Dark Shadows: Dreams of the Dark

by Stephen Mark Rainey, Elizabeth Massie

Blood Revenge. Angelique and Barnabas. Lovers once upon a time, through treachery and deceit they have now become immortal enemies. To pay for her jealousy that left Barnabas damned to feast on the blood of humans, Angelique has been banished to the netherworld. Meanwhile, Barnabas lives a lie, carefully guarding his hellish secret from the unsuspecting mortals with whom he lives -- including Victoria Winters, the ethereally beautiful governess to the Collins family.

Determined to escape her dark imprisonment, Angelique conjures a diabolical plan that will make her flesh again. Using her psychic powers, she will send another vampire to destroy Barnabas, completely. But as she will soon discover, the powers of darkness will find their match in the burning light of innocence . . . and love.

Vividly imagined, grippingly written, each "Dark Shadows novel is filled with the eroticism, supernatural suspense, and spellbinding storytelling that has made this classic daytime serial a timeless hit.

Genres: Vampires, Fiction, Gothic, Horror, Paranormal, Romance

Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Stephen Mark Rainey is the author of numerous novels, including BALAK, THE LEBO COVEN, DARK SHADOWS: DREAMS OF THE DARK (with Elizabeth Massie), BLUE DEVIL ISLAND, THE HOUSE AT BLACK TOOTH POND, and others, including several in Elizabeth Massie's Ameri-Scares Series for Young Readers. In addition, Mark's work includes six short story collections; over 200 published works of short fiction; and the scripts for several DARK SHADOWS audio productions, which feature members of the original ABC-TV series cast. For ten years, he edited the multi-award-winning DEATHREALM magazine and, most recently, the best-selling anthology, DEATHREALM: SPIRITS (Shortwave Publishing). He has also edited anthologies for Delirium Press, Chaosium, and Arkham House. Mark lives in Martinsville, VA, with his wife, Kimberly, and a passel of precocious house cats. He is a regular panelist on the weekly Lovecraft eZine Podcast and an active member of the Horror Writers Association.

Reviews

[Randy Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was good, butnot as much so as the original novels rom the `60's. the writer had a good grasp of the story but semed to miss the feel of the charachters somewhat.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere around page 120 I started to glaze over, so began speed-reading at that point, and finally just hit warp speed to the end. The problem for me as much as anything was that the book emulated the glacial pace of the TV series rather too well, without imbuing the original characters with much life (yes, hard to do in the case of Barnabas, I know.) The visiting vampire, Rathburn, was fleshed out well, but his backstory was about the only time my interest picked up.

[Dominique Lamssies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. It has a lot of the aspects that make Dark Shadows feel like Dark Shadows, but there is a definite change in sensibilities. It has a more modern feel (Vickie gets laid, y'all! Can you imagine that happening in the original series?) that would appeal to contemporary readers.

It does try to introduce a new character and some new aspects to the world as a whole, which was a nice attempt, but the need to tether it to the core Dark Shadows characters of Barnabas, Angelique and Vickie watered the whole thing down. I get they're popular, but there are other things going on in that world. But I also understand the marketing behind the decision.

Recommended for DS fans. I don't think this will create any converts.