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Children of the Dark #2
Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers
Last summer, sixteen-year-old Will Burgess lost many of the people he loved most. Now he’s imprisoned in the Sunny Woods Rehabilitation Center, a facility for troubled youths. Separated from his surviving loved ones and terrified of a change inside him, Will is tormented by a new group of bullies and a sadistic government doctor. When his only ally, an orderly named Pierre, tells him there have been sightings of winged creatures with glowing red eyes, Will believes him.
Because Will has seen the Night Flyers too.
Even worse, he learns the monstrous Children are still lurking underground. They want revenge on Will and will stop at nothing to destroy everyone he cares about. Will and his friends, new and old, must band together to fight the forces of darkness—both human and supernatural. But as Will learned last summer, evil is relentless. And it won’t rest until its hunger is sated.
"One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade. Janz is one of my new favorites." –Brian Keene
Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels. He is represented for Film & TV by Ryan Lewis (executive producer of Bird Box). His work has been championed by authors like Josh Malerman, Caroline Kepnes, Stephen Graham Jones, Joe R. Lansdale, and Brian Keene. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novels Children of the Dark and The Dark Game were chosen by Booklist and Library Journal as Top Ten Horror Books of the Year. He also teaches high school Film Literature, Creative Writing, and English. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children.
Because Will has seen the Night Flyers too.
Even worse, he learns the monstrous Children are still lurking underground. They want revenge on Will and will stop at nothing to destroy everyone he cares about. Will and his friends, new and old, must band together to fight the forces of darkness—both human and supernatural. But as Will learned last summer, evil is relentless. And it won’t rest until its hunger is sated.
"One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade. Janz is one of my new favorites." –Brian Keene
Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels. He is represented for Film & TV by Ryan Lewis (executive producer of Bird Box). His work has been championed by authors like Josh Malerman, Caroline Kepnes, Stephen Graham Jones, Joe R. Lansdale, and Brian Keene. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novels Children of the Dark and The Dark Game were chosen by Booklist and Library Journal as Top Ten Horror Books of the Year. He also teaches high school Film Literature, Creative Writing, and English. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2024
88 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Janz
60 books2,082 followersJonathan Janz is an author and public schoolteacher. His sci-fi horror novel VEIL is now available, and you can find his story "Lenora" in THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: NEW TALES OF STEPHEN KING'S THE STAND. He’s represented for Film & TV by Adam Kolbrenner of Lit Entertainment, and his literary agent is Lane Heymont. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novels Children of the Dark and The Dark Game were chosen by Booklist and Library Journal as Top Ten Horror Books of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children. You can sign up for his newsletter (http://jonathanjanz.us12.list-manage....), and you can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
April 25, 2024
Although only one year has passed in book-time since Will Burgess found himself separated from his sister and institutionalized following the traumatic events of Children of the Dark, fans of Jonathan Janz's violent, splattery coming-of-age monster mash have been waiting six years to find out what happens next.
Thankfully, The Night Flyers (not to mention all the books Janz has released in the interim to help lessen the pain) has been worth the wait. And while the real-world time lapse has proven to be significantly longer than Burgess's own year of hell within the confines of the Sunny Woods Rehabilitation Center, Janz wastes no time catching readers up on the torments inflicted upon Will or making matters worse with the reintroduction of the titular massive, winged, goblin-like monsters that have been hunting him.
The Night Flyers themselves are an off-shoot of a subterranean race of horrors known as The Children, creatures first introduced in Savage Species, although the first Children of the Dark book can be read as a stand-alone. Held captive by rogue government agents hellbent on covering up the slaughter at Peaceful Valley and tormented by a gang of troubled youths, the Night Flyers's assault upon the rehabilitation center is almost a relief from the real-world horrors and emotional turmoil Will is forced to suffer. This attack is also a clear indicator of the route Janz intends to take with this sequel. If Children of the Dark was Alien, then The Night Flyers is plainly Janz's Aliens.
Children of the Dark 2 aims to be bigger and badder than its predecessor, with the ill intent of the monsters -- both human and supernatural -- not only front and center, but absolutely unrelenting. Aliens is very clearly a touchstone for the author here, with Burgess in the Ripley role, coerced into helping those who never have his best interests in mind, and the assault upon Sunny Woods is scarily reminiscent of the Colonial Marines's first contact with the Xenomorphs in that film. Night Flyers crash through windows and walls, attacking en masse and clogging the hallways with guts and bodies, forcing Will and the few helpful (and less than helpful) souls looking to keep him alive on a crazed run through tight corridors made all the more claustrophobic with ensuing carnage. Janz tightly constructs his action sequences, forcing his characters to run the gauntlet through the highest stakes imaginable, constantly increasing the pressures upon them and ratcheting up the tension. The end result is an exhilarating nightmare fueled purely by adrenaline and that leaves you collapsed with gratifying, well-earned exhaustion.
While the action sequences are highly kinetic marathons, they'd be pointless without the human elements and Janz never forgets the emotional stakes that are paramount here. Will has been separated from his friends and sister for a year, and that's made for a worse hell than anything the government or underground monsters have thrown at him. Learning about all that he's missed and the traumas they've endured in his absence is heart-wrenching. The Night Flyers may be measured in buckets of blood, but there's plenty of big feelings to go around and Janz makes sure every inch of both are accounted for. Given the gravity of The Night Flyers various threats there's not much room for levity, but even those few, brief moments are perfectly timed. After several extended sequences of violence and emotionally wrought subjects, a much needed wise-crack to break the tension between two friends reunited in safety feels like a dam bursting here, the relief is so immense.
Children of the Dark 2 is a tightly wound spring of a book, full of coiled tension, and when it breaks -- and it does so regularly, in all the best ways -- the release of all that pent up energy is positively explosive. And, of course, Janz leaves the door open plenty wide for a third part, something I'm certain horror fans wills be clamoring for soon enough. Let the waiting begin anew...
Thankfully, The Night Flyers (not to mention all the books Janz has released in the interim to help lessen the pain) has been worth the wait. And while the real-world time lapse has proven to be significantly longer than Burgess's own year of hell within the confines of the Sunny Woods Rehabilitation Center, Janz wastes no time catching readers up on the torments inflicted upon Will or making matters worse with the reintroduction of the titular massive, winged, goblin-like monsters that have been hunting him.
The Night Flyers themselves are an off-shoot of a subterranean race of horrors known as The Children, creatures first introduced in Savage Species, although the first Children of the Dark book can be read as a stand-alone. Held captive by rogue government agents hellbent on covering up the slaughter at Peaceful Valley and tormented by a gang of troubled youths, the Night Flyers's assault upon the rehabilitation center is almost a relief from the real-world horrors and emotional turmoil Will is forced to suffer. This attack is also a clear indicator of the route Janz intends to take with this sequel. If Children of the Dark was Alien, then The Night Flyers is plainly Janz's Aliens.
Children of the Dark 2 aims to be bigger and badder than its predecessor, with the ill intent of the monsters -- both human and supernatural -- not only front and center, but absolutely unrelenting. Aliens is very clearly a touchstone for the author here, with Burgess in the Ripley role, coerced into helping those who never have his best interests in mind, and the assault upon Sunny Woods is scarily reminiscent of the Colonial Marines's first contact with the Xenomorphs in that film. Night Flyers crash through windows and walls, attacking en masse and clogging the hallways with guts and bodies, forcing Will and the few helpful (and less than helpful) souls looking to keep him alive on a crazed run through tight corridors made all the more claustrophobic with ensuing carnage. Janz tightly constructs his action sequences, forcing his characters to run the gauntlet through the highest stakes imaginable, constantly increasing the pressures upon them and ratcheting up the tension. The end result is an exhilarating nightmare fueled purely by adrenaline and that leaves you collapsed with gratifying, well-earned exhaustion.
While the action sequences are highly kinetic marathons, they'd be pointless without the human elements and Janz never forgets the emotional stakes that are paramount here. Will has been separated from his friends and sister for a year, and that's made for a worse hell than anything the government or underground monsters have thrown at him. Learning about all that he's missed and the traumas they've endured in his absence is heart-wrenching. The Night Flyers may be measured in buckets of blood, but there's plenty of big feelings to go around and Janz makes sure every inch of both are accounted for. Given the gravity of The Night Flyers various threats there's not much room for levity, but even those few, brief moments are perfectly timed. After several extended sequences of violence and emotionally wrought subjects, a much needed wise-crack to break the tension between two friends reunited in safety feels like a dam bursting here, the relief is so immense.
Children of the Dark 2 is a tightly wound spring of a book, full of coiled tension, and when it breaks -- and it does so regularly, in all the best ways -- the release of all that pent up energy is positively explosive. And, of course, Janz leaves the door open plenty wide for a third part, something I'm certain horror fans wills be clamoring for soon enough. Let the waiting begin anew...
April 3, 2024
Full review soon but OHMYGOD 🤩🤩🤩🤩
.
.
As the bullets fly in this pulse pounding sequel to Children of The Dark you'll find one tearing through your own heart as you embark on this fight against evil with our cast of unforgettable characters who have nestled there, The Night Flyers is action packed right from the start and with nearly each chapter ending on a tense cliffhanger, the action doesn't let up, despite its more thriller-esque tone than the first there's still the signature Janz wit that causes the *weird snort inducing laughter*, the dialogue always feels genuine and relatable and only make me more invested with these characters, theres lots of incredibly gruesome bloody descriptions, I could hear the blood gushing and mushing about, the writing is immersive and I felt like I was part of Will's story, "it sounded like a carton of chicken broth tipped onto its side and dumping onto the floor" I mean.. EURGHHH, Janz writes with an authentic teenage voice and Will's attempts to get the adults around him to listen reminded me of being a teenager and feeling the same frustration, theres an overarching theme of hope which is found in most coming of age stories, which I firmly believe this is, Will although older now still embodies that childlike enthusiasm and fearlessness in the face of despair, if you enjoy Stranger Things you will definitely love this, lots of references to movies for us to geek out at, the authors passion for horror shines through, the Monty Python one made me smile as I'm a huge fan! I absolutley love these books and they're my favourites they have everything I enjoy, small town, fantasy elements, blood and gory stuff, strong friendship/family themes, couldn't recommend this more!
.
.
As the bullets fly in this pulse pounding sequel to Children of The Dark you'll find one tearing through your own heart as you embark on this fight against evil with our cast of unforgettable characters who have nestled there, The Night Flyers is action packed right from the start and with nearly each chapter ending on a tense cliffhanger, the action doesn't let up, despite its more thriller-esque tone than the first there's still the signature Janz wit that causes the *weird snort inducing laughter*, the dialogue always feels genuine and relatable and only make me more invested with these characters, theres lots of incredibly gruesome bloody descriptions, I could hear the blood gushing and mushing about, the writing is immersive and I felt like I was part of Will's story, "it sounded like a carton of chicken broth tipped onto its side and dumping onto the floor" I mean.. EURGHHH, Janz writes with an authentic teenage voice and Will's attempts to get the adults around him to listen reminded me of being a teenager and feeling the same frustration, theres an overarching theme of hope which is found in most coming of age stories, which I firmly believe this is, Will although older now still embodies that childlike enthusiasm and fearlessness in the face of despair, if you enjoy Stranger Things you will definitely love this, lots of references to movies for us to geek out at, the authors passion for horror shines through, the Monty Python one made me smile as I'm a huge fan! I absolutley love these books and they're my favourites they have everything I enjoy, small town, fantasy elements, blood and gory stuff, strong friendship/family themes, couldn't recommend this more!
May 3, 2024
You can't help but root for Will and his little sister, Peach. Great sequel!
April 30, 2024
CHILDREN OF THE DARK 2: THE NIGHT FLYERS, is the long anticipated sequel to Jonathan Janz' COTD. As usual, the writing and characterization were outstanding, in my opinion. This opens up approximately a year after the events in the preceding novel, with Will Burgess in an institution--separated from his sister and few remaining friends.
The one thing I wished I had done was to reread COTD before starting this one. While the action continues on a year after that, the actual novel took 6-7 years (?) to come out. The issue for myself, was that there was a lot of information, people, and elements referenced that I had completely forgotten. This is no fault of the author's, but rather a case of too long in between for me to recall the details.
This felt less like a coming-of-age novel that the first, and more "people oriented". When the monsters were present, they were all-consuming; however, I wish we had a little more overall with the nature of them and the tension between "Children" and "Night Flyers" explained.
A solid read by a master of horror.
Recommended.
The one thing I wished I had done was to reread COTD before starting this one. While the action continues on a year after that, the actual novel took 6-7 years (?) to come out. The issue for myself, was that there was a lot of information, people, and elements referenced that I had completely forgotten. This is no fault of the author's, but rather a case of too long in between for me to recall the details.
This felt less like a coming-of-age novel that the first, and more "people oriented". When the monsters were present, they were all-consuming; however, I wish we had a little more overall with the nature of them and the tension between "Children" and "Night Flyers" explained.
A solid read by a master of horror.
Recommended.
October 10, 2024
2.5 ⭐️’s, rounded up. Very disappointed. I generally love Janz’s work, and was so damn excited when this sequel was announced, but you know what they say- be careful what you wish for. I loved the first book! Read it twice and gave it five stars, but this sequel lacks all of the great character moments and heart that the first book had. Too many repetitive action scenes, boring monsters, and too many two dimensional cannon fodder characters. Didn’t like the direction the story took, and found it hard to find a reason to finish, but I pushed through in the hope of seeing any of the spark of the first book. Going to do what I do with certain film series with disappointing sequels and pretend none of this ever happened. Damn… I really, really wanted to love this.
May 11, 2024
Another excellent Janz book. This one much different than the first. Janz proves himself a master of tension here, building it up and releasing with constant dread and the sense that something is going to happen until it explodes. Fans of the original need to read this book. It has been years since the original came out, but you wouldn't know it from how easily Janz slips back into this world.
April 26, 2024
*łƝ₣⌧⌧ҜłƝǤ€ƦĘÐłƁŁĘ*
I’ll post my review as soon as I gather up all the pieces of my brain that’s been blown away by
this here book!
I’ll post my review as soon as I gather up all the pieces of my brain that’s been blown away by
this here book!
April 2, 2024
Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers has been an anticipated read in the back of my mind for the past 7 years. AND IT IS HERE! I missed spending time with Will and have been dying to know what he's up to as his life was flipped upside down in Book 1.
This sequel is less coming-of-age than the first, but it makes sense to be that way. Will has honed in on his responsibilities, his priorities, and he has seen behind the veil, so to speak. He sees the bigger picture and knows what matters most in his world. Institutions and the government are gaslighting and manipulative (and downright SCARY - I would almost rather risk time with the creatures than any of those dangerous people!), money can be the root of all evil sometimes, and none of it matters when faced with these horrific monsters.
The action is non-stop and it is PACKED to the brim with high stakes, big chases, intense brawls, and you really never get a sense that anyone is safe. Ever.
I tore through this book faster than anything I have read this year. It's so fast-paced and has twists and turns that had me gasp a couple times, too. And I just REALLY need to speak to some people about this ending.......!
Also, do you love alpaca llamas because, well, quite frankly, WHO DOESN'T!? You will love the ones in this book!
THIS BOOK!!!
This sequel is less coming-of-age than the first, but it makes sense to be that way. Will has honed in on his responsibilities, his priorities, and he has seen behind the veil, so to speak. He sees the bigger picture and knows what matters most in his world. Institutions and the government are gaslighting and manipulative (and downright SCARY - I would almost rather risk time with the creatures than any of those dangerous people!), money can be the root of all evil sometimes, and none of it matters when faced with these horrific monsters.
The action is non-stop and it is PACKED to the brim with high stakes, big chases, intense brawls, and you really never get a sense that anyone is safe. Ever.
I tore through this book faster than anything I have read this year. It's so fast-paced and has twists and turns that had me gasp a couple times, too. And I just REALLY need to speak to some people about this ending.......!
Also, do you love alpaca llamas because, well, quite frankly, WHO DOESN'T!? You will love the ones in this book!
THIS BOOK!!!
December 11, 2025
Eight years is a long time between drinks, but Jonathan Janz - one of the nicest and most humble authors in the business - has decided to go for broke with a sequel to one of his best works, Children of the Dark.
I read and enjoyed that one about 7 years back, but I had only the vaguest recollection of the plot. Which meant this sequel was probably always going to struggle to wow me.
And while that turned out to be true, there was more than enough action and characters-you-care-about-in-peril to make The Night Flyers a must read for fans of Janz or the first novel.
The opening third which picks up about a year or so after the first novel is especially strong. MC Will is in a secure psychiatric facility and being held accountable for the murders committed by his father and the "children" in the book's title. Things quickly go to hell as the whole institution is attacked by those creatures and a new threat with wings, before the book settles into a more familiar us versus the government narrative with monsters on the outskirts waiting for their time to strike.
This one was more predictable than its predecessor though, and it does not provide a definite ending. So be warned, Janz has clearly set things up for a third book. Let's just hope we don't have to wait a further eight years to read it.
3.5 (Rounding up to 4) Questionable Government Plans for Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers.
I read and enjoyed that one about 7 years back, but I had only the vaguest recollection of the plot. Which meant this sequel was probably always going to struggle to wow me.
And while that turned out to be true, there was more than enough action and characters-you-care-about-in-peril to make The Night Flyers a must read for fans of Janz or the first novel.
The opening third which picks up about a year or so after the first novel is especially strong. MC Will is in a secure psychiatric facility and being held accountable for the murders committed by his father and the "children" in the book's title. Things quickly go to hell as the whole institution is attacked by those creatures and a new threat with wings, before the book settles into a more familiar us versus the government narrative with monsters on the outskirts waiting for their time to strike.
This one was more predictable than its predecessor though, and it does not provide a definite ending. So be warned, Janz has clearly set things up for a third book. Let's just hope we don't have to wait a further eight years to read it.
3.5 (Rounding up to 4) Questionable Government Plans for Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers.
April 21, 2024
“The best place to be is together.”
Jonathan Janz’s new novel reunites us with Will Burgess, following the events of last summer he has been imprisoned at the Sunny Woods Rehabilitation Centre . Faced with new bullies and abusers, Will is desperately trying to survive. When his only friend suggests the sightings of winged creatures with red eyes, Will is quick to believe him. This sets him on a path to destroy this evil he is all too familiar with. Learning the hard way Will fights with everything he has to save those few loved ones he has left.
The moment I knew this book was coming out I was excited. I devoured he first Chidren of the Dark novel and kept thinking about it. The Night Flyers manages to do the same again and leaves you wanting more.
Revisiting Will’s story was heartbreaking. The affect those events had on him and the toll they have taken on his dearest was destroying. As life hands him more challenges his trauma from before tests his strength during more horrific and devastating events that follow him closely.
The ways in which the author describes the most brutal encounters, the emotionally raw vignettes into the past and possible future make this story chilling and memorable. The imagery had me cringing and putting the book down on several occasions at the horror that was unfolding.
This was an addictive read, a darkly fitting continuation of a tragic story. Many readers of the first book and lovers of horror will enjoy this one.
Many thanks to @JonathanJanz for allowing me to read The Night Flyers which is out soon 🖤
Jonathan Janz’s new novel reunites us with Will Burgess, following the events of last summer he has been imprisoned at the Sunny Woods Rehabilitation Centre . Faced with new bullies and abusers, Will is desperately trying to survive. When his only friend suggests the sightings of winged creatures with red eyes, Will is quick to believe him. This sets him on a path to destroy this evil he is all too familiar with. Learning the hard way Will fights with everything he has to save those few loved ones he has left.
The moment I knew this book was coming out I was excited. I devoured he first Chidren of the Dark novel and kept thinking about it. The Night Flyers manages to do the same again and leaves you wanting more.
Revisiting Will’s story was heartbreaking. The affect those events had on him and the toll they have taken on his dearest was destroying. As life hands him more challenges his trauma from before tests his strength during more horrific and devastating events that follow him closely.
The ways in which the author describes the most brutal encounters, the emotionally raw vignettes into the past and possible future make this story chilling and memorable. The imagery had me cringing and putting the book down on several occasions at the horror that was unfolding.
This was an addictive read, a darkly fitting continuation of a tragic story. Many readers of the first book and lovers of horror will enjoy this one.
Many thanks to @JonathanJanz for allowing me to read The Night Flyers which is out soon 🖤
April 30, 2024
The story starts off with Will in a Rehabilitation Center. He has been separated from all the people that he cares about. The creatures attack the center and Will and a few others escape the slaughter of Sunny Woods. Will is off to find his sister and take her home. There are many twists and turns along the way. The book is one heck of a roller coaster ride. This is Janz at his best. My only question to author is, will there be A Children of the Dark 3? Let hope so!
May 5, 2024
Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers is the best kind of sequel, one that expands on the painstakingly-crafted world Jonathan Janz created in the original without treading familiar ground. Will Burgess is a sixteen-year-old, but one who has lived through some traumatic things, lost people he cares about, and had a year to brood on it all. With the set-up out of the way, Janz catapults the reader directly into the action, and with the exception of a few pages to breathe every so often, refuses to relent until the very end. Readers will love seeing familiar faces, let new ones into their hearts almost immediately, and never for a moment, feel anyone or anywhere is safe.
May 27, 2024
Way back in 2018, I read a novel titled ‘Children of the Dark’ by a brand-new to me author, Jonathan Janz. It was my first Janz book, one that was super highly recommended by a million other readers, and after I devoured that novel, I was hooked. Since then, I’ve read another almost-dozen Janz novels, and have really enjoyed reading his books. But, I think of all of them, ‘Children of the Dark’ remained my favorite – though ‘Wolf Land’ is a very close second – and was one that I thought of frequently, whenever the topic of coming-of-age horror novels was discussed. I didn’t believe we’d get a sequel and the ending of book one was solid enough that it could’ve simply ended there, even with the questions that remained unanswered.
When the second book was announced and the cover was revealed, I was super stoked for this one, getting my pre-order in ASAP. I really, really wanted to start reading this as soon as it loaded on my Kindle, but alas, life (and reviewing commitments) prevented that from happening. But, as soon as I could, I jumped in, and boy was I transported right back to where we left off in book one.
Now, I’ll be doing my best to remain spoiler free, but if you haven’t read book one yet, definitely get it read, but be aware, this is a sequel and as always, stop reading here if you’re not wanting to learn anything about book one or book two.
What I liked: A year after the events of book one, we find Will, institutionalized and despondent. He’s been trapped in a cage, kept at a distance from his younger sister Peach, and frustrated that nobody believes him about what happened during that horrendous period in his life, when the Children came and killed so many people. Will is being blamed for aiding the serial killer, Carl, and no matter how much he pleads his case, it falls on deaf ears. Thankfully, a worker at the institution, Pierre believes him and is Will’s only friend.
This is how life is for Will, that is, until the night the Night Flyers arrive and all hell breaks loose. Carnage erupts, blood is splattered, and when all is said and done, Will, aided by an officer, escapes, and Pierre and his niece, Anita, race away with Will.
From this point on, it’s literally a survive-at-all costs story where Will and crew fight to stay alive, as the Children swoop down on them and soon they’re simply fleeing and dealing with the collateral damage. As Will is reunited with his friends and those he loves, we see an internal fight between helping those who need help or racing away with his loves ones.
It all comes to a head with a cinematic battle, where I can only picture Janz kicking his writing chair away and dancing with glee as his fingers clicked and clacked like possessed maniacs, as he wrapped up the novel and did it with glee.
The ending is both powerful but also open ended. We could see a third novel in this world, but I haven’t seen any word yet anywhere, though I know the fans would be ecstatic if there is a finale to a trilogy.
What I didn’t like: Frankly, I began to grow a bit annoyed with Will’s constant whining over needing to never be apart from Peach ever again, but the second they’re reunited, he does pretty much everything possible to leave her with others and go on some side quest. It became a frustration that repeatedly we get this emotional bump of the two of them together, to only be squashed in the following sentence when Will jogs away. I get it, I really do, but come on Will, good lord, ha!
Why you should buy this: If you’ve already read Janz, and/or book one, then book two is a no-brainer. You probably pre-ordered this. But, if you’ve not read Janz or book one, then get on this. Book one was a phenomenal coming-of-age creature feature, and book two easily lives up to the lofty standards Janz set in book one and then some. This once again shows the power of banding together and fighting for a singular goal, even when the odds seem stacked against you.
Janz has really delivered a phenomenal coming-of-age novel – AGAIN – and once again, I’m thrilled that I’ve visited with Will, even if I’m longing for a third entry and some true answers to the questions unanswered.
When the second book was announced and the cover was revealed, I was super stoked for this one, getting my pre-order in ASAP. I really, really wanted to start reading this as soon as it loaded on my Kindle, but alas, life (and reviewing commitments) prevented that from happening. But, as soon as I could, I jumped in, and boy was I transported right back to where we left off in book one.
Now, I’ll be doing my best to remain spoiler free, but if you haven’t read book one yet, definitely get it read, but be aware, this is a sequel and as always, stop reading here if you’re not wanting to learn anything about book one or book two.
What I liked: A year after the events of book one, we find Will, institutionalized and despondent. He’s been trapped in a cage, kept at a distance from his younger sister Peach, and frustrated that nobody believes him about what happened during that horrendous period in his life, when the Children came and killed so many people. Will is being blamed for aiding the serial killer, Carl, and no matter how much he pleads his case, it falls on deaf ears. Thankfully, a worker at the institution, Pierre believes him and is Will’s only friend.
This is how life is for Will, that is, until the night the Night Flyers arrive and all hell breaks loose. Carnage erupts, blood is splattered, and when all is said and done, Will, aided by an officer, escapes, and Pierre and his niece, Anita, race away with Will.
From this point on, it’s literally a survive-at-all costs story where Will and crew fight to stay alive, as the Children swoop down on them and soon they’re simply fleeing and dealing with the collateral damage. As Will is reunited with his friends and those he loves, we see an internal fight between helping those who need help or racing away with his loves ones.
It all comes to a head with a cinematic battle, where I can only picture Janz kicking his writing chair away and dancing with glee as his fingers clicked and clacked like possessed maniacs, as he wrapped up the novel and did it with glee.
The ending is both powerful but also open ended. We could see a third novel in this world, but I haven’t seen any word yet anywhere, though I know the fans would be ecstatic if there is a finale to a trilogy.
What I didn’t like: Frankly, I began to grow a bit annoyed with Will’s constant whining over needing to never be apart from Peach ever again, but the second they’re reunited, he does pretty much everything possible to leave her with others and go on some side quest. It became a frustration that repeatedly we get this emotional bump of the two of them together, to only be squashed in the following sentence when Will jogs away. I get it, I really do, but come on Will, good lord, ha!
Why you should buy this: If you’ve already read Janz, and/or book one, then book two is a no-brainer. You probably pre-ordered this. But, if you’ve not read Janz or book one, then get on this. Book one was a phenomenal coming-of-age creature feature, and book two easily lives up to the lofty standards Janz set in book one and then some. This once again shows the power of banding together and fighting for a singular goal, even when the odds seem stacked against you.
Janz has really delivered a phenomenal coming-of-age novel – AGAIN – and once again, I’m thrilled that I’ve visited with Will, even if I’m longing for a third entry and some true answers to the questions unanswered.
April 29, 2024
A huge, huge thank you to the author for the eARC!
In the follow up to The Children of the Dark, The Night Flyers by Jonathan Janz hits the ground running with endless amounts of violence, action, and gore. We see that Will Burgess remains in Sunny Woods, an alleged rehabilitation center that feels far more like a prison. Things look very bleak for Will as his is mistreated by his doctors and other “patients” of the facility. However, a few folks connect with Will creating a unique sense of found-family that I found tremendously endearing. However, the Children are no longer the only threat of supernatural violence; enter the Night Flyers. With grotesque monsters and equally horrific human beings attempting to keep this situation under wraps, the stakes have never been higher for Will’s survival.
Jonathan Janz has created something rather unique with these books. The threat of violence, pain, and death is all too real, yet Will is a snarky kid who’s quick to bite back against authority. He’s fiercely protective of his family and friends with a strong sense of morality to boot. In order words, he’s wildly entertaining. While he has grown some since book one, Will is still a sixteen-year-old navigating an unthinkable situation. Feeling so connected to him and his survival creates an intense sense of suspense in light of so much danger.
And speaking of danger, there’s lots of it. The supernatural presence of the Children and Night Flyers is terrifying in and of itself, but equally terrifying are the humans trying to sweep this whole ordeal under the rug. Armed with weapons and manpower, escape from under their thumb seems impossible. This struggle depicts the real horrors of human ways and power struggles.
Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers is a fast-paced, action packed, bloody good time. Our bond with Will and those he cares for most only deepens in his fight for survival against an inexplicable supernatural (and manmade) force.
In the follow up to The Children of the Dark, The Night Flyers by Jonathan Janz hits the ground running with endless amounts of violence, action, and gore. We see that Will Burgess remains in Sunny Woods, an alleged rehabilitation center that feels far more like a prison. Things look very bleak for Will as his is mistreated by his doctors and other “patients” of the facility. However, a few folks connect with Will creating a unique sense of found-family that I found tremendously endearing. However, the Children are no longer the only threat of supernatural violence; enter the Night Flyers. With grotesque monsters and equally horrific human beings attempting to keep this situation under wraps, the stakes have never been higher for Will’s survival.
Jonathan Janz has created something rather unique with these books. The threat of violence, pain, and death is all too real, yet Will is a snarky kid who’s quick to bite back against authority. He’s fiercely protective of his family and friends with a strong sense of morality to boot. In order words, he’s wildly entertaining. While he has grown some since book one, Will is still a sixteen-year-old navigating an unthinkable situation. Feeling so connected to him and his survival creates an intense sense of suspense in light of so much danger.
And speaking of danger, there’s lots of it. The supernatural presence of the Children and Night Flyers is terrifying in and of itself, but equally terrifying are the humans trying to sweep this whole ordeal under the rug. Armed with weapons and manpower, escape from under their thumb seems impossible. This struggle depicts the real horrors of human ways and power struggles.
Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers is a fast-paced, action packed, bloody good time. Our bond with Will and those he cares for most only deepens in his fight for survival against an inexplicable supernatural (and manmade) force.
June 15, 2024
The long-awaited sequel to Children of the Dark is finally here! It was worth the wait. Once again, we are gifted with creatures of our nightmares...The Children and the equally horrifying Night Flyers. Most importantly though, it's the characters, with the spotlight going to Will, the good brother and loyal friend. It's sad that he blames himself for everything that happened in Book One, and continues to do so in this book. Clearly, how can any of it be his fault? But that is what trauma can do to a person. Unfortunately, Will isn't given the opportunity to heal due to bureaucrats more worried about a cover up than his recovery.
Janz always writes with a nod to Stephen King. Particularly, the coming-of-age stories like IT and The Body. But there is also an element of Stranger Things. The kids fighting an evil beyond anyone's imagination. In no way though is he copying those styles. He has his own unique spin on the story. Because Janz knows family, and even if this is a horrific story, the very root of the story is the importance of family. Family by blood, and those who become our family.
If you have been on the fence about his books, I suggest you remedy that right away. Because Janz has a catalog of excellent horror for devouring. My suggestion is to start your journey with Children of the Dark, and this, its sequel.
Janz always writes with a nod to Stephen King. Particularly, the coming-of-age stories like IT and The Body. But there is also an element of Stranger Things. The kids fighting an evil beyond anyone's imagination. In no way though is he copying those styles. He has his own unique spin on the story. Because Janz knows family, and even if this is a horrific story, the very root of the story is the importance of family. Family by blood, and those who become our family.
If you have been on the fence about his books, I suggest you remedy that right away. Because Janz has a catalog of excellent horror for devouring. My suggestion is to start your journey with Children of the Dark, and this, its sequel.
April 12, 2024
Um..wow!! This was just as good as the first. I love Will!!
“Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers” begins in a psychiatric hospital. This is, literally, one of my favorite settings. The story continues from its predecessor. No spoilers here.
Will’s story continues.
The creatures in this book are delightfully different than “Children of The Dark.” Janz builds a well-layered story. The book focuses on the aftermath of “Children of The Dark” and the drama behind the government desire to hide things.
As with its predecessor, “Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers” has a layered story that includes both human and non-human monsters. It is filled is filled with tension and gore. Night Flyers cornering humans, slaughtering them and feasting on their flesh. There is blood gushing, tense, and glowing eyes. Janz writes an intense page turning story that will have you craving more.
“Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers” is actio- packed from the first page to the last.
“Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers” begins in a psychiatric hospital. This is, literally, one of my favorite settings. The story continues from its predecessor. No spoilers here.
Will’s story continues.
The creatures in this book are delightfully different than “Children of The Dark.” Janz builds a well-layered story. The book focuses on the aftermath of “Children of The Dark” and the drama behind the government desire to hide things.
As with its predecessor, “Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers” has a layered story that includes both human and non-human monsters. It is filled is filled with tension and gore. Night Flyers cornering humans, slaughtering them and feasting on their flesh. There is blood gushing, tense, and glowing eyes. Janz writes an intense page turning story that will have you craving more.
“Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers” is actio- packed from the first page to the last.
April 29, 2024
You know, its rare to find a sequel that is just as good (if not) better than the original. Janz managed to do just that with The Night Flyers. This book combines so many different elements. Its small town, coming of age, fantasy, gore and family. It gives Stranger Things vibes. Janz has a way of writing with such authenticity. He nails the teenage “voice” so well and all of the fun little added elements of baseball, nostalgia and horror movies shine.
I like that the story picks right up where we left off, and yet we still get some background. The action is none stop and I felt my heartbeat pick up several times, especially at the end. I am hoping that we get a part 3?! It is left so that it can go one way or the other but I know I would love more!
I like that the story picks right up where we left off, and yet we still get some background. The action is none stop and I felt my heartbeat pick up several times, especially at the end. I am hoping that we get a part 3?! It is left so that it can go one way or the other but I know I would love more!
June 4, 2024
I'm not sure about the rating really but I enjoyed the book.
I was hooked right away because I wanted to know what would happen and because maybe the part in the 'hospital' was really fun to read about, to me. In fact, I wish it was longer and explored a little more, because after that the book is really fast-paced (as it often happens with Jonathan JAnz, he's really good at 'action' scenes) and there's barely any reprieve for our characters.
We have some new ones, I liked most of them but I suggest not getting too attached. And the ending definitely suggests a sequel. By now if you're not interested in what is going to happen to Will and his pals and don't root for him, you are a monster! :D
I have to say though that I think I like the first one better.
I was hooked right away because I wanted to know what would happen and because maybe the part in the 'hospital' was really fun to read about, to me. In fact, I wish it was longer and explored a little more, because after that the book is really fast-paced (as it often happens with Jonathan JAnz, he's really good at 'action' scenes) and there's barely any reprieve for our characters.
We have some new ones, I liked most of them but I suggest not getting too attached. And the ending definitely suggests a sequel. By now if you're not interested in what is going to happen to Will and his pals and don't root for him, you are a monster! :D
I have to say though that I think I like the first one better.
May 2, 2024
After recently reading CHILDREN OF THE DARK, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, and it did not disappoint.
These books are an absolute blast to read. I find myself grinnning from ear to ear as I'm reading them. They are quick, smart, and scary. The plot never drags, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Highly recommend this to any and all horror lovers!
These books are an absolute blast to read. I find myself grinnning from ear to ear as I'm reading them. They are quick, smart, and scary. The plot never drags, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Highly recommend this to any and all horror lovers!
May 8, 2024
It's been so long since I read the first book, I couldn't actually remember what happened. There's enough info in this one to give you an idea but maybe I should have read COTD again before this to get the full picture.
The writing is great again and I enjoyed the story (plenty of good creatures descriptions, set pieces, and gore) but....I couldn't help but feel it dragged in parts. I was skim reading a lot of bloated action parts as it just continued on and on. There's plenty of action going on and lots of emotions running through the characters, but I was really wanting more of the bigger picture - where The Children have come from? What's their purpose? What are the Night Flyers, and where/how have they come about? You don't get any of that. Instead, it's a tale of Will's journey to escape the monsters (super human, some supernatural). There are a few pages towards the end that indicates more is to come from this series and that delighted me. I do hope the next book isn't as far in the future though, and delves more into the origins (or at least more story) on the creatures themselves.
I did enjoy the story, but felt a bit disappointed that it just seemed to be a lead up to another book in the series, with no real answers to the questions I had.
The writing is great again and I enjoyed the story (plenty of good creatures descriptions, set pieces, and gore) but....I couldn't help but feel it dragged in parts. I was skim reading a lot of bloated action parts as it just continued on and on. There's plenty of action going on and lots of emotions running through the characters, but I was really wanting more of the bigger picture - where The Children have come from? What's their purpose? What are the Night Flyers, and where/how have they come about? You don't get any of that. Instead, it's a tale of Will's journey to escape the monsters (super human, some supernatural). There are a few pages towards the end that indicates more is to come from this series and that delighted me. I do hope the next book isn't as far in the future though, and delves more into the origins (or at least more story) on the creatures themselves.
I did enjoy the story, but felt a bit disappointed that it just seemed to be a lead up to another book in the series, with no real answers to the questions I had.
January 10, 2025
Highly recommend following up book 1 directly with this read! The transition is flawless. There is no excessive "this happened in the last book" explanation, though the book successfully mentiones things from book 1. This books just as action packed, just as wild. And, as with book 1, be prepared for loss!
I definitely enjoyed both of these books a lot and am glad I found them.
I definitely enjoyed both of these books a lot and am glad I found them.
April 20, 2024
Five star read. Like all of his work, Janz doesn't pull any punches, and it gets brutal. Loved every page and couldn't turn pages fast enough. Quick pace, and a lot of action and horror. The Children are terrifying things. Night flyers even more so. Just as good as the first.
September 21, 2024
Enjoy this terrifying gut-wrenching creature feature that rips and tears its way into your heart!
Fantastic character development and storytelling at its best. This is one for those late nights by a campfire, sending chills up your neck, fearing the invisible unknown terrors lurking in the dark forest.
Fantastic character development and storytelling at its best. This is one for those late nights by a campfire, sending chills up your neck, fearing the invisible unknown terrors lurking in the dark forest.
July 20, 2025
I loved the first Children of the Dark and was happy that this one cruises right along with the same terror and tongue in cheek coming of age humor. Like the first book, we lose some good people along the way. No one ever feels safe in these!
June 15, 2024
Loved every second of this book!!! Keeping up with Will & Peaches kept me on the edge of my seat the whole book.
May 28, 2024
After what felt like a never-ending winter in Central New York, it finally feels like summer has arrived. Besides warmer weather, cookouts and all your other standard summer activities, I’ve always associated summer with Hollywood blockbusters and Creature Feature films. Probably because growing up, I spent many nights parked on the couch with the A/C blasting watching some of cinema’s most vicious monsters wreaking havoc and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Those films were filled with plenty of action, copious amounts of blood, sometimes a little heart, but most importantly, they were jam-packed with fun. Why do I bring this up? Well, because that same sense of adventure and fun can be found in the pages of Jonathan Janz’s Children of the Dark series.
Janz’s original Children of the Dark novel first hit shelves in 2016 and I devoured that novel. It expertly blends coming of age horror, slasher mythology and creature feature elements into an edge-of-your-seat adventure and it also honors that spirit of nostalgia that made me fall in love with horror in the first place. It was out of print for a few years, but has thankfully found new life with Cemetery Dance’s paperback line. Along with that announcement, Janz fans were also treated to the announcement of the long-awaited sequel, Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers. To say this was one of my most-anticipated reads is a vast understatement. I consider Children of the Dark one of my personal all-time favorites and as the resident “Sequel Guy” on Ink Heist, the prospect of revisiting that world and hanging out with those characters again filled me with so much joy.
Seriously folks, if you haven’t read Children of the Dark or Savage Species, I highly recommend dropping everything and ordering those along with Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers ASAP. These novels can be read as standalones, but they’re much more effective when read in that order. I know I’m tipping my hand on how I felt about Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers, but that’s fine. My main objective is to get as many people as possible to read these books, so even if you ignore the rest of my review but still pick up the books, that’s fine by me. Plus, this serves as a warning in case people want to check out the earlier books without having them spoiled (albeit mildly).
Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers finds sixteen-year-old Will Burgess trapped inside Sunny Woods Rehabilitation Center, a center for troubled youths, after losing some of the people closest to him in the horrific aftermath of the events of Children of the Dark. Will continues to stick by his story – telling Dr. Fleetwood and Dr. Klinger about the dangers that lurk in the woods of Shadeland. But Dr. Klinger takes his orders from some very powerful people who are determined to keep Will’s story from reaching the public by any means necessary. Separated from his remaining loved ones, Will struggles daily to maintain his sanity. He faces threats not only from Dr. Klinger, but also a group of new bullies that are determined to make his stay at Sunny Woods hell. The only person who believes him is his friend Pierre, an orderly who has seen the Night Flyers and has heard rumblings of an increase in sightings. The return of the Night Flyers could only mean one thing – they want to ruin Will’s life and destroy everyone and everything he cares about. If Will has any chance at survival and a way to leave Sunny Woods for good, he must rely on allies new and old to battle the evil that grows closer every day.
Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers was absolutely worth the wait for me and all of the other Janz fans out there who have been clamoring for a follow-up to Will Burgess’ story. Children of the Dark was a blast to read and still stands as one of my favorite Janz novels, but like any great novel, a significant portion of the novel is spent immersing the reader in the setting and introducing them to the characters. The benefit to a sequel like Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers – especially for returning readers – is we are already intimately familiar with the community of Shadeland as well as Will, Peach and all the other characters we have come to love. This allows Janz to start Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers with an exhilarating pace that just keeps building as the novel progresses and never relents even for a beat.
There are bigger, bloodier confrontations with the Night Flyers and the Children, which is sure to satisfy Creature Fans everywhere. I won’t get into it too much so as to not ruin the thrill of discovery, but there is an extensive portion of the novel where the Night Flyers wreak havoc that has to rank among Janz’s best when it comes to tension and violence. Not only does Janz increase the levels of brutality, he also brings a lot more heart to the story. I had a blast reading Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers and there’s no doubt it’s one of the must-read books of the summer. This novel is further proof that Janz is one of the genre’s best storytellers and here’s to hoping there’s at least one more trip to Shadeland in the cards!
Janz’s original Children of the Dark novel first hit shelves in 2016 and I devoured that novel. It expertly blends coming of age horror, slasher mythology and creature feature elements into an edge-of-your-seat adventure and it also honors that spirit of nostalgia that made me fall in love with horror in the first place. It was out of print for a few years, but has thankfully found new life with Cemetery Dance’s paperback line. Along with that announcement, Janz fans were also treated to the announcement of the long-awaited sequel, Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers. To say this was one of my most-anticipated reads is a vast understatement. I consider Children of the Dark one of my personal all-time favorites and as the resident “Sequel Guy” on Ink Heist, the prospect of revisiting that world and hanging out with those characters again filled me with so much joy.
Seriously folks, if you haven’t read Children of the Dark or Savage Species, I highly recommend dropping everything and ordering those along with Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers ASAP. These novels can be read as standalones, but they’re much more effective when read in that order. I know I’m tipping my hand on how I felt about Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers, but that’s fine. My main objective is to get as many people as possible to read these books, so even if you ignore the rest of my review but still pick up the books, that’s fine by me. Plus, this serves as a warning in case people want to check out the earlier books without having them spoiled (albeit mildly).
Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers finds sixteen-year-old Will Burgess trapped inside Sunny Woods Rehabilitation Center, a center for troubled youths, after losing some of the people closest to him in the horrific aftermath of the events of Children of the Dark. Will continues to stick by his story – telling Dr. Fleetwood and Dr. Klinger about the dangers that lurk in the woods of Shadeland. But Dr. Klinger takes his orders from some very powerful people who are determined to keep Will’s story from reaching the public by any means necessary. Separated from his remaining loved ones, Will struggles daily to maintain his sanity. He faces threats not only from Dr. Klinger, but also a group of new bullies that are determined to make his stay at Sunny Woods hell. The only person who believes him is his friend Pierre, an orderly who has seen the Night Flyers and has heard rumblings of an increase in sightings. The return of the Night Flyers could only mean one thing – they want to ruin Will’s life and destroy everyone and everything he cares about. If Will has any chance at survival and a way to leave Sunny Woods for good, he must rely on allies new and old to battle the evil that grows closer every day.
Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers was absolutely worth the wait for me and all of the other Janz fans out there who have been clamoring for a follow-up to Will Burgess’ story. Children of the Dark was a blast to read and still stands as one of my favorite Janz novels, but like any great novel, a significant portion of the novel is spent immersing the reader in the setting and introducing them to the characters. The benefit to a sequel like Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers – especially for returning readers – is we are already intimately familiar with the community of Shadeland as well as Will, Peach and all the other characters we have come to love. This allows Janz to start Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers with an exhilarating pace that just keeps building as the novel progresses and never relents even for a beat.
There are bigger, bloodier confrontations with the Night Flyers and the Children, which is sure to satisfy Creature Fans everywhere. I won’t get into it too much so as to not ruin the thrill of discovery, but there is an extensive portion of the novel where the Night Flyers wreak havoc that has to rank among Janz’s best when it comes to tension and violence. Not only does Janz increase the levels of brutality, he also brings a lot more heart to the story. I had a blast reading Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers and there’s no doubt it’s one of the must-read books of the summer. This novel is further proof that Janz is one of the genre’s best storytellers and here’s to hoping there’s at least one more trip to Shadeland in the cards!
February 17, 2025
QOTD: Have you read this series yet? If not, you'll probably want to fix that STAT. You can read my full review of this bad boy over at fanfiaddict.com, the link is in my bio and "2025 reviews," highlight.
"“Children of The Dark 2: The Night Flyers,” is a creature-feature coming-of-age story that lives up to the relentless action, break-neck pacing and merciless plot of its predecessor. We pick up right where Janz left (some would say, cruelly abandoned) us. Readers may recall, it isn’t an ideal place for our teenage protagonist… somewhere between bad and catastrophic. Yup, far from a warm welcome back, if “Children of The Dark,” was the frying pan, its sequel is a raging inferno. Janz is a writer who has proven himself to be not only wickedly talented and consistently brilliant, but also absolutely bloody ruthless, and whilst this review is an unwaveringly positive one, just know Jonathan Janz, I am mad at you. That being said, it’s truly lovely in places, and even a bit of a tear-jerker. As endearing as it is action-packed, high-stakes and frankly stressful, this series is one that I am eager to continue devouring, and I need the next one immediately. Book #1 was a battle, book #2 is all out warfare, if this trajectory holds, book #3 will likely be a full-scale apocalypse, and I have no idea what to do with myself until I have my mitts on it.
Having lost almost everything during his last encounter with “The Children,” you’d think there is no downhill for Will’s life to even go down. You’d be right… it’s actually more of a cliff-edge. What he does have left, quickly falls out from under his feet. Demonised as an accessory to Carl Padgett’s brutal murders the summer before, and deemed either a liar or plain crazy in regard to the existence of “the children,” Will’s life is actually worse in many respects- locked away from his girlfriend Mia, friend Barley and little sister Peach, and locked in with some rather unsavoury characters- doctors and inmates alike. Well, to be fair…. I wouldn’t worry too much about them, because something far bigger and far, far badder is on the horizon… I mean that literally- they have wings."
"“Children of The Dark 2: The Night Flyers,” is a creature-feature coming-of-age story that lives up to the relentless action, break-neck pacing and merciless plot of its predecessor. We pick up right where Janz left (some would say, cruelly abandoned) us. Readers may recall, it isn’t an ideal place for our teenage protagonist… somewhere between bad and catastrophic. Yup, far from a warm welcome back, if “Children of The Dark,” was the frying pan, its sequel is a raging inferno. Janz is a writer who has proven himself to be not only wickedly talented and consistently brilliant, but also absolutely bloody ruthless, and whilst this review is an unwaveringly positive one, just know Jonathan Janz, I am mad at you. That being said, it’s truly lovely in places, and even a bit of a tear-jerker. As endearing as it is action-packed, high-stakes and frankly stressful, this series is one that I am eager to continue devouring, and I need the next one immediately. Book #1 was a battle, book #2 is all out warfare, if this trajectory holds, book #3 will likely be a full-scale apocalypse, and I have no idea what to do with myself until I have my mitts on it.
Having lost almost everything during his last encounter with “The Children,” you’d think there is no downhill for Will’s life to even go down. You’d be right… it’s actually more of a cliff-edge. What he does have left, quickly falls out from under his feet. Demonised as an accessory to Carl Padgett’s brutal murders the summer before, and deemed either a liar or plain crazy in regard to the existence of “the children,” Will’s life is actually worse in many respects- locked away from his girlfriend Mia, friend Barley and little sister Peach, and locked in with some rather unsavoury characters- doctors and inmates alike. Well, to be fair…. I wouldn’t worry too much about them, because something far bigger and far, far badder is on the horizon… I mean that literally- they have wings."
July 24, 2024
We begin the sequel to Children of the Dark with Will Burgess now pretty much imprisoned in a rehabilitation center. He has gone from a likable character in a coming of age horror story to a mouthy and angry teen who spends most of his time thinking about his little sister Peach who he is now separated from. That is the first third of the book. The remainder has Will doing battle with, running from, or observing the heinous actions of monsters. Besides Will, there are a whole bunch of other undeveloped characters who are also in danger. This includes Peach, Mia, Pierre, Anita, Barley, Barley’s mom, Barley’s dad, some colonel named Haddad, a bad guy named Riggs and a few even less important extras. There is non stop action… a jeep being driven by someone who doesn’t know how to drive, a woman armed with an M16 because she bravely defended her llama or alpaca farm from wolves once, some crazy and unbelievable stuff and also a lot of repetitious stuff happens, Peach clings to Will, who is constantly trying to protect her, monsters die, there are casualties and the story itself effectively runs in place to set the scene for the next novel. I’m not sure I want to see what happens next as I am a bit frustrated with the progression of this story. But I do like how the author describes llamas or maybe they were alpacas. I wish they had a larger role. 3/5
April 20, 2024
Jonathan Janz does it again in The Night Flyers!! Will’s stuck in a rehabilitation centre and separated from everyone he cares about, and there are monsters around, all out for blood. A continuation from book 1, we follow Will as the nightmare continues, attempting to take everyone he loves from him.
I highly recommend picking up COTD first, as there are flashbacks and also certain scenes from there that are now explained in this book. There are non-human monsters and yet another human monster in Night Flyers that will have you setting up an altar to curse their entire bloodline.
Despite being horror, Night Flyers is a highly emotional read where wholesome family dynamics are captured, along with enduring friendships and relationships. Of course, Janz has no problem killing off likeable characters so be prepared to scream “WHYYYYYY” from time to time. But don’t think just because the book focuses more on relationships, that the violence is not there. Graphic death is present throughout the story so be prepared for a heart pounding experience throughout.
I highly recommend picking up COTD first, as there are flashbacks and also certain scenes from there that are now explained in this book. There are non-human monsters and yet another human monster in Night Flyers that will have you setting up an altar to curse their entire bloodline.
Despite being horror, Night Flyers is a highly emotional read where wholesome family dynamics are captured, along with enduring friendships and relationships. Of course, Janz has no problem killing off likeable characters so be prepared to scream “WHYYYYYY” from time to time. But don’t think just because the book focuses more on relationships, that the violence is not there. Graphic death is present throughout the story so be prepared for a heart pounding experience throughout.
May 4, 2024
Children of The Dark 2: The Night Flyers written by a tale weaving genius, a dealer of blood, guts and nightmares “Jonathan Jan”. Janz is an author I will be keeping a close eye on. His writing style is like a movie playing out in my head. He has just the right amount of details splashed in gore, and dripping in blood. I thought there is no way the sequel will ever be as good as the original. There is absolutely no possible way he will ever be able to write anything even close to the same caliber. Well, I am here to tell you “Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers” is just as good as the original. Dare I say, even better. The nightmare from the last book isn’t over yet and just when you thought the craziness of a serial killer and monsters were enough as they were seamlessly weaved together, you will find that was just the beginning. There is even more nightmarish creatures in this sequel. I can’t wait to see what Janz writes next. He has a beautifully twisted mind that I throughly have enjoyed.
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