| Title | : | Breaking the Dark (Marvel Crime, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1368090125 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781368090124 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 384 |
| Publication | : | First published July 4, 2024 |
Meet Jessica Jones: Retired super hero, private investigator, loner. She tried her best to be a shiny spandex crimefighter, but that life only led to unspeakable trauma. Now she avoids that world altogether and works on surviving day-to-day in Hell’s Kitchen, New York.
The morning a distraught mother comes into her office, Jessica would prefer to nurse her hangover and try to forget last night’s poor choices. But something about Amber Randall’s story strikes a chord with her. Amber is adamant that something happened to her teenage twins while they were visiting their father in the UK. The twins don’t act like themselves, and they now have flawless skin, have lost their distinctive tics and habits, and keep talking about a girl named Belle. Amber insists her children have been replaced by something horrible, something “perfect.”
Traveling to a small village in the British countryside, Jessica meets the mysterious Belle, who lives a curiously isolated life in an old farmhouse with a strange woman who claims to be her guardian. Can this unworldly teenager really be responsible for the Randall twins’ new personas? Why does the strange little village of Barton Wallop seem to harbor dark energies and mysteries in its tight-knit community?
A mother’s intuition is never wrong. And Jessica knows that nothing in life is perfect—not these kids, not her on-again, off-again relationship with Luke Cage, and certainly not Jessica herself. But even as she tries to buy into the idea that better days are ahead, Jessica Jones has seen all too clearly that behind every promise of perfection trails a dark, dangerous shadow.
Breaking the Dark, the first book in the brand-new Marvel Crime series, introduces fans to a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe, and will continue with original novels featuring fan-favorite characters like Luke Cage, written by S.A. Cosby, and Daredevil, written by Alex Segura.
Breaking the Dark (Marvel Crime, #1) Reviews
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My review as someone that is NOT a Marvel person.
full review here
The first 30% of this book, I wasn't sure. I struggled to connect with it and I think I was looking for Lisa Jewell's usual style which seemed to be missing. Once I got over that and kind of tried to see the book for what it was I loved it.
Was it a Lisa Jewell classic, no. Did I still have a great time, yes.
The premise of this book is what did it for me more so than the characters or the writing I think. It gave me Rouge by Mona Awad and Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang vibes without being pretentious or weird lit vibes.
That being said, I do think the premise will be hit or miss with a lot of Lisa Jewell's regular readers, especially her older readers however props to Lisa Jewell for stepping out of her comfort zone!!
Overall I would say read this book but don't RUN for it!
PRE REVIEW: Do I like Marvel, no. Will I read it because it's Lisa Jewell? Yes -
LISA JEWELL WRITING A 400 PAGE BOOK ABOUT JESSICA JONES? WHAT?
TAKE MY MONEY TAKE MY BANK ACCOUNT -
Not a favourite, but I did find myself wondering what will happen next. Not sure yet if I will pick up the next book in this series.
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DNF at 30%
I grabbed this ARC because, of course, it's Lisa Jewell. I know nothing about Marvel Comics but I gave it a go.
I ended up Googling Jessica Jones and that helped a bit but after spending many hours I've decided it's not for me. I made it to 30%, it's not a bad book, I'm just not the right audience for it.
I'm sure that anyone interested in the lives of these past super heroes will enjoy the book. I've never read comics -
I’m sorry I didn’t love this one but I did not hate it either. I mean it is Lisa Jewell!! The supernatural part hasn’t reached my curiosity since I was buying comic books in my childhood, so I connected somewhat but not enough to score it as a 5 star!
I have not watched the Netflix series with Jessica Jones and her super powers, but intrigued enough to match some of the descriptors with a visual! Some readers are going to love this one. I love her writing so it kept me persevering. It does have a dark premise that gives a creepy and strange plot. Kudos to the Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel #1 for being entertaining!
Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this ARC in exchange for my review. -
4 solid stars. Actually, this was way better than I expected it to be, and that's a real testament to Lisa Jewell's writing, as I am not into superheroes & the MCU, at all. I think it worked due to Jessica Jones being such a broken and yet relatable heroine, and that the villain, Polly, was no Thanos, either - though I did find the "perfect" plot very weird. Anyway, I'm glad I read it :)
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This is undoubtedly written well, in typical Jewell fashion.
It’s me not the book. I’m not a fan of Marvel and had I known I would never had requested it on NetGalley.
I wish the author the best and look forward to her next psychological thriller! -
Take a shot every time you said ‘Perfect, Perfect, Perfect’
One of my favourite all time authors Lisa Jewell, has taken a turn with her books and has entered the Marvel Multiverse with her new release.
In Breaking the Dark, we are following Jessica Jones who is a retired superhero now Private Investigator. One morning she gets a knock on her door from distraught mother Amber who is concerned about her twin teenage kids who came back home from the summer at their fathers in the UK and are now acting very weird. She doesn’t think its normal teenage behaviour and believes something sinister has happened to them. She begs for Jessica to investigate and get to the bottom of the mystery.
JESSICA JONES TO THE RESCUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok so I am not really a Marvel fan to be honest, so I wasn’t sure what to expect with this story. But Lisa reminded me why I am such a massive fan of her work because her writing is captivating. Lisa knows how to write characters and most importantly writes them so well that you genuinely care about what they are doing and stay rooting for them. Her characters are not perfect, they all have their flaws, strengths and weaknesses and its easy to relate to them.
Lisa created great intrigue and suspense with this book, and I was eager to go along the ride with Jessica to find out what was happening with the kids. It didn’t feel gimmicky and comical (ironic I know) and it was so easy to picture the scenes and atmosphere in my head.
This was more than a book of superheroes flying around everywhere and trying to catch the big bad villain. I read about loneliness, insecurities, greed and people striving for ‘perfection’.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Good pacing
➽ Short chapters
➽ Interesting characters
➽ Dual time frame
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ No real twists
➽ Read more like a YA novel
➽ Not enough backstory about Jessica Jones
➽ Ending was mediocre
The pacing was good and kept my attention. There was some parts that kind of lost me and went over my head. The ending wasn’t anything spectacular or mind-blowing and was somewhat predicted from myself, but I wasn’t mad it. Overall, I really enjoyed it and wouldn’t be opposed to watching the tv adaptation.
Don’t be perfect… Be REAL
Perfection isn’t a goal, it’s a scam
3.5 ⭐
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⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Reading new books from fave authors this month!
Very nervous as this is different from her usual style
I might be a Marvel fan at the end... lets see!? 😅🖤💜 -
I am a big fan of Lisa Jewell and Jessica Jones so reading Breaking The Dark was a no brainer for me l Jessica jones is my favourite female superhero and I absolutely loved the Netflix series (and not because David Tennant played the bad guy 😅)
This book was everything that I hoped that it would be and more. I can't wait for the next 2 books! You don’t have to be a Marvel fan to enjoy this. It is a detective story. It just so happens that that private investigator has superpowers. The story takes place in New York and a small village in the UK. It was fun to see Jessica deal with the change in culture and way of speaking. I loved the appearance of Luke Cage and Danny Rand, the Iron Fist! It's so fun!!🤩
While Jessica is looking into why twins have returned to the US from the UK differently, it is much more than that. It is a story of vanity, social media influence, vampires, perfectionism, vampires, eternal life, and more. It is so dark and the creepy factor is high! There are some scary characters, ones that will stop at nothing to get what they want. Jessica’s finds herself in trouble a few times as you would expect.
As always with Lisa Jewell, the writing was superb, and the characters were well written and fleshed out. It was exciting, it was emotional, it was highly entertaining to read, and I did not want it to be over.
Thank you so much to Random House UK, Century, and Cornerstone for my advanced copy of this brilliant book to read. Will be on my favourites list for the year without a doubt. I have already pre ordered a physical copy for my shelves. Get it July 4th. -
this was my first book by lisa jewell and it was not what i was expecting.
jessica jones, a retired superhero takes on an unusual case about twin sixteen year olds lark and fox who have acted different after returning from a stay with their father in the uk. their mother tells jessica about how their skin is unnaturally perfect and how all their quirks and habits have suddenly disappeared. jessica travels to london to find out more and discovers a greater evil at play.
i'm not the biggest fan of marvel, so i had no clue who jessica jones was before i read this. i found the writing style a bit difficult to get used to, and i had to continuously suspend my belief throughout the book once i had figured out the plot twist, although i guess it was enjoyable watching everything play out.
i would only recommend this if you love/know a lot about marvel and enjoy lisa jewell's writing style, but tbh this was probably more of a “me not the book” situation.
(ps. sorry for such a short + bland review, i'm on holiday and i only just realised that this was releasing really soon <3 )
꒰ 💐 ⊹˚. pre review:
eh. nothing special tbh. miranda was a terrible choice for a book set in the uk because all of us would be thinking about the tv show, but whilst it was incredibly unrealistic (like having diesel jets inside your body - does she get more happy when she's in a gas station??) it wasn't the worst book i've read, and my standards have been lowered so much that the thought of this not being the worst makes me happy.
꒰ 🧸 ⊹˚. tbr-review:
i've never read a lisa jewell, nor have i read the premise, and i only requested this one because it's about marvel. will it work out for the better? probably not. -
When I saw that Lisa Jewell had written a crime book set in the Marvel Universe, I was immediately intrigued. I love Jewell’s writing, I love crime books, and we’re all obsessed with Marvel in my family. I was thrilled to be gifted an advance copy.
Let’s get down to it: This book is freaky weird. Don’t even bother trying to deduce what’s going on. Remember the realm you’re in—anything is possible.
Due to the aforementioned freaky weirdness, the story will be a turn-off to some. It worked for me because I’m able to suspend my disbelief and eagerly immerse myself in a world where superpowers exist. I encourage everyone to do the same….you will be missing out on a good book if you throw in the towel the first time something happens that doesn’t follow the laws of physics.
I was unfamiliar with Jessica Jones before picking this up. I’d heard of her, sure, and I’d seen the Netflix picture of her with David Tennant creepily whispering in her ear (Seriously, David—you’re exuding creepiness there). However, I didn’t know her backstory…and that turned out to be just fine. Hints at what happened to her previously are interspersed through the book, and going in blind doesn’t hinder the reading experience, in my opinion. I did get a little impatient after the second hint and quickly looked up a little summary of her past, but don’t be like me, kids, because if you do end up wanting to watch the Jessica Jones TV series later, it’s easy to get spoilers that way.
All in all, this was a book I enjoyed, and I very much look forward to other entries in the Marvel crime series. Jessica Jones is flawed, but it makes her very relatable, and it’s a good reminder that even superheroes need to prioritize their mental health! 😄
My thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the eARC. I am writing this review voluntarily. -
I am sort of wobbly with this book. There were parts I thought were good, parts I was confused with, and parts that made me even more confused.
Granted I am not much of a fantasy reader, but in this telling, Lisa Jewell included so many things that after awhile I didn't know where I was. The changes n scenes was abrupt and had me wondering what or who I was reading about.
Jessica Jones starts us off, burdened by her superhero trauma and would prefer the life of drinking, and partying. However, when Amber Randall, comes to her with a story of how her twins have changed after a trip to England, Jessica decides to become active in investigating the why of their weirdness.
Traveling to England to a small town named Barton Wallop, she finds strange and eerie atmosphere where she meets the twins' stepfather, and person named Belle, who has a caretaker and offers such vague and mysterious answers to questions posed.
There is something strange going on that may be connected to missing girls and the twins behavior and"perfect" looks.
