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Nightmareland Chronicles #4
The Flashlighters
John Hawthorne is awake at last. But so are other things . . . horrible, unthinkable things born from bad dreams and left to roost across the darkened Utah countryside. Nor is that all. Somewhere on a lonely highway to the north there waits a mysterious, light-worshiping band of drifters led by the magnanimous Father Ammon, whose one blind eye might hold a secret path to salvation . . . at least for some. America is dead. Welcome to its nightmare.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 22, 2021
4 people are currently reading
132 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 54 reviews
August 20, 2022
Barnett continues…just continues to pummel my brain with the suspense and horror. In this volume, if the title didn't clue you in, we run into a cult. Who actually for all intents and purposes seem pretty wholesome. What could possibly go wrong?
If my brevity of review compared to prior ones is scratching on your mind, please know it's just largely me trying to not spoil anything. Having read all the way up to Volume 6 (I think Lily is going to be my first ever spoiler marked review). Please, rest assured, this volume was just as amazing. 5 astounding stars.
If my brevity of review compared to prior ones is scratching on your mind, please know it's just largely me trying to not spoil anything. Having read all the way up to Volume 6 (I think Lily is going to be my first ever spoiler marked review). Please, rest assured, this volume was just as amazing. 5 astounding stars.
May 5, 2022
The Flashlighters is another fantastic addition to the Nightmareland Chronicles series!
Mariah, Marcus and John keep heading towards Maine but the roadtrip from hell is a lot more dangerous then they realized. As they're driving through Utah, the trio runs into a group called the Flashlighters with the self-sacrificing character of Father Ammon.
Not only is America living in the dark but the nightmares are becoming more extreme, graphic and just down right creepy!
I'm really loving this series and looking forward to getting to the next book, City of Blood!
Mariah, Marcus and John keep heading towards Maine but the roadtrip from hell is a lot more dangerous then they realized. As they're driving through Utah, the trio runs into a group called the Flashlighters with the self-sacrificing character of Father Ammon.
Not only is America living in the dark but the nightmares are becoming more extreme, graphic and just down right creepy!
I'm really loving this series and looking forward to getting to the next book, City of Blood!
May 4, 2022
I'm loving reading this series. So visceral and atmospheric. Can't recommend enough.
May 7, 2022
Fantastic installment in this series. This one had some scary stuff going on! The writing style is as beautiful as ever and I am learning to love some new characters. Also getting super pissed at a certain character. Looking forward to book 5!
January 14, 2021
"People weren't always scared of things like clowns or goblins or boogeymen or trolls. Some fears had no name. Some fears were fill-in-the-blank questions without any real answer. And sometimes those fears - the fears you couldn't identify - were the worst fears of all."
The Flashlighters is the fourth installment in the Nightmareland Chronicles, which is a post-apocalyptic adventure horror following the journey of what is left of humanity in a world claimed by eternal night.
In this book, we continue our journey with John, Mariah and Marcos as they flee the smoking ruins of a small town in southwestern Nevada to continue their trek onward to reach John's daughter in Haverhill, Maine.
Along the way, the trio have a harrowing encounter with a pack of nightmares made real, which leaves our characters in a bit of a pickle.
"Sooner or later, the bad dreams got out."
In their search for a town in search of items to rectify their situation, we met a couple gents who in turn take our characters to their camp and we meet the group known as The Flashlighters.
"Pallbearers for the sun, carrying a ghost of its brilliance through the grave known as night."
Who are these people? A cult? A group of people who have somehow managed to cling to their humanity through this eternal night? Are they dangerous? The leader of the group, Father Ammon, seems genuine and to care for the Sleepwalkers - but Mariah isn't convinced. A tiny voice cautions her - will she listen? Or will she succumb to the feeling of being with a group and its soft promise of safety it seems to offer?
This book also offers a bit of tantalizing information that will feed into your conspiracies and theories formed while reading this series regarding the sun and what (or who) might be behind the events taking place.
In summary, The Flashlighters was worth the wait. Cracking the spine on this one and returning to the dark and beautiful prose of Daniel Barnett is a feeling akin to when you travel 700 hundred miles to go home for Christmas - when the door opens and you see your family for the first time in ages.
I enjoyed this installment so very much and cannot wait until we get the next one!
The Flashlighters is the fourth installment in the Nightmareland Chronicles, which is a post-apocalyptic adventure horror following the journey of what is left of humanity in a world claimed by eternal night.
In this book, we continue our journey with John, Mariah and Marcos as they flee the smoking ruins of a small town in southwestern Nevada to continue their trek onward to reach John's daughter in Haverhill, Maine.
Along the way, the trio have a harrowing encounter with a pack of nightmares made real, which leaves our characters in a bit of a pickle.
"Sooner or later, the bad dreams got out."
In their search for a town in search of items to rectify their situation, we met a couple gents who in turn take our characters to their camp and we meet the group known as The Flashlighters.
"Pallbearers for the sun, carrying a ghost of its brilliance through the grave known as night."
Who are these people? A cult? A group of people who have somehow managed to cling to their humanity through this eternal night? Are they dangerous? The leader of the group, Father Ammon, seems genuine and to care for the Sleepwalkers - but Mariah isn't convinced. A tiny voice cautions her - will she listen? Or will she succumb to the feeling of being with a group and its soft promise of safety it seems to offer?
This book also offers a bit of tantalizing information that will feed into your conspiracies and theories formed while reading this series regarding the sun and what (or who) might be behind the events taking place.
In summary, The Flashlighters was worth the wait. Cracking the spine on this one and returning to the dark and beautiful prose of Daniel Barnett is a feeling akin to when you travel 700 hundred miles to go home for Christmas - when the door opens and you see your family for the first time in ages.
I enjoyed this installment so very much and cannot wait until we get the next one!
May 21, 2022
Wow, that went fast!
Kind of a cliff hanger eh?
I’m kind of confused on who/whom ends up
Kind of a cliff hanger eh?
I’m kind of confused on who/whom ends up
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2022
Wow, this one knocked my socks off! I’d give it 6 stars if I could…
John, Mariah and Marcos are together and having struggles with their pickup when they meet some strangers on the road who call themselves The Flashlighters and they agree to help our protagonists. Soon they’re introduced to new characters in a weird place… A strange tent, Father Ammon, a revelation perhaps? and a scary auto shop… don’t miss out on this one!
John, Mariah and Marcos are together and having struggles with their pickup when they meet some strangers on the road who call themselves The Flashlighters and they agree to help our protagonists. Soon they’re introduced to new characters in a weird place… A strange tent, Father Ammon, a revelation perhaps? and a scary auto shop… don’t miss out on this one!
December 26, 2022
I give a 4-star rating to the Nightmareland Chronicles series as a whole. Keep up the good work young Daniel Barnett 😉
That being said ... desperate times call for desperate measures, but what John did to escape from the auto repair shop was very disturbing.
On my way to #5 🙂
That being said ... desperate times call for desperate measures, but what John did to escape from the auto repair shop was very disturbing.
On my way to #5 🙂
December 1, 2021
This one is a 4.5 for me - on what is a remarkable series.
Again Daniel Barnett brings the goods and Flashlighters brings with it the further development of the world building that has made this a must read series from the get go.
For me this book was almost everything I wanted, there was more scares, more creeping unease, more character development and well it just moved the story onwards.
The only reason this is a 4.5 and not a 5 star review is I felt it was more of a Segway into a larger part of the story, that this was the beginning of something instead of a condensed part - it almost feels a part one to an ongoing section of this and I felt it just didn’t give me the closure that all the other parts have done to date.
Having said that it was bloody enjoyable, the story, the prose, the character development - all of it was delicious, but it just missed that containment that the other books in the series had.
But where it leaves us, I got a feeling, an aching dread in my stomach that things are going to get worse and quickly for our travellers or survivors and for the world at large.
Again Daniel Barnett brings the goods and Flashlighters brings with it the further development of the world building that has made this a must read series from the get go.
For me this book was almost everything I wanted, there was more scares, more creeping unease, more character development and well it just moved the story onwards.
The only reason this is a 4.5 and not a 5 star review is I felt it was more of a Segway into a larger part of the story, that this was the beginning of something instead of a condensed part - it almost feels a part one to an ongoing section of this and I felt it just didn’t give me the closure that all the other parts have done to date.
Having said that it was bloody enjoyable, the story, the prose, the character development - all of it was delicious, but it just missed that containment that the other books in the series had.
But where it leaves us, I got a feeling, an aching dread in my stomach that things are going to get worse and quickly for our travellers or survivors and for the world at large.
January 6, 2024
As I read each book in this series I love it more and more, they really are something special and I'm surprised at the amount of emotion they provoke in me, I am totally invested (bordering obsessed) in the story and think Daniel is so talented at creating relatable authentic characters, I feel very protective over Marcos, Mariah and John 😂 the only other series I can compare this too in terms of how it makes me feel, how much I resonate with it and the level of detail and all the little intricacies is The Dark Tower by King
May 13, 2021
I just finished THE FLASHLIGHTERS by Daniel Barnett and I love being in the world he has created.
In this fourth installment 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, John is now awake! But right off the bat we are sensing a little tension between John and the Mariah/Marcos team that was established in the previous book. This dynamic relationship is quickly put to the test as the trio are travelling along and run into waking nightmare creatures.
Our protagonists soon meet a group of light-worshipping people calling themselves The Flashlighters, but we are not totally sure who they are. Are they a cult? Are they friendly? Can they be trusted? Led by Father Ammon, Mariah's spidey senses begin tingling. I cannot wait to see where Barnett takes this group and plot for the future.
Book 4 in this series totally nailed it and I am ready to see what comes next!
In this fourth installment 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, John is now awake! But right off the bat we are sensing a little tension between John and the Mariah/Marcos team that was established in the previous book. This dynamic relationship is quickly put to the test as the trio are travelling along and run into waking nightmare creatures.
Our protagonists soon meet a group of light-worshipping people calling themselves The Flashlighters, but we are not totally sure who they are. Are they a cult? Are they friendly? Can they be trusted? Led by Father Ammon, Mariah's spidey senses begin tingling. I cannot wait to see where Barnett takes this group and plot for the future.
Book 4 in this series totally nailed it and I am ready to see what comes next!
April 30, 2021
THE FLASHLIGHTERS is the fourth entry in the ongoing post apocalyptic horror series, THE NIGHTMARELAND CHRONICLES, by Daniel Barentt. Being a volume four I am having a hard time coming up with new and clever (at least I think I am clever) things to say about this phenomenal series that I haven’t already said in my reviews for the previous three books. I don’t want to just keep regurgitating the same adjectives over and over again, but all those previously used adjectives still apply here.
So what can I say about THE FLASHLIGHTERS, what does this book bring to the table? How does this piece of the puzzle fit within the continuing story? Well, for me this was the most nightmare inducing entry so far. Now yes, every book has had their own nightmarish moments don’t get me wrong. From the creepy and unexplainable to the real life human bred nightmare fuel. It’s all been there, but this time, this time around Barnett took it to another level. I don’t think this is really a spoiler when I say there are literal nightmares to be found here, I mean the series is called NIGHTMARELAND for a reason. A land full of nightmares. Certain parts in this one gave me heavy Nightmare on Elm Street vibes. Now there is no Freddy here (or anyone like him) and this isn’t an over the top somewhat cheesy slasher. I guess what I mean by that comparison is the concept of one's own nightmares seeping into reality and taking on a tangible form. Yea, that. That happened a lot in this book. Some of it was a bit off the wall and weird, some of it was pretty horrifying and I loved every moment of it. The auto repair shop scene in particular, yea that scene. Wow, that was absolutely chilling. You’ll just have to read it for yourself to see what I am talking about.
But what about The Flashlighters? Let’s talk about them for a moment. Up until this point we have been following our core cast of characters for a while now on this cross country journey through a darkened and dead America. They’ve encountered a random stranger or two along the way but now our characters stumble across an entire group of new people, a bit of a community of them. Are they friend or foe? Can they be trusted or not? Introducing this religious light worshipping cult like group adds a whole new level of possible danger, mystery, and complexity to the story. Their leader, a man known as Father Ammon, seems genuine and caring enough, but is he maybe harboring a darker side? Does he have more nefarious motives other than looking after his flock of sheep attempting to lead them to salvation? With the introduction of these Flashlighters Barnett has thrown a new and interesting dynamic into an already superbly dark (pun intended) and terrifying tale.
A brilliantly crafted world shrouded in mystery (I still have so many unanswered questions), flawed and gritty characters, and a compellingly expansive story. What more could you ask for from a post apocalyptic horror series? Set all those things aside though. I have harped on this before but the best thing, the absolute best thing about these books has been Barnett’s prose. It’s beautiful, lyrical, poetic. It’s all those things swirled together. I am not the first person to use this phrase but Barnett has definitely been flexing his muscles in the prose magic department. It is the piece de resistance to top off a stellar story. THE FLASHLIGHTERS by Daniel Barnett is another cog in a well oiled machine. Another impressive installment in a series that is firing on all cylinders. I for one cannot wait to discover what atrocities are lurking in wait for our characters in the next volume.
I received an ARC of this book from the author for review consideration.
Video review: https://youtu.be/IEo0vaL2VGk
So what can I say about THE FLASHLIGHTERS, what does this book bring to the table? How does this piece of the puzzle fit within the continuing story? Well, for me this was the most nightmare inducing entry so far. Now yes, every book has had their own nightmarish moments don’t get me wrong. From the creepy and unexplainable to the real life human bred nightmare fuel. It’s all been there, but this time, this time around Barnett took it to another level. I don’t think this is really a spoiler when I say there are literal nightmares to be found here, I mean the series is called NIGHTMARELAND for a reason. A land full of nightmares. Certain parts in this one gave me heavy Nightmare on Elm Street vibes. Now there is no Freddy here (or anyone like him) and this isn’t an over the top somewhat cheesy slasher. I guess what I mean by that comparison is the concept of one's own nightmares seeping into reality and taking on a tangible form. Yea, that. That happened a lot in this book. Some of it was a bit off the wall and weird, some of it was pretty horrifying and I loved every moment of it. The auto repair shop scene in particular, yea that scene. Wow, that was absolutely chilling. You’ll just have to read it for yourself to see what I am talking about.
But what about The Flashlighters? Let’s talk about them for a moment. Up until this point we have been following our core cast of characters for a while now on this cross country journey through a darkened and dead America. They’ve encountered a random stranger or two along the way but now our characters stumble across an entire group of new people, a bit of a community of them. Are they friend or foe? Can they be trusted or not? Introducing this religious light worshipping cult like group adds a whole new level of possible danger, mystery, and complexity to the story. Their leader, a man known as Father Ammon, seems genuine and caring enough, but is he maybe harboring a darker side? Does he have more nefarious motives other than looking after his flock of sheep attempting to lead them to salvation? With the introduction of these Flashlighters Barnett has thrown a new and interesting dynamic into an already superbly dark (pun intended) and terrifying tale.
A brilliantly crafted world shrouded in mystery (I still have so many unanswered questions), flawed and gritty characters, and a compellingly expansive story. What more could you ask for from a post apocalyptic horror series? Set all those things aside though. I have harped on this before but the best thing, the absolute best thing about these books has been Barnett’s prose. It’s beautiful, lyrical, poetic. It’s all those things swirled together. I am not the first person to use this phrase but Barnett has definitely been flexing his muscles in the prose magic department. It is the piece de resistance to top off a stellar story. THE FLASHLIGHTERS by Daniel Barnett is another cog in a well oiled machine. Another impressive installment in a series that is firing on all cylinders. I for one cannot wait to discover what atrocities are lurking in wait for our characters in the next volume.
I received an ARC of this book from the author for review consideration.
Video review: https://youtu.be/IEo0vaL2VGk
June 6, 2022
Another amazing addition to this great series if the last book deserves 5 stars (and it did) this one deserves 6. Daniel Barnett manages to seamlessly integrate new characters into each book and every single one has distinct personalities. The interesting apocalyptic scenario that’s in this story is so crazy and fun to read. In the last book the story building accumulated into the book really taking off, and in this one we’ve completely descended into dystopian hysteria. Each book continues to top the last and I can’t imagine where the story is being taken but I can’t wait to see!
May 5, 2022
I know I said it about the last book in this series, but this is the best part. I guess I should add "so far." The pacing of the story slows down in this part, which is a good thing. I feel it made the nightmares so much more impactful. I'm very excited to see where this story goes.
February 2, 2022
I have just finished The Flashlighters, and these books just keep getting better. How is that even possible??? I love Daniel Barnett's prose so much, The Nightmareland Chronicles is becoming my favorite series ever.
March 10, 2021
TITLE: The Flashlighters
AUTHOR: Daniel Barnett
SYNOPSIS: John Hawthorne is awake at last.
But so are other things . . . horrible, unthinkable things born from bad dreams and left to roost across the darkened Utah countryside.
Nor is that all.
Somewhere on a lonely highway to the north there waits a mysterious, light-worshiping band of drifters led by the magnanimous Father Ammon, whose one blind eye might hold a secret path to salvation . . . at least for some.
America is dead.
Welcome to its nightmare.
The Flashlighters is the fourth 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.
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Another great installment in the Nightmareland Chronicles. In this one John is awake and Mariah has returned with Marcus. The three now travel to Utah on a mission to Wyoming to battle time and get to Maine ASAP.
There are new nightmares in store for our characters and they are some of the eeriest ones we have yet to meet. I definitely wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley.
Then we meet a new group. I think of this as the cult phase of the apocalypse. When mankind cannot explain things they tend to turn to religion, and there is no shortness of faith here.
John is still such a damn mystery. I really hope we get to unfold his fuckedupness in #5. I feel we still know so little about what is actually going on in his head. OPEN UP JOHNNY BOY!
In summary, Daniel offers another solid episode in his Nightmareland SAGA. Great characters, amazing atmosphere, and diverse characters are why I gave THE FLASHLIGHTERS 4 stars!
Thank you Daniel Barnett for a gifted ARC of THE FLASHLIGHTERS in exchange for an honest review.
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August 1, 2022I have little to say about this one, except the series continues as strongly as previous. Very enjoyable!
October 9, 2022
The story just gets better and better.
The fourth installment really starts to unpack more of the mystery in this darkness, but also introduces some new characters and images to consider, or I could say chew upon.
The fourth installment really starts to unpack more of the mystery in this darkness, but also introduces some new characters and images to consider, or I could say chew upon.
August 13, 2021
This is another stunning entry in an already fantastic series. Daniel Barnett is a mad genius brimming with creative ideas. I’m speechless. I excited for this new dynamic in the group of John, Mariah, and Marcos. Excuse me while I go stare at a wall and process what I just read.
January 26, 2021
You know, at this point, I feel like it’s safe to say Daniel Barnett is the new Stephen King. His writing is complex, yet approachable. His characters are driven and complete with rich backgrounds and dramatic stories to reveal. His settings are expansive, living things that draw you in just as much as the monsters that fill them. And, yes, the Nightmareland series also brings to mind The Stand constantly for me (which is a great thing).
In The Flashlighters, our main trio - John, Mariah, and Marcos - is stuck traveling miles and miles of lonely highway to the north. They have Salt Lake in mind. There’s a plane there that could possibly take them to Maine for John’s daughter. But they run into some trouble on the road, leaving them without a working vehicle. Soon, they meet a band of characters that take them back to a small town you can’t find on the maps. There, Father Ammon leads a collection of drifters and sleepers with the display of an unexplainable power.
The opening sequence in this book was tremendous! I want to give some detail, but probably shouldn’t. It’s best you go into it as a blank slate. Just know, it’s a nightmarish and exciting scene to kick things off.
The introduction of Father Ammon and his community is a turn I’m glad Barnett has taken. Bringing in a collection of unknown characters with various degrees of baggage opens up the series for a slew of new possibilities, especially once you’ve learned Father Ammon’s secret. Again, there is more I wish to discuss here, but that would spoil the discoveries you pick up along the way of The Flashlighters. It’s probably best to keep it simple and just let you know that this entire novella is compelling from start to finish. Barnett is a mastermind, clearly, and his work continues to get better every step of the way.
***
Highlights: Possibly the best entry yet … nothing flawed … expands upon the Nightmareland universe further … engaging throughout … a great cast of characters that has just gotten even bigger … endless possibilities
Shadows: None!
FFO: Apocalyptic stories that are deep and full of diversions … interesting casts of characters and settings … dreadful and nightmarish events … large worlds
Takeaway: Four books into the Nightmareland Chronicles and Barnett continues to impress and, at times, somehow best himself. That’s hard to do when your titles are already getting top scores.
Would I read this author again? Yes
***
REVIEW BY AIDEN MERCHANT
→ WWW.AIDENMERCHANT.COM
CONTACT: CONTACT@AIDENMERCHANT.COM
SOCIAL MEDIA: INSTAGRAM (AIDENMERCHANT.OFFICIAL) AND TWITTER (AIDENMERCHANT89)
***
Full Review: https://aidenmerchant.com/2021/01/26/...
In The Flashlighters, our main trio - John, Mariah, and Marcos - is stuck traveling miles and miles of lonely highway to the north. They have Salt Lake in mind. There’s a plane there that could possibly take them to Maine for John’s daughter. But they run into some trouble on the road, leaving them without a working vehicle. Soon, they meet a band of characters that take them back to a small town you can’t find on the maps. There, Father Ammon leads a collection of drifters and sleepers with the display of an unexplainable power.
The opening sequence in this book was tremendous! I want to give some detail, but probably shouldn’t. It’s best you go into it as a blank slate. Just know, it’s a nightmarish and exciting scene to kick things off.
The introduction of Father Ammon and his community is a turn I’m glad Barnett has taken. Bringing in a collection of unknown characters with various degrees of baggage opens up the series for a slew of new possibilities, especially once you’ve learned Father Ammon’s secret. Again, there is more I wish to discuss here, but that would spoil the discoveries you pick up along the way of The Flashlighters. It’s probably best to keep it simple and just let you know that this entire novella is compelling from start to finish. Barnett is a mastermind, clearly, and his work continues to get better every step of the way.
***
Highlights: Possibly the best entry yet … nothing flawed … expands upon the Nightmareland universe further … engaging throughout … a great cast of characters that has just gotten even bigger … endless possibilities
Shadows: None!
FFO: Apocalyptic stories that are deep and full of diversions … interesting casts of characters and settings … dreadful and nightmarish events … large worlds
Takeaway: Four books into the Nightmareland Chronicles and Barnett continues to impress and, at times, somehow best himself. That’s hard to do when your titles are already getting top scores.
Would I read this author again? Yes
***
REVIEW BY AIDEN MERCHANT
→ WWW.AIDENMERCHANT.COM
CONTACT: CONTACT@AIDENMERCHANT.COM
SOCIAL MEDIA: INSTAGRAM (AIDENMERCHANT.OFFICIAL) AND TWITTER (AIDENMERCHANT89)
***
Full Review: https://aidenmerchant.com/2021/01/26/...
December 8, 2021
Another engrossing entry in this series - something I really love about the NIGHTMARELAND Chronicles is how beautifully paced it is. Each installment expands the world of nightmares in which we travel, and it's so skillful. It's not a matter of just constantly ramping up the same element - there is something new to fear each time, and Barnett is adept and imaginative in keeping everything fresh, new, and deeply disturbing. I'm so invested in these beautifully drawn characters, and immediately started the next one.
November 12, 2025
The tale continues, as John, Mariah, and Marcos encounter others who have formed a pseudo-religion in the wake of the darkness. They also encounter the other things the darkness has unleashed. The series continues to expand the horrors of this seemingly sunless world.
January 26, 2021
4.5***
The Flashlighters has some of the creepiest moments in the series so far. At this point, I trust that Daniel Barnett knows what he is doing, and I'm just along for the ride. He packs more atmosphere, character work, and suspenseful storytelling into one short volume than some authors do in a full-length novel.
The Flashlighters has some of the creepiest moments in the series so far. At this point, I trust that Daniel Barnett knows what he is doing, and I'm just along for the ride. He packs more atmosphere, character work, and suspenseful storytelling into one short volume than some authors do in a full-length novel.
April 10, 2022
The travelers are in Utah and having a pretty hard go of things. Marcos is teaching Mariah sign language. Along the road they are met by a group of sleepers with flashlights attached to their backs, along with a harness, as they are pulling a camper with Gregory and Sam, who are awake, steering the way. They invite Mariah, Marcos and John to come to the campground where the Flashlighters are staying. John is not very trusting, but they accept the invitation. They listen to the people there and see how kind and loving they are to their sleepers, so they relax a bit. John has to get some tools,so he and Sam end up in the nearest town, where they go to a service station. Nightmares are happening for real. I keep liking Mariah more and more as this story progresses and I adore Marcos. John not so much, although depending on who you are, he can be a good guy to have around. I’m also liking the story more and more the further I read. I thought the incident at the gas station was very imaginative and very dark. I’m enjoying this series.
November 8, 2024
I've just finish the fourth novel on the series. Two to go. On this tale we finally have back John but our main protagonist is Mariah - at least is more focus on her.
They escape the city\place where they met up the young boy (who is now traveling with them) and they are now travelling to get to John kids. They meet a bunch of people that call themselves Flashlighters and they bundle together.
It was a easy quick read and the story is not completed since this book ends up in a cliffhanger which will be finish in book 5. (after all this only has 157 pages. Why the writer didn't combine is anyone guess.
My main complain with this is that at times can be a bit confusing and we don't see that much about the all vanishing sun thing. We only know that people dream (some don't come out) and their dreams mix with reality. The author specific says that we have (yet) no information on how problematic would it be near a big city.
Overall 78/100
They escape the city\place where they met up the young boy (who is now traveling with them) and they are now travelling to get to John kids. They meet a bunch of people that call themselves Flashlighters and they bundle together.
It was a easy quick read and the story is not completed since this book ends up in a cliffhanger which will be finish in book 5. (after all this only has 157 pages. Why the writer didn't combine is anyone guess.
My main complain with this is that at times can be a bit confusing and we don't see that much about the all vanishing sun thing. We only know that people dream (some don't come out) and their dreams mix with reality. The author specific says that we have (yet) no information on how problematic would it be near a big city.
Overall 78/100
December 23, 2021
Once again, the characters that are introduced are so real and easy to connect with. We find out more about the nightmares and kind of what they are in this one. We also see John, Mariah, and Marcos coming together more as a unit in this one. I love Daniel’s writing and how engrossing the language is. I feel like I’m with them as they are pushing the truck down the road, or when they meet the group of flashlighters and have to navigate whether they have good or bad intentions. I just loved the way this one felt expansive and felt like the world is growing just a bit bigger for our three travelers.
February 16, 2022
We meet The Flashlighters in book #4 of The Nightmareland Chronicles.
"Bringing dawn to a world in darkness"
Boy oh boy am I loving this series! I am devouring it as I devoured The Walking Dead when it first came out!
The characters John, Mariah and Marcos I have become totally invested in.
The part of the story with the lag bolts....well I won't be forgetting about that anytime soon!
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Bringing dawn to a world in darkness"
Boy oh boy am I loving this series! I am devouring it as I devoured The Walking Dead when it first came out!
The characters John, Mariah and Marcos I have become totally invested in.
The part of the story with the lag bolts....well I won't be forgetting about that anytime soon!
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 9, 2022
Something Beyond the Dark . . .
This fourth installment of the Nightmareland Chronicles is my favorite in the series thus far. THE FLASHLIGHTERS is a tour de force of storytelling, atmosphere, and imagination. It's filled with menace, dread, and paranoia, but also drips with something akin to hope. And Barnett's prose is among the best that I have encountered in any genre. I'm looking forward to returning to the darkness in Volume Five!
This fourth installment of the Nightmareland Chronicles is my favorite in the series thus far. THE FLASHLIGHTERS is a tour de force of storytelling, atmosphere, and imagination. It's filled with menace, dread, and paranoia, but also drips with something akin to hope. And Barnett's prose is among the best that I have encountered in any genre. I'm looking forward to returning to the darkness in Volume Five!
January 14, 2025
4.25 stars . 🕊
“ you know how it is when you go stay with your parents after you’ve grown up and moved out of the house? it's okay at first, kind of nice even, but then being there makes you feel like a kid again, except the skin you used to wear doesn’t fit right anymore, if it ever did, [. . .] ”
━━━━━━⊱ † ⊰━━━━━━
im so scared for what's to come ﹠ i have so many questions
“ you know how it is when you go stay with your parents after you’ve grown up and moved out of the house? it's okay at first, kind of nice even, but then being there makes you feel like a kid again, except the skin you used to wear doesn’t fit right anymore, if it ever did, [. . .] ”
━━━━━━⊱ † ⊰━━━━━━
im so scared for what's to come ﹠ i have so many questions
March 18, 2021
Review coming soon!
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