Review: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Title: A Beautiful Dark
Author: Jocelyn Davies
Series: A Beautiful Dark
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: September 27, 2011
How Received: Purchased
Rate: 5+

Summary (as quoted from Amazon): On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.
In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.
A Beautiful Dark is the first book in a captivating trilogy by debut author Jocelyn Davies.

My thoughts:
A Beautiful Dark is an amazing book. The story begins with our heroine, Skye, celebrating her seventeenth birthday. On the night of the party, she meets two strangers, who claim to be cousins ; Asher, a dark haired beauty who’s looks match his fearlessness - and Devin, a peaceful, quiet, almost tortured soul, who’s calm outlook matches his ocean blue eyes. They are like fire and ice, and Skye is somehow drawn to them both.

As luck would have it, the next day at school, both Asher and Devin are in attendance - and both of them seem to be keeping an eye on Skye. She’s not sure why they are interested in her, or why they seem to be everywhere she’s at. On one faithful school trip, Skye finally learns the truth - she isn’t normal, and her deceased parents weren’t, either. Apparently, her parents had been apart of a group of supernatural beings called the Gifted ; beings who have powers, and use those powers to influence people’s paths, their destinies. The Gifted had lower ranks, and they controlled those lower ranks to the point that they had no free will. Some of the lower ranks broke off, and decided that they shouldn’t be the ones controlling people’s lives. Those who broke off were known as Rebels. The Rebels and the Gifted didn’t intermix, and certainly didn’t fall in love. But then the impossible did happen, and a Gifted fell in love with a Rebel. The two were cast out from both ranks, and turned into mere mortals. They had a child, a girl, and suddenly, both sides were dying to know what that child was capable of - if she’d possess powers from both sides.

Asher is a rebel, and Devin is a lower rank of the Gifted - which leaves Skye to believe that she is the girl in the legend. Skye doesn’t want to believe that its true - because even if it is, she’s not sure that she wants any powers - or that she can trust Asher or Devin. Because both sides are dangerous, and all Skye wants is a simple, typical life. Which side will she choose… and what will the consequences be?

I loved the action, romance, and drama in this book. Skye is such a relatable heroine ; sassy, sarcastic, funny, smart, cynical, and all together amazing, she really did jump off the pages. Her feelings about her parents death are extremely realistic, and some scenes where she remembers them really made me tear up. Asher is dark, funny, dangerous, and twisted, a perfect bad boy. He has more to him than meets the eye, and his choices and motives were so complicated, I really couldn’t figure out what he would do next. Devin is the exact opposite of Asher ; sweet, kind, intelligent, and gentle… And yet he has motives and a dark side that you wouldn’t expect him to have. Cassie, Dan, and Ian, Skye’s best friends, were all prominent characters in the book - and they were all hilarious, touching, and awesome. Seeing Skye hanging out with them makes you understand why she wouldn’t want to leave her human life behind. Aunt Jo, Skye’s legal guardian, was sweet and supportive, and everything that Skye needs in a parent. I absolutely adored her (and the scenes where she made yummy cookies.)

Filled with action, suspense, mystery, romance, and a new type of supernatural plot, A Beautiful Dark is an amazing novel that will keep you on your toes until the very end, and have you dying for the next book ; I highly recommend picking it up today.
5+/5
~Moujnir