Into the Light

By: Aleatha Romig

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins, Erin deWard, Noah Michael Levine

Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Sara Adams awakes blind, unable to remember the most basic details of her life, but her darkness seems a blessing when she discovers the terrors of The Light.

Stella Montgomery investigates the news from the mean streets of Detroit, where she's noticed a disturbing trend: Young women are vanishing. When her best friend disappears, Stella digs for answers - despite warnings from her police detective boyfriend - following a twisted trail that leads her through the city's most dangerous and forsaken precincts. There she uncovers something more sinister than she could have imagined: a shadowy organization known as The Light, led by the enigmatic Father Gabriel.

As Sara struggles to understand her place in the strange world she's awakened to - an oppressive cult demanding unquestioning obedience - and her feelings for Jacob, the husband she can't recall and whose harsh and tender attentions confuse and beguile her, Stella risks all to discover the truth. But enlightenment always comes with a price....

©2016 Works, LLC (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Very thought provoking... And disturbing...

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

I think all of the narrators gave an excellent performance.

Any additional comments?

Wow. This is one of those books that makes you sit back and think "What would I do?". It is so realistic that it stays with you after you have completed the book. It's kind of like the Stepford Wives meet a religious zealot. The story unfolds through Sara, her "husband" Jacob and reporter Stella whose friend went missing a year earlier. Sara and Jacob live in a community where wives are whipped with a belt for infractions of the rules - like asking questions about their husband 's decisions. About half way through I thought I had it figured out but I was WRONG!
Book is Excellent and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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Thank You.

100 of 105 people found this review helpful

Continuing Story

Be aware this is part 1 of a continuing story. For me, it was not interesting enough to pay for part 2. the plot is predictable and characters uninteresting Sophomoric sex scenes.

The female reader is good but the male reader over-enunciates annoyingly.

This was free on Amazon Prime. If I had paid for it, I would want my money back.

56 of 61 people found this review helpful

13 hours I can never get back.

I am as mystified by the positive reviews of this self indulgent idiocy as I am by the fact that I dragged myself through every painful minute of it.

The narration is as smarmy as the female character, and I can't even wrap my head around how toxic it is to titillate an audience with sex scenes involving someone that can't give informed consent.

It's not just rapey, it's bad narration and worse writing. I don't know how I'm going to make it through my day without shouting at random strangers never to listen to this book.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Rape Porn

I thought I was buying an intriguing mystery, but it turns out to be a bodice ripper featuring sex with impaired consent and brainwashing. I hope in the end it turns out that the perpetrator and his conspirators are brought to justice, and the woman who is brainwashed and then raped is able to break free of her captors, but given the steamy romance novel treatment of their "love making" I am guessing this is not the case, and I won't be finishing the book.

17 of 18 people found this review helpful

Uncomfortable Book, no ending

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes. Stop the game of no ending. I know it means you get readers to buy another book but I think it's deceptive. Tell people beforehand to give them a choice.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The general concept was interesting. Women being basically slaves because of brainwashing. How the organization made it's money and kidnapped people was also interesting.But, It got repetitive and tiring. I know the author wanted to make sure you understand why a woman would have this kind of relationship, but I figured that out without more and more and more insights into the psychological reasons.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The reader is very good. And so was the male reader. I like having both as sometimes it sounds bizarre when one gender tries to change voice to another. Very few can pull that off.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Not if it was as on going as this one. Probably shortened, edited well, this could be a good movie.

62 of 71 people found this review helpful

Downright creepy

A young woman named Sara Adams awakens in total darkness and with no memories. She's being treated for injuries suffered in a crash with her eyes bandaged and a cast on her leg. Her only lifeline is her husband, Jacob, who she doesn't remember. All she knows is what she's being told, that she's a member of an organization called The Light.

Stella Montgomery is an investigator for a television news station and begins looking into the mysterious disappearance of young women in Detroit. She thinks it may tie into the disappearance of her best friend and co-worker who vanished two weeks ago. Things get creepy when she looks into Gabriel Clark, the elusive head of the religious organization called The Light.

This isn't your run-of-the-mill or standard cult though it may first appear that way. Sara's and Stella's stories are told in their own narratives, along with Jacob's so the three perspectives keep things moving and interesting. I found Sara's awakening fascinating as she was a blank canvas, gathering information in the same way we took it in. The challenge was to figure out how the three would ultimately connect.

I had a feeling this would end in a cliffhanger and that it did. Boy, was it a doozy. I must admit I had my suspicions about some things but there was a part that did come as a surprise. I loved the narration, especially the use of multiple performers. That helped with the transitions and made a weird story even more bizarre. I liked it and am intrigued. On to the next book and I'm glad I waited until it was available.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Sick and Twisted

What disappointed you about Into the Light?

There's just one thing you need to know if you're thinking about buying this book: it is disturbing. So disturbing, in fact, that I couldn't finish it. I'm all for psychological thrillers and mystery novels but this is something else entirely: downright sick. Do. Not. Read. unless you like to be horrified minute after minute for 7 hours.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Confused Ending,Where is the closing?No conclusion

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I don't understand why the story didn't have a clear ending?

What was most disappointing about Aleatha Romig’s story?

No closing, disappointed?

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Good Narrator.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No ending not sure how the movie would work. No conclusion.

Any additional comments?

Great Story but I dont know what the point of the story is or where it went. Maybe the second book will clarify the light, how the main character lost her memory and how the detectives fit into the story. I am confused?

29 of 34 people found this review helpful

Into the Light will may my top ten list

Any additional comments?

Into the Light delivered a twisted tale of manipulation, forbidden passion and mystery as author Aleatha Romig takes us to the streets of Detroit and the remote wilderness of Alaska as she weaves a captivating story that will grab the reader and leave them begging for more.

The characters: Sara awakens blind and injured. She remembers nothing, not even the color of her hair. Her husband and friends aid her in her recovery but she is shocked to discover she and her husband are members of the Light an oppressive group led by Father Gabriel. Women do not question and rely on their husband’s wisdom, guidance and correction. Eek gads, time spent in this cult was riveting. It is evident that the author did extensive research regarding cults and she highlighted all aspects of this way of life. Jacob Adam Sara’s husband is a pilot and member of the upper echelon of The Light. His relationship with Sara, the delegation and his inner thoughts shed light on the inner workings of The Light. He cares for Sara, and his need to protect her made him appealing. From the onset, I liked Stella our investigator. Despite warnings, she will not dodge her instincts and she is determined to find her missing friend and discover who is murdering young women.

Into the Light has three narrators each assigned a voice and this choice only enhanced my enjoyment. Through their tones and inflection, the reader picks up subtle clues and foreshadowing. Romig weaved mystery and suspense surrounding a cult known as The Light. Brilliantly executed, Into the Light immediately pulled me in as we met Sarah Adams. The author then shared perspectives from husband Jacob and Stella Montgomery an investigative journalist in Detroit. The different perspectives quickly drew me in and allowed me to begin piecing things together. Romig then delivered answers in bursts that left me holding my breath, shouting I knew it and screaming for the next book. The tale ends on a cliffhanger that will have you jumping out of your seat and eager for the next book.

At a little under fourteen hours, I devoured Into the Light. It was nerve wracking. I found myself holding my breath and stopping everything I was doing to hear each word. Whether you read or listen to this tale, I can promise you one heck of a ride. Each carefully crafted thread unravels flawlessly as it promises the reader thrills, chills and complicated emotions. You will scream in protest at the outlandish practices of the cult even as you become caught up in the romance between Sara and Jacob. Twisted, dark and completely addictive I cannot wait to listen to Away from the Dark.

36 of 45 people found this review helpful

Pedestrian storytelling, downright awful narration

The concept sounded fascinating and I SO wanted to like this book. So much so that I pushed through to the very end, to the last twist that made no sense whatsoever. I wish I hadn't wasted my time. The story was either predictable or nonsensical at every turn. The narration for Sara's character was horrible. The narrator sounded like she was doing a baby voice the whole time... Which made sex Scenes beyond uncomfortable- downright pedophilic.
Skip this.

21 of 27 people found this review helpful

Beware! 50 Shades?

What disappointed you about Into the Light?

I have not finished the book and will send it back, I have endured it to Chapter 16 and it seems to be developing into a 50 Shades scenario, where the abused woman is bonding to her abuser. ( I have not read 50 Shades but have heard more than I wanted to about it.) I expected a thriller type book but this is not at all shaping up to be the type of book I enjoy.

Has Into the Light put you off other books in this genre?

Absolutely .... sexual perversion is not my thing ....

Would you be willing to try another one of the narrators’s performances?

I expect the narrators would do better with better material.

What character would you cut from Into the Light?

N/A

Any additional comments?

It is possible that the series of 3 books improves and does not develop into a story where sexual abuse is ok if you are 'in lurve' but it bears those hallmarks at this stage and I am not willing to subject myself to any more of this awful book.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful