What do you think?
Rate this book
Darkening
Deserted soldiers struggle to accept the violence that surrounds them. A boy wrestles with guilt over the death of his brother. And a man's morality is challenged in the hope of saving his daughter’s life. The men and women found in the stories of Darkening inhabit a world marred by darkness. While each of these characters searches for hope, they must ultimately confront the consequences of their own actions.Darkening is an impressionistic fever dream. Daily conjures a remarkably dark vision, one where we’d be doomed if it weren’t for the faintest glint of light off in the distance, one we still recognize as hope.—Jarret MiddletonAuthor of Darkansas
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 12, 2019
1 person is currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Daily
6 books18 followersBrandon Daily is the author of three novels, 'A Murder Country,' 'The Valley,' and ‘Through the Dark,’ as well as a collection of fiction, 'Darkening.' His fiction, nonfiction, plays, and poetry have appeared in numerous journals and magazines. He is a graduate of Lindenwood University's MFA program. He lives in New England with his family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 5, 2021
I WISH I COULD GIVE THIS A 0 STAR!!!!!
April 20, 2020
I love this collection. Each story gives a distinct, captivating set of characters and conflicts that feel distinctly human and real with a tinge of the mystical. Daily's writing is poetic, moving through different settings and situations with language that takes the reader's hand and spins them through the shadows of middle-America and Appalachia. My personal favorite story is "Loose Stitching."
July 24, 2020
In his best piece yet, Brandon Daily skillfully harvests hope in various flavours from the darkest fields of life; in the same way that Søren Kierkegaard discovered that ‘faith sees best in the dark’ when ‘sagacity cannot see a handbreadth ahead of it,’ so, too, does Daily perceptively unearth the faint glimmer of hope despite the choking grip of pain, suicide, murder, child loss, abandonment, loneliness, and death.
In the mind of Leo Tolstoy, the three qualifications ‘indispensable to a true work of art’ are: ‘(1) a correct, that is, a moral, relation of the author to his subject; (2) perspicuity or beauty of expression (the two are identical); and (3) sincerity, i.e. an unfeigned feeling of love or hatred to the subject depicted.’ Fortunately, Brandon imbues Darkening with all three qualities. The first of which, I will speak of later. The second quality, which normally characterises Daily’s work, is equally present here as it is ever so present in his previous works. Rest assured, his quintessential descriptions so beautifully make their way through the pages, as they should with a voice like Daily’s, like ‘The old man’s voice from inside was quiet and sounded like one of the old records David’s father used to play on the turntable: cracking and popping but still singing a smooth sound that could not be replicated.’ Sincerity, the third qualification to produce a true work of art, is a quality equally if not more abundant than the first two. As a fellow human, Daily experientially knows the pain that is so inextricably bonded to the human experience, so his words are anything but feigned. Present throughout Darkening is his conviction that, in spite of the horror of life, hope is not only recognisable, but also something to be acted on.
In a funeral ceremony, Martin’s apple tree, aflame with his father’s once worn clothing, burns before Martin and his mother, forever serving as a memory of Martin’s first goodbye in life. Yet, ‘many nights, he ends up in front of his father’s tree. The bark is still blackened from the flames all those years ago, and though it has sprouted some leaves, no apples grow from it.’
This humble sprout of green growth on a charred, forever decayed tree, acts as one of the many points through which the thematic thread of hope stitches together the fabric of Daily’s Darkening. A continuation in the thread of hope, Brandon’s ‘Loose Stitching’ is the best short story he has produced thus far. The author subtly reveals the small flame of hope that somehow accompanies incomprehensible suffering, when—just as Eduard’s small lighter quietly illuminates the darkest depths of a once deserted cave devoid of light—the Old Man, though blind himself, gifts David with vision, both of the latter’s brother and role as a healer. Daily answers the question, ‘What must we do with this hope, once it has been found?’ One possible answer is to take an active role in healing others; this process is healing in and of itself.
These improbable green sprouts, lighters, and stitched dolls, all serving as literary manifestations of hope, expectation, and yearning for the Better and the After, reminds me of Daily’s book: Darkening, on my bookshelf, now acts as a tangible symbol of light within the Dark Night of the Soul.
In ‘The After,’ Daily writes, ‘The three often found themselves laughing at each other. Tears would roll down their faces as they laughed, and they would not wipe these tears away, as these moments allowed them to forget their pasts, for the only way to make sense of the world and all of its cruelty and hate is through the stories we tell and the stories we’re told.’
Indeed, stories are one of the best ways to make sense of the world. In Daily’s stories, we begin to see why he writes, or as in the words of Tolstoy, we see clearly the ‘moral relation of the author to his subject.’ We see why his writings have the heavy air of darkness about them: hope cannot be fully seen, understood, or realised in times of brightness.
