What do you think?
Rate this book
Dark Lands #1
Requiem
Webb Thompson awakes, disoriented and fearful. He sees green grass and a black, boiling sky spread out before him. He finds his little sister nearby, unconscious. When he reaches her side, Sundown is alive. But now they have other problems: where are they, how did they get there, and what is that growling noise? Webb and Sundown have awakened in the Dark Lands-a world between life and death where sacred souls battle malevolent evil for control of the living realm, a battle of which mere mortals know nothing. How did Webb and Sundown come to this place? Are they living? Are they dead? Or are they something else? Webb and Sundown will soon discover mystical abilities within themselves, abilities they will need to practice and perfect because evil is growing. His name is the Dark Man, an ancient evil, but one new to the Dark Lands. His very presence threatens to destroy the fabric of the Dark Lands, the living world and of time itself. The battle lines have been drawn. The war is soon to begin. . .
- GenresFantasy
216 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2011
8 people are currently reading
1200 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 11, 2016
It's just amazing, I loved to read it
December 21, 2023
I liked things about this book that I haven’t liked in other books. Not sure how to explain that. It could just be I like Kelly’s writing style better. Intriguing and thought provoking. A good read. 🐈⬛
August 21, 2022
I finished this first book and honestly thought it was an ok effort for a first time author. The stakes were easy to understand without feeling unduly high, the characters and their motivations reasonable and the world to have enough unique things to keep interest without feeling bogged down by lore. But, my dudes, this book is just a pilot, a proof of concept. Despite it's weaknesses, it is going somewhere and it ramps up fast in subsequent books and I highly encourage anyone who found this book lacking to keep reading, it gets astronomically better on every level in the next book and the one after that even better.
June 9, 2017
After reading quite a few contemporary books, I was excited to start a new fantasy series! This book follows Webb, a seventeen year old boy who finds himself waking up in an unknown land, along with his younger sister, Sundown. I loved how the book immedietely gave us questions to ask, such as where were they, how had they got there, and what on earth was chasing them. I thought the chase scene was a brilliant way to start the book, as it instantly had me hooked on the story.
The world building in this book was fantastic! I think I was imagining Glorian as looking similar to Hogwarts, so of course I immedietely wanted to visit. I also loved how they just had to think about what food they wanted to eat, and it would appear on the table in front of them. Imagine having that power! I adored the animals that seemed to only exist in the Dark Lands, particularly Gustafson the Felidaes, a big cat like creature. However I did find the Whoop-Dingers ridiculous, due to their name sounding like it had been pulled straight from a Roald Dahl book. As these are one of the more menacing and frightening creatures Webb comes across, I felt as if their name didn't fit them at all, and would have been more suited for a cute and tame creature. All of the Glorians having a power was also interesting, and I particularly adored Sundown's power. I did however feel as if Webb's power was a little boring, as every YA fantasy protagonist seems to have similar abilities to Webb.
I adored the characters in this book, especially Sundown. I felt as if she had a more natural response to what was happening, and I felt bad for her having been taken away from her friends and family at such a young age. Although I did like Webb, he was a little too angry to say the least. It made me wonder what had happened to him while he was alive to make him that way. I adored Caleb, and felt bad for him when Webb accused him of being a traitor. I thought Caleb was a sweet character who just wanted to have a friend, and I felt Webb treated him unfairly. I was however happy that Webb eventually apologised to him.
Sadly there were a couple of things I didn't like, one in particular being that Webb accuratley predicted who the traitor was long before it was revealed. In these circumstances, I always like to be shocked. I like when the sweet, fatherly figure turns out to be the villain, so I was disappointed when it turned out to be someone who Webb hadn't trusted from the start.
Another thing I didn't like was the romance between Raven and Webb. Although Raven's age is never mentioned, she is described as being a woman, and I pictured her as being in her early twenty's. The fact she was attracted to a seventeen year old boy seemed weird to me, and although they were mutually attracted to each other, I felt as if it didn't go beyond them finding each other physically attractive. They didn't spend enough time together to “fall in love” but I felt as if it was trying to imply that Raven was in love with Webb. I felt as if the mutual attraction came out of nowhere, as although Webb was instantly attracted to Raven's appearance, there was nothing to imply that the feeling was mutual. I found the situation a little uncomfortable, as there was no build up to their feelings, and it felt as if it had been thrown in for the sake of a romantic subplot. I also felt as if the book needed more female characters overall, as Raven and Sundown are the only two that are frequently mentioned.
I enjoyed this book overall, and I'm planning to immediately devour the sequel! There are still many questions left unanswered, and Webb and Sundown are both past the “tutorial” phase, and are ready to explore their powers on their own. I would love for the Dark Man to have more of a presence in the next book, as he is still a very mysterious character. I recommend this book for YA fantasy lovers, and for all the Potterheads!
The world building in this book was fantastic! I think I was imagining Glorian as looking similar to Hogwarts, so of course I immedietely wanted to visit. I also loved how they just had to think about what food they wanted to eat, and it would appear on the table in front of them. Imagine having that power! I adored the animals that seemed to only exist in the Dark Lands, particularly Gustafson the Felidaes, a big cat like creature. However I did find the Whoop-Dingers ridiculous, due to their name sounding like it had been pulled straight from a Roald Dahl book. As these are one of the more menacing and frightening creatures Webb comes across, I felt as if their name didn't fit them at all, and would have been more suited for a cute and tame creature. All of the Glorians having a power was also interesting, and I particularly adored Sundown's power. I did however feel as if Webb's power was a little boring, as every YA fantasy protagonist seems to have similar abilities to Webb.
I adored the characters in this book, especially Sundown. I felt as if she had a more natural response to what was happening, and I felt bad for her having been taken away from her friends and family at such a young age. Although I did like Webb, he was a little too angry to say the least. It made me wonder what had happened to him while he was alive to make him that way. I adored Caleb, and felt bad for him when Webb accused him of being a traitor. I thought Caleb was a sweet character who just wanted to have a friend, and I felt Webb treated him unfairly. I was however happy that Webb eventually apologised to him.
Sadly there were a couple of things I didn't like, one in particular being that Webb accuratley predicted who the traitor was long before it was revealed. In these circumstances, I always like to be shocked. I like when the sweet, fatherly figure turns out to be the villain, so I was disappointed when it turned out to be someone who Webb hadn't trusted from the start.
Another thing I didn't like was the romance between Raven and Webb. Although Raven's age is never mentioned, she is described as being a woman, and I pictured her as being in her early twenty's. The fact she was attracted to a seventeen year old boy seemed weird to me, and although they were mutually attracted to each other, I felt as if it didn't go beyond them finding each other physically attractive. They didn't spend enough time together to “fall in love” but I felt as if it was trying to imply that Raven was in love with Webb. I felt as if the mutual attraction came out of nowhere, as although Webb was instantly attracted to Raven's appearance, there was nothing to imply that the feeling was mutual. I found the situation a little uncomfortable, as there was no build up to their feelings, and it felt as if it had been thrown in for the sake of a romantic subplot. I also felt as if the book needed more female characters overall, as Raven and Sundown are the only two that are frequently mentioned.
I enjoyed this book overall, and I'm planning to immediately devour the sequel! There are still many questions left unanswered, and Webb and Sundown are both past the “tutorial” phase, and are ready to explore their powers on their own. I would love for the Dark Man to have more of a presence in the next book, as he is still a very mysterious character. I recommend this book for YA fantasy lovers, and for all the Potterheads!
Read
May 26, 2017I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Likes: There was something truly unique about this book but at the same time there was something familiar about it. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but I truly enjoyed this book. The characters are diverse and believable. Sundown and Webb must deal with not only the fact they are now in a purgatory like world but also that they are part of some big good versus evil plot. The world building is fantastic. Many interesting characters/creatures/and features that are unique to this story.
Dislikes: There is very little back story to the characters and it leaves some questions – like why does Webb have so much pent up anger? Granted he has just found out that he has died but the anger seems deeper than that. While the world building is amazing; there is a lot of information that make the majority of the book an information dump while the reader gets acquainted with the surroundings. Some of the elements were predictable and some of the names for the evil creatures comical.
Overall this a good start to a YA series and I give it 4 Maurdians.
Likes: There was something truly unique about this book but at the same time there was something familiar about it. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but I truly enjoyed this book. The characters are diverse and believable. Sundown and Webb must deal with not only the fact they are now in a purgatory like world but also that they are part of some big good versus evil plot. The world building is fantastic. Many interesting characters/creatures/and features that are unique to this story.
Dislikes: There is very little back story to the characters and it leaves some questions – like why does Webb have so much pent up anger? Granted he has just found out that he has died but the anger seems deeper than that. While the world building is amazing; there is a lot of information that make the majority of the book an information dump while the reader gets acquainted with the surroundings. Some of the elements were predictable and some of the names for the evil creatures comical.
Overall this a good start to a YA series and I give it 4 Maurdians.
August 12, 2017
I need to preface this review with an apology. I have sat on this book for longer than I intended to, and for that I apologise.
So to the book.
Well, you are thrown into the action right from the first page. And the confusion felt by the characters translates well from the page to the reader.
The story continues strongly, and although I found Webb to be frustrating as a character, I anticipate that this may have been the expected response to a well observed depiction of the predicted reaction of a typical teen.
I think that this book falls squarely within the young adult target audience, if not slightly younger.
Alhough short, this is a promising debut, and just about squeaks into the 4* arena.
I voluntarily reviewed a reviewer copy of this book.
So to the book.
Well, you are thrown into the action right from the first page. And the confusion felt by the characters translates well from the page to the reader.
The story continues strongly, and although I found Webb to be frustrating as a character, I anticipate that this may have been the expected response to a well observed depiction of the predicted reaction of a typical teen.
I think that this book falls squarely within the young adult target audience, if not slightly younger.
Alhough short, this is a promising debut, and just about squeaks into the 4* arena.
I voluntarily reviewed a reviewer copy of this book.
January 25, 2021
I'll admit, it took me longer than I originally planned to actually crack the cover and start reading. I wish I had done so sooner after obtaining my copy. I devoured the story in less than 4 days (a feat for me in recent days).
From the first page, I was captivated by the characters. I want to know more about Webb and Sundowner. I was able to easily connect with the mystery of the circumstances the teens found themselves in. The descriptions of location and characters wove into the story smoothly, and although there are still many things left unanswered by the end of the book, the author succeeded in setting up for the series to continue without difficulty.
Suffice to say, I am hooked, and I look forward to reading the rest of the Darklands Chronology!
From the first page, I was captivated by the characters. I want to know more about Webb and Sundowner. I was able to easily connect with the mystery of the circumstances the teens found themselves in. The descriptions of location and characters wove into the story smoothly, and although there are still many things left unanswered by the end of the book, the author succeeded in setting up for the series to continue without difficulty.
Suffice to say, I am hooked, and I look forward to reading the rest of the Darklands Chronology!
June 16, 2021
Not bad. Could have used some more exciting battles and use of magic. Held my interest and defense going to read book 2!
I love sci-fi magical fantasies! Definitely a page turner with mystery!
Would recommend for young as well as adult readers!
I love sci-fi magical fantasies! Definitely a page turner with mystery!
Would recommend for young as well as adult readers!
June 15, 2025
Sundown and Webb are the protagonists in this well-crafted tale of mystery, suspense, love and leave you wanting more! I have already gotten the sequel (Dark Lands #2 the Not Where) and can’t wait to dive into it this afternoon!
April 15, 2019
Loved it!!
Loved how this book was such a fun and easy read. I cant wait to see whats in store for the characters in book 2.
Loved how this book was such a fun and easy read. I cant wait to see whats in store for the characters in book 2.
December 6, 2016
Seventeen-year-old Webb Thompson and his younger sister Sundown awoke to find themselves not in their own beds, but in a bizarre landscape with field upon field of grass stretching in all directions. The sky was black overhead and it seemed like a storm was moving quickly toward them.
They have awoken in the Dark Lands; a place between the world of the living and the land of the dead. Are they alive? Are they dead? Or, like the place they find themselves in, are they something in between.
They soon discover that the Dark Lands are entrenched in a battle between good and evil. To make matters worse, Webb and Sundown have hidden powers that will be needed if the evil Dark Man is to be stopped.
Author Lyn I. Kelly has crafted an intense supernatural thriller populated with new and interesting creatures as well as with many fascinating characters.
This book will be enjoyed by readers who loved the Harry Potter series and those that want a Young Adult book with some "bite" to it.
The landscape of the Dark Lands is as diverse as it is terrifying. In a land where the good guys (the Glorians) must maintain a delicate balance. It is their job to ensure that the Dark Man and his minions never breach the walls of their fortress nor tip the scales so that evil outweighs goodness.
I enjoyed the book and found the characters to be believable. Webb is a typical teenager insofar as he is impulsive and has a hard time reigning in extreme emotions - especially anger.
Think about it! Wouldn’t you be pretty angry if you woke up to find out that you were dead and that you would never see or speak to your family and friends ever again?
Webb must learn to control his anger lest the Dark Man use it to take control.
The storyline moves along at a decent pace and although I found certain elements of the story to be predictable, I still enjoyed the read.
I rate this book as 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers ages 12 and up.
They have awoken in the Dark Lands; a place between the world of the living and the land of the dead. Are they alive? Are they dead? Or, like the place they find themselves in, are they something in between.
They soon discover that the Dark Lands are entrenched in a battle between good and evil. To make matters worse, Webb and Sundown have hidden powers that will be needed if the evil Dark Man is to be stopped.
Author Lyn I. Kelly has crafted an intense supernatural thriller populated with new and interesting creatures as well as with many fascinating characters.
This book will be enjoyed by readers who loved the Harry Potter series and those that want a Young Adult book with some "bite" to it.
The landscape of the Dark Lands is as diverse as it is terrifying. In a land where the good guys (the Glorians) must maintain a delicate balance. It is their job to ensure that the Dark Man and his minions never breach the walls of their fortress nor tip the scales so that evil outweighs goodness.
I enjoyed the book and found the characters to be believable. Webb is a typical teenager insofar as he is impulsive and has a hard time reigning in extreme emotions - especially anger.
Think about it! Wouldn’t you be pretty angry if you woke up to find out that you were dead and that you would never see or speak to your family and friends ever again?
Webb must learn to control his anger lest the Dark Man use it to take control.
The storyline moves along at a decent pace and although I found certain elements of the story to be predictable, I still enjoyed the read.
I rate this book as 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers ages 12 and up.
July 15, 2019
Note: I was provided with a copy of this book by the author for review.
I was intrigued by the premise of this story, a limbo-type world where you’re dead but haven’t moved on. The battle for good and evil rages on and these two siblings have been pulled into the fight upon their untimely deaths. Our introduction to the world is filled with immediate danger and suspense and with no baseline anything could quite possibly happen.
There isn’t a lot of depth in the characters but you almost don’t notice as there is a lot to take in. Sundown accepts her place in this new land fairly easily but Webb has a lot of questions, as does the reader, about the workings of this place. Webb is used to fill in these gaps as Kelly uses his queries to explain things to readers. There are of course comparisons to Harry Potter’s world in the magical schooling aspect, but there is a uniqueness as well.
With his inquisitiveness a lot of Webb’s personality is brought forward. He is hot-headed, impatient as he wants a result and he wants answers. This is where you can understand a lot of Webb’s feelings, removed from his life into this war with no real say is bound to cause anger and I think if Kelly had both characters accept their fate then this would be unsatisfying. Sundown’s age and nature plays a role in her decisions but it also makes for conflict especially when Webb’s anger has consequences in itself.
The concept is interesting and Kelly has a lot of mysteries which she leaves clues for throughout but I wasn’t entirely captured by it. There is a touch of predictability and while some aspects were engaging, other parts were not. The writing is ok and the premise is interesting but I couldn’t get right into the story. I didn’t really care about the characters and whether that had something to do with their lack of depth I’m not sure. Being the first in a series no doubt things will develop further but aside from a few moments, I’m not really engaged enough to keep going.
This review was published on my blog Lost in a Good Book
I was intrigued by the premise of this story, a limbo-type world where you’re dead but haven’t moved on. The battle for good and evil rages on and these two siblings have been pulled into the fight upon their untimely deaths. Our introduction to the world is filled with immediate danger and suspense and with no baseline anything could quite possibly happen.
There isn’t a lot of depth in the characters but you almost don’t notice as there is a lot to take in. Sundown accepts her place in this new land fairly easily but Webb has a lot of questions, as does the reader, about the workings of this place. Webb is used to fill in these gaps as Kelly uses his queries to explain things to readers. There are of course comparisons to Harry Potter’s world in the magical schooling aspect, but there is a uniqueness as well.
With his inquisitiveness a lot of Webb’s personality is brought forward. He is hot-headed, impatient as he wants a result and he wants answers. This is where you can understand a lot of Webb’s feelings, removed from his life into this war with no real say is bound to cause anger and I think if Kelly had both characters accept their fate then this would be unsatisfying. Sundown’s age and nature plays a role in her decisions but it also makes for conflict especially when Webb’s anger has consequences in itself.
The concept is interesting and Kelly has a lot of mysteries which she leaves clues for throughout but I wasn’t entirely captured by it. There is a touch of predictability and while some aspects were engaging, other parts were not. The writing is ok and the premise is interesting but I couldn’t get right into the story. I didn’t really care about the characters and whether that had something to do with their lack of depth I’m not sure. Being the first in a series no doubt things will develop further but aside from a few moments, I’m not really engaged enough to keep going.
This review was published on my blog Lost in a Good Book
November 28, 2016
A young brother and sister find themselves in a wondrous and terrifying world in-between life and what comes next. The only thing they recognize is each other and from that running jump, the story quickly moves into what might be. I can’t really fathom which is worse; stuck in t’weenhood, or the choices you must make to move on, beyond, or ahead of our present conscious reality. The characters are varied, sympathetic, misunderstood and deal with all the confusing possibilities of real life, and then some! Kelly has created a truly bio-diverse landscape filled with intriguing potential and contemplative ramifications of the after-life. Probably more of a YA book but I was touched by some of the questions it posed. Lucky for me, I have Part 2 ready to fill in some blanks.
An advanced reader’s copy of this book was provided for an honest review.
An advanced reader’s copy of this book was provided for an honest review.
December 13, 2016
I liked this a lot. There is something familiar about this story, but there is also a feeling of uniqueness to the situation. I enjoy the rules of the world that has been created. I liked how certain aspects were presented. I enjoy how Lyn describes things. The characters are intriguing and I find myself trying to figure out what they are dealing with. There is a good amount of mystery although I did figure out who was causing the immediate problem fairly easily
I entered a Goodreads Giveaway and Lyn said that on this turn he would send a copy to the first five people who wrote him with an interest in this book. I am very glad I did. Talking with Lyn as well as reading his book has made me a fan of his work. I am beginning his second book Dark Lands: The Not-Where next and a am looking forward to it. Lyn please continue and I will continue to read your books.
I entered a Goodreads Giveaway and Lyn said that on this turn he would send a copy to the first five people who wrote him with an interest in this book. I am very glad I did. Talking with Lyn as well as reading his book has made me a fan of his work. I am beginning his second book Dark Lands: The Not-Where next and a am looking forward to it. Lyn please continue and I will continue to read your books.
September 26, 2016
Wow! It is not an exaggeration to say, that 'Dark Lands Requiem' is a novel, unlike I have never read before. The surreal setting, the unique characters and the unusual and exciting story, made for a novel that was so special. Although the book delves into the world of fantasy, the real story of Lyn I. Kelly's novel, is the relationship and bond between brother and sister. But, it is also a book about the oldest battle there is, the battle between good and evil, and unfortunately for Webb and Sundown, the strength of evil is growing. The must learn to control and strengthen their newly discovered powers, if they stand a chance of survival.
January 28, 2017
I won this book in a Giveaway. A very nice start to this YA series. Good world and character building. This story takes place on a Purgatory-like world, where certain souls come to help in the fight against the Dark Man. When souls arrive here, they wake up with a special power, given to them for the fight to keep the Dark Man from returning to the living world.
I read quite a few indie books, and books published by smaller publishers, and this is one of the better written ones I have come across. The story flows correctly, there are very few typos; it has a great cover and all in all, a very nice read.
I read quite a few indie books, and books published by smaller publishers, and this is one of the better written ones I have come across. The story flows correctly, there are very few typos; it has a great cover and all in all, a very nice read.
July 27, 2016
I really enjoyed the fantasy elements in 'Dark Lands'. The author effectively describes a place that is other-worldly, and gives detailed descriptions of the landscapes, sights, sounds and smells. Dark Lands is a foreboding realm that the main character finds himself inhabiting after a frightening encounter on Earth. It is an imaginative story, with a great scope to have follow up books. I look forward to seeing what is in store for Webb and his sister Sundown in the next installment.
January 8, 2022
Lyn Kelly is a local author in Texas. He came to our Fort Worth Book Club to tell us about his Dark Lands series. It sounded so interesting. I was excited to read about this fantasy world between life and death.
I did feel that book 1 was a lot of back and forth between Questions and Answers, between characters. But I thought the characters were great, with their silly names and all. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series to find out what happens.
I did feel that book 1 was a lot of back and forth between Questions and Answers, between characters. But I thought the characters were great, with their silly names and all. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series to find out what happens.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews