Darklight [Paperback]

Darklight picks up shortly after where Wondrous Strange left off, with Kelley still in New York City, and Sonny in Faerie chasing the remaining members of the Wild Hunt.

Kelley is independent, brave, and sometimes stubborn, with a fiery personality. Her stubbornness and independence sometimes get her into trouble, and even though I admired her for it, I got exasperated with her every time she went into Central Park on her own, knowing the possible dangers. I felt for her as she missed Sonny and tried to carry on with her life without him, plus deal with the life-changing knowledge that she was a faerie princess.

As with Wondrous Strange, I enjoyed that Darklight was told from alternating points of view, between Kelley in the mortal world, and Sonny in the Otherworld. I liked that we got to follow them both through their struggles, each of them waiting anxiously until they could be reunited.

The addition of Fennrys Wolf as a more central character in the story helped to round out the cast. With Sonny gone, Kelley needed someone to watch her back, and it was interesting to see this tough character occasionally show his softer side. Love triangles don’t bother me as much as they do most people, and although I ultimately want Kelley to end up with Sonny, I like that there’s potential for a love triangle, and I have a feeling that will be something Kelley will have to work through in the final book.

I love Livingston’s beauty writing style, and the way she describes things without bogging the story down in details. Her world-building skills are excellent, and whether the characters were in New York or Faerie, I felt like I was right there with them. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, and the story was full of tension, and punctuated by exciting scenes full of danger.

The ending was heartbreaking, and even though I wanted to scream at Kelley, I understand why she did what she did, and it made me even more anxious to read the final book in the trilogy.

In my review of Wondrous Strange, I said ‘this is what a faerie book should be’, and the same statement is true of Darklight. This series is exciting, enticing, and romantic, with elements of suspense and danger mixed in to keep things lively. I think fans of all things faerie should be pleased.

Since the frightening events of last Halloween, which ended with her beloved, Sonny, forced to leave her and return to the Faerie world, Kelley has been rehearsing for a new play, testing her powers, and trying to keep hope that she'll see Sonny again soon.

His Janus friends provide her with protection and company, but they hardly compare. And her unnerving Faerie mother keeps sending her images of Sonny on his violent quest that make Kelley wonder just how well she knows the boy she fell in love with.

But Kelley soon finds she's got far more than romance to worry about. An old enemy of her friend Bob (otherwise known as Puck) is after her, and it looks as though he won't be happy until he's murdered her. And the father Kelley no longer wants to acknowledge is sick - perhaps on the verge of dying.

As Kelley struggles to stay alive and decide who deserves her loyalty, she discovers that a danger far greater than she imagined threatens not only her and Sonny, but all of Faerie.

DARKLIGHT picks up several months after the events of WONDROUS STRANGE, and readers who enjoyed the first book will immediately get wrapped up in the story. Livingston weaves a tale full of twists and turns few will see coming, leaving major villains unknown and everyone's motives except narrators Kelley and Sonny's uncertain.

The new mythology introduced is fascinating, and this book's main villain is creepy and horrifying. The story overall is serious, but bits of humor involving a kelpie named Lucky, Kelley's roommate, Tyff, and Bob keep if from seeming too solemn.

Unfortunately, the book also suffers somewhat from middle-of-the-trilogy syndrome, in which many conflicts are introduced or hinted at and very few are resolved. Of course, this will leave readers ravenous for the final volume!

Recommended to all fans of urban fantasy for a fresh take on Faerie lore; best to read WONDROUS STRANGE first, though, to follow the story properly.

Reviewed by: Lynn Crow

(May Contain Spoilers)

I loved Wondrous Strange so I was excited finally read Darklight. I wanted to jump right back into the world and the story. It took me a couple chapters to get into the story again but give it some time--the story does get better.

Darklight picks up six months after the events in Wondrous Strange. Sonny is still in the Otherworld getting rid of whats left of The Wild Hunt while Kelley is in New York. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more interaction between Kelley and Sonny in the beginning of the book. I like reading about them together but both Kelley and Sonny are separated from each other for most of the first half of the book.

Once again I was immersed in the Faerie world. Livingston presents a varied mix of characters from ogres to leprechauns. More of the Otherworld is explored and explained and like the summary says, the faerie politics were complicated and there was a lot of shifting of allegiances. Many characters you didn't think you could trust from Wondrous Strange were shown in a new light and it was hard to discern their true intentions. One surprise character that stood out in this book was Fennrys. I don't think I noticed him at all in the first book but in Darklight his role was expanded and we see a completely different side to him other than the fearless warrior.

Sonny and Kelley have very quickly become one of my favorite fictional couples so the ending came as a big surprise. I was baffled and frustrated about Darklight's cliffhanger ending. But after the shock wore off, I got really excited about the third book and the possibility of having so many of the questions and mysteries that are still lingering finally resolved.