Days of Darkness Book Review

June 24, 2024

Billed as a Hellscapes novel, Stephen Zimmer’s Days of Darkness portrays the gradual descent of a slightly futuristic earth-scape into something of growing horror. First comes the darkness, and a protagonist busy trying to keep things going as normal because, well, what else would you do? The protagonist is relatively wealthy, successful, and not the sort of character to care too much about those he deems beneath him. Yet the author makes the reader care, desperately, about him and about everyone else, with pages turning frantically as the world falls apart. Surely there must be a way out of this—isn’t that what we always think? And surely there must be some redemption for a character who isn’t quite as bad as his neighbors… who might become good, somehow… surely…

Days of Darkness is an un-put-down-able read, vividly imagined, thought-provoking even, and truly haunting in scope. Echoes of Steven King. Echoes of the book of Revelation. Echoes of nightmares for sure. And the ending is totally right, just as surely as it’s unexpected (or maybe guessed at and hidden in the back of the reader’s mind). It’s the sort of tale you’ll remember long after reading, and it just might change the way you look at yourself or the world around you. Highly recommended.

Disclosure: I was given a pre-release copy and I really enjoyed the read. No compensation was provided - just an ebook to enjoy and review.

Synopsis of Days of Darkness:

Ambrose awakens to find dense, rolling layers of ash-gray clouds spanning to the far horizon, shrouding the city beneath in a drab pall. He begins his day, thinking it no different from any other.

Though it is in the height of summer, an icy, anomalous chill sifts into the air later that day, until it becomes colder than the depths of winter.

Then, the sun sets, and darkness falls.

The night does not end, as there is no sunrise to follow.

Bizarre and frightening apparitions begin appearing across a city and world shrouded in an inexplicable darkness. It is only the beginning of an unfurling, deepening nightmare, one that will take Ambrose on a terrifying journey of self-discovery and revelation.

For Ambrose, and everyone in the world around him, the Days of Darkness have only just begun.

Where to find it:

Print Link: https://www.amazon.com/Days-Darkness-Hellscapes-Stephen-Zimmer/dp/B0CSG46ZYK/

eBook Link: https://www.amazon.com/Days-Darkness-Hellscapes-Stephen-Zimmer-ebook/dp/B0CSFBL131/

About the Author:

Stephen Zimmer is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and broadcaster based out of Lexington, Kentucky. His titles as an author include the Rayden Valkyrie Tales (Sword and Sorcery), the Ragnar Stormbringer Tales (Sword and Sorcery), the Hongvi Shadow Walker Tales (Sword and Sorcery) the Faraway Saga (YA Dystopian), the Rising Dawn Saga (Cross Genre), the Fires in Eden Series (Epic Fantasy), the Hellscapes short story collections (Horror), the Chronicles of Ave short story collections (Fantasy), and the Harvey and Solomon Tales (Steampunk).

Stephen’s visual work includes the feature film Shadows Light, shorts films such as The Sirens and Swordbearer, and the Rayden Valkyrie: Saga of a Lionheart TV Pilot. Stephen also co-hosts the Star Chamber Show, a weekly live audio podcast featuring creative talents from around the world.

Stephen is a proud Kentucky Colonel who also enjoys the realms of music, martial arts, good bourbons, and spending time with family.

Where to find him:

Website: www.stephenzimmer.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephenzimmer7

X App (Formerly Twitter): @sgzimmer

Instagram: @stephenzimmer7

Threads: @stephenzimmer7

TikTok: @stephenzimmer7

And where to find out more from the tour:

6/17 Sapphyria’s Books Blog Guest Post

6/17 The Scribblings of Sarah E. Glenn Blog Interview

6/17 War Dove (YouTube channel) Podcast Interview