I went into this completely blind and I'm so glad I did. The plot is so unique and something I would love to see made into a movie. It pulled me in right from the start.

The plot/setting is a mix of urban fantasy, paranormal, fantasy, and romance. The main characters are magical beings called Laven who have been chosen by a Goddess and bestowed with magic that binds them to a lifetime of duty. While awake, they live a normal human life on Earth, with a family that doesn't know their kind exists, but when they go to sleep their soul awakens in an Earth-adjacent realm, where they live a second life with others like them. In this realm they train from a young age to hunt beings that are the equivalent of demons. Each Laven has a Nol, the equivalent of a soulmate. They hunt together and protect one another, but they are forbidden to meet their Nol in the human realm. When Aria's life is in danger in the human realm, Pax is torn between duty and Aria.

I loved the author's writing style. Aria is deeply empathetic, and the way the author describes how Aria feels and experiences others' feelings made you feel as if you knew exactly what she/they were experiencing right alongside her.

The forbidden romance here is *chef's kiss* and pairs perfectly with how fiercely protective Pax is. There's also the whole "she's in love with him but thinks he doesn't reciprocate, but he's actually obsessed with her" trope that is shown so well in the dual POV.

Speaking of POV - I love how it was 1st person when they were in the human realm, but when their souls were in the other realm, it was written in 3rd person. It made you not only visually but mentally separate the two realms and pulled you into the characters' POV more, almost as if the way they view their life is different depending on the realm they were in.

This is NA, almost leaning towards YA with the FMC being 18, but it rarely felt that way to me. Both her and Pax, who is 22, seem older, and I personally attributed this to them living two lives and having such a heavy burden that they trained for their whole lives for their chosen duty. Almost like a child that is forced to be an adult too soon, resulting in them presenting as more mature/older.

I devoured this in one sitting and I haven't stopped thinking about it.

Read this if you like:
Touch Her and ***
Morally Gray Protective MMC
Forbidden Romance
On the Run
Close Proximity
Lots of Pining..
Portal Fantasy / Secret Realms
Chosen Ones
Dual POV
Soul Bonds
Secretly in Love with Each Other
MMC with Tattoos

This book definitely gave me dark urban fantasy vibes as the book is in our world but with a magical element. This book definitely gave me a dark romance feel as our characters both hunt and are hunted by evil forces that try to feed dark and predatory thought to the general populace. I definitely recommend a trigger warning read if this worries you. Other wise be ready for a different ride through this story but beware the ending as there is more to come.

This was my first book from A.L Jackson, and it wont be my last.
I've been one for fantasy or romantasy books in the past, and although I'm currently in my cowboy era, this book hit the spot.
Aria and Pax, with their banter and connection.. was something else.
I enjoyed the progression of the story and thought this was a wonderful way to start the series, I'm looking forward to the next book when it comes out! *makes grabby hands*

Thank you for the arc, all thoughts are my own.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC*

Um hello, PAX?! New Book boyfriend for 2025? I cannot WAIT for the next book in this series to come out!!

This was so unique with the way fantastical and paranormal elements are woven in to an Urban setting.

I devoured this in one day!

Thank you to Valentine PR & Literary Management for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Instead of falling into a dream each night, Aria travels to a nightmarish world to fight the monsters that whisper evils into human minds. She battles beside her soulmate, Pax, who she is forbidden to meet in the waking world. But Pax breaks all the rules to save Aria when the evil that could only reach her during sleep breaks into the daylight. Aria and Pax race against time and fate to defeat monsters stronger than they've ever encountered, all while resisting their dangerous attraction to each other.

Wow! I devoured this book and got angry at people who interrupted my reading. It has all the best tropes plus a thrilling plotline: fated mates, forbidden romance, found family, and a unique magic system. I was rooting for Aria and Pax while on the edge of my seat the entire time. The book's premise is incredibly creative and I know there will be more to discover in book two. I can't wait for the next one!

Follow me @smorebooksplease on Instagram for more bookish fun!

⭐️: 3.25
🌶️: .5/5

Aaaaah. I wanted to love this one so badly you guys.
The plot was there, the fated mates, romance aspect, slow burn was there. BUT…I couldn’t get past the chapters being one in first person and the next in third.

I understood why it was necessary because when awake the characters were in the human world and obviously when you’re sleep you tend to dream in third person (at least I do) but I still couldn’t get past it.

ALSO, it was super repetitive and yeah. It also ends in a cliffhanger so I have to read the next one because I do want to know what happens because like I said the potential was there.

I just didn’t love how predictable it ended up being, or how there was little to no explanation of what the hell was actually happening or what the magic system was or literally anything. This one wasn’t for me but it could be for you!

Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for my honest review!

When AL Jackson announced that she was going to write a romantasy, I squealed. I knew with the way she writes romance and suspense that she could nail this genre as well and I am so happy to say that I was right!

Visions of Darkness is a captivating story of soulmates who are willing to defeat horrors and travel through worlds to get to one another.

