Visions of Darkness - A L Jackson

4.5/5⭐️

📚📚📚
Once again A.L. Jackson has done it again with another amazing read! This was one I couldn’t put down and was clicking my kindle so fast to get to what was next. I was instantly consumed into the book and I did finish in one sitting. But I think that may be my favorite way of reading lately. The Romantasy mood this got me in now!! Aria is our FMC and wow that girl had me speechless. She’s a high school senior but also a warrior who fights the evil and darkness. Pax is her protector in Faydor where she’s fighting off the evil. He’s just suppose to make sure she’s safe to do her job without crossing paths. Well that definitely doesn’t stop them. This definitely becomes a roller coaster ride and what a way to have it end!! I can’t wait for the next book in this series. Definitely recommend adding to your tbrs!

📚📚📚
If you like to read:
- Touch her and you 💀
- Only one bed
- Morally gray hero
- Forbidden
- The chosen one
- Fated mates
- On the run
- Two worlds collide
… You should definitely check this out

Such a fun fantasy! I’ve never read A. L. Jackson before, but I will go back and look into more books! The world building was fantastic and so much fun, the pacing was great and I felt interested the in entire book.

The first few chapters I was a little confused but I think that’s normal when you’re trying to understand the new world that the author has created. The book had action, fantasy, forbidden love and mystery. I was totally invested in the story and kept hoping that the main characters get together. I won’t spoil anything but I can’t believe what happened! This book is definitely a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 ⭐️
This was a fun read! At first i was a little confused with the going back and forth in the worlds but then immediately felt captivated! Aria and Pax ahh love them 🥰🥰🥰

I like the world that the author created for this book. The Kruen are scary monsters. I would not want to meet them either in my dreams or in the real world. Thus, Aria is very strong to face them and fight them. Luckily, she does not have to do it alone as she has Pax by her side.

While I did like the world building, I do have to admit that while there were some scary moments in the beginning, it still felt like the story moved at a slower pace to get going. Although, once the story did pick up, I did become more engaged.

I like Aria and Pax connection. It was slow burn, but it was also emotional. Thus, the reason that I did like their connection. It was deeper than just physical.

This book was fine, it fell a little flat for me personally. I didn’t feel like I had any stake in the characters or the plot, and didn’t feel particularly strongly about anything happening to them throughout the story.

I think the premise is super interesting, but would have enjoyed more detail on the fantasy dream world. It also felt more YA to me and maybe that is the goal, but I don’t personally enjoy YA as much as NA+ books.

I could track everything through the story, and the world building was not confusing which is good, I just felt like the characters didn’t have a ton of personality, and I wasn’t really seeing the draw / chemistry between aria and pax.

Overall I think this was a fine book but not for me.

Visions of Darkness by A.L. Jackson is everything! It’s a wild, heart-pounding ride that you won’t be able to put down. A total page-turner and It’s such a quick read—you’ll devour it in no time, like your favorite guilty pleasure. The story is original, giving you all the twists and turns you didn’t see coming. The characters, Aria and Pax? I adore them and rooted for them the entire time. They’ll pull you right into their world of danger, dark secrets, and chemistry that’s off the charts. I adored this book so much, and I can't wait for the next one. If you’re in the mood for a quick, thrilling read that’ll leave you hooked from start to finish, Visions of Darkness is it.

3.5 stars rounded up

Thank you so much to Montlake for the ARC and the AL Jackson and her team for the gifted PR box! These are my honest thoughts!

OKAY when Amy announced she had a romantasy book releasing, I WAS SO EXCITED. Her writing is already poetic, and I couldn't wait to see what magic she brought to life. This book starts off SO FAST into this alternate reality that's part real and part fantasy. Aria is tethered to Pax, who spends his life in another realm, one that Aria visits when she sleeps. Aria's family is fully human, and they don't understand her special powers. Instead, they think she's self-harming and get her admitted into an institute for help. When she becomes trapped there, she's hunted by evil from the other realm, and Pax has to do some drastic things in order to save her.

Things I loved about this story:
- The quick pace
- The soulmates/fated mates storyline, which felt so genuine, you felt their connection
- The action and the way that we got to know the world throughout the story
- The surprising characters along the way
- The reveal about Aria and Pax and their powers

I'm excited to see this universe continue and can't wait for book 2!

What to expect:
- fantasy romance
- two words: reality vs. a dream-type realm
- soulmates/fated mates
- a dash of suspense
- childhood friends (a.k.a. it's always been you)
- a morally grey hero

I think this was a solid fantasy debut from A.L. Jackson, a contemporary romance author. But if you read it, I strongly recommend the audio. Depending on the realm, it's written in either first or third pov, which I found easier to digest and follow on audio.

𐕣 ARC REVIEW 𐕣

Thank you so much @valentine_pr_ & @aljacksonauthor for my copy of Visions of Darkness!!

Holy snap! This was unlike anything I’ve ever read before and such a cool concept. I would sell my soul for this to become a movie or a tv series, I loved it so much! If you’re into romantasy but don’t want a high level of spice, this is your book!

Visions of Darkness is available now and inside you’ll find:

❤️‍🔥supernatural powers
✨soulmates
❤️‍🔥forbidden love
✨friends to lovers
❤️‍🔥heroine in danger
✨on the run
+ much much more!!

it kept me engaged until 45% into the book idk if it was because I was slowly getting into a reading slump from a previous book or the plot.

Really interesting & beautiful world in this magical coming of age story!

Plot: 5📍
Spice: 1.5❤️‍🔥
Overall: 4⭐


Aria and Pax are tension-creating perfection.

Aria, extremely sheltered, but knows what her heart wants, the boy who she grew up with in her dreams, literally. Pax, the man of her dreams, the man IN her dreams, is a hard, determined soul. Her perfect match to fight the evil beings that invade her dreams at night. But is Pax real? A figment of her imagination? Why does she dream every night of fighting evil but wakes up with real work scars?

I loved how Aria’s goodness comes through. She cares deeply for those around her, family, friend, stranger, or foe. And Pax’s protectiveness is just OTT possessiveness gold. He’s there for her, friend, staunch ally, protector, hard truth giver as needed through multiple twists and turns.

There are some really great little breadcrumbs dropped through the story that if you go back and reread you’ll start to see them! And Jackson also includes a fun little tie-in between art and the special magic that Pax and Aria have. And it’s a light thread through the book to keep an eye out for! I also loved that Jackson used 3rd and 1st person POVs depending on the setting and situation! It was a really unique why to distinguish between worlds.

The story did lag a teeny here and there and sometimes the pining got a little repetitive and whiny for me. But I think that’s just me in my ripe ole age these days. 😉 I think the targeted age group here is probably 5-10 years younger than me. Speaking of …I’m not one to advocate full on romance for anyone under 18. Just my personal preference. On one hand, this is an adult story with adult themes. However, it’s all still very fantasy romance - lite. The spice is loving and gentle, and while not closed door, is also not outright explicit more implied. The violence is glossed over. There’s a few f**ks by Pax. If there were a book that is borderline approps for the-just-over-legal-age, I’d say this one could be an option. (Parents, obvi, review as you see fit!)

This does end on a cliffhanger and I’m so interested to see what happens next!

Thank you to AL Jackson& Valentine PR for the opportunity to read and review this book!

🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🎧
I honestly believe that AL Jackson cannot write a bad book. I’ve been a fan of hers for some time now and I have never rated her books lower than 5 stars even though Visions of Darkness isn’t her normal sub-genre she writes, it’s most definitely worth 5 stars!

✽ 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: Victoria Mei & Teddy Hamilton

You’ll enjoy this book if you like these tropes… ♡

ꕤ 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 ꕤ

♡ Soul Mates
♡ Touch Her & Die Vibes
♡ Morally Grey MMC
♡ Two Different Worlds
♡ Forbidden
♡ Found Family
♡ Virgin FMC
♡ Demon
♡ Friends-to-Lovers
♡ Grumpy/Sunshine
♡ Paranormal Romance
♡ Slow Burn
♡ No Third Act Break-Up
♡ Fated Mates

I didn’t know what to expect when AL Jackson told me she was writing a fantasy romance. It’s not her normal sub-genre. However, I trust her and I know if the book is written by her, there’s no doubt in my mind that it will be amazing and I wasn’t wrong. It was incredible. I was addicted. Obsessed. It was so easy to get lost in and escape and watch the world and characters play out in my mind as I listened. I was on the edge of my seat the entire book and that damn cliffhanger and the end? AH.. Amy? Are you going to do me like that??

Aria and Pax are everything. Their forbidden love is so pure, so raw, it knows no bounds and it was obvious from the very beginning that they were meant to be and forbidden or not, it would be. It wasn’t easy for them and isn’t easy for them. They went through a lot. They have to fight evil not just for them but for those in need too. It left them with scars that will last a lifetime.

It’s so beautiful to witness these two together and watch their journey unfold and their love blossom. It’s breathtaking. The connection, the banter, the chemistry… All of it. It’s top-tier.

The plot holds so much depth and the world-building and character development are amazing and so easy to picture inside my head as I listened. I look forward to book two… The author left us on one hell of a cliffhanger!

FIVE STARS
✰✰✰✰✰

I love Pax and Aria so much!! This book had me hooked from the start. I haven’t read a fantasy book with this particular world, it was AMAZING! The world created in this book was fascinating. I have precisely read books from AL Jackson and I knew she would slay a fantasy romance book.

AND THE END!? WHAT?

Huge thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

This was a fantastic read. It helped me greatly with my post-Onyx Storm slump lol and had a wonderfully unique story line. Also, the PINING and the YEARNING? It was worth reading for that alone!

I highly recommend this book and I can't wait for book 2!!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Romantasy is one of those genres that can be a hit or miss and Amy absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.

This story had such a layered complexity to it that it was really easy to fall in love with everything about it. The characters, the journey they go on together, that old school feeling that grabs onto your heart.

I’m still in awe of this story and how I’ve never read anything like it before. I wish I could scrub it clean from my brain just so I can read it all over again for the very first time.

This book confused me a bit at the beginning, but once I got my head wrapped around it I was able to fully appreciate it. Aria is a girl who has always seemed a little different than others. She has a family that loves her, but even they don't quite fully understand her. Since she was young, she's had dreams at night of a fantasy realm where she fights evil beings alongside her friend, confidante, and possible soulmate. But every morning when she wakes up, her dull reality comes back, with only a few scars and bruises as evidence.

What I liked about this book was that it's just outside of reality. Most of the story is of her navigating her way through life, but she's not a normal girl. She truly believes in the dream world that comes to her every night, even when her own family doubts her.

When the two worlds begin to collide, Aria is forced to make decisions that will affect her relationship with the man she has grown to love from her dream land, her family, and her destiny.

I fully enjoyed this book, and it ends on one heck of a cliffhanger, so I'm eager for book 2.

✨ Review ✨
***
Vision of Darkness was so good!!! I loved Pax and Aria. Their connection was off the charts. The writing was so good and the world building was perfect. I loved all the unknown and magic. The story was so good and easy to read. I loved the pace of the story and all the characters. The love between Aria and Pax was beautiful. The slow burn was so hot and the spice was just right. The ending was amazing and I cannot wait for the next book!!
***
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🔥.5
Romance: 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for an e-arc of Visions of Darkness.

I started reading this and had to question if I had picked up a YA because of the FMC age since she starts off in high school and is 17.

The story follows Aria who is a hunter in Faydor when she sleeps, but during the day she is looking forward to life after high school. I understand why we are getting her story at the time we do, but I didn’t like how young she is and that this is a romantasy - it soured the whole book for me. And just to be clear she does turn 18 before anything physical happens with the love interest, but I just don’t want to read romantasy with barely 18 year olds.

I enjoyed the paranormal aspect of Aria and the others who fight evil in while their physical bodies are sleeping on the earthly plane - lots of allegory here. The concept is an interesting one and I’m a sucker for paranormal so that’s what kept this book going for me. Were things predictable? Yes, but I still wanted to see how things were wrapped up within the story.

Honestly I read it fairly fast, but it was just an ok read for me. Now will other people love this - absolutely and I hope they find it. It’s just I really will be avoiding 17-who-turn -8 in my romances.

Also this book does end on cliffhanger, so know that. Also, please be sure to check trigger warnings, because this is a darker book, and there are some heavy subjects throughout it.

Will I read the next book? I’m not sure, but I do want to at least know what happens to Aria so I might just have to read a recap.

4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
2/5 🌶️🌶️

I was incredibly excited to see one of my all-time favorite authors, deciding to take a step into a genre that I love! I am so picky with fantasy stories, but this one was giving all the things that I wanted to give. I really loved the mystery aspect of the story and the fact that it has a lot of real life aspects intertwined with this other realm. There’s lots of darkness that really makes you root for the main characters in the story as they learn more about what they’re really up against. I am behind their cause 100%!

Pax really stole the show because he was the ultimate protective hero. He was willing to do anything and everything to make sure that Aria was OK. I loved his morally gray standing in this battle. He falls directly in the middle of being both good and evil because there’s so much more to him than we originally know especially from aria’s perspective. I really enjoyed his chapters. I love how he cared for his FMC—ultimate swoon!

Aria‘s character was breaking my heart. What she went through was just a very difficult situation with her family and having to keep the secrets which is protection for them, but also for her. And the things that she went through were tough to experience from the reader perspective, but even imagining what she’s dealing with was at some points—too much. She was strong while still having such a big heart and so much compassion for the people around her.

I am so incredibly excited to get my HEA for the series because it was an amazing introduction to this world and after that cliffhanger, I am desperate to know more.