Book Review: The Dark That Dwells
Title: The Dark That Dwells
Authors: Ryan Roddy & Matt Digman
Format: I read the Kindle eBook
Synopsis from Author’s Website:
In a galaxy far from their birthplace, humanity survives, raised from ruin by the only god whose name they remember. As their civilization expands across the stars once more, wondrous knowledge awaits them: pathways through space and time, abandoned fleets of alien ships, and technology that can prolong one’s life.
But an evil slumbers there as well, one that feeds not only on flesh but on the minds of men.
Ranger. Warrior. Tyrant. Arcanist.
Forced together by fate on paths that collide in chaos, they must fight to survive.
Did I like it?
Yes, a lot actually. This was an easy five-star read for me and I could tell it would be within the first 100 pages of the book. If I had to use one word to describe it, that word would be “epic.” It just felt so big and grand with big things happening across numerous worlds. This felt very much like great epic fantasy, but in space. There were a nice mix of characters covering the gamut of good, bad and several places in between the two. The book is told from several points of view which only adds to the “big” feeling of the story.
What is the setting?
This is definitely sci-if set in the far future, where humans have colonized the stars and have encountered other races of intelligent life.
Swords, lasers or guns?
All three along with magic used as a weapon when needed. Big space battles, up close hand-to-hand combat and planetary invasions, oh my!
What was something annoying about the book?
The Sidna character is just a real jerk for most of the book. It eventually begins to make some sense why she is this way but she is almost unbearable, especially for a character that is supposed to be on the good guy side.
Any villainous villains?
Yes! Tieger, his bone-white powered suit and his hammer, Janus, that he can pull from another dimension is a great bad guy. Just pure rage personified.
Is it safe for kids?
Yes. There is no sex to speak of and very little language. There obviously is some violence and because of that and the complexity of the story, I might suggest age 13 and up.
Did I have a favorite character?
This is easy. Hermès, the shape shifting, Artificial intelligence, is great, both for the comedic relief he brings and because there clearly is even more to him than we have already seen. I am looking forward to the future books to get to know him better.
Final Thoughts
This was such a good debut novel from this married couple writing team. Frankly, I am stunned at how good it was. I only wish I had discovered this closer to when the sequel comes out so that I do not have to wait so long.