What an honour it is to have a front row seat to Daily, making sense of his world and all of its cruelty and hate, through the stories he tells and the stories he is told by his characters. Read his stories.
In the mind of Leo Tolstoy, the three qualifications ‘indispensable to a true work of art’ are: ‘(1) a correct, that is, a moral, relation of the author to his subject; (2) perspicuity or beauty of expression (the two are identical); and (3) sincerity, i.e. an unfeigned feeling of love or hatred to the subject depicted.’ Fortunately, Brandon imbues Darkening with all three qualities. The first of which, I will speak of later. The second quality, which normally characterises Daily’s work, is equally present here as it is ever so present in his previous works. Rest assured, his quintessential descriptions so beautifully make their way through the pages, as they should with a voice like Daily’s, like ‘The old man’s voice from inside was quiet and sounded like one of the old records David’s father used to play on the turntable: cracking and popping but still singing a smooth sound that could not be replicated.’ Sincerity, the third qualification to produce a true work of art, is a quality equally if not more abundant than the first two. As a fellow human, Daily experientially knows the pain that is so inextricably bonded to the human experience, so his words are anything but feigned. Present throughout Darkening is his conviction that, in spite of the horror of life, hope is not only recognisable, but also something to be acted on.
In a funeral ceremony, Martin’s apple tree, aflame with his father’s once worn clothing, burns before Martin and his mother, forever serving as a memory of Martin’s first goodbye in life. Yet, ‘many nights, he ends up in front of his father’s tree. The bark is still blackened from the flames all those years ago, and though it has sprouted some leaves, no apples grow from it.’
This humble sprout of green growth on a charred, forever decayed tree, acts as one of the many points through which the thematic thread of hope stitches together the fabric of Daily’s Darkening. A continuation in the thread of hope, Brandon’s ‘Loose Stitching’ is the best short story he has produced thus far. The author subtly reveals the small flame of hope that somehow accompanies incomprehensible suffering, when—just as Eduard’s small lighter quietly illuminates the darkest depths of a once deserted cave devoid of light—the Old Man, though blind himself, gifts David with vision, both of the latter’s brother and role as a healer. Daily answers the question, ‘What must we do with this hope, once it has been found?’ One possible answer is to take an active role in healing others; this process is healing in and of itself.
These improbable green sprouts, lighters, and stitched dolls, all serving as literary manifestations of hope, expectation, and yearning for the Better and the After, reminds me of Daily’s book: Darkening, on my bookshelf, now acts as a tangible symbol of light within the Dark Night of the Soul.
In ‘The After,’ Daily writes, ‘The three often found themselves laughing at each other. Tears would roll down their faces as they laughed, and they would not wipe these tears away, as these moments allowed them to forget their pasts, for the only way to make sense of the world and all of its cruelty and hate is through the stories we tell and the stories we’re told.’
Indeed, stories are one of the best ways to make sense of the world. In Daily’s stories, we begin to see why he writes, or as in the words of Tolstoy, we see clearly the ‘moral relation of the author to his subject.’ We see why his writings have the heavy air of darkness about them: hope cannot be fully seen, understood, or realised in times of brightness.
What an honour it is to have a front row seat to Daily, making sense of his world and all of its cruelty and hate, through the stories he tells and the stories he is told by his characters. Read his stories.
January 12, 2020
An anthology of stories by author Brandon Daily, Darkening is frequently dark but quietly leads its readers onward from dark places to distant light. An officer leaving the prison camp, dreaming the inmate might find him; a survivor wondering if he could have made a difference; a robot pondering memory and love… Male, female, or even mechanical, the voice is convincingly different in each tale, always real, and always evocative and haunting.
The stories in this collection are gently disturbing, as befits the title, but hints of magic and hope, like wisps of clearer mist in fog, drift in and out and through them. Thought-provoking questions arise from curious what-if scenarios. And there’s even a mysteriously involving play in the middle of the book, with a complex novella at the end. “What is living?” asks the refugee hiding from war, and continues, “I miss it.” But this book offers curious insights into both living and the meaning of life. It’s a very cool collection and an enthralling read.
Disclosure: I was given an ecopy and I freely offer my honest review.
The stories in this collection are gently disturbing, as befits the title, but hints of magic and hope, like wisps of clearer mist in fog, drift in and out and through them. Thought-provoking questions arise from curious what-if scenarios. And there’s even a mysteriously involving play in the middle of the book, with a complex novella at the end. “What is living?” asks the refugee hiding from war, and continues, “I miss it.” But this book offers curious insights into both living and the meaning of life. It’s a very cool collection and an enthralling read.
Disclosure: I was given an ecopy and I freely offer my honest review.
May 7, 2020
Darkening has been my go-to book during this quarantined stage of life. As someone who absolutely loves variety, it was perfect for me because of the different short stories. They are eerie, suspenseful, and all brilliantly done. Darkening addresses the evil side of this world...Daily does not shy away from addressing some of life’s most difficult questions. Is it okay to do something bad if it serves the greater good? To what extent should loyalty be practiced when one finds out their sibling has committed a crime and needs help? I love how each story doesn’t hesitate to reveal how hope can combat this turmoil and evil that we all eventually face. Even though I am not one who particularly loves reading, I found myself getting excited to reach for the book and continue reading! Each story brings an unexpected surprise. Each character deals with a lingering emotion such as grief or guilt—yet each of their hearts are connected by a strand of hope.
-Ellie Johnston
A few of my personal favorites from Darkening:
-Avenues
-Eva’s Story
-In the Woods
-De-Programming
-Ellie Johnston
A few of my personal favorites from Darkening:
-Avenues
-Eva’s Story
-In the Woods
-De-Programming
April 14, 2020
The first chapter of this book made me feel very sad. Although I did not explain the reason, I could see that the protagonist was running for his life through the description of the environment. People always in the most dangerous situation will recall their favorite people, and the favorite people are always the most powerful force. I didn't have the same experience as him, but I could understand how important that girl was to him and the strength she gave him. In this case, the person is very strong, the girl is the most soft place in his heart. He could get through the toughest days by recalling the sweet days of his childhood. In order to protect their loved ones, they will have endless power to overcome difficulties.
April 18, 2020
Well based on the cover I thought this was going to be a depressing book that was hard to get through however Brandon Daily’s books have a similar theme in all of them of hope. Specifically in darkening this theme becomes prominent due to the fact that there are so many sad stories. Although the book is filled with the darkness of this world it is not depressing, they are also stories of hope. I love how the book is broken up into many different sections and short stories, it makes it a easy read- I think I finished the book in 3 days. It also makes it easy because there is guaranteed rising action every ten pages. If you’re someone who enjoys shaving all the loose ends mended at the end of a book however this might not be for you as it leaves you without complete answers.
May 21, 2020
Brandon Daily’s Darkening is an exciting work of fiction and shows his range as an author. The book is made up of multiple short stories, a script, and a novella, all of which cover a wide variety of characters and plots. Yet even though all the stories are so different, they are connected by a theme of darkness. The stories contain heartbreak, guilt, sadness, and anger, yet with all the pain there is hope that can be found. Daily wrote each story in such great detail and there is amazing imagery. I loved the different characters and storylines and thought that the book as a whole seemed complete and purposeful even though it was made up of different stories. I truly enjoyed the read and definitely would recommend Darkening to everyone.
December 10, 2020
Darkening is a good book to read because it tells dark stories that give you something to think about. As dark as the book can be it shines light on how important it is to keep hope. Also, we don’t always know why bad things happen to us. It is important not to focus so much on why bad things happen, but more on having hope. On of my favorite stories in Darkening is Avenues. It was good example of having hope because the character in the story wants to know why his brother died and trying to find the answer took over his life. He was stuck in his own darkness and trapped himself with his own questions. Sometimes we are the cause of our own anxieties and fears. We need to remind ourselves that there is hope and not to question things that can’t be answered. Darkening is a great read for when you are trying to find hope.
April 17, 2020
This was a wonderful book to read. Each story has a unique aspect to it, yet all of them tie together with the theme of hope. As you read the book, you get to explore each character’s personality and learn more about them. While I was reading, I felt apart of the book. The book clearly describes the characters feelings as they go through their struggles. Overall, this was a really good book to read. There were a variety of short stories for me to read, and each story had a great way to emphasize hope. I recommend to buy this book because you will not stop being able to read it.
May 21, 2020
Before I began to read Darkening I got a darker vibe from the book. As I began to read it I quickly realized how not all pain has to endure but that there is hope. Each chapter tells a different story each character going through pain but that not all pain has last. The characters each had to confront there own past. For example one of the characters felt a pain from a past friendship but when she faced it made her realize that she had wished she could go back and not avoid it as she had previously felt. Overall this is a great book and I highly recommend it!
April 20, 2020
Darkening was a wonderful book to read. While I read, I felt like I was brought into the stories. Each story was tied together by the theme of finding hope in the darkness. Each character searches for hope in the darkness they face. I enjoyed all the stories that came together to create this book. I recommend buying this book because you will not be able to put it down. This book draws you in with not only the storyline, but the theme of hope in the darkness.
