After Dark (The 19th Year #1) by Emi Gayle

Emi Gayle has written a unique paranormal romance/urban fantasy novel, I really enjoyed the characters, the story flows well and I found I had a hard time putting it down till I reached the end. Emi Gayle has done a fantastic job writing the first novel in the series, you know it’s good when a reader finishes the book and goes looking to see when the next book is coming out as I wanted more right away.

I liked that is was a bit different from what I have read lately in these genre’s, there were a few times I wished for more clarification on a few things but maybe more will be clarified in the next book. I still really enjoyed After Dark.

Mac is a changeling who basically can become any creature she wants, the only downfall is once Mac turns 19 years of age she has to decide on one form and keep that form for the rest of her life. Presently Mac is 18 years old, living among the humans and attending high school. It funny because Mac hates going to school and living with humans who she really only tolerates. When Mac meets Winn things change a bit for her, for one she ends up hanging around his friends and Winn. At first Mac only starts this friendship because Winn has a book that holds secrets to her life past and future.

But nothing is that simple, of course Mac and Winn start to have feelings for each other, and this is a great romance in the making. I loved it because Winn is not your typical character in the paranormal romance department who gets the girl. Winn and Mac make you laugh out loud, I loved Mac character she is strong independent, and quite snarky at times. Its great watching her realize she is falling for Winn.

So I will say I have rated After Dark a 4 star rating and I would recommend it to any of my friends who enjoy paranormal/urban fantasy/romance novels. And I seriously cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

Thanks to J.T. Publishing and Emi Gayle for the chance to read After Dark. ( )

I read this in mostly one sitting. I found this off of another reviewers page, and I am really glad I tried it. When I bought this I skipped ahead of about 40 in my TBR and I am glad I did.
I will definitely read the next book in the series. The changeling was well done and original, which is refreshing in itself. Also, it had a decent end, you know there is more coming, but it does not feel like one of those books that is just stopping just to stop where you will have to keep spending money to find out what should have been in book. (sorry mini rant - new pet peeve)
The book is worth the money if you like paranormal and ya. I would say this is a true YA and not the new genre of YA Trashy.

I loved Winn, he is great and look forward to more of him. I did see the outcome sooner than Mac did, but it was nice following the story and watching her grow to get there.

I am not big on rehashing the story, suffice to say, Winn and Mac complimented each other. I don't feel bad that I purchased the book, and I will get the next book in the series.

PS - I vote when she finally picks forms she picks Dhamphyr. Seems like the best solution to the problem :)

Alright, I have to admit that this book really gave me the unexpected. Within the first 30 pages I was ready to put it down. I'm not sure if the plot was moving too slow, or the way it was written. I set it down and looked at other reviews before I continued I saw that a few of my bloggers friends had read and love it. So I continued. I'm glad I did cause this book freaking ROCKED!

What I loved most about this book is the great plot. We have a young strong-willed girl faced with some BIG decisions. I like that through out the book each chapter revealed a smaller piece of the bigger picture. At first, I was unsure how this plot might turn out, instead I was drawn to each clue, each pressure to choose, each lie that became truth. I wanted more and could not stop reading.

I absolutely loved the character! Mac is one strong girl. She was never swayed and always stood her ground. Now this is girl I can respect. She didn't take crap from anyone. And if they dish it out to her, she dished right back and more! She also made me snort a lot. The thoughts that were going on in her head were similar to mind, therefore I had no problem relating and stepping in her shoes.

The love interest? What can I say other that its insanely awesome. I loved that she doesn't fall for a jock, or the popular guy. She falls for the nobody...one that everyone dismisses. I liked that there love is real and genuine.

The successful key that made this story a great success is ultimately the world building. After Dark is a story that you absorb fast and never get tire of. It''s a story that sticks in your mind, days after reading making you want to reach for it once again. After Dark is made of pure ambition that is impressive and divine. ( )

ISBN/ASIN: 9781937744144
Publisher: JTaylor Publishing
Pages: 344
Formats Available: E-book

BLURB from Goodreads
What eighteen year old Mac Thorne doesn’t know will probably kill her.

In exactly eight months, five days, three hours and thirteen minutes, Mac has to choose what she’ll be for the rest of her life.

She has no choice but to pick. As a Changeling, it’s her birthright. To Mac, it’s a birth chore. Like going to school with humans, interacting with humans, and pretending to be human during the pesky daylight hours.

Once darkness descends, Mac can change into any supernatural form that exists—which makes her as happy as she can be. That is, until Winn Thomas, the biggest geek in her senior class figures out there’s more to what hides in the dark than most are willing to acknowledge.

In this first of the 19th Year Trilogy, Winn might know more about Mac than even she does, and that knowledge could end their lives, unless Mac ensures the powers-that-be have no choice but to keep him around.

MY REVIEW
I received this e-book from JTaylor Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
The cover has a female on it whom I would presume is Mackenzie. Mackenzie or Mac as she prefers to be called likes to hang out in the cemetery after dark. She has a favourite tree and a favoured few headstones she hangs around too. The cover depicts all that very well. By now you will be thinking that Mac is at best a little strange? Well she is quite different, you see Mac is a "Changeling". So Mac is "special" at night she change literally change into more or less anything, vampire, demon, dragon, fairy,or witch to name a few. All that sounds great and I would say from reading the book Mac enjoys the fact she can change at her own will every night. During the day time Mackenzie is a normal human teen. The one rather large problem she has is that she must choose one of those forms to stay as forever by her birthday. The council made up of one of each of her possible choices continually pressures her to choose early but she resists. The council and her surrogate parents a fairy for a mother Alina and a vampire father Lucas are allowed to help her by answering her questions, which sound straight forward until you discover that Mac has to ask exactly the right questions to obtain her answers.
There are lots of "laws" and "rules" to be learnt as the reader but it makes the book all the more interesting to the reader. Also theirs a rather important book in the plot too. Winn a rather geeky guy from school has found a book and it has Mac totally engrossed....then Mac and Winn are paired together for a school assignment on mythology which the book is about. When Mac finally gets a good look at the book she realises the author has the exact same full name as herself but how can that be? Winn and Mac get quite close which could be dangerous, as the council do not like "mixed relationship" will Mackenzie ever make her choice. In fact she has to choose a "teacher to help her work out what she wants to be. Who can she choose, Josie the siren, or Felix the vampire perhaps, their are plenty of choices but who does choose? Who, if anyone does she trust?
This book is packed with action, mystery, and suspense as well as unlikely friendships, traitors, protectors and romance. I love how the book is written and will be looking out for other books by the author.
So did I enjoy this book? Yes, I really did. Would I recommend this book? Yes and will be doing so, to my daughter and my blogger/reader friends too! Would I like to read more in this book series? Yes please Bk#2 is already on my wishlist. Would I be interested in reading more by Emi Gayle? Yes definitely. ( )