A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies
Release Date – September 27, 2011
Publisher – HarperCollins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 320
My Rating- 8/10
*obtained from the publisher for an honest review*
Here is the Goodreads synopsis
On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.I first stumbled across this book due to it’s GORGEOUS cover. So stunning. I read the synopsis and immediately thought it sounded like a good angel novel.
In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.
Jocelyn Davies writing style is easy to read, flows well and keeps you turning the pages. The novel starts off a little slower, but once it gets started you will be sucked into the story.
Her characters are interesting. The main character Skye is really very average. She barely stood out to me. It didn’t distract from the story because the other characters make up for it. Her friends Ian, Cassie, and Dan are amazing. I loved her best friend Cassie. They provided our insight into Skye. These people were real friends that worried about her, cared about her, and were just there for her.
The novel, sadly, has the disappearing parents (parental figure) complex that is so common in YA. While her Aunt Jo has a reason to be out all the time (her job requires it) I would have liked to see her around more.
The other 2 important characters to this story are Asher and his cousin Devin. Asher and Devin are angels. The fact that it tells you fans of Hush Hush will love this one clued me in so I knew going into the novel what to expect. The mythology is actually very interesting, and I am looking forward to learning more. That is what really drew me in and kept me reading.
This love triangle has a twist. I never really knew for sure where Skye stood with either Devin or Asher. There are outside influences, and reasons that both would want her to choose them that have nothing to do with actually being in love with her. I found that very interesting, and unique. I was always second guessing motives.
Asher is the dark, ‘bad-boy” who has a disregard for any rules he and Devin may have to follow. Asher is the one that makes Skye’s pulse quicken and makes her a little reckless herself. I liked him much more than Devin. While Asher is a little self centred, and careless I found his teasing, humour and friendliness much more appealing than Devin’s personality.
Devin is more level headed, likes to follow the rules (almost to the point of rigidity) and his relationship with Skye is more of a slow burn. She is attracted to him but it’s not intense and consuming like it is with Asher. It’s more of a friendship, with feelings boiling to the surface. He is more aloof and cold at times. He is very serious and it’s rare for him to laugh or even smile.
The story really picks up a little ways in and steamrolls to an unforgettable ending. The ending….ooh that torture of an ending. It leaves you one most intense cliffhangers I’ve read. Congratulations to Ms Davies, I am dying to get my hands on the next book as a result.
