Isle of the Dark

by Rina Brown

Legendary guardian Ranger Swordsman has captured a Datsoe monster. Usually he slays them, but this one is different. His fellow soldier's can't understand why he is so fascinated with this particular creature of death.
Isle has been alone for a long time, struggling to hang on to his humanity. Trapped in a cage, he can't help but hope that maybe this fierce warrior could be his friend.
Facing an enemy who's been hidden for centuries, Ranger and Isle must set aside their differences to save mankind.
Will they survive, or succumb to the darkness that lies in the woods beyond the Datsoe borders...

309 pages, Paperback

Published March 11, 2020

About the author

Colorado native, cat loving, Columbo fanatic, Rina Brown wrote a story about kittens in the third grade and never looked back. Sharing her love for the written word with her little brother, she decided to take him on an untold adventure filled with heroes and monsters. Before she knew it, she wrote another book, then another, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Reviews

[Gregoroveich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was pretty excited to read this book since I've read one of the author's other books (Sinner) and it was very enjoyable. Its nice to read fantasy where the characters aren't just good-looking as their entire personality and actually have a little depth to them. Quail and Ranger's relationship especially was really sweet and the conflict Isle brought about by being a new child-figure in his life was very well done. It was a bit difficult to get through in the very beginning since there was a pretty big lore-dump, which may have been better in smaller context clues throughout the book, but as a prologue it was ok. My only real complaint is that since there are so many characters around at the same time (five guardians plus Ranger, Isle, and others), it becomes a bit difficult to remember who is who in terms of side characters. Hopefully the problem fades out in the next two books. Overall it was an enthralling storyline that kept good pace, and I hope the next two are just as good :)

[Rachel Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isle of Dark tells of a time when Datsous plague the Earth. These monstrous creatures infect any other that they bite, turning them into Datsous. Mankind stays mostly safe behind a wall of roses because the roses are toxic to all Datsous, and for those few Datsous that do make it over the wall, there is Ranger. Ranger rides across the countryside hunting down rogue Datsous, until he meets Isle, a Datsou who is more human than any other he’s met and somehow they become friends.

If I was rating Isle of Dark on story alone, it would be a 5 star rating without question. The author has created something that’s wonderfully unique. She’s clearly blessed with an imagination like no other. The world building was superb and both Ranger and Isle make excellent protagonists. I fell hook, like and sinker for little Isle, what a cutie pie! In addition, the story is packed full of adventure. It really was a fantastic read.

But… for a lot of the time Ranger is on his own (Isle can’t talk in the beginning) and so much of the story is told without any dialogue. I found it a little much to wade through. I prefer stories that blend the description in with some conversation. And when there is conversation I’d have liked to have seen contractions used.

Lastly, I have scientific questions that I’d like to see answered in a later book. I appreciate it’s a fantasy novel, but without explanation the laws of physics apply, don’t they?

All of that aside, I’ll be starting book 2 tomorrow because, as I said as the start, the story is fantastic!

[Fleur Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a treat to discover a young debut author in a local bookstore! Rina Brown starts her first book strong, with the introduction of Ranger, reminiscent of Stephen King's Dark Tower series.

The story develops into a compelling fantasy plot, with life or death battles that had me turning the pages. I'm normally not a fantasy reader, but Brown has me looking forward to her next book.

A fresh new voice, highly recommended.

[Jessica Cantwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a signed paperback directly from the author who I have been following online. Rina Brown’s creativity is going to take her places. I love the Datsoe species she has invented, one in particular. I think the one thing I was the most impressed with was a female, teenager writing an older male MC, whose action and dialogue was genuinely authentic. Isle of the dark is an enjoyable read, and I can’t wait to jump into the sequel. Recommended for those who love a good fantasy/western.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met the author at her book stall at my local grocery store. I've not seen the store do this before so I was intrigued and stopped. The author is nice, the premise of the book series is nifty and different than others I've read. I like fantasy and I like helping local authors, so I bought this, the first book in what looks to be a series.
It started a bit rocky, but picked up speed and I enjoyed the premise, the characters, the setting. It's a bit Witcher in premise. I love the Witcher series. Guardians tasked with leading soldiers and protecting kingdom from monsters, called Datsoes. These are sort of vampire in nature, infected and ravaging, led by a mutated monster, more intelligent and conniving. He's a challenge.
I like Isle the most. He's got a lot to overcome. I like the relationship between him and Ranger.
I can recommend this book and author. I plan to read more if this is a series and I will look for more of this author's books.

[Donna White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rina Brown's imagination has no constraints! Her world building is packed with objects that surprise and places that mystify. A group of half magic and half mortal beings have the strength and longevity of Marvel's Super Soldiers, matched with ultimate fighting skills against venom-spiked monsters. My favorite kind of characters, by the way! The take-away is trust and an unexpected friendship. There is a tiny bit of romance at the end, but no intimate scenes. Gentle readers be aware of physical pain from fighting and monster deaths. This is a fine adventure book for 12-18 year olds, and older adults too. Great work Ms. Brown!

[Pamela J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book. Different how often the perspective changed from character to character like every few paragraphs.