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haleyelisereads's review
5.0
Innocent Darkness was such an amazing start to a series! I flew through this book and picked up book two right afterwards.Suzanne wrote an amazing, magical story that I adored from start to finish. This novel had romance, strong characters, awesome friendships and so much more.
Innocent Darkness mainly follows Noli, Noli is not like most girls. She doesn't wish to be married off to a man of high living, and she sure as hell doesn't wish to become a lady. No, Noli wants to fix things up, she wants to build things, she wants to go on adventures and fly on a hover board without HAVING to have a man with her, she wants to go to college and become a botanist. She doesn't want society to tell her that she needs a man, she can take care of herself. Unfortunately though Noli lives in a place where you don't get what you want, and after getting in trouble with the air patrol, this time her mother has had enough and sends Noli to a 'boarding school' which is secretly a horrible reforming school for troubled girls. Noli wants to get away from this school, but when she finally does get away and finds herself in the Otherworld of fae, she may wish she had never left the horrible school..here no one can be trusted. Not the handsome Kevighn, and maybe not even her best friend V (Steven).
Ah where do I even start with this book? I am freakin mad for this book! I am a huge HUGE fan of fae novels, it is hands down my favorite paranormal. It is also a paranormal that isn't done often, so when I come across a new fae book..I get super excited...and then when that fae book turns out to be totally awesome? Well lets just say I am 100% fan girling over this book Innocent Darkness right now. It. was. epic.
Now I must say I can see why some people may be upset about this book. Alot of the negative reviews are people that went into this really wanting an awesome steampunk read. While Innocent Darkness is AWESOME in my opinion, it is lacking in the steampunk area, is it a steampunk novel? Technically yes, but the steampunk mentions are very light. I felt there wasn't alot of detailing on how the world looked or how their different technology devices/vehicles looked, etc. More of Innocent Darkness is spend in the Otherworld which is the fea world, which I personally enjoyed more anyways. So if you are looking for something that is a heavy steampunk read, then you may want to pass on Innocent Darkness. ALTHOUGH I must mention that book 2 does have alot more detailing and more insight on their steampunk world.
The best part to me about Innocent Darkness was the characters. Each character was so interesting and different than the next. I felt myself wanting to know more about all of the characters! I wanted to know more about the Queen, I wanted to know more about Noli, her brother, V, Kevighn, Lotti, James, Noli's mother, V's father, Kevign's sister...EVERY character left me wanting to know more about them! They each have a bit of mystery to their pasts that make you so curious as to the details of what happened. I found myself reaching for book two right away not just because I needed to know what was going to happen next in the storyline, but also because I am dying to know more about these character, and their pasts. To me that 1. shows how awesome these characters are to make me actually care so much about each of them and 2. shows me what an amazing writer Suzanne is to make me feel like I NEED to know more about the characters she has created.
Besides the characters I found myself also loving the worlds that Suzanne has created, the steampunk mortal world, and then the Otherworld where the fae live. I loved the romance, and the slight love triangle. I loved Suzanne's writing and found myself easily flying through the pages..I just really loved this book. I think if you are someone that wants to try steampunk out, then this would be a good start, also if you love fae novels, then this is also something you should try out, or if you're just looking for a new awesome read then this is also for you. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
-I think this is officially my longest review...annd this is after me shortening it TWICE ha!
-Oh and I think this will be making my Top 10 Favorite Reads of 2013 list (:
Check out more reviews, interviews and giveaway over at my blog:
http://www.ya-aholic.com/
Innocent Darkness mainly follows Noli, Noli is not like most girls. She doesn't wish to be married off to a man of high living, and she sure as hell doesn't wish to become a lady. No, Noli wants to fix things up, she wants to build things, she wants to go on adventures and fly on a hover board without HAVING to have a man with her, she wants to go to college and become a botanist. She doesn't want society to tell her that she needs a man, she can take care of herself. Unfortunately though Noli lives in a place where you don't get what you want, and after getting in trouble with the air patrol, this time her mother has had enough and sends Noli to a 'boarding school' which is secretly a horrible reforming school for troubled girls. Noli wants to get away from this school, but when she finally does get away and finds herself in the Otherworld of fae, she may wish she had never left the horrible school..here no one can be trusted. Not the handsome Kevighn, and maybe not even her best friend V (Steven).
Ah where do I even start with this book? I am freakin mad for this book! I am a huge HUGE fan of fae novels, it is hands down my favorite paranormal. It is also a paranormal that isn't done often, so when I come across a new fae book..I get super excited...and then when that fae book turns out to be totally awesome? Well lets just say I am 100% fan girling over this book Innocent Darkness right now. It. was. epic.
Now I must say I can see why some people may be upset about this book. Alot of the negative reviews are people that went into this really wanting an awesome steampunk read. While Innocent Darkness is AWESOME in my opinion, it is lacking in the steampunk area, is it a steampunk novel? Technically yes, but the steampunk mentions are very light. I felt there wasn't alot of detailing on how the world looked or how their different technology devices/vehicles looked, etc. More of Innocent Darkness is spend in the Otherworld which is the fea world, which I personally enjoyed more anyways. So if you are looking for something that is a heavy steampunk read, then you may want to pass on Innocent Darkness. ALTHOUGH I must mention that book 2 does have alot more detailing and more insight on their steampunk world.
The best part to me about Innocent Darkness was the characters. Each character was so interesting and different than the next. I felt myself wanting to know more about all of the characters! I wanted to know more about the Queen, I wanted to know more about Noli, her brother, V, Kevighn, Lotti, James, Noli's mother, V's father, Kevign's sister...EVERY character left me wanting to know more about them! They each have a bit of mystery to their pasts that make you so curious as to the details of what happened. I found myself reaching for book two right away not just because I needed to know what was going to happen next in the storyline, but also because I am dying to know more about these character, and their pasts. To me that 1. shows how awesome these characters are to make me actually care so much about each of them and 2. shows me what an amazing writer Suzanne is to make me feel like I NEED to know more about the characters she has created.
Besides the characters I found myself also loving the worlds that Suzanne has created, the steampunk mortal world, and then the Otherworld where the fae live. I loved the romance, and the slight love triangle. I loved Suzanne's writing and found myself easily flying through the pages..I just really loved this book. I think if you are someone that wants to try steampunk out, then this would be a good start, also if you love fae novels, then this is also something you should try out, or if you're just looking for a new awesome read then this is also for you. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
-I think this is officially my longest review...annd this is after me shortening it TWICE ha!
-Oh and I think this will be making my Top 10 Favorite Reads of 2013 list (:
Check out more reviews, interviews and giveaway over at my blog:
http://www.ya-aholic.com/
bookishvice's review
2.0
Every seven years, the Otherworld requires the sacrifice of a young girl with the Spark, otherwise the fae and their world die. The thing is the Otherworld is connected to the real world in that it's the source of all human creativity. In the real world girls aren't supposed to be too creative, but Noli certainly is. After getting into serious trouble she sent to a reform school where she suffers humiliations and physical punishments—choking, suffocation, whippings…in other words torture—with the goal of turning her into a proper lady. On a midsummer eve Noli finds herself all alone. It's then she makes a wish to be anywhere else but there, and the faery tree grants her wish. All the stories her best friend Steven once told her about faeries suddenly become real.
Magnolia 'Noli' Braddock is a smart, creative, and willful young woman, something not at all acceptable for a lady of her times. I loved her attitude, and her love for mechanics and building stuff. Yet this is somehow lost once she steps into the Otherworld. She's still determined to return home back home to her mother no matter all the fey offer her, but she still is the love-struck fool easily distracted by Kevighn or Steven's attention. I liked her friend Charlotte a lot more than Noli. Even after being abused by her uncle (and no doubt the reform school doc) Charlotte can still see the positive side of things. She loves to flirt, but is not that easily swayed by Kevighn, and she tells Noli to get her feelings in order. You tell her Charlotte!
Steven Darrow, or as Noli calls him V, is a fae prince in exile. Ever since Noli left for school he's had a bad feeling. Something tells him that the High Queen's huntsman has Noli. So off he goes to rescue Noli, and be all princely and fabulous. Yet, he somehow ends up a bit pervy too. Don't get me wrong, I loved Steven and I'm no prude like Noli, but I honestly felt that scene unnecessary. But that's alright, Kevighn Silver still wins the medal for most perv character ever encountered, and he's supposed to be part of this love triangle. He's most disgustingly known as Kevighn Woman-Maker because of all the many girls he has deflowered. He's a perv, a rake, an opium addict, and did I mention a perv? And after all that I'm supposed to believe he loves Noli? Hell no. Even while he's proclaiming his love for her, he's still saying things like "oh it's too bad she has to be the sacrifice, but at least I can make her final days full of joy and pleasure." Ugh. I really didn't get why his point of view appeared in the story at all, other than to disgust and annoy me. If I hear the words "opium and soft women" one more time, I'll blow something up.
I've concentrated this review on the characters because nothing else stood out in the story. I was so excited at the beginning with all the steampunk and aether talk, but then that's the only place where they appear. Steampunk elements were few and not of importance, except for the flying car at the beginning which is the cause of Noli getting sent away. I have to admit I'd never heard of steam-powered flying cars and solar-powered hoverboards, and I wish they'd played a bigger part. But most of the story takes place in the Otherworld where the only steampunk thing is the Queen's dog.
Innocent Darkness started out with such a drive that I was immediately hooked with the story and the characters, yet somewhere along the way (probably when Kevighn appeared) my interest evaporated (probably for the lack of steampunk and the overuse of silly love) and the innocent part blew right out the window (probably when Steven turned pervy too).
*I received this book via Netgalley from the publisher*
Magnolia 'Noli' Braddock is a smart, creative, and willful young woman, something not at all acceptable for a lady of her times. I loved her attitude, and her love for mechanics and building stuff. Yet this is somehow lost once she steps into the Otherworld. She's still determined to return home back home to her mother no matter all the fey offer her, but she still is the love-struck fool easily distracted by Kevighn or Steven's attention. I liked her friend Charlotte a lot more than Noli. Even after being abused by her uncle (and no doubt the reform school doc) Charlotte can still see the positive side of things. She loves to flirt, but is not that easily swayed by Kevighn, and she tells Noli to get her feelings in order. You tell her Charlotte!
Steven Darrow, or as Noli calls him V, is a fae prince in exile. Ever since Noli left for school he's had a bad feeling. Something tells him that the High Queen's huntsman has Noli. So off he goes to rescue Noli, and be all princely and fabulous. Yet, he somehow ends up a bit pervy too. Don't get me wrong, I loved Steven and I'm no prude like Noli, but I honestly felt that scene unnecessary. But that's alright, Kevighn Silver still wins the medal for most perv character ever encountered, and he's supposed to be part of this love triangle. He's most disgustingly known as Kevighn Woman-Maker because of all the many girls he has deflowered. He's a perv, a rake, an opium addict, and did I mention a perv? And after all that I'm supposed to believe he loves Noli? Hell no. Even while he's proclaiming his love for her, he's still saying things like "oh it's too bad she has to be the sacrifice, but at least I can make her final days full of joy and pleasure." Ugh. I really didn't get why his point of view appeared in the story at all, other than to disgust and annoy me. If I hear the words "opium and soft women" one more time, I'll blow something up.
I've concentrated this review on the characters because nothing else stood out in the story. I was so excited at the beginning with all the steampunk and aether talk, but then that's the only place where they appear. Steampunk elements were few and not of importance, except for the flying car at the beginning which is the cause of Noli getting sent away. I have to admit I'd never heard of steam-powered flying cars and solar-powered hoverboards, and I wish they'd played a bigger part. But most of the story takes place in the Otherworld where the only steampunk thing is the Queen's dog.
Innocent Darkness started out with such a drive that I was immediately hooked with the story and the characters, yet somewhere along the way (probably when Kevighn appeared) my interest evaporated (probably for the lack of steampunk and the overuse of silly love) and the innocent part blew right out the window (probably when Steven turned pervy too).
*I received this book via Netgalley from the publisher*
heather4994's review
5.0
I have to say that this book was nothing like I expected it to be, but that wasn't a bad thing. I think the cover is a bit misleading for those looking for a real steampunk novel as this one is what I'd call "light steampunk." That's fine for me, I don't think I can get past the intricacies of the machines and just a brief introduction into the steam engines and zeppelins is just fine for me. But if you're expecting hardcore steampunk, this is not the novel for you.
Why would I recommend this novel? It's utterly it's own fantasy world. It takes the otherworld and turns it on it's ear. Suzanne Lazear only kept a very few things that I've read about faeries in her story. It might as well be a totally different world, and it is really. The courts are air, fire, water and earth joined to a central court but there is still a darke court. You still can't trust a faery. EVER! They need BLOOD SACRIFICES! That's the first time I've read that. And let me tell you, even the nice guys, they admit, they need it. She built an incredibly fascinating otherworld. But first, she built an incredibly fascinating alternate Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Noli, short for Magnolia is a very strong character. Most of the story is told from her point of view, but not all. She has amazing resilience. She tinkers with a flying car until she finally gets it running only to crash it minutes later and gets hauled into the police station for driving without a license. In this world, early 1900's Los Angeles, women have no rights. Can't drive, vote, but Noli wants to go to University to be a botanist. Socialite women, like they used to be before Noli's father disappeared in the San Francisco earthquakes, never even held jobs. But now, Noli's mother has a dress shop. Noli tends the house and the gardens and tries to keep up the outside of the house. But the machines call to her. When she's sent to reform school for girls, she bears their punishments which are very cruel and unusual, until a particularly brutal night. When she finds herself in the Otherworld, she's very smart about it. She is not a character you'll throw your hands up in frustration about. She is extremely sensible.
Steven, V., for short is the boy next door, literally. He is a contradiction if there ever was one. He always is cautious with Noli, telling her to behave, remember she can't get in trouble, be careful etc. And unlike Noli's mother who believes Noli is at a nice school for boisterous girls, he knows she's at a terrible school. He worries about her constantly, but he's hiding a huge secret. One that is revealed and when it is....well let's say the steam in this novel doesn't just come from the engines!
I loved that some of the chapters were from some of the POV of some of the men in the book. There was some small amount of predictability, but that may change. I certainly didn't see the ending happening. My only complaint is that I'll have to wait so long for the next book in the series! There was no big cliff hanger ending, so thanks to Suzanne Lazear for that! This one is definitely one that I'll be eagerly awaiting the sequel to and any little novellas if any come out!
Recommended for older YA readers due to mature themes.
Thanks to Flux Publishers and NetGalley for the E-ARC for review. I was not compensated for my review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Why would I recommend this novel? It's utterly it's own fantasy world. It takes the otherworld and turns it on it's ear. Suzanne Lazear only kept a very few things that I've read about faeries in her story. It might as well be a totally different world, and it is really. The courts are air, fire, water and earth joined to a central court but there is still a darke court. You still can't trust a faery. EVER! They need BLOOD SACRIFICES! That's the first time I've read that. And let me tell you, even the nice guys, they admit, they need it. She built an incredibly fascinating otherworld. But first, she built an incredibly fascinating alternate Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Noli, short for Magnolia is a very strong character. Most of the story is told from her point of view, but not all. She has amazing resilience. She tinkers with a flying car until she finally gets it running only to crash it minutes later and gets hauled into the police station for driving without a license. In this world, early 1900's Los Angeles, women have no rights. Can't drive, vote, but Noli wants to go to University to be a botanist. Socialite women, like they used to be before Noli's father disappeared in the San Francisco earthquakes, never even held jobs. But now, Noli's mother has a dress shop. Noli tends the house and the gardens and tries to keep up the outside of the house. But the machines call to her. When she's sent to reform school for girls, she bears their punishments which are very cruel and unusual, until a particularly brutal night. When she finds herself in the Otherworld, she's very smart about it. She is not a character you'll throw your hands up in frustration about. She is extremely sensible.
