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Dark Walker #3
Seed
Glitching between dimensions wasn't supposed to be my life, but sometimes you have to dance with the darkness.
I should be dead. Shot twice through the chest. But the Embassy saved me because I’m a one-of-a-kind freak who blips to worlds they can’t reach. Now I’m their personal mule, raiding collapsing planets to fatten their coffers. Lucky me.
And things have gone from bad to worse. My old team is being held hostage, my family’s in danger, and the darkness hunts me across realities. My one shot to end this living hell? Take down the Embassy, save Charlie, and torch the whole rotten system. Simple, right? One misstep though, and we’re toast. Alien breach. Apocalypse. End scene.
If I fail, the darkness won’t stop until it swallows us whole.
I should be dead. Shot twice through the chest. But the Embassy saved me because I’m a one-of-a-kind freak who blips to worlds they can’t reach. Now I’m their personal mule, raiding collapsing planets to fatten their coffers. Lucky me.
And things have gone from bad to worse. My old team is being held hostage, my family’s in danger, and the darkness hunts me across realities. My one shot to end this living hell? Take down the Embassy, save Charlie, and torch the whole rotten system. Simple, right? One misstep though, and we’re toast. Alien breach. Apocalypse. End scene.
If I fail, the darkness won’t stop until it swallows us whole.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2025
2 people are currently reading
37 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 20, 2025
*Huge thanks to Eerie River for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*
I have to admit, that way back in 2021, when I read ‘Gulf’ – and was blown away – I never could’ve predicted the scope of the world/world’s Campbell had waiting to unleash over the three book Dark Walker Series.
With ‘Gulf’ we had a – on the surface at least – simple story of a teenage boy who goes to a cabin with family and discovers something behind a door. It was phenomenal and when the sequel, ‘Breach,’ arrived a few years later, we got to see the door fully open and everything behind it and beyond exposed and out in the open.
So, beware – going forward, there may be inadvertent spoilers for book two (and a bit for book one) simply because we’re here, at book three of the series. I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise!
What I liked: The book picks up not long after book two – so here be potential spoilers! – and we find that David has survived being shot and the Embassy has saved his life. Though, he’s now stuck in what he calls his ‘hamster wheel,’ a clear glass, round cage designed to not let him ‘blip’ or travel between dimensions.
The book hangs on a few threads (not in a bad way!) to progress us along. First, David’s former team is being held hostage and the woman he loves (Charlie) is imprisoned. Second, his family is in danger, the darkness is growing closer and he doesn’t think it’ll take long until they’re found. And lastly, he needs to get out of here, and he can’t. His friend Cory visits, but things seem different and after he overhears a conversation between him and the one in charge of his imprisonment, he’s not sure who he can trust.
This all comes to a head when Cory helps David, David reveals he can blip without the need of a touch piece and they head off to try and save David’s family.
From that point on, the novel becomes more of a revelatory piece, where we learn the truth of everything that’s gone on, who David is and we see him get to connect with family and Charlie and Cory.
With this shift, it took us from a bit of a harder sci-fi story and offered a heightened emotional aspect that was buried through the first two-thirds. To me, it was this softening of the characters and connection of family with events that elevated this finale of the series. It went from a solid ‘good’ to a ‘great’ conclusion, which made me so very, very happy.
Of course, the scenes with the dark walkers was pristine, and though they weren’t in here as much as previous books, it was their inclusion that also ramped things up in the best way possible.
The ending was touching and sad, and was a perfect way to close the door on everything that came before. I often get to the end of a series and think that I hope we’ll maybe see more down the line, but in this case, I think Shelly absolutely closed this one in the most perfect way possible and I’d be happy to see this concluded and closed. (Of course, if we get a fourth or related book, I’ll be reading it!)
What I didn’t like: There’s two things I want to address and the first isn’t really a ‘didn’t like.’ Having finished book three, I actually think a lot of the revelations that happened within would’ve been better, or heightened the stakes of David’s quest, if they’d occurred in book two. It’s hard not to discuss it – BECAUSE THAT’S MASSIVE SPOILERS! – but I think the things David learned and what Cory creates, would’ve been a fundamentally altering building block in book two and would’ve caused book three to be that much more emotionally charged. It all still works, but my brain screamed that too me once done!
The second thing – and this is just me closing something – but the character of Angus (whom I felt was particularly useless in book one!) returned briefly and I felt that once again, his inclusion wasn’t warranted, but it was fun to see what becomes of his character.
Why you should buy this: HEY YOU! YEAH YOU! THE ANNOYING READER WHO SAYS THEY WON’T START A SERIES UNTIL IT’S DONE BECAUSE ROTHFUSS AND GRRM HAVE TRAUMATIZED YOU! IT’S DONE! START IT NOW! But seriously, if you’ve not read book one, go grab it. If you’ve read the first two, you’re in for a treat with what Shelly does in book three. David is a phenomenal lead, Charlie is a great second and Cory makes for the dependable muscle, three elements that will have you rooting for success and crying when things go bad. The Dark Walker series was fantastic and to see this coming from a Canadian author and a Canadian press makes me smile even more!
I have to admit, that way back in 2021, when I read ‘Gulf’ – and was blown away – I never could’ve predicted the scope of the world/world’s Campbell had waiting to unleash over the three book Dark Walker Series.
With ‘Gulf’ we had a – on the surface at least – simple story of a teenage boy who goes to a cabin with family and discovers something behind a door. It was phenomenal and when the sequel, ‘Breach,’ arrived a few years later, we got to see the door fully open and everything behind it and beyond exposed and out in the open.
So, beware – going forward, there may be inadvertent spoilers for book two (and a bit for book one) simply because we’re here, at book three of the series. I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise!
What I liked: The book picks up not long after book two – so here be potential spoilers! – and we find that David has survived being shot and the Embassy has saved his life. Though, he’s now stuck in what he calls his ‘hamster wheel,’ a clear glass, round cage designed to not let him ‘blip’ or travel between dimensions.
The book hangs on a few threads (not in a bad way!) to progress us along. First, David’s former team is being held hostage and the woman he loves (Charlie) is imprisoned. Second, his family is in danger, the darkness is growing closer and he doesn’t think it’ll take long until they’re found. And lastly, he needs to get out of here, and he can’t. His friend Cory visits, but things seem different and after he overhears a conversation between him and the one in charge of his imprisonment, he’s not sure who he can trust.
This all comes to a head when Cory helps David, David reveals he can blip without the need of a touch piece and they head off to try and save David’s family.
From that point on, the novel becomes more of a revelatory piece, where we learn the truth of everything that’s gone on, who David is and we see him get to connect with family and Charlie and Cory.
With this shift, it took us from a bit of a harder sci-fi story and offered a heightened emotional aspect that was buried through the first two-thirds. To me, it was this softening of the characters and connection of family with events that elevated this finale of the series. It went from a solid ‘good’ to a ‘great’ conclusion, which made me so very, very happy.
Of course, the scenes with the dark walkers was pristine, and though they weren’t in here as much as previous books, it was their inclusion that also ramped things up in the best way possible.
The ending was touching and sad, and was a perfect way to close the door on everything that came before. I often get to the end of a series and think that I hope we’ll maybe see more down the line, but in this case, I think Shelly absolutely closed this one in the most perfect way possible and I’d be happy to see this concluded and closed. (Of course, if we get a fourth or related book, I’ll be reading it!)
What I didn’t like: There’s two things I want to address and the first isn’t really a ‘didn’t like.’ Having finished book three, I actually think a lot of the revelations that happened within would’ve been better, or heightened the stakes of David’s quest, if they’d occurred in book two. It’s hard not to discuss it – BECAUSE THAT’S MASSIVE SPOILERS! – but I think the things David learned and what Cory creates, would’ve been a fundamentally altering building block in book two and would’ve caused book three to be that much more emotionally charged. It all still works, but my brain screamed that too me once done!
The second thing – and this is just me closing something – but the character of Angus (whom I felt was particularly useless in book one!) returned briefly and I felt that once again, his inclusion wasn’t warranted, but it was fun to see what becomes of his character.
Why you should buy this: HEY YOU! YEAH YOU! THE ANNOYING READER WHO SAYS THEY WON’T START A SERIES UNTIL IT’S DONE BECAUSE ROTHFUSS AND GRRM HAVE TRAUMATIZED YOU! IT’S DONE! START IT NOW! But seriously, if you’ve not read book one, go grab it. If you’ve read the first two, you’re in for a treat with what Shelly does in book three. David is a phenomenal lead, Charlie is a great second and Cory makes for the dependable muscle, three elements that will have you rooting for success and crying when things go bad. The Dark Walker series was fantastic and to see this coming from a Canadian author and a Canadian press makes me smile even more!
July 14, 2025
Seed by Shelly Campbell is a Sci Fi horror book written by the author. This is book 3 in the Dark Walker series, so be warned you should read the other two books in the series if you want to have a clear understanding of what is going on in the author's and characters world. Seed picks up where book 2 ends and our MC, David, is alive and doing well after being saved by the Embassy. He is in his hamster wheel(read the book to find out what this is) and can not travel back and forth between dimensions at this time. David's team is being held as hostages and Charlie is in a prison in this book. Everyone is in danger or being held by someone which makes for an interesting read. This 3rd installment in the series takes the reader on more of an emotionally charged journey and not so much into the sci fi genre aspect. The author makes sure that there are no questions left unanswered in this book as she wrote an excellent conclusion to the first two books and wraps up all the questions that the readers had before. If you haven't read the series before this one, do yourself a favor and read 'Gulf 'and 'Breach' before this concluding book so you get the entirety of the story and also it makes sense;)
June 25, 2025
Doesn't miss a beat. A terrific series start to finish. The writing is exceptional.The story... highly original. Don't let this pass you by. Seriously.
January 6, 2026
★★★★★ A Thrilling and Powerful Ending
I would like to thank the author, Shelly Campbell, for providing me with an eBook copy of Breach and Seed and an audiobook of Gulf.
This book picks up the story with a relentless urgency that had me on the edge of my seat from the very first chapter. The fragile situation from the end of the last book breaks right away, throwing the characters into a desperate, fast-paced fight for survival where every choice matters. It was the most exciting and hardest book to stop reading in the whole series.
The best part of this book, and what makes the trilogy so special, is the incredible character growth. Watching how David changes from the lonely boy in the first book to the man he is here felt real and deeply moving. He didn’t feel like just a character anymore—he felt like a real human who you are rooting for. His complicated relationships with Charlie, Cory, and his brother James are pushed to their limits in ways that are painful but also feel right for their story. These connections are the true heart of the series, even though I did shed a few tears by the end of the book.
The world of the story, which got so big and interesting in the last book, becomes even more intense here. The dangers of David’s abilities are clearer and the threats from all around feel scarier than ever. Coming from the world he feels trapped in, and and ending with the darkness he tries to avoid. The story is a perfect mix of scary action outside and tough emotional battles inside. Nothing feels like filler; every part moves the story toward an ending that is both surprising and not, but undoubtedly deeply emotional.
I mentioned before that I wanted to see more from some of the relationships, and this book really delivers on that. In the middle of all the chaos, the bonds between the characters grow stronger in a way that feels honest and earned. That is highlited by the end of the book, especially the bond between James and David.
This whole trilogy has been an amazing ride—creepy, smart, and full of heart. Seed is a perfect ending that brings everything together. It mixes scary moments with a touching story about feeling alone, finding strength, and the family you choose. It’s easily one of my favorite horror series, although I do have to say that I wish I knew what happened after the story ended.
I would like to thank the author, Shelly Campbell, for providing me with an eBook copy of Breach and Seed and an audiobook of Gulf.
This book picks up the story with a relentless urgency that had me on the edge of my seat from the very first chapter. The fragile situation from the end of the last book breaks right away, throwing the characters into a desperate, fast-paced fight for survival where every choice matters. It was the most exciting and hardest book to stop reading in the whole series.
The best part of this book, and what makes the trilogy so special, is the incredible character growth. Watching how David changes from the lonely boy in the first book to the man he is here felt real and deeply moving. He didn’t feel like just a character anymore—he felt like a real human who you are rooting for. His complicated relationships with Charlie, Cory, and his brother James are pushed to their limits in ways that are painful but also feel right for their story. These connections are the true heart of the series, even though I did shed a few tears by the end of the book.
The world of the story, which got so big and interesting in the last book, becomes even more intense here. The dangers of David’s abilities are clearer and the threats from all around feel scarier than ever. Coming from the world he feels trapped in, and and ending with the darkness he tries to avoid. The story is a perfect mix of scary action outside and tough emotional battles inside. Nothing feels like filler; every part moves the story toward an ending that is both surprising and not, but undoubtedly deeply emotional.
I mentioned before that I wanted to see more from some of the relationships, and this book really delivers on that. In the middle of all the chaos, the bonds between the characters grow stronger in a way that feels honest and earned. That is highlited by the end of the book, especially the bond between James and David.
This whole trilogy has been an amazing ride—creepy, smart, and full of heart. Seed is a perfect ending that brings everything together. It mixes scary moments with a touching story about feeling alone, finding strength, and the family you choose. It’s easily one of my favorite horror series, although I do have to say that I wish I knew what happened after the story ended.
July 1, 2025
Seed is an absolutely satisfying ending to the series. The tension hits in all the right places as all David's allies are removed, and he's left alone with no one to trust. It takes a leap of faith while the stakes are high, and David... well... no spoilers. It's one of those great series where every choice leads to consequences, no questions are left unanswered, the world-building holds up the promise of the premise, and you read the last page knowing you'll reread it all again one day.
June 1, 2025
Thank you to the author for a digital ARC. Filled with high-stakes tension and deep characterization, SEED is a wild ride and a wonderful conclusion to the Dark Walker series!
May 20, 2025
A fantastic wrap up to the beloved dark Walker series. Ty to the author for an advanced copy!
David has been through it all... Or so he thought. He didn't think he'd end up crossing worlds and trying to save the very family he loved, even though they never really saw him. This book is fast paced and a huge page turner until the very end, and the end had my heart in my throat. David finds himself, yet again, fighting for his life against the darkness and monsters that threaten to destroy everything he knows and everyone he loves. I enjoyed every second of this book and I loved the series. The ending will leave you breathless, and I didn't see it coming, and it shook me unlike any book I've ever read. I absolutely enjoyed this series and although I'm sad it's come to a conclusion, I am honored to have read it. David is such a loveable character who grows so much during this series to become the ultimate hero, despite odds threatening to kill him at every step. This book was dark, seedy (lol) and wrapped up a lot of the mysteries and questions from book 1 and 2 to wrap up in a huge, unexpected finale. I absolutely loved this book and all in the series, and I highly recommend you read them. Dark, gritty, and with the right amount of mystery, horror, love, loss and discovering who you are, this book keeps you guessing.
A worthy and amazing series comes to an end in this explosive conclusion. All I can say is words cannot describe how much I loved this series. Shelly did an amazing job, and I will put this down as one of the best series I've ever read. So please join me and read it too.
David has been through it all... Or so he thought. He didn't think he'd end up crossing worlds and trying to save the very family he loved, even though they never really saw him. This book is fast paced and a huge page turner until the very end, and the end had my heart in my throat. David finds himself, yet again, fighting for his life against the darkness and monsters that threaten to destroy everything he knows and everyone he loves. I enjoyed every second of this book and I loved the series. The ending will leave you breathless, and I didn't see it coming, and it shook me unlike any book I've ever read. I absolutely enjoyed this series and although I'm sad it's come to a conclusion, I am honored to have read it. David is such a loveable character who grows so much during this series to become the ultimate hero, despite odds threatening to kill him at every step. This book was dark, seedy (lol) and wrapped up a lot of the mysteries and questions from book 1 and 2 to wrap up in a huge, unexpected finale. I absolutely loved this book and all in the series, and I highly recommend you read them. Dark, gritty, and with the right amount of mystery, horror, love, loss and discovering who you are, this book keeps you guessing.
A worthy and amazing series comes to an end in this explosive conclusion. All I can say is words cannot describe how much I loved this series. Shelly did an amazing job, and I will put this down as one of the best series I've ever read. So please join me and read it too.
July 9, 2025
I don’t even know where to start, I was absolutely blown away by this latest installment in the series. I loved the first two books, but this not only raised the stakes, but revealed more and answered some lingering questions that were raised in books one and two. (Make sure you read those first two books in the Dark Walker series, or you might feel a bit lost). David is such an amazing MC, and I’ve loved getting to know him across this series, and Campbell didn’t take it easy on him, or the reader in this final book! The tension is high from cover to cover, but by the end, you’re left feeling like you’re truly reached the end of the series. (Not that I’d complain about another book or anything, I’ve truly enjoyed this series). The imagery is vivid, and you feel like you’re right there with the characters, watching everything unfold. This leans a little heavier into the sci-fi than the horror side of things, still has a bit of the horror element. Definitely recommend for dark sci-fi and horror lovers!
June 13, 2025
In Book 3, perennially tortured main character David finds himself in the worst circumstances imaginable. Despite having unique abilities that make him irreplaceable, the corrupt organization that holds him uses every trick in the book to make sure he remains under their thumb. At least, so they think.
I don't know how the author keeps the tension so high. Maybe she dangles hope periodically, shows kindness between the beatings. Whatever it is, I read this book over two days, unwilling to put it down.
Through the story, the very secrets of the universe are laid bare and at no point did I predict where David's journey would take him. But when the ending came, I knew I should have seen it coming all along.
I don't know how the author keeps the tension so high. Maybe she dangles hope periodically, shows kindness between the beatings. Whatever it is, I read this book over two days, unwilling to put it down.
Through the story, the very secrets of the universe are laid bare and at no point did I predict where David's journey would take him. But when the ending came, I knew I should have seen it coming all along.
August 16, 2025
I loved this series. The main character, David, is put through the ringer, struggling to survive and keep his world and his family safe. The secondary cast, lifting him up along the way, is distinctive and adds so much to the emotional drama of the horrors they face together. There are so many emotional highs and lows with how immersive the storytelling is. I highly recommend this series for fans of YA horror and survival stories.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews