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The Darkening
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BEST-SELLING EXTINCTION POINT SERIES
"Where has everyone gone?"
That's the question fifteen-year-old Annabelle 'Birdy' Finch is asking. As a hundred-year storm descends on Los Angeles, Birdy's not the only one looking for answers to the city's vanishing population.
A wheelchair-bound Army veteran watches the world from his apartment window, and what he sees terrifies him.
An LA detective has two missing patrol cops, a bloody crime scene, but no bodies.
A desperate mother will stop at nothing in her search to find her missing daughter.
But the storm that holds California in its grip also provides the perfect cover for an even greater threat; an ancient and terrible evil that stalks the city's residents, mercilessly hunting them within their homes and on the flooded streets. Together, the survivors must fight to escape their drowning city and the creatures that now roam freely under the cover of perpetual darkness.
"Where has everyone gone?"
That's the question fifteen-year-old Annabelle 'Birdy' Finch is asking. As a hundred-year storm descends on Los Angeles, Birdy's not the only one looking for answers to the city's vanishing population.
A wheelchair-bound Army veteran watches the world from his apartment window, and what he sees terrifies him.
An LA detective has two missing patrol cops, a bloody crime scene, but no bodies.
A desperate mother will stop at nothing in her search to find her missing daughter.
But the storm that holds California in its grip also provides the perfect cover for an even greater threat; an ancient and terrible evil that stalks the city's residents, mercilessly hunting them within their homes and on the flooded streets. Together, the survivors must fight to escape their drowning city and the creatures that now roam freely under the cover of perpetual darkness.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2016
146 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Paul Antony Jones
19 books423 followersA native of Cardiff, Wales, Paul Antony Jones now resides near Las Vegas, Nevada, with his wife. He has worked as a newspaper reporter and commercial copywriter, but his passion is penning fiction. A self-described science geek, he’s a voracious reader of scientific periodicals, as well as a fan of things mysterious, unknown, and on the fringe. Paul is the author of six books, including the bestselling Extinction Point series and Toward Yesterday.
You can learn more about Paul and his upcoming releases via his blog at www.DisturbedUniverse.com or his Facebook page www.facebook.com/AuthorPaulAntonyJones/
You can learn more about Paul and his upcoming releases via his blog at www.DisturbedUniverse.com or his Facebook page www.facebook.com/AuthorPaulAntonyJones/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 21, 2016
Hurrah; a modern day vampire horror story without any of the modern clap trap such as sparkles and vampires falling madly in love with some insipid female lead that could do with a good slap.
This is a vampire story for those that love the pre-twilight tales where vampires are monsters, tensions run high, and people die.
I enjoyed every moment of this book (which I received a copy of before publication in order to proof read) and will probably re-read it a good few times whilst (hopefully) waiting for a sequel.
A fully deserving five out of five stars.
This is a vampire story for those that love the pre-twilight tales where vampires are monsters, tensions run high, and people die.
I enjoyed every moment of this book (which I received a copy of before publication in order to proof read) and will probably re-read it a good few times whilst (hopefully) waiting for a sequel.
A fully deserving five out of five stars.
December 9, 2016
Look, it’s nothing that a poke in the heart with a sharp stick won’t fix
Paul Jones had a good formula when he wrote the Extinction Point series. Seems he applied it to this book as well. Its gripping action from beginning (well almost the beginning) to grisly end, kept the pages just flying by.
Now I’m not a fan of the vampire genre. It has just been err...done to death! So I was a little apprehensive when I discovered that this was yet another fangy, bloodsucky, indestructo creature feature. To his credit though, Paul divested his creatures of that gay sparkly skin, prepubescent sickening romance, over-coiffed hair, gaudy outfits, fangs that drop out of the upper gums like switchblades, the stupid ability to turn into a flea-bitten wolf – or a cloud of dinky bats – or a cloud. Thank you Paul for sparing us from that crap. He also stripped his vampires of the sensitivity to holy water and wooden crosses. (That doesn’t mean they are indestructible; you’ll have to read it to find out their weaknesses.) What we’re left with is a creature that is pure evil and mucho scary.
As luck would have it, my hometown has been having late-night thunderstorms all week. Ah yes! The perfect backdrop for reading The Darkening. I didn’t find any deep, meaningful dialogue, or diabolically complex characters, or a plot that was thicker than dried Vegemite, so the reading goes smoothly and quickly. You might knock off a couple of stars from your rating because of that, but sometimes, I just like a simple, shallow, scary story. The ending leaves a few unanswered questions – probably because there’s another volume in the wings – but it’s not a disappointing finish.
Soooo, if you’ve just come from reading War and Peace, and are looking for something less demanding, then this is for you. If you want a gripping horror story like you used to read to your friends around the campfire, this fills the bill. If you want some silly, girly romance story with an oh-so-good-looking vamp who bangs so hard he breaks the bed, the wall, the house and the seismometer – better look elsewhere.
Despite its well-used villain, I liked it.
Paul Jones had a good formula when he wrote the Extinction Point series. Seems he applied it to this book as well. Its gripping action from beginning (well almost the beginning) to grisly end, kept the pages just flying by.
Now I’m not a fan of the vampire genre. It has just been err...done to death! So I was a little apprehensive when I discovered that this was yet another fangy, bloodsucky, indestructo creature feature. To his credit though, Paul divested his creatures of that gay sparkly skin, prepubescent sickening romance, over-coiffed hair, gaudy outfits, fangs that drop out of the upper gums like switchblades, the stupid ability to turn into a flea-bitten wolf – or a cloud of dinky bats – or a cloud. Thank you Paul for sparing us from that crap. He also stripped his vampires of the sensitivity to holy water and wooden crosses. (That doesn’t mean they are indestructible; you’ll have to read it to find out their weaknesses.) What we’re left with is a creature that is pure evil and mucho scary.
As luck would have it, my hometown has been having late-night thunderstorms all week. Ah yes! The perfect backdrop for reading The Darkening. I didn’t find any deep, meaningful dialogue, or diabolically complex characters, or a plot that was thicker than dried Vegemite, so the reading goes smoothly and quickly. You might knock off a couple of stars from your rating because of that, but sometimes, I just like a simple, shallow, scary story. The ending leaves a few unanswered questions – probably because there’s another volume in the wings – but it’s not a disappointing finish.
Soooo, if you’ve just come from reading War and Peace, and are looking for something less demanding, then this is for you. If you want a gripping horror story like you used to read to your friends around the campfire, this fills the bill. If you want some silly, girly romance story with an oh-so-good-looking vamp who bangs so hard he breaks the bed, the wall, the house and the seismometer – better look elsewhere.
Despite its well-used villain, I liked it.
dnf
December 26, 2016I usually like this author. I liked his time travel and his post-apocalyptic stories, but the pure horror in this book isn't something I'm enjoying. I'm not turning the pages and I'm dreading picking it up. Maybe it's because, so far, the vampiric maniacal killers of the book have turned out to be a baby, a toddler, and a girl's mom. I'm just going to call it quits at 50%. This book just isn't for me.
September 22, 2017
I love a good Vampire novel and this was certainly one to join my favourites! These vampires are seriously terrifying; strong and agile as per usual but also very clever and cunning - which is what makes them most frightening. Jones's vampire are pure predator and I loved every minute of it.
Jones deals well with quite a large group of characters and various POV characters throughout which a lot of authors struggle with. I really felt as though I liked them and I wanted them to get the heck away from these Vampires!
A great read for this time if year.
Jones deals well with quite a large group of characters and various POV characters throughout which a lot of authors struggle with. I really felt as though I liked them and I wanted them to get the heck away from these Vampires!
A great read for this time if year.
December 19, 2016
A dark tale set in Los Angeles as the storm of the century hits and an ancient evil strikes the city at the same time. As the population vanishes a wheel chair bound army vet, an LA detective and a fifteen year old girl find themselves alone and in big, big trouble. An absorbing tale, well told with a high body count and multiple shocks.
February 6, 2017
I love Paul Antony Jones books anyway, they are never a disappointment and always provide an engrossing read. This one is no exception, although it very much puts me in mind of Robert McCammon's book from the early 80's They Thirst it brings its own darkness to the subject. ( don't want to give anything away so being a bit sparing with details) good characters who you care about and a well written fast paced storyline that you don't want to put down. I also found it genuinely scary in parts, something that I don't normally get in books since the early days of Dean Koontz. I can highly recommend this book,
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October 2, 2020
Not the biggest fan of vampire fiction, but there is always an exception to the rule. This being one. A fast paced action/horror hybrid that does the job nicely.
Some bodies come back from Afghanistan that died mysteriously. When the bodies go missing, things start moving. Vampires are swarming the greater Los Angeles area. Add a storm of the century and things get even worse. A hand full of survivors try to make it out alive.
Some bodies come back from Afghanistan that died mysteriously. When the bodies go missing, things start moving. Vampires are swarming the greater Los Angeles area. Add a storm of the century and things get even worse. A hand full of survivors try to make it out alive.
July 21, 2022
Granted I'm biased since I already loved They Thirst by Robert McCammon, which has a similar premise of a vampire takeover of Los Angeles in the midst of a (possibly) supernatural weather event, but I didn't love this one. Like in Jones' Extinction Point books, the setup is excellent, but after that initial excitement wears off, you're left with a generic vampire story that might as well be set in the small-town USA for how little it takes advantage of its setting’s scope.
While they’re effective at first, the scenes of a mysteriously deserted LA lack the palpable feeling of isolation that Richard Matheson invoked so effectively in I Am Legend. Looking back, Extinction Point had the same problem, but at least in that the alien super-plague explanation made it a little more believable. I somehow have trouble imagining that most of LA’s population of nearly 4 million would go quietly into the night, even in the event of a Vampire-pocalypse.
On a more positive note, Jones is very imaginative when it comes to creature ideas in his books. The Darkening’s vampires are a standout whenever they’re “on-page”, distinct enough from the traditional type to sell their alienness but never so different that you forget you’re reading a vampire novel. With the Extinction Point series wrapped up, I’d be very interested to see if he chooses to pursue any more standalone creature features like this one in the future. I'd read 'em.
While they’re effective at first, the scenes of a mysteriously deserted LA lack the palpable feeling of isolation that Richard Matheson invoked so effectively in I Am Legend. Looking back, Extinction Point had the same problem, but at least in that the alien super-plague explanation made it a little more believable. I somehow have trouble imagining that most of LA’s population of nearly 4 million would go quietly into the night, even in the event of a Vampire-pocalypse.
On a more positive note, Jones is very imaginative when it comes to creature ideas in his books. The Darkening’s vampires are a standout whenever they’re “on-page”, distinct enough from the traditional type to sell their alienness but never so different that you forget you’re reading a vampire novel. With the Extinction Point series wrapped up, I’d be very interested to see if he chooses to pursue any more standalone creature features like this one in the future. I'd read 'em.
July 18, 2018
So very disappointed. If I had known that this book was about vampires (and not the sexy kind, mind you - more of a vampire/zombie hybrid), I would never have wasted my time on it. (Such an overdone theme; how is everyone not sick of it by now?) I thoroughly enjoyed Jones' Extinction Point alien invasion saga. This Is Not It. I have no idea what possessed him to switch genres.
I am mainly disappointed with the story and the plot. It starts out quite intriguing in the beginning. Then, around the 12% mark, it starts to denigrate into a bad B-movie. I am giving it 2 stars only because the writing style moves along briskly and is easy reading and fairly well edited.
Also disappointing is that the origin of the first vampire is never revealed or explained. He was hidden (for how long?) in a cave kept by Al Khaida leaders. Where did he originate? How did they get him? They viewed him as their secret weapon, but how did they plan to contain his contamination from their own people? Perhaps PAJ is planning a sequel, where these questions will be answered? God, I hope not...
I am mainly disappointed with the story and the plot. It starts out quite intriguing in the beginning. Then, around the 12% mark, it starts to denigrate into a bad B-movie. I am giving it 2 stars only because the writing style moves along briskly and is easy reading and fairly well edited.
Also disappointing is that the origin of the first vampire is never revealed or explained. He was hidden (for how long?) in a cave kept by Al Khaida leaders. Where did he originate? How did they get him? They viewed him as their secret weapon, but how did they plan to contain his contamination from their own people? Perhaps PAJ is planning a sequel, where these questions will be answered? God, I hope not...
June 28, 2017
After a rather silly but interesting start, the book grinds to a halt. The author spends too long acclimating us to the characters in LA. I started to wonder if I was still reading the book that was described on the back.
The action -- finally, vampires! -- picks up in the middle, where the story is its strongest.
Then, toward the end, the story drags again. The characters seem to find themselves in the same dilemmas. And the dialogue is quite repetitive, just a lot of "Christ!," "Oh shit," and em dashes. It felt like reading the same quotes over and over.
Overall, I liked the middle of the book, but was disappointed in the rest. The Strain is a much better vampire apocalypse book.
The action -- finally, vampires! -- picks up in the middle, where the story is its strongest.
Then, toward the end, the story drags again. The characters seem to find themselves in the same dilemmas. And the dialogue is quite repetitive, just a lot of "Christ!," "Oh shit," and em dashes. It felt like reading the same quotes over and over.
Overall, I liked the middle of the book, but was disappointed in the rest. The Strain is a much better vampire apocalypse book.
January 5, 2017
Disappointed
This book starts off with a great deal of promise. It stalled out after the second chapter. This author is known for his great character development. Unfortunately, they were lost in pages of lengthy scene descriptions. The storyline was lacking hope from the get go. I never felt that the outcome would differ from how it ended. I hope Mr. Jones next book will be better. I was very disappointed with The Darkening.
This book starts off with a great deal of promise. It stalled out after the second chapter. This author is known for his great character development. Unfortunately, they were lost in pages of lengthy scene descriptions. The storyline was lacking hope from the get go. I never felt that the outcome would differ from how it ended. I hope Mr. Jones next book will be better. I was very disappointed with The Darkening.
December 25, 2016
This is a good job by the author. This story is well written and is the first in many years to get the heart pumping due to the tension built up. The characters are engaging, the plot is interesting and the 'big baddie' will be frightful to many people. I look forward to the next book in the series.
February 13, 2017
Didn't expect to like it...never expected to love it
Wow! I started reading this book just to get a feel for it but it grabbed me and I was hooked. I was instantly drawn to the characters and the storyline that was different than the average vampire plot. I loved the suspense that grew and grew. I loved everything which kept me reading straight through until the end.
Wow! I started reading this book just to get a feel for it but it grabbed me and I was hooked. I was instantly drawn to the characters and the storyline that was different than the average vampire plot. I loved the suspense that grew and grew. I loved everything which kept me reading straight through until the end.
April 6, 2017
How did the vampires come about? What was with the rain?
July 17, 2017
Wow
Really enjoyed this book, almost felt like I was there. The story was so real to life. There should be another book.
Really enjoyed this book, almost felt like I was there. The story was so real to life. There should be another book.
August 19, 2017
Damn, that was a good book!
November 1, 2017
Not a werewolf book
I read the preview, the other comments and still had no idea that it was about Vampires!! Don't let the cover fool you!
I read the preview, the other comments and still had no idea that it was about Vampires!! Don't let the cover fool you!
January 16, 2018
The darkening
It was really scarey. Kept me on the efge of my seat. No escape for anybody. Hope there is a sequel. Genie being the only survivor to carry on
It was really scarey. Kept me on the efge of my seat. No escape for anybody. Hope there is a sequel. Genie being the only survivor to carry on
September 15, 2018
Twisted but good
A very good twist on an ancient evil. Good story but did have a couple of typos that the editor missed
A very good twist on an ancient evil. Good story but did have a couple of typos that the editor missed
April 22, 2020
The Darkening
Gory vampire story good little read I enjoyed it and would recommend to horror fans would quite enjoy a sequel
Gory vampire story good little read I enjoyed it and would recommend to horror fans would quite enjoy a sequel
April 17, 2018
Creepy!!
The Darkening by Paul Antony Jones is a horror story. If you enjoy scary, spooky books then The Darkening is definitely a book for you. I spent the last half of this book sitting on the edge of my seat and biting my nails. Great read can’t wait for more books by Paul Antony Jones!
The Darkening by Paul Antony Jones is a horror story. If you enjoy scary, spooky books then The Darkening is definitely a book for you. I spent the last half of this book sitting on the edge of my seat and biting my nails. Great read can’t wait for more books by Paul Antony Jones!
August 4, 2017
Loved it🏝💗
This was a really good vampire story. I couldn't put it down,it's three o' clock in the morning and I just finished it,and I have to get up early for work but I had to see what happened.
This was a really good vampire story. I couldn't put it down,it's three o' clock in the morning and I just finished it,and I have to get up early for work but I had to see what happened.
January 31, 2021
If I thought this book was intended to be a parody of the vampire zombie genre, it might have warranted a 3 star rating. If it was intended as a serious thriller, it ranks among the worst books that I have ever finished. I should have stopped when the first zombie appeared.
August 14, 2024
love reading/watching anything that takes place in la they said they’re taking victory to sherman way over to burbank i was like EYE KNOW THERE also the ending was what i expected but it still eats overall
February 21, 2017
This one is like a B movie...but guess what? I'm nuts about B movies!! a lots of fun for this PA Jones books
January 31, 2019
As always a pleasure
I enjoyed Birdy and Tyrese as the protagonist but disappointed in the how the events played out. This has a strong storyline and has w made for tv vibe.
I enjoyed Birdy and Tyrese as the protagonist but disappointed in the how the events played out. This has a strong storyline and has w made for tv vibe.
June 23, 2019
Brilliant,
Wow really dark, gripping read. I don’t want to give much away but I will certainly be checking under the bed tonight, and in the wardrobe, shed ......
Wow really dark, gripping read. I don’t want to give much away but I will certainly be checking under the bed tonight, and in the wardrobe, shed ......
September 26, 2019
Good as usual.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story short s I enjoyed o y everything that mister Jones writes. Paul Anthony Jones is very good storyteller.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story short s I enjoyed o y everything that mister Jones writes. Paul Anthony Jones is very good storyteller.
May 19, 2020
Enjoyed this quick read thriller horror. Would recommend.
September 25, 2021
Brilliant on the edge of you seat writing
Great storyline and colourful characters. Couldn't put it down. Keeps you reading fast and wanting more. Wish there could be a follow up.
Great storyline and colourful characters. Couldn't put it down. Keeps you reading fast and wanting more. Wish there could be a follow up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews