Love this author and this book.!!! Stunning conclusion to the series. I am absolutely in love with the writing! I recommend it.

Omg this book was amazing. I could not put it down. Huge fan of this author Thanks Netgalley for the Arc

Different from what I normally read – this one is full of twists and turns. Complex characters, suspenseful plot. A little dark and totally unique. Brilliantly written.

Part Two of a trilogy and I believe you really need to read part one to understand

Ras usual, Aleatha Romig blows me away with her story telling. I enjoyed Into the Light, However I thought I had the story figured out for the most part very early on. This is rare for me with one of her books; that being said, I LOVED Away From the Dark, all the emotions that this story pulled out of me. Book two is my favorite of the duet.

This book was a good conclusion to a story that I didnt necessarily know I wanted. Aleatha Romig's writing as always was fantastic. I'm just not 100% certain how I feel about it. I will say that I did see the plot twist coming and the wrap up from about the half way point. Over all it was good. But it definitely wasnt something that I would have gone out of my way to read if I wasnt familiar with the author. I gave it a 3.25 star rating.

This book was a great continuation after the cliffhanger book 1 left you on. I enjoyed this story and how it was different than a lot of other books out there.

Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Away from the Dark. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Sara lives in the community of The Light, a religious group led by Father Gabriel. When she starts to have flashes of a different life, one for which she has no recollection, Sara starts to question everything. Will her husband Jacob be able to fill in the blanks?

Away from the Dark is a hard book to get into, if the reader has no prior knowledge of the characters. Because this is a sequel, I would recommend reading the books in order. As a story about the inner workings of a cult by one of its brainwashed members, the book had an interesting premise. However, there was nothing too surprising or unique about the plot or the characters, as both had occasion to fall flat. I expected more suspense and more thrills to keep the plot moving, but none of that really materialized in my opinion. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend Away from the Dark to other readers.

My Thoughts:
Away from the Dark was one of my most anticipated books of 2016. I read the first book, Into the Light, earlier in the year and it left off on a crazy cliffhanger. The wait for Away from the Dark was grueling, but I made it through. It was well worth the wait. The book was everything I wanted in a sequel, and more.

Away from the Dark gave me all the answers I was looking for from the questions I had after reading Into the Light, but it also left me with completely new questions that I now need answered. The book was everything that usually makes Aleatha Romig's books great reads. It had a lot of suspense, combined with dark romance. While reading the book, I felt like I couldn't trust any of the characters. I wasn't even sure that the main characters were telling the truth ninety percent of the time. Just when the reader would think they knew what was going on, Aleatha Romig would throw another plot twist out there that makes you question everything you thought you knew.

I loved the characters even more in this sequel. They were the same characters, but they went through a lot of character development and growth. Sara went from being this meek little woman that did whatever her husband ordered her to, to a kickass heroine that didn't take any shit from anyone. She really grew into her own. I think part of that was her situation (trying to be vague so I don't give spoilers), but it was still refreshing to see.

I'm not sure if Aleatha Romig is going to write a sequel. She left the ending open to where the main character's major conflicts are resolved, but there's still some minor questions that need answered. I really hope that she does write a sequel. I desperately want more of this world in the future.

I give Away from the Dark: 5/5.

Unfortunately, this sequel fell flat compared to the first book in the series. It lacked the same action-packed tension and just didn't flow as well.

This is the second instalment in the Light duology. Sara Adams has been an unwilling follower of the cult, the Light, for close to a year. With the sudden return of the memories from her former life, she starts to understand the corrupt and sexist organisation she has unwittingly been a part of. With the return of her awareness comes her wish for freedom. But how will she escape the seemingly irrepressible institution.

Just like the first instalment, the suspense is what drives the momentum of the plot forward. The narrative is constructed in such a way that you, as the reader, continually question what is real and what is right.

The focus on the cult further muddies the waters of what is deemed 'right' and 'wrong'. Throughout my reading of the first book I could not acknowledge how any part of the Light could be good, but this second book has me second-guessing that. The brainwashing and indoctrination the female followers undergo is horrific, as is the sexist notions on how they are to behave. Reading of this was not pleasant or easy. And yet, hearing of the equally as horrific lives some of these females previously led made me wonder: which of their lives was worse? Drug-addicts, prostitutes and the homeless were among the forgotten women re-homed by the Light, and many of these came willingly. The Light can in no way be deemed as a positive institute, but Romig made us question, and question again, everything we thought we knew and how the good/bad binaries are not so easy to define.

The one facet of this I could not forgive or forget, occurred about a third of the way through. Sara's husband, Jacob, reacts horrifically to her re-found freedom. His actions at this time are explained and forgiven by Sara, but not by me. I could not look past the version of himself that emerged and it made it hard for me to visualise or accept him as the hero or love interest of the plot. Again, I believe Romig carefully created such scenes to make the reader question everything about this world, not so far removed from our own. But this question I could never fully comprehend. I would not say she in any way romanticised abuse, but this scene made me wary about trusting the character that could react in such a way, no matter the motive or the feelings his actions conjured inside of himself.

I did not allow this to fully impact my enjoyment of the book, as I believe Romig had no dark motive. My interpretation of this also seems not to be shared by other readers. However, this soured my own experience of the duology, somewhat.

A fantastic culmination to the complex webbed story of The Light Cult comes to end in this fabulous sequel. It's so refreshing that she focuses more on a solid foundation of story and not mindless sex every two pages and clichéd tatted, alpha bikers or billionaires. The Plot is solid concrete on which stands the story of varied characters.
Father Gabriel being the Omniscient Godlike mythical , invincible Cult Leader, who has nefarious businesses and dangerous fetishes. I'm so surprised that in this day and age people are brainwashed to believe so strongly in The Cult. It's like lost sheep are herded to a pen and they achieve their " sense of belonging" , so they immediately submit to authority to justify their existence.
Strange ! But true.
Jacob and Sarah are pawns, so are Elijah, Abraham and Raquel and Mindy. They are just brainwashed rooks and pawns , moved around robotically by Father Gabriel on his chessboard of Power, Money and Religion
I can't wait for you all to read this amazing story.
Truly I'm Aleatha'd once again !

This book was amazing! I had only read one book of Aleatha's prior to this duet and I have now grabbed a ton of her books!

What do I say? What can I say? HOLY SHIT!! That was one hell of ride that I truly wasn’t sure how it was going to end. And I didn’t want it to!!

Away from the Dark is the sequel to Into the Light and you MUST read that first in order to understand anything going on in this book. And trust me – this is two book series you want to read immediately!!!

This book started where Into the Light ended and we get to find out what happens to Jacob, Sara and The Light. Cause let me tell you, the cliff hanger you are left with after book one, has you immediately jumping into this book going “OMFG. HOLY SHIT. I NEED TO KNOW!!”

Just like the first book, this book is told in multiple POV’s and keeps everything moving at a great pace. There is no lull in suspense or mystery. If anything, it just adds to your anxiety and digging for more and more clues. I refuse to say anything else.

Except this:

“Sara loves Jacob. And Jacob loves Sara. Please never forget that.”

I love how Aleatha ends this. Everything that had me wondering was connected but still left things open. Part of me wants another book – the part of me that needs to know everything. And another part of me that is completely happy with how things are now. Either way, I love this series and felt Aleatha wrote one hell of suspenseful and entertaining book.

The story resumes where the first book left off and the tension never ceases!

We learn much more about the inner workings of The Light as Jacob and Sara try to navigate their way out of potentially dangerous situations. There are so many plot twists and revelations it was hard to find stopping points.

Whatever I thought I knew and understood about cult organizations was severely challenged and tested. Even though mind altering substances were used to initially control many of the women, it was still the conditioning that remained and kept them under control long after the drug use ceased. It was psychologically fascinating and it made me wonder how I would have fared.

This was an excellent two-book series, though the epilogue suggests the story hasn't ended. I hope not as this was a very interesting subject matter with much more that could be explored. For those who like to read out of order...don't. You'll be utterly confused so do yourself a favor and start with the first book. I liked how things ended for Jacob and Sara but am intrigued about the future possibilities.