Dark Earth

Dark Earth #1

by Jason Halstead

Book 1 of the Dark Earth seriesEric's dreams were shattered when his wife was taken from him by a reckless driver on a snowy Alaskan road. All that remained was his newborn daughter, Jessica. Uprooting to provide a safer life for his child, Eric moved back home to northern Michigan.Thirteen years later with Jessica raising the bar in everything she does, darkness returns to the Baxter's life in the form of a crazed gunman. Surviving the assassin and seeking answers, Eric has to dig into the secrets of an unbelievable past hidden between the pages of history.Look for these other Dark Earth series 1: Dark EarthBook 2: Devil's IceboxBook 3: Soul MatesAnd these other Dark Earth setting Lost Girls series

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller, Fiction, Young Adult, Dark Fantasy, Ebooks

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2010

About the author

Talking about myself in the third person is giving me fits - time to switch this up.

My day job is that of a computer jockey and all the hands on and hands off work that entails. When I leave the office behind I jump into family life (beautiful wife and two obnoxiously cute young children), finding a new way to hurt myself while powerlifting, and writing.

As of mid 2015 I haven't hit the 100 book mark yet, but I'm getting close! There's always at least in process. I just can't seem to stop myself...

Reviews

[Lemurkat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel started strong - the characters were interesting, the writing good and the emotions portrayed convincing and powerful. Eric's dedication to his daughter was admirable and Jessica was appealing and interesting. There were some truly tense scenes and good horror/suspense novel fare. Then things started to go downhill. The warder was a weak and pointless character, serving only to dump some information and then essentially commit suicide in a truly stupid manner. And it deteriorated further when Jessica crossed the bridge and Eric trailed after her.

Firstly - I get the impression that Jessica crossed the bridge on her voalition - nobody had captured her or whatnot, so why was it just immediately assumed she had been captured by the Evil King (cliche)? The squalid, dark and nasty lives of the peasants seemed exaggerated and unnecessary, with the only ray of light being the Smith. Now, there's a tale I would like to hear more of. Instead, it appears as though the author no longer wanted to make much effort - plot points were rushed; emotions were told, not shown and there was repetition of phrases and other such grammatic errors that choke the plot and show that the editor lost interest about partway through (and with good reason, as so did I).

Dark Earth was nowhere near as interesting as Mundania (and can you say "rip-off", I could not help but think of Xanth and Florida). It was a generic fantasy kingdom ruled by greed. Yawn. And as for the concept of the Dark Earthians taking over our world - well, that's ridiculous, given their fickle loyalties, their selfish behaviour and their primitive weaponry, I would say it was all one big farce.

And why was Jessica - by far the most interesting character - relegated to little more than a trophy to be rescued and owned. She served no purpose and showed little initiative throughout the latter part of the plot. I would suggest that the author were to step back from the first person narrative - something like this would be much stronger were we able to see what Jessica was going through - to discover who had captured her as she went through the gate and to feel her distress at watching her father tormented.

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Mundos paralelos y fantasía.-

Género. Narrativa fantástica.

Lo que nos cuenta. Tras un accidente automovilístico en Alaska, Eric queda como único progenitor al frente de la educación de su hija Jessica, que trece años después ha crecido como cualquier otro niño con la peculiaridad de mostrar un don especial para el dibujo, con resultados muy detallados y realistas. Cuando un desconocido trata de acabar con la vida de Jessica, los acontecimientos empiezan a desarrollarse de forma inesperada y sorpresiva. Primer libro de la serie Dark Earth.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Sonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book, the story kept me coming back, wanting to know what would happen next. The story is about love and what a parent would do to protect a child.

[Anna Katherina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book to read. It could still use a little polishing in some areas as I felt it moved a tad too fast, or some details that should have been there were omitted... But overall it was imaginative and unique, and wasn't written too childishly and still contained mature elements that made it easier for a fan of mature young adult novels to read and still enjoy. Can't wait for the second book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book, different from what I usually read. There were a lot of twists and turns. I liked their decision to stay and make good changes to the dark earth

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read before lost girls.

Author freebie. The first novel set in the Dark Earth world. A father and daughter discover their family history is from another world.

[Houstonc · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected. It started in one genre on switched to another.

[Angela Holtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Lilac Wolf and Stuff

I found this ebook free on Amazon and I thought it looked like something I would read should I ever have the time. Well this weekend I found myself stuck in a kindergarten class with nothing but my blackberry...which thankfully had this loaded in the kindle reader on it. I thought it looked very dark and exciting, but it starts out like a chick lit kind of story. Eric loses his wife in a car accident but his unborn baby girl is saved. They move back to Norther Michigan (my backyard) and set up home there for the past 11 years.

Then the man who killed his wife shows up and tries to murder his daughter. Now that's the only thing that bugged me because the detective said the crash was ruled an accident. But then the detective says: "he was out in seven years for good behavior." Now why would the guy get jail time for something ruled an accident? I'm not a lawyer though, but it seemed odd to get that much time when the guy was clean.

So I'm seriously wondering if I am reading the wrong story here, where are the werewolves and witches and stuff...oh yeah...right about here he smacks you with it. And don't get me wrong here, it's not boring at ANY point in this book. But right about this point it gets insane...

I want to go on and on, but I can't. The girl is 13 and very bright but still very much a kid. I love how he wrote her character because you can't help but adore her, but as very bright she is he doesn't (as so many authors have) forget she is still a kid. Even Harry Potter wasn't very childlike. And Eric, Jess's father, he's such a manly man...I think I have a crush on him. lol Living about as far north in Michigan as you can, to where the power company hasn't even gotten out there yet...fishing for his income...and then kicking ass for his little girl. Eric rules!

*squeal* just saw this is book 1. I wonder if there's a book 2 out yet...

Yes you should get this book. It's one of those where you get to the end and have to stop and breath for a little bit. And it has it's moments of violence but I think it could easily be appropriate for young adults.

[Sherri Jordan-Asble · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a bit to read this because I've been busy, not because it wasn't fabulous! I picked it up EVERY chance I got. Let me tell you that if you want a book that keeps you rolling, this is it. Everytime I thought I figured out where the story was going, Halstead took it somewhere else entirely. I never knew what was coming from one moment to the next. The main character was great; a strong man, father, and fisherman. Everything he did was completely "in character" and at the same time surprising. I liked how he dealt with the things that were happening to him. My one and only gripe with this book is the daughter. She acted way too immature for her age, especially considering she is an only child of a father that is gone a lot. She should have been more dependent and a lot less needy. I would have liked to see her stronger and I would have liked to see more of her in the later sections of the book also. But, overlooking that one thing, this book was really kool! Halstead did a great job contrasting the two worlds and kept his characters beleivable and the action packed! Great fun read!

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Dark Earth by Jason Halstead
Reviewed for Freebookdude.com for August 13 2012
5 Stars

A fascinating novel, “Dark Earth” had me riveted from the first sentences. A winning and delectable combination of contemporary culture, intense familial bonding, magic, superstition, high fantasy, and sword-and-sorcery-along with parallel dimensions and dimensional portals-“Dark Earth” will satisfy almost any readers looking for a story that will entrance and compel. Author Jason Halstead doesn’t scruple to do some philosophical and moral questioning, either, as protagonist Eric Baxter, single father of a now thirteen-year-old witchy daughter (and I mean that in quite the literal sense), struggles to make sense of first, the attacks on his daughter and himself by humans, and then by an oversize, over-powerful wolf. If that isn’t bizarre enough, he discovers that, well, fairy tales really do come true-good or bad.

Strong characters, great description, and exciting adventure make this a compelling novel that will encourage readers to be eager for a sequel.

[Cana Elene (http://placeofreeds.blogspot.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eric is a man who has lost a lot. His mother, his wife, and has moved to the middle of nowhere to raise his daughter. It is only when the world (and another world as well) comes to his home and world that he has to face what and who he and his daughter really are.

This novel is just as the title suggests, it is dark. There is a lot of death, even from the very first chapter. But even then it is still a really beautiful story. Eric is a strong man who after being introduced to a new and strange world, he takes it and grows. He fights to protect his daughter and becomes a stronger person. Between two worlds (parallel to each other), Earth and Dark Earth, the story tells of what love and courage can do for someone.

With a mix of Celtic myth, werewolves/changelings, witches, and secret organizations that protect the world as warders, you will get a wonderful mix of fantasy and fairy tale.

Recommend this book!

[Kathy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect when I started this novel, not knowing it was a fantasy story. I have this perception that I don't really like fantasy, but I'm totally wrong. This was a terrific read, fast-paced with fully-developed characters but here's where the author really got me. This tale is completely driven by the hero's intense love for and connection with his daughter. Eric's deep emotion resonated with me and his tribulations over his daughter's life before the action even began was that of every parent.

I recommend this book to fantasy lovers, parents, thriller readers. It won't disappoint you.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an example of strong writing in need of a slightly stronger plot. I thought Halstead did an excellent job introducing locations and characters as well as conveying emotions. I was hooked for at least the first half, but not so much for the second half. I wanted Halstead to tell me more about the magic of Dark Earth because it seems like it should have been really important, but it turned out that is was mostly ignored. I also agree with others who have said they were disappointed that Jessica didn't have a more prominent role in the story. And finally, this book didn't have a very satisfying ending; it wasn't terrible but it was kind of a let down.

[Charlie B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

having read lost girls (all four books) by this authour I went on to read this series. The books are well written and thoroughly enretaining. This, the first in the series, follows our two main vharacters a father and daughter as they are drawn into a strange and at times scary new dimension or parellel copy of the earth we all know. His writing is quite soft at times others hard hitting, he flirts with erotica without actually doing more than hinting at any thing concrete, he also seems to have an affinity with women which when I first read his work I had to check to make sure he was male lol. If you like a bit of fantasy along with a realistic edge take a look at this aurthors books

[Luckngrace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jason Halstead writes smoothly and I think I would have enjoyed the book at least as well had he gone a more usual storyline, but YA seems to mean paranormal these days so he went with the flow.

How does a father face the strange news that his daughter is more than human or that neither of them will ever live normally again? He displays uncommon courage, becomes wounded over and over again and follows after her to a place no modern man has ever gone before. This book seems to me like the beginning of a series. Were I a fantasy lover, I'd give it another star.

[Amelia Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the beginning, it literally brought tears to me eyes, but as the book progressed it just continued to loose my attention bit by bit until I found it frustrating and couldn't finish it. I think this book could be great but could do with an investment of a good editor, I'm afraid to say I did not enjoy this book, although it had promise, and still does! There are a couple of plot faults and loose ends and the writing just needs a little touch up.
If these improvements are ever put in place I would be happy to definitely give this book another shot!

[Melody Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out amazing and kept on going. I loved the characters and loved how the father (our main character) progressed throughout the book. His character grew and grew and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I wasn't thrilled with the ending, and wanted to see what was going to happen. Is the world as we know it going to be okay? Uggggg, the suspence :) I would recommend this author. He's gifted at writing and has an amazing imagination.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

In general, I found Dark Earth an intriguing story badly written. I'm doing that awful habit of mine at the moment where I'm reading lots of varied books at once and I think Dark Earth suffered a bit in comparison to the rest. Jason Halstead is obviously a hugely prolific writer but I'd rather he spent a bit more time tightening this up before rushing on to the next. I don't think I'll be continuing this series.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written well within the boundaries of Fantasy; we have wardens, werewolves, witches, evil Lords, misguided assassins - you name it. The story is evenly paced and entertaining. The rapport and repartee between father and daughter is especially fun to read. The character development is steady as father and daughter learn more about each other and the "gifts" they possess.

First in a series.

[Josephine Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Editorial Review and found it held my interest. It makes me want to purchase the book.
Your wording makes me feel the emotions of the father wanting to protect his daughter. The various powers the daughter and father have draw me into wanting to read more.

I recently purchased the Dark Earth(Kindle Story)and found it so interesting I overlooked the grammatical errors.
In my opinion, Jason Halstead is a storyteller.

Josephine Calabrese

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting and novel enough to keep me reading, but just barely. I wasn't very interested in the story line and the gushing father was a bit off-putting and almost bordered on weird. Seemed more like he worshipped his daughter more than he loved her. All in all it was written well, but not very intriguing. Not sure if I'll read the sequel...

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eric Baxter's pregnat wife is killed in an accident in Washington state. Thirteen years later the same man tries to kill Eric's daughter because she she has magical powers. Eric and his daughter are transported to a midevil alternative world where there struggle to survive and get home continues.

[H. T.]

abandoned.

[Cláudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy to read. But the story is rather simple and not very amusing
Good book for those times when you feel like reading something light

[Doreen Dalesandro]

Kindle freebie, 8/26/12

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alternate universe mixed with magic. Just my cup of tea. It's a series of books so I am on to the next one.

[Maxien Gorry · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started off good and I thought it would have picked up half way through but it continued to be annoyingly slow. I forced myself to finish and even with it being slow I did enjoy it.

[Milinkalap · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grammatically well edition. Nothing else merits anything.

[Derek Pritchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Bad. Goes nowhere for the first half, then the author sets up for the story proper .... and Stops!
The book is interesting enough, but really needed more work and to be complete.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts out great, then gets a little odd, but hey, kinda what I expected...