Way better than the first book. Loved everything about it, the action, friendship, romance and the fantasy part. I couldn't put it down, I simply had to read it all in one sitting!

So this story is the continuation of X and Zoe’s adventures together. We see that there is another chance for them and we are taken along a journey that cannot be described as predictable!

I got to read this right after “the edge of everything” so it was all still fresh in my mind; though even if it wasn’t it would be easy to pick up and remember. The author did a brilliant job at rehashing/summarising the first book I to this one for all those new readers.

This book is by far more exciting and more fun than the first one-a very difficult feat to do but somehow it happened! I absolutely loved how the story took shape and all the characters were absolutely brilliant!

I loved this book and devoured every page forcing my eyes to stay open and my vision to remain unblurry over a number of nights. X's story is so powerful and I really hoped for his happy ending. I loved all the characters, Zoe, Ripper, Regan, the Ukranian, Plum, and enjoyed the journey that Jeff Giles took me on. I loved the world building and especially loved how strong Zoe's character was too. The writing was wonderful, the story was gripping, and I loved every single bit of it. A story of true love and strength and battling through hell to get what should have always been yours. I hope there is a third book as I need to read more of this story and find out how X and Zoe continue and what battles they have to face going forward. This book had me gripped for the first page and I felt as if I was there on the journey with these characters. I loved the dialogue and banter and found the Ukranian especially funny in such dire situations. All in all, this has been my best read of the summer so far and I've found a new author to enjoy.

This had all the sharp humour, drama and subtle weirdness of the first book but delivered in a way that just resonated with me better. It didn’t go in the direction I was expecting and I really enjoyed that. I love both Zoe and X as characters now. Really interesting YA fic with deep themes. I hope there’s another book.

4.5 stars. The Brink of Darkness is the sequel to the amazing and thrilling The Edge of Everything. As divine as it is horrid, as funny as it is touching and sad, as sweet as it is rough around the edges, The Brink of Darkness is a stunningly crafted - wild, thrilling and beautiful.

The Brink of Darkness continues the story of Zoe, a young human teenager whose life has been thrown into chaos after meeting X, a boy raised in the Lowlands, the only living person amongst thousands of damned souls. In The Edge of Everything, Zoe and X risked everything for a chance to be together, yet to save Zoe and her family, X sacrificed his freedom and was forced to return to the Lowlands. No longer allowed to walk the earth as a bounty-hunter, X doesn’t know when he will see Zoe again - but neither he nor Zoe have given up hope of a brighter future.

I instantly loved The Edge of Everything and I instantly fell back into love with everything about this story, the characters and the writing style when I started The Brink of Darkness. There is so much that I love about these two books. The Brink of Darkness continues not long after The Edge of Everything concludes, and it was easy to fall back into the rhythm of the story. I love that there are just the two books in this series. I am assuming from the ending of The Brink of Darkness that it is the conclusion of X and Zoe’s story. While I would love more of X, Zoe and their family and friends, I am so very pleased with the arch of this story and the ending they are given.

Zoe is a force of nature. Her love for those she loves, her compassion and strength are almost as fantastic as her endless wit and sense of humour. Some of the lines she comes out with are just brilliant. Her friends, Val and Dallas, are hilarious, diverse and so very loveable. Zoe’s family also bring warmth to this story, from Zoe’s caring and quirky mother to Zoe’s amazing and sweet younger brother. They are the perfect offset to the darkness of X’s life in the Lowlands.

The majority of The Brink of Darkness closely follows X and his return to the Lowlands. Remind me never to commit an act that would have me spend eternity there - no detail is spared and the horridness is at times overwhelming. Yet this perfectly captures the depravity of X’s upbringing and the desperation to free him. But even in this darkness there is friendship, humour and hope.

X and Zoe’s love story has always been epic - from the intense feelings they have for each other to the fight they must wage for X’s freedom, one that spans the worlds of both the living and the dead. I loved this continuation of their story. I commend Jeff Giles for creating such a unique world, diverse and amazing characters and a story that is compelling, heartwarming and thrilling.

I highly recommend first The Edge of Everything and its sequel The Brink of Darkness to any reader who enjoys supernatural tales of friendship, romance, humour and an epic fight for freedom.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.