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Blackwell Magic #1
By Darkness Revealed
Ryan Blackwell thought to escape his magic by burying himself in the military college at Northshield, Vermont.
Instead, he finds himself in the midst of a deeper and more dangerous sorcery than he has ever encountered before.
Suddenly, only Ryan's wit, will, and the talent he once hoped to leave behind stand between a nightmarish creature and everything he cares for.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
When not practicing hobbies which include constructing medieval armor and swinging swords at his friends, Kevin McLaughlin can usually be found in his Vermont home with his wife and three children. Kevin's award-winning short fiction is now available in digital form at all major ebook retailers. His debut contemporary fantasy novel, "By Darkness Revealed", will be followed by the sequels "Ashes Ascendant" and "Dead in Winter".
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2011
About the author
Kevin O. McLaughlin
174 books148 followersWhen not practicing hobbies which include sailing, constructing medieval armor, and swinging swords at his friends, Kevin McLaughlin can usually be found in his Boston home. Kevin’s award-winning short fiction is now available in digital form at all major ebook retailers. He writes fantasy in settings both historical and contemporary, and science fiction in both the near and distant future.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 15, 2016
Surprisingly well developed Coming of Age Horror Novel “Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there.” ― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
“Child, child, do you not see? For each of us comes a time when we must be more than what we are.” ― Lloyd Alexander, The Black Cauldron
Recruit Ryan Blackwell’s father was determined that he not follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, and used his power and lawyerly clout to make sure it didn’t happen. No West Point. No Valley Forge or Citadel. Ryan would, come hell or high water, bend to his father’s will. But there wasn’t much he could do about it when Ryan was recruited to Northshield University – the same military college his grandfather attended – with a full scholarship. No, Ryan simply packed a small bag and boarded a bus.
At first, Northshield was everything he expected. Reveille at oh’ dark thirty each morning. Grueling PT, strict regulations, and screaming Drill Sergeant Upper Classmen with quick tempers and a tendency to make life on campus utterly miserable if they wished. Just what he expected, just what he wanted from his experience as an ROTC college student.
But then? Things got bad. It started simply at first. Magical motes, like tiny bits of fairy dust, dive bombing him as he ran through a creek, attempting to stay ahead off the pack of his fellow freshmen out for a grueling PT run. But then the motes attacked, and one of his fellow classmen went down. And as much as Recruit Blackwell wanted to hide who he was, and what he could do, he couldn’t let his fellow freshman drown. So, he stepped in.
His secret laid bare to two of the upperclassmen, the story begins to grow and evolve into something horrific. For something is trapped on the grounds of Northshield University. And when a twisted recruit pulls part of the darkness out of its prison below ground, people begin to die in horrific ways. And though Ryan is just a freshman with a bit of magic and no training, it seems he is the only one with any sort of knowledge that might trap the darkness back into its prison – and ascertain that the true monstrosity trapped so very long ago isn’t released upon the world.
In a lot of ways, this could have been just some YA story of a young man gaining amazing magical powers and riding in to save the day. Luckily, it turned out to be a much better book than that. Ryan knows he isn’t strong, he isn’t trained or knowledgeable. But he is ready to go all out, to give his own life if necessary, to stop what is happening. He has a good heart, a good soul, and a strong link to the strength his grandfather displayed in the Second World War. He isn’t cocky, he doesn’t suddenly gain super powers. He is just a college freshman with a bit of talent, a will to learn, and some quirky abilities he has had to learn to control in order to keep himself sane – and make sure others think he is as well. Of course, on a campus where weird things happen, and two or three students a year die under ‘unusual’ circumstances, there are those who watch out for anyone who appears who seems a bit odd, a bit like they are there for less than your bog standard military school reasons. So Ryan finds a friend or two. But when push comes to shove? Yeah. It’s all pretty much on him.
Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from By Darkness Revealed. I just felt like something a bit magic, a bit horror, and this is the first thing that popped up on my reader that fit the bill. I dove in, and from the first page I was hooked. I added it to my collection from a ‘Freebie’ email (it is Free on Amazon) – probably because I liked the cover, to tell the truth – I certainly wouldn’t have picked it up from reading that it was a “coming of age” book – that isn’t my thing normally. But it kept me riveted from page one, so I am very glad I did.
“Child, child, do you not see? For each of us comes a time when we must be more than what we are.” ― Lloyd Alexander, The Black Cauldron
Recruit Ryan Blackwell’s father was determined that he not follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, and used his power and lawyerly clout to make sure it didn’t happen. No West Point. No Valley Forge or Citadel. Ryan would, come hell or high water, bend to his father’s will. But there wasn’t much he could do about it when Ryan was recruited to Northshield University – the same military college his grandfather attended – with a full scholarship. No, Ryan simply packed a small bag and boarded a bus.
At first, Northshield was everything he expected. Reveille at oh’ dark thirty each morning. Grueling PT, strict regulations, and screaming Drill Sergeant Upper Classmen with quick tempers and a tendency to make life on campus utterly miserable if they wished. Just what he expected, just what he wanted from his experience as an ROTC college student.
But then? Things got bad. It started simply at first. Magical motes, like tiny bits of fairy dust, dive bombing him as he ran through a creek, attempting to stay ahead off the pack of his fellow freshmen out for a grueling PT run. But then the motes attacked, and one of his fellow classmen went down. And as much as Recruit Blackwell wanted to hide who he was, and what he could do, he couldn’t let his fellow freshman drown. So, he stepped in.
His secret laid bare to two of the upperclassmen, the story begins to grow and evolve into something horrific. For something is trapped on the grounds of Northshield University. And when a twisted recruit pulls part of the darkness out of its prison below ground, people begin to die in horrific ways. And though Ryan is just a freshman with a bit of magic and no training, it seems he is the only one with any sort of knowledge that might trap the darkness back into its prison – and ascertain that the true monstrosity trapped so very long ago isn’t released upon the world.
In a lot of ways, this could have been just some YA story of a young man gaining amazing magical powers and riding in to save the day. Luckily, it turned out to be a much better book than that. Ryan knows he isn’t strong, he isn’t trained or knowledgeable. But he is ready to go all out, to give his own life if necessary, to stop what is happening. He has a good heart, a good soul, and a strong link to the strength his grandfather displayed in the Second World War. He isn’t cocky, he doesn’t suddenly gain super powers. He is just a college freshman with a bit of talent, a will to learn, and some quirky abilities he has had to learn to control in order to keep himself sane – and make sure others think he is as well. Of course, on a campus where weird things happen, and two or three students a year die under ‘unusual’ circumstances, there are those who watch out for anyone who appears who seems a bit odd, a bit like they are there for less than your bog standard military school reasons. So Ryan finds a friend or two. But when push comes to shove? Yeah. It’s all pretty much on him.
Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from By Darkness Revealed. I just felt like something a bit magic, a bit horror, and this is the first thing that popped up on my reader that fit the bill. I dove in, and from the first page I was hooked. I added it to my collection from a ‘Freebie’ email (it is Free on Amazon) – probably because I liked the cover, to tell the truth – I certainly wouldn’t have picked it up from reading that it was a “coming of age” book – that isn’t my thing normally. But it kept me riveted from page one, so I am very glad I did.
September 16, 2015
I got this as a Kindle Freebie.
Was good writing for one of the freebies. I just couldn't get into it.
The characters were bland and didn't see any depth to them. At some points characters would seem like they didn't believe in that magic "stuff" yet they accepted it so easily.
Overall it was just not my cup of tea. Though it was a quick read and not boring. It just didn't pull me in.
Though I see some saying this is fantasy/urban fantasy, it felt more towards horror.
Was good writing for one of the freebies. I just couldn't get into it.
The characters were bland and didn't see any depth to them. At some points characters would seem like they didn't believe in that magic "stuff" yet they accepted it so easily.
Overall it was just not my cup of tea. Though it was a quick read and not boring. It just didn't pull me in.
Though I see some saying this is fantasy/urban fantasy, it felt more towards horror.
July 7, 2012
Loved this book. Cannot wait to read the sequel. My only question: What happened to kitty spirit...oh wait two questions...who is the gardener?
Don't know what I'm talking about? You'll just have to read to find out. :-D
Don't know what I'm talking about? You'll just have to read to find out. :-D
June 5, 2020
By Darkness Revealed (Blackwell Magic, #1) is a great middle school reader. The latter half of the book includes some uncommon vocabulary, and the premise on which the story is set will resound with middle and high school students. The story focuses on a new freshman recruit Ryan Blackwell,that has been given a full scholarship to the school based on his grandfathers contributions to the ROTC Academy. This suites Ryan just fine because his dad has black balled him from all of the other military institutions he has applied to. The story then goes on to sink into good and evil sprites, and Ryan reluctantly having to protect the academy as his abilities are call upon. At 186 pages it is a fun romp. I highly recommend this book not only to school age students, but to anyone that is looking for a short escape. It is very well written, the characters had more depth than expected, and the academy by the end started to feel like a home of friends.
**FULL DISCLOSURE** I received an ARC of, this story for review purposes. The author requested a review, but made no conditions for it. I am writing this review based solely on my enjoyment of this story in particular, and the author's writing overall.
**FULL DISCLOSURE** I received an ARC of, this story for review purposes. The author requested a review, but made no conditions for it. I am writing this review based solely on my enjoyment of this story in particular, and the author's writing overall.
May 27, 2020
A cadet with a difference.
A very good YA story about a young man who goes to a military college against the will of his father. There is a lot of contention there about his grandfather who was a military hero. Ryan Blackwell adored his grandfather and had problems with his father as a consequence. One thing that has always set Ryan
apart is his ability to see magic or the second sight. When he arrives at Northshield University he notices all the key lines. There is also an extremely strong nexus where all the key lines meet. It is so complex that he realises that it must have been constructed by one or more very strong magic users. Still, he hopes to have a quiet time there studying and being seen as just another cadet. Alas that’s not to be. This is a coming of age tale with a difference and shows a retiring young man finding an inner strength that he didn’t realise that he had.
To paraphrase:
Some are born great
Some achieve greatness
And some have greatness thrust upon them.
Somehow Ryan evokes them all.
A very good YA story about a young man who goes to a military college against the will of his father. There is a lot of contention there about his grandfather who was a military hero. Ryan Blackwell adored his grandfather and had problems with his father as a consequence. One thing that has always set Ryan
apart is his ability to see magic or the second sight. When he arrives at Northshield University he notices all the key lines. There is also an extremely strong nexus where all the key lines meet. It is so complex that he realises that it must have been constructed by one or more very strong magic users. Still, he hopes to have a quiet time there studying and being seen as just another cadet. Alas that’s not to be. This is a coming of age tale with a difference and shows a retiring young man finding an inner strength that he didn’t realise that he had.
To paraphrase:
Some are born great
Some achieve greatness
And some have greatness thrust upon them.
Somehow Ryan evokes them all.
March 23, 2017
Kindle Unlimited, his books are space opera to magical to sorta history to LitRPG, and pretty sure they are all available individually/through ku too. FYI, yes I do binge read writers, unless give them 1 or 2 stars and sometimes 3. Obviously not the case here. Look at amazon writer page. Want a rundown of plot? Look at blurb; want more, read reviews, actually just go to reading the books.
Adventures of the Starship Satori: Omnibus 1 (Books 1-3) Book 1: Ad Astra Book 2: Stellar Legacy Book 3: Deep Waters
(Starship Satori Omnibus) - Adventures of the Starship Satori: Omnibus 2 (Books 4-6) (Starship Satori Omnibus) 1 No Plan Survives Contact 2 Liberty 3 Satori’s Destiny
Blackwell Magic: Books 1-3 (Blackwell Magic Omnibus) Book One - 1 By Darkness Revealed 2 Ashes Ascendant 3 Dead In Winter
Blackwell Magic: Books 4-6 (Blackwell Magic Omnibus Book 2) - 4: Claws That Catch 5: Darkness Awakes 6: Spellbinding Entanglements
The Raven and the Rose: A Blackwell Magic Novella exclusive story not available retail stores set between “By Darkness Revealed” and “Ashes Ascendant”, offer in back of books of his
King of the Dead: Heroes, Swords, and Zombies - Queen of Demons: Heroes, Swords, and Zombies
Valhalla Online: A LitRPG Saga
Adventures of the Starship Satori: Omnibus 1 (Books 1-3) Book 1: Ad Astra Book 2: Stellar Legacy Book 3: Deep Waters
(Starship Satori Omnibus) - Adventures of the Starship Satori: Omnibus 2 (Books 4-6) (Starship Satori Omnibus) 1 No Plan Survives Contact 2 Liberty 3 Satori’s Destiny
Blackwell Magic: Books 1-3 (Blackwell Magic Omnibus) Book One - 1 By Darkness Revealed 2 Ashes Ascendant 3 Dead In Winter
Blackwell Magic: Books 4-6 (Blackwell Magic Omnibus Book 2) - 4: Claws That Catch 5: Darkness Awakes 6: Spellbinding Entanglements
The Raven and the Rose: A Blackwell Magic Novella exclusive story not available retail stores set between “By Darkness Revealed” and “Ashes Ascendant”, offer in back of books of his
King of the Dead: Heroes, Swords, and Zombies - Queen of Demons: Heroes, Swords, and Zombies
Valhalla Online: A LitRPG Saga
May 28, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
What is going on at the academy? Ryan Blackwell, a Freshman Cadet, has a special gift and can see more than the average person. While there are strange goings on at the school, most people are unaware of the supernatural components of the happenings and have no idea what is really happening. But Ryan does. He attempts to step in and find out. Even with his special gift he is unable to stop the dangerous situations and the deaths of fellow cadets. The more he investigates things, the more dangerous they become.
This was a spooky, fun read. If you love the supernatural you will definitely enjoy this book. The writing is well done, the characters are real and believable and the setting is perfect. Don’t miss this one.
What is going on at the academy? Ryan Blackwell, a Freshman Cadet, has a special gift and can see more than the average person. While there are strange goings on at the school, most people are unaware of the supernatural components of the happenings and have no idea what is really happening. But Ryan does. He attempts to step in and find out. Even with his special gift he is unable to stop the dangerous situations and the deaths of fellow cadets. The more he investigates things, the more dangerous they become.
This was a spooky, fun read. If you love the supernatural you will definitely enjoy this book. The writing is well done, the characters are real and believable and the setting is perfect. Don’t miss this one.
May 24, 2020
By Darkness Revealed, the 1st in the Blackwell Magic series, was better than I thought it would be. I've read Kevin McLaughlin books before and enjoyed every one. So here's the story about Ryan Blackwell, a youth with magical powers he did not want. He chose a college against his father's wishes just to show he wasn't interested in the magical world and to put a big distance between him and his father. Okay, I thought, this sounds more like a YA book, but I took a chance. I'm glad I did. This book was well written, exciting, and one that was hard to put down. Read this book, and the others to come. I think you'll like them as well as I have from book one.
January 21, 2024
Imagine a young Harry Dresden as a cadet at Garfield Military Academy (as per the movie `Hard Knox`. That gives you an idea of what is it like for Ryan Blackwell to be at Northshield Academy. He even has the same attraction for trouble as well as the same over-developed need to serve and protect. As far as I can tell, the only major different between Ryan Blackwell and young Harry Dresden is that Harry had someone to teach him magic. Ryan doesn`t do too badly for someone who is primarily self-taught, but I expect life is going to be really challenging for a while. I hope Ryan can handle everything coming his way!
August 4, 2021
Enjoyed very much...
...this military academy with magic story. What a surprise this was! I have read this author corraborating with Anderle and was reluctant to read his other works since the that series fell a bit short for me. However, the premise here intrigued me enough I decided why not read the first book? Glad I did! Im not a huge fan of first person narratives, but this one worked and I found it entertaining. Moving on to the next and hoping to enjoy it as well.
...this military academy with magic story. What a surprise this was! I have read this author corraborating with Anderle and was reluctant to read his other works since the that series fell a bit short for me. However, the premise here intrigued me enough I decided why not read the first book? Glad I did! Im not a huge fan of first person narratives, but this one worked and I found it entertaining. Moving on to the next and hoping to enjoy it as well.
March 14, 2022
Having read the books by Kevin McLaughlin written in conjunction with Michel Anderle I decided t0 read more of Kevin's work. The Blackwell series began with good fast action and a interesting story line.
There was a bonus perquel available at the end of the book. Having read both I'm looking forward to getting into book 2 that has just completed loading onto my Kindle.
If you enjoy Kevin's writing look up the works he developed with Michael Anderle - well worth a read.
There was a bonus perquel available at the end of the book. Having read both I'm looking forward to getting into book 2 that has just completed loading onto my Kindle.
If you enjoy Kevin's writing look up the works he developed with Michael Anderle - well worth a read.
April 19, 2021
Darkness
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lately I've read a lot of books with leading female characters and I was ready for a change. I love academy books and magic, of course. The military angle seemed very interesting. It definitely was. This is right up my alley and it is an excellent story. Can't wait to see what happens next.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lately I've read a lot of books with leading female characters and I was ready for a change. I love academy books and magic, of course. The military angle seemed very interesting. It definitely was. This is right up my alley and it is an excellent story. Can't wait to see what happens next.
November 21, 2023
Ryan tries to escape the family paranormal powers by enrolling at a military college (not West Point).
The story fast tracks from him hiding his powers and no-one believing in the paranormal to him using his powers all over the place and all the upper students are calling on Ryan to help.
It just went very far very quickly. Still enjoyed the book anyway
The story fast tracks from him hiding his powers and no-one believing in the paranormal to him using his powers all over the place and all the upper students are calling on Ryan to help.
It just went very far very quickly. Still enjoyed the book anyway
May 19, 2019
A good story
I enjoyed this story about a young army recruit battling with his newly developed magical powers.
A couple small bits that don't flow as nicely as the rest but over-all hard to put down
I enjoyed this story about a young army recruit battling with his newly developed magical powers.
A couple small bits that don't flow as nicely as the rest but over-all hard to put down
May 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this magical thrilling adventure. Lots angst, and chaos. If you like magic academy's you will enjoy this one. It is a fun and entertaining read.
I volunteered to read an ARC copy of this book. This is my honest opinion
I volunteered to read an ARC copy of this book. This is my honest opinion
Read
May 23, 2020Interesting read
I received an ARC copy of the book
I usually read Sci Fi and have enjoyed reading books written by Kevin hence choosing to read this ARC
I was not disappointed in my choice it was well worth trying the genre from Kevin
I received an ARC copy of the book
I usually read Sci Fi and have enjoyed reading books written by Kevin hence choosing to read this ARC
I was not disappointed in my choice it was well worth trying the genre from Kevin
July 10, 2020
Strange book
Ok the mc has magic and the academy is where all the power is that I got but after half a dozen killed why was the school even open!! And the cadre was just students !! Where was the so called boss of the place!!I I know it's just a book but stilk!!
Ok the mc has magic and the academy is where all the power is that I got but after half a dozen killed why was the school even open!! And the cadre was just students !! Where was the so called boss of the place!!I I know it's just a book but stilk!!
April 27, 2023
I enjoyed this book very much
An excellent main character who is on a forced mission of self discovery at he explores his latent powers. Powers he needs to fight an evil presence he discovers on his new campus
An excellent main character who is on a forced mission of self discovery at he explores his latent powers. Powers he needs to fight an evil presence he discovers on his new campus
November 10, 2023
Fast paced action
A young man has magic, but doesn’t want it. When things start going deadly wrong at his military school, he has to step up. Because if he doesn’t, nobody else can.
1 f-bomb, zero spice, a decent amount of gore.
A young man has magic, but doesn’t want it. When things start going deadly wrong at his military school, he has to step up. Because if he doesn’t, nobody else can.
1 f-bomb, zero spice, a decent amount of gore.
August 23, 2020
Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over
The novel begins like an introduction to urban fantasy with detailed explanations of standard elements. However, it plays on many English boarding school tropes as well, offering an interesting blend of the two. The twist comes in the boarding school being a military college and the main character, Ryan Blackwell, choosing to go there against his father’s wishes. Another way this story differs from other urban fantasy I’ve read comes in how Ryan is running from his known magical abilities. He neither finds them wonderful nor discovers them during the story, though his abilities mature. This makes for a good setup with intriguing aspects to draw the reader in.
The bridging conflict for the story is between a bullied goth student gone bad and Ryan trying to make sure no one gets hurt. The college encourages older students to bully those who don’t fit in until they drop out. This toxic setup doesn’t get much attention, nor did I see appropriate recognition of the reason behind the attacks. A military school built on a powerful magical nexus is unwise even without the systematic abuse.
Nor is this the only issue when Ryan’s perceptions of some students mirror this negativity toward those not meeting the military ideal. The school once again encourages these hostile attitudes by punishing the entire group if one of its members drags them down. There’s also an unfortunate phrasing in the latter half of the book about othering.
The legitimization of bullying, even with a few questioning thoughts, bothered me. Yes, it’s an accurate representation of that mentality, but I would have liked to see some sign of growth in the older students that might bridge to institutional change. Without that aspect, the novel seems to not only accept the status quo but approve of the violence. Still, the series could address this issue in later novels.
Ryan’s life prior to coming to the college is full of being the oddball thanks to seeing and reacting to things invisible to the magically blind. He wants nothing more than to blend in with the other freshmen and make his mark by being part of something rather than standing apart. This characterization offers a perfect starting part for his growth as a person. It’s selfish and self-denial, but at the same time, understandable. His nature conflicts with that desire almost immediately, and yet he hesitates, waiting for circumstances to prove the need to act. Ryan is a good person trying to come to terms with how his abilities allow him to protect this place even when he came here to escape the pressure those abilities caused.
This is only one example of the strong characterization I found in the book. Despite the characters being almost exclusively late teen to early 20s young men, from a mix of backgrounds, almost is the critical word. The characterization given one of the police officers, a groundskeeper, and even a breeze is enough to establish a connection with the reader.
Some of the dialogue is a beautiful example of doublespeak. The book is grounded on the idea of an ordinary military college built on a magical nexus. Magically blind students and faculty remain unaware unless they are observant enough to detect subtle patterns. While Ryan isn’t one of these, he interacts with many who attempt to feel out his awareness without revealing their own. The book would have been quite different without this aspect, and not half as enjoyable.
The tension of Ryan making sometimes critical mistakes, and struggling to reduce their consequences as best he can, offers another strength. While he doesn’t have anyone to go to for magical help that he knows of beyond a breeze, he gains the support and assistance of those without his abilities. He appreciates and draws on the wisdom he can scrounge up, even when he didn’t hear it the first time, instead of letting his hero complex make him charge out on his own.
Ryan is not the perfect hero. He has doubts, stumbles, and even wants to leave it all behind. His character arc is a strong one from rejection to acceptance and a drive to act. He considers all the options and makes a choice, as one of the supporting characters encourages, rather than letting himself be pushed into a corner by the story until he has no options.
The darkness might not have come across in my review, but it’s there. People get hurt and even die. Still, the description draws on Ryan’s reactions, and queasy stomach, rather than the gory details.
Robust characters and important events secured my enjoyment, while problematic aspects were a reflection of the environment. The story concludes solidly with both character growth and major arc resolution, but there are several lingering questions pointing to the series arc, and the introduction of new elements, to draw the reader along. The post-climax chapters create a bridge to the rest of the series and address dangling elements from this story.
P.S. I received this Advanced Reader Copy from the author as a gift to newsletter subscribers then bought my own copy.
The novel begins like an introduction to urban fantasy with detailed explanations of standard elements. However, it plays on many English boarding school tropes as well, offering an interesting blend of the two. The twist comes in the boarding school being a military college and the main character, Ryan Blackwell, choosing to go there against his father’s wishes. Another way this story differs from other urban fantasy I’ve read comes in how Ryan is running from his known magical abilities. He neither finds them wonderful nor discovers them during the story, though his abilities mature. This makes for a good setup with intriguing aspects to draw the reader in.
The bridging conflict for the story is between a bullied goth student gone bad and Ryan trying to make sure no one gets hurt. The college encourages older students to bully those who don’t fit in until they drop out. This toxic setup doesn’t get much attention, nor did I see appropriate recognition of the reason behind the attacks. A military school built on a powerful magical nexus is unwise even without the systematic abuse.
Nor is this the only issue when Ryan’s perceptions of some students mirror this negativity toward those not meeting the military ideal. The school once again encourages these hostile attitudes by punishing the entire group if one of its members drags them down. There’s also an unfortunate phrasing in the latter half of the book about othering.
The legitimization of bullying, even with a few questioning thoughts, bothered me. Yes, it’s an accurate representation of that mentality, but I would have liked to see some sign of growth in the older students that might bridge to institutional change. Without that aspect, the novel seems to not only accept the status quo but approve of the violence. Still, the series could address this issue in later novels.
Ryan’s life prior to coming to the college is full of being the oddball thanks to seeing and reacting to things invisible to the magically blind. He wants nothing more than to blend in with the other freshmen and make his mark by being part of something rather than standing apart. This characterization offers a perfect starting part for his growth as a person. It’s selfish and self-denial, but at the same time, understandable. His nature conflicts with that desire almost immediately, and yet he hesitates, waiting for circumstances to prove the need to act. Ryan is a good person trying to come to terms with how his abilities allow him to protect this place even when he came here to escape the pressure those abilities caused.
This is only one example of the strong characterization I found in the book. Despite the characters being almost exclusively late teen to early 20s young men, from a mix of backgrounds, almost is the critical word. The characterization given one of the police officers, a groundskeeper, and even a breeze is enough to establish a connection with the reader.
Some of the dialogue is a beautiful example of doublespeak. The book is grounded on the idea of an ordinary military college built on a magical nexus. Magically blind students and faculty remain unaware unless they are observant enough to detect subtle patterns. While Ryan isn’t one of these, he interacts with many who attempt to feel out his awareness without revealing their own. The book would have been quite different without this aspect, and not half as enjoyable.
The tension of Ryan making sometimes critical mistakes, and struggling to reduce their consequences as best he can, offers another strength. While he doesn’t have anyone to go to for magical help that he knows of beyond a breeze, he gains the support and assistance of those without his abilities. He appreciates and draws on the wisdom he can scrounge up, even when he didn’t hear it the first time, instead of letting his hero complex make him charge out on his own.
Ryan is not the perfect hero. He has doubts, stumbles, and even wants to leave it all behind. His character arc is a strong one from rejection to acceptance and a drive to act. He considers all the options and makes a choice, as one of the supporting characters encourages, rather than letting himself be pushed into a corner by the story until he has no options.
The darkness might not have come across in my review, but it’s there. People get hurt and even die. Still, the description draws on Ryan’s reactions, and queasy stomach, rather than the gory details.
Robust characters and important events secured my enjoyment, while problematic aspects were a reflection of the environment. The story concludes solidly with both character growth and major arc resolution, but there are several lingering questions pointing to the series arc, and the introduction of new elements, to draw the reader along. The post-climax chapters create a bridge to the rest of the series and address dangling elements from this story.
P.S. I received this Advanced Reader Copy from the author as a gift to newsletter subscribers then bought my own copy.
November 11, 2020
I like it!
Slow starting, but it was getting better as it went along. Again, the concept that you can beat darkness and evil, maybe not by yourself, but with help.
Slow starting, but it was getting better as it went along. Again, the concept that you can beat darkness and evil, maybe not by yourself, but with help.
November 28, 2020
A very unique storyline.
This book grabbed hold a hold of me until I reached the end. Very good writing and looking forward to the series.
This book grabbed hold a hold of me until I reached the end. Very good writing and looking forward to the series.
December 7, 2021
Great book
Omg this book was great.I can't wait to read more from this author.This series has been so great to read.I couldn't put it down.
Omg this book was great.I can't wait to read more from this author.This series has been so great to read.I couldn't put it down.
December 8, 2023
Intent
Would you, or could you ? Intent isn't always enuf. Read this one to the end, if you can, and find out for yourself .
Would you, or could you ? Intent isn't always enuf. Read this one to the end, if you can, and find out for yourself .
March 14, 2017
The is a very good book if you like Magic and people that are coming into their magic.
This book is about a young man that goes to a military academy and finds that there is more than meets the eye.
i would recommend this book if you like that kind of stories.
This book is about a young man that goes to a military academy and finds that there is more than meets the eye.
i would recommend this book if you like that kind of stories.
June 19, 2012
http://edensbookshelf.com/review-by-d...
Review: By Darkness Revealed by Kevin O. McLaughlin
Posted on May 31, 2012 | Leave a comment | Edit
“Ryan Blackwell thought to escape his magic by burying himself in the military college at Northshield, Vermont. Instead, he finds himself in the midst of a deeper and more dangerous sorcery than he has ever encountered before. Suddenly, only Ryan’s wit, will, and the talent he once hoped to leave behind stand between a nightmarish creature and everything he cares for.”
I was offered the opportunity to read and review “By Darkness Revealed” by Kevin O McLaughlin. After having read the authors description, I was intrigued. A tale of magic woven in a military college setting was a first for me.
We meet Ryan Blackwell in the midst of a training exercise, running through an icy cold stream being pursued by magical creatures. Ryan has been trying to fit in and hide his magical side since entering the academy. In this first scene we see him enter a situation where he has to make a decision to help fellow students or ignore the situation and remain anonymous. His decision is the beginning of our hero’s adventures and gives us insight into his character.
Ryan is a very likeable character. He has abilities that he does not fully understand, has a curious nature, and integrity to step up and do what needs to be done even at his own peril.
The college has some very powerful magic centered in the campus, and Ryan is not the first magical person to come to this college. We also meet a student that is the opposite of Ryan who may have unleashed a dark power. This is the point in the story that sets the pace for the rest of the book.
I enjoyed the way the author set up his magical world using terms familiar to me as a fan of urban fantasy, but weaving them into a magical world of his own creation. We get to see Ryan grow as he discovers information about the creature he is battling and learns more about himself, his magic and the unique magic surrounding this military college. I especially liked kitty-breeze.
The one thing I felt was lacking about the story was that I wanted more information about Ryan’s background. It felt like I dropped into the story at a place other than the beginning. We are given information along the way which did help but I was still left with many unanswered questions.
There are two more books planned in this series: “Ashes Ascendant” and “Dead in Winter”.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author and finding out more about Ryan Blackwell and the world he lives in.
-Reviewed by d. blue
Learn more about Kevin McLaughlin by visiting his site http://kevinomclaughlin.com.
Twitter: @KOMcLaughlin
Facebook: Kevin O. McLaughlin
Review: By Darkness Revealed by Kevin O. McLaughlin
Posted on May 31, 2012 | Leave a comment | Edit
“Ryan Blackwell thought to escape his magic by burying himself in the military college at Northshield, Vermont. Instead, he finds himself in the midst of a deeper and more dangerous sorcery than he has ever encountered before. Suddenly, only Ryan’s wit, will, and the talent he once hoped to leave behind stand between a nightmarish creature and everything he cares for.”
I was offered the opportunity to read and review “By Darkness Revealed” by Kevin O McLaughlin. After having read the authors description, I was intrigued. A tale of magic woven in a military college setting was a first for me.
We meet Ryan Blackwell in the midst of a training exercise, running through an icy cold stream being pursued by magical creatures. Ryan has been trying to fit in and hide his magical side since entering the academy. In this first scene we see him enter a situation where he has to make a decision to help fellow students or ignore the situation and remain anonymous. His decision is the beginning of our hero’s adventures and gives us insight into his character.
Ryan is a very likeable character. He has abilities that he does not fully understand, has a curious nature, and integrity to step up and do what needs to be done even at his own peril.
The college has some very powerful magic centered in the campus, and Ryan is not the first magical person to come to this college. We also meet a student that is the opposite of Ryan who may have unleashed a dark power. This is the point in the story that sets the pace for the rest of the book.
I enjoyed the way the author set up his magical world using terms familiar to me as a fan of urban fantasy, but weaving them into a magical world of his own creation. We get to see Ryan grow as he discovers information about the creature he is battling and learns more about himself, his magic and the unique magic surrounding this military college. I especially liked kitty-breeze.
The one thing I felt was lacking about the story was that I wanted more information about Ryan’s background. It felt like I dropped into the story at a place other than the beginning. We are given information along the way which did help but I was still left with many unanswered questions.
There are two more books planned in this series: “Ashes Ascendant” and “Dead in Winter”.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author and finding out more about Ryan Blackwell and the world he lives in.
-Reviewed by d. blue
Learn more about Kevin McLaughlin by visiting his site http://kevinomclaughlin.com.
Twitter: @KOMcLaughlin
Facebook: Kevin O. McLaughlin
June 1, 2012
Originally reviewed for Edensbookshelf.com, http://edensbookshelf.com/review-by-d...
I was offered the opportunity to read and review “By Darkness Revealed” by Kevin O McLaughlin. After having read the authors description, I was intrigued. A tale of magic woven in a military college setting was a first for me.
We meet Ryan Blackwell in the midst of a training exercise, running through an icy cold stream being pursued by magical creatures. Ryan has been trying to fit in and hide his magical side since entering the academy. In this first scene we see him enter a situation where he has to make a decision to help fellow students or ignore the situation and remain anonymous. His decision is the beginning of our hero’s adventures and gives us insight into his character.
Ryan is a very likeable character. He has abilities that he does not fully understand, has a curious nature, and integrity to step up and do what needs to be done even at his own peril.
The college has some very powerful magic centered in the campus, and Ryan is not the first magical person to come to this college. We also meet a student that is the opposite of Ryan who may have unleashed a dark power. This is the point in the story that sets the pace for the rest of the book.
I enjoyed the way the author set up his magical world using terms familiar to me as a fan of urban fantasy, but weaving them into a magical world of his own creation. We get to see Ryan grow as he discovers information about the creature he is battling and learns more about himself, his magic and the unique magic surrounding this military college. I especially liked kitty-breeze.
The one thing I felt was lacking about the story was that I wanted more information about Ryan’s background. It felt like I dropped into the story at a place other than the beginning. We are given information along the way which did help but I was still left with many unanswered questions.
There are two more books planned in this series: “Ashes Ascendant” and “Dead in Winter”.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author and finding out more about Ryan Blackwell and the world he lives in.
I was offered the opportunity to read and review “By Darkness Revealed” by Kevin O McLaughlin. After having read the authors description, I was intrigued. A tale of magic woven in a military college setting was a first for me.
We meet Ryan Blackwell in the midst of a training exercise, running through an icy cold stream being pursued by magical creatures. Ryan has been trying to fit in and hide his magical side since entering the academy. In this first scene we see him enter a situation where he has to make a decision to help fellow students or ignore the situation and remain anonymous. His decision is the beginning of our hero’s adventures and gives us insight into his character.
Ryan is a very likeable character. He has abilities that he does not fully understand, has a curious nature, and integrity to step up and do what needs to be done even at his own peril.
The college has some very powerful magic centered in the campus, and Ryan is not the first magical person to come to this college. We also meet a student that is the opposite of Ryan who may have unleashed a dark power. This is the point in the story that sets the pace for the rest of the book.
I enjoyed the way the author set up his magical world using terms familiar to me as a fan of urban fantasy, but weaving them into a magical world of his own creation. We get to see Ryan grow as he discovers information about the creature he is battling and learns more about himself, his magic and the unique magic surrounding this military college. I especially liked kitty-breeze.
The one thing I felt was lacking about the story was that I wanted more information about Ryan’s background. It felt like I dropped into the story at a place other than the beginning. We are given information along the way which did help but I was still left with many unanswered questions.
There are two more books planned in this series: “Ashes Ascendant” and “Dead in Winter”.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author and finding out more about Ryan Blackwell and the world he lives in.
October 1, 2012
I was not sure what to expect when I got this book, but it sounded interesting and a bit of a different read for me. Fantasy revolving around the dark-arts and the paranormal is not my normal genre of literature, so I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that I liked “By Darkness Revealed” by Kevin O. McLaughlin a lot! “By Darkness Revealed” has a well-constructed plot; the setting has is a very realistic feeling, which is set in a modern, military college at Northshield, Vermont. It sounds like a cliché, but I found myself not wanting to put the book down; I kept saying: “Just one more chapter!”
Starting college at a military academy which his father did not want him to attend, Ryan Blackwell only wants a “normal” life. He thought he could escape his growing magical abilities by burying himself in the school. Sadly, strange happenings begin at once, and soon he finds himself in the midst of a deeper and more dangerous sorcery than he has ever encountered before. Cadets start to act bizarrely, and some seem to loose their minds or die. Only Ryan's will, the magical talent he once hoped to leave behind, and the “kitty-breeze” stand between everyone at the school and a dark shapeless evil creature. The tension builds into a classic magical battle between good and the evil darkness.
Certainly there are some weak points in the story. In general, characterization was good, but several characters were rather underdeveloped. I especially would have like more background and development on the nasty magical cadet, Tim Ashe; on the other side, the mysterious gardener, a kind of a “wise old man” figure, certainly could have used greater character development to add deeper interest and understanding. Also, many of the academy’s students (cadets) were leaving, disappearing, and dieing, and there did not appear to be a realistic degree of administrative or governmental reaction or intervention. However, despite my few criticisms, “By Darkness Revealed” is a very well worthwhile fantasy read in the “dark arts.” I will look for more by this author: Kevin O. McLaughlin.
Starting college at a military academy which his father did not want him to attend, Ryan Blackwell only wants a “normal” life. He thought he could escape his growing magical abilities by burying himself in the school. Sadly, strange happenings begin at once, and soon he finds himself in the midst of a deeper and more dangerous sorcery than he has ever encountered before. Cadets start to act bizarrely, and some seem to loose their minds or die. Only Ryan's will, the magical talent he once hoped to leave behind, and the “kitty-breeze” stand between everyone at the school and a dark shapeless evil creature. The tension builds into a classic magical battle between good and the evil darkness.
Certainly there are some weak points in the story. In general, characterization was good, but several characters were rather underdeveloped. I especially would have like more background and development on the nasty magical cadet, Tim Ashe; on the other side, the mysterious gardener, a kind of a “wise old man” figure, certainly could have used greater character development to add deeper interest and understanding. Also, many of the academy’s students (cadets) were leaving, disappearing, and dieing, and there did not appear to be a realistic degree of administrative or governmental reaction or intervention. However, despite my few criticisms, “By Darkness Revealed” is a very well worthwhile fantasy read in the “dark arts.” I will look for more by this author: Kevin O. McLaughlin.
April 14, 2016
By Darkness Revealed (Blackwell Magic #1) - Kevin O. McLaughlin This week, I'm reviewing my second book in the Indies Unlimited 2016 Reading Challenge. This month's goal is to read a book by someone who is not an IU minion, but who often comments at IU. I've chosen Kevin O. McLaughlin's By Darkness Revealed because I've never read any of his work previously and had been meaning to.This urban fantasy novella begins with Ryan Blackwell, a freshman at a military school, running a drill with his unit. Something odd happens to a fellow recruit, and Blackwell can see it's a magical attack by some sort of teeny critters -- otherworldly gnats, maybe -- so he goes back to rescue the young man. Blackwell hasn't been keen on others knowing about his special powers, but his platoon leader figures it out -- and soon our hero has more trouble on his hands than he ever bargained for: dead students, interviews with the local police, and a malevolent spirit that wants to kill him.I enjoyed this book, but I wanted more. The author left a number of things unexplained: the mysterious gardener, the nature of the dispute between Ryan and his father, and how Ryan came to have special powers in the first place. McLaughlin also has an unfortunate tendency to mix up to lay and to lie -- although I'm willing to blame that on the first-person narrator. Otherwise, the book is well-written and the magic is coherently structured. And I suppose some of the things I was left wondering about might be explained in later books.I'd recommend By Darkness Revealed as a quick read for urban fantasy fans who don't mind a little military-school terminology mixed in with their critters that go bump in the night.
April 2, 2012
This is an urban fantasy story by a better than competent writer. One that has no trouble keeping one entertained. The well-constructed story is set in and around a very realistic feeling, modern, military academy, whilst the plot makes use of many well established "superstitions" surrounding the "dark arts".
The inter-play of characters was interesting, although too many of them were rather underdeveloped. I would particularly have liked the white knight figure of the gardener to have been more deeply explored, along with that of the undergraduate who released the ancient evil. The recovery just in time approach to solving a struggle was perhaps used once too often, but the action scenes were certainly exciting. Possibly the fact that the College kept running almost normally with so many deaths was slightly difficult to go along with. All these irritations were almost certainly due to the constraints of fashionable concise writing, and not to any lack of inventiveness in telling story.
Despite my minor criticisms, this book is a very well worthwhile fantasy read with plenty to keep the reader interested in searching out ongoing stories of Blackwell magic. This is one of the best long "short-stories" I have read, but I really hope McLaughlin starts to risk a bit more paper. This is a very clever use of the Occult in a modern "urban fantasy", by an author that all readers will be keen to read more of.
The inter-play of characters was interesting, although too many of them were rather underdeveloped. I would particularly have liked the white knight figure of the gardener to have been more deeply explored, along with that of the undergraduate who released the ancient evil. The recovery just in time approach to solving a struggle was perhaps used once too often, but the action scenes were certainly exciting. Possibly the fact that the College kept running almost normally with so many deaths was slightly difficult to go along with. All these irritations were almost certainly due to the constraints of fashionable concise writing, and not to any lack of inventiveness in telling story.
Despite my minor criticisms, this book is a very well worthwhile fantasy read with plenty to keep the reader interested in searching out ongoing stories of Blackwell magic. This is one of the best long "short-stories" I have read, but I really hope McLaughlin starts to risk a bit more paper. This is a very clever use of the Occult in a modern "urban fantasy", by an author that all readers will be keen to read more of.
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