I was a complete skeptic before reading this book due to the Marvel back story because I don't really enjoy that or understand super heroes. But this book was wow!! It only touched on Marvel super powers so little I couldn't put this book down. The storyline was so easy to follow and was a complete page turner. I had to know what was happening and going to happen. I'd recommend this book to my friends again and again.

I love Marvel and I love Lisa Jewel! How could I want anything more?
Turns out I could...lack of depth in the storyline, wasn't attached to any characters, and lacks a feeling of purpose.
Wanted to like this one so much more

i had absolutely no idea what this book was about when i started it, but i very quickly fell in love with this world!!
to preface, this is the first in a new series called marvel crime. i am NOT a marvel girl, i have no prior knowledge about any of these characters, though i did find myself researching a bit about the comics throughout reading the book. our main character is jessica jones (who also apparently has a netflix series i must now definitely watch) and follows her as she investigates a case about two teenagers who come back from a summer abroad looking and acting different.
there were SO many twists and turns along the way, i genuinely did not know where the story was going 80% of the time but i was ENTHRALLED and tried soooo hard to figure out the ending before it came but i was STILL surprised by the plot twist at the very end. this story was CRAZY in the best way possible. there was so much action to keep readers entertained and at the end you see how every single piece of the story is connected and everything just makes sense.
this book dealt with themes of perfectionism, motherhood, addiction, therapy, and ptsd. i really loved how connected i felt to jessica by the end of the book. my ONLY complaint is that the last couple of chapters were more difficult to get through since the main mystery had been resolved by that point. but, that was only a few pages and i did enjoy how everything wrapped up for the characters.
i enjoyed this book so much more than i anticipated considering i’m not into superheroes at all, but i will 10000% be putting the next book in this series on my tbr once it comes out!!
the main point i want to get across here is that you definitely DO NOT have to be well versed in the MCU to enjoy this book. if you DO happen to love the MCU and thriller/crime books, i’d almost guarantee you’d love this.

This book follows Marvel superhero Jessica Jones on as she investigates a case of two twin teenagers that come home from a trip acting and appearing very differently than their previous selves. I don’t typically follow Marvel, but have enjoyed previous books by the author, so I wanted to give this one a try. I was very pleasantly surprised, as there was great character development that allowed me to easily connect with the character, despite having little knowledge of her before. The story was also captivating and had meaningful storylines exploring current social themes. In short, I really liked the book and would recommend to others knowledgeable or new to Marvel characters!

I was approved as an ARC for this book, it was a very interesting book. Not my favorite Lisa jewel work but I’ll take it. It dives into criminal investigations and what’s happening next so it was fun to read. I do love marvel but I can’t say if I’d follow up on this series. But altogether a nice and enjoyable read

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this earn! This was such an interesting read! Lisa Jewell is an incredible writer and I was so intrigued that she was writing a Marvel story. I have watched the tv show Jessica Jones, so I have a bit of understanding with her story and think fans of Marvel will overall enjoy. Now, being that it’s in the Marvel world almost nothing is off limits making it a very weird, dark, strange and twisty story. Anything is possible! The beginning was a bit slow and took a bit to get into. There is not a lot of back-story given, it’s mostly implied. So if you don’t know Jessica’s history it may hinder your reading experience. Once I got to the second half of the book it really picked up and was fun and entertaining! All in all, it did feel a bit like pieces of a puzzle that didn’t completely fit together.

If you’re a Marvel fan I would definitely give this a read! If you’re a Lisa Jewell fan, I still feel it’s worth experiencing the mash up of thriller writer meets Marvel world.

As a fan of Jessica Jones I felt it just didn’t truly capture her character in the way I would have hoped. Having watched the series I was looking forward to having that same sass of her personality burst off of the pages but I just didn’t get that in the way that I had hoped. With that said, I was engaged and found myself wanting to know what happened next. Overall good read but hoping next book will show more of her character traits that make Jessica Jones’s a fan favorite. Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion for the ARC!!

I am not a super fan of Marvel or super heroes, but I love Lisa Jewell. I really liked Jessica Jones, I love a female private investigator. It was a fast pace read for me & I look forward to the next books in this series!

As a big Marvel fan, and also a Lisa Jewell fan, I was excited for this one. Unfortunately, it fell a little flat.
The first 30-40% was very slow. It was a challenge to get through.
The story was a little like the “what if” Disney series.
I didn’t enjoy it and will probably not explore others in the series, if there are any.

You don’t have to be a Marvel fan to LOVE this new thriller by Lisa Jewell! Despite zero background knowledge of superwoman Jessica Jones or her story, I thoroughly enjoyed the twists, turns, and plot of this captivating novel. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Breaking The Dark by Lisa Jewell
I had forgotten I read this previously, this was my review
I liked the concept for this novel and I love Lisa Jewell and previous books that I have read, this one was missing something.
I don't think I connected with the characters, I felt there needed to be more discussion around the super powers that some of the characters were supposed to have. I found it a bit confusing
The story is told both past and present, which made sense, but I got a little lost with who some of the characters were. I also didn't realize this had something to do with Marvel comics when I started reading, although I don't think it would have changed my review or perception of the book.
Not a hard read, good plot, I just felt it needed a little more depth and reality and background on the special powers.
Will continue to read books by Lisa Jewel

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I had to dnf this at 20%. It was hard to follow and not what I expected.

This story took me quite some time to get into. It wasn't until I was about halfway through the book that I found myself truly engaged. The plot felt convoluted at times, making it challenging to fully immerse myself in the narrative. I also did not know much about Jessica Jones going into this, so it took me a bit to warm up to her character.

While this was not my favorite, there were moments of brilliance that kept me reading and wanting to know what would happen next. Once things became clearer with the side story of Ophelia and Polly, I was hooked and needed to know where the story where headed. The complexity of the storyline did leave me wanting more and left with several questions at the end.

I think this is a decent read for fans of crime thrillers but may require some patience to fully appreciate the story if you are not a Marvel/Jessica Jones fan. If you are a fan of Marvel and/or have seen the Jessica Jones Netflix series, I think you will really enjoy this! I think if I had more background knowledge going in, I definitely would have liked it more.

. It was not at all what I was expecting, but it was also interesting. If you are into superhero and thriller, this is a great book! I did enjoy the thriller aspect but the superhero part was not my cup of tea. I also felt that the writing was a little confusing, but still a good book.

I am a long time Lisa Jewell fan, so I immediately signed up for this ARC just in that alone. I had no idea this was a Marvel / Jessica Jones collab. Jessica Jones was always an interesting character to me, but I didn’t know what to expect.

The story was interesting, it didn’t feel very Marvel / Superhero to me, but more like a mystic thriller novel. I didn’t really know what to expect, and I can’t say this was predictable. Overall, good, enjoyable story.

Lisa Jewell is a phenomenal author and this book is no different! It felt a little slow getting into but otherwise I absolutely loved it.

This book was average. I had hoped to see Jessica using her powers more and to see her as a superhero, but that didn’t happen. It wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t memorable either.

"Breaking the Dark" by Lisa Jewell is a captivating psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows the lives of several intertwined characters, each harboring their own secrets and dark pasts. As the plot unfolds, Jewell masterfully reveals the connections between them, leading to a shocking and satisfying climax.

The novel explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones. Jewell's writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Overall, "Breaking the Dark" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, offering a gripping and immersive experience that will leave you thinking long after you've turned the last page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

As a fan of Lisa Jewell, I was excited but also a bit hesitant when I saw Breaking the Dark in my NetGalley feed. The cover pulled me right in as well as the synopsis.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from her entry into the Marvel Crime universe. But I’m so glad I gave this ARC a chance!

Breaking the Dark introduces Jessica Jones, a retired superhero turned private investigator, trying to leave behind a life filled with trauma. Set in the gritty world of Hell’s Kitchen, New York, Jessica’s quiet life is interrupted when Amber Randall, a distraught mother, asks for her help. Amber believes her teenage twins have been replaced by something unnatural while visiting their father in the UK. As Jessica digs into the mystery, she travels to a small, eerie village where secrets, dark energies, and a strange girl named Belle await.

What I loved about this novel is how it blends superhero elements with a chilling thriller and a touch of sci-fi, making for a uniquely twisted experience. Even though I’m not typically a Marvel fan, I found myself completely immersed in this story. I couldn’t stop thinking about it when I wasn’t reading and couldn’t wait to get back to the next chapter. The pacing is fantastic, and Jessica’s gritty, no-nonsense attitude makes for a compelling protagonist.

The suspense and mystery of the plot kept me on the edge of my seat, and the unexpected twists had me guessing until the very end. Though this book ventures into unfamiliar territory for me, I’ll admit—it was hard to put down. I’m giving Breaking the Dark a solid 4.5 stars and am already looking forward to the next installment in this thrilling new series.

If you enjoy a good blend of superhero action, psychological suspense, and a bit of sci-fi weirdness, I highly recommend checking this one out. Even if you’re not a Marvel enthusiast, Lisa Jewell’s masterful storytelling will pull you in!

"You’re gorgeous. You’re clever. You’re cool. You’re loving. You’re scary . You are so, so strong. What those people did to you, it doesn’t make you weaker, it makes you stronger. You just need to believe that. And you need to open your heart to yourself. Break through the dark. Find the light."

💜My Thoughts:
Full disclosure, I started this book because it was written by Lisa Jewell not because of the Marvel storyline. I enjoy Marvel movies but overall not an epic follower. For this book I believe whether you are a fan of Jessica Jones or not the story will stand on its own. I did find the story to have a rocky start and felt disconnected in certain parts. But the overall storyline picked up the pace in the middle and I felt invested in knowing how Jessica would solve the mystery. This novel is not a typical Lisa Jewell psychology thriller and after reading the author's acknowledgements at the end I could appreciate Jewell's love of Jessica Jones in the pages but I could also sense her struggle with the different writing style with the general pacing of the story