Abbie Roads' RACE THE DARKNESS is her debut novel and the
first in a duology called Fatal
Dreams. She combines
elements of paranormal romance and horror and some
intriguing magical abilities. The story starts off with a
bang as we meet Xander Stone, a criminal investigator with
the ability to hear people's thoughts. It enables him to
get difficult-to-acquire information from suspects even if
they don't say a word. Constantly hearing what others think
wreaks havoc with his sanity though, and he finds out
exactly what people think of him, much of it not very
flattering.
But then Xander has another voice in his head of a woman
asking him for help. He used to drown it with alcohol, but
one evening, drawn by the voice, he finds a woman and her
grandmother who have been locked in a trailer and abused
for eight years.
All that kept the girl, Isleen, alive, was hoping that the
man she dreamed of would come to rescue her. A lot of this
seemed a bit too serendipitous for my personal taste.
Xander and Isleen form an instant bond, the foundation of
which comes from their hearing and dreaming of one another
for so many years.
Xander sets out to find out who was behind the plot to
abuse Isleen. He's also concerned that his bond with Isleen
mimics the bond shared by his father and his stepmother
which ended badly when his stepmother crushed his father
when she left.
If this review sounds a bit confusing, it replicates the
book in many ways. There's a legend behind the relationship
between Xander and Isleen, but there's a madman behind
Isleen's abuse. My problem is that I don't see a connection
between the two. Also, there's an FBI consultant who seems
to have some paranormal ability but doesn't do anything but
show up at odd times. Perhaps he's the main character in
the next book? There are quite a few questions without
answers. I had trouble feeling attached to any of the main
or secondary characters: Xander seemed to bitter to me;
Isleen had the appearance of strength but then did things
that didn't fit; another criminal investigator Kent
purposely did things to get under Xander's skin and the
less said about Kent's sister, the better.
I would have loved to see Xander's talent used to ferret
out more information from suspects and have him solve
crimes. I think the first part of RACE THE DARKNESS had an
unique flair that
unfortunately didn't carry through into the remainder of
the tale. I'll read the second book out of
curiosity and to see if some of the semi-jumbled plot lines
get straightened out. HUNT THE DAWN is next in the Fatal
Dreams duology.
Cursed with a terrible gift...
Criminal investigator Xander Stone doesn't have to question
you-he can hear your thoughts. Scarred by lightning,
burdened with a power that gives him no peace, Xander
struggles to maintain his sanity against the voice that
haunts him day and night-the voice of a woman begging him to
save her.
A gift that threatens to engulf them
Isleen Walker has long since given up hope of escape from
the nightmare of captivity and torture that is draining her
life, her mind, and her soul. Except...there is the man in
her feverish dreams, the strangely beautiful man who beckons
her to freedom and wholeness. And when he comes, if he
comes, it will take all their combined fury and faith to
overcome a madman bent on fulfilling a deadly prophecy.
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