Review – The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (4/5 stars)

Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: HIstorical Fantasy/Romance
Length: 321 pages
Publisher: Leisure Books
Release Date: May 1, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0843962970
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Strangely Beautiful series
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 4/5 stars

This is the 2nd book in the Strangely Beautiful series. There is a 3rd book in this series, The Perilous Prophecy of God and Goddess, which is a prequel to the first two books in the series. This book wasn’t as good as the first book in the series, but it does a decent job of wrapping up Persephone Parker’s story. This review does contain spoilers from the first book in the series.

Percy and Alexi have solidified their relationship and overcome of the deceits of the first book. Now they are planning on getting married. Unfortunately a new darkness (known creatively as Darkness) is haunting London. It will take all of Percy’s power, combined with that of her guard to save the city.

This book was another beautifully written story that has both gothic and Victorian overtones to it. There wasn’t as much history in this book (pretty much none) and there was about as much mythology as in the last book (which is to say some, but not a ton).

The first half of the story focuses on Alexi and Percy’s marriage; which was nice to read about but not all that exciting. The story gets more exciting in the 2nd half; as the Darkness gains ground and Percy and the Guard have to join forces to fight it.

The biggest problem with this story was how protective and domineering Alexi is over Percy. Percy is there to be the Guards’ seventh, to be their strength. Alexi is constantly trying to hide Percy away and protect her; without ever asking what Percy actually wants. Percy just goes along with it for the most part, although she does show a bit more spunk toward the end of the book. The whole dynamic between Alexi and Percy kind of ruined the story for me some.

I really enjoyed the rest of the Guard though and some of the Guard from previous times that we meet as well. It’s a darkly beautiful story, full of the message that love can conquer all.

Overall a decent wrap up of this story. I enjoyed the beautiful writing style and the Guard. I did not enjoy Alexi’s alpha over-protective attitude or how Percy meekly went along with him most of the time. I would recommend these two books to those who enjoy paranormal romance with gothic overtones. I won’t be reading the prequel because the character itfollows (we meet her in this book) just doesn’t interest me that much.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– Mythology Reading Challenge