The Dark Inside

by Jane Hartshorn

Emma is beginning to question her own sanity. Every night, during sleep paralysis, she is taken to a dark place where ethereal shadows descend upon her. But when Emma starts to have precognitive visions that are leading to the deaths of everyone that gets close, her world is turned upside down.

After her first vision, Jack West knows there is another like him, knows that he has to get to her before the darkness breaks through, which will lead to living hell on earth.

Darien is certain that she is the last, and that the war that has raged for almost ten years may be coming to an end. Death had closed the door for the others... this time would not be any different.

In just three days, all that she believed about mankind will be changed... forever.

165 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 5, 2012

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Emma is a lonely, depressed young woman who struggles after the death of her father, and who seemingly has no desire to live. She is plagued with nightmares and blackouts that seem too real to be just her imagination, and she wonders if it is the onset of insanity or the end of times. She is contacted by a strange man named Jack who tells her that he knows what she sees, and that he can help her. He spins for her a fantastical story that she just can't believe, and she runs right into the arms of Darien...an equally strange and secretive man.
The synopsis of the story had me hooked, but I had some real difficulty understanding the flow or purpose of the story. I'm still not even sure what happened? Was the 'other dimension' Hell? I thought chapters 6 and 7 were really good; they seemed to be well-thought out and as a result I picked up on a lot of the story I seemingly missed in the first half. I didn't understand why some sentences were in boldface, and the punctuation was a little off-putting as well...too many commas and too many of these little jokers: !!!!!!! I felt like I was getting yelled at through the whole story.
The fight scene between Darien and Jack -- am I the only one who was confused? Both of the guys were just called 'he', so I couldn't follow who was punching who, who was knocking who to the ground, etc.
Overall, I think the outline of this story has promise. I think it lacks in execution, but there is a good base here in this story to be able to build upon. I also think that with the help of a good editor (or just a good friend with grammar-tastic abilities)the story would flow a lot better. Writer Jane Hartshorn has a good foundation to work with, and I hope that she continues to refine and hone her skills!

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I found it really choppy and hard to follow. I didn't feel like I could engage with any of the characters, because as soon as my attention with one of them was semi grasped, it skipped to someone else. The beginning was extremely hard to get my head around, but I didn't find it evened out at all till the very end. Like I said, I really wanted to like this, because the story basis was interesting in itself. I just found it too vague, and choppy, which left me with unanswered questions and confusion. :(

I received this from the author for an honest review (LoP)

[Maribel Rossello · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was super confused right from the very start. Then the book would start making sense, then it would lose me again..... this book was definitely a roller-coaster of sorts. I felt like I was watching like four different movies. I could see how some of these ideas would really make a good story, but it definitely needs work. I'm not sure if this was an un-edited version, but it could use some. I really wanted to like this read.... I just couldn't.

[Alana · Rating 2 out of 5]

***WARNING CONAINS SPOILERS**

Wow, where to start...

The synopsis held such promise! I shelved the book as "to read" and then got the chance to read and review it through Goodreads...

After getting to chapter 2, I was totally disappointed! The execution was pathetic. I could tell Hartshorn was attempting to add drama and romance near the middle but all attempts were, in my opinion, too little too late.

The storyline was lacking, hardly any background to characters made everything very disjointed. I literally had to will myself through it and I'm NOT a picky reader generally but this book was something else!

Hartshorn attempted "love at first sight" with Darien and Emma but in light of everything else "just happening" it fell short... Hardly any background on him or his world or his past...

I really didn't like it. I wanted to though - so badly! Emma too was portrayed as weak and then suddenly found strength - very unbelievable in the way the story was written. She suddenly finds purpose to her life when she learns she has to die... Who was Valia? How did she fit into the story with Darien and Jack? What / where was this world she was / is trapped in?

Also, so little time was spent on her being lonely wondering about sole mates and then suddenly Darien shows up and the storyline angles him as her "sole mate" #eyeroll. She's moved to tears as they have to part... Argh!

All in all, I found it lacking - on every level!

[Suzanne Kerzon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this a go after reading Incoherent. I am not a fan of the genre but I wanted to see if she had managed to stretch herself. Again I find myself thinking that she should try writing something longer, although I know that this is a trilogy (maybe she should have wrote all 3 in 1 book?)

I almost stopped reading it because the beginning is a little bit baffling and a bit full on, but I didn't let it beat me and I carried on, and I am so glad I did.

After you get the mind melt out of the way, this book is about Emma who is just your everyday girl who is suffering terrible nightmares of demons (or that's what she thinks). From chapter 5 this book is relentless, I cannot fault the roller coaster but if you wanted a nice jog along read this book isn't for you. When the action starts it does not stop.

We have three characters that are from different dimensions and are interlinked by something that is holding the door open. It's eluded as to what this is in this book, but the writer cleverly dodges that bullet for the following books, focusing on the 3 days Emma has from the start of the very sad end.

My recommendation would be to grab a coffee and take interludes with this book because my legs hurt after I had finished it. And author please try writing something longer, preferably back in my genre of thrillers. :)

[Drew Westerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading the first installment of this series and found it quite enjoyable. The beginning few chapters, while feeling a bit disjointed, did a good job of introducing information at the same pace of Emma's discovery. The depth of character was also introduced as such. While some may be bothered by the pace, I thought it added to understanding Emma's confussion through the first book. I thought the story line was interesting and kept my interest well as finding it a quick read. I will certainly watch for the next installment. The only disparaging comments I would make about this book I would make on many of the newer books that are geared for the ebook consumer. I feel that the book, based on the length and content in the first installment, could have been combined with the next to make more of a novel rather than two or three smaller more quickly consumed ebooks. That said, I would give this book a solid 7 out of 10 and would certainly recommend this book to others.

[Yaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives me mixed feelings.

I loved the plot but I was distracted by the narrative. The story is told from three sometimes more different points of view. I have read stories with similar narrative, but this one was hard to follow at times. I found myself confused as to who was experiencing what, so I had to go back and re-read parts to make sure I got the right idea.

I was very intrigued as to where the author was taking the story. I think the plot was very well done. The small hints of how the characters relate to each other, drove me crazy (in a good way). I like books that keep the mystery going till the end. I hope the next book of this series has a more defined narrative and is easier to follow. The story picked my interest enough to want to read more.

[Genevieve Moorehart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Untapped potential...

If you are a sci-fi fan you will quickly grow to learn that Emma is one of the few people that can slip-dimensions due to the fact that she is a child of a person from two dimensions making her unbound.

Unfortunately this amazing imagination needs an edit as it quickly steers you off track because of the pace of the book and the switching points of view.

The end is so sad but inevitable and does leave you wanting to know what happens when the boys go over to Darien's Dimension as the darkness is already there in form.

Bofore the second book is released I would urge the writer to sit back down with this one and plug the holes. Great imagination but lacking a professional edit :(

[Sydney Proctor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book and I'll tell you why. The synopsis seemed promising and I really wanted to finish this book but I was too confused. The story is told from three points of views and is narrated. In the beginning there was so much going on, so many characters and new information that I couldn't take it all in. I had a hard time keeping up with the different characters (maybe its just me) and all the information. One minute we're talking about Jack and the next its someone else and then I question if it's present time or the past. I was definitely dissapointed, especially in myself since I've never picked up a book and not finish it.

[Robin Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick read for me. There were some parts that kind of confused me, but for the most part this book was good. The main character, Emma, is well written. I really understood where she was coming from and why she made the choices that she made. My heart broke for her. I am not ashamed to say that this tale brought tears to my eyes. I can't wait for the next book. I have so many question, I just wanna know what happens next!

[Eren · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot in this novel was good, and it was a very quick, fast paced read. I was kind of confused with the way the view points changed, especially because it was more than 2 people's view points. I loved that Emma was someone I could connect with, which made up for the confusion of everything else. Overall it was a good read, with it's endearing moments. I do recommend it, however, if you aren't a fan of change of view novels, this one isn't for you.

[Carol King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It left me a bit confused at the start, but I stuck with it and understood why. The lead character is very human and that was so refreshing, and the two male characters are such a great mix. It's heartwarming, fast paced, sometimes scary but very sad. If they did it right this would make a great film, I can't wait for book 2. big thumbs up from me.

[April Alvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. It wasn't as good as it could have been but in all it was still a great book. It it bugged me a bit that the characters in the book talked about themselves alot and it was hard to tell who they was speaking about sometimes but once you figure it out the story gets very interesting. I hope this is going to be a series id love to read more.

[RM Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would be a bit of a girls book but I really enjoyed it. My neighbour got me reading it after he downloaded it on his phone. Book two should be good because it will be a bit more scary i'm guessing