Once upon a time, I was the daughter of the Queen of Nightmares. Living in her court of darkness, any day that no one tried to kill me was a good day.I didn’t have many good days…When Karina agrees to help the ghost of a murdered Oracle uncover a plot that could unravel the fabric of reality, she finds herself caught in the crossfire between bounty hunters and her ex-bodyguards.Now she needs to … her ex-bodyguards.
Now she needs to reclaim the birthright and power she abandoned before she loses everything and everyone she loves.
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If you love stories about the fae, you NEED to read this series. A whole new world that will leave you wanting more every single time. AMAZING!
This was my first book by Ms. Cross, but I’m not sure it’s the one for me. Don’t get me wrong, the book is great, the characters were interesting, and parts of the storyline were complex. My issue was the sex.
Yes, you read that right, I had an issue with the sex. Holy wow is there a lot of sex in this RH! I mean, you expect sex in a book that’s a reverse harem. I admit, I haven’t read many RH books, so I’m not the expert on whether this has more scenes than normal for a reverse harem. But there’s a LOT of sex in this book.
Now, you’re probably thinking, why is she giving this book 5 stars, yet she’s complaining about the sex? Let me explain… I can’t fault an author or a book for delivering on the claim. This is a reverse harem book, you expect sex. So why am I going to deduct from my review, for being exactly what it’s supposed to be?
Karina is a Brightling born into the court of Darkness, daughter of the Queen. She’s challenged almost daily and this wears on her. It wasn’t her choice to be born of the wrong court, it wasn’t her fault that she’s the Princess, but with people attempting to kill her daily, she knows something needs to change. She does something drastic. I know that you can read other reviews and find out what she does, but I’m not the type of reviewer that can spoil it for others. Now she’s helping the ghost of an Oracle that was murdered, and on the run herself. With her ex-bodyguards helping her, she sets out to reclaim the throne and power that she originally fled.
So, we’ve got a complex story, a main character who is fae and full of grit and determination, and lots of sex, what more can you want from a paranormal reverse harem?
I was really surprised by this audio to be honest. I liked reading the book, don’t get me wrong, but usually I like the book better than the audio version. This audiobook elevated the story for me, made me love it instead of just like it. Aiden really brought the male characters to life in this story, I hope he gets more scenes in the upcoming books. I was surprised to hear how different he made the male characters. You could definitely tell when he was being Enver and when he was being, let’s say Havoc. Elizabeth did a great job, especially with all her different characters she had to do. I couldn’t believe how she did the Queen of Nightmares and Death, I loved that accent the most I think. I have listened to some of Elizabeth’s other work and I thought this was one of her strongest ones
For Elle’s debut book, I thought this story was good. I liked the different levels she created in the storyline. For the first time in any book, I kinda wish she waited/took a little longer for Katrina to get with all her men. I think I also wished there was more even times with her guys, I think there is definitely favoritism (excluding Enver since he is the primus). I loved that her inner circle wasn’t restricted to her original 4 guys. I hope we get to see more times with Taran and Havoc, since they got lost in shuffle of her needing to bond with the group. I liked how we got to read/listen to her first real moments with Enver and West, but not really with Havoc and Taran, they were kinda rushed. I am excited to listen to Book 2 next, to see how meeting the surprise at the end turns out for her. I definitely am loving her powers and the new things she is learning (and her pet/familiar/awesome friend). Oh and I wish I could see these tattoos that are referenced, would make for great images in a Brightling Court coloring book
I can’t believe I have been putting this one off. It was written beautifully. I couldn’t pinpoint it exactly but I found its pacing and buildup flawless. And it ended with no cliffhangers, too.
Karina…she was one beautiful heroine. And not just on the outside. She had risen up from the dead (pun intended), from the ashes. Also, how perfect it was that her folks called her brightling?
I think the main point that endeared her to me was how I recognized a soul sister in her. Though not directly pointed out, I felt how she suffered from depression. Yes, her mother, her sister, the court and those men genuinely loved her. But that didn’t make her depression any ‘less significant’ or ‘less justifiable.’ I thought it pretty much drove forward the fact that such state, such battle wasn’t always what’s. in the environment but what’s inside.
And ughhh, those mighty fine men of hers! swoon! I love their undivided devotion to her! I love how they patiently waited for her to come to her own term-to be able to believe herself just how much worthy of a queen she was.
Plus I think this was the first RH I’ve read wherein the heroine’s family was supportive and loving. Can’t wait for the next book! I think it will be about her father’s family side? They were all adorable huhuhu
Call me a prude, but way tooo raunchy for my taste. Sex orgy between 4 men and 1 woman. I quit reading there… sorry, Not my jam.
Book one in the brand new Brightling Court series and was an amazing start I must say. We start off with some of the most incredible world building that I have read in quite some time. Then enter the characters that are so life-like I felt like each one was really there in the room with me. I don’t really know how to describe it but when you add the two together then the story really comes to life. We follow Karina as she attempts to run and start a new life only to have her past come back to haunt her as well as her lovely guard. Once reunited with the men the sparks and magic really starts to fly. I have to say that I was unable to stop reading this book once I got started and even got irritated when I had to go to work (thank goodness for the kindle app on my phone). If you love excellent fantasy paranormal novels that just happen to include RH then you so have to read this one. You will not regret it. I loved it so much I give it 5/5 stars and I will admit that I have already pre-ordered book two in the series.
What can I say about So Dark the Night without giving away any spoilers? Well all I can basically say then is this, THIS BOOK IS FREAKING AWESOME!!! Very first time reading anything by Elle Cross and I got to say she’s fantastic at weaving and creating a very believable to the point that it feels so real story. She kept me sitting on the edge of my seat and wondering what’s going to happen next from the very first chapter and right up until the end. I can not wait until So Bright The Dawn is out because I gotta know what happens in the next chapter of Karina’s story and that of all her men especially Taran. 😉
This book deserves more than five stars it deserves 200 or more in my book because it is so freaking good. If you haven’t heard of Elle Cross before and are afraid to take a chance well then I’m going to say is try because there is no harm in trying. I did in the beginning I took a chance on a unknown author and I’m so very glad that I did because I found a great story to read and I found a fantastic author to add to the very top of my favorite author list. So yes I am most definitely recommending that you read this book because I can absolutely guarantee you will not be disappointed in your choice.