{REVIEW} A FRACTURED LIGHT (A BEAUTIFUL DARK #2) by JOCELYN DAVIES

Series: A Beautiful Dark #2
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: Sept 25, 2012
Format: ARC
Pages: 352
Source: Received from publisher for review.

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.

Light and Darkness. Chaos and Control. Love and Sacrifice. A Fractured Light is a gorgeous story of a world hanging on a balance; and how one girl's decision will change everything.

You know, for someone who claims to be tired of angel stories, I have to say that I have been on a real "angel high" lately. And honestly, I was a little worried about reading A Fractured Light. Don't get me wrong, because I did enjoy A Beautiful Dark. I just found parts of it to be very frustrating. I didn't like not knowing Asher and Devin's true intentions. I wanted to know which guy was good, which one was bad, and I wanted Skye to choose one of them, yesterday. And the ending? Talk about epic cliffhanger. I think I may have screamed when I finished A Beautiful Dark. But I'll admit, I often don't rush to read the next book in a series, but my need to know what happened next had my anticipation level for A Fractured Light set very high. This book torpedoed my expectations. I freaking LOVED IT.

 I loved that Skye grew throughout the story. At the beginning, which picks up very soon after the end of A Beautiful Dark, Skye is very disoriented. Obviously. Never could she have imagined that someone she was so close to could betray her in such a shocking manner. I loved how Skye determines to move on, to fully embrace her power and face down those who want her. And best of all, Skye makes BIG decisions. Decisions that she takes on faith, and is determined to see through. As the pieces of her puzzle, her unique and mysterious background, begin to come together, Skye becomes a much more powerful being to be reckoned with. A girl who will not let her fate be decided for her.

Okay...the love triangle. Devin and Asher drove me crazy in A Beautiful Dark. But they also made me sigh like a love-sick school girl. I was frustrated because I never got a true grip on either one. First Devin seemed like the perfect choice. He was kind, gorgeous, peaceful. But then here comes Asher with that bad boy swagger and a sexy smile. He is the kind of guy who appeals to your wild side, but he's not bad. Devin and Asher made my head spin. They both seemed crazy. Then, both seemed perfect. I think somewhere along there I busted a blood vessel in my brain because I couldn't handle any more! The love triangle is not as prevalent in A Fractured Light, though it's still part of the story. Skye does make a decision between Devin and Asher very quickly, and doesn't flop back and forth, but she learns that the world of the Rebellion and the Order is not black or white, and neither are Asher and Devin.

Jocelyn Davies has such a gift for writing a beautiful story. The story grabbed my heart and pulled me in and I didn't want to be let go. And believe me, I wasn't an easy sell on A Fractured Light. The characters are conflicted, imperfect, but embraceable. They were authentic. The story was constantly evolving. Just when I thought I knew the right path for Skye, a new revelation would come in and suddenly push her in a different direction. I found myself savoring the story, not wanting to reach the end. And when I did come to the end? Whoa. Did not see that coming!

A beautiful, romantic story of choice, sacrifice and love, A Fractured Light is a thrilling journey that will keep you hooked until the stunning end.

Favorite Quote:

"There is such a strong push-pull in me. Between control and chaos; passion and tranquility. Between what's fated and what I want. Part of me longs to take the plunge, to dive off headfirst and let the feeling of control evaporate on the wind. And part of me wants to be in a place where I'd never have to worry about that choice-or any choice. Where peace and calmness are the only things I'd feel." (pg.i, ARC)

"After all of the drama of the past few days, I was grateful for the chance just to walk, side by side, with Asher. To let him hold my hand as if it were all that mattered in the world.
  Because with all that was coming, I knew the feeling wouldn't last." (pg. 37, ARC)

You can purchase A Fractured Light at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

Review of A Beautiful Dark, by Jocelyn Davies



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.

A Beautiful Dark is the first book in a captivating trilogy by debut author Jocelyn Davies.

(From GoodReads)

My Review

From the beautiful, prophetic cover to the prologue, A Beautiful Dark is a promising book.

The book is set in the snowy mountains of Colorado, providing a nice change in climate from a genre predominantly set in sunny, beach spots or the rainy, dreary Northwest.  Every time Skye ventures outside for a break from the drama, the wintry blasts seemed to re-invigorate me, as well.

In addition to the change in scenery, I also liked main character, Skye. She is a girl with a good head on her shoulders. She's smart and responsible, but is not so uptight that she becomes someone that you can not relate to.  She takes the revelations that are furiously thrown in her direction with the incredulity that is to be expected.  And, she doesn't become overly infatuated with the two new guys in her life, Devin and Asher. Skye subjects them to the scrutiny they deserve and is quick to call them out on their games.

I also liked Skye's core group of friends, Cassie, Dan, and Ian. They were funny, kind, and always had her back. They also were just mischievous enough to make them realistic. Their scenes provided a nice contrast to the drama surrounding Skye's love life.

And speaking of love life, I'm not even sure that's the right way to phrase it. Let me start with the two "guys" in question. Skye meets Asher first. Asher is wild, unpredictable, a rule breaker. That appeals to the side of Skye that longs to break free. Devin is calm, peaceful, a loner. He adheres rigidly to the rules, believes in order. He appeals to the part of Skye that longs for peace and logic.

I was never sure which guy was the supposed good guy/bad guy. First I thought Asher was bad, then Devin. Then I thought both, but possibly neither. I thought I knew who I wanted Skye to be with. But I wasn't sure that he was the right one, the good guy. But then I wasn't sure that I cared if he was the good guy, because I liked him. Are you getting a sense of my general confusion? Well played, Davies. Because I felt like I knew where the whole story was going, but she certainly kept me on my toes.

The ending of A Beautiful Dark is filled with tons of revelations and HUGE cliffhanger. But, in a way, I felt unsatisfied. I can't quite explain why. It just felt... lacking. But I plan to read the next book in the series, hoping to get some answers.

Favorite Quote:

" With Asher, I'd begun to feel like conversation was a game, a skill, and I couldn't show my hand. I had to hide my smile, make him work for it. With Devin, things just seemed so easy."

"Devin was more of a dove. Asher was a hawk."

You can find A Beautiful Dark at:

GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: September 27th 2011 by HarperTeen

*I received this book from Harper Teen, in exchange for an honest review.*