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A review by emilyrbedwell
Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear
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.