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Adversity: Dark Heart
Adversity tells the brutal story of two brothers, Eric and John, trying to survive in the unforgiving world of 1960s London. With their father Joe embroiled in the criminal underworld, and their mother Annie lost to despair, and not knowing which way to turn, they must learn to navigate the brutal realities of a dysfunctional family as secrets and lies emerge and tensions start to rise.
Eric, hardened by his father’s abuse, becomes entangled in the same criminal world as his father. Eventually groomed by the boss of the firm, and drawn into his dark empire, he is pulled deeper and deeper into a web of violence, betrayal, and revenge.
Adversity is a gripping, emotional journey of love, loss, and survival.
Eric, hardened by his father’s abuse, becomes entangled in the same criminal world as his father. Eventually groomed by the boss of the firm, and drawn into his dark empire, he is pulled deeper and deeper into a web of violence, betrayal, and revenge.
Adversity is a gripping, emotional journey of love, loss, and survival.
287 pages, Paperback
Published March 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 21, 2025
Adversity: Dark Heart is a raw and emotionally charged novel that pulls no punches. E.J. Eccles crafts a gritty and haunting portrait of 1960s London through the lens of two brothers, Eric and John, who are forced to grow up too fast in a world that offers them very little mercy.
What stood out most to me was how vividly the atmosphere of the time was brought to life the grimy streets, the looming presence of crime, and the sense of being trapped in a cycle that's hard to break. Eric’s transformation from a damaged son into a player in the criminal underworld is both tragic and compelling. You understand his choices even when you don’t agree with them, and that’s what makes his journey so impactful.
The family dynamic is tense and heart wrenching. With a father steeped in violence and a mother slipping away in despair, the emotional weight of the story feels heavy in all the right ways. The unraveling of family secrets adds another layer of intensity, making the book hard to put down.
This isn’t a comfortable read it’s tough, gritty, and at times, heartbreaking. But Adversity is also deeply human. It’s about survival, identity, and the question of whether we are bound to repeat the sins of our parents. If you’re drawn to stories that explore the darker sides of family, loyalty, and the cost of survival, this is one to read. E.J. Eccles delivers a powerful and unflinching debut.
What stood out most to me was how vividly the atmosphere of the time was brought to life the grimy streets, the looming presence of crime, and the sense of being trapped in a cycle that's hard to break. Eric’s transformation from a damaged son into a player in the criminal underworld is both tragic and compelling. You understand his choices even when you don’t agree with them, and that’s what makes his journey so impactful.
The family dynamic is tense and heart wrenching. With a father steeped in violence and a mother slipping away in despair, the emotional weight of the story feels heavy in all the right ways. The unraveling of family secrets adds another layer of intensity, making the book hard to put down.
This isn’t a comfortable read it’s tough, gritty, and at times, heartbreaking. But Adversity is also deeply human. It’s about survival, identity, and the question of whether we are bound to repeat the sins of our parents. If you’re drawn to stories that explore the darker sides of family, loyalty, and the cost of survival, this is one to read. E.J. Eccles delivers a powerful and unflinching debut.
January 9, 2026
I found this book overly descriptive, the amount of description for me took away from the story line.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews