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When Darkness Begins
If you could change time to save your first love--even if it meant turning your back on the universe--would you?
It is time for the Vechey youth to earn their place as time-guardians. The near-immortal Vechey protect the universe from the devastating Manipulators--devourers of souls, mindless seekers of chaos. First, the youth must survive a mysterious and deadly ritual created by the all-powerful clan leader Eterili. Having regenerated thousands of times with the birth of each universe, Eterili is taking this one as hers and bending all in it to her grand designs.
Catha's time-slipping skills are underdeveloped. She is time-blind--unable to see through time, unable to protect herself from the ritual. The Vechey shun her for being different. Her parents ignore her as if she were already dead.
Aithagg loves Catha unconditionally and will do anything to save her. He tries desperately to unlock the ritual's mysteries and find a way to help Catha survive with him. Or will saving Catha enable the Manipulators to destroy the universe?
It is time for the Vechey youth to earn their place as time-guardians. The near-immortal Vechey protect the universe from the devastating Manipulators--devourers of souls, mindless seekers of chaos. First, the youth must survive a mysterious and deadly ritual created by the all-powerful clan leader Eterili. Having regenerated thousands of times with the birth of each universe, Eterili is taking this one as hers and bending all in it to her grand designs.
Catha's time-slipping skills are underdeveloped. She is time-blind--unable to see through time, unable to protect herself from the ritual. The Vechey shun her for being different. Her parents ignore her as if she were already dead.
Aithagg loves Catha unconditionally and will do anything to save her. He tries desperately to unlock the ritual's mysteries and find a way to help Catha survive with him. Or will saving Catha enable the Manipulators to destroy the universe?
229 pages, Paperback
Published May 27, 2020
7 people want to read
About the author
Tina O'Hailey
9 books55 followersTina O’Hailey is an animation professor, a caver, and an occasional mapper of grim, wet, twisty caves (if she owes a friend a favor or loses a bet), whose passion is to be secluded on a mountain and to write whilst surrounded by small, furry dogs and hot coffee. Tina was once struck by lightning.
She has served as an artistic trainer for Walt Disney Feature Animation, Dreamworks, and Electronic Arts. Any movie credit she has is minimal and usually found in the special thanks section. The meager credits do not account for the great honor it was to teach talented artists who worked on numerous feature films and games.
She has authored animation textbooks “Rig it Right”, “Hybrid Animation” published by Focal Press, and the Darkness Universe novels “Absolute Darkness”, “When Darkness Begins” published by Black Rose Writing.
Her favorite motorcycle is her BMW R1200C—mathematically perfect for her short legs, turns on a dime, and is the ugliest bike ever.
She has served as an artistic trainer for Walt Disney Feature Animation, Dreamworks, and Electronic Arts. Any movie credit she has is minimal and usually found in the special thanks section. The meager credits do not account for the great honor it was to teach talented artists who worked on numerous feature films and games.
She has authored animation textbooks “Rig it Right”, “Hybrid Animation” published by Focal Press, and the Darkness Universe novels “Absolute Darkness”, “When Darkness Begins” published by Black Rose Writing.
Her favorite motorcycle is her BMW R1200C—mathematically perfect for her short legs, turns on a dime, and is the ugliest bike ever.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 10, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
‘When Darkness Begins’ is a fantasy novel from American-based author, Tina O’Hailey, and it is billed as a prequel to ‘Absolute Darkness’ which I haven’t read. The book is written in the third person and the past tense and we see the action through the eyes of several characters.
It took me a while to realise that Aithagg and Alexander are one and the same. So I was confused during the early part of the story when both were featured in different eras. My second bout of confusion happened when trying to understand the distinction between home-time, main-time and frozen-time but a quick recap of the definitions at the beginning of the book helped in this regard.
There are three types of humanoids alive in this and previous universes: the Linears, who have a limited lifespan, the Vechey, semi-immortal vampires, who can only be killed if their heads are separated from their spines and the Manipulators, who inhabit a host body. The Vechey’s purpose is to protect time for eternity, as the Manipulators continually attempt to distort it by wreaking havoc and destruction.
At the age of fifteen, the young Yechey go through a ritual to enable the strongest to be propelled through time to their own moment where they sync and stay in frozen-time. They draw strength from the earth and travel to main-time to feed on the blood of Linears. If they avoid decapitation, they only die if the universe ends or if their solitude results in madness, as happens to Aithagg’s older brother. Those that bond, continue to go back to home-time to bring up their young.
The matriarch of the Vechey is the all-seeing Aterili, a malodorous, ancient being. We meet Aithagg’s parents and the love of his life, Catha, who cannot develop the gifts she will need to survive the ritual and thereafter become his companion through the centuries. Aithagg knows this and uses his skills in an attempt to alter the outcome.
These well-defined characters play their part in delivering an absorbing tale. The main theme is good versus evil and we witness a whole raft of emotions as their experiences unfold. Aithagg and Catha are the focus and their love story will melt the heart of the most critical of reviewers.
Jumping around in time is a difficult concept for an author to convey and the reader to comprehend, but I think the strength of the story outweighs any niggles which might arise around the abstract ideas on offer.
In the first part of the story, there is more description than dialogue but within this framework, it works well. We get to know and empathise with the characters through their thoughts and life events. We know these vampires are nocturnal cave-dwellers and therefore the author didn’t have much in the way of landscapes to use as backdrops for her scenes but the fast-paced plot didn’t suffer as a result of this.
I enjoyed this unusual book which captured my imagination as the most innovative vampire story I have read to date. I congratulate the author and award five stars.
‘When Darkness Begins’ is a fantasy novel from American-based author, Tina O’Hailey, and it is billed as a prequel to ‘Absolute Darkness’ which I haven’t read. The book is written in the third person and the past tense and we see the action through the eyes of several characters.
It took me a while to realise that Aithagg and Alexander are one and the same. So I was confused during the early part of the story when both were featured in different eras. My second bout of confusion happened when trying to understand the distinction between home-time, main-time and frozen-time but a quick recap of the definitions at the beginning of the book helped in this regard.
There are three types of humanoids alive in this and previous universes: the Linears, who have a limited lifespan, the Vechey, semi-immortal vampires, who can only be killed if their heads are separated from their spines and the Manipulators, who inhabit a host body. The Vechey’s purpose is to protect time for eternity, as the Manipulators continually attempt to distort it by wreaking havoc and destruction.
At the age of fifteen, the young Yechey go through a ritual to enable the strongest to be propelled through time to their own moment where they sync and stay in frozen-time. They draw strength from the earth and travel to main-time to feed on the blood of Linears. If they avoid decapitation, they only die if the universe ends or if their solitude results in madness, as happens to Aithagg’s older brother. Those that bond, continue to go back to home-time to bring up their young.
The matriarch of the Vechey is the all-seeing Aterili, a malodorous, ancient being. We meet Aithagg’s parents and the love of his life, Catha, who cannot develop the gifts she will need to survive the ritual and thereafter become his companion through the centuries. Aithagg knows this and uses his skills in an attempt to alter the outcome.
These well-defined characters play their part in delivering an absorbing tale. The main theme is good versus evil and we witness a whole raft of emotions as their experiences unfold. Aithagg and Catha are the focus and their love story will melt the heart of the most critical of reviewers.
Jumping around in time is a difficult concept for an author to convey and the reader to comprehend, but I think the strength of the story outweighs any niggles which might arise around the abstract ideas on offer.
In the first part of the story, there is more description than dialogue but within this framework, it works well. We get to know and empathise with the characters through their thoughts and life events. We know these vampires are nocturnal cave-dwellers and therefore the author didn’t have much in the way of landscapes to use as backdrops for her scenes but the fast-paced plot didn’t suffer as a result of this.
I enjoyed this unusual book which captured my imagination as the most innovative vampire story I have read to date. I congratulate the author and award five stars.
May 24, 2020
Having thoroughly enjoyed the first 'Darkness Universe' novel, Absolute Darkness, I jumped at the chance to read When Darkness Begins. It's probably best described as a prequel, although it's soon obvious that this is not a series which follows a straightforward timeline. Therefore, Brandy - a major character in the previous book - still features a little here, even though the story is mostly concerned with Alexander's past.
When Alexander was young, he was called Aithagg and the main narrative of When Darkness Begins is concerned with his teenage years. Aithagg is a Vechey, a near-immortal being who can see and pass through time. The Vechey are tasked with protecting the world from the Manipulators - malevolent beings who exist with the overwhelming drive to destroy time. Manipulators must live a linear life but they are energy beings with the ability to move hosts after the body they inhabit has been killed. Humans are known to the Vechey as Linears and are a useful source of food - but more of that later.
As a young Vechey, Aithagg lives with his parents in what is known as their Home-Time, where the Vechey's founder, Eterili brings her tribe to grow their young and prepare them for their ritual which will lead each of them to their individual frozen times. Being a Vechey sounds a rather lonely existence but some bond before the ritual which allows them to be pushed to the same Frozen-Time. The young Aithagg is an inquisitive young man who is described by others as an old soul. He quickly realises that his friend, Catha isn't like him and she doesn't have the same abilities as most of their peers.
There's a rather tragic inevitability to When Darkness Begins as it becomes evident that Catha is unlikely to survive the ritual but even if she does, her time with Aithagg is likely to be short. Their relationship quickly moves from friendship to love and although they are very young, it's a convincing partnership built on trust. Meanwhile, in Main-Time (our time), Alexander is still trying to protect Brandy; this links directly to events which occurred in Absolute Darkness but they are fully explained here so readers can approach these novels in either order.
Although it may seem a complicated concept - and it's certainly complex - When Darkness Begins isn't difficult to understand and there is a helpful guide to the various times at the start of the book. It doesn't necessarily all make sense at the start but gradually everything is explained. The plotting here is really quite clever and there are some surprises I didn't expect at all. Aithagg/Alexander is a fantastic character and I loved that even though I had become invested in his relationship with Brandy in Absolute Darkness, I still cared about Catha and found myself desperately hoping that things could perhaps work out for them.
The Vechey and Manipulators are such imaginative creations and it's a really interesting - and slightly unsettling - idea to think that there are beings who are effectively in control of our lives. I'm particularly intrigued by the similarity of Vechey to vampires - they feed on the blood of Linears (although don't have to kill them) for energy and are destroyed by sunlight. There are a few mentions of fangs here too, especially with regards to Eterili - who it must be said is a truly disturbing figure! The fascinating world Tina O'Hailey has invented is vividly described and though obviously fantasy, it is somehow believable. I'm really looking forward to discovering what else lies in store for Alexander but really enjoyed this invaluable look at his past, and the history of his people. Ingenious, offbeat and engaging - I'm definitely a fan of this series.
When Alexander was young, he was called Aithagg and the main narrative of When Darkness Begins is concerned with his teenage years. Aithagg is a Vechey, a near-immortal being who can see and pass through time. The Vechey are tasked with protecting the world from the Manipulators - malevolent beings who exist with the overwhelming drive to destroy time. Manipulators must live a linear life but they are energy beings with the ability to move hosts after the body they inhabit has been killed. Humans are known to the Vechey as Linears and are a useful source of food - but more of that later.
As a young Vechey, Aithagg lives with his parents in what is known as their Home-Time, where the Vechey's founder, Eterili brings her tribe to grow their young and prepare them for their ritual which will lead each of them to their individual frozen times. Being a Vechey sounds a rather lonely existence but some bond before the ritual which allows them to be pushed to the same Frozen-Time. The young Aithagg is an inquisitive young man who is described by others as an old soul. He quickly realises that his friend, Catha isn't like him and she doesn't have the same abilities as most of their peers.
There's a rather tragic inevitability to When Darkness Begins as it becomes evident that Catha is unlikely to survive the ritual but even if she does, her time with Aithagg is likely to be short. Their relationship quickly moves from friendship to love and although they are very young, it's a convincing partnership built on trust. Meanwhile, in Main-Time (our time), Alexander is still trying to protect Brandy; this links directly to events which occurred in Absolute Darkness but they are fully explained here so readers can approach these novels in either order.
Although it may seem a complicated concept - and it's certainly complex - When Darkness Begins isn't difficult to understand and there is a helpful guide to the various times at the start of the book. It doesn't necessarily all make sense at the start but gradually everything is explained. The plotting here is really quite clever and there are some surprises I didn't expect at all. Aithagg/Alexander is a fantastic character and I loved that even though I had become invested in his relationship with Brandy in Absolute Darkness, I still cared about Catha and found myself desperately hoping that things could perhaps work out for them.
The Vechey and Manipulators are such imaginative creations and it's a really interesting - and slightly unsettling - idea to think that there are beings who are effectively in control of our lives. I'm particularly intrigued by the similarity of Vechey to vampires - they feed on the blood of Linears (although don't have to kill them) for energy and are destroyed by sunlight. There are a few mentions of fangs here too, especially with regards to Eterili - who it must be said is a truly disturbing figure! The fascinating world Tina O'Hailey has invented is vividly described and though obviously fantasy, it is somehow believable. I'm really looking forward to discovering what else lies in store for Alexander but really enjoyed this invaluable look at his past, and the history of his people. Ingenious, offbeat and engaging - I'm definitely a fan of this series.
May 22, 2020
I love any books with elements of time travel and vampires, so When Darkness Begins was a 'must-read' for me! While it is YA, it's unlike anything I've read in the YA (or vampire) genre before. I haven't read the other book in the series, Absolute Darkness.
In When Darkness Begins, Tina has created a vast and immersive world. It's full of a rich history and lore that is incredibly believable. I was a little worried from the explanations at the start that this might be too complicated - that it would be hard to keep track of what was going on - but once I started reading the story this wasn't the case at all.
The story itself follows several timelines, that weave between each other as the book goes on. The story is well-paced, switching between the points of view of several key characters - Alexander, Icaeph, Aithagg and Catha. I loved the way that the stories came together.
There is a lot of love and romance in this book. The love of Aithagg's parents, who have been together for 27,000 years (wow!), and the love of Catha's parents who are heartbroken after losing many of their children. The love between Alexander and Brandy and between Aithagg and Catha — both of which are short and fleeting love. While we only 'know' them both for a short time, my heart broke for both couples.
The character I am still unsure of is Eterili. On the one hand, she is the first Vechey, she called them to her and created their hometime, where they could be safe and come together. But on the other, she is very powerful and has a lot of control over their lives. She always tells the Vechey that 'this is the way', but is it? Or is it just her way, how she envisions that the world should be? She seems truly immortal and felt like a ominous presence, especially towards the end of the book. I found her quite unsettling but fascinating at the same time.
This was such a brilliant read. I really enjoyed it and I am going to be reading the next one. The ending was just beautiful. "There is no nothingness... There is only oneness of everything." It was so unexpected but made so much sense. If you love books on time travel or time travel theories, then you absolutely must read this!
In When Darkness Begins, Tina has created a vast and immersive world. It's full of a rich history and lore that is incredibly believable. I was a little worried from the explanations at the start that this might be too complicated - that it would be hard to keep track of what was going on - but once I started reading the story this wasn't the case at all.
The story itself follows several timelines, that weave between each other as the book goes on. The story is well-paced, switching between the points of view of several key characters - Alexander, Icaeph, Aithagg and Catha. I loved the way that the stories came together.
There is a lot of love and romance in this book. The love of Aithagg's parents, who have been together for 27,000 years (wow!), and the love of Catha's parents who are heartbroken after losing many of their children. The love between Alexander and Brandy and between Aithagg and Catha — both of which are short and fleeting love. While we only 'know' them both for a short time, my heart broke for both couples.
The character I am still unsure of is Eterili. On the one hand, she is the first Vechey, she called them to her and created their hometime, where they could be safe and come together. But on the other, she is very powerful and has a lot of control over their lives. She always tells the Vechey that 'this is the way', but is it? Or is it just her way, how she envisions that the world should be? She seems truly immortal and felt like a ominous presence, especially towards the end of the book. I found her quite unsettling but fascinating at the same time.
This was such a brilliant read. I really enjoyed it and I am going to be reading the next one. The ending was just beautiful. "There is no nothingness... There is only oneness of everything." It was so unexpected but made so much sense. If you love books on time travel or time travel theories, then you absolutely must read this!
April 14, 2020
Tina O’Hailey created a unique and original take on Vampires and time travel in her novel, Absolute Darkness. Now, in her second novel in this series, When Darkness Begins, she does something even more unique: write a prequel that deepens the reader’s understanding of the characters and the world she introduced in her first novel, but one that can be read as a stand-alone story. It takes rare talent to pull that trick off, but O’Hailey has it. When Darkness Begins is much, much more than just another vampire novel - far from it. Her story contains multiple layers that appeals to readers of every age. It has a doomed romance, a coming of age story, nuanced characters dealing with moral quandaries, and themes that address questions philosophers and scientists have debated for centuries: How do we define good and evil? What is the nature of time? What is the meaning of existence in a universe filled with suffering and loss? Is there an afterlife and what would it look like, and how would immortality change us as a species? All in a fast paced tale, told from the point of view of a variety of characters, one that ended far too soon for my taste. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
August 13, 2021
I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. When I started to ready this book and thought about the timeline I did not dawn on me right way that it was a prequel. I guess since it was not set in the same time as Absolute Darkness that I did not know that Aithagg and Alexander was until I was almost done with the book. It was just as amazing as the other book. I like the theme of playing with time and doing for the benefit of all even if that is not how it all comes off. It kept me wondering and I started to put things together.
April 30, 2020
Excellently written. O'Hailey's prose allows you to marvel at the capabilities of the Vechey, yet humbles them when she shows you how human they are. Aithagg and Catha's relationship delivers a great emotional arc about love and loss, and the inevitability of death, even for those who die more than once. I'm eager for more!
May 11, 2020
Tina O'Hailey writes a terrific story. While it is not necessarily a genre I read or write in, I found it to be engrossing. Her setting and characters are vivid, imaginative, and these are the elements that propel the story forward. Her word choice is magnificent. As a reader, I found myself "there"! As a writer, I find myself envious of her ability. The phrase "writing prowess" comes to mind.
This is the second book I have read from this author. The first, Absolute Darkness, was a winner from start to finish. I have come to the conclusion that I need to read more from her. So, when is the next one coming? This reader can't wait!
This is the second book I have read from this author. The first, Absolute Darkness, was a winner from start to finish. I have come to the conclusion that I need to read more from her. So, when is the next one coming? This reader can't wait!
August 2, 2020
If you loved ABSOLUTE DARKNESS by Tina O’Hailey, then its predecessor WHEN DARKNESS BEGINS is a must-read! This intricately detailed tale goes to the root of the story of Alexander and explains the beginnings of his vampire-like people, the Vechey, and the complexities of their way of life. I was enthralled with learning of Alexander’s background, including the stories of his creator, the fate of his sibling, the dark presence of the ever-present Manipulator, and especially his fiercely loyal spirit as he experiences his first love despite the rejection and despair of her family and the tribe because she was ‘different'. Alexander doesn’t ask her to conform but accepts and loves her because of her uniqueness, something we should all learn to do. WHEN DARKNESS BEGINS is a quick read with an underlying theme of hope, love, and acceptance intermixed with a compelling dark passion of paranormal fantasy that captures you from the start. This is one to put on your to-read list!
March 14, 2026
For readers who enjoy fantasy stories filled with mystery, adventure, and supernatural elements, this novel offers an intriguing journey into a world where stepping beyond the ordinary may change everything.
May 28, 2020
When Darkness Begins is a mesmerizing story about love, loss, and the power of time. A unique fantasy story that will have you looking in the shadows for beings who can leap through time with a mere thought.
The Vechey are unique creatures who ensure the sanctity of the timeline and prevent Manipulators from changing events that happen along with it. They are vampire-like in their need to feed on Linearers (that is you and me) and their avoidance of the sun. But unlike traditional vampires, they can see and travel through time. Being born to Vechey parents does not guarantee that you have the necessary powers. To test that, at the age of 15, all Vechey must go through a secret ritual led by Eterili, the clan leader.
Eterili talks about herself much as God does in Revelations. She refers to herself as “I am” and “The Alpha and the Omega.” But that is where the resemblance to the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim God ends unless you look at the Vechey as angels. They do resemble angels in their otherworldliness but not in their need to feed on humans. The comparisons are very intriguing, though, and add a whole different dimension to the story.
I love the relationship between Aithagg and Catha, which was the predominant plotline in the story. It is so pure and innocent. They will do anything for each other, and that is clear from the beginning. Their love is unconditional and absolute. But can it stand the test? This is the question that had me turning pages quickly until I learned the answer.
To Read or Not to Read
If you are looking for a unique fantasy story that is mesmerizing and poignant, you will want to pick up this book. You will fall instantly in love with Aithagg and Catha and will be drawn to learn what happens to them.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Vechey are unique creatures who ensure the sanctity of the timeline and prevent Manipulators from changing events that happen along with it. They are vampire-like in their need to feed on Linearers (that is you and me) and their avoidance of the sun. But unlike traditional vampires, they can see and travel through time. Being born to Vechey parents does not guarantee that you have the necessary powers. To test that, at the age of 15, all Vechey must go through a secret ritual led by Eterili, the clan leader.
Eterili talks about herself much as God does in Revelations. She refers to herself as “I am” and “The Alpha and the Omega.” But that is where the resemblance to the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim God ends unless you look at the Vechey as angels. They do resemble angels in their otherworldliness but not in their need to feed on humans. The comparisons are very intriguing, though, and add a whole different dimension to the story.
I love the relationship between Aithagg and Catha, which was the predominant plotline in the story. It is so pure and innocent. They will do anything for each other, and that is clear from the beginning. Their love is unconditional and absolute. But can it stand the test? This is the question that had me turning pages quickly until I learned the answer.
To Read or Not to Read
If you are looking for a unique fantasy story that is mesmerizing and poignant, you will want to pick up this book. You will fall instantly in love with Aithagg and Catha and will be drawn to learn what happens to them.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2020
When Darkness Begins is a captivating journey where time itself becomes a central character. The Vechey – who share more than a few traits with vampires – are charged with the eternal task of preserving time from those who wish to destroy it. But despite this all-important task, the Vechey still feel human emotions and at least one will risk all for love. When Darkness Begins works on multiple levels, extending beyond the bounds of fantasy with a gentle heart at its center.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews