A Fractured Light by Jocelyn Davies

A Fractured Light by Jocelyn Davies
Release Date – September 5, 2012
Publisher Website - Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader
Pages - 352 pages
My Rating- 3/5
**obtained from publisher via BEA for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

When she wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings, Skye knows something terrible has happened to her. It's not until she hears Asher, the dark, rebellious angel she fell in love with, that the memories come flooding back. She tries to put the past behind her, but she knows she'll be forever haunted by the ruthless betrayal that almost took her life.

Skye returns home, but with the knowledge of who she really is, nothing can ever be the same. As she tests the limits of her newfound powers, Skye discovers that she's capable of far more than anyone could have imagined. Both the Order and the Rebellion want her for their side as war between the factions looms. She can't forget the terrifying truth she now knows about the Order, but something holds her back from embracing the Rebellion.

"A Fractured Light" picks up right after "A Beautiful Dark"'s shocking cliffhanger ending and is perfect for fans of Lauren Kate's "Fallen" and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush saga.

Romance, family secrets and angels. A Fractured Light continues Skye's journey into the angel world. Luckily for those of us who have read A Beautiful Dark that cliff hanger ending is taken care of immediately. The romance is steamier, and secrets are revealed in this fun second novel.

The choice between Asher and Devin for Skye is not as simple as selecting the angel of her dreams. It is also making a choice between the Rebellion and the Order. The question of whether she can date one of the angels and not belong to his faction is explored. The idea of not letting your love of someone dictate the path you take is a worthy message and is handled rather well.

I like that neither Asher or Devin is the better choice. Each is keeping secrets, each may be using her to benefit their faction. The one who holds a larger part of Skye's heart is obvious, especially after this novel, but the angels quickly find themselves on much more equal playing field at the end of the novel. I enjoy triangles that are not obvious. If you are going to have one, make it seem like either choice is a valid option. Jocelyn ends this novel doing exactly that. Having said that, Asher is the more appealing choice, in my opinion. This is mainly because I find Devin too rigid.

The Order and the Rebellion are both becoming more developed and explained. We start to have a better understanding of Skye's powers and how she will factor into the battle that is already being fought around her. The immense pressure she is under is staggering and this point was expressed rather well. I enjoy Skye for the most part. She seems like a typical teenager caught in the middle of something she's not prepared for.I enjoy that her Aunt was a much more permanent fixture in her life and was behaving like an actual parental figure. She noticed things more this time around as she was actually present.

This novel's only downside, for me, was that it felt like a middle book. A lot of it is a variation on what happens in the first novel. Skye is torn between Asher and Devin, she is learning to use her powers and learning more about this dangerous world she is now apart of. The only major difference is she knows more than she did in the first novel. The pacing is a little off with a lot of the novel's action taking place in the second half. It reads like a bridge novel between the first and second, more than an extension of the story.

Secrets are revealed, and with another shocking cliffhanger Jocelyn Davies will leave you wanting the next book immediately. While I found this book very much a "bridge" novel between the first and last  in the series it was enjoyable and really picked up the pace at the end.

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

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.
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.

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.

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.

Waiting on Wednesday - A Beautiful Dark

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Here is the Goodreads synopsis -

Skye never questioned the story of her life. Her Aunt Jo adopted her after the death of her parents when she was just a child, and together they flip through memories the way some people flip through photo albums.

She never questioned if the stories were true.

Until the night of her 17th birthday, when the arrival of two strangers intrudes on her cozy life. Polar opposites, like fire and ice, Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair, cold, and aloof. Skye has no idea what they want—only that their presence coincides with the beginning of some shockingly strange events. Events that Skye, if she dares to think it, might be responsible for causing.

High up in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado, Skye finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient battle, one that began untold millennia ago. Torn between unpredictable Asher, whom she loves, and the infuriating Devin, who she can’t stay away from, her fate is murky as a starless night. And as the secrets of her true identity are revealed, Skye realizes that her destiny may reside in the Heavens—or somewhere darker

I love the cover of this. It's really pretty. I also love the synopsis. I like the sounds of the triangle, and the paranormal aspect sounds like it might be different than what is out there now. I have a copy of this waiting for me to read it, and I may have to bump it up my to be read list.

Expected release date - September 27,2011.