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Dark Walker #2
Breach
There are doors that open to other worlds, but it’s no fairytale on the other side.
I thought otherworldly monsters bent on devouring my whole world starting with my family trumped everything. Turns out, I was wrong. My world's only one of thousands facing annihilation from the maneaters that tried to eat me alive. Charlie saved me, rolled into my life on a motorcycle, and rescued me.
Problem is, I’m the Embassy’s property now. They’re the interdimensional agency tasked with stemming the flow of ravenous aliens into our universe, but they seem more interested in studying me. I crashed a gateway in a way they’ve never seen. The Embassy wants to replicate that. I think they want to use me as a war weapon.
If I don’t convince Charlie to help me escape, I’ll be an Embassy science experiment for the rest of my short life, or worse, eternally trapped in the dark hell that fills the spaces between worlds.
SCIENCE FICTION MEETS INTERDIMENSIONAL HORROR IN THIS SERIES THAT BREACHES THE BOUNDARIES OF GENRES!
CROSS-GENRE COMPARABLES: Fans of “Stranger Things” and “Dark Tower” by Stephen King, will love how this series combines elements of horror, sci-fi, and alternate realities.
I thought otherworldly monsters bent on devouring my whole world starting with my family trumped everything. Turns out, I was wrong. My world's only one of thousands facing annihilation from the maneaters that tried to eat me alive. Charlie saved me, rolled into my life on a motorcycle, and rescued me.
Problem is, I’m the Embassy’s property now. They’re the interdimensional agency tasked with stemming the flow of ravenous aliens into our universe, but they seem more interested in studying me. I crashed a gateway in a way they’ve never seen. The Embassy wants to replicate that. I think they want to use me as a war weapon.
If I don’t convince Charlie to help me escape, I’ll be an Embassy science experiment for the rest of my short life, or worse, eternally trapped in the dark hell that fills the spaces between worlds.
SCIENCE FICTION MEETS INTERDIMENSIONAL HORROR IN THIS SERIES THAT BREACHES THE BOUNDARIES OF GENRES!
CROSS-GENRE COMPARABLES: Fans of “Stranger Things” and “Dark Tower” by Stephen King, will love how this series combines elements of horror, sci-fi, and alternate realities.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2024
2 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Campbell
10 books114 followersAt a young age, Shelly Campbell wanted to be an air show pilot or a pirate, possibly a dragon and definitely a writer and artist. She’s piloted a Cessna 172 through spins and stalls, and sailed up the east coast on a tall ship barque—mostly without projectile vomiting. In the end, Shelly found writing stories and drawing dragons to be so much easier on the stomach.
Shelly's tales are speculative fiction, tending toward literary with dollops of oddity. She enjoys the challenge of exploring new techniques and subject matter, and strives to embed inspiring stories in her writing and art.
Shelly's tales are speculative fiction, tending toward literary with dollops of oddity. She enjoys the challenge of exploring new techniques and subject matter, and strives to embed inspiring stories in her writing and art.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 22, 2025
What a great sequel, if not better than the first, and one hell of an emotional rollercoaster, too. A real cry for love. Truly brilliant work. More people need to read this series.
Five stars all the way.
Five stars all the way.
December 26, 2025
★★★★.5 A Powerful Balance of Heart and Horror
It took me a moment to get into this book due to a reading slump, but once I passed the twenty percent mark, I flew through the rest in a single day. The storyline expanded into something far more immersive and ingenious.
The character development from the first book through the end of this sequel was profoundly satisfying. Watching David grow from a forgotten boy into a complex man who has endured more than any psyche should bear was the heart of the story. I especially loved his interactions with Charlie, Adam, and his brother, James. These relationships highlighted his importance outside his own household and independent of his "abilities," a nuanced touch not often seen in stories focused on supernatural power.
The world-building grew even more intricate and fascinating. It moved beyond the simple mirrored world to explore the staggering possibilities of other worlds, timelines, and even versions of people. Each journey the characters took was captivating, and I was completely hooked after Charlie and Riley’s pivotal crossing. The narrative kept me on edge, waiting for the next gruesome surprise to leap from the shadows.
The plot masterfully balanced all these elements. It drove the characters forward with purpose, avoiding any filler or stagnant moments, and made every scene feel essential.
My only critique is that I didn't feel entirely connected to Charlie, nor to the growing bond between her and David. While I understand its foundation—David's past neglect and Charlie’s mix of heroicism and vulnerability—I felt their relationship needed a bit more emphasis to make David's profound feelings by the end fully resonant. That said, I very much hope this dynamic is explored and solidified in the next installment.
It took me a moment to get into this book due to a reading slump, but once I passed the twenty percent mark, I flew through the rest in a single day. The storyline expanded into something far more immersive and ingenious.
The character development from the first book through the end of this sequel was profoundly satisfying. Watching David grow from a forgotten boy into a complex man who has endured more than any psyche should bear was the heart of the story. I especially loved his interactions with Charlie, Adam, and his brother, James. These relationships highlighted his importance outside his own household and independent of his "abilities," a nuanced touch not often seen in stories focused on supernatural power.
The world-building grew even more intricate and fascinating. It moved beyond the simple mirrored world to explore the staggering possibilities of other worlds, timelines, and even versions of people. Each journey the characters took was captivating, and I was completely hooked after Charlie and Riley’s pivotal crossing. The narrative kept me on edge, waiting for the next gruesome surprise to leap from the shadows.
The plot masterfully balanced all these elements. It drove the characters forward with purpose, avoiding any filler or stagnant moments, and made every scene feel essential.
My only critique is that I didn't feel entirely connected to Charlie, nor to the growing bond between her and David. While I understand its foundation—David's past neglect and Charlie’s mix of heroicism and vulnerability—I felt their relationship needed a bit more emphasis to make David's profound feelings by the end fully resonant. That said, I very much hope this dynamic is explored and solidified in the next installment.
June 14, 2024
I received an ARC of this book by the author 💙 and I finished it in 3 days because like her first novel, Gulf, I couldn't put it down. David is such a beautiful and unique character, and I enjoyed immensely learning more about him as he struggles throughout this entire book. We learn more of what actually happened in Gulf, and why everything transpired. And it only gets worse for David, as he finds himself mostly alone with a girl name Charlie, struggling to survive amid worlds overrun with man-eater aliens and ravaged worlds, and he becomes desperate to reconnect with his lost brother, James, but at what cost? This book is an edge-of-your-seat, constant thrill ride of horror, excitement, love, loss and surprises. I absolutely love books like this. I highly recommend both Gulf and Breach. A must read for fans of horror, aliens, and never know what's coming next thrills. I stayed up late to finish Breach because I couldn't put it down until the last page. What a stunning, beautiful, emotional read. I am so glad David has more stories to tell, and based on the ending of Breach, there is more to come. And I cannot wait. Highly, highly recommend. Don't miss out on this author or her books. Will keep you up at night... Both reading and being scared of the dark. Fantastic till the end. Perfect blend of horror and everything else to make you want to keep reading. Pick this book up. Every book lover needs to read these books.
September 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this book - even more than the first. The story exists in a different world, so there's a compelling cast of new characters to meet. Don't think that life gets any better for David, though. The author manages to make his life even more harrowing this time around.
The epilogue leads us to believe another story is on its way. Can't wait.
The epilogue leads us to believe another story is on its way. Can't wait.
June 25, 2024
*Huge thanks to Eerie River for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*
Back in 2021, Campbell’s novel ‘Gulf’ was released and I was blown away.
A portal-horror novel that followed David, a lonely teen who finds a doorway to another world in a cabin, it was gripping, moving and utterly terrifying. I’d not previously read any of Campbell’s work, but ‘Gulf’ made me an instant fan. After the original press that released it dissolved, I was super excited to see it get picked up by Eerie River and now, with book two arriving and a third on the way, it was even more amazing to see the books get revamped with matching covers across the series. Saying that, Kealan Patrick Burke’s original cover for ‘Gulf’ will remain one of the single greatest covers I’ve ever laid my eyes upon.
So, what comes next? That was the question after book one ended.
I for one couldn’t wait to see, and on the very day I was about to crack open Campbell’s fantasy novel ‘Under the Lesser Moon,’ the epub of ‘Breach’ landed in my inbox! You’re next ‘Under…’ !!
Before I dive into the review, I do want to say that if you’ve not read book one, there are some aspects here that might be mini-spoiler-ish because this one does follow the first. Enter at your own risk from here on out.
What I liked: The book picks up directly after book one. David awakes, in an observation cell, sick and not alone. The woman who saved him from the creatures is quarantined with him. Her name is Charlie, and she fills David in on where he is and who’s watching. The Embassy. A government entity on the other side keeps things in check. But they’re particularly interested in David, because David was able to cross over between worlds in a way nobody else has ever been able to. And now they want to study him.
Where ‘Gulf’ was a bread-and-butter coming-of-age, portal-horror novel, ‘Breach’ falls closer in alignment to ‘Total Recall.’ More sci-fi action than things that go bump in the night, and that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it adds an element of tension to the world(s) Campbell’s created in that soon, Charlie and David – and another Gatekeeper, Cory, – are heading elsewhere, needing David to heal up so that his powers that The Embassy believes he has will be at 100%. It’s not long after that things are revealed and Charlie and David flee alone.
Campbell does a wonderful job with Charlie. We get a rolling sort of ‘is she or isn’t she into me’ romantic angle between her and David and even after things get spicy, there’s always the subtext of her using David for her own means. This plays out with trying to get David to use his abilities specifically where it relates to her family.
The final quarter of this one takes a turn when The Embassy arrives and it makes for some solid emotional impact. It also nicely sets things up for book three and leaves us readers with some huge questions.
What I didn’t like: This is solidly a book two in that you have to have read book one to know what’s going on.
Also, fans of the coming-of-age horrorness of book one may be disappointed with the direction this one takes as it’s more sci-fi leaning than horror. I personally loved the expansive world building we get here, but I also can see where this one may irk some readers who want more of the same that book one brought us.
Why you should buy this: Campbell has not only done book one justice, but book two takes a giant leap and clobbers the reader over the head. This one is filled with heart, desire, complex emotions and at its core, that same scared kid trying to connect and find where he belongs. David is a startling raw main character, one who embodies the positives and negatives of anxiety, longing and the search for place. The creatures return, the scenes are crisp and frantic and Campbell handles all with a wicked grin on her face.
‘Breach’ levels up the sum of its parts, bringing everything great about ‘Gulf’ into the fold and amplifying it in this new reality introduced and I for one, can’t wait for the third book to arrive.
Back in 2021, Campbell’s novel ‘Gulf’ was released and I was blown away.
A portal-horror novel that followed David, a lonely teen who finds a doorway to another world in a cabin, it was gripping, moving and utterly terrifying. I’d not previously read any of Campbell’s work, but ‘Gulf’ made me an instant fan. After the original press that released it dissolved, I was super excited to see it get picked up by Eerie River and now, with book two arriving and a third on the way, it was even more amazing to see the books get revamped with matching covers across the series. Saying that, Kealan Patrick Burke’s original cover for ‘Gulf’ will remain one of the single greatest covers I’ve ever laid my eyes upon.
So, what comes next? That was the question after book one ended.
I for one couldn’t wait to see, and on the very day I was about to crack open Campbell’s fantasy novel ‘Under the Lesser Moon,’ the epub of ‘Breach’ landed in my inbox! You’re next ‘Under…’ !!
Before I dive into the review, I do want to say that if you’ve not read book one, there are some aspects here that might be mini-spoiler-ish because this one does follow the first. Enter at your own risk from here on out.
What I liked: The book picks up directly after book one. David awakes, in an observation cell, sick and not alone. The woman who saved him from the creatures is quarantined with him. Her name is Charlie, and she fills David in on where he is and who’s watching. The Embassy. A government entity on the other side keeps things in check. But they’re particularly interested in David, because David was able to cross over between worlds in a way nobody else has ever been able to. And now they want to study him.
Where ‘Gulf’ was a bread-and-butter coming-of-age, portal-horror novel, ‘Breach’ falls closer in alignment to ‘Total Recall.’ More sci-fi action than things that go bump in the night, and that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it adds an element of tension to the world(s) Campbell’s created in that soon, Charlie and David – and another Gatekeeper, Cory, – are heading elsewhere, needing David to heal up so that his powers that The Embassy believes he has will be at 100%. It’s not long after that things are revealed and Charlie and David flee alone.
Campbell does a wonderful job with Charlie. We get a rolling sort of ‘is she or isn’t she into me’ romantic angle between her and David and even after things get spicy, there’s always the subtext of her using David for her own means. This plays out with trying to get David to use his abilities specifically where it relates to her family.
The final quarter of this one takes a turn when The Embassy arrives and it makes for some solid emotional impact. It also nicely sets things up for book three and leaves us readers with some huge questions.
What I didn’t like: This is solidly a book two in that you have to have read book one to know what’s going on.
Also, fans of the coming-of-age horrorness of book one may be disappointed with the direction this one takes as it’s more sci-fi leaning than horror. I personally loved the expansive world building we get here, but I also can see where this one may irk some readers who want more of the same that book one brought us.
Why you should buy this: Campbell has not only done book one justice, but book two takes a giant leap and clobbers the reader over the head. This one is filled with heart, desire, complex emotions and at its core, that same scared kid trying to connect and find where he belongs. David is a startling raw main character, one who embodies the positives and negatives of anxiety, longing and the search for place. The creatures return, the scenes are crisp and frantic and Campbell handles all with a wicked grin on her face.
‘Breach’ levels up the sum of its parts, bringing everything great about ‘Gulf’ into the fold and amplifying it in this new reality introduced and I for one, can’t wait for the third book to arrive.
July 23, 2024
You’ll be grabbed the moment you start reading, and it’ll be hard to set this down until the very last page. The descriptions are vivid, and you’ll be completely immersed in the story the entire time. It moves along at a quick pace, but the high tension makes it hard to set down for even a moment. Book 1 (which I highly recommend reading before diving into this) set the bar high, and this installment continued to deliver without missing a beat. I was excited to see what new adventures awaited David, and there’s a new character in the mix, Charlie. Charlie is a great character, and I ended up liking her just as much as I like David. They make an interesting pair, but work well together. While there were moments in the last book that gave me chills, this had that, but also some descriptions that made my shudder just thinking about them. Cannot recommend enough for all horror lovers!
July 29, 2024
Anyone who's ever felt forgotten, like they didn't belong, or a bit like a square peg will instantly root for David. This is the type of book series you wish you could gift your younger self. It pairs the outsider-chosen-one vibes of Stephen King's IT with the upside-down world of monsters of Stanger Things in a coming-of-age tale that will thrill horror readers of any age. Breach picks up where Gulf (book 1) left off, propelling David into the fight he was born for. It's an exploration of belonging, friendship, and trust. A must read!
June 18, 2024
Shelly Campbell matches the ethos and wonder of the first book perfectly and somehow manages to take the story to greater heights!
I was amazed at how Breach so brilliantly expands the world without abandoning the deeper, more human things that make these characters so nuanced and engaging. I cannot wait for the world to read this book and discover this series. I firmly believe we'll be talking about the series of books for years to come.
Breach is an amazing accomplishment.
I was amazed at how Breach so brilliantly expands the world without abandoning the deeper, more human things that make these characters so nuanced and engaging. I cannot wait for the world to read this book and discover this series. I firmly believe we'll be talking about the series of books for years to come.
Breach is an amazing accomplishment.
July 2, 2024
Breach is a harrowing and unique YA tale of horror that got its hooks in me from the beginning and didn't let go. This book picks up where the first book in the series ended, so I would highly recommend reading Gulf first. You won't regret it. This second book, like the first, is driven by an interesting main character named David and his quest to keep dangerous creatures from invading the world his family lives in. The plotting is engaging and unpredictable and I look forward to the third book to see where David's journey leads him.
April 27, 2025
An excellent sequel that serves up an intriguing helping of science fiction to complement the quiet horror that made the first book so great.
June 25, 2024
Imagine Doctor Who moving between alternate worlds in a used Ford Pinto and you'd have something like Breach. Even then, that barely does this gripping book justice. Vivid and visceral images, fantastic worldbuilding, and a compelling story make this a must-read. There is a great, tactile quality to Charlie and David moving through different worlds, and a strong need to keep turning the page.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews