The Light That Blinds Us

The instant bestseller and YA TikTok sensation

By: Andy Darcy Theo

Narrated by: Joe Jameson

‘Loved it from start to finish, was hooked all the way.’
‘This book deserves to be read by everyone.’
‘This book is filled with amazing one liners that I would legit tattoo on my forehead!’
‘Brilliant, thought provoking.’
‘Literally dying for more.’
Goodreads Reviews

Legendborn meets Percy Jackson in this dark and thrilling debut fantasy romance.

When consumed by shadow, even the faintest light can be blinding...

After a childhood haunted by disturbing hallucinations of the Shadow Man, Alexis Michaels’s only comfort is the blue amulet he’s had since before he can remember. Now, the visions have gone, and Alexis craves a normal life.

But when a trip to Stonehenge unites him with three other teens carrying similar gems, normality is abandoned when they are plunged into a hidden world of power-wielding Elementals, and told they are the chosen ones, destined to save the world from an eternal night. Trained by legends and guided by heroes, Alexis and his companions must venture on a perilous quest, facing tests of love, loss, and loyalty.

But a dark past plagues Alexis as they prepare to defeat an adversary more ominous than they could imagine, and a looming secret sets to corrupt the mission, their lives, and his mind.

A high-stakes, speculative romance, which masterfully weaves themes of mental health, psychosis, and found family. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Cassandra Clare from TikTok and BookTok star @andydarcytheo.

Great debut!

Love the main characters—they give strong Argo II (from the Heroes of Olympus) or even Gaang (Avatar: the Last Airbender) vibes. And yes, this gives strong Legendborn vibes as well, with its dynamic and diverse characters and tense subplots. The quest was classic and enjoyable. I’m looking forward to seeing the series develop.

I do feel that Mortem is a little flat as an antagonist. From his powers to his speech to his plans, he is just the stereotypical villain—though I believe he has strong potential to become more complex, given his ties to Alexis and Encantus. Other characters felt a little trope-y as well. Also, the word “exploded” was used rather frequently in the fight scene. I wasn’t too bothered by it but it was a little funny to me. The pacing was a little slow in parts, which made me lose some interest, but the character dynamics were compelling enough to keep reading. Overall, give this a read for a fun worldly fantasy adventure and to support a debut author.