Book Review – Extinguish by J.M Darhower

Extinguish
<— 266 pages!! Really? I thought this was considered a “short story” and I was SO impressed with how much emotion and meaning was packed into a book that really hooked me for a good few hours. But wow. It was longer than I thought, which means I must have really been enjoying it for me to have read it as fast as I did.

And I loved it.

Maryse’s Book Blog: Wow. I just finished J.M. Darhower’s book “Extinguish”. My heart. Review to come tomorrow but that’s a preview of it. Just… wow.

Joanna: That was my reaction to this book as well…

Maryse’s Book Blog: I was liking it well enough, but kind of uncomfortable and all that. But what. An. Ending!! Whoa. Love!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Oh! I know what it did to me. It haunted me. It’s haunting me. Yah, that’s it!

Joanna: It’s different. Really different… But incredibly good.

Gloria: Amazing cover. I just bought it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Melissa: I agree with feeling uncomfortable. It sticks with you though. Extremely captivating and interesting!

Cathy: I just bought it too! Will read your review when you post!

Kim: Oh I can’t wait for your review! I have it now I really want to start it like now!

Kat: Loved this book and of course I fell in love with the ‘bad’ guy

Maryse’s Book Blog: Ahhhhh I can really delight in a bad-guy, Kat.

Caroline: I loved this book. Waiting the sequel…

Maryse’s Book Blog: Caroline!! What what whaaaaaat!!?? There’s a sequel? YAY!!!!!! *happy dance*

Kat: Yay a sequel I was def hoping for one! Can’t wait

The “original” cover…

I knew I had to read it because this was from the fabulous J.M. Darhower, author of my beloved “Sempre Forever” which I loved with all of my heart way back when I was first starting in the indie-book world. But this wasn’t to be anything like “Sempre”. No “New Adult” bad boy feel/dark unconventional romance here. Oh wait. I take that back. YES!!! Plenty of dark “unconventional romance”. In fact, this is the ultimate in forbidden love and I squirmed with discomfort, worried that lightening would strike me with every ooooh and ahhhh that I breathed.

Lucifer appeared sturdy yet harmless, his dimpled half-smirk almost friendly. With just one look, one measured curl of his lips, he invited you in to stay forever. And there was no denying this charismatic creature.

And then I started telling my husband about it (yep, you know I’m likin’ it when I follow him around reciting parts) and he was allll…. “I don’t know if you should be saying that…” and I was all… “eeeeep! I know, I feel SO bad!!!” looking up again for those lighting strikes.

And then I thought, wait. If J.M Darhower wrote this before Book Bash, and I saw her there alive, and well, smiling and signing, then you know. I could read it and feel it, and surely not have any repercussions, right? *sideeyes the thunder clouds rolling overhead* Oh come on!! It’s fiction. *squeaks* fic….tion?  Eeeep! I don’t really have sympathy for him. I promise!!! He’s evil.  Don’t make me!!!

Darn that awesome author that makes me feel things!!!

But I couldn’t help but power through it without putting it down once, and by the end I had goosebumps. It wow’d me. Made me go whoa. It made my heart tug low and bounce right back up again, and I knew THIS was what I had been craving, even if I don’t normally reach for the “paranormals” these days. Especially ones about fallen angels. I’d always been a vampire-girl first, Weres second and angels… well. Okay fine. I’d read those, too especially if they’re mixed in with the vamps.

Okay so what’s it about? Well it’s got all of that “paranormal” mystique but it has that intense connection and a lesson or two learned. And not just by the “obvious” choice.

God and the angels above are of course waging war on Satan, but when “Serah’s” brother “Samuel” becomes a fallen angel, she is tasked to confront Satan and request he cease his temper tantrums and be a good boy! Er… well… I “sweetened” it up a bit here. She doesn’t want to take on this job (and really doesn’t seem to have the skill set for it) but she is told by her “higher-ups” that God has requested this. And she’s an amazing angel. An incredible soul (or whatever angels are)…

It’s the basic things – love, respect and compassion – that make the biggest difference sometimes.

And so she goes to tentatively make contact with “Luce” (aka “Lucifer”) and deals with his infuriating ways. And sometimes his sad ways. His lonely ways. His evil (and oh so scary) ways. And *gasp* (cringing here)… his sweet ways.

This was his Hell: the inescapable torment he endured alone. He craved silence but was awarded chaos. Instead of light and vitality, he existed in utter darkness. His Archangel nature helped him take it all in stride, but it was never easy, even for the one the world saw as the enemy.

And that whole “tempting the devil” or the devil tempting her (you’ll see….) comes into play.

“Maybe I’m just misunderstood, and you’ll never know because you refuse to have an open mind about it.”

She scoffed. “You expect me to believe you’re the good guy?”

He barked with laughter. “F%ck no. Never think that. I’m not the hero here, angel, and I don’t want to be. But I’m not that bad guy, either.”

Eeeeeeep!!!! *sticks fingers in ears and squinches eyes shut* “Lalalalalalalallalalalalaalla…. I don’t see that. I’m not internalizing any of it!!!!”

Heheh. But of course, I did see that, didn’t I? I read it in one sitting, afterall… and I reluctantly felt every single moment that the author intended me to. GAH!!! It was hard on me, bein’ raised a Catholic and all. *sigh*

Wow. What a story! If you’re open to a paranormal/ “Sympathy for the Devil” read, this is for you! Yeah that’s right. That song played in my head the entire time. GAH!! Again… fictional sympathy. Never real.

But the end. OMG… the end. Chills.

4 stars!

And the chills? 5 stars all the way, baby!

Sequel? Maybe (and not necessary but I’d certainly read it!!) Author J.M Darhower says: “A sequel is possible, but I’m focusing on wrapping up the Sempre series first”

P.S. Updated October 13th 2014: BREAKING NEWS UPDATE!!! The sequel (Reignite (Extinguish Book 2) was just released today!! ———->

Tagged as: 4 stars, devil, Fallen Angels, J.M. Darhower