Please don't make me give a star review. I love Lisa Jewell so much, and it pains me to say anything other than I love her books. Maybe it's because this is set in the Marvel universe, I just didn't get it. But it just seemed over the top weird. I don't know another way to part it.

I'm chalking this up to a me problem, and I will still read everything else this author writes.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

⭐️⭐️ This is for me - knew it would be the case- but has to give it a chance for Lisa Jewell.

My thoughts ⬇️

Am I a fan of reading Marvel, no.
Am I a fan of fantasy, no.
Am I a fan of sci-fi, no.

Why read this book?
Because it’s Lisa Jewell of course!

👉🏼 This is written well, but not a style for me. Glad I went out of my comfort zone and gave it a chance though.

•Get out of your comfort zone sometimes•

Q- what’s a genre that is out of your comfort zone?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of Breaking the Dark. I love Jessica Jones. I love Lisa Jewell. This did not disappoint.

I was so thrilled to hear that a new crime trilogy based on Marvel characters was being written by some fantastic contemporary mystery authors, and even more thrilled once I heard that the first was written about Jessica Jones by Lisa Jewell! If you know anything about Jessica Jones, you know she isn’t your typical Marvel superhero and that she's got some pretty serious trauma in her past, which she’s very much still reeling from in this story. Even if you aren’t a Marvel fan and haven’t the slightest clue who Jessica Jones is (you’re missing out!), you can pick right up on this story with the context that Jewell provides in her writing.

I really had to do a mindset check midway through this novel, because I kept scoffing at the overall mystery and what I considered to be a totally ridiculous bad guy. This is my first experience reading a Marvel novel, and it’s a genre that translates differently than it does onscreen or comics. I asked myself, would I be this critical if it were a different format? And the answer was definitely no. So, just remember that as with all Marvel plots, you need to suspend some disbelief and be willing to go along with the weirdness!

I really enjoyed the writing and the characters, both new and old! I especially had a soft spot for two younger kids who helped Jessica out, one in the UK and another in the US. The end of the book got a tad too preachy for me, and with a few minor exceptions, the book felt more YA to me than adult. Still, I was totally engrossed the entire time and loved this deep dive into Jessica’s life. I can’t wait for the next installment to release, and I would 100% recommend this book to any Marvel fan!

I chose this book without looking at the synopsis. The two reasons I did that, one it's Lisa Jewell and two it's Marvel. Woot woot!!!

I was thrilled to be gifted an advance copy from Netgalley. THANK YOU.

As I began reading I was frustrated because I didn't get it and then I remembered it's Marvel, don't try to make it make sense just enjoy the ride. This speculative fiction writing in parallel dimensions might turn readers off but it definitely works for me.

All in all, this was a really good book I enjoyed it because it showcase people like me flawed but moving through the daily grind. Jessica Jones is a good reminder that even superheroes need to prioritize their mental health!

A galley copy of this book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for my honest and thoughtful review.

As a Jessica Jones fan I was extremely interested in this book upon first hearing about it, and I believe that Lisa Jewel did the character justice. Jones isn't the typical superhero, and that is clear in this book. It was a quick read, and an interesting story that relates to modern day culture. It might be best for readers to have some familiarity with the character, as well as, the other Marvel characters that are mentioned throughout the story, but I believe not knowing them will not hinder overall enjoyment of the book. As a fan it was exciting to see them pop up, or be mentioned. A perfect read for those who like the grittier Hell's Kitchen aspect of Marvel, or simply anyone looking crime fiction with a bit of otherworldliness thrown in.

When I began reading this Lisa Jewell novel, Breaking the Dark, I was not aware that the central protagonist was a Marvel superhero, which created some confusion for me. Normally I read publisher notes very carefully, but for Breaking the Dark, I chose this novel based solely on the author's name. The plot is complex and multilayered, as I imagine many Marvel plots to be. The characters are interesting and with a layer of complexity. Jewell writes well, and I suspect that Jewell/Marvell fans will love this novel. Since Breaking the Dark is the first novel in a new Jessica Jones-Marvel crime series, I predict Marvel fans will devour this first novel in this series, where the characters are set up quite carefully and the plot reveals new possibilities.

I know nothing about Marvel or Super Heroes, and I suspect I am not the intended target, however, I think Breaking the Dark has a lot of appeal for Jewell readers, new or old. Thank you to Hyperon Avenue publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. The comments above are my honest assessment.

Writing: B
Story: B
Characters: B+
Best Aspect: A fresh mystery/superhero story that made me want to keep turning the page.
Worst Aspect: This was strange and all dull in sections.
Recommend: Yes.

Starting out as a low-key mystery, it builds suspense for Marvel superhero Jessica Jones as she investigates weird personality and physical changes in teens. The storyline concerns physical perfection and to what ends would people go to achieve that. Not having a background in Marvel superheroes did not prevent me from enjoying this novel. The characters were unique and the situations were interesting. This is the first of a series of Marvel superheroes written by different well-known authors.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC to read and review.

Jessica Jones? Marvel Comics? Lisa Jewell *** Together this made for a great book.

At the start of the book Jessica Jones is suffering from PTSD of some sort (I am not well versed enough to know if this came from another story line but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story). She is hired to solve a mystery that is downright creepy.

While I have seen the Marvel movies I certainly don't consider myself a fan. I do consider myself a Lisa Jewell fan. This book was a little wonky...it had to be...but overall a great read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy Marvel and Lisa Jewell so this book was right up my alley. It could get confusing at times but overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in this series. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Lisa Jewell, and Hyperion Avenue for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I enjoyed this one a lot and was very interested in seeing where the story was going. It follows Jessica Jones after a mother reaches out to her about her two teenage twins who have been acting strange after coming back from visiting their father in the UK. The story draws you in as you learn more about what’s really going on with the twins. I thought that the storyline became a little too far-fetched at times, but it is a superhero novel, and I think some people would like that more. I am a Marvel fan though and I think this was a fun and worthy addition to the universe. It feels darker than most of the other stuff Marvel releases, which I really enjoyed. The writing is also well-done, which is to be expected from Lisa Jewell. If you like superhero stories that are a little more creepy, mysteries that unravel slowly, or Jessica Jones as a character, pick this one up!

This was actually quite good. I didn't know what to expect as I know nothing of the Marvel world, other than it exists and people lose their minds over it. I've probably seen a movie or two with Marvel characters over the years. Despite all that, the story was very good. The superhero arc doesn't factor much into it, but is an underlying theme throughout and is the only thing that makes sense for the storyline. Although, with AI coming up in the world, I wouldn't rule out this happening. I think anyone who likes Marvel characters and their world will absolutely love this.

BREAKING THE DARK by Lisa Jewell

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC ebook to read.

3.5 stars
Breaking the Dark, the first book in the brand-new Marvel Crime series, introduces fans to a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe. I have to say I knew nothing about Marvel comics or characters in them. Lisa Jewell is a go to author for me, so I thought I would give her new series a try. Jessica Jones is a retired super hero, private investigator and loner. When a distraught mother comes to her office and explains that her teenage twins have changed in drastic ways after visiting with their father in the UK. Something in the mother’s story strikes a cord with Jessica and she decides she will take the case.

The story was a bit strange and hard to follow at first for me. About half way through is when I started to be more invested in the story. Overall It was a decent read that was more YA I thought. If you are familiar with the Marvel comics, I’m sure you will enjoy this series.

From Lisa Jewell, “Readers can expect a rollercoaster transatlantic adventure involving a colorful cast of rogues and villains, a power-crazed beauty influencer, some dark romance, a precocious teen detective, clairvoyants, dystopian tech, Jessica Jones at her most Jessica-y, and an immortal cat called Mr. Smith."

I tried to have an open mind about this one but I constantly found myself asking “what is happening..”. I enjoyed the mystery and it definitely kept me reading as I wanted to know how it was going to end. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is such a different book than anything I have read in awhile, and it's great. The superhero elements are subtle, which I really like. The story addresses modern cultural issues of beauty, the dangerous powers of cell phones and other modern technologies, yet includes classic elements of thriller, death, and timeless characters.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

Ok! A Lisa jewell and marvel combo ? At first I wasn’t sure if this was true but I am here for it!!!
This story is a little different than what Lisa’s style is but I really like it a lot! It’s totally immersive in that strange marvel world where Jessica is trying to navigate her way. Lisa developes the characters well. It’s totally the first book to help give that back story that I hope readers remember needs to happen! The only thing is that David is kind of creepy and gives uneasy vibes.

Overall I enjoyed this and look forward to the next book to see how this goes! So cool!😎

I am sort of wobbly with this book. There were parts I thought were good, parts I was confused with, and parts that made me even more confused.

Granted I am not much of a fantasy reader, but in this telling, Lisa Jewell included so many things that after awhile I didn't know where I was. The changes n scenes was abrupt and had me wondering what or who I was reading about.

Jessica Jones starts us off, burdened by her superhero trauma and would prefer the life of drinking, and partying. However, when Amber Randall, comes to her with a story of how her twins have changed after a trip to England, Jessica decides to become active in investigating the why of their weirdness.

Traveling to England to a small town named Barton Wallop, she finds strange and eerie atmosphere where she meets the twins' stepfather, and person named Belle, who has a caretaker and offers such vague and mysterious answers to questions posed.

There is something strange going on that may be connected to missing girls and the twins behavior and"perfect" looks.

This is to be a series on three marvel wonders, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Daredevil written by two other authors.
July 2, 2024 is its publishing date. I will be looking at other reviews of this story.

I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell but I was tentative for a Marvell book/collaboration. Well, boy was I wrong! I loved the story as well as the message/overall theme of perfectionism.

Fantasy is not my typical genre, but this was not too over the top with the fantasy element for me. Exactly what you would expect from a Marvel story. It was intriguing and the two storylines intersected quite nicely!

I am not overly familiar with the many characters of the Marvel universe (and you don’t need to know anything about it to enjoy this book ) and though I enjoy Jewel’s books I was unsure how I would feel about this one but after watching her promotional video and how hard she worked on the story and how it keeps with her writing style I thought I would give it a try . Good thing I did as I really enjoyed following the story of Jessica Jones and I wonder if the next author in the series will thread this characters story into the next book — this is science fiction based mystery/ thriller and keeps you in the edge of your seat wondering if Jessica Jones and her side kick Malcom will make it out of some tight pinches - I liked that Jewel took some of the story to the UK her home territory as well. The story does require some suspended disbelief for the science fiction aspect of the story but honestly the plot was quite unique idea and really plays up with the issues of social media these days for youth . Over all enjoyable read and difficult to put down.

Thank You to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this ARC . This is my honest review .