AL Jackson diving into the romantasy world is exactly what we needed and I cannot wait for more.

The world that she created is one of a kind and I’ve never read anything like this. Switching between worlds in your sleep is something that feels like it’s from a tale you hear as a kid, but her twists and turns were so much fun.

I need more of the romance between these two ASAP if she continues because I loved them and was screaming at them to get together already through the book.

I love a good childhood friends to lovers and hadn’t read it in a romantasy like this before so I was fully enamored.

You have to go into this expecting a lot of world building and set up and be patient with the storyline. The characters moved at the pace that they had to in order to make the story work.

If you like
- fated mates
- childhood friends
- romantasy
- chosen one
- on the run
- only one bed
- morally grey hero
- forbidden
Then you’ll eat this up 😮‍💨

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ❤️

This book kicks off an intriguing series, introducing readers to Aria Rialta, the FMC. Aria lives a life split between two realities. In the waking world, she lives with her parents and siblings, but when she dreams, she shifts to a fantastical realm called Tearsith. In this world, Aria joins others in battling the evil Kruen, demons who live in Faydor and create havoc with the humans. The Kruen are like sinister whispers, influencing people toward darkness and to do evil. Aria’s main ally in these nightly battles is Pax, her Sol, her soulmate. Since turning 16, Aria has been fighting the Kruen every night, but with a dangerous twist: injuries sustained in Faydor appear on her human body, blending the lines between the two worlds. A strict rule forbids Aria from meeting Pax outside of Tearsith, making things complicated.

Aria’s dual existence creates significant tension, particularly with her parents, who believe she’s harming herself. Despite Aria’s previous attempts to explain her vivid experiences in another world, her mother dismisses it as imagination—until Aria’s injuries can no longer be ignored. Concerned for her well-being, her parents have her committed to a mental health facility. On the brink of turning 18, Aria’s discovery of a severe injury in Faydor leads to her hospitalization and placement on suicide watch. It’s here that Aria uncovers a new power: the ability to remove the Kruen from a human body in the real world.

Pax, ever protective, is aware of Aria’s situation and arrives just in time to break her out of the hospital, going against their rules. A powerful Kruen is now hunting both of them, forcing them to remain on the run. As the two worlds collide, only Aria can hear the Kruen in human minds, and only she has the ability to destroy them outside of Faydor. Pax’s role as Aria’s protector becomes even more crucial as the danger escalates. With time running out and the demon targeting someone close to Aria, the stakes couldn't be higher.

Overall, I loved reading this book. It’s a slow-burn romance with a morally complex MMC, and the bond between Aria and Pax is captivating. Their souls are bound, and they’ll do whatever it takes to protect one another, even if it means breaking the rules. This book ends on a major cliffhanger.

I really enjoyed this one! I was very excited for A.L’s first Romantasy and I went into this not knowing what to expect. I thoroughly enjoyed learning Pax & Aria’s story and all about their other world!

Pax & Aria were destined for each other. But only when they’re asleep, and when they’re awake they are not supposed to seek the other out. But when Aria’s parents think something is wrong with her, Pax has no choice but to go and get her.

From the minute they see each other in real life, they know they’re both about to break the rules. Pax tries to fight it and says that once they save her they have to go their separate ways. But come on.. Pax won’t be able to leave her after knowing what it’s like to have her.

These two go on quite the journey! It is a very slow burn on the romance side, but that didn’t really bother me because I think there will be more books in the series so this just sets it all up!

The ending though… Are we getting book 2?!? I freaking hope so because I have so many questions!!!

This book was a rollercoaster of emotions! The plot was very unique. The world building was not too overwhelming. I think the writing at times was a bit too flowery without really having a clear message.

I was so excited to dive into this book, which is the first I’ve read from A.L. Jackson. Visions of Darkness had such a unique storyline to follow, straddling the dreamscape and real world. I was hooked from the descriptive world(s) building, to the magical slow burn romance between Aria and Pax. The characters were instantly likeable and that really pulled me into the story. I cant wait to read more!

✨Read If You Love ✨
Slow Burn
Touch Her And D
One Bed
Morally Gray MMC
Forbidden Love
Chosen Ones
Fated Mates
Two Worlds Collide
On The Run
Dual POV

Heat: Open door, 1.5🌶️

This story revolves around Aria & Pax- soulmates who are united on an alternate plane each night when they go to sleep. They are tasked with battling the evil monsters that exist in this realm, in order to protect the humans, who are ignorant of their existence. But the horrors that Aria encounters as she sleeps are following her to the human world, putting her and her loved ones at risk. Pax is forced to find her in the waking world, which is FORBIDDEN, in order to keep her safe.

This was an absolutely thrilling, WILD ride, that I tore through in one sitting. It was fast-paced, very well written, and highly addictive, with a unique storyline that kept me hooked. It definitely gave me urban fantasy/PNR vibes, which I LOVED, and had a fresh take on classic tropes, like good vs. evil.

I loved the forbidden romance that served as a driving force behind the overall story. The connection between Aria & Pax was so beautiful & poignant, I couldn’t help but be swept away. His desire to find her and protect her, despite the rules to the contrary, made me melt. 🫠 It was definitely a slow burn, and more plot focused, but the spice that eventually hit was tastefully written, and well-balanced with the story.
I definitely recommend picking this up if you’re looking for an action packed fantasy/PNR, with a beautiful love story, and a unique storyline to get lost in. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!

This book had me hooked from the first page and I couldn't put it down.

Fantasy/romantasy is one of my favorite genres, and I was so captivated and intrigued by this story.

There are many layers to this story, and as you all know, I don't want to spoil it out of respect for the author and their work, so these are my general thoughts.

This story has dual realities: it takes place in Tearsith and the modern day, which is so unique. The world-building was very well done. It was detailed and well-developed but not overly complicated. Aria and Pax met when they were young, and have a deep connection from the beginning, even though being together is forbidden. I loved the dual POV, so you could feel and understand their emotions, and the connection ran much deeper than the others. I loved watching their connection grow and seeing their characters develop. The conflict of "good vs. evil" was so unique and I loved seeing how the story unfolded. The ending shocked me and now I have to know what happens next.

I loved every minute of this story. I can't wait to see where this story goes. Whether you are a fantasy/romantic lover or someone thinking about trying out this genre, you will love this story.

This was my very first read by AL Jackson and I was really surprised by this book. First I have to commend A.L. because this was also her first time taking on fantasy, as we all know her for her writing darker contemporary romance. This take on the fantasy genre was really interesting as it takes place in both our modern world and then in a dream realm which was a very fresh and new idea, one that I not seen done before. The character and world building really kept me invested. I will definitely be continuing on with the series.

STORY
⭐ 4.5

SPICE
🌶️ mild (very)

RECOMMEND
💳 yes

WOW! I don’t know where to begin.

If you didn’t know, A.L. Jackson’s “Visions of Darkness” is the first dark romantasy she’s ever written.

The storyline for “Visions of Darkness” is unique and, in my opinion, has a tiny bit of a religious undertone.

This story evolves through Aria and Pax’s points of view and gives peeks into the past, ending with a cliffhanger that left me saying, “What the fuck?”

I’ve rarely read a story structured in both first-person and third-person. If you’ve read the blurb for “Visions of Darkness,” you know there are two realities: awake and in dream state. The structure of the story reflects these two realities.

Aria and Pax’s characters are well-developed, even though they are both considerably young. At the start of the story, Aria is only 17, while Pax is in his early 20s. I also like that A.L. Jackson included the stigma of mental illness and mental illness as a diagnosis when doctors cannot explain patterns in behavior.

The story is a bit slow in the beginning as the groundwork for the plot is being laid down. But once you have a solid understanding of what’s going on, the story starts to pick up.

Despite the story being unique, some aspects seemed familiar, although I can’t seem to put my finger on it. There are also some twists that I predicted and a reveal included as part of the cliffhanger that was unexpected.

“Visions of Darkness” is a pretty solid read. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series. I’m definitely looking forward to the audio version of this story.

If you enjoy dual reality, good versus evil, with morally gray characters, give this one a read. Just make sure you read the trigger warnings if you’re sensitive to certain content. Enjoy!

Thank you, Valentine PR for giving me the opportunity to read and review “Visions in Darkness” in advance.

“Every night when Aria falls asleep, she enters the nightmare world of Faydor to fight a war. It’s her calling to help destroy the Kruen, who feed sin and chaos to our everyday world of vulnerable humans. It would be a lonely realm in which to do battle if not for Pax, Aria’s dangerously irresistible soulmate whose mere touch can kill. It’s also a realm that’s getting harder to escape.”

If you guys are looking for a unique dark fantasy— LOOK NO FURTHER THAN VISIONS OF DARKNESS BY @aljacksonauthor !!🤗

As a girly with a history of being deeply invested in learning about lucid dreaming and with an undiagnosed sleep disorder— This action packed dark fantasy that features dream world sequences was unlike anything I’d ever read but everything I knew I needed!

While this book has all of our favorite fantasy tropes like a morally grey MMC, one bed, and touch her and ☠️, it is DARK fantasy and does contain topics and locations that may be triggering for some readers. (Reader discretion advised)

This was such an intricate, emotional, action packed dark fantasy unlike anything I’d ever read! Visions of Darkness is available for FREE on KU or on audible with dual narrators Victoria Mei and Teddy Hamilton ;)

**VISIONS OF DARKNESS** by A.L. Jackson is finally here! I had the pleasure of reading this dark romantic fantasy early, and OMG, I was in love!

This is so different from what Jackson normally writes, and I just couldn't get enough! I absolutely devoured it!

It was not only thrilling; it was an emotional roller coaster! So if you think romantasy isn't your thing, you're mistaken, and I believe this is the perfect book to test your theory!

You won't be disappointed!

4.25 ⭐️
1.5 🔥
Dark Romantasy
Urban Setting
Dream World
Chosen Ones
Soulmates
Forbidden Love
Touch Her & Die
Cliffhanger
Great on Audio! 🎧
⚠️This book does contain some dark elements. Please check trigger/content warnings.⚠️
Amy’s first Romantasy!! This was such a unique Romantasy & it felt so refreshing to read something so different. Our FMC Aria is of two worlds, the human/real world & chosen to be of the dream world. While in the dream world of Faydor, she fights dark beings called Kruen, that influence humans into dark depravities, but she doesn’t fight alone. Aria’s soul has been bound to Pax, who has been a part of her dream life since they were both chosen. Except, they are not to interact in the human world, because it will attract these dark beings to them, and is said that it would turn themselves against one another. The problem is, the wounds & darkness are bleeding into the real world and Aria’s in danger. So Pax needs to decide if he is to join his soulmate, in the real world & continue to fight together both in the dream world & the real world. They try to fight their connection & forbidden attraction to each other, but that is hard to do when your souls are bonded. This book leaves off on a cliffhanger I didn’t see coming & I’m so excited to see what Amy does with this series next!

Thank you A.L. Jackson & Valentine PR for the ARC!

When I found out our girl was delving into the romantasy sector I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read this book. I was hooked from the very first page and literally could not stop.

Ever since she was little Aria was different. When she slept she would go to a different realm to learn more about her kind with her Nol, Pax. The Lavern fight in Faydor against Kruen which are beings that poison the minds of those who are already inclined to do bad and influence them into doing the horrible things. While fighting spiritual beings in her sleep takes its toll, Aria wakes up with physical wounds following these battles. Her family, not knowing the truth, believes she is self harming and sends her to get help. Aria quickly comes to realize she’s not safe even when she’s awake as her powers are stronger than anyone could have ever anticipated which makes her become target number one for the evil they’re fighting against. Once Pax comes to her rescue the two embark on a journey that defies all logic, physics, and realms alike.

Both Pax and Aria are such interesting characters in their own ways. I felt like we go so much inner turmoil for both of them about different things. Pax struggling with his feelings for Aria and Aria struggling not only to find out who she truly is but to convince Pax that the connection between the two of them was inevitable and meant to be.

I don’t read a lot of romantasy and this was a fun ride! While some of the terms/ names were slightly confusing at first the premise was easy to comprehend and follow and I really enjoyed this story. This was low spice, high plot and I did not mind it one bit.

Thank you so much to AL Jackson + team for the eARC for review. Congrats on your new journey of romantasy and can’t wait to see what comes next from this world!!

I am not a big romantasy fan, but I am a HUGE Amy fan! I will read basically anything AL Jackson writes. Including a romantasy. This romantasy, to be exact.

Pax and Aria are gripping characters right from the beginning. Even the prologue had me excited for the book. While I still struggle with made up and alternate worlds, Visions of Darkness had enough reality to grip me into reading it. I am ready for Darkness #2 and will recommend this to all romantasy and AL Jackson lovers out there!

Thank you for the copy, this is my honest opinion. Please be aware of any trigger warnings, as your mental health is most important.

With it’s good vs. evil, dark romantasy vibes, I had a feeling this would be intriguing!

Aria Rialta has always been a bit different. From a young age, as she slept, she’s entered another world, Faydor, where her birthright has her fighting the Kruen, an entity that invades the human mind and infuses it with negativity, evil, and corruption. Upon waking, she is thrust back into the real world as a “typical” eighteen year old girl. That is until her two worlds start coming together and the evil seeks her when she is awake. While Aria isn’t the only one of her kind, they are forbidden to meet in their waking hours: however, as the danger pursues Aria more and more, her soulmate from Faydor, Pax, can’t keep himself away. Now, they are an even greater target for the evils that are hunting them.

What a tension filled slow-burn! With the forbidden nature of their relationship in the real world and the dangers it can bring, the push and pull of the “should we or shouldn’t we” was palpable between Pax and Aria! I really liked Pax’s morally grey character in the real world and the contrast between his almost superhero like persona in Faydor. His protective nature and slightly menacing description made him an intriguingly swoony character. The inevitable, yet unpredictable dangers throughout the book kept me on the edge of my seat and the cliffy at the end has my wheels turning on what lies next for these two characters.

Ms Jackson is someone on my favorite author list, so when she decided to try her hand at a new genre, so I was all for giving it a try. I’m so glad I did!
There is a lot of world building in Vision of Darkness, but this is well balanced with letting us get to know Aria and Pax as people.
One of the things I appreciated about this story is that the physical intimacy which is usually such a big part of Ms Jackson’s stories shifted to be more in line with Aria’s age. The tangible presentation of their budding relationship was more subtle and felt more realistic.
There is a lot going on here and Ms Jackson does an excellent job of blending the fantasy, romantic relationship, and family dynamic into everything so it doesn’t feel like the details are lost.
My one complaint - if you can call it that - was the ending. I get that this is probably the first book of a series, but the story had a truly good stopping place and we went past that to get the “hook” for the next book. I understand why and it worked well based on the story told here, but it felt a little unnecessary.
Overall, if you enjoy a good paranormal read then this is one I can definitely recommend in terms of interesting characters and good storytelling.

✨✨✨ ARC Review ✨✨✨

Well, I didn’t think AL Jackson could get any better. Then she said “hold my beer while I write this romantasy” 😍

Tropes:
▪️Fated Mates ⁠
▪️Forbidden ⁠
▪️The Chosen One⁠
▪️On the Run⁠
▪️Morally Gray Hero ⁠
▪️Two Worlds Collide⁠
▪️Only One Bed⁠
▪️Ultimate Touch Her and 🔪Protector

🎧 Narrator:
Victoria Mei and Teddy Hamilton

A.L. Jackson has once again proven why she’s an auto-buy author for me with Visions of Darkness. In her bold foray into romantasy, Jackson masterfully blends urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and her signature poetic prose into a story that’s both thrilling and unputdownable.

Aria Rialta and Pax are soulmates bound in an alternate realm where they battle darkness each night to protect humanity. But when the dangers of Faydor begin spilling into the waking world, Pax breaks the ultimate rule and finds Aria in real life to keep her safe. Their connection is forbidden, their love perilous, and the stakes couldn’t be higher as they navigate a world of danger and desire.

I want to start this review by saying I went into this completely blind. As someone who doesn’t typically read fantasy or romantasy, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Dark romance and contemporary romance are my comfort zone. The opening of this story immediately drew me in as I voraciously flipped pages on my Kindle. That said, I did find myself adjusting to the slower build of the romance and the intricacies of the world-building. To be fair, this is completely normal for a multi-book series, and it’s not a flaw of the story but rather an adjustment for me as a reader. If you’re new to this genre, I encourage you to stick with it—you’ll soon find yourself hooked.

The pacing kept me invested, balancing action-packed moments with a slow-burn romance that builds beautifully. The forbidden nature of Aria and Pax’s love adds an irresistible tension, and their bond—equal parts tender and powerful—left me swooning. Pax’s relentless determination to protect Aria, despite the rules and risks, made him an unforgettable, morally grey hero who stole my heart.

The world-building was a new experience for me, blending contemporary settings with hauntingly vivid glimpses of Faydor. While I craved a bit more depth into its lore, the mix of action and mystery kept me thoroughly engaged. The slow-burn spice was minimal, but perfectly timed and tastefully done, enhancing the emotional connection between Aria and Pax in a way that felt organic and meaningful.

This is a fantastic choice for fans of urban fantasy or PNR looking for a unique, addictive read with high stakes and more story than spice to get lost in. A.L. Jackson has set the stage for an incredible series, and I’m already counting down the days until book two. Highly recommended!

Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Spice: 1 🌶️

Genre:
🖤Dark(ish) Romantasy

Tropes:
🖤Soul mates
🖤Touch her & ☠️ Vibes
🖤Morally grey MMC
🖤Two different worlds/Secret world
🖤Forbidden love
🖤Heroine coming into her powers
🖤On the run
🖤Close Proximity
🖤Paranormal romance
🖤Slow burn
🖤No Third Act Break-Up
🖤Found family

(ARC Provided via NetGalley and A.L. Jackson, the review is my own.)

When I found out @aljacksonauthor was writing a fantasy?! I screamed. Immediately jumped on the train to support and scream about my love for Aria and Pax, because quite literally you all need them and this book in your life. I’m not joking, okay?! This was such a unique fantasy honestly, I feel like we get the usually fae, werewolves, dragons, etc but the take Amy took with this, and the Laven’s was so captivating I needed to know more!! The whole they fight the evils of Faydor in their dreams basically and live in the real world amongst the humans during the day?! Shook. The forbidden they can’t be together in the real world but are quite literally fated mates in Faydor had me grasping the edge of my seat screaming for them to love each other 😩😩😩😩 Pax coming for Aria really did me in and I fell right then and there.

It does end in a bit of a cliffy, so buckle up folks 😂✌🏼 but I absolutely cannot wait to see where this world takes us!! And for more of Aria and Pax pls.

What to expect:
💘 Fated Mates
😈 On The Run
☝🏼 The Chosen One
🩶 Morally Grey Hero
🌎 Two Worlds Collide
🛏️ Only One Bed
💀 Ultimate Touch Her and D!3 Protector
❤️‍🩹 Forbidden

This was such a unique concept for a fantasy romance! I honestly didn't look at what it was about going in, just saw A.L. Jackson and romantasy and knew I needed to read haha and it didn't disappoint!

I loved the setup of this being an urban fantasy but still having a fantasy realm in their dreams. And having elements of the dream world leak in to the real world was perfect and helped bring everything together. I felt like the fantasy elements were easy to understand and I enjoyed the overall arc of the story!

I will say I didn't expect our FMC to be just turning 18, but I think it made sense with her story. My heart hurt for her and her situation with her family and I thought the mental health aspects were handled really well. And of course, I loved her relationship with Pax!

They are the definition of soulmates but yet, it's completely forbidden for them to be together! I have some theories about this...so I am definitely curious to see where the series goes and if I'm right haha but you could feel the love and chemistry between them and also I just loved how protective Pax was of her. This was definitely slow burn and was not as spicy as a typical A.L. Jackson romance, but I think it made sense with the plot.

I will say that some things seemed a little too flowery/cheesy for me and there were a few predictable things. They didn't really take away from my enjoyment necessarily, but this felt more like a solid four star read to me versus something higher. But the audio, especially with Teddy Hamilton, was great and I am excited to see where the series goes!

Thank you so much to A.L. Jackson, Valentine PR, Brilliance Publishing, and Netgalley for the eARC and ALC!