Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "the-darkness"

The Darkness Within Ourselves by Jessica Huntley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A gripping psychological thriller that examines the legacy of childhood friendship and the burden of guilt.

For two decades, Amber has been haunted by the Creature in her dreams and waking moments, living in a state of constant anxiety.

When one of her old school friends pays her a visit, Amber realises she is not alone - all her old friends have been suffering since the fateful day their relationship was severed.

They have all been hiding a dark secret, one that has continued to haunt them and is now resurfacing. Perhaps their only chance at peace is for the past to be finally dug up for all to see.

'The Darkness Within Ourselves' is the debut novel by Jessica Huntley and the first in 'The Darkness Trilogy'. Part psychological thriller, part supernatural horror, set in the rural town of Cherry Hollow, the narrative follows four friends between the present day and their memories of a tragedy that happened on the cusp of their teenage years. An intense, emotional and fast-paced thriller, it's both riveting entertainment and a thought-provoking exploration of its core themes of mental health and friendship, packed with creepy moments, suspense, and even a sprinkling of romance.

The Darkness itself may be its own entity, or several entities, portrayed as a personification of the mental health issues suffered by the characters; each of them has their own name for it. Guilt, grief, anxiety, depression, PTSD - all these manifest as a dark and terrifying presence in their lives and we witness how trauma has consumed and imprisoned each of them. Viewed through the lens of supernatural horror, the subject of mental illness is handled with delicacy, this vital theme approached in a way that can be accessible for those who perhaps struggle to understand the experiences or alternatively may be triggered by a more direct, clinical approach.

There are vibes of certain Stephen King stories - such at 'IT' and 'Stand By Me' ('The Body') - brought into a UK setting, centred around the history of the relationship between these four characters, haunted by the circumstances that shattered it. It’s a tale about friendship, evoking a feeling of nostalgia for the simpler time of childhood, which also perfectly juxtaposes with the horror and thriller elements. While it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, the story ends with the suggestion we may have not yet scratched the surface of the mystery surrounding the Darkness, omnipresent in the shadows of the mind.

The story continues in the sequel, 'The Darkness That Binds Us', to be soon followed by the last in the series, 'The Darkness That Came Before'. I'm eagerly anticipating diving into both and making a return to Cherry Hollow.



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