This book had a very unique premise and gripping ideas for the plot, but ultimately fell flat for me. It felt overwritten, underedited, but still had lots of potential. Pax and Aria's romance was a highlight for me, giving me the tension and angst I love in romantasy books. While this first book was not a hit for me, I have hope for the rest of the series.

I think other readers could really enjoy this - it just wasn't for me sadly!

It took me a little bit to follow along with the mystery world in Aria and Pax's dreams. I felt so bad for them because they were so misunderstood by their family. Then once things started taking place during the waking hours, that's when I really began to get interested. I loved that spin, how the Kreun work and how Aria is able to tap into those thoughts. It was a good read. That ending was something else. Curious as to what the next book holds.

Arc provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing adventure. A girl, Aria, living a life in a real human world and a world that’s unreachable except for the chosen ones. She’s a fighter, a survivor, and a girl finding herself when those closest to her are out at great risk. Don’t worry, there’s love, admiration, and the bravest of chosen families.

I had a lovely few days reading Visions of Dark was and the way it ended, I’ll impatiently wait for the next.

OMG!!! Jackson is turning her attention into the world of the other worldly and I AM HERE FOR IT!!

Visions of Darkness is not what you would expect from Jackson but it’s the start to a world that I desperately need more of! This first book hooked me and now I need book 2 asap because that cliffhanger has me still screaming days after I finished!

Pax and Aria are connected but their connection can never be more than brief moments in the dark. As they battle to save more than just their world there are rules to follow but their bond is deeper than anyone thought possible and now love is on the line!!

Being someone who loves books that are out of the norm and along the lines of fantasy I was excited to see Jackson taking her skills into a new genre and I loved every page!

I need the next book - ASAP!

I loved Aria and Pax. The world building made the beginning a little slow, but otherwise, great story!

3,75/5
This book tells the story of Aria and Pax, a couple of young people who while sleeping, travel to Tearsith, a world in which they prepare to fight against a darkness that affects our world.
He is the guardian of Aria, his duty is to sacrifice for her if necessary, and together they must defeat these demons that creep into our minds to torture us, so that we may be evil and comsumed by the darkness. But there is a problem, the wounds they suffer in this world they suffer as well while awake, and this will make Arias's parents think she is self-injuring, so they send her to a psychiatric.
This might not be serious, if it were not because these demons are haunting her while she is awake and vulnerable. In order to save her, Pax must break the rules and find her before it's too late, starting here an adventure in which they'll find many answers, they'll face enemies that will not make it easy for them, and they'll try to stop a forbidden love.
I knew I would like this book, but it has exceeded my expectations. I must say that sometimes Pax stressed me, his only personality was to want to protect Aria and be in love with her, he constantly repeated it and that made me a little bored. Taking that out, I loved Aria, the plot, the world that has created the author.
Is an addicitve romantasy with a little spice, with an ending that leaves you screaming and wanting more pages. Literally the last sentence has shocked me. I had the feeling that would happen, but seeing it confirmed has been superior.
I really need this book to be published now so that I can talk about it with someone.

I do believe this is Jackson’s fantasy debut and while she carrie’s over the core pillars of her contemporary romance backlist very well, I was looking for more world-building and plot development. While I adore the characters, there needed to be more than character-driven with a side of storytelling in this book. I hope there is more thoughtful plot execution and some tightening of the details and setting. With that said, AL Jackson will hook readers in with this intense, intriguing romantasy novel and I’m excited to see what this genre cross-over leads to next!

This book had a lot of really interesting fantasy elements that made this story standout. The world building happens while the MMC's are asleep which is different from other fantasy books I've read but also limits the knowledge of the world and the magic. The romance was sweet and an interesting twist on fated mates. There was a lot of action going on with mythical creatures that are new to me and it goes back to not knowing how the magic works in this world and it got a bit confusing throughout.

Visions of Darkness is the gripping first book in a brand new romantic fantasy series by A.L. Jackson. After reading some of the author's contemporary romance books, I was interested to try out her debut fantasy novel. I fell in love with this unique and beautifully crafted story and was hooked from the start. I really liked the main character and the romance was superb.

This was a great first fantasy romance book by Jackson. Her world building was strong and well thought out. The romance was perfect and so good. Aria is a strong main character, and I loved reading about her.

I haven’t read an AL Jackson book in several years and was excited to see she was writing in a new sub genre of romance! Visions of Darkness was a great entry to this series and I’m excited for what’s to come!

Can we have book 2 now, please? Wow. AL Jackson is a favorite of mine and seeing her dive into the romantasy world? I. Am. Here. For. It. This story has so much depth and world building that's expertly crafted. She writes like she has been writing in this genre her whole career instead of the being her debut. They can't be together, but they are destined to be together. The angst. If you love romantasy, this is a must read.

Visions of Darkness was an absolutely unique and enjoyable read. I devoured it! I felt as if I was a bystander of the story, with everything playing out in front of my eyes. This author did an amazing job with this story. The description was unbelievable, and the characters were fantastic. I enjoyed the main characters, Aria her mom Natalie, Pax, Dani, Timorthy, Ellis and Josephine. I didn't care for Aria's dad Cal, but you will have to read the story to find out why because I don't want to give it away. No one believes Aria and her childhood created fantasy land. Now that she's almost an adult, they want her to let go of her fantasies, the harm they think she's doing to herself and the boy she created in them. They believe that they know what's best for her until things become real for them, and they witness a part of her fantasy word. Aria knows what's real and what's not because she lives with the pain from both worlds. She's destined for more and she's determined to save her family no matter what. This story has suspense, betrayal, truths, acceptance, possessions, threats, mystery, romance, steamy scenes and end with one heck of a cliffhanger. Just when you think things have settle the author throws another twist into the story. I so excited to read the next book in this series. It's a book I will be recommending to all of my paranormal romance book loving friends who don't mind a story ending with a cliffhanger, but either way it's a story worth reading.

This is incredible! I can not believe this is Amy's first fantasy book! I am not usually a fantasy reader but I ate this up!

Visions of Darkness presents a truly intriguing concept that captivated me from the very start. The blending of romance and fantasy elements is executed with such originality that it left me eager to dive deeper into the story. I found the storyline to be both engaging and thought-provoking, with characters that are richly developed and compelling. Their journeys and interactions are portrayed with nuance, adding depth to the narrative. It’s clear that this is the beginning of a series with significant potential, one that has all the makings of becoming a standout hit among readers. I highly recommend Visions of Darkness to fans of Romantasy, as it offers a fresh take on the genre that is sure to resonate with those who love a blend of romance and fantasy.

3⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley & Montlake for this e-arc.

“Aria Rialta is a girl of two realities. One she was born to. The other she was chosen for. Both are a threat.Every night when Aria falls asleep, she enters the nightmare world of Faydor to fight a war. It’s her calling to help destroy the Kruen, who feed sin and chaos to our everyday world of vulnerable humans. It would be a lonely realm in which to do battle if not for Pax, Aria’s dangerously irresistible soulmate whose mere touch can kill. It’s also a realm that’s getting harder to escape.”

First off, the plot of this book is really unique, and sounded right up my street. I love the idea of the FMC living in two different worlds (one when asleep, one when awake). It definitely leans more into the romance side of the romantasy genre. Personally, I feel like the world could do with a bit more padding out, and it also feels like a lot of the “lore” is explained through info dumps. I was hoping to find out the “why” of things that were mentioned, but this never happened. However, it seems as though there will be another book in the series at least, so maybe this will be explained in future?

The main relationship in the book so far follows a friends-to-lovers trope, which is refreshing for me as most of the romantasy books I’ve read lately have been the old favourite of enemies-to-lovers. It is a slow-burn which I think has been written well, and I could really feel how the characters felt and loved each other. I will say though, I felt like there was a big focus on the FMC being a virgin, which I find a bit icky, but I think that’s just not the micro-trope for me!

There were also some side characters who I would have loved to find more out about, however they didn’t feel very fleshed out and didn’t seem to have a purpose, which is a shame because it was as if there should have been a sense of “found family”, but it fell a little flat for me as I didn’t get to know them.

Overall, this was a quick & easy read. I just wish we were given more from the world & characters!

Visions of darkness has such an interesting concept which I found fascinating and eager to read more about. I enjoyed the storyline and characters and can tell that this will definitely be a series that deserves to become popular. Would recommend this to Romantasy fans in particular.

I always go into fantasy books a little wary because they don’t always live up to their description but this one did! From the start there was great world building and illustration of what Aria’s life was like in and out of Faydor. Such a stark difference in both of her realities. The pace of the book was also great, never got too slow and always kept me interested. Aria and Pax’s relationship also felt very natural, not just a result of them being soulmates. Overall a very good book, so much potential for the next book or books in the series!

Thank you to netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Wow, I couldn't put this book down, I binged it in a few hours and that ending just isn't fair knowing that I'll have to wait for the next book. Everyone needs to read this book

This was pretty good! A nice mix of modern and fantastical. Loved the characters and I instantly felt their connection even though we didn’t get a buildup to that connection. The world building and “magic” was well thought out and described. It was a fairly short story but it was gripping and concluded nicely. With a small cliffhanger. I will definitely be reading the next one.