Pax and Aria belong together in Faydor, their literal dream world. Here they are soulmates, there to protect one another and fight alongside each other. In the waking world, they are told they could never meet or be near one another without evil attacking. But when evil sets its sights on Aria, Pax will let nothing stop him from getting to her.

Pax is an amazing MMC and the definition of “if he wanted to her would”. Not only does he travel through worlds to find Aria, but he also recognizes her abilities and gifts. He balances protecting her with challenging and helping her use her gifts (basically, he knows his place).

We are left with a cliffhanger that makes me yearn for the next book. Overall, Jackson wrote an amazing story with a unique plot.

Visions of darkness

4.5 stars ⭐️

Supernatural
Dark Romance
Fated mates
Found family
Forced proximity
Good vs Evil

This is Al Jackson’s first book into the supernatural/paranormal and I fully jumped in loving it. I’ll do my best to not give too much away in explaining as it’s a crazy wild ride that you need to discover yourself.

Aria always felt different, like she doesn’t belong. What her family doesn’t know is that in dream time she is transported to another realm to fight evil with others who are like her. This is where she meets up with Pax her soul partner she fights beside. They are bonded, fighting together in their dream time never to meet while they are awake.
But when evil follows her into her waking days, she finds she’s in more danger than in her dreams. She soon discovers she has special powers in the human realm beyond those of her kind and that makes her a target.

Pax and Aria aren’t supposed to be together in the human world. It could jeopardize everything. But Pax has no choice but to find her to help her through this time.
AL Jackson does some wonderful angst and yearning. She’s a master at forbidden longing and the human equivalent of fated mates….souls that are destined to be together. You really feel how Pax and Aria yearn for each other but they don’t know what trouble their union will bring about if they give into those desires. There’re so many places this overall story could go in the future books that I’m excited to read more. Visions of Darkness is book 1 and ends in a cliffhanger.

Full disclosure, I’m normally not a paranormal/fantasy reader. I actually do love paranormal stories (in movies and TV), but as a visual learner fantasy books can be hard to visually imagine. Yet here, Jackson pulls it off, here. Maybe some full-on fantasy readers will say this is “light”, not to detailed but that’s why I loved it. Aria and Pax’s relationship is just as important as the plot.

I’ve read a book previously written by this author so was excited to read another book by her. I can see romantasy readers eating this book up! The first few chapters I was a little confused but I think that’s normal when you’re trying to understand the new world that the author has created. The book had action, fantasy, forbidden love and mystery. I was totally invested in the story and kept hoping that the main characters get together. I won’t spoil anything but I can’t believe what happened! This book is definitely a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

This is the first book in the Darkness series and it’s a romance fantasy book.
I enjoyed this book. I loved the story so much and I was hooked from the very beginning.

I can’t wait to continue the series.

Do I recommend it? Yes, I do highly recommend.

I give this 5 out of 5 stars

“You’re not alone anymore, Aria. And as long as I’m still breathing, you’re never going to be.”⁣
⁣
This paranormal/supernatural fantasy romance was such a captivating read! I was left dreaming about their story when I was falling asleep each night! ⁣
⁣
Told in both 1st and 3rd person, this story weaves a unique tale of the Laven, those who live among us in the human world but protect us in their sleep by destroying the dark thoughts that the Kruen use to take hold of a humans mind. Bound together to help, Pax and Aria would do anything to protect the innocent and every night they risk their own bodies as collateral damage in the cause. But their connection is only allowed in Tearsith, seeking each other out in the human world is forbidden. And you know I loved the fated mates connection the two of them shared!! The ceaseless need they had to help protect each other no matter the cost had me giddy, even if it was forbidden by the elders.⁣
⁣
“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.”⁣
⁣
My heart ached that only in sleep did Aria find solace from her life, during waking hours she was just an ordinary human left with the consequences of the battles she fought. In her sleep she is strong and powerful, yet because her scars and wounds remained when she wakes, her family questioned her sanity and everything she fights to protect. Being one of the “chosen” is a heavy burden to carry and I was captivated with each new turn of the story. Pax is the ultimate protector and I loved watching him fight with everything he had for Aria! That cliffhanger left me with so many questions and theories as to what could unfold next! Consider me hooked!⁣
⁣
“You are my beginning. My conclusion. My completion.”

VISIONS OF DARKNESS by A.L. Jackson Darkness Book #1
Pax and Aria's story
Tropes: Romantasy, Dark Paranormal Romance
"SHE WAS MY PERFECTION, MY ECTASY, MY COMPLETION"
This is a fantasy story where our heroine Aria and our hero Pax are swept away to a far off land called Tearsith whenever they sleep. They meet up with others like themselves and fight evil, then return to their human lives during the day. Pax is Aria's Sol (soulmate), her protector and their feelings run deep even though love between them is forbidden. When the two worlds collide the plots grows deeper and stronger and I just couldn't put the book down. There's so much more to this story but I won't spoil it for you. Pax was the perfect hero, so strong and protective, always putting Aria first. These two certainly had a slow burn but once ignited became an inferno! Hold on for one heck of a cliff hanger ending!! I'm not usually into fantasy but I totally enjoyed this story and looking forward to more!!!

