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The Darkening: An Apocalyptic Survival Story
FROM MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER JASPER T. SCOTT
The sun is dimming, the world is ending, and the long journey south is only the beginning.
In the middle of summer, snow falls over Montana. Daylight dims to a ghostly twilight. And at night, glowing alien spores drift from the sky bringing a sickness that can twist the people you love into something unrecognizable. The air grows colder and the infected more dangerous with every passing day.
Nate Corwin, a science teacher, and his wife Paula, a nurse, know that their suburban home won’t hold for long. With their two children, Riley and Jonah, and their loyal golden retriever, Max, they set out for Paula’s family farm in Florida—one place they pray might still be safe—and warm.
But the road south is a gauntlet of parasite-driven killers, blizzards, collapsing refugee camps, and monsters that hunt in the dark. The only defense—UV light—is feeble at best, and the infected are starting to adapt.
As the alien bloom spreads and the world tilts toward madness, the Corwins will learn that survival isn’t just about keeping the monsters out, it’s about deciding how far you’re willing to go to protect the people you love.
The Darkening is a relentless, heart-pounding journey through a world where the sun is growing dark, the rules are gone, and every step could be your last.
The sun is dimming, the world is ending, and the long journey south is only the beginning.
In the middle of summer, snow falls over Montana. Daylight dims to a ghostly twilight. And at night, glowing alien spores drift from the sky bringing a sickness that can twist the people you love into something unrecognizable. The air grows colder and the infected more dangerous with every passing day.
Nate Corwin, a science teacher, and his wife Paula, a nurse, know that their suburban home won’t hold for long. With their two children, Riley and Jonah, and their loyal golden retriever, Max, they set out for Paula’s family farm in Florida—one place they pray might still be safe—and warm.
But the road south is a gauntlet of parasite-driven killers, blizzards, collapsing refugee camps, and monsters that hunt in the dark. The only defense—UV light—is feeble at best, and the infected are starting to adapt.
As the alien bloom spreads and the world tilts toward madness, the Corwins will learn that survival isn’t just about keeping the monsters out, it’s about deciding how far you’re willing to go to protect the people you love.
The Darkening is a relentless, heart-pounding journey through a world where the sun is growing dark, the rules are gone, and every step could be your last.
493 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2025
611 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Jasper T. Scott
109 books514 followersJasper Scott is a USA Today bestselling author of more than 20 sci-fi novels. With over a million books sold, Jasper's work has been translated into various languages and published around the world.
Jasper writes fast-paced books with unexpected twists and flawed characters. Join the author's mailing list to get two FREE books: https://files.jaspertscott.com/mailin...
Jasper writes fast-paced books with unexpected twists and flawed characters. Join the author's mailing list to get two FREE books: https://files.jaspertscott.com/mailin...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 18, 2026
TSTL
Every stop Nate had them make was disastrous. I would have started doing the opposite of what he suggested. This nimrod goes into a store alone sees a trail of blood and decides to go back to his unguarded TSTL wife & kids? No. He follows the trail of blood. Sees a dead infected and continues investigating. All the while passing up good supplies. Only ti end up bring chased out of the store by a pack and nearly getting his family & friends killed. Wife had to save him & them, twice more. And they continue to blindly follow his lead. Widely goes back to being TSTL and let her clueless husband drive for 16 hours without offering to take the wheel. The 16 year old had better judgment but don't get me started on the risks they took for that dog to let him out to pee. Definitely not the obligatory heroic dog that always co-stars in the apocalyptic books. I won't be continuing this series.
Every stop Nate had them make was disastrous. I would have started doing the opposite of what he suggested. This nimrod goes into a store alone sees a trail of blood and decides to go back to his unguarded TSTL wife & kids? No. He follows the trail of blood. Sees a dead infected and continues investigating. All the while passing up good supplies. Only ti end up bring chased out of the store by a pack and nearly getting his family & friends killed. Wife had to save him & them, twice more. And they continue to blindly follow his lead. Widely goes back to being TSTL and let her clueless husband drive for 16 hours without offering to take the wheel. The 16 year old had better judgment but don't get me started on the risks they took for that dog to let him out to pee. Definitely not the obligatory heroic dog that always co-stars in the apocalyptic books. I won't be continuing this series.
October 25, 2025
Here it is 0300 hours and I just finished reading this book. I just couldn't put it down. A pleasant summer barbecue with friends turns unpleasant with what looks like snow coming down. But soon, things are even worse than that. They say don't eat yellow snow, well, don't get any of this blue tinged snow into your mouth either. The Corwins and the Reeds try to head out to Florida, but the way is constantly being blocked by crazed humans that have been taken over, and crazy people who just want what others have. They finally meet up with Sergeant Delany who is a godsend to the beleaguered group. The action is non-stop and quite exciting. You just want to keep reading to see what is going to happen next. Many thanks to Jasper T Scott for another fantastic book. Your mind works in such wonderful ways.
November 2, 2025
I've read other books with a similar story line, an alien invasion occurs and people must run for their lives, and many could get kind of tedious. This one is different. I was glued to it from the beginning. Not sure if it was the family dynamic, or the uncertainty if it was an alien invasion, or the fact that this family kept getting by by the skin of their teeth. Until they didn't.
My one complaint is also a big compliment. This book was kind of scary to me, (which raised my recently diagnosed high blood pressure) because it seems so plausible. Why? Frankly, I'm not sure. I do think humans would react the way they are portrayed in Mr. Scott's book.
I also would like to know what becomes of the one "friend" who was a total jerk. Maybe I'll find out in the sequel.
My one complaint is also a big compliment. This book was kind of scary to me, (which raised my recently diagnosed high blood pressure) because it seems so plausible. Why? Frankly, I'm not sure. I do think humans would react the way they are portrayed in Mr. Scott's book.
I also would like to know what becomes of the one "friend" who was a total jerk. Maybe I'll find out in the sequel.
March 11, 2026
I always loved Fluorescent Black Lights
Who’da thunk that something that came out of the psychedelic 60’s could fight an apocalypse war? Well, I knew the 60’s weren’t all bad. What with friends turning into fiends just by making “snow angels” puts a damper on winter activities. And they say don’t eat yellow snow, they may have to change the color after this book. Jasper kept it right up there with the best, on the edge of my seat until the window broke! Then I fell off. What I wouldn’t have done for some plexiglass. This one keeps your heart throbbing at an alarming rate you better have some AFIB paddles near by just in case. Excellent piece of work, can’t wait to read the next book!
Who’da thunk that something that came out of the psychedelic 60’s could fight an apocalypse war? Well, I knew the 60’s weren’t all bad. What with friends turning into fiends just by making “snow angels” puts a damper on winter activities. And they say don’t eat yellow snow, they may have to change the color after this book. Jasper kept it right up there with the best, on the edge of my seat until the window broke! Then I fell off. What I wouldn’t have done for some plexiglass. This one keeps your heart throbbing at an alarming rate you better have some AFIB paddles near by just in case. Excellent piece of work, can’t wait to read the next book!
October 23, 2025
Received as an ARC, this is an honest review.
The Darkening is a breathtaking, haunting thrill ride and that latest addictive read from Jasper T. Scott.
What started as any average friendly barbecue shared by neighbors in a town within Montana soon plunges families Corwins and Reed into in all out test of personal fortitude and survival as something alien and harrowingly dangerous descends from the sky. Everyone around could become their enemy as white desperation consumes sanity and bizarre alien infections strip away individual humanity if it manages to take hold. As their lives are pushed into a war zone, both families poignantly endure with the strongest hope of getting their children onto the others side of this twisted hell.
Highly recommended.
The Darkening is a breathtaking, haunting thrill ride and that latest addictive read from Jasper T. Scott.
What started as any average friendly barbecue shared by neighbors in a town within Montana soon plunges families Corwins and Reed into in all out test of personal fortitude and survival as something alien and harrowingly dangerous descends from the sky. Everyone around could become their enemy as white desperation consumes sanity and bizarre alien infections strip away individual humanity if it manages to take hold. As their lives are pushed into a war zone, both families poignantly endure with the strongest hope of getting their children onto the others side of this twisted hell.
Highly recommended.
November 3, 2025
A unique and immensely enjoyable alien invasion thriller
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2025
Format: Kindle
The Darkening is the story of an alien invasion, but it doesn't follow the general format of the genre and is highly unpredictable, which makes it very enjoyable! It follows the Corwin family, beginning with unseasonably cold weather at a BBQ, followed by spores falling from the sky and only gets crazier from there! The writing is excellent, the characters believable and likeable, the plot, pacing and dialog are all top notch too. The real highlight, for me at least, is the imagery! Its so clearly and cleanly written that the mental picture is crisp and vivid! 5/5 stars, highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic fiction, but especially for fans of alien invasion thrillers, as this is the most enjoyable example of the genre that I've read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2025
Format: Kindle
The Darkening is the story of an alien invasion, but it doesn't follow the general format of the genre and is highly unpredictable, which makes it very enjoyable! It follows the Corwin family, beginning with unseasonably cold weather at a BBQ, followed by spores falling from the sky and only gets crazier from there! The writing is excellent, the characters believable and likeable, the plot, pacing and dialog are all top notch too. The real highlight, for me at least, is the imagery! Its so clearly and cleanly written that the mental picture is crisp and vivid! 5/5 stars, highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic fiction, but especially for fans of alien invasion thrillers, as this is the most enjoyable example of the genre that I've read!
December 13, 2025
Great Story
I would of gave it 5 stars, except something very early in the story didn't make sense, and the author, and the editor didn't catch it, and that was that they opened the garage by pushing a button. How can that be done, when all the power is out? They should of had the characters manually lifting and closing the garage door, and that would of made sense. Other than that, it is a fantastic read, and I would recommend it to others who love sci-fi and horror. It is a very smooth story that is easy to read, and has action to boot.
I would of gave it 5 stars, except something very early in the story didn't make sense, and the author, and the editor didn't catch it, and that was that they opened the garage by pushing a button. How can that be done, when all the power is out? They should of had the characters manually lifting and closing the garage door, and that would of made sense. Other than that, it is a fantastic read, and I would recommend it to others who love sci-fi and horror. It is a very smooth story that is easy to read, and has action to boot.
December 24, 2025
I saw that this author is a well established writer of survival/apocalyptic stories so I thought I would give him a try. This novel was ok but the writing is tiresome in the sense that the author tells us everything ie such as every time someone gets in or out of a vehicle - in fact just about every move that each character makes whether consequential or not. Other than that this novel degenerates into a risible story of aliens that entirely lacks credibility. On the plus side the author has imagination and can drive a plot along quite well.
October 24, 2025
Incredibly well written, crafted and creative. Starting with a bar-b-que with friends on a chilly July day (unheard of in the Northern Hemisphere these days...), the story introduces highly unusual type of "aliens." A family ends up on a marathon run, encountering life or death situations and being forced to evaluate and change their morals. Relentless and exhausting journey over 72 hours. Impossible to put down.
October 28, 2025
Just wow. This is never ending it just flows and flows in a non stop torrent of action.
When Alien fluorescent spores fall from the sky people change. Like Zombies but not Zombies!!
Two families escape their suburban area to travel south and the adventure truly starts as the nights get worse. What is coming through?
Thanks for the ARC as usual it truly is an honour to read Jasper's stuff before it comes out and it never fails. Cannot wait for book 2. Brilliant stuff.
When Alien fluorescent spores fall from the sky people change. Like Zombies but not Zombies!!
Two families escape their suburban area to travel south and the adventure truly starts as the nights get worse. What is coming through?
Thanks for the ARC as usual it truly is an honour to read Jasper's stuff before it comes out and it never fails. Cannot wait for book 2. Brilliant stuff.
November 13, 2025
edge of the seat all through
From one of crisis to another with increasing danger each time is an enduring pattern of this fast paced and thrilling book.
Another key recurring theme is the courage of those who survive. Relationships broken, some stretched to breaking but hanging on by a thread and others beginning to form.
How will they get through the next even more daunting hours, days, weeks — if humanity has that long?
Bring on book 2 please so I can find out.
From one of crisis to another with increasing danger each time is an enduring pattern of this fast paced and thrilling book.
Another key recurring theme is the courage of those who survive. Relationships broken, some stretched to breaking but hanging on by a thread and others beginning to form.
How will they get through the next even more daunting hours, days, weeks — if humanity has that long?
Bring on book 2 please so I can find out.
December 9, 2025
It’s okay.
Not the best premise but it’s still good enough to pass the time.
The kids are annoying and I don’t see the point of Emily, as she’s not important to the plot of the story. Or perhaps her character development is just weak.
As is Paula. There’s an apocalypse starting of unknown origin and she’s having a hissy fit about guns?
A lot of male authors have a tendency towards making their female characters look weak, and honestly stupid.
Not the best premise but it’s still good enough to pass the time.
The kids are annoying and I don’t see the point of Emily, as she’s not important to the plot of the story. Or perhaps her character development is just weak.
As is Paula. There’s an apocalypse starting of unknown origin and she’s having a hissy fit about guns?
A lot of male authors have a tendency towards making their female characters look weak, and honestly stupid.
December 28, 2025
I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this book. It is fast paced and the mystery unfolded well and kept me in suspense. I was bothered a bit by Paula who persistently failed to grasp the severity of what was happening and the need to protect their group. I was impressed with Nate and his propensity for observation and problem solving. Fortunately he and his daughter were willing to do what it took to defend their group. This ends with a big cliffhanger.
October 27, 2025
The world is rocked by a new pandemic – a darkening of the sky and clouds of alien spores.
Is this the Covid pandemic, with alien influence? Great exploration of human reactions in a global crisis, with many of the all-too-familiar responses we experienced ourselves.
Haunting, personal, and meaningful.
Is this the Covid pandemic, with alien influence? Great exploration of human reactions in a global crisis, with many of the all-too-familiar responses we experienced ourselves.
Haunting, personal, and meaningful.
November 2, 2025
An interesting apocalyptic story about a family and their neighbors trying to escape and survive the alien snow that changes people.
This was a story I found hard to put down. It is the first book in this series and it does not disappoint. I will have to wait patiently for the next book in this series.
This was a story I found hard to put down. It is the first book in this series and it does not disappoint. I will have to wait patiently for the next book in this series.
November 16, 2025
I usually love his hard science fiction books. This apocalyptic book is not unique, and I really couldnt stand the characters. He made Paula the wife, and his son, really dumb..and the father took ridiculous risks too...and I wish there had not been a dog. I love dogs too much, and I worried too much for him..but he acted dumb, too (ha). I won't read the 2nd book.
December 31, 2025
Bloomer USA
Another anxiety gripping adventure that keeps the pages turning to see what happens next and to move passed the fear and hopefully find a day of peace in this new world. I’m not sure what’s worse, the fear of not knowing or knowing what’s about to happen. These Bloomers are unpredictable and is Nate now sleeping with the enemy.
Another anxiety gripping adventure that keeps the pages turning to see what happens next and to move passed the fear and hopefully find a day of peace in this new world. I’m not sure what’s worse, the fear of not knowing or knowing what’s about to happen. These Bloomers are unpredictable and is Nate now sleeping with the enemy.
February 1, 2026
Well written adventure
Sci fi adventure reimenscent of ailens taking over the bodies via a seed or spore infestation. Characters get in one bind after another that will keep you flipping the pages to see what happens next until you realize you have to download the next book to continue the saga. You will not be disappointed!
Sci fi adventure reimenscent of ailens taking over the bodies via a seed or spore infestation. Characters get in one bind after another that will keep you flipping the pages to see what happens next until you realize you have to download the next book to continue the saga. You will not be disappointed!
February 5, 2026
Disturbingly realistic alien life forms?
I'm impressed. I don't read much SciFi, but this was fantastic. Gruesome in places, disturbingly realistic, and gut wrenching fast pace apocalyptic action. I was hooked and eager to get through each chapter and cannot wait to read the next book!
I'm impressed. I don't read much SciFi, but this was fantastic. Gruesome in places, disturbingly realistic, and gut wrenching fast pace apocalyptic action. I was hooked and eager to get through each chapter and cannot wait to read the next book!
February 25, 2026
I always read before bed, so I rate books based on how they keep me awake. This one is a perfect 5/5. I would wake up in the middle of the night and start reading. It was a great mix of “I Am Legend,” “Aliens,” “The Last of Us,” and “World War Z.” By the end, I was eager for answers, and while some were provided, they set up the sequel perfectly. I can’t wait to read the next one.
December 7, 2025
Great book
This is a good story. A different viewpoint of an apocalypse that I have ever read. Lots of action, fast paced. I was done with the book before I knew it. A good read for a fiction lover.
This is a good story. A different viewpoint of an apocalypse that I have ever read. Lots of action, fast paced. I was done with the book before I knew it. A good read for a fiction lover.
January 3, 2026
A very well written story about the apocalypse
The story follows two families as they deal with spores that fall from the night sky and turn those infected into a type of zombie that is controlled by a hive type mind. They start out in Montana, however, they soon realize that something has removed a significant amount of sunlight and turned July into winter. They hope to travel to family in Florida where they hope it will remain warm enough to sustain life. However the road is full of dangers and not all of it is from the infected.
The story follows two families as they deal with spores that fall from the night sky and turn those infected into a type of zombie that is controlled by a hive type mind. They start out in Montana, however, they soon realize that something has removed a significant amount of sunlight and turned July into winter. They hope to travel to family in Florida where they hope it will remain warm enough to sustain life. However the road is full of dangers and not all of it is from the infected.
February 2, 2026
entertaining!
Quick read, couldn’t put it down. Finished in 4 days and I’m
Not a fast reader. Would have been nice to know it’s book 1 of 2 and there’s no ending. Starting book 2 now.
Quick read, couldn’t put it down. Finished in 4 days and I’m
Not a fast reader. Would have been nice to know it’s book 1 of 2 and there’s no ending. Starting book 2 now.
February 14, 2026
Apocalyptic Sci-Fi
Apocalyptic books are similar but all have their own qualities. J.T.Scott has a great way of drawing the reader in.
The hive mind keeps them running. Riley is a great asset to her dad 'Nate'.
I'm looking forward to the next part.
Apocalyptic books are similar but all have their own qualities. J.T.Scott has a great way of drawing the reader in.
The hive mind keeps them running. Riley is a great asset to her dad 'Nate'.
I'm looking forward to the next part.
April 5, 2026
Fun, eerie read.
A nice step above most of the other books in the general vein. No overtly Stupid Human stuff, logical questions in my head got answered.
Pretty well thought out and looking forward to the next episode.
A nice step above most of the other books in the general vein. No overtly Stupid Human stuff, logical questions in my head got answered.
Pretty well thought out and looking forward to the next episode.
October 27, 2025
How will this all end, the world as we know it is gone. Darkness, danger and more, will the survivors find a safe place. Intriguing all the way to the end.
November 9, 2025
Intense
Kept the reader looking for the next chapter always exciting hoping everyone is good. At the point where a new challenge appears.
Kept the reader looking for the next chapter always exciting hoping everyone is good. At the point where a new challenge appears.
November 20, 2025
Novel concept on n alien invasion. Looking forward to the next chapter.
December 27, 2025
Read this book
Loved the story. Different from other zombie like stories. Left it with a good cliff hanger. Can't wait to read the next book.
Loved the story. Different from other zombie like stories. Left it with a good cliff hanger. Can't wait to read the next book.
December 31, 2025
WOW
Fast paced, nail biting from the first page to the last. Couldn’t put it down! Can’t wait to read the next book to see what happens next.
Fast paced, nail biting from the first page to the last. Couldn’t put it down! Can’t wait to read the next book to see what happens next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews