Review--DARKNESS BRUTAL by Rachel Anne Marks

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of DARKNESS BRUTAL by Rachel Anne Marks before it’s release on July 1.  If you’re a fan of young adult paranormal or urban fantasy this is a novel you won’t want to miss. 

Here’s the official blurb:

Aidan O’Linn’s childhood ended the night he saw a demon kill his mother and mark his sister, Ava, with Darkness. Since then, every three years the demons have returned to try to claim her. Living in the gritty, forgotten corners of Los Angeles, Aidan has managed to protect his sister, but he knows that even his powers to fight demons and speak dead languages won’t keep her safe for much longer.

In desperation, Aidan seeks out the help of Sid, the enigmatic leader of a group of teens who run LA Paranormal, an Internet reality show that fights demons and ghosts. In their company, Aidan believes he’s finally found a haven for Ava. But when he meets Kara, a broken girl who can spin a hypnotic web of passionate energy, he awakens powers he didn’t know he had―and unleashes a new era of war between the forces of Light and the forces of Darkness.

With the fate of humanity in his hands, can Aidan keep the Darkness at bay and accept his brilliant, terrifying destiny?

My thoughts:

DARKNESS BRUTAL is packed with action, twists, and cool magic elements, not to mention a wide variety of paranormal beings.  The mythology behind what’s going on unfolds as the main character dives deeper into the world around him and his family’s past.  This story does have moderate sexual situations, dark creepiness and some violence. So if you prefer your paranormal stories light and fluffy, then Darkness Brutal probably isn’t a good choice for you.

What I enjoyed most about DARKNESS BRUTAL were the characters. There are a lot of them and many are in their teens, but they each come across as distinct. The dialogue and interactions are realistic and fun, and ground the story in its contemporary setting. Though this story left me ready to read the next book in the series, it also felt satisfying.

If you want to learn more about DARKNESS BRUTAL or order, HERE'S a link