mean he's a 200 year old vampire so he still had that sort of proper and stuffy air about him. And as hard as he tries not to, he forms a bond with Reed that I found sort of sweet and endearing.
Through a series of events we're also introduced to Sarah who is a rookie cop and has a very special gift of her own (as a human). She is my other issue within this story. She all too easily, for my taste, accepts this world of vampires and puts her trust in Reed, who by the way, absolutely does some very untrustworthy things when they first meet. It just made no sense to me that she would then skip off with him and allow herself to be thrust into their dark world and even fall for him. I felt like there should have been more fight there. Instead it was just sort of like she shrugged it off and goes off with him without a second thought.
I guess, to me, it seemed as if quite a few things over all just happened to fall in to place way too easily like that. There was either a simple solution or not very much resistance with anything that went wrong through a lot of the book. Regardless of any of those minor complaints I had, none of them were so aggravating that I lost interest. Because the story itself, and the lore and the world created were very fascinating and I had a hard time stopping myself from turning the page to find out what happens next. And it leaves you with just enough of a cliffhanger that I'm very eagerly awaiting book 2 to find out what happens to these people...err and creatures!
3.5 out of 5 Stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm always one for a good vampire book and, though I had a few issues with it, I still really enjoyed this book. It was different and a bit darker than the average vampire novel that I normally read. It was fast paced and kept me engaged from start to finish. Once I picked it up I was hooked and found it difficult to put it down.
This book was told in multiple POVs. Well three to be exact; Nathaniel, Sarah and Reed. Though what I found kind of odd and one of the things that annoyed me was the fact that when we were in Nathaniel or Sarah's POV everything was in the third person, but when it was Reed it was in the first person. I don't mind switching between narrators but when you then also throw in the constant back and forth between first and third person it just sort of felt a bit messy.
I was pulled in from the opening of the book, which is actually quite tragic as 17 year old Reed's family is slaughtered by a vampire and in the mix of it all he makes one huge mistake trying to kill the intruder, which ends up getting him turned. I felt for him immediately. To witness something so horrible happen to the people you love and then come to the realization that you've turned into the very thing that did this to them... I think he was probably my favorite character throughout the book. He's not the average vampire though, and has special gifts that set him apart from the rest. Which puts him on everyone's radar and not necessarily in a good way.
Youngling vamps aren't allowed to be out on their own without a mentor of sorts with them, teaching them the ropes and rules so that they don't expose their kind obviously. If one is found they're supposed to be killed. This is how we meet Nathaniel. Though when he comes across Reed, he decides to bring him in to the Queen instead of killing him when he finds out just how different Reed is. Nathaniel was funny at times, I mean he's a 200 year old vampire so he still had that sort of proper and stuffy air about him. And as hard as he tries not to, he forms a bond with Reed that I found sort of sweet and endearing.
Through a series of events we're also introduced to Sarah who is a rookie cop and has a very special gift of her own (as a human). She is my other issue within this story. She all too easily, for my taste, accepts this world of vampires and puts her trust in Reed, who by the way, absolutely does some very untrustworthy things when they first meet. It just made no sense to me that she would then skip off with him and allow herself to be thrust into their dark world and even fall for him. I felt like there should have been more fight there. Instead it was just sort of like she shrugged it off and goes off with him without a second thought.
I guess, to me, it seemed as if quite a few things over all just happened to fall in to place way too easily like that. There was either a simple solution or not very much resistance with anything that went wrong through a lot of the book. Regardless of any of those minor complaints I had, none of them were so aggravating that I lost interest. Because the story itself, and the lore and the world created were very fascinating and I had a hard time stopping myself from turning the page to find out what happens next. And it leaves you with just enough of a cliffhanger that I'm very eagerly awaiting book 2 to find out what happens to these people...err and creatures!
May 26, 2013
I stood trembling, frozen to the spot. He leaned forward to whisper into my ear. "Welcome to the Darkness."
