Dark Confluence

The Darkening #1

by Rosemary Fryth

It’s just another ordinary day for Jen McDonald. Until she slams on her brakes and narrowly misses hitting a shrouded woman. Disorientated and stumbling from her car, she’s stunned to discover that the woman has disappeared. Unbeknownst to Jen, that event is the catalyst for many others in the small Australian town of Emerald Hills. In another part of town, a witch rises up determined to gain more power, influence, and wealth, setting into motion a series of catastrophic episodes. People vanish, only to be later found dead, animals are mutilated, children go missing, a strange group of pale men and women show up, odd and unearthly creatures are sighted, and the townsfolk appear to be entranced. It is clear that something dark and sinister is coming, and it’s determined to take over the town. Author of the epic fantasy Riothamus trilogy, Rosemary Fryth brings to her readers Dark Confluence, the first book in The Darkening trilogy.

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Witches

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2012

About the author

Rosemary Fryth: Australian Independent author, poet, historian, sculptor and bookworm.

Current eBooks available to buy:

The heroic, epic fantasy trilogy 'Riothamus':
'Arantur'
'The High King'
'Warriormage'

The Australian contemporary dark fantasy trilogy 'The Darkening':
'Dark Confluence'
'Dark Destination'
'Dark Destiny'

Contemporary dark fantasy/paranormal romance/erotica (stand-alone novella):
'The Dresser Man'

A collection of some of my previously published poems:
'Elemental'

Also, 'The Darkening' trilogy and 'The Dresser Man' are now available as paperbacks.

Author's Notes:

More information can be found on the following Facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheDarken...
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The...

Note: I no longer have an active website. Please disregard any information on www.rosemaryfryth.co. as it no longer has any connection or relevance to my books.

I welcome considered reviews on all my books.

Reviews

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fantasy. The characters and the plot keep me turning the pages.

My Rating: 4 stars

[Lan Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Above all else, Dark Confluence was a surprise. Being an avid reader of YA I don't usually find myself drawn to or identifying with older protagonists. There's something about Jen McDonald however, that hints at a deep seeded vulnerability and I found myself instantly drawn to her. Reluctantly content with a quiet life in a sleepy country town, Jen is the last person who would suspect that a freak accident could be the mysterious workings of a paranormal element. Gifted (or cursed depending on how you look at it) with the ability to see the influence of the Fae, Jen must work past the barriers she's built to overcome the disappointment in the life (and love) she could have had in order to save the town and restore order to the courts of the Fae.
Dark Confluence is an easy read filled with affable and genuine characters. Jen is unassuming and quite happy with her lot despite the pain of her past. There's no self pity or angst in the way she conducts herself and for that I fell in love with her. Whilst most of the story is told from Jen's perspective, we do get an insight into the thoughts and motives of several other characters as well. There's a distinct lack of melodrama in Dark Confluence and yet the description was so beautifully simple that you can't but feel as if you're right in the midst of it all.
Rosemary Fryth does an excellent job of building the tension and atmosphere in Dark Confluence. It happens so slowly that it's almost imperceptible and then before you know it, you're submerged in a cloying fog that smothers every rational thought and you don't for a second see it coming. Silly me didn't realise this is a dark fantasy book and though there are some gory scenes, the worked to add another layer of depth to the often cruel and terrible nature of the paranormal.
I'm so proud that Rosemary Fryth is Australian and that I've been to many of the places mentioned in Dark Confluence. This never happens with any of the other books I read so I'm having a fangirl moment here. And yes, the country towns in Queensland are that beautiful and full of those kinds of genuinely nice, neighborly people. Shame I live in dreary Melbourne.
I'm not usually one to complain about lack of romance but if there's one thing that could improve Dark Confluence it would be some more fleshed out scenes with Fionn, Jen's smouldering Fae lover. They barely had any time together and I found it difficult to reconcile their feelings for each other beyond the physical. I'm hoping that there's a sequel to come despite the ending where the Fae world is explored in more depth.

[Melissa Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit I don't normally go for the more terrifying books. However, Dark Confluence by Rosemary Fryth is just too good to pass up. It's spooky without being cheesy and not over the top with gore and violence. Instead it's fantastically scary, suspenseful and thought provoking. I lost sleep while reading this book, it's definitely a page turner!

I thoroughly enjoyed the main character, Jen. She is an incredible heroine. She finds herself at the center of a paranormal crisis in the small town where she lives and instead of running from the trouble, she learns how to face it. Brave, compassionate, and selfless, Jen makes it very easy to get behind her. I also enjoyed that the main character wasn't a teen, but a grown woman. It's nice to read about adults from time to time.

Fryth's tale is creepy but filled with the beauty of the Australian countryside. It's written in the third person which I love because you get to see the story progress from different perspectives. I enjoyed this book from start to finish and I will definitely be checking out the rest of Fryth's work.

[C. Purtill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this on my Kindle and it was a real page-turner! Rosemary Fryth paints a picture of a small town in Australia that is absolutely charming and believable...and then slowly unravels some very creepy otherworldly elements.

Although there is a cast of great characters inhabiting Emerald Hills, the main one is Jen, a middle-aged woman who lives alone with few friends and no family. She is, by all accounts, an independent woman but beneath the surface, we find her lonely and wishing for true love. When she has a car accident that seems to knock her brain out of whack, she starts seeing things she isn't entirely sure are there. An elderly gentleman recognizes in her the Sight that his late wife had too. Jen is not convinced of this gift until more bizarre things start happening: weird weather phenomenon, kidnappings, and so on.

And then there's the visit from the handsome stranger.

The book is both eerie and delightful and while some of the Aussie slang was unfamiliar to my American eyes, it was in context often enough that I didn't get confused.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Confluence is the first book in “The Darkening” series by Rosemary Firth. It is our first glimpse of the world that Rosemary has created. In the center of this world is Jen McDonald, who finds herself drawn into the world of the Fae and lands smack dab in the middle of an otherworldly war and children who have gone missing. With her own abilities starting to service she is terrified of what is to come she has to choose to become the hero or allow the darkness to take over.

This book is listed under the genre of both ‘Dark Fantasy & Horror” which as I read I wasn't sure that the Horror genre was a good fit, but as the book progressed there was an underlying aspect of horror that snuck up on me slowly. This book reminded me a bit of “FaerieTale” by Raymond Feist, without the grittiness. However, the author was able to get me to a place of uneasiness because I didn't know what was “lurking” beneath the shadows.

One of the things that really jumped out at me was the main character, Jen was not some young woman coming into her hidden talents, but a much older woman who has lived life and has real life experiences. She wasn't drop dead gorgeous, have men lusting after her, or a kick ass fighter she was normal. This hooked me right away, I could sense her vulnerability as things she didn't understand where happening around her. Jen learned quickly that she had to get past her walls that she built to overcome the disappointments and heartbreaks in life. And accept that she is the only one that can help save the town.

The author surrounds Jen with a cast of supporting characters that really bring the story to life, Finnon being one that stands out. A man of the fae he slips in and out of the realms trying to restore balance by helping Jen. The two develop a relationship that is sweet, but at the same time made me feel uneasy, for I kept imagining Pan coming out of the forest to seduce Jen and then leave her with heartbreak. Though most of the story is told from Jen’s point of view, the author slips in and out between different supporting characters all closing in on the “source” of the disturbance in the town. This gave me a broader understanding of the story and just added to the buildup as the book reached its ending.

The book is well written, and the story line flowed nicely, though a bit slow in the beginning as I mentioned above, it isn't until you get to the end that the author was building the suspense and fear slowly. The descriptions of how the “Fae” were encroaching on the town left me nervous and uptight. The Fog alone gave me the creeps, and had me wondering what creatures lurk in the fog that surrounds my own town! Rosemary Firth is a wonderful writer and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

This book is an easy and short read, but worth it and currently FREE on Amazon Kindle you can’t go wrong. With that said I give this book 4 Stars!

Reviewed for DarkissReads www.darkissreads.com

[TDCbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Confluence by Rosemary Fryth

Genre: Dark Fantasy/Horror

About the book: Strange happenings have been going on in town. Jen McDonald has been seeing things that no one else can see. Fionn, a Fae, tells her that she is the key to saving the town. Can she save the town without falling for him?

Review: I like that the heroine is not your typical woman, She is older with an already established life. The book began a bit slow but quickly picks up the pace as you begin to be submerged into the situation. There are times when you are getting just the right amount of detail while other times you are left wanting just a little bit more. Overall a great story that I look forward to continuing.

I would recommend 13+ for this book.

Author Page/Website: http://www.rosemaryfryth.com/

link where you can purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Confluenc...

4 out of 5 stars.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just grabbed something from the Urban Fantasy genre on one of my favorite free Kindle book sites. And it was better than expected, I.e., I actually finished it. It turned out to be by an Aussie author & set in Queensland, Australia, which was unique.

It's always fun to read something set in a place you've never been, because you learn new things. E.g., the author takes her main character for a walk around her country property & just matter-of-factly has her carry a big branch to slap the ground in front of her to let the snakes know she's coming. Much like I'd have a character make some noise so as not to surprise any bears. (This review probably doesn't make a country walk on either of our sides of the world sound very enticing.)

[Damien Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Confluence is an eerie tale about a crossroads between our world and that of the fae. Although I found the first half of the book to be a little slow going, the second half quickly picks up, the story becomes very fast paced and a real page turner. The second half of the book really made me want to continue the trilogy.

Jen, the protagonist, is not your typical heroine. She is an introvert, and maybe even a little flaky, but really finds herself and her strength of self as the story progresses.

All in all, this is a great YA title even though readers may struggle with the early build-up.

[Steve Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book received through Goodreads giveaways.

I generally do not read much in the way of YA fantasy works but did find that I enjoyed this first book of a trilogy set in Australia.

What most pleased meet about this book was the way he author weaved elements of both mystery and horror throughout-the latter achieved without the use of graphic detail. Similarly, the romance elements were handled in in a restrained may and would be appropriate for a younger reading audience.

While at times the story moves along at too slow of a pace for my liking it did maintain my interest throughout. It will be interesting to see how the trilogy proceeds.

[Robert Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Confluence is a truly magical tale. Rosemary's voice is energetic and draws the reader into a mystical world that inexplicably collides with the world of mortals. The writing is strong and easily flows allowing the story to develop without getting lost in the words. The story kept me wondering how things would develop, always the sign of a good read.

[Brandon Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, not awesome, but not bad. it was a little too youth oriented for me even though the heroine is a mature woman.

[Joey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its ok.

[Greg Jolley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting and magical story, rich with interesting characters. A story that moves at a quick pace with sparks of color and details.

[Rosemary Fryth]

This is my own published novel. Feel free to read and review it.