Dark Genesis

Dark Genesis

by Dave Ferraro

Alyssa opened her eyes to darkness. And in the first flash of light provided by a gathering storm, she could make out a ring of bodies surrounding her.

With no memory of who she is, Alyssa stumbles into a dark world populated by witches. The witches are powerful, and demonstrate frightening powers, but even more terrifying are the monsters who rule over the land. Vampires, werewolves and other awful creatures of the night have taken over, forcing the witches behind stone walls, afraid to venture outdoors. But Alyssa finds that as she kills certain monsters, memories return to her, memories of a life on Earth, and the boy she left behind.

The quest to collect her memories and piece together the puzzle of what has happened to her is a daunting one, with betrayals and sacrifices every step of the way. But Alyssa is determined to fight for a world that is not her own, destroying powerful monsters along the way, so that she can return home to the boy she is coming to love through the memories she recollects.

Genres: Fantasy, Vampires, Young Adult, Magic, Witches, Werewolves, Supernatural

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Dave Ferraro grew up in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where he was warped by a steady diet of comic books, horror movies and young adult novels. He is the author of the paranormal fantasy series "Hunters of the Dark," as well as the gay teen paranormal romance "Twice Bitten." He graduated with a B.A. in English and creative writing from Saint Cloud State University, and currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Alana ~ The Book Pimp · Rating 4 out of 5]

What was the name of that bus that hit me? Oh, that's right, it was Dark Genesis!

My, that was a noodle nuke. I'm still trying to gather my thoughts for a moment...

First off, I think I'd like to give my rating of 4♥'s, and explain just a bit of why it didn't quite make it to 5♥. I really think it's important to note that this is more of a 'straight-up fantasy' with only light hints of what I would think of as today's idea of 'urban'. In fact, if you could take Buffy, Lord of the Rings, and maybe even a little Wizard of Oz, and a dash of La Femme Nikita, and roll it all together into this little package in book form, it would be at least similar to Dark Genesis. Odd mix, right? I have to admit, as well, that fantasy is not my usual 'bag'. I've read LOTR, urban fantasy galore, and even loved the YA fantasy series Eden, but in general I need the 'urban' in my fantasy. Once I realized (fairly quickly) that this is primarily a fantasy, I dragged my feet. I spent forever reading in the beginning. I was fighting a battle with myself, and my short attention span, trying to get 'grabbed' by the book. Took absolutely forever, it seems. But short of that beginning (and my personal preferences being the instigator) I ended up loving this book. So, I can only rate my reading experience, and while I was smitten by the end - it didn't grab me by the collar at first and say, "Screw you and your 'thing' against fantasy, READ ME." Does this make sense?

Now, that being said, there was a point where I was captivated and could not stop reading. It actually took till around 40% or so... seems a long time to finally get sucked in, but boy! Hook, Line, and Sinker. The characters is what finally broke my shell and shook me up. At the beginning, there was this feeling like 'quest time' and you know the usual collecting the merry band of travelers... but once that kind of almost superficial veneer wore off and I got to really SEE the character underneath, I was surprised by their depths. For the girls, you got a two-fer choice between Parker, aka 'bad boy' rogue-type anti-hero/hero, and the almost Prince-Charming-like, gallant hero, Eric. It's totally a win-win situation for us girl readers, although I'm firmly a member of 'Team Parker'. Love those bad boys! And something should be said for Alyssa as well, being the main character and all... She was really surprising, all around. Mad skills like Buffy, interesting inter-actions in this 'fantasy' world when she's used to our regular existence... well, her version of 'regular' anyway. I understood her choices and was able to sympathize with her, regardless of my personal skill level of decapitating vampires.

Roller coaster ride that is the reading of Dark Genesis starts here. Buckle your seats, make sure your tray tables and chairs are in their full-upright position, and grab onto your armrests, because this book is one twisted, wild ride. There are more twists, turns, and loop-de-loops than I've read in a while. Predictable, except for a common fantasy 'quest theme', this was not. I was REALLY starting to get nervous around 80%... thinking, there's not enough time left to finish this, is there? (Time enough left in the book to resolve the plot.) Then at 90%, I was wild-eyed and twitchy, thinking there REALLY isn't enough time to finish this! Then *BOOM* (that was the sound of me practically falling out of my chair at the end.) *Gah!* Indeed, it freaking resolved. It really was the ending I wanted to see, too.

Ultimately, if you are a fan of fantasy with just a dash of urban, and even a slight sprinkling of steampunk (in a fantasy setting) then I think you will absolutely revel in Dark Genesis. It's really got a good sampling of critters, an ensemble supporting cast, and sweet little modern 'nuggets' (references) through the book!

I did receive an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own and I gained no compensation for my review.

[David Estes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

Wow! This one was a tough one for me, because there were things I loved and things I didn't, so I went with the half star between 3 and 4. And of course I had to give the author the round up because Dave is awesome! OK, here are my thoughts:

What I liked: The world building and mythology! I loved everything about the world that was created, the different covens, the different types of monsters, the various rulers. The mythology of how the witches created vampires and werewolves, etc. AWESOME!

Also, I loved a couple of the twists at the end which I won't spoil for anyone else. Ferraro subtly provides information and then brings it full circle with some awesome twists I honestly didn't see coming. Overall, I thought the ending was pretty rock star.

Oh and I don't want to spoil anything, but THE FLASHBACKS were SO GOOD! Especially when one of them turns into a MAJOR TWIST I had no idea was coming.

What I thought was kind of meh: The MC started off so kick butt, but then I felt like she kind of faded and became more of a spectator, allowing her newfound friends to do the butt kicking and save the day. Everyone constantly sings her praises, but it's her friends, mostly Lace who do the hard work and save her time and time again. I wanted the girl who dominated the vamps in the first scene.

I also thought the writing could have been a little tighter. There was a lot of using the same word twice in the same sentence or two lines in a row that is one of my pet peeves. The word "invaded" was used countless times to refer to someone smelling or tasting or sensing something. They were small things that just grated on me a little bit. In my opinion, the first half was better written than the second half, but part of that could just be that the repetition hadn't worn me down until the second half.

