What do you think?
Rate this book
Out of Darkness
Sixteen-year-old Logan Bailey finds herself forcefully recruited into an underground paramilitary organization. Outperformed by the older candidates, Logan doesn’t understand why she is there…until the psychological experiments begin.
Pushed to her limits, stripped of everything she cares about, and emptied of her identity, Logan will have to rediscover who she is and what she is willing to fight for.
When intelligence agent Druce Finamore helps her escape, she has every intention of going off the grid for good. But forces from her past pull her back into a web of conspiracy where she’ll discover truths that will change her world forever.
Pushed to her limits, stripped of everything she cares about, and emptied of her identity, Logan will have to rediscover who she is and what she is willing to fight for.
When intelligence agent Druce Finamore helps her escape, she has every intention of going off the grid for good. But forces from her past pull her back into a web of conspiracy where she’ll discover truths that will change her world forever.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
347 pages, ebook
First published August 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
E.B. Dawson
36 books145 followersI grew up in Southeast Asia. My first experience with America was when I was six years old. Sometimes I amuse my friends by telling them stories of my first impressions of this country (clean bathrooms, Toy Story, Taco Bell, getting lost in department stores).
My family moved to California when I was eleven and completely changed the course of my life. On the outside I'm a well-adjusted American adult, but in all honesty some days I still wake up to the sound of the grass being cut by machetes.
I have traveled a fair amount and lived in four separate countries. I see the world very differently from most people that I know. And because I am an analytical introvert I try to understand everything in my life. I pour this into my writing.
Everything I write is deeply personal to me. People who know me well recognize the shadows of people I've met, experiences I've had, and emotions I've walked through in my writing. My goal is not just to entertain and explore imaginary worlds, but to take the reader on a journey that explores difficult questions and instills some sort of hope.
My family moved to California when I was eleven and completely changed the course of my life. On the outside I'm a well-adjusted American adult, but in all honesty some days I still wake up to the sound of the grass being cut by machetes.
I have traveled a fair amount and lived in four separate countries. I see the world very differently from most people that I know. And because I am an analytical introvert I try to understand everything in my life. I pour this into my writing.
Everything I write is deeply personal to me. People who know me well recognize the shadows of people I've met, experiences I've had, and emotions I've walked through in my writing. My goal is not just to entertain and explore imaginary worlds, but to take the reader on a journey that explores difficult questions and instills some sort of hope.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 30, 2020
FOURTH READING:
This is one of those books that deserves to be read over and over. Now that the next 3 books are out, I appreciate the threads that begin in this story even more.
In this time of uncertainty and fear, I needed Logan's story on such a deep level. Walking with her through the world she didn't have much control over, the world that was trying to destroy her, and seeing her determination and persistence, her courage and ability to never give in, is strengthening me to stay myself and fight the darkness in whatever small ways I can. Druce's relentless support inspires me to love those around me better.
I have a deeper appreciation for the artistry of this story: Every sentence is intentional. Every scene does so much work. The narrative order is so carefully thought out to help us understand Jack's life and the disorienting way in which she experiences her trauma. All of the characters' arcs are beautiful.
This has one of the best ensemble casts I've ever encountered. Each member of the team is unique, and I can't wait to revisit the way they each grow as the series progresses.
If you are struggling right now, if you are scared and need the courage to face the hard things head-on, if you want to find true heroism that fights for others against all odds, if you are in need of comfort: Go read this book.
SECOND READING:
This book was already great the first time, but it improves drastically the second reading. There is so much richness that I missed the first time through, perhaps because of the non-chronological organization? I love these characters even more now, and I'm eager to get started rereading book 2 so that I can read book 3!
Also, it should be noted that this time through, I read most of the book in one day--that's how engaging it is!
FIRST READING:
Fast-paced, engrossing, and thought provoking: All words that describe E.B. Dawson's "Out of Darkness."
It's been a while since I've read a book I enjoyed so much that I couldn't put it down at night--I'm delighted to say that "Out of Darkness" broke that (sad) streak.
From the moment I read the prologue, I was hooked (not something that can often be said about a prologue, right?). "Out of Darkness" takes the reader on a thrilling ride through suffering and horrors with honesty and authenticity. I loved and identified with Logan/Jack, especially the way she was originally pushed to act against her pacifistic tendencies by continual injustice. The futuristic world's overpopulation and starvation problems were not only believable but perfect for the plot. I love the dynamics between Jack and her team, and Druce is basically the best ever. The ending took me pleasantly by surprise, and I closed the book feeling incredibly proud of Jack and curious about what happens next. Dawson's next book, "Into the Void," is already on my desk waiting to be read.
I have deep respect for Dawson and the challenges she took on in this book. I look forward to reading more from her, and highly recommend this to any and all fans of distopian/sci fi/futuristic stories.
This is one of those books that deserves to be read over and over. Now that the next 3 books are out, I appreciate the threads that begin in this story even more.
In this time of uncertainty and fear, I needed Logan's story on such a deep level. Walking with her through the world she didn't have much control over, the world that was trying to destroy her, and seeing her determination and persistence, her courage and ability to never give in, is strengthening me to stay myself and fight the darkness in whatever small ways I can. Druce's relentless support inspires me to love those around me better.
I have a deeper appreciation for the artistry of this story: Every sentence is intentional. Every scene does so much work. The narrative order is so carefully thought out to help us understand Jack's life and the disorienting way in which she experiences her trauma. All of the characters' arcs are beautiful.
This has one of the best ensemble casts I've ever encountered. Each member of the team is unique, and I can't wait to revisit the way they each grow as the series progresses.
If you are struggling right now, if you are scared and need the courage to face the hard things head-on, if you want to find true heroism that fights for others against all odds, if you are in need of comfort: Go read this book.
SECOND READING:
This book was already great the first time, but it improves drastically the second reading. There is so much richness that I missed the first time through, perhaps because of the non-chronological organization? I love these characters even more now, and I'm eager to get started rereading book 2 so that I can read book 3!
Also, it should be noted that this time through, I read most of the book in one day--that's how engaging it is!
FIRST READING:
Fast-paced, engrossing, and thought provoking: All words that describe E.B. Dawson's "Out of Darkness."
It's been a while since I've read a book I enjoyed so much that I couldn't put it down at night--I'm delighted to say that "Out of Darkness" broke that (sad) streak.
From the moment I read the prologue, I was hooked (not something that can often be said about a prologue, right?). "Out of Darkness" takes the reader on a thrilling ride through suffering and horrors with honesty and authenticity. I loved and identified with Logan/Jack, especially the way she was originally pushed to act against her pacifistic tendencies by continual injustice. The futuristic world's overpopulation and starvation problems were not only believable but perfect for the plot. I love the dynamics between Jack and her team, and Druce is basically the best ever. The ending took me pleasantly by surprise, and I closed the book feeling incredibly proud of Jack and curious about what happens next. Dawson's next book, "Into the Void," is already on my desk waiting to be read.
I have deep respect for Dawson and the challenges she took on in this book. I look forward to reading more from her, and highly recommend this to any and all fans of distopian/sci fi/futuristic stories.
February 24, 2017
Full review here: https://constantcollectible.com/2017/...
I absolutely loved this story. E.B. Dawson has mastered the art of nonlinear narrative. Out of Darkness jumps back and forth from different parts of Logan/Jack’s life, giving the novel a disjointed feel that perfectly reflected the main character’s shaky mental state. It’s not often that I read a book that can execute a nonlinear plot with such impressive results.
Part sci-fi, part thriller, part dystopian, part futuristic, this novel kept me in suspense the entire time. Not only was the plot riveting, but the character development kept me engaged. Jack’s character development was awesome to behold. She goes from a rather meek person with some pent up anger to a determined student to a scary trainee to an even scarier, broken, PTSD riddled girl.
Part of me just wanted to give her chocolate and a hug while the other part of me wanted to cheer her on as she unleashed her rage upon the antagonists.
I was excited to see how Jack’s complex personality was handled. It is apparent that Dawson put a lot effort into accurately depicting a highly-intelligent but traumatized mind. The character development was spot on, and I loved seeing Jack learn to have a friendship with a similarly broken soldier. That combined with the moral grey areas and interesting questions raised (can you destroy a few lives for the sake of the world?) gave the story a thoughtful, realistic feel.
I was fascinated by the way that the plot and the character development worked to hold my interest. The first few chapters of the book didn’t instantly connect me to the characters, but the plot and futuristic world building kept me going. Then, about half-way through the book, I realized that there had been a very subtle shift to focusing on the characters rather than the plot. By the end it was both the plot and the characters evenly holding up the story and keeping it tense and compelling.
The only unfortunate thing about this book was that it takes some warming up to. A large amount of the real action and character development takes place after the first fifty pages or so. But the development is there, so just keep at it. Not that I really need to tell you that, given that the plot will grab your interest on page one.
The nonlinear narrative and occasional point of view switches meant that this story featured some slightly different formatting. Some omniscient scenes were in bold and timeline changes were marked with paragraph breaks, which gave the book’s style an experimental feel that I very much enjoyed. However, it also led to the story having some mild formatting errors.
Did this make any difference to me? Pffft. No. A good story is a good story.
Out of Darkness is a book with everything I enjoy: Emotionally charged, action packed, thought provoking. It also gets major points for being both plot and character driven.
I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel (Into the Void). I will be following E.B. Dawson's writing career with great interest from here on out. She is definitely an author you need to familiarize yourself with.
I absolutely loved this story. E.B. Dawson has mastered the art of nonlinear narrative. Out of Darkness jumps back and forth from different parts of Logan/Jack’s life, giving the novel a disjointed feel that perfectly reflected the main character’s shaky mental state. It’s not often that I read a book that can execute a nonlinear plot with such impressive results.
Part sci-fi, part thriller, part dystopian, part futuristic, this novel kept me in suspense the entire time. Not only was the plot riveting, but the character development kept me engaged. Jack’s character development was awesome to behold. She goes from a rather meek person with some pent up anger to a determined student to a scary trainee to an even scarier, broken, PTSD riddled girl.
Part of me just wanted to give her chocolate and a hug while the other part of me wanted to cheer her on as she unleashed her rage upon the antagonists.
I was excited to see how Jack’s complex personality was handled. It is apparent that Dawson put a lot effort into accurately depicting a highly-intelligent but traumatized mind. The character development was spot on, and I loved seeing Jack learn to have a friendship with a similarly broken soldier. That combined with the moral grey areas and interesting questions raised (can you destroy a few lives for the sake of the world?) gave the story a thoughtful, realistic feel.
I was fascinated by the way that the plot and the character development worked to hold my interest. The first few chapters of the book didn’t instantly connect me to the characters, but the plot and futuristic world building kept me going. Then, about half-way through the book, I realized that there had been a very subtle shift to focusing on the characters rather than the plot. By the end it was both the plot and the characters evenly holding up the story and keeping it tense and compelling.
The only unfortunate thing about this book was that it takes some warming up to. A large amount of the real action and character development takes place after the first fifty pages or so. But the development is there, so just keep at it. Not that I really need to tell you that, given that the plot will grab your interest on page one.
The nonlinear narrative and occasional point of view switches meant that this story featured some slightly different formatting. Some omniscient scenes were in bold and timeline changes were marked with paragraph breaks, which gave the book’s style an experimental feel that I very much enjoyed. However, it also led to the story having some mild formatting errors.
Did this make any difference to me? Pffft. No. A good story is a good story.
Out of Darkness is a book with everything I enjoy: Emotionally charged, action packed, thought provoking. It also gets major points for being both plot and character driven.
I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel (Into the Void). I will be following E.B. Dawson's writing career with great interest from here on out. She is definitely an author you need to familiarize yourself with.
July 16, 2017
I enjoyed this book, though there are some things I had trouble with. Positives first!
- Logan/Jack's character is terrific. Very complex, and well written, and, for the most part, seemed very realistic. E. B. Dawson must have done her research. The whole psychology behind this character is awesome.
- The nonlinear style of writing was really cool. It must take a lot of time and effort to write like that.
- THE ENDING THOUGH. I really like the idea presented at the end of the book, and it helped me understand why they made Jack in the first place. It also paves the way for Volume 2, so definitely looking forward to reading the next book.
- The writing style is brilliant. Just brilliant. Besides the nonlinear technique, I just really like the dark flow of the words and phrases and perspectives of other characters.
- For the first half of the book, I read super fast and couldn't put it down. I wasn't sure why until when I was done, I realized it was because the chapters were super short. And then it dawned on me that for any book I read, if the chapters are short, I read more in one sitting than I usually do, and therefore I finish the book quickly. Writers, authors, a little piece of advice: keep your chapters short. :D
Negatives.
- There are a lot of time jumps, which was sort of confusing. The scene transitions were a bit jerky. I guess that can be used for stylistic purposes, which I think are cool, but I personally didn't enjoy them much reading this book.
- Until the end, I had no idea really what was going on, but at the end, the antagonists' motives were made known and finally, a few things started making sense to me. Personally, I like reading books where I know at least why the main character is doing what she decides/is forced to do, and since I really had no idea reading this, I guess I sort of lost interest. Don't get me wrong; I do like secrets, but if there are too many of them so that the plot is shrouded, I get confused.
- I wasn't a huge fan of the plot. Again, I had no idea why the antagonists were doing what they were doing. I had no idea why they needed to make Jack. I had no idea why she did what she did in the beginning as Logan. Have pity on a poor, confused reader. :P So, I don't have much to say on the storyline, except it just really wasn't all that clear, which made the reading less enjoyable for me.
- It reminded me strongly of Jason Bourne. I'm not a huge fan of those movies for certain reasons, and many of those reasons can be applied to The Creation of Jack. For big fans of Jason Bourne, I can tell you: You will most likely really love this book.
So, besides mixed feelings for this book, I do recommend it. I feel like I have unpopular opinions when it comes to The Creation of Jack Book 1, but a lot of people I know have read and loved it, which is awesome. I love the writing style, Logan/Jack's character, and, when they were revealed, the motives and answers to my "why." Check out this book and review it. I look forward to Book 2!!!
- Logan/Jack's character is terrific. Very complex, and well written, and, for the most part, seemed very realistic. E. B. Dawson must have done her research. The whole psychology behind this character is awesome.
- The nonlinear style of writing was really cool. It must take a lot of time and effort to write like that.
- THE ENDING THOUGH. I really like the idea presented at the end of the book, and it helped me understand why they made Jack in the first place. It also paves the way for Volume 2, so definitely looking forward to reading the next book.
- The writing style is brilliant. Just brilliant. Besides the nonlinear technique, I just really like the dark flow of the words and phrases and perspectives of other characters.
- For the first half of the book, I read super fast and couldn't put it down. I wasn't sure why until when I was done, I realized it was because the chapters were super short. And then it dawned on me that for any book I read, if the chapters are short, I read more in one sitting than I usually do, and therefore I finish the book quickly. Writers, authors, a little piece of advice: keep your chapters short. :D
Negatives.
- There are a lot of time jumps, which was sort of confusing. The scene transitions were a bit jerky. I guess that can be used for stylistic purposes, which I think are cool, but I personally didn't enjoy them much reading this book.
- Until the end, I had no idea really what was going on, but at the end, the antagonists' motives were made known and finally, a few things started making sense to me. Personally, I like reading books where I know at least why the main character is doing what she decides/is forced to do, and since I really had no idea reading this, I guess I sort of lost interest. Don't get me wrong; I do like secrets, but if there are too many of them so that the plot is shrouded, I get confused.
- I wasn't a huge fan of the plot. Again, I had no idea why the antagonists were doing what they were doing. I had no idea why they needed to make Jack. I had no idea why she did what she did in the beginning as Logan. Have pity on a poor, confused reader. :P So, I don't have much to say on the storyline, except it just really wasn't all that clear, which made the reading less enjoyable for me.
- It reminded me strongly of Jason Bourne. I'm not a huge fan of those movies for certain reasons, and many of those reasons can be applied to The Creation of Jack. For big fans of Jason Bourne, I can tell you: You will most likely really love this book.
So, besides mixed feelings for this book, I do recommend it. I feel like I have unpopular opinions when it comes to The Creation of Jack Book 1, but a lot of people I know have read and loved it, which is awesome. I love the writing style, Logan/Jack's character, and, when they were revealed, the motives and answers to my "why." Check out this book and review it. I look forward to Book 2!!!
September 5, 2018
The first word that came to mind while reading Out of Darkness was: powerful. Powerful, honest, raw and gritty.
Dawson does not shy away from hard issues. She acknowledges them—shows us through the eyes of Jack just how devastating it can be when people do terrible things to other human beings—but also shows how we can rise from the ashes again, and choose not to be what they created.
There were a few minor typos and punctuation errors, (but that's just me being nit-picky, because those things don't really affect the storyline). One thing that did bother me was the fact that sometimes there weren't enough dialogue tags, and I kept having to retrace my steps to figure out who was talking from time to time.
To end on a bright note, I just have to say that I really loved the Druce/Jack relationship. After everyone else, it was refreshing to have someone believe in Jack, and tell her that she could be more than what they had made her.
All in all, a great read. A powerful read.
Dawson does not shy away from hard issues. She acknowledges them—shows us through the eyes of Jack just how devastating it can be when people do terrible things to other human beings—but also shows how we can rise from the ashes again, and choose not to be what they created.
There were a few minor typos and punctuation errors, (but that's just me being nit-picky, because those things don't really affect the storyline). One thing that did bother me was the fact that sometimes there weren't enough dialogue tags, and I kept having to retrace my steps to figure out who was talking from time to time.
To end on a bright note, I just have to say that I really loved the Druce/Jack relationship. After everyone else, it was refreshing to have someone believe in Jack, and tell her that she could be more than what they had made her.
All in all, a great read. A powerful read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2018
Wow! That’s all I can really say is wow. The story, the world-building, the characters: just wow! I couldn’t put this down and read it in one day. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one!
I did dock one star, but that was for reasons that may not bother other people:
1. A few of the long stretches of dialogue that did not include tags, got a little confusing at times. I had to go back and figure out who was having the conversation and which piece of dialogue belonged to which person. Although, that may not have been the author’s fault, I was so sucked into this book that I was reading really fast even for me.
2. The storyline jumping between time periods was also a little confusing, but after finishing the book I understand why it was done and why it was not written how far into the future/past that the segment was.
Other than those two things, everything was amazing!
I did dock one star, but that was for reasons that may not bother other people:
1. A few of the long stretches of dialogue that did not include tags, got a little confusing at times. I had to go back and figure out who was having the conversation and which piece of dialogue belonged to which person. Although, that may not have been the author’s fault, I was so sucked into this book that I was reading really fast even for me.
2. The storyline jumping between time periods was also a little confusing, but after finishing the book I understand why it was done and why it was not written how far into the future/past that the segment was.
Other than those two things, everything was amazing!
July 28, 2018
Out of Darkness is a very captivating, emotionally charged, sci-fi thriller.
Dawson takes on the challenge of using a non-linear writing style, and it pays off beautifully. While I was able to guess what Logan would become about 20% of the book (it was a very lucky guess), I continued to keep reading because I wanted to know what it took to bring her to this point. My questions were steadily answered while simultaneously leaving more blanks to fill, making the story even more engaging than it would have been the plot had been presented linearly. My curiosity was satisfied, but I have a feeling there are some points that I missed, which will require me to re-read this masterpiece. No complaints here.
Fair warning: there were some very intense scenes in this book. None of them were graphic, this book is very clean. But it also doesn’t shy away from the brutal training that Logan went through, or the emotional trauma that ensued after-the-fact.
The character development for Logan (if it wasn’t obvious) was very well done. I could see the growing range, brokenness, and struggle to come to grips with who she’s become and who she wants to be. The other characters were well-developed as well, although not as well as Logan. But as this book is part of a series, I am guessing we will be learning more about them along the way.
This is a truly captivating work and I am very eager to read Into the Void (book 2) at the earliest opportunity!
Dawson takes on the challenge of using a non-linear writing style, and it pays off beautifully. While I was able to guess what Logan would become about 20% of the book (it was a very lucky guess), I continued to keep reading because I wanted to know what it took to bring her to this point. My questions were steadily answered while simultaneously leaving more blanks to fill, making the story even more engaging than it would have been the plot had been presented linearly. My curiosity was satisfied, but I have a feeling there are some points that I missed, which will require me to re-read this masterpiece. No complaints here.
Fair warning: there were some very intense scenes in this book. None of them were graphic, this book is very clean. But it also doesn’t shy away from the brutal training that Logan went through, or the emotional trauma that ensued after-the-fact.
The character development for Logan (if it wasn’t obvious) was very well done. I could see the growing range, brokenness, and struggle to come to grips with who she’s become and who she wants to be. The other characters were well-developed as well, although not as well as Logan. But as this book is part of a series, I am guessing we will be learning more about them along the way.
This is a truly captivating work and I am very eager to read Into the Void (book 2) at the earliest opportunity!
July 16, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised by this book...then I fell in love with this book... I wasted my whole day reading from beginning until the end.. though I suppose that isn't a waste then, is it? ;) There was so much action in this book, so many twists I was not expecting. I was holding my breath the whole time. I couldn't stop reading, I had to know what the heck was happening to Logan.
