Have you ever had a time in life when nothing goes right? When the life you have worked so hard to attain is falling to pieces? Outside of the realm we know and exist in, Dark Time threatens the reality of Paul Trevena and the others who live in his world.
Trevena works at a mental hospital, and one day he notices something odd. One by one, too many of his patients are dying. Because of this, his boss gives him an undesired vacation from his job until it is figured out why this is happening.
One of Trevena’s patients tells him that he must find Daniel because he is the one that can explain what is going on. Trevena has a great destiny, one that Dark Time wants to stop from taking place.
Once he finds Daniel, the two set off together in the Dark Time – a reality outside of ours. They encounter the Firmament Surgeons, the Autoscopes, and many more fantastic creatures who want nothing good for Trevena. Will Daniel and Trevena be able to find a way to stop Dark Time from ruining everyone’s life?
I loved the first chapter with all of its blood and gore. It made me look forward to reading the rest of the book. The author has an impressive vocabulary and a talent for description that makes the words on the page come to life.
Even though the author’s writing is great, and even though I understood each part of the story, my mind could not make the different parts connect. It was as if I was reading several separate stories. Each one was enjoyable, and as I said earlier, his descriptions of what is going on are great.
So, what do I know about this story? I do know that the survival of Trevena’s reality is at stake. There are characters who go between his reality and Dark Time to defeat those who are in control of Dark Time, thereby, saving everyone.
One part really caught my attention. I lived in England for two years while my husband was in the Air Force. Trevena and Index were going to Lakenheath. Just the mention of that city’s name brought back a lot of memories for me.
If you are a fan of fantasy and horror, this book should appeal to you. I was sent an ARC copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. If you would like to purchase your own copy, I have provided an Amazon link below.
Amazon Link: The Night Clock
Favorite Sentences:
Note: These sentences were taken from an ARC. In the published copy, these sentences may be a bit different.
The side of his face and his butchered shoulder pressed against the frame, one unlit crimson eye glaring through the gap, the final incredulity of his own astonishing death still embossed in its expression.
She looks like a chimney thrown into relief against a thundercloud.
Gollick drew closer, stepping through the evil slush seeping from the bin bags plundered by rodents and foxes that lay stacked along the backs of the lockups.
New Words Learned:
bhuna – a medium-hot curry originating in Bengal, prepared typically by frying meat with spices at a high temperature
bolas – weapons consisting of a number of balls connected by strong cord, which when thrown entangles the limbs of the quarry
cagoule – a lightweight, hooded, thigh-length waterproof jacket
capacious – having a lot of space inside; roomy
chips – French fried potatoes
chthonic – concerning, belonging to, or inhabiting the underworld
commensurate– corresponding in size or degree
connote – imply or suggest an idea or feeling
cryolite – a white or colorless mineral consisting of a fluoride of sodium and aluminum
dado – the lower part of a the wall of a room, below about waist height
exiguous – very small in size or amount
frisson – a sudden strong feeling of excitement or fear; a thrill
flyblown – dirty or contaminated, esp. through contact with flies and their eggs and larvae
hosepipe – a British term for hose
innit – (British) contraction of isn’t it
insensate – lacking physical sensation
jerry cans – large, flat-sided metal containers for storing or transporting liquids, typically gasoline or water.
jocose – playful or humorous
kyphotic– having an outward curvature of the spine that causes hunching of the back
parapet – a low, protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony
prescient – having or showing knowledge of events before they take place
quanta – a discrete quantity of energy
refutation – the proving of a statement or theory to be wrong or false
sloe – another term for blackthorn
teratogen– an agent or factor that causes malformation of an embryo
verge – an edge or border
About the Author:
You can read an interview with Paul Meloy at http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/read-horror/meet-the-writer/paul-meloy/.
You can also friend Paul Meloy on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/paul.meloy.
