I enjoyed the story in this book, but had issues with the writing and characters. The author had this way of over describing things like clothing and food that I found unnecessary. I like those kind of details when they reflect on the related characters or events, but in this case it didnt feel like that was happening. There were also a lot of repeated scenes between characters and in the protagonists own thoughts that I didnt think were successful.

And speaking of the protagonist... I didnt understand what was happening with her half the time! She comes across as very street smart and self directed one moment, and then is totally clueless the next. I spent a lot of the book mentally screaming "red flag!" for the way people were acting towards her. She also had a lot of emotional ups and downs that I dont think were fully processed within the story. Some of it could have been explained by giving her some self awareness about how trauma and abuse work, but without that her sudden shifts in her affection and goals just seem strange. I did enjoy her connections to the supernatural, and her relationships with her friends.

I mostly gave this book 3 stars because despite my issues with it the story did draw me in. I was interested in both the plot and the world presented, but I dont think it is something I would buy or be take the time to reread. ( )

Sixteen year-old orphan Jane recieves a full scholarship to a private boarding school. Upon learning the school's secret, Jane is forced to examine for the first time who she really is and what it is she wants.

Jane is the strongest part of Dark Companion, and Acosta deserves credit not only for creating a real character, but also for her character's consistency. Jane is smart enough to have won a full scholarship, and Acosta rarely does her the indignity of forgetting that. On the level of writing, Acosta can certainly put a sentence togther, and Dark Companion is brimming with beautiful, compelling imagery; "I'd pressed down my fury until it metamorphosed, as soft messy carbon does, into a diamond so hard it can through steel and with such clarity that I could use it as a lens to see the world as it truly was, cruel and capricious."

While this quote shows Acosta's talent with imagery, it also reveals one of her weaknesses - her tendency to have Jane summarize her feelings and state them almost as if addressing the reader directly. Additionally, the supernatural elements of the plot are never fully resolved or addressed to the point where one questions certain inclusions. But these are minor flaws, and rarely do they distract from enjoyment of the book.

Dark Companion is a modern Gothic novel with a compelling main character and strong writing. Worth of read both for genre fans and non.
( )

4.5/5
Simply put, Dark Companion is an enchanting Gothic read, deliciously reminiscent of Jane Eyre.

There is this young orphan girl, who is given a magic ticket out of a hellhole she is living in to go to a posh privileged all-girl school. She is damaged, desperately in need of being loved and has a very cynical view of life.

It's marvellous to see Jane growing as a character throughout of the book. She meets someone who we, readers, think will be perfect for her, - Jack. Charming, kind, full of wit and eccentricity, talented musician with a strong moral code of what's right or wrong...

...and instead she falls for a totally selfish, childish, needy jerk slash golden boy of Birch Grove - moody, mercurial, slightly cruel and weak Lucky. Why? Because he needs her, and poor unstable, angry, vulnerable Jane falls into a trap of every abusive relationship that ever happened. She equals selfish need to love.

Marta Acosta manages to show this sense of wrongness really well, and I was struggling through most of the plot with Jane's choices, but still I could understand why she was making them.

*SPOILER ALERT*

When at some point Jane runs away from the Academy, and we see the stark reality of the streets she comes back to, the similarities with Bronte's work ends, because Jane comes back on her own terms, and stronger for it. This is the breaking point of her change. Everything after that makes her see her situation as it is. She is being used and abused and it's up to her to make the right choices.

Secondary characters in Dark Companion are to die for. Mary Violet very much reminded me of Nancy, - another character from Marta's adult series.

Grandmere calls me Marie-Violette and she‘s always asking me about my beaux, which is French for sleazebags with trust funds.

She is full of spark and incredible wit, crazily funny and writes poems about everyone. Most of the girls in Birch Grove are fantastic characters, and the banter between them and Jane is fabulous to read.

Jack is an absolute cutester, and my heart was with him from the very beginning. The book itself is spooky and full of dark undertones reminiscent of Morganville Vampires and Incubus by Carol Goodman.

Also, Ian Ducharme makes a cameo appearance. SQUEEEEE! I love him. If you haven't read Marta's hilarious Casa Dracula series, you MUST. He is gorgeous, insightful charmer with a dangerous reputation of an executioner among the vampires, and his nickname is Dark Lord *snorts*

Overall, Dark Companion is a complex and beautiful read full of shades of gray and uneasy moral choices, charming and haunting. ( )

I absolutely, positively could not get into this book. One hundred pages in and I am still hoping to identify with one character. Just one. Nope. Too many good books to read, not enough time to waste on a book I am not enjoying. ( )

Deciding whether or not to write a review for this one :)