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In the Place Where There Is No Darkness
The year is 2019. The Watchers maintain a state of constant guns are outlawed, media is censored, and unmanned drones patrol the skies. Derrion Parsing is a high school senior and the son of an ex-Army Ranger. Unlike his classmates, he has access to information from the time before the Invisible War, when the government shut down the Internet, reformatting into a propaganda tool. When Derrion attempts to use this information as part of a school project, he awakens to his worst nightmare.
- GenresDystopia
152 pages, Hardcover
First published November 13, 2013
269 people want to read
About the author
K.M. Douglas
4 books12 followersK. M. Douglas is orginally from Cleveland, Ohio. He spent over twenty years in Washington State. He now resides in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He is the co-founder/editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Drawn & Quartered.
Novels/novellas: In the Place Where There is No Darkness, Take Me Away, The Sound of Clouds, Safety, Lie Awake, Serial Killer, The Last Great American Folktale.
Poetry: From the Dark Water, Cities of Blood, the Stillness Far From Death, LQVE
Novels/novellas: In the Place Where There is No Darkness, Take Me Away, The Sound of Clouds, Safety, Lie Awake, Serial Killer, The Last Great American Folktale.
Poetry: From the Dark Water, Cities of Blood, the Stillness Far From Death, LQVE
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 1, 2014
Does any of us really know what the future may hold for us? What if we could go back and have a second chance? Are your eyes wide open to life or are you merely just watching the world pass you by? When seventeen year-old Derrion is assigned a senior project, he chooses to go against the grain and do his project on not of what school and the government taught him, but of the real truth; the truth that he had spent the last four years documenting. You see, one night change it all for Derrion's father, Arthur. It was January, 11, 2008. Snowing in Baghdad (an unusual occurrence). He was a Ranger in the Army whose mission was to rally up the insurgents via house to house. A shot rang out and a fellow american soldier shot an unarmed child and Arthur watched the life slowly drain out of the innocent boy. In that moment- Arthur's life changed forever- never able to feel the joy and love in life again- never able to look into is son's eyes without seeing the horrified eyes of that Iraqi child. He struggled desperately through life for the next year until he committed suicide.
After the death of his father, Derrion struggled with horrible nightmares. Not because he was he one who discovered his dead father, but because of what he overheard his father say about that fateful night in Baghdad. He began to question everything he learned about war in school. It slowly became an obsession; he was determined to discover the truth about the world he lived in. Overtime, the internet slowly became censored by the government. Websites began to disappear. Derrion feared the the truth would be forgotten so he began to print out hundreds of pages at a time of everything he could and organized it into color coded folders. On April 15, 2016, his worst fears came true. The internet was shut sown. It was called the Invisible War but what it really was was the worlds first major cyber attack that lasted 6 weeks. The President declared a state of emergency, martial law was imposed and curfews were enforced. Then came the door-to-door confiscation of guns. Highways were shut down, food riots, the economy collapsed. Soon the government created State Radio and State TV which meant the government now controlled everything the public could gain knowledge of. All citizens were required to be microchipped and teachers were required to report any insubordination to an online agency. Helicopters, drones and surveillance cameras watching their every move. Life in America was no longer truly free.
But then someone reminded Derrion of something important. You are not truly powerless unless you give up your power; "Change the way you think and you can change the world". Hence, the idea for Derrion's senior project was born. He would create a mock trial of the investigations into 9/11. But when Derrion submits his project idea, it flags him on a watch list. His whole world is about to change.
Then one morning, Derrion awakens onto a situation that he does not remember getting into. A situation that rocks his small Ohio town. It's this point in the book that has me on the edge off my seat and I cannot divulge any more without ruining the element of surprise of this shocking twist in the story. And as if the plot wasn't gripping enough, another twist in the last chapter really put me over the edge making me love it even more. This is just a phenomenal book and this is the kind of story that will always stay in the back of mind as one of the best I've ever read. I encourage you to give it a try, it's well worth reading and passing on to friends!
