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bwilhoite8's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
snowbenton's review against another edition
3.0
This didn't add a lot to the story for me; all I learned was that Reyes didn't know anything about his past until Charley touched him when he was in a coma. Otherwise it was a recap from his perspective of some old scenes. It felt inauthentic to me; he was too gentle and worshipping of Charley when in the books he is super controlling and aggressive.
berls's review against another edition
4.0
It was very cool to get inside Reyes head and see everything that's happened to him since Charley's birth basically. I read this at the wrong point though, it should have been read before book 9.
tlandrews's review against another edition
4.0
Reyes says something about U.B. that better not be true.
enchantressofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I love the Charley Davidson series. I love Darynda Jones’s writing style and her ways with words. She is truly a gifted writer that not only allows the readers to escape into the world she has created but she has you falling for all the characters! I also love that Lorelei King is the narrator for this series. She brings an additional dimension to each of the character and breathes life into them.
With all that said, it’s extremely important for the readers of BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN to know that this is an extremely dark novella. In fact, upon receiving the book to review, I also received the warning that it was much darker than any of the previous books in the series. Also, there seems to be a misconception that it’s ‘dark’ because he’s the ‘son of Satan’ but that’s not the case. For those that have read the series, remember that his lineage is one thing, but he makes a conscientious decision to love and protect Charley and he creates the plan where he can be with Charley. Sadly, things don’t work out the way he planned. Unfortunately, we (readers of the series) already know some of the monstrosities that Reyes endured as a child. This is in Reyes’s POV and it’s his story.
I’ve always wanted to know more about how Reyes and his past and now we get to learn this and much more. We meet him as a child and get his perspective of events that occurred to him as a child, teenager, and then adult. We learn how he first meets Charley and his thoughts on things. We also get to see Reyes fall in love with Charley. We see Charley through his eyes! We also learn some of the tragedies and heartaches she’s been through. Readers get to see and know the reason he is the way he is. It was heartbreaking to listen/read Reyes go through things no child/person should ever have to go through. Darynda glosses over things but does a phenomenal job of making an emotional impact on the reader without the details.
When I first learned that the novella was going to be in audio book format I was extremely happy and on pins and needles waiting to see if the publisher would select a new narrator, a male, since this is from Reyes’s POV or if they would keep Lorelei. Personally, I wanted them to keep Lorelei! I believe she is a great narrator and does a beautiful job with the series and each of the characters. I couldn’t image anyone else as Reyes. With such a sensitive topic as Reyes’s past, I also didn’t want someone new to the ‘family’ if you can understand that. Lorelei does an amazing job with BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN!
The readers will love this addition to the series and it was great to see Reyes’s love for Charley and get to see a different side of Reyes we haven’t seen until now. We saw how much of an awesome friend he is and a loving brother as well. And how much of a survivor he is as well. Again, readers will need to be prepared for this isn’t like the other books, it’s much darker and you may even need tissues.
This and other reviews available at Viviana, Enchantress of Books
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
With all that said, it’s extremely important for the readers of BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN to know that this is an extremely dark novella. In fact, upon receiving the book to review, I also received the warning that it was much darker than any of the previous books in the series. Also, there seems to be a misconception that it’s ‘dark’ because he’s the ‘son of Satan’ but that’s not the case. For those that have read the series, remember that his lineage is one thing, but he makes a conscientious decision to love and protect Charley and he creates the plan where he can be with Charley. Sadly, things don’t work out the way he planned. Unfortunately, we (readers of the series) already know some of the monstrosities that Reyes endured as a child. This is in Reyes’s POV and it’s his story.
I’ve always wanted to know more about how Reyes and his past and now we get to learn this and much more. We meet him as a child and get his perspective of events that occurred to him as a child, teenager, and then adult. We learn how he first meets Charley and his thoughts on things. We also get to see Reyes fall in love with Charley. We see Charley through his eyes! We also learn some of the tragedies and heartaches she’s been through. Readers get to see and know the reason he is the way he is. It was heartbreaking to listen/read Reyes go through things no child/person should ever have to go through. Darynda glosses over things but does a phenomenal job of making an emotional impact on the reader without the details.
When I first learned that the novella was going to be in audio book format I was extremely happy and on pins and needles waiting to see if the publisher would select a new narrator, a male, since this is from Reyes’s POV or if they would keep Lorelei. Personally, I wanted them to keep Lorelei! I believe she is a great narrator and does a beautiful job with the series and each of the characters. I couldn’t image anyone else as Reyes. With such a sensitive topic as Reyes’s past, I also didn’t want someone new to the ‘family’ if you can understand that. Lorelei does an amazing job with BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN!
The readers will love this addition to the series and it was great to see Reyes’s love for Charley and get to see a different side of Reyes we haven’t seen until now. We saw how much of an awesome friend he is and a loving brother as well. And how much of a survivor he is as well. Again, readers will need to be prepared for this isn’t like the other books, it’s much darker and you may even need tissues.
This and other reviews available at Viviana, Enchantress of Books
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
engelkat's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
audiobookmel's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
Brighter Than the Sun is completely different from any Charley Davidson book you’ve ever read/listened to. For one, it is told from the point of view of one, Alexander Reyes Farrow. Two, it doesn’t have all the snark and laugh out loud moments we have come to associate with the Charley Davidson series. This story is a prequel of sorts of Reyes as a child going through his time in prison.
It was interesting seeing his side of things as he grows up. How he sees Charley and everything he does to protect Kim. You also see how he becomes such close friends with Amadore. From the time he is little, he can tell if a person is going to hell or not from just one look and what is the first action that causes them to take that path. I can’t imagine what that could do to a kid. Add on to that what Earl Walker was doing, and you can see how Reyes ends up the way he does. It is actually really amazing that he is as good as he is.
Listening to this story, told entirely from Reyes’ POV, really adds to the Charley Davidson series and I feel is a must read/listen to any person in the series. If you are new to this series, this is not a place to start. It will not give you a good feel of series at all. The actions that take place go through First Grave on the Right, so you could read it anywhere after that book and not be lost.
Narration
I’m really glad that they decided to stay with Lorelei King for this narration. I know some people might have decided to get a male narration, since it is told entirely from a male POV. King’s voice of Reyes is so engrained in my head, it would’ve been really weird to have someone else do the narration. She did a great job as usual, but then I think she is one of my favorite narrators. I mean, she pulls off this book with ease, and it is a mostly male cast. I started out listening to this series, actually because she was the narrator. I will always go straight to audio. I can’t recommend it enough.
I’d like to thank MACMILLAN AUDIO for the advanced copy of BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN in exchange for an honest review.
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
Brighter Than the Sun is completely different from any Charley Davidson book you’ve ever read/listened to. For one, it is told from the point of view of one, Alexander Reyes Farrow. Two, it doesn’t have all the snark and laugh out loud moments we have come to associate with the Charley Davidson series. This story is a prequel of sorts of Reyes as a child going through his time in prison.
It was interesting seeing his side of things as he grows up. How he sees Charley and everything he does to protect Kim. You also see how he becomes such close friends with Amadore. From the time he is little, he can tell if a person is going to hell or not from just one look and what is the first action that causes them to take that path. I can’t imagine what that could do to a kid. Add on to that what Earl Walker was doing, and you can see how Reyes ends up the way he does. It is actually really amazing that he is as good as he is.
Listening to this story, told entirely from Reyes’ POV, really adds to the Charley Davidson series and I feel is a must read/listen to any person in the series. If you are new to this series, this is not a place to start. It will not give you a good feel of series at all. The actions that take place go through First Grave on the Right, so you could read it anywhere after that book and not be lost.
Narration
I’m really glad that they decided to stay with Lorelei King for this narration. I know some people might have decided to get a male narration, since it is told entirely from a male POV. King’s voice of Reyes is so engrained in my head, it would’ve been really weird to have someone else do the narration. She did a great job as usual, but then I think she is one of my favorite narrators. I mean, she pulls off this book with ease, and it is a mostly male cast. I started out listening to this series, actually because she was the narrator. I will always go straight to audio. I can’t recommend it enough.
I’d like to thank MACMILLAN AUDIO for the advanced copy of BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN in exchange for an honest review.
nyxshadow's review against another edition
4.0
C'était amusant de voir Reyes grandir avec cet innocence. Mais je crois que j'aime encore plus suivre Charley ^^
http://www.nyx-shadow.com/2016/08/charley-davidson-t85-brighter-than-sun.html
http://www.nyx-shadow.com/2016/08/charley-davidson-t85-brighter-than-sun.html
jenleewatkins's review against another edition
5.0
Best book series ever.
This is the book you wanted. Everything you ever wanted to know about Reyes is right here. His seemingly inexplicable choices and actions all make sense. Be prepared, this book covers highly sensitive subject matter and will break your heart.
This is the book you wanted. Everything you ever wanted to know about Reyes is right here. His seemingly inexplicable choices and actions all make sense. Be prepared, this book covers highly sensitive subject matter and will break your heart.