As someone who studies mental illnesses, I was quick to recognize the main characters struggle with PTSD. The author did an amazingly accurate job without going over the top or undermining Logan's struggle.
Logan is seriously the female version of Jason Borne!
If you love fast pace and loads of action.. and explosions.. I highly recommend this book!!
As someone who studies mental illnesses, I was quick to recognize the main characters struggle with PTSD. The author did an amazingly accurate job without going over the top or undermining Logan's struggle.
Logan is seriously the female version of Jason Borne!
If you love fast pace and loads of action.. and explosions.. I highly recommend this book!!
June 14, 2018
This was an amazing book. It took me a few chapters to get used to it. There were a few stylistic things that were confusing (dialogue a little hard to follow, POV breaks every once in a while). But this didn't detract from the story. I loved the non-linear style, how it jumps between different points of Logan's life. But the author made this easy to know at what point you were at, using a different name for the character (Logan, Bailey, Jack) to clue you in on what part of the storyline you were at. This was obviously purposeful, since the theme of the book is identity. The main character has everything stripped from her; even her name. How will she respond? I found a lot of things resonated with me personally, in the things Jack was up against.
The plot was well-paced. There was just the right amount of character development and action. I never felt like one was sacrificed for the other, instead it was a cohesive blend. It was easy to relate to both the protagonists and the antagonists (which is super important for me in a book!) Dawson seemed to know this intuitively. You can understand where ALL the characters are coming from, not just the main heroine. There were a few things that, for me, were a little too convenient plot wise, but it didn't detract from the overall story. I immediately got the next two books after finishing this one. Get this... you won't be disappointed.
The plot was well-paced. There was just the right amount of character development and action. I never felt like one was sacrificed for the other, instead it was a cohesive blend. It was easy to relate to both the protagonists and the antagonists (which is super important for me in a book!) Dawson seemed to know this intuitively. You can understand where ALL the characters are coming from, not just the main heroine. There were a few things that, for me, were a little too convenient plot wise, but it didn't detract from the overall story. I immediately got the next two books after finishing this one. Get this... you won't be disappointed.
March 25, 2021
Enjoyed my second read through this book as much as the first! I wanted to reacquaint myself with all the little details of this story before starting book two. E.B. Dawson books always give me a lot to think about and I love her writing so I’m looking forward to seeing how this series plays out!
October 21, 2020
Out of Darkness is the first of a duology called The Creation of Jack by E.B. Dawson, and is a YA dystopian set in the not-so-distant future, in which the future of humanity is at risk and a conspiracy involving super-humans might have something to do it.
With a premise like this, one might assume it to be something akin to other YA novels like
Divergent or The Hunger Games. And in one way, that could be the case. But after having read this, I wouldn't really say so. Which is a good thing, in itself.
At first, I did struggle a little with a different POV's and the text format chosen for each one, but once the story started to get interesting I wasn't as bothered by it. And yes, the story and its characters are really well done. I love the ideas and themes that it brings involving identity and finding yourself in an environment that wishes to control you.These are concepts that are hard to achieve in bringing across the right way, and this one is an exception to that challenge.
The only small downside that I would say was an issue is that it has a pretty big cast of characters involved, with a lot of them pushed aside near the end making the conclusion a little strange, since I didn't get to know them well enough. This is understandable considering the main focus was meant to be on Logan, Jack and one other named Finamore, an agent for the US government who's sent out to expose the goings on that relate to the main conflict.
However, it wasn't a huge bummer, and I did still enjoy it nonetheless. I'm definitely optioning for the next book as well as Dawson's new trilogy that she's recently started!
Blog Review: https://deborahkeltywriter.blogspot.com/2018/10/indie-book-review-out-of-darkness-by-eb.html
With a premise like this, one might assume it to be something akin to other YA novels like
Divergent or The Hunger Games. And in one way, that could be the case. But after having read this, I wouldn't really say so. Which is a good thing, in itself.
At first, I did struggle a little with a different POV's and the text format chosen for each one, but once the story started to get interesting I wasn't as bothered by it. And yes, the story and its characters are really well done. I love the ideas and themes that it brings involving identity and finding yourself in an environment that wishes to control you.These are concepts that are hard to achieve in bringing across the right way, and this one is an exception to that challenge.
The only small downside that I would say was an issue is that it has a pretty big cast of characters involved, with a lot of them pushed aside near the end making the conclusion a little strange, since I didn't get to know them well enough. This is understandable considering the main focus was meant to be on Logan, Jack and one other named Finamore, an agent for the US government who's sent out to expose the goings on that relate to the main conflict.
However, it wasn't a huge bummer, and I did still enjoy it nonetheless. I'm definitely optioning for the next book as well as Dawson's new trilogy that she's recently started!
Blog Review: https://deborahkeltywriter.blogspot.com/2018/10/indie-book-review-out-of-darkness-by-eb.html
May 12, 2017
This is a great read. Based on story alone it's an easy 5 stars from me. The only reason why I ranked it a bit lower is because there were some things that made it a bit confusing at points. It didn't do much to take away from the over all story, though. This is a deep, powerful read with real purpose and intentionality to it. You can feel it with every page you read: it's going somewhere. The characters are great, the action is engaging and the ending is sweet and powerful. My only suggestion is that you take the time to sit down where you can give it your full attention. It is a heavy read, and you will get the most out of it if you can really mull over the concepts presented.
July 19, 2021
This story gets better every time I read it. I don't know what Goodreads has done to my past reviews, but:
Logan is one of my favorite female characters--my favorite characters, period. Despite her suffering at the hands of very evil people, she refuses to become a victim and chooses who she grows up to be. The supporting characters are incredible, and I love the rocky start to their relationships in this book. A beautiful start to an incredible series.
Logan is one of my favorite female characters--my favorite characters, period. Despite her suffering at the hands of very evil people, she refuses to become a victim and chooses who she grows up to be. The supporting characters are incredible, and I love the rocky start to their relationships in this book. A beautiful start to an incredible series.
May 13, 2017
I had already read several recommendations for this book, so I had high expectations. In all, it’s a fast-paced, psychological and action-filled novel, set in a futuristic society. And while I found it difficult to understand what was going on at times, I found it easy to empathize with Logan. As an expat myself, I can relate to her in the beginning, especially when it comes to not feeling at home in her home country.
The psychological and multi-cultural aspects were really well-researched. I really got the sense that Dawson knew what she was writing about, from Logan’s character development to international protocol.
As for the writing style, I’m not sure I was a fan. It took a while for me to figure out the narrative order, which was actually well-written. But I did not like the lack of transitions between scenes, which really made it difficult to get into the story. And the setting was vague to say the least.
I also feel like the book could have used an editor. For goodness sake, please, please, please do not put a piece of dialogue with a different person’s actions. This made it confusing, and I often had to reread passages to figure out what was going on. There were a couple really long paragraphs and action sequences that were difficult to follow. Then there were a couple little things that, as an editor, bugged me.
I gave the book 3/5 stars for good character development but a writing style that could use some improvement. I would recommend this to anybody interested in a quick, dystopian read.
“But what her parents didn’t understand was that ‘home’ wasn’t familiar. She might as well be here as there.”
The psychological and multi-cultural aspects were really well-researched. I really got the sense that Dawson knew what she was writing about, from Logan’s character development to international protocol.
As for the writing style, I’m not sure I was a fan. It took a while for me to figure out the narrative order, which was actually well-written. But I did not like the lack of transitions between scenes, which really made it difficult to get into the story. And the setting was vague to say the least.
I also feel like the book could have used an editor. For goodness sake, please, please, please do not put a piece of dialogue with a different person’s actions. This made it confusing, and I often had to reread passages to figure out what was going on. There were a couple really long paragraphs and action sequences that were difficult to follow. Then there were a couple little things that, as an editor, bugged me.
I gave the book 3/5 stars for good character development but a writing style that could use some improvement. I would recommend this to anybody interested in a quick, dystopian read.
September 5, 2019
What to say about this amazing book?
E.B. Dawson writes so well and so vividly that at times I wondered if she had experienced some of the things the main character experienced herself.
Some of the dialogue was a little confusing because of lack of dialogue tags, but once I established the characters' personalities and voices I was fine.
I loved her core characters, especially Druce and Logan who I just want to wrap in a blanket and feed cookies and hot chocolates to.
I'm gonna start the next book because there is no way I can sleep without starting it.
E.B. Dawson writes so well and so vividly that at times I wondered if she had experienced some of the things the main character experienced herself.
Some of the dialogue was a little confusing because of lack of dialogue tags, but once I established the characters' personalities and voices I was fine.
I loved her core characters, especially Druce and Logan who I just want to wrap in a blanket and feed cookies and hot chocolates to.
I'm gonna start the next book because there is no way I can sleep without starting it.
December 3, 2022
I couldn't put it down. This was way too dark for me. The end was a surprise twist. Note: why is the only solution to bullies and thugs. .. Violence? (Supposedly we live in a better civilization that negates the need for violence. Police officers have now backed away from any protection to citizens in any confrontation due to the last few years of upheaval. I don't feel safe anymore. ) I gave this story 4 stars for the it's negativity and the "progress at any cost". The ending is Not believable.
July 18, 2022
Epic!
April 30, 2017
I’ve read a lot of books, and after awhile, you start seeing patterns in the types of characters. You’ve got your YA dystopian heroine, your black-haired sassy bad boy, your farm boy hero… But I can’t think of any other characters like Logan, Out of Darkness's heroine.
Here's my overall thoughts:
This book reminded me of Ender’s Game. A lot. Even down to the conversations opening the chapters. The similarity isn’t a bad thing- I love Ender’s Game, and didn’t go into this book expecting a super unique premise. Instead, the setting felt comfortably familiar while the characters surprised and delighted me.
I hate to talk about grammar/formatting, because that’s irrelevant to the quality of a story, but there are some paragraph break issues that made the conversations hard to follow. That doesn’t affect the story itself, but it affected the way I read it.
One thing I liked about this book was its non-linear story. It starts with a prologue that takes place about halfway through the book, which normally would be gimmicky but works well here- mostly because I was intrigued by the setting and excited to see how Logan got there. The first chapter brings the reader to the beginning, but then time jumps forward again. The rest of the book skips back and forth.
This is never confusing, mostly because of Logan’s name change to Jack. And even though I could follow the story just fine, it had a chaotic feeling that matches Logan’s state of mind. It’s very fitting.
As great as this is, however, I felt like some of the story was missing. We only see a little of Jack’s training, and the name change- which was so important for her, psychologically- seemed rushed. I also could have seen more relationship development. There are some great friendships, but the scenes that built those up are skipped over in favor of the culmination of the relationships. Much of the potential story is summed up with ‘he was the only decent person’ or ‘she trained for x amount of time.’ And I get that, since the reader knows where she ends up, it may be redundant to show every step along the way, but I know I could have read more.
That being said, Out of Darkness is super enjoyable overall. And like I mentioned earlier, Logan/Jack rocks. For more on her, my full review is here: https://justiceandwriteousness.wordpr...
Here's my overall thoughts:
This book reminded me of Ender’s Game. A lot. Even down to the conversations opening the chapters. The similarity isn’t a bad thing- I love Ender’s Game, and didn’t go into this book expecting a super unique premise. Instead, the setting felt comfortably familiar while the characters surprised and delighted me.
I hate to talk about grammar/formatting, because that’s irrelevant to the quality of a story, but there are some paragraph break issues that made the conversations hard to follow. That doesn’t affect the story itself, but it affected the way I read it.
One thing I liked about this book was its non-linear story. It starts with a prologue that takes place about halfway through the book, which normally would be gimmicky but works well here- mostly because I was intrigued by the setting and excited to see how Logan got there. The first chapter brings the reader to the beginning, but then time jumps forward again. The rest of the book skips back and forth.
This is never confusing, mostly because of Logan’s name change to Jack. And even though I could follow the story just fine, it had a chaotic feeling that matches Logan’s state of mind. It’s very fitting.
As great as this is, however, I felt like some of the story was missing. We only see a little of Jack’s training, and the name change- which was so important for her, psychologically- seemed rushed. I also could have seen more relationship development. There are some great friendships, but the scenes that built those up are skipped over in favor of the culmination of the relationships. Much of the potential story is summed up with ‘he was the only decent person’ or ‘she trained for x amount of time.’ And I get that, since the reader knows where she ends up, it may be redundant to show every step along the way, but I know I could have read more.
That being said, Out of Darkness is super enjoyable overall. And like I mentioned earlier, Logan/Jack rocks. For more on her, my full review is here: https://justiceandwriteousness.wordpr...
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews