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We Are Not Alone in the Dark
Light pierces through darkness.
Fear freezes him in place.
The night visitors have arrived.
At fifteen, Bryan's list of worries includes school, bullies, girls, and drama with his friends. That's not where it ends. An abusive felon father, a mother who disappears into her work to avoid dealing with trauma, and the family farm falling into neglect.
There is something worse, though.
Something that comes only at night.
As everything in his life unravels around him, Bryan must rely on his friends to help him survive for another day. But when even his closest friendships seem fleeting, Bryan finds himself trapped. Abandoned.
His world has closed in around him. Another night is coming.
Only one thing is certain to Bryan, even if nobody believes
He is not alone in the dark.
***
We Are Not Alone in the Dark is a coming-of-age horror novel with mature themes and language, not intended for young readers. Trigger warnings include bullying, trauma, and child & domestic abuse. Please read with discretion.
Fear freezes him in place.
The night visitors have arrived.
At fifteen, Bryan's list of worries includes school, bullies, girls, and drama with his friends. That's not where it ends. An abusive felon father, a mother who disappears into her work to avoid dealing with trauma, and the family farm falling into neglect.
There is something worse, though.
Something that comes only at night.
As everything in his life unravels around him, Bryan must rely on his friends to help him survive for another day. But when even his closest friendships seem fleeting, Bryan finds himself trapped. Abandoned.
His world has closed in around him. Another night is coming.
Only one thing is certain to Bryan, even if nobody believes
He is not alone in the dark.
***
We Are Not Alone in the Dark is a coming-of-age horror novel with mature themes and language, not intended for young readers. Trigger warnings include bullying, trauma, and child & domestic abuse. Please read with discretion.
- GenresHorror
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2024
6 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Hoyt
14 books77 followersRyan Hoyt is a San Francisco Bay Area native currently residing near Sacramento, CA. His love for creepy and fantastic stories was nurtured early on by his mother, who let him watch the TV miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It at six years old.
Since 2021, Ryan has published several fantasy and horror books through his publisher, Machete & Quill Press. Sign up for his newsletter at MacheteAndQuill.com to get exclusive news and more!
Since 2021, Ryan has published several fantasy and horror books through his publisher, Machete & Quill Press. Sign up for his newsletter at MacheteAndQuill.com to get exclusive news and more!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 10, 2024
This book had everything that I could have hoped for…coming of age story, set in the 80’s, a great set of kids, and aliens.
This was such a lot of fun, a great storyline, and awesome characters. Bryan and his best friends, Mac, Howard and Jay, ride through life on their bicycles, dodging bullies, falling in love, and saving their best friend from alien abduction.
This was a great story with a twist at the end, that I was not expecting. Highly recommended, and another awesome author to add to my list.
Thanks to Ryan Hoyt, and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.
5 👽👽👽👽👽
This was such a lot of fun, a great storyline, and awesome characters. Bryan and his best friends, Mac, Howard and Jay, ride through life on their bicycles, dodging bullies, falling in love, and saving their best friend from alien abduction.
This was a great story with a twist at the end, that I was not expecting. Highly recommended, and another awesome author to add to my list.
Thanks to Ryan Hoyt, and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.
5 👽👽👽👽👽
May 31, 2024
This coming of age horror story has hints of Stephen King but definitely a unique and fast paced narrative with the author's own voice.
It's about aliens. They take and experiment on a teenage boy, leaving him helpless and paralyzed almost every night. He's suffered abuse at the hands of his father who is now in prison for his crimes. It's just himself and his mother, struggling to make ends meet as they recover from this abuse.
He has a few good friends and, together, they form the backbone of this tale. Their relationship is fantastic to watch and it's obvious they've been friends for a long time. While they might not believe his alien abduction claims, they know what he's been through and they're with him no matter what. Their nemesis is a bully who relentlessly targets them. And we'll discover that he has a secret as well.
