Review of A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

 

Title: A Beautiful Dark

Author: Jocelyn Davies

Publisher: HarperTeen 9.27.2011

 

Rating: 5 Stars

 

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On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

A Beautiful Dark is the first book in a captivating trilogy by debut author Jocelyn Davies.

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**SPOILERS**



I started this book last winter when I was feeling kind of lonely and it was exactly what I needed. This book is set in winter and it has this homey feel to it the entire time, even though she basically lives by herself. It's not a complicated read, everything happens in a timely manner and it's all pretty basic, but when something does happen, it's epic and unexpected. Davies has created some fascinating, realistic characters in this story and I feel like I know them as well as I know my best friend. The emotions conveyed were complex and intense. Skye's constant struggle with how she felt toward Asher and Devin was tangible and relatable. Just like Skye, I never knew which of the two I liked more and I could never tell what was going on in their heads.

However, I never did believe that they were both ridiculously old angels. Maybe they were just practiced actors, but I wanted Skye to notice things that gave away how old and experienced they are. That would have made them even more realistic in my opinion.

Davies' attention to detail was phenomenal. I particularly liked how Skye's friends would get upset after Skye had been distant for a while. Usually the friends to the protagonist just deal and give focus to the hero/heroine, but here they acted realistically and I loved that.

On a different note, I wasn't a huge fan of the final battle. It seemed like it just happened out of nowhere and instead of getting answers, I felt like I ended up having more questions. That whole scene was a little unbelievable to me. The new characters didn't seem realistic and I didn't believe that a confrontation like that would have occurred. It was almost like the author felt a final battle needed to occur and so quickly threw that in at the end. I just wanted more out of it. A meeting like that is supposed to be epic, but it wasn't that epic to me. I felt lost, just like Skye.

This book does have one of the most intense cliff-hangers I have ever experienced in my entire life. I am so lucky that the second book was already out because I wouldn't have been able to handle waiting a year for it. After I finished it I immediately called my best friend and just talked at her for a good ten minutes because I was so upset over what happened. It was ridiculous.

So if you're going to read this, make sure you have the second one on hand by the time you finish. Trust me, you'll want it right next to you when you do.

This book was definitely one of the better angel novels in my opinion, and I'm generally not a huge fan of this genre. But I loved this book, and I can't wait to finish the next two in the series! (A Fractured Light, which is already out, and A Radiant Sky, out September 24, 2013)

 

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Do you like the angel genre of YA?

Is this one of your favorite books, too?

Let me know!

 

Nichole