When a new arrival to the village of Cranby discovers a small leather bound book called ‘Tales of Darkly Wood’ she soon discovers that not all of the stories within are as fantastic as they first appear.The book tells of supposedly terrible events which have occurred in the Wood that overlooks the village. What begins as an innocent stroll with her new admirer up by Darkly Wood soon turns into a … turns into a nightmare for young Daisy, one from which it seems impossible to escape.
The line between reality and fantasy soon begins to blur, as a fledgling love affair is tested in the most terrifying circumstances. Swept up in her emotions, the young girl soon discovers that while sometimes love is all you need, sometimes love is not enough. There is something wrong up in Darkly Wood, and soon Daisy has to fight to save more than her life.
This spine chilling love story builds momentum and maintains excitement and pace right to the astonishing and jaw dropping climax. Along the way stories from the book ‘Tales of Darkly Wood’ help reveal the strange truth behind the mysterious Wood high on the hill above Cranby.
If you like a thrilling ride and enjoy storytelling at its best, Darkly Wood will keep you on the edge of your seat and lead you into a wonderful world of storytelling all at the same time.
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I was thrown at first by the narrative style and lack of dialogue in the introductory stage, but as any reader of this book will find, the lack of early dialogue is intentional, not an error, and it works because the narrative is well written.
At various stages I found myself being reminded of the descriptive flow and style of the classics, and then at other times of more fast-paced, modern writing, but at all times it was entertaining – and isn’t that the aim.
I must say that this is not my regular genre. Why then did I read it? As a creative writer, I feel it’s my duty to myself, my readers and fellow writers, to read a broad spectrum of work. Indie writers especially can only survive and evolve with honest and critical feedback, so where better to get it than from our peers.
The author is undoubtedly a storyteller and spins a superb yarn, introducing peaks and troughs in the plot and in the lives of the many well-drawn characters. For me, the imagery is an important aspect of any story, and here it is created well throughout. Indeed, at times the imagery is more impressive than that given by some well-known authors.
I thoroughly enjoyed this dark mystery and would not hesitate to recommend it.
Suspenseful and Entertaining…
Anyone who has spent time in a dark forest has experienced the mysterious, sometimes eerie, sensation of winds whistling through the branches, twigs snapping and mystical noises you simply cannot explain. It’s an experience like no other. Whether you are sharing it with someone you care about or experiencing it alone this otherworldly journey can be terrifying. If you haven’t had the pleasure…pick up a copy of Max Power’s Darkly Wood. He will introduce you to the phenomena. His story of curiosity, fear and things that go bump in the night will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end. There is a reason so many scary movies fall back on this setting to create the perfect backdrop for their unnerving and sinister creations. Max Power is no exception. From the very first chapter, the author begins to set the stage for this intriguing story. Ever heard of location, location location? Well Max Power has landed us in a location that is so frightening even the locals won’t go near it.
Darkly Wood starts out giving snippets of information in the form of folklore and legends. The forest is simply accepted as a dark place that has always existed and always will. People die there, stay away…is the simplistic attitude of the locals. Then, enter Daisy May and her mysterious book. At first the reader is left to wonder…is this going to be just another tragedy in a long line of mysterious deaths and disappearances. As Daisy May is drawn into the forest, she enters a world of discovery. Some good, some bad. Before the tale is over she will experience her first love, confusion, helplessness, desperation and pure terror as she faces the monster who resides there. I’m going to stop now because to say more would give away too much of the plot and storyline.
Darkly Wood has it all…love, heartache, terror, compassion, callousness and apathy, pain and sorrow and a healthy dose of mystery and fear. Just when you think you have it all figured out…prepare yourself for a surprise. The plot flows smoothly and the characters are relatable. If you are in the mood for something different, a little sinister and something entertaining…pick up a copy of Darkly Wood.
Superbly reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe …
This is a book that embodies horror, romance, and the paranormal in a way I’ve rarely seen. With a good opening narrative, right from the start the author conjures up an atmospheric sense of creepiness and the macabre reminiscent of a latter day Edgar Allan Poe or Dennis Wheatley, so much so that one can almost imagine Christopher Lee or Vincent Price playing the part of one of the characters, particularly that of Lord Terrence Darkly.
Initially we learn of the mystery and horror of Darkly Wood by way of the central character, Daisy May Coppertop, reading through a copy of a book of tales about Darkly Wood – a book within a book so to speak but at that point that’s all they are, just stories, but certainly nothing to be alarmed about, at least not yet.
What starts off as Daisy and Benjamin, intrigued by the apparent sight of a strange looking boy in the distance, taking a seemingly innocent and pleasant walk along the edge of a nearby woodland soon turns into a a dark and fear filled battle not just to escape its clutches but simply to survive. Faced with ever increasing danger and a sense of time running out for them, the bond between Daisy, and Benjamin, her new found friend from the local village, grows into something much more than simple friendship or first love.
The writing technique is both clever and imaginative, using descriptive narrative to set the tone and atmosphere early on, using the opportunity to inform the reader of many nuggets of information that come into play later in the book, gradually introducing just the right balance of dialogue and action. The numerous but short chapters make for a very readable style of writing, and by way of the different tales of the book within the book, the author keeps the story alive and fresh throughout. In books such as this the author often requires the reader’s implicit consent to suspend their disbelief, but here the reader is left in no doubt whatsoever as to the mystery and horror of the wood; in one of the chapters the author cleverly demonstrates the ‘other-worldliness’ of the wood when in one particular tale, someone trying to find their way out of the wood tries using their field craft skills to escape only to find all the laws of nature and physics don’t seem to apply in the heart of Darkly Wood. As the story progresses the seemingly unrelated tales of the wood draw closer to form an intricate pattern; surprises and shocks keep the reader entranced, drawing you in just as Daisy and Benjamin are drawn further and further into Darkly Wood. Filled with twists and turns and and new revelations at every juncture, an amazing and diverse array of characters, and a conclusion as eerie and unexpected as anyone could imagine, this is definitely one of my favourite reads of 2014
Brilliantly done.
My review of Darkly Wood II – Max Power Where to begin? This tale is part fantasy, part horror, part paranormal, and part sci-fi with a sound basis in believable characterisation and real emotion. Daisy May Coppertop, to whom we are introduced in book one, is still struggling to understand what happened to her and Benjamin in Darkly Wood all those years ago, was it real or a coma nightmare, and her return to the wood has a grim inevitability about it. What is the truth and what dark power links her to that evil place?
I love Max Power’s writing. I read Tales of Darkly Wood and enjoyed it, but book two takes the story to a whole new level. What sort of mind can conjure such characters and such stories and weave them together into a complex whole? Certainly, an inventive, imaginative, and curious one. Power leads you, all eager, to the brink of discovery and then rips you away to follow another fascinating thread; he is a master of keeping one guessing and enthralled. Darkly Wood II is a long book by my standards but never once did my interest and curiosity flag. Brilliantly done, Mr Power, and clever of you to leave me frustratedly guessing still. I want to read Darkly Wood III – now!