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The Darkening Dream
The Darkening Dream is the chilling new dark fantasy novel by Andy Gavin, creator of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter.
Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.
1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal?
No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.
Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.
1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal?
No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 22, 2011
About the author
Andy Gavin
3 books693 followersAndy Gavin is an unstoppable storyteller who studied for his Ph.D. at M.I.T. and founded video game developer Naughty Dog, Inc. at the age of fifteen, serving as co-president for two decades. There he created, produced, and directed over a dozen video games, including the award winning and best selling Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter franchises, selling over 40 million units worldwide. He sleeps little, reads novels and histories, watches media obsessively, travels, and of course, writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
September 14, 2018
4 BLOODY GOD STARS!
The story:
The characters:
The Darkening Dream is an intense dark fantasy.First when I heard about the book I thought it would be a vampire chicky romance.But it was nothing like that.This is one of the most creepiest paranormal books I have ever read.The story takes place in the 1900s, in Salem which we all know what associates with that place. Horror!
The plot was complicated.Sometimes it took me time to realize what was happening.I do have a problem with plots with to much going on,but this one was hilarious.The characters blend together perfectly.The main characters Sarah is one badass chick.And the harmony between her group of friends is amazing.
I did like the supernatural element.What I didn't like much was the religious influence.Maybe this is just me but there are a lot of religious elements here.Also the start of the book was kind of slow.But the rest takes the rhythm and creates a perfectly story.
I like the connection between Sarah and Alex.It was good for the book,refreshing and I liked that the author didn't make it a big deal.The book kept its creepy and did not turn on a fluffy romance.Also I liked the twins.
The story:
The book is about a girl named Sarah who happens to live a random life with her mother and her strange father.Everything changes when supernatural creatures as vampires,warlocks,gods are coming to Salem to find more about the holy trumpet of the Archangel Gabriel. Now Sarah,learning from her visions,takes an adventure to a dark unexpected places with her friends,Alex and twins Anne and Sam, to stop the end of days.
The characters:
Sarah is one badass heroine.She's brave,smart and caring.The twins are the fun of the book.And Alex is also smart,brave and a leader.
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy creepy paranormal stories.And believe me this is overlycrepping.I would love to see this on screen.
March 9, 2016
"Don't underestimate the allure of darkness, even the purest hearts are drawn to it."
----Klaus, The Vampire Diaries TV series
Andy Gavin, an American best-selling author, has penned an intimidating tale about vampires in his book, The Darkening Dream that unfolds the story of a soon-to-be-eighteen-years-old-teenage girl, who lives with her parents in Salem, which has recently been invaded by dark mysterious forces in the wake of finding Gabriel's trumpet that will mark the end of the world. This young girl along with her friends must traverse the dark path to stop the world from getting destroyed because this girl is gifted as she can premonite death.
Synopsis:
Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes.
What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal? No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.
Sarah is a highly knowledgeable and obedient Jewish girl whose mind is enriched with the folk tales of Gods and devils and with so many untold legends, and for that, all credits goes to her rabbi-turned-professor father. One day Sarah and her friends stumble upon a handsome Greek-immigrant boy named, Alex, who is a passionate hunter. Little did they knew that their first encounter with Alex might lead them to embark on a dangerous and life-threatening journey when they discover a corpse of unidentified boy in the bushes of Alex's home. On the other hand, Sarah gave no heed to her dreams where she saw that same boy's death. Now she is assured that her premonition is true where she heard the Archangel Gabriel’s holy horn that is a symbol to end of the world. But when she saw that same dead boy walking among the crowd, she and her friends must make a decision soon enough to save the lives of all. And this journey is not only life-threatening but will also enlighten them with hidden secrets under the name of peace and they will learn that vampires and warlocks are here to initiate the apocalypse. Will Sarah, Alex and her friends be able to fight this unholy fight against the monsters?
This story was an absolute thrilling experience for me considering the author's take on the supernatural elements from every possible angle, that made the book creepy and somewhat believable with the use of biblical meanings. Well, the beginning was bit slow for me as it took time for the story to open it's wings and fly to deepest, darkest corners of this supernatural journey. The author's writing style is articulate that contains an even dose of fear, horror and romance. The tone is dark from the beginning till the very end and the intricate detailing of each and every scenes gave me a bone-chilling experience.
Considering this is a story with teenagers, so there must be some kind of romance between the characters and that has been depicted by the author with lots of passion, sensuality and deeply moving emotions layered with pain and love. The love between Sarah and Alex is really sweet that progressed eventually with time and grew stronger with the dark forces hovering around them. There are also some sexual scenes among some evil characters which are not that PG-13, hence the book is recommended for a bit mature audience.
The narrative is free-flowing and engaging. The pacing changes from being very slow to really fast near the end of the story. There is a mystery that unfolds with little twists and turns and that which kept me glued till the very end. Before reading this book, I was in a doubt on whether I would like this story or not after seeing so many mixed reviews on Goodreads, but ultimately in the end, I felt for the story not too madly but in a likable manner.
The characters are quite remarkable and are strongly developed, highlighting their strongest attributes. The main character, Sarah, is fearless and would do anything to save the lives of those who matter. Alex is, too, a brave and determined young man who is caring and loving towards Sarah. The supporting cast of characters are also quite likable. The evil ones are even more fascinating as they won't let me look away from their dark nature even though they are look wise not that remarkable, and the author brought out the best of evil demeanor from them that ultimately gave me goosebumps while reading about them.
The story is set in the early 20th century and the author has done a vivid projection of that era from arresting the culture, religious attributes, societal norms etc strikingly into this story thus giving the readers a dose of that era through this eloquent words. And with such an enthralling book cover, it immediately captivated my heart and mind to open this book and to get lost in it's pages.
Overall, I enjoyed this intense and eerie ride with the dark supernatural creatures along immensely. And I believe all the YA fantasy lovers are surely going to love reading this dark compelling tale.
Verdict: It's surely gonna spook you!!
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Andy Gavin, for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Klaus, The Vampire Diaries TV series
Andy Gavin, an American best-selling author, has penned an intimidating tale about vampires in his book, The Darkening Dream that unfolds the story of a soon-to-be-eighteen-years-old-teenage girl, who lives with her parents in Salem, which has recently been invaded by dark mysterious forces in the wake of finding Gabriel's trumpet that will mark the end of the world. This young girl along with her friends must traverse the dark path to stop the world from getting destroyed because this girl is gifted as she can premonite death.
Synopsis:
Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes.
What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal? No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.
Sarah is a highly knowledgeable and obedient Jewish girl whose mind is enriched with the folk tales of Gods and devils and with so many untold legends, and for that, all credits goes to her rabbi-turned-professor father. One day Sarah and her friends stumble upon a handsome Greek-immigrant boy named, Alex, who is a passionate hunter. Little did they knew that their first encounter with Alex might lead them to embark on a dangerous and life-threatening journey when they discover a corpse of unidentified boy in the bushes of Alex's home. On the other hand, Sarah gave no heed to her dreams where she saw that same boy's death. Now she is assured that her premonition is true where she heard the Archangel Gabriel’s holy horn that is a symbol to end of the world. But when she saw that same dead boy walking among the crowd, she and her friends must make a decision soon enough to save the lives of all. And this journey is not only life-threatening but will also enlighten them with hidden secrets under the name of peace and they will learn that vampires and warlocks are here to initiate the apocalypse. Will Sarah, Alex and her friends be able to fight this unholy fight against the monsters?
This story was an absolute thrilling experience for me considering the author's take on the supernatural elements from every possible angle, that made the book creepy and somewhat believable with the use of biblical meanings. Well, the beginning was bit slow for me as it took time for the story to open it's wings and fly to deepest, darkest corners of this supernatural journey. The author's writing style is articulate that contains an even dose of fear, horror and romance. The tone is dark from the beginning till the very end and the intricate detailing of each and every scenes gave me a bone-chilling experience.
Considering this is a story with teenagers, so there must be some kind of romance between the characters and that has been depicted by the author with lots of passion, sensuality and deeply moving emotions layered with pain and love. The love between Sarah and Alex is really sweet that progressed eventually with time and grew stronger with the dark forces hovering around them. There are also some sexual scenes among some evil characters which are not that PG-13, hence the book is recommended for a bit mature audience.
The narrative is free-flowing and engaging. The pacing changes from being very slow to really fast near the end of the story. There is a mystery that unfolds with little twists and turns and that which kept me glued till the very end. Before reading this book, I was in a doubt on whether I would like this story or not after seeing so many mixed reviews on Goodreads, but ultimately in the end, I felt for the story not too madly but in a likable manner.
The characters are quite remarkable and are strongly developed, highlighting their strongest attributes. The main character, Sarah, is fearless and would do anything to save the lives of those who matter. Alex is, too, a brave and determined young man who is caring and loving towards Sarah. The supporting cast of characters are also quite likable. The evil ones are even more fascinating as they won't let me look away from their dark nature even though they are look wise not that remarkable, and the author brought out the best of evil demeanor from them that ultimately gave me goosebumps while reading about them.
The story is set in the early 20th century and the author has done a vivid projection of that era from arresting the culture, religious attributes, societal norms etc strikingly into this story thus giving the readers a dose of that era through this eloquent words. And with such an enthralling book cover, it immediately captivated my heart and mind to open this book and to get lost in it's pages.
Overall, I enjoyed this intense and eerie ride with the dark supernatural creatures along immensely. And I believe all the YA fantasy lovers are surely going to love reading this dark compelling tale.
Verdict: It's surely gonna spook you!!
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Andy Gavin, for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
December 25, 2011
Well, given that I'm the author and have read it 50+ times I can't say I'm the most impartial. But if you want to find out more about the book, check out the-darkening-dream.com.
February 24, 2012
To be clear I didn't finish this book which is enough of a review in itself for me. I got about 65% of the way through and I felt guilty putting it down because I hat not finishing something. I just couldn't make myself continue with all the good stuff on my TBR list. So, now for a little more on why I couldn't finish.
I just could not get into this book. The constant POV changes were unclear and seemed for the most part unnecessary. The characters didn't seem to have enough substance to them that I actually cared about them. There didn't seem to be any real danger to anyone, nor did I feel any real sense of urgency. All this despite the fact that the book deals with super-powerful vampires.
These little kids seem to have all the knowledge necessary to go out vampire hunting and what they don't have they can easily be taught in an hour. Their families don't seem to mind them coming and going whenever they please and not even telling the truth about where they went. It's ridiculous for a current time period, let alone the early 1900s.
I decided to give it 2 stars because I couldn't finish it and 1 star seems harsh since I don't know the whole book. If the book would have had a phenomenal ending from the point I stopped it might have gotten a 3 when all was said and done, but I doubt it.
I just could not get into this book. The constant POV changes were unclear and seemed for the most part unnecessary. The characters didn't seem to have enough substance to them that I actually cared about them. There didn't seem to be any real danger to anyone, nor did I feel any real sense of urgency. All this despite the fact that the book deals with super-powerful vampires.
These little kids seem to have all the knowledge necessary to go out vampire hunting and what they don't have they can easily be taught in an hour. Their families don't seem to mind them coming and going whenever they please and not even telling the truth about where they went. It's ridiculous for a current time period, let alone the early 1900s.
I decided to give it 2 stars because I couldn't finish it and 1 star seems harsh since I don't know the whole book. If the book would have had a phenomenal ending from the point I stopped it might have gotten a 3 when all was said and done, but I doubt it.
March 20, 2012
[I won a copy of this book through Firstreads.]
When I entered to win this book through Goodreads, I was honestly quite excited to read it. I knew that it would have a religious undertone considering the setting takes place in Salem; however, I never expected it to have it shoved in your face within almost every chapter. The plot also wasn't "scary" enough for me. I'm aware that this was geared towards the young adult age frame, but when I was a teen, I was reading books with much heavier content. I also found the characterizations to be a tad poor and the immaturity level throughout the book just ended up getting on my nerves.
I recommend this book for readers who are in between the ages of 12-16, and for those who do not mind having religious content bleeding through the pages.
When I entered to win this book through Goodreads, I was honestly quite excited to read it. I knew that it would have a religious undertone considering the setting takes place in Salem; however, I never expected it to have it shoved in your face within almost every chapter. The plot also wasn't "scary" enough for me. I'm aware that this was geared towards the young adult age frame, but when I was a teen, I was reading books with much heavier content. I also found the characterizations to be a tad poor and the immaturity level throughout the book just ended up getting on my nerves.
I recommend this book for readers who are in between the ages of 12-16, and for those who do not mind having religious content bleeding through the pages.
June 11, 2016
Dark, Gritty, Gruesome, Complex, Idealistic, Engaging, Intriguing & Imaginative! A Delicious Read! I Loved It!
March 14, 2017
Think of Salem, Massachusetts and you would think of the Salem Witch Trials, but we aren’t in the 1600’s. The year is 1913 and tales of witches are long gone, substituted by those of the vampires. Aside from them being called vampires, what do these vampires have in common with those that we know of in today’s world? Absolutely nothing. When Andy Gavin went back in time with The Darkening Dream, he not only brought us to old traditions but to old rules. Farewell to the vampires that sparkle and fall in love with teenage girls and hello to the vampires who burn in the sun, sleep in a coffin and attack for pleasure.
Having received an email from Andy to review his novel, I was a bit hesitant at first. Vampires aren‘t generally on my reading list, but how many spoiled apples did I have to go through before I finally gave up? With each word he typed though, I became more and more curious. He revealed the fact that he was co-creator of Naughty Dog, and when I finally saw the cover for the novel I just couldn’t turn it down at all. How could this man, this creator of games such as Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter, create a novel about vampires to hold my attention. Not to mention he added Egyptian gods to the mix. A weird mix but yet I set off on the journey.
The Darkening Dream treats us to a dark story about a girl named Sarah who stumbles into some trouble because of these visions she’s having. With the help of Alex, a Greek Immigrant and her twin friends, Anne and Sam, she sets off on this terrifying adventure against an elderly vampire, a demon-loving Puritan warlock, Egyptian gods, all in the name of saving the holy trumpet of the Archangel Gabriel. While the plot-line might seem a bit of random and something on the path of comedy, it is the complete opposite. Never have I seen such an odd group come together so well and truly terrify me and the characters.
I absolutely loved the characters both the good and the bad. They were all written so well, with each of their personalities shining through on the pages brightly. From the very beginning, the story, the writing, the characters all seemed so fresh and new. From the very beginning, you become connected to these characters and yearn to learn more. They’re all written with secrets behind them that makes you want to bring out your shovel and dig a little deeper than what the author has given. He made me connect to each and everyone of them in their own little ways. Of course the credit is given to the way he writes.
Like I said before, Andy Gavin gave me this refreshing new story that seriously set out against serious competitors and set the table for them. I was completely surprised at how amazing the writing was for someone who was only a debut author. I immediately connected to the words and could not let go. I grabbed each and every word and let it sink in as the story formed. Everything from the characters, to the way they spoke, to the way he narrated their actions was just perfectly written to the dot. The mixture of the Egyptian gods in the end actually made sense and made one think that anything is possible and can be taken seriously. Even after being finished with the story, it still amazes me how well it was written.
To go a little deeper into the characters, I’d have to focus on the vampires because after all this a vampire novel. The way they were shown simply amazed me. I longed for a novel where I would get killer vampires who attacked for blood and kept to their old traditions of turning into fog and bats, of sleeping in their coffin and staying away from the sun. Knowing that these vampires had a rows of sharp-fanged teeth got me excited for who their victims would be. But when the excitement went down I realized, this put the fear I had of vampires back in its place. Reading in the dead of night with only a book light on and no type of noise whatsoever, I found myself extremely uncomfortable during one part where the 900-year-old vampire torments the characters outside of their home. Knowing that he couldn’t get in but wouldn’t leave them alone seriously set me on edge and even writing about it now I’m getting that feeling again. The fear of how I felt when I was younger had suddenly hit me and I had to put the book down for a few minutes and turn the lights on.
I’ve always been afraid of vampires when I was younger, all the thanks should be given to my sister, but with current vampire novels it became sort of a joke. So I thank you, Andy Gavin, for making that fear return again and for reminding me why years ago I had to sleep with two beanie bag babies tight on my neck. A simple childish phobia that had long gone is beginning to return and I couldn’t be more happier to welcome it with opened arms. Let’s just hope that there’s a sequel, especially with that killer ending.
Having received an email from Andy to review his novel, I was a bit hesitant at first. Vampires aren‘t generally on my reading list, but how many spoiled apples did I have to go through before I finally gave up? With each word he typed though, I became more and more curious. He revealed the fact that he was co-creator of Naughty Dog, and when I finally saw the cover for the novel I just couldn’t turn it down at all. How could this man, this creator of games such as Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter, create a novel about vampires to hold my attention. Not to mention he added Egyptian gods to the mix. A weird mix but yet I set off on the journey.
The Darkening Dream treats us to a dark story about a girl named Sarah who stumbles into some trouble because of these visions she’s having. With the help of Alex, a Greek Immigrant and her twin friends, Anne and Sam, she sets off on this terrifying adventure against an elderly vampire, a demon-loving Puritan warlock, Egyptian gods, all in the name of saving the holy trumpet of the Archangel Gabriel. While the plot-line might seem a bit of random and something on the path of comedy, it is the complete opposite. Never have I seen such an odd group come together so well and truly terrify me and the characters.
I absolutely loved the characters both the good and the bad. They were all written so well, with each of their personalities shining through on the pages brightly. From the very beginning, the story, the writing, the characters all seemed so fresh and new. From the very beginning, you become connected to these characters and yearn to learn more. They’re all written with secrets behind them that makes you want to bring out your shovel and dig a little deeper than what the author has given. He made me connect to each and everyone of them in their own little ways. Of course the credit is given to the way he writes.
Like I said before, Andy Gavin gave me this refreshing new story that seriously set out against serious competitors and set the table for them. I was completely surprised at how amazing the writing was for someone who was only a debut author. I immediately connected to the words and could not let go. I grabbed each and every word and let it sink in as the story formed. Everything from the characters, to the way they spoke, to the way he narrated their actions was just perfectly written to the dot. The mixture of the Egyptian gods in the end actually made sense and made one think that anything is possible and can be taken seriously. Even after being finished with the story, it still amazes me how well it was written.
To go a little deeper into the characters, I’d have to focus on the vampires because after all this a vampire novel. The way they were shown simply amazed me. I longed for a novel where I would get killer vampires who attacked for blood and kept to their old traditions of turning into fog and bats, of sleeping in their coffin and staying away from the sun. Knowing that these vampires had a rows of sharp-fanged teeth got me excited for who their victims would be. But when the excitement went down I realized, this put the fear I had of vampires back in its place. Reading in the dead of night with only a book light on and no type of noise whatsoever, I found myself extremely uncomfortable during one part where the 900-year-old vampire torments the characters outside of their home. Knowing that he couldn’t get in but wouldn’t leave them alone seriously set me on edge and even writing about it now I’m getting that feeling again. The fear of how I felt when I was younger had suddenly hit me and I had to put the book down for a few minutes and turn the lights on.
I’ve always been afraid of vampires when I was younger, all the thanks should be given to my sister, but with current vampire novels it became sort of a joke. So I thank you, Andy Gavin, for making that fear return again and for reminding me why years ago I had to sleep with two beanie bag babies tight on my neck. A simple childish phobia that had long gone is beginning to return and I couldn’t be more happier to welcome it with opened arms. Let’s just hope that there’s a sequel, especially with that killer ending.
February 17, 2012
Read the complete and original review at Word Spelunking
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Andy Gavin’s The Darkening Dream is not your cookie cutter vampire novel, and thank [insert your deity of choice here] for that! A wonderfully refreshing and enticingly twisted read, The Darkening Dream certainly does have bite (and claws!) and a delightfully dark allure.
MY BRIEF SUMMARY
In 1913 Salem, Massachusetts, Sarah Engelmann leads a pretty ordinary life with her mother and rabbi father…until she has a frightening vision that becomes reality and she finds herself immersed in a dark and dangerous battle between an eclectic mix of supernatural beings-a vampire, warlock, Egyptian gods, angels, oh my!-all out to find Archangel Gabriel’s holy horn. Along with her friends, twins Anne and Sam, and Alex, a hunky Greek immigrant, Sarah sets out to stop the end of days, and along the way she discovers unexpected secrets, an even more unexpected romance, and finds herself in some unexpected places.
STORY
Andy Gavin has taken a bevy of supernatural elements, compelling characters, and an intricate and superbly developed storyline, and expertly weaved them together to create an original and enthralling book. Full of the unexpected, thrilling action, a wicked dose of creepy, and with a Dare-To-Be-Bold-And-Provocative Attitude, The Darkening Dream takes readers on one helluva ride!
The story starts off a bit slow in the first few chapters, but quickly finds its flow and becomes fast paced, but this quick pacing never feels rushed and reflects the content perfectly. Gavin’s story development and world building is excellent and realistic; both 1913 Salem and the dark supernatural world Sarah and her friends uncover easily come alive.
The supernatural elements are awesome! Gavin takes well known supernatural/paranormal beings and ideas (vampires, demons, warlocks, gods, etc) and infuses them with an intriguing mix of religious imagery, creating a unique and innovative story…a story that reminds me of the ingenious show Supernatural (which, if you know me, is a BIG compliment).
I really love how bold, provocative and unafraid to Go There (and beyond) this story is. This isn’t a lighthearted read, nor should it be. Its intense, and at times relentless (in the best way), darkness is absolutely addicting and riveting. And I love that Gavin’s monsters are blood-thirsty, depraved, spine-tingling, won’t think twice about ripping your heart out or eating your face kind of monsters. Gavin’s vampires aren’t sparkly or swoon-worthy, but they are devilishly enthralling and impossible to ignore.
The story takes readers on an edge-of-your seat, gasp-worthy, didn’t-see-that-coming, thrill ride right up until the very last sentence! And the ending leaves room for a sequel, which would be awesome *wink wink nudge nudge*
CHARACTERS
Sarah is an awesome heroine. She’s intelligent, brave and witty, but incredibly relatable and realistic as a young, lustful, sometimes reckless teenage girl. Alex has oodles of charm and makes for a swoon-worthy male lead. Sam and Anne add a good deal of humor and gung-ho attitude. Together, the four friends make an eclectic and entertaining group.
The baddies and monsters are all compelling as well. Al-Nasir, the 900 year old vampire, is captivatingly repulsive (how often do you see that description?!).
ROMANCE
Yes, even badass vampire hunters need a little romance, and Sarah and Alex offer readers a fun, steamy, full of teenage angst and hormones romance. I really enjoyed these two characters together; they have a lot of chemistry and a tangible spark. But I also liked the fact that the romance wasn’t an overwhelming or dominate element in the story.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: This book kept me up late at night, eagerly turning pages and excited to see just what would happen next…and something unexpected would always happen next. Full of mystery, twists and turns, awesome supernatural elements, a hot romance, and intelligent writing, The Darkening Dream is a spellbinding read and impressive debut.
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Andy Gavin’s The Darkening Dream is not your cookie cutter vampire novel, and thank [insert your deity of choice here] for that! A wonderfully refreshing and enticingly twisted read, The Darkening Dream certainly does have bite (and claws!) and a delightfully dark allure.
MY BRIEF SUMMARY
In 1913 Salem, Massachusetts, Sarah Engelmann leads a pretty ordinary life with her mother and rabbi father…until she has a frightening vision that becomes reality and she finds herself immersed in a dark and dangerous battle between an eclectic mix of supernatural beings-a vampire, warlock, Egyptian gods, angels, oh my!-all out to find Archangel Gabriel’s holy horn. Along with her friends, twins Anne and Sam, and Alex, a hunky Greek immigrant, Sarah sets out to stop the end of days, and along the way she discovers unexpected secrets, an even more unexpected romance, and finds herself in some unexpected places.
STORY
Andy Gavin has taken a bevy of supernatural elements, compelling characters, and an intricate and superbly developed storyline, and expertly weaved them together to create an original and enthralling book. Full of the unexpected, thrilling action, a wicked dose of creepy, and with a Dare-To-Be-Bold-And-Provocative Attitude, The Darkening Dream takes readers on one helluva ride!
The story starts off a bit slow in the first few chapters, but quickly finds its flow and becomes fast paced, but this quick pacing never feels rushed and reflects the content perfectly. Gavin’s story development and world building is excellent and realistic; both 1913 Salem and the dark supernatural world Sarah and her friends uncover easily come alive.
The supernatural elements are awesome! Gavin takes well known supernatural/paranormal beings and ideas (vampires, demons, warlocks, gods, etc) and infuses them with an intriguing mix of religious imagery, creating a unique and innovative story…a story that reminds me of the ingenious show Supernatural (which, if you know me, is a BIG compliment).
I really love how bold, provocative and unafraid to Go There (and beyond) this story is. This isn’t a lighthearted read, nor should it be. Its intense, and at times relentless (in the best way), darkness is absolutely addicting and riveting. And I love that Gavin’s monsters are blood-thirsty, depraved, spine-tingling, won’t think twice about ripping your heart out or eating your face kind of monsters. Gavin’s vampires aren’t sparkly or swoon-worthy, but they are devilishly enthralling and impossible to ignore.
The story takes readers on an edge-of-your seat, gasp-worthy, didn’t-see-that-coming, thrill ride right up until the very last sentence! And the ending leaves room for a sequel, which would be awesome *wink wink nudge nudge*
CHARACTERS
Sarah is an awesome heroine. She’s intelligent, brave and witty, but incredibly relatable and realistic as a young, lustful, sometimes reckless teenage girl. Alex has oodles of charm and makes for a swoon-worthy male lead. Sam and Anne add a good deal of humor and gung-ho attitude. Together, the four friends make an eclectic and entertaining group.
The baddies and monsters are all compelling as well. Al-Nasir, the 900 year old vampire, is captivatingly repulsive (how often do you see that description?!).
ROMANCE
Yes, even badass vampire hunters need a little romance, and Sarah and Alex offer readers a fun, steamy, full of teenage angst and hormones romance. I really enjoyed these two characters together; they have a lot of chemistry and a tangible spark. But I also liked the fact that the romance wasn’t an overwhelming or dominate element in the story.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: This book kept me up late at night, eagerly turning pages and excited to see just what would happen next…and something unexpected would always happen next. Full of mystery, twists and turns, awesome supernatural elements, a hot romance, and intelligent writing, The Darkening Dream is a spellbinding read and impressive debut.
March 12, 2012
I picked this book up because it has a pretty cool cover and it was free on amazon (was a 2 day sale). Thought it was worth a chance. This story surprised me in many ways. The following is what made this story great, as well as what kept it from 5 stars.
Wins
-Supernatural/Religion – One thing that this author did that most others do not have the guts to do is address religion and deities in association to anything supernatural. There is nothing I hate more in a story than when authors have a character say something stupid because they do not want to put in the effort to establish a world properly. As soon as a story introduces anything supernatural, it begs additional questions. These questions have to be addressed for the world to exist fully. This author did this wonderfully. Thank you, Mr. Gavin, for having the gumption to go there.
-Characters/Religion – Each character had a different religion or world view that effected how the character interacted with the world. This was so much fun. As a Religious Studies major, I really felt like the author did his homework and created solid religious foundations for each character.
World Building – The world felt rich and tangible. The author added just enough pieces to keep maintain the time period (types of guns used and the introduction of the motor vehicle). This was not just frivolous details. It really added to the challenges of the characters and helped move the plot. This was well done throughout the story.
Characterization – The POV changed regularly (which was indicated by small pictures at the head of each chapter, nice touch) and each character had a unique voice. Their personalities remained distinct, despite the number of characters in the story. They each progressed wonderfully, with one exception (see below).
Death – the author actually follows the character into death. This was very novel to me. Normally, when a character is dead, it is gone. This was very unique and added to the world building.
Monsters/Supernatural beings – The monsters in this story are wonderfully old school. Vampires cannot enter without being invited, can change forms, ect. Gods from other religions enter into the story with purpose and continue to build the world. The violence is all very fitting for the types of monsters in the story.
Story – This was well executed and kept me turning pages.
Loses
-Character made a decision at the end that does not make sense. Through the story she is amazed that her deity would answer her prayer. She sees its power but decides to turn from it because she thinks is tests are “mean.” I am very sorry, but if anyone experienced that power, they would put up with the tests.
-I am conflicted on the ending. I thought it was a good end, though I favor the traditional sacrifice motif.
-The author slipped on some language. There were a couple of parts where there was some swearing/cursing that was random and out of place. There was some swearing that was used properly, but a couple of times it was so out of place that it broke me out of the story.
-There was some unnecessary sexuality. There was some very appropriate sexuality in the use of witchcraft and a succubus (both very sexual in nature). The sexuality I have a problem with was between two characters. I felt like it was forced into the story to meet a sex quota. The sexuality could have worked, but the way it was written at times was laughable.
I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.
Wins
-Supernatural/Religion – One thing that this author did that most others do not have the guts to do is address religion and deities in association to anything supernatural. There is nothing I hate more in a story than when authors have a character say something stupid because they do not want to put in the effort to establish a world properly. As soon as a story introduces anything supernatural, it begs additional questions. These questions have to be addressed for the world to exist fully. This author did this wonderfully. Thank you, Mr. Gavin, for having the gumption to go there.
-Characters/Religion – Each character had a different religion or world view that effected how the character interacted with the world. This was so much fun. As a Religious Studies major, I really felt like the author did his homework and created solid religious foundations for each character.
World Building – The world felt rich and tangible. The author added just enough pieces to keep maintain the time period (types of guns used and the introduction of the motor vehicle). This was not just frivolous details. It really added to the challenges of the characters and helped move the plot. This was well done throughout the story.
Characterization – The POV changed regularly (which was indicated by small pictures at the head of each chapter, nice touch) and each character had a unique voice. Their personalities remained distinct, despite the number of characters in the story. They each progressed wonderfully, with one exception (see below).
Death – the author actually follows the character into death. This was very novel to me. Normally, when a character is dead, it is gone. This was very unique and added to the world building.
Monsters/Supernatural beings – The monsters in this story are wonderfully old school. Vampires cannot enter without being invited, can change forms, ect. Gods from other religions enter into the story with purpose and continue to build the world. The violence is all very fitting for the types of monsters in the story.
Story – This was well executed and kept me turning pages.
Loses
-Character made a decision at the end that does not make sense. Through the story she is amazed that her deity would answer her prayer. She sees its power but decides to turn from it because she thinks is tests are “mean.” I am very sorry, but if anyone experienced that power, they would put up with the tests.
-I am conflicted on the ending. I thought it was a good end, though I favor the traditional sacrifice motif.
-The author slipped on some language. There were a couple of parts where there was some swearing/cursing that was random and out of place. There was some swearing that was used properly, but a couple of times it was so out of place that it broke me out of the story.
-There was some unnecessary sexuality. There was some very appropriate sexuality in the use of witchcraft and a succubus (both very sexual in nature). The sexuality I have a problem with was between two characters. I felt like it was forced into the story to meet a sex quota. The sexuality could have worked, but the way it was written at times was laughable.
I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.
June 22, 2012
The Darkening Dream is billed as a dark fantasy, some of it borders on horror and I found some aspects of it a little perverse. It has teen protagonists, but don’t for a moment let that make you think that this is suitable for teens, it isn’t. If the author intends it for young adults, then he either needs to prune back the gratuitous sexual twists in some of the scenes or put a warning on the outside of the book. It’s not the sexual content itself that’s the problem; there isn’t a great deal of it and it isn’t explicit, it’s the way it’s stripped of tenderness and woven in with dark magic that makes it disturbing.
Now that little rant is over, let me say that it’s an extremely well written story with finely-drawn, easy to relate to characters. The story moves along at a good pace, with just enough light and shade to make it satisfying, and there’s an unexpected twist before a chilling end.
From the blurb: 1913, Salem, Massachusetts - Sarah Engelmann's life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand. With the help of Alex, a Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth.
The vampire in this book isn’t one of the charming variety we have come to know. This guy is pure, gut-spewing evil, and so are the trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods and the demon-loving Puritan minister who are trying to find Gabriel's Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days. Sarah and her friends find themselves right in the middle of a nasty life-threatening game, and though Sarah's father is a rabbi with the power of God on his side and Alex's elderly grandfather is a vampire-hunter, both hide important secrets until the very end.
What I really liked about this book was the way Sarah’s father’s Jewish faith held power greater than that of the warlock. The warlock mentions that he is no match for the rabbi, because the warlock consorts with mere demons, while the rabbi has a deity on his side. It was refreshing to see the words and rituals of an ancient religion credited with the magical power that is its due.
The main fault in the book is that the characters are set in the wrong time frame. They simply do not act as teens would have acted in 1913. No daughter of a rabbi would have allowed a boy to climb into bed with her, and no decent boy would have attempted it. The girls’ fearlessness is also highly uncharacteristic of the time. Some may consider this an insignificant point, but it was a glaring glitch in an otherwise seemingly impeccably researched book, and I see no reason why the story couldn’t have been set in modern times which is where the characters belong.
The book was too dark for my taste, but I’m sure many people will love it and I recommend it for the Awesome Indies list.
Now that little rant is over, let me say that it’s an extremely well written story with finely-drawn, easy to relate to characters. The story moves along at a good pace, with just enough light and shade to make it satisfying, and there’s an unexpected twist before a chilling end.
From the blurb: 1913, Salem, Massachusetts - Sarah Engelmann's life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand. With the help of Alex, a Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth.
The vampire in this book isn’t one of the charming variety we have come to know. This guy is pure, gut-spewing evil, and so are the trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods and the demon-loving Puritan minister who are trying to find Gabriel's Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days. Sarah and her friends find themselves right in the middle of a nasty life-threatening game, and though Sarah's father is a rabbi with the power of God on his side and Alex's elderly grandfather is a vampire-hunter, both hide important secrets until the very end.
What I really liked about this book was the way Sarah’s father’s Jewish faith held power greater than that of the warlock. The warlock mentions that he is no match for the rabbi, because the warlock consorts with mere demons, while the rabbi has a deity on his side. It was refreshing to see the words and rituals of an ancient religion credited with the magical power that is its due.
The main fault in the book is that the characters are set in the wrong time frame. They simply do not act as teens would have acted in 1913. No daughter of a rabbi would have allowed a boy to climb into bed with her, and no decent boy would have attempted it. The girls’ fearlessness is also highly uncharacteristic of the time. Some may consider this an insignificant point, but it was a glaring glitch in an otherwise seemingly impeccably researched book, and I see no reason why the story couldn’t have been set in modern times which is where the characters belong.
The book was too dark for my taste, but I’m sure many people will love it and I recommend it for the Awesome Indies list.
January 21, 2013
Review of The Darkening Dream by Andy Gavin
5 stars
“The Darkening Dream” is a far more complex book than I expected, and joyfully so. I raced through it, unable to put it aside till I’d finish, then ended it asking for a sequel! I truly hope there will be one. So many layers of different metaphysical possibilities and realities exist in this story that any reader of the paranormal of almost any stripe will find something to latch on to (except maybe werewolf lovers LOL). There are vampires, ancient entities, Judaism, Christianity, Archangels, Ceremonial Magick; characters who are purely evil (both in life and in death), those who are purely good, and of course, those who have tendencies to both good and evil and must constantly make the decision at any moment as to which path to trod.
In Salem, Massachusetts, in 1913 (yes, Constant Readers, THAT Salem), life is fairly smooth but an immigration problem is developing: vampires from North Africa, Egypt, and Turkey. They’re all after one supremely holy object: the shofar or horn of the Archangel Gabriel, and information has directed them to Salem, to the home of a Jewish professor and former rabbi. They haven’t bargained on this man’s holy character, nor the strength of will of his daughter Sarah.
“The Darkening Dream” is a satisfying read on so many levels: metaphysical, Spiritual, magickal, personal, developing love, relationship, sibling strength and rivalry, and much, much more. Any reader who enjoys purely good fiction owes it to herself or himself to pick this one up and give it the time it deserves.
5 stars
“The Darkening Dream” is a far more complex book than I expected, and joyfully so. I raced through it, unable to put it aside till I’d finish, then ended it asking for a sequel! I truly hope there will be one. So many layers of different metaphysical possibilities and realities exist in this story that any reader of the paranormal of almost any stripe will find something to latch on to (except maybe werewolf lovers LOL). There are vampires, ancient entities, Judaism, Christianity, Archangels, Ceremonial Magick; characters who are purely evil (both in life and in death), those who are purely good, and of course, those who have tendencies to both good and evil and must constantly make the decision at any moment as to which path to trod.
In Salem, Massachusetts, in 1913 (yes, Constant Readers, THAT Salem), life is fairly smooth but an immigration problem is developing: vampires from North Africa, Egypt, and Turkey. They’re all after one supremely holy object: the shofar or horn of the Archangel Gabriel, and information has directed them to Salem, to the home of a Jewish professor and former rabbi. They haven’t bargained on this man’s holy character, nor the strength of will of his daughter Sarah.
“The Darkening Dream” is a satisfying read on so many levels: metaphysical, Spiritual, magickal, personal, developing love, relationship, sibling strength and rivalry, and much, much more. Any reader who enjoys purely good fiction owes it to herself or himself to pick this one up and give it the time it deserves.
May 16, 2013
Man!! This has just been a super great week for books!! Geez-la-weez!! And during NaNo! That part wasn’t so great. Trying to get writing done when there are other books calling your name, DYING to be read? Yeah. That was awesome on my word counts. I can tell you that.
However, this book…GEEZ! This book! The setting caught my attention first of all. In the opening scene, we find Sarah peering around the curtain separating the men folk from the women folk in church. Yeah. I don’t read that often! I can assure you. Mr. Gavin’s ability to suck the reader into the characters is amazing! I was instantly drawn into Sarah’s world, with her friends, racing through this plot!
And OMW! This plot! Wow! It was so fast!! We have vampires, a warlock, GODS from Egypt! Wow! And we’re in the early 1900′s in Salem with a female hero trying to save a trumpet. The plotline reminded me of some of the lines I get when I ask my kids, “Hey, I have a nightmare and a mechanic. How can I terrify them both?” Yeah, it’s a bit out there, but the writing is AMAZING! Mr. Gavin did a really exceptional job of weaving a storyline that was intriguing and intoxicating at the same time!
Voice? GREAT!
Characters? PHENOMINAL!
Plot? Excellent!
Setting? Awesome!
Overall? Read this book!
However, this book…GEEZ! This book! The setting caught my attention first of all. In the opening scene, we find Sarah peering around the curtain separating the men folk from the women folk in church. Yeah. I don’t read that often! I can assure you. Mr. Gavin’s ability to suck the reader into the characters is amazing! I was instantly drawn into Sarah’s world, with her friends, racing through this plot!
And OMW! This plot! Wow! It was so fast!! We have vampires, a warlock, GODS from Egypt! Wow! And we’re in the early 1900′s in Salem with a female hero trying to save a trumpet. The plotline reminded me of some of the lines I get when I ask my kids, “Hey, I have a nightmare and a mechanic. How can I terrify them both?” Yeah, it’s a bit out there, but the writing is AMAZING! Mr. Gavin did a really exceptional job of weaving a storyline that was intriguing and intoxicating at the same time!
Voice? GREAT!
Characters? PHENOMINAL!
Plot? Excellent!
Setting? Awesome!
Overall? Read this book!
January 31, 2012
Wow talk about good book. This is Andy's first book which shocks me to be able to write such depth and create so much story right off.
This book is about some young friends in Salem, MA set in 1913 you have a very different era when cars are new and girls don't show any leg great job by Andy in giving you an idea of how things were back then.
These friends are caught in a fight with a vampire. Not the soft sparkly 100 + year old virgin kind. No this one is a rotting carcass of evil and looking to spread more. I'm not going to get into the full synopsis but the book combines, vampires, demons, sorcerer, angels, religious and historical elements to create a story so rich with great characters. It's not soft and sweet but fantastically done.
I am highly impressed and enjoyed it very much. I can honestly say I wish I was as smart as Sarah.
This book is about some young friends in Salem, MA set in 1913 you have a very different era when cars are new and girls don't show any leg great job by Andy in giving you an idea of how things were back then.
These friends are caught in a fight with a vampire. Not the soft sparkly 100 + year old virgin kind. No this one is a rotting carcass of evil and looking to spread more. I'm not going to get into the full synopsis but the book combines, vampires, demons, sorcerer, angels, religious and historical elements to create a story so rich with great characters. It's not soft and sweet but fantastically done.
I am highly impressed and enjoyed it very much. I can honestly say I wish I was as smart as Sarah.
February 18, 2014
I've been consciously avoiding reading for the last few days because I am so uninterested in this book. What a shame, as it's not bad so far. I just can't get past the idea that young people from different religions from this time period would be allowed to hang out together, much less genders being alone together. (I have no research myself to support this, or the time to find out. What matters more to me is that it doesn't feel believable and feelings are important to the reading process) The dialogue seems too modern and doesn't feel convincing or researched. I can't remember anything about any of the characters because they are so flat and samey same. Bored now. Giving up and moving on! Probably the right book for the right person. Just not me.
February 13, 2012
So I'm going to be honest. I wanted to read this book because of the author. Andy Gavin created Naughty Dog, which is an AWESOME video game developer. At fifteen. So clearly this guy has some creative talent. I was intrigued to see if this carried over to the written word from the land of 1's and 0's. It did, very nicely I might add. So here we go about The Darkening Dream:
The Setup
(From Goodreads) 1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal?
No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.
Why You'll Like it:
You liked Bram Stoker's Dracula. I did, and I liked this book too. The dare I say, improvement on the original vampire novel was more action, more twists and turns. I'm sure some of this has to do the time period. Some of the stuff you'll read in Darkening isn't up to Victorian standards of etiquette, which I consider a good thing. Also, it's nice to read a book with the same kind of feel through a third person POV. Dracula's letters wore on me after a while.
You don't like your vampires sparkly. Or nice. Or the tortured romantic interest. If you're looking for another Edward, Angel, or even Eric, he's not here. What you will find is monsters. Good, old-fashioned, eat you and leave your corpse for the local children to find monsters. This is a horror novel, with vampires. You could get your boyfriend to read it without rolling his eyes.
You're into Steampunk. Even if the genre is new to you, this book makes it easy. There are some trademark characteristics of Steampunk here without getting so left field you're lost. There's turn of the century ideals and setting, along with some really well crafted paranormal elements.
You're into Horror novels. This goes back to the "no sparkly vampires" point I made earlier. It also extends past that. The aren't just vampires. There are demons, warlocks, giant critters, and bug people akin to that thing Keanu Reeves killed on the street in Constantine. As much as I liked this book, it was not something I read right before bed.
You're tired of competitive romance. I didn't used to see this very often, but I'm starting to with the Indie authors I've been reading lately. I like a good love triangle as much as the next girl. Hell, I even used one in my book, and didn't do what Andy Gavin and a few others did. In Darkening the two characters going after the same love interest don't hate each other. They may not always agree, and there's always going to be a little competition, but I cannot tell you how refreshing it is not to read about a pissing contest or a cat fight. It makes you really like all the characters, not just the winner or the loser of love. Now I have to fix mine.
You are leery of religion in fiction. This might sound like a reason you wouldn't like it, but it's not. Probably my absolute favorite thing about this book is the equality given to the "big three" religions. There are bad guys from the different faiths, but what's made clear is that the individual is not a good person. It has nothing to do with who they worship. If anything, it's tells you who the bad guys are going to have to face in the end.
Why You May Not Like It:
This is not YA. Yes, the main characters are all in their teens. But that's about all the similarity you're going to find. They have all the usual teenage feelings and lust, (and some not so usual,) but Gavin goes into a level of detail that a reader expecting angst and romance is not going to find. This is a dark book for adults. You must be an adult to read this and appreciate it, i.e. not snicker at the sexual aspects. That being said, I also want to mention this is not Laurell K. Hamilton over sexed either. I think it's just enough.
You don't do gore. If you can't watch an action movie for the blood, or don't like being scared by horror films, this isn't your book. You want "horror-lite" stick to the YA section with Stephanie Meyer and P.C. Cast. (I've enjoyed both of those authors, so there's no shame in it. Just trying to warn you.)
So there you have it, my thoughts on The Darkening Dream by Andy Gavin. Click here to go to Andy's Goodreads page. Click here to go to the official Darkening Dream webpage for giveaways, purchasing info, and all sorts of fun and scary stuff.
Until next time, happy reading, happy writing.
The Setup
(From Goodreads) 1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal?
No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.
Why You'll Like it:
You liked Bram Stoker's Dracula. I did, and I liked this book too. The dare I say, improvement on the original vampire novel was more action, more twists and turns. I'm sure some of this has to do the time period. Some of the stuff you'll read in Darkening isn't up to Victorian standards of etiquette, which I consider a good thing. Also, it's nice to read a book with the same kind of feel through a third person POV. Dracula's letters wore on me after a while.
You don't like your vampires sparkly. Or nice. Or the tortured romantic interest. If you're looking for another Edward, Angel, or even Eric, he's not here. What you will find is monsters. Good, old-fashioned, eat you and leave your corpse for the local children to find monsters. This is a horror novel, with vampires. You could get your boyfriend to read it without rolling his eyes.
You're into Steampunk. Even if the genre is new to you, this book makes it easy. There are some trademark characteristics of Steampunk here without getting so left field you're lost. There's turn of the century ideals and setting, along with some really well crafted paranormal elements.
You're into Horror novels. This goes back to the "no sparkly vampires" point I made earlier. It also extends past that. The aren't just vampires. There are demons, warlocks, giant critters, and bug people akin to that thing Keanu Reeves killed on the street in Constantine. As much as I liked this book, it was not something I read right before bed.
You're tired of competitive romance. I didn't used to see this very often, but I'm starting to with the Indie authors I've been reading lately. I like a good love triangle as much as the next girl. Hell, I even used one in my book, and didn't do what Andy Gavin and a few others did. In Darkening the two characters going after the same love interest don't hate each other. They may not always agree, and there's always going to be a little competition, but I cannot tell you how refreshing it is not to read about a pissing contest or a cat fight. It makes you really like all the characters, not just the winner or the loser of love. Now I have to fix mine.
You are leery of religion in fiction. This might sound like a reason you wouldn't like it, but it's not. Probably my absolute favorite thing about this book is the equality given to the "big three" religions. There are bad guys from the different faiths, but what's made clear is that the individual is not a good person. It has nothing to do with who they worship. If anything, it's tells you who the bad guys are going to have to face in the end.
Why You May Not Like It:
This is not YA. Yes, the main characters are all in their teens. But that's about all the similarity you're going to find. They have all the usual teenage feelings and lust, (and some not so usual,) but Gavin goes into a level of detail that a reader expecting angst and romance is not going to find. This is a dark book for adults. You must be an adult to read this and appreciate it, i.e. not snicker at the sexual aspects. That being said, I also want to mention this is not Laurell K. Hamilton over sexed either. I think it's just enough.
You don't do gore. If you can't watch an action movie for the blood, or don't like being scared by horror films, this isn't your book. You want "horror-lite" stick to the YA section with Stephanie Meyer and P.C. Cast. (I've enjoyed both of those authors, so there's no shame in it. Just trying to warn you.)
So there you have it, my thoughts on The Darkening Dream by Andy Gavin. Click here to go to Andy's Goodreads page. Click here to go to the official Darkening Dream webpage for giveaways, purchasing info, and all sorts of fun and scary stuff.
Until next time, happy reading, happy writing.
May 19, 2012
Two words: complicated and intense.
The great care that was taken to develop the setting in this book was amazing. It completely sucks you in. The story takes place in Salem in the early 1900s, which makes it the perfect setting for a super creepy story. And boy, did this story get creepy.
The characters were extremely well developed. It's hard to say what I liked about them the most. The "good guys" were more than just vampire fighting teens. They had, well, character. I won't say much about them though. I'd rather talk about the centuries old vampire out to help destroy the world. He was interesting. The way he was described and the detail given to his inner thoughts, made him terrifying. I am such a wimp when it comes to scary things, so I was really taken by surprised. Of course, I also couldn't stop reading because I was so intrigued by the complicated plot.
Since I mentioned vampires, it should be obvious that the paranormal element is strong with this one. There are also demons, witches, and warlocks. The combination of these paranormal elements is what makes this story so fascinating and complicated. You wouldn't think that a book with this much going on would be coherent, but it is. In fact, it's so well thought out that it's terrifying. Every detail fits together like a well planned puzzle.
In fact, "puzzle" is a great way to think about the plot. There was just so much happening in this book! I was rather impressed that I made it to the final chapters before I figured out what was going on. That's very impressive. I do think it's worth mentioning though, that I have mixed feelings about the shocking ending. IF this is the beginning of a series, then the ending is awesome. I mean, blow-your-mind-how-did-I-not-see-that-coming kind of awesome. And also assuming that this might be the beginning of a series, I am super curious to see what will happen next. (Read that last chapter and you'll know what I'm talking about.) That was one heck of a cliffhanger ending! Now, if this is a stand alone book, then I'm mad as hell with the ending. So many unanswered questions! I didn't have a sense of completeness when I finished the book. I felt like there must be more to come. (Which makes me think this is the beginning of a series.)
Don't read this book thinking it's a light and fluffy YA paranormal book. This is a dark fantasy... dark, dark fantasy. If you're a wimp like me, you should read it during the daylight hours for the villains in this book are what nightmares are made of. If you like a more mature book with a strong good vs evil element that leaves you questioning what you've read, you'll love The Darkening Dream.
The great care that was taken to develop the setting in this book was amazing. It completely sucks you in. The story takes place in Salem in the early 1900s, which makes it the perfect setting for a super creepy story. And boy, did this story get creepy.
The characters were extremely well developed. It's hard to say what I liked about them the most. The "good guys" were more than just vampire fighting teens. They had, well, character. I won't say much about them though. I'd rather talk about the centuries old vampire out to help destroy the world. He was interesting. The way he was described and the detail given to his inner thoughts, made him terrifying. I am such a wimp when it comes to scary things, so I was really taken by surprised. Of course, I also couldn't stop reading because I was so intrigued by the complicated plot.
Since I mentioned vampires, it should be obvious that the paranormal element is strong with this one. There are also demons, witches, and warlocks. The combination of these paranormal elements is what makes this story so fascinating and complicated. You wouldn't think that a book with this much going on would be coherent, but it is. In fact, it's so well thought out that it's terrifying. Every detail fits together like a well planned puzzle.
In fact, "puzzle" is a great way to think about the plot. There was just so much happening in this book! I was rather impressed that I made it to the final chapters before I figured out what was going on. That's very impressive. I do think it's worth mentioning though, that I have mixed feelings about the shocking ending. IF this is the beginning of a series, then the ending is awesome. I mean, blow-your-mind-how-did-I-not-see-that-coming kind of awesome. And also assuming that this might be the beginning of a series, I am super curious to see what will happen next. (Read that last chapter and you'll know what I'm talking about.) That was one heck of a cliffhanger ending! Now, if this is a stand alone book, then I'm mad as hell with the ending. So many unanswered questions! I didn't have a sense of completeness when I finished the book. I felt like there must be more to come. (Which makes me think this is the beginning of a series.)
Don't read this book thinking it's a light and fluffy YA paranormal book. This is a dark fantasy... dark, dark fantasy. If you're a wimp like me, you should read it during the daylight hours for the villains in this book are what nightmares are made of. If you like a more mature book with a strong good vs evil element that leaves you questioning what you've read, you'll love The Darkening Dream.
March 19, 2021
Now this is a vampire novel! Don't get me wrong I have nothing against all the cute little "vamps are just like us" books out there; but given the choice I'd much rather read about them doing horrible evil things.
And I don't mean making out with girls young enough to be their 6x granddaughters. And if a character knows how to use a stake, I'm all for them.
It flows so perfectly between character point of views, it's a great blend of historical fiction, mythology and paranormal I couldn't get through it quicker. I actually put so much off just to read it.... and you know what, just go read it now stop reading this and go!
What you want more?
Alrighty, when I got to the end of the book I immediately wanted to read it again. If I hadn't been using my reader I might have thrown it around a little, though.
Seriously? That's the ending you're going to give it?
Well all I have to say to that is: thank you.
Vampires, witchcraft, gods, angels, demons and everything in between (which can also be labeled as things I have no clue about), yes, yes and yes.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
And I don't mean making out with girls young enough to be their 6x granddaughters. And if a character knows how to use a stake, I'm all for them.
It flows so perfectly between character point of views, it's a great blend of historical fiction, mythology and paranormal I couldn't get through it quicker. I actually put so much off just to read it.... and you know what, just go read it now stop reading this and go!
What you want more?
Alrighty, when I got to the end of the book I immediately wanted to read it again. If I hadn't been using my reader I might have thrown it around a little, though.
Seriously? That's the ending you're going to give it?
Well all I have to say to that is: thank you.
Vampires, witchcraft, gods, angels, demons and everything in between (which can also be labeled as things I have no clue about), yes, yes and yes.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2012
I admit, I was not prepared for how scary this book is. Andy Gavin has an amazing talent for creating horrifying, yet somehow beautiful, images. The story is complex, but never confusing. The characters are original and satisfying. I am hoping for a sequel, as the ending leaves an opening for more of Sarah's journey. What an imagination this author has!
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December 21, 2015
Shifting POV that led nowhere, strange conversations between young women who are supposed to live in the 1910s but sound suspiciously 21st Century. Nothing to draw me in, rather tedius.
November 7, 2018
This book was okay. The biggest thing that hindered it for me was the lack of a feeling of time and place. Being set in Salem in the early 1900's I'd hoped it would've been more atmospheric. Some of the dialogue and language took me out of the book as it didn't seem to fit with the time it's set in. Also, the romantic aspects seemed odd and forced given the events taking place around the characters.
December 21, 2012
The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I received a free copy of The Darkening Dream from the author for an honest review.
Sarah is just like any other girl of her time who wants the same things and do the same things. She lives in Salem, Massachusetts in 1913. She has two best friends who are twins, Sam and Anne. They have all been best friends since they were children. Now as they have grown older Sam is beginning to see her as the woman that she is starting to be. Sarah and her friends are of a different faith and obviously go to different churches. But this has never interfered with their friendship.
Sarah is at the age where it is time for her to start thinking about marriage and having a family of her own. Her father the Rabbi Joseph is on the look out for her a suitable husband of the Jewish faith. Sarah has no intentions of getting married anytime soon and always tries to distracts her father when the subject comes up.
Sarah, Sam and Anne meet a new guy Alex a Greek immigrant who has just moved to Salem. When Sarah sees Alex for the first time she likes him. She is like whoa, what is going on this is not what she has planned for her future. Besides Alex is not of the Jewish faith so therefore she can not have a relationship with him. Her father and mother would not allow it. So Sarah and Alex have to hide their feelings for one another from everyone including Sam and Anne or so Sarah thinks.
Sarah, Anne, Sam and Alex go on a picnic together and while Sam and Alex are competing as men do trying to prove who is better at shooting a gun. Anne and Sarah find a body in the woods and this where all their troubles start. The body that they find is a friend of Anne and Sam's little sister Emily. But as they say the dead don't stay dead. Later they see the body whose name is Charles walking around. Alex tells them that he is a vampire. Alex knows a lot about vampires he knows how and when to kill them again. So they all wait until dawn and go to his grave and dig him up just as the sun is coming up and put a stake through his heart.
After killing this new, baby, fledgling vampire they now think they are vampire hunters and decide that they have to go after the 900 year old vampire that turned Charles into a vampire.
Sarah's father has taught her a lot about magic and warding spells. I think that is what they are called. A spell that will keep evil spirits or a vampire out of your home. The vampires in The Darkening Dream are of the variety that has to be invited in before they can enter into someone's home.
The big guy, the master vampire Mr. Nasir is a very evil vampire who has to drink blood from a human if not every night at least every other night. And he doesn't care what kind of person they are. In some of the vampire books that I have read some of the vamps won't drink human blood at all or hardly ever. Some will drink human blood but they try to be discreet about it and pick someone who is homeless and probably has no family or anyone that will come looking for them. They do this so that they can stay hidden from the humans and stay alive or not be killed again. But the vamps in The Darkening Dream enjoy feeding from and tearing a human apart literally.
The Darkening Dream is one of those novels that will drag you in to its lair in the first chapter. From the very beginning you are hooked and you do not want to stop turning the pages until you reach the very last page. Speaking of the ending although I did like the ending very much I really really hope that there will be another book. I want to know more about Sarah and her life. And what about Alex? Will Alex and Sarah be together in another book? What about Sam and his feelings for Sarah? Will Alex and Sam compete for Sarah's attention, her love?
Sarah is just like any other girl of her time who wants the same things and do the same things. She lives in Salem, Massachusetts in 1913. She has two best friends who are twins, Sam and Anne. They have all been best friends since they were children. Now as they have grown older Sam is beginning to see her as the woman that she is starting to be. Sarah and her friends are of a different faith and obviously go to different churches. But this has never interfered with their friendship.
Sarah is at the age where it is time for her to start thinking about marriage and having a family of her own. Her father the Rabbi Joseph is on the look out for her a suitable husband of the Jewish faith. Sarah has no intentions of getting married anytime soon and always tries to distracts her father when the subject comes up.
Sarah, Sam and Anne meet a new guy Alex a Greek immigrant who has just moved to Salem. When Sarah sees Alex for the first time she likes him. She is like whoa, what is going on this is not what she has planned for her future. Besides Alex is not of the Jewish faith so therefore she can not have a relationship with him. Her father and mother would not allow it. So Sarah and Alex have to hide their feelings for one another from everyone including Sam and Anne or so Sarah thinks.
Sarah, Anne, Sam and Alex go on a picnic together and while Sam and Alex are competing as men do trying to prove who is better at shooting a gun. Anne and Sarah find a body in the woods and this where all their troubles start. The body that they find is a friend of Anne and Sam's little sister Emily. But as they say the dead don't stay dead. Later they see the body whose name is Charles walking around. Alex tells them that he is a vampire. Alex knows a lot about vampires he knows how and when to kill them again. So they all wait until dawn and go to his grave and dig him up just as the sun is coming up and put a stake through his heart.
After killing this new, baby, fledgling vampire they now think they are vampire hunters and decide that they have to go after the 900 year old vampire that turned Charles into a vampire.
Sarah's father has taught her a lot about magic and warding spells. I think that is what they are called. A spell that will keep evil spirits or a vampire out of your home. The vampires in The Darkening Dream are of the variety that has to be invited in before they can enter into someone's home.
The big guy, the master vampire Mr. Nasir is a very evil vampire who has to drink blood from a human if not every night at least every other night. And he doesn't care what kind of person they are. In some of the vampire books that I have read some of the vamps won't drink human blood at all or hardly ever. Some will drink human blood but they try to be discreet about it and pick someone who is homeless and probably has no family or anyone that will come looking for them. They do this so that they can stay hidden from the humans and stay alive or not be killed again. But the vamps in The Darkening Dream enjoy feeding from and tearing a human apart literally.
The Darkening Dream is one of those novels that will drag you in to its lair in the first chapter. From the very beginning you are hooked and you do not want to stop turning the pages until you reach the very last page. Speaking of the ending although I did like the ending very much I really really hope that there will be another book. I want to know more about Sarah and her life. And what about Alex? Will Alex and Sarah be together in another book? What about Sam and his feelings for Sarah? Will Alex and Sam compete for Sarah's attention, her love?
August 25, 2012
Let’s face it. Vampires are sissies, and have been for the last decade. Ever since the paranormal romance genre introduced us to the vampires in love with our heroes or heroines, vampires have been known as goody-two-shoes, true romantics at heart. We’ve forgotten the roots of these creatures. They’re not meant to fall in love or seduce our main characters. They’re meant to be terrifyingly scary, dark and dangerous, bloodthirsty murderers who maim and kill with a passion. No longer do good and evil overlapse in these creatures of the night. Instead, they’re delightfully evil, returned firmly to their roots in the deepest circles of hell. No sparkling vampires if you read The Darkening Dream, and to be honest, aren’t we all glad for that?
Not only did I find the sheer evilness of the vampires – evil just for sake of being evil, in some cases – utterly refreshing from the tame vampire characters we’ve come to know, I also thought this book offered an intriguing view on ancient folklore, and an unique approach to Salem at the beginning of the twentieth century. The main character, Sarah, isn’t exactly what you’d be looking for in a main character. She doesn’t have the typical attributes we usually seek for in a heroine. The turn of the century is a difficult era for the inhabitants of Salem. On the one side, progress happens more rapidly than it did before. On the other hand, people are keen on holding on to the past they’ve come to know and love. Amidst this constant battle between progress and tradition, one of the most ancient monsters this world knows decides to make an appearance: an ancient vampire, with his mind deadset on destroying everyone who crosses his path.
Sarah and her friends, twins Anne and Sam, become friends with Alex, a boy from Greece. Most of the book is written from Sarah’s POV, and other parts are from Alex’ POV. I liked Alex. He was different. Being a Greek immigrant now living in turn-of-the-century Salem, he had an unique look on things that I very much admired. I also liked his relationship with Sarah, and the growing attraction between them.
The Darkening Dream obviously isn’t something thrown together quickly to come up with a story. This is a bulky novel, well-thought-through from start to end, with an impressive backstory and lore. It wraps together vampirisim, ancient Egypt Gods, a magical horn belonging to an Archangel, warlocks, witches and more. Evil is delightfully evil. The worldbuilding is superb. The author obviously did a lot of research before getting started on this book.
It’s hard to classify this book. It’s YA, the main character is a young adult, but it’s not YA like we’ve come to known. It’s unique, even in this approach. The main characters don’t always act like young adults, and this book has such outstanding source material I have no doubt it could be enjoyed by young adults and adults alike. It’s too large to fit in one age category, just like you can’t easily fit it in one genre.
The only reason I didn’t give this book a five-star rating is that, at times, I found the narrative dragged a bit. I had trouble with some of the descriptions, and at first, I had trouble getting into the story. As soon as I delved further into the book, this changed though. It’s hard to get through the start, but this book gradually gets better, so don’t give up right away.
If you’re a fan of vampires or paranormal romance in general, try out The Darkening Dream. It’s new, refreshing, a major improvement from the YA vampire novels currently out there. It’s very dark, and definitely lives up to its name. There’s romance, horror, suspense, mystery, drama, a historical setting, memorable characters and a big bad you’ll never forget. I hugely recommend this to all fans of paranormal novels or vampire novels.
Not only did I find the sheer evilness of the vampires – evil just for sake of being evil, in some cases – utterly refreshing from the tame vampire characters we’ve come to know, I also thought this book offered an intriguing view on ancient folklore, and an unique approach to Salem at the beginning of the twentieth century. The main character, Sarah, isn’t exactly what you’d be looking for in a main character. She doesn’t have the typical attributes we usually seek for in a heroine. The turn of the century is a difficult era for the inhabitants of Salem. On the one side, progress happens more rapidly than it did before. On the other hand, people are keen on holding on to the past they’ve come to know and love. Amidst this constant battle between progress and tradition, one of the most ancient monsters this world knows decides to make an appearance: an ancient vampire, with his mind deadset on destroying everyone who crosses his path.
Sarah and her friends, twins Anne and Sam, become friends with Alex, a boy from Greece. Most of the book is written from Sarah’s POV, and other parts are from Alex’ POV. I liked Alex. He was different. Being a Greek immigrant now living in turn-of-the-century Salem, he had an unique look on things that I very much admired. I also liked his relationship with Sarah, and the growing attraction between them.
The Darkening Dream obviously isn’t something thrown together quickly to come up with a story. This is a bulky novel, well-thought-through from start to end, with an impressive backstory and lore. It wraps together vampirisim, ancient Egypt Gods, a magical horn belonging to an Archangel, warlocks, witches and more. Evil is delightfully evil. The worldbuilding is superb. The author obviously did a lot of research before getting started on this book.
It’s hard to classify this book. It’s YA, the main character is a young adult, but it’s not YA like we’ve come to known. It’s unique, even in this approach. The main characters don’t always act like young adults, and this book has such outstanding source material I have no doubt it could be enjoyed by young adults and adults alike. It’s too large to fit in one age category, just like you can’t easily fit it in one genre.
The only reason I didn’t give this book a five-star rating is that, at times, I found the narrative dragged a bit. I had trouble with some of the descriptions, and at first, I had trouble getting into the story. As soon as I delved further into the book, this changed though. It’s hard to get through the start, but this book gradually gets better, so don’t give up right away.
If you’re a fan of vampires or paranormal romance in general, try out The Darkening Dream. It’s new, refreshing, a major improvement from the YA vampire novels currently out there. It’s very dark, and definitely lives up to its name. There’s romance, horror, suspense, mystery, drama, a historical setting, memorable characters and a big bad you’ll never forget. I hugely recommend this to all fans of paranormal novels or vampire novels.
February 10, 2012
I'm going to start off by saying this book was very dark, very gruesome, and heavy. I bought it for my kindle after seeing it advertised on goodreads, and it was not at all what I was expecting. I'm in need of a light, fun read after this one, or maybe just a strong drink...
Set in the early 1900's, Sarah is the well-read daughter of a rabbi, and from the very beginning we see that she is wise beyond her years. She meets an immigrant from Greece, an attractive boy that shares her intrigue and worldly knowledge, but any romance that may be blossoming was overshadowed by the sinister foreboding that takes over. When Sarah and her friends stumble across the gruesome remains of a local boy, only to later discover him as a rabid undead, they find themselves thrown into a deadly battle between good and evil. Witchcraft, undead, demons, and a priest who's sold his soul are suddenly everywhere they turn, and they are in more danger than they could ever have imagined.
The synopsis covers most of the necessary details as far as basics, but the book is more religion-based than it leads one to believe. While I appreciate that it was necessary in order to understand Sarah's family better and played a big part in how they fought against the evil that surrounded them, it was a little preachy at times. It did make for a very creepy atmosphere, though, seeing how the blackness even seeped into the little good that remained.
The relationship between Sarah and Alex, while not at the forefront of the story, caught my interest early on. This isn't the typical sultry attraction of many YA novels; it's illicit lust that we see from Alex's point of view more than Sarah's, but behind it lurk obvious emotions for her as well. Her friends, siblings Anne and Sam, were decent supporting characters. I liked Sam; he added the small bit of humor that was allowed to grace the story, and he always seemed like a welcome distraction from the more depressing events.
Gavin takes every opportunity to describe each harrowing moment in the story...in grave detail. And there were many. Honestly, there were scenes where my stomach lurched at what I was reading. We aren't spared any part of the sickening actions that the characters either carry out or have done to them, the worst of which are at the hands of Nasir, the centuries old vampire that plagues the town. He is a vile, cruel, sick animal of a creature, and he made my skin crawl. When Gavin so explicitly describes the putrid smells seeping from every corner of his insect-infested home, you can't help but want to stop reading for fear it will all somehow ooze right out of the text.
Darkening switches POV between several of the characters throughout the book, which gave a clear view of their motives. There were some that I really didn't want to hear, but I think it gave the story more depth. Getting into the mind of pure evil was downright disturbing, and there are several fairly raunchy scenes that make this a definite adults-only novel.
This book was very well-written, but it was too heavy for my tastes. Heavy on religion for the purpose of the story, heavy on testosterone, heavy on gore, heavy on facts, heavy on darkness...you get the point. I could probably have gotten past this and just chalked it up to a great read for deep thinkers, but that ending...ugh! I had to knock off a full star for that one, because I was PISSED! And nauseated, heartbroken, torn...man, I almost lost it when I realized the book had ended. That honestly can't be where things are going, and I'm assuming there will be a sequel based on this heart-wrenching cliffhanger??? Ugh, I felt like a dead horse being beaten...
Set in the early 1900's, Sarah is the well-read daughter of a rabbi, and from the very beginning we see that she is wise beyond her years. She meets an immigrant from Greece, an attractive boy that shares her intrigue and worldly knowledge, but any romance that may be blossoming was overshadowed by the sinister foreboding that takes over. When Sarah and her friends stumble across the gruesome remains of a local boy, only to later discover him as a rabid undead, they find themselves thrown into a deadly battle between good and evil. Witchcraft, undead, demons, and a priest who's sold his soul are suddenly everywhere they turn, and they are in more danger than they could ever have imagined.
The synopsis covers most of the necessary details as far as basics, but the book is more religion-based than it leads one to believe. While I appreciate that it was necessary in order to understand Sarah's family better and played a big part in how they fought against the evil that surrounded them, it was a little preachy at times. It did make for a very creepy atmosphere, though, seeing how the blackness even seeped into the little good that remained.
The relationship between Sarah and Alex, while not at the forefront of the story, caught my interest early on. This isn't the typical sultry attraction of many YA novels; it's illicit lust that we see from Alex's point of view more than Sarah's, but behind it lurk obvious emotions for her as well. Her friends, siblings Anne and Sam, were decent supporting characters. I liked Sam; he added the small bit of humor that was allowed to grace the story, and he always seemed like a welcome distraction from the more depressing events.
Gavin takes every opportunity to describe each harrowing moment in the story...in grave detail. And there were many. Honestly, there were scenes where my stomach lurched at what I was reading. We aren't spared any part of the sickening actions that the characters either carry out or have done to them, the worst of which are at the hands of Nasir, the centuries old vampire that plagues the town. He is a vile, cruel, sick animal of a creature, and he made my skin crawl. When Gavin so explicitly describes the putrid smells seeping from every corner of his insect-infested home, you can't help but want to stop reading for fear it will all somehow ooze right out of the text.
Darkening switches POV between several of the characters throughout the book, which gave a clear view of their motives. There were some that I really didn't want to hear, but I think it gave the story more depth. Getting into the mind of pure evil was downright disturbing, and there are several fairly raunchy scenes that make this a definite adults-only novel.
This book was very well-written, but it was too heavy for my tastes. Heavy on religion for the purpose of the story, heavy on testosterone, heavy on gore, heavy on facts, heavy on darkness...you get the point. I could probably have gotten past this and just chalked it up to a great read for deep thinkers, but that ending...ugh! I had to knock off a full star for that one, because I was PISSED! And nauseated, heartbroken, torn...man, I almost lost it when I realized the book had ended. That honestly can't be where things are going, and I'm assuming there will be a sequel based on this heart-wrenching cliffhanger??? Ugh, I felt like a dead horse being beaten...
January 24, 2013
The Darkening Dream was completely unlike any book that I've read before. At first I was really caught up in the summary of the novel which definitely catches the reader's attention as well as the stunningly dark and mysterious cover paired alongside it.
The fact that I liked the book so much caught me completely off guard and I'm really glad I gave this debut novel by Andy Gavin a chance. The Darkening Dream brings together a fantastic mixture of fantasy, mythology, paranormal, historical fiction and the added bonus of a wee little bit of romance mixed in for good measure.
At 382 pages this novel is on the longer side but I think that is a large part of what made it such a great read. The amount of detail that went into the writing of the novel is wonderful, usually I'm not one for books that are excessively detailed so I was glad to see that this novel was detailed in all the write places and I didn't feel bogged down by needless descriptions.
The book centers around Sarah, Alex, Anne, Emily, Sam, some Egyptian gods, a 900 year old vampire and a Puritan minister who's in a sexual relationship with a succubus and of course the novel is set in the perfect place Salem during the beginning of the 20th century.
I was very impressed with the plot of the novel, that fact that the author drew on so many genres, created realistic characters and the fact that the novel was written in such a way that there was always another plot twist every few pages that kept me on my toes. Plus the book was told in shifting perspectives so I really got a feel for all the other characters not just Sarah which was awesome.
The fact that the book always had me guessing, and wanting to read late into the night which I did the other night staying up past 4 a.m. because I had to see what happened next really had me hooked. I thought the author did a fantastic job in telling the story and the plot was outstanding and I can't help but wish that this book were turned into a series because when I finished it all I wanted to do was return to the characters and their mysterious adventure.
Overall, this was a fantastic debut. It is completely and utterly unique in both the caliber of the writing as well as the plot. I think this would appeal to a wide variety of readers who like fantasy novels and paranormal novels. While the book has been shelved many times as young adult on Goodreads there are certain themes in it that are probably better suited to older teens 17+. This is one novel that I think I'll have to purchase in paperback and one that I highly recommend giving a try. I for one hope the author continues in his writing career because I for one can't wait to read more of his work and I know for a fact that Mr. Turning the Pages will love this one as soon as he can get his hands on my Kindle long enough to read it.
* I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. I was not compensated in anyway to give a positive review and all thoughts and opinions herein are my own.
The fact that I liked the book so much caught me completely off guard and I'm really glad I gave this debut novel by Andy Gavin a chance. The Darkening Dream brings together a fantastic mixture of fantasy, mythology, paranormal, historical fiction and the added bonus of a wee little bit of romance mixed in for good measure.
At 382 pages this novel is on the longer side but I think that is a large part of what made it such a great read. The amount of detail that went into the writing of the novel is wonderful, usually I'm not one for books that are excessively detailed so I was glad to see that this novel was detailed in all the write places and I didn't feel bogged down by needless descriptions.
The book centers around Sarah, Alex, Anne, Emily, Sam, some Egyptian gods, a 900 year old vampire and a Puritan minister who's in a sexual relationship with a succubus and of course the novel is set in the perfect place Salem during the beginning of the 20th century.
I was very impressed with the plot of the novel, that fact that the author drew on so many genres, created realistic characters and the fact that the novel was written in such a way that there was always another plot twist every few pages that kept me on my toes. Plus the book was told in shifting perspectives so I really got a feel for all the other characters not just Sarah which was awesome.
The fact that the book always had me guessing, and wanting to read late into the night which I did the other night staying up past 4 a.m. because I had to see what happened next really had me hooked. I thought the author did a fantastic job in telling the story and the plot was outstanding and I can't help but wish that this book were turned into a series because when I finished it all I wanted to do was return to the characters and their mysterious adventure.
Overall, this was a fantastic debut. It is completely and utterly unique in both the caliber of the writing as well as the plot. I think this would appeal to a wide variety of readers who like fantasy novels and paranormal novels. While the book has been shelved many times as young adult on Goodreads there are certain themes in it that are probably better suited to older teens 17+. This is one novel that I think I'll have to purchase in paperback and one that I highly recommend giving a try. I for one hope the author continues in his writing career because I for one can't wait to read more of his work and I know for a fact that Mr. Turning the Pages will love this one as soon as he can get his hands on my Kindle long enough to read it.
* I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. I was not compensated in anyway to give a positive review and all thoughts and opinions herein are my own.
May 23, 2015
Originally Posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
The Darkening Dream is one novel I can say that can fit into almost all YA genres. It's got action, mythology, religion, romance, paranormal, mystery, history, fantasy– what more could you want? This kept me going, but as it was kind of a long read, I couldn't finish it in one go. I kept on wanting more, and this satisfied my reading appetite.
All characters in this novel were amazing. They had contrasting personalities, which I absolutely loved. I liked how the perspectives also shifted, it was never really the same person narrating the story. More like going through all the characters in a round, which really gives a good view and insight into the emotions and storyline.
I LOVED Sarah! For the 1900's, she's really quite the tough one. I admired her ability to withstand whatever danger they came across and wasn't grossed out by certain things which I'm sure anyone else would have ran away from. A really strong heroine!
And of course, like every intriguing book there comes a love triangle. We see feelings for Sarah from Alex and Sam. I couldn't tell which team I was on, but I gotta say, Alex is pretty much who I was rooting for the whole time. But of course, I also loved Sam. Both male protagonists were brilliant.
And of course, there's Anne. She's completely the opposite of Sarah, but I really liked her character. I just wish that she'd made more of an appearance during the book though.
One thing which I really enjoyed during the book was the take on Vampires. They weren't the sparkly, Edward Cullen type– they were the really bloodthirsty, horrific kind and ones that gave me nightmares. Gavin's descriptions are top-notch, but of course, vampires come then hand-in-hand with repulsive. Which is exactly what Al-Nasir is. Let me just say: Voldemort has nothing on this guy. He is downright creepy and I still shudder when I think about him. *shudders*
The religion, history and mythology visited in this book is phenomenal. I've never seen a greater collection of these three topics in YA book that I've read so far. The religious beliefs tying in with history, and myths coming to life, and there's just so much more in the novel– it really has great substance.
However, what I could have done without though was the sexual-ness in this novel. I mean, I get the demon thing. That's pretty much understood, they are sexual and seductive in nature. But for other parts of the book I found that it was unnecessary.
The Darkening Dream is a fantastic novel, one which I'm sure will have fantasy nerds, historical-and-myth lovers, romance fans and just anyone who wants a good book wrapped up into this marvelously thought-out story. The ending just BLEW MY MIND, and I really hope Gavin has a second book planned because I need more!
**Thank you so much to Andy Gavin for sending me his book for review!**
The Darkening Dream is one novel I can say that can fit into almost all YA genres. It's got action, mythology, religion, romance, paranormal, mystery, history, fantasy– what more could you want? This kept me going, but as it was kind of a long read, I couldn't finish it in one go. I kept on wanting more, and this satisfied my reading appetite.
All characters in this novel were amazing. They had contrasting personalities, which I absolutely loved. I liked how the perspectives also shifted, it was never really the same person narrating the story. More like going through all the characters in a round, which really gives a good view and insight into the emotions and storyline.
I LOVED Sarah! For the 1900's, she's really quite the tough one. I admired her ability to withstand whatever danger they came across and wasn't grossed out by certain things which I'm sure anyone else would have ran away from. A really strong heroine!
And of course, like every intriguing book there comes a love triangle. We see feelings for Sarah from Alex and Sam. I couldn't tell which team I was on, but I gotta say, Alex is pretty much who I was rooting for the whole time. But of course, I also loved Sam. Both male protagonists were brilliant.
And of course, there's Anne. She's completely the opposite of Sarah, but I really liked her character. I just wish that she'd made more of an appearance during the book though.
One thing which I really enjoyed during the book was the take on Vampires. They weren't the sparkly, Edward Cullen type– they were the really bloodthirsty, horrific kind and ones that gave me nightmares. Gavin's descriptions are top-notch, but of course, vampires come then hand-in-hand with repulsive. Which is exactly what Al-Nasir is. Let me just say: Voldemort has nothing on this guy. He is downright creepy and I still shudder when I think about him. *shudders*
The religion, history and mythology visited in this book is phenomenal. I've never seen a greater collection of these three topics in YA book that I've read so far. The religious beliefs tying in with history, and myths coming to life, and there's just so much more in the novel– it really has great substance.
However, what I could have done without though was the sexual-ness in this novel. I mean, I get the demon thing. That's pretty much understood, they are sexual and seductive in nature. But for other parts of the book I found that it was unnecessary.
The Darkening Dream is a fantastic novel, one which I'm sure will have fantasy nerds, historical-and-myth lovers, romance fans and just anyone who wants a good book wrapped up into this marvelously thought-out story. The ending just BLEW MY MIND, and I really hope Gavin has a second book planned because I need more!
**Thank you so much to Andy Gavin for sending me his book for review!**
August 4, 2015
Ako vam kažem kako je ova knjiga o vampirima s tinejdžerima kao glavnim likovima, hoćete li pobjeći glavom bez obzira s 'još jedan Sumrak pokušaj' u mislima ili ćete mi dati priliku kako bih vam pokazao zašto bi vas Darkening Dream trebao zanimati.
Znate li tko je uopće Andy Gavin? Sarkastični će oštroumno ustanoviti kako je on pisac knjige o koje govorim, no prije nego što je postao pisac bio je suosnivač jednog od danas najznačajnijih studija u industriji video igri (Naughty Dog), programer iza kojeg su mnoge uspješne igre, a prije svega toga čovjek koji je za vrijeme školovanja čitao knjige k'o lud. Danas na svom blogu piše o svemu i svačemu, ponajprije o restoranima u kojima je jeo te o vinima u kojima uživa.
Dosta o njemu, 'ajmo na knjigu. Darkening Dream je vrlo zanimljiva knjiga koja o vampirima govori na način na koji bi se i trebalo govoriti – bića kojima su ljudi hrana, koji tjeraju strah u kosti svojom brutalnošću, koji ne mogu biti na suncu i trebaju biti pozvani u kuću kako bi ušli u nju. Uz taj njihov mitos na vrlo pametan način dodana je doza egipatske mitologije. Dodatnu osobnost svemu daju vrijeme i mjesto radnje, 1913. godina u američkom gradu Salem, istom onom koji ima nadimak 'grad vještica'.
Nasuprot njih nalazi se skupina tinejdžera koji su se igrom slučaja našli u središtu zbivanja. Sarah je pametna djevojka iz židovske obitelji s misterioznim snovima, tu je dobro stojeći grčki doseljenik Alex te blizanci Anne i Sam. Svi redom su vješto opisani i vrlo lako se je povezati s njima u borbi protiv nepoznatog, 900 godina starog vampira i njegovog pomoćnika koji komunicira s demonima. Oni su jednako dobro opisani, lako je razumjeti njihov postupke, u trenutcima možete suosjećati s njima.
Ono što krasi knjigu je sposobnost da vješto isprepleće i raspliće priče, dodaje puno mistike (poput vještica i magije) i tjera vas da saznate što će biti dalje, a da pri tome nije predvidljiva. Neki će reći kako knjiga ima puno horor elemenata, složit ću se s tim uz jedan veliki ali... Ta nota isključivo ovisi o vama, meni je malo koja knjiga u životu bila iskreno strašna pa ni oni sjajni momenti kada je trebala biti strašna mi nisu bili.
The Darkening Dream je prva knjiga koju je Andy Gavin napisao i drago mi je što je izabrao vampire kao temu zato što volim pročitati knjigu koja ih ne pokazuje na način kako o njima razmišljaju tinejdžerske klinke. Nema šljokica, nema ljubavi s ljudima – samo jasno vidljiva stoljetna patnja.
Recenziju možete naći na 227gaming.com
Znate li tko je uopće Andy Gavin? Sarkastični će oštroumno ustanoviti kako je on pisac knjige o koje govorim, no prije nego što je postao pisac bio je suosnivač jednog od danas najznačajnijih studija u industriji video igri (Naughty Dog), programer iza kojeg su mnoge uspješne igre, a prije svega toga čovjek koji je za vrijeme školovanja čitao knjige k'o lud. Danas na svom blogu piše o svemu i svačemu, ponajprije o restoranima u kojima je jeo te o vinima u kojima uživa.
Dosta o njemu, 'ajmo na knjigu. Darkening Dream je vrlo zanimljiva knjiga koja o vampirima govori na način na koji bi se i trebalo govoriti – bića kojima su ljudi hrana, koji tjeraju strah u kosti svojom brutalnošću, koji ne mogu biti na suncu i trebaju biti pozvani u kuću kako bi ušli u nju. Uz taj njihov mitos na vrlo pametan način dodana je doza egipatske mitologije. Dodatnu osobnost svemu daju vrijeme i mjesto radnje, 1913. godina u američkom gradu Salem, istom onom koji ima nadimak 'grad vještica'.
Nasuprot njih nalazi se skupina tinejdžera koji su se igrom slučaja našli u središtu zbivanja. Sarah je pametna djevojka iz židovske obitelji s misterioznim snovima, tu je dobro stojeći grčki doseljenik Alex te blizanci Anne i Sam. Svi redom su vješto opisani i vrlo lako se je povezati s njima u borbi protiv nepoznatog, 900 godina starog vampira i njegovog pomoćnika koji komunicira s demonima. Oni su jednako dobro opisani, lako je razumjeti njihov postupke, u trenutcima možete suosjećati s njima.
Ono što krasi knjigu je sposobnost da vješto isprepleće i raspliće priče, dodaje puno mistike (poput vještica i magije) i tjera vas da saznate što će biti dalje, a da pri tome nije predvidljiva. Neki će reći kako knjiga ima puno horor elemenata, složit ću se s tim uz jedan veliki ali... Ta nota isključivo ovisi o vama, meni je malo koja knjiga u životu bila iskreno strašna pa ni oni sjajni momenti kada je trebala biti strašna mi nisu bili.
The Darkening Dream je prva knjiga koju je Andy Gavin napisao i drago mi je što je izabrao vampire kao temu zato što volim pročitati knjigu koja ih ne pokazuje na način kako o njima razmišljaju tinejdžerske klinke. Nema šljokica, nema ljubavi s ljudima – samo jasno vidljiva stoljetna patnja.
Recenziju možete naći na 227gaming.com
February 25, 2012
RATING : 4.75 DARK, ENGAGING STARS!!
The Darkening Dream takes place mainly in Salem, Massachusetts 1913 over a five week period. This book has its dark, sinister, bone crunching, creepy moments and it has its lighter kiss stealing moments.
Andy uses religion, as a force to be reckoned with. There is a horn and it is a very important horn, it could bring the world to its knees in the wrong hands. It needs to stay hidden and under the protection that only few know of its where-abouts.
The demon loving warlock, Pastor Parris and his side kick, Betty and Al Nasir the bone snapping ( I actually felt some of those), flesh tearing, frightening vampire, are working in cahoots, along with Al’s henchmen, to locate the horn, by whatever means necessary.
Sarah Engelmann has dreams or visions. I like Sarah she is an enormously intelligent girl who has lessons with her Rabbi father, Joseph. She reads and speaks languages that are old. You feel early in the book that she is special.
The twins Sam and Anne are Sarah’s life time friends. Sam is just waking up to Sarah no longer being the little girl he played with, he is seeing more. He also now has competition.
Enter Alex Palaogos, the handsome Greek immigrant who along with the mysterious Dmitri and his grandfather, Constantine, have arrived in Salem to settle down.
The four teenagers, Sarah, Alex, Sam and Anne are drawn into dangerous situations as they try to save Emily, Sam and Anne’s little sister and learn more about the evil that is surrounding them.
We as the reader are seeing the story through the eyes of several characters. Andy moves us in and out of their head with the use of short chapters. Pastor Parris is one of the creepier characters. He really enjoys the wrong side of the track.
I enjoyed Andy’s tale filled with various religions, magic, darkness, death, gruesome murders and vampires you should be afraid of, the non sparkling variety.
Andy is light on the romance, not for Alex trying, and packs a punch with the ending. I can only assume there will be a book 2.
If you are after a dark ( there will be blood), intelligent, paranormal read that does not play nice with its characters, who are weaving their way, by whatever means, to get to the horn to covet it for its power or to keep it safe, then this is the book for you.
Who can you really trust?
Good will take on evil and it will come at a price, it always does.
The Darkening Dream takes place mainly in Salem, Massachusetts 1913 over a five week period. This book has its dark, sinister, bone crunching, creepy moments and it has its lighter kiss stealing moments.
Andy uses religion, as a force to be reckoned with. There is a horn and it is a very important horn, it could bring the world to its knees in the wrong hands. It needs to stay hidden and under the protection that only few know of its where-abouts.
The demon loving warlock, Pastor Parris and his side kick, Betty and Al Nasir the bone snapping ( I actually felt some of those), flesh tearing, frightening vampire, are working in cahoots, along with Al’s henchmen, to locate the horn, by whatever means necessary.
Sarah Engelmann has dreams or visions. I like Sarah she is an enormously intelligent girl who has lessons with her Rabbi father, Joseph. She reads and speaks languages that are old. You feel early in the book that she is special.
The twins Sam and Anne are Sarah’s life time friends. Sam is just waking up to Sarah no longer being the little girl he played with, he is seeing more. He also now has competition.
Enter Alex Palaogos, the handsome Greek immigrant who along with the mysterious Dmitri and his grandfather, Constantine, have arrived in Salem to settle down.
The four teenagers, Sarah, Alex, Sam and Anne are drawn into dangerous situations as they try to save Emily, Sam and Anne’s little sister and learn more about the evil that is surrounding them.
We as the reader are seeing the story through the eyes of several characters. Andy moves us in and out of their head with the use of short chapters. Pastor Parris is one of the creepier characters. He really enjoys the wrong side of the track.
I enjoyed Andy’s tale filled with various religions, magic, darkness, death, gruesome murders and vampires you should be afraid of, the non sparkling variety.
Andy is light on the romance, not for Alex trying, and packs a punch with the ending. I can only assume there will be a book 2.
If you are after a dark ( there will be blood), intelligent, paranormal read that does not play nice with its characters, who are weaving their way, by whatever means, to get to the horn to covet it for its power or to keep it safe, then this is the book for you.
Who can you really trust?
Good will take on evil and it will come at a price, it always does.
February 25, 2012
MICHELLE'S REVIEW:
RATING : 4.75 DARK, ENGAGING STARS!!
The Darkening Dream takes place mainly in Salem, Massachusetts 1913 over a five week period. This book has its dark, sinister, bone crunching, creepy moments and it has its lighter kiss stealing moments.
Andy uses religion, as a force to be reckoned with. There is a horn and it is a very important horn, it could bring the world to its knees in the wrong hands. It needs to stay hidden and under the protection that only few know of its where-abouts.
The demon loving warlock, Pastor Parris and his side kick, Betty and Al Nasir the bone snapping ( I actually felt some of those), flesh tearing, frightening vampire, are working in cahoots, along with Al’s henchmen, to locate the horn, by whatever means necessary.
Sarah Engelmann has dreams or visions. I like Sarah she is an enormously intelligent girl who has lessons with her Rabbi father, Joseph. She reads and speaks languages that are old. You feel early in the book that she is special.
The twins Sam and Anne are Sarah’s life time friends. Sam is just waking up to Sarah no longer being the little girl he played with, he is seeing more. He also now has competition.
Enter Alex Palaogos, the handsome Greek immigrant who along with the mysterious Dmitri and his grandfather, Constantine, have arrived in Salem to settle down.
The four teenagers, Sarah, Alex, Sam and Anne are drawn into dangerous situations as they try to save Emily, Sam and Anne’s little sister and learn more about the evil that is surrounding them.
We as the reader are seeing the story through the eyes of several characters. Andy moves us in and out of their head with the use of short chapters. Pastor Parris is one of the creepier characters. He really enjoys the wrong side of the track.
I enjoyed Andy’s tale filled with various religions, magic, darkness, death, gruesome murders and vampires you should be afraid of, the non sparkling variety.
Andy is light on the romance, not for Alex trying, and packs a punch with the ending. I can only assume there will be a book 2.
If you are after a dark ( there will be blood), intelligent, paranormal read that does not play nice with its characters, who are weaving their way, by whatever means, to get to the horn to covet it for its power or to keep it safe, then this is the book for you.
Who can you really trust?
Good will take on evil and it will come at a price, it always does.
RATING : 4.75 DARK, ENGAGING STARS!!
The Darkening Dream takes place mainly in Salem, Massachusetts 1913 over a five week period. This book has its dark, sinister, bone crunching, creepy moments and it has its lighter kiss stealing moments.
Andy uses religion, as a force to be reckoned with. There is a horn and it is a very important horn, it could bring the world to its knees in the wrong hands. It needs to stay hidden and under the protection that only few know of its where-abouts.
The demon loving warlock, Pastor Parris and his side kick, Betty and Al Nasir the bone snapping ( I actually felt some of those), flesh tearing, frightening vampire, are working in cahoots, along with Al’s henchmen, to locate the horn, by whatever means necessary.
Sarah Engelmann has dreams or visions. I like Sarah she is an enormously intelligent girl who has lessons with her Rabbi father, Joseph. She reads and speaks languages that are old. You feel early in the book that she is special.
The twins Sam and Anne are Sarah’s life time friends. Sam is just waking up to Sarah no longer being the little girl he played with, he is seeing more. He also now has competition.
Enter Alex Palaogos, the handsome Greek immigrant who along with the mysterious Dmitri and his grandfather, Constantine, have arrived in Salem to settle down.
The four teenagers, Sarah, Alex, Sam and Anne are drawn into dangerous situations as they try to save Emily, Sam and Anne’s little sister and learn more about the evil that is surrounding them.
We as the reader are seeing the story through the eyes of several characters. Andy moves us in and out of their head with the use of short chapters. Pastor Parris is one of the creepier characters. He really enjoys the wrong side of the track.
I enjoyed Andy’s tale filled with various religions, magic, darkness, death, gruesome murders and vampires you should be afraid of, the non sparkling variety.
Andy is light on the romance, not for Alex trying, and packs a punch with the ending. I can only assume there will be a book 2.
If you are after a dark ( there will be blood), intelligent, paranormal read that does not play nice with its characters, who are weaving their way, by whatever means, to get to the horn to covet it for its power or to keep it safe, then this is the book for you.
Who can you really trust?
Good will take on evil and it will come at a price, it always does.
June 25, 2012
The Darkening Dream is the first period piece I've read since, like, High School English. I really didn't know much about this book so I had no expectations going into it. Sometimes, that makes a book more enjoyable, just letting it unfold for you. This was one of those books that I just opened (err, turned on), started reading and didn't want to put down because I was so enthralled by the world, the history lesson and the utter creepiness factor of the story.
I got a kick out of getting into this world of 1913 Salem, Mass. A century ago was a completely different world and Mr. Gavin did a great job painting his picture of the U.S. back then. As a borderline OCD sufferer, I sometimes felt like breaking out the Wiki to fact check but I never did. Mr. Gavin's world was extremely believable and when it comes down to it, it's all fiction in the end. If you enjoy what you're reading, why question it!?
Which leads to a big part of the story... Religion. If you don't like religion in your fantasy, UF or PNR books, you probably won't be a fan of this book. Similar in the way The Iron Druid Chronicles brings together all the religions to build one story (because as long as someone believes, that religion will exist), The Darkest Dream does the same thing. Heavy in the older religions, Kabbalah and Protestant are most prevalent. I don't mind religion in my books. It's history. And in the case of this story, I've actually studied Revelations from The Bible so I could relate to some of the story, as in, "HA! I know what they're talking about!"
But if you like downright creep-tastic, hairy-scary stories, don't let the religious aspect of the story hold you back. It's only used as a mechanism to define good and evil. Oh, and the evil that exists in this book!! I don't recommend this book for anyone under 16 or 17 years of age. It's for a more mature YA audience. Some of the subject matter is a bit harsh (adult in nature) but is vague enough to let young adults read it.
The reason why I didn't give this book a 5 heart review is because I ended up carrying a lot of questions throughout to the end of the story. And there were a ton of questions unanswered after I finished the book. I don't know if there will be a sequel but the ending both shocked and completely took me by surprise!!
Can't miss with this book when it's only 99cents from June 25th thru the 29th on Amazon!
I got a kick out of getting into this world of 1913 Salem, Mass. A century ago was a completely different world and Mr. Gavin did a great job painting his picture of the U.S. back then. As a borderline OCD sufferer, I sometimes felt like breaking out the Wiki to fact check but I never did. Mr. Gavin's world was extremely believable and when it comes down to it, it's all fiction in the end. If you enjoy what you're reading, why question it!?
Which leads to a big part of the story... Religion. If you don't like religion in your fantasy, UF or PNR books, you probably won't be a fan of this book. Similar in the way The Iron Druid Chronicles brings together all the religions to build one story (because as long as someone believes, that religion will exist), The Darkest Dream does the same thing. Heavy in the older religions, Kabbalah and Protestant are most prevalent. I don't mind religion in my books. It's history. And in the case of this story, I've actually studied Revelations from The Bible so I could relate to some of the story, as in, "HA! I know what they're talking about!"
But if you like downright creep-tastic, hairy-scary stories, don't let the religious aspect of the story hold you back. It's only used as a mechanism to define good and evil. Oh, and the evil that exists in this book!! I don't recommend this book for anyone under 16 or 17 years of age. It's for a more mature YA audience. Some of the subject matter is a bit harsh (adult in nature) but is vague enough to let young adults read it.
The reason why I didn't give this book a 5 heart review is because I ended up carrying a lot of questions throughout to the end of the story. And there were a ton of questions unanswered after I finished the book. I don't know if there will be a sequel but the ending both shocked and completely took me by surprise!!
Can't miss with this book when it's only 99cents from June 25th thru the 29th on Amazon!
May 20, 2012
Salem,Massachusetts, 1913, vampires, magic, and one girl and her friends in the middle of it.
Amazon had this as a free electronic download some time ago and I just got around to reading it. Very mixed feelings on this one. The story itself is intriguing and fun and it took me longer than usual to call the twist, and that is always refreshing. The characters are relatively well-drawn personality-wise and several of the fringe characters are very entertaining. Of the main group of four friends, Sarah and Alex are the best written which unfortunately leaves Sam and Ann rather flat. Gavin could do some interesting things with them and assuming he continues this series (as it appears he does) I hope he does much more with all of them.
Gavin does give POVs from multiple characters, including the villains, which I love. I really like when authors use this trope, though I know it's not for everyone. The suspense was well paced and did keep me reading.
All that being said, I had some major issues with this book, the largest being anachronistic language. I read a lot of historical fiction and am in no way above PBS Masterpiece costume dramas. I don't think Gavin shares my proclivities, if he did he would never allow his characters, who live in 1913 New England, to use words like 'weird,' and 'dad' extensively. If these teenagers lived in the 80s, certainly, but he didn't set the action of his book in the 80s, so it's annoying. There were other words and phrases which are decidedly modern, those were just the two used most frequently. If you're writing a period piece, take the time to research how that period sounds or your characters DO NOT ring true. I will suspend my disbelief for vampires, I do not extend that courtesy to anachronisms.
Most other complaints are rather minor: most fringe characters were flat, as were some more main characters; the action, while generally well-paced, near the end began to feel very tired and repetitive; the final battle is rather anti-climactic as is the 'big reveal.'
It was entertaining, but I don't think I care enough to keep a lookout for the rest of the series.
Amazon had this as a free electronic download some time ago and I just got around to reading it. Very mixed feelings on this one. The story itself is intriguing and fun and it took me longer than usual to call the twist, and that is always refreshing. The characters are relatively well-drawn personality-wise and several of the fringe characters are very entertaining. Of the main group of four friends, Sarah and Alex are the best written which unfortunately leaves Sam and Ann rather flat. Gavin could do some interesting things with them and assuming he continues this series (as it appears he does) I hope he does much more with all of them.
Gavin does give POVs from multiple characters, including the villains, which I love. I really like when authors use this trope, though I know it's not for everyone. The suspense was well paced and did keep me reading.
All that being said, I had some major issues with this book, the largest being anachronistic language. I read a lot of historical fiction and am in no way above PBS Masterpiece costume dramas. I don't think Gavin shares my proclivities, if he did he would never allow his characters, who live in 1913 New England, to use words like 'weird,' and 'dad' extensively. If these teenagers lived in the 80s, certainly, but he didn't set the action of his book in the 80s, so it's annoying. There were other words and phrases which are decidedly modern, those were just the two used most frequently. If you're writing a period piece, take the time to research how that period sounds or your characters DO NOT ring true. I will suspend my disbelief for vampires, I do not extend that courtesy to anachronisms.
Most other complaints are rather minor: most fringe characters were flat, as were some more main characters; the action, while generally well-paced, near the end began to feel very tired and repetitive; the final battle is rather anti-climactic as is the 'big reveal.'
It was entertaining, but I don't think I care enough to keep a lookout for the rest of the series.
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