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The Edgewater Chronicles #1
The Dark Rises
Twelve year old Nikola stood in front of an open grave. His grandma was dead and gone.
A door was kicked open upon her death, and an ancestral curse—a mark on Nikola’s bloodline and rooted in the very bones of the earth—lay revealed.
Change is hard. Being the new kid at school is harder, especially with a Vice Principal like William Weaver.
Nikola meets a girl named Lizzy. The shocking things happening to him, were happening to her as well. She lived on a nearby lake, in a cabin her grandpa had built long ago. Spook Central, she called it.
They meet Dmitry, ancient and mysterious—with secrets of his own. Nikola is forced to choose—unravel the mystery of his dark lineage and bring the fight to the enemy, or face a lifetime of running.
A door was kicked open upon her death, and an ancestral curse—a mark on Nikola’s bloodline and rooted in the very bones of the earth—lay revealed.
Change is hard. Being the new kid at school is harder, especially with a Vice Principal like William Weaver.
Nikola meets a girl named Lizzy. The shocking things happening to him, were happening to her as well. She lived on a nearby lake, in a cabin her grandpa had built long ago. Spook Central, she called it.
They meet Dmitry, ancient and mysterious—with secrets of his own. Nikola is forced to choose—unravel the mystery of his dark lineage and bring the fight to the enemy, or face a lifetime of running.
278 pages, ebook
First published May 8, 2020
81 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 13, 2022
A really stunning read. I was captivated by the worldbuilding and style right away. The characters felt so real and alive, and Cmiel was very skillful at quickly introducing them and the challenges they're facing. I really liked Nikola as a protagonist. He was relatable and understandable, and felt very believable as a child facing these challenges. I found his relationship with his father particularly moving.
The writing is lovely. Descriptive and clear, but never over-written. Cmiel was particularly successful at crafting the setting of the school. It felt ominous and yet realistic at once. Weaver is a compelling and suitably creepy antagonist.
I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the series!
The writing is lovely. Descriptive and clear, but never over-written. Cmiel was particularly successful at crafting the setting of the school. It felt ominous and yet realistic at once. Weaver is a compelling and suitably creepy antagonist.
I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the series!
December 28, 2020
Good story. Light-read. Would have preferred it if the author took a little extra time to check some of the typo-words that are in the script, but that's a minor thing. The story overall was nice and fresh.
November 9, 2021
For teens...
This had the feel that it was written for teens. Especially since the two main characters are high school students. A good story though and a good beginning to the series. Lots of typos that can cause someone to have to reread something a few times.
This had the feel that it was written for teens. Especially since the two main characters are high school students. A good story though and a good beginning to the series. Lots of typos that can cause someone to have to reread something a few times.
February 9, 2024
Interesting but a bit rough
This is such an interesting premise, but I feel like there are gaping holes in the plot in places. It’s possible they’re fleshed out in other books, but I felt like the plot advanced extremely quickly without enough background world building.
This is such an interesting premise, but I feel like there are gaping holes in the plot in places. It’s possible they’re fleshed out in other books, but I felt like the plot advanced extremely quickly without enough background world building.
March 25, 2025
Very exciting!
This book is about family, lost and found. It is a very exciting book with fantasy and adventure.
I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the sequel. Enjoy!
This book is about family, lost and found. It is a very exciting book with fantasy and adventure.
I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the sequel. Enjoy!
September 25, 2020
This book have me both contented memories of being young AND creeped me out.
Bravo
Bravo
February 20, 2022
Great read. Looking forward to part 2.
Read
March 20, 2024After a year and a half of trying, I gave up. Didn't hold my interest at all. Written for a MUCH younger audience than me, but at least I tried.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews