The Shock of Night Book Review

I decided to start a book club at church because I love reading. I absolutely LOVED our Bound Together book club back in Minnesota. Wanting to get to know more ladies, I figured starting a book club would be a great way to go. Because I started the book club, Bethany House now sends me a book to share with my group. I read this newest book in 4 days, and can't wait to share it with them.

The Shock of Night

The Darkwater Saga (Book 1)

by Patrick W. Carr

• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 3, 2015)
• Paperback: 464 pages
• ISBN-13: 978-0764213465

When I first started reading this book, I was really confused, and didn't understand what I was reading. Of course my first thought was, "this doesn't bode well." I'm a trooper, take one for the team, so I kept on keeping on!

I think through the first chapter I was still trying to figure out what was going on. There were a lot of words I didn't recognize, because it's a new world to me. I should've read the prequel By Divine Right. You don't have to, but it probably would've helped with the prologue and the first chapter.

We're introduced to Willet Dura. Who the heck is this guy? Is he a good guy? Is he a bad guy who seems like a good guy? There are things that make the water a bit murky on him. You want to like the guy, but there's this niggling in the back of your mind. I think that's exactly what the author wants the reader to feel.

Now, going into this book, I know it's supposed to deal with PTSD, and from what little I know of it, it's interesting to read from Willet's experience. He'd gone into the Darkwater Forest, but he can't remember anything about his time there or how he got out. I'd imagine men and women who have gone into combat who have locked away the painful memories so they can deal with the here and now.

Something happens at the beginning of the book, that Willet spends the entire book trying to figure out. I love the characters we meet along the way. There are actually so many, I don't want to go on too much about each of them. Gael, the woman to whom he's betrothed, is a young woman with spunk, and deep devotion to Willet. One of the men he turns to for wisdom is Custos. Just everything about this character makes me love him: his wisdom, his intelligence, his way of understanding what Willet needs, and his sense of humor. Yo, Patrick, can we get a novel just about him?

Can I say my favorite character in this book is Bolt? Trust me. Read this book, and you'll understand why. He's got a saying for everything. The role he ends up playing in Willet's life makes me wish I had my very own Bolt! I kept waiting for us to learn that he was an angel of the Lord. Of course, Willet is the main character, and you can't help but like him. He's fiercely devoted to his king. He protects the "least" of Bunard, and really cares more about others than he does for himself.

I think by chapter 15 I started feeling that urge to turn to the end of the book just to take a peek at the ending. For the rest of the book, 42 more stinking chapters, I had to force myself not to look. I was so intense into the story, I just needed a glimpse. I didn't do it! So proud of myself. haha

There's danger and intrigue through every chapter. Always rooting for the good guys to win, but the author shows us, that not all of the good guys make it through every time. We also see how sin is so infectious. All it needs is to take root, for us to listen to that whisper, for the sin to overtake us if we let it. And if we feed it...just really nothing good comes from that. The other part of that darkness is, Satan can lie in wait, for that time when he wants to use it against us as well as others (even those we love), and then helps unleash it all.

This is a fantastic book for those of you who love Christian fantasy fiction. I don't know that I'd say this is a good book for younger kids. It's a dark story, and there are a couple of very intense scenes that children might find overwhelming. I'd recommend this book for teens and adults!

Oh, and did I mention what I don't like about this novel? Having to wait for the 2nd one!