When fiction writer EA
Cunningham graciously gave me a copy of her book The Quiet Dark, I was immediately intrigued with the premise. I had to put it to the side for a few weeks
until I could give it my undivided attention, but it was well worth the wait. Fantasy is not my favorite genre, and
written with the wrong hands, it can sometimes be disastrous. I’m happy to say that Cunningham’s novel is a
multi-layered, well-thought-out book that will appeal to both young adults and their parents alike.
Fia Crombie is an ordinary
teenager living a humdrum life with her mom, dad, and younger brother. Her best friend, Jason, is constantly getting
her into trouble (unwittingly) and letting her down with his unreliable ways. At this point, the only way the reader knows that anything may be a little out of sorts is that Fia keeps having the same recurring nightmare.
When Jason tells Fia that
he’s discovered a temple in the woods, they go to investigate further. Fia suddenly awakens in a completely different
world, one where she has a strong sense of déjà vu and magical powers that are
new to her. Fia wonders if Jason crossed over with her, and after she is kidnapped by a group trying to overthrow her new city, she needs him more than ever.
Will Fia ever get back to her old life, and more importantly, will she
even want to?
With characters you grow
to care about and an ending that wisely leaves the door open for a sequel,
Cunningham has crafted a wonderful novel that I would recommend to anyone.
MY RATING - 4
