In Just a Few Hours
The launch of Darkness Holds the Son is about to take place. You can get it now as a pre-order, or maybe by the time you read this, it will already be available. On the 14th of April 2022, I'm going to post the new video and the opening chapter so come take a look. Right now I'm posting the full editorial review by Independent Review
An engaging tale filled with magic and parental love
Darkness Holds the Son is first the story of a father struggling to save his kids and second
that of a king hell-bent on saving his kingdom's future. Jareth's twelve-year-old son, Crispin, is suffering from an unknown curse. The curse comes in the form of seizures and a ghostly form that fills his son's mind with hatred toward his parents.
While chasing this ghostly form, Jareth encounters a wizard who informs Jareth that
Crispin's disease might be more fatal than they had imagined. So, along with the wizard,
Jareth starts his journey. This journey makes him realize that his son is not the only one suffering from the affliction. Other children are also under this curse and are turning against their parents and disappearing.
On the other side, King Baron finds the revolt in his kingdom troubling. He tries to find
the reason, but instead, he finds something more sinister. The youth of his kingdom is in
grave danger, and as their king, he must protect the future of the youth. In his quest, his
path collides with Jareth and his wife, and together they set out to save the children.
This plotline is unique and executed well. Important events keep happening, and at no
point does the story stall. Along with the engaging plotline, it also has a fast pace all the
way through.
This book has an uncomplicated writing style. It is easy to read, and the plot is not as
convoluted as in some high fantasy novels. Its subject is particularly great for younger readers.
This novel acutely portrays a parent's struggle and heartbreaks. But amidst that, there is
also a strong storyline about a king struggling to choose between his duty for his kingdom
and his love. This storyline fills the novel with angst and tension.
The characters are well-developed as well. They each stand on their own and have fully
developed characteristics. Their actions, choices, and dialogues make their characteristics
shine. And King Barin's thought process as he grapples with the circumstances shows his
righteousness distinctly.
However, I do wonder if the relationship between parent and child could have been explored
more, giving us a deeper emotional layer to the story, and if we could have gotten more of the children’s thought processes. What were they thinking when this happened, and how did they cope?
There is a lot to love in the story and character here. It has a quest to save the world, a magical
sword, and a place where darkness resides. Readers who enjoy magical quests stories
will be satisfied with this one.
IndieBookView
Author's Note:: The book was revised after this review and I did flesh out the children's experiences and their relationships more.