Brightest Kind of Darkness: REVIEW

Brightest Kind of Darkness (Brightest Kind of Darkness, #1)
P. T. Michelle
Publisher: Patrice Michelle
Release Date: June 27, 2011
Source: Author
Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.
After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.
Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.
CATCHALL
At one point or another in our lives, we've all wished that we could see the future, probably for a variety of different reasons. Wouldn't it be nice if we all knew what was going to happen? But…maybe it wouldn't. Maybe you'd be bored. Maybe you'd hate. Maybe you'd want to change it. Maybe you can't. And if there's no room to change anything, that you're only supposed to stick to the book, then how would that be fun at all? I think it would be more likely to disappoint you, because nothing is ever as amazing the second time around no matter what anyone says.

THE HEROINE
NARA
I really, really, really like Nara. She's spent most of her life struggling to keep her ability hidden, to keep the fact that she knows exactly how her day will go out of her mind. When she tried to change something once, to help someone, it went badly. And so since then, she cannot imagine trying to help again, believing she'll only make things worse. But then she envisions something she can't ignore. And it changes her entire future.

THE LOVE INTEREST
ETHAN
Ethan has that sexy-stranger vibe without being creepy. He comes into Nara's life very boldly, and yet also like he belongs there, in her life. And really, he does. He's willing to do anything to protect her, even at the cost of what she wants. But when she really struggles, he's there for her in every way. Even though he thinks that something might be better for her, as long as it's her choice h'll do things for her. He's not that irritating male hero you see so often in YA these days who is abusive and yet totally hot, which I just don't get.

THE PLOT
Wow. Nara stops a bombing. And everything about her life begins to unravel. Bit by bit.

First, she meets Ethan. Loner bad boy. Sexy. Irresistible. She wants to know more about him.

Then her dreams disappear. An she knows that he has answers.

Together, they form a team. Because Ethan isn't all that he appears to be either. He has secrets of his own. Ones that involve her. Even as she grows closer to him, she suspects that he's hiding something. That maybe there's something more to him.

Brightest Kind of Darkness thrilled me. It was intense. And maybe the best part was that there wasn't just paranormal drama—Nara had to deal with ordinary, everyday drama too. And I loved that even though her life was insane and she could predict the future often, she still had drama to deal with. Reality. Not everything was perfect, not even for her. Especially not for her.

Nara's story unfolds so beautifully. Watching everything unfold is smooth, but suspenseful. You know that something is going to happen next, but you don't know what. And I adore that aspect that makes this book a thousand times better.

THE ROMANCE
From the very first page, Ethan and Nara have serious chemistry. But I love that they don't dive into things. It's not always easy for them and there's definitely distrust between them at more than one point, but that doesn't relax the tension between them, when is really there in a good way. It just kind of develops slowly and steadily and sweetly, and I love to watch it as it grows. But it's not all innocent—there are some awesome steamy moments too.

THE WRITING
Patrice has absolutely beautiful writing. Nara's voice is that of every teenage girl. Despite her extraordinary ability, it's not so hard to relate to her. She often feels alone, not who she's expected to be. She loves soccer, and she's willing to work at it even though at one point she never had to, because she wants to get better. But I digress. Patrice's descriptions, too, are gorgeous, just flowing off the page and making the most lovely imagery come to mind. Basically, I adore it.

THE ENDING
Perfect. It was full of spinning suspense and intensity. I couldn't be sure what was going to happen to Ethan and Nara. And then, again, there was that mystery aspect that I loved so much. Something happens to Nara and she isn't sure why, especially when Ethan didn't seem to notice. But she's sure it happened. And now that opens up room for more story, while also effectively ending this one.

WRAPUP
I loved Brightest Kind of Darkness, and I've actually already begun to read Lucid, which I also really love so far. These books are not just fun and romantic; they're also remarkably original. What other heroine dreams about her entire day and faces down Fate? I absolutely recommend this book, and it was a refreshing read after many formulaic books.

FINE.

****FINAL RATING: 4.05 STARS****
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Oh, and darlings? The Brightest Kind of Darkness blog tour stops by Sparkles and Lightning on September 28, when I'll put up my review of Lucid, book two of the Brightest Kind of Darkness series! Be sure to check in then!