DARKNESS by Erin Eveland initially intrigued me because of the
interesting blurb and by the fact that it is an interactive
novel. Each chapter opens with a QR code that takes you to
additional pictures, music, or artwork to enhance the story. I
still love this concept of interactive novels. I'm not sure it
was implemented in the best way. First, I have an Android phone
which I used to scan the code from my Kindle (just a plain old
Kindle for me, so no colors and nothing fancy). The scanner
works beautifully, but the website which hosts the extra
material doesn't have a mobile compatible webpage. I had to
constantly re-size the image and do lots of vertical and
horizontal scrolling to see an entire picture or read all the
text. The webpage would be best viewed from a PC with its much
larger screen. People
will scan the QR codes with a handheld device such as a phone
or tablet, so not having a mobile compatible webpage doesnt
make sense
to me. Again, I really like the concept, and the artwork
chosen was beautiful and fitting, but the frustration of
viewing it on my phone in chunks kept me from scanning all the
codes, especially at the end when the action really picked up
and I didn't want to pause the story for very long.
The backcover blub is also deceptive in what this story is
about. There is a heavy Christian underpinning to the entire
world of DARKNESS that isn't mentioned in the blurb. Morality
is seen in those black and white terms. All people are sinners,
and I mean all; there are no righteous characters in this book.
It's a very ugly world with a harsh morality. Plot-wise, I
understand why the environment is supposed to be so miserable
and horrific. Catherine is being broken down by a Master of
Darkness, but it doesn't make it easier to read. Catherine's
world is so unbelievably awful, and the reader must be willing
to suspend disbelief to fall into the story, which was
difficult for me.
I do like the use of color in DARKNESS. Colors correlate to
emotions and actions. Everything has a color. Seeing how the
Masters of Darkness manipulate the colors and the darkness is
intriguing, if somewhat complicated. DARKNESS is the first in
the series so I expect more will be revealed about the world as
the series delves deeper into what it means to be a Master of
Darkness and what Catherine's eventual role is. She could be
savior or she could be destruction. The end of DARKNESS leaves
her with more questions than answers which is a good way to
lead into a new book.
DARKNESS is very complex with a strong religious theme that
might not be for every reader. There are moments where the
world author Erin Eveland is building made me simply stop and
re-imaging my world in the colors of her world. I love those
moments when I can stop and look at my world and wonder, what
if...but the degradation and absolute wretchedness of
Catherine's
surroundings didn't let the wonder come through often. There is
a pervasive hopelessness that left me a little sick to my
stomach as Catherine struggled to survive against this all-
consuming evil that wants her.
Erin Eveland has created a dark, twisting tale about the nature
of evil and one girl's struggle to survive. DARKNESS won't be
for everyone as it is graphic, gritty, and harsh, but if you're
a fan of sinister plots with a complex world, you should give
DARKNESS a try. The interactive music, art, and pictures are
very cool. If you figure out a better way to view them, let me
know!
One Girl. One Boy. And the Masters of Darkness. See the
Shadow Creatures. They are everywhere. But you can't run
from the shadows. Or the Masters who control them.
In a world as grim as the powers within it, 16yr old
Catherine has been born with a supernatural power called
Darkness. Living an impoverished life, a hidden world starts
to unfold with the encounters of two men in black, Masters
of Darkness. Ancient enemies with the power to control the
Darkness and its Shadow Creatures, the Masters will fight to
the death for what one girl may hold the ultimate power of
Light.
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