Book Review
Visions of Darkness is a richly, evocative fantasy world that explores everyday evil in a parallel dimension to our own. A.L. Jackson's first foray into fantasy romance is eloquently poetic and descriptively lush. Jackson creates this world with a balance of beauty and darkness that works perfectly hand in hand with the realities of the real world. Jackson does a really wonderful job building the world of this series and setting up the chemistry and ties between the romantic couple. This fantasy romance has all the staples of an A.L. Jackson romance with a strong romantic relationship at its center featuring complex and dimensional characters. Visions of Darkness is truly a wonderful first novel in this new fantasy series, building the expectations of the world clearly, centering a romantic and strong relationship and ending with a cliff hanger to the action that is sure to draw any reader back.
This novel introduces us to Aria and Pax, two people who have a duty to fight the evils of the world while they are sleeping. These two have been meeting on another plain of existence for a long time blurring their understanding of reality and what they can truly believe. But when Aria is on the cusp of her 18th birthday and she is placed in a mental asylum, learning that her powers also translate into the waking world, she finds herself in grave danger. It is Pax's mission in life to always keep her safe. So Jackson really explores their two worlds colliding bringing in a layer of the forbidden with the intense pull these two have to the other. Their romance then develops was they race to escape the evils that follow them. Jackson beautiful blends this road trip style romance with the perfect balance of danger and fantasy. She creates this interesting world that is both easy to understand while being compelling and mysterious, leaving me excited to see where this world will grow and how Aria and Pax will fully grow into themselves.
Along with learning this world, this is also a discovery of love. Aria and Pax have always been told they are not to ever be together, but along their journey the tension is too strong for either to resist. Jackson explores this through the inner fights both have with themselves, as well as the gestures and protective nature that both have toward the other. This novel has a new adult romance feel as Jackson truly takes time and care before they enter into a physical relationship. Visions of Darkness is truly a wonderful, romantic and interesting fantasy romance, and I am looking forward to the next installment in Aria and Pax's story! I would so very highly recommend to any lover of the genre, as well as any A.L. Jackson fan, you are sure to find all the things you love about her novels in this new and interesting setting.
Thank you so to Valentine PR for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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