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divapitbull's review against another edition
4.0
Into The Darkness took me by surprise and was an entirely unexpected treat. At first I wasn’t too sure about Sasha our heroine – I thought she was a little too “wise-cracky”, and I mistook her seemingly cavalier attitude for stupidity. Then there was the whole low-rent, Black Dagger Brotherhood parody/knock-off vibe. And when it became clear that our band of merry heroes paid more attention to their dicks than a group of horny teenage boys – whipping them out right in front of God and everybody, at the slightest provocation – I was having serious doubts. Then something happened in the midst of my eye rolling and internal declarations of complete and utter ridiculousness. I laughed. Out loud. My next thought was “this shit is funny." My next thought was accompanied by a lightbulb and went something like “not because it’s so bad it’s funny, it’s SUPPOSED to be funny”! And from that point on I was hooked.
The plot revolves around Sasha, who ever since she was a child, saw mysterious “shadow men” that no one else saw and who has an amazingly spot on sense of intuition. She learned to keep all this intel in her “secret box”; meaning she was smart enough not to give people enough ammunition to label her a whack-job. When the story opens, Sasha is in college and her “secret world” finally collides into the real one – at her sweet boyfriend Jared’s expense.
It seems the band of merry heroes (i.e vampire-like, bigger, better, stronger muscle-bound, non-humans) will take their pleasure wherever they can get it and they get it by throwing off pheromones to sex-up the poor, stupid humans and then wipe their minds of the memories. This is where all the non-con, dub-con sex comes in; and it was not as rapey as I was anticipating from other reviews – and it wasn’t particularly graphic either. I was really expecting “Squeal like a pig” - Deliverance-style; but the tone was absurd not horrifying. The whole atmosphere in general was campy black comedy.
There’s romance from Sasha’s love interest – Stefan – aka “The Boss” – leader of the merry band of horndogs (and what? Horn-bitches? Because the “vampire-like but not-vampires” species has females too – and they're just as randy). But there’s also conflict because even though Sasha has the magic, she’s also human – so…the leader of the pack can’t take up with a glorified toy poodle…or can he?
There’s action and adventure as Sasha unleashes her inner magic to fight monsters from both without and within. Within being the sadistic Jonas who tries to make poor Jared the center of an S&M oriented gang bang. Saving him proves to be a very frustrating endeavor: “Seriously, can everyone stop stroking their penises? It is rude, strange, and distracting all at the same time! Social etiquette people,” I shouted, staring at Jonas.
And when Jonas seems to be getting the upper hand in their magical altercation/WWE throw down: “Can someone stop stroking their damn penis and help me out?” I yelled. “What the hell is wrong with you people? Ever heard of a do-gooder?”
And then there’s the comedic relief of Charles, the newest and youngest member of the merry band of horndogs – who actually has an excuse for having the emotional maturity and self-control of a hormonal teenager because despite being chronologically 30 something; in human years it translates into 16. The Boss assigns Charles to watch over Sasha when he realizes that she has the magic, he can’t stop thinking about her, and apparently neither can his enemies. And lucky Sasha gets to wake up to the sights & sounds of:
“Are you *masturbating*?”
Charles shook his head with a dramatic eye blink, ending with wide, disbelief filled eyes. “I’m certainly not trying to rip my cock off. What else would I be doing with it?”
He also knits, and is really quite endearing in a clueless, completely lacking in all social graces kid brother sort of way. He and Sasha have a fun brother/sister banter/vibe going; despite that he constantly tries to get in her pants.
In summary – definitely not for everyone – but for those who can see the humor; it’s a light, easy, absurdly ridiculous and funny story. I’m hooked!
The plot revolves around Sasha, who ever since she was a child, saw mysterious “shadow men” that no one else saw and who has an amazingly spot on sense of intuition. She learned to keep all this intel in her “secret box”; meaning she was smart enough not to give people enough ammunition to label her a whack-job. When the story opens, Sasha is in college and her “secret world” finally collides into the real one – at her sweet boyfriend Jared’s expense.
It seems the band of merry heroes (i.e vampire-like, bigger, better, stronger muscle-bound, non-humans) will take their pleasure wherever they can get it and they get it by throwing off pheromones to sex-up the poor, stupid humans and then wipe their minds of the memories. This is where all the non-con, dub-con sex comes in; and it was not as rapey as I was anticipating from other reviews – and it wasn’t particularly graphic either. I was really expecting “Squeal like a pig” - Deliverance-style; but the tone was absurd not horrifying. The whole atmosphere in general was campy black comedy.
There’s romance from Sasha’s love interest – Stefan – aka “The Boss” – leader of the merry band of horndogs (and what? Horn-bitches? Because the “vampire-like but not-vampires” species has females too – and they're just as randy). But there’s also conflict because even though Sasha has the magic, she’s also human – so…the leader of the pack can’t take up with a glorified toy poodle…or can he?
There’s action and adventure as Sasha unleashes her inner magic to fight monsters from both without and within. Within being the sadistic Jonas who tries to make poor Jared the center of an S&M oriented gang bang. Saving him proves to be a very frustrating endeavor: “Seriously, can everyone stop stroking their penises? It is rude, strange, and distracting all at the same time! Social etiquette people,” I shouted, staring at Jonas.
And when Jonas seems to be getting the upper hand in their magical altercation/WWE throw down: “Can someone stop stroking their damn penis and help me out?” I yelled. “What the hell is wrong with you people? Ever heard of a do-gooder?”
And then there’s the comedic relief of Charles, the newest and youngest member of the merry band of horndogs – who actually has an excuse for having the emotional maturity and self-control of a hormonal teenager because despite being chronologically 30 something; in human years it translates into 16. The Boss assigns Charles to watch over Sasha when he realizes that she has the magic, he can’t stop thinking about her, and apparently neither can his enemies. And lucky Sasha gets to wake up to the sights & sounds of:
“Are you *masturbating*?”
Charles shook his head with a dramatic eye blink, ending with wide, disbelief filled eyes. “I’m certainly not trying to rip my cock off. What else would I be doing with it?”
He also knits, and is really quite endearing in a clueless, completely lacking in all social graces kid brother sort of way. He and Sasha have a fun brother/sister banter/vibe going; despite that he constantly tries to get in her pants.
In summary – definitely not for everyone – but for those who can see the humor; it’s a light, easy, absurdly ridiculous and funny story. I’m hooked!
cm636's review against another edition
4.0
Not your average vampire story. I'm very intrigued. I'd like to find out where this story is going.. it's quite promising!
ennitsud's review against another edition
4.0
all i can ask right now is HOW THE HELL DID SASHA LEARN STEFAN'S NAME
gypsydawn's review against another edition
4.0
Good, but short
This is an older book for me that I found on my kindle - one I apparently never finished? Well, fortunately I started it over and I’ve fallen in love with Sasha. She’s pretty awesome, if a bit lost. Only issue? This book is very short, and really ends at 86% as the rest a preview of the next book.
This is an older book for me that I found on my kindle - one I apparently never finished? Well, fortunately I started it over and I’ve fallen in love with Sasha. She’s pretty awesome, if a bit lost. Only issue? This book is very short, and really ends at 86% as the rest a preview of the next book.
laura_devouring_books_crumpets's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
This is a book i have been itching to read....... Maybe as i was expecting alot better i was so disappointed.....
There wasn't really any real story more of an introduction to characters, this book would have been better as a .5 novel as not to expect too much, the book itself was all over the place, i couldn't picture anything, One min someone is throwing up the next someone was smashing through walls ..... I think, sometimes i had to reread pages in order to figure out what was going on.
the Characters also not that great.....
The Boss (I forgotten his real name.)
This dude just walks around half dressed being moody and rude for no apparent reason.....
Sasha
I Don't really know what her deal is, we don't get much of her history in this book, just that she can resist pheromones and has magic, other than that she seems to have as much self preservation as an ice cream in August.
The boyfriend.....
The biggest wimp ever... He's about as exiting as my toothbrush... why anyone would spend years with him is beyond me, let alone days.
There are a few more but i forgotten their names and what they actually did.
The smut was good and the concept was getting a little better as the book wore on.....
This is a book i have been itching to read....... Maybe as i was expecting alot better i was so disappointed.....
There wasn't really any real story more of an introduction to characters, this book would have been better as a .5 novel as not to expect too much, the book itself was all over the place, i couldn't picture anything, One min someone is throwing up the next someone was smashing through walls ..... I think, sometimes i had to reread pages in order to figure out what was going on.
the Characters also not that great.....
The Boss (I forgotten his real name.)
This dude just walks around half dressed being moody and rude for no apparent reason.....
Sasha
I Don't really know what her deal is, we don't get much of her history in this book, just that she can resist pheromones and has magic, other than that she seems to have as much self preservation as an ice cream in August.
The boyfriend.....
The biggest wimp ever... He's about as exiting as my toothbrush... why anyone would spend years with him is beyond me, let alone days.
There are a few more but i forgotten their names and what they actually did.
The smut was good and the concept was getting a little better as the book wore on.....
pkington's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
kate_and_books's review against another edition
4.0
Great book, way different then your usual vampire stuff. Funny but also extremely weird but really worth it.
sylwniw's review against another edition
4.0
Didn't mind the series. There were a few things that some people would feel uncomfortable reading. But overall not too bad. The books are very short and can finish them in a day but they were enjoyable.
angels_gp17's review against another edition
3.0
~ 2.5 Into the Darkness Stars ~
This book was free on Amazon. It has several high rating reviews and many of my favorite themes: vampires, magic, sexy alpha hero and heroine with tragic past that has learned to deal, plus the cover screamed at me.
This book should have come with a warning label of some kind more then just 18+.
As for Into the Darkness it was an ok read! I had trouble getting into this book at the start, but it picked up with some very good action fighting scenes. It has a dark theme going on that I did not realize until I started reading. The theme may offend some readers. There are some questionable non-consent moments as I stated above. The relationship the heroine has with her boyfriend never felt like a real relationship more along the lines of friends with benefits. It was good they broke up at the end, but it should have happened much sooner in my opinion. I liked Sasha’s character and the mystery behind her powers and ability to see the supernaturals. The writing was good. Bye the end it felt like a lot was left in mystery and much left hanging. There is a book two in the series which might rap things up.
This book was free on Amazon. It has several high rating reviews and many of my favorite themes: vampires, magic, sexy alpha hero and heroine with tragic past that has learned to deal, plus the cover screamed at me.
This book should have come with a warning label of some kind more then just 18+.
Spoiler
The book contains events that lead up to rape of the heroine and her straight boyfriend even the roommate did not escape this. They are forced to like it bye some type of pheromone that human/vampire gives off and once it is done their minds are wiped of the incident. All of this is done with the knowledge of the hero by his men and women. They have no remorse or guilt over doing these things to humans.As for Into the Darkness it was an ok read! I had trouble getting into this book at the start, but it picked up with some very good action fighting scenes. It has a dark theme going on that I did not realize until I started reading. The theme may offend some readers. There are some questionable non-consent moments as I stated above. The relationship the heroine has with her boyfriend never felt like a real relationship more along the lines of friends with benefits. It was good they broke up at the end, but it should have happened much sooner in my opinion. I liked Sasha’s character and the mystery behind her powers and ability to see the supernaturals. The writing was good. Bye the end it felt like a lot was left in mystery and much left hanging. There is a book two in the series which might rap things up.
smileodee's review against another edition
1.0
This book was painful and i love kf beeen. Second time trying to read it and it was just crap.