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Darkness Calls
Mike is facing the inevitable. He and his wife Leah are racing through the middle of the night to see his addict sister in the hospital on the second anniversary of their father’s death. A situation for which his spiritual mother seems elated. It is a situation Mike knew would be coming, but not for the reasons he anticipated, including that of his own calling.
- GenresHorror
26 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2020
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 13, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
I’m late to the game with D.T.’s fiction but if ‘Darkness Calls’ is any indication, I really can’t wait to dive in and discover more of his work.
Another stellar release from Demain Publishing, I’m personally excited to also see what Griffith does with an upcoming anthology Demain is putting together.
What I liked: ‘Darkness Calls’ open with a familiar narrative. A brother has been called by his sister’s boyfriend/dope dealer that she’s had an issue with and he needs to come help her. We soon learn that a similar thing happened before with his father.
From there, Griffith gives us brief glimpses and really dark hints at the truth about why this keeps happening and the brother’s role in the events that are occurring.
I loved the descriptions throughout and looking at the cover you can tell just what some of the repulsive appearances resemble.
Griffith doesn’t hold back and I loved the ending to this. It comes full circle and it opens the door to further events.
What I didn’t like: The girlfriend of our main character starts off one way and ends completely another way. I think for her arc to have worked I would’ve preferred more of the ending aspects to have been teased earlier on. I can’t say much more to remain spoiler-free, but it felt like two completely different characters and there’s a hard switch roughly 50% in.
Why you should buy this: ‘Darkness Calls’ is bleak and brutal and Griffith nails the ending that is led along with the creeping dread that he introduced early on. Really had a blast with this one and definitely a Short! Sharp! Shocks! one for people to check out if they love tentacle-based fiction.
I’m late to the game with D.T.’s fiction but if ‘Darkness Calls’ is any indication, I really can’t wait to dive in and discover more of his work.
Another stellar release from Demain Publishing, I’m personally excited to also see what Griffith does with an upcoming anthology Demain is putting together.
What I liked: ‘Darkness Calls’ open with a familiar narrative. A brother has been called by his sister’s boyfriend/dope dealer that she’s had an issue with and he needs to come help her. We soon learn that a similar thing happened before with his father.
From there, Griffith gives us brief glimpses and really dark hints at the truth about why this keeps happening and the brother’s role in the events that are occurring.
I loved the descriptions throughout and looking at the cover you can tell just what some of the repulsive appearances resemble.
Griffith doesn’t hold back and I loved the ending to this. It comes full circle and it opens the door to further events.
What I didn’t like: The girlfriend of our main character starts off one way and ends completely another way. I think for her arc to have worked I would’ve preferred more of the ending aspects to have been teased earlier on. I can’t say much more to remain spoiler-free, but it felt like two completely different characters and there’s a hard switch roughly 50% in.
Why you should buy this: ‘Darkness Calls’ is bleak and brutal and Griffith nails the ending that is led along with the creeping dread that he introduced early on. Really had a blast with this one and definitely a Short! Sharp! Shocks! one for people to check out if they love tentacle-based fiction.
February 26, 2021
Finally... at Peace...
No spoilers. 3 stars. Mike and Leah are on their way to see Mike's comatose twin sister Mikayla before she dies of a drug overdose...
... that's if she's not already dead when they get to the hospital...
Mike's divorced father had once lived in an apartment with Mikayla before he also died of an overdose...
... Mike recalls something off about dad's death... Dad had a strange gaze frozen on his face... half-smiling and staring up beyond the ceiling...
... and something odd about dad's neck... almost like he had hung himself... but there he sat, upright on the sofa stiff with death...
Mike also recalls about that night:
... some paint had come off around the top of the wooden door... was there something etched into the bare wood? A symbol? A crooked star?
... Why would anything be scratched above the apartment door?... Maybe mom and her weird cult were carving their symbols?...
... and now his twin was dead. Mom says Mikayla's now one with the darkness... along with their father... and Mikayla had that same strange gaze as dad...
... Mom says Mikayla's ascended now... dying on dad's death day... Finally at peace... and they both are waiting for Mike and his mother to join them...
This kind of story needs a little more development to make it happen and there just wasn't enough here. The idea was a good one though.
No spoilers. 3 stars. Mike and Leah are on their way to see Mike's comatose twin sister Mikayla before she dies of a drug overdose...
... that's if she's not already dead when they get to the hospital...
Mike's divorced father had once lived in an apartment with Mikayla before he also died of an overdose...
... Mike recalls something off about dad's death... Dad had a strange gaze frozen on his face... half-smiling and staring up beyond the ceiling...
... and something odd about dad's neck... almost like he had hung himself... but there he sat, upright on the sofa stiff with death...
Mike also recalls about that night:
... some paint had come off around the top of the wooden door... was there something etched into the bare wood? A symbol? A crooked star?
... Why would anything be scratched above the apartment door?... Maybe mom and her weird cult were carving their symbols?...
... and now his twin was dead. Mom says Mikayla's now one with the darkness... along with their father... and Mikayla had that same strange gaze as dad...
... Mom says Mikayla's ascended now... dying on dad's death day... Finally at peace... and they both are waiting for Mike and his mother to join them...
This kind of story needs a little more development to make it happen and there just wasn't enough here. The idea was a good one though.
May 16, 2021
A story of addiction, likely mental health issues and cosmic horror, Darkness Calls is darkness and grit from the first page till the last. It keeps you guessing about what's real and what is a figment of substance-addled imagination until the very end. A hugely enjoyable read.
March 24, 2021
Wow, this is a story that certainly lives up to its name. Darkness Calls, it really does.
You know what you’re getting with a Short Sharp Shocks! release and this one is as good as any in the ever-increasing collection.
In this instalment we’re treated (if that’s the right word) to the tale of Mike and his wife, Leah as they travel to the hospital to see Mike’s twin sister who’s in a coma following a suspected overdose. Mike is obviously worried about her but she has had her demons in the past and this put a lot of strain on the siblings’ relationship.
Two years ago Mike’s father died in mysterious circumstances, could it be a coincidence his sister in now in this perilous position? When Mike had seen his pops dead on the sofa back then something appeared frighteningly weird about the whole situation. What was that look on his face? What were the strange sigils on the walls?
Mike’s family have been hiding secrets for many years, were these connected to his dad’s death?
You betcha!!
It’s a short tale this, so I can’t say too much more. But the darkness described in the title takes an insidious hold around your throat as you delve further into the story. Maybe like a tentacle, perhaps? Mike’s psyche becomes infested with visions of tentacles and tendrils, is he losing his mind or was this how it was supposed to end?
D.T. Griffith has a talent to take you places you don’t want to go, holding your hand before letting go right at the end and letting you plummet into the void. The darkness is calling and it needs to be answered.
You know what you’re getting with a Short Sharp Shocks! release and this one is as good as any in the ever-increasing collection.
In this instalment we’re treated (if that’s the right word) to the tale of Mike and his wife, Leah as they travel to the hospital to see Mike’s twin sister who’s in a coma following a suspected overdose. Mike is obviously worried about her but she has had her demons in the past and this put a lot of strain on the siblings’ relationship.
Two years ago Mike’s father died in mysterious circumstances, could it be a coincidence his sister in now in this perilous position? When Mike had seen his pops dead on the sofa back then something appeared frighteningly weird about the whole situation. What was that look on his face? What were the strange sigils on the walls?
Mike’s family have been hiding secrets for many years, were these connected to his dad’s death?
You betcha!!
It’s a short tale this, so I can’t say too much more. But the darkness described in the title takes an insidious hold around your throat as you delve further into the story. Maybe like a tentacle, perhaps? Mike’s psyche becomes infested with visions of tentacles and tendrils, is he losing his mind or was this how it was supposed to end?
D.T. Griffith has a talent to take you places you don’t want to go, holding your hand before letting go right at the end and letting you plummet into the void. The darkness is calling and it needs to be answered.
March 9, 2021
Griffith scores another hit with this cosmic horror tale that sees a man returning to his birthplace in response to a proxy cry for help from his addict sister. As the tale progresses, family trauma, and an apparent case of history repeating itself, has the protagonist and his girlfriend at the heart of a cosmic event that threatens to claim everyone in the family.
With expert ease, Griffith has the reader's skin crawling with grisly details of tendrils and tentacles and dark, powerful forces from the void.
Highly recommended.
With expert ease, Griffith has the reader's skin crawling with grisly details of tendrils and tentacles and dark, powerful forces from the void.
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews