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aproclivity's review
1.0
What in the fuck is this book? No seriously? I wanted to like it. I did. But it ends with the female protag being cursed to being a valley girl. Seriously. Save the time and don't read this shit.
sungmemoonstruck's review
2.0
Noli Braddock is a gardening, auto-repairing rebel who gets sent to reform school after an incident with a flying auto. Then she makes an ill-advised wish and finds herself in the Faerie realm, where a sacrifice is needed every seven years to keep the world alive. The initial idea for this book is quite inspired, and the world Lazear creates, while not fully developed, has interesting potential for expansion. However, this book took a strident and disturbing attitude towards femininity. Noli was portrayed as special and intelligent because she didn't care about her appearance and any girl who was traditionally feminine was naturally insipid and boring. It was a major case of "exceptional girl" writing. In spite of Noli's specialness, though, she often needed to be rescued by the men around her and didn't achieve very much in the course of the book. At least the book was engaging, full of interesting plot developments, and in the end earned two stars.
folklaureate's review
2.0
More reviews at Rondo of a Possible World: YA Book Reviews
I was really excited to read this book because that cover is just so stunning, so steampunk, that I just wanted to snuggle with it and whisper sweet, beautiful nothings to it. Okay, I'm not that weird. But this cover is a trap! GASP. Hold the phone, spit out what you were drinking, cower behind a big stranger,run away like it's the plague. For a book that mesmerizes the reader with a cover that looks like heavy steampunk, Innocent Darkness is severely lacking in the department, all except for the beginning where hover cars, air pirates, and air police are mentioned and used more like a gateway to get the ball rolling for the story.
If only I really knew where that ball would be rolling to, because Innocent Darkness was really all over the place when it comes to genres. Steampunk? Victorian Gothic? Paranormal? Faries? Romance? How about a mix of everything and anything in-between, because, really, for the life of me, I could not put my finger on this wheel of genres.
The book is set in a an alternate reality around 1901, but it really didn't feel like that time period. Yes, it's a alternate reality, but that doesn't justify that the author failed to do thorough research about the time period that she was going to place her world in. Failure in the dialogue, the style of clothing, the lively hood of the characters. It was lacking. And with that, I couldn't connect myself to the world Ms. Laezar was trying to make.
Character wise, Mongolia (Noli) Braddock is like most young adult heroines nowadays. She's special, harboring the Spark, a rare and powerful energy. And that power, of course, is what will put her in danger, that power will be used to help save the end of the Faery world. All by sacrifice of course. Now the part is different from many published novels, something that really caught my eye. Something unique. But, unfortunately, Noli, I just couldn't handle her or the love triangle filler that made me want to toss my kindle to the wall. The urge to be with the very guy, The Otherworld Queen's Huntsman, who is trying to kill you and the urge to be with your best childhood friend whose secrets really could be predicted because this book really wasn't all that unpredictable. I just knew what would happen with the romance, who they were going to be, from the prologue and the first chapter of the book, and I really didn't like it, neither of the love interest or the love triangle. Or Noli for that matter. They're all bland characters.If I could say who I liked the most, it would be Stephen, "V", her childhood friend. I'm usually a sucker for the old friend. Secrets and all.
I'm really saddened by this book, because I expected it to be much more than what I got. Neither was it fresh or engaging, Innocent Darkness was just a mess when it came down to: What kinda book am I? You don't want to have your reader wonder what kind of book your are, finding a genre and then having it change on you through mostly the whole book. You lose readers.
Innocent Darkness had such a enticing premise, even the first few chapters were enough to make me want to read more, to know what was going on, and why what happened in the prologue happened. But the way each aspect of the book was executed--dialogue, character development, plot, setting--they were all underdeveloped and everything but what it should have had: clear focus, concise details, and just captivating the reader.
Final Summation:Innocent Darkness had potential, it had something great, but there was too much confusion and mismatching genres that I couldn't take it. Character development was underdeveloped and unbelievable. Setting was under-researched. The beginning was the strongest part of the whole novel. I felt the characters and started seeing who they were, only until Noli was sent to her reform school by her loving mother, another unbelievable aspect in development. If the book focused in on maybe one or two key factors rather than trying to stuff every bit and piece it could find into the story, it would have been a much more satisfying read.
I was really excited to read this book because that cover is just so stunning, so steampunk, that I just wanted to snuggle with it and whisper sweet, beautiful nothings to it. Okay, I'm not that weird. But this cover is a trap! GASP. Hold the phone, spit out what you were drinking, cower behind a big stranger,run away like it's the plague. For a book that mesmerizes the reader with a cover that looks like heavy steampunk, Innocent Darkness is severely lacking in the department, all except for the beginning where hover cars, air pirates, and air police are mentioned and used more like a gateway to get the ball rolling for the story.
If only I really knew where that ball would be rolling to, because Innocent Darkness was really all over the place when it comes to genres. Steampunk? Victorian Gothic? Paranormal? Faries? Romance? How about a mix of everything and anything in-between, because, really, for the life of me, I could not put my finger on this wheel of genres.
The book is set in a an alternate reality around 1901, but it really didn't feel like that time period. Yes, it's a alternate reality, but that doesn't justify that the author failed to do thorough research about the time period that she was going to place her world in. Failure in the dialogue, the style of clothing, the lively hood of the characters. It was lacking. And with that, I couldn't connect myself to the world Ms. Laezar was trying to make.
Character wise, Mongolia (Noli) Braddock is like most young adult heroines nowadays. She's special, harboring the Spark, a rare and powerful energy. And that power, of course, is what will put her in danger, that power will be used to help save the end of the Faery world. All by sacrifice of course. Now the part is different from many published novels, something that really caught my eye. Something unique. But, unfortunately, Noli, I just couldn't handle her or the love triangle filler that made me want to toss my kindle to the wall. The urge to be with the very guy, The Otherworld Queen's Huntsman, who is trying to kill you and the urge to be with your best childhood friend whose secrets really could be predicted because this book really wasn't all that unpredictable. I just knew what would happen with the romance, who they were going to be, from the prologue and the first chapter of the book, and I really didn't like it, neither of the love interest or the love triangle. Or Noli for that matter. They're all bland characters.If I could say who I liked the most, it would be Stephen, "V", her childhood friend. I'm usually a sucker for the old friend. Secrets and all.
I'm really saddened by this book, because I expected it to be much more than what I got. Neither was it fresh or engaging, Innocent Darkness was just a mess when it came down to: What kinda book am I? You don't want to have your reader wonder what kind of book your are, finding a genre and then having it change on you through mostly the whole book. You lose readers.
Innocent Darkness had such a enticing premise, even the first few chapters were enough to make me want to read more, to know what was going on, and why what happened in the prologue happened. But the way each aspect of the book was executed--dialogue, character development, plot, setting--they were all underdeveloped and everything but what it should have had: clear focus, concise details, and just captivating the reader.
Final Summation:Innocent Darkness had potential, it had something great, but there was too much confusion and mismatching genres that I couldn't take it. Character development was underdeveloped and unbelievable. Setting was under-researched. The beginning was the strongest part of the whole novel. I felt the characters and started seeing who they were, only until Noli was sent to her reform school by her loving mother, another unbelievable aspect in development. If the book focused in on maybe one or two key factors rather than trying to stuff every bit and piece it could find into the story, it would have been a much more satisfying read.
katrinamarie's review
4.0
When I saw the cover I was like “Score, airships!” Then I read the blurb, and was like whaaaaa and the Fae! So of course I had to read it.
Noli’s character is great! She’s not your typical girl, especially during the Victorian era. She’s rather work on things, and go play around on a hover board, than fuss over sewing or anything societal ladies do. She’s very intelligent, and doesn’t let anyone get her down. She does seem to have some confusion when it comes to boys. She’s never had much experience around them, and freaks out with the feelings she’s beginning to get. I also love Charlotte. She’s had a tough life, but doesn’t let her affect her. Even when things seem to be dire, she stays positive. I think my favorite line from Charlotte is “I choose to be happy.” If only more people thought like her. Now on to our handsome young men. Steven, or V, is a sweetheart. He means well, and truly cares for Noli. I’m not a fan of him keeping secrets, but he did what he thought was best. Then there’s Kevighn… He’s your typical bad boy. He’s got ulterior motives, but he just puts off the sexy. And you know how I tend to fall for the bad ones. :P
The story line progresses pretty quickly. Noli’s time at Findlay House was the absolute hardest to get through. Not because it was slow, but from what she endure while there. Reading about that place gave me nightmares. I just have to say that I’m glad I didn’t live during that time period. There are so many aspects to the Otherworld. You never really know what to expect. Some fairytales we know are true, but somethings aren’t. Noli has to figure out how to get home, and save an entire civilization.
Great for those that like steampunk, or fairytales with a twist.
Noli’s character is great! She’s not your typical girl, especially during the Victorian era. She’s rather work on things, and go play around on a hover board, than fuss over sewing or anything societal ladies do. She’s very intelligent, and doesn’t let anyone get her down. She does seem to have some confusion when it comes to boys. She’s never had much experience around them, and freaks out with the feelings she’s beginning to get. I also love Charlotte. She’s had a tough life, but doesn’t let her affect her. Even when things seem to be dire, she stays positive. I think my favorite line from Charlotte is “I choose to be happy.” If only more people thought like her. Now on to our handsome young men. Steven, or V, is a sweetheart. He means well, and truly cares for Noli. I’m not a fan of him keeping secrets, but he did what he thought was best. Then there’s Kevighn… He’s your typical bad boy. He’s got ulterior motives, but he just puts off the sexy. And you know how I tend to fall for the bad ones. :P
The story line progresses pretty quickly. Noli’s time at Findlay House was the absolute hardest to get through. Not because it was slow, but from what she endure while there. Reading about that place gave me nightmares. I just have to say that I’m glad I didn’t live during that time period. There are so many aspects to the Otherworld. You never really know what to expect. Some fairytales we know are true, but somethings aren’t. Noli has to figure out how to get home, and save an entire civilization.
Great for those that like steampunk, or fairytales with a twist.
bluehairedlibrarian's review
4.0
I would probably really rate this book a 3.5, but mostly because it's nothing as advertised. If you're looking for actual steampunk, look elsewhere. If you want a faerie story with a lot of romance elements on the more mature side of YA fiction, then you'll probably enjoy this. My only real problem with the story is that it didn't really have an ending with a pretty significant plot even happening pages before the end with no resolution.
lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
Loved reading this book again, I love this world and these characters, and I can't wait to read more!
*First Read August 16th, 2012*
Fantastic book, just loved it, and there was a temporary solution to things, and I just can't wait for the next book!
*First Read August 16th, 2012*
Fantastic book, just loved it, and there was a temporary solution to things, and I just can't wait for the next book!
chantaal's review
2.0
Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.
Received from NetGalley, this has no outcome on this review.
This cover looks SO COOL and makes up for the summary, which is a bit wanting. Noli Braddock is a girl with a mind of her own, and in an era of proper ladies, corsets, arranged marriages and the occasional steampunky transport, this means she’s viewed as wrong and sent to a reform school. It’s a horrible place, where an attempt is made to beat the individuality out of Noli until she’s a “proper” lady. But on mid-summer’s eve, she unknowingly makes a wish in just the right place at the just the right time, and ends up in the Otherworld, also known as the land of the fae. She’s a girl gifted with something called the Spark, and her sacrifice would keep the fae magic from collapsing in chaos and killing the entire fae civilization.
It all seems like such a cool idea, and I have to give Suzanne Lazear credit for it, but the entire thing simply falls flat in the execution.
For one, there’s barely much of a steampunk side to this novel. Noli is interested in building things, sure, and when we first meet her she illegally rides a hovercar she built out of scrap, but that’s about it when it comes to steampunk. It’s this joyride that’s the last straw on the proverbial camel’s back for the law and for her mother, who sends Noli to a reform school. This is where the novel nearly lost me entirely. I’m fine with a story doing things to move a character down a certain path, but…was all the abuse really necessary? It’s probably a personal thing, but I nearly put the book down because of it.
Second, there’s a love triangle. Yep. Mood killer. There’s Kevighn, who is the fae in charge of finding girls with the Spark for the sacrifice, and there’s Steven, who has been Noli’s best friend since they were children. The way Noli handles things here is smart, I do have to give her credit for that, but there’s so much see-sawing and waffling on what’s improper, etc etc etc.
Third — and I know this is silly but it really annoyed me — I got so sick of seeing the words “hoyden” (meaning delinquent) and “dollymop” (meaning loose woman) while I was reading. It’s like Lazear found the words out of some dictionary for the time period, and liked them so much that she used them over and over and OVER. They also seemed to be the only true period words out of the entire novel. I’m definitely not an expert in language, but nothing about the language screamed historical; everyone seemed to be speaking and thinking in a much more modern way than I’ve read in other steampunk and historical fiction novels. The only things that seemed to be right were dollymop, hoyden, and Noli being scandalized about wearing a sleeveless dress during the daytime or corsets on the outside of a dress. (You lie, book cover. You lie!)
Fourth, the ending was so rushed and seemed as though it was tacked on because the book needed closure in one or two aspects so that the rest of it could stay wide open for the second in the series. It was too neat, too simple, and the cliffhanger wasn’t much of a cliffhanger when the title of the chapter gave everything away.
I didn’t mean for this review to be entirely negative, but not one of the few things I enjoyed about the novel were strong enough to outweigh everything else. There were so many places to go and things to explore, but they all got left by the wayside for a problem that was wrapped up too easily, and for romance that had no true feeling to it.
Received from NetGalley, this has no outcome on this review.
This cover looks SO COOL and makes up for the summary, which is a bit wanting. Noli Braddock is a girl with a mind of her own, and in an era of proper ladies, corsets, arranged marriages and the occasional steampunky transport, this means she’s viewed as wrong and sent to a reform school. It’s a horrible place, where an attempt is made to beat the individuality out of Noli until she’s a “proper” lady. But on mid-summer’s eve, she unknowingly makes a wish in just the right place at the just the right time, and ends up in the Otherworld, also known as the land of the fae. She’s a girl gifted with something called the Spark, and her sacrifice would keep the fae magic from collapsing in chaos and killing the entire fae civilization.
It all seems like such a cool idea, and I have to give Suzanne Lazear credit for it, but the entire thing simply falls flat in the execution.
For one, there’s barely much of a steampunk side to this novel. Noli is interested in building things, sure, and when we first meet her she illegally rides a hovercar she built out of scrap, but that’s about it when it comes to steampunk. It’s this joyride that’s the last straw on the proverbial camel’s back for the law and for her mother, who sends Noli to a reform school. This is where the novel nearly lost me entirely. I’m fine with a story doing things to move a character down a certain path, but…was all the abuse really necessary? It’s probably a personal thing, but I nearly put the book down because of it.
Second, there’s a love triangle. Yep. Mood killer. There’s Kevighn, who is the fae in charge of finding girls with the Spark for the sacrifice, and there’s Steven, who has been Noli’s best friend since they were children. The way Noli handles things here is smart, I do have to give her credit for that, but there’s so much see-sawing and waffling on what’s improper, etc etc etc.
Third — and I know this is silly but it really annoyed me — I got so sick of seeing the words “hoyden” (meaning delinquent) and “dollymop” (meaning loose woman) while I was reading. It’s like Lazear found the words out of some dictionary for the time period, and liked them so much that she used them over and over and OVER. They also seemed to be the only true period words out of the entire novel. I’m definitely not an expert in language, but nothing about the language screamed historical; everyone seemed to be speaking and thinking in a much more modern way than I’ve read in other steampunk and historical fiction novels. The only things that seemed to be right were dollymop, hoyden, and Noli being scandalized about wearing a sleeveless dress during the daytime or corsets on the outside of a dress. (You lie, book cover. You lie!)
Fourth, the ending was so rushed and seemed as though it was tacked on because the book needed closure in one or two aspects so that the rest of it could stay wide open for the second in the series. It was too neat, too simple, and the cliffhanger wasn’t much of a cliffhanger when the title of the chapter gave everything away.
I didn’t mean for this review to be entirely negative, but not one of the few things I enjoyed about the novel were strong enough to outweigh everything else. There were so many places to go and things to explore, but they all got left by the wayside for a problem that was wrapped up too easily, and for romance that had no true feeling to it.
leapinglizard's review
3.0
This review first appears on my blog, Read Books and Live Green
After finishing this book I went and got a bowl of Cheerios and thought long and hard about what I really thought about this book. When I first read the blurb, I was excited, I mean it's Steampunk! What kind of person doesn't like steampunk?! Then there were faries, I was practically jumping up and down. On top of all that the cover is AMAZING and the heroine sounded capable and strong. But from there it went down-hill.
THE PROS
1. I liked the beginning. It started off with a crash, literally. So that was definitley good.
2. I liked V. He was pretty awesome.
3. The concept. I LOVED what the author had going on. It started off pretty good.
4. The cover. I liked the cover, but it doesn't really seem to fit the book.
5. Noli's name. I just thought it was funny, but I liked it.
THE CONS
1. The Hunter. Okay his name is some thing that is like impossible to spell so I'm not gonna bother trying. I hated this dude. I mean seriously what is up with him being in the love triangle. (It kind of reminded me of the love thing in Shatter Me. With Warner being insanely evil and Adam being awesome!)
2. Noli's school. Ummmm. I highly doubt that kind of torture was ever condoned. I mean it was pretty creepy and somehow it's supposed to be normal in this society. NOOOOO, it's supposed to seem kind of like 1901, right, but with that torture going on, it seemed way to Barbaric.
3. The Execution. So as I've said before I love the concept, but the author didn't do a very good execution of it. The Steampunk aspect just faded out and the Otherworld thing began to annoy me.
4. No twists. I could predict what was going to happen from the start. THAT IS ABSOLUTLY NO FUN!!
5. The ending. REALLY?! Come on that was just ridiculous. :O Grrrrr. It made me MAD!!
6. Noli cried A LOT and here I thought she was going to be strong! I got sick of her neediness by the end.
OVERALL
I wanted to like this book, and I did like parts of it. I think I thought that I was going to LOVE this book because I've never read bad steampunk. (ex. Leviathan, The Girl in the Steel Corset, Incarceron) So I think I was just expecting more. Overall it was pretty good and I'll definitley need to read the next book, so I can find out what happens!
WOULD I READ THIS BOOK: PERHAPS
WOULD I BUY THIS BOOK: NO, BUT I'D GET IT FROM A LIBRARY
WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK: DEPENDS, if the person is more into faries than steampunk then yes.
WILL I READ THE NEXT BOOK: YES
WOULD I READ OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR: YEAH, I THINK SO.
After finishing this book I went and got a bowl of Cheerios and thought long and hard about what I really thought about this book. When I first read the blurb, I was excited, I mean it's Steampunk! What kind of person doesn't like steampunk?! Then there were faries, I was practically jumping up and down. On top of all that the cover is AMAZING and the heroine sounded capable and strong. But from there it went down-hill.
THE PROS
1. I liked the beginning. It started off with a crash, literally. So that was definitley good.
2. I liked V. He was pretty awesome.
3. The concept. I LOVED what the author had going on. It started off pretty good.
4. The cover. I liked the cover, but it doesn't really seem to fit the book.
5. Noli's name. I just thought it was funny, but I liked it.
THE CONS
1. The Hunter. Okay his name is some thing that is like impossible to spell so I'm not gonna bother trying. I hated this dude. I mean seriously what is up with him being in the love triangle. (It kind of reminded me of the love thing in Shatter Me. With Warner being insanely evil and Adam being awesome!)
2. Noli's school. Ummmm. I highly doubt that kind of torture was ever condoned. I mean it was pretty creepy and somehow it's supposed to be normal in this society. NOOOOO, it's supposed to seem kind of like 1901, right, but with that torture going on, it seemed way to Barbaric.
3. The Execution. So as I've said before I love the concept, but the author didn't do a very good execution of it. The Steampunk aspect just faded out and the Otherworld thing began to annoy me.
4. No twists. I could predict what was going to happen from the start. THAT IS ABSOLUTLY NO FUN!!
5. The ending. REALLY?! Come on that was just ridiculous. :O Grrrrr. It made me MAD!!
6. Noli cried A LOT and here I thought she was going to be strong! I got sick of her neediness by the end.
OVERALL
I wanted to like this book, and I did like parts of it. I think I thought that I was going to LOVE this book because I've never read bad steampunk. (ex. Leviathan, The Girl in the Steel Corset, Incarceron) So I think I was just expecting more. Overall it was pretty good and I'll definitley need to read the next book, so I can find out what happens!
WOULD I READ THIS BOOK: PERHAPS
WOULD I BUY THIS BOOK: NO, BUT I'D GET IT FROM A LIBRARY
WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK: DEPENDS, if the person is more into faries than steampunk then yes.
