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Darker: Fifty Shades Darker as Told by Christian (Fifty Shades of Grey Series) Audio CD – Unabridged, December 19, 2017
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Look for E L James’ passionate new love story, The Mister, available now.
Their scorching, sensual affair ended in heartbreak and recrimination, but Christian Grey cannot get Anastasia Steele out of his mind, or his blood. Determined to win her back, he tries to suppress his darkest desires and his need for complete control, and to love Ana on her own terms.
But the horrors of his childhood still haunt him, and Ana’s scheming boss, Jack Hyde, clearly wants her for himself. Can Christian’s confidant and therapist, Dr. Flynn, help him face down his demons? Or will the possessiveness of Elena, his seducer, and the deranged devotion of Leila, his former submissive, drag Christian down into the past?
And if Christian does win Ana back, can a man so dark and damaged ever hope to keep her?
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRandom House Audio
- Publication dateDecember 19, 2017
- Dimensions5 x 1.7 x 5.8 inches
- ISBN-100525634622
- ISBN-13978-0525634621
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About the Author
E L James has been recognized as one of Time magazine's "Most Influential People in the World” and Publishers Weekly’s "Person of the Year.” Fifty Shades of Greystayed on The New York Times Best Seller List for 133 consecutive weeks. Fifty Shades Freed won the Goodreads Choice Award (2012), and Fifty Shades of Greywas selected as one of the 100 Great Reads, as voted by readers, in PBS’s The Great American Read (2018). Darker has been long-listed for the 2019 International DUBLIN Literary Award.
She coproduced for Universal Studios the Fifty Shades movies, which made more than a billion dollars at the box office. The third installment, Fifty Shades Freed,won the People’s Choice Award for Drama in 2018.
E L James is blessed with two wonderful sons and lives with her husband, the novelist and screenwriter Niall Leonard, and their West Highland terriers in the leafy suburbs of West London.
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Product details
- Publisher : Random House Audio; Unabridged edition (December 19, 2017)
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 0525634622
- ISBN-13 : 978-0525634621
- Item Weight : 0.01 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 1.7 x 5.8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,999,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #12,283 in Romantic Erotica (Books)
- #43,121 in Contemporary Women Fiction
- #156,941 in Contemporary Romance (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

E L James is an incurable romantic and a self-confessed fangirl. After twenty-five years of working in television, she decided to pursue a childhood dream and write stories that readers could take to their hearts. The result was the controversial and sensuous romance Fifty Shades of Grey and its two sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. In 2015, she published the #1 bestseller Grey, the story of Fifty Shades of Grey from the perspective of Christian Grey, and in 2017, the chart-topping Darker, the second part of the Fifty Shades story from Christian’s point of view. Her books have been published in fifty languages and have sold more than 165 million copies worldwide.
E L James has been recognised as one of Time magazine's ‘Most Influential People in the World’ and Publishers Weekly’s ‘Person of the Year’. Fifty Shades of Grey stayed on The New York Times Best Seller List for 133 consecutive weeks. Fifty Shades Freed won the Goodreads Choice Award (2012), and Fifty Shades of Grey was selected as one of the 100 Great Reads, as voted by readers, in PBS’s The Great American Read (2018). Darker has been long-listed for the 2019 International DUBLIN Literary Award.
She co-produced for Universal Studios the Fifty Shades movies, which made more than a billion dollars at the box office. The third instalment, Fifty Shades Freed, won the People’s Choice Award for Drama in 2018.
E L James is blessed with two wonderful sons and lives with her husband, the novelist and screenwriter Niall Leonard, and their West Highland terriers in the leafy suburbs of West London.
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ABOUT THE FIFTY SHADES AS TOLD BY CHRISTIAN SERIES:
Everyone is familiar with the Fifty Shades of Grey series. That is Anastasia Steele’s story. This is the second book in the series that tells the Fifty Shades of Grey story from the male point of view: this is Christian Grey’s story. Whether you have read the first series makes no difference here. It is essentially the same story, but here the reader gets to discover more about Christian, who is a far more fascinating character than Anastasia. Her story is captivating – makes no mistake – but hers is more of a dark coming of age story. Unlike Anastasia, Christian has a past – one that is out of the ordinary in almost every respect. He has demons. Combined with the power he has amassed, that makes him dangerous, especially to someone like Anastasia. Anastasia’s story has her finding her own power and her own voice when she finds herself swept into a whirlwind relationship with a dark and powerful man. Christian’s story obviously goes further to shed light on what he is feeling throughout Anastasia’s story, and it doesn’t disappoint. Christian is a broken and misunderstood man who believes himself both incapable and undeserving of love until an unassuming college senior stumbles into his office and has him rethinking all the rules in his well-ordered world.
Notably for fans, this book does not begin in the same place as Anastasia’s story in Fifty Shades Darker, her second book. The first book in her series ends Saturday, June 4. It has a devastating cliffhanger. The first book in Christian’s series, however, closes on the morning of Jose Rodriguez’s gallery opening – Thursday, June 9. By this time everyone knows Christian and Anastasia’s story doesn’t end on June 4. Fans also know that Christian undergoes a lot of soul searching between the first and second books in the Fifty Shades of Grey series. Finally getting to read Christian’s point of view and what he experienced when those elevator doors closed as well as the five subsequent days makes the first book in Christian’s series an essential read for fans.
Christian’s character is broken and compelling, and his story is well worth reading even if you already know Anastasia’s. This book picks up after some dark and lonely days for Christian. Anastasia walking out on him changed his life. It forced him to begin a process of earnestly confronting his demons and considering the possibility that he might be capable of a real relationship outside of the dom/sub contractual arrangements that have defined his interactions with women to date. His connection with Anastasia compelled him to begin the process of making the changes needed to enable him to have more with her. Here, he begins in earnest to win back her affections. He still has a lot to learn, however, as he works through the kinks (no pun intended).
Yes, this is a steamy story. Christian and Anastasia have incredible chemistry and those scenes burn up the pages. Christian is certainly well-educated in the playroom, and though they try out something more vanilla here, Anastasia is a willing student. Those scenes serve to bring the couple closer, and due to their dark nature, they serve to promote trust and deepen intimacy. That carries over into the rest of the story. And there really is a story here, despite the hype. The characters are complex and real, even if the story itself is a fantasy. Christian is a young billionaire and leads a life most could never attain. In that respect their story is a modern version of the classic fairy tales, such as a modern Cinderella story – or perhaps Beauty and the Beast would be more appropriate. But even if it were scaled down and Christian’s success moderated, the dynamics between him and Anastasia would still make for a great story.
FROM GREY: FIFTY SHADES AS TOLD BY CHRISTIAN
The first book in this series takes place between May 9, 2011 and June 9, 2011.
Christian Grey, twenty-seven, has a lot of rules. Rules keep his world safe and afford him the control he craves. He is CEO of Grey Enterprises Holding, Inc., the Seattle-based company he started after graduating from Harvard. He devotes himself to his work, and it has paid off well. He owes it to his discipline and drive – and that he owes to Elena. Without her he probably would have ended up like his mother – a druggie who overdosed when he was just four. He has horrible memories of those days, and the nightmares still haunt him. He barely spoke for a long time afterward, even after being adopted by his parents, Carrick and Grace. Despite all the support of his parents, Christian struggled with anger as a child. He was heading down an ugly road until Elena entered his life at age fifteen.
Elena introduced Christian to the BDSM lifestyle. Following her rules helped him channel his anger and gave him the ability to focus on goals. He stayed with her five years before spreading his wings. He works long hours and doesn’t have much down time, but in addition to flying and boating, he enjoys unwinding with a sub in his playroom. It is a secret pleasure – and he intends to keep it that way. His family hasn’t a clue – he has never brought a girl home before; Elliot thinks he is a monk. Christian has since gone through many submissives over the years. He always enters into contractual agreements with the women so there are never any misunderstandings. It is the only kind of relationship he is capable of, and once the women want more from him he cuts ties. Susannah was his latest, and that ended about two months ago.
Christian is feeling restless and in need of a diversion when Miss Anastasia Steele stumbles into his office on an uneventful Monday. She is there to interview him for the WSU student newspaper, as he is giving the upcoming commence address. She is uncoordinated and lacks good fashion sense, and is someone he would normally dismiss, but something about her fascinates him. He finds humor where he would usually be irritated, and he sees possibility even though he knows he has no business pursuing her. Christian has never pursued a woman before – Elena has always helped him find a new sub. By the time Miss Steele bumbles through the interview, though, he is entirely lost to her unassuming beauty and klutzy charm.
As the couple tentatively moves forward, Christian hopes to establish boundaries and rules, bringing Anastasia into his world. She is open to trying new things but doesn’t hide the fact that she wants more. She wants a relationship. Christian knows he is holding back on her. She wants him to open up, but he only really shares with Dr. Flynn – and of course Elena. He has secrets that he cannot share with Anastasia because they would scare her away, and he is too selfish to let her go. This story ends in a cliffhanger, but it is one of hope.
IN THIS BOOK:
This book takes place between Jun 9.2011 and Jun 18, 2011.
Christian is more determined than ever to win Anastasia back. After speaking with Dr. Flynn and considerable self-reflection, he has a plan. He had hoped to win her over to his lifestyle, but that had been a colossal mistake. Ms. Steele, he learned, does not enjoy nor does she understand the mindset involved in severe punishments. Christian thought he needed that until she left, but now he will have her any way he can. He has discovered that he wants her more than he needs the safety of his playroom and the punishments he so enjoys administering. And most significantly, he wants more with her, too. He will do whatever it takes to keep her by his side.
Although Anastasia had been hurt by his actions, she had hurt him, too. Christian spent his entire life feeling lonely, but never really understood that until she left. Her love for him had become like a drug, and living without her again was not a choice for him. Yet he she had broken his trust when she failed to use her safe word, and Christian can no longer rely upon her to speak openly and honestly with him. He teeters nervously as he hedges every move, watching her reactions and praying she doesn’t suddenly run out on him again.
Yet even as he goes through the motions of winning her back and keeping her, Christian struggles with a lifetime of self-esteem issues. His childhood was horrendous, and its effects linger still. The nightmares and the self-loathing voice in his head are evidence of that. It also explains how he fell under Elena’s influence so easily, and why he continues to call her a friend. Christian knows he is a monster. He has secrets that he has not told Anastasia, but once she learns the truth he is convinced she will walk out of his life for good. He just wants to postpone that day for as long as possible. He is desperate to hold on until that awful day comes.
The couple works on building a vanilla relationship, but that is easier said than done. Christian remains a man that craves control in his life, and learning to let go is difficult for him. Anastasia is challenging, yet he enjoys the challenge (when he isn’t angry). But even as they begin to find happiness again, there are obstacles that threaten the couple. Leila Reed, his former sub, remains on the loose after her attempted suicide in his home. In her current state, Christian cannot be certain that she won’t cause further harm to herself or others – including Ana. And letting Anastasia go to work at her new job is hard enough for Christian to stomach, control freak that he is, but learning that her boss at SIP has a history of going through assistants is troubling. Christian has his eye the editor, but Jack Hyde doesn’t seem easily intimidated. Elena, too, seems insistent on making herself relevant at a most inconvenient time given Anastasia’s animosity towards her. Christian and Anastasia’s confusing relationship is thus further complicated, pushing them into situations they aren’t prepared to face just as they go public. Their relationship is put to the test over a very short period of time. This book has a happy for now ending, but there are still some rather unsettling questions that remain to be answered.
Christian’s story is dark, but it humanizes his brokenness. It is different than Anastasia’s story in that it takes the reader into his world, showing several of his nightmares and flashes of memory. Some of those reflect back on his childhood in Detroit, before he was adopted. Some are reflections of his childhood with the Greys, and there is a little with Elena and his submissives, too. There are also some scenes about his business dealings, giving a look at the confident and put-together man that has achieved so much success professionally. That view of him stands in stark contrast to the unsure man who fears opening himself up and becoming vulnerable. There are some fabulous scenes with Dr. John Flynn that shed more light on Christian’s inner fears, contrasting them with Flynn’s sound encouragement. Fans may be just a little surprised by some of Christian’s conversations with his mother. Getting a glimpse further into his family is worthwhile. The biggest bonus found in Christian’s story is simply getting to know his character intimately. In Anastasia’s story, it takes time to unravel his tragic past and the abuse he suffered. Here, readers get to see how he reflects back on those times and how it impacts his life. There are several things that he kept from Anastasia, and in reading this it explains a lot of his behavior and decisions.
This book is a deep and emotional read as Christian’s character really begins to come to life. He asks for faith and patience as he tries things Anastasia’s way. Christian Grey has become a household name. He represents the quintessential broken and reclusive billionaire who is incapable of a standard relationship or love. He lives a very private life – which had been necessary to keep his BDSM lifestyle under wraps. Christian may be dictatorial and brash, but this tells the story of a boy and teen who suffered from abuse and grew into a man whose self worth had been beaten down. His anger never left him; he just channels it into his work and his rules. He hides his vulnerability from the world, too afraid to open himself up to more pain. His story is wonderfully written. The plot is somewhat complex. The characters are carefully crafted and three dimensional. They feel very real. The story is written in first person in Christian’s POV. I rate this book five full stars.
As Darker mimics Fifty Shades Darker, we find out just how desperate he was to get his Ana back and what he would do to keep her by his side. His emotions flow off the pages as he lets us see the innerworkings of his mind and his heart. He loved her, even though the words stuck in his throat. He supported her even though it looked like he was dominating her. He was proud of her even though he didn’t know how to tell her. He was the happiest he ever was in his life and didn’t know how to show that emotion without sounding sappy. But, when he finally opens up, as his past comes back to haunt him and Ana doesn’t run, he knows, without a doubt, that she needs to be standing by his side for the rest of his life. Now, it’s time to put his past behind him and build to the future.
We know Anastasia’s story … where it goes, how it ends. Now, we are seeing the other side of the story. We had Ana’s angst as she tried to figure out if she was enough for him, if she could please him and now, there’s Christian and him trying to convince her the vanilla life is enough for him for the rest of his life.
While I am reading, I usually have music playing in the background. The story carries me into another world and the music relaxes me. Normally I’ll have a country music station on and it was no different while I was reading Darker. Then, in the middle of the story a song came on that was Christian through and through. Not sure if Sam Hunt had Christian in mind when he wrote it or if William Michael Morgan knew that his song would remind me of how Christian felt … but … Ms. Steele, this one is for you, I MET A GIRL. Head over to your favorite music seller to listen to William Michael Morgan's "I Met A Girl."
I hope you enjoy listening to I Met A Girl. To me, it epitomizes Christian’s feelings for Ana, even though he has such a hard time telling her or convincing her that he’s willing to live a “Vanilla” life with her – she tames the beast without the cane or whip. But, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that Darker was E.L. James’ best work yet. The story flowed off the pages and you could feel what Christian was feeling … Darker is so well written, precise and emotional. I tried, so very hard, to parallel this story to Twilight – I can’t! The Fifty Shades Saga stands on its own with characters that are totally different (except for Ana biting her lip) and way more complex than Edward and Bella. I am so happy that I am being given the honor to review this exceptional story and I am really looking forward to Christian’s thoughts and feelings in Freed.
Top reviews from other countries

GRRRRR!! STILL WAITING!!!!!!!!!!!! still no news on E L JAMES writing 'FREED' ' from Christians point of view!!!! (READ ABOVE) At least E L JAMES wont have to repeat the contract word for word in FREED. (a mistake last time, I think.) We need 'FREED' FROM CHRISTIANS POINT OF VIEW to complete our collection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please don't disappoint your fans, COME ON E L JAMES....GET WRITING...... PLEASE!

In Darker we continue to follow the events from Christian’s point of view but we also get flashbacks to relevant memories, all of which - I think - helps us to understand him better. We get to see a softer more naïve side to him. His therapist says that he’s finally going through his adolescence and we get to live it right along with him, which means we get to see him grow as a person. Being able to see his reasoning, see him growing, we get to understand and connect with him better. So much so that you actually start to feel sorry for him; which I wasn’t expecting as I didn’t feel that way in the original telling. I also found several scenes had a greater impact when seeing them through Christian’s eyes, probably because they were pivotal moments for the character and were not being merely observed by an outsider. So rather than just seeing the connection Leila and Christian had we get to feel and experience it, making Ana’s reaction to it all the more understandable if you ask me. The family reunion after the helicopter crash is another scene that was significantly improved in Christian’s telling. It finally seems to sink in for him that his family love him and that’s a really sweet moment. A breakthrough moment even. I also thoroughly enjoyed watching his relationship with his mother strengthen through their interactions, even if she wasn’t always happy with him.
So what are you waiting for? Go read it and enjoy.


I loved how we get to see into his mind, how he’s feeling about being thrown into the unknown. It was a pleasure to read and I found myself laughing at him in places.
I’m also very glad we got to hear, properly, what happened with Charlie Tango. It was terrifying to read the ordeal but I felt such elation at the end of that scene; though I already knew what happened.
I feel these books written in Christian’s POV is MUCH better written then the original Fifty shades trilogy. It was more gripping. I feel the author has learned a lot since writing them and has improved immensely.
Another superb read!
