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The Dark

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Christy Barnett is sleeping when her aging German shepherd Molly growls into the darkness outside her bedroom. She wakes to a dim glow provided by her Kindle’s screen, thankful that she had fallen asleep while reading again. The power has gone out, the world outside her window is eerily dark and silent. And Molly is wary of something that waits in the hallway, hiding in the shadows.

A dark cloud has fallen over the city of Aberdeen, MD. The population disappears in an instant. For the handful of survivors, those lucky enough to have a light source not connected to the power grid, it's more than terrifying. They’re left alone, walking through a nightmare, and that is a fate that could be worse than death itself.

The darkness is alive and it is the reason we fear the night.

332 pages, Unknown Binding

First published February 5, 2013

19 people are currently reading
388 people want to read

About the author

Jason Brant

35 books280 followers
"JASON BRANT" is an anagram for Bas Trojann, a former Bigfoot hunter who, after being abducted (and subsequently returned) by aliens, decided to hang up his ghillie suit and enter the world of professional arm wrestling. Despite back-to-back first place finishes in the South Dakota World International Championship League, Bas receded from athletics to invent cheese and give Al Gore the initiative to create the internet.

Nearly a decade after writing the bestselling self-help series, Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese (Cut into Four Pieces) for the Soul, Bas has left his life of notoriety and critical acclaim behind him to write existential, erotic poetry.

His wife washes their clothing on his abs.

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5 stars
127 (28%)
4 stars
164 (36%)
3 stars
117 (25%)
2 stars
34 (7%)
1 star
10 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,212 reviews2,340 followers
February 17, 2021
The Dark
By: Jason Brant
Narrated by: Robert Martinez
This book has a scary vibe from the very beginning! It follows a few scattered people and their experiences in the Dark. They eventually come together and hope to get rescued.
The only people alive now are people that had light with them when a giant explosion happened at a research facility. The dead are not staying dead. They stay in the Dark and try to lure people in or grab those that lose their light source.
Very scary and creepy. Not much to see in the way of monsters but the psychological aspect is scary as heck!
Of course the government is trying to cover it up, but they won't be able to if there are survivors!
Great narration! I received this book from freeaudiblecodes.
Profile Image for Rachel the Book Harlot.
175 reviews51 followers
September 30, 2014
3.5 Stars

This was fun in all its creepy and suspenseful goodness. In fact, the opening scene creeped me out so much that I was forced to turn all the lights on in my apartment. I mean, really, what could be more shudder inducing than
Um yeah, there would be a cartoon sized, person shaped hole in my wall as I got the hell outta there.

In addition to the creepiness factor, and it does get dialed down a bit as things progress, there was a lot to like here. The story itself was very enjoyable. It kind of reminded me of the film The Faculty for some reason. I'm not sure why since the plots are not at all similar, but they both have a similar tone to them. They both also contain an ensemble cast.

The Dark is told from the POV of various characters, all mostly strangers, whose worlds collide once the lights go out. I liked the way this was done, and I liked all of the characters. My only complaint was the character of Annie, who was portrayed as the one dimensional stereotypical big boobed "sleazy" girl. She wasn't a nice person, which was fine, but I'm not sure why that also meant there needed to be those additional ingredients in order to punctuate just how not nice she was. All I can say to that is: Dear Society, stop portraying women who love their bodies and enjoy sex as "not nice, dirty, sleazy, sluts." Thank you.

Aside from that, the ending left much to be desired. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be the start of a series since it's not indicated anywhere, but there were quite a few loose ends. I'm also not a big fan of Otherwise, it just makes the ending and all of their initial struggles feel anticlimactic.

But those things were relatively minor. I still thought it was an enjoyable read, and if this does turn into a series, I'll be on board.

Final Rating: 3.5 stars
Profile Image for Jason Parent.
Author 50 books690 followers
October 25, 2020
So one of my favorite "short" stories has always been King's "The Mist." This book is similar in style and atmosphere, where the dark itself is alive and our protagonists have to do all they can to keep on the lights in a power outage. Relatable characters, well-paced, perfectly lengthed, with a not-as-vague-as-you-might-think villain that makes this plot easily understandable. Just a solid, entertaining read without any lag, survival horror that takes you through one night and then it's done. Recommended.
Profile Image for Michaelbrent Collings.
Author 92 books661 followers
April 1, 2013
I really enjoyed this! A fun "popcorn" book that I'd say was the equivalent of a good summer blockbuster. If you're looking for something to change your life, this ain't it. BUT it's a heckuva lot of fun, with engaging characters and a plot that carries you along well. The baddie is enjoyable, brings good threat, and (most important sometimes) kept me coming back to it. I mean, this is a book that I actually kept sneaking back to read in odd moments, and considering that I get a huge number of books shoved at me through my work, that's a pretty big feat in and of itself.

I'll definitely be looking for more by this author!
Profile Image for Rosemary.
90 reviews2 followers
July 18, 2013
For someone who breaks out in a sweat at the thought of going out into the dead of night, this book was really scary, but I actually found myself so engrossed in the story and tragedy unfolding that I was surprised when I got to the end without once, having to take a break.

The characters were all well thought out and their reactions to what was going on around them was exactly how I think, or hope, some of my braver friends would react - me on the other hand, I would probably hide out in a closet somewhere with a few flashlights and a box of batteries - just in case.

The story itself was great and flowed well, with the right amount of breathing space in between all the suspense. I often wonder about the repercussions of the scientific experiments being carried out around the world - how many times has disaster been averted or covered up? We will probably never know, and it is probably better that way, but this book certainly made me think even more about what we don't know.

The Dark is a great book and I highly recommend it. It has a great set of characters, a great story line, and is told in a way that will make you think twice about switching off the light at night, and facing ......... The Dark.

I really, really love book covers, and the cover of The Dark does this book justice, it is awesome - a work of art.
Profile Image for Mary.
191 reviews
February 9, 2013
The first word that comes to my mind to describe this book is creepy. For a horror novel that's a good thing though. I enjoyed the ensemble of characters, with Walter being my favorite. I would have liked to see a little more development of Aaron and Stephanie, but I liked their characters and back story. The plot was dark, creepy and well thought out. The story progressed logically, and the characters had believable/realistic reactions to the chaos around them.
Profile Image for Jannah.
48 reviews5 followers
February 13, 2013
Once again Jason Brant knocks it outta the park. The Dark is both action packed and terrifying. I found myself emotionally connected to each and every character. I could feel their terror. I could feel their anguish. It was as if I could reach out and touch the darkness they feared. This is one I will definitely read again and again. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Maureen.
838 reviews63 followers
July 22, 2017
So Dean Koontz and Stephen King somehow managed to conceive a love child, and he wrote this book. Early in his career, very early. It really was an interesting story, but relatively short. He doesn't have the ability to pad things out yet by another couple of hundred pages, like his dads. I did like it.
Profile Image for Terri Baldwin.
72 reviews11 followers
February 9, 2013
I was excited to get this book to beta read, and it did not disappoint! From the very beginning, I had goosebumps and was looking over my shoulder. Jason has a way of making you part of the story, as if you’re following the characters around and experiencing everything they do. His characters were all unique from each other, yet they combined to make an excellent cast.

As the town was shrouded in darkness, I knew no more than the characters did. Being kept in the dark just added to my terror. The psychological horror that happened to these characters were just as bad as the tangible events they faced. The reference to another one of his books, The Gate, just made me think about the cause of this plague of darkness even more. That’s one thing I love about Jason’s work. It’s never only what you see, there is always some epiphany that hits you out of nowhere. This book is no exception.

The banter between the characters was great, they felt so real to me. I found myself chuckling at the amateur attempts at chivalry from the smitten teen, sympathizing with Walter, and rolling my eyes at Scott. It made me smile when I realized Christy was saved by a kindle, and her dog reminded me of my German Shepherd Sadie, who lived to be almost as ancient and completely as loyal at 12.

The ending to this book was excellent, and answered a lot of questions. It also left room for perhaps a sequel? Please? I truly enjoyed this book and really hope I get to hear more from these characters. This book was excellently written!
Profile Image for Cheryl .
2,395 reviews80 followers
October 15, 2017
"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle."

Francis of Assisi


There is something about darkness that brings out intense fear in all of us, from the young to the old. And by darkness, I mean the complete absence of light, those times where you literally cannot see your hand in front of your face.
Jason Brant has taken this concept and cranked it to the absolute max with a power blackout possibly caused by the military, the disappearance of an entire town and a handful of survivors with a deep sense that something about the dark is very, VERY wrong. Oh, and let's not forget the religious nutcase throwing a spanner in the works. Why, oh why, is there always a religious nutcase in these sorts of stories? The result is one breathtakingly creepy little tale that wins major points for it's pants pooping scenario.
It's been a while since I've read a Jason Brant book and I had forgotten how masterfully he can weave a tale. He has you sitting on the edge of your seat with the thrilling tension and hiding behind your pillow with fear. I can totally see this as a script for a movie with me sitting on the couch and peeping over my cushion. This is one novel you definitely need to keep the lights on for.
Profile Image for Donna Rader.
11 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2013
I have always prided myself as being brave and having been raised on horror since I was a kid I felt nothing could spook me. Boy was I wrong! Jason Brant did an exceptional job with this book! I was enthralled from the first chapter and never once did I loose interest. I even went in to work 4 hours late because I couldn't put it down... If you aren't scared of the dark read this.. you will be! One character in the book was saved from "The Dark" by the light on her Kindle. I now keep mine on charge and lit up all night! You never know what lurks in the dark! Read this and maybe you will have a better idea! I like all of Jason Brant's books but this one by far is my favorite! He captures the characters so well and I found myself rooting for the small band of people caught in The Dark and saddened if they didn't make it. If this book was twice as long I never would have gotten bored!
Profile Image for Greg at 2 Book Lovers Reviews.
551 reviews61 followers
March 8, 2015
When the lights go out and everyone disappears and there is not even a star in the sky, what do you do?
You keep your artificial light on and you protect it with your life. When you hear voices, familiar yet hollow voices telling you to turn out the light, what do you do?
You keep that light on.
When you see someone turn out their light, let out a blood curdling scream and you can’t find them again, what do you do?
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!

The best word that I can use to describe The Dark is "Kingesque" (spell check has just told me that's not a word but I'm going to use it anyway). Jason Brant has delivered a book that is creepy without the in your face gore, it scares you with the unknown. I personally did not want to turn my Kindle off.

This was the first of what will surely be many more Brant books for me.

http://www.2bookloversreviews.com/the...
Profile Image for Sara.
150 reviews13 followers
February 28, 2015
This book could have been vastly improved by providing a sense of time passed through chapter headings or people looking at their (glow in the dark/backlit) watches. Some charactors were able to walk long distances in the same about of time it took others to drive a few blocks. Most importantly, the tension at the end could have been greatly increase with a countdown of sorts. This was really distracting for me. The story was line was I interesting and timely otherwise.
Profile Image for Mark.
Author 123 books177 followers
May 21, 2014
If you're at all afraid of the dark you'll want to avoid this novel at all costs. It is a a brilliantly executed thriller/horror novel that starts with a bang and keeps rolling forward to an inevitably thrilling conclusion.

Brant weaves a suspenseful novel with wonderfully terrifying moments that disturb and chill. Well written and tightly executed.
Profile Image for Stacy.
180 reviews2 followers
February 11, 2015
I thought it was a good book. Great plot for a movie.
Profile Image for AudioBookReviewer.
949 reviews167 followers
July 10, 2015
ABR's original The Dark audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Are you afraid of the dark?????

While I’m not my sister was so we had to sleep with the lights on. She had this idea that if we turned off the light The Dark would take her …..This story by Jason Brant matches my sister’s belief.

The Dark tells the stories of the three main characters and how they survive the sudden darkness that befalls their town. Christy with her dog Molly, Walter, and two teens move around the town looking for their loved ones. They encounter others that are struggling to make sense out of the sudden and overwhelming darkness

I don’t usually read horror novels, but I really liked this one because of its original idea; the idea of the Darkness being the main theme of this tale of horror rather than being only the setting. Personifying the dark was great, this was untried territory that peaked my interest from the beginning.

The characters were well developed. They are natural, logical, very likable and understandable. In addition the psychological aspect of the characters was really amazing as it gave the characters another dimension of realness.

The events of the story were told by moving from a character’s point of view to another, (I like that in a story, it tends to get boring for me when there is an only one character POV), there was no problem of predictability of the events, the story line and events within the novel were unique. This is another thing I loved about this book.

The plot was fast paced, logical, and I enjoyed the ending. I hope that Brant does more with these characters and creates a series.

Robert Martinez did an amazing job with this one. Martinez skillfully transferred the feelings of the characters to you, making them real. Further he changed the volume of his voice to match the scenes perfectly, and I liked that he sometimes used a creepy voice in certain places as it added an additional level of creepiness.

I recommend this book!

Audiobook provided for review by the author.
Profile Image for Mike.
134 reviews9 followers
April 30, 2014
Reminiscent of movies like Vanishing on 7th Street and Alan Wake, The Dark follows a group of people who have accidentally survived a mysterious event that results in anyone not in light of some sort to disappear.

Firstly, the book jumps right into the action and keeps things taut from there. The writing is good and the pace quick, which makes this a quick read. The characters are generally likeable and are diverse enough for the reader to distinguish them.

The story is good, but a bit formulaic as far as survival stories go - search for safety, false hope, narrow escape, etc. This is by no means a bad thing, but it does not really bring any real twists to this type of story. Furthermore, though the story is a standalone, it feels more like the first in a series. Maybe there's another one in the works, but as it stands the story feels a bit incomplete.

The dialogue is decent, though it gets a bit creaky at times, and personally the flirting between certain characters in spite of the circumstances seemed forced. Furthermore, the military characters did not feel authentic and some of their terminology was off. It was not a distracting aspect of the story, but I think the story could have held up just fine without it.

Overall, the book is worth a few bucks, and you will not have to invest a major chunk of time into it.
Profile Image for Heidi.
453 reviews11 followers
February 8, 2013
Have you ever been afraid of the dark, or get that creepy feeling that someone is watching you as you sleep? I believe that Christy and her companions will for a long time. During the middle of the night a darkness creeps over a town, so dark that you can not even see the stars or moon. Then you start to get that eerie feeling that someone is watching you from the shadows.
Jason Brant has unleashed the demons of hell in his newest novel. This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat from the time I started to read it, until I finished it. He always throws his own flair of humor into this novel as he has his others. I also liked the mention of the Specter Slayers (from his book The Gate). I have all of his novels and have never once been disappointed.
Profile Image for Carrie.
2 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2013
This book could have been so much better if someone else wrote it. ANYONE else. The writing was juvenile. I felt like I was reading a book for pre teens.

That being said, the plot was very good and had it been tackled by someone else could have truly been scary. Unfortunately it wasn't and left so much to be desired. The characters sucked and lacked any depth at all. The ending was retarded and explained nothing. It was almost as if the author ran out of ideas so he just decided to end it right there.

All in all, don't waste your time or money. I wish I hadn't.
Profile Image for Brad.
828 reviews
February 6, 2017
Wow what a book!
I knocked this one over in 2 days, and for me, that is fast! It really was a page turner!

I loved the horror of it, and the thoughts of the dark coming alive was spooky to say the least.

My only grievance? About half way through the book, I realized the similarity of this book to the Stephen King classic "The Mist". And once that got in my head I couldn't see past it.

So not sure if the author had read "The Mist"... sometimes we all have an idea, and then find out that someone else had the idea first...
Profile Image for Anthony.
Author 2 books7 followers
July 1, 2013
I loved it. It has a quiet unassuming pace that deliberately draws detailed, easy to relate to characters while all the time drawing the reader in to the story. If you're a fan of the nineteen fifties sci-fi genre you'll love this twenty first century twist.

You don't want to be caught in the dark.
Profile Image for Laurel Heidtman.
Author 8 books79 followers
January 29, 2016
Loved this book as much as I loved Jason Brant's Hunger series and that's saying something! The Dark is a truly scary story and the explanation behind what happens in it is both imaginative and believable. The characters are great--I was especially fond of Aaron. And Molly, but who doesn't love a good dog character! Read this with all the lights on!
Profile Image for Darlene.
502 reviews26 followers
Read
September 12, 2016
This isn't the stereotypical zombie story I was expecting. The events happened around a military experiment gone bad. Not my usual genre to read, I found this book engaging and couldn't help but keep flipping pages. All the action keeps you interested.A and, the first night I started reading it, I kept checking to make sure there was a light on.
Profile Image for Scott Wieczorek.
Author 11 books24 followers
March 17, 2013
I posted a review of this on my blog. This was a really good book. I enjoyed it highly and thought the author did a great job of advancing the plot and developing the characters. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for BookzBookzBookz.
Author 12 books73 followers
July 31, 2014
This book captured me- I read it in a day and a half! Had life not gotten in he way, I'd have finished it sooner! It was different and spooky. Brant gave an explanation without being too technical but didn't dumb it up either. A good read.
11 reviews
April 1, 2015
No, this book just didn't scare me or do anything for me. The writing itself is fine but nothing really happens and the characters are a pretty much stock. An experiment goes awry at the local military base. You've heard it all before.
Profile Image for Melissa.
1,519 reviews24 followers
May 12, 2015
I started The Dark months ago. It was actually a good read. I have no idea why I didn't pick it up in the meantime. There were scares and action. We could have learned a little more about the cause (besides the astrophysicists ramblings) and, what happened after. But, I would recommend.
Profile Image for Diane.
1,140 reviews41 followers
December 28, 2013
3.5

Could have been a 4 star if more explanation had been given for The Dark.
Profile Image for Sarah .
25 reviews
February 28, 2014
So creepy

so creepy and good. can't put it down. however the ending really sucked. almost like he got there and wasn't sure what to do. but still a great read.
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