DARKER DAYS by Jus Accardo

Darker Days
Jus Accardo

Rating: A+
Release Date: 08/19/13
Synopsis:
Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course...

When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin.

Seven deadly ones, in fact.

They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing...

There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything.

My thoughts on the book:
Different from the typical YA Paranormal Romance,  Darker Days brings well-rounded and complex characters, a unique and captivating world, and a suspenseful and intriguing plot to ensure that it stands out in an overcrowded genre. Accardo's witty prose and romantic tension add to the book's charm, making Darker Days one of my favorite reads of the year. If you're looking for a new, exciting, well-written read, then this book is for you. 

Jessie is a strong, sarcastic, likable, and well-adjusted character. Even though she's far from normal and her dad is MIA, she's still happy with her life overall. Furthermore, Jessie is no-nonsense. From the first page, she introduces you to herself and her world with unapologetic honesty, which made me really enjoy reading from her perspective. She's not afraid to kick ass, and while more mature than many YA characters, she still acts like a teenager. She stands by what she believes in, and she will fight for what's right. More YA female leads need to be like Jessie. Jessie's MIA dad, Damien, is also a complex character. He's not a deadbeat like many YA fathers. He can't help being away. Also his relationship with her mother is complicated. Klaire, the mother, is pretty cool for a mom, but she still goes above and beyond to keep Jessie safe. Lukas is a tough and swoon-worthy love interest. He's more chivalrous than the contemporary man, but he isn't a chauvinist. He's very strong, both emotionally and physically, and he is willing to sacrifice himself in order to do what's right. Mr. Winkie/Smokey is also a favorite, and I hope I get to learn more about him in the next installment. He's a unique character (possessed Corgi who attaches himself to Jessie), and he has a lot of personality. 

 The concept of a paranormal detective agency isn't a new one, but a Pandora's-style box filled with the Seven Deadly Sins is certainly unique. How the sins react to their hosts isn't exactly original, the same thing was done on Charmed when a demon infected the Halliwells with sins, but the fact that the hosts can infect mass amounts of people is different and has very dangerous consequences. In fact, I couldn't put the book down because I didn't know what horrible thing would happen next, courtesy of the sins. The plot is full of twists and turns, and Accardo surprised me several times. The author's voice is strong and draws the reader in from the very beginning. Also, the ending ties things up nicely and thankfully isn't a cliffhanger. With a few of the things that happened throughout the book, though, it's clear that there will be a sequel. I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an original YA Paranormal Romance with a humorous tone. There are some serious parts, but I laughed out loud more than once. Darker Days is a fun and suspenseful read that touches on the importance of family and the beauty of love. You won't want to miss this one.

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