DARKNESS by Erin Eveland initially intrigued me because of the interesting blurb and by the fact that it is an interactive novel. Each chapter opens with a QR code that takes you to additional pictures, music, or artwork to enhance the story. I still love this concept of interactive novels. I'm not sure it was implemented in the best way. First, I have an Android phone which I used to scan the code from my Kindle (just a plain old Kindle for me, so no colors and nothing fancy). The scanner works beautifully, but the website which hosts the extra material doesn't have a mobile compatible webpage. I had to constantly re-size the image and do lots of vertical and horizontal scrolling to see an entire picture or read all the text. The webpage would be best viewed from a PC with its much larger screen. People will scan the QR codes with a handheld device such as a phone or tablet, so not having a mobile compatible webpage doesnt make sense to me. Again, I really like the concept, and the artwork chosen was beautiful and fitting, but the frustration of viewing it on my phone in chunks kept me from scanning all the codes, especially at the end when the action really picked up and I didn't want to pause the story for very long.

The backcover blub is also deceptive in what this story is about. There is a heavy Christian underpinning to the entire world of DARKNESS that isn't mentioned in the blurb. Morality is seen in those black and white terms. All people are sinners, and I mean all; there are no righteous characters in this book. It's a very ugly world with a harsh morality. Plot-wise, I understand why the environment is supposed to be so miserable and horrific. Catherine is being broken down by a Master of Darkness, but it doesn't make it easier to read. Catherine's world is so unbelievably awful, and the reader must be willing to suspend disbelief to fall into the story, which was difficult for me.

I do like the use of color in DARKNESS. Colors correlate to emotions and actions. Everything has a color. Seeing how the Masters of Darkness manipulate the colors and the darkness is intriguing, if somewhat complicated. DARKNESS is the first in the series so I expect more will be revealed about the world as the series delves deeper into what it means to be a Master of Darkness and what Catherine's eventual role is. She could be savior or she could be destruction. The end of DARKNESS leaves her with more questions than answers which is a good way to lead into a new book.

DARKNESS is very complex with a strong religious theme that might not be for every reader. There are moments where the world author Erin Eveland is building made me simply stop and re-imaging my world in the colors of her world. I love those moments when I can stop and look at my world and wonder, what if...but the degradation and absolute wretchedness of Catherine's surroundings didn't let the wonder come through often. There is a pervasive hopelessness that left me a little sick to my stomach as Catherine struggled to survive against this all- consuming evil that wants her.

Erin Eveland has created a dark, twisting tale about the nature of evil and one girl's struggle to survive. DARKNESS won't be for everyone as it is graphic, gritty, and harsh, but if you're a fan of sinister plots with a complex world, you should give DARKNESS a try. The interactive music, art, and pictures are very cool. If you figure out a better way to view them, let me know!

Book Summary

One Girl. One Boy. And the Masters of Darkness. See the Shadow Creatures. They are everywhere. But you can't run from the shadows. Or the Masters who control them.

In a world as grim as the powers within it, 16yr old Catherine has been born with a supernatural power called Darkness. Living an impoverished life, a hidden world starts to unfold with the encounters of two men in black, Masters of Darkness. Ancient enemies with the power to control the Darkness and its Shadow Creatures, the Masters will fight to the death for what one girl may hold the ultimate power of Light.