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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great story, but needed more character development, October 5, 2011
It started off slowly, but a quarter of the way in, I was completely interested in the story. The Darkness deals with a mixture of super technology and dark witchcraft, which I found intriguing. The writing was more factual than I generally like (a lot of telling, very little showing), but I got used to it and didn't find it as annoying once I started reading more. Overall, I think this is an entertaining story that remains suspenseful until the very end. However, the characterization wasn't enough for me. Part of this is told in first person, and with that point of view, I especially expect to have some sort of emotional connection to the main character. This didn't happen at all. I think it was because the narration was entirely factual. We don't get a lot of Artemisia's feelings, and if we do, they're rather shallow. Instead of reflection, the character only says, "I'm upset" (or whatever emotion she's supposed to be feeling) and moves on. Maybe she'll have a drink, but that's it. There aren't any deeper thoughts or tell-tale actions going on. I wanted more from her. The same thing can go for Inanna and Adam (The Child) as well, but I didn't have so much of a problem with their characters. Their stories were told in third person, and I didn't consider them the "main characters." Besides, I think their history was more fully realized than Artemisia's, which gave them more depth. Also, all the characters are perfect. They are all beautiful, incredibly rich, successful, smart, can speak multiple languages, etc. I wanted them to have some flaws. Despite this, I thought the story was enjoyable. I liked how the magic came from different cultures, and I especially liked the voodoo influence. The plot was suspenseful and delightfully frustrating as Adam tries to come to terms with his past. I thought the ending was rushed, but it's a perfect ending -- I would have been disappointed if it had ended any other way. If you're at all interested in dark stories or witchcraft, you should give this one a try. Like I said, the characterization had flaws, but the story is truly fantastic.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable Reading, December 7, 2010
"The Darkness" by Crystal Conner is a dark tale spinning the reader into its web of sci-fi, fantasy and reality. In the beginning you are bombarded with a lot of colleagues names and scientific jargon that might tend to throw you off. Saving grace is that you get to meet the villain of the story first hand in the beginning and there is nothing about Artemisia's personality that would make you like her. Selfish, rich, brilliant spoiled and completely void of any sense of humanity. You are drawn into a world where science over rides common sense and the pursuit of knowledge walks a thin line right along with insanity.
What if?..This is the question that will be constantly lurking in the back of your mind as you read further into the novel. Should mankind dabble into "stem cell" research just because they can?
What is your stand on cloning? Yes, these are hard pressed questions that I was continuously asking myself as I read this fascinating story. How far should man go in playing "God" and then what would man do if one of their experiments decides to focus on destroying them?
Artemisia, is faced with some hard pressed choices as she comes face to face with the reality that all of her money and influence will not protect her from the clutches of "Adam". From the moment you read "I used to call you Mommy" you have to know more. Interesting read.
I would place this right along with authors such as Dean Koontz and Ray Bradbury.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Can't put it down, January 10, 2011
The Darkness is one of those rare books that is able to combine science with the occult, action with emotion, and send the reader on such a journey of twists and turns that it is impossible to see anything that is coming. The characters are complex, yet it is easy to find yourself relating to them. Adam, the Child who was locked in a cage and alone, is easy to connect to because who hasn't felt lost, unwanted, and alone at some point in their lives? Artemisia and Inanna are both powerful women who are easy to relate to because while they have riches and power, they lack the thing that would give their lives meaning - a child. All of them are very real and it seems if you look around you might just find them.
I was not able to stop reading this book once I started. I was immediately captivated by Adam and his plight, and Connor has woven her words so well that it was easy to feel what he did. I found myself near tears at several points, such as when Adam was found and taken from the cage, and cheering at others, like when Adam was able to get his Teddy finally. The telephone calls gave me the creeps and the ending took me by surprise. In hindsight, I knew it was coming but it still was a complete surprise.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories that are fiction, yet clear enough and detailed enough to easily be part of our real world. Set aside a few hours to read this one - once you start, you'll be hooked and unable to put it down!
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