Customer Reviews

When Darkness Loves Us: Two Chilling Tales

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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I remember reading this book several years ago. The thing that struck me about it then (and even now) is how successfully the author managed to create her own world. The caverns where the story takes place have their own set of rules. Daylight is a myth. Kidnapping is okay. Monsters dwell in deep, dark pools.

Given how well the author pulls things off, I am quite surprised that this book isn't still in print. If you can track it down online or in your local library, please do. It's a good read.

Elizabeth Engstrom has a way of making even the most horrific things beautiful simply by her words. If you can possibly find a copy of this book, do so immediately. The two stories in here will stay with you long after you're done reading.

Finding the light when swamped in darkness is never an easy thing. "When Darkness Loves Us" is a collection of two novellas from Elizabeth Engstrom. One story follows a young farm girl as she is engulfed by an underworld and yearns to escape, and an old woman who is facing the monsters of her past. Two engaging stories makes "When Darkness Loves Us" quite a pick for its value.

This book contains two novellas, so I'll talk about them separately:

The titular story was my favorite of the two and centered around a young woman who got trapped underground where she adapted to her environment in order to survive. Although the ending was a bit anticlimactic, the various adjustments made by the lead were interesting to read.

The second story, "Beauty Is...", was centered around a mentally disabled woman named Martha with a disfigured face. It alternates between her story and the story of her parents' marriage and life with Martha. This didn't do a whole lot for me, as the historical segments were fairly predictable, and the present story turned into one of those second-rate horror-thriller movies from the late '70s/early '80s.

Not a bad read overall, but I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone, either.

I read this book years ago, and it still haunts me. Elizabeth Engstrom is a wonderful writer, a master storyteller. If you like strange, twisted tales that are beautifully written--be sure to check out all her books.