Sunless is Gloria Weber’s unbridled expression in continuum. Unlike Alicia, her former novel which was more time-based, this one plays with locational movement as we find ourselves trapped in a windowless space – a school – where one can almost feel the weight of darkness around.
The story starts with uneasy Madison trapped in detention at school one late afternoon. Her fear is not helped to the least when disappearences begin around her, followed by shrieks from somewhere afar. The narrative keeps us in the thick of an attempted escape – past the school door. What happens next? The protagonist manages to do so, only to realize she can’t. The end.
I requested the author for a copy of Sunless when I was done reading Alicia. A part of it may have been because I wasn’t done with her world in such quick time as that novella provided. More importantly though, it was because I wanted to confirm my judgment on what I had just read: that these works really are, simply put, an audacious display of unrestrained thought in Ms. Weber’s mind. I was right.
Sunless is best read when you wake up in the middle of the night, when you find yourself tapping mindlessly on your phone or when you simply need a shot of spooky entertainment. Have fun.
Note: I received a free review copy for a fair and honest assessment.