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Dark

A Choice of Light and Dark, Book 3

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Dark

By: Lacey Lehotzky
Narrated by: Daphne Fields, Gideon Frost
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***** THIS SYNOPSIS CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR CHAINED AND LIGHT. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ/LISTENED TO CHAINED OR LIGHT, START WITH CHAINED.*******

After a lifetime in chains, Izidora longs to have the freedom to choose her own fate. But as a long-forgotten prophecy resurfaces, she begins to doubt whether she ever wanted a choice at all. The prophecy offers her a stark directive: follow the light or descend into dark. Yet both males appear as shades of gray.

Ruslan is protective, complex, and would kill anyone who dared hurt her.

Kazimir is obsessive, relentless and would burn the world down to get to her. Torn between what her heart desires and the fear of making a catastrophic mistake, Izidora struggles to cope with her overwhelming emotions. Though she is far from the chains of her past, she realizes that true healing requires confronting the lingering shadows of her trauma.

Because only she can decide which choice to make. One will doom the world, while the other will save it.

Dark is the third book in the bestselling dark romantasy series, A Choice of Light and Dark. This multi POV series with a cast of morally grey characters, fated mates, and MMCs with touch her and die energy is perfect for fans of Gild (The Plated Prisoner Series), To Bleed a Crystal Bloom, and Throne of Glass. While Dark is suitable for 18+, it is not a beginner-friendly dark fantasy romance. It contains scenes and themes that some listeners might find disturbing. A full list of TWs can be found on the author's website.

©2024 The Lehotzky Group LLC (P)2025 The Lehotzky Group LLC Fantasy Destiny
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Freed Audiobook By Lacey Lehotzky cover art
Freed By: Lacey Lehotzky
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The push and pull between the three main characters in this love triangle keeps you on the edge of your seat! Especially when you get to chapter 17! That's when you go, 'really, both?'
Also, he's a 10 and binds the 13 men who kept her captive in a cave, repeatedly whipping and forcing themselves on her for for almost 21 years!
But then you get to the cliffy and your like, 'um....excuse me? 🙋🏼‍♀️ I have a question! No, he did not just do that to her? Wtf?'
5🌟
5🌶️

He's a 10 and...

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This series is definitely ramping up in the 3rd book. The plot, the twists, the turns, THE SPICE.
I'm clutching my pearls. 🥵
Also, the absolute talent of the narrators makes each book all the better. Excuse me while I binge the next book that was so generously made available on audiobook so quickly after this one 🥹

wheeeeeww lawddd

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Two broken kings, one bleeding heroine, and a prophecy that finally bares its teeth 🩸🔥

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ (3/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 Duet-style
Series: A Choice of Light and Dark, Book 3
HEA: No, cliffhanger ending

Dark is where this series stops pretending it’s just moody romantasy and finally commits to being emotionally brutal. Trauma, obsession, political tension, and power collide in a way that feels heavier, sharper, and far more volatile than the previous books. This is also the point where you can clearly feel the author leveling up. The writing is tighter, the emotional arcs cut deeper, and the moral grayness is no longer a vibe. It is the backbone of the story.

Where Light questioned devotion, Dark rips the illusion apart. Love becomes possession. Protection turns into control. And Izidora’s trauma is no longer something happening to her in the background. It drives the story, fractures relationships, and forces every character to show their worst instincts.

The Story

Izidora stands between two realms, two mates, and two versions of the future, all while her mental health unravels under the weight of prophecy and expectation. Healing is no longer a soft, hopeful arc. It is messy, uncomfortable, and painfully slow. The choice she thought would bring clarity only pushes her deeper into emotional freefall.

Ruslan, now king of the Iron Realm, fights to balance ruthless power with the damage he has already done to the woman he loves. His restraint is fragile. His control is thinner. And his mistakes are finally catching up with him.

Kazimir, fueled by obsession and wounded pride, arrives ready to reclaim what he still considers his. His devotion crosses the line into entitlement, and the tension between the realms escalates toward open conflict.

This is no longer a love triangle.
It is a battlefield.

What I Loved

✔️ Strong character development across multiple POVs
✔️ The darker, more mature emotional tone
✔️ Feminine rage handled with raw intensity
✔️ Escalating political tension that actually feels dangerous
✔️ The sense that the world is finally unraveling in meaningful ways

🎧 Narration

Narrated by Daphne Fields and Gideon Frost, both deliver confident, immersive performances. Their voices support the emotional volatility of the story well, giving weight to Izidora’s inner turmoil and the increasingly fractured mental states of both men.

Tropes & Vibes

✔️ Fated Mates
✔️ Morally Gray Characters
✔️ Revenge Arcs
✔️ Touch-Her-and-Die
✔️ Feminine Rage
✔️ Prophecy
✔️ Political Intrigue
✔️ Cliffhanger Ending

Final Thoughts

Dark is emotionally punishing in the best and worst ways. It deepens every theme the series has been building toward and finally lets the characters bleed for their choices. The writing is stronger, the stakes are higher, and the moral lines are almost completely erased.

And that ending?
Devastating. Infuriating. Brilliant.

Two broken kings, one bleeding heroine

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I loved the twists and turns. I also hated the twists and turns. I devoured this series. I purchased each before I finished the last. Book one: I felt sorry for the main character. Book two: I was angry with her. Book three: I was raging and while listening to the audio book I would literally argue with her choices out loud while cleaning or doing dishes. It’s been days since I finished the series and I’m still debating this one in my head. I’m angry that I have no one to discuss this one with. Lmao! What keeps hanging me up is that the “villain”s trauma is never addressed. The fact that he took the path he did and was created to be who he wound up being was never addressed. I can’t even talk about it in the review without spoiling the twist! Ugh! I’m being very vague on purpose to prevent spoilers. But, the way that book two ended… damn! Book three should have at least addressed the trauma he endured and why it ruined him! That said… This is exactly why this is probably the best series I’ve read in a long time. It’s been years since a book has stayed with me well after I’ve finished it! It was worth every penny I paid for the audio book versions. The narration was great work, the series kept me hanging on through the entire ride. And I was wholly unprepared for the ending even when I thought I knew what was coming.

I NEED a book club to talk to about this series!

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