This is to be a series on three marvel wonders, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Daredevil written by two other authors. -
I like Lisa Jewell and I love Jessica Jones so I was excited to discover this book. It was interesting to read a Marvel novel, and I liked that it had a bit of a darker undertone than most Marvel stuff. I did think the story seemed to start not at the beginning and the past tense story took me a lot longer to get into than Jessica’s storyline. I thought what she was going through was very interesting and I liked it overall. Jessica has retreated to Hell’s Kitchen to lick her wounds and try to recover after being used and controlled. A woman named Amber comes and offers her a lot of money to figure out what happened to her twin teenage children. She says they returned from their father’s home in England with crazy perfect skin, a lack of interest in their cell phones, and an obsession with the word perfect. After a little reluctant investigating Jessica realizes that Amber is right and something mysterious is going on. I’m intrigued that the next book is about Luke Cage and I think I will be definitely keeping an eye out for that one.
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Oh. HELL. Yes!!
I freaking love Jessica Jones & own all of her comics physically!
PLUS! Lisa Jewell! Who wrote one of my top 3 thrillers of 2023!
I’m damn EXCITED! Jess is dark & gritty & is the type to kick the door down & ask questions later, which I love!
♥️ -
Step into the darker side of the Marvel universe with 'Breaking the Dark'.......
Book Information
Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell is a 384-page mystery/thriller set in the Marvel Universe with a publication date of July 2, 2024. Thank you to Hyperion Avenue for providing me an Advance Readers Copy for review.
Summary
Jessica Jones, a retired superhero turned private investigator, navigates her troubled life in Hell's Kitchen, New York, avoiding her traumatic past as a spandex-clad crimefighter. Her routine is disrupted when a distressed mother, Amber Randall, seeks her help, claiming eerie, flawless versions have replaced her teenage twins after visiting their father in the UK. Intrigued by the bizarre changes and mention of a girl named Belle, Jessica travels to a remote British village, where she encounters Belle and her enigmatic guardian. The village, Barton Wallop, hides dark secrets and energies, challenging Jessica to uncover the truth. Amidst her personal struggles and imperfect life, Jessica knows that behind every illusion of perfection lies a dangerous reality.
My Thoughts
"Breaking the Dark" by Lisa Jewell is an engaging crime novel with a supernatural twist, marking the kickoff of a three-book series, each featuring a different hero and penned by a different author. This installment dives deep into the life of Jessica Jones, a character I knew by name but wasn’t familiar with her backstory. Despite this, I quickly became a fan of Jessica, who offers a more humanistic take on a superhero—one that grapples with real-world struggles and often handles them in less-than-healthy ways. This isn't just a superhero story—it's a human saga that will pull you in and with which many will identify.
Fast-paced and unpredictable, "Breaking the Dark" is set in the Marvel universe, where anything is possible. If you’re looking for realism and a plot that adheres strictly to science, this might be a stretch for you. The story is far-fetched at times, but it’s a superhero novel, after all, and leans into the darker side of the genre, more so than most Marvel releases. With every chapter, 'Breaking the Dark' pulls you deeper into a web of mystery and suspense.
The story jumps between different time periods, an approach that, while effective, can be a bit confusing if you’re not paying close attention. Some transitions are abrupt, while others are more subtle, adding layers to an already detailed plot.
Lisa Jewell’s superb writing brings well-fleshed characters to life. I especially liked Jessica’s "intern" Malcolm. The book is exciting, emotional, and highly entertaining. It kept me engaged and guessing the whole way through. With multiple POVs and dual timelines, it’s easily readable and perfect for those who enjoy creepy superhero stories, slowly unraveling mysteries or the character of Jessica Jones. It’s a masterfully crafted story that keeps you guessing and questioning until the very last page.
Recommendation
"Breaking the Dark" is a well-written, darkly intriguing addition to the Marvel universe that captures the essence of Jessica Jones with compelling depth and nuance. The story's blend of crime and supernatural elements, along with its unpredictable plot twists, keeps readers on the edge of their seats. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a more humanistic and darker take on superhero stories.
Rating
4 Glamor Stars -
thank you netgalley, lisa jewell, and hyperion avenue for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! i enjoyed this one a lot and was very interested in seeing where the story was going. it follows jessica jones after a mother reaches out to her about her two teenage twins who have been acting strange after coming back from visiting their father in the uk. the story draws you in as you learn more about what’s really going on with the twins. i thought that the storyline became a little too far-fetched at times, but it is a superhero novel, and i think some people would like that more. i am a marvel fan though and i think this was a fun and worthy addition to the universe. it feels darker than most of the other stuff marvel releases, which i really enjoyed. the writing is also well-done, which is to be expected from lisa jewell. if you like superhero stories that are a little more creepy, mysteries that unravel slowly, or jessica jones as a character, pick this one up!
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Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc of Breaking the Dark.
As a fan of Lisa Jewell and Marvel separately, I am very excited that we're now getting a mash up.
As always the writing style of Lisa Jewell was really good and the plot of the story was really fast paced. It also had me feeling a little uncomfortable in my skin on occasion with the mystery. It got quite creepy in places.
I really enjoyed this mystery and I'm really looking forward to Luke Cage's book and also Daredevil. -
3.5 ⭐
Ready for some mind-bending?!
THIS is the top-secret project that Lisa Jewell has been working on! She’s been chosen to launch the Marvel Crime series of thrillers for adults. WOW. This first installment, ‘Breaking The Dark’, features Private Detective Jessica Jones. The series will continue with S.A. Cosby writing book two, Luke Cage, and Alex Segura writing book three, Daredevil.
Jessica Jones is a crime fighter who values her mental health. She’s chosen to leave her world and seek refuge in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Your mind is bent already, right? A superhero who values mental health. Read on. Jessica is intrigued by client Amber Randall’s claim that something happened to her children while they were visiting their father in the U.K. Convinced that Belle, an unsavory teenager they hung out with, did something to them, replacing them with something horrible and perfect, Amber persuades Jessica to investigate what happened in Barton Wallop.
I went into this with an open mind and I was still left gobsmacked! My linear brain struggled to appreciate being immersed in the Marvel world, and I struggled with the writing style. Regardless, this was an immersive read that showcased the supernatural and technologically forward world and gave me my first introduction to the paranormal/artificially intelligent crime-solving subgenre.
Jewell’s book examines dark energy, the cost of trying to reach society’s standards for beauty, and a mother’s intuition and will be a blockbuster introduction to this series.
I was gifted this copy by Hyperion and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review. -
Perfect!!!!
“ perfect is not defined by people who make money out of your insecurities, nor is it defined by a male gaze or the opinions of those who wish to demean you. Perfect is what you are when you were listening only to the beat of your own heart, the sound of your own feet on the road ahead of you, the one pure voice that exists inside you telling you that you are fine, just the way you are.”
So I am not really a marvel person, but a new book by my favorite author, heck yeah! Didn’t really have any expectations going into this or really know what to expect, but let me just say I freaking loved it! The layers of depth to this woman’s writing Amaze me! I have no idea how she can come up with some of these plots and weave them together, as I was reading the beginning, probably 2/3 of the book trying to figure out how these different threads were all going to come together, but they did And it was perfect! -
Mentioned this to my husband (who isn't really a reader, nor does he care much about what I read) and now suddenly he is interested in who I happen to have as authors on my bookshelves and told me he wants to read it first 😳 I think I'll have to hide myself away while I read it before he even knows it's in the house 😅
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I couldn’t put this down - Lisa Jewell did an amazing job with Jessica Jones!
I kind of had my doubts only because I’m not a Jessica Jones fan (I didn’t care about the show) and I’m not really and detective/PI fan. I loved this. -
Breaking the Dark (Marvel Crime #1) by Lisa Jewell
Writing: B
Story: B
Characters: B+
Best Aspect: A fresh mystery/superhero story that made me want to keep turning the page.
Worst Aspect: This was strange and all dull in sections.
Recommend: Yes. -
Jessica Jones Noir-Lite
Review of the Penguin Audio edition (July 4, 2024) narrated by
Helen Laser and released simultaneously with the Hyperion Avenue hardcover & eBook.She has left behind most of her close friends from her years as a—admittedly below par—super hero. They exist on another plane now, far above her, with their costumes and their glamour and their mystique. She is a scruffy second cousin in comparison, not thought of nor remembered from day to day. And she has felt for so long that this is where she belongs, here in this nasty apartment, doing this nasty, messy job, alone, drunk, empty inside. But surely, she wonders painfully, surely there must be more than this.
I have only read 3 other books by so-called "psychological suspense" writer Lisa Jewell, but they were more suspenseful and creepy than this one. I only know Jessica Jones from the
TV adaptations of the
Marvel comics character, which were much more noir-like and dark themed. So although the promo text for this "first book in the brand-new Marvel Crime series, [which] introduces fans to a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe" promises a darker edge, I suspect that both groups of fans may be somewhat disappointed in the result.
Actor Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones in the Netflix TV series adaptations (2015-2019). Image sourced from
Slash Film.
Former superhero (abilities: superstrength/flying) Jessica Jones now runs her solo Alias Investigations private detective business. She is hired by a client to investigate why her 2 teenage children have returned from a summer visit with the father in England and do not seem to be the same as they were. Jones takes on the case and also enlists a teenage assistant Malcolm to help infiltrate the high school world of the kids. Occasional boyfriend Luke Cage makes some cameo appearances. Superhero antics are kept to a minimum though with Jones trying to curtail her drinking and use of powers due to a possible pregnancy.
Overall this did feel in keeping with the Jessica Jones that I knew from the TV adaptations. Chronologically it takes place after her retirement from superheroing and after her escape from the mind control of Kilgrave (which was the story arc of Season 1 on TV). The plot she faces in Breaking the Dark is diabolical enough, but it all seems much lighter than her own or Lisa Jewell's other outings.
The narration by Helen Laser was fine in all voices. It would have certainly added a further edge if they had gotten Krysten Ritter to narrate.
Trivia and Links
There is a promotional article at Marvel.com where you can also read the opening chapters of the book
here. The article also mentions that future planned Marvel Crime novels include a
Luke Cage novel by
S.A. Cosby and a
Daredevil novel by
Alex Segura. -
I love Marvel. And I love Lisa Jewell even more. So for me this was a match made in heaven. I opened this book with high expectations and as usual Lisa met them and then some! I inhaled this book in less than a day and I am absolutely and completely committed to this series now!
Let me start by saying that one of my favorite things about the way the story unfolds is that you don’t need to be a big Marvel fan to enjoy it. Lisa builds Jessica’s character from the ground up slowly revealing her backstory and if I wasn’t already a fan of the character, I would be after this book. One of my favorite things about Marvel is that all super heroes have a dark side and inner demons they are battling all while trying to make the world a better and safer place.
The mystery aspect of the story had me on the edge of my seat and I loved that I didn’t know how it’s all going to tie together. A word of warning for Lisa’s fans - this is very different than her usual thrillers especially as there are aspects of supernatural about it! I love that she ventured into brand new territory and did such an amazing job of it!
What to expect:
📚 emotionally damaged superhero
📚 dual timeline
📚 great writing
📚 intriguing case
📚 great character development
A huge thank you to Penguin Random House UK (Cornerstone) and NetGalley for my ARC! I’m already ready for book 2 🤓 -
I loved the idea of Lisa Jewell writing a Marvel crime book and I wasn’t disappointed.
The main character is Jessica Jones. and whilst I’ve seen most of the Marvel movies, I’ve not kept up with the many TV series that have been released. Therefore she was a new character for me and that was fine.
Jessica is a private investigator and is asked for help by Amber, who is a rich mum of two who is very worried about them.
Since spending time at their father’s house in the UK they seem to have completely changed now they are back. Jessica initially dismisses Amber but when she asks her to follow them, Jessica can tell something is definitely not right.
This is a crime novel with a supernatural edge to it and it’s a great read.
I really liked the story and hope Lisa Jewell will write another Marvel Crime novel.
Thanks to Random House Cornerstone and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. -
Full disclosure- I am not a Marvel fan. The extent of my Marvel knowledge includes the first Toby McGuire Spider-Man movie and that Thor, aka Chris Hemsworth, is insanely delicious. Other than that I’ve got nothing for ya. Not a superhero girlie. BUT I am a Lisa Jewell girlie so I just had to read this one anyway.
And man, I am so glad I did! I really enjoyed this novel! Even without knowing a damn thing about Jessica Jones, it is not only easily readable, but easily enjoyable.
Jessica is a hotmess but I couldn’t help but still like her. I did feel some of the convos between her and Amber were a bit odd… but again, I don’t know anything about Jessica prior to this novel, so that could just be her character. I LOVED Amber though. For a richbitch, the way she became such a friend/motherly figure to Jessica made it hard not to love her. Malcolm was also such a fun side character that I couldn’t help but adore.
In true Jewell fashion, this was definitely a slow burn. But I really enjoyed the dual POVs- they each sucked me in and really helped the story along. Then the “villain” and “end game” were fascinating, if not completely creepy.. especially with the way AI seems to be headed.
Even for someone who doesn’t read sci-fi/comics/anything about superheroes, this was such an easy read! It combined these aspects so well with Jewell’s typical slow burn thriller/mystery. I absolutely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this e-ARC! -
3.5/5
As a lifelong comic book fan, I’m always interested in source book novelizations and tie-ins. Lisa Jewell has done a good job of fleshing out Jessica Jones. While new readers won’t catch all the nicely-placed nods to comic book canon, they’ll still be able to get a feel for who she is.
Jewell knows how to write emotionally charged stories and is good at creating suspense. So, that worked for me. What didn’t fully work were some predictable twists and story beats. But that’s just a minor (and spoilerish) issue.
I’m definitely interested to see how the Marvel Crime series of books grows with Luke Cage and Daredevil stories coming soon.
Audiobook narration: solid, but not extraordinary. -
Lisa Jewell just sucks you in and keeps you turning pages no matter what she writes! Marvel fan or not the mystery in this book totally intrigued me. No spoilers but she definitely made a statement at the end we all need to embrace. I loved all the characters. She weaved this Jessica Jones story together beautifully!
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Breaking The Dark is the first novel in the Marvel Crime series, which features three different Marvel characters. The story revolves around Jessica Jones, who investigates a case involving a set of twins that started behaving differently after visiting their father in the UK. At first, I hesitated to read this book because science fiction is not my usual genre, but Jewel's excellent writing skills did not disappoint me. I really enjoyed how this book combines Jewel's typical thriller style with a comic book aesthetic. I also enjoyed how Jessica and Luke's relationship was subtly portrayed but giving Jessica more of the spotlight in this book. Through this book, readers can immerse themselves in a world of superheroes while exploring the issues of societal perfection, the evolution of technology, and motherhood with fantasy elements including an immoral cat named Mr. Smith. This book is highly recommended for fans of thriller, crime, and Marvel.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Hyperion Avenue for giving me a copy of the book. -
Thank you to Hyperion Avenue for the digital copy to review.
This is what appears to be the first in the Marvel Crime series by several authors, and I thought Lisa Jewell did an outstanding job with Jessica Jones. I listened via audio and was highly entertained by the story and the characters, I’m not as familiar with Jessica Jones and Luke Cage as I am with some of the other Marvel characters but that did not matter. I am a huge fan of Marvel, and I loved the story and how it ended, and am very much looking forward to the next one in this series!