Steven, V., for short is the boy next door, literally. He is a contradiction if there ever was one. He always is cautious with Noli, telling her to behave, remember she can't get in trouble, be careful etc. And unlike Noli's mother who believes Noli is at a nice school for boisterous girls, he knows she's at a terrible school. He worries about her constantly, but he's hiding a huge secret. One that is revealed and when it is....well let's say the steam in this novel doesn't just come from the engines!
I loved that some of the chapters were from some of the POV of some of the men in the book. There was some small amount of predictability, but that may change. I certainly didn't see the ending happening. My only complaint is that I'll have to wait so long for the next book in the series! There was no big cliff hanger ending, so thanks to Suzanne Lazear for that! This one is definitely one that I'll be eagerly awaiting the sequel to and any little novellas if any come out!
Recommended for older YA readers due to mature themes.
Thanks to Flux Publishers and NetGalley for the E-ARC for review. I was not compensated for my review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
americangirlemmie's review
4.0
This book has gotten me into such a steampunk mood! Anyways...
I truly did adore this book. It had an overall fantastic plot, and I felt a connection with all the characters (*coughespeciallyVcough*). I am now very interested in the combination of fairies, and steampunk. There were one or two passages that originally I remember thinking they were unnecessary, but I honestly can't recall what they were, which can prove to you have insignificant they were. I enjoyed how relatable Noli was. She was a pretty normal girl, nothing abnormally special about her, which I always enjoy. I was absolutely in love with Noli's world, and still am even after I completed the first segment of her adventure.
I am avidly awaiting the next chapter in Suzanne Lazear's series.
I give Innocent Darkness 4 out of 5 stars.
Maddie
I truly did adore this book. It had an overall fantastic plot, and I felt a connection with all the characters (*coughespeciallyVcough*). I am now very interested in the combination of fairies, and steampunk. There were one or two passages that originally I remember thinking they were unnecessary, but I honestly can't recall what they were, which can prove to you have insignificant they were. I enjoyed how relatable Noli was. She was a pretty normal girl, nothing abnormally special about her, which I always enjoy. I was absolutely in love with Noli's world, and still am even after I completed the first segment of her adventure.
I am avidly awaiting the next chapter in Suzanne Lazear's series.
I give Innocent Darkness 4 out of 5 stars.
Maddie
emilyrbedwell's review
4.0
First Impressions: Don’t judge me, but I am totally guilty of judging books by their covers. I first saw the cover of Innocent Darkness months and months ago. I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of the book. And, from the start, it didn’t disappoint. Innocent Darkness is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside, even if I don’t think the cover is an accurate representation of how I saw Noli in my head!
First 50 Pages: It only takes a couple pages to realize that there is magic in this world, held in balance only by mortal girls who have enough of what the Otherworlders call, “The Spark.” With that spark, they are able to bring balance to the magical world and keep the magic alive in the earthly world. That sacrifice is the central crux of the story. In chapter one, when you first meet Noli and V, you know there is something special about them. Noli is nothing like the women of her time; instead of learning to be proper, she’s up to her elbows in goo, trying to get a flying car going again. She is, fiery, ambitious and an obvious light in the world. But, trouble follows her, and Noli is soon sent away to a boarding school to learn to become a proper lady.
Characters & Plot: I expected there to be a lot more Steampunk in this book, that’s for sure. The setting starts out including those elements, but the story definitely blends quickly into fantasy. Noli is sent away to a boarding school that is violent and cruel. The head mistress and doctor are characters that are evil to their core, taking pride in breaking the spirits of girls with more passion than their counterparts. Noli doesn’t know there is magic in the world, but she knows she can’t stay at the school a moment longer. The stars literally align as Noli wishes herself away from her confinement.
The main characters are all well-fleshed out and believable. I found Noli to be the best of teen girls everywhere; ambitious, bright, willing to fall in love, cautious and caring all at the same time. V is the boy she left behind. But, he’s also a central figure to the rest of the story and maybe the only person that can save Noli from becoming the sacrifice to save the Otherworld. The other man in Noli’s life is Kevighn, the queen’s hunter. He goes to the mortal world to find the sacrifice, but he doesn’t expect Noli to affect him as much as she does. Each additional character brings a little bit more of the story into focus and adds another layer of mystery and promise to the tale.
