Book Review Dwelling in Darkness
It’s been a while since I read my third published book, “Dwelling in Darkness.”
I’ve called it a ‘loose sequel’ to “Kingdom of Bats.” But really, the two have different writing styles and characters, and take place on different worlds with different technology. They are in the same universe, and one character is in both, but that’s about it.
Rereading “Dwelling in Darkness” today, I’d say it’s one of my favourites. The threats to the heroes are introduced right from the start. And the story is fast-paced, but still allows time to get to know the characters involved.
One of my readers described this book as “nerdy,” and I think that’s a pretty accurate description! I wanted it to be more informative and fact-based than “Kingdom of Bats,” so I dived deeper into the animals represented.
I also wanted to stretch and challenge myself as a writer.
I took a swing at tapping into traditional stories, with references to Mayan and Malagasy (Madagascan) mythologies.
Chapter thirteen gave me an opportunity to dive into what it might be like to experience the world from the perspective of deep-sea fishes, creatures very unlike us. I enjoyed writing that chapter, challenging myself to think outside the box.
This is one of those books that someone like me may love, but someone else may find infuriating.
The mystery concerning how, why, and to what extent the dream-world is real never gets answered. I think it works fine that way, but I could see it frustrating certain readers.
The nerdiness was something I enjoyed, something I can appreciate in animal fantasy stories; though I know some may find it distracting.
And my dive into the weird world of cave and deep-sea creatures – especially the latter – really was designed to stretch the mind a little. I can see some people finding that a bog to get through.
The book has flaws, but I still had fun reading it, and I felt very passionately about it when it first got published. I find it sad it hasn’t succeeded as well as “Kingdom of Bats” and “Black Mists,” but I suppose it is more written for a niche audience than either of those.
If it sounds like your type of book, then give it a read! It’s available online, and in ebook form from various sellers!