April 21, 2020
It’s a good book that tells many stories that have a running theme of hopelessness, and eventually the theme of hope pulls through to tie the whole book up in a very nice way. I really enjoyed the last story The After, which was a novella, and it had a very touching ending. Overall, the whole book makes you really think about how hope really pulls us out of dark places, and helps us get through them.
May 23, 2020
Darkening was quite an enjoyable read! I do not usually go for thriller type stories, but I cannot complain about this one. I felt as if I was a part of the book because it allowed me to use my imagination at a different level. Of the many short stories told throughout the book the theme remained the same: There is always a light and hope in the darkness. I highly recommend Darkening to readers of all different interests, however be prepared because you are not going to want to put it down!
April 19, 2020
The book is good. The interaction between characters in this book reflected the darkness of this world and humanity. For me, this is a book has many easy words, so I do not need a dictionary with me when I reading it. Hope is the thing pushing people to finish everything, in this book, author use the hope connected with their dream, showing the clear personality of each character.
May 11, 2020
This book is amazing the way the author express and told these short story’s is amazing. The way he could tell the story it makes you think that you are read a whole chapter book because he makes you think and question. I recommend this book to read because you can’t put it down because it’s page draws you in and you can’t stop reading it. Go and buy this book you won’t regret it.
April 9, 2020
It's a very good book, and when I read it it brought me to the scene. I felt like every horrible thing was real. I felt like I could touch it. I like this kind of short story very much, it won't make me feel boring.
December 2, 2020
This is a very easy to understand book. The sentences in the book are very profound. This book is composed of some short stories, each of which is the protagonist who bravely faces the setbacks in life. This book is perfect for reading when you are in a bad mood
April 7, 2020
I really liked this book, it had a lot of suspense. Very edgy for me, and it felt like the whole time I was in the story, it reeled me in! Great job!
November 2, 2020
Was a good book. Wasn’t a favorite
May 25, 2021
This book is very dark and it shows the true darkness of life and the plot is good.
April 17, 2020
This book is written by Brandon daily. This is a collection of novels similar to suspensory fantasy. Although there are many stories and the whole is dark, the author can perfectly express his meaning in a very short space. And these stories all revolve around a center: what is "Hope". Each story doesn't tell us the exact answer, because for us, everyone's pursuit is different. And not all things can be achieved as long as we work hard, but there is no chance without working hard.
April 18, 2020
Interesting book with impressive stories. The endings of all the stories all appear to be unexpectedly darker than the other books I normally read. However, all of them are not so desperate which in case shows us there’s still lights and hopes in life.
February 14, 2020
The stories in Darkening don’t neatly fall into a single genre, with everything from (light) horror to sci-fi represented, and settings in the past, present and future. But there is undoubtedly a unifying theme: the ability of humans to nurture hope in even the darkest of times.
From an old hermit in the woods who, despite being blind, shows a boy how to see beyond the grief and guilt that plague him to find meaning and purpose in life (“Loose Stitching”), to a scientist pushing the limits of what it means to be human in his quest for immortality in order to fulfill a promise to his late wife (“Eva’s Story”), to a man whose unique job puts him in the position of receiving phone calls from beyond the grave (“De-Programming”), Daily explores how humans struggle with the complicated emotions that arise in both extraordinary circumstances as well as from the daily grind of simply being alive.
The collection finishes with the one-two punch of Daily’s award-winning one-act play South of Salvation (first prize, CAST Players One Act Play Festival 2012), and a powerful novella entitled The After, in which three very different people—a young woman, a soldier, and an old man—find themselves together in a cave, shut off from a war raging outside. How did each come to be there, and more curiously, why do none of them leave?
The characters who inhabit Daily’s writing aren’t looking for easy answers, but all are willing to ask the tough questions… and follow where that leads them.
From an old hermit in the woods who, despite being blind, shows a boy how to see beyond the grief and guilt that plague him to find meaning and purpose in life (“Loose Stitching”), to a scientist pushing the limits of what it means to be human in his quest for immortality in order to fulfill a promise to his late wife (“Eva’s Story”), to a man whose unique job puts him in the position of receiving phone calls from beyond the grave (“De-Programming”), Daily explores how humans struggle with the complicated emotions that arise in both extraordinary circumstances as well as from the daily grind of simply being alive.
The collection finishes with the one-two punch of Daily’s award-winning one-act play South of Salvation (first prize, CAST Players One Act Play Festival 2012), and a powerful novella entitled The After, in which three very different people—a young woman, a soldier, and an old man—find themselves together in a cave, shut off from a war raging outside. How did each come to be there, and more curiously, why do none of them leave?
The characters who inhabit Daily’s writing aren’t looking for easy answers, but all are willing to ask the tough questions… and follow where that leads them.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews