A fantastic romantasy debut. I love AL writing so much and this was no exception. She has me turning the page at record pace trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Urban fantasy is such an underrated genre and I’m so glad there’s another epic one added to the roster.

“May your hearts forever keep the hope of your calling,”

I loved this book!
The good vs evil in this is depicted in such a way that it's reminiscent of angels vs. demons. The way evil enters the minds and souls of humankind unbeknownst to them while the Laven battled this evil in a different plane was so intriguing!!! The fact this is A.L Jackson's first romantasy is amazing!
The Bond between Pax and Aria was everything !
I can not wait for more of this series!

This fantasy romance takes you from a somewhat normal family life to a whole other world while you are sleeping. Aria and Pax belong together but with their worlds colliding how will this all work. This is a complicated love story about love, family and figuring out who you truly are. These characters are telling a sometimes intense story in this well layered book with a lot going on. This is only book one in this series so things are just getting interesting.

This was such an interesting beginning to a series! I had a feeling that AL Jackson would write a very compelling Romantasy, and that is true about this book, if nothing else. I would call this a New Adult Romantasy and I think this is a decent dive into a new style of romance from her.

I was immediately gripped by the struggle and predicament Aria finds herself in. Living a double life. Where in one, she is a High School Senior about to turn 18 and in the other, she is a magical warrior who fights off the Darkness in the land of Faydor. With her Laven family, who train and fight evil together.

Pax is her protector and partner in Faydor. He keeps her safe so she can do her job. But in the waking world they are not supposed to ever meet. Big bad things will supposedly happen and be drawn to them if they were in the same place at the same time. That doesn't keep either of them from longing for each other. Nor does it keep Pax from rushing to Aria's rescue when her earthly family has her committed for the strange wounds they find on her body that look like self-harm.

Yeah, she is in quite the sticky situation.

Now that Pax and Aria are together, how will they ever go back to the way things were, and that becomes even more impossible when enemies begin converging on them. They have their backs against the wall and they don't know what the new power manifesting in Aria really means.

I found parts of this story to be very compelling and the narration performances by Victoria Mei and Teddy Hamilton really helped with that too. They really kept the story moving. I have always found that AL Jackson's writing sounds the best when it is being performed. It is very lyrical and flows better that way.

However, I did find this to be a bit *too* flowery, with many descriptions using a lot of words to not say anything at times. That may seem harsh, but I feel like after completing this novel, I should know a bit more about what's happening. I'm happy we didn't have too much info dumping, but I have so many questions. I know there are more books coming, and this did end in a cliffhanger, but there should have been a bit more meat on the bones.

Overall, I will continue this series and I am anxious to know what comes next for this pair!

3.5 Stars
1.5 on the spice scale

CW: forced committal of a minor, violence, danger to children

I’ve always enjoyed this author’s writing, so I was thrilled to dive into this book. While she’s known for contemporary romance, she did absolutely amazing with this supernatural new adult fantasy. The concept was fresh and intriguing, with my favorite aspect being her world-building, layering an alternate reality onto our own. I’m a sucker for a good parallel world, and in this case, it unfolds through the dreams of select individuals. The FMC and MMC are a part of these select individuals and throughout the book are on a journey to defeat the evil that they face. I’m so excited and awaiting its release so I can finally discuss it with others!

Visions of Darkness | A.L. Jackson

✨ Fantasy Romance
✨ Two Worlds Collide
✨ Fated Mates
✨ On The Run
✨ Forbidden Love

Always a huge fan of A.L.Jackson’s writing. This was her debut fantasy novel. I loved how this was so unique and completely original. The book tells the forbidden love story of Aria and Pax. Both live separate lives during the day In the real modern world while at night when they sleep they are brought into the fantasy world of Faydor. In Faydor they work together to fight the evils of the Kruens. These dark beings infiltrate the minds of humans and force them to do horrible things. The fantasy side to this book was very easy to follow and a great option for someone looking to try out the genre. This has danger, suspense, and a captivating romance. Younger aged characters and very mild spice. I loved the dedication and intense bond between the two characters. Loved how the story felt true to Jackson’s typical contemporary romance writing style while mixing it with darker fantasy elements. Can’t wait for more in this series.

“He knew his love for her was greater than anything else. Greater than anything he would ever experience. It was absolute. Born of some twisted fate that would tie her to him forever.”

“Aria. You’re every dream I’ve ever had. Every vision in the day. Every hope that I’ve dared to have. All of me, it’s yours.”

“Written on my soul and inscribed in my being. Aria was.”

“Make no mistake, I would break every fucking rule in this world and in that one to keep you safe.”

“My soul that recognized her across the miles and space..”

Amy is officially in her romantasy era and I LOVED it so much!! It was just the right amount of everything. The names were easy to pronounce, you could follow along easily and Pax and Aria were so amazing!

Amy is truly the queen of the Morally Gray Hero that you will fall in love with every time!! You will fall in love with Pax…dark, mysterious, broody and completely taken with our girl Aria!! The way he will protect and defend Aria will have you swooning!!

Aria is a bad a***!! Yes!! I can’t wait to see how their story continues!
Amy, I need more and that cliffhanger..what!! I’m so ready.

When I saw this advertised, I was really intrigued and signed up for the arc there and then. Unfortunately for me, I struggled jumping between the different worlds and writing points of view. That's a me issue rather than a book issue, though, and I am sure there are lots of readers who would disagree with me.

That being said, I enjoyed the tension of always being on the run, trying to fight something that is difficult to pin down, and how the development of the relationship between Aria and Pax.

Pax is the ultimate protector, I just wish he gave in to his desires sooner!

Thank you so much to netgalley, the publisher, Valentine PR, and the author for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read a fantasy book by Amy! But I didn’t realize that this book featured a female lead who was 17/18 and still in high school. I just couldn’t get fully into it. Writing was beautiful like always and the plot was unique, especially with the dream realm, but couldn’t connect with the characters. Dnf at 44%

Thank you Valentine PR for the advanced copy in return for honest opinion. ❤️

I have so many good words to say about this book, it’s the perfect beginning to a series, it was addicting, perfectly paced, and so visual you feel like you’re watching Pax and Aria on tv. Speaking of TV, this is literally the perfect book to be adapted to Television or a Movie, it would do wonders and would be so captivating in visual media.

I loved how unique this story was, I have never read a similar story to this and while it may exist, it’s the first of its kind for me. I love dream fantasy, and Aria enters into a separate world when she sleeps, and injuries in that world are real when she wakes up. I loved how they included her parents fears of her being mentally ill, it adds just a well-rounded view of that story and what it would be like to have these types of dreams.

Pax and Aria are forbidden, cannot be together per their culture’s rules, as they are each other’s Nol, a bond between two people that prevent them from ever being together in the real world without major damage. Unfortunately they had to find each other to save each other, and finally fall in love in person. Pax is a complex character that we seem him more fleshed out in future books, he is still a major mystery besides his love for Aria and I think it’ll make the series even more compelling.

The entire second half of this book flew by as the suspense ramps up and you won’t want to put it down. The cliffhanger makes me so desperate for a second book so I hope it comes soon!

Wow I really enjoyed reading about Aria & Pax.

This was definitely a different kind of story that I had no idea if I would like but man did I really like it. The fact that these two are a part of something that only they know about, fighting against something only they can see was so intense. Especially when you consider Aria being put into a mental hospital because her parents thought she was a danger to herself.

But I absolutely loved the fact that her connection with Pax out weighed everything. Despite being taught otherwise, he went against the rules to find her in the daylight & help her.

Then they had to fight against the monsters only they could see, especially now that Aria seems to be able to fight against them in the light as well. Their journey was rough but it only brought them closer as well & Pax finally stopped fighting against his feelings for her.

This was such an interesting & intriguing book that I am for sure interested in seeing what happens next.

Amazing job!

Let me just say, I didn’t expect this book to be THIS MF GOOD. and of course as soon as I finish, I’m at lost for words to put into this review. BUT IT WAS AMAZING. The premise of the story is essentially that the MC’s, while awake, live out their lives as humans. BUT while asleep, they fight and kill off the demons that haunt our thoughts everyday. The MC’s are each other’s Nols (basically soul bonded) but they only know each other when asleep, and are forbidden to find each other while awake. Well when our FMC, Aria, gets into some trouble, and her parents think she mentally unstable, our MMC, Pax, can feel it and breaks all the rules to find her, and together they try and save her life. It’s CHEF’s KISS✨ now, Pax…he is also a Chef’s kiss and I’m pretty sure he will be making it to the top of my book boyfriends list with his whispered sweet nothing and morally gray facade 🔥 HATE HATE HATE that it ends on a cliffhanger and I need another book RIGHT NOW PLEASE

When one of my absolute favorite authors is writing her first Romantasy... Sign me up, please!!

This was a journey shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Through mists & shadows, evil lurks, a mysterious web that pulls you deeper into the dense, foggy chaos. You won't want to put this one down as Aria & Pax fight an evil greater than they've ever known.

Each night, when darkness falls, deep within the recesses of the mind, danger lurks beyond the veil of shadows. Imagine closing your eyes, knowing that instead of a peaceful night's sleep, you will fall into a place that nightmares are made of. This is the reality of Aria & Pax, a chosen one and her protector. Meant to protect the mortal world from evil forces, known as the Kruen, born of deception, betrayal & greed.

As danger lurks in the shadows of daylight, Aria finds her powers growing and as they grow, so does the anger of the Kruen. Enough to draw Pax out of the shadows and into the light as he vows to protect Aria at all costs. A move that could destroy them both. Straddling a life between the heavens & hell, Aria & Pax, set out on a cross country road trip as they continue to fight the evils that are chasing them, hoping to find answers to questions they aren't even sure of.

With the evil darkness swirling around them, they struggle against the forbidden attraction and underlying chemistry that has always swirled around the two of them. Crossing lines could be the end of them both, but the risk might be worth every moment they have together. After all, is the end right around the corner?

This slow burn is worth every twist and turn it throws at us and the ending will have you screaming for more!!

So... can we just cross our fingers that A.L. Jackson writes more romantasy in the future? Because when I say I was SAT for this book... there is no exaggeration. This is one I wish could be made into a movie or tv show so I can visually SEE what was happening on the pages because wow this one was so great. I NEED MORE FROM THIS WORLD!

This book was so different than other fantasy’s I have read before. From the beginning I was very invested in the storyline. I wish there was more work done on explaining the different world they entered when aria fell asleep, it was a little confusing at times. The connection between aria & pax was so real of full of emotion. I’m very excited to continue the series cause the ending left me wanting more.!

Thank you valentine PR for the ARC.

3⭐️
2🌶️

Look the concept was unique and super interesting, this is definitely a one of a kind fantasy book.

However, is it actually romantasy like it was advertised? I am not 100% sure. Maybe urban fantasy or paranormal? Both?

I am not sure… 🤔

I had a good time reading it, and I was intrigued on what would happen next.

I think the last 30% of the book didn’t deliver and I found myself spacing out and wanting for it to be over.

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for a honest review so thank to NetGalley ♥️

After taking some time to digested what I read. I decided I do like this book. I thought that it was kind of interesting. I loved the way that it was written for sure, it read like poetry with how lyrically A.L. Jackson wrote the sentences within this book. I think that I like Pax as a character most more than I like Aria. And it could just be that I am a dark romance reader so nothing he did really seemed over the top to me. Anyway I would definitely recommend this book to friends and maybe buy the ALC to hear what the characters sound like.

This was my first time reading A.L. Jackson and I greatly enjoyed the writing style. I absolutely love romantasy books and I appreciated the unique fantasy twist in this book in that the main characters lived simultaneously through two worlds, one in the conscious (real world) and the other in the unconscious (Faydor). I liked both main characters, Aria and Pax, and their dual POV throughout the story that shed light on both characters' perspectives and feelings in their forbidden romance. It was so sad to see the pain each character has gone through, but through it all, their bond was unmatched and their love remained strong. Ugh! The cliffhanger at the end! I need book 2 so badly!

Pax and Aria are the epitome of a fated, destiny-written romance-a love so profound it spans worlds. Their cross-world connection was beautifully executed, weaving seamlessly into the plot and propelling it forward as they raced against time to save Aria.

This thrilling fantasy romance takes readers on an unforgettable journey through two vividly imagined worlds, from the magical realm of Faydor to our own. The love and power shared by Aria and Pax shine brightly in both settings, creating a story that feels epic yet intimate.

From the very first page, this book grabs you with its action-packed plot and unrelenting pace. The seamless world-building and "learn as you go" storytelling keep the momentum alive, making for an exhilarating and fantastical ride.

If you love fantasy romance with fated lovers, morally gray heroes, badass heroines, and the ultimate battle between good and evil, READ THIS BOOK! You'll fall head over heels for the breathtaking realm of Faydor and the unforgettable love story of Pax and Aria. 🖤✨

Thank you to Valentine PR, Montlake and A L Jackson for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own.

I really love AL Jacksons contemporary romances (especially on audio) but this book just wasn't for me. The premise sounded interesting but the first few chapters were not gripping me. I started this book on December 23rd and I have not had the desire to pick it back up even once. I might give this another try at some point, time will tell.

Rating: NR