I loved this!

I loved the characters and their different personalities and how there was more to them than what meets the eyes, and the bonds they form with each other.

While magic use can be overdone and used in the same way between books, it was used perfectly and really helped enhance the story and the characters behind it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I don't even know where to start with how much I loved this book! I knew from the moment it started with the MMC trying to drown his therapist in his own blood that I was going to be in for a wild ride and boy did it take me on a journey. What a perfect magical adventure to add to the YA genre. If you're new to the Fantasy genre this will be the perfect starting point. The elemental magic in this is easy to understand, it's fast paced and there's four main characters so it isn't difficult to keep up. Plus the descriptions of the scenery and creatures make it so easy to visualise. There is the perfect amount of nostalgia weaved through these pages that made reminded me of not only why I love Fantasy but how I fell in love with the genre in the first place.

I have to praise Andy on how he approached the topic of mental health in this. I don't think I've quite read a book that handles this particular subject with as much care and respect as he has done here and he should be proud of how brilliantly he has done it.

I also love how the chapters names were words from different languages and it's definition (bring back chapter names). It was a lovely touch and one I hope continues on in the next book.

I'm a sucker for the found family trope and I really enjoyed how it was done here. The four main character may argue and banter like they are siblings but when it comes down to it they have each others backs.

What a fantastic debut novel, I'm already desperate for the next one. If you are a fan of Percy Jackson and The Fantastic Four I highly suggest putting this on your radar. Although be prepared for an emotional roller-coaster, at one point I was a literal mess. Quivering lip and everything!

A great YA fantasy debut. I was really looking forward to this as I follow the author on tiktok.

That opening prologue had me HOOKED. What a great start to a book. It was dark and creepy with an element of mystery that made you want to keep reading.

I did find personally the pacing was a little off for me and the middle chunk of the book really struggled to keep me gripped enough. I was finding it quite easy to put down.

Having said that I loved the magic system in this book. It was quite superhero esc and reminded me alot of a mix between X-men & The Fantastic Four. I think if I was a younger reader I would of absolutely loved this.

I literally couldn't stop thinking about how much this book was so similar to 90s Power Rangers!

A really fun YA with a beautiful subplot involving psychology.

The opening scenes were incredibly dark and gripping! I was hooked from the off!

For me, I really felt that Alexis' story made this book. It was heartfelt, had so much depth and I really loved how his character developed!

I wasn't sure on all the random words at the start of chapters - I don't think they added to the story!

Overall an action-packed, fun YA that gave me Power Rangers meets Captain Planet vibes!

A really enjoyable debut novel from Andy, who I’ve followed on social media for a long time.

It’s a unique story and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Read if you like;
-Found family
-Morally grey characters
-YA fantasy
-Slow burn
-Dark

What a debut fantasy novel!! An easy read, which tastefully touches on mental health struggles and adoption!

The romance was not in your face, it was nicely done and goes to show that you can have a YA fantasy without having spice in the book.

There was magic, action and mythology in abundances. The world building was fantastic. It was too difficult to understand or follow along!

I felt attached to each and every single elemental! I especially love Alexis and the fact that he has predetermined darkness. The way he struggled throughout his life is something we all struggle with and can relate to!

I loved the way the author spilt each section with 1 of the 4 elemental characters and their pictures! I mean the artwork at the front with all 4 MCs was brilliant. It was nice to visualise each character!

I've followed Andy on IG for the longest time and I'm so proud that this book is out now!
Having said that, the book does NOT feel like a debut and reads like a more seasoned author (well done for that!).
The story itself is unique and needs to be read to be appreciated.
Fantastic first book and the start of a well deserved career.

I loved my read through of this book! What a unique story! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

This book was incredible. The chapter names were so creative and I loved the fast paced intensity of the story.
Alexis was my favourite character and I felt like I connected with him the most.
I absolutely can’t wait for the next book after being left with that ending!
This book is everything and more, it is the perfect fantasy book to dive into and keep you sucked in! Absolutely incredible.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been fortunate enough to become a beta reader for many authors with upcoming book releases, including @andydarcytheo book, “The Light That Blinds Us.” The book was released today, and I waited until I received my signed copy in the post, which arrived yesterday, before posting about it!

This book deserves the 5-star rating I’ve given it. From the very beginning, you’re pulled into the story of Alexis, Demi, Caeli, and Blaise. The book flows effortlessly and is beautifully written. As someone who sometimes finds starting fantasy books challenging due to the world-building, I greatly enjoyed how Andy expanded on the world without overwhelming me. Each character possesses their own individuality, yet they all complement each other well and are written about in great detail. The book’s super-fast pace allows for a quick read, enhanced by the amazing action sequences.

Throughout reading it, you can instantly tell that an immense amount of time and effort went into this book, deserving all the stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you loved Percy Jackson and are looking for a quick young adult fantasy book, I highly recommend “The Light That Blinds Us.”

Can we also peep the beautiful character work by @spacecolonie

Thank you, @netgalley and thank you, @simonandschuster @simonyabooks ,and thank you so much, Andy Darcy Theo.

I loved this book - brilliant story. At points the writing left something to be desired, you can tell this is ADT’s first book, but he is an author I will be sure to follow!

I absolutely loved this book! It was such a compelling and interesting story. I even let my son read the physical copy that I purchased after its release and he also enjoyed the book so much so that he asked to get his own copy. I would highly recommend this book to adults and young advanced readers alike! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

A debut?? Are you sure!
I’ve followed this author for a while on TikTok and book instagram so this was one of my most anticipated of the year.
Andy has not let me down! The writing was truly incredible and had me on the edge of my seat. Every single character was so well fleshed out and I didn’t want to leave any of them…I definitely can’t wait to see where this world takes us!
The magic system was so well explained and I never felt lost or confused when it was described. Also a truly unique story that I’ll be thinking about for a long while.
Please hurry with the next one I’m eagerly awaiting.

The Light That Blinds Us was such an incredible book and full of magical fantasy. Had I been younger, it would have been a 5 stars but it was a solid 4.5 for me now. I loved the world building and the characters. This book had everything and I am shocked it is a debut novel. I’m not surprised it’s a bestseller so soon after release!

I would say this is a good book to get into fantasy with because it isn’t overwhelming as the plot is easy to follow and there are 4 main characters. The book begins with an introduction to Alexis and his childhood, I loved the theme of mental heath from the start as it made me feel like I knew Alexis on a deeper level. It was interesting to see how this affected him as he grew up and currently in this new quest.

I thought the book was written well and the suspense was gripping. I loved how well the book flowed and how it left me wanting more. This is definitely a world/series which will be very popular (I suppose it already is) and is on the same level as Percy Jackson. This book was a strong start of the series and I’m looking forward to what else is to come from this author.

I've followed Andy for a while on TikTok and when I first started hearing about this book, I was eagerly anticipating it's release and oh my god, I am in love with this book! I fell in love with the characters straight away. If I could read this again for the first time again, I would.

Absolutely amazing debut fantasy book that included complex characters, heartbreaking romance and incredible worldbuilding

Everyone.... I tried so hard to complete this book, but couldn't get pass the first couple of chapterrs. The Intro was fantastic, but the same suspense and yearning, wasn't brought into the rest of the first couple of chapters. I'm not sure what put me off the writing,as I was so excited to read this book.
Unfortunatley, this was a DNF

Alexis Michaels has grown up in a warm, loving, adoptive family. He also grew up with visions of the terrifying Shadow Man, but that's all behind him now. Or is it? On a school trip to Stonehenge he discovers, along with best friend Demi and strangers Blaise and Caeli, that things are not quite as he thought. Alexis is drawn into the world of the Elementals and discovers that not only is he part of this world, but that he is part of a team prophesied to save it.

Andy Darcy Theo has built an incredible world peopled with fantastic characters with even more fantastic skills. The description is lush and engaging and the main characters make a great team. The action moved quickly and the plot was cohesive - I cannot wait for the next in the series.

I can’t even begin to describe how much I ADORED this book. Our main characters were really well developed and I loved reading about them all discovering their powers and learning together, and I keep finding myself yearning for the next book as I just got so attached! The writing style was excellent and I have to recommend this to any fans of Percy Jackson or the Magisterium series. Fantastic!!

From the opening line to the last page, the writing is incredibly captivating and heart wrenching. This book crushed me and will stay with me. How am I going to wait for the next book in the series?