WILL I READ THE NEXT BOOK: YES
WOULD I READ OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR: YEAH, I THINK SO.
aj_locke's review
1.0
Innocent Darkness tells the story of Magnolia (Noli), Braddock, a girl who finds herself at a harsh reform school after getting into trouble. There, a wish inadvertently takes her into the world of the Fae, where she realizes that she is to be the sacrifice that will save the Fae world from withering. That’s because Noli has the “Spark,” and every seven years a girl with the Spark is bound to the Fae world and killed so that the Fae don’t fade. Unbeknownst to her, her best friend and crush Steven (V) is Fae, a prince, and comes to Noli’s rescue.
I thought the premise of Innocent Darkness was interesting because I had never heard of a novel that combined Steampunk and Fae/magic elements. However, I was disappointed with the execution of the novel. It was very difficult for me to finish, and I don’t think it lived up to its potential.
Noli lives in Los Angeles, during a time period that mimics real life history in that women are not on par with men, a working woman is looked down on, and there are societal expectations for a way a woman is supposed to dress, act, etc. The reform school Noli ends up in is supposed to suppress her personality and turn her into a vapid lady. I can’t say I was drawn into the world though, because I did not feel as though there was enough world building, especially in regards to the Steampunk elements. In the Fae world we don’t see a wide scope of it, but for the space the story encompasses I think it was sufficient.
I did not connect with Noli; she was not an extremely strong character. On one hand she believes that as a lady she should act a certain way in regards to men, yet on the other hand both love interests get pretty far under her clothes with not much protesting from her. Yes, there’s something to be said for getting caught up in the moment, but the amount of back and forth she had made it harder for me to let her get away with her teenage hormones. She struck me as a more passive than active character who just went with the flow while everyone else made the decisions.
As far as the love triangle, I did not buy one angle of it at all, and the other, while more believable, felt a bit forced. One minute V (the more believable love interest), is resolved to be distant to her for her own protection, then a page later they’re making out. Then there’s Kevighn, who is the Queen’s huntsman sent to find human girls with the Spark, seduce them, and trick them into sacrificing themselves. The fact that he so quickly falls for Noli after she ends up with him in the Fae world was extremely unbelievable, and I knew it was only done so that he would have a crisis of conscience when it came to handing her over to the high Queen. Then there’s V’s brother James, who searches for Noli’s friend Charlotte, who also has the Spark, and was taken from the reform school by her abusive uncle. James brings her into the Fae world, and while we don’t read any scenes of James and Charlotte together until they show up to where Noli and V are, they are suddenly in love. Where is the build up to make that believable and make me care about their romance? There was an overall streak of sexuality in the book that I found to be off. I don’t have a problem with sex/sensuality in YA novels, but it has to feel believable, and there has to be a reason for it. In this novel, there was something about the references and scenes regarding sensuality that felt awkward and not believable to the type of story it was.
It was intriguing to have the idea that Noli’s death would save the entire Fae kingdom (including V), and if she didn’t die all the Fae would die, but I think the conclusion was too neat. There weren’t really any huge stakes for Noli, no real action scenes, no real feeling of impending doom, and the high Queen was quite disappointing; she let Noli just run off and hide in another part of the kingdom with V. Why wouldn’t you want to keep the girl with the Spark that will save your people under lock and key?
Something else that I found jarring was the writing style. The amount of repetitive phrases was definitely noticeable enough to throw the reader off. Kevighn can only seem to say “opium and soft women” in relation to his desire to go to a brothel, and can only call V “that whelp of a prince.” Then there were all the “hoydens” and “fussy old bodgers.” Overall, the writing style was not captivating.
If there are future books, I will not be continuing with the series.
I thought the premise of Innocent Darkness was interesting because I had never heard of a novel that combined Steampunk and Fae/magic elements. However, I was disappointed with the execution of the novel. It was very difficult for me to finish, and I don’t think it lived up to its potential.
Noli lives in Los Angeles, during a time period that mimics real life history in that women are not on par with men, a working woman is looked down on, and there are societal expectations for a way a woman is supposed to dress, act, etc. The reform school Noli ends up in is supposed to suppress her personality and turn her into a vapid lady. I can’t say I was drawn into the world though, because I did not feel as though there was enough world building, especially in regards to the Steampunk elements. In the Fae world we don’t see a wide scope of it, but for the space the story encompasses I think it was sufficient.
I did not connect with Noli; she was not an extremely strong character. On one hand she believes that as a lady she should act a certain way in regards to men, yet on the other hand both love interests get pretty far under her clothes with not much protesting from her. Yes, there’s something to be said for getting caught up in the moment, but the amount of back and forth she had made it harder for me to let her get away with her teenage hormones. She struck me as a more passive than active character who just went with the flow while everyone else made the decisions.
As far as the love triangle, I did not buy one angle of it at all, and the other, while more believable, felt a bit forced. One minute V (the more believable love interest), is resolved to be distant to her for her own protection, then a page later they’re making out. Then there’s Kevighn, who is the Queen’s huntsman sent to find human girls with the Spark, seduce them, and trick them into sacrificing themselves. The fact that he so quickly falls for Noli after she ends up with him in the Fae world was extremely unbelievable, and I knew it was only done so that he would have a crisis of conscience when it came to handing her over to the high Queen. Then there’s V’s brother James, who searches for Noli’s friend Charlotte, who also has the Spark, and was taken from the reform school by her abusive uncle. James brings her into the Fae world, and while we don’t read any scenes of James and Charlotte together until they show up to where Noli and V are, they are suddenly in love. Where is the build up to make that believable and make me care about their romance? There was an overall streak of sexuality in the book that I found to be off. I don’t have a problem with sex/sensuality in YA novels, but it has to feel believable, and there has to be a reason for it. In this novel, there was something about the references and scenes regarding sensuality that felt awkward and not believable to the type of story it was.
It was intriguing to have the idea that Noli’s death would save the entire Fae kingdom (including V), and if she didn’t die all the Fae would die, but I think the conclusion was too neat. There weren’t really any huge stakes for Noli, no real action scenes, no real feeling of impending doom, and the high Queen was quite disappointing; she let Noli just run off and hide in another part of the kingdom with V. Why wouldn’t you want to keep the girl with the Spark that will save your people under lock and key?
Something else that I found jarring was the writing style. The amount of repetitive phrases was definitely noticeable enough to throw the reader off. Kevighn can only seem to say “opium and soft women” in relation to his desire to go to a brothel, and can only call V “that whelp of a prince.” Then there were all the “hoydens” and “fussy old bodgers.” Overall, the writing style was not captivating.
If there are future books, I will not be continuing with the series.
librariancarina's review
2.0
I was surprised when I read all of the negative reviews that were issued on Innocent Darkness, at first. The book hooked me from the beginning, even though it was simply written. This book was to be my first venture in to steampunk and I was eager to give it a try.
Unfortunately, the book was unable to maintain my interest. After Noli left the reform school it just went downhill from there. The pacing slowed tremendously, the grammatical errors increased, the actions of the characters didn't always make sense or match who was speaking at the time, and the POV switches rarely led to new insight and were therefore unnecessary. By the point to which I had read (which was about page 265 out of 391), Noli had gone from a powerful, intelligent, eclectic and willful girl in to a simpering, whiny, helpless "princess" that just waited around to be rescued from her proverbial tower.
What happened to the trouble-making mechanic who was so dedicated to marching to the beat of her own drum that she forsook all other paths? And for that matter, what happened to the steampunk? It almost felt like the author decided one day to do a steampunk story just for the sake of calling it steampunk and despite the fact that the story went in a different direction, refused to give that up. Noli could have just as easily been only a gardener and all references to mechanization completely removed and the story still would have worked.
If you have reluctant readers who are looking for romance, faeries, and a "save the princess" adventure, they might like this. But I wouldn't value this highly on your readers advisory lists.
Unfortunately, the book was unable to maintain my interest. After Noli left the reform school it just went downhill from there. The pacing slowed tremendously, the grammatical errors increased, the actions of the characters didn't always make sense or match who was speaking at the time, and the POV switches rarely led to new insight and were therefore unnecessary. By the point to which I had read (which was about page 265 out of 391), Noli had gone from a powerful, intelligent, eclectic and willful girl in to a simpering, whiny, helpless "princess" that just waited around to be rescued from her proverbial tower.
What happened to the trouble-making mechanic who was so dedicated to marching to the beat of her own drum that she forsook all other paths? And for that matter, what happened to the steampunk? It almost felt like the author decided one day to do a steampunk story just for the sake of calling it steampunk and despite the fact that the story went in a different direction, refused to give that up. Noli could have just as easily been only a gardener and all references to mechanization completely removed and the story still would have worked.
If you have reluctant readers who are looking for romance, faeries, and a "save the princess" adventure, they might like this. But I wouldn't value this highly on your readers advisory lists.