I love Pax and Aria so much!! This book had me hooked from the start. I haven’t read a fantasy book with this particular world, it was AMAZING! The world created in this book was fascinating. I have precisely read books from AL Jackson and I knew she would slay a fantasy romance book.

AND THE END!? WHAT?

Huge thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

This was a fantastic read. It helped me greatly with my post-Onyx Storm slump lol and had a wonderfully unique story line. Also, the PINING and the YEARNING? It was worth reading for that alone!

I highly recommend this book and I can't wait for book 2!!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Romantasy is one of those genres that can be a hit or miss and Amy absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.

This story had such a layered complexity to it that it was really easy to fall in love with everything about it. The characters, the journey they go on together, that old school feeling that grabs onto your heart.

I’m still in awe of this story and how I’ve never read anything like it before. I wish I could scrub it clean from my brain just so I can read it all over again for the very first time.

This book confused me a bit at the beginning, but once I got my head wrapped around it I was able to fully appreciate it. Aria is a girl who has always seemed a little different than others. She has a family that loves her, but even they don't quite fully understand her. Since she was young, she's had dreams at night of a fantasy realm where she fights evil beings alongside her friend, confidante, and possible soulmate. But every morning when she wakes up, her dull reality comes back, with only a few scars and bruises as evidence.

What I liked about this book was that it's just outside of reality. Most of the story is of her navigating her way through life, but she's not a normal girl. She truly believes in the dream world that comes to her every night, even when her own family doubts her.

When the two worlds begin to collide, Aria is forced to make decisions that will affect her relationship with the man she has grown to love from her dream land, her family, and her destiny.

I fully enjoyed this book, and it ends on one heck of a cliffhanger, so I'm eager for book 2.

✨ Review ✨
***
Vision of Darkness was so good!!! I loved Pax and Aria. Their connection was off the charts. The writing was so good and the world building was perfect. I loved all the unknown and magic. The story was so good and easy to read. I loved the pace of the story and all the characters. The love between Aria and Pax was beautiful. The slow burn was so hot and the spice was just right. The ending was amazing and I cannot wait for the next book!!
***
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🔥.5
Romance: 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for an e-arc of Visions of Darkness.

I started reading this and had to question if I had picked up a YA because of the FMC age since she starts off in high school and is 17.

The story follows Aria who is a hunter in Faydor when she sleeps, but during the day she is looking forward to life after high school. I understand why we are getting her story at the time we do, but I didn’t like how young she is and that this is a romantasy - it soured the whole book for me. And just to be clear she does turn 18 before anything physical happens with the love interest, but I just don’t want to read romantasy with barely 18 year olds.

I enjoyed the paranormal aspect of Aria and the others who fight evil in while their physical bodies are sleeping on the earthly plane - lots of allegory here. The concept is an interesting one and I’m a sucker for paranormal so that’s what kept this book going for me. Were things predictable? Yes, but I still wanted to see how things were wrapped up within the story.

Honestly I read it fairly fast, but it was just an ok read for me. Now will other people love this - absolutely and I hope they find it. It’s just I really will be avoiding 17-who-turn -8 in my romances.

Also this book does end on cliffhanger, so know that. Also, please be sure to check trigger warnings, because this is a darker book, and there are some heavy subjects throughout it.

Will I read the next book? I’m not sure, but I do want to at least know what happens to Aria so I might just have to read a recap.

4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
2/5 🌶️🌶️

I was incredibly excited to see one of my all-time favorite authors, deciding to take a step into a genre that I love! I am so picky with fantasy stories, but this one was giving all the things that I wanted to give. I really loved the mystery aspect of the story and the fact that it has a lot of real life aspects intertwined with this other realm. There’s lots of darkness that really makes you root for the main characters in the story as they learn more about what they’re really up against. I am behind their cause 100%!

Pax really stole the show because he was the ultimate protective hero. He was willing to do anything and everything to make sure that Aria was OK. I loved his morally gray standing in this battle. He falls directly in the middle of being both good and evil because there’s so much more to him than we originally know especially from aria’s perspective. I really enjoyed his chapters. I love how he cared for his FMC—ultimate swoon!

Aria‘s character was breaking my heart. What she went through was just a very difficult situation with her family and having to keep the secrets which is protection for them, but also for her. And the things that she went through were tough to experience from the reader perspective, but even imagining what she’s dealing with was at some points—too much. She was strong while still having such a big heart and so much compassion for the people around her.

I am so incredibly excited to get my HEA for the series because it was an amazing introduction to this world and after that cliffhanger, I am desperate to know more.

I lived every aspect of this novel, the chemistry with the MCs relationships, the conversations and connections. The book ran very smoothly throughout. I’m such a sucker for forbidden love and this aspect has been written so well.

Tropes:
-forbidden romance
-fantasy romance
-on the run
-touch her and die
-morally grey MMC
-dual POV
-alternate reality
-only one bed
-forced proximity

This was my first novel by Jackson. I have seen her name and books, but I have never had the opportunity to read them. They are on my TBR, though. When I saw she was writing a romantasy, I knew I had to jump on the opportunity to read it. I am so glad I did, too. This was such a unique and fresh storyline.

The plot was intriguing. I loved that it was two different realities that eventually bled into each other. Pax and Aria’s unique situation of only being together in the alternate reality makes their meeting in the human realm more intense. The forbidden aspect made the tension even better. Give me all the tension.

The switching from first to third person in the different realities helped me more easily track where they were and what was happening. I liked it; it was a unique way to keep it straight.

The cliffhanger was craaaazzzyyy. I can’t wait for the next one. This book is available on KU for free, and the audiobook is free through Kindle audio. The narrators are Teddy Hamilton and Victoria Mei.

Quotes:
Make no mistake, I would break every fucking rule in this world and in that one to keep you safe.

I will always come for you.

Aria and Pax belong to two worlds and each other.
By day they are just like you and I, at night they slay the things that go bump.
What an incredible tale Mrs. Jackson has woven, so unlike any of her contemporary books except one very distinct thing. Her hero is loyal, protective, unwavering, and unwavering in his purpose. Her heroine is brave, fierce, humble, kind and always the light to the heroes dark.
These characters were both broken and vulnerable, yet powerful.
What I really loved was all the raw emotion in almost everything they do and it just drips off the page. Whether you're reading inner dialogue or they are speaking to each other.
The imagery and descriptive elements to the story were also amazing it could have been so dark but there was a really great balance of elements.
However I do have to mention this cliffhanger is a bit of a doozy, I as a reader sorta love the torture and think it's absolutely worth the wait. But if you don't enjoy a CH then you might want to just grab yours and wait because it is definitely worth the read.
I have voluntarily left this review.

(Actual: 3.5⭐, rounded up) A fun start to a new world! This is my first work by AL Jackson, so I have nothing to look back on in terms of establishing a baseline, but I do know she previously wrote mostly contemporary romances. All in all, I liked this one! I found the concept of the story being set between both the "real" world and a realm that can only be accessed via dreaming to be very intriguing. However - and maybe this is because this is technically the first book in a larger series - I found the plot to be rather slow-moving at times, which made it hard for me to really get into the story and fully immerse myself in either world. It also I don't think helped that the "moving between worlds" was conveyed by switching from a 1st-person POV to 3rd-person..... yeah, I don't know lol. Reflecting back, I can't say I like that stylistic decision 😅 Regardless, this is still a solid intro for a series and I look forward to what's to come!

This is perfect for anyone who wants a urban romantasy that’s got you questioning what’s real and what’s not! We’re following Aria & Pax who lead unique lives once they’re asleep. They’re protecting everyone from the creatures that invade others minds causing them to harm others. These two work so well together once they’re in the other world but can never see each other in their daily lives. Aria’s life is at risk when she’s being hunted and Pax is racing to find her as he’s done playing by the rules. This was really easy to read and while some aspects of this were a little predictable, I still enjoyed the adventure and getting to know this world!

Wow! I have loved books from AL Jackson before but now this is a whole new genre from her and I am blown away. I can’t want for more from her and she should never stop. Give it all to me please! I need it all and now. This was incredible and I never wanted it to end.

🖤Romantasy
🩷Fated Mates
🖤Forbidden
🩷The Chosen One⁠
🖤Morally Gray Hero ⁠
🩷Two Worlds Collide⁠
🖤Ultimate Touch Her & 🔪Protector
.
“She was my perfection. My ecstasy. My completion.”
.
Review: This is the first book in AL Jackson's new Romantasy series Darkness. I absolutely love AL Jackson's writing, so when I heard she was writing a new romantasy series, I couldn't wait to dive in!

Aria is a senior in high school, but she's not like the other girls. When she goes to sleep at night, she steps into another world. As a Laven she lives in the human world, but at night she slips into Tearsith where she meets up with Pax and together they descend into Faydor to fight the Kruen, trying save humans from the Kruens pure evil. Aria and Pax have known each other for years and have a powerful bond that helps them destroy evil, but they are forbidden from meeting in the human world.

“Aria. You’re every dream I’ve ever had. Every vision in the day. Every hope that I’ve dared to have. All of me, it’s yours.”

I absolutely fell in love with Pax and how he will stop at nothing to protect and care for Aria. He is the ultimate protector!

“I will always find you.”

I loved the connection these two shared and I couldn't wait for more. I thought about these two constantly and needed to know what would happen next. I listened to the audiobook by Teddy Hamilton and Victoria Mei. They did such a beautiful job bringing these two characters and this world to life! That ending! I need more of these two and I can't wait for book 2!

I have entered my romantasy era, and I'm happy Visions of Darkness by A.L. Jackson was the first book to get the ball rolling. This also happens to be Amy's introduction into fantasy romance as she has written contemporary romance previously.

Visions of Darkness is rather unique to other fantasy and paranormal plots that I've read. Every night, Aria enters the nightmare realm of Faydor to fight a war against the Kruen, these dark and evil shadows that feed violence, chaos, and sin to the world of humans. Each time Aria battles alongside her soulmate Pax, in this dangerous realm, it gets harder to escape. Now her dreams and hallucinations are starting to seep into her waking world, her untapped powers are becoming stronger, and forces more powerful than the Kruen are after her!

Pax realizes he must join Aria in the human world, where they'll embark on a cross-country journey to fight the evil forces hunting them—giving into their attraction is not just forbidden but deadly. Pax and Aria have been destined as soulmates since the beginning, and he will stop at nothing to protect her.

This book was so good and such a great introduction into romantasy reading, and get ready for a banger of a cliffhanger that will leave you wanting more!!

What an incredible story..
Very different from what this author usually writes but so good..
The perfect mix of mystery, forbidden love, secrets, dark romance in a fantasy world that never lacks .. intensity..

Thanks to the Author, NetGalley and Montlake for this arc

This one was pretty interesting for A.L. Jackson's first entry into Fantasy Romance. Pax and Aria only meet when they sleep in a different realm of Faydor in which they fight a battle. When they wake up, they wake as regular humans but barring the cuts and bruises they endured from Faydor. A first rule is they must never meet or they will destroy each other. I think things could've been build more on the world building, but by the end I'm interested enough to see where the next book goes.
 
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Visions of Darkness by A.L. Jackson is a thrilling and mysterious romantic suspense novel that explores themes of trauma, redemption, and forbidden love. The story follows a woman who is drawn into a dark world of secrets and danger after an encounter with a brooding, enigmatic man who seems to be hiding his own tortured past. As their relationship deepens, they must navigate the shadows of their respective histories while confronting the sinister forces that threaten to tear them apart. Jackson’s writing is both intense and emotional, making this a gripping read for fans of dark romance and psychological thrillers.

Wow! this is different from AL's usual writing and it was such a brilliant start to this new series! I am hooked already!!

I have read it once but ready to read it again as its so intriguing and honestly keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to see how everything plays out! I am looking forward to see what is going to happen in this series!

Well done AL on a fantastic fantasy must read

2 out of 5 stars
1 out of 5 spice

- NA Urban Fantasy
- dark themes
- nightmare soothing
- fated mates
- dimentions/ dual realities
- some spice
- romance / pining / forbidden

I love A L Jackson; however this story fell short. The world building was lacking in clarity, and density that it needed to have even for urban fantasy. The world dualities, the nightmare world/real world were confusing, not well woven and unclear. However this is a new genre debut for this author so I suspect if she were to pursue this genre more, then we'll get much better stories in the future. The world building just needs to be a lot more explicit, in how it works, what the rules of this world is, what the importance of these characters are within this world - all of that was quiet surface level, these need to be dug deeper.

Romance was strong, as usual with A L Jackson.

Overall, I will continue my commitment to the author, and look forward to reading more by her, but unfortunately on this occassion this particular book did not hit the spot.