Troubador Publishing Apples In The Dark.

by John Alex Taylor

408 pages, Paperback

Published June 28, 2024

Reviews

[Robyn Weightman]

Great representation. Very truthful, honest and needed. The story is character driven which I enjoy but it felt like very little plot. Overall, I enjoyed and it is well written but for a character driven book, felt that it went on a little too long which caused my interest to dwindle. I would recommend on the representation alone, but it is one I had to work to read to some extent.

[Lydia Nelson]

Apples In The Dark is a thoughtful, immersive novel that unfolds with patience and emotional intensity. John Alex Taylor crafts a story that rewards close attention, gradually layering character, memory, and consequence into a narrative that feels both intimate and unsettling.

At its core, the novel is deeply character-driven. Rather than relying on fast-moving plot alone, it allows motivations, relationships, and internal conflicts to surface over time. This slower, deliberate pacing suits the book’s themes, inviting readers to sit with discomfort, ambiguity, and the quiet moments where meaning often reveals itself.

Taylor’s prose is controlled and reflective, creating an atmosphere that lingers long after individual scenes have passed. The darkness suggested by the title is not merely situational but psychological, exploring how people carry the weight of past choices and unresolved truths. As the story progresses, tension builds through implication and emotional stakes rather than spectacle.

With its substantial length, Apples In The Dark is best suited to readers who enjoy immersive literary fiction those willing to invest in complex characters and narratives that unfold gradually but purposefully.

A demanding yet rewarding read that explores the spaces where memory, morality, and identity intersect.

[Celeste]

Beautifully written book. It gifts the reader a window in to the lives of vivid characters that the book centres around. It offers an insightful understanding of how epilepsy impacts the affected and those around them. It does take a little while to read, as the driving force is the day to day lives of the varied characters, but you genuinely end up caring for them and think of them long after reading the last page.
Especially lovely if you have ties to Cardiff, as the description of the city felt like a fond love letter.
Thank you for telling their story.