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This Brilliant Darkness
Readers are saying:
"...by midnight, I had not put the book down, and had no intention of putting it down. At 12:15am, my fourteen-year-old son stumbled out to get a drink of water. "You're still up?" he asked. "Go to bed." I looked up from my Nook, smiled, and said, "Not on your life, dude. Not until this ends." ~A.M.
**
“The way the author weaves fantasy, humor, science fiction, and mystery is, for lack of a better word, brilliant. I read the entire thing with admiration/envy, taking notes and thinking 'THIS is how you write a novel.' Remember when Scream blew the horror world away by actually using technology in a realistic way? Well here's blogging and online forums and long distance cyber friendships, honestly depicting the way we live in the 21st century.” ~C.G.
**
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
“The atmosphere of this book, so hard to simply label horror or paranormal…how about simply...A GREAT READ, is the true star. Ms. Tash so finely weaves a path of intrigue, terror, humor and suspense, that the reader is taken with each character, so very finely drawn. THIS BRILLIANT DARKNESS is that rare book that one truly does not want to end!! When it does...next question is ‘What else by Red Tash can I get my hands on? QUICK!!!’”~ R.F.
**
"Richly poetic: This is labeled as a dark fantasy. As such you would expect it to be dripping with imagery and poetic devices - and it is. There is horrific cleverness in the plot and in the characterization. You will find no better use of language and symbolism throughout the prose. It is well done. In addition to the dark fantasy, there's a flip side to the coin which is that this could also be labeled Sci-fi. There are aliens, a new star, physicists, and "end-of-the-world" fanatics. All of this is done artfully well and is believable. Without question, read this book ready to be challenged in your thinking, questioned in your understanding, and dared not to buy the next installment whether you like it or not." ~P.C.
**
“I liked the complete absence of familiar tropes. I couldn't tell you what book this book compares to. It's startlingly original. It's also pretty well-written. There is mystery, romance, rising tension, complex and compelling characters, and an ever-present sense of dread.” ~ B.N.
**
"Fast-paced fantasy, lots of mystery: The quick, snappy dialogue moves the story fabulously, and with the many change of POV's (each chapter), the story kept building in momentum into a tangled web of darkness, mystery, and paranormal terror. The fast pace was refreshing and I kept on reading, wondering what was going to happen to Christine and how all the characters twined into the bigger picture. There is a hint of more SF going on than seems apparent with the emergence of the flat sun, and the paranormal activities around its sudden appearance, not to mention the very strange and beguiling creature Greachin and its macabre habits--very cool SFF concept, especially when we get into the head of the 'thing'! The main character, Christine, is energetic and likeable. She fights . . . right to the bitter end." ~C.T.
Synopsis:
When an ancient, troubled entity identifies quirky Christine Grace as his latest threat, all hell breaks loose in the urban forest of Indiana University's Dunn Woods. Will Christine piece together his destructive plan in time to save herself? And what exactly is going on with this peculiar star, Stella Mirabilis?
This fast-paced story moves quickly from character to character, through the headspace of not just Christine and the monster Greachin, but also to Tom, her devoted boyfriend, and Richard, an aging physicist interested in the time-traveling star overhead, and others. Along the way, singing street people, cosplaying environmental activists, and heaven-sent beings come to populate the unique cityscape of Bloomington, IN, where encountering the bizarre is an everyday experience.
Book one of a series. Not intended for children.
"...by midnight, I had not put the book down, and had no intention of putting it down. At 12:15am, my fourteen-year-old son stumbled out to get a drink of water. "You're still up?" he asked. "Go to bed." I looked up from my Nook, smiled, and said, "Not on your life, dude. Not until this ends." ~A.M.
**
“The way the author weaves fantasy, humor, science fiction, and mystery is, for lack of a better word, brilliant. I read the entire thing with admiration/envy, taking notes and thinking 'THIS is how you write a novel.' Remember when Scream blew the horror world away by actually using technology in a realistic way? Well here's blogging and online forums and long distance cyber friendships, honestly depicting the way we live in the 21st century.” ~C.G.
**
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
“The atmosphere of this book, so hard to simply label horror or paranormal…how about simply...A GREAT READ, is the true star. Ms. Tash so finely weaves a path of intrigue, terror, humor and suspense, that the reader is taken with each character, so very finely drawn. THIS BRILLIANT DARKNESS is that rare book that one truly does not want to end!! When it does...next question is ‘What else by Red Tash can I get my hands on? QUICK!!!’”~ R.F.
**
"Richly poetic: This is labeled as a dark fantasy. As such you would expect it to be dripping with imagery and poetic devices - and it is. There is horrific cleverness in the plot and in the characterization. You will find no better use of language and symbolism throughout the prose. It is well done. In addition to the dark fantasy, there's a flip side to the coin which is that this could also be labeled Sci-fi. There are aliens, a new star, physicists, and "end-of-the-world" fanatics. All of this is done artfully well and is believable. Without question, read this book ready to be challenged in your thinking, questioned in your understanding, and dared not to buy the next installment whether you like it or not." ~P.C.
**
“I liked the complete absence of familiar tropes. I couldn't tell you what book this book compares to. It's startlingly original. It's also pretty well-written. There is mystery, romance, rising tension, complex and compelling characters, and an ever-present sense of dread.” ~ B.N.
**
"Fast-paced fantasy, lots of mystery: The quick, snappy dialogue moves the story fabulously, and with the many change of POV's (each chapter), the story kept building in momentum into a tangled web of darkness, mystery, and paranormal terror. The fast pace was refreshing and I kept on reading, wondering what was going to happen to Christine and how all the characters twined into the bigger picture. There is a hint of more SF going on than seems apparent with the emergence of the flat sun, and the paranormal activities around its sudden appearance, not to mention the very strange and beguiling creature Greachin and its macabre habits--very cool SFF concept, especially when we get into the head of the 'thing'! The main character, Christine, is energetic and likeable. She fights . . . right to the bitter end." ~C.T.
Synopsis:
When an ancient, troubled entity identifies quirky Christine Grace as his latest threat, all hell breaks loose in the urban forest of Indiana University's Dunn Woods. Will Christine piece together his destructive plan in time to save herself? And what exactly is going on with this peculiar star, Stella Mirabilis?
This fast-paced story moves quickly from character to character, through the headspace of not just Christine and the monster Greachin, but also to Tom, her devoted boyfriend, and Richard, an aging physicist interested in the time-traveling star overhead, and others. Along the way, singing street people, cosplaying environmental activists, and heaven-sent beings come to populate the unique cityscape of Bloomington, IN, where encountering the bizarre is an everyday experience.
Book one of a series. Not intended for children.
316 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2011
11 people are currently reading
656 people want to read
About the author
Red Tash
30 books258 followersRed Tash is a journalist-turned-novelist of cozy fantasy midlife mystery, witchy non-fiction, and dark fantasy for readers of all ages. She loves witchy cozies & practical magic. ✨
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 11, 2011
As one looks at the cover of This Brilliant Darkness- the reader is immediately drawn to it- that art promises such a facinating yarn- and in the hands of a master writer like Red Tash- this is exactly what the reader gets!
The atmosphere of this book- so hard to simply label horror or paranormal..how about simply ..A GREAT READ...is the true star. Ms Tash so finely weaves a path of intrigue, terror, humor and suspence- that the reader is taken with each character- so very finely drawn by Red Tash as well as the plot and plots within the plot.
THIS BRILLIANT DARKNESS is that rare book that one truly does not want to end!! and when it does..next question is "What else by Red Tash can I get my hands on...QUICK!!!"
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITYBOOK CLUB
The atmosphere of this book- so hard to simply label horror or paranormal..how about simply ..A GREAT READ...is the true star. Ms Tash so finely weaves a path of intrigue, terror, humor and suspence- that the reader is taken with each character- so very finely drawn by Red Tash as well as the plot and plots within the plot.
THIS BRILLIANT DARKNESS is that rare book that one truly does not want to end!! and when it does..next question is "What else by Red Tash can I get my hands on...QUICK!!!"
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITYBOOK CLUB
December 16, 2017
My review was first posted on Northern Plunder, you can read more of my reviews there too.
I read this a little while ago and it took me a while to complete as it was the first eBook I read so I kept forgetting I even owned a kindle.
I won my eCopy of this book from a competition I entered on someone’s blog and the author even spoke to me afterwards and I promised her I’d review it too, so here it is. A few months late but better than never.
I would also like to apologise before hand that I’m not the best with words and/or writing when its a book I enjoyed but I’ll try my hardest to get across my love for this book.
I really really enjoyed reading this book and I loved all the characters. They all got well developed so even though there was a fair few characters it was still really easy to tell them from one and another.
It was also really interesting seeing how their lives became engulfed in each others and the overall mystery of everything that is going on.
Now this is why the book is difficult to review because I really don’t want to give anything away as there is so much happening at once that whilst you’re reading it you’re constantly asking yourself questions about what on earth is going on, did I mention there’s a dinosaur or two and electronics talking back to the main character? Seriously it’s wild and a lot happens in such a short book.
My all time favourite part was the ending, which I know sounds super bad but it ends on such a cliff-hanger you just DESPERATELY need the sequel in your hands instantly.
I read this a little while ago and it took me a while to complete as it was the first eBook I read so I kept forgetting I even owned a kindle.
I won my eCopy of this book from a competition I entered on someone’s blog and the author even spoke to me afterwards and I promised her I’d review it too, so here it is. A few months late but better than never.
I would also like to apologise before hand that I’m not the best with words and/or writing when its a book I enjoyed but I’ll try my hardest to get across my love for this book.
I really really enjoyed reading this book and I loved all the characters. They all got well developed so even though there was a fair few characters it was still really easy to tell them from one and another.
It was also really interesting seeing how their lives became engulfed in each others and the overall mystery of everything that is going on.
Now this is why the book is difficult to review because I really don’t want to give anything away as there is so much happening at once that whilst you’re reading it you’re constantly asking yourself questions about what on earth is going on, did I mention there’s a dinosaur or two and electronics talking back to the main character? Seriously it’s wild and a lot happens in such a short book.
My all time favourite part was the ending, which I know sounds super bad but it ends on such a cliff-hanger you just DESPERATELY need the sequel in your hands instantly.
March 11, 2012
Thanks to Red Tash for sending me this ebook as a prize.
This novel was a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, it has amazingly vivid descriptions and multiple quirky POV characters. On the other hand, I wasn't always sure which character the vivid descriptions "belonged" to, which made the story difficult to follow. I got confused a few times about who was experiencing what, especially the really psychedelic visions. I'd have liked a typographic clue (different font, perhaps) or a page/chapter header with the current POV character's name on it. (Note: I read this on my Kindle, which only had the main font and italics in the text. If the hard copy is different, the reader's experience may vary.)
The distinctions between "now I'm dreaming" and "now I'm awake" and "now I'm remembering a past life" were minimal, perhaps to show how the surreal was encroaching onto the characters' realities. Unfortunately, I had trouble tracking. And I was never really sure now the notion of time travel played a part. As far as I can tell, there was no actual time travel by anyone, although there were memories of past lives on the part of the antagonist.
I wish I'd read this in fewer sittings, rather than in very small bites over two weeks, as that probably detracted from the flow for me and made the story feel more disjointed. You may want to keep that in mind if and when you pick up this novel.
This novel was a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, it has amazingly vivid descriptions and multiple quirky POV characters. On the other hand, I wasn't always sure which character the vivid descriptions "belonged" to, which made the story difficult to follow. I got confused a few times about who was experiencing what, especially the really psychedelic visions. I'd have liked a typographic clue (different font, perhaps) or a page/chapter header with the current POV character's name on it. (Note: I read this on my Kindle, which only had the main font and italics in the text. If the hard copy is different, the reader's experience may vary.)
The distinctions between "now I'm dreaming" and "now I'm awake" and "now I'm remembering a past life" were minimal, perhaps to show how the surreal was encroaching onto the characters' realities. Unfortunately, I had trouble tracking. And I was never really sure now the notion of time travel played a part. As far as I can tell, there was no actual time travel by anyone, although there were memories of past lives on the part of the antagonist.
I wish I'd read this in fewer sittings, rather than in very small bites over two weeks, as that probably detracted from the flow for me and made the story feel more disjointed. You may want to keep that in mind if and when you pick up this novel.
January 11, 2012
Let me start off by saying, please read the description of the book. I never feel the need in my review to re-do the description. I just like to give you my opinion on it.
My Opinion:
I loved the book. I thought it was written well and had great mystery and suspense throughout the book that grabbed me right from the beginning. I loved how Tom and Christine were opposites and were great together. I loved how Red got into the minds of all her characters and portrayed each one. I also loved Greachin. Even tho he’s the evil one lurking in the darkness and stalking Christine. I couldn’t help but love the character. One of my favorites was the naming of the chapters and fit so well and were funny. I loved Richard’s character and thought he was a great added bonus to the book. What I didn’t like however was that the Monk in the book really wasn’t helpful and neither was Tristan. The ending did disappoint a little but I know that Red is working on the series and I for one can’t wait to find out where the next one leads us. This book has a great thriller/horror quality to it that I found fantastic. I enjoyed how all the charters lives eventually intersected and came together to form the circle for Christine. I didn’t like that the circle was useless in the end.
A nice added bonus is that the author gave us a character list in the beginning to help if we got lost on the characters. I for one didn’t even read it and was able to keep up with everyone without a problem. I also loved that she gave a map of where this was taking place and the paths of our characters. All of this woven into a great dark fantasy novel. That really does have you reading it cover to cover quickly. You really didn’t want to stop and the chapters were just fantastic.
I give This Brilliant Darkness by Red Tash 5 of 5 Stars & is my first of 2012 Favorites!
My Opinion:
I loved the book. I thought it was written well and had great mystery and suspense throughout the book that grabbed me right from the beginning. I loved how Tom and Christine were opposites and were great together. I loved how Red got into the minds of all her characters and portrayed each one. I also loved Greachin. Even tho he’s the evil one lurking in the darkness and stalking Christine. I couldn’t help but love the character. One of my favorites was the naming of the chapters and fit so well and were funny. I loved Richard’s character and thought he was a great added bonus to the book. What I didn’t like however was that the Monk in the book really wasn’t helpful and neither was Tristan. The ending did disappoint a little but I know that Red is working on the series and I for one can’t wait to find out where the next one leads us. This book has a great thriller/horror quality to it that I found fantastic. I enjoyed how all the charters lives eventually intersected and came together to form the circle for Christine. I didn’t like that the circle was useless in the end.
A nice added bonus is that the author gave us a character list in the beginning to help if we got lost on the characters. I for one didn’t even read it and was able to keep up with everyone without a problem. I also loved that she gave a map of where this was taking place and the paths of our characters. All of this woven into a great dark fantasy novel. That really does have you reading it cover to cover quickly. You really didn’t want to stop and the chapters were just fantastic.
I give This Brilliant Darkness by Red Tash 5 of 5 Stars & is my first of 2012 Favorites!
December 28, 2011
The enigmatic Red Tash has created a compelling, multi-layered - and fully nuanced - modern fairytale, full of pop reference and varied philosophical allusions. This Brilliant Darkness is smart, thrilling, funny and full of great characters tangled in the kind of small-town webs Stephen King revels in. Excellent writing from a writer to watch. One of the best new writers I've read in years. Pick it up!
September 28, 2011
A great well done dark fantasy Red Tash! I really loved it Red, and I can't wait for the sequel to release. I highly recommend this book to all dark fantasy lovers, Red Tash will not disappoint you. Happy Reading Cheers!!
May 23, 2019
I read about 50 pages of this because it's for our work book club, but I'm not going to read more. The characters seem interchangeable. I'm not intrigued enough to continue.
November 3, 2011
I’ll begin with this: I’m a sucker for a well-written, fast-paced story with a twist that involves physics and supernatural phenomena. My bias clearly labeled at the outset, I’ll begin my review of Red Tash’s well-written, fast-paced story of twisty physics and the supernatural entitled This Brilliant Darkness The physics part of it involves the appearance of a star, Stella Mirabilis, above Bloomington, Indiana. It’s the star’s behavior that provides the twist to the tale—a time traveling star that flickers in and out of our reality like particles flicker in and out of our reality. The star draws out the supernatural, and for one Christine Grace, the consequences of its appearance suddenly and abruptly pound down into her own reality—a reality shared by her erstwhile boyfriend who is desperate to marry her and start a family, who is caught up in the strangeness that begins to define their existence in Bloomington.
The characters pop from the pages, and the interactions among them keep you turning pages. What’s up with this character (I particularly liked Tristan)? How is Ms. Tash going to draw all these seemingly disparate threads together (she does, and that’s the only spoiler I’ll provide, because I want you to READ IT). It’s smart. Ms. Tash pulls no punches in the explanation of the physics of the problem, no punches in the questions Ms. Grace’s class at the university throws at her. The university setting is eminently believable as well. I felt like I was on campus, at The Corner, standing with Christine at that ATM when … well, I won’t spoil that part, either. Let’s just say the whole thing plays like a movie in your head, and you’re going to not want to push “pause” and put the book down.
The chapters are quick and tight. I thought I’d appreciate that—that there were places where I could put the book down without guilt because, after all, I was at the end of the chapter. Well, by midnight, I had not put the book down, and had no intention of putting it down. At 12:15am, my fourteen-year-old son stumbled out to get a drink of water. “You’re still up?” he asked. “Go to bed.” I looked up from my Nook, smiled, and said, “Not on your life, dude. Not until this ends.”
The point of view changes with the chapters. Ms. Tash gives a summary of the characters in the beginning of the book, as if we’ll get confused by having so many players. I didn’t read the characters summaries. I found, as I read, that the characters are so well-drawn and memorable, I didn’t need to read the summaries. I had no problem keeping the who’s who of the cast straight because the personalities were so diverse and the mannerisms and dialog were unique to each. Sometimes the prose devolved into the rapid-fire stream-of-consciousness musings of a particular character. That’s not a bad thing in the least. It set the pace of the story in those places; some of the stream-of-consciousness writing leaves the reader breathless. It’s a catharsis of sorts for the character, but it’s creepy in the best of ways for the reader. Talk about a joy to read.
The characters pop from the pages, and the interactions among them keep you turning pages. What’s up with this character (I particularly liked Tristan)? How is Ms. Tash going to draw all these seemingly disparate threads together (she does, and that’s the only spoiler I’ll provide, because I want you to READ IT). It’s smart. Ms. Tash pulls no punches in the explanation of the physics of the problem, no punches in the questions Ms. Grace’s class at the university throws at her. The university setting is eminently believable as well. I felt like I was on campus, at The Corner, standing with Christine at that ATM when … well, I won’t spoil that part, either. Let’s just say the whole thing plays like a movie in your head, and you’re going to not want to push “pause” and put the book down.
The chapters are quick and tight. I thought I’d appreciate that—that there were places where I could put the book down without guilt because, after all, I was at the end of the chapter. Well, by midnight, I had not put the book down, and had no intention of putting it down. At 12:15am, my fourteen-year-old son stumbled out to get a drink of water. “You’re still up?” he asked. “Go to bed.” I looked up from my Nook, smiled, and said, “Not on your life, dude. Not until this ends.”
The point of view changes with the chapters. Ms. Tash gives a summary of the characters in the beginning of the book, as if we’ll get confused by having so many players. I didn’t read the characters summaries. I found, as I read, that the characters are so well-drawn and memorable, I didn’t need to read the summaries. I had no problem keeping the who’s who of the cast straight because the personalities were so diverse and the mannerisms and dialog were unique to each. Sometimes the prose devolved into the rapid-fire stream-of-consciousness musings of a particular character. That’s not a bad thing in the least. It set the pace of the story in those places; some of the stream-of-consciousness writing leaves the reader breathless. It’s a catharsis of sorts for the character, but it’s creepy in the best of ways for the reader. Talk about a joy to read.
April 30, 2012
Description:
Bloomington Indiana. Home to a couple thousand college students - and to the Greachin, a dark creature bent on stalking and destroying university professor, Christine Grace.
Christine isn't herself. Her mind wanders, she suffers from hallucinations and blackouts, strange messages and thoughts plague her, and she has an eerie suspicion that someone - or something - is watching her. Her boyfriend, Tom, and coworker, Richard are stumped, but her strange attitude paired with the appearance of a constantly shining star over the town lead the three to believe there has to be more to the seemingly unconnected events; especially when they all become targets of the Greachin's unholy power. Can they find their connection to the beast before it succeeds in destroying all that they care about? Are there others willing to fight? Or was their fate sealed centuries before they were born?
Review:
I was really excited when I first picked up this book because the author, Red Tash, compared it to Stephen King's The Stand, one of my favorites. I have always been a fan of multi-viewpoint novels, so that aspect didn't scare me away, but the "dark urban fantasy" tag left me uneasy. I have read too many books in the fantasy genre that didn't live up to my expectations, so I wasn't sure what to expect from This Brilliant Darkness. I am glad that I didn't let that deter my attentions, because this book is fantastically well-written, fast-paced, detailed, and full of sinuously dark curves. I was thoroughly drawn to the characters, including the Greachin, unwilling to put down the book for fear that I would destroy the building tension. Each cleverly-titled chapter led me deeper and deeper into Christine's new reality. The character development was top notch, enabling me to sympathize with the characters; and their relationships/personalities were strikingly realistic. I enjoyed reading about Christine's relationship with Tom, Richard, and Tristan from each of their perspectives. Red Tash has a way of making her characters stand out when it's their turn to speak; the viewpoint changes were not choppy, and I did not find the change-overs at all confusing. In the like, the dialogue was smart, modern, and engaging, with a good overall flow. I would not change anything about it, except the ending - I wish there was more to it, but maybe there's more to come? I hope so. Recommended to college-age adults and older who relish a great fantasy/horror novel that will leave them craving more.
Rating: On the Run (4/5)
* I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Bloomington Indiana. Home to a couple thousand college students - and to the Greachin, a dark creature bent on stalking and destroying university professor, Christine Grace.
Christine isn't herself. Her mind wanders, she suffers from hallucinations and blackouts, strange messages and thoughts plague her, and she has an eerie suspicion that someone - or something - is watching her. Her boyfriend, Tom, and coworker, Richard are stumped, but her strange attitude paired with the appearance of a constantly shining star over the town lead the three to believe there has to be more to the seemingly unconnected events; especially when they all become targets of the Greachin's unholy power. Can they find their connection to the beast before it succeeds in destroying all that they care about? Are there others willing to fight? Or was their fate sealed centuries before they were born?
Review:
I was really excited when I first picked up this book because the author, Red Tash, compared it to Stephen King's The Stand, one of my favorites. I have always been a fan of multi-viewpoint novels, so that aspect didn't scare me away, but the "dark urban fantasy" tag left me uneasy. I have read too many books in the fantasy genre that didn't live up to my expectations, so I wasn't sure what to expect from This Brilliant Darkness. I am glad that I didn't let that deter my attentions, because this book is fantastically well-written, fast-paced, detailed, and full of sinuously dark curves. I was thoroughly drawn to the characters, including the Greachin, unwilling to put down the book for fear that I would destroy the building tension. Each cleverly-titled chapter led me deeper and deeper into Christine's new reality. The character development was top notch, enabling me to sympathize with the characters; and their relationships/personalities were strikingly realistic. I enjoyed reading about Christine's relationship with Tom, Richard, and Tristan from each of their perspectives. Red Tash has a way of making her characters stand out when it's their turn to speak; the viewpoint changes were not choppy, and I did not find the change-overs at all confusing. In the like, the dialogue was smart, modern, and engaging, with a good overall flow. I would not change anything about it, except the ending - I wish there was more to it, but maybe there's more to come? I hope so. Recommended to college-age adults and older who relish a great fantasy/horror novel that will leave them craving more.
Rating: On the Run (4/5)
* I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
November 7, 2011
Bloomington, Indiana should be nothing more than a quiet college town. It had been until a strange flashing star began to light up the night as well as daytime sky. A star that can’t be seen anywhere else on Earth. Strange events are also happening in a local wooded area. All too soon it becomes very personal to Christine Grace because something very strange is happening to her as well.
She could be losing her mind.
That would be the easy explanation.
Maybe the strange events are happening because Christine has been targeted by some sort of dark creature known as the “Greachin.” Maybe the strange events are because she has allies and just does not know it just yet. While Christine struggles to hold on to her sanity, the creature grows stronger day by day making it harder for her to survive.
Filled with interesting characters, constant shifting between character viewpoints, and discussions of religion and science, this story billed as a “dark urban fantasy” moves forward at a rapid pace. Not all questions are answered to completely tie everything off, but one wonders how the series can move forward based on how this book ended. As very clearly noted in the book description, this book is not intended for anyone other than adult readers. That means there is adult language, drinking, and other character activities that may offend some readers.
Ordinarily this is not the kind of book I would read. Based on my tastes and preferences this would be classified as a horror novel and not something I would touch. However, I contracted to read it and proof it for typos after the author was informed by a reader there were “tons” of spelling errors. There was not at all in the version I recently read and proofed. In fact, I found far fewer than many books I have read recently released from the major publishing houses.
Because I enjoyed the read, despite being the totally wrong audience for it, I broke my long standing policy of not reviewing works I had any part in because I only proofed this read for misspelled words. No other editing services were provided or asked for regarding this very interesting and enjoyable book.
This Brilliant Darkness
Red Tash
Kindle E-Book
September 7, 2011
Material supplied, as noted above, by the author for spelling review purposes.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2011
More reviews and news at http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
She could be losing her mind.
That would be the easy explanation.
Maybe the strange events are happening because Christine has been targeted by some sort of dark creature known as the “Greachin.” Maybe the strange events are because she has allies and just does not know it just yet. While Christine struggles to hold on to her sanity, the creature grows stronger day by day making it harder for her to survive.
Filled with interesting characters, constant shifting between character viewpoints, and discussions of religion and science, this story billed as a “dark urban fantasy” moves forward at a rapid pace. Not all questions are answered to completely tie everything off, but one wonders how the series can move forward based on how this book ended. As very clearly noted in the book description, this book is not intended for anyone other than adult readers. That means there is adult language, drinking, and other character activities that may offend some readers.
Ordinarily this is not the kind of book I would read. Based on my tastes and preferences this would be classified as a horror novel and not something I would touch. However, I contracted to read it and proof it for typos after the author was informed by a reader there were “tons” of spelling errors. There was not at all in the version I recently read and proofed. In fact, I found far fewer than many books I have read recently released from the major publishing houses.
Because I enjoyed the read, despite being the totally wrong audience for it, I broke my long standing policy of not reviewing works I had any part in because I only proofed this read for misspelled words. No other editing services were provided or asked for regarding this very interesting and enjoyable book.
This Brilliant Darkness
Red Tash
Kindle E-Book
September 7, 2011
Material supplied, as noted above, by the author for spelling review purposes.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2011
More reviews and news at http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
March 16, 2012
I enjoyed this book. I love Red's voice. She put me right in the action. I felt as if all the confusion was happening to me. The demon (or space demon bat or whatever it was) was NOT something I'd ever want to meet in a lit cell let alone on a dark forest path. I got the distinct feeling that it would eat anything. The terror was delicious and scary because it wasn't well defined. What ruins a good horror story for me is a surfeit of blood and guts, where every horrific act is shoved in one's face instead of left to the imagination of the reader. Red took care of that bit quite well.
I don't care for swearing in my books, although I suppose I'd have had a few choice words while getting tossed through windows and chomped on by space bats. I also didn't appreciate the sexual undertones. This would be an R-rated movie, which I don't watch.
What I didn't like (but what put me right into the story) was not really having a clear picture of who was talking or what was actually going on most of the time. Maybe I'm used to being spoon-fed plots, but I'd love to have known if there were two kinds of monks, and where the monks actually fit into the story. The monks and the bat thing remain a total mystery. Christine's part I understood the best. I 'got' her confusion at the strange things going on in her life, though not WHY they were happening to HER. Why was she singled out? I understood Tom's part as the bystander boyfriend, though he didn't do much to save her. And I understood the Professor's research, though not the significance of flying around in a silver roller girl suit and roller skates.
At first I thought most of the male characters were there to save Christine from her dreadful fate, or at least TRY. Even the strange student with the angelic aura did nothing. I was looking everywhere for meaning in Christine's fate and finding nothing. Was she meant to be the final instrument of the bat thing's demise? If so, we don't get that happening. Maybe this whole work is an ode to the incomprehensible way in which life twists sometimes. If so, I feel for your emptiness, Red.
The book was gripping, terror-filled, and interesting. It kept me seeking until a couple of hours after I finished the last page. Good job, Red.
I bought this e-book and then won it in a Debutante's Ball giveaway.
I don't care for swearing in my books, although I suppose I'd have had a few choice words while getting tossed through windows and chomped on by space bats. I also didn't appreciate the sexual undertones. This would be an R-rated movie, which I don't watch.
What I didn't like (but what put me right into the story) was not really having a clear picture of who was talking or what was actually going on most of the time. Maybe I'm used to being spoon-fed plots, but I'd love to have known if there were two kinds of monks, and where the monks actually fit into the story. The monks and the bat thing remain a total mystery. Christine's part I understood the best. I 'got' her confusion at the strange things going on in her life, though not WHY they were happening to HER. Why was she singled out? I understood Tom's part as the bystander boyfriend, though he didn't do much to save her. And I understood the Professor's research, though not the significance of flying around in a silver roller girl suit and roller skates.
At first I thought most of the male characters were there to save Christine from her dreadful fate, or at least TRY. Even the strange student with the angelic aura did nothing. I was looking everywhere for meaning in Christine's fate and finding nothing. Was she meant to be the final instrument of the bat thing's demise? If so, we don't get that happening. Maybe this whole work is an ode to the incomprehensible way in which life twists sometimes. If so, I feel for your emptiness, Red.
The book was gripping, terror-filled, and interesting. It kept me seeking until a couple of hours after I finished the last page. Good job, Red.
I bought this e-book and then won it in a Debutante's Ball giveaway.
October 12, 2011
The way the author weaves fantasy, humor, science fiction, and mystery is, for lack of a better word, brilliant. I read the entire thing with admiration/envy, taking notes and thinking 'THIS is how you write a novel.' The religious themes and sexual undertones combine to make an intellectually stimulating joyride. It reminded me of Lorrie Moore (sarcastic, clever) meets Dan Brown (can't put it down, fast paced), but much more poetic. There were layers upon layers of symbols and ideas, but even if you only skimmed the surface, it was a highly entertaining read.
I particularly enjoyed the one-line poems/pop culture nods throughout the chapter titles, ranging from the Pixies, to Harry Potter, to the Hindenburg disaster. I also loved how realistically the characters were portrayed; the dialogue felt like I was hanging out with my friends, goofy, relaxed, and straight forward (My friends are smart and hilarious; YMMV). The best parts of TBD were the touches of modern life scattered throughout the story. Remember when Scream blew the horror world away by actually using technology in a realistic way? Well here's blogging and online forums and long distance cyber friendships, honestly depicting the way we live in the 21st century.
There's some heavy Biblical symbolism, but it never felt overtly Christian. There's also a lot of parallels to science fiction, but I wouldn't call it sci-fi, either. I'm an atheist, but I was a little touched by the subtle way in which the author plants these seeds of faith and doubt simultaneously. Science and Magic and Jesus, together? Absurd! But perfect, if you think about it.
My biggest criticism is that I don't think the cover does it justice (but does any cover, ever, really?). TBD is a modern, intelligent, thrilling masterpiece. I can't wait to see what else Tash does.
I particularly enjoyed the one-line poems/pop culture nods throughout the chapter titles, ranging from the Pixies, to Harry Potter, to the Hindenburg disaster. I also loved how realistically the characters were portrayed; the dialogue felt like I was hanging out with my friends, goofy, relaxed, and straight forward (My friends are smart and hilarious; YMMV). The best parts of TBD were the touches of modern life scattered throughout the story. Remember when Scream blew the horror world away by actually using technology in a realistic way? Well here's blogging and online forums and long distance cyber friendships, honestly depicting the way we live in the 21st century.
There's some heavy Biblical symbolism, but it never felt overtly Christian. There's also a lot of parallels to science fiction, but I wouldn't call it sci-fi, either. I'm an atheist, but I was a little touched by the subtle way in which the author plants these seeds of faith and doubt simultaneously. Science and Magic and Jesus, together? Absurd! But perfect, if you think about it.
My biggest criticism is that I don't think the cover does it justice (but does any cover, ever, really?). TBD is a modern, intelligent, thrilling masterpiece. I can't wait to see what else Tash does.
August 3, 2013
Red Tash has a beautiful, lyrical style that is unique and fresh. In "This Brilliant Darkness" she's evoked a realistic, charming setting with just enough dark corners and creepy byways. The cast consists of richly rendered characters including a quirky collection of college-town oddballs and eccentrics, and neomythic, possibly trans-dimensional creatures. Her setting is so well-rendered that I feel like I could drive an hour north and find it. And she manages to create peculiar characters that also ring true and seem completely realistic, no small feat.
Everybody has their own story, everybody's story seems fascinating, and everybody gets at least a little of their story told. In fact, if I have any complaint about the book, it's not so much the fractured storytelling style (which probably will be off-putting for some readers). I actually like the round robin of POVs. It's that it seems clear that the whole story is much larger than we see, and it sometimes feels like we don't get quite enough to go on. To a certain extent, it feels like the first half of a book, rather than the first book in a series. There's a lot, lot, LOT of build-up, and the climax comes at the very end with almost no aftermath shown.
Some people will be fine with that, and just take it as "this is the first book in probably an epic trilogy." Some people will be upset with the somewhat abrupt ending.
I absolutely loved Red Tash's Wizard Tales. Her young adult book "Troll or Derby" is a dark, yet fun mashup of horror and fantasy similar to "This Brilliant Darkness." I suspect that taken as a whole with the eventual next chapter, I'll grow to love "This Brilliant Darkness." As it stands, on its own, I really like it a lot.
Everybody has their own story, everybody's story seems fascinating, and everybody gets at least a little of their story told. In fact, if I have any complaint about the book, it's not so much the fractured storytelling style (which probably will be off-putting for some readers). I actually like the round robin of POVs. It's that it seems clear that the whole story is much larger than we see, and it sometimes feels like we don't get quite enough to go on. To a certain extent, it feels like the first half of a book, rather than the first book in a series. There's a lot, lot, LOT of build-up, and the climax comes at the very end with almost no aftermath shown.
Some people will be fine with that, and just take it as "this is the first book in probably an epic trilogy." Some people will be upset with the somewhat abrupt ending.
I absolutely loved Red Tash's Wizard Tales. Her young adult book "Troll or Derby" is a dark, yet fun mashup of horror and fantasy similar to "This Brilliant Darkness." I suspect that taken as a whole with the eventual next chapter, I'll grow to love "This Brilliant Darkness." As it stands, on its own, I really like it a lot.
April 3, 2012
If you’re looking for a fast-paced book that’s dark, intelligent and witty, choose This Brilliant Darkness. Author Red Tash successfully blends science fiction, fantasy and humor with a dash of mystery. I loved the shifts in view and the pacing. It was one of those reads where I’d promise myself, “I’ll just read until the end of this chapter,” and then 30 pages later I was still engrossed.
Set in Bloomington, Indiana, a college town, the book is a whirlwind of viewpoints taking us in and out of its characters heads and lives. I loved being sucked into the action. Who’d have a Midwestern college town could be a convincing hotspot for supernatural activity? It works, though. What’s more, I believed I was in a college town. Tash’s descriptive process puts the reader smack in the midst of everything. It was real which made the unreal that much more unsettling.
I love the characters in This Brilliant Darkness. I could hang out with Christine and Tom, maybe go bowling or have a cup of coffee. Although entrapped in unnatural circumstances, they are still down-to-earth and more than likable. They remind me of people I knew and hung out with while in college. Throw in Richard, Christine’s online chat buddy and visiting professor plus the mysterious Tristan and the entity Greachin and you’ve a bizarre but winning combination.
One of my favorite aspects of This Brilliant Darkness was the way author Tash incorporated our modern techno way of living into the story. It’s never contrived; it’s seamless, believable and totally works. I could ramble for a while telling you every bit and piece I liked about this book, but seriously, you should just go read it.
Set in Bloomington, Indiana, a college town, the book is a whirlwind of viewpoints taking us in and out of its characters heads and lives. I loved being sucked into the action. Who’d have a Midwestern college town could be a convincing hotspot for supernatural activity? It works, though. What’s more, I believed I was in a college town. Tash’s descriptive process puts the reader smack in the midst of everything. It was real which made the unreal that much more unsettling.
I love the characters in This Brilliant Darkness. I could hang out with Christine and Tom, maybe go bowling or have a cup of coffee. Although entrapped in unnatural circumstances, they are still down-to-earth and more than likable. They remind me of people I knew and hung out with while in college. Throw in Richard, Christine’s online chat buddy and visiting professor plus the mysterious Tristan and the entity Greachin and you’ve a bizarre but winning combination.
One of my favorite aspects of This Brilliant Darkness was the way author Tash incorporated our modern techno way of living into the story. It’s never contrived; it’s seamless, believable and totally works. I could ramble for a while telling you every bit and piece I liked about this book, but seriously, you should just go read it.
December 7, 2012
This was the first book I read of Reds, & it knocked me for a loop. Gorgeous plot, wonderful writing which took, & takes, me to a place within this world that I had never imagined. A dark tale told from several viewpoints, of a dark creature & the dark places it takes people.
Quote #1: "She thought of the elephant-headed god Ganesha, & she wondered what "crazy" might mean to God. She snaked her arms through the air, & laughed." (page 130, paragraph 1)
So much crazy sht going on in this tale, but is it really?
Quote #2: "In the woods, on the brick-lined paths between Third Street & the office, the monster--Greachin was his name--had found Richard. Tristan felt it.
He took his position, white silvery wings folded behind him, in a shady alcove of the round room. She would be here soon. The time was upon them." (paragraph 2,3; page 196)
As indeed it was. Such plain words, such simple turns, used to such great effect. The entire book unfolded in my mind as I read, thanks to Reds' skill as a storyteller.
1 Visual: "Large black wings. A wisp of oily feathers & a beak as hard & smooth as steel. A powerful chest, muscled like a man's, & leathery wings that would support such a body in flight. Over eight feet tall.
The woman shivered in her sleep." (paragraph 10-1, pages 45-6)
It doesn't take an over-abundance of adjectives to provide a vivid picture. *So* nice to read a writerwho understands this. This is a book to swallowed whole, in one setting, & then stroked, sweetly, one chapter at a time. Impatiently, it seems I must wait for the second installment.
Quote #1: "She thought of the elephant-headed god Ganesha, & she wondered what "crazy" might mean to God. She snaked her arms through the air, & laughed." (page 130, paragraph 1)
So much crazy sht going on in this tale, but is it really?
Quote #2: "In the woods, on the brick-lined paths between Third Street & the office, the monster--Greachin was his name--had found Richard. Tristan felt it.
He took his position, white silvery wings folded behind him, in a shady alcove of the round room. She would be here soon. The time was upon them." (paragraph 2,3; page 196)
As indeed it was. Such plain words, such simple turns, used to such great effect. The entire book unfolded in my mind as I read, thanks to Reds' skill as a storyteller.
1 Visual: "Large black wings. A wisp of oily feathers & a beak as hard & smooth as steel. A powerful chest, muscled like a man's, & leathery wings that would support such a body in flight. Over eight feet tall.
The woman shivered in her sleep." (paragraph 10-1, pages 45-6)
It doesn't take an over-abundance of adjectives to provide a vivid picture. *So* nice to read a writerwho understands this. This is a book to swallowed whole, in one setting, & then stroked, sweetly, one chapter at a time. Impatiently, it seems I must wait for the second installment.
December 4, 2011
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I like Christine and Tom, they're one of those polar opposite couples that clicks like Dharma and Greg. Greachin is one atrocious being like Hannibal Lecter minus the off the charts IQ. This beast is on a mission and he's fueled by revenge and fury and he's patient. Patience is a characteristic you don't want your bad guy to have, it's a virtue that will guarantee him success. I was just frustrated about the monk and Tristan, they're supposed to be on Christine's side but they weren't really of much help at the end.
Red is trying to merge religion and science here, the divine explained through scientific means. I can somewhat discern that Red is treading carefully but I'd like to believe that it is also a testament to her personal beliefs. But it also makes sense because the characters are college professors specializing in sciences and religious philosophies so it's but natural that their interest would merget at one point. But at the same time it's not as carefully planned where things happen as you'd expect it. The story wrote itself and like Tash, we're taken for a ride. It's organic and although there are some ridiculously funny things that happens, the direction of the tale is where it's supposed to go. My favorite part was her Star Trek [Star Trails] parody, Captain Kurt and Bill Shackler!
By the end of the book I hated Red, I felt grief and questions are piling up in my head one after the other a long walk was really needed. So my dear Red, HURRY UP AND FINISH BOOK TWO ALREADY!
I like Christine and Tom, they're one of those polar opposite couples that clicks like Dharma and Greg. Greachin is one atrocious being like Hannibal Lecter minus the off the charts IQ. This beast is on a mission and he's fueled by revenge and fury and he's patient. Patience is a characteristic you don't want your bad guy to have, it's a virtue that will guarantee him success. I was just frustrated about the monk and Tristan, they're supposed to be on Christine's side but they weren't really of much help at the end.
Red is trying to merge religion and science here, the divine explained through scientific means. I can somewhat discern that Red is treading carefully but I'd like to believe that it is also a testament to her personal beliefs. But it also makes sense because the characters are college professors specializing in sciences and religious philosophies so it's but natural that their interest would merget at one point. But at the same time it's not as carefully planned where things happen as you'd expect it. The story wrote itself and like Tash, we're taken for a ride. It's organic and although there are some ridiculously funny things that happens, the direction of the tale is where it's supposed to go. My favorite part was her Star Trek [Star Trails] parody, Captain Kurt and Bill Shackler!
By the end of the book I hated Red, I felt grief and questions are piling up in my head one after the other a long walk was really needed. So my dear Red, HURRY UP AND FINISH BOOK TWO ALREADY!
January 16, 2012
I read this on my new Kindle Fire I got for Christmas 2011. It was a great read on a five hour plane ride to Mexico. Having the book to read made the trip so much more enjoyable! When I got to Mexico New Year's Eve and walked a dimly lit path to my hotel, I saw bats flitting about and wondered if the creature, Greachen, was lurking about in the agave! The characters are well-developed, an otherworldly creature very mysterious, and I liked how the chapters were broken up and also that the author provided a description of each of the characters at the beginning of the book. I was left at the end a little shocked because I'd become so attached to the main character, Christine...but based on other reviews I think there's a sequel coming, which is great! I look forward to Red Tash's sequel to This Brilliant Darkness and highly recommend this book!
April 26, 2012
Let me start by saying that this is not the type of book that I usually enjoy or even pick up. But something drew me to this one. It was definitely a quick read and it kept me thoroughly entertained. Though, I had moments when I just wished the story would stick with Christine. I wasn't a fan of Greachin's chapters, but I do think they were necessary. I suppose they sort of added to my feeling of confusion - which helped me to relate to Christine.
Overall, it was enjoyable and I do look forward to reading the next installment. Hopefully a lot of my confusion will be cleared then!
Overall, it was enjoyable and I do look forward to reading the next installment. Hopefully a lot of my confusion will be cleared then!
November 10, 2011
Excellent, fast moving story. To those who have read the Frank Peretti books, the style is similar because of the human and the spiritual interactions. Red jumps between characters and even writes about their dreams and visions without losing or confusing the reader. She holds your interest and fuels your imagination with vivid scenes throughout the book and the story stays with you long after you finish. I certainly hope there is a sequel, because this is the type of story that readers don't want to end.
January 6, 2012
"I found This Brilliant Darkness to be a wholly captivating and imaginative short novel that incorporates elements of science fiction and horror; mixed with great pacing; gripping suspense; and smart, witty and believable dialogue... The novel was full of moments of beautiful description and nice touches that brought me fully into the story, and had me walking right beside the rich and fully developed characters."
April 19, 2012
Overall this was a good book with a great plot/story. My largest issue is that it swapped perspective too much at the start and it made it hard to get into any one character and was confusing to follow for a bit. Do give it a read I think that you’ll enjoy the characters and brilliant darkness!
Story – Good
Characters – Good
Dialog – Awesome.
Story – Good
Characters – Good
Dialog – Awesome.
December 28, 2011
I enjoyed it. Took me awhile to read it since it's not the type of book I usually read. Also because of that I don't really have anything to compare it to. I liked it, though, especially all the star trek references. I will read the sequel should it happen!
October 16, 2011
Great book very well written you won't be disappointed with this book. Fun book to read at this time of the year.
June 23, 2012
I read This Brilliant Darkness this week. It was a wild ride! I find myself thinking about it a week later. This is a good thing. Check it out.
February 24, 2021
Three-and-a-half stars really. The genre is not really my thing but I thought it was a pretty decent effort. It steered clear of clichés and did grab my attention. The ‘evil presence’ was certainly given a unique treatment and this speaks of a very fertile imagination. It did have a fair bit of humour in it (including many references to a retro TV series called ‘Star Trails’). I’m in two minds about humour in dark fiction, because it makes it less dark and therefore not as intense. A matter of taste, I guess. Also, I don’t think it needed the ‘Cast of Characters’ or the map at the start. To me, their inclusion has the effect of ‘dumbing down’ what is otherwise an intelligent and mind-engaging work. Trying to work these things out is all part of the pleasure of reading adult fiction: This is not ‘The Lord of the Rings’, after all. I liked Christine’s character and also the description of her big regret. That was well done.
June 4, 2019
This book, for me was really hard to read. I felt like the author was trying to be cryptic, but then it became convoluted with what she was trying to really get at, then all of a sudden it’s the climax... the ending was even more disappointing.
Maybe I just didn’t get it though.
Maybe I just didn’t get it though.
June 14, 2023
Dark, vivid, original, and fast-paced. These are the words I’d use to describe this book. I love shifting POVs, but they must be well done, and this was. I loved the writing style and the vivid scenes throughout.
January 16, 2012
I seem to be in the minority on "This Brilliant Darkness."
Red Tash's debut novel gets good reviews on Amazon. Four and a half stars by 21 reviewers, in fact. The description promises "a fast-paced thrilling tale of karmic struggle and suspense, magical supernatural beings, physics and sci-fi fantasy." Seemingly right up my alley.
The story is loosely focused on Christine, a university professor, as she begins experiencing bizarre, inexplicable phenomena -- hallucinations, time warps, electronic devices giving her messages, etc. Her live-in boyfriend, Tom, and her new officemate/love-triangle-third, Richard, get caught up in the weirdness. There's also a monk, a teacher's assistant, a mysterious student and a slew of ancillary characters.
Then there's the villain of the story, Greachin, who has to be read to be appreciated. Greachin is the highlight of the novel: He's part alien, part demon, part Christine's worst nightmare.
He would come at her with legends born of fear, generations of death, plague, mourning, loss, confusion. She would buckle like a stalk of dry grain in a storm. She might fight, but he'd convince her that she was overwhelmed by something evil and holy, if not by his physical prowess than with his gruesome logic.
For reasons never clearly explained, Greachin is determined to destroy Christine. He lies in wait, stalking her, growing stronger. There is some back story for him involving a creature named Fengrid, but what I really wanted to know was, why Christine? Why is she so important to this apparently immortal force for evil? (For that matter, what was the point of the side plot with the monk who had visions of Christine and Greachin?) Few of the obvious questions in this book are answered.
Structurally, the book is all over the place. The timeline jumps back and forth, and while that may tie into the plot point of time travel, it made keeping track of the sequence of events challenging. It doesn't help that the point of view switches from character to character frequently, and it wasn't always obvious which character was serving as narrator. Having finished the novel, I'm still not clear on why the author chose to offer so many points of view.
On her website, Tash says, "It's a fast-moving story told from multiple points of view, and it doesn’t dumb itself down, so you need to be a top-notch reader to really enjoy this one, I think." I'll take exception to the implication that I'm not a top-notch reader because I didn't like her book, but Tash's statement is helpful because she makes it clear her authorial choices were intentional. As such, I would expect her subsequent work (she's planning a sequel) to have a similar style. I doubt I'll pick up any more of her books.
Red Tash's debut novel gets good reviews on Amazon. Four and a half stars by 21 reviewers, in fact. The description promises "a fast-paced thrilling tale of karmic struggle and suspense, magical supernatural beings, physics and sci-fi fantasy." Seemingly right up my alley.
The story is loosely focused on Christine, a university professor, as she begins experiencing bizarre, inexplicable phenomena -- hallucinations, time warps, electronic devices giving her messages, etc. Her live-in boyfriend, Tom, and her new officemate/love-triangle-third, Richard, get caught up in the weirdness. There's also a monk, a teacher's assistant, a mysterious student and a slew of ancillary characters.
Then there's the villain of the story, Greachin, who has to be read to be appreciated. Greachin is the highlight of the novel: He's part alien, part demon, part Christine's worst nightmare.
He would come at her with legends born of fear, generations of death, plague, mourning, loss, confusion. She would buckle like a stalk of dry grain in a storm. She might fight, but he'd convince her that she was overwhelmed by something evil and holy, if not by his physical prowess than with his gruesome logic.
For reasons never clearly explained, Greachin is determined to destroy Christine. He lies in wait, stalking her, growing stronger. There is some back story for him involving a creature named Fengrid, but what I really wanted to know was, why Christine? Why is she so important to this apparently immortal force for evil? (For that matter, what was the point of the side plot with the monk who had visions of Christine and Greachin?) Few of the obvious questions in this book are answered.
Structurally, the book is all over the place. The timeline jumps back and forth, and while that may tie into the plot point of time travel, it made keeping track of the sequence of events challenging. It doesn't help that the point of view switches from character to character frequently, and it wasn't always obvious which character was serving as narrator. Having finished the novel, I'm still not clear on why the author chose to offer so many points of view.
On her website, Tash says, "It's a fast-moving story told from multiple points of view, and it doesn’t dumb itself down, so you need to be a top-notch reader to really enjoy this one, I think." I'll take exception to the implication that I'm not a top-notch reader because I didn't like her book, but Tash's statement is helpful because she makes it clear her authorial choices were intentional. As such, I would expect her subsequent work (she's planning a sequel) to have a similar style. I doubt I'll pick up any more of her books.
September 8, 2012
Where do I begin? I found myself in a bit of a quandary because the first two thirds of the book itself had me completely confused and absolutely riveted at the same time. Greachin was quite the enigma and I'm not entirely sure all my questions about "it" (which I say because I'm not sure if Greachin is actually male, female, neither or both) were answered completely. Red Tash, you're going to have to write a second book now because there is so much there that has to be finished. You left the story so open for so much continuation that I'll be powerfully disappointed in you if you don't write another one. Please? Pretty, pretty please? (Hint, hint.)
I have to say without further adieu that I love Red's writing style and the aura and mystery that surrounds the work. She gave just enough detail to keep me guessing and just when I thought I had it all figured out, it was as if she reached up through the pages of the book, smacked me upside the head and said, "Haha, you haven't got it all figured out!" There were several places in the book that I felt could've used more detail but had they actually had that detail, it would've taken away from the compelling mystery of the storyline itself. See my dilemma here?
She touched on such ideas as time travel and heavily theoretical concepts, not the least of which is the star over Bloomington that doesn't show up any place else and I loved the look into her soul and all that she believes because I've had my questions about it. I simply don't ask anyone about their faith because I feel it's none of my business but that doesn't mean I'm not itching to know more or ask questions from time to time. There were deeply faith based ideas in This Brilliant Darkness that would've been considered horrifyingly heretical even twenty years ago and I have to admire and respect her courage in writing about them openly.
In having to give a star rating, because most who know me would know that I don't believe in them but I'll do it anyway because I'm forced, (under duress, I tell you) I'd have to give a four star rating because there is just so much in the story that's left entirely to the reader's interpretation. Now, if Red will be so kind as to write a continuation of the storyline itself, I might just be compelled to retract that four star and make it a five star. In short, I really liked This Brilliant Darkness and will be looking and hoping for a sequel and will not only buy it, but be there with bells on and first in line. I'm impressed, Red Tash but you have to write more, my friend. You can't leave me hanging like that! Have a little mercy, woman!
I have to say without further adieu that I love Red's writing style and the aura and mystery that surrounds the work. She gave just enough detail to keep me guessing and just when I thought I had it all figured out, it was as if she reached up through the pages of the book, smacked me upside the head and said, "Haha, you haven't got it all figured out!" There were several places in the book that I felt could've used more detail but had they actually had that detail, it would've taken away from the compelling mystery of the storyline itself. See my dilemma here?
She touched on such ideas as time travel and heavily theoretical concepts, not the least of which is the star over Bloomington that doesn't show up any place else and I loved the look into her soul and all that she believes because I've had my questions about it. I simply don't ask anyone about their faith because I feel it's none of my business but that doesn't mean I'm not itching to know more or ask questions from time to time. There were deeply faith based ideas in This Brilliant Darkness that would've been considered horrifyingly heretical even twenty years ago and I have to admire and respect her courage in writing about them openly.
In having to give a star rating, because most who know me would know that I don't believe in them but I'll do it anyway because I'm forced, (under duress, I tell you) I'd have to give a four star rating because there is just so much in the story that's left entirely to the reader's interpretation. Now, if Red will be so kind as to write a continuation of the storyline itself, I might just be compelled to retract that four star and make it a five star. In short, I really liked This Brilliant Darkness and will be looking and hoping for a sequel and will not only buy it, but be there with bells on and first in line. I'm impressed, Red Tash but you have to write more, my friend. You can't leave me hanging like that! Have a little mercy, woman!
October 13, 2011
Red Tash's The Brilliant Darkness is a dark fantasy involving a young college professor, Christine, her circle of friends and colleagues, and a genuinely weird antagonist named Greachin. Set in Bloomington, Indiana, during a peculiar stellar event, the Stella Mirabilis, the story unfolds first with a murder, then with a series of increasingly weird and frightening events centered around Christine. There are heavy dabs of both Christian religion and Buddhism scattered throughout, themes of reincarnation/rebirth, karma, and touches of Greek mythology. Nods are also made towards science fiction with the weird "star", time travel, references to "Star Trails" and its star Captain Kurt, played by Bill Schakler, etc.
This Brilliant Darkness has interesting ideas on various religions, and individual people or observations are well described, giving little islands of coherency and humour. The setting is described fairly well, and the author has supplied a map on her website, should you feel the need to confirm locations of various events. Clever double meanings in some of the jokes (e.g., the campus clock time), and other touches of humour were also used well throughout. A few of the shifting perspectives were well done in terms of character voice; you knew who they were through the writing rather than a direct signal.
And now the bad: This Brilliant Darkness is written somewhat disjointedly - it was confusing and hard to follow. While reading it, I felt that there was very little to indicate the passage of time in the story, which added to the confusion. Characters felt unfulfilled/deflated, particularly where there was a sense of importance attached to them. (Kind of like riding to the top of the hill on a rollercoaster, hearing the clicks and the groans of the climb, then stopping at the precipice and having to take a service elevator down.) Rather a lot of referencing in such a short book (.epub edition is around 200 pages) almost to the point of it being a game, which detracted from the story. I also had trouble believing the descriptions of Christine's campus life and her work (or rather the lack thereof) as a professor.
This was similar to putting together a jigsaw puzzle without all the pieces; it starts off as an interesting puzzle, but winds up being frustrating, leaving you without any payoff. It may work better combined with its sequel or subsequent volumes, for now it just doesn't feel like a complete, stand-alone work.
Overall: 2.5 or 3 stars
Review copy supplied by the author as part of LibraryThing's Member Giveaway program.
This Brilliant Darkness has interesting ideas on various religions, and individual people or observations are well described, giving little islands of coherency and humour. The setting is described fairly well, and the author has supplied a map on her website, should you feel the need to confirm locations of various events. Clever double meanings in some of the jokes (e.g., the campus clock time), and other touches of humour were also used well throughout. A few of the shifting perspectives were well done in terms of character voice; you knew who they were through the writing rather than a direct signal.
And now the bad: This Brilliant Darkness is written somewhat disjointedly - it was confusing and hard to follow. While reading it, I felt that there was very little to indicate the passage of time in the story, which added to the confusion. Characters felt unfulfilled/deflated, particularly where there was a sense of importance attached to them. (Kind of like riding to the top of the hill on a rollercoaster, hearing the clicks and the groans of the climb, then stopping at the precipice and having to take a service elevator down.) Rather a lot of referencing in such a short book (.epub edition is around 200 pages) almost to the point of it being a game, which detracted from the story. I also had trouble believing the descriptions of Christine's campus life and her work (or rather the lack thereof) as a professor.
This was similar to putting together a jigsaw puzzle without all the pieces; it starts off as an interesting puzzle, but winds up being frustrating, leaving you without any payoff. It may work better combined with its sequel or subsequent volumes, for now it just doesn't feel like a complete, stand-alone work.
Overall: 2.5 or 3 stars
Review copy supplied by the author as part of LibraryThing's Member Giveaway program.
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