Darkness Before Dawn (Darkness Before Dawn #1) by J.A. London Summary: Only sunlight can save us.We built the wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. But it also makes us prisoners, trapped in what's left of our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.
After the death of my parents, it's up to me—as the newest delegate for humanity—to bargain with our vampire overlord. I thought I was ready. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the monsters. Then again, nothing could have prepared me for Lord Valentine . . . or his son. Maybe not all vampires are killers. Maybe it's safe to let one in.
Only one thing is certain: Even the wall is not enough. A war is coming and we cannot hide forever.
Source: I purchased a Kindle copy
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Review:
Darkness Before Dawn was mediocre. It had a great premise and the potential to be good, but it lacked any real depth. The characters lacked personalities and everyone basically did what was expected of them at all times. Even when the main character started to care about a vampire, which was against the norm, it was obvious that it was about to happen. Dawn was not a very interesting character at all, despite having the potential to be. She was boring. She was so boring that if you compared her to Bella Swan, YA fiction’s most notorious dull character, Bella would be considered a wild party animal.
The book wasn’t necessarily bad, but yet it was bad because it was just so bland. I felt no emotion reading it and I didn’t care at all for any of the characters. I still have no idea what made Dawn such a special character, despite the fact that it was hinted at in the prologue and there were plenty of times when any special characteristics could be revealed. But I’m not even upset that I don’t know because I don’t really care.
Honestly, I don’t recommend reading it. If you are looking for a decent post apocalptic vampire fiction, The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa is really where it’s at in YA fiction. This was just a waste of effort, really. I’m sure the author(s) could have crafted a wonderful story if they would have put some more defining characteristics and emotions in it. I think this book came out during the pretty girls in dresses on covers craze. Like so many of the books that released during that time, the best thing about the book is it’s cover.
