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Member Reviews

I’ve read many Lisa Jewell books and have always liked her writing. Breaking the dark was no exception! I must say this is not her typical writing style but she did amazing! I’m a huge marvel fan and was very happy to read this book. I highly recommend it, if you love mystery and sci-fi this is a must read!

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I’d read the alphabet on repeat if Lisa wrote it!
No one does suspense like her. Another ball hit WAY out of the park. I could not put this down.

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I enjoy good fast-paced reading! I loved the adventure and the storytelling! I did not realize this book was a part of the Marvel universe - so if you are a Marvel fan, this book is definitely for you! It was enjoyable and kept me reading.

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This book was a ton of fun and amazing if you're a fan of Marvel. Compelling writing that hooked me from the start and great character development. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and really thought that Lisa Jewell brought something unique and interesting to the story. I'm a huge fan of Lisa Jewell's other books which was part of what intrigued me to pick this one up and I'm not sorry I did! I think I will want to continue on with this series!

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Unfortunately I did not realize this was a series when I requested it; my mistake. I’m certain it would have been fabulous had I had working knowledge of the world! I will certainly read it, in turn, when I get to it in the series.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this eARC. All thoughts are honest and my own.

I don’t think I'm the right audience for a marvel adaptation novel. It's fast paced and descriptive. My tastes are more geared towards Jewell's typical thrillers and I don't think I will continue on to the next book.

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Lisa Jewel is a great author. This novel, though, was not great for me. I couldn't root for Jessica, the story felt wildly unrealistic, and there just weren't enough likeable characters to keep me engaged. I made it through, but not anything I would pick up again.

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Breaking the Dark | Lisa Jewell

3.25☆

A huge thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this copy of Breaking the Dark.
*My review as someone who knows essentially nothing about the Marvel universe*

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵.“

I have read a few of Lisa’s books, and I was thrilled when I received a copy of Breaking the Dark. Following Jessica Jones, a private investigator who is hired by a fretful mother who is concerned about her twin teenagers - they had gone on a month long trip to visit their dad in the UK, and have returned as “different people” and not acting nor really looking like themselves. Intrigued by the case, Jessica heads to the UK to uncover what happened to the twins. A unique plot line, that jumps between past and present and different characters. Normally I love a dial timeline, yet in this case it felt a little choppy to me. I did feel confused at times as it was very twisty and turn-y but it all came together at the end.

“𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦: 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘐𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘴. 𝘐𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.“

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Good for that post-Daredevil slump! Jessica Jones tends to be a bit more hard boiled than Lisa Jewell’s style so I wanted more of that tone. Regardless, This was my first Marvel novel and I’m excited to see where this series goes.

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Full transparency, I’m not a big Marvel or Jessica Jones fan. However, I’m a huge fan of Lisa Jewell. I loved Lisa’s writing even if I’m not familiar with the characters. I think in this case knowing more about Jessica Jones would have helped and I believe if I were more of a Marvel fan this would have put the book into the phenomenal category.

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I picked this up purely because it was written by Lisa Jewell, and I thought I was in for a dark, twisty thriller with a gritty edge. What I didn’t realize was how much this book leans on established Marvel lore—specifically Jessica Jones’ backstory and the wider universe around her.

If you’re not already fluent in Marvel-speak or familiar with Jessica’s history, it’s easy to get lost. The pacing felt off, the tone was jarring, and I kept waiting for the kind of immersive psychological tension Jewell usually delivers. Instead, I felt like an outsider trying to decode references I didn’t understand.

Totally fair if this was written for fans of the character, but as someone without much Marvel knowledge, this just didn’t work for me. DNF around the 30% mark.

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I had the opportunity to read Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell and really enjoyed this fresh take on Jessica Jones. Jewell brings her signature suspense and strong character development to the Marvel world, creating a gritty and emotionally layered mystery.

The story follows Jessica as she’s pulled into a complex case that unpacks trauma, secrets, and trust. I appreciated how Jewell captured Jessica’s sharp voice and gave depth to every character involved. The pacing kept me engaged, and the mystery unfolded with just enough twists to keep things interesting.

Even if you’re not deep into Marvel, this is a strong standalone crime novel with great writing and atmosphere. I’d love to see more from Lisa Jewell in this space. A solid, compelling read.

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Thanks to NetGalley,and Lisa Jewell for the e-ARC of Breaking the Dark. The story started off slowly, and I found it hard to connect with the characters. However, Lisa Jewell’s writing remains strong and engaging. The mystery could have been more intense, and the dual timelines were a bit confusing at first.
Having watched the Jessica Jones show, I expected the book to have a similar dark, gritty vibe with more action, but Breaking the Dark felt more grounded and focused on emotional complexity than superhero thrills. The book blends contemporary fiction with a slow-burning mystery and features diverse characters.
What stood out most was the thoughtful exploration of social media pressures and the difference between perfection and being your healthiest self. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series!

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Thank you Netgalley, Lisa Jewell and Hyperion Avenue for free e-ARC of Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel in return of my honest review.

As an avid fan of Lisa Jewell, I eagerly seek out every book she writes, often diving in without even reading the synopsis. My excitement for her work was so strong that I applied for this book without fully understanding the context or the character of Jessica Jones. I simply trusted that whatever Lisa Jewell crafted would resonate with me.

Initially, I found myself a bit unsettled by the concept of the main character possessing superpowers—an aspect I hadn't anticipated, highlighting my own ignorance of the genre. It took some time for me to acclimate to the unique style and narrative approach of this story. However, once I settled into the rhythm of the book, I was captivated by the familiar thrill that only Lisa Jewell can deliver.

The depth of character development was impressive, showcasing Jewell's ability to create complex and engaging individuals. While this book diverges from her typical storytelling, it is evident that she adeptly navigates this new territory. If you're a fan of thrillers, I highly recommend giving this book a try. And for those familiar with Marvel and its characters, this novel is certainly worth picking up. It offers a fresh perspective while retaining the engaging qualities that make Lisa Jewell's writing so enjoyable.

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I could not get into this book. Unfortunately, it was just not the right story for me to be reading at the time.

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I'm not really a Jessica Jones fan, so if I took her out of it and read it as a story about a super hero and ignored the Avengers references it would have been a decent book. It is a decent story. A not wholely likable but redeeming character with lots of self loathing. The "message" of the book was a positive one and I enjoyed the conversations on being perfect at the end. I appreciated the wrapping up of the loose threads, kinda. I mean it left huge things unanswered and the end sort of stuffed in all the in case you were wondering what happened, here it is with a bow on it. . . So kinda rushed. I knew the backstory they were referencing so it wasn't terrible but I could see that being annoying if you knew nothing of the Jessica Jones character. Anyways, the story was still enjoyable to follow and tense at moments. Wasn't quite the Lisa Jewell shocks that I'd anticipated but the story was good. This pops up as #1 in a series so I'm assuming more will come and I'd likely read them when they pop up.

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Breaking the Dark felt like stepping right back into Jessica Jones’ world. I absolutely loved the Netflix series, so I was so excited when I was approved for this ARC. It's dark, moody, a little rough around the edges, and completely compelling. The tone is pure noir with a modern twist, and Lisa Jewell absolutely nails Jessica’s voice. She’s sarcastic, blunt, emotionally guarded, and impossible not to root for, even when she’s pushing people away or making questionable choices.

The story starts with a missing girl case and quickly unravels into something more complex. It reads like a gritty detective thriller that just happens to exist in the Marvel universe, which I really enjoyed. You don’t need to be a hardcore Marvel fan to get into it. If you liked the Netflix show, this will feel familiar in the best way. There’s whiskey, emotional damage, brooding monologues, and just enough superhuman tension to keep things interesting.

Jessica takes center stage, but her dynamic with Luke and Trish adds extra layers. The relationships feel messy and honest. I liked how the story explored her trauma without romanticizing or sidelining it. It’s not something in her past that gets solved. It’s something she lives with, and it shapes every choice she makes.

There were a few slower spots where the pacing dipped, mostly when the internal narration dragged on. But once the plot picked back up, I was hooked. The mystery was layered without being confusing, and the resolution was satisfying while still leaving room for more.

If you like crime fiction with a tough, complicated female lead and a little superhero edge, this is worth reading. Jessica Jones feels raw, real, and completely herself here.

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📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Breaking the Dark (Marvel Crime, Book 1) by Lisa Jewell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 384
Genre: Superhero Sci-Fi
Release Date: July 2, 2024

Jessica Jones is a retired superhero living a quiet life as a private investigator. Her new case involves a troubled mother whose twin son and daughter have just returned from England with their father different. Different in that their skin is suddenly flawlessly perfect (rare among pimply teenagers) and their personalities have been totally stripped. They walk around in a daze not doing any of their usual activities. She’s convinced they’re not her children and that they’ve been replaced by something else entirely.

I never got into Marvel comics or Jessica Jones in particular, but when I found out this one was written by Lisa Jewell, one of my favorite auto-buy authors, it was a no brainer to pick this one up. I also love magical realism, so the superhero super power aspect of this story coupled with Jewell’s excellent mystery writing made this an excellent read. I hope she writes another one.

Thank you, @LisaJewellUK and @HyperionAveBooks for my free @NetGalley copy.

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Gritty, Creepy, and Fun — A Solid Jessica Jones Mystery!

I really enjoyed Breaking the Dark. Lisa Jewell does a fantastic job bringing Jessica Jones to life on the page. She perfectly captures Jessica’s gritty, sarcastic, and deeply flawed personality, which is exactly what makes her such an interesting and relatable character. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into the mystery, and I loved how the story balanced the noir detective vibe with eerie, almost supernatural undertones.

The case itself was creepy and unsettling in the best way — full of twists, strange clues, and that lingering sense that something isn’t quite right. It kept me turning pages late into the night because I just had to see how Jessica would piece it all together. There were a few moments where the plot stretched believability a little, but honestly, it didn’t bother me too much because the ride was so entertaining.

This felt like a natural extension of the Jessica Jones we know from Marvel, but with its own fresh and unique story. I think any fan of the character — or anyone who enjoys gritty crime fiction with a twist — will find a lot to love here. A solid 4 stars from me, and I’d definitely pick up more Marvel crime novels if they’re anything like this one!

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This was my first time reading anything Jessica Jones-related, and I was pleasantly surprised by how easily I got pulled into the story. The writing is well done and pretty fast-paced, and Jessica’s voice felt really authentic - dry, no-nonsense - and just the right amount of vulnerable.

The mystery kept me engaged without feeling overcomplicated, and I appreciated that it stood on its own without really needing prior Marvel knowledge. It’s definitely more of a grounded detective story than a superhero novel, which worked well for me considering I don't know much about Marvel, but enjoy a good mystery.

Overall, a solid read with a main character I’d like to spend more time with. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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