A review by aileron
A Fractured Light by Jocelyn Davies
3.0
Like its predecessor, [b:A Beautiful Dark|10429025|A Beautiful Dark (A Beautiful Dark, #1)|Jocelyn Davies|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327916579l/10429025._SY75_.jpg|7790670], I really enjoyed this book. It's not perfect by any means, but there was a lot to appreciate about it.
Firstly, Skye experienced a lot of character growth throughout the novel. Unlike in the first book of the series, Skye made a conscious effort to exert more control over her life, make her own decisions, and resist the pressures of others. She also made great strides in understanding how her actions affected her friends and family. She learned to take responsibility for her behaviour and to be less selfish. I appreciated watching Skye evolve.
I also really liked how Skye's friends and her Aunt Jo become more central to the plot. At times, they were wallpaper characters in the first book, there to populate scenes but without any real role or purpose. Here, they propelled Skye's emotional growth. I loved seeing Skye come to appreciate how her behaviour and choices impacted her loved ones, especially Ian, Cassie and Aunt Jo.
Another improvement over A Beautiful Dark is that Asher become a more developed character. Here, he was more than just a cliché Bad Boy. He became a little more vulnerable, and his feelings for Skye were much more clear. Still, I would have liked to see their romance be a little more fleshed out; at times, I didn't quite understand why they had such strong feelings for each other, since their relationship was based on insta-love. It would have been nice for them to spend more time together actually talking and getting to know each other rather than just hooking up all the time! It would have given me a lot more insight into why they cared about each other.
I also enjoyed Raven's character progression. She became a more nuanced, three-dimensional character. I was happy to see her evolve beyond just being jealous and cruel.
Now on to my main problems with the book. They mostly centre on Devin. I had a hard time understanding Skye's feelings for him. After what he did at the end of A Beautiful Dark (I won't say more for fear of spoilers!), I couldn't comprehend her reaction to him. She still has romantic feelings for him, but I for one had a hard time wrapping my head around them.
Some things were hinted at and foreshadowed a little too obviously for my taste. I was able to guess what Skye would choose to do at the end of the novel at around page 50 due to some pretty obvious clues. The were also some clear hints that things weren't as they seemed with some people, but Skye was a bit slow on the uptake. I think most readers will be able to put the clues together faster than the plot reveals them. However, I didn't see one thing coming at the end of the novel, and it a great surprise.
The story could also become a little repetitive, because the narrative often repeats bits of writing from the first novel, or from earlier in the book, when Skye is remembering something that occurred during the first novel or. However, I thought that this was balanced out by some wonderful, creepy descriptive writing during Skye's dreams.
Overall, this was a fast, fun read, and a true page-turner. I devoured the book in one sitting. Once again, Davies' writing flows well, and her story held my attention throughout. My few criticisms of the book weren't detrimental to the overall reading experience, and I'll definitely read the next instalment of the trilogy.
FTC disclosure: I received this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
Firstly, Skye experienced a lot of character growth throughout the novel. Unlike in the first book of the series, Skye made a conscious effort to exert more control over her life, make her own decisions, and resist the pressures of others. She also made great strides in understanding how her actions affected her friends and family. She learned to take responsibility for her behaviour and to be less selfish. I appreciated watching Skye evolve.
I also really liked how Skye's friends and her Aunt Jo become more central to the plot. At times, they were wallpaper characters in the first book, there to populate scenes but without any real role or purpose. Here, they propelled Skye's emotional growth. I loved seeing Skye come to appreciate how her behaviour and choices impacted her loved ones, especially Ian, Cassie and Aunt Jo.
Another improvement over A Beautiful Dark is that Asher become a more developed character. Here, he was more than just a cliché Bad Boy. He became a little more vulnerable, and his feelings for Skye were much more clear. Still, I would have liked to see their romance be a little more fleshed out; at times, I didn't quite understand why they had such strong feelings for each other, since their relationship was based on insta-love. It would have been nice for them to spend more time together actually talking and getting to know each other rather than just hooking up all the time! It would have given me a lot more insight into why they cared about each other.
I also enjoyed Raven's character progression. She became a more nuanced, three-dimensional character. I was happy to see her evolve beyond just being jealous and cruel.
Now on to my main problems with the book. They mostly centre on Devin. I had a hard time understanding Skye's feelings for him. After what he did at the end of A Beautiful Dark (I won't say more for fear of spoilers!), I couldn't comprehend her reaction to him. She still has romantic feelings for him, but I for one had a hard time wrapping my head around them.
Some things were hinted at and foreshadowed a little too obviously for my taste. I was able to guess what Skye would choose to do at the end of the novel at around page 50 due to some pretty obvious clues. The were also some clear hints that things weren't as they seemed with some people, but Skye was a bit slow on the uptake. I think most readers will be able to put the clues together faster than the plot reveals them. However, I didn't see one thing coming at the end of the novel, and it a great surprise.
The story could also become a little repetitive, because the narrative often repeats bits of writing from the first novel, or from earlier in the book, when Skye is remembering something that occurred during the first novel or
Spoiler
recalling a visionOverall, this was a fast, fun read, and a true page-turner. I devoured the book in one sitting. Once again, Davies' writing flows well, and her story held my attention throughout. My few criticisms of the book weren't detrimental to the overall reading experience, and I'll definitely read the next instalment of the trilogy.
FTC disclosure: I received this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.