Welcome to the Darkness starts off with a bang right from page one. Seventeen year old Reed is at home with his parents and sister when he hears a noise coming from downstairs and goes to investigate. What he comes across is a scene that will rip his world apart and change the course of his life forever. Both his parents and his sister have been brutally slaughtered and the man responsible is there ready to do the very same thing to him.
Warm blood burst into my mouth and it was pure ecstasy. I couldn't drink fast enough. I gulped and gulped until at last the world spun away into blackness once again.
While his parents didn't wake from their ordeal, Reed did. Only to discover that he is no longer human. He is in fact a creature that he thought only existed in books and movies. Reed is a vampire. But he's very different to all other vampires and that fact makes him quite valuable to the powers that be in the vampire world. What do they have in store for the newly turned Reed?
Sometimes a book told from multiple perspectives can get a bit confusing. But not so with this book. Told from the point of view of Reed, Nathaniel and Sarah, each voice was really distinctive. The speech and thoughts of Reed were very different from that of both Sarah and Nathaniel and Vive versa. It was great to get inside each of their heads and see what they were thinking though each experience.
When it came to the romance between Reed and Sarah, I can't say that I jumped on board. While the age difference wasn't very big, with Reed being seventeen and Sarah being twenty one, there was a wide gap in their maturity levels. The actual romance scenes were really well written and they were equals during those scenes. It was outside of those scenes that the maturity impacted on the that romance.
I really liked the three main characters. I didn't feel as much of a connection to Sarah as I did to Reed and Nathaniel, though I think Reed's pain and Nathaniel's loneliness came through really loudly to me and I was just drawn to that. But by the end of the book I did find that I was liking Sarah more. I think that all three characters really grew and changed throughout the story.
As for the action and the development of the story, I have no complaints whatsoever. Everything developed perfectly and I was completely engrossed in what I was reading and couldn't read fast enough to find out what would happen next. The ending was completely unexpected and set up superbly for the next book which unfortunately I have a bit of a wait for since book one was just released!!
Welcome to the Darkness starts off with a bang right from page one. Seventeen year old Reed is at home with his parents and sister when he hears a noise coming from downstairs and goes to investigate. What he comes across is a scene that will rip his world apart and change the course of his life forever. Both his parents and his sister have been brutally slaughtered and the man responsible is there ready to do the very same thing to him.
Warm blood burst into my mouth and it was pure ecstasy. I couldn't drink fast enough. I gulped and gulped until at last the world spun away into blackness once again.
While his parents didn't wake from their ordeal, Reed did. Only to discover that he is no longer human. He is in fact a creature that he thought only existed in books and movies. Reed is a vampire. But he's very different to all other vampires and that fact makes him quite valuable to the powers that be in the vampire world. What do they have in store for the newly turned Reed?
Sometimes a book told from multiple perspectives can get a bit confusing. But not so with this book. Told from the point of view of Reed, Nathaniel and Sarah, each voice was really distinctive. The speech and thoughts of Reed were very different from that of both Sarah and Nathaniel and Vive versa. It was great to get inside each of their heads and see what they were thinking though each experience.
When it came to the romance between Reed and Sarah, I can't say that I jumped on board. While the age difference wasn't very big, with Reed being seventeen and Sarah being twenty one, there was a wide gap in their maturity levels. The actual romance scenes were really well written and they were equals during those scenes. It was outside of those scenes that the maturity impacted on the that romance.
I really liked the three main characters. I didn't feel as much of a connection to Sarah as I did to Reed and Nathaniel, though I think Reed's pain and Nathaniel's loneliness came through really loudly to me and I was just drawn to that. But by the end of the book I did find that I was liking Sarah more. I think that all three characters really grew and changed throughout the story.
As for the action and the development of the story, I have no complaints whatsoever. Everything developed perfectly and I was completely engrossed in what I was reading and couldn't read fast enough to find out what would happen next. The ending was completely unexpected and set up superbly for the next book which unfortunately I have a bit of a wait for since book one was just released!!
August 12, 2013
This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Welcome to the Darkness was a pleasant surprise for me. When I first started reading, I wasn't sure if I was going to love it, but the further I got into the story, the more I loved it. By the end, I was sure that I would be reading the next book in this new series!
The negatives:
The writing style.
There were points in the book where I felt that the writing style was just a little too simplistic, especially at the beginning. But as the story progressed, I became more and more engrossed in the characters and the plot and I didn't find myself noticing the writing style anymore. I'm honestly not sure if the style improved or it just stopped bothering me, but either way it worked out just fine for me.
Reed's age.
Reed is young and he comes off as, well, young. This would be fine, but when it came to the romance in the story, I didn't see the attraction right away because Reed felt too young for Sarah as far as I was concerned. To give Justus credit, though, the age difference is acknowledged and Reed did seem to mature throughout the book, which also seemed to be a purposeful move on Justus' part. It just meant that I didn't connect with Reed as well early on in the book as I did with him later.
What I loved:
Sarah.
Sarah was definitely my favorite character in the book. She was smart and compassionate and not afraid to take things into her own hands. I actually also loved another character who showed up at the end of the book, but I won't say who that is because I don't want to spoil anything. I will just say that I foresee her being a character I will really enjoy in the next book and look forward to learning more about her.
The vampire lore.
I loved that this book had a good mix of standard vampire mythology and new vampire lore that I hadn't heard of before. For instance, in this book vampire's can live forever, but they start to go kind of crazy at around 400 years old. This fact played a major role in the plot in a few different ways and added an interesting new dimension to the book.
Nathaniel.
I thought that Nathaniel was a great vampire character. I could really appreciate his internal struggle between the human world and the vampire world and his struggle to stay aloof when he started to feel an emotional connection to Sarah and Nathaniel.
Overall, I felt that Welcome to the Darkness was a really intriguing vampire novel. I will definitely be sticking around to find out what happens in the next book!
Welcome to the Darkness was a pleasant surprise for me. When I first started reading, I wasn't sure if I was going to love it, but the further I got into the story, the more I loved it. By the end, I was sure that I would be reading the next book in this new series!
The negatives:
The writing style.
There were points in the book where I felt that the writing style was just a little too simplistic, especially at the beginning. But as the story progressed, I became more and more engrossed in the characters and the plot and I didn't find myself noticing the writing style anymore. I'm honestly not sure if the style improved or it just stopped bothering me, but either way it worked out just fine for me.
Reed's age.
Reed is young and he comes off as, well, young. This would be fine, but when it came to the romance in the story, I didn't see the attraction right away because Reed felt too young for Sarah as far as I was concerned. To give Justus credit, though, the age difference is acknowledged and Reed did seem to mature throughout the book, which also seemed to be a purposeful move on Justus' part. It just meant that I didn't connect with Reed as well early on in the book as I did with him later.
What I loved:
Sarah.
Sarah was definitely my favorite character in the book. She was smart and compassionate and not afraid to take things into her own hands. I actually also loved another character who showed up at the end of the book, but I won't say who that is because I don't want to spoil anything. I will just say that I foresee her being a character I will really enjoy in the next book and look forward to learning more about her.
The vampire lore.
I loved that this book had a good mix of standard vampire mythology and new vampire lore that I hadn't heard of before. For instance, in this book vampire's can live forever, but they start to go kind of crazy at around 400 years old. This fact played a major role in the plot in a few different ways and added an interesting new dimension to the book.
Nathaniel.
I thought that Nathaniel was a great vampire character. I could really appreciate his internal struggle between the human world and the vampire world and his struggle to stay aloof when he started to feel an emotional connection to Sarah and Nathaniel.
Overall, I felt that Welcome to the Darkness was a really intriguing vampire novel. I will definitely be sticking around to find out what happens in the next book!
September 13, 2013
I've been a vampire fangirl way before there was a girl named Bella and vampires aimed at young adults sparkled. Whenever I learn of a new take on my favorite paranormal creatures, I try to read it. Welcome to the Darkness by L.M. Justus is the type of book I like to see on my reading radar and jumped at the opportunity to read it.
Reed loses the most important things in his life in one horrific moment as he witnesses his family's slaughter by mythological monsters. To make matters worse, he awakens to find he has become something he never imagined was real-he is now a vampire. Surprisngly, he is a nightwalker but he can walk in the sun and isn't affected like the others. Nathaniel, a two-hundred year old vamp, becomes Reed's mentor and they encounter Sarah, a new cop. There's unlikely alliances formed, a surprising romance, some laughs and a king and queen of the vamps located at different parts of the country.
Told by different narrators in different viewpoints (Nathaniel in third, Reed in first), Welcome to the Darkness is an interesting tale of one teen guy's descent into a dark new world. Befriended by a vampire and female cop, Reed goes on a road trip to save himself from the clutches of a vampire queen who wants him for his abilities, but his destination may not be hold the promise he expects.
The world author L.M. Justus creates in certainly an intriguing one. As a vampire fan I didn't find anything truly new about the otherworldly beings but the assortment of unconventional characters gave the story a refreshing spin. Reed is typical for his age and with his predicament his angst is expected. His new world is somber, his new friends unexpected. With his family gone, he has no choice but to accept his fate. He did become annoying in spots with his negative outlook. I thank the author for giving us a teen male as the main character in a YA paranormal. My favorite characters were the spunky mature Sarah and Nathaniel with his witty retorts.
The story started off fast paced, dropping readers into a horrific scene. There were times when the story's pace lagged while the ending seemed too quick. Still, the characters kept me reading and I'm curious to see what happens next in the Darkness trilogy.
(http://www.readergirlsblog.com/2013/0...)
Reed loses the most important things in his life in one horrific moment as he witnesses his family's slaughter by mythological monsters. To make matters worse, he awakens to find he has become something he never imagined was real-he is now a vampire. Surprisngly, he is a nightwalker but he can walk in the sun and isn't affected like the others. Nathaniel, a two-hundred year old vamp, becomes Reed's mentor and they encounter Sarah, a new cop. There's unlikely alliances formed, a surprising romance, some laughs and a king and queen of the vamps located at different parts of the country.
Told by different narrators in different viewpoints (Nathaniel in third, Reed in first), Welcome to the Darkness is an interesting tale of one teen guy's descent into a dark new world. Befriended by a vampire and female cop, Reed goes on a road trip to save himself from the clutches of a vampire queen who wants him for his abilities, but his destination may not be hold the promise he expects.
The world author L.M. Justus creates in certainly an intriguing one. As a vampire fan I didn't find anything truly new about the otherworldly beings but the assortment of unconventional characters gave the story a refreshing spin. Reed is typical for his age and with his predicament his angst is expected. His new world is somber, his new friends unexpected. With his family gone, he has no choice but to accept his fate. He did become annoying in spots with his negative outlook. I thank the author for giving us a teen male as the main character in a YA paranormal. My favorite characters were the spunky mature Sarah and Nathaniel with his witty retorts.
The story started off fast paced, dropping readers into a horrific scene. There were times when the story's pace lagged while the ending seemed too quick. Still, the characters kept me reading and I'm curious to see what happens next in the Darkness trilogy.
(http://www.readergirlsblog.com/2013/0...)
June 9, 2014
This is an enjoyable, solid read and I found it very easy to get in to. What let the book down for me was the fact the story did not always “hang” together and I found some of the plot developments just a little bit unconvincing.
Undoubtedly, the plot of ‘Welcome to the Darkness’ moves rapidly which is a definite bonus with so many vampire stories available to read. Justus certainly puts a unique spin on vampires with features such as their saliva healing puncture wounds, going into a “death sleep” after feeding and Reed’s different abilities. This really kept me interested and I liked the originality that this gave. It didn’t take me long to get hooked into the story and I was surprised at how quickly I raced through it.
On the other hand, some parts of the plot are less convincing. The nativity of Sarah, Reed and the vampire hunters in taking down the vampire King was quite frustrating and I couldn’t quite believe how blinded they were to the obvious! I think this went hand in hand with character development: whilst Justus gives readers lots of information about the principle vampire characters, we are lacking such depth with Sarah and the other humans. Sarah is a cop who readily gives up her life to go with Reed without second thoughts and we barely hear anything about her missing her old way of life or what the consequences could be when she returned.
One other thing that bugged me about this read was how there were jumps in time but this wasn’t reflected in the formatting. I agree this might have been because I was reading a review copy so hope this is taken on board. The lack of indication that significant time had passed just added to my feelings that the story became a little far fetched.
However, that being said, I did enjoy reading ‘Welcome to the Darkness’ and found Nathaniel’s character quite amusing, particularly with some of the out-modes words he uses. The distance he keeps from others gradually changes over the story and I liked how he grew to feel protective over Reed.
This is a pretty good read and I look forward to reading the next in the series. I wonder whether ‘Welcome to the Darkness’ is more of a prequel, laying the foundations for the next novel. The blurb looks promising for the next book so I look forward to making the comparisons.
This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Undoubtedly, the plot of ‘Welcome to the Darkness’ moves rapidly which is a definite bonus with so many vampire stories available to read. Justus certainly puts a unique spin on vampires with features such as their saliva healing puncture wounds, going into a “death sleep” after feeding and Reed’s different abilities. This really kept me interested and I liked the originality that this gave. It didn’t take me long to get hooked into the story and I was surprised at how quickly I raced through it.
On the other hand, some parts of the plot are less convincing. The nativity of Sarah, Reed and the vampire hunters in taking down the vampire King was quite frustrating and I couldn’t quite believe how blinded they were to the obvious! I think this went hand in hand with character development: whilst Justus gives readers lots of information about the principle vampire characters, we are lacking such depth with Sarah and the other humans. Sarah is a cop who readily gives up her life to go with Reed without second thoughts and we barely hear anything about her missing her old way of life or what the consequences could be when she returned.
One other thing that bugged me about this read was how there were jumps in time but this wasn’t reflected in the formatting. I agree this might have been because I was reading a review copy so hope this is taken on board. The lack of indication that significant time had passed just added to my feelings that the story became a little far fetched.
However, that being said, I did enjoy reading ‘Welcome to the Darkness’ and found Nathaniel’s character quite amusing, particularly with some of the out-modes words he uses. The distance he keeps from others gradually changes over the story and I liked how he grew to feel protective over Reed.
This is a pretty good read and I look forward to reading the next in the series. I wonder whether ‘Welcome to the Darkness’ is more of a prequel, laying the foundations for the next novel. The blurb looks promising for the next book so I look forward to making the comparisons.
This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2014
A brand new teenaged vampire, a slightly older rookie cop with a different sort of power and a seasoned vampire with a couple of hundred years under his belt…can this odd assortment of characters defeat the nefarious intentions of a very old and vicious vampire queen and her equally odious brother? Sounds a bit silly, doesn’t it? Well, put your pre-conceived notions aside because Welcome to the Darkness is a serious vampire book—no sparkles in sight—with overtones of sheer fun and, yes, lots of bloody dinners, so to speak.
I am perfectly aware that there are all sorts of reasons this trio should stumble in their efforts to stop a terrible scheme against humanity and, truthfully, the plot doesn’t always work. For instance, why would a plan to turn all humans into vampires be a good thing for the existing vampires since they need to feed on human blood? I also think Sarah is sometimes too naive, especially since she’s a cop. Still, little quibbles like this one don’t really matter so much because the entire cast of characters is vibrant enough to carry the story. Reed is delightful, as is Sarah, but I have to claim Nathaniel as my favorite. He may have his own issues as a “mature” vampire but, beneath his pasty exterior, he still has some rather endearing human traits.
I also really enjoyed Ms. Justus’s use of both first and third person POV and there’s no trouble following the switches since each chapter is labeled with the name of a particular character. The voices are distinctive, not only of the original three protagonists but also of many of the other players, especially a couple of folks who join the cast later.
So, can our intrepid trio and a few friends save the day? You’ll just have to read this to find out while I rush on to the next book :-)
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, June 2014.
I am perfectly aware that there are all sorts of reasons this trio should stumble in their efforts to stop a terrible scheme against humanity and, truthfully, the plot doesn’t always work. For instance, why would a plan to turn all humans into vampires be a good thing for the existing vampires since they need to feed on human blood? I also think Sarah is sometimes too naive, especially since she’s a cop. Still, little quibbles like this one don’t really matter so much because the entire cast of characters is vibrant enough to carry the story. Reed is delightful, as is Sarah, but I have to claim Nathaniel as my favorite. He may have his own issues as a “mature” vampire but, beneath his pasty exterior, he still has some rather endearing human traits.
I also really enjoyed Ms. Justus’s use of both first and third person POV and there’s no trouble following the switches since each chapter is labeled with the name of a particular character. The voices are distinctive, not only of the original three protagonists but also of many of the other players, especially a couple of folks who join the cast later.
So, can our intrepid trio and a few friends save the day? You’ll just have to read this to find out while I rush on to the next book :-)
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, June 2014.
July 2, 2013
Welcome to the Darkness is a interesting mix of vampire lore, romance, and tragedy. Reed finds out that vampires exist in the worst possilbe way, he becomes one - and he doesn't quite believe it at first. The confusion and shock were very well written, he wasn't too blindly accepting of what had happened as seems to happen in some vampire books. To top it all off, he has lost everything and everyone he ever cared about.
Nathaniel finds Reed and realizes he's not your typical vampire. Nathaniel was actually my favorite character in the book. He had a very dry wit and humor that I have always enjoyed. He also seemed to be one of the most dynamic characters - becoming someone almost completely different by the end. The Vampire Kind is also quite memorable, but I can't say too much about him without giving away too much.
The story was fairly fast paced, but there were times it seemed a little forced. There were a few scenes that seemed thrown in to make sure the book was advenerous enough, but I think it would have been fine without them. A good amount of time was spent trying to develop our characters, and it was time well spent. They were all very well developed and I can still remember the page I fell in love with each of them.
The series has enormous potential. It looks into an aspect of vampire lore and evolution that isn't mentioned too often in my experience. I hope that book two continues to develop the characters more and we find out exactly what damage has really been done. This one ends with a bit of a cliffhanger guys!
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/...
Nathaniel finds Reed and realizes he's not your typical vampire. Nathaniel was actually my favorite character in the book. He had a very dry wit and humor that I have always enjoyed. He also seemed to be one of the most dynamic characters - becoming someone almost completely different by the end. The Vampire Kind is also quite memorable, but I can't say too much about him without giving away too much.
The story was fairly fast paced, but there were times it seemed a little forced. There were a few scenes that seemed thrown in to make sure the book was advenerous enough, but I think it would have been fine without them. A good amount of time was spent trying to develop our characters, and it was time well spent. They were all very well developed and I can still remember the page I fell in love with each of them.
The series has enormous potential. It looks into an aspect of vampire lore and evolution that isn't mentioned too often in my experience. I hope that book two continues to develop the characters more and we find out exactly what damage has really been done. This one ends with a bit of a cliffhanger guys!
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/...
June 29, 2013
* I received this copy for a blog tour: http://www.nobentspines.blogspot.com/ *
3.6
Action packed with an all too real (or as real as it can get with a mind reader and vampire) romance that will leave you breathless and begging for book 2.
I was lucky enough to get selected to do this book tour. I love book tours. How does it get better than reading a book and helping an author? I really don't know *shrugs* Well as I stated above, this book is beast. I liked the beginning, loved the middle and liked the end. How does this happen? Why did I like the middle best? Because it is (finally) when Reed (love the name by the way) and Sarah were like 'ohmigosh, we like each other! wait-really?'
This book was a little too cute to a 'vamp out to destroy the world book'. Whoo scary. Yeah, not so much. But hey, for the inner homicidal crazy vampire in all of us there is a little killing. And insane sisters. I can relate to this one. The insane sister, not the homicidal vampire.
I really enjoyed the descriptions in this book. They were vivid and life like and I loved it! Yay! The story line was really well thought out and there were lots of details (like the humans and zombies) thrown in that really made the story.
Also, as evil as this sounds, I love the ending.
3.6
Action packed with an all too real (or as real as it can get with a mind reader and vampire) romance that will leave you breathless and begging for book 2.
I was lucky enough to get selected to do this book tour. I love book tours. How does it get better than reading a book and helping an author? I really don't know *shrugs* Well as I stated above, this book is beast. I liked the beginning, loved the middle and liked the end. How does this happen? Why did I like the middle best? Because it is (finally) when Reed (love the name by the way) and Sarah were like 'ohmigosh, we like each other! wait-really?'
This book was a little too cute to a 'vamp out to destroy the world book'. Whoo scary. Yeah, not so much. But hey, for the inner homicidal crazy vampire in all of us there is a little killing. And insane sisters. I can relate to this one. The insane sister, not the homicidal vampire.
I really enjoyed the descriptions in this book. They were vivid and life like and I loved it! Yay! The story line was really well thought out and there were lots of details (like the humans and zombies) thrown in that really made the story.
Also, as evil as this sounds, I love the ending.
September 24, 2014
There are two books so far in this series, and thankfully I was given both to review – you really do need to read them in order to truly appreciate the story and the characters.
Both books are well paced and gives us some interesting characters – vampires can be a little old hat these days, I’m not sure there’s much more we can do to them to make them interesting, but this series really adds to the vampire mythos, rather than just borrow from every other book.
From a writer’s perspective, it was hard for me to initially get into as the view points varied between three characters and how they were written. It’s no secret that I prefer first person narrative, I find it more emotional and much more interesting to go on a literary journey with a character as my guide. It was a gamble to switch characters and flit from 1st to 3rd person. Personally I’d have preferred one view point to keep the story linear – but that’s just my opinion.
The front covers are okay – but don’t really give the feel of the books and I’m not sure how well they’ll fare against more colourful and obvious book covers (maybe some fangs?)
Overall, I’d give both books 4 out of 5 stars, a solid supernatural read that will feed your need for vampires.
Both books are well paced and gives us some interesting characters – vampires can be a little old hat these days, I’m not sure there’s much more we can do to them to make them interesting, but this series really adds to the vampire mythos, rather than just borrow from every other book.
From a writer’s perspective, it was hard for me to initially get into as the view points varied between three characters and how they were written. It’s no secret that I prefer first person narrative, I find it more emotional and much more interesting to go on a literary journey with a character as my guide. It was a gamble to switch characters and flit from 1st to 3rd person. Personally I’d have preferred one view point to keep the story linear – but that’s just my opinion.
The front covers are okay – but don’t really give the feel of the books and I’m not sure how well they’ll fare against more colourful and obvious book covers (maybe some fangs?)
Overall, I’d give both books 4 out of 5 stars, a solid supernatural read that will feed your need for vampires.
October 8, 2015
An ARC was received for an HONEST REVIEW!!!
Reviewed by Tamara!!
Reed is just 17 years old suffering a deadly loss of his family and trying to come to turns with his new powers and his new way of life.
Sarah a young woman as well as a cop with abilities of her own and then we have Nathaniel who is ancient and extremely up tight he has also struggled with his own losses in life and showing he struggles with his emotions when it comes to Sarah and Reed.
Together the three of them team up with unlikely allies to try and put a stop to a potential threat that will threaten humanity.
I enjoyed this story. At times, I did find that 3 person pov was a bit confusing as well switching from first person to third person throughout the story in parts. However, this was my first vampire read since Twilight and I enjoyed the mixture of romance, some action and drama. I felt as though some things ended to fast, sort of a bit rushed but hopefully in sure these will be explained in the next book.
All in all a great read.
Reviewed by Tamara!!
Reed is just 17 years old suffering a deadly loss of his family and trying to come to turns with his new powers and his new way of life.
Sarah a young woman as well as a cop with abilities of her own and then we have Nathaniel who is ancient and extremely up tight he has also struggled with his own losses in life and showing he struggles with his emotions when it comes to Sarah and Reed.
Together the three of them team up with unlikely allies to try and put a stop to a potential threat that will threaten humanity.
I enjoyed this story. At times, I did find that 3 person pov was a bit confusing as well switching from first person to third person throughout the story in parts. However, this was my first vampire read since Twilight and I enjoyed the mixture of romance, some action and drama. I felt as though some things ended to fast, sort of a bit rushed but hopefully in sure these will be explained in the next book.
All in all a great read.
August 29, 2013
Well as an unoffical expert on vampire themed everything especially books. There was nothing out of ordinary. I am not saying that it was bad, just that it wasn't good either. It was so so-so that I cannot describe it completely. The characthers were not shallow but they were not deep also. The problems they encountered were way too easy to solve so it seemed like nothing happened. I believe that for a book to be exciting the writer has to outsmart us. The story has to be clever and it has to keep us wondering. It has to keep us on our toes. It has to be full of suprises. It has to be just like love. Well this wasn't. It was a light read nothing unexcaptable. If you have time you may read it.
September 21, 2014
Fast, fast start to the plot & needed to be so! Reed wouldn't have been able to take in such violence to his family point by point without going insane.
But I liked best the new (for me) vampire lore. Like Reed, I knew about vampires' aversion to crosses & sunlight & garlic but these are discounted promptly by the author & new 'facts' & vocab take their place: to be 'turned', to 'die' (two types of dying in fact, one of them permanently).
I tore through the book too quickly to question the why's & wherefore's. Perhaps a second reading to take it all in. Just couldn't stop reading. Ploughed on to the 2nd part of the trilogy. And L.M. Justus had better hurry with the 3rd part of this trilogy because I'll be ever so ready to read it!
But I liked best the new (for me) vampire lore. Like Reed, I knew about vampires' aversion to crosses & sunlight & garlic but these are discounted promptly by the author & new 'facts' & vocab take their place: to be 'turned', to 'die' (two types of dying in fact, one of them permanently).
I tore through the book too quickly to question the why's & wherefore's. Perhaps a second reading to take it all in. Just couldn't stop reading. Ploughed on to the 2nd part of the trilogy. And L.M. Justus had better hurry with the 3rd part of this trilogy because I'll be ever so ready to read it!
October 29, 2013
I could not get through this book even though I really tried.
I feel kinda bad about it, since I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I enjoy books about vampires, I enjoy bad books about vampires (I made it through Twilight with a lot of good laughs), but I did not enjoy this book.
The characters were flatter then cardboard (main characters parents get brutally murdered, he seems to be over it three pages later) there were more clichés in here then I could even count and it just wasn't fun. It felt like a paint by numbers of vampire fiction, painted by someone who is colorblind.
I feel bad about trash talking this book, but it just didn't work for me.
I feel kinda bad about it, since I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I enjoy books about vampires, I enjoy bad books about vampires (I made it through Twilight with a lot of good laughs), but I did not enjoy this book.
The characters were flatter then cardboard (main characters parents get brutally murdered, he seems to be over it three pages later) there were more clichés in here then I could even count and it just wasn't fun. It felt like a paint by numbers of vampire fiction, painted by someone who is colorblind.
I feel bad about trash talking this book, but it just didn't work for me.
November 10, 2013
This was an interesting read different than I have read before. I wouldn't consider this book young adult. Not that there were adult topics but the only thing young about it was Reed's age @ 17. I story was good a little slow paced for me but the turns it took were not what I was expecting and that is always nice.
June 4, 2013
Totally enjoyed this one! ;) Review to come for blog tour!
July 2, 2013
2.5/5
August 21, 2014
Usually I don't like books from a male characters perspective but Welcome to the darkness changed my mind completely. An amazing book by L.M Justus ! Cant wait to read the next.
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