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Translucent #3
Ash and Darkness (Translucent)
It’s called dark matter, a living substance secreted by a meteorite that can make people invisible. Sixteen-year-old Leona Hewitt has been wearing it for twelve hours. It should be every teen’s fantasy—unbeatable pranks, a front row seat in her crush’s bedroom, a place to lick her wounds all alone. And it is . . . it is. Until she can’t get it off. In an instant, the fantasy becomes a nightmare. She’s stuck like this, invisible. Scratching at it, burning it off, cutting her skin off with a knife—nothing works. Dark matter is eating her, consuming her body like a bacteriophage and leaving behind a ghost. But when she wakes up in her bedroom, seemingly back to normal—only to find the city outside abandoned and ghostly quiet, she realizes she’s been transported to an impossible parallel realm. Electronics barely function, food turns mealy and rotten, fire snuffs out in seconds . . . and the only signs of life are the clues to a strange riddle left behind by a dead girl.
- GenresYoung Adult
276 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 29, 2016
Okay, I’m admittedly binge-reading this series right now. I’ve got to give author Dan Rix a lot of credit for writing such an engaging narrative—a strong and believably flawed main character in Leona Hewitt, gripping storylines with many twists and turns, and intriguing ideas about guilt and humanity—that I don’t want to put the books down. Add jaw-dropping cliffhangers to both the first book Translucent and the second Of Starlight, so it’s no surprise that I dove right in to the third part Ash and Darkness.
One thing I’ve enjoyed so far is that each book has had its own main driving conflict and resolution, along with the details that contribute to the wider story arc of the series. But I have to admire how each of the first two books resided within slightly different genres. Translucent was a nice mixture a teen angst with symbolism and believable sci-fi, while Of Starlight veered into horror. Ash and Darkness skirts that horror line via an alien abduction/invasion plot and infuses it with some psychological weirdness right from classic episodes of The Twilight Zone.
Remember that I’ll do the best I can to keep this review spoiler-free for this book, but I may have to mention details from the previous books. You have been warned.
When we last left Leona, she couldn’t remove the dark matter that had enveloped her. Not only was she invisible but also intangible. Megan couldn’t see, hear, touch, or smell her. Leona could literally pass through solid matter except the floor/ground. I’ve always wondered why that holds true for ghosts too, but I digress.
Leona’s practically a ghost here, and she’s already been warned by the malevolent voice of the dark matter that she tastes good. Based on fake-Ashley’s odd and evil behavior in book two, we’ve learned that this dark-matter entity wants to feed on human souls. Once that’s done, it can use those leftover body shells of the person for its own purpose. It seems that Leona’s next.
She fades in and out of tangibility a few times, and she tries to confess to kind-of-boyfriend Emory about what happened to his sister Ashley, but before she can, she is whisked away to…someplace else.
She’s alone in a place that looks just her house and town, but there’s no one there, there’s no energy, and everything’s decaying. Is she dead? Is it Hell? Is it a parallel dimension? Or is it an interesting inversion of Leona’s situation—everyone else being invisible and intangible to her? An explanation finally comes, and I loved the theoretical science that was used, but it left me with an unanswered question about why the place was such an almost-replica of everything.
This book was drastically different than the previous two. About fifty percent of the book features ONLY ONE character. That’s incredibly difficult to sustain. There’s a scavenger hunt of messages left for someone to follow, so Leona does—although I have a question about how the last one could be addressed to who it’s addressed to. Fortunately, Leona’s an interesting and complex narrator, and it’s an intriguing journey with profound implications. Despite the guilt she still feels for running over Ashley, Leona’s punishment shouldn’t be a devoured soul or eternal solitary banishment. Especially if Ashley’s death might not have been completely accidental.
However, only a few of the revelations along the way surprised me, as I figured out a majority of them before they were revealed, making some of Leona’s alone-time drag while I waited for her to catch up. Maybe it’s because I’m an astute reader and writer myself. Maybe it’s because I know my science and/or Twilight Zone episodes. Maybe it’s because I read these three books in rapid succession and can pick up on Rix’s clues or even anticipate them. Or maybe a dark matter entity gave me the answers ahead of time. Whatever the reason, I didn’t feel as many OMG moments that I did in the previous (especially the first) books.
Until the ending. That final image ranks as my favorite cliffhanger ending thus far. Seriously did not see that coming, and I’m curious what the heck it means and where the series will go next.
Assigning this part a star ranking is a little challenging. I’d give it about four stars due to the fewer surprises and raising more questions than answers (though I expect them to be answered in later parts since some open things from the first book were finally explained). But the writer in me admires the ambitious nature of telling this part with such limited character interaction—enough to give that aspect close to five stars. Weighing them together puts Ash and Darkness just outside the galaxy of FOUR AND A HALF STARS.
One thing I’ve enjoyed so far is that each book has had its own main driving conflict and resolution, along with the details that contribute to the wider story arc of the series. But I have to admire how each of the first two books resided within slightly different genres. Translucent was a nice mixture a teen angst with symbolism and believable sci-fi, while Of Starlight veered into horror. Ash and Darkness skirts that horror line via an alien abduction/invasion plot and infuses it with some psychological weirdness right from classic episodes of The Twilight Zone.
Remember that I’ll do the best I can to keep this review spoiler-free for this book, but I may have to mention details from the previous books. You have been warned.
When we last left Leona, she couldn’t remove the dark matter that had enveloped her. Not only was she invisible but also intangible. Megan couldn’t see, hear, touch, or smell her. Leona could literally pass through solid matter except the floor/ground. I’ve always wondered why that holds true for ghosts too, but I digress.
Leona’s practically a ghost here, and she’s already been warned by the malevolent voice of the dark matter that she tastes good. Based on fake-Ashley’s odd and evil behavior in book two, we’ve learned that this dark-matter entity wants to feed on human souls. Once that’s done, it can use those leftover body shells of the person for its own purpose. It seems that Leona’s next.
She fades in and out of tangibility a few times, and she tries to confess to kind-of-boyfriend Emory about what happened to his sister Ashley, but before she can, she is whisked away to…someplace else.
She’s alone in a place that looks just her house and town, but there’s no one there, there’s no energy, and everything’s decaying. Is she dead? Is it Hell? Is it a parallel dimension? Or is it an interesting inversion of Leona’s situation—everyone else being invisible and intangible to her? An explanation finally comes, and I loved the theoretical science that was used, but it left me with an unanswered question about why the place was such an almost-replica of everything.
This book was drastically different than the previous two. About fifty percent of the book features ONLY ONE character. That’s incredibly difficult to sustain. There’s a scavenger hunt of messages left for someone to follow, so Leona does—although I have a question about how the last one could be addressed to who it’s addressed to. Fortunately, Leona’s an interesting and complex narrator, and it’s an intriguing journey with profound implications. Despite the guilt she still feels for running over Ashley, Leona’s punishment shouldn’t be a devoured soul or eternal solitary banishment. Especially if Ashley’s death might not have been completely accidental.
However, only a few of the revelations along the way surprised me, as I figured out a majority of them before they were revealed, making some of Leona’s alone-time drag while I waited for her to catch up. Maybe it’s because I’m an astute reader and writer myself. Maybe it’s because I know my science and/or Twilight Zone episodes. Maybe it’s because I read these three books in rapid succession and can pick up on Rix’s clues or even anticipate them. Or maybe a dark matter entity gave me the answers ahead of time. Whatever the reason, I didn’t feel as many OMG moments that I did in the previous (especially the first) books.
Until the ending. That final image ranks as my favorite cliffhanger ending thus far. Seriously did not see that coming, and I’m curious what the heck it means and where the series will go next.
Assigning this part a star ranking is a little challenging. I’d give it about four stars due to the fewer surprises and raising more questions than answers (though I expect them to be answered in later parts since some open things from the first book were finally explained). But the writer in me admires the ambitious nature of telling this part with such limited character interaction—enough to give that aspect close to five stars. Weighing them together puts Ash and Darkness just outside the galaxy of FOUR AND A HALF STARS.
August 17, 2015
OMG!!! Dan Rix...how dare you leave me hanging like this!!! I truly believed this would be the end of the series and was soooo looking forward to finding out what happens, and now I have to wait for book 4!!! You're killin me smalls!!! No seriously, I have to know what happens!! Hurry please!! Really great nail biter!!
May 11, 2016
After being disappointed in ‘Of Starlight’ I was hesitant to pick up ‘Ash and Darkness,’ but glad I finally caved. This was so much better than I was expecting!
We really delve into the science fiction aspect of the series, the implications of dark matter, what it is, all come to the forefront and had me begging for more.
Gone is whiny, immature, wise-cracking Leona. We get a triple dose of survivalist-never-giving-up Leona. And it was such a refreshing take for this franchise that my faith in Dan Rix is restored. I’d like to say, skip book two, but there is important information you need to understand what is going on in ‘Ash and Darkness’ all I can say is – persevere. It gets so much better! Character development shines abound. I really hope Rix continues in this fashion for the rest of the series, because if Leona turns back into a flake I’ll be holding me a book burning party.
Pacing in this installment is above par in comparison to its predecessor. You get a sense of time, urgency, isolation and desperation. Especially in a landscape of unknowns. I completed this book in a day because I was so eager to find out what happens. With such great pacing and an easy styled narrative, you can fly through this novel. Granted some of the sections dealing with the physics of dark matter had me re-reading, but that was a good thing. Not only was I learning something science-y, I was genuinely fascinated in the world Rix has created.
Word of warning – it does end on a cliff hanger, so have ‘Slaying Shadows’ ready and waiting if you aren’t the type of person who deals well with waiting. This book marks the halfway point in a series of six books to the franchise, and I am truly excited and intrigued to see where it will all go.
We really delve into the science fiction aspect of the series, the implications of dark matter, what it is, all come to the forefront and had me begging for more.
Gone is whiny, immature, wise-cracking Leona. We get a triple dose of survivalist-never-giving-up Leona. And it was such a refreshing take for this franchise that my faith in Dan Rix is restored. I’d like to say, skip book two, but there is important information you need to understand what is going on in ‘Ash and Darkness’ all I can say is – persevere. It gets so much better! Character development shines abound. I really hope Rix continues in this fashion for the rest of the series, because if Leona turns back into a flake I’ll be holding me a book burning party.
Pacing in this installment is above par in comparison to its predecessor. You get a sense of time, urgency, isolation and desperation. Especially in a landscape of unknowns. I completed this book in a day because I was so eager to find out what happens. With such great pacing and an easy styled narrative, you can fly through this novel. Granted some of the sections dealing with the physics of dark matter had me re-reading, but that was a good thing. Not only was I learning something science-y, I was genuinely fascinated in the world Rix has created.
Word of warning – it does end on a cliff hanger, so have ‘Slaying Shadows’ ready and waiting if you aren’t the type of person who deals well with waiting. This book marks the halfway point in a series of six books to the franchise, and I am truly excited and intrigued to see where it will all go.
October 3, 2015
Amazing
This series is over the top epic in every way! I just read all 3 in the past few hours... Well like I stayed up all night.
It is incredible. Everything about the story is unique and a rush. The characters are raw, and real. They speak to you in s while different way than I have ever experienced before. The emotions that Leona goes through in this series, the guilt, the pain, the happiness. All of it is so real.
The twists and turns this series has taken are amazing.
I have never read anything like this. Just the right amount of romance, a really weird, and fucked up romance.... But I find myself rooting for it!
The sci-fi paranormal aspects of this book are so unique and different from anything out right now. I wish more writers would dare to be different!
Can't wait for the next book.
Please hurry!!!
This series is over the top epic in every way! I just read all 3 in the past few hours... Well like I stayed up all night.
It is incredible. Everything about the story is unique and a rush. The characters are raw, and real. They speak to you in s while different way than I have ever experienced before. The emotions that Leona goes through in this series, the guilt, the pain, the happiness. All of it is so real.
The twists and turns this series has taken are amazing.
I have never read anything like this. Just the right amount of romance, a really weird, and fucked up romance.... But I find myself rooting for it!
The sci-fi paranormal aspects of this book are so unique and different from anything out right now. I wish more writers would dare to be different!
Can't wait for the next book.
Please hurry!!!
September 19, 2015
Another excellent followup with some of the most original ideas and writing I've seen in quite a long time, Rix bends and shapes stories to meet a true paranormal reality, twisting science into a strange, dystopian mysticism. This was more of a "Bare bones" story, really only relying on 2 characters; but stretched that into a lot of depth and twilight-zone like possibilities. Definitely worth the read.
October 11, 2015
I am seriously bummed by this book. The first 2 were so great. This one was just too depressing for me. If you can handle really dark stuff, than you may like this one as much as the others, but I suffer from serious depression & I just could not slog through to the end of this one. Guess I am done with the series.
August 21, 2015
Gah! This series. It is smart, at times funny, at times creepy, and awesome throughout. At times I would think I felt what Leona felt when putting on the dark matter. Creepy! Dan is so creative, he makes me obsess over his characters and their stories. So Dan, I am just following the breadcrumbs... I. Need. More.
November 18, 2015
The plot thickens and the freaky intensifies in this third book of the series, as we learn about the true intentions of the asteroid's passenger. My only disappointment was that the book finishes at a cliffhanger, and the next book isn't ready yet! I highly recommend this series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews