Destiny by P.T. Michelle

Destiny
by P.T. Michelle
Read: October 15 - 16, 2013
Published: October 15, 2013 by author
Source: Gift from author in exchange for an honest review
Category: Paranormal Romance, YA
Series: Brightest Kind of Darkness book 3
Find: Goodreads | Amazon

NOTE: Destiny is the third book in a series. The other books include Brightest Kind of Darkness, Lucid and a prequel novella called Ethan. My review may contain some spoilers for the previous three stories. 

When destiny is on the line, will love be enough to light the way?

In order to save Ethan, Nara gets pulled deeper into his dark world, where everything she thought she knew about Ethan and herself turns on its head. Ethan and Nara turn up the heat with bone-melting seduction and heart-rending moments, but surprising revelations, lies, treachery, betrayal, and unimaginable evil will challenge their relationship and their future together. As the stakes rise, encompassing more than just her relationship with Ethan, will Nara make the ultimate sacrifice?

Note: DESTINY is the 3rd book in the BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS series. It isn't the last book. There will be one more book.






_________________________________________________________________________

A series recap 
Destiny is the third book in P.T. Michelle's Brightest Kind of Darkness series. The first introduces us to Nara Collins. Each night she dreams everything that will happen to her the next day, but it isn't until she witnesses a school bombing in her dream that she takes action to change something about her future. This gets her into big trouble with Fate, who doesn't like anyone messing with how things are suppose to happen. In BKoD Nara also meets Ethan Harris, who for some reason never shows up in Nara's dreams. He has his own powers, absorbing people's dark thoughts, which turn into nightmares when he comes into physical contact with anyone. He also has a large raven sword tattoo on his back, which inexplicably showed up one day on its own. 

Lucid is the second book in the series. Although we find out a little bit more about Ethan and Nara's abilities, especially the fact that they are somehow connected to ravens, what we mostly get in this installment is more questions and a missing Ethan, who is gone for the majority of the story. We also meet a Parkour loving exchange student named Drystan who has his own unique ability, teaches Nara self-defense and thankfully never becomes a love interest (not for lack of trying on his part, but Nara never wavers). 

Answers
What I've been longing for since I started reading the first book is answers. In fact, in my review of Lucid, I directly state "I hope the next book features answers, instead of more questions." Thankfully I got my wish. Destiny delivers exactly what I wanted. Because of the massive build up of things-I've-been-dying-to-know-about-these-characters-and-world, Destiny is a long book - nearly 450 pages if it was in paper form. You'll be happy to know that I was on the edge of my seat for almost all of it. In addition to answers, Destiny has  a lot of exciting action too. 

I read Destiny pretty quickly, because I was desperate to find out what happens next, but I know I'll be going back over some of the more detailed passages. This mythology is quite complex - excitingly so. But it does take time to unravel. Some of the questions we get the answers to in this book: What was Ethan really doing during Lucid? What happened to Nara's father? Why did Ethan seem different when he returned from being away? What does Corvus mean? Is Danielle really Ethan's cousin? Where did Ethan actually get that necklace he gave Nara and what does it do? However, Destiny is not the final book in the series, and because of that not everything is solved. But enough is unraveled that I feel satisfied to speculate until the last book arrives next year. 

Angst
At the end of Lucid, Ethan has finally returned from a month-long absence "visiting his parents." I don't think it's much of a spoiler to call into question that statement, because it's fairly clear that Ethan was not really reconnecting with his father and hiking in the wilderness. First of all, he returns looking different: larger, stronger and edgier, and has developed the ability to turn his sword tattoo into an actual weapon. Basically, details aren't adding up. Ethan has a lot of explaining to do, and Nara demands the truth. Unfortunately, there are some complications at the beginning of this story that exacerbate Ethan's obvious falsehoods, and all of that equals another "A" word that this book has in abundance: angst.

Ethan and Nara are not on the same page when Destiny begins. As I was reading, there were definitely moments that I wanted to strangle both of them. I thought they took their stubbornness a little too far, when simple communication would have cleared up a lot. But I also understand that they are young and things are happening around them that are much bigger than both of them. Although we get some scenes from Ethan's perspective, this is still very much Nara's story, and we have to wait for him to reveal the details of everything going on with him.

Still, I was worried for them, biting my nails for a lot of this story and fearful about influences from other people, and especially a triangle. Thankfully, what I've loved about these two throughout the entire series rings true in Destiny too. Nara and Ethan are devoted to each other, despite their differences, insecurities and problems with communication. It is wonderful to see that shine off the pages of this book.

Connection
I really like when an author allows the reader to see the power of a couple together, and I enjoyed the glimpses that we got of Ethan and Nara as a team. When they finally connect in this book, fireworks happen. The chemistry between them is palpable, even when they're fighting, but when they are in sync, they are an unstoppable force. The way that their different natures - Nara's lightness and Ethan's darkness interact and balance each other, continues to be one of my favorite elements of this series. It is also an important detail in these books, and I'm betting it is going to come into play more in the final installment. 

Conclusion
With lots of answers, action and a whole lot of swoon, even among the angst, Destiny reminded me of why I love a this series and, especially, Ethan and Nara, so much. Now I'm eagerly anticipating the moment when I have the final book in my hands. 

Love Triangle Factor: NONE! Not from lack of trying from some characters. It is not an easy road, but I am very happy to report that Ethan and Nara stick to their commitments and love for each other. 

Cliffhanger Scale: LOW (some might say medium) - This is not the final book and we get a few surprising revelations at the very end. It's the type of conclusion that has me eagerly anticipating the sequel, but not stressed out about it.   



Don't miss my SPOOKTACULAR GIVEAWAY for a chance to win a book of your choice worth up to $15 (US + INT)