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The Darkest Eyes
Will Roan is pretty sure she's losing her mind, but that's the least of her problems. What's worse is her growing anxiety that the disturbing things she's been seeing might be real. The aliens, for example. The nasty little bug-eyed monsters that have followed her around since she was a kid have been stepping up their harassment. Her mother is a little off balance, to be polite, and Will suspects she's veering down the same path. That's not good for a scientist. There's no room in her world view for magic or mystery. There's a rational explanation for everything, right? Lately, she's had too many experiences that defy reason, and they've put both her sanity and her career in jeopardy. Will has run to the far corners of the Earth to avoid confronting the possibility that she's coming unhinged. She's extremely good at running. She runs from everything -- including love. Somehow, though, she's always brought back to the center of the madness.When her dying mother hands Will a beautifully carved crystal skull and urges her to use it to open a portal to Atlantis, her first instinct is to run as far away as she can get -- but the unnerving vision she sees in the crystal stops her in her tracks. Then something worse than psychosis happens, and there's no escaping its reality. Will's cherished nine-year-old niece disappears. In order to find her, Will has to abandon just about everything she once held as true about the world, starting with the belief that there's only one world to search. PRAISE FOR THE DARKEST "A page-turner!! 'The Darkest Eyes' combines elements of myth, paranormal phenomena, and scientific theory into a unique tale of adventure and suspense. When young Becky is abducted by aliens, her Aunt Will must finally confront the mysterious, ominous beings who have been a haunting presence throughout her life. In her journey to save her niece, Will crosses portals between Earth, Atlantis, and Hesoa, discovering secrets about herself, her family, and the nature of reality, itself. She encounters magnificent, beautiful, and also horrific marvels along the way, and learns that there’s much more at stake than the life of her niece. Although fiercely independent and self-reliant, Will soon realizes that she isn’t alone on her quest. She has support from friends both old and new in two different worlds, and in the midst of it all, finds herself torn between a man she’s loved for years and another she’s irresistibly drawn toward. Who wouldn't be drawn to Will? She's got it all -- brains, beauty, and the body of an Olympic athlete. Thanks to Mick Brady’s imaginative, exciting storytelling and vivid, descriptive writing style, 'The Darkest Eyes' is sure to appeal to a wide audience. Five stars!!" -- Rita McDonough Jenkins, Boulder Colorado
610 pages, Paperback
Published November 24, 2018
7 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Mick Brady
2 books4 followersMick Brady grew up in Chicago, and spent part of every summer in Wisconsin, so she's a city girl with a strong country streak. She and her eight brothers and sisters were equally at home on the sidewalks and in the woods. Brady earned a BA in political science and an MA in social science from the University of Illinois. She later moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where she earned a BA in drama from UNCA. She taught writing and critical thinking at her alma mater for several years before setting out for California. Brady earned an MFA in screenwriting from the University of Southern California, and she taught writing and critical thinking courses at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Both at UNCA and at Pepperdine, she focused some of her critical thinking courses on UFOs and alien abductions, popular mythology, and paranormal subjects. Brady has worked as an editor in the tech industry for almost 20 years, and she currently serves as managing editor of ECT News Network. She lives in Ventura, California, where she is fortunate to have access to hiking trails in the mountains and bicycle trails along the beach. In addition to writing and promoting her creative work, she fills her free time with gardening, reading, watching movies and TV, and hanging out with family and friends, both virtually and in the real world.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 24, 2019
The Darkest Eyes by Mick Brady can be best described as a cross-genre novel. It involves aliens, puzzle-solving, supernatural threats, and imaginary worlds, thus making it a science fiction, mystery, horror, and fantasy book all at the same time.
The prose is vivid. Despite its length, the intriguing story kept the reader in me hooked to itself. There is not much in terms of suspense since most (if not all) of the turns the plot took were fairly predictable.
The main characters are relatable as far as their human emotions are concerned. They are also well-crafted, giving a sense of fulfilment.
There are a lot of typos in the book. Another round of proof-reading should fix them.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: One time read.
The prose is vivid. Despite its length, the intriguing story kept the reader in me hooked to itself. There is not much in terms of suspense since most (if not all) of the turns the plot took were fairly predictable.
The main characters are relatable as far as their human emotions are concerned. They are also well-crafted, giving a sense of fulfilment.
There are a lot of typos in the book. Another round of proof-reading should fix them.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: One time read.
August 10, 2019
Haunted by little grey men for most of her life, Will Roan sees them not only in her dreams but even when she seems wide awake. Will has always felt a little different and she just can’t seem to “find herself” no matter what she does or tries. She is even unlucky in love, never able to find one, and she can’t hang on to friendships or make connections. But when she travels through a portal to another world, her life suddenly has meaning, and she learns why those little grey men have been hunting her.
The Darkest Eyes is Mick Brady’s debut novel and for a first book, it is well done. I enjoyed reading this novel and the story kept me intrigued. There were places in the book where I could feel the anxiety of the characters and the descriptions made it easy to visualize. The story is well-written with few errors either grammatically or technically.
This is a fairly lengthy book compared to most these days with just over 600 pages. If I have to be critical about anything, perhaps some paring down. Though I can’t recall thinking at any time that anything was unnecessary.
If you like adventure, sci-fi, fantasy, with a little touch of romance, this is a book you’ll want to read.
The Darkest Eyes is Mick Brady’s debut novel and for a first book, it is well done. I enjoyed reading this novel and the story kept me intrigued. There were places in the book where I could feel the anxiety of the characters and the descriptions made it easy to visualize. The story is well-written with few errors either grammatically or technically.
This is a fairly lengthy book compared to most these days with just over 600 pages. If I have to be critical about anything, perhaps some paring down. Though I can’t recall thinking at any time that anything was unnecessary.
If you like adventure, sci-fi, fantasy, with a little touch of romance, this is a book you’ll want to read.
August 23, 2019
A suspenseful and intriguing story filled with interesting characters, lots of action and vivid imagery. It takes you on a journey through time and space between multiple dimensions, each in some way familiar, yet wildly different. It sustained my interest and left me pondering life, humanity and the ultimate fate of mankind. Go for it!
January 17, 2019
In "The Darkest Eyes," Mick Brady tackles the unenviable task of weaving an engaging, believable tapestry from the disparate fibers of fantasy, romance, adventure and yes, a thread or two of horror and humor.
Research-submarine skipper Will Roan seems to be losing her mind episodically, as she encounters what appear to be alien life forms on the ocean floor— frightening monsters that apparently only she can see, and which she has encountered on-and-off since her girlhood. Only now, the gruesome bug-eyed creatures have been stepping up their game, causing Will to botch an important mission for which she can give her superiors no lucid excuse.
While trying desperately to hold on to what she believes is left of her sanity, Will pays a visit home to visit her dying mother, who in her last moments bequeaths Will with a mesmerizing, haunting yet beautifully-fashioned crystal skull. As her mother explains the origin of the skull, and most-importantly — the ultimate task Will must perform with the skull — the adventure begins in earnest.
Before she's done, Will must embark to different worlds in different universes on a quest to solve ancient riddles, right ancient wrongs and to determine the whereabouts of a loved one who's gone suddenly missing, smack-dab into the infinity.
Some of the tropes Brady invokes to tell the story may be familiar to the careful reader, but she spins them freshly, without ever stooping to derivatives. Instead, Brady has crafted a tale with an excellent balance of emotion, wit and character, and with a walloping climax that had this reader swiping the iBook pages late into the night(s).
Research-submarine skipper Will Roan seems to be losing her mind episodically, as she encounters what appear to be alien life forms on the ocean floor— frightening monsters that apparently only she can see, and which she has encountered on-and-off since her girlhood. Only now, the gruesome bug-eyed creatures have been stepping up their game, causing Will to botch an important mission for which she can give her superiors no lucid excuse.
While trying desperately to hold on to what she believes is left of her sanity, Will pays a visit home to visit her dying mother, who in her last moments bequeaths Will with a mesmerizing, haunting yet beautifully-fashioned crystal skull. As her mother explains the origin of the skull, and most-importantly — the ultimate task Will must perform with the skull — the adventure begins in earnest.
Before she's done, Will must embark to different worlds in different universes on a quest to solve ancient riddles, right ancient wrongs and to determine the whereabouts of a loved one who's gone suddenly missing, smack-dab into the infinity.
Some of the tropes Brady invokes to tell the story may be familiar to the careful reader, but she spins them freshly, without ever stooping to derivatives. Instead, Brady has crafted a tale with an excellent balance of emotion, wit and character, and with a walloping climax that had this reader swiping the iBook pages late into the night(s).
May 10, 2020
This book is long, and thank goodness. I was immediately sucked in and never wanted it to end. Even when it did, I was left thoroughly satisfied and still wanting more. The depth of creativity in this story ushered me away into numerous fantastical settings and unleashed several mental and emotional states that I didn't even know existed within me. I became enveloped in experiences that no one on earth has an actual first-hand account of, but now feel as though they are part of my personal history. Mick Brady is an artist with words and challenges readers to understand deep, complex situations with pinpoint language. I can’t wait for more!
December 10, 2018
A Great Read and a Satisfying Adventure!
The Darkest Eyes weaves together elements of myth, paranormal phenomena, and scientific theory into a unique tale of adventure and suspense. When young Becky is abducted by aliens, her Aunt Will must finally confront the mysterious, ominous beings who have been a haunting presence throughout her life. In her journey to save her niece, Will crosses portals between Earth, Atlantis, and Hesoa, discovering secrets about herself, her family, and the nature of reality, itself. She encounters magnificent, beautiful, and also horrific marvels along the way, and learns that there’s much more at stake than the life of her niece.
Although fiercely independent and self-reliant, Will soon realizes that she isn’t alone on her quest. She has support from friends both old and new in two different worlds, and in the midst of it all finds herself torn between a man she’s loved for years and another she’s irresistibly drawn toward.
This novel is a page-turner, thanks to Mick Brady’s imaginative storytelling and vivid, descriptive writing style. It’s sure to appeal to a wide audience.
The Darkest Eyes weaves together elements of myth, paranormal phenomena, and scientific theory into a unique tale of adventure and suspense. When young Becky is abducted by aliens, her Aunt Will must finally confront the mysterious, ominous beings who have been a haunting presence throughout her life. In her journey to save her niece, Will crosses portals between Earth, Atlantis, and Hesoa, discovering secrets about herself, her family, and the nature of reality, itself. She encounters magnificent, beautiful, and also horrific marvels along the way, and learns that there’s much more at stake than the life of her niece.
Although fiercely independent and self-reliant, Will soon realizes that she isn’t alone on her quest. She has support from friends both old and new in two different worlds, and in the midst of it all finds herself torn between a man she’s loved for years and another she’s irresistibly drawn toward.
This novel is a page-turner, thanks to Mick Brady’s imaginative storytelling and vivid, descriptive writing style. It’s sure to appeal to a wide audience.
August 11, 2019
Even reality can be unreal.
I got swept up in (or maybe into) this story and let myself become part of its currents and eddies. Ms Brady has an unusual storytelling style. One I like!
Will Roan is a scientist who finds herself in the most unusual of circumstances following the abduction(?) of her Niece.
There are so many facets to this well-crafted work that it would be difficult to write about them all in this limited space. Suffice to say you will find worlds within worlds within the pages of this book. Your mind will be taken on a roller coaster ride past aliens, crystal skulls, and even Atlantis.
A fine write by someone who is obviously intelligent and intuitive as well as being an excellent wordsmith. I found it to be a “must read” and I recommend it to people of all ages.
John Holland. Author of Mark Taggart and the Circle of Stones, Old Year’s Day and many other books.
I got swept up in (or maybe into) this story and let myself become part of its currents and eddies. Ms Brady has an unusual storytelling style. One I like!
Will Roan is a scientist who finds herself in the most unusual of circumstances following the abduction(?) of her Niece.
There are so many facets to this well-crafted work that it would be difficult to write about them all in this limited space. Suffice to say you will find worlds within worlds within the pages of this book. Your mind will be taken on a roller coaster ride past aliens, crystal skulls, and even Atlantis.
A fine write by someone who is obviously intelligent and intuitive as well as being an excellent wordsmith. I found it to be a “must read” and I recommend it to people of all ages.
John Holland. Author of Mark Taggart and the Circle of Stones, Old Year’s Day and many other books.
August 20, 2019
Little did I know what I was getting myself into.... Mick Brady is a neighbor, so I thought it would be nice to read her "little book", and help her get some sales. I had no idea that I would get sucked into the story so deeply, or that it would affect me so much.
Will has been seeing little grey men since childhood, and thinking that she was losing her mind. She lost her father young, and her mother has been drifting for some time, so Will wonders if her mental state is hereditary. Little does she know that her family is strong in other ways, and that she will stand in the way of possible apocalypse in the near future.
The writing is clear, straightforward. Nothing flowery or awkward. I only caught one or two typos in the advance pdf version. It was pretty well edited and now I have purchased the kindle version so I can share with my family.
Thank you, Mick, for inviting us into your head for a journey to the unknown! You say labeling a book is a way to get it read, so here goes: science-fantasy-romance-adventure. How's that?
Will has been seeing little grey men since childhood, and thinking that she was losing her mind. She lost her father young, and her mother has been drifting for some time, so Will wonders if her mental state is hereditary. Little does she know that her family is strong in other ways, and that she will stand in the way of possible apocalypse in the near future.
The writing is clear, straightforward. Nothing flowery or awkward. I only caught one or two typos in the advance pdf version. It was pretty well edited and now I have purchased the kindle version so I can share with my family.
Thank you, Mick, for inviting us into your head for a journey to the unknown! You say labeling a book is a way to get it read, so here goes: science-fantasy-romance-adventure. How's that?
June 14, 2019
I was hooked as soon as I started reading! The Darkest Eyes checks all of my favorite boxes: science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense. It took turns I didn’t expect, the characters are well developed and relatable. I liked the emotional development that the main characters went through and the spiritual implications, reminding the reader to know his/her own power and utilize it. I don’t know if this was intended or not, but I noticed some correlations to our current state of affairs, possibly some social commentary on our relationship with the environment, which I thought was poignant. I hope this is the start of a series because I’d love to read more!
Want to read
July 31, 2019Netgalley
pub date Nov 21, 2018
rec July 31, 2019
BooksGoSocial
pub date Nov 21, 2018
rec July 31, 2019
BooksGoSocial
August 31, 2019
The book is such a complex piece of work and I am amazed at the skill of the writer. The characters have depth and their emotions are described so vividly. To be sure this is a mix of different genres.
January 7, 2022
Very good. I was lucky to receive a copy for my Little Free Library from the author, Mick Brady. I did not want to story to end!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews