To be honest I loved the first book much better . The second one gives a good ending to the story (and thank you Paige for not torturing us with third book) I have to admit that I would off taking it to a completely different direction .
Although good it was a bit repetitive and the characters showd kind of childish behavior which I hated , but the suspense and feeling of hopelessness were realistic and captivating . All in all good read !

*May contain spoilers if you haven't read Promise Me Darkness*

Promise Me Darkness, the first book in the Promise Me series, blew. me. away. (Review Here) So Promise Me Light had a lot to live up to in my eyes. Fortunately it turned out to be a fabulous sequel! I love these characters so much I couldn't help but want more!

The world as Maddie and Ryder knew it is in shambles. Their country has been invaded, people are being killed and imprisoned, luxuries like power and running water is a thing of the past, and they struggle every day just to have enough food in their bellies. At the end of Promise Me Light we learned that Ryder had been captured. Promise Me Darkness begins from there. Maddie is distraught over Ryder's disappearance, desperate to rescue him, never losing hope, but also suffering from the affects of her pregnancy. A pregnancy that no one else knows about. With Ryder gone and Maddie's best friend returned yet not the same, their small group seems to be falling apart. But even if Ryder returns, will they be able to survive the world they now live in? With a baby on the way, Maddie now has more riding on their survival then ever before.

Promise Me Darkness is a dark, intense, complex, and gut-wrenching story showcasing the devastating effects of a war-torn country but also the love that can survive all that darkness. And what Maddie and Ryder share is a deep and passionate kind of love. Their love keeps them grounded and fighting, never giving up, and always determined to stay by each other's side. That's not to say though that they don't have their problems. Especially when Ryder returns to the group. He suffered unimaginable horrors while in captivity and returns a different man. He will do anything to keep Maddie safe though, even if that means keeping her away from him. Ryder and Maddie's journey is frustrating and sad at times, and I wanted to give them each a good shake every few pages. Throughout the book I had a love hate relationship with Ryder but through it all Maddie remained strong. She rarely complained or let her circumstances stand in the way of what she wanted. The secondary cast of characters is another amazing addition to the story arc that adds many more layers to captivate you as a reader.

By the time I reached the end of the book I wanted to slow down and savor those last few pages because I didn't want their story to end. The epilogue was beautiful and I really hope that the author decides to revisit this world in the future, and this is not the end for this dynamic group of characters. The Promise Me series is a definite recommended read. And don't let the war time setting scare you off, this is truly a love story!

PROMISE ME LIGHT continues the story of a United States torn apart after a terrorist group sets off an EMP that disables the entire country. Ryder has been captured and we find Maddie, Ryder's family and their friends struggling to live each day. But more importantly, a pregnant Maddie struggles to hold onto her hope that Ryder will come back to her...despite what everyone else might think. She's determined to be strong and make Ryder proud while helping her family stay alive. But poor Maddie had her moments of weakness, where she secretly lost hope and longed for the days before the EMP went off. Add to the mix the fact that her best friend, who was rescued when Ryder was captured, is having difficulties dealing with what she endured during captivity, Ryder's brother running hot and cold with her and her own insecurities about whether Ryder is truly coming back to her, you get a very gritty, dark and emotional story.

But Ryder keeps his promise to Maddie and finds his way back to her. But the Ryder that returns is a much different Ryder than who left. He's endured unspeakable things and he's both physically and emotionally scarred. While his love for Maddie is clear, he has a hard time dealing with his injuries, his emotional state and his feelings for Maddie. Ryder lashes out and pushes people away as he tries to come to terms with everything and keep them safe. But even with all that, he always stayed faithful in his belief that his family can make it through this and his love for Maddie.

I loved this story. The relationship between Maddie and Ryder was as complex, frustrating and hotter than in Promise Me Dark. It's a testament to their character and love for each other that they were able to work through the issues they had and remain together. Paige Weaver masterfully created a story that brings a plausible and terrifying possibility into a gritty romance of the bad boy loving the girl next door like no one else could. She is now one of my must watch authors.

4.5 Stars

Maddie is away from home attending college with her friend Eva. Her best friend Ryder comes to visit them right before they head home for break with the shocking news that he is enlisting. Maddie is destroyed and begs him not to go. Despite Ryder's womanizing ways, she loves him and sees the real man under the bad boy persona that he shows the rest of the world.
But then the world is turned to chaos. War and everything that goes along with it breaks out across the country. Maddie, Ryder and friends escape the city and head home where they know Ryder's dad is fully prepared and capable to handle what's to come. However, the journey home will not be an easy one. Desperate people are capable of anything and being without power, food or water has the tendency to turn normal people into animals, and criminals into monsters.
Once they finally reach home though, their journey is far from over...it is just beginning....

Wow, Promise Me Darkness was a fantastic read that I couldn't put down! I was surprised that this was from a debut author, bravo! The editing was a little off, the over abundance of hyphenated words stalled the flow a bit. But overall, I absolutely loved this story and I cannot wait for the next book!
Full of tragedy and heart break, love and passion, your heart will be pulled from all different directions in Promise Me Darkness! I loved the relationship between Maddie and Ryder, it was full of all those confused emotions that young adults (18-22 or so) seem to experience. With plenty of conflict and angst weaved into the romance. I would have liked Ryder's character to be a little more developed because I never fully understood why he felt that he did not deserve Maddie, he seemed to come from a pretty good family without the normal 'New Adult' issues.
I was surprised again by the plot twist, it was something that I did not expect to like but worked really well and was well written too. There is a cliffhanger but it wasn't a bad one at all, just leaves you anticipating what will happen next.
The beginning of the story will seem pretty stereotypical romance to readers but stick with it, I promise that you will not be disappointed. Promise Me Darkness was a truly compelling story!

OMG. This was like the TV show Jericho. Had an awesome bad-ass hero in Ryder. My only complaint is the cliff-hanger ending. GAH! How could you leave us hanging like that???? September can't get here soon enough.