Product Description
When she is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Poppy is astounded when her best friend, James, reveals that he is a vampire and has always loved her, and Poppy is forced to choose between dying young and becoming a vampire. Amazon.com Review
If you think light romantic horror has to be poorlywritten, you haven't tried L.J. Smith. Meet the denizens of the "NightWorld," a secret society of "creatures of the night" that has only tworules: never reveal its existence to humans and never fall inlove with them. Smooth and exciting, this is froth at itsbest. Smith's fans will also be thrilled and chilled by the re-releaseof one of her most popular titles, The Hunter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (94)

Just...No
Thank God this wasn't the first L.J. Smith book I read. I didn't really like this book... I liked the very beginning and the very end; the middle was a struggle to get through. I thought all the characters were annoying and cookie-cut out from somewhere. I have the volume that includes the first three, so I'll be reading the next two at least, which I've heard are better than the first. I previously read The Secert Circle series by Smith, which was fantastic, but so far, the Night World series is not living up.

Left me with questions, but good for teens
As an adult I rated this as a 2 star. The story had potential and the characters are likable. Poppy was well developed and we learned about James as we read the book. Phil, Poppy's twin brother acted in many ways that any brother who cared for his sister would act. Phil also did some things a sane person would not if the situations were real.I feel the mother and step-father should have played a bigger role in the story. It was like they were there only because Poppy is a teenager and they HAD to be there.
From a teenager point of view the brother was brave and amazing, maybe a little too involved but acceptable.The lack of parents except during important stuff (Poppy's diagnosis) was acceptable and enjoyable.
As an adult I was a little board with the book. I was a little more than half way into the book and I thought there was not going to be any action with the little amount of pages I have left to read. Once the action started, it moved so fast the book was over. Questions were left unanswered, one I thought was important to the story. What was the dream about?
From a teenager point of view, the book probably moved quickly and exactly how it should have.The end of the book explanation is probably accepted with no questions left over.
As someone who reads many vampire stories, it is the typical male vampire/ female human love story. I saw some similarities with this series and newer released vampire series. Some examples of this are character similarities (vampires going outside during the day) and even character names (Quinn, Claudine, and Eric). I will say Eric might not be anything as it is a common name but it was pretty odd considering the other two names. It makes me wonder if the other two authors read this story before writing their own series.
As a mother, I like is how L.J. Smith wrote about Poppy being in love with James but did not make or imply they had a sexual relationship. Young teens are faced with enough sexual media that it is nice to have one talk about emotions.In my personal opinion James should have been a little more aggressive considering he is a vampire and all.

Secret Vampire (Night World)
Very good book, if your into vampire books or movies you would love this book, there is also a series of these books, whick are great.


Thank you,

Carol White

Night World 1: Secret Vampire
Night World #1: Secret Vampire, by L. J. Smith

I first discovered the Night World series when I was about 10 or 11; I can't remember which. I devoured them then; I've always been fascinated with the supernatural, vampires and werewolves and witches oh my. Now, rereading the series a decade later, I'm happy to find that my nostalgia for the books is valid, as I'm enjoying them this second go around as much as I did the first time.

"Secret Vampire" tells the tale of Poppy, a 16 year old who starts her summer vacation in a rather dismal way: with a diagnosis of incurable pancreatic cancer. A summer that promised to be full of music, hanging out with friends, and just generally having a good time will turn into 3 months or less of pain and agony...but luckily for Poppy, her best
friend James has a secret.

James is a vampire, part of the Night World. The Night World is a secret society of all sorts of supernatural creatures and they have two rules: 1) Never tell humans about the Night World, and 2) Never fall in love with a human. To break these rules is to risk death; but James is more than willing to risk his life, especially after he
discovers Poppy is his soulmate.

All Night World books carry a common theme: the protagonist is always a female teenager, always someone a bit different from all those around her. In each book the protagonist finds her soulmate.

I remember when I was much younger and reading these books. I wanted to *be* the protagonist. I wanted to be a part of the Night World - and who wouldn't want to be? Smith has a gift for writing fiction that speaks to the reader, and makes the reader identify with the main characters. Poppy and James connect in a mental way when he is transforming her into a vampire, a way that makes words seem bulky and useless for real communication. Even though I know life isn't like that, it's still magical to see it done nicely in fiction. And still makes me wish it were possible.

The Night World series has recently been republished in a collection of omnibuses, which makes it a great pickup. The next installment in the series, which I have been waiting for for over a decade, will be published in 2010, which makes this the perfect time to leap into Smith's secret society. "Secret Vampire" is an excellent kickoff to the series, and introduces readers to some of the particulars of the Night World, as well as to two great characters.

My only issues with this book are that it's a little dated, due to being first published in 1996. You don't dial in to the Internet anymore, etc.; but that's just me nitpicking. Also it's a somewhat quick read; I finished the entire book in about 90 minutes or less. But that also makes it a nice diversion that won't take you a week to enjoy.

4/5.

Great love story!
Poppy is petite, pretty and has pancreatic cancer. Then her lifelong friend (and secret love) James tells her he is a vamp and he can save her life if she turns into one.

I loved this story.It is such a sweet love story.I thought I was 16 again and me being 37, that is hard to do.I think L J Smith has a talent for writing.Definitely, this is one to keep on your shelf at home.
... Read more

Product Description
Her promising future interrupted by sinister messages in her own handwriting that predict imminent doom, Hannah undergoes age regression therapy and recalls another life during which her world was destroyed by a vampire. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (81)

Night World 6: Soulmate
Night World 6: Soulmate, by L. J. Smith

Hannah Snow has the perfect life - she's about to graduate from high school, she already has a college scholarship, and she even knows that she wants to be a paleontologist. But her perfect life starts to collapse when she finds notes that she doesn't remember writing, warning her of a dire event - "Dead Before Seventeen."

Increasingly disturbed by the notes and bad dreams, Hannah visits a psychiatrist. On her very first appointment, a werewolf crashes into the building and tries to attack her, but a mysterious voice in her head helps her dodge each claw swipe. She's saved by the arrival of a second werewolf, who chases off the first.

Knowing that she has to get to the root of what's going on, Hannah and the psychiatrist try hypnosis, and she's plunged into a vision of a past life, where she was Hana, and a strange boy with blood around his mouth appears in her village...

Thierry is one of the oldest vampires in the world, created at the dawn of humanity. He's spent his lifetime searching for his soulmate, trying to find her before her 17th birthday so he can break a cycle of death. But when he finds her this time, she doesn't want his help...

"Soulmate" is my favorite Night World book. Coming 6th in the series, it exemplifies the soulmate principle Smith has used in each previous book, because Hannah and Thierry are the original soulmates. Hannah's past lives are a great plot device, because it allows Smith to give her lots of growth and abilities; and I really enjoy the stories of her past lives. I wish Smith had done more with that, she alludes to some interesting incarnations of Hannah but only fills in a few. Like other Night World heroines, Hannah's no wilting flower and she does take matters into her own hands when she needs to. Also in "Soulmate" Smith starts to introduce a bigger theme if classic theme, saving the world, and it'll be interesting to see where she takes it.

If you read any of the other in the Night World series, this book will also give a good update on what your favorite couples are up to, and what they are trying to do.

4/5.

A Timeless, Heart-wrenching Love
This is, by far, the most romantic book I have ever read by L.J. Smith.

We're introduced to Hannah Snow, a human girl from Montana, in the midst of seeking therapy.She's finding notes written in her own handwriting, but she can't recall writing them.And they're such strange notes, too, such as, "Dead before seventeen."

We learn Hannah is an Old Soul--a human who has been reincarnated over and over again.We're also finally introduced to the depth of a huge Night World figure we got a glimpse of in Secret Vampire, the first book:Thierry Descoudres.And, of course, Thierry is Hannah's soulmate.

What follows is a twisted tale of love, betrayal, misconceptions, and lies which span all the way back to the prehistoric ages.Hannah was once Hana, and Thierry was once Theorne, of the same tribe as the legendary Maya and Hellewise.

And who should want Thierry so much as to kill him but the first, original, and strongest vampire: Maya.

There were some minor things L.J. Smith doesn't cover--such as, being the first vampire, how Maya knew Thierry (the first made vampire) wouldn't be able to have children, before she had even turned him.But suspending those questions, these characters are so real and solid and warm (or cold, depending).You FEEL Thierry's pain when Hannah hates him, and you can't help but admire Hannah's desperation to put things right near the end, so that she puts her life in danger.

This was just before the Wild Power stories began, and turned out to be good in allowing L.J. Smith to tap into her emotional side.Her characters are always solid and believable, but this was the first time she had my heart absolutely hurting for these characters.

Forget Ash and Mary-Lynnette--Thierry and Hannah's situation is much more intriguing, far more realistic, and grabs a hold of your emotions and refuses to let go until the very last page.

Holy Heck!!
This was the best book I have read in years. The book was done really well. My oringinal copy is falling apart because I've read it so many times!! Hopefully oneday L.J. Smith will continure the series. She for some reason stopped.

The 6th Night World Book - Soulmates - My opinion.
It is my opinion that Hannah and Thierry are basically the poster children for the soulmate principle (hence the title). When you read the book, you will understand why.

Hannah is a normal girl with a normal life and normal friends. She aspires to be a palaeontologist and will be quite content with her life if she dies with nothing but the knowledge that she has discovered the nest of a duckbill platypus.

Then her ENTIRE world is turned upside down when she begins to find notes in places around that only she could put them. Notes in her own handwriting, warning her of a danger, a danger that was coming. Dead Before Seventeen...

She goes to a psychiatrist, who is supposed to help, but he unlocks a Pandora's box of memories when he suggests the idea of hypnotism, and past regression. Hannah is an old soul, someone who has been reincarnated time and again, ever since people lived in caves. A stranger tore her life apart, brutally murdering her tribe out of a madness born of torture and self-denial...until, he finds his soulmate, the one who he is destined to be with, in the eyes of a dying girl.

The stranger's name is Theorn, and he is a witch...or, he was, before he was made into the second vampire to ever cross the face of the earth...full of self hatred, he runs away from his tribe, but cannot contain his hunger for blood for long. He attacks a small human girl, and in return, her tribe torture him. Only one person dares to try to help him. A human girl by the name of Hana.

Unfortunately Theorn goes insane and he regains his mind to late. Almost all of the tribe are dead, including the one person who tried to help him. Stricken with remorse, he realises that this girl, who he has just killed, is the person who is meant to love for evermore. But the Hana is not dead yet. She forgives him, and extracts a promise from him. A promise that he will never kill again.
Now the stranger is back. He has kept his promise, and searched for Hannah throughout the years, trying to make amends, waiting for her to be reborn. Now he is Thierry, the Lord of the Night World -- and nothing in heaven or hell will keep him from his soulmate again. However, Thierry's maker, Maya, the most powerful vampire in the entire world is obsessed with him, and she hates Hannah with a vengeance. She will stop at nothing to destroy her...
So, it Hannah's destiny is death, can even Thierry's love protect her?

Excellent read!
Hannah thought she was going crazy. She kept receiving notes, in her own handwriting, that told her she would be dead before her seventeenth birthday.... A great horror series for those aged thirteen and up. Each in this series is a book in itself, but all come together in a greater picture. You see characters of previous books in cameo shots which make the plot even more realistic. Excellent! ... Read more

Product Description
It was Julian’s last challenge before he disappeared into the Shadow World, taking Jenny Thornton’s boyfriend Tom and her cousin Zach: “If you want them, come on a treasure hunt. But remember: if you lose, there’s the devil to pay.” Jenny, Audrey, Michael, and Dee have burned their bridges, leaving their families behind, to enter the Shadow World with a set of runes, magical letters that open the doors of hell. They’re lost in an amusement park nightmare, at Julian’s mercy as they look for Tom and Zach. Jenny’s only clue is a gold coin, Julian’s gift, and Julian himself, more beautiful, more seductive, more dangerous than ever. And determined to make her his bride. . . . ... Read more

Product Description
This fictional anthology launches a rocket with Money Shot which captures an adult entertainer's insatiable appetite for sex and money. Angel's Destiny tells the woes of a young woman deserted by her boyfriend during her pregnancy. Snakes in the Grass demonstrates how deception and unleashed raw anger can destroy many souls. Living Proof takes off by gliding through a sixteen-year-old girl's turbulent struggle with acceptance and denial. In A Blast from the Past, a married couple confronts an old skeleton hanging in the husband's closet. The Devil's Poison injects a dose of reality into a friendship as toxic as the two women it involves.In the thrilling story entitled, Scarlet's Blood, a man experiences a twisted perception of love.Love Misunderstood presents an insecure woman who questions her self-worth to the point near destruction. Sin clearly illuminates the devastating consequences of adultery. Cut Up a Thousand Times concludes this series of tales with a woman's plight to escape her drug addiction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Endless Possibilities
The Shattered Glass Effect is a collaboration of fictional stories with each sharing the same theme: AIDS/HIV. In the very beginning of the book, there is a quote from an unknown source that really sums up each story: "Some see a hopeless end, while others see an endless hope."

There are ten different stories featured in this anthology.They include: the adult entertainer and his many different sexual conquests; a young pregnant woman and her cheating boyfriend; keeping your friends close and your enemies closer; a sixteen-year old girl's first time; a husband runs into someone from his past that may destroy his marriage; a friendship that may be ruined due to drugs; a woman that has trust issues with her boyfriend; a sister's betrayal; a man that does not take his woman leaving him well and a girl strung out on drugs. Each story shows the results from their disastrous actions.

The Shattered Glass Effect is a powerful and emotional anthology! With AIDS being very prominent within the African American community, this anthology was greatly needed and will make you see how important it is to get tested. Although each story is fictional, they are very true-to-life tales. I am not really a fan of anthologies, but I have to say that this is the BEST anthology I have EVER read. I highly recommend The Shattered Glass Effect to all walks of life.

Reviewed by Leona Romich for Urban Reviews

A Powerful, Thought-Provoking Read!
"The Shattered Glass Effect" is a powerful thought-provoking anthology containing an eclectic collection of short stories centered on AIDS issues.It is about the consequences and outcome (albeit positive or negative) that affects everyone involved.

What would you do if you were faced with a life-threatening dilemma?What is the story behind the dilemma?These are some of the questions and issues debated in "The Shattered Glass Effect".What is refreshing is the realistic portrait of the characters without pretense.Although a work of fiction, these stories are true to life, minus the pretense and fluff, and often - a happy ending does not always exist.

I highly recommend this anthology!It was well-written, entertaining and easy to read.I commend all of the authors involved in this project and for taking this topic to the next level!The book will definitely elicit great book club dialogue.In addition, it is a great book to discuss with family members.Remember that December 1st is "World AIDS Day" ([...]), and "National Black AIDS Awareness Day" is celebrated every year on February 7th ([...])I challenge book clubs and avid readers to add this anthology to their list to bring more awareness of this disease that has had a deadly and disheartening affect on the world and more importantly - African Americans.

Review:5 out of 5 Beignets
Reviewed by:Sonya, Books and Beignets Book Club (BAB)

Cold reality
The Shattered Glass Effect, an anthology, is an insightful, and sometimes painful, look at the consequences of having unprotected sex. The authors in their individual voice--ten of them--write in great detail events leading to HIV/AIDS. They explain in distressing detail how many are infected--adult entertainers, unwed, pregnant mothers, sexually curious individuals, and through unrestrained passion. In each story, actions lead to deadly HIV, on its way to full blown AIDS. By comparison, these stories are a small sampling of how individuals contract and pass on the disease. This is an adult book. I would like to see it rewritten for teens and young adults, and read in school forums.
The creative anthologists are Sydney Molarè; Erica N. Martin; Timothy Stelly Sr.; Gloria Dotson-Lewis; Qiana Smith; Sheila Peele-Miller; Deanna Michelle Smith; Michelle Davis-Newell; Gevell Wagner; and L. J. Wilson. Great job, authors.

This Could Be You
Everyone says it is not going to happen to them. But the 10 stories in The Shattered Glass Effect by Creative Anthologists set out to show that getting a positive HIV/AIDS diagnosis can happen, if you are not aware of how your emotions can lead to actions that will forever change your life. We all hear the facts and assume that we will not become one of the statistics, but the authors in the anthology set out to show you differently through the actions of the story characters, and each of us will either see ourselves or someone we care about in these stories.

I thought the title of the anthology was very appropriate as I heard glass shattering each time the HIV/AIDS positive test results were announced. I commend the authors for in stripping away the layers of pretense in their stories and exposing the truth, no matter how painful. The variety of the story situations kept the anthology fresh. While all of the stories followed a similar format in telling the situation and an outcome, they were all equally strong in their messages and well-written. In Living Proof, Gloria Dotson-Lewis excellently tells the story in the language of a sheltered teenager who goes from thinking that sneaking out the house to a party is risky and is thrilled when she thinks that she has gotten away with it until she finds out she is pregnant and her plans for college get waylaid. And then she learns that she is HIV positive after giving birth to her daughter. I cheered in Angel's Destiny when pregnant Taye left her philandering abusive boyfriend, then cried when she found out that both she and her daughter, Angel, were both diagnosed as HIV positive. The power of positive love and learning to take responsibility for your own actions is demonstrated in Cut Up a Thousand Times by L.J. Wilson. Hopefully, these stories will shock us into taking actions to stop/prevent African Americans from being 50% of the new HIV/AIDS cases.

I recommend this book to everyone and hopefully reading the stories will allow for more open discussions on actions that can be taken to help prevent new HIV/AID cases.

This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Reviewed by Beverly Jackson
APOOO BookClub

AAMBC Book Reviews
HIV/AIDS continues to be the elephant in the room in African-American communities all across the country.Yet the disease is one of the most devastating killers of African Americans and the numbers in new cases continues to grow.In this anthology of ten short stories, The Shattered Glass Effect takes a realistic and compelling look at the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African-American community and why it keeps growing.Although the stories are fiction, they do not take the easy happily ever after approach usually found in narrative fiction.Each story stands on its own, but at the same time they are interconnected and emphasize a crucial aspect in dealing with the disease: support.The Shattered Glass Effect deals with all aspects of HIV/AIDS from how the disease is transmitted to how one can live with not simply die from the disease.These stories are well written, heartfelt and also informative.This is such an important read for all of us in the black community even those of us not afflicted with the disease for we all need to have concern for our brothers and sisters who must deal with this devastating malady.Authors include Sydney Molare, Erica N. Martin, Timothy Stelly, Sr., Gloria Dotson-Lewis, Qiana Smith, Sheila Poole-Miller, Deanna Michelle Smith, Michelle Davis-Newell, Gevell Wagner and L.J. Wilson.

TaKeshia Brooks
AAMBC Reviewer ... Read more

Product Description
The series takes place in a world similar to our own but one where vampires, witches, werewolves and shape-shifters live among humans without their knowledge. These supernatural races make up a secret society known as the Night World, which enforces two fundamental laws to prevent discovery: 1) Never allow humans to gain knowledge of the Night World's existence and, 2) Never fall in love with one of them.

First he put her in a dungeon. Then he realized they were soulmates. Now he wants to make her a vampire princess. Maggie Neely is a short, spunky sixteen-year-old with auburn hair and an iron will. When her brother turns up missing, she’s determined to find him. But she never suspects that the trail will lead her into the most secret heart of the Night World, a kingdom where no outsider has stepped in five hundred years.
The kingdom is ruled by the young vampire prince Delos…who keeps all humans as slaves. When Delos falls in love with Maggie, he frees her and demands that she join him in his life of dark pleasure. He’s handsome, he’s romantic – Maggie can hardly resist him. But did he kill Maggie’s brother? And who are the strange people searching the kingdom for a Wild Power? Maggie won’t give up until she learns the truth – even if it means destroying Delos and his secret land. If he doesn’t destroy her first…
... Read more

Customer Reviews (64)

Night World 8: Black Dawn
Night World #8: Black Dawn, by L. J. Smith

"Black Dawn" feels like the meatiest of the Night World books, with a lot going on in a very short period of time. Smith introduces us to a new Wild Power and a secret vampire kingdom all in one.

Maggie's world changes overnight when she's awakened by the sound of her mother crying. Her brother Miles is missing and presumed dead. Maggie listens as his girlfriend, Sylvia, tells the family what happened, but something is wrong with Sylvia's story. Maggie's pretty sure Sylvia is lying, so she follows her to her apartment. Sylvia lights some sort of incense...and the next thing Maggie knows, she's waking up in a cart. A horse drawn cart. Three other girls are in the cart, and one tells Maggie that she's now a slave.

That's Maggie's introduction to a secret world in the mountains, a secret Night World kingdom. A kingdom where humans are slaves to vampires, witches, and shapeshifters. A world where there is no color. A world that has Maggie's soulmate...

Maggie isn't part of the Night World, but she follows in the tradition of all other Night World protagonists by being a strong, spunky, honorable heroine. When thrown into a world full of injustice, she constantly tries to do the right thing, even when it could cost her life.

I really enjoyed this chapter of the Night World series. Smith creates an intriguing world within a world with the secret vampire kingdom, one I really wanted to know more about. There's an interesting cast of characters, from a vampire prince to a blind witch to a defiant slave. The action is very fast - maybe a little too fast in some parts - as Maggie jumps from crisis to crisis to crisis. The ending also feels rushed; things happen too quickly. There are one or two more things that don't make sense, such as a time traveling dream. But overall, "Black Dawn" is quite good and will keep you turning the pages.

3/5.

One of her best
As a reader who has read this seiries as well as the Dark Visions and the Forbidden game series, I can say that anyone who is a L.J. Smith fan is sure to love this book. It has romance that is not over the top mushy, and Smith incorporates real feeling into believable characters in a story that is sure to hold your attention until you have finished reading and even after you're done. I highly reccomend this book.

Maggie and Delos are great together but.......
imo the rest of the story seemed alittle bit, I don't know it's hard to put my finger on it, but I quess it just seemed a little slow to me. The story is about Maggie who is trying to find her supposedly dead brother and who, because of her dangerous quest, is dragged into a land unchanged by time, a place of castles, and witches, and gorgeous vampire princes with hearts of ice. The chemistry between Maggie and Delos is great and Maggie, like Poppy, is not drop dead gorgeous as a human. She's just an ordinary girl with a big heart and extrodinary courage which Delos see's in her eyes and it attracts him to her. She is the warmth that is missing in his cold existence and the scenes where they are together just make me want to go "awww" because of how tender he is towards her.
Maggie seems, I don't know, I quess less archetypal to me then some characters and like a real girl. Like the kind who would at school get voted most popular simply because she's so nice to everyone.
An L.J. Smith book that in my opinion is not to be missed!

one of the greatest night world books ever!!!
this is really one of the greatest books i have ever read and own. i was fortunate enought 2 own all 9 night world books and im still waiting 4 strange fate 2 come out. neways this book tells about a gurl name maggie who searches for her missing brother miles after when he and his girlfriend slyvia goes out mountain climbing but then disappears without a trace. maggie doesnt trust slyvia and thinks she is lying about her brother's disapperance so she follows her and then is captured and taken as a slave 2 a kingdom that is owned by the Night World and is ruled by a young vampire prince name delos. this is one the books that deals with finding the wild powers and needing 2 find all 4 of them that are needed at the end of the millenium. this is one of the best lj smith has written and i hope she will continue writing more books for the series. keep up the great work. and i pretty much think that strange fate is NOT the last book in the night world series.

Black Dawn
Lisa J. Smith is one of the most believable horror-fantasy writers for teens (if not, just plain the MOST)that I've come across.She takes the reader easily into a world where creatures such as vampires and werewolves do exist... and she makes the reader become part of that world.

It's a shame that the final book has not been written... or if it has, that it was never published.L.J... if you hear your fans, please publish that last book? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Spanish readers review
Para los lectores en espanol de " Despertar"

Compre este libro por curiosidad despues de haber conocido la serie "The vampire diaries" ya que esta basada en la saga de L.J. Smith, y realmente quede agradablemente sorprendida, pues la historia original es diferente a la serie, tiene una buena intriga, un buen ritmo en la historia y al final te deja con ganas de mas! yo ya compre la segunda y tercera parte de la saga.... no te fies la serie esta basada en esta saga pero NO esta fielmente adaptada lo que es una buena sorpresaa cuando lees la historia original. ... Read more

Product Description
Rescued from near death by a mysterious guardian angel who becomes her constant companion, shy Gillian learns the secrets of popularity from the angel and is noticed by handsome David, but the angel begins to make scary demands. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (55)

Night World 4: Dark Angel
Night World #4: Dark Angel, by L. J. Smith

At first "Dark Angel" doesn't seem like a typical Night World book. Gillian Lennox is a normal teenager; someone that many teen girls could probably relate too.She's not one of the popular crowd but instead is a shy outcast. Her two goals in life are somewhat superficial: she wants to be popular, and she wants David Blackburn to love her. But then who wasn't superficial when they were a teen?

Gillian's introduction to the Night World comes when she has a near death experience. On her way home from school, she goes into the snowy woods after she thinks she hears a child crying. Instead she falls into a creek and hypothermia sets in. But she's rescued by Angel, a celestial being who guides Gillian back to the road. But Angel turns out to be more than just a lifesaver, as he starts to help Gillian fulfill her goals. He whispers the secrets of popularity in her ear, helping a shy girl transform into a vivacious butterfly. But as Gillian's status increases at school, she starts to become suspicious of her guardian angel...who is he really? And what does he want with David?

The Night World connection in this book is tenuous, but it does make sense. After all, in a world populated with werewolves, vampires, and other supernatural creatures, it's natural that spirits would exist as well. So far Gillian is probably the most identifiable of all the protagonists in the Night World books, as she's your everyday teenage girl who finds out that there's a secret world...and she's part of it. How many of us have wished for that? I know I have.

For me, "Dark Angel" is a solid chapter in the Night World series, but it doesn't really stand out, but then it isn't bad either. It's a good story of growth.

3/5.

I began dreading to read this novel from the horrifying reviews, but...
This novel literally surprised me. The beginning was page-turning, and immediately I began to think that the "dying but living again" scene would be the only scene i would like in the entire book. I was gladly proven wrong. I had such low expectations, but the ending made it memorable to me. However, the story of a highschool girl wanting a taste of popularity never ceased to strike a nerve on me. It's really cliche, but i liked the story for the twist, and the "gentle" ending. I had a warm, fuzzy feeling bubble up inside me while i was crying (which was weird even if I am overly sensitive). I was sad, yet happy with who Gillian ended up with. Gary had such a wonderful charm to him, and I just wished David was more developed and not such a shallow guy. But overall, I'l give it a 4 stars because it was memorable to me. You should give this book a chance and not have such high expectations for it because it surely isn't a Rashel, Mary-Lynette, or Hannah. Gillian is a normal highschool girl that is almost too close to our everyday girls.

Great coming of age story with some magic mixed in!
I love this book! I've noticed that the bad reviews complain that the characters are too superficial, but I disagree. This novel has a lot of profound underlying themes that should be acknowledged. The main character, Gillian Lennox, is more like a teenage girl than any of the other female protagonists in LJ Smith's other Night World books. Gillian comes from a lonely home and longs to find acceptance and happiness. She wants to be popular, but only because she thinks it will bring her the acceptance, love and attention she can't find at home. I think a lot of readers can relate to that ( I certainly could!) and maybe that's why this book gets bad reviews - because it hits a little too close to home.

Her "angel", Gary, is hilarious - I literally found myself laughing out loud at some of his remarks. He helps Gillian grow up and he helps her discover her witch heritage. This is an interesting take on what it's like to discover that you actually belong in the Night World as opposed to many of the other books in the series in which the humans are told of the Night World illegally.

This book is also a great follow-up to Spellbinder because it's about the Harman witch clan and also involves a restless spirit that the protagonist must help return to the Other Side. If you look past the "superficiality" (seemed to me that Gillian was just lonely and sad, not superficial), this is a great read. Highly recommend it!

First One That I've Read, And Definately Coming Back For More
This is the first of the Night World books that I've read, so I can't really judge it by comparison. I found this book (as a seperate entity) to be a very good book! Gillian is smart and a bit socially awkward. She doesn't think very much of herself at all, especially since no one at her school knows that she exists and her home life is crumbling. Angel is a compelling character, having hidden motives, unknown origins and witty dialogue. I can agree that David was less than superb... But he wasn't really the main focus of the book anyway! As the book progresses we see the developing of a bond between Angel and Gillian, an explanation for Gillian's home problems, an exploration of witchcraft, and an overall view of teenage life (which can really suck).

Anyway, I found this to be a very enjoyable book that I kept coming back to in any free moment of my day.

My favorite night world series book
This book was kind of different from the other Night World series, but it was my absolute favorite. once i started reading, it was impossible to put down. The story is amazing and it is full of surprises and things you don't expect and it just makes you bite down on your lip in anticipation of what's to come. It is soooooo good. People need to read this. I think the only reason other people did not like it as much as the other books in the series is because you don't know of the night world until probably the mid-end of the book. IT IS FREAKING AMAZING THOUGH.

READ IT. ... Read more