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Black Bloom: A Story of Survival
It started with a viral sensation. A photo of a young Indian boy plucking a single black dandelion from the train tracks situated beside a slum. The weed was considered an abnormality, a genetic mutation. Nothing to be concerned about...
Weeks later, most of the world has gone blind. Black dandelions have sprouted everywhere, from the sands of the Sahara to the Las Vegas strip; lawns and fields have turned midnight black with the proliferation of these coal-colored weeds.
Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, only one thing is clear: humanity is in for a fight unlike any it has ever faced before.
This is the story of the end of the world as we know it. This is the story of a war unknown and unspoken of. Until now.
This is a story of survival.
This is the story of the Black Bloom.
Weeks later, most of the world has gone blind. Black dandelions have sprouted everywhere, from the sands of the Sahara to the Las Vegas strip; lawns and fields have turned midnight black with the proliferation of these coal-colored weeds.
Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, only one thing is clear: humanity is in for a fight unlike any it has ever faced before.
This is the story of the end of the world as we know it. This is the story of a war unknown and unspoken of. Until now.
This is a story of survival.
This is the story of the Black Bloom.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2022
5 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Felix I.D. Dimaro
18 books109 followersBorn in Nigeria, raised in Toronto, Felix I.D. Dimaro is an author of allegorical, dark, psychological fiction often centering around morality, mental health, societal conditions, the environment, or the real-life issues he has experienced. He has released eleven books to date, including the eco-thriller, “Black Bloom: A Story of Survival,” the extreme horror novel, “Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer," and the tale of cat cloning gone wrong, "In the Darkness, Eyes and Teeth.”
When not writing, Dimaro is usually reading, watching professional wrestling, or running even though no one is chasing him.
To find out more about Dimaro and his books, head over to https://www.thingsthatkeepmeupatnight...
When not writing, Dimaro is usually reading, watching professional wrestling, or running even though no one is chasing him.
To find out more about Dimaro and his books, head over to https://www.thingsthatkeepmeupatnight...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 8, 2025
This was an extremely unique vision for a horror story. A new type of pandemic breaks out, and DiMaro skillfully weaves aspects of COVID in with some brand new, and very extreme, measures taken. The entire book is written in first person from Alex’s perspective, and chronicles his struggle locked in his house, being a bilateral amputee, and being unable to care for his infected wife. We get a very rich background on both characters early on, and the story showcases the effects of the pandemic in a small section of houses. We get everything from conspiracy theories to outrageous outbursts from neighbors, misleading guidance from pubic health officials, law officials taking things to new extremes, and just a well rounded idea of how things looked in the year 2045. So this was chilling in both a realistic and slightly far fetched way, as you think to yourself what we already went through with COVID, and how a future with an even worse outbreak would be handled. Now, especially as a healthcare professional, COVID has created a scary and mentally exhausting few years for all of us. So right away, I got turned off by the references, but DiMaro didn’t just rehash old business. He took this great and practical concept and brought it to another level. And he won me over big time. My only minor critique here was that Alex was way too calm with everything going on. Like he had the patience of a saint and then some. With his background, physical impairment, and having to watch his wife suffer so terrible and be unable to help her, any one of us would have lost our minds and at least had an angry outburst once. So I felt that was a little off, but everything else here was really awesome. And DiMaro also did a ton of immediate foreshadowing, which I enjoyed a great deal, too. So for any horror fans who wanna get spookied out, I’d put this one high on your reading list.
September 4, 2025
The Stand...
BLACK BLOOM: A Story of Survival
by Felix I.D. Dimaro
4 stars. On April 22, 2045, the first black dandelion was found in India. Ironically, it was on Earth Day...
It signaled the end of the world as we knew it. Yet, no one really thought that was the case at the time...
Because no one was expecting it...
Alexander (Alex) Langston decided to document these events and title it...
A Story of Survival...
It was a title of optimism to be sure. He would be using headlines from newspapers and magazines...
Alex was wheelchair bound, but his wife Eunice was his rock. She was always seeing the bright side of things, though she was blind...
He wanted to leave something behind for future survivors, if there would be survivors, similar to the cave etchings of old...
Maybe...
They would find his documentary and learn about how the world once was...
Before the end...
How humanity responded to its greatest challenge ever presented. The Apocalypse. How things went so wrong so quickly...
Not since COVID-19...
Every eye on the planet had focused on the same thing, blocking out all other news items and stories...
High winds, due to climate change, spread the black dandelions across the globe, bringing a new deadly virus requiring quarantine...
Should Earth's population take a stand? If so, against what?
First, I'd like to say that I loved the cover art. That picture should scare most horror fans all by itself!
Being that COVID-19 lockdowns were only five years ago, I wasn't ready to revisit quarantining again just yet. Perhaps, if this novella had been released a few years later, I would've liked it more. The first half was interesting, even so. The second half was too much telling and not enough showing for me.
Would I recommend it to you? If you can stomach reliving the COVID-19 nightmare again so soon, okay, I'd recommend it to YOU. As for me, that's a pandemic I'd not like to read about anytime soon.
BLACK BLOOM: A Story of Survival
by Felix I.D. Dimaro
4 stars. On April 22, 2045, the first black dandelion was found in India. Ironically, it was on Earth Day...
It signaled the end of the world as we knew it. Yet, no one really thought that was the case at the time...
Because no one was expecting it...
Alexander (Alex) Langston decided to document these events and title it...
A Story of Survival...
It was a title of optimism to be sure. He would be using headlines from newspapers and magazines...
Alex was wheelchair bound, but his wife Eunice was his rock. She was always seeing the bright side of things, though she was blind...
He wanted to leave something behind for future survivors, if there would be survivors, similar to the cave etchings of old...
Maybe...
They would find his documentary and learn about how the world once was...
Before the end...
How humanity responded to its greatest challenge ever presented. The Apocalypse. How things went so wrong so quickly...
Not since COVID-19...
Every eye on the planet had focused on the same thing, blocking out all other news items and stories...
High winds, due to climate change, spread the black dandelions across the globe, bringing a new deadly virus requiring quarantine...
Should Earth's population take a stand? If so, against what?
First, I'd like to say that I loved the cover art. That picture should scare most horror fans all by itself!
Being that COVID-19 lockdowns were only five years ago, I wasn't ready to revisit quarantining again just yet. Perhaps, if this novella had been released a few years later, I would've liked it more. The first half was interesting, even so. The second half was too much telling and not enough showing for me.
Would I recommend it to you? If you can stomach reliving the COVID-19 nightmare again so soon, okay, I'd recommend it to YOU. As for me, that's a pandemic I'd not like to read about anytime soon.
February 6, 2025
I loved this book.
Botanical horror meets body horror in a quietly suffocating and almost contemplative little apocalyptic package. It's tender and beautiful in one way and chilling and raw in another.
The writing style was really pleasant and smooth.
It's probably going to end up being one of my favorites for 2025.
Botanical horror meets body horror in a quietly suffocating and almost contemplative little apocalyptic package. It's tender and beautiful in one way and chilling and raw in another.
The writing style was really pleasant and smooth.
It's probably going to end up being one of my favorites for 2025.
May 24, 2022
gets under your skin
“How could I feel anything but terror and pain when I was seeing something that should have been impossible.”-Alex
Nature Horror. I love books that affect me in my day to day life and that is exactly what Black Bloom does.
At first you laugh it off, thinking -backing away from dandelion fluff? Come on, just walk through it. Then you start realizing just how much is out there, lazily drifting in the air. That stuff is everywhere and you think about this book and the winds we had last week…But of course, Black Bloom is just a book! Still though…no need to let any of that fluff get on me if I can help it.
What adds to the tension and the dread of this book is that Alex is in a wheelchair. He has no legs below his knees. He gets by just fine but you can’t help but picture yourself in his situation.
That is exactly what Felix I.D. Dimaro does, he makes you feel like you are in his book while you are reading it. This is something you live. This is something that affects you.
“How could I feel anything but terror and pain when I was seeing something that should have been impossible.”-Alex
Nature Horror. I love books that affect me in my day to day life and that is exactly what Black Bloom does.
At first you laugh it off, thinking -backing away from dandelion fluff? Come on, just walk through it. Then you start realizing just how much is out there, lazily drifting in the air. That stuff is everywhere and you think about this book and the winds we had last week…But of course, Black Bloom is just a book! Still though…no need to let any of that fluff get on me if I can help it.
What adds to the tension and the dread of this book is that Alex is in a wheelchair. He has no legs below his knees. He gets by just fine but you can’t help but picture yourself in his situation.
That is exactly what Felix I.D. Dimaro does, he makes you feel like you are in his book while you are reading it. This is something you live. This is something that affects you.
June 9, 2022
As somebody who reads a ton of books, I always love when your TBR aligns and you find yourself reading several books close to each other that all seem to share a commonality between them.
Case in point – recently I read the stunning ‘Helpmeet’ by Naben Ruthnum. This was followed closely by ‘The Hungry Earth’ by Nicholas Kaufmann. And now, along comes ‘Black Bloom.’
All three feature aspects that are the same, yet different, but all three feel like a tonal trilogy of sorts and it is fantastic.
When Dimaro announced ‘Black Bloom’ I was pumped. Look at the cover! Read the synopsis! If you’ve ever read any of Dimaro’s work, you know you’re in for a bleak, sorrow filled affair and this one was no different.
What I liked: The story follows a man, recounting what has occurred in his life since the first black dandelion was reported. It’s a simple set up, but Dimaro leads us through the days as the world falls into chaos, quarantine and ultimately a place with no hope.
Oddly, when I started reading this, a tweet went viral-ish on my timeline. It said something along the lines of; “What if the planet itself is harvesting us and now its had enough and ready to fully consume its children.” Powerful and frightening and with the ongoing and increasing global climate crisis, topical.
That is the idea that Dimaro pushes through this, as the world becomes infected and when we see the horrifying events that take place and what happens to those infected, it’ll leave you shaking with fear. I loved it. Much like Shyamalan tried to showcase in his hit-or-miss movie, ‘The Happening,’ Dimaro shows us just what Mother Nature is capable of.
What I didn’t like: I loved this one, but there was one minor annoyance I had, and that was the continued reliance on using the phrase; “if only I knew what was going to happen,” and then insert bits after. We all know something horrible is happening and we all know things are going to be worse, so for me, personally, I found that phrase lost its suspenseful nature after the second or third time of it popping up.
Why you should buy this: Dimaro writes smart, topical and extremely emotional stories. His characters are flawed, beat down but all possess a humanity that shines through and makes you want to root for them. Even after Eunice becomes infected, we want to see her improve so desperately. That’s on account of Dimaro’s strength as a writer.
This was a great read, and one that I want to say I had fun with, but that word isn’t correct here. This was a well done climate-body horror piece, one that definitely will leave you rattled.
Case in point – recently I read the stunning ‘Helpmeet’ by Naben Ruthnum. This was followed closely by ‘The Hungry Earth’ by Nicholas Kaufmann. And now, along comes ‘Black Bloom.’
All three feature aspects that are the same, yet different, but all three feel like a tonal trilogy of sorts and it is fantastic.
When Dimaro announced ‘Black Bloom’ I was pumped. Look at the cover! Read the synopsis! If you’ve ever read any of Dimaro’s work, you know you’re in for a bleak, sorrow filled affair and this one was no different.
What I liked: The story follows a man, recounting what has occurred in his life since the first black dandelion was reported. It’s a simple set up, but Dimaro leads us through the days as the world falls into chaos, quarantine and ultimately a place with no hope.
Oddly, when I started reading this, a tweet went viral-ish on my timeline. It said something along the lines of; “What if the planet itself is harvesting us and now its had enough and ready to fully consume its children.” Powerful and frightening and with the ongoing and increasing global climate crisis, topical.
That is the idea that Dimaro pushes through this, as the world becomes infected and when we see the horrifying events that take place and what happens to those infected, it’ll leave you shaking with fear. I loved it. Much like Shyamalan tried to showcase in his hit-or-miss movie, ‘The Happening,’ Dimaro shows us just what Mother Nature is capable of.
What I didn’t like: I loved this one, but there was one minor annoyance I had, and that was the continued reliance on using the phrase; “if only I knew what was going to happen,” and then insert bits after. We all know something horrible is happening and we all know things are going to be worse, so for me, personally, I found that phrase lost its suspenseful nature after the second or third time of it popping up.
Why you should buy this: Dimaro writes smart, topical and extremely emotional stories. His characters are flawed, beat down but all possess a humanity that shines through and makes you want to root for them. Even after Eunice becomes infected, we want to see her improve so desperately. That’s on account of Dimaro’s strength as a writer.
This was a great read, and one that I want to say I had fun with, but that word isn’t correct here. This was a well done climate-body horror piece, one that definitely will leave you rattled.
May 12, 2022
Super brief synopsis: In 2045, the world is taken over by black dandelions. Over half the population has contracted an illness and gone blind. This is a story of survival.
This is my first from Felix Dimaro, but it won't be my last. Black Bloom scared me a lot more than most of the horror I read - it touches on anxieties I confront every day. The story feels like it's something that could actually happen, and, even more frightening, the characters respond in the way people likely would in real life. I can really imagine it happening.
Dimaro creates an incredibly realistic future for this story. He has envisioned a 2045 that was created from ignoring environmental science, the need to find a a solution for police brutality, and post-Covid habits. Most importantly, he discusses these topics without coming across as preachy. This creates a story that provides both a political discourse and an entertaining (through truly terrifying) story.
This is my first from Felix Dimaro, but it won't be my last. Black Bloom scared me a lot more than most of the horror I read - it touches on anxieties I confront every day. The story feels like it's something that could actually happen, and, even more frightening, the characters respond in the way people likely would in real life. I can really imagine it happening.
Dimaro creates an incredibly realistic future for this story. He has envisioned a 2045 that was created from ignoring environmental science, the need to find a a solution for police brutality, and post-Covid habits. Most importantly, he discusses these topics without coming across as preachy. This creates a story that provides both a political discourse and an entertaining (through truly terrifying) story.
July 31, 2022
A bleak Future
I read this as a part of a read along group on instagram… this was my second Felix ID Dimaro bookI read.
And this was really good, although very bleak and offering a dark look into a possible future where our planet takes revenge upon its inhabitants, at least the ones that can speak and reason, us humans!
I thought it very well written, I was kept on the edge of my seat and had fun seeing how humanity reacts on situations like a pandemic (and yes, covid proved it, we are savage beasts!)
I think this might appeal to people who played the game The Last of Us and the movie Annihilation!
I read this as a part of a read along group on instagram… this was my second Felix ID Dimaro bookI read.
And this was really good, although very bleak and offering a dark look into a possible future where our planet takes revenge upon its inhabitants, at least the ones that can speak and reason, us humans!
I thought it very well written, I was kept on the edge of my seat and had fun seeing how humanity reacts on situations like a pandemic (and yes, covid proved it, we are savage beasts!)
I think this might appeal to people who played the game The Last of Us and the movie Annihilation!
November 14, 2022
Not only is this an accord, a written record of the black dandelion apocalypse, it’s also a love letter to the narrator’s spouse.
It is moving, poetic, including chronological newspaper reports and facts from the media.
This is a beautifully written book, but was just a bit too slow for me. I ended up skimming to find out more about the dandelions.
HOWEVER, I do encourage all readers to give this a go, as I know it will be a fantastic read for many others!
It is moving, poetic, including chronological newspaper reports and facts from the media.
This is a beautifully written book, but was just a bit too slow for me. I ended up skimming to find out more about the dandelions.
HOWEVER, I do encourage all readers to give this a go, as I know it will be a fantastic read for many others!
July 24, 2022
4.25 rounded down
•
🌎Spoiler Free Novella Review🌎
In 2045, the seemingly innocuous discovery of a single black dandelion quickly becomes a worldwide phenomenon with catastrophic results. Black Bloom tells the story of this epic event as documented by one man, Alex Langston, resident of a small cul-de-sac in the suburbs of Seattle Washington.
•
Felix Dimaro has once again written a tale that’s both entertaining and thought provoking. Is Black Bloom a horror story-a stark glimpse into a terrifying and desolate future? Perhaps. Is it a beautiful story-a perfect tale of revenge where Good finally triumphs over Evil? Maybe it’s both. Maybe it depends on who you believe deserves the happy ending. You’ll have to read it to decide for yourself.
•
Using such an intimate narrator perspective was an effective way to amp up the feelings of tension and dread as events unfolded. It also fostered the connection between reader and character; I was immediately invested in what happened to Alex and Eunice, both past and present.
•
Felix did an excellent job of highlighting many current events-the Covid-19 pandemic, police brutality, and climate change-through a social commentary that flowed naturally within the plot and never felt like a lecture to the reader. This purposeful use of realism also helped make the fantastical elements seem possible.
•
Black Bloom is the perfect length for a novella and can be read in one sitting, but I found the plot so intriguing that I wish it were longer. I can easily imagine Alex giving us a flashback to the last few weeks of ‘normalcy’ by delving into the every day interactions within the neighborhood. This backstory could have provided further development of the secondary characters, making the subsequent actions even more impactful.
•
While this writing might be considered bleak by some readers, it isn’t as dark as what I’m accustomed to seeing from Dimaro. I enjoyed seeing the author explore their range and I think it will appeal to a wider audience.
•
TW: suicide
•
🌎Spoiler Free Novella Review🌎
In 2045, the seemingly innocuous discovery of a single black dandelion quickly becomes a worldwide phenomenon with catastrophic results. Black Bloom tells the story of this epic event as documented by one man, Alex Langston, resident of a small cul-de-sac in the suburbs of Seattle Washington.
•
Felix Dimaro has once again written a tale that’s both entertaining and thought provoking. Is Black Bloom a horror story-a stark glimpse into a terrifying and desolate future? Perhaps. Is it a beautiful story-a perfect tale of revenge where Good finally triumphs over Evil? Maybe it’s both. Maybe it depends on who you believe deserves the happy ending. You’ll have to read it to decide for yourself.
•
Using such an intimate narrator perspective was an effective way to amp up the feelings of tension and dread as events unfolded. It also fostered the connection between reader and character; I was immediately invested in what happened to Alex and Eunice, both past and present.
•
Felix did an excellent job of highlighting many current events-the Covid-19 pandemic, police brutality, and climate change-through a social commentary that flowed naturally within the plot and never felt like a lecture to the reader. This purposeful use of realism also helped make the fantastical elements seem possible.
•
Black Bloom is the perfect length for a novella and can be read in one sitting, but I found the plot so intriguing that I wish it were longer. I can easily imagine Alex giving us a flashback to the last few weeks of ‘normalcy’ by delving into the every day interactions within the neighborhood. This backstory could have provided further development of the secondary characters, making the subsequent actions even more impactful.
•
While this writing might be considered bleak by some readers, it isn’t as dark as what I’m accustomed to seeing from Dimaro. I enjoyed seeing the author explore their range and I think it will appeal to a wider audience.
•
TW: suicide
April 23, 2022
I loved this! I loved the way the story started from the beginning, with a step by step description of what was going on and the growing suspense. I found I couldn't put it down and had to find out what was going to happen next. There were so many directions that this could have gone in. In a weird combination it was horrific, interesting and sweet. I enjoyed the characters and there were even a few pictures in my ebook. Very happy I read this, especially after our recent pandemic.
July 20, 2023
Washington State, April 2045. Middle-aged couple Alex and Eunice have enjoyed 20-plus years of a happy marriage. They met shortly after the COVID pandemic, when both of them were reeling from personal tragedies. Now living in a world where the seas are rising (Seattle is undergoing a five year complete evacuation) and resources are growing more scarce, they wake one day to news of a strange black dandelion found in India, and then elsewhere, until soon the strange plant is growing in their own neighborhood. What happens next makes their memories of COVID pale in comparison.
Dimaro's tale of environmental horror is a slow burn but a short read. The terrifying moments of Alex's narrative sneak up on you, and the ending is a satisfying doozy. Recommended for fans of body horror and good man vs nature conflict.
Dimaro's tale of environmental horror is a slow burn but a short read. The terrifying moments of Alex's narrative sneak up on you, and the ending is a satisfying doozy. Recommended for fans of body horror and good man vs nature conflict.
April 23, 2022
This can be read in a single sitting - which I would have, had I not started so late 😂.
It's a very intimate look at a neighborhoods experience through what turns out to be a global phenomenon. Not at all what I expected. Told from the perspective of a man recording events happening before his eyes (and as info is available online). I love a "diary" or "real time documenting" of events. And I loved this story! Released on Earth Day, you quickly discover why. Set 20+ years in the future, it's not clear what triggered this new pandemic, yet the outcome quickly becomes clear.
Dimaro's writing improves with each book - his stories become crisper and powerful. This may be my favorite Dimaro yet (Although, The Corruption of Philip Toles is hard to beat, IMO.)
It's a very intimate look at a neighborhoods experience through what turns out to be a global phenomenon. Not at all what I expected. Told from the perspective of a man recording events happening before his eyes (and as info is available online). I love a "diary" or "real time documenting" of events. And I loved this story! Released on Earth Day, you quickly discover why. Set 20+ years in the future, it's not clear what triggered this new pandemic, yet the outcome quickly becomes clear.
Dimaro's writing improves with each book - his stories become crisper and powerful. This may be my favorite Dimaro yet (Although, The Corruption of Philip Toles is hard to beat, IMO.)
August 9, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was easy to read and definitely raises some thought-provoking questions I suspect will linger in my mind for some time. As for the ending, well... I won't spoil it, but... I would have done the same. Highly recommend. Five stars for sure.
March 4, 2025
This book is a short but unique dive into botanical horror. It’s a little out there, but somehow still feels strangely believable and realistic. It’s like nature finally had enough and decided to fight back and honestly, there’s something weirdly satisfying about that. Definitely an enjoyable read!
April 29, 2024
I have been wanting to read this book ever since I first saw it. The premise sounded so intriguing and if definitely was. This is how the world ends. Will anyone survive? It's possible but not likely. I read this book in one sitting. It was fast paced and interesting the whole way.
January 10, 2023
A mysterious illness sweeps the land, connected in some way to black dandelions. The illness is fatal, but it is a slow, painful process, especially for the healthy loved ones of the inflicted. At first, I felt like this one suffered from a lack of locations, but the longer it sat with me, the more effective the isolation was.
July 26, 2022
'As I helped her with her eyedrops, I noticed a light green discharge seeping slowly out from beneath her eyelids '
It's 2045 in this ecological and environmental apocalyptic horror tale.
The book is written as a diary/report of events by Alexander Langston giving a local neighbourhood, personal view of the worldwide crisis following the initial sighting of a black dandelion.
Alexander tells us how his wife Eunice became ill, his struggle to look after her, and how their plight and the troubles of their closest neighbours played out while interspersing his account with news reports, pictures, and headlines from internet sites which give us the corresponding global picture.
Alexander is an interesting main character. Wheelchair bound for years following limb amputations after a horrific accident we get to hear about his chance meeting with Eunice, an equally damaged soul, and how they fell in love. When Eunice becomes sick shortly after the proliferation of the black dandelions and starts to lose her sight we really feel Alexander's pain and helplessness.
It's not long before an extreme lockdown is called as a preventative measure trapping them at home and with him being trapped in his chair it adds to the isolation and fear of what is happening.
The black dandelions spread. The infected go blind. This is a personal account of the end of the world but of the hope for survival.
An incredibly emotional tale which shows the resilience of this couple as their past traumas give them the strength to battle on.
I'll never look at the fluffy seeds from dandelions in the same way again 😱.
A story that is equally uplifting and heartbreaking. It's the end of the world as we know it but nature will find a way to survive.
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 I'm giving this 5 out of 5 black dandelions. (The emoji doesn't exist. Use your imagination 😃)
It's 2045 in this ecological and environmental apocalyptic horror tale.
The book is written as a diary/report of events by Alexander Langston giving a local neighbourhood, personal view of the worldwide crisis following the initial sighting of a black dandelion.
Alexander tells us how his wife Eunice became ill, his struggle to look after her, and how their plight and the troubles of their closest neighbours played out while interspersing his account with news reports, pictures, and headlines from internet sites which give us the corresponding global picture.
Alexander is an interesting main character. Wheelchair bound for years following limb amputations after a horrific accident we get to hear about his chance meeting with Eunice, an equally damaged soul, and how they fell in love. When Eunice becomes sick shortly after the proliferation of the black dandelions and starts to lose her sight we really feel Alexander's pain and helplessness.
It's not long before an extreme lockdown is called as a preventative measure trapping them at home and with him being trapped in his chair it adds to the isolation and fear of what is happening.
The black dandelions spread. The infected go blind. This is a personal account of the end of the world but of the hope for survival.
An incredibly emotional tale which shows the resilience of this couple as their past traumas give them the strength to battle on.
I'll never look at the fluffy seeds from dandelions in the same way again 😱.
A story that is equally uplifting and heartbreaking. It's the end of the world as we know it but nature will find a way to survive.
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 I'm giving this 5 out of 5 black dandelions. (The emoji doesn't exist. Use your imagination 😃)
September 10, 2022
"It was a month into spring when the first black dandelion was sighted and reported"
.
Spoilers / Review for Black Bloom by Felix ID Dimaro (@thingsthatkeepmeupatnight )
.
A story within a story written Alexander Langston, a children's author who reports in 2045 of the black dandelions which sprung up around the globe. But who will survive?...
.
The other book in the #PlantsGloomAndDimaroBloom in @theindiehorrorbookclub readalong. I do have a soft spot for Felix as he's a good author and I do enjoy his stories and look forward to more in Black Bloom
.
There's good disability representation with Alexander in this story. He's a great narrator and a superb character. The episoltary (I think that's right) approach and the first hand account works very well with this one. It does feel like there is a bit of realism to this,with what happened over the past few years. It is well paced and does evolve ever so nicely. The way it grows (haha-oh this is no time for puns) is ever so good not only with Alexander but with Eunice, his partner. There is one thing I noticed after that someone reported on another review. But ultimately it's another fantastic story and one I'd strongly recommend!
.
Overall 5/5 🌱
Have you read "Black Bloom"? What did you think of it?
.
Spoilers / Review for Black Bloom by Felix ID Dimaro (@thingsthatkeepmeupatnight )
.
A story within a story written Alexander Langston, a children's author who reports in 2045 of the black dandelions which sprung up around the globe. But who will survive?...
.
The other book in the #PlantsGloomAndDimaroBloom in @theindiehorrorbookclub readalong. I do have a soft spot for Felix as he's a good author and I do enjoy his stories and look forward to more in Black Bloom
.
There's good disability representation with Alexander in this story. He's a great narrator and a superb character. The episoltary (I think that's right) approach and the first hand account works very well with this one. It does feel like there is a bit of realism to this,with what happened over the past few years. It is well paced and does evolve ever so nicely. The way it grows (haha-oh this is no time for puns) is ever so good not only with Alexander but with Eunice, his partner. There is one thing I noticed after that someone reported on another review. But ultimately it's another fantastic story and one I'd strongly recommend!
.
Overall 5/5 🌱
Have you read "Black Bloom"? What did you think of it?
May 15, 2022
I have followed Felix I.D. Dimaro's career since 2019, when he published his first book How to Make a Monster. Over the course of the past the years, he has released six more books, and I am so amazed at his growth as a writer. From the beginning, Dimaro has always has a way of gripping the readers around the throat and jolting them with original storylines and (sometimes) graphic imagery. He always made sure the reader never closed the book with the same mindset they had upon opening the cover.
With Black Bloom, today's topic is "Mother Nature is PISSED, and payback is a bitch". As expected from a Dimaro novel, the tale is spellbinding, but the greatest aspect of this novel is the depth of the characters. The author has always been able to create realistic players in his dramas, but the empathy I felt for Alex had me almost picking up my phone to call him and console him, until I realized that Alex was only a fictional character. At several times during this book, the reader will all themselves "What would I do in that situation?".
If Dimaro keeps writing at his current trajectory, I firmly believe he should be among the elite of horror authors. With stories, characters and drama galore, his tales are always a can't-miss, and Black Bloom stands among his finer works.
With Black Bloom, today's topic is "Mother Nature is PISSED, and payback is a bitch". As expected from a Dimaro novel, the tale is spellbinding, but the greatest aspect of this novel is the depth of the characters. The author has always been able to create realistic players in his dramas, but the empathy I felt for Alex had me almost picking up my phone to call him and console him, until I realized that Alex was only a fictional character. At several times during this book, the reader will all themselves "What would I do in that situation?".
If Dimaro keeps writing at his current trajectory, I firmly believe he should be among the elite of horror authors. With stories, characters and drama galore, his tales are always a can't-miss, and Black Bloom stands among his finer works.
August 9, 2022
A melancholic exploration of love, survival, and nature where the horror feels all too real. Set during a pandemic eerily similar to current events, this documentation of a man's anxieties and fears is deftly handled. There's a romance thread here that I thought is sweet and moving without devolving into sappiness. I appreciate the disability representation, and how that ties with the character's circumstances where he feels stuck in a situation he doesn't understand.
The book also touches on government surveillance and police power. My only issue is with the neighbour characters because they felt thinly sketched and I wish they were more rounded. But while this story is bleak, there's a sense of hopefulness too. It's a reminder that nature's wrath is scary and that we should take care of this Earth while we're here. Fans of eco-horror would love this book!
CW: suicide
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The book also touches on government surveillance and police power. My only issue is with the neighbour characters because they felt thinly sketched and I wish they were more rounded. But while this story is bleak, there's a sense of hopefulness too. It's a reminder that nature's wrath is scary and that we should take care of this Earth while we're here. Fans of eco-horror would love this book!
CW: suicide
book blog | twitter | instagram
November 22, 2023
Again Felix I.D. Dimaro floors me with his variety of writing styles!
This incredible book is a very confined and intimate account of a vast global apocalypse. It's written as a series of diary entries and newspaper clippings that document what very well could be the end of the world, as seen by one wheelchair-bound, house-bound man struggling to care for his ill wife.
Mr. Dimaro is a master of skillfully avoiding contrived situations or out-of-character behaviour to advance the plot. Many times I've expected a plot line to go one way only to be pleasantly surprised when it follows a natural, realistic course.
Due to the "diary entry" writing style was very reminiscent of Dracula or World War Z but where those were grand, open stories, this was on a much more claustrophobic scale. It's a stand-alone story that has vast potential for many more stories set within the world he's created. A great starting point into Mr. Dimaro's novels for people who may be intimidated by the amount of gore and brutality involved with some of his other books.
This incredible book is a very confined and intimate account of a vast global apocalypse. It's written as a series of diary entries and newspaper clippings that document what very well could be the end of the world, as seen by one wheelchair-bound, house-bound man struggling to care for his ill wife.
Mr. Dimaro is a master of skillfully avoiding contrived situations or out-of-character behaviour to advance the plot. Many times I've expected a plot line to go one way only to be pleasantly surprised when it follows a natural, realistic course.
Due to the "diary entry" writing style was very reminiscent of Dracula or World War Z but where those were grand, open stories, this was on a much more claustrophobic scale. It's a stand-alone story that has vast potential for many more stories set within the world he's created. A great starting point into Mr. Dimaro's novels for people who may be intimidated by the amount of gore and brutality involved with some of his other books.
May 23, 2022
The first thing I noticed upon starting this, is that it doesn't have Dimaro's stereotypical "Discretionary Warning", which means that anyone can read this amazing story, without fear of trigger warnings. This was a good call, as this story is of great importance, particularly to younger generations. (I have already told my kids they need to read this book.)
Dimaro made several good calls writing this cautionary tale. It is set only 20 years in the future, and it is a condensed story, in an isolated setting, with minimal characters.
I don't want to say anything more, as to not give anything away. Just know that you will never look at a dandelion the same way again. Who would have thought a dandelion could be so menacing!
Dimaro made several good calls writing this cautionary tale. It is set only 20 years in the future, and it is a condensed story, in an isolated setting, with minimal characters.
I don't want to say anything more, as to not give anything away. Just know that you will never look at a dandelion the same way again. Who would have thought a dandelion could be so menacing!
September 7, 2022
About twenty years after the COVID-19 pandemic the world is subjected to yet another life-threatening pandemic. One that spreads far more quickly and having a more devastating outcome. It all started with the discovery in India of a dandelion with a black bloom.
In this novella, it was interesting reading about references to the recent pandemic and of the future society’s response to it by having in place various services that enable it to quickly and effectively respond to this new pandemic. The storyline was about how one individual coped with the outbreak of the new pandemic and how the pandemic affected his neighbors. The story was well-written and I was engrossed enough with the plot I could have read it in one sitting but started it a bit too late in the evening. For this time around, it’s very obvious that Mother Nature is REALLY pissed.
In this novella, it was interesting reading about references to the recent pandemic and of the future society’s response to it by having in place various services that enable it to quickly and effectively respond to this new pandemic. The storyline was about how one individual coped with the outbreak of the new pandemic and how the pandemic affected his neighbors. The story was well-written and I was engrossed enough with the plot I could have read it in one sitting but started it a bit too late in the evening. For this time around, it’s very obvious that Mother Nature is REALLY pissed.
December 19, 2023
There is NOTHING as good as a #horrornovella for impactful, hard-hitting terror. Black Bloom by Felix I.D. Dimaro is a precise, hard-hitting apocalyptic tale of the last week of our known world. Set 20 years in the future, this climate horror nightmare sets off all the anxiety alarms for me, with realistic, horrifying repercussions of all humanity's current choices. Dimaro captures the paranoia and simmering anger in our MC Alex, who is confined to a wheelchair and is watching his neighbors implode through the window in a more anguished, desperate, Hitchcockian "Rear Window" sort of way.
Great backstories, terrifying imagery, building tension, perfect ending. All necessary components of a classic horror novella.
Great backstories, terrifying imagery, building tension, perfect ending. All necessary components of a classic horror novella.
May 18, 2024
Someone I follow on IG (can't remember who!!) posted about Felix's Earth month sale for some of his books so I picked this one up on a whim because it sounded interesting. WOW, loved it! I don't give 5 stars lightly, it takes a lot but this one just HIT for me. At first I was like "is this a little boring?" but also the narrator is kinda just writing his experience as it goes so it makes sense with the story. Absolutely loved the ending! The author's note that said something like it's hard to write about the environment without sounding preachy made me laugh, because he did an awesome job hitting that mark (no preach, just awesome). Just an all around fantastic read, great if you love that dystopian feel and also love nature.
May 24, 2022
Felix does it again with another superb novella. And what's even better? It's a nice eco/plant-horror story, which is one of my absolute favorite subgenres. The story is simple, but powerful: mysterious black dandelions begin blooming all over the world. Chaos ensues. You'll get good characters, some creepy/too-real circumstances (quarantine!), some nice plant-scary stuff, and an overall engaging story that flies and is entertaining from page one to the end. Everything I've read from Felix so far has been absolutely 🔥🔥 and this is no exception. Highly suggested to anyone looking for a good horror story, and especially for anyone looking for great plant horror
May 9, 2022
While I've enjoyed horror books for quite some time, I've just began peeling back the layers of all the genre has to offer. Felix I.D. Dimaro introduced me to a subgenre I didn't know I'd love, eco-horror.
Black Bloom is written as a captivating personal account as the world spirals into chaos following unexplained natural phenomenons.
This book goes beyond a simple horror story. It touches on the isolation and fear we've all experienced. Trauma and how it can create a kinship, ties that bind, love. How people respond to these feelings. Dimaro's writing just grabs you, even though he explores different styles and genres in his work. He grips you in the story and holds you there. I must repeat what I said when I read his Viral Lives: Dimaro places wisdom within the pages. He does this without pushing his opinion on you. He opens your eyes to the possibilities and consequences of our actions. His ability to weave a message in his stories without delivering a sermon and forcing his views is incredible.
Black Bloom is written as a captivating personal account as the world spirals into chaos following unexplained natural phenomenons.
This book goes beyond a simple horror story. It touches on the isolation and fear we've all experienced. Trauma and how it can create a kinship, ties that bind, love. How people respond to these feelings. Dimaro's writing just grabs you, even though he explores different styles and genres in his work. He grips you in the story and holds you there. I must repeat what I said when I read his Viral Lives: Dimaro places wisdom within the pages. He does this without pushing his opinion on you. He opens your eyes to the possibilities and consequences of our actions. His ability to weave a message in his stories without delivering a sermon and forcing his views is incredible.
May 19, 2022
Really enjoyed this!
The dandelions playing such a crucial role is a very original premise, the environment / quarantine topics strike close enough home to make the read very uncomfortable and even the release date, in time for spring and dandelions time, is perfect.
The pace is quick enough to urge you to keep reading, as well.
Dimaro pours a lot of thought, passion, and talent in what he does.
The dandelions playing such a crucial role is a very original premise, the environment / quarantine topics strike close enough home to make the read very uncomfortable and even the release date, in time for spring and dandelions time, is perfect.
The pace is quick enough to urge you to keep reading, as well.
Dimaro pours a lot of thought, passion, and talent in what he does.
January 16, 2023
"Black Bloom" is a creepy cli-fi story. It's creative and eerie. I really enjoyed the drawings, and I wish there had been more of them. I think this story could look really cool on film. The author's descriptions are going to stick with me regardless. This novella is an odd combination of scary and hopeful. The ending is particularly beautiful. I recommend this book for anyone interested in unique stories and books about climate and plants.
May 29, 2022
As usual, Dimaro does not disappoint in his storytelling. I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy this as “eco horror” doesn’t seem all that interesting or scary per se, but I’d say this type of horror scares me more than anything. Nature is a powerful thing and we are all just living as if there are no consequences to anything. This was a great read.
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