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Dusklight: Raven Mistcreek, Book 2
Raven Mistcreek was hoping for a peaceful retreat to her future home, Dusklight Castle. Surrounded by friends and her marriage to Baron Percival Dayspring only a few months off, everything seemed perfect. When a horde of monsters from a lower level of The Continuum attacks Raven’s caravan, the retreat becomes anything but peaceful. But that’s just the beginning of Raven’s problems. Ever since the Horseman's demise, cults dedicated to reviving Death have been popping up. The Inquisition has been putting them down, but a mass kidnapping and whispers of an unholy text suggests the latest cult might have something else in mind than resurrecting a dead Horseman of the Apocalypse. Are the kidnappings and attack on the caravan related? Is Dusklight safe or are Raven and her friends heading into more danger? The cosmic adventure horror series continues in the action-packed sequel to Chalk, featuring new allies and new horrors.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2021
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3 people want to read
About the author
N.R. LaPoint
18 books4 followersN.R. LaPoint is a lover of pulp stories filled with aspirational heroes, bizarre worlds, and terrible creatures. He lives deep within the Great Wisconsin Wilderness with his family, numerous musical instruments, and a large personal library.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 26, 2021
Horror comes home.
This is a great follow-up to Chalk, LaPoint's schoolgirl-vs-abominations intro to the world and disruptive life of Raven Mistcreek, the fastest tomboy to have to draw a sidearm. And a shotgun, and a chainsaw, and a golem, and ...! The main action starts a bit slower this time: our heroine is riding to the castle of her dreamy fairytale prince, surrounded by friends and family and knights on unicorns, and isn't attacked by diabolical fiends until page three. But then in LaPoint's Dragon-worthy fashion the battle is on, and it hardly lets up for more than a few pages at any time.
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
The plot is more complex than in the first book, and so is the narrative structure. A few of the early chapters are from the POV of a curious trio from the Holy Inquisition whom we met in the prologue, whose mission is inextricable from the evil that menaces Raven and her fiancée. But I wasn't expecting the Holy Inquisition, either. Their chief weapon is surprise! Surprise, and a fanatical devotion to the pope! Their two chief weapons, that is, are going to be critical to the fight if Raven and her family (now including the fox-girl Kasumi, married to her brother Damien) are going to make it to the wedding alive.
Again, and a bit more blatantly, LaPoint draws in anime colors, to depict a Catholic response to a Lovecraftian menace. Kasumi gives Raven another outfit-- a change from the schoolgirl uniform of Chalk-- right out of the trope box. The Big Bad here blends the macguffin of Miskatonic U. with the fiends from Fullmetal Alchemist. Her kid sister's expression is even described once as "anime". And more references to Japanese mythology appear, as does the Maid of Orleans.
The amalgam works. It continues the adventure and meta-existential crises of LaPoint's interplanar Continuum, from Chalk, and like Chalk the stakes are colossal but self-contained within the single volume. The series seems to have carved out a formula to some extent, in this, but it's not formulaic, either. This is no Hardy Boys, where Frank and Joe are eighteen and seventeen forever, and are dating the same two girls in the 1950s that they were in the '30s, and the book sequence is interchangeable. Not only are Kasumi and Raven's brother married, and Raven herself betrothed, but they act like it, and the impending marriage, newlywed teasing (of and by Kasumi), and sexual tension an active part of the story. Raven is less of a tomboy than before, and more capable as a heroine, without spilling into that pathetic stereotype that Hollywood mislabels as "Strong Woman," which ought to be called "Cardboard Butch." The characters grow, both over the course of the book but from the first book to this, and between books. A serious story arc is discernable to make the Mistcreek series a coming-of-age saga as well as what may well be a cosmic quest to heal the whole Continuum, on lines like those pursued in Brien Niemeier's Soul Cycle. In reading Chalk, I observed that LaPoint is a rarity as a male writer presenting a credibly female protagonîste. My hat is off to Mrs. LaPoint, whose gentling insights undoubtedly guided her husband's pen (consciously or not) in his portrayal of Raven and her sisters-in-arms. He's done it again!
Read Dusklight. You'll be glad you did.
This is a great follow-up to Chalk, LaPoint's schoolgirl-vs-abominations intro to the world and disruptive life of Raven Mistcreek, the fastest tomboy to have to draw a sidearm. And a shotgun, and a chainsaw, and a golem, and ...! The main action starts a bit slower this time: our heroine is riding to the castle of her dreamy fairytale prince, surrounded by friends and family and knights on unicorns, and isn't attacked by diabolical fiends until page three. But then in LaPoint's Dragon-worthy fashion the battle is on, and it hardly lets up for more than a few pages at any time.
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
The plot is more complex than in the first book, and so is the narrative structure. A few of the early chapters are from the POV of a curious trio from the Holy Inquisition whom we met in the prologue, whose mission is inextricable from the evil that menaces Raven and her fiancée. But I wasn't expecting the Holy Inquisition, either. Their chief weapon is surprise! Surprise, and a fanatical devotion to the pope! Their two chief weapons, that is, are going to be critical to the fight if Raven and her family (now including the fox-girl Kasumi, married to her brother Damien) are going to make it to the wedding alive.
Again, and a bit more blatantly, LaPoint draws in anime colors, to depict a Catholic response to a Lovecraftian menace. Kasumi gives Raven another outfit-- a change from the schoolgirl uniform of Chalk-- right out of the trope box. The Big Bad here blends the macguffin of Miskatonic U. with the fiends from Fullmetal Alchemist. Her kid sister's expression is even described once as "anime". And more references to Japanese mythology appear, as does the Maid of Orleans.
The amalgam works. It continues the adventure and meta-existential crises of LaPoint's interplanar Continuum, from Chalk, and like Chalk the stakes are colossal but self-contained within the single volume. The series seems to have carved out a formula to some extent, in this, but it's not formulaic, either. This is no Hardy Boys, where Frank and Joe are eighteen and seventeen forever, and are dating the same two girls in the 1950s that they were in the '30s, and the book sequence is interchangeable. Not only are Kasumi and Raven's brother married, and Raven herself betrothed, but they act like it, and the impending marriage, newlywed teasing (of and by Kasumi), and sexual tension an active part of the story. Raven is less of a tomboy than before, and more capable as a heroine, without spilling into that pathetic stereotype that Hollywood mislabels as "Strong Woman," which ought to be called "Cardboard Butch." The characters grow, both over the course of the book but from the first book to this, and between books. A serious story arc is discernable to make the Mistcreek series a coming-of-age saga as well as what may well be a cosmic quest to heal the whole Continuum, on lines like those pursued in Brien Niemeier's Soul Cycle. In reading Chalk, I observed that LaPoint is a rarity as a male writer presenting a credibly female protagonîste. My hat is off to Mrs. LaPoint, whose gentling insights undoubtedly guided her husband's pen (consciously or not) in his portrayal of Raven and her sisters-in-arms. He's done it again!
Read Dusklight. You'll be glad you did.
March 19, 2024
This is the sixth novel and seventh story I have read by LaPoint. With each I am more impressed with his style, skills, and range. I had not read the description before picking this up. I picked up all his available books wile in the middle of reading a previous story. I loved the first book in this series, Chalk, and this one took the action, adventure and horror to a whole new level.
The description of this volume is:
“Raven Mistcreek was hoping for a peaceful retreat to her future home, Dusklight Castle. Surrounded by friends and her marriage to Baron Percival Dayspring only a few months off, everything seemed perfect. When a horde of monsters from a lower level of The Continuum attacks Raven’s caravan, the retreat becomes anything but peaceful. But that’s just the beginning of Raven’s problems.
Ever since the Horseman's demise, cults dedicated to reviving Death have been popping up.T he Inquisition has been putting them down, but a mass kidnapping and whispers of an unholy text suggests the latest cult might have something else in mind than resurrecting a dead Horseman of the Apocalypse.
Are the kidnappings and attack on the caravan related? Is Dusklight safe or are Raven and her friends heading into more danger? The cosmic adventure horror series continues in the action-packed sequel to Chalk featuring new allies and new horrors.”
Raven just wanted a nice quiet visit to her fiancé’s castle. Alas that was not to be. We learn more about Raven, and her infinity in this installment. We also learn how her and her brother’s infinity can combine in a unique and rather helpful fashion. Raven’s best friend, Kasumi, is now married to her brother and they are both teasing her about her upcoming nuptials.
The characters are wonderfully written. Our heroine Raven Mistcreek is a force to be reckoned with. She may be a Catholic school girl, but she has deep faith, and trusts in God’s leadings. She can also draw things with chalk and then pull out the object and use it.
While they are traveling, they encounter evil beings that should not be able to be in this level of the continuum. These beings seem to be able to hide in shadows and even use the shadows in a way that does not make sense. Soon Raven, Percival and his knights, Kasumi, and a trio of travellers with the inquisition must face something they never expected.
The new friends are an interesting mix, and fit in well with the team. The knights take a quick liking to Raven and her constructs. And in the battles that ensue more than one friend and ally is lost. But to find out where the danger comes from and if they can counter it you will need to read this excellent novel.
The story moves at a quick pace but starts off slower than book 1. The whole adventure takes place over just a few days. But it travels across the realm of the Mistcreek family, and eventually down the continuum. Again, there is some serios action, battles, and some dark scarry parts. There is also humour, fun and friendship. I can’t quite describe it as a buddy book, but it is close. It feels more like a team on a quest or campaign.
The appearance again of Saint Joan of arc and her revelation at the end sets up book three, Archangel well. And leaves you desperate for it. This was a wonderful read. I am excited to share it with my youngest two children and hope my niece and her brothers love it as well. Before I had even finished book 1 I sent a copy my nice as a birthday present and she is very excited about the book and series. I cannot wait to dig into the next volume, which. This was a great read in an excellent series. Catholic fiction at its best. I can easily recommend this story for anyone who loves a good fantast with more than a modicum of horror mixed it. An excellent volume from Lapoint’s masterful pen.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
The description of this volume is:
“Raven Mistcreek was hoping for a peaceful retreat to her future home, Dusklight Castle. Surrounded by friends and her marriage to Baron Percival Dayspring only a few months off, everything seemed perfect. When a horde of monsters from a lower level of The Continuum attacks Raven’s caravan, the retreat becomes anything but peaceful. But that’s just the beginning of Raven’s problems.
Ever since the Horseman's demise, cults dedicated to reviving Death have been popping up.T he Inquisition has been putting them down, but a mass kidnapping and whispers of an unholy text suggests the latest cult might have something else in mind than resurrecting a dead Horseman of the Apocalypse.
Are the kidnappings and attack on the caravan related? Is Dusklight safe or are Raven and her friends heading into more danger? The cosmic adventure horror series continues in the action-packed sequel to Chalk featuring new allies and new horrors.”
Raven just wanted a nice quiet visit to her fiancé’s castle. Alas that was not to be. We learn more about Raven, and her infinity in this installment. We also learn how her and her brother’s infinity can combine in a unique and rather helpful fashion. Raven’s best friend, Kasumi, is now married to her brother and they are both teasing her about her upcoming nuptials.
The characters are wonderfully written. Our heroine Raven Mistcreek is a force to be reckoned with. She may be a Catholic school girl, but she has deep faith, and trusts in God’s leadings. She can also draw things with chalk and then pull out the object and use it.
While they are traveling, they encounter evil beings that should not be able to be in this level of the continuum. These beings seem to be able to hide in shadows and even use the shadows in a way that does not make sense. Soon Raven, Percival and his knights, Kasumi, and a trio of travellers with the inquisition must face something they never expected.
The new friends are an interesting mix, and fit in well with the team. The knights take a quick liking to Raven and her constructs. And in the battles that ensue more than one friend and ally is lost. But to find out where the danger comes from and if they can counter it you will need to read this excellent novel.
The story moves at a quick pace but starts off slower than book 1. The whole adventure takes place over just a few days. But it travels across the realm of the Mistcreek family, and eventually down the continuum. Again, there is some serios action, battles, and some dark scarry parts. There is also humour, fun and friendship. I can’t quite describe it as a buddy book, but it is close. It feels more like a team on a quest or campaign.
The appearance again of Saint Joan of arc and her revelation at the end sets up book three, Archangel well. And leaves you desperate for it. This was a wonderful read. I am excited to share it with my youngest two children and hope my niece and her brothers love it as well. Before I had even finished book 1 I sent a copy my nice as a birthday present and she is very excited about the book and series. I cannot wait to dig into the next volume, which. This was a great read in an excellent series. Catholic fiction at its best. I can easily recommend this story for anyone who loves a good fantast with more than a modicum of horror mixed it. An excellent volume from Lapoint’s masterful pen.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
July 2, 2021
Great sequel
I loved the first book and this was an excellent sequel. The weirdness is less overwhelming, but there are a lot of strange bits. Lots of action, great ending. You'll be glad you read it.
I loved the first book and this was an excellent sequel. The weirdness is less overwhelming, but there are a lot of strange bits. Lots of action, great ending. You'll be glad you read it.
June 1, 2023
An excellent sequel to Chalk, less wild, but more focused and tightly plotted. Thoroughly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews