The Dark by Marianne Curley

     After waiting years to find The Dark, having read and adored the first book, I was more than eager to dive in to the wonderful world Marianne Curley creates. From the first page to the last, I was enthralled by every word.

     As the Order of Chaos increases its hold on the mortal world, Ethan, Isabel, Arkarian and the other members of the Guard find themselves fighting harder than ever to maintain history. When Arkarian finds himself in grave danger, Isabel convinces Ethan to help her save him, despite being forbidden to do so. Nothing will stop her, not the potential consequences nor the horrors they will surely face.
    
     The ability given to the Guard is one that many might die for... and indeed many do. However, "with great power comes great responsibility." The Guard has the amazing ability to travel through time, but they are also the ones in charge of making sure history goes according to plan. Such a task wouldn't be so difficult if it weren't for the Order: those bent on shaping history to fit their own purpose of creating chaos.

     As the war between the two groups escalates, the Guard is put into a precarious position. They must decide between saving Arkarian at the risk of those that go after him and losing Arkarian to the detriment of the Guard. Isabel is determined that she will save him, without help. Her stubborn nature shows through in this novel even more than it did in the previous installment. She doesn't care that she is forbidden to go after Arkarian. She doesn't care that she is risking everything to rescue him.
     Ethan, too, shows his bravery and selflessness. Arkarian has been his friend and mentor since he was a child. Now that he has the chance to help, how can he let Isabel go alone? Together with a stowaway, Isabel and Ethan go in search of Arkarian.
     Curley continues to astound me with her superb characters and flawless writing. From Matt, with his self-doubt, to Rochelle, struggling to fit in, the author creates characters that in turn pull at your heartstrings and then liven the mood. They are utterly relate-able and lovable.
     Her tale of danger and an ancient war will certainly become a classic. It gives meaning to the importance of history and divulges a truth that often escapes us: everything is intertwined. History affects the future as much as the present does.

Rating: 10