Fifteen-year-old Alexandra Spencer's life was not supposed to turn out this way. She was not supposed to go on trial for a crime she did not commit. She was not supposed to be found guilty. And she was not supposed to be sent to Elder Grey Detention Centre, a place of horrors many don't survive. She is however, supposed to be the daughter of the wealthiest, most influential man in the post-apocalyptic city of New Phoenix. But apparently, she isn't. As Alex struggles to cope with her new life in Elder Grey, an act of friendship ends in tragedy. When someone she thought was an enemy pulls her from her despair, Alex discovers that old friends cannot be trusted, prejudice is another word for fear, and trust, not blood ties, make a family.
- Books
- Young Adult Indie
- Into Darkness
Into Darkness
Featured
Author(s)
Publisher Name
Double Dragon Publishing
Genre/Type
Age Group
13+
Published Date
July 30, 2015
ISBN Number
1771152532
ASIN Number
Editor reviews
1 reviews
Great Dystopian Survival Story
Overall rating
4.3
Writing Style
4.0
Plot/Story
4.0
Illustrations (if applicable)
N/A
Characters (if applicable)
5.0
Editing/Design Quality
4.0
The story:
Fifteen-year-old Alexandra Spencer has led a life of privilege. That all disintegrates when her boyfriend
Marcus begs her to take the fall for a minor crime that he committed, and she is sentenced to a year at Elder Gray prison – by her own father. Forced to cross a danger-filled, dystopian landscape just to get to Elder Grey, she must learn to toughen up or die, to say nothing of survive the brutal prison itself.
What I loved:
I really liked Alexandra as the main character. Obviously, she had to grow up and harden herself really fast in order to survive her circumstances, but the revelations that she discovers about herself and those around her were quite startling. The cast of characters that surround her are also compelling and interesting, from the handsome guard Will to the friendly Cassidy to mysterious Emily Jane.
What I didn’t love:
If I have one nitpick about the story, it's that there were times when the plot moved a little too slowly, and other times when so much happened at once that I had to read it several times to process it all. The last chapter, in particular, could probably have benefited from being longer, in order to set up the next book.
My Final Verdict:
Into Darkness is a very good dystopian book, with an unlikely heroine that you will definitely root for. There are clear good guys, clear bad guys, and plenty who could fall on either side, which is what you need to keep you guessing until the end.
Fifteen-year-old Alexandra Spencer has led a life of privilege. That all disintegrates when her boyfriend
Marcus begs her to take the fall for a minor crime that he committed, and she is sentenced to a year at Elder Gray prison – by her own father. Forced to cross a danger-filled, dystopian landscape just to get to Elder Grey, she must learn to toughen up or die, to say nothing of survive the brutal prison itself.
What I loved:
I really liked Alexandra as the main character. Obviously, she had to grow up and harden herself really fast in order to survive her circumstances, but the revelations that she discovers about herself and those around her were quite startling. The cast of characters that surround her are also compelling and interesting, from the handsome guard Will to the friendly Cassidy to mysterious Emily Jane.
What I didn’t love:
If I have one nitpick about the story, it's that there were times when the plot moved a little too slowly, and other times when so much happened at once that I had to read it several times to process it all. The last chapter, in particular, could probably have benefited from being longer, in order to set up the next book.
My Final Verdict:
Into Darkness is a very good dystopian book, with an unlikely heroine that you will definitely root for. There are clear good guys, clear bad guys, and plenty who could fall on either side, which is what you need to keep you guessing until the end.
User reviews
There are no user reviews for this listing.
Already have an account? Log in now or Create an account
Powered by JReviews
FEATURED GIVEAWAYS
Latest Book Listings Added
Meet Mr. Penguin―Adventurer (And Penguin!) When Mr. Penguin...
A beautifully illustrated book for babies featuring lots of noisy...
Latest Member Reviews
"Sarah Goldstein, alias Ursulla Haller, is living right under Nazi rule in 1940 Germany. She's the Shirley Temple of the..."
"Naomi can't help but wonder if there was an ulterior motive behind the decision to kick Leo out of the..."
"Jane Austen in space….yes please! The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne is a futuristic retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion...."
" The story: After living in foster care since the death of her mother, Edie finally..."
"Sixteen-year-old Kira Fujikawa loves helping at her family shrine. She also has a paranormal ability. She sees the not only..."
"THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US is the highly devourable YA fantasy I have been searching for! This is an enthralling story..."
"The Betrothed is a brand new YA-novel set in the 15th century by Kiera Cass, whom we all know from..."
"‘First rule of storytelling,’ he says, a glint in his eyes.’ Everything is possible.’ Nell is..."
"Sixteen-year-old Manuela, 'Manu' is in hiding from her father's Argentinian crime family. She also runs the risk of being deported..."
"Reviewed for YA Books Central A book that should be on every teen's shelf. ..."
"Birdie and Daniel has the most awkward first encounter. So when Birdie started her job in a historic hotel, she..."
"I feel like I've been asleep for the last 31 years and I just woke up. I am woke. ..."
"Opposite of Always is a heartfelt and stunning debut; that is worthy of all praise. I am in love..."
"Tyler Johnson Was Here--did not come to be politically correct, or racially ambiguous. Tyler Johnson came to tell an ugly..."
"Fourteen friends who grew up together in Japantown, San Francisco find themselves and their families sent off to incarceration camps..."
"Clara Shin is the class clown and definitely qualifies as a troll too. (Big difference between the two, I'm not..."
"Recently recognized as a National Book Award finalist and a Stonewall Honor book, Pet is also Akwaeke Emezi’s YA debut..."
"Sixteen-year-old Violet Choudhury has a huge secret. During the day she's part of her Midwestern town's cheer squad and at..."
"DAUGHTER OF CHAOS is another delightful spin-off book from the Netflix version of Sabrina. This one takes place between Parts..."
"THE QUEEN'S ASSASSIN is a YA fantasy romance that would appeal to younger YA readers. The book follows Shadow and..."
