“Tomorrow died on the last morning of May. There were those who saw it happen, who watched the shadow fall, who felt the chop of the guillotine as the world lost its head. Everyone else witnessed only the aftermath, for the event itself lasted no longer than a moment. They stepped outside from windowless rooms, they climbed up from crowded subways, they pulled back the blinds to let in the sun, and found the nightmare waiting for them.”
But the dark is only the beginning.
NIGHTFALL is the first volume of the NIGHTMARELAND CHRONICLES, an ongoing serialized adventure horror epic following one man’s journey to reach his estranged daughter in a world claimed by eternal night.
Title: Nightfall | Author: Daniel Barnett | Publisher: Self published | Pub. Date: 28 May 2020 Pages: 140 | ISBN: 9781477848661 | Genre: Horror | Language: English | Source: Author sent for review consideration | Starred Review
Nightfall Review
” …the margin between cruelty and kindness was sometimes thin, and sometimes there was no difference at all” (Barnett 95)
Serialized novels were all the rage in 19th century Victorian times. The trend died down a bit, but throughout the 50’s and beyond, the idea of reading a full story in pieces carried on. King’s The Green Mile is the one I experienced; waiting patiently for our local Waldenbooks to open so I could FINALLY catch up with the characters I hated to let go of after each installment.
Daniel Barnett awakens this same feeling with the Nightmareland Chronicles. Granted, I already have books 2 and 3 waiting for me at home, but I can still feel that pull, that anxious need to get those books as soon as possible so I can know. Nightfall (book 1) introduces us to John and Mariah as they try to navigate a world that has suddenly been plunged into darkness. The writing is clean and the reader gets the sense that Barnett has taken up his threads and will spend the rest of the time weaving patterns we cannot help but get lost in.
Apocalyptic fiction is an escape for me; I have read quite a bit and I have so many more I want to get to. I love “the happening” in this book. The lights simply end. The sun is over. Click – gone. Barnett explores how different people react to this phenomenon; think King’s The Stand when he goes through the consequences of Mr. Trips. Barnett does it better, I think. We see some minor details, but for the most part, the situations we learn of will more than likely have a larger bearing on the story in the future. I appreciate this – there are only so many times I can read about the fallout of a cataclysmic event before it starts to give me that “oh, this again” feeling.
It is clear that Daniel Barnett has taken great care to produce the best content he can. Nightfall boasts a gorgeous cover by Daniele Serra with plans for each book cover in the series to follow the same style. The art even suits the writing style: haunting, beautiful, and a bit dangerous. It means a great deal when an independently published book is developed so well. Barnett has a great product and he is taking the care to present it in the best way possible.
No more details from me. The author keeps the synopsis brief and I don’t want to give away more. Pick up Book 1 of this series. The novella lengths mean it won’t take too long to read AND there are more to pick when finished. Be sure to check this one out. Don’t want to be left in the dark (wink).
You can find this book at many retailers via clicking on the appropriate link on Goodreads; however, in the spirit of supporting literacy programs, we would like to point out that you may be able to purchase this book through BetterWorldBooks.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Tracy joined Sc-Fi and Scary in September 2018. She reviews horror books for the site and bemoans our general lack of grammar, but puts up with us because she loves us anyway. Feel free to reach out on Twitter and Instagram at @tracy_reads79, or on Goodreads as well!
Tracy is also part of the Ladies of Horror Fiction crew.
“…think King’s The Stand when he goes through the consequences of Mr. Trips. Barnett does it better, I think.” Them’s fightin’ words, I think but I do like the sound of this 😁
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Thanks for this review, Tracy. The cover is great and that opening line is terrific!
I appreciate the warnings you added. It sounds like a good book that I might have bought and then found the issues I can’t handle reading about. Hugs on the wing.