Darker Days (The Darker Agency #1)

3.8 (3)

5.0 (1)

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Author(s)

Jus Accardo

Publisher

Entangled DigiTeen

Genre(s)

Age Range

14+

Release Date

August 19, 2013

ISBN

B00D6KEIJ0

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Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They're your girls--but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They'll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course...

When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case--until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin.
Seven deadly ones, in fact.

They've got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy--except for one thing...

There's a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family--or lose everything.

Editor reviews

6 reviews

Overall rating

3.8

Plot

4.0(3)

Characters

3.3(3)

Writing Style

4.0(3)

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Enough humor and action to keep you glued to the pages and smiling the whole way through

December 12, 2013

Overall rating

4.0

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Oh, Jus Accardo, you slay me with your funny characters, clever plots, and impeccable writing. Darker Days is your light and funny paranormal romance that pulls you in and keeps you entertained and engaged all the way until the last page. It was fast-paced and I loved the way she handled the paranormal aspect of the story. I love how she takes what we think we know about paranormals and adds her own clever spin to it.
Jessie is such a funny character. I loved her snark and humor. She has some of the funniest one-liners I’ve read in awhile and I loved her relationship with her mother. She is a bit naive, but she’s tough, strong-willed, compassionate, and determined. Probably the only thing that bugged me about her was how quickly and easily she fell for Lukas. It was a bit too rushed for my taste, but it didn’t bother me that much. I loved being in her head and her inner monologues were downright hilarious.
As Jessie and her family start to find all the Sins, she uncovers a bunch of crazy family secrets and learns that she and her family are a lot more involved in what’s happening than they all originally thought. I think the plot was very well written and all the pieces fell together nicely. There honestly wasn’t a boring part in the whole story and I was kept engaged in the action and what the characters were going through the whole time.
Also, can I please have my own adorable demon corgi?! So hilarious!!
Darker Days is a great beginning to what I’m sure will be an excellent paranormal series. I loved all the characters, the clever twists, and even the sweet romance, towards the end. I’m always blown away with Jus’ books and I think more people need to read them. How can you not love a writer who creates such memorable and vibrant characters, unique and fast-paced plots, and hilarious and entertaining dialogue?! I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to see where Jus goes with it.

Vi, Promotions Manager Top 50 Reviewer 116 reviews

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Veronica Mars Meets Paranormal World

July 25, 2013 (Updated: July 26, 2013)

Overall rating

3.7

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This is a fun new paranormal series that reminded me of what it would be like if Veronica Mars just happened to be investigating the paranormal world. In this case seventeen-year old Jessie helps her mom with their paranormal detective agency. Yes, she battles against demons, ghosts, and even zombies. Jessie is filled with 'tude and proud of her work. The relationship she has with her mother is one that is filled with respect even if she might have a tendency to get things destroyed while casting out a demon or ghost.

In DARKER DAYS, a box releases the seven 'sins'. One of them happens to be Lukas, a hawt guy from the 19th century, who not only has Jessie rethink her no dating rule but just happens to be wrath. It's up to Jessie to get all the sins back into the box. Along the way secrets are revealed about who she really is and how this all ties back to her family line. Plus, will she be able to handle Lukas returning to the box without breaking her heart?

What worked for me had to be the whole paranormal detective agency premise. I liked Jessie and how she handles client's 'issues'. The demon doggie scene is hilarious. I also liked the relationship she had with her mother. Her demon father was interesting though I would have loved to see more of their interaction.

The romance between Lukas and Jessie started off really slow and then took off running toward the end of the story. I was hooked and waited with baited breath to find out what would happen to Lukas. My only complaint was I kind of wanted to see more sparks between these two. I felt their attraction was a little lukewarm at the beginning. But later, I was satisfied with the turn in their relationship.

One huge plus about this series has to be the world building which is humorous at times. **Who can't chuckle at a doggie demon that has a soft spot? The characters are multi-layered with flaws and vulnerabilities. Even Jessie's friends aren't 'perfect'--like Kendra the witch who can't get her spells right.

This is the perfect new series for fans of the paranormal. Fans of Jana Oliver's THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER are sure to embrace Jessie and her adventures. I can't wait to read more!

