Settle in for a supernatural original in The Darkening Dream by Andy Gavin; an Amazon average rating of 4.3 stars.
A Little About The Darkening Dream:
Readers and reviewers either love it or hate it but this book is not mediocre by any stretch. I suspect the latter find most of their consternation in Gavin’s ending while the former recognize some qualities many of us haven’t seen in a “Vampire” novel for a long while.
1913, Salem, Massachusetts sets the scene for one of the more unique sci-fi supernatural stories I’ve read in some time. Gavin is an exceptional writer, providing rich details to the setting and characters by incorporating history, religion and mythology. The inclusion of a Jewish, Greek, and Christian (among others) mysticism laid the groundwork for a wholly unique engine that drives a suspenseful and engaging plot in a sub-genre that’s saturated to the point of becoming tired – Gavin’s approach makes the Darkening Dream fresh, interesting and original.
While most authors focus character development on the antagonist and protagonist, Gavin takes the time to flush out his entire cast as appropriate, which nurtures the emotional bond between reader and actors. The individual backgrounds and personalities provide the threads that weave perfectly into the plot, giving the reader a vested interest as they move through their quest to save one of their own and protect the holy relic.
While some have criticized this story for being confusing early, I found Gavin’s use of subtle foreshadowing intriguing in the beginning and absolutely critical to the final chapters. This is far more sophisticated and complex than most vampire/supernatural fans are accustomed to. Love or hate the ending, it was realistic versus the idealistic we typically suffer as readers. The Darkening Dream is the opening salvo to what is one of the more exciting, and certainly more original supernatural series to come in a very long time. Gavin is a talented writer who’s left the door open for a follow up to his debut – all that said I give it 5 stars.
About the Author:
A video game developer and programmer, The Darkening Dream is Andy Gavin’s debut novel. His next offering, ‘Untimed’, should hit the sci-fi shelves soon. His hobbies run the gamut from video games and reading to photography and collecting art and antiques. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, son and family dog.
What People Are Saying About The Darkening Dream:
“The author artfully mixes mystical, religious, and historical elements into a fascinating story.” — Keren
“There is no glittering and falling in love with a vampire who denies his true nature. Instead, it is a story that maintains the standard lore of vampires, and foregoes romance for an ages old conspiracy that puts Sarah right in the middle of it all… It is not meant to comfort and pull on our heartstrings.“ – Jamie H.
“This book pretty much has it all. And neither of them glitter, or fall in love with each other at first sight. This is definitely not one of those novels. This tale is dark, nightmarish, and not for the faint of heart.” – Lily
Get your copy of The Darkening Dream today.
Tom Clementson (Kindle Book Review)
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