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Darkness Series #2

Beyond the Darkness

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The Darkness Continues . . .
Leonard Hilley II's first novel, Predators of Darkness, shows us a nightmarish world of gruesome genetically-engineered monsters preying on humans, corporations more powerful - and more dangerous- than governments, and a web of lies and cover-ups that all sound remarkably like they could have been drawn from today's headlines. Fact or fiction?
Read this gripping novel and find out."
- John Kachuba, Author of Ghosthunters: On the Trail of Mediums, Dowsers, Spirit Seekers and Other Investigators of America's Paranormal World Three years after Daniel and the other survivors escaped the terrorizing, blood-thirsty shifters in Pittsburgh, his friends have moved forward with their lives, but Daniel cannot. He believes the conspiracies within TransGenCorp have not ended and more shifters exist.
Then Daniel receives a phone call from Lucas that bolsters his paranoia.
Lucas is being charged with murders he insists his clone committed.
Daniel soon discovers darker atrocities are emerging, which not only place his life in immense danger, but all his friends as well.

280 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2008

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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for David King.
376 reviews12 followers
November 30, 2011
"Beyond The Darkness" by Leonard D. Hilley II is the 2nd book in his "Darkness Series" and it is set a few years after the events of "Predators of Darkness". I am happy to say that just like the first book, this one is stuffed full of action, thrills and a fast paced plot that never seems to let up. However, it is also a little different in regards to its sub-genre; basically the first novel was very much a dystopian horror novel whilst I found "Beyond The Darkness" to be more of a futuristic thriller.

The story itself follows the lives of the survivors from the first book and how they are dealing with the trauma. Daniel, them main character from "Predators of Darkness" for one is having nightmares about his time in Pittsburgh and can't shake the feeling that something else is still to come. Then, out of the blue his friend Lucas is caught on camera killing a senator, but when Lucas calls Daniel from police custody and informs him that it must have been his clone, Daniel realises that there is something sinister at work again. Before he knows it, Daniel and the other survivors are all drawn into a nefarious scheme that once again puts all their lives in danger.

I will admit that I really wasn't sure where this story would go at first; I felt the ending to "Predators of Darkness" was pretty solid and couldn't easily see how much could be made of any loose ends. However, I quickly found that those odd loose ends grew into a superb thriller with various inter-linked plot lines that both intrigued and entertained. The pace was also once again superbly balanced, with the exciting action and various plot twists keeping me hooked right up to the end.

The characters from the previous book have grown and adapted to their new lives and this has helped enhance them into really interesting, dynamic, multi-faceted characters. It really felt like they had learned something in the past and were now acting in a way to avoid the same mistakes. Even some of the characters I wasn't that bothered about in the previous novel really began to shine in this book; Lydia & Johanna being two of the characters that spring to mind. The best character though had to be Morton; this shape shifting cat really stole the show with his wits, charm and loyalty to his new family. Even if the darkest parts of the story his humorous comments ensured that I still had a wry smile on my face.

Overall, this has been another enjoyable book in what is really turning out to be a great series. The superb characters, enjoyably twisting and multi-faceted plotlines and great pace have been brought together well to create a book that should appeal to anyone who has already read the first book. For myself, I am now looking forward to where the sequel "Game of Pawns" will take the series and already had it sitting on my Kindle waiting to be read.

This and other reviews, along with book related discussions are on my blog: Books & Things
Profile Image for TheBookAddictedGirl.
284 reviews242 followers
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May 24, 2011
I knew there had to be more to come after Predators of Darkness: Aftermath, but I just wasn’t sure what. After all, the Lucas-clone got away, and, well, it just couldn’t be over. There was too much corruption, too many secrets, too many unanswered questions. Plus, I had the sequel, given to me so generously by the author (thank you Leonard!).
Three years have passed since Predators of Darkness: Aftermath, and all the survivors are back in the real, outside world. The evil mastermind behind the shifter experiment is dead, and therefore the nightmare is over. But Daniel’s isn’t. He can’t accept that it’s all over, that they’re all safe. He just can’t shake the paranoia he acquired during his time in Pittsburgh.
Turns out, he was right. Lucas’ clone kills four senators and the real-Lucas is arrested for the murder. To prove his friend’s innocence, Daniel will have to renter a world he never wished to see again. And this time, they’re all in danger: Daniel, Julia, their daughter Felicia, Nancy, Lucas, Lydia, Dr Helmsby and Johanna...
I admit, I wasn’t entirely sure where the plot would go, but I found myself being pulled in straight away and just as addicted. I raced through it, hooked: it was amazing and the pace was perfect. And it was the same adrenaline-filled roller-coaster as the previous book, the one I simply adore.
Daniel was very withdrawn at the start of the book, constantly in fear of the shifters, damaged by the nightmarish time three years ago. He’s married to Julia now, who’s just as strong and brave as ever. The two have a daughter, Felicia. And a shifter-cat called Morton. I loved Morton! He’s a good shifter, created by Helmsby, who has the ability to tell right from wrong. And a very good sense of humour. He would do anything for his family, and his witty remarks kept even the darkest bits amusing.
I still love the very reckless, brave and caring Lucas. A few characters I didn’t like in the first I grew to love: Johanna and Lydia to name a few.
Lucas’ clone had a name of his own in this book: Lucian. You got to know him as a person, and I even felt sorry for him. Idris treated him horribly, even using genetic blackmail on him. Only a great author could make me feel for a guy who would’ve murdered everyone in the previous book.
I can’t wait to see where Game of Pawns takes this series, and I know that it will be just as fast paced and addictive as the rest of them. I really recommend this, not just for teenagers or YA readers, but for adults as well. It’s one of those that crosses between the two age groups so easily it appears to be effortless. I love the twists, turns, the amazingly detailed characters and plots. I can’t wait to get back into this world again!
P.S. And, can I just say, it was the coolest thing to have the FBI involved. Supernatural-thriller meets police-drama. Two genres I love.
Profile Image for Jackie.
3,971 reviews128 followers
January 23, 2016
Predators of Darkness: Aftermath was a unique introduction into the Darkness Series and when it ended I was very happy to start reading Beyond the Darkness book #2 which picks up 3 years where book 1 ended!

Three years have passed since TransGenCorp and it's nefarious scheme of producing super humans was exposed and it's mastermind was thought to have been killed! Now while the other survivors of the Pittsburgh experiment have moved on and started their lives over Daniel Hutchinson is still having nightmares and cannot seem to shake the strong feeling that there is more to come.... He, his wife Julia, their daughter Felicia, the genetically engineered talking shifter cat Morton and their friends soon find out that Daniel's fears are not unfounded but indeed a reality!
The ball starts rolling when the news of his friend Lucas Ridale being caught on camera at the scene of a murder comes to Daniel's attention, shortly after he finds out Lucas calls to tell him that it was his clone that has been killing people... Before they know it Daniel, Julia, Johanna, Dr. Helmsby, his daughter Nancy, Lydia, Lucas and Morton are all fighting to survive again!

There is a saying Paranoia will destroy you but in the case of Daniel and his friends it proves to be one of the things that helps them stay alive!

Beyond the Darkness is another thrilling example of a body of work that gets better as it goes along, not only are the multiple plot lines intriguing and keep you wanting more page after page but they are easy to follow as well! The characters are all well drawn and by the time this second book comes to a close they are also pretty much like the family members you would most want to spend time with!

I truly enjoyed all the twists and turns that this book took on it's journey to the ending and can tell you that after finishing it I am really looking forward to continuing on with book #3 The Game Of Pawns!

I have to disclose that this was an E-ARC copy provided by the author for me to read for an honest review... I have received no compensation from the publisher or the author for this other than the sheer pleasure of reading the book.
Profile Image for Julie.
252 reviews16 followers
October 26, 2011
It's hard to review a second book in a series without giving away some of the details of how the first book ends, namely who lives and where they end up. I've tried to only mention two names, but if you haven't read Predators of Darkness: Aftermath, proceed with caution when it comes to reading this review. I have tried very hard to be a bit vague while also providing a review and opinion on the book.

Beyond the Darkness picks up three years after the last book ended. The survivors of the last book have moved on with their lives, finding a place for themselves within the society in which they now live. But Daniel has had a hard time adapting to this new life. He continues to look around corners and wait for the shifters to return. His friends say he's being too paranoid, but he can't help it. He feels like something is going to happen. Then he gets a call from Lucas, who has been arrested for murder. He insists his clone has come back and framed him for the crime, and he wants Daniel to help him.

While Beyond the Darkness takes place in an environment that is more modern than distopian, it is still filled with plenty of sci-fi aspects, including more shifters, and lots of action. This time, though, there's more at stake as Daniel has a family to protect.

Once again, it's hard to figure out who is good and who is bad ~ even some of the "bad" guys have some redeeming qualities and understandable reasons for doing the things they do. There's also a lot more reflection on the part of the different characters about decisions they've made and the direction of their lives. We get to know some of the characters more deeply in this novel, and now I want to know what happens to them in the third novel of the series: A Game of Pawns. Beyond the Darkness end with plenty of loose ends that will need to be tied up in that book.

If you like sci-fi novels, I highly recommend the Darkness series by Leonard D. Hilley II. This second book wasn't quite as amazing as I found the first, but I'm loving the series in general, and looking forward to reading the third book!
Profile Image for Ashley.
83 reviews12 followers
April 7, 2011
Another great read from Leonard D. Hilley II. This author has a way with words, they come to life on the page. This story continues three years after they escape Pittsburgh. Everyone has moved on, started living life again. Everyone except Daniel. He knows this isn't over. The next morning he gets a call from Lucas saying he's in jail for murder. Everyone knows Lucas is a dare devil but he would never murder anyone. Daniels fears are coming true..

There is no down time with his stories, he jumps right into the good stuff, and keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time!

In Predators of Darkness you meet Lucas' clone, Lucian. He doesn't seem like a bad guy to me. He's like a child. He just wants someone to love him. He's tired of the way Idris treats him. I kind of felt sorry for him in this book. When he tries to get close to someone they always turn on him. I think he wants to be good he just needs someone on his side.
Morton.. I absolutely love that cat! I love his smart alack remarks. And It broke my heart when he gets shot at the apartment, and he knows he dying. He just wants to see Felicia one more time. That part definitely made me cry. He still kicked some major butt, If I was in trouble I would want someone like Morton on my side!
I feel like I know these people. When they set off in the story and you're following them you have to urge to yell at the book to let them know that something bad is about to happen. Ugh, I was so nervous I bit all my finger nails off.


And just when you thought this series couldn't get any better, Leonard D. Hilley throws this book in you face!
To top it all off there's a book number three! It makes you wonder if he knows something and he's trying to warn us?? A little Dr. Helmsby going on here? If you like the review, go read the first chapter here! This is an amazing series, we need to spread the word. As long as Leonard keeps writing, I will keep reading what he puts out there!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Avery.
328 reviews90 followers
May 1, 2011
When I first saw that "Predators of Darkness: Aftermath" had a sequel, this book, I am not going to lie, I was a bit disappointed. I thought that "Predators of Darkness: Aftermath" had wrapped up very nicely and that any additional books wouldn't be as good as the original. Furthermore, I felt that the characters really deserved a break after all of the hell that they went through in "Predators of Darkness: Aftermath". However all of my worries will ill-founded and I am happy to say that this book was as good as, if not as better, than the first book.

Once again Leonard exhibits his ability to create seamlessly blend multiple story lines without ever overloading the reader, as well as creating extremely dynamic and multi-faceted characters. In fact, a number of characters that I only felt "meh" towards in "Predators of Darkness: Aftermath", like Johanna, Lydia, and Lucian, I completely fell head over heels for in this book because it was evident that they truly grew and learned from their past mistakes. Furthermore, I came to love my old favourites, Morton, Daniel, and Lucas, even more in this book.

All in all, I highly recommend this series to everyone! As I mentioned in my review of "Predators of Darkness: Aftermath" these books have such a wider audience than one would think (myself being an almost exclusive reader of YA PNR/UF would never have picked these books up in a million years based solely on the covers or the synopsis and for that I would have truly missed out on some amazing reads).
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,088 reviews100 followers
September 12, 2011
Set three years after the first book ends, Daniel, Julia, and all their friends are still trying to put their experiences in Pittsburgh behind them. When Lucas is accused of murder, he insists he is innocent and that the culprit is his clone. Can Daniel save his friend and prove his innocence?

Like the first book, this one is action-packed. There is never a dull moment, whether the characters are battling deadly mutant creations, or just battling wits. The pro at wittism is still Morton. I love that shape-shifting cat. Not just for his snappy comebacks, but also for his love and devotion to Felicia, Daniel and Julia's daughter. Their scenes together are adorable.

One character I didn't like this time was Julia. She was barely present, and when she was, she seemed really weak. Her strength and action-orientation from the first book were completely absent, and I was left feeling like she has been relegated to a very minor role.

The character I couldn't decided if I liked or not was Lucian, Lucas' clone. He plays a much more prominent role in this book, and not just as the mysterious bad guy. I had a hard time seeing him as anything beyond this part, but I think that's because he made such a strong impression in the first book.

Overall, this was a great story, and a great addition to the series. It was complete and wraps up well, while still leaving enough leads to make me look forward to the third book.
Profile Image for Angela Holtz.
493 reviews7 followers
August 3, 2011
From: http://lilacwolfandstuff.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-beyond-darkness-book-ii.html

First let me say thank you to Leonard Hilley II for letting me review the 2nd book in the Darkness series. I really enjoyed first book Predators of Darkness.

So the big question - did it live up to expectations? Oh hell yeah!

It's 3 years after those who survived were rescued from Pittsburgh. The main characters are trying to live happily ever after, but each of them has their own emotional scars to deal with. Daniel feels it the heaviest, the guilt and the fear that it isn't really over. I really felt so bad when he was right.

The biggest conflict with a character I feel is Lucas' clone - he has his own name in this book - Lucian. I love it! He's not really a bad guy, but he's controlled by bad people. I truly can't wait to see what is done with him in the final book.

I think you would be better off reading Predators of Darkness first, but if you don't Mr. Hilley puts enough back-story in that you wouldn't be completely lost if you started here.

Another 5 star winner. And I'm off to read the final installment. :) Beyond the Darkness (Darkness Series, #2) by Leonard D Hilley II
Profile Image for Troy Mic.
4 reviews5 followers
April 16, 2011
Just finished the second book in Hilley's series and eagerly look forward to the third. Hard to say much to avoid major spoilers. In a lot of ways I enjoy this book more than the first because you get more insight into the characters. There are some very touching scenes that will move you to tears and others, where the pace is set so fast, you just have to hang on and enjoy the ride. With that said, you will truly enjoy this book, but the background of Predators of Darkness: Aftermath is essential to view the characters' development. Another must read! Fans of King and Koontz will greatly enjoy this new author!
Profile Image for Heather.
705 reviews1 follower
September 25, 2015
Beyond the Darkness the second book in the Darkness series was even better then the first book in the series, Predators of Darkness. Nonstop action with twists & turns that keep you reading and wanting more. Just when you think you know who is friend & who is foe another surprise is around the corner. Is anyone what they appear to be? I adore Morton the talking cat! I am hooked on Leonard D. Hilley II and look forward to book 3 in this series, The Game of Pawns
Profile Image for MsTiptress.
198 reviews3 followers
August 8, 2011
This one was action-packed, more then the other. It tied up lose ends and made me enjoy characters that I hated from the first.It's great to see old friendships thrive and new ones come about. I do enjoy Hilley's writing style, he keeps me entertained and on the edge of my seat with excitement.I cant wait to find out what happened to Lucas clone and that new FBI agent.. Im ready to see her KICK ASS!!!
Profile Image for Sift Book Reviews.
92 reviews21 followers
September 17, 2011
"If you read book one, book two is worth the follow up, and I get the feeling that book three will be incredibly exciting."

See the rest of this review here:

http://www.siftreviews.com/2011/09/be...

Review by: Kayelee of Sift Book Reviews
Sift Book Reviews received a free copy for review from the author. This has, in no way, affected the reviewer's opinion.
Profile Image for Melissa.
238 reviews36 followers
February 16, 2012
I must admit I enjoyed this book so much more!

Morton had got to e my favorite character !
Profile Image for Patti.
8 reviews
April 25, 2013
Excellent book. I regret that I didn't download them all when they were free from BookBuddy!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews