I really didn’t know whether or not I was going to like In Darkness. It’s not what I would usually pick up, but it still peaked my interest when I heard about it. Combining a recent devastating earthquake with a war of the past, In Darkness is a unique book which deals with some heavy topics, yet can still be considered a light read by some.

In Darkness was definitely an eye opener for me. I had no idea how tarnished the country of Haiti was—and is. It’s truly terrible how the people living there have to go about their lives, and I am so thankful that In Darkness allowed me to learn how bad it is for them. I also loved how there was history blended in. It’s like a historical fiction novel mixed with a contemporary!

Nick Lake is an acclaimed author, and I am sure that this book will catch the attention of all the bigwigs out there. I can see “Award-Winning” written all over In Darkness. Lake has a unique writing style, especially when it comes to dialog, but I never found myself lost while reading In Darkness.

In Darkness switches between the perspectives of Shorty, a gangster whose live before the recent earthquake is told, and Toussaint L’Ouverture, the slave who led Haiti’s slaves to freedom in the 1700s. I liked Shorty’s story more, it just caught my interest more than Toussaint’s, but I still enjoyed reading about the important part of history that Toussaint influenced heavily.

In Darkness is an eye-opening novel that is sure to make some waves. I am very thankful to have read it, and am definitely excited to see where this novel goes. It wasn’t necessarily a favorite of mine, but I do think In Darkness is a book almost everyone should read.