Well this book drew me in from the very beginning. This is my first book by AL Jackson and I love how descriptive she is with her writing, others might not like that but I truly loved it. Her writing is done so well. I quickly fell in love with Aria and Pax, they're truly everything. Such a great storyline and it was nice having a fantasy book that wasn't about fae or anything related to the norm for fantasy. I truly loved this one and would recommend to anyone, however the ending of this book had me shook! I need book 2 immediately. I need to know what happens!!! 😭

4.25⭐️

What a world! This was an incredible new start to a romantacy series. 

Pax and Aria were magnificent! The pull they have for one another was captivating. 

The urban fantasy setting was a bit difficult for me in the beginning because we are switching from 3 worlds essentially but it all came together. 

I was apprehensive since this isn’t her usual genre but it worked out. 

I am excited to see where this world goes that she’s created.

Aria, by day, is a human.
When sleep consumes her, she is a Laven, travelling to Taersith where she goes through a portal to Faydor; fighting Kruen, alongside Pax, her nol. The evil Kruen feed into human minds to convince them to do dark and terrible things.

Aria & Pax aren’t supposed to connect in their human forms, but when danger is imminent in the human realm, Pax must make the decision to stand by, or risk it all…

I absolutely loved the concept of this story and the magic system involved. It was fast paced, and ends on an immense cliffhanger! Personally, I love cliffhangers in books so I’m looking forward to the next instalment.

I feel as though more complex world building would have elevated the novel to another level, and I did struggle to connect with the characters at times.

I am in absolute awe of one of my all-time favorite authors of contemporary romance! AL Jackson has done an amazing job jumping genres right into Fantasy/Romantasy, and I was completely consumed with this story from start to finish.

First off, the narrators were perfection for Aria and Pax. I felt like I was watching a movie with each scene and suspenseful moment. This book is nonstop action and suspense and surprises, and I loved every minute of it.

The connection between Aria and Pax is like no other I have read. It goes beyond the physical and emotional... and this author did an amazing job making this supernatural world seem so real and visceral. I devoured this audiobook and couldn't get enough. Now I cannot wait for Book 2 and more from these characters and this world. BRAVO AL Jackson!!!!

Visions of Darkness by A.L. Jackson is her first romantasy/paranormal-related book. Pax and Aria are born to fight underworld goons with nefarious intentions. The two soul mates can see and hear the dark and dangerous thoughts and plans from the underworld beings while in a hellish landscape in their dreams. The two are in a race to save Aria from the clutches of the most dangerous goon of all who will destroy her and her family.

This book was entertaining. The story really picked up with a banger of an ending that had me screaming NOOOO when I hit the last page. Ok, A.L. Jackson, you hooked me on this world of Aria and Pax. More please.

What to expect:
-Only one bed
-Forbidden romance
-Morally gray hero
-Fated mates
-Touch her and d_e

When one of my one-click authors releases a book I am all grabby hands. So color me surprised when she revealed that it was a romantasy. She had popped my long overdue cherry in this quick growing genre. I found this story well-written and fascinating. The way the author pieced this story together was nothing short of amazing. It was as if I was floating within a dream as I watched this couples journey play out. I really liked the development of the characters, and the in-depth descriptions with all her words which had my mind visualizing each scene as the story progressed. The emotional and physical connection was beyond what I could have hoped for. Visions of Darkness is an out of this world read.

Stepping into this book, I was so deeply confused by the world (Faydor) being introduced to us, but I am so glad I didn't give up on reading and continued. As the story unfolded I was engrossed in the action and trying to figure out what was happening to Aria and routing for Pax to show up for her, and when he did, I just couldn't put the book down! Their is so much more I want to know about the world these characters visit when they go to sleep, why were they chosen to fight the Kruen, and who is this mystery blond man?? I can't wait for A. L. Jackson to continue the story because I am HOOKED.

Visions Of Darkness, By A.L. Jackson

"What do I think, Aria?"....."I think you're beautiful. And if I dreamed, I would dream of you.".....

"I dream sometimes, Pax, and it's always of you."

Oh my goodness. What a journey this book was. First of all, I am so excited for Amy to be releasing her first dark romantasy book!!! Also, I am so honored to be chosen for an ARC.

This book is very dark. It is such a cool concept and unlike any other romantasy I have ever read. This is a story of Aria and Pax who are connected in a way like no other. Fated soul mates through and through. But they are connected in a dream world. A world where they fight off the evil in this world. The evil that preys on our vulnerabilities as humans. But their connection is like no other I have read.

The ending of this book had my heart pounding out of my chest, and I was on the edge of my literary seat. The picture Amy paints is so vivid and dark. It was wow. I'm speechless. So intelligently written. I am locked in and can not wait for book 2 to continue Pax and Arias story. If you are looking for a dark romantasy, this is the one for you