Good Points

1. Think Veronica Mars meets the Paranormal World
2. Action, adventure, and romance

Kim Baccellia, Staff Reviewer Top 10 Reviewer 889 reviews

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Great Start To A New Series

July 16, 2013

Overall rating

3.7

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What I Liked: Action, adventure, and romance with a paranormal twist, DARKER DAYS has a little something for everyone! The fast pace keeps the story moving and the twists keep it interesting. Jessie is a kick-butt, take no prisoners MC with a good heart who had me laughing out loud, and Lukas is a swoon-worthy love interest full of mystery. As with her DENZAEN series, Jus Accardo does a great job with world building and characterization, pulling the reader into the story and allowing them to experience everything her characters do.

I think one of the most challenging things for a series writer is to find the right balance of closure and interest. You want your readers to be sated by the end of a book yet eager for the next one, and I think Jus has accomplished that with DARKER DAYS.

What Left Me Wanting More: I liked Jessie and Lukas together but their relationship felt a little too fast for me.

Final Verdict: Great start to a new series!

Jen Top 10 Reviewer 415 reviews

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User reviews

1 review

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0(1)

Characters

5.0(1)

Writing Style

5.0(1)

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A new YA heroine you will love! :)

August 27, 2013 (Updated: August 27, 2013)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

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The story

Jessie Darker and her mom live in a graphic,small town called Penance.What could possibly go wrong in a town like that,right?Let's see.. Zombies, werewolves,demons,poltergeists,witches, necromancers and other paranormal entities are all over the town.That's sounds pretty unfortunate for the town's residents but that's also very convenient for the Darker girls because they run the Darker agency, AKA it's their job to catch these creatures and take care of them once and for all.Business is good but it's about to get weird when one day Lukas Scott asks for their help to retrieve a box that contained the Seven Deadly Sins.That's right,contained.Someone opened the box and allowed them to enter our world.Now,it's time for the girls to get busy.But this particular case isn't like the others because if they can't get the Sins back in the box in seven days,then seven innocent people will be gone forever.Did I say seven?I actually meant six because Lucas is Wrath and he's the one who wants the Sins back in the box.The thing is,when the Sins are in box,they are just that,Sins,an essence,they don't have a body but Lucas does.So what's his story,why was he cursed and more importantly is he innocent?

The characters

I LOVED Jessie.Her sense of humor is amazing,her comments are sometimes insulting - but she doesn't care - she's smart,talented at what she does and she's a loyal daughter and friend.She has also sworn of boys because she doesn't want to be miserable like her mother.Let me explain.Jessie's mom is human but her dad is a demon so that makes her a half demon.Moreover,her dad is working for one of the oldest and most powerful demons,Valefar, and his job doesn't allow him to spend a lot of time on earth.If he wants to visit then he needs a special pass and that's hard to get.

Lucas,like I mentioned above is Wrath and he was cursed and trapped in the box in 1882.In 1959 Penance was almost destroyed when the Sins were released for only forty-eight hours.Now,in 2013 they are out again and they won't hesitate to cause chaos but Lukas wants them and himself back in the box because he can't stand the damage that they'll cause.That's one of the things that attracts Jessie to him apart from the fact that he's H-O-T and pretty annoying sometimes.Yep,Jessie found her other half.But she knows that being with him is impossible since he's going back in the box.

"How soon can you be here,Mr Scott?"
"Now,"his voice said as the front door swung open,letting a blast of chilly October air inside.That chilly air stole the breath from my lungs and sent goose bumps prickling along my skin.Or it might have been him.
Dark,shaggy hair that might have been in desperate need of a trim - if it didn't work so damn well for him.Piercing,liquid brown eyes that radiated trouble - and I loved trouble.
He wore a leather jacket over a tight black T-shirt and worn jeans that were just a bit too baggy.Oh yeah.Bad boy-vide was off the charts.
"Holy house of hogs getting blasted by the blue birdie brigade.."

I really liked the fact that Jessie's mom,Klaire is an essential character in the book.She cares about Jessie just like any mom would but she also wants her to have a normal life.She's pretty much a basass and Jessie admires her,she's her role model and she wants to be just like her.

Verdict

Overall,Jessie Darker has become one of my favorite YA heroines and I give Darker Days 5 stars which is something that I don't usually do with a new series but it's a great book to finish your summer. Funny, delightful,action packed,witty lines,a forbidden romance and an ending that you will both love and hate at the same time because you'll have to wait for the sequel.

Anastasia Top 500 Reviewer