Final Thoughts: Innocent Darkness is a complex, rich story. It’s hard to write about here without giving away key plot points. While there is nothing overly surprising in the pages, it is so well written that I don’t want to take away anyone’s enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend this book. It’s different than pretty much anything I have read in a long time, and the characters even managed to follow me into my dreams last night.
First 50 Pages: It only takes a couple pages to realize that there is magic in this world, held in balance only by mortal girls who have enough of what the Otherworlders call, “The Spark.” With that spark, they are able to bring balance to the magical world and keep the magic alive in the earthly world. That sacrifice is the central crux of the story. In chapter one, when you first meet Noli and V, you know there is something special about them. Noli is nothing like the women of her time; instead of learning to be proper, she’s up to her elbows in goo, trying to get a flying car going again. She is, fiery, ambitious and an obvious light in the world. But, trouble follows her, and Noli is soon sent away to a boarding school to learn to become a proper lady.
Characters & Plot: I expected there to be a lot more Steampunk in this book, that’s for sure. The setting starts out including those elements, but the story definitely blends quickly into fantasy. Noli is sent away to a boarding school that is violent and cruel. The head mistress and doctor are characters that are evil to their core, taking pride in breaking the spirits of girls with more passion than their counterparts. Noli doesn’t know there is magic in the world, but she knows she can’t stay at the school a moment longer. The stars literally align as Noli wishes herself away from her confinement.
The main characters are all well-fleshed out and believable. I found Noli to be the best of teen girls everywhere; ambitious, bright, willing to fall in love, cautious and caring all at the same time. V is the boy she left behind. But, he’s also a central figure to the rest of the story and maybe the only person that can save Noli from becoming the sacrifice to save the Otherworld. The other man in Noli’s life is Kevighn, the queen’s hunter. He goes to the mortal world to find the sacrifice, but he doesn’t expect Noli to affect him as much as she does. Each additional character brings a little bit more of the story into focus and adds another layer of mystery and promise to the tale.
Final Thoughts: Innocent Darkness is a complex, rich story. It’s hard to write about here without giving away key plot points. While there is nothing overly surprising in the pages, it is so well written that I don’t want to take away anyone’s enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend this book. It’s different than pretty much anything I have read in a long time, and the characters even managed to follow me into my dreams last night.
bhauser's review
3.0
This book was not at all what I expected. Based on the cover art, I really thought this was going to be totally steam punk. As it turns out, it is totally fairies with a splash of steam punk thrown in. That aside, I couldn't seem to put it down and I'm not really sure why. I really liked the story, but was disappointed by the character development. The main character, Noli, seemed so promising at first. A free spirited, mechanically inclined girl can get into all sorts of trouble, and she does. But she lacks the confidence of a true independent spirit and spends much of her time worried about what others may think of her which makes her character somewhat unbelievable. Of course, there is romance and being the first in a series, there is the hint of a future love triangle. The ending did leave me looking forward to the next book, and I will probably read it. Perhaps the characters will become a little less flat in the next book.
emslovestoread's review
4.0
Definitely more sexytimes than I'd anticipated for a YA, but I'm not opposed. :P
jaymeshaw's review
4.0
This was a cute combo of fantasy and steampunk. Really enjoyed the storyline, and now I have to read the second one because it ended on a cliffhanger. The character of Noli does annoy me a little bit when she's torn between Steven and Kevighn, but I think she makes the right choice so I won't hate her forever. :)
cindiorr's review
5.0
I have never read steam punk before but was intrigued by the plot of this book. What I found most enjoyable and different from other young adult novels I have read was the protagonist Noli. Although she defies what image is expected of her, she does it with an innocent and naive enthusiasm, rather than an angry rebellion. It was that combination of a willful spirit and innocence that made me love Noli. As the plot progresses to find Noli in what can only be described as a POW camp for rebellious young ladies, her character grows and faces difficult decisions. I enjoyed the character development and plot twists and was entertained to the last page. I highly recommend this book and series.