Chrysalis

If you've been following along with my reviews, then you know that this series has been a real struggle for me. It has SO many things I usually avoid in my romance books. To say it has pushed me clear off my comfort zone cliff is an understatement. (lol) At the same time, there has been something wildly compelling about this story that hooked me enough I just can't seem to quite it.



After two books I had a good idea what to expect, so I went into this one with a little less trepidation. And this book was my favorite so far. It was tamer than I expected, both in action and in sex. Not to say there wasn't a couple hot sex scenes (M/F, M/M/F, Implied M/M) because ooh lá lá there was, but overall it felt less sex and drama centered than the first two books (and NO humiliation...bonus). That worked especially well here because it gave us readers a bit of a breather and also allowed for a deeper connection to form between Fawn and Marius.



We also finally get some insight into Odette and Elliot's relationship. I am still not a fan of that whole situation, but Odette herself is sweet and kind, so it was hard to hate her. I am still not a complete fan of Elliott's either. I am not sure I trust him 100% yet. However, my seething hatred for him has dampened a little. (lol) I love that Fawn (Doe) and Marius grow closer, and ok, I'll admit all three of them (Elliot, Fawn, and Marius) make for a sexy and sweet trio. Last, major things are going DOWN at the end of this book and now I am dying to get my hands on the next (final??) book! Hopefully, I don't have too long to wait.

Due to my overabundance of excitement at the premise of this book, I didn't notice that Bittersweet Darkness is actually the third book in a series. My fault entirely. So, yes I did scramble for purchase a bit as I found my place in Faith's story. Still, this is a solid read even as a standalone! Nina Croft's writing has the ability to pull you straight down into the story. I might have been missing some details about the pasts of these characters, but in reality I didn't feel the sting too much. In fact, I've found a new world to love. You can bet that this bookworm is headed back to read the first two of these, as soon as possible.

Now on the to the actual review, shall we? Faith's character was absolutely wonderful. I have a place in my heart for characters like her. Characters who are loyal and kind, but also have no problem kicking ass when the situation calls for it. To Faith, the world lies in absolutes. There are good guys, and there are bad guys. There is darkness, and there is light. Most of all, monsters don't exist. Or do they? I watched as Faith's ideals were put into question, and I was so impressed. She's strong. She's fierce. Best of all? Faith isn't swayed by the bad boy type. That alone makes her a winner in my book.

Speaking of the bad boy type, Ash definitely fits that description. It still makes me giggle to call a demon “sexy”, but there's no other word to describe it. In his human form, Ash is unstoppable. He's intelligent, sarcastic, and yet just enough of a gentleman to make him delicious. Pardon my gushing, but he is definitely worth swooning over. The banter between Ash and Faith is filled with sass and sparks! I'd have loved Faith no matter what, but Ash definitely complimented her perfectly.

Let's be honest, I'm a fan of PR. I eat Urban Fantasy up like it's candy. So it's really no surprise that I loved the premise of Bittersweet Darkness, what with it's action and intrigue. However that only scratches the surface of my enjoyment. Nina Croft's writing is easy to read, and fun to get lost in. This book is only a little over 250 pages, but I would have happily read for hundreds more. I loved the characters, I loved the world, and I honestly can't wait for more.