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After the death of his father, Derrion struggled with horrible nightmares. Not because he was he one who discovered his dead father, but because of what he overheard his father say about that fateful night in Baghdad. He began to question everything he learned about war in school. It slowly became an obsession; he was determined to discover the truth about the world he lived in. Overtime, the internet slowly became censored by the government. Websites began to disappear. Derrion feared the the truth would be forgotten so he began to print out hundreds of pages at a time of everything he could and organized it into color coded folders. On April 15, 2016, his worst fears came true. The internet was shut sown. It was called the Invisible War but what it really was was the worlds first major cyber attack that lasted 6 weeks. The President declared a state of emergency, martial law was imposed and curfews were enforced. Then came the door-to-door confiscation of guns. Highways were shut down, food riots, the economy collapsed. Soon the government created State Radio and State TV which meant the government now controlled everything the public could gain knowledge of. All citizens were required to be microchipped and teachers were required to report any insubordination to an online agency. Helicopters, drones and surveillance cameras watching their every move. Life in America was no longer truly free.
But then someone reminded Derrion of something important. You are not truly powerless unless you give up your power; "Change the way you think and you can change the world". Hence, the idea for Derrion's senior project was born. He would create a mock trial of the investigations into 9/11. But when Derrion submits his project idea, it flags him on a watch list. His whole world is about to change.
Then one morning, Derrion awakens onto a situation that he does not remember getting into. A situation that rocks his small Ohio town. It's this point in the book that has me on the edge off my seat and I cannot divulge any more without ruining the element of surprise of this shocking twist in the story. And as if the plot wasn't gripping enough, another twist in the last chapter really put me over the edge making me love it even more. This is just a phenomenal book and this is the kind of story that will always stay in the back of mind as one of the best I've ever read. I encourage you to give it a try, it's well worth reading and passing on to friends!
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January 20, 2014
This book from the start looks absolutely gorgeous, doesn’t it? It doesn’t hurt that the main character is a guy named Derrion that has a great hold on his shoulders. He questions everything that he has been told, but who doesn’t about their world? This book really makes you think of what you would do if you did not know at all what the future held for you, which most of us don’t. Derrion is only seventeen years old, but he is wise passed his years. When he assigned a project, he decides that he is going to pick the subject of the truth, the real truth. He wont’ display the truth in his project as the school or government has taught him. He has spend a lot of his time trying to figure out everything in the world for himself. A lot of people, like we all do, just live our lives as we are told to and never really question why we are living it like that.
Derrion’s father was a Ranger in the Army and had witnessed a horrific killing of a child during his time in Baghdad. From then on, he was never the same. He could not even look at his son would love and he slowly drove himself mad until he committed suicide. This has to be one of the toughest life scenarios that a child could go through. Losing your father when you are so young and under those circumstances would make any child start to wonder what was really going on in the world. Derrion was the one to have discovered his father after he had died and so the nightmares ensued. He also had heard the story of what happened in Baghdad. He was obsessed with finding out the real truth about everything. He questioned all that he learned about the war and government in school. It was strange when the government started taking websites off the internet and started to become more controlling.
In this book, in 2016 the internet is completely gone. This event was known as the Invisible War. I could not imagine today with something like this happening. People would go crazy and be in an uproar. This Invisible War lasted for a long six weeks. The President even went as far as declaring a state of emergency because of the attacks and people in the communities were put under curfews. Everything around them started to decline and collapse. There were then things such as radio and TV that were specifically controlled so people would not be able to learn any new knowledge that the government did not want them to know. Lots of things begin to ensue that truly made it so that America was no longer free at all.
A world like this is scary to think about even for a second. Derrion does work on his school project but it ends up putting him on the list of people to watch. This book had me scared and riveted all at the same time because the author set it so closely to the time that we live in now. I want you as a reader to live all the twists and ups and downs like I did so I won’t give away too much more. This book was a gripping force to be reckoned with, and I hope I have the pleasure of reading more that the author may have to offer!
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book from Promotional Book Tours in exchange for my review. All thoughts are my own.
Derrion’s father was a Ranger in the Army and had witnessed a horrific killing of a child during his time in Baghdad. From then on, he was never the same. He could not even look at his son would love and he slowly drove himself mad until he committed suicide. This has to be one of the toughest life scenarios that a child could go through. Losing your father when you are so young and under those circumstances would make any child start to wonder what was really going on in the world. Derrion was the one to have discovered his father after he had died and so the nightmares ensued. He also had heard the story of what happened in Baghdad. He was obsessed with finding out the real truth about everything. He questioned all that he learned about the war and government in school. It was strange when the government started taking websites off the internet and started to become more controlling.
In this book, in 2016 the internet is completely gone. This event was known as the Invisible War. I could not imagine today with something like this happening. People would go crazy and be in an uproar. This Invisible War lasted for a long six weeks. The President even went as far as declaring a state of emergency because of the attacks and people in the communities were put under curfews. Everything around them started to decline and collapse. There were then things such as radio and TV that were specifically controlled so people would not be able to learn any new knowledge that the government did not want them to know. Lots of things begin to ensue that truly made it so that America was no longer free at all.
A world like this is scary to think about even for a second. Derrion does work on his school project but it ends up putting him on the list of people to watch. This book had me scared and riveted all at the same time because the author set it so closely to the time that we live in now. I want you as a reader to live all the twists and ups and downs like I did so I won’t give away too much more. This book was a gripping force to be reckoned with, and I hope I have the pleasure of reading more that the author may have to offer!
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book from Promotional Book Tours in exchange for my review. All thoughts are my own.
July 31, 2016
The title of the book comes from a George Orwell quote, so that should give you some idea of what to expect. Orwell has some pretty tough shoes to fill, so I went in with a bit of skepticism. I came out feeling that author K.M. Douglas did Orwell proud! That’s not to say this is an Orwellian novel. In some ways, it feels a bit like one, but Douglas didn’t emulate Orwell so much as create a new bit of Orwellian fiction for a different generation, if that makes sense.
The first chapter of the book was quite touching. It takes place in the past (a little before our current present). Derrion is a child at the time, listening to his father talk about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. His father doesn’t know Derrion is listening, and he is recounting the moment when he realized that he was fighting a war he didn’t really believe in. The moment he realized how easily the roles could be reversed and how his child could be torn from his home in the middle of the night- or much worse, killed- by soldiers following orders. Sadly, that was the last thing Derrion ever heard his father talk about, as he died the same night.
Chapter two starts in the year 2019. This is important, because it’s not exactly that far into the future, now is it? See, most dystopian novels take place well into the future, making them seem like something that we’d never have to worry about! In the Place Where There is no Darkness takes place a mere 5 years from now. Plus, everything was so familiar, no normal that at first I thought maybe I was reading the wrong book! I was expecting a totally different environment, not one in which kids still date like normal kids, trick or treat on Halloween and so on. Sure, Derrion’s school has moved completely to tablets instead of text books, but that’s not too far out of the realm of possibility for our near future.
Then it happens- the moment you realize that things in this future have changed. Derrion reads an amazing political essay in which he expresses some concerns with the way things are going in the US. His teacher repeats a mantra in his head about reporting students like this, but not confronting them. Words are exchanged, and the reader realizes “oh crap, this is NOT the world I want to live in come 5 years from now!” That is where the short novella shines. Douglas has taken a normal world and added a twist to it, making it completely realistic. To me, there is nothing more disturbing than a realistic dystopian story.
I don’t really want to tell you more about the book because doing so will give away key plot points. Just know that it is incredibly thought-provoking and disturbing in a very good way literary-speaking.
Originally published on PrettyOpinionated.com
The first chapter of the book was quite touching. It takes place in the past (a little before our current present). Derrion is a child at the time, listening to his father talk about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. His father doesn’t know Derrion is listening, and he is recounting the moment when he realized that he was fighting a war he didn’t really believe in. The moment he realized how easily the roles could be reversed and how his child could be torn from his home in the middle of the night- or much worse, killed- by soldiers following orders. Sadly, that was the last thing Derrion ever heard his father talk about, as he died the same night.
Chapter two starts in the year 2019. This is important, because it’s not exactly that far into the future, now is it? See, most dystopian novels take place well into the future, making them seem like something that we’d never have to worry about! In the Place Where There is no Darkness takes place a mere 5 years from now. Plus, everything was so familiar, no normal that at first I thought maybe I was reading the wrong book! I was expecting a totally different environment, not one in which kids still date like normal kids, trick or treat on Halloween and so on. Sure, Derrion’s school has moved completely to tablets instead of text books, but that’s not too far out of the realm of possibility for our near future.
Then it happens- the moment you realize that things in this future have changed. Derrion reads an amazing political essay in which he expresses some concerns with the way things are going in the US. His teacher repeats a mantra in his head about reporting students like this, but not confronting them. Words are exchanged, and the reader realizes “oh crap, this is NOT the world I want to live in come 5 years from now!” That is where the short novella shines. Douglas has taken a normal world and added a twist to it, making it completely realistic. To me, there is nothing more disturbing than a realistic dystopian story.
I don’t really want to tell you more about the book because doing so will give away key plot points. Just know that it is incredibly thought-provoking and disturbing in a very good way literary-speaking.
Originally published on PrettyOpinionated.com
January 28, 2014
*I read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own*
First of all, if you are looking for a dystopian novel with non-stop action and some sort of love triangle, then this isn't the book for you. If you're looking for a book that challenges the way you think, than this book may be for you.
The setting of the story is in the not to distant future but one can easily mistake it for today. Tight government control, abolishing certain amendments, absolutely no freedom of speech are just several themes that are present. It's a time where the government controls the way you think, the media you watch, what jobs you have--this is sounding more and more like today rather than the future. Essentially, anything you say can and will be held in contempt of the government and authority they have over you. Derrion, who is a senior in high school, has discovered a secret passed on from his father who served in the Army. He decides he wants to use this knowledge for a his senior project. Unfortunately, there are those who do not want Derrion to tell what he knows and certain events end up changing Derrion's life forever.
We need more people like Derrion. People who stand up for what's right or who at least are able to think for themselves and defend what they believe in. Mr. Bertrand, the high school teacher, was one character who reminded me of the people who knows right from wrong but yet remain silent because they are too scared. History has shown that those who remain silent and do nothing are just as bad as the oppressors. It was extremely uncomfortable to read the parts with Mr. Bertrand because as the reader, you clearly saw how wrong he was in his decision making and yet you were helpless in changing his course.
This book is a short read but very thought-provoking. I am giving it 4 stars because while I did enjoy the overall read, I was uncomfortable with certain events and detail in the story. But I will agree that it is fairly easy to become prisoners in our own country and a dystopian future is already looking more and more like today.
First of all, if you are looking for a dystopian novel with non-stop action and some sort of love triangle, then this isn't the book for you. If you're looking for a book that challenges the way you think, than this book may be for you.
The setting of the story is in the not to distant future but one can easily mistake it for today. Tight government control, abolishing certain amendments, absolutely no freedom of speech are just several themes that are present. It's a time where the government controls the way you think, the media you watch, what jobs you have--this is sounding more and more like today rather than the future. Essentially, anything you say can and will be held in contempt of the government and authority they have over you. Derrion, who is a senior in high school, has discovered a secret passed on from his father who served in the Army. He decides he wants to use this knowledge for a his senior project. Unfortunately, there are those who do not want Derrion to tell what he knows and certain events end up changing Derrion's life forever.
We need more people like Derrion. People who stand up for what's right or who at least are able to think for themselves and defend what they believe in. Mr. Bertrand, the high school teacher, was one character who reminded me of the people who knows right from wrong but yet remain silent because they are too scared. History has shown that those who remain silent and do nothing are just as bad as the oppressors. It was extremely uncomfortable to read the parts with Mr. Bertrand because as the reader, you clearly saw how wrong he was in his decision making and yet you were helpless in changing his course.
This book is a short read but very thought-provoking. I am giving it 4 stars because while I did enjoy the overall read, I was uncomfortable with certain events and detail in the story. But I will agree that it is fairly easy to become prisoners in our own country and a dystopian future is already looking more and more like today.
February 12, 2014
If you like 1984 and Conspiracy Theories, then this is your book. I do not. So I must be honest, i did not enjoy reading a good chunk of this book for several reasons, but the book makes up for it in other areas.
The story begins with Derrion witnessing the death of his father. Which was written more like a prologue, not chapter 1. But I can see why the author choose to do that. Years later after the death of his father, america has become the spying eye, big brother, uncle sam on steroids. They have circumvented the Constitution. The internet has sifted through with no more anti-government websites. Derrion is 9/11 truther. and has the research to back it. But all goes wrong, when he uses research on 09/11 as a way to do his senior project.
what I didn't like... I felt like the character of derrion and the teacher were well developed. However everyone else not so much. I was personally somewhat surprised that a personality like derrion would even have friends, let alone a girlfriend. I also find it hard to buy into a world where in a few short years. The country has turned from a thriving democratic-republic to an oppressive society and government bent on controlling information and its people. For that to happen to america in a matter of a few years. Is a very far stretch.
what I liked Hands down without a doubt probably one of the best endings I have ever read. Definitely one of the most unexpected. I was going "WOW" through the last three pages of the book. It was my type of ending. I wish I could tell more of why I enjoyed the ending, but then I would be giving it away.
The story begins with Derrion witnessing the death of his father. Which was written more like a prologue, not chapter 1. But I can see why the author choose to do that. Years later after the death of his father, america has become the spying eye, big brother, uncle sam on steroids. They have circumvented the Constitution. The internet has sifted through with no more anti-government websites. Derrion is 9/11 truther. and has the research to back it. But all goes wrong, when he uses research on 09/11 as a way to do his senior project.
what I didn't like... I felt like the character of derrion and the teacher were well developed. However everyone else not so much. I was personally somewhat surprised that a personality like derrion would even have friends, let alone a girlfriend. I also find it hard to buy into a world where in a few short years. The country has turned from a thriving democratic-republic to an oppressive society and government bent on controlling information and its people. For that to happen to america in a matter of a few years. Is a very far stretch.
what I liked Hands down without a doubt probably one of the best endings I have ever read. Definitely one of the most unexpected. I was going "WOW" through the last three pages of the book. It was my type of ending. I wish I could tell more of why I enjoyed the ending, but then I would be giving it away.
October 12, 2014
This review (and others) can be found on My Full Bookshelf Reviews
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book was good, but it wasn't my kind of Dystopian. So before you read my review, make sure you have this in mind.
Reasons this didn't work for me as much as I wanted include:
-The fact that it takes place five years in the future. (I read the blurb wrong, so it was kind of a surprise. Totally my fault.) Do I think that the US could get to this state in five years? Yes. Do I think it will happen in five years? No. That kind of took away my ability to suspend disbelief while reading.
-The 9/11 conspiracy theory as the plot. It's not that it was bad to read about, it's just that because of it I couldn't see it as a 'true' dystopian novel because the plot had to do with something that actually happened, not a made up oppressive government.
-The fact that I was never able to connect with the characters. The book is short, and because of this I didn't get to know the characters as much as I like to.
Would I recommend this? Yes, to the right person. I may not have loved this, but I am sure there are others that could consider this book fantastic! I will say it's not like any other Dystopian I've ever read before, and I appreciate that a lot.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book was good, but it wasn't my kind of Dystopian. So before you read my review, make sure you have this in mind.
Reasons this didn't work for me as much as I wanted include:
-The fact that it takes place five years in the future. (I read the blurb wrong, so it was kind of a surprise. Totally my fault.) Do I think that the US could get to this state in five years? Yes. Do I think it will happen in five years? No. That kind of took away my ability to suspend disbelief while reading.
-The 9/11 conspiracy theory as the plot. It's not that it was bad to read about, it's just that because of it I couldn't see it as a 'true' dystopian novel because the plot had to do with something that actually happened, not a made up oppressive government.
-The fact that I was never able to connect with the characters. The book is short, and because of this I didn't get to know the characters as much as I like to.
Would I recommend this? Yes, to the right person. I may not have loved this, but I am sure there are others that could consider this book fantastic! I will say it's not like any other Dystopian I've ever read before, and I appreciate that a lot.
January 14, 2014
I read this book with no preconceptions, which was a good thing. I honestly didn't even read the synopsis closely enough to pick up on hints about where this book may go. I just love the title, and the cover is beautiful in it's simplicity. I'm a sucker for a good cover.
Derrion is the main voice readers meet. I loved him. Not for any of my typical reasons for liking a male lead. I loved him because he questioned the world. He wasn't satisfied with the stories he was being fed, and he asked for the truth. It was incredibly brave. He showed a bravery that I myself would be terrified of. It was admirable. His line of thought was disjointed at times, but it added so much to the character.
This book made me think. It wasn't a light-hearted story, but something that pushes readers to really consider things. Maybe it even pushes readers to be braver. I was completely surprised by the ending. By midway through the book I thought I had some idea of where things could be heading, then at the end everything changed. I would suggest this book to everyone. It may not be something they would typically read, but the moral to this story is amazing.
I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
Derrion is the main voice readers meet. I loved him. Not for any of my typical reasons for liking a male lead. I loved him because he questioned the world. He wasn't satisfied with the stories he was being fed, and he asked for the truth. It was incredibly brave. He showed a bravery that I myself would be terrified of. It was admirable. His line of thought was disjointed at times, but it added so much to the character.
This book made me think. It wasn't a light-hearted story, but something that pushes readers to really consider things. Maybe it even pushes readers to be braver. I was completely surprised by the ending. By midway through the book I thought I had some idea of where things could be heading, then at the end everything changed. I would suggest this book to everyone. It may not be something they would typically read, but the moral to this story is amazing.
I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
January 7, 2014
In the Place Where There Is No Darkness by K.M. Douglas
Print Length: 98 pages
Publisher: FriesenPress; 1 edition (November 20, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00GT5E4PC
My Review~
I received this book in exchange for a honest unbiased review.
This is a highly fast paced read that will have you riveted to the end. It will also have you thinking about things that you wouldn't normally think about. This is my first book I have read from this author and it is superbly written with a very vivid and imaginative writing style. I really enjoyed it. I'm very excited to see what the author is going to write now!
Amazon Book Description~
The year is 2019. The Watchers maintain a state of constant surveillance: guns are outlawed, media is censored, and unmanned drones patrol the skies.
Derrion Parsing is a high school senior and the son of an ex-Army Ranger. Unlike his classmates, he has access to information from the time before the Invisible War, when the government shut down the Internet, reformatting into a propaganda tool. When Derrion attempts to use this information as part of a school project, he awakens to his worst nightmare.
Print Length: 98 pages
Publisher: FriesenPress; 1 edition (November 20, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00GT5E4PC
My Review~
I received this book in exchange for a honest unbiased review.
This is a highly fast paced read that will have you riveted to the end. It will also have you thinking about things that you wouldn't normally think about. This is my first book I have read from this author and it is superbly written with a very vivid and imaginative writing style. I really enjoyed it. I'm very excited to see what the author is going to write now!
Amazon Book Description~
The year is 2019. The Watchers maintain a state of constant surveillance: guns are outlawed, media is censored, and unmanned drones patrol the skies.
Derrion Parsing is a high school senior and the son of an ex-Army Ranger. Unlike his classmates, he has access to information from the time before the Invisible War, when the government shut down the Internet, reformatting into a propaganda tool. When Derrion attempts to use this information as part of a school project, he awakens to his worst nightmare.
January 20, 2014
I want everyone to stop what they're doing and read this book. Open your eyes to a not so distant future we could all face. From the days of our founding fathers this warning has resounded on a constant loop.
No spoilers. If you love fantasy, sci-fi, are into conspiracies, support small government, support free thinking and free speech ... I can't stress this enough ... Read, In the Place Where There Is No Darkness.
This story is told as if it were fiction, but the reality scares me. The Invisible War is as much of a reality as other slippery slopes we see on a day to day basis. In the Place Where There Is No Darkness is the perfect read for thought provoking discussion and book groups.
This is one of the best written stories I've read this year. I extend the compliment to both writing style and the story itself. Oh and I loved the symbolism that I found throughout the story and the unique grounding methods used.
Overall, the ending was my favorite. After the beginning, I hadn't expected the ending, but I thought it rounded out the story, and made for utter perfection.
Disclosure: I bought it.
No spoilers. If you love fantasy, sci-fi, are into conspiracies, support small government, support free thinking and free speech ... I can't stress this enough ... Read, In the Place Where There Is No Darkness.
This story is told as if it were fiction, but the reality scares me. The Invisible War is as much of a reality as other slippery slopes we see on a day to day basis. In the Place Where There Is No Darkness is the perfect read for thought provoking discussion and book groups.
This is one of the best written stories I've read this year. I extend the compliment to both writing style and the story itself. Oh and I loved the symbolism that I found throughout the story and the unique grounding methods used.
Overall, the ending was my favorite. After the beginning, I hadn't expected the ending, but I thought it rounded out the story, and made for utter perfection.
Disclosure: I bought it.
March 30, 2014
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway.
First, a disclaimer: Other people may like this book a lot more than I did. The writing style, themes, and ending were all things I really didn't click with. I finished the book largely because I had received it for free from the author and I make a point to review all books I get for free.
I really didn't like this book. I don't think it's a bad book, but the writing style was not one I particularly enjoyed. The main character is very well fleshed out, as is his mentor/teacher. No one else ever gets much of a personality, which isn't really a problem because this book is about the main character.
There's a very heavy conspiracy theory focus to this book. That's not a bad thing, but I just didn't connect with it. I also had trouble understanding why things were happening at times. The ending became even more convoluted, and at the end of the book I was left scratching my head at what had actually happened. I think that was the author's intent, but I really think a few more nudges or details could have given the story some closure, or at least a sense of how we got to this point.
First, a disclaimer: Other people may like this book a lot more than I did. The writing style, themes, and ending were all things I really didn't click with. I finished the book largely because I had received it for free from the author and I make a point to review all books I get for free.
I really didn't like this book. I don't think it's a bad book, but the writing style was not one I particularly enjoyed. The main character is very well fleshed out, as is his mentor/teacher. No one else ever gets much of a personality, which isn't really a problem because this book is about the main character.
There's a very heavy conspiracy theory focus to this book. That's not a bad thing, but I just didn't connect with it. I also had trouble understanding why things were happening at times. The ending became even more convoluted, and at the end of the book I was left scratching my head at what had actually happened. I think that was the author's intent, but I really think a few more nudges or details could have given the story some closure, or at least a sense of how we got to this point.
September 11, 2016
You can also find this revie on my blog: The Little Book Pixie
*I received a free copy in Exchange for an honest review*
Let me start by saying that if you’re looking for an excellent dystopian novel this might be the book for you.
Things I liked.
-It wasn’t so far into the future; it actually takes place five years from now.
-Derrion knew from the start that the way his government worked is not right. I hate it when the main character has to fall in love to see that things are wrong but not in this case; Derrion actually thinks for himself and is very observant of the things going around him
-The ending. I won’t go into details but it was something I wasn’t expecting
Things I didn’t like
-Sometimes it felt like I was reading a contemporary young adult novel instead a dystopian novel
-It was slow at times.
In the end I can say that this is a very good book not my favorite but a great read that I would recommend to many people.
*I received a free copy in Exchange for an honest review*
Let me start by saying that if you’re looking for an excellent dystopian novel this might be the book for you.
Things I liked.
-It wasn’t so far into the future; it actually takes place five years from now.
-Derrion knew from the start that the way his government worked is not right. I hate it when the main character has to fall in love to see that things are wrong but not in this case; Derrion actually thinks for himself and is very observant of the things going around him
-The ending. I won’t go into details but it was something I wasn’t expecting
Things I didn’t like
-Sometimes it felt like I was reading a contemporary young adult novel instead a dystopian novel
-It was slow at times.
In the end I can say that this is a very good book not my favorite but a great read that I would recommend to many people.
January 8, 2014
Do you ever think of what the future will be like for our kids or grandchildren? The world we know today will not be the same when they are older.
Can you imagine living in a world where everything was electronic? You don't even have a key to your own house. They use retina software to verify you are who you are. Drones fly in the air around you.
Derrion has some trauma and horrible memories about his father and his death. Derrion teases to the fact that he knows what the world use to be like, our way currently.
Derrion shares what he knows about the past and live now in a senior paper. He thinks it's no big deal. He really has no idea how much trouble he just made for himself.
This is a quick read as the book only has 98 pages. I give it a 4 out of 5.
Can you imagine living in a world where everything was electronic? You don't even have a key to your own house. They use retina software to verify you are who you are. Drones fly in the air around you.
Derrion has some trauma and horrible memories about his father and his death. Derrion teases to the fact that he knows what the world use to be like, our way currently.
Derrion shares what he knows about the past and live now in a senior paper. He thinks it's no big deal. He really has no idea how much trouble he just made for himself.
This is a quick read as the book only has 98 pages. I give it a 4 out of 5.
February 21, 2014
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Overall I liked this book. At times it reminded me of Jack London's The Iron Heel, and also Feed by M.T. Anderson. It was the underlying themes that were similar, not the stories or styles. If you enjoyed these books I would say to give this book a try, it will give you some good food for thought.
I'm a bit torn by the end. One part of me is really happy about the ending, it leaves things with a lot of hope. Another part of me is a bit irked by it, I wanted more explanation. I don't want to say more because you should read it for yourself.
Overall I liked this book. At times it reminded me of Jack London's The Iron Heel, and also Feed by M.T. Anderson. It was the underlying themes that were similar, not the stories or styles. If you enjoyed these books I would say to give this book a try, it will give you some good food for thought.
I'm a bit torn by the end. One part of me is really happy about the ending, it leaves things with a lot of hope. Another part of me is a bit irked by it, I wanted more explanation. I don't want to say more because you should read it for yourself.
December 9, 2014
I received this book free for an honest review.
The good: The writing is enjoyable.
The bad: There is almost no plot until about 75% through. Most of the book is the paranoid ramblings of the main character. Well-written ramblings, but unless you're a conspiracy theorist (and I'm definitely not), you probably won't enjoy it.
I love dystopian, but this book is only set 5 years in the future. It is not believable that things would have changed that much in 5 years. Maybe if this was set 100 years in the future, I would have liked it more.
The good: The writing is enjoyable.
The bad: There is almost no plot until about 75% through. Most of the book is the paranoid ramblings of the main character. Well-written ramblings, but unless you're a conspiracy theorist (and I'm definitely not), you probably won't enjoy it.
I love dystopian, but this book is only set 5 years in the future. It is not believable that things would have changed that much in 5 years. Maybe if this was set 100 years in the future, I would have liked it more.
January 21, 2016
I was given this book to read for an honest review. I have to say it is like 1984...with sugar. I struggled with 1984 and it took me a year of picking it up and putting it down again just to finish. This book only took me a day to buzz through and I may need to re-read bits as I honestly skimmed through quite a bit. Don't get me wrong there because the character development is amazing; I am just programmed towards high action dystopia novels. If you loved 1984, this will be a favorite.
January 17, 2014
Truly amazing read that really makes you think. I had a hard time putting it down and the ending definitely wasn't what I expected. Highly recommend. I received a copy of this book for my honest review.
February 1, 2014
review forthcoming
February 2, 2014
Review coming soon :-)
February 11, 2015
I love this book, it was completely amazing! It makes you appreciate life a lot more!! best book to be happy and appreciate what surround us!!
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