It's the aliens that bring the terror. These are how you would typically think of aliens in flying saucers but make no mistake, they are not friendly and aren't here to make friends.
This is a well written, impressive shorter novel with a crackling narrative, great characters, and I read it in one sitting because I had to see how it ended! I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Booksirens with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
It's about aliens. They take and experiment on a teenage boy, leaving him helpless and paralyzed almost every night. He's suffered abuse at the hands of his father who is now in prison for his crimes. It's just himself and his mother, struggling to make ends meet as they recover from this abuse.
He has a few good friends and, together, they form the backbone of this tale. Their relationship is fantastic to watch and it's obvious they've been friends for a long time. While they might not believe his alien abduction claims, they know what he's been through and they're with him no matter what. Their nemesis is a bully who relentlessly targets them. And we'll discover that he has a secret as well.
It's the aliens that bring the terror. These are how you would typically think of aliens in flying saucers but make no mistake, they are not friendly and aren't here to make friends.
This is a well written, impressive shorter novel with a crackling narrative, great characters, and I read it in one sitting because I had to see how it ended! I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Booksirens with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
June 12, 2024
Ok, ever since watching Signs as a kid I’ve been terrified of aliens. This story was SO eerie and nightmare inducing.
It’s a coming of age story about a group of friends, but it’s also a tale of domestic violence, alien abduction, changing relationships and so much more.
These tight knit boys rally around one of their own as Bryan is bullied, he manages trauma from the abuse he suffered, and also believes he’s being abducted nightly by extraterrestrials.
If you liked the Dark Skies/The Fourth Kind/Nope movies (as well as Signs) this story will be right up your alley. I was hardly able to put this book down once I started it.
Thank you to BookSirens & the author for a copy!
It’s a coming of age story about a group of friends, but it’s also a tale of domestic violence, alien abduction, changing relationships and so much more.
These tight knit boys rally around one of their own as Bryan is bullied, he manages trauma from the abuse he suffered, and also believes he’s being abducted nightly by extraterrestrials.
If you liked the Dark Skies/The Fourth Kind/Nope movies (as well as Signs) this story will be right up your alley. I was hardly able to put this book down once I started it.
Thank you to BookSirens & the author for a copy!
May 8, 2024
Coming of age? ✅️
Alien abduction? ✅️
Small town vibes? ✅️
Ryan Hoyt ticks SO many boxes with this one. And can we take a second to appreciate that title?? Gorgeous!
So many subgenres blend together here to create a quietly creeping horror tale. The tropes may not be original, but Hoyt's writing flows so conversationally that you become part of the gang, along for the ride with Bryan, Mac, Howard and Jay.
The tension whips between fractured family life and terrifying extraterrestrial assaults at breakneck speed. And though it did feel a little YA at times, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story. Hoyt's authorial voice is strong, and I look forward to checking out more of his work.
Alien abduction? ✅️
Small town vibes? ✅️
Ryan Hoyt ticks SO many boxes with this one. And can we take a second to appreciate that title?? Gorgeous!
So many subgenres blend together here to create a quietly creeping horror tale. The tropes may not be original, but Hoyt's writing flows so conversationally that you become part of the gang, along for the ride with Bryan, Mac, Howard and Jay.
The tension whips between fractured family life and terrifying extraterrestrial assaults at breakneck speed. And though it did feel a little YA at times, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story. Hoyt's authorial voice is strong, and I look forward to checking out more of his work.
May 8, 2024
I read We Are Not Alone In The Dark as a beta and I can't thank Ryan Hoyt enough for it!! I love alien horror and he absolutely nailed the perfect vibe with this one. Think Stand By Me meets Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and I am absolutely here for it!!
May 9, 2024
Ryan Hoyt's 'We Are Not Alone in the Dark' (the title borrowed from a line in a V Castro book) stands confidently at the meeting point of three movies: "Stand By Me," "Nope," and 'The Fourth Kind" (the 2009 mockumentary about alien abductions in Alaska). A gang of four boys in the early 1990s, best mates, each one a different personality (the leader, the lover, the comedian, the victim), face off bullies (and the opposite sex!), have sleepovers, run around on bikes, deal with poverty and domestic abuse - all the while one of them is getting abducted nightly by aliens!
If this sounds a bit far-fetched, it's because it is; but Hoyt takes the ball and runs with it, coming up with a great story of male friendship, 90s nostalgia, teen anxieties, high school horror, and the abduction phenomenon. The first half of the book sets the stage, so it'll feel very familiar. After that, however, the novel comes into its own and goes into an original direction. It all takes place in a small town close to Raventree Hollow, Hoyt's fictional town of the first entry in the Machete & Quill horror series, but 'We Are Not Alone in the Dark' is a complete standalone.
Hoyt chooses to combine the first POV narrator device with third POV narration, not always succesfully in my view. A third POV narration throughout would have been better I believe, especially since it becomes virtually necessary in the final part of the book, when the story gives a nod to "Nope," and the sudden changes to first POV narration were quite jarring. Plus the "Galactic Dragon Fun Center" chapter went far too long, almost its own pocket universe away from the main story.
That said, the book was really entertaining, with an ending that's a bit cruel, haunting, and unsettling (I for one wanted more!), and memorable! It's an 'A' quality work, in my view. Well done!
If this sounds a bit far-fetched, it's because it is; but Hoyt takes the ball and runs with it, coming up with a great story of male friendship, 90s nostalgia, teen anxieties, high school horror, and the abduction phenomenon. The first half of the book sets the stage, so it'll feel very familiar. After that, however, the novel comes into its own and goes into an original direction. It all takes place in a small town close to Raventree Hollow, Hoyt's fictional town of the first entry in the Machete & Quill horror series, but 'We Are Not Alone in the Dark' is a complete standalone.
Hoyt chooses to combine the first POV narrator device with third POV narration, not always succesfully in my view. A third POV narration throughout would have been better I believe, especially since it becomes virtually necessary in the final part of the book, when the story gives a nod to "Nope," and the sudden changes to first POV narration were quite jarring. Plus the "Galactic Dragon Fun Center" chapter went far too long, almost its own pocket universe away from the main story.
That said, the book was really entertaining, with an ending that's a bit cruel, haunting, and unsettling (I for one wanted more!), and memorable! It's an 'A' quality work, in my view. Well done!
December 5, 2024
To me this was more of a new adult sci fi, a little too much to be YA but not by much. Not really my cup of tea BUT Ryan Hoyt is a great author so I enjoyed the book regardless.
A coming of age story about an abused and bullied teenager and his friends. Growing pains, teenage angst and relationship troubles are the meat of the story. The creepy aliens, terrible father and town bully kept the story suspenseful. The beginning was a little slow but when it picks up in the middle it gets really interesting.
I really recommend this book to fans of this genre because Ryan Hoyt is a great author. I received my copy from booksirens and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
A coming of age story about an abused and bullied teenager and his friends. Growing pains, teenage angst and relationship troubles are the meat of the story. The creepy aliens, terrible father and town bully kept the story suspenseful. The beginning was a little slow but when it picks up in the middle it gets really interesting.
I really recommend this book to fans of this genre because Ryan Hoyt is a great author. I received my copy from booksirens and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 28, 2024
Wonderful! I loved every minute of this book. I was rooting for Bryan and friends throughout the whole book. Was very shocked by the ending. Thank you, Ryan, for the opportunity to read We Are Not Alone in the Dark! I loved it. This will definitely be a re-read for me.
June 4, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
From the moment I discovered the premise for this story, I knew it would be a fun kick-off to summer reading. And I wasn’t disappointed.
This was a fun, fast-paced story oozing with nostalgia from a simpler time. Set in 1991, the story follows a group of young teens (Stranger Thingsesque) and their exploits in high school: math class, girls, bullies, fitting in.
Our MC, Bryan, suffers from his traumatic past; an abusive, alcoholic father, and absent mother. But his past isn’t the only thing hindering the young boy. Sleep paralysis infects his nightly routine, and he sees lights that invade his bedroom accompanied by unearthly silhouettes.
His claims of aliens are scoffed by his friends, and others react indifferently. Is this just his way of dealing with the world around him, the trauma affecting his mental health, or is there more happening above his old farmhouse?
This book kept me entertained for several days. The characters are likable if not memorable. I knew a Jason and a Mackenzie growing up. Hell, maybe I was Bryan. Reading this was like zipping back to my youth, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story telling: the references, the dialogue between the friends, that strange behavior we all displayed around girls. It was a fresh reminder of the 90s culture.
The story packs a punch as well. I could feel Bryan’s pain, his guilt as he relived the fear and hate of his father. A Deja Vu no boy should endure but a great side narrative to build upon. And the chase scenes and foreign settings inside the spaceship. The imagery displayed was well crafted, and Hoyt paints a vivid picture that will haunt your mind.
If you enjoy a fast-paced scifi/horror story, full of 90s nostalgia, where you’ll question the validity and sanity of the MC until the final chapters, this one's for you. A solid four stars.
From the moment I discovered the premise for this story, I knew it would be a fun kick-off to summer reading. And I wasn’t disappointed.
This was a fun, fast-paced story oozing with nostalgia from a simpler time. Set in 1991, the story follows a group of young teens (Stranger Thingsesque) and their exploits in high school: math class, girls, bullies, fitting in.
Our MC, Bryan, suffers from his traumatic past; an abusive, alcoholic father, and absent mother. But his past isn’t the only thing hindering the young boy. Sleep paralysis infects his nightly routine, and he sees lights that invade his bedroom accompanied by unearthly silhouettes.
His claims of aliens are scoffed by his friends, and others react indifferently. Is this just his way of dealing with the world around him, the trauma affecting his mental health, or is there more happening above his old farmhouse?
This book kept me entertained for several days. The characters are likable if not memorable. I knew a Jason and a Mackenzie growing up. Hell, maybe I was Bryan. Reading this was like zipping back to my youth, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story telling: the references, the dialogue between the friends, that strange behavior we all displayed around girls. It was a fresh reminder of the 90s culture.
The story packs a punch as well. I could feel Bryan’s pain, his guilt as he relived the fear and hate of his father. A Deja Vu no boy should endure but a great side narrative to build upon. And the chase scenes and foreign settings inside the spaceship. The imagery displayed was well crafted, and Hoyt paints a vivid picture that will haunt your mind.
If you enjoy a fast-paced scifi/horror story, full of 90s nostalgia, where you’ll question the validity and sanity of the MC until the final chapters, this one's for you. A solid four stars.
May 1, 2024
Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily!
I'm going to start with this. It's not often you see this. Most alien abduction horror books you read or hear deal with it being about adults but not this one. It's dealing with a teenager, and it was definitely refreshing and spooky. More than that, the details and just the atmosphere leave your hair raising and just make you look over your shoulder, hoping not to see any strange bright lights coming for you.
The only trigger warnings I'd say are like the beginning warn you, which is about domestic abuse and bullying. Of course, if you're not into aliens, look the other way and look faaaar away because this definitely is a book abductions of the fourth kind.
I really enjoyed the fact that we get to see more than just one perspective in this book. From the best friends point of view, especially later on, he realizes a lot of things, and it's great to see how all the characters change and grow. The ending, of course, I wasn't expecting, and that's always a fifty fifty, but this time, I really enjoyed how it ended.
I'm going to start with this. It's not often you see this. Most alien abduction horror books you read or hear deal with it being about adults but not this one. It's dealing with a teenager, and it was definitely refreshing and spooky. More than that, the details and just the atmosphere leave your hair raising and just make you look over your shoulder, hoping not to see any strange bright lights coming for you.
The only trigger warnings I'd say are like the beginning warn you, which is about domestic abuse and bullying. Of course, if you're not into aliens, look the other way and look faaaar away because this definitely is a book abductions of the fourth kind.
I really enjoyed the fact that we get to see more than just one perspective in this book. From the best friends point of view, especially later on, he realizes a lot of things, and it's great to see how all the characters change and grow. The ending, of course, I wasn't expecting, and that's always a fifty fifty, but this time, I really enjoyed how it ended.
May 12, 2024
It’s the 90s, Bryan and his friends have a lot to deal with : bullies, abusive parents, the mystery that seems to be the opposite sex… And on top of that Bryan is having nightmares and weird experiences that prevent him from sleeping at night, his friends are supportive but the shrinks he keeps trying to talk to don’t believe him.
A quick read that is just the right amount of creepy. As a reader you first wonder if Bryan is indeed having nightmares because of the abuse his dad put him through, but then the abduction happens and you can’t help but wonder if the boys are right or if they’re going through a collective hallucination. Reading this book felt like watching an episode of The X files, and I say this as a good thing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We’re not alone in the dark is out on June 3rd
A quick read that is just the right amount of creepy. As a reader you first wonder if Bryan is indeed having nightmares because of the abuse his dad put him through, but then the abduction happens and you can’t help but wonder if the boys are right or if they’re going through a collective hallucination. Reading this book felt like watching an episode of The X files, and I say this as a good thing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We’re not alone in the dark is out on June 3rd
May 2, 2024
I don't even know where to start. I went into this book pre-creeped out because the movie, Signs, traumatized me as a kid. I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading and the scary parts weren't so in your face "shock factor", but more of a consistent dread that continues to build throughout the story, and then 💩 hits the fan. Throwing in the nostalgia of growing up in the 90's and the teen boy friend gang that redefined "ride or die" for me, I can give this book an easy 4 stars. That ending though 🤯😭
June 2, 2024
I enjoyed this story very much. The friendship between Bryan, Mac, Howard, and Jay were giving similar vibes to kids in Stranger Things (which I love). The story is told between Bryan and Mac and it flowed great. While there is the trigger warning for violence and abuse, I appreciate that the author is able to convey those things without having to get into and give graphic detail. The author does a great job with all of his descriptions throughout the book. I don't want to give anything away so I can't give any more in depth detail but just know that he paints a great picture!
The gut rating for this book started out at 4.5 but is actually a 5 star read for me.
The gut rating for this book started out at 4.5 but is actually a 5 star read for me.
June 2, 2024
I normally do not read alien genre books because, quite simply, I am terrified of aliens. Ever since I watched “Alien” with Sigourney Weaver, I have had an intense phobia. Then I watched “War of the Worlds’ with Tom Cruise, thinking I am an adult I should be over this fear, but nope now my fear is worse. So reading this book caused all sorts of nightmares. This author just reminded me why I do not like alien movies! It is the unknown, the fear of what they truly look like and if they are out there, they could decimate our planet or make us slaves. NO THANK YOU! So this book did what it was supposed to….scare the hell out of me. Go read it if you love alien books, it is top notch.
June 4, 2024
Thank you, Ryan Hoyt
This was even better then the first book in this series.
The story can be read as a stand alone or in order. This time around its setting is the next town over. The main character and his friends join together to beat the Alien visitors that come in the middle if the night. It's beautifully written.
The moral is clear and I definitely think the main protagonist does take the high ground. I highly recommend this series to preteen and beyond.
Cosmic Horror
Teamwork
Integrity
This was even better then the first book in this series.
The story can be read as a stand alone or in order. This time around its setting is the next town over. The main character and his friends join together to beat the Alien visitors that come in the middle if the night. It's beautifully written.
The moral is clear and I definitely think the main protagonist does take the high ground. I highly recommend this series to preteen and beyond.
Cosmic Horror
Teamwork
Integrity
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2024
A coming-of-age, Horror/Sci-Fi Spectacular!
I would best describe this as The Body meets The Tommy Knockers.
A great read, with terrific pacing. The characterisation is solid - Bryan quickly evokes empathy; his relationship with Mac well depicted. Friendship and young romance is arguably an element that draws together every coming-of-age novel, so the somewhat peripheral sub-plot should be read in that context.
I was honoured to Beta read for the author and I know it will appeal to a wide fan-base.
I would best describe this as The Body meets The Tommy Knockers.
A great read, with terrific pacing. The characterisation is solid - Bryan quickly evokes empathy; his relationship with Mac well depicted. Friendship and young romance is arguably an element that draws together every coming-of-age novel, so the somewhat peripheral sub-plot should be read in that context.
I was honoured to Beta read for the author and I know it will appeal to a wide fan-base.
May 3, 2024
I strangely really enjoyed this one. Im not into sci fi or coming of age type books. This is a slow burn and doesn't have a lot of violence. Yet it gave me the same warm fuzzy feeling that goonies did back when I was a child. The group of friends interact well with eachother and there banter suited them perfectly. I even started to sympathise with the school bully. This is well written and easy to follow and I will definitely have to read more by this author.
Read
August 24, 2024This book starts off strong and ends strong. It is the story of high school friends Howard, Jay, Mac and Bryan. Bryan's home life is less than perfect. His nights are even worse. Bryan knows he goes somewhere every night, but where he isn't sure. His friends want to believe him, but who REALLY believes in aliens? Will Bryan be able to convince his friends that aliens are real? Will Bryan be able to regain his life and his sanity? Sometimes you find friends in places you would never expect. I could not put this book down. It was a fast paced sci-fi thriller that will delight readers of all genres. This book was read as an arc copy.
April 30, 2024
This book was so so good! A classic alien abduction story based in the 90s. A group of teenage boys come together to help their friend figure out what's going on in the darkness of the night. The building of the characters was awesome and the story wasn't too long and drawn out or too short and rushed. If you're looking for a good alien abduction book I definitely recommend this one!
December 10, 2025
Thank you to Booksirens and Ryan Hoyt for the ARC copy of We Are Not Alone In the Dark.
A coming of age story set in the 80s about a young adult Bryan.. Bullied at school, abused at home and not alone in the dark.. What is out there and will he survive all his demons.
I don't often read YA fiction, thoroughly enjoyed this one tho. Tha k you again for the ARC
A coming of age story set in the 80s about a young adult Bryan.. Bullied at school, abused at home and not alone in the dark.. What is out there and will he survive all his demons.
I don't often read YA fiction, thoroughly enjoyed this one tho. Tha k you again for the ARC
May 8, 2024
I was gifted a copy of this to check out. I really enjoyed this read! It gave me Stranger Things but space alien vibes. It was also a throwback to being a carefree kid growing up in the 90s. As I read the last line I found myself clicking the page over and over because I NEEDED more! There was so much nostalgia reading about the gang riding around on their bikes all day and then having sleepovers because that’s exactly what I did as a kid with my friends. This was a quick and easy read. 5⭐️
February 18, 2025
Fifteen-year-old Bryan isn't sleeping well. Despite what the shrinks think, it's not because of his relationship with his incarcerated felon father. His problem is not anything so ordinary or mundane. Rather, Bryan is being abducted by aliens nightly. And his friends, bless them, are determined to help whether the aliens are real or not.
This was so much fun. A coming of age story set in the 1980s with aliens? Yes please! But more than the plotline, which was awesome, is that this is a really good, well-written story. I bought my copy directly from the author (signed and inscribed!), and I can guarantee that I'll be buying more. What a wonderful, weird tale.
This was so much fun. A coming of age story set in the 1980s with aliens? Yes please! But more than the plotline, which was awesome, is that this is a really good, well-written story. I bought my copy directly from the author (signed and inscribed!), and I can guarantee that I'll be buying more. What a wonderful, weird tale.
July 4, 2024
We Are Not Alone in the Dark by Ryan Hoyt is a coming of age story of a group of boys with normal growing pains and not-so-normal encounters thrown in. There are mentions of bullying and domestic violence, so if those are triggers, this story may not be for you.
The reader follows the trials and tribulations of Bryan, Mac, Howard, Jay, Jason, and a couple of their gal pals as they try to navigate the horrors of teenagedom in the 1990s. As if that wasn't enough to deal with, Bryan's stories of nocturnal visitors mark him for bullying by his peers and widespread disbelief among the adults in his life. Are his stories his way of dealing with the turmoil of dealing with an abusive father and a mother who works long hours? Or is he really visited by otherworldly beings? Who will Bryan be able to truly count on to help him decipher the world around him?
The teenage boy banter between the friends brings life to the story and adds dimension to this sometimes flat storyline and scenery descriptions. With his detailed character depictions, Hoyt draws in the reader and makes them care about the characters and their futures.
I received a complimentary copy, and this review is honest and voluntary.
The reader follows the trials and tribulations of Bryan, Mac, Howard, Jay, Jason, and a couple of their gal pals as they try to navigate the horrors of teenagedom in the 1990s. As if that wasn't enough to deal with, Bryan's stories of nocturnal visitors mark him for bullying by his peers and widespread disbelief among the adults in his life. Are his stories his way of dealing with the turmoil of dealing with an abusive father and a mother who works long hours? Or is he really visited by otherworldly beings? Who will Bryan be able to truly count on to help him decipher the world around him?
The teenage boy banter between the friends brings life to the story and adds dimension to this sometimes flat storyline and scenery descriptions. With his detailed character depictions, Hoyt draws in the reader and makes them care about the characters and their futures.
I received a complimentary copy, and this review is honest and voluntary.
June 29, 2024
Bryan’s life is falling apart, bullies at school, friends drama and a messed up home life but all this pales into insignificance with what visits him at night.
A cosmic horror that pulls the main character through a nightmare choice between the trauma of the day and the terror of the night. Set in the 90’s the nostalgic hit is excellent. Bryan and his best friends Howard, Jay and Mac try and avoid the school bully, ride their bikes everywhere and attempt to help Bryan with his nighttime visitors. The aliens who take Bryan every night are not friendly and nobody, including his friends, really believes him.
It is a coming of age story, an end of innocence, an alien abduction nightmare but also explores violence, domestic abuse and bullying and the psychological damage these cause. This is trauma through a horror lens and will keep you engrossed as you desperately cheer on Bryan’s fight for freedom.
A cosmic horror that pulls the main character through a nightmare choice between the trauma of the day and the terror of the night. Set in the 90’s the nostalgic hit is excellent. Bryan and his best friends Howard, Jay and Mac try and avoid the school bully, ride their bikes everywhere and attempt to help Bryan with his nighttime visitors. The aliens who take Bryan every night are not friendly and nobody, including his friends, really believes him.
It is a coming of age story, an end of innocence, an alien abduction nightmare but also explores violence, domestic abuse and bullying and the psychological damage these cause. This is trauma through a horror lens and will keep you engrossed as you desperately cheer on Bryan’s fight for freedom.
June 2, 2024
This is coming of age horror with aliens. It does read a bit YA and I think that’s part of what makes this perfect for fans of John Durgin’s The Cursed Among Us (which I absolutely loved last year).
We Are Not Alone in the Dark captures the nostalgia of growing up in the 90s and throws an alien abduction wrench into an immersive setting that feels otherwise deeply relatable on one level or another. I felt like I was riding my bike through small town roads with this close knit group of friends and I loved the way these boys would do ANYTHING for each other except NOT date the girl they’ve deemed off limits lol. Really enjoyed this one! I’d love to discuss some of the things that were left up to our interpretation with anyone else who reads this.
We Are Not Alone in the Dark captures the nostalgia of growing up in the 90s and throws an alien abduction wrench into an immersive setting that feels otherwise deeply relatable on one level or another. I felt like I was riding my bike through small town roads with this close knit group of friends and I loved the way these boys would do ANYTHING for each other except NOT date the girl they’ve deemed off limits lol. Really enjoyed this one! I’d love to discuss some of the things that were left up to our interpretation with anyone else who reads this.
May 19, 2024
This is a classic alien abduction story that brings back memories of growing up in the 90s. A group of teenage boys band together to help their friend uncover the truth behind the strange occurrences at night.
Bryan and his friends have to deal with bullying, abuse of parents, and the opposite sex. Bryan is also having weird occurrences that hinder him from being able to sleep at night, so what is really going on?
This read offered a chilling experience, with its multiple perspectives and eerie ambiance, reminiscent of the X-Files. The unsettling ending left a lasting impression and added to the overall sense of unease.
Bryan and his friends have to deal with bullying, abuse of parents, and the opposite sex. Bryan is also having weird occurrences that hinder him from being able to sleep at night, so what is really going on?
This read offered a chilling experience, with its multiple perspectives and eerie ambiance, reminiscent of the X-Files. The unsettling ending left a lasting impression and added to the overall sense of unease.
June 1, 2024
Book Sirens ARC.
Solid read, if not a little predictable. The writing was comfortable old school sci-fi which felt very relatable and helped the story flow.
The pacing was good. There were some unnecessary plot points thrown in here, I think to make the characters more “believable” as teens…but they seemed needless in the overall story and took away from the build. One specifically I remember scratching my head at was Howard distancing himself from the group and then rejoining them like two pages later. It felt like Hoyt was trying too hard to show “I know how teenagers work”. But it didn’t really do anything for the storyline.
Solid read, if not a little predictable. The writing was comfortable old school sci-fi which felt very relatable and helped the story flow.
The pacing was good. There were some unnecessary plot points thrown in here, I think to make the characters more “believable” as teens…but they seemed needless in the overall story and took away from the build. One specifically I remember scratching my head at was Howard distancing himself from the group and then rejoining them like two pages later. It felt like Hoyt was trying too hard to show “I know how teenagers work”. But it didn’t really do anything for the storyline.
August 15, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Walkie talkies and bicycles as modes of communication and transportation, respectively, take me back to my '90s childhood. Descriptions of the characters made me laugh aloud; these boys' quirks and habits were articulated so well, it's as though the author knew them for years. An odd bunch of hippy adults made me think of Mulder's friends, the Lone Gunman, from the X-Files, always a step ahead in understanding the puzzles of the universe. Friendship is a strong theme in this story, and it deepens into the notion of sacrifice. The story unravels at a fun, quick pace, and it was hard to put down! I highly recommend it.
May 22, 2024
We Are Not Alone In The Dark is a story of a group of teens dealing with normal 15 yr old life. Except one of them isn’t. This book is a story of friendship and the extents a group of friends will go to protect each other.
I really enjoyed all of the pop culture references from the 80’s. Even the bike silhouettes on the cover pages fit that bill. Lots of fun movie references. I got Stranger Things vibes with some Stand By Me friendship feels.
If you like coming of age stories with some aliens thrown in this is the book for you. I felt it had a solid ending as well.
I really enjoyed all of the pop culture references from the 80’s. Even the bike silhouettes on the cover pages fit that bill. Lots of fun movie references. I got Stranger Things vibes with some Stand By Me friendship feels.
If you like coming of age stories with some aliens thrown in this is the book for you. I felt it had a solid ending as well.
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