Darkness surrounds you beneath the ground. The walls seem to be closing in on all sides. You're lost, disoriented, but not really alone because you can hear things scuttling about.
Enter The Darkness has that kind of claustrophobic vibe. This novel has four people entering a cave system during the solstice, each with their own reasons for doing so. For one man, it's love. For one woman, it's to seek answers about her missing twin sister. For another man, he's well aware of the secrets these caves hold and wants to rescue the others before she gets them. And for another woman, she's just trying to escape as she's been chosen for a sacrifice by the White Lady, a creature who comes forth during the solstice to feast on human flesh.
This book really gave me a case of the creeps as our various characters encounter the monstrosities that lurk in the depths of this subterranean landscape. Nightmarish beings that skitter on the ceilings and walls in the utter darkness until they hover just inches from their prey.
The novel's setting really acts as a character of its own as these people go in completely blind to the true horrors they'll each encounter. But the caves themselves are always present, giving off a sense of dread that permeates the pages and gets inside of your head.
The characters are well fleshed out and their particular reasons for going down this unsavoury path are diverse and each has a story to tell. This keeps the book fresh and makes the reader want to keep reading to find out their fates.
Only one character will survive and you'll have to read it to find out which one it is. But the journey is well worth it even if you have to sleep with a light burning for a few nights after reading.
Purchase Enter The Darkness here.
For the full review, check out my Horror Reads YouTube channel.
Dave from Horror Reads
