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Nightmareland Chronicles #1
Nightfall
"Tomorrow died on the last morning of May. There were those who saw it happen, who watched the shadow fall, who felt the chop of the guillotine as the world lost its head. Everyone else witnessed only the aftermath, for the event itself lasted no longer than a moment. They stepped outside from windowless rooms, they climbed up from crowded subways, they pulled back the blinds to let in the sun, and found the nightmare waiting for them."
But the dark is only the beginning.
Nightfall is the first volume of the Nightmareland Chronicles, an ongoing serialized adventure horror epic following one man's journey to reach his estranged daughter in a world claimed by eternal night.
But the dark is only the beginning.
Nightfall is the first volume of the Nightmareland Chronicles, an ongoing serialized adventure horror epic following one man's journey to reach his estranged daughter in a world claimed by eternal night.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2020
50 people are currently reading
1175 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Barnett
15 books258 followersDaniel Barnett lives in Portland, Oregon and is a lover of stories--especially ones where things go bump in the night. His work has appeared in Crowded Magazine, and his short story The Sadie Hawkins placed in the top 6 for the 2015 Aeon Award. When he isn't writing or reading, he's discussing fiction with others. Whether they want to or not.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
November 7, 2024
*Re-read via audiobook 11/3/24-11/4/24.
The narrator, Adam Gold, performed admirably and I especially liked his voicing of John Hawthorne. There were also a few effects to the audio that I think enhanced the story. For these reasons, I rated this the full five stars.*
My original review:
Picking up Nightfall with no idea what was in store turned out to be an excellent decision. In this novella sized tidbit, Daniel Barnett did everything he needed to do to ensure I would continue reading this series. Well freaking done, sir. Well done!
I was sucked in right from the moment the sun went out. That's not the only issue though, and that's where my curiosity was piqued. Some people lost it when the sun went out. Some people are dancing naked in their front yards. Some people are staring off into space. Some people are killing themselves. Why? Usually this is where I would say, you'll have to read this to find out. This time I'm saying you'll have to read this and continue on with the series to find out and that's exactly what I'm going to do.
Lastly, I'm interested in reading more of this author's writing. Some phrases really stuck with me, but not only that, the writing itself is far above the level I was expecting. For me, writing that is vivid and descriptive can be a treat on its own, over and above pushing the narrative forward and that is what I've found here. (In my mind, I'm thinking of Shirley Jackson and how her word choices and descriptive talents added more to the story of Hill House, over and above the narrative itself. "...whatever walked there, walked alone.")
Nightfall is impressive in its prose and in its vision. I can't wait to see what happens next!
*I was provided a paperback ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
**Further, I've chatted with this author several times over the last year or two and consider him a friend. Even further, I am hosting a read-along at Goodreads of this book, and if there is interest, the entire series, one book per month. Feel free to find and join us at Horror Aficionados on Goodreads.**
The narrator, Adam Gold, performed admirably and I especially liked his voicing of John Hawthorne. There were also a few effects to the audio that I think enhanced the story. For these reasons, I rated this the full five stars.*
My original review:
Picking up Nightfall with no idea what was in store turned out to be an excellent decision. In this novella sized tidbit, Daniel Barnett did everything he needed to do to ensure I would continue reading this series. Well freaking done, sir. Well done!
I was sucked in right from the moment the sun went out. That's not the only issue though, and that's where my curiosity was piqued. Some people lost it when the sun went out. Some people are dancing naked in their front yards. Some people are staring off into space. Some people are killing themselves. Why? Usually this is where I would say, you'll have to read this to find out. This time I'm saying you'll have to read this and continue on with the series to find out and that's exactly what I'm going to do.
Lastly, I'm interested in reading more of this author's writing. Some phrases really stuck with me, but not only that, the writing itself is far above the level I was expecting. For me, writing that is vivid and descriptive can be a treat on its own, over and above pushing the narrative forward and that is what I've found here. (In my mind, I'm thinking of Shirley Jackson and how her word choices and descriptive talents added more to the story of Hill House, over and above the narrative itself. "...whatever walked there, walked alone.")
Nightfall is impressive in its prose and in its vision. I can't wait to see what happens next!
*I was provided a paperback ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
**Further, I've chatted with this author several times over the last year or two and consider him a friend. Even further, I am hosting a read-along at Goodreads of this book, and if there is interest, the entire series, one book per month. Feel free to find and join us at Horror Aficionados on Goodreads.**
April 22, 2025
Excellently written and very engrossing.
"Tomorrow died on the last morning of May. There were those who saw it happen, who watched the shadow fall, who felt the chop of the guillotine as the world lost its head. Everyone else witnessed only the aftermath, for the event itself lasted no longer than a moment. They stepped outside from windowless rooms, they climbed up from crowded subways, they pulled back the blinds to let in the sun, and found the nightmare waiting for them.
John Hawthorne saw it happen."
Daniel Barnett has a gift for setting the atmosphere with his words.
Really, the only irreconcilable tidbit was the reaction of most people to the event that happened. I found it hard to accept that many people would react the way they did. Nevertheless, I am eagerly waiting to continue on with this series. I've become a fan! Highly recommended.
"But he had never believed the world to be practical. Earth was a mudball hurtling through space, and all mud had something blind and slithery and rotten under its surface. You only had to dig deep enough to find it. Humans, living under the sun . . . they held onto this conviction that the universe was a warm, benevolent place, that it obeyed some kind of order. That was the real insanity to John. To stand in the light and forget that the dark exists. To convince yourself that, simply because you could not see something, it could not see you. If the universe had a mind, it was fishbelly white and utterly mad. The mind of an angler, raised and nurtured in endless night. Because night was the natural state of the universe, the cold, cold truth behind the bright lie told by the sun as it looked over the horizon. The universe was darkness—that was the truth—and the stars were nothing more than little lanterns floating in the black trench of space. Bright, welcoming lures, hiding daggered jaws."
Read I: 2022
Read II: 2025
"Tomorrow died on the last morning of May. There were those who saw it happen, who watched the shadow fall, who felt the chop of the guillotine as the world lost its head. Everyone else witnessed only the aftermath, for the event itself lasted no longer than a moment. They stepped outside from windowless rooms, they climbed up from crowded subways, they pulled back the blinds to let in the sun, and found the nightmare waiting for them.
John Hawthorne saw it happen."
Daniel Barnett has a gift for setting the atmosphere with his words.
"John’s voice had changed, and whatever Nicholas heard in it sent him running—falling—down the embankment. He mounted his bike, sped off without a backwards glance, and was gone.The characters are well thought out and quite deep with the introspection. The plotline unfurls slowly like a mist gathering at dusk trickling in, leaving the reader wanting more from the terrifying world-building and vision of an apocalypse. The pacing seems feverish and urgent while slow and lumbering in alternating pulses.
John Hawthorne remained standing on the rise. That was the fact of him, perhaps more than anything else: he remained. He stared down at the marker between his feet, at the name scratched crudely into its iron-gray surface. Theo had been a good dog. They had gotten on well, mostly. But in the end, Theo had been his son’s. Every bone in Theo’s body, and bones were all that was left now, had belonged without question to a sixteen-year old boy named Trevor Hawthorne. John closed his eyes. He could not call up the memory of that night twenty years ago. The memory was gone, had never been. And yet he could feel it all the same. Woods moaning in a howling wind. Branches creaking under a frosted white moon.
There are things the brain forgets, but the blood remembers.
Oh, the blood remembers.
He raised his head, opened his eyes to the day, and the winter he carried inside settled back into his marrow. The sun laid a warm hand on his cheeks, his brow. It was the last time the sun would touch him. He stood there, looking east from his high place in the San Gabriels, breathing in a wind that smelled of last year’s wildfires, of smoke and cinder and destruction. He stood there, at 7:47 a.m., on the precipice of a great and terrible journey that would take him across a hollowed, gutted America, a nightmareland born on the grave of a sane world.
He stood there in the light.
And then he stood there in the dark."
Really, the only irreconcilable tidbit was the reaction of most people to the event that happened. I found it hard to accept that many people would react the way they did. Nevertheless, I am eagerly waiting to continue on with this series. I've become a fan! Highly recommended.
"But he had never believed the world to be practical. Earth was a mudball hurtling through space, and all mud had something blind and slithery and rotten under its surface. You only had to dig deep enough to find it. Humans, living under the sun . . . they held onto this conviction that the universe was a warm, benevolent place, that it obeyed some kind of order. That was the real insanity to John. To stand in the light and forget that the dark exists. To convince yourself that, simply because you could not see something, it could not see you. If the universe had a mind, it was fishbelly white and utterly mad. The mind of an angler, raised and nurtured in endless night. Because night was the natural state of the universe, the cold, cold truth behind the bright lie told by the sun as it looked over the horizon. The universe was darkness—that was the truth—and the stars were nothing more than little lanterns floating in the black trench of space. Bright, welcoming lures, hiding daggered jaws."
Read I: 2022
Read II: 2025
February 7, 2022
4/4.5 stars
Great start to a mysterious plot with a post-apocalyptic theme!
The writing is well done and flows throughout the book. Wonderfully flawed characters adds to the series along with scenes of what happens to society when the lights go out.
Looking forward to the next book along with the rest of the series. I can’t wait to find out what’s making everything dark!
Great start to a mysterious plot with a post-apocalyptic theme!
The writing is well done and flows throughout the book. Wonderfully flawed characters adds to the series along with scenes of what happens to society when the lights go out.
Looking forward to the next book along with the rest of the series. I can’t wait to find out what’s making everything dark!
July 28, 2022
It's not often a book makes me speechless and especially in so few pages, but this one…hooooooooooo buddy! I don't have a clue what's going on, but dammit, I cannot wait to find out.
Simply put, this book is amazingly written, super fresh with the horror and suspense and leaves you almost desperate for more. With such a low page count it's astounding what all the author has done here, honestly.
Simply put, this book is amazingly written, super fresh with the horror and suspense and leaves you almost desperate for more. With such a low page count it's astounding what all the author has done here, honestly.
February 2, 2022
Volume 1 sets the hook! Very dark and mysterious beginning to this series of short books. Looking forward to picking up volume 2.
January 8, 2025
Nightfall is an excellent post-apocalyptic novella, it is one for if you are looking for a quick dose of, well-written, horror. Intriguing that it is the start of a six-part series. It is interesting to think that the horror-filled moments within this story are, quite literally, only the beginning of what’s to come.
This is the story of John Hawthorne, and a world that has been plunged into eternal darkness. The night is in control.
”Tomorrow died on the last morning of May.
There were those who saw it happen, who watched the shadow fall, who felt the chop of the guillotine as the world lost its head.
Everyone else witnessed only the aftermath, for the event itself lasted no longer than a moment. They stepped outside from windowless rooms, they climbed up from crowded subways, they pulled back the blinds to let in the sun, and found the nightmare waiting for them.”
But the dark is only the beginning.
4 Stars
This is the story of John Hawthorne, and a world that has been plunged into eternal darkness. The night is in control.
”Tomorrow died on the last morning of May.
There were those who saw it happen, who watched the shadow fall, who felt the chop of the guillotine as the world lost its head.
Everyone else witnessed only the aftermath, for the event itself lasted no longer than a moment. They stepped outside from windowless rooms, they climbed up from crowded subways, they pulled back the blinds to let in the sun, and found the nightmare waiting for them.”
But the dark is only the beginning.
4 Stars
September 24, 2024
REREAD EDIT: the audiobook is outstanding. Adam Gold brought so much ambiance and depth to this story that made it impactful and incredible - the essence of what this must have felt like to the characters was made so real!
This book was fascinating. I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't reading a Stephen King novel - it was THAT good! Daniel Barnett is a wordsmith. His writing style was so descriptive that I could literally "see" and "feel" what the characters were experiencing...their fear was made real to me.
Please visit this link on my channel for more thoughts! https://youtu.be/hbS_gsJgfh8
This book was fascinating. I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't reading a Stephen King novel - it was THAT good! Daniel Barnett is a wordsmith. His writing style was so descriptive that I could literally "see" and "feel" what the characters were experiencing...their fear was made real to me.
Please visit this link on my channel for more thoughts! https://youtu.be/hbS_gsJgfh8
September 16, 2019
When reading I often imagine songs or albums that would fit within the narrative’s landscape — a soundtrack, of sorts. Nightmareland, an upcoming series of short novels from ace horror writer Daniel Barnett, is a nightmarish story of an apocalyptic hellscape, and the song that kept playing in my head as I read volume one was Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place”, a dreary and ice-cold track that is stunningly beautiful in its otherworldliness. That is this novella: stunningly beautiful.
I connected rather quickly to the characters in this, and I felt for their situation, which is good — its rather important for the writer to grab the reader from the start, especially in a work as short as this. Barnett does just that. The “new world” these strangers and friends are facing is sufficiently creepy, and unsettling, and mysterious. I certainly can’t wait to experience volume two.
My only complaint is the use of a certain trope that is often seen in post-apocalyptic fiction; when I spotted this trope I actually groaned out loud. I suspect this author will do something interesting with it, though — I certainly hope so anyway!
My thanks to the author for the ARC, which was given in exchange for an honest review.
I connected rather quickly to the characters in this, and I felt for their situation, which is good — its rather important for the writer to grab the reader from the start, especially in a work as short as this. Barnett does just that. The “new world” these strangers and friends are facing is sufficiently creepy, and unsettling, and mysterious. I certainly can’t wait to experience volume two.
My only complaint is the use of a certain trope that is often seen in post-apocalyptic fiction; when I spotted this trope I actually groaned out loud. I suspect this author will do something interesting with it, though — I certainly hope so anyway!
My thanks to the author for the ARC, which was given in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2023
“There are things the brain forgets, but the blood remembers.”
“Whatever this was, it was not morning anymore. That word has been buried. One more grave, one more tombstone.”
Daniel Barnett’s Nightfall might be small in page number, but those pages pack more intrigue and atmosphere than I have seen in many tomes of novels. His captivating and poetic writing, mastery of human emotion in character depth, and ability to create something eerie without concrete explanation makes the pages fly by and leaves the reader trusting in Barnett’s skill to bring us along on a journey that has thrillingly teased us with what might yet unfold as to who these characters truly are and what event has left the world in its bleak condition. I loved the author’s note at the end of the book as well, such a fantastic way of creating more excitement about continuing with the series and gives a little tongue-in-cheek pat on the back to the fact that we are wondering what on earth these words just painted before us.
“The universe was darkness – that was the truth – and the stars were nothing more than little lanterns floating in the black trench of space. Bright, welcoming lures, hiding daggered jaws.”
“With John Hawthorne, you could always expect a little blood.”
“The thing she liked most about Led Zeppelin was that if you stripped away the frills, their music was all about going places. About adventures in strange lands, journeys steeped in danger and excitement and myth. Tolkien’s Gollum. Thor’s hammer. Valhalla and Mordor and days of old. It was impossible to listen to them and not want to get up and go, never mind the distance or the outcome; their songs were made for open roads and far off horizons.”
“It is a mercy that we cannot see what waits down the road.”
“Whatever this was, it was not morning anymore. That word has been buried. One more grave, one more tombstone.”
Daniel Barnett’s Nightfall might be small in page number, but those pages pack more intrigue and atmosphere than I have seen in many tomes of novels. His captivating and poetic writing, mastery of human emotion in character depth, and ability to create something eerie without concrete explanation makes the pages fly by and leaves the reader trusting in Barnett’s skill to bring us along on a journey that has thrillingly teased us with what might yet unfold as to who these characters truly are and what event has left the world in its bleak condition. I loved the author’s note at the end of the book as well, such a fantastic way of creating more excitement about continuing with the series and gives a little tongue-in-cheek pat on the back to the fact that we are wondering what on earth these words just painted before us.
“The universe was darkness – that was the truth – and the stars were nothing more than little lanterns floating in the black trench of space. Bright, welcoming lures, hiding daggered jaws.”
“With John Hawthorne, you could always expect a little blood.”
“The thing she liked most about Led Zeppelin was that if you stripped away the frills, their music was all about going places. About adventures in strange lands, journeys steeped in danger and excitement and myth. Tolkien’s Gollum. Thor’s hammer. Valhalla and Mordor and days of old. It was impossible to listen to them and not want to get up and go, never mind the distance or the outcome; their songs were made for open roads and far off horizons.”
“It is a mercy that we cannot see what waits down the road.”
November 30, 2021
I���ll begin by stating that I hardly ever read books in a series, and by that I mean ALMOST NEVER. I avoid them like the plague because there are so many other books on my radar that I simply do not have the time to commit. However, very occasionally, I make an exception, and Nightmareland will be one such exception.
Having seen so many readers rave about this series, I decided to dip my toe in the water and was immediately hooked.
You know that tingly feeling you get when you read the first few pages and think, Yes, this person is a natural writer? Well, that with bells on!
Great characterization, a situation that makes you ask questions from the outset (and you have no intention of leaving until you discover the answers), cool musical references. On top of all that we have a Cormac McCarthyesque The Road situation going on here, yet delivered in Daniel Barnett’s individual style. The dystopian elements might be a reminder of McCarthy, but this is no copy.
This writer is a wordsmith. Personally, I enjoy vivid imagery in my reading matter. This is not purple prose, but clever word choices and use of metaphor to enhance the reader’s experience. I highlighted so many examples as I read, but will share just a few of my favorites...
“The last of his hair wandered over his scalp in cobwebby strands.” You can see it, can’t you?
“Beside her, the hedges blazed in fiery a row; burning leaves floated on rafts of smoke.” This image, used to describe the actions of a madwoman, is fierce! The video for Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun immediately sprung to mind, and since that’s one of the best songs ever released I’m not complaining!
“The moon was a thin white gash overhead—as if the night had been cut open by a paring knife and we were glimpsing its bone.” Just stop for a moment and form that picture.
“But grief is a cannibal; it kills and eats all other emotions, and when it runs out of family members to feed on, it consumes itself and leaves nothing behind, for in the end not even grief can survive its own appetite.” I paused and read this one a few times. So poignant, and it struck a personal chord.
Finally, I must give a shout-out to the cover artist, Daniele Serra. His work never fails to deliver and is instantly recognizable.
Needless to say, I will seek out the rest of the series and break my ‘I don’t read series’ rule.
Having seen so many readers rave about this series, I decided to dip my toe in the water and was immediately hooked.
You know that tingly feeling you get when you read the first few pages and think, Yes, this person is a natural writer? Well, that with bells on!
Great characterization, a situation that makes you ask questions from the outset (and you have no intention of leaving until you discover the answers), cool musical references. On top of all that we have a Cormac McCarthyesque The Road situation going on here, yet delivered in Daniel Barnett’s individual style. The dystopian elements might be a reminder of McCarthy, but this is no copy.
This writer is a wordsmith. Personally, I enjoy vivid imagery in my reading matter. This is not purple prose, but clever word choices and use of metaphor to enhance the reader’s experience. I highlighted so many examples as I read, but will share just a few of my favorites...
“The last of his hair wandered over his scalp in cobwebby strands.” You can see it, can’t you?
“Beside her, the hedges blazed in fiery a row; burning leaves floated on rafts of smoke.” This image, used to describe the actions of a madwoman, is fierce! The video for Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun immediately sprung to mind, and since that’s one of the best songs ever released I’m not complaining!
“The moon was a thin white gash overhead—as if the night had been cut open by a paring knife and we were glimpsing its bone.” Just stop for a moment and form that picture.
“But grief is a cannibal; it kills and eats all other emotions, and when it runs out of family members to feed on, it consumes itself and leaves nothing behind, for in the end not even grief can survive its own appetite.” I paused and read this one a few times. So poignant, and it struck a personal chord.
Finally, I must give a shout-out to the cover artist, Daniele Serra. His work never fails to deliver and is instantly recognizable.
Needless to say, I will seek out the rest of the series and break my ‘I don’t read series’ rule.
February 4, 2022
Oh yeah, I'm excited! This series is going to be a blast to read. The writing and pacing are extremely well done in my opinion. The main characters are absolutely intriguing and terribly flawed. The plot was engaging from the jump and some of the stuff going on is fucking bonkers. In the best, most entertaining way. But then you'll stumble into a gorgeous few lines about grief or regret that are so stellar you're taken aback for a moment. I am so impressed with Daniel Barnett right now and beyond grateful for Horror Aficionados for always finding the best shit out there for us to read! Can't wait to start the 2nd book! Hell yes I recommend this!
And plus, did you notice that cover art? Stunning!
And plus, did you notice that cover art? Stunning!
July 27, 2020
After reading Nightfall, you can’t help but wonder if Barnett is looking to attempt an apocalyptic tale as ambitious as The Stand. Seeing as this is just the first of five entries planned for the book (with the possibility of a series ensuing), it seems safe to say the answer is “yes.” And you know what? I’m A-OK with that, man.
Nightfall may have just been an extended introduction, but damn was it engrossing. Though the cast still needs to be shaped further, the lead will get your attention right off the bat. He’s an anti-hero type, dark and mysterious. Violent. Brooding. Secretive. You can’t help but wonder what the hell he’s about and what else he’s hiding. I can’t decide if he’s meant to be the eventual protagonist or not. Hell, maybe we’re seeing the set up for a villain. Either way, I’m hooked to learn more.
Though the story jumps about a bit (which, admittedly, confused me a couple of times along the way), there are several sequences in which we get some descriptive action within the sudden falling of night; those moments are intoxicating! The whole scene following the little boy’s father on the highway was superb. The little visions of people gone crazy about town sent shivers down my spine – I definitely want more of that! The possibilities for chaos and lunacy are endless, so of course, I expect Barnett to have fun with this set in the coming sequels.
Come the end of Nightfall, all we know is that the sun has suddenly shut off and a vast majority of the population has lost their minds. The premise isn’t wholly original, but it is enticing. And with Barnett writing devilishly well along the way, it seems that Nightmareland is set up for success. I absolutely loved this novella and cannot wait to see where the story goes next.
*I read this a second time at the beginning of July 2020 to prepare myself for the second volume in this series, which I hold here in my hand. I will be starting it within a week while events of Nightfall are still fresh. Again, I was very impressed by this book and the vision Barnett has for it. Possibly 12 volumes? That's exciting, my friends.
Nightfall may have just been an extended introduction, but damn was it engrossing. Though the cast still needs to be shaped further, the lead will get your attention right off the bat. He’s an anti-hero type, dark and mysterious. Violent. Brooding. Secretive. You can’t help but wonder what the hell he’s about and what else he’s hiding. I can’t decide if he’s meant to be the eventual protagonist or not. Hell, maybe we’re seeing the set up for a villain. Either way, I’m hooked to learn more.
Though the story jumps about a bit (which, admittedly, confused me a couple of times along the way), there are several sequences in which we get some descriptive action within the sudden falling of night; those moments are intoxicating! The whole scene following the little boy’s father on the highway was superb. The little visions of people gone crazy about town sent shivers down my spine – I definitely want more of that! The possibilities for chaos and lunacy are endless, so of course, I expect Barnett to have fun with this set in the coming sequels.
Come the end of Nightfall, all we know is that the sun has suddenly shut off and a vast majority of the population has lost their minds. The premise isn’t wholly original, but it is enticing. And with Barnett writing devilishly well along the way, it seems that Nightmareland is set up for success. I absolutely loved this novella and cannot wait to see where the story goes next.
*I read this a second time at the beginning of July 2020 to prepare myself for the second volume in this series, which I hold here in my hand. I will be starting it within a week while events of Nightfall are still fresh. Again, I was very impressed by this book and the vision Barnett has for it. Possibly 12 volumes? That's exciting, my friends.
January 31, 2022
NIGHTFALL, by Daniel Barnett, is the first of a six book series. This one grabs ahold and doesn't let go. The writing style is fluent, and the characters so very flawed that you can't help but hang on their every move.
"Small towns may have long memories, but they have short attention spans . . . ."
After the world...changes.... one morning, we start to learn about some of the key characters. This is done in the present day--horrific conditions, the not-so-distant past, and the occasional foray into the far past. The method served to keep my attention throughout, while also learning little scraps of information about the characters as we moved forward.
". . . But the margin between cruelty and kindness was sometimes thin, and sometimes there was no difference at all. . . "
I loved the characters BECAUSE of their flaws, which only made me want to know more. As this is only the first book, it was somewhat of a "teaser", as now I NEED to get the second one to find out where things go from here.
Recommended.
"Small towns may have long memories, but they have short attention spans . . . ."
After the world...changes.... one morning, we start to learn about some of the key characters. This is done in the present day--horrific conditions, the not-so-distant past, and the occasional foray into the far past. The method served to keep my attention throughout, while also learning little scraps of information about the characters as we moved forward.
". . . But the margin between cruelty and kindness was sometimes thin, and sometimes there was no difference at all. . . "
I loved the characters BECAUSE of their flaws, which only made me want to know more. As this is only the first book, it was somewhat of a "teaser", as now I NEED to get the second one to find out where things go from here.
Recommended.
January 2, 2022
Extraordinary!
NIGHTFALL is an addictive, beautifully-written beginning to what promises to be a truly epic series. The prose is just gorgeous, filled with an urgency that would not let me stop turning pages. I'm off to the second book, now. Highly recommended!
NIGHTFALL is an addictive, beautifully-written beginning to what promises to be a truly epic series. The prose is just gorgeous, filled with an urgency that would not let me stop turning pages. I'm off to the second book, now. Highly recommended!
December 18, 2020
Sleepwalking (vol. 3) has been on my TBR since Daniel was gracious enough to send me an ARC this summer. It is one of two that I still need to read and I honestly do not have a good enough excuse why I haven't. I knew I wanted to read the first two volumes first, so maybe that made me put off reading it so long. But last night I picked up Nightfall and fell in fucking love.
Summary:
The Sun is gone. Darkness has reclaimed the day and not everyone is handling it very well. A little boy, tears, oceans of guilt. A woman with a secret. A man with a mission. Nightfall is the first of the Nightmareland Chronicles, a serialized horror story of epic scale.
Daniel Barnett gave me exactly what I look for in a 5 star book; diverse characters I give a shit about, beautiful imagery of a dark nightmarescape that is fully immersive, and a purpose. I want to understand and empathize with John. I want to find the reason the sun has fled. I want to find out why Maine is so popular in horror stories.
I am downloading Lullaby vol. 2 as I type this and diving in immediately.
Summary:
The Sun is gone. Darkness has reclaimed the day and not everyone is handling it very well. A little boy, tears, oceans of guilt. A woman with a secret. A man with a mission. Nightfall is the first of the Nightmareland Chronicles, a serialized horror story of epic scale.
Daniel Barnett gave me exactly what I look for in a 5 star book; diverse characters I give a shit about, beautiful imagery of a dark nightmarescape that is fully immersive, and a purpose. I want to understand and empathize with John. I want to find the reason the sun has fled. I want to find out why Maine is so popular in horror stories.
I am downloading Lullaby vol. 2 as I type this and diving in immediately.
May 15, 2021
The creepiness factor of this book is a whole another level. So many images were the right kind of terrifying. Such a solid book, I cannot wait to read the sequel
January 28, 2022
Barnett's prose and delivery are superb, characters flawed yet lovable, and the story has a dark, haunting vibe that makes me excited for the books to come in this series.
February 12, 2022
I know better than to judge a book by it’s cover, so why was I absolutely convinced that this was some sort of fantasy novel. I had planned on skipping this buddy read offered by Goodreads Horror Aficionado group, but it was 140 pages, and it was offered as a Kindle Unlimited book, so I thought, what the hell! The truth is, this is a hardcore post-apocalyptic on-the-road story, at least that seems to be the set up of this first novella.
I was reminded of Isaac Asimov’s spectacular sci-fi short story NIghtfall about a world that has 6 suns, and so the people do not experience darkness for thousands of years. Both stories deal with the disappearance of the sun and the panic and insanity which ensue. Let me just say that I am in no way implying that Mr. Barnett just rehashed the plot, because the plots are NOT the same, but the set-up event is similar.
There are 6 novellas in the series so far, as of now I plan to read them all.
I was reminded of Isaac Asimov’s spectacular sci-fi short story NIghtfall about a world that has 6 suns, and so the people do not experience darkness for thousands of years. Both stories deal with the disappearance of the sun and the panic and insanity which ensue. Let me just say that I am in no way implying that Mr. Barnett just rehashed the plot, because the plots are NOT the same, but the set-up event is similar.
There are 6 novellas in the series so far, as of now I plan to read them all.
August 19, 2021
Bloody brilliant.
Dark, menacing, odd, horrific - everything I’m looking for in a book! This is the first book of an ongoing series (I believe the author says a twelve book series) which perfectly sets the tone for the nightmares to come.
With writing that was like the bleakness of Cormac McCarthy, the grandness and ingenuity of Philip K Dick and seasoned with a bit of Stephen King - this is a series that has some hold, and I can’t wait to discover more!
Dark, menacing, odd, horrific - everything I’m looking for in a book! This is the first book of an ongoing series (I believe the author says a twelve book series) which perfectly sets the tone for the nightmares to come.
With writing that was like the bleakness of Cormac McCarthy, the grandness and ingenuity of Philip K Dick and seasoned with a bit of Stephen King - this is a series that has some hold, and I can’t wait to discover more!
February 19, 2022
Interesting beginning and premise and it certainly was enough to leave me with an appetite for more of his upcoming conclusions. Love his writing style a lot!
3.75 stars for now ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
3.75 stars for now ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
September 13, 2021
Mind-blowing start to what promises to be an absolutely incredible series. Full review to come.
February 6, 2022
I'm loving this atmospheric begin to the series, which I started following along with a Buddy Read at Horror Aficionados group. The series is six books in, and approximately halfway written. I'm not sure I'll continue until the story is finished. I much prefer to binge-read serial publication. Alas for my lack of patience these days.
February 12, 2022
The cover of this book grabs you before you even open the pages. The gothic, dystopian, moody watercolor aesthetic is both eye catching and sets the tone for the book. This was an atmospheric, dystopian novel that’s a pretty quick read (only about 140 pages I believe) and was well written. This isn’t the typical societal collapse, or zombies apocalypse/dystopia. The world is shrouded in darkness one day, like it was “zipped up like a suitcase” as one character put it, and no one knows why. It was the kind of dystopia that hasn’t so much infected the world and the characters, but the kind where it infects the characters themselves. The darkness seeps into them even more then it has seeped into the sky and more so affects the characters psychologically, then physically though there are moments of physical pain and distress. The writing was eerily beautiful: eerie in content, but beautiful in writing and delivery. I highlighted so many lines from this book that I couldn’t pick one quote to put here. There was mystery built around the main character, John Hawthorne, from the very beginning and as the book progresses it gives just enough away where you have to keep reading, but keeps a lot hidden to be revealed in future books. Really well done story and I can’t wait to see where this series goes.
August 3, 2020
Nightfall by Daniel Barnett (book 1 in the Nightmareland series)
The synopsis for this book is very vague. The only thing that’s given is that daylight died on the last morning of May. Some saw it happen while others are still wondering what time it is. Everyone is either trying to figure out what to do next or they are literally going insane.
John Hawthorne is our main character and he seems very introverted into himself. The kind of guy that seems to hold all his cards to his chest without giving anything away. He a rough character until you get to know more about him.
Then we are given Mariah who is a bartender with problems of her own. She is a badass character which is something I was very happy about. A strong female character is always a plus for me. She also has a rocky past of her own that we get to know more about. These two characters start to meld together as the world them is shrouded in darkness and chaos.
The writing in this book is hauntingly beautiful! I found so many lines I wanted to quote but this one was my favorite.
“But grief is a cannibal; it kills and eats all other emotions, and when it runs out of family members to feed on, it consumes itself and leaves nothing behind, for in the end not even grief can survive its own appetite.”
There are parts of the story written so methodically and intricately, I would read a scene and feel like it wouldn’t impact the story line to have it come back around full circle. The author left no scraps laying around and used every piece to his advantage. The ending left me on a cliffhanger wanting more from this book. Thankfully it’s a series so I will be getting more and hopefully some answers to my many questions.
The synopsis for this book is very vague. The only thing that’s given is that daylight died on the last morning of May. Some saw it happen while others are still wondering what time it is. Everyone is either trying to figure out what to do next or they are literally going insane.
John Hawthorne is our main character and he seems very introverted into himself. The kind of guy that seems to hold all his cards to his chest without giving anything away. He a rough character until you get to know more about him.
Then we are given Mariah who is a bartender with problems of her own. She is a badass character which is something I was very happy about. A strong female character is always a plus for me. She also has a rocky past of her own that we get to know more about. These two characters start to meld together as the world them is shrouded in darkness and chaos.
The writing in this book is hauntingly beautiful! I found so many lines I wanted to quote but this one was my favorite.
“But grief is a cannibal; it kills and eats all other emotions, and when it runs out of family members to feed on, it consumes itself and leaves nothing behind, for in the end not even grief can survive its own appetite.”
There are parts of the story written so methodically and intricately, I would read a scene and feel like it wouldn’t impact the story line to have it come back around full circle. The author left no scraps laying around and used every piece to his advantage. The ending left me on a cliffhanger wanting more from this book. Thankfully it’s a series so I will be getting more and hopefully some answers to my many questions.
April 21, 2020
Full review to come closer to pub date, but this is a deliciously dark opening to a series I can't wait to devour. Get ready for something special.
June 26, 2025
A one-way trip down the rabbit hole
JC this was a trip! Like a dark, gritty psychedelic experience. One day the sun suddenly goes out and everyone is tripping balls.
There are several volumes of THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES. Volumes 1-5 are novelettes while the last one hits over a whopping 400 pages. Makes it easy for me to complete the series.
January 19, 2021
Nightfall is Volume 1 in the Nightmareland Series. That in itself should tell you we are about to go on a journey, and it's probably going to be a long one. From my understanding, the author plans for at least 12, but things change often in life so let's settle in and get ready for 24 just to be safe.
What we know: This world has died. The Apocalypse has happened, or at least it's in process. We are in the early stages. The sun doesn't feel like coming out today. But luckily we aren't at the Cormac McCarthy level of the Apocalypse, yet. Who knows what the future brings? Our people in the book still have their shelters, their water, some food, and some power.
What they don't have, for the most part, is their sanity. This is where the book got really interesting to me. It becomes a not so typical Apocalypse story. People are losing their freaking minds. We've got people hallucinating. We've got people dancing in the street. Craziness is ensuing and we can just sit back and watch. You just know it's a matter of time before civilization comes crumbling down. The book even gets a bit trippy at times with some of the craziness. It's good fun for the reader.
We meet our main character, John Hawthorne. Mr. Dark and Mysterious. Mr. Brooding. You just know right away someone somewhere did this fella wrong. I'm sure we will get more of his backstory in the coming volumes. The author just sprinkles a few bits and pieces here and there as an appetizer, making you crave more.
We also meet Mariah, the local bartender. Well of course she has a troubled past, with bits and pieces coming to the surface. She is hurt. She is finding comfort in the arms of Hawthorne. These two will need each other to survive this crumbling world.
Barnett tells this first installment of the world he has created in an artsy, poetic style, with a smooth flow. You don’t need to worry about choppy structures, incoherent detail and unbelievable dialogue. It all works. You get more than a handful of attention grabbing one-liners. More than I can sit here and quote. You’ll have to check them out yourself. It all grabs you by the hand and takes you on this journey, admiring the craziness all around.
Look at this installment as an extended introduction to a journey through Nightmareland.
What we know: This world has died. The Apocalypse has happened, or at least it's in process. We are in the early stages. The sun doesn't feel like coming out today. But luckily we aren't at the Cormac McCarthy level of the Apocalypse, yet. Who knows what the future brings? Our people in the book still have their shelters, their water, some food, and some power.
What they don't have, for the most part, is their sanity. This is where the book got really interesting to me. It becomes a not so typical Apocalypse story. People are losing their freaking minds. We've got people hallucinating. We've got people dancing in the street. Craziness is ensuing and we can just sit back and watch. You just know it's a matter of time before civilization comes crumbling down. The book even gets a bit trippy at times with some of the craziness. It's good fun for the reader.
We meet our main character, John Hawthorne. Mr. Dark and Mysterious. Mr. Brooding. You just know right away someone somewhere did this fella wrong. I'm sure we will get more of his backstory in the coming volumes. The author just sprinkles a few bits and pieces here and there as an appetizer, making you crave more.
We also meet Mariah, the local bartender. Well of course she has a troubled past, with bits and pieces coming to the surface. She is hurt. She is finding comfort in the arms of Hawthorne. These two will need each other to survive this crumbling world.
Barnett tells this first installment of the world he has created in an artsy, poetic style, with a smooth flow. You don’t need to worry about choppy structures, incoherent detail and unbelievable dialogue. It all works. You get more than a handful of attention grabbing one-liners. More than I can sit here and quote. You’ll have to check them out yourself. It all grabs you by the hand and takes you on this journey, admiring the craziness all around.
Look at this installment as an extended introduction to a journey through Nightmareland.
May 2, 2021
Dang this book is good. It is only the first installment to a serialized horror called Nightmareland Chronicles. I'm going to read them all. Try and stop me!
Some of my favorite lines...
"Tomorrow died on the last morning of May. There were those who saw it happen, who watched the shadow fall, who felt the chop of the guillotine as the world lost its head."
"The universe was darkness— that was the truth— and the stars were nothing more than little lanterns floating in the black trench of space. Bright, welcoming lures, hiding daggered jaws."
"Animals would starve; people would starve, too, assuming the human race didn’t eat itself alive first. The only commodity that grew in the dark was fear, and fear bred an appetite for self- destruction."
Some of my favorite lines...
"Tomorrow died on the last morning of May. There were those who saw it happen, who watched the shadow fall, who felt the chop of the guillotine as the world lost its head."
"The universe was darkness— that was the truth— and the stars were nothing more than little lanterns floating in the black trench of space. Bright, welcoming lures, hiding daggered jaws."
"Animals would starve; people would starve, too, assuming the human race didn’t eat itself alive first. The only commodity that grew in the dark was fear, and fear bred an appetite for self- destruction."
May 6, 2020
Review coming to SCREAM Magazine!
October 30, 2021
Absolutely brilliant, hardly a word wasted from the wordsmith Mr Barnett. Some real creepy, crazy moments. My first dip into horror but I call it dark urban fantasy.
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