| Title | : | Pretty Dark Sacrifice (Pretty Dark Nothing, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 193976517X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781939765178 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 267 |
| Publication | : | First published July 28, 2015 |
Everyone wants Quinn to move on, but she can’t, not after a spirit appears to her at Aaron's memorial, convincing her he’s still alive.
When a mysterious box materializes on the very spot Aaron disappeared, Quinn finds she’s at the center of an ancient prophesy of betrayal, revenge, and sacrifice that takes her to the depths of the underworld to face Lilith—Adam’s first wife.
If Quinn can stop Lilith from unleashing the demon horde Eve, trapped inside the box during the Battle of Eden millennia ago, she will save the human realm and free Aaron from an eternity in torment.
All it will cost is her blood.
Pretty Dark Sacrifice (Pretty Dark Nothing, #2) Reviews
-
***
Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Pretty Dark Sacrifice by Heather L. Reid
Book Two of the Pretty Dark Nothing series
Publisher: Month9Books
Publication Date: July 28, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
It’s been five weeks, two days, and eight hours since the demons forced Quinn to throw herself into the raging river, since Aaron sacrificed himself to save her, since his body disappeared without a trace.
Everyone wants Quinn to move on, but she can’t, not after a spirit appears to her at Aaron's memorial, convincing her he’s still alive.
When a mysterious box materializes on the very spot Aaron disappeared, Quinn finds she’s at the center of an ancient prophesy of betrayal, revenge, and sacrifice that takes her to the depths of the underworld to face Lilith—Adam’s first wife.
If Quinn can stop Lilith from unleashing the demon horde Eve, trapped inside the box during the Battle of Eden millennia ago, she will save the human realm and free Aaron from an eternity in torment.
All it will cost is her blood.
What I Liked:
It has been over two years since Pretty Dark Nothing was published! That book was one of my favorite books of 2013. It was very unique ad original and fresh, and I loved it from start to finish. I remember rereading it a few times, and so the book is still one that I remember pretty well. Nevertheless, while I didn't love this sequel like I did Pretty Dark Nothing, I certainly enjoyed it! My rating is more like 3.5 stars, but not quite 4 stars.
It's been over a month since Aaron sacrificed himself in order for Quinn to live. He saved her from drowning in a river, but he himself died. The search for his body has been called off. Yet Quinn does not believe that he is dead. She is sure that he exists still. And he does, which she soon finds out. He is in the Underworld, held captive by Adam's first wife, Lilith. Also, Quinn has Eve's blood and flesh, and she is able to fight ad banish demons. Quinn will stop at nothing to get Aaron back, even if it means allowing Lilith to release an army of demons, effectively dooming humanity.
This book felt different from Pretty Dark Nothing. Less raw, less emotional. In the first book, Quinn was all over the place, and her character was a bit shaky. By the end, she changed greatly, and became a strong and deadly girl. In this book, Quinn is desperate to find Aaron, with or without the help of her friends or her Sentinel, Azrael. Quinn's desperation makes her impulsive, but also very, very powerful. I am very pleased with Quinn's character development in this book.
The story is wrapped around Quinn's search for Aaron. No one believes her when she says that she knows he is out there. Everyone looks at her with hatred, because he is the one that died saving her. Even Quinn's best friend Reese hasn't been speaking to Quinn. But Quinn's friends don't abandon her, and Reese, Marcus, and Caleb (a new guy friend of Quinn's) band together to help her and support her. I love Marcus - he is a tease and a flirt, and a great other half of Reese. Caleb is calmer and more of a low-key flirt, but he knows that Quinn's heart is elsewhere.
We do get bursts of scenes with Aaron's point-of-view. Aaron is in the Underworld, captured by Lilith, who is trying to find a box that contains her demon army (they are trapped, kind of like Pandora's box). Lilith tortures Aaron in the worst of ways, and Aaron learns strange things about himself that he didn't know. Things start to click and make sense, but Aaron is still trapped. I really like Aaron - his situation is hopeless, yet he never gives up. He is a go-with-the-flow guy, but he is also an impulsive, angry guy when he's provoked. I like Aaron a lot!
There is romance in this novel, and series in general. This book is told in third person, switching between Aaron and Quinn (though more Quinn than Aaron, by far). Though Aaron is held captive in the Underworld, he and Quinn do communicate in this book, in an inventive way. And when they see each other solidly, sparks fly like in book one. Readers will be very satisfied with the romance of this novel - no insta-love, no love triangle.
Overall, I really enjoyed this sequel. There will definitely be a third book, given the way this one ended. This book was engrossing and engaging, and functioned well as a sequel novel. The third book looks like it will be the epic showdown, and I cannot wait!
What I Did Not Like:
This book didn't have the same feel as Pretty Dark Nothing. One of the things that I absolutely loved about book one was the rawness, Quinn's drama, the difficulty of all that she was dealing with. This book has significantly less baggage. I guess some people might like this though! I just wish it were the opposite, because the rawness of emotion and pain was one of the things that really drew me in,
But still this novel was dark and full of guilt and shame and pain, so I really can't complain all that much!
Would I Recommend It:
Given the uniqueness of this series, I would definitely recommend this book and its predecessor! Not only is the series unique, but entertaining and quite dark, too. Borderline creepy and scary, though I scare easily. The romance is very satisfying The female protagonist is one of those characters that seems like she might be weak, but proves her strength over and over. Such a great novel!
Rating:
3.5 stars -> rounded up o 4 stars. I read this one pretty quickly, which is great, because it shows that the book wasn't boring. I am quite excited to read the third (and hopefully final) novel! I say "hopefully" because I hate waiting for series to be completed! Gimmee the next book now! -
3.5 Stars
'Pretty Dark Sacrifice' is the second book in a young adult paranormal series that continues to focus on our main character - Quinn Taylor - as she recovers from the incident at the river. Armed with the knowledge of who she is and what she's supposed to be able to do, Quinn begins to finally train with her guardian angel Azrael. During all of this, Aaron's body still hasn't been found and everyone around Quinn has given up hope and accepted that he's dead. They try to get Quinn to accept it as well and begin to move on with her life - but she has the strongest feeling that Aaron is still alive - and he needs her help desperately. Her beliefs are strengthened at Aaron's memorial service, when a spirit tells Quinn that's she been right all along - that Aaron is alive, but barely holding on. Without knowing what to do, Quinn visits the river - the spot where both she and Aaron jumped in that fateful night. She finds a strange box in the exact spot where Aaron disappeared from and knows that it's no coincidence she found it there. She finally discovers the whole truth about herself, her powers, and her ultimate purpose in the supernatural war that's waging. Along with this information, Quinn learns that Eve has been trapped inside the box since the Battle of Eden. If Quinn can set Eve free, she will be able to save the entire human realm - and save Aaron from a horrific eternity as Lilith's toy in the Underworld. What does all of this have to do with Quinn? How is she supposed to get to the Underworld and free Eve from the box? Will she be able to get there in time to save the human realm and Aaron?
This premise of this series is spectacular - it could be mind blowing in the best of ways. I enjoyed the first book of the series and really hoped that the second book would be written differently with some of the bumps and glitches taken care of. Sadly, this didn't quite happen for me. Don't get me wrong though - I did enjoy the book. There were just some aspects of the story that got under my skin, which has nothing to do with the book - but me personally. Other readers might not have the same issues as I did while reading it, so again - it's all just my opinion.
The plot itself was once again incredibly fascinating and had tons of potential, but, like I mentioned, I feel like parts of the book didn't quite live up to what it could've been. The characters continued to be realistic, and we get to see a huge change in Quinn's character. In the first book, I found her a little annoying and whiny; but throughout this book, she really transforms into a more mature character that can seriously kick some demon butt. I love that she grew and changed so much - especially in a positive way - and I enjoyed watching it happen in the story. Aaron's in the book as well, and we get to see his character also grow and mature into the person he's meant to be. Quinn and Aaron's relationship was bumpy and realistic, but I loved to watch it grow into something really beautiful.
