heatherreadsbooks's review
4.0
Whoops! I finished this a few days ago and completely forgot to review it.
Six months can feel like just a couple of weeks when you’ve been away in another realm. Literally.
Against The Dawn sees Darian return to Seattle, having been away for six months - in the realm she had been, it just felt like two mere weeks.
When I requested this book, it wasn't promoted as the fourth of a series, so this was my introduction, and - luckily - Bonilla's books work well as a stand alone, with enough flashbacks to previous plots to at least have some knowledge. At first, I was dubious, but I found myself warming to Darian as she expressed the difficulties of coping with her past, her torture, but the determination to not let it destroy her, and to take control of herself, her body and her life.
And there's an odd dichotomy to a number of the characters if this is your first introduction to them (I can't vouch for earlier entrances!) - it's easy to dislike some and then feel yourself slowly warming to personality that you hadn't previously noticed. Xander and Lorik both had dodgy first impressions to say the least, and only one seemed to redeem themselves in my book.
Urban-fantasy, is that the term? Let's go with that. Despite all the supernatural realm-shifting and other oddities, Against The Dawn is human at the core, from jealousy, heartache, survival and every other thing in between. It has its love interests, its plot points that totally hook you in, but what got me - not sure if it was quite so big for everyone - was Darian's determination to take control. I know I mentioned it before, but it bears repeating, because I found it really powerful to find a character actively affected, but not defeated by her past.
I've seen rave reviews to those who have followed the series, and for hopping on at a ridiculous point like I have, I still found myself hooked into it. And I kind of really like Darian.
Six months can feel like just a couple of weeks when you’ve been away in another realm. Literally.
Against The Dawn sees Darian return to Seattle, having been away for six months - in the realm she had been, it just felt like two mere weeks.
When I requested this book, it wasn't promoted as the fourth of a series, so this was my introduction, and - luckily - Bonilla's books work well as a stand alone, with enough flashbacks to previous plots to at least have some knowledge. At first, I was dubious, but I found myself warming to Darian as she expressed the difficulties of coping with her past, her torture, but the determination to not let it destroy her, and to take control of herself, her body and her life.
And there's an odd dichotomy to a number of the characters if this is your first introduction to them (I can't vouch for earlier entrances!) - it's easy to dislike some and then feel yourself slowly warming to personality that you hadn't previously noticed. Xander and Lorik both had dodgy first impressions to say the least, and only one seemed to redeem themselves in my book.
Urban-fantasy, is that the term? Let's go with that. Despite all the supernatural realm-shifting and other oddities, Against The Dawn is human at the core, from jealousy, heartache, survival and every other thing in between. It has its love interests, its plot points that totally hook you in, but what got me - not sure if it was quite so big for everyone - was Darian's determination to take control. I know I mentioned it before, but it bears repeating, because I found it really powerful to find a character actively affected, but not defeated by her past.
I've seen rave reviews to those who have followed the series, and for hopping on at a ridiculous point like I have, I still found myself hooked into it. And I kind of really like Darian.
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