I was also not a huge fan of the ticks, but that's just a personal opinion. They were the least interesting of the villains, and I wished their role didn't turn out to be so big in the book, although I respect and understand why the author created them.

Overall, it was a quick and fun read with a whole lot of creativity from Mr. Ferraro! Well done sir!

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I signed up to gain a copy of this book to review through 'read it and reap' and I would like to thank the author for being so kind to offer a copy.

Overall I have given this book a 2.5-3 stars.

I recently finished Dark Genesis and I will say first that I enjoyed it. No matter the star rating, it is a fun read and likely especially so for young adults who would like an epic adventure story in a small package. However, it is not without its flaws and I admit to liking the first half far more than the second because of this.

The book is a mini-epic. It's a travelling story where the characters need to go on several journeys to reach their goal. Traditionally this is done over a series of books but this one manages to fit the whole story into 400 pages. This is appealing as it is a fast paced read and the story moves along quickly (sometimes too quickly), keeping you interested.

The beginning of the story was particularly interesting and I feel that this set the book up to be a disappointment as the interest was lost somewhat as the story sped up. A lot happens in 400 pages and whilst it is a quick read, it could possibly have benefited from being split between two books.
In the first few pages we are introduced to a character who has lost all memory. She is in a strange world that she cannot understand and has abilities she isn't sure how she acquired. She meets some witches from the world and understandably is wary of giving too much of her (limited) knowledge away. This turns out to be a good idea in the first part of the book.

This first section grabbed me instantly and I was interested to see how Alyssa would cope with her new surroundings. They main goal of the book has already been revealed although it is still shrouded in mystery and we have seen that she needs to be careful of who she can trust.

Unfortunately, as she leaves Haven, the book takes a turn for the generic.

One of the defining character traits she is given early on is caution. When we find out a bit of her background we understand why. However, after being betrayed she suddenly becomes willing to tell her story to everyone she meets and encourages them to join her on the quest. This is explained by her 'liking the look of them' but considering what she experiences early on it makes little sense. Plot wise it is to create more of an ensemble novel with more characters to play with and for Alyssa to be able to achieve more. Unfortunately, in adding more characters, each successive character becomes more and more 2D. We do not know much about any of the characters besides Alyssa, Beth, Parker and Vessa and even these main characters are rather shallow. They exist purely to move the plot forward. This isn't necessarily a bad thing for a quick read but it's disappointing as there appeared to be more promised. It is as if the author had ideas but these were set aside as he gained momentum whilst writing.

The shallow characters are my main disappointment in this book and worryingly the characters seem so interchangeable that errors appear in the text. This happens twice, first with Lace being confused for Vessa, and then Mia being mentioned as speaking when it was not physically possible for her to do so at that point in the book. Combined with several spelling errors (the used of wretched rather than retched was particularly off putting), the writing appeared to get increasingly erratic as the story went on.

This could be because so much happened in such a short space of time. The first half is well paced up to the characters' struggle with the Fire King. However, this is very suddenly over and each successive monster is dispatched in quick succession with challenge suddenly nullified in most cases. In particular, the end is particularly jarring with the speed at which it finishes. It reads as if the author realised that he needed to wrap things up and this is not a good thought to have when immersed in a book. It reminded me of myself when writing to a time limit when I spent so long on the first section and had to rush the rest.

Overall this review is highly critical but it only because I was disappointed by what this book could have been. It was a good read and enjoyable, but it was sorely harmed by being a single novel. Deeper characterisation following from the first few chapters, and a more realistic struggle in the journey would have helped to turn what was a good read into a great one.

[chucklesthescot · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book from the author through Never too old for YA and NA in exchange for an honest review*

Alyssa wakes up in a field on an alternate Earth full of magic and monsters and with no memory of who she is or how she got there. After befriending a coven of witches, Alyssa begins a dangerous quest to kill the monsters to get her memories back, helped by a variety of people with special monster hunting skills.

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't expecting the book to have the setting of a more traditional King Arthur court kind of fantasy so I was worried that I might not like it. However as soon as I got into it, I was caught up in the adventure. I like the fact that Alyssa has no magic powers in this world and that she finds ways to use that as a weapon against the witches and monsters she faces. The worldbuilding is interesting and detailed without getting boring and the varity of characters and monsters was great!

I really liked our band of heroes-Alyssa and Vessa had an interesting and complex relationship that is well developed through the novel. Parker struck me immediately as the likeable rogue, instead of just the straight romantic hero. I laughed at the vanity of Eric and enjoyed the sarcasm of Lace who became one of my favourites. Kaitlyn was a character that I wasn't too sure about all the way through which gave her a more interesting edge than she might otherwise have had. I liked what was done with Beth as well. Ooh there is so much I want to say about the characters but that would mean spoilers so I must restrain myself! OK one wee hint-when the witches discover a traitor in their midst, I knew instantly who it was because of what happened when they first entered. I did suspect the possibility of what happened in that flashback shocker but I was taken by surprise a few times in the final showdown. I like it when that happens!

The range of monsters in the book was wonderful for an urban fantasy fan like myself! Vampires, werewolves, human sized ticks(UGH), witches, demons, Ice Queens and Fire Kings, zombies! What more could you have in a book? Plus we had the city of Frankenstein where the people are creating science instead of magic and I found this bit really interesting. It blended both versions of Earth together with a nice thick helping of monster mythology!

I don't think I could say there was much I didn't like. There was a good mixture of action packed plot and character development. I enjoyed the way Lace in particular was developed with her mixture of cowardice and bravery. It made her more real. I liked the storytelling and the simple way that the story was told. I liked the gradual development of the relationships between the characters and the way they became more committed to each other and the quest. It was good to see them all playing their part in the quest and becoming a real team. OK so I didn't like the cruelty to a few poor animals though! *Sniff*. I'm such a soft touch when it comes to dead animals. I never did forgive JK Rowling for what she did to Hedwig and Dobby...

The great thing is that I have a few more works by this author that are lurking on my Kobo and I'm REALLY looking forward to reading them now! This book will appeal to those interested in fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal and adventure books. Highly recommended.

[Dr. Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through the group Shut Up & Read's Read it and Reap program. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an review.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0

First Impression: I started out very confused. Once the main character gets her bearings, the plot picks up and it gets much easier to read. I couldn’t stop reading after that happened.

More Detailed:
Overall, this book is very well written. It has action, romance, paranormal aspects, and everyday problems that most people will be able to relate to. The plot had slow points, but it had enough action points to balance it all out. There were few errors in the book, so it was a very clear read most of the time.

The characters in this book were all very interesting, but they were still relatable. I loved that Alyssa, the main character, was such a bad ass with her ninja-like skills. The only thing that bothered me about Alyssa was at first she was hesitant to be trusting, but then as the book keeps going, she just tells her story to everyone who becomes her “friend”. Otherwise, I really liked Alyssa and I wish I could do some of the things she could.

My favorite character was Lace. Lace was a snarky goth girl who could sometimes be an upright bitch. But since she befriended Alyssa and Vessa, she wasn’t too bitchy to them. She reminded me of myself in a way. The other characters are there, but you don’t learn much about them.

The book was told from a third person limited view. I personally like this type of p.o.v. because I write a lot of my stories in third person. This lets us get close to Alyssa and lets us know what she’s thinking but without all the “I”’s. What would be interesting to see would be to see some parts of the book through someone else’s viewpoint. I think it would be nice to know what the other characters are thinking since a lot of them don’t explicitly state their opinion all the time.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to any bookish person. As for it continuing into a series or having a sequel; I think it would be interesting to continue the story, because I always just want to hear more even when a series ends. I have no clue what Alyssa will have to face next but I can’t wait to see!

[Shruti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this novel through the Read it and Reap Program for which I have to say - Thank you !!! :D
here is how it went for me :-
For me it was more of a quest story set within a fantasy world.
I usually avoid reading stories including witches ( I do not know why it just doesnot seem that much interesting) but this time I was happy I got a chance to read it.
As it was, the beginning of the novel was enough to capture my interests.

The protagonist Alyssa is lost in a strange world with no memories about herself. All she has to rely on are her instincts.I found it engaging to discover the strange world alongside Alyssa. Also,I really liked the fact that she did not spend much time moping.

Infused with pentagrams , a totally different take on the Adam and Eve concept ,and a revelation : "Everyone on Earth is born a witch" this plot gets more and more interesting as you read it through.
Though it does get predictable somewhere in the middle. But by the time I was about to reach the end the excitement built up again.The surprise-which I did not see coming was the icing on the cake.
Positives:-
-This story is complete with a good pace , a strong heroine and surprises.
-the romance angle and I really liked the memory snippets about Cory and the development of Parker.
-how the characters and the story develops simultaneously.
-The author's imagination-complete wonders with the myths !!! Kudos !
Negatives :-
- I think the emotional front was not perfectly done.
***
Having said all that , I would like to add that I found this book interesting enough to read it in one go.
I would call this book a fun read. And though I would not read it twice I can easily recommend it for a good reading. Hence my rating of it would be a somewhere between 3.5-4 stars out of 5.
Enjoy!

[Nicole Storey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book for review purposes. I have not been compensated for my opinion, other than the gift of the book itself.

Let me start by saying that I love the creativity of this book. The plot is different and the author managed to dream up a world that is refreshing and new. The monster's origins were expertly twisted and I found myself enjoying his unique views. The characters are different -- each one with their own opinions and styles -- and there were a few I would love to read more about, perhaps a spin-off series.

I had a few problems with the plot, characters, and writing. The plot is not very believable at times. I was under the impression that the main character, Alyssa, is a teenager. She speaks like a teen, acts like one in certain parts of the book, and has insecurities of a young woman. However, the author would have us believe she is a CIA agent? I'm sorry, but I just can't see that. Also, I didn't really like the main character. I was never able to connect with her and preferred the supporting characters more. Lastly, the author tends to use the same word at least twice in a single paragraph. There is no law against this in writing but it disturbs the flow, in my opinion. The book could also use a good editing.

All in all, not a bad read. If it turns into a series, I will buy the next book simply because I did enjoy the supporting characters and would like to see what happens next.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know where to start, everything I could ask for in a book was included. I really enjoyed the way the story includes the world in which Alyssa originally comes from, Earth as we know it & the one she has found herself in, Earth full of Witches, Vampires, Werewolves and so much more. There is a fine line between getting this kind of story line right and it's safe to say Ferraro gets it right.

Although Alyssa finds herself in a strange world all of the troubles we face in this one are present and we see Alyssa successfully coming out of each of those troubles while growing as a person and character.

I felt the book was well written, easy to read and most of all it kept my attention. The descriptions are so good that I could easily picture the world in my mind. There wasn't one character that I didn't enjoy reading about and I hope to read more not only from this author but about this particular story line.

I will definitely read this book again and I couldn't recommend it strongly enough.

[Renetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I loved this book! What a fun quest adventure! Alyssa is strong willed and knows how to get the job done, with the help of her friends she meets on the way. They were the kinds of friends I would love to have. I liked every character, the good and the bad. Well not the ticks. Definitely not the ticks, they creeped me out!

Alyssa wakes up with no memory of her past and as she quickly discovers, the ability to kick some serious monster butt! Vampires, Fish-People, Wolves, Witches and more. It's a world similar to ours but filled with magic(gone bad) and monsters. She must fight to regain her memories. Nothing of course is that simple. I could go on and on but there are so many twists that I don't even know where to begin and I don't want to spoil anything.

I did like the detailed descriptions, like the Ice Queens laugh and yes, even the ticks hive. *shivers*

I'll just leave you with this... can we really trust Prince Air? I need a second book.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The main character seemed real to me considering the situation she was in. The secondary characters were good too. I liked the plot and appreciated the ending. No false cliffhanger to try and make you buy the next book. I will read the next book by this author because this one was great. I have to mention that usually I don't like it when a male author has a female protagonist as they don't always get it right but that wasn't the case here. The only negative thing I have to say about this book is sometimes the author would use a word that meant the opposite of what he thought lol! That can easily be fixed by an editor or a good proofreader. I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I hope this review will help someone decide to read Dark Genesis. I try not to give anything away in my reviews unless there is something I feel the need to warn future readers about and there was nothing like that in this lovely book.

[Kim Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book 5 stars but like some of the other reviewers, I found it a little off putting that in some areas, the author jumps to a new place and time unexpectedly. I found myself having to go back and re-read the previous page to make sure I hadn't skipped over something. Also, there were a few instances where the author did not stay in the same verb tense. Other than that, I found this book entertaining and would liken it to a Buffy the Vampire Slayerish book. I look forward to hearing more from this author in the future. The

[Jaime Buncie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made my Holy-Crap-That-Was-Good shelf...that should tell you something right off. I really enjoyed this book. I'm not going to give anything away, other reviewers do that. All I have to say is that this was VERY well written, well developed characters, great descriptions, and I will be reading this again. Thank you for allowing us to have a chance to read such a great story.

[Camilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly, I decided to go by the GR actual star meaning for 2 stars which is "It was ok" - this book should really get 2½ stars, if I could give ½ stars, because it kept me relatively entertained to about the 50% mark, and I'm usually quite generous with the 3 stars... But eventually, the things that bothered me about this book, really ended up almost ruining it for me, so I have to go with the lower rating...

If I had given 3 stars instead of 2, the last ½ star is for some good ideas - unusual use of well-known creatures and stories and a relatively fresh take on the paranormal YA genre.

What I liked:
The mystery of Alyssa's origins and her slow discovery of own story works really well and I found myself intrigued by why and how she had come to the different world.
I liked Alyssa herself - she was pretty kickass and clearly a heroine from the get-go, but I never found her to be too Mary-Sueish (more on that later though), and I liked that she was quite unsure of herself and seemed to consider (in most cases) things properly and not just make stupid decisions.

As such, I also liked Alyssa's companions - although after Vessa and Parker, they weren't that well-developed. The group of companions though was the starting point of why this story in the end essentially really disappointed me...
Everything is just TOO darn easy! People like Lace and Flax can do AMAZING things, but yet have never seemed to use them for anything before Alyssa came along.. And everyone is (despite constant stories of deceiving druids/horrors that were trusted, but ended up being evil) very willing to instantly accept Alyssa's goodness within 2 mins of meeting her...

The biggest problem for me is that essentially the book was WAY too short! I've read somewhere that Ferraro means for this to be the 1st book in a series/trilogy, and if that's true, I'm even more disappointed... Because that means there was no reason for the extreme rushing of the plot!
Basically, a VERY complex storyline and world inhabited by SO many different creatures and not one, not two, but MANY what should be epic battles each in their own right, ends up being dealt with within 400 pages.
Once you as the reader realise the very impressive (and as a result, depressing) speed with which our group of heroes get rid of the epic monsters, you just become indifferent really...
I mean, in the beginning I cared about the very scary Lady Blood and the other big monsters, but when I started to realise that they were just each in turn going to be disposed of within 10 pages each, they were no longer epic and the same happened to the story....

For me, this first book (if it really is the beginning of a series) should just have focused on Alyssa getting to know the world and some companions and maybe fought ONE of the big baddies and maybe gotten an inkling that something even bigger was going on...
As it happened, it was just one very swift struggle after another (I won't even call them battles), and any monster that can "just" be killed like that is REALLY not scary at all...

So, all in all, great idea, most of the parts about Alyssa discovering the new world and remembering the old one, were good and I think the potential in the story and the world was there, but for some reason, the story was instead turned into what felt like a bunch of roleplaying teenage boys sitting around a table playing AD&D and just so luckily manage to kill all the monsters and resolve all the riddles within an afternoon...

I received this book free from the author in return for an honest review - which I have given

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This blew my mind!!!!!!!!! Review coming March 12th as part of a blog tour. :D :D

Alyssa has just woken up to a place she doesn��t recognize. What’s even weirder is that there are vampires, werewolves, witches, and other unimaginable creatures that live there. She has no memory of who she is and how she got there, and is looking for answers. She rescues a group a woman along the way and kills their master, who mistakenly has the same pentagram she woke up in, branded on his skin. And when she kills him she gets part of her memory back. This sets up a chain of events that will change her life forever.

She is on a journey to get her memory back and help the friends and the world that she has come to love, but no one said it would be easy. She will have to face many monsters along the way and will question that maybe she is the real monster after all.

I didn’t really know what to expect from this book, but it wasn’t what I thought it would be. It was full of adventure, awesome battle and death scenes and the story line was very original. It felt like I was actually there with them. The world that Mr. Ferraro created is magnificent. His imagination is incredible and he adds new monsters to the mix as well as putting his on twist on things.

I loved the adventure in this book and the not knowing. Why is Alyssa there and what is she supposed to be doing there? I know that this book took a long time to write and took a lot of effort and it shows in the story. I knew I was going to love this book, the moment Alyssa killed her first vampire. I was skeptical at first, but once that happened, I was hooked. I couldn’t seem to be able to put this book down. It’s one of those books that you read and you say you are only going to read a few more chapters and end up reading half the book. The only reason I stopped reading it was b/c I needed sleep.

All that being said, I wouldn’t change a thing about this book. All the characters were highly enjoyable and I loved how each of them had a role to play. It just wasn’t Alyssa doing all the work. If it had been, it wouldn’t have been as great. I wish I could tell you about all the characters in the book, but there were quite a few so, I’m just going to narrow it down to just three. I think this book is going to be a hit for a lot of people and I think everyone should know about it. It has a little bit of something for everyone.

Alyssa- She has no recollection who she is. She is a lost soul in a strange world. She has to come to terms with all the things that she learns there, most of them unbelievable. She adapts to the world extremely well and she is one bad a** character. She tires not to make any attachments to anyone. She knows that she is going to have to leave one day, but it’s kinda hard not to form attachments, when they are all risking their lives for her.

Vessa- She is a witch with a very unusual power (one I’m not going to tell you) :D She is a lot like Alyssa with not trying to get close to anyone. In the beginning she is a real hard a**, but as the story progresses you can tell it was all an act.

Parker- The ladies man. The first time Alyssa meets him he is getting caught in the act. Alyssa tells herself that she is going to avoid him at all cost, but its hard to when he is always there for her. He is a loner like her as well, never really staying in one place for very long. So, when he hears about Alyssa’s journey, it’s the perfect escape for him. And it is interesting how much he changes through the course of the book.

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book by Dave Ferraro to read and review for the Read It & Reap programm of the Goodreads group Shut Up & Read.*

It is really hard for me to review this book. I know that authors put so much hard work into their books. And it truly breaks my heart when I give a bad rating, especially to an indie author. But in the end, this is all about my personal opinion and I just have to be honest.

Dark Genesis is about Alyssa, a young woman who wakes up in a world full of magic. She knows that she originally stems from the Earth as we know it because she has memories of cars, technology and so on. Yet, she doesn't remember anything concerning her own life. Soon, she finds out that when she kills one of the monsters that this world seems to hold many of with a pentagramm engraved somewhere on its body, she will retrieve one precious memory from her past.

So, Alyssa sets out on a mission to retrieve her memories and subsequently free the world of witches from its baddest monsters. Because in the alternate world, everyone is born with some kind of magic. The different coven of witches have produced numerous kinds of monsters in their pursuit of power. Alyssa quickly finds friends even though some of them seem to keep turning out to be traitors. I thought the plot was quite predictable most of the times (there was one surprise in the end that I didn't see coming).

There's a lot of potential in this world-building and it could have been a wonderful novel. But, I couldn't really get into it, not into the story, the characters, the world, anything. I also wasn't a big fan of the writing either. Here an example:

The hardship that they'd shared had obviously had the adverse effect of bringing them closer in the end, however. Something good could come out of something as awful as what they'd experienced.

Ehm, alright. Like I'm so dumb that I can't figure this out myself and it has to be spelled out right into my face. I don't like to be treated as a stupid reader. Emotions, deductions, all this should be between the lines and up to the reader's interpretation while reading. I couldn't feel anything for the characters. Especially Alyssa wasn't very authentic, I just didn't believe her. Whenever she said she felt bad or happy, I couldn't believe it.

I was also a bit confused with the world-building. If this was a completely alternate version of the Earth, why would the witches call Japan also Japan? I mean why do they come up with the same name for it? And that was just one of many questions.

So, even though it sounded promising I didn't like the novel very much. I can still see why others might like it though which is why I still give it a 2.5 fairy rating. The author has an extremely creative mind and the story never slows down and moves with speed and action.

At the end, there are still questions left unanswered. But unfortunately, this doesn't leave me curious for the next part in what is supposed to be a trilogy (which should definitely be marked as such on Goodreads).

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Genesis by Dave Ferraro started out the gate like a day at Disney! You know the roller coaster that loops and twists and spins and only centrifugal force is holding you in at breakneck speeds? When the ride is over, you are all pumped up to go again because it was Just. That. Good.? That pretty much describes how I feel about Dark Genesis and the creative genius of Dave Ferraro.

Alyssa wakes up inside a pentagram in a strange world filled with vampires, werewolves, witches, and even a town called Frankenstein, where scientific technology abounds! (Un-apologetically named for the man who created the gray, eight foot tall, heavily scarred “go to” guy in town.) Everyone has magic, except Alyssa, of course, who also happens to have no memory of her past, but she knows this isn’t her world. Short version: Alyssa is put on a quest to regain her memory and it can only happen if she kills those who wear a pentagram like the one she woke up in. Along the way, she gains friends, allies, enemies, and a new piece of her past with each kill. But is it all an evil game that she is merely a convenient pawn in? Could each battle bring both this world and Alyssa’s closer to destruction?
As Alyssa and her band of merry men (and women) battle against insurmountable odds, uncovering deceit and evil, slaying monsters and chopping off heads, I had gut-clenching reactions, I swear I wanted to duck with her, I felt her pain when someone was lost, I was totally invested in each moment of the book!

For those who like a little romantic tension and conflict, it’s there, as snippets of a man named Cory come back, Alyssa still finds she is drawn to bad boy Parker, a dashing rogue-with-the-ladies kind of guy! Oh! Eric, too…all heroic, Nordic and full of himself in a completely endearing way! In the final battle, the stakes are high, what will Alyssa do? Where does she belong? Can she reconcile her past with her future?

I highly recommend this book for its characters, its world-building, and its pace! If you like larger than life fantasy that plucks tidbits from other genre, you’ll want to read this, for sure!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Genesis was really good. During the middle of the book, it made me think as if the story was an RPG game. If you know Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy and such Role-Playing Games, the book definitely gave a feel that it was like one of those; that has a good war story, and you're part of fighting with them. Which was really interesting because it's the first time I viewed a book as such.

It definitely has a great plot. I love that there's always happening either in the world around or even in the characters' minds. Because of that, it gave the impression that the book was not about Alyssa only, but it was about the people in the group and the world itself too. Yes, the story's main character is Alyssa but it shows off the other characters well, making it the story of all of them. Just shows that each character had a story to tell and not just Alyssa's.

I loved the twists present in the book. Some were expected but the part of Alyssa's memories had the best twists for me. I appreciated the fact that the memories she gained changed the way she lives in the Witch world. I also love the concept of the world that the author made.

There were times that when I read it, my mind would trail off to something else. I'm thinking maybe it's because of the abruptness of what was happening. There were parts that happened too quickly. And also made me think that the action in the book was lacking. I always thought that conquering the strongest villains would be the hardest and would take a long time. But they were very straight forward and seemed easy.

I know that the romance is just a side story of the book, but it had me going! There came a time that I had no idea who would Alyssa choose, whether it be Parker or Cory; which was very interesting. But I do wish that there was more dose of romance. I just thought that the love story for Alyssa was not thorough in the book, but only in parts where they should be there. I just thought that it would be cool if there were hints given of their love stories through out the whole book.

In general, the book was really good. It gave surprises and twists that every reader would definitely love. It was well written but could've been better, but the story-telling was at it's best! Congratulations to the author, Dave Ferraro.

[Marguerite · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this quite a bit. I think it was fresh, it was action packed, and the underlying love story was fantastic.
Here's the things I didn't like: There were some spaces of the book where it seemed like the author just wanted a change of scenery, so the scene changed very abruptly and without warning. These parts (particularly the first time from Fire King to Ice Queen, and the Climax) ended up somewhat confusing, and had about a couple of pages of what I call the "skeleton effect", where the description was down a little so the author could transition the action, and the reader was left scratching their head like, "Huh? What just happened?" Now, the Fire King to Ice Queen wasn't quite that bad, but the Climax could use some work. I was completely confuzzled over the fact that Lilith was masquerading as the queen.
And Alyssa could have been a bit more suspicious, at least in the beginning. Her fatal character flaw is her suspicion, right? Maybe I was wrong, but it kind of felt like it. Especially since she was a spy and she did show instincts.
I would also like to point out that some character lines seemed detached. None from Alyssa or Parker, but I think I saw a couple from Vessa, Lace, and Flax. And not all of them, just a few scattered around.
However, don't go thinking I didn't like the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it! First of all, I loved how the author distinguished exactly how Alyssa ended up in that world, and what distinguished the two. Some people who have "alternate universe time" don't tend to do that. They just go, "Hey, it happened, let it go." I also like how the relationship between all the characters on the quest evolved. There are some things you just can't go through without being friends, and this book really showcased that. The ending, also, was a little quick but something I loved. And I love all the myth from our world that was put into it, as well as a lot of original thinking on the author's part. My favorite portion, personally, was their time spent in Frankenstein as well.
All in all, it was well done and I enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me read!

[Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Writing: 3 stars
Editing: 4 stars
How much I liked this book: 2 stars

Starting from the outside in: I knew the cover looked familiar! Not trying to pump that book, but I do enjoy that series. Okay, beyond it being familiar, not exactly sure that it matches this book. The heroine of this book, Alyssa, is a kick-butt kind of girl who dislikes wearing dresses. I don't think she ever ends up in a white dress, either.

Now for the actual content of the book: Alyssa is awesome. She copes amazingly well for a woman who has no idea who she is or where she is. I also liked all the other (good-guy) characters. They provided a nice mix of humor, muscle, and magic.

The plot moves quickly. Alyssa and her team are pretty much constantly on the move or in battle. The action scenes are pretty good; not too blood or gory while still being descriptive and interesting.

I really enjoyed the basic premise of this book: girl with no memories has to gain back her memories by slaying evil, powerful beings. I liked reading the flashbacks...and that the ending leaves things a little bit mysterious :).

So why not more stars? Well I just couldn't wrap my head around how things could be so darn similar to our non-magical-Earth. The language is exactly the same EVERYWHERE: no differences in continents, no slang by region...nothing. But okay, I can forgive that since in magical-Earth Babel doesn't happen and people don't develop different languages, but that still doesn't account for why everyone sounds/speaks the same. There should still be regional differences, especially given that these far flung communities rarely communicate with each other.

I also thought things were just too easy for Alyssa. Between her and her friends, things just worked out in their favor. Granted, they are a talented group, it just felt like this could have been more complicated.

I would definitely recommend this to YA paranormal/sci-fi fans, with the caution that there is sex mentioned multiple times (not erotica at all, but it is mentioned).

[Rachel V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this story. The world that the author created was very interesting as well as scary. It had several twists that I did not see coming. The ending tied up everything neatly giving this book a well-deserved ending. I give the book 4 stars.

I think my favorite part was the different covens and creatures that inhabited this world. There were many myths that surrounded this world as well as a history that made it believable or possible. However with everything that happened in the first book all I want to know is what in the world is left for the second book? Also I think that the Ticks were a nice addition to the story. They had just enough “ick” factor to make the reader cringe when you hear about them or they enter the story but they were a necessary part of the story as well as creepy addition. When dealing with witches and spells that go wrong it is not all going to be good.

The thing that I didn’t like as much was that I didn’t feel like Alyssa stayed consistent throughout the story. At the beginning she was tough and took out a ton of vampires without breaking a sweat but by the middle of the story it seemed that her friends were doing all the dirty work. At the end she started to show more of the kick butt heroine that she is but for a while there I was worried.

The story let us get to know more about the main character by giving us flashbacks to her past at the same time that she was getting the memory. When she arrived in the story she didn’t really have all her memories of herself and I liked this way of getting to know her. It helped us to know more about her and why she is able to be who she is.

The ending was very well written. It tied up all the issues that had come up during the story as well as gave us a few twists at the end & throughout the story that I was not expecting.

While there was a few things about this story that I didn’t like as much the good definitely outweighed the not so good by far for me. I will be reading the next in the series and will re-read this book also in the future again.

*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

[Liliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book

This book was great! It was just...freakin' amazing! Have I mentioned that witches are my fave supernatural creatures? Because they are :) I loved how all the creatures we came across in the book were all connected back to the witches! It was just great, and so very creative! I loved it! This little detail just made this book that much more amazing!

Dark Genesis had a great story line. Alyssa suddenly wakes up in the middle of the forest with no memory of anything...she doesn't even know who she is! And not only is she lost in some forest, she's lost in this world that is completely different than it should be! I mean, this place has all sorts of supernatural creatures: Witches, for one, vampires, werewolves, and other freaky little things.

So, basically, we follow Alyssa as she kicks monster butt all while trying to recover her lost memory, but it so much deeper than that! She makes friends along the way and learns all these new things...it's just great!

And oh the characters. I loved them all! All the diversity, different personalities and abilities were very well executed without it feeling like there were so many characters you didn't know what to do with them all. They all played a very important role in the book. Believe it or not even the evil characters were great! Why? Because they're just so good at being evil!!

Alyssa herself was AWESOMESAUCE! She's sassy, fiesty, and can totally kick ass!

And OhMyGods all the gorgeous guys to drool over! Ahh! Eric *swoon* and Parker *double swoon* Dave is just great at making me swoon over hot-mazing fictional guys ;) I only wish they were real *sigh*

As you can see, I just plainly loved this book, the world, it's characters, and the story. There were so many twists and turns I didn't see coming...it was great! I love surprises! Then there's the mystery and the action...I honestly have no complaints! I'll definitely be checking out Dave's other books!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book... I loved this book. It took me awhile to really sink into it, not because of the book but because I couldn't find time to actually sit down and read. I finally had to shut my phone off, warn everyone to stay away, or face my wrath, and get into it. It was everything I'd hoped it would be from reading the reviews. There were a few things I saw coming, but overall I was really surprised at a few things. I was skeptical in the beginning when Alyssa found out that she had 8 memories to recover. I didn't see how 8 memories could be enough the tell us, or her for that matter, who she was, but I felt like we were given just the right ones to perfectly explain her previous life. I do, however, wonder what that final memory she'll never get back was. Now, on to the most important aspect... Cory?. I was so anxious about his existence the whole time because simply put, I. LOVE. PARKER. a lot. If the physical descriptions of him weren't enough, the few vulnerable moments we saw when he was confessing things to Alyssa totally made me love him even more. I was fully prepared to be pissed that she was all about Cory, and then surprise! Not a problem (I hope that doesn't sound as awful as I think it does...). I felt like the deaths of some of the targets happened a little too neatly, I mean if Lace could just decapitate Lilith with a portal then why didn't she just do that at the start? I really enjoyed the twist with Eric at the end. Everyone kept talking about this Viking Prince, and Eric was clearly a viking (I don't remember if he said that himself or if it was just obvious), so I couldn't understand why he never said anything about knowing about the Prince. Then the fact that he was the Prince should have been so obvious, but I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't see it before. Overall, like I said, I really enjoyed this book. It's been a while since I've read a book that has stood on its own (outside of a series) and felt like it wrapped up well and I wasn't left with questions. Also, the fact that Alyssa decided to stay with Parker didn't hurt either :)

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

When I first read the synopsis for this book, it sounded exactly like my kind of thing - dark and gritty, filled with all sorts of monsters, a desperate situation, and a strong female protagonist. And it delivered on all accounts.

The story follows Alyssa, a young woman who wakes up in a field surrounded by dead bodies, with no idea how she got there, or who she is. But she does have some memories, basic memories, and she knows that the world she is currently in is not her own. She soon learns of the dark and demonic creatures that roam this earth, of the fighting skills she posses, and the magic that is in every human being - except her, that is. Alyssa soon discovers that killing certain creatures, who had been branded with the pentagram, helps her to regain memories of her old life, and so with her little band of friends she sets off to find the creatures and unravel the mystery.

The biggest pros of this book were the way Dave weaved common myths and stories into the story, and the ones he created were just as interesting. They were well written, chilling and enthralling at the same time.

The cons included a few typos, same badly written sentences, and one occasion of the wrong character name being used (which resulted in a very confusing moment for me - good thing a pdf makes it easy to search for things!) I also felt some of the character relations and conversations were a bit forced, and there were times when the plot oscillated between moving too slow and moving too fast. There was a fantastic twist right at the end - and I mean right at the end, with about 5 pages to go, and that could have been explored more.

But overall a great book, would be 4.5 stars if that were possible.

[Leylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok. I was given Dark Genesis for an honest review by the author. Let me say that since I cracked open the book I did not want to put it down.Too bad work and errands kept getting in the way. I immediately became riveted with the plot line and the mystery surrounding Alyssa. I think I had two big surprises during the course of the book. I tend to pride myself in trying to figure out what is going to happen and who the evil characters are, and I was duped! Which is definitely a good thing because it makes for a very interesting read. However, with that, I will say that 95% of the book was great and I would have given it 5 stars. The last two chapters did not leave me with closure at all in two aspects in regards of the main battle with Lilith as I think it was the climax of the quest and it was over too quickly. Blink and you missed it. Also, with the final personal decision Alyssa makes in regards to her future after this battle and the revelation of Prince Air, it felt rushed and did not really tie in with Alyssa's character throughout the book. While at it, I just noticed that Alyssa resembles a bit to Harry Potter in where he is in a quest and needs to defeat evil, but he really doesn't do it on his own, it all is done with the assistance or by his friends. Alyssa does give them credit where it is due throughout the book however. I don't know if there will be a second installment, as there is a lot of potential for a second book. I would read it.
I recommend this book for readers who like fantasy and the mythical lore in regards to witches, vampires, zombies, and werewolves. It has a kick butt heroine transplanted from our modern world to a new dimension. Interesting friends are met along the way for a treacherous adventure. There is no lack of action and every page leaves you hooked for more.

[Tia Bach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave Ferraro should teach courses in pacing... relentless pacing, that is. And I mean that as a compliment. From the first page, Dark Genesis never lets up. The action is at breakneck speed, with unexpected twists and turns around every corner.

Alyssa wakes up to a nightmare. Worse than that, she doesn't know who she is or what her strengths are. And she's in for the fight of her life, facing every kind of evil imaginable. (Some I could have never imagined!)

Along the way, she has to trust her life in the hands of new friends. Not everyone she trusts turns out to be on her side, however. There are many demons standing in her way. She soon discovers that each time she kills a marked demon she gains more knowledge of who she is, as well as what she left behind.

Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story would take a shocking turn. As great as the action was, the author also managed to create interesting characters. So many of Alyssa's friends deserve their own storylines. My favorites: Lace, Vessa, and Parker. Did I mention that each person in the new world has magic of some kind? In addition, the author creates an awesomely intricate alternate universe.

I read a lot of books, but it's been a while since one captivated me like this one.

*** Sometimes it's hard to know what ages should read YA books. For this book, I would recommend 14+. I would hesitate to let my 13-year-old daughter read it (she's an avid paranormal reader). In addition to intense action, there are a couple of smoldering scenes that were a bit mature for younger readers. ***

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

[Bror (Abrar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alyssa opened her eyes to darkness. And in the first flash of light provided by a gathering storm, she could make out a ring of bodies surrounding her.

With no memory of who she is, Alyssa stumbles into a dark world populated by witches. The witches are powerful, and demonstrate frightening powers, but even more terrifying are the monsters who rule over the land. Vampires, werewolves and other awful creatures of the night have taken over, forcing the witches behind stone walls, afraid to venture outdoors. But Alyssa finds that as she kills certain monsters, memories return to her, memories of a life on Earth, and the boy she left behind.

The quest to collect her memories and piece together the puzzle of what has happened to her is a daunting one, with betrayals and sacrifices every step of the way. But Alyssa is determined to fight for a world that is not her own, destroying powerful monsters along the way, so that she can return home to the boy she is coming to love through the memories she recollects.

A very good first chapter , i mean really good ; i like it when a book can get my attention from the very beginning and this one really did .

The concept of the badass - tough heroine was fantastic , it had the bourne identity feel . When the heroine had an amnesia but can use her hands , very fast and killing is not a big deal for her .

I received this book for an honest review , i was really worried that i will not like it and i hate it when i have to write a bad review about a book , thank god i didn't have to .

The story was really good , nice world of fantasy and myth , so cool heroine . A great fantasy read for young adult readers .
I'll like to read more by this author in the future .

[Niamh225 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Dave Ferraro for the free copy of Dark Genesis as part of the Goodreads Read 4 Review programme.

This is hands down the best book I've read as part of this programme. Ferraro has a deft touch when it comes to setting the scene and the characters have nuance (albeit nothing very original in terms of the human experience but they're well written). I love the whole premise of the book and the dilemma the protagonist is faced with at the end of the novel is an interesting one to ponder. I saw it coming, but nonetheless it's still a great thing to consider. The world has been rendered well and is a great venue for an exploration of bravery, loyalty, friendship and sacrifice. The story progresses well and the characters face interesting challenges. I don't normally like religiosity in my fiction but enjoyed the exploration of the notion of what constitutes the soul as it felt more existential and spiritual than preachy.

I'm not sure who the intended audience is. I'm used to my quests being more complex and detailed when reading adult fiction, but I think this is great for a young adult audience or adults who aren't looking for a dense Games of Thrones/Wheel of Time saga. Each 'trial' is resolved rather quickly and easily but that keeps the book chugging along quickly.

It's the first R4R book I've read where poor grammar, spelling or stylistic choices didn't derail me and lift me out of the story. I noticed a couple of little things but nothing that distracted me so props to who(m)ever edited and proofed the book: well done.

I don't normally spend money on digital books as my iPad is provided by my work, but I'd consider buying the next book in this series as I want to know what happens next. Congratulations Dave!

[a_tiffyfit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a e-copy of this book through Read It & Reap's read to review opportunity. I loved it! As always, I am trying not to do any spoilers; this is definitely a book I want you to read and discover on your own as you read!

So...yes five stars. I loved the plot, the characters, and the relationship development. I liked the parallel universe, the monsters, and the action. This was SUCH a satisfying read, although I do admit to panicking around the 80% mark as my kindle was telling me I only had 40 minutes left and wondering how this is going to end!

From the beginning, this book is ripe with action. That was a helluva way for our MC to wake up and what a way to start the book. As she wakes up and assesses the scene around her and then just begins to lay waste to the vamps she encounters, I was cheering "GO BUFFY! I MEAN ALYSSA!" But this is no simple Buffy-esque plot.

I thought the ties from this parallel universe to ours was incredibly smart: the Japanese covens and their ability to meld into shadows like the ninjas of our world, the mythological beasts come to life and HOW they came about in this world, the creation story of Lilith, with no Eve in sight.

The draw between Parker & Alyssa was well done; sweet romance without overblown sex scenes. I liked how the characters developed and how their friendships solidified.

Lots of paranormal monsters, a bit of steam punk, a bit of fairytale, a bit of horrific bug monsters, a kickass heroine who only has one moment of true despair (she's definitely not whiny), and blossoming love affairs, this was a GOOD read. Highly enjoyable.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book. I am very picky on the fantasy books that I read because I think an author has to be very talented to create a whole world with enough detail for the reader to see it in their mind and many authors aren't able to pull it off successfully in my opinion. However, Ferraro was definitely an author who was able to pull it off. I was able to see the world in my mind with no difficulty at all. Additionally, I thought the characters were wonderful. I felt that they were easy to understand and connect to without being over the top. I enjoyed the fact that there were some fun and funny parts in the book since there was a lot of tension through most of it. And the best part for me was that the author was actually able to give me a plot twist or two that I didn't see coming. I loved the fact that the story didn't stick to the typical, but rather branched out and really gave the reader something new and different in places. My only real complaint was that there were still several grammar/spelling errors. I tend to be bothered by this more than most people and the ones found in this book didn't make me cringe or want to pull my hair out or anything like that, but there were some that made me stop reading for a second. Overall, I thought this was an excellent book and fantasy lover's will definitely love it...as well as those who may be particular about their fantasy books.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Genesis is this exciting meld of urban fantasy and fantasy. I’m normally not one for fantasy so I was a little worried that I wouldn’t enjoy it. Boy was I WAY off base there! Dark Genesis had its hook in me from the beginning and by the end I was very surprised how much I ended up loving it. I don’t say this often but this is a book I could easily see myself rereading. To keep me from gushing too much, I decided to list some of the things that I liked and didn’t like.


Likes
-The easy way the reader is introduced into the world. One of the reasons I’m not as much of a Fantasy fan is because stories can quickly get weighed down in details. I don’t like having to fight my way through a book.
-The action and adventure of Alyssa’s quest and the characters she meets along the way.
-That my jaw dropped at a couple of the twists...although now that I'm thinking about it the one twist makes complete sense!!
-That the author made me physically react to something happening to someone that I wasn't really attached to. Ok, that one is vague but I don't want to spoil any good parts :)


Dislikes
-
-
That’s right, I can’t think of anything for the dislikes. I did find an error that threw me off a bit but the author has already corrected it so it’s hardly worth mentioning.

You can see this review and more on my blog