I loved trying to figure out what was really happening during the story - before Quinn learns all of the answers to our questions. It kept me on my toes and eagerly reading each page. The paranormal aspects of the story were amazing and I wished that we got to learn more about everything. The story goes into detail about some of the things that happened and will possibly happen, but I wanted to know all that I could about everything paranormal. Which would take up a huge amount of space and probably detract from the actual plot, so I get why the author had to stop at some point. Like I mentioned, this book has serious potential and I'm still hoping that the next will come into it's own, and have all the kinks worked out so the compelling plot can shine brightly through like it should've been during the first two books. The writing itself was well done and had a fast pace that kept me reading - and guessing - as fast as I could. One of the other things that irritated me a bit was the use of descriptions. Normally, I love detailed descriptions and lots of imagery that allow me to slip inside of the story almost naturally. In the case of this book though, it felt like the descriptions were too much and a lot of it seemed unnecessary. The story and characters are great, but at times it felt like the overuse of description - which could be kind of cliched - took over and everything else was muddled underneath it all. There are definitely things left wide open at the end of the book, which I'm guessing will lead to a third book - if not more. I like the characters and how they're evolving, and the plot line is almost hypnotizing at times because it's so intense - so I'm really really hoping that the next book will have ironed out the kinks we saw in the first two books. With those pesky little problems out of the way, it will be so much easier to dive headfirst into the story and get lost inside of Quinn's world. I also think that by fixing these issues, readers will be able to truly grasp the plot and then be blown away by it. Everything that it needs to be a huge hit is in there - and with some adjustments - it will be able to break free and shine like it's meant to. I'll definitely be waiting for the next book - I'm not giving up on this series. I want to see it through to the very end, and I also want it to become the beautiful novel (and series) it's supposed to be.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. -
Pretty Dark Sacrifice by Heather L Reid is Book II in the Pretty Dark series, but I will do my best to only share my feelings and not include any spoilers.
Pretty Dark Sacrifice picks up where Pretty Dark Nothing left off.
Quinn still hasn’t mastered her powers and I am wondering if she needs a swift kick in the ass and to be told to “man” up. At least that is how I felt in the opening pages, but she quickly proved me wrong. She grew to be stronger, both physically and mentally.
Her best friend, Reese, is normally a happy go lucky girl and the kind of best friend we all wish we had, but her secrets were driving a wedge between them that she thought could not be avoided. Reese deserves a normal life and I want it for her.
Will Quinn fulfill the prophecy? Will she be the savior or the bringer of doom?
As Lilith inserts her evil presence, the story’s pace increases for me. I begin to feel a sense of danger and suspense. Just what I’ve been waiting for. I was enjoying the story, but wanted some of that extra kick. You know what I mean.
Humans, demons, sentinels, immortals and Lilith. The box, Eve and angels.
The angels make me think of the TV show, Supernatural. Just because they’re an angel, doesn’t make them good.
Can you change your destiny? Aren’t we given the power of choice?
A love story that lasts for eternity.
As the story develops the clash between good and evil threatens the humans very existence.
Quinn has grown and developed, gained confidence and fights doubts, determined to accomplish her goal – to save Aaron.
I was given a copy of Pretty Dark Sacrifice by Heather L Reid in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Visit me and see more at:
http://www.fundinmental.com -
A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher for review.
I fully intended to re-read
Pretty Dark Nothing before I started this book, but time got away from me, and I wasn’t able to. I was a bit wary, because sometimes second books in a series leave no room for book amnesia, and I am left completely floundering if I haven’t been able to re-read the first book to get my book memory back. Luckily enough, Reid wove in the important aspects of Pretty Dark Nothing into this book, and I was never left floundering and confused.
Pretty Dark Sacrifice is incredibly different from its predecessor. The demons play a huge role in the book, and Quinn really comes into herself as a character. And: a lot of shit goes down. Aaron is stuck in the Underworld with the evil Lilith, and she’s searching for the apple that Eve bit into way back when, so that she can release the second half of her demon army on the human realm. Quinn is intent on saving him, and the world.
I was sad that Quinn and Aaron weren’t really together in this book, because I really loved their reactions in Pretty Dark Nothing. They compliment each other really well, and I do want them to get a happily ever after at the end of this series.
However, I think this separation allowed Quinn to really come into herself. Sure, she had her weak moments (we all do), but she accepted her destiny as Eve recreated pretty well, and her determination to get Aaron out of the Underworld – and at any cost – was pretty badass. She also doesn’t take shit from anyone, and I love that. She became a heroine worthy of her story.
Aaron also came into himself during their separation. We learn that he’s half angel (don’t worry, not a spoiler, you find out really early on in the book), and turns into a totally hot angel boy with golden wings and everything. He’s not just a human, and he can do so much more than he ever believed. Like protect himself.
I was a little disappointed and annoyed in Quinn’s best friend, Reese, and I felt like she could have been both stronger and more capable. She’s a bit stupid, to be honest, and I wanted more from her character. I did like, however, the introduction of Caleb because I think he really added to the story, and I liked that he and Quinn formed such a steadfast friendship. I like platonic relationships between guys and girls in YA – because they CAN happen.
Pretty Dark Sacrifice ended on a HUGE cliffhanger, not unlike Pretty Dark Nothing, and I hope I don’t have to wait another two years for the next book!
(Also: LOOK AT THAT COVER *DROOLS*)
© 2015,
Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved. -
*Actual rating: 3.5 stars.*
Note: I received a free digital e-ARC for review purposes thanks to Chapter by Chapter & the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book.
The sequel to Pretty Dark Nothing was just as gripping, unique and full of twists as its predecessor Pretty Dark Nothing. Unfortunately I did find the main character to be quite annoying, unlike in Pretty Dark Nothing,where I was able to sympathize and understand the protagonist. However, I did come to accept her by the end of the book, and that's one of the main reasons I rated this book closer to 4 stars. The plot and writing were also great!
Plot
I really liked the plot, it was unique and I would say I liked it even more than that of Pretty Dark Nothing. By just a little bit, though. One of the things I liked, that I usually like in all sequels, is the fact that I was already introduced to the characters and the book was able to start off immediately in the middle of action. There was no need to start off slowly, after all. But what I liked most about the plot was the storyline. The whole thing with Lilith and the demons. I've read several books with demons in them, but both this and Pretty Dark Nothing provided me with a more different take on them, which I enjoyed reading about in this book. These demons, they fed on negativity, and the way this was portrayed was so interesting!"Where she went, the demons followed. Already, they invaded the ever-widening cracks in her mental barrier. She could feel their insidious claws digging into her memories, searching out her pain."
(Pretty Dark Sacrifice ARC, Chapter 1)
Characters
I will say right off the bat that Quinn was more difficult to enjoy in this book. In the first book, she made a lot of mistakes, but for the most part I was able to understand why and sympathize, which was the main reason I was okay with her. But in this one, it was different, because while I understood why she did the things she did, I couldn't exactly sympathize or approve. Okay, so she's in love with Aaron and feels guilty because he sacrificed himself for her, but that doesn't mean it's alright to be reckless and risk everything to save him, when it meant that the whole human was at stake. I did understand why though; she was desperate and guilty, and I guess when you're in love, that's what happens? I don't know, but I was annoyed with her attitude for most of the first part of the book. However, I did come to like her soon enough. I did admire her bravery and determination, not to mention strength in facing Lilith and her demons. I also really liked the lack of love triangle in this one, if there had been one it wouldn't have made sense and it would've just been bothersome. Quinn came off as annoying and weak at the start, but by the end I actually did come to really care for her.
Aaron, we don't get to see much of in this book, but I did like him. Probably even more than I liked Quinn. I really liked his dedication and love for Quinn, (although I would say he deserves better). He was also very determined, and never gave up on finding a way to escape and defeat Lilith.
As for the other characters, I think they kind of fell flat, but they were still good nonetheless. I liked Marcus, Aaron's best friend, he was a comic relief and very sweet. Reese, Quinn's best friend, I wasn't that impressed, but she was alright. There was a good cast of characters that were essential to the story and relatively interesting to read about.
Writing Style
The writing style was great, I really liked the mood Heather L. Reid was able to create with her writing; dark and mysterious. There were also a lot of descriptive passages, which were great because they weren't overdone and were useful in visualizing the world. It kept me interested in the book, and I flew through the pages as a result!
Overall...
I liked this book! I would say I liked it around the same as the first book, although I would say I liked the plot for this a bit better. I found the main character to be annoying in the first part of the book, but I did warm up to her as I continued the story, and by the end of the story, although I didn't love her, she was a good character. The other characters were interesting too. What I liked most about this book was its storyline, I definitely recommend giving this series a try if you're looking for a refreshing take on demons or like paranormal romance. From what I read in the ending, it seems like this will be a trilogy, and I'll be looking forward to reading the last book!
*This review will soon be posted
on my blog.* -
For lack of a better saying holy hell. This book was the epitome of Awesome. I absolutely adored book 1 and I couldn't wait to jump into book 2. While reading the story you're thrust into this world that's stuck in between the balance of good and evil. Every little nuance of each side was done impeccably. I loved reading the continuation of Quinn's story and learning more about Aaron/Kaemon. The back story between the crew and their past lives was so spectacular.
I also found a lot of satisfaction in Quinn finally opening up to other people. It was great to see Reese finally being there for her best friend with no secrets between them.
In this book were introduced to some new characters, and given a better glimpse into some of the older characters. We meet a character named Caleb, who has a small ability similar but not as strong as Quinn's. Is definitely a character I look forward to reading more about in the next book because I have some suspicions of him, its just a little too coincidental that he has a small ability to see as she does. But don't worry I'm not suspicious in a bad way, so feel free to fall in love with him.
It was also really fun to see Quinn step out of her damsel-in-distress role and dive headlong into the kick-ass character we all knew she could be. I also loved that Marcus played an even bigger role than he did in the previous book. A big supporter of Quinn when people just thought she was insane.
I definitely feel that the back story was developed a lot more in this book that it was in the previous. Book one you're introduced to these characters and just giving a slight glimpse into the terror that is their world. But in this book you get this fleshed-out story that's holds you what made it the way it is, why they're dealing with what they're dealing.
Now the first book was a little dark, but not exactly the kind of give you nightmares book that one would expect with Shadow Demon figures. This one definitely has the massive creep factor making it seem more of a young adult horror novel then a paranormal fantasy. This author has an amazing way of writing scenes and characters that make them almost real. There was a bit of predictability but only because you've grown to know these characters so well that you kind of know where they're going, so its not as irksome as other books.
This book doesn't pick up exactly where book 1 ended, there's some weeks in between the final scenes of book one and this one's beginning but I feel like it gave Quinn more room for growth. You don't have to deal with those uncertain moments that would have inevitably made her week and unlikable. You're introduced to Quinn 2.0 or rather 1.5. You get to see her still uncertain and holding onto a grasp of that lost girl from book 1 but she's in the process of this metamorphosis into the new are better when you get at the end of book 2.
5 Quills
This series is a perfect mixture of Supernatural meets Pandora's box, with lots of twists and turns and unforgettable characters. I don't think I can stress how amazing I found this book or how much I love the series. It's really good and pretty easy to follow. It's written with a clear story arc and a pretty easy to follow line from point A to point B. But you're also given all these crazy and action filled crescendos. I just absolutely adored the premise of the story and the execution. I cannot wait for the next book in the series as I'm sure it's going to be even better than this one. -
*Review to come after blog tour* 2.5 Stars!
Update
For the life of me, I just could not connect with this book at all. I thought that after reading Book 1, that it would only get better – because I somewhat liked the direction the story seemed to be heading. This one didn’t even scratch the surface of being as likable as the first. Second book syndrome at it’s finest. Well, in my opinion.
Let’s start with our heroine, Quinn. I liked her character more in this book. She wasn’t as whiny and b**chy here, which is a good thing considering. She followed those gut instincts of hers, and was able to focus her powers on finding Aaron and possibly saving the people as well. Quinn’s and Aaron’s connection was more realistic in this book. As they say, “You don’t miss the water until the well runs dry”. After that jump in the last book and his immediate disappearance, everything shifted. Quinn just knew that he wasn’t dead, and I’m glad that she got her head out of her axx. She was too focused on herself in the first book to fully appreciate his character, until the end.
Now, the paranormal aspects in this book could have been more. I really didn’t get half of what it all means. There was no direct connection for me, and that’s a deal breaker. I need more answers than questions. I’m not sure why this bothered me so much, but I think it all could have been explained more than it was. It’s like the author just decided to muddy it all up and let the reader make up what was actually happening. characterization wasn’t the problem, it’s the world building. Give me more than info-dumps, I need to be able to visualize the scenes taking place. Show, not tell. There are too many mystical beings in this world to not have them all outlined to fit the flow of the story. Angels, demons, watchers, gods/goddesses, etc..
I was more keen on keeping up with the antagonist, Lilith, than all of the other stuff going on. At least her plan was firm, even if she is an evil b***h. The underworld could have definitely been touched upon some more. I’m not sure on the rec front for this series. Okay, so there is some good with this, I won’t lie. But if you are looking for everything to be tied up tight, then I’m not sure if this is the book for you. It has so much potential though, so it’s hard to say if I will even read the next book. I want to, so badly. But, my opinion is only that, an opinion. Don’t just take my word for it, because I’m really debating on whether to see this through because it’s not a bad series. I just think that it could be more than what it is. -
It has been a long time since I read the first book, Pretty Dark Nothing, and I admit that I forgot a lot of the finer details. But I remembered enough to know that I truly enjoyed it, and I was hoping that enjoyment would last through book 2. And it did! Whew!
Quinn, as a character, has grown in leaps and bounds. She is determined to save Aaron, who is believed to be dead, from the Underworld. She is fierce in this book, more so than the first. She is strong, and capable. Maybe a little bit reckless, but it is understandable. She doesn't care what anyone says, thinks about her, or does. Her goal is to save Aaron, and she will stop at nothing, or for no one. Aaron is another great character, and I really enjoyed his POV. He is MORE than he was in the first book, and it was interesting watching him grow as a character. As far as characters go, from the MC's to the secondaries, Heather Reid knows how to make personalities distinct. She knows how to give us characters that we can root for, and care about, and that is one of the best things about this series, by far.
Pretty Dark Sacrifice is fast-paced, and intense, and there were certain parts of the story that had me so wrapped up and engrossed, the world around me faded. There were some slow spots, and certain things that weren't perfect, but honestly? I just didn't care! All in all, I truly enjoyed this book. I am enjoying this series! The author definitely knows how to write a great book, and I look forward to more from her in the (near!) future!
Thanks to Month9Books for letting me read an ARC of this book! -
Kindle Copy Win
It’s been over a month since Aaron has sacrificed his life for Quinn’s life. His body has yet to be found as demons have forced her to be thrown into the raging river. Quinn believes he is still alive despite people telling her to move on.
A sudden appearance of a mysterious box appears at the location where Aaron disappears begins the prophecy to life. An ancient prophesy that includes betrayal, revenge, and sacrifice that will take her to the depths of the underworld where she must face Lilith—Adam’s first wife who holds on to Aaron.
In order to free Aaron, she must sacrifice her blood but doing so it will allow Lilith to unleash the demon horde Eve who is trapped inside the box during the Battle of Eden millennia ago. Can she save the human realm or save Aaron, what will she choose or can she be able to save everything?
What are we willing to sacrifice for love? An interesting read of what people willing to do for the one we love. -
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Pretty Dark Sacrifice is the second book to Pretty Dark Nothing. I found it more intriguing than the first novel. It was very well written and the characters were more developed. This book had a lot more action and suspense compared to the first book. I give this book 4 stars.
