Child of Darkness (Lightworld/Darkworld Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jennifer Armintrout (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lightworld/Darkworld Novels | Publication Date: October 27, 2009

Public alliances secret lovers.

Once upon a time yet to come, creatures of myth and fairy tale gained entry to the human realm and were expelled with extreme prejudice. Banished Underground, they carved out two kingdoms: the Lightworld of the Fae and their kin, and the Darkworld of demons, werewolves and their ilk. But the boundaries between these Worlds and the Upworld are about to be redrawn...in blood.

At a Lightworld royal gala, Queene Ayla announces the betrothal of her daughter, Cerridwen, to a high-ranking councilor. Though strategically brilliant, the engagement comes as a shock to Cerridwen especially. Infuriated by her mother s high-handedness, ignorant of her own true origins, she flees the court leaving herself vulnerable to those who would see the Lightworld destroyed. Amid burgeoning unrest, desperate desires become divided loyalties and terrifying mercenaries lurk in the shadowy space between rebellion and anarchy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This series rocks in every way! ----Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author of the Lords of the Underworld series

Armintrout skillfully characterizes each character, and her use of description varies between chilling, beautiful, and disturbing. ----The Romance Readers Connection on Blood Ties Book One: The Turning

The relationships between the characters are complicated and layered in ways that many authors don t bother with. ----Vampire Genre on Blood Ties Book Two: Possession

About the Author

Jennifer Armintrout's first novel, The Turning, made the USA TODAY extended bestseller list. When not writing, Jennifer enjoys karaoke at dive bars and listening to classic rock at an inappropriate volume. She resides in a small town in west Michigan with her husband and children.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira Books; Original edition (October 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778326705
• ISBN-13: 978-0778326700
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,120,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a Paranormal Romance- Don't be fooled by the label, November 13, 2009

By 

S. McCullough "pacey1927" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Child of Darkness (Lightworld/Darkworld Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

My Title may sound like its a negative thing that this book isn't really a paranormal romance, but its not. I just feel like this book would have been more honestly labeled as a fantasy book. I read the first book, "Queene Of Light" and enjoyed it however I had a difficult time connecting to the characters, and caring about them because they were so tremendously different, being fairies and angels, and their views of loves and emotions were way different than mine. I appreciated the story for the unique and detailed world Armintrout produced and the storyline was interesting if somewhat hard to get into. This second story "Child of Darkness" is a great improvement. I found the main character Cerridwen to be annoyingly childish for much of the book, but I also felt she was relatable and I think she may be the best character in this series to date. She is the daughter of Ayla, the queen of the Lighword, and a half human/half fairy mix and Ayla's royal consort, the fallen angel Malachi. In this story, a battle looms that will forever change the underworld. Elves have started a war against the Queene's palace and they have an evil force of Waterhorses at their beck and call. The waterhorses are leaving deadly trails of bodies in their wake already. Cerridwen fancies herself in love with an elf but he doesn't know her true nature and she is about to gamble the lives of her family and those of their followers. Their is a sorta romance between Cerridwen and her elf and an established romance between Anya and Malachi. Their love shows more in this book than it did in the first actually, and I had tears in my eyes by the end of the novel. Read the book though and you will probably agree with me about this not being a romance novel. Still the story worked on a more emotion level, and still the plot was very interesting and heart racing. I didn't agree with many of Ayla's political moves but its obvious she did care for her people. The battles were intense and thigns didn't always come out like you'd expect. The book ends on a cliff-hanger of sorts and the whole premise of the story seems to have changed. I was interested in reading this series before, but now I am quite involved and eagerly await the next book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good but not romance, November 29, 2009

By 

the only one - See all my reviews

This review is from: Child of Darkness (Lightworld/Darkworld Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

I picked this book and it's prequel (Queen of Light) on chance when I found it on display at the local book store and thought it might be interesting from the summary. I was weary though when I then found that it was from the romance section. I still gave it a shot though and I was not disapointed. Where Queen of Light had the romance, it read like an ok prequel. Child of Darkness continues from what Queen of Light set up (though it can be read on its own) and expands it. I wouldn't, however, put this one in the romance genre. There is romance, of the failed sort, and it is setting up for some that may happen later, but it is more fantasy then anything.

If you enjoy court politics, betrayal, magic and battles, then this is a book for you cause it has it in spades. Though the most interesting part of all of it is how the character's perception of each other changes through out the story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A series worthy of Hollywood...2nd installment twice as good, November 16, 2009

By 

S. Kaploe (Olathe, KS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Child of Darkness (Lightworld/Darkworld Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

as the first book - and the first book was good. This trilogy has everything any fantasy and romance lover could want. The book picks up 20 years after the end of the first book in which a prophecy was revealed. A Faerie queen, not completely fae, will free the underworld faeries and allow them to live in the Upworld again. They, along with elves, dragons, trolls and any number of creatures, had been banned to the underworld by humans after a great conflict. To be free in the Upworld again is their greatest wish of all.

Ayla (Queen of the Fairies) and Malachai (a fallen Death Angel and unofficial Royal Consort) have a beautiful but very spoiled 20 year old daughter (Cerridwen). To keep her safe from all (as ordered by a Goddess), she was never told Malachai is her father and her wings bound as they look just like his. She abhors him and his apparent humanity. She hates her mother for having him there and she hates the court. The problem arises when the same Goddess had told Ayla that it is her very daughter that will save the Faeries and Ayla had been charged to keep Cerridwen safe at all costs.

In her rebellion, Cerridwen has a secret boyfriend who just happens to be the Faeries' greatest enemy - an elf. She is sure he loves her and runs away for good this time. Of course, trouble looms and the epic story unfolds.

The characters in this book are well developed and the plot is tight with unexpected twists. There is a lot of action packed in these pages. Treason reigns supreme. A mother despairs while trying to raise a difficult child. Love and loyalty are tested to the limits and the end of all the Fae loom ahead. There is death as well. With the narrative style of writing, Ms. Armintrout, in my opinion, treats the death of some of the characters the best I have seen in a very long time.

I can't wait to read the conclusion of the series. And I repeat, Hollywood would do well to pay attention to this trilogy.