The Gathering Dark (The Shadow Saga, Book 4) [Mass Market Paperback]

Christopher Golden (Author)

Book Description

Series: Peter Octavian | Publication Date: June 24, 2003

The Gospel of Shadows has been destroyed, leaving the barriers between the human world and paranormal realms wide open. Only Peter Octavian, a powerful mage-and former vampire-can save mankind.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Golden's fourth novel in the Shadow saga brings back Peter Octavian, once a centuries-old vampire but now human again. He remains a powerful mage, to whom Father Jack Devlin comes with news that a group of demons known as Whispers are attacking villages around the world, eviscerating the residents, and transporting the towns themselves into an otherworldly dimension. Keomany Shaw, an earthwitch who lived in one of the towns, flees to find her friend Nikki, who used to date Peter. When all four characters meet, they return to Wickham, Keomany's home, hoping to face the demons and find Keomany's parents. There Peter encounters a Tatterdemalion--a demon even more powerful than the Whispers--who intends to suck even more cities into its hellish dimension. Peter and his friends head to a village in Spain where they believe the demon will strike next. Scary and thrilling. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 373 pages
• Publisher: Ace (June 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441010814
• ISBN-13: 978-0441010813
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #960,213 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN is the award-winning, bestselling author of such novels as The Myth Hunters, Wildwood Road, The Boys Are Back in Town, The Ferryman, Strangewood, Of Saints and Shadows, and (with Tim Lebbon) The Map of Moments. He has also written books for teens and young adults, including Poison Ink, Soulless, and the thriller series Body of Evidence, honored by the New York Public Library and chosen as one of YALSA's Best Books for Young Readers. Upcoming teen novels include a new series of hardcover YA fantasy novels co-authored with Tim Lebbon and entitled The Secret Journeys of Jack London.

A lifelong fan of the "team-up," Golden frequently collaborates with other writers on books, comics, and scripts. In addition to his recent work with Tim Lebbon, he co-wrote the lavishly illustrated novel Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire with Mike Mignola. With Thomas E. Sniegoski, he is the co-author of the book series OutCast and The Menagerie, as well as comic book miniseries such as Talent, currently in development as a feature film. With Amber Benson, Golden co-created the online animated series Ghosts of Albion and co-wrote the book series of the same name.
As an editor, he has worked on the short story anthologies The New Dead and British Invasion, among others, and has also written and co-written comic books, video games, screenplays, the online animated series Ghosts of Albion (with Amber Benson) and a network television pilot.

The author is also known for his many media tie-in works, including novels, comics, and video games, in the worlds of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellboy, Angel, and X-Men, among others.

Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His original novels have been published in more than fourteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at www.christophergolden.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read, July 2, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gathering Dark (The Shadow Saga, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

When the public learned that the Roman Catholic Church
practiced sorcery with a group of dark magicians operating within the ranks, the church collapsed. The vampires, whose existence was made public, learned how the church deceived them and declared a jihad, destroying all those who practiced good magick which kept in check the forces of darkness. The Book of Shadows, the grimoire that contained the spells used to repel the forces of evil was lost leaving Earth open to malevolent beings from other dimensions.

While the church is trying to reconstruct the book so that when evil strikes they will be prepared, Peter Octavian, former vampire and the world's most powerful sorcerer, tries to lead a normal human life. When cities around the world start disappearing, Peter once again marches into battle but the enemy he fights is new to him and he is uncertain that he and his allies are powerful enough to stop it.

Fans of the "Shadow" saga will be happy to learn that there is another installment in this powerful urban fantasy series. Christopher Golden is a potent storyteller who places his fantasy creatures in modern times so credibly that the audience believes in their existence. That is the mark of a true storyteller and Mr. Golden is one of the best. The ending will leave readers satisfied yet holds out the hope there will be more books forthcoming in the series.

Harriet Klausner

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and compelling reading, July 3, 2003

By 

Maria Y. Lima "Chickwriter" (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gathering Dark (The Shadow Saga, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

Golden's brilliant series, the Shadow Saga, continues with nothing less than the loss of the entire world as a mega-demon begins to swallow cities into a hell dimension. When neither the military's elite forces, nor the fractured remnants of the Catholic Church can stop the portals from opening, it falls to Octavian and his motley team to come to the rescue. Readers of the original three books will recognize some returning characters.

THE GATHERING DARK is a powerful tale that will enthrall readers, even if you're not familiar with the previous tales. The crisp, flavorful writing hooks you from page one. No stranger to great storytelling, this is one of the best I've read recently and will remain a favorite for a long time to come.

-Maria Y. Lima

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Golden is Golden, September 25, 2003

By 

N. Bilmes "bookaholic" (Vernon, CT United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Gathering Dark (The Shadow Saga, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the long-awaited fourth installment in Golden's heretofore magnificent series, and as I was not expecting this book to exist, was pleasantly surprised to find it on the shelf of my local bookstore (sorry, Amazon!).

The book gripped me in its spell from the first segment, and held me rapt throughout it's entirety. The early chapters set the tone well, reacquainting us with some previously important characters, and introducing us to some new ones whose roles will grow and help move the story along. The writing is excellent, and the plot superb, and the book is well worth the few hours of missed sleep it caused by not letting my eyelids close.