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Darkness Whispers

Overview


Milena Hargrave's mother, Lisa, was a Masquerader; a member of the City's notorious secret society. Each weekend she disappeared into the abandoned amusement park on the Lake. After Lisa's death, Milena is invited to sample the Masquerader's exclusive brew. Despite sinister rumors and the creepy atmosphere, Milena treks deeper into their mad world, entranced by the mysteries lurking just beneath the surface. Unaware that the cost is to share Lisa's fate, or succumb to insanity.
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Description


There is a place where you can have it all: money, power, and prestige. A place to forget your cares. To imbibe in ancient elixirs and partake in games of chance. To laugh in the face of death. It is a place cloaked in mystery, magic, and masquerades. The price is easy to pay. Many gladly do. 'Come and see,' the Whispers beckon. 'We will only take your sanity.' In the wake of her mother's suspicious death, twenty-two-year-old Milena Hargrave joins the city's notorious Secret Society, the Masqueraders. Infatuated with the seductive atmosphere, sadistic games, and singular nectar, she revels in oblivion. But something is off about the Inner Circle—something malicious and inhuman. The deeper Milena's involvement grows, the stranger her discoveries become. Despite warnings from close friends, she moves onto the grounds with their leader, Logan. Milena begins to see her dead mom, explodes in violent outbursts, and loses entire pieces of memory. Afraid of her own mind, and a fate identical to her mother's, she threatens to destroy the entire Society and its sinister purposes. If she doesn't succumb to insanity first.
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About the author


JS Nelson has loved to read and write since childhood. Her 2016 "Wolf" poem was recognized by Indiana's poet laureate. She lives with her husband and their cat near Phoenix, Arizona, where she is hard at work on the hundreds of story ideas living in her imagination. "Darkness Whispers" is her first novel.
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Book details

Genre:FICTION

Subgenre:Fantasy / Paranormal

Language:English

Pages:222

eBook ISBN:9781098384517

Paperback ISBN:9781098384500


Overview


Milena Hargrave's mother, Lisa, was a Masquerader; a member of the City's notorious secret society. Each weekend she disappeared into the abandoned amusement park on the Lake. After Lisa's death, Milena is invited to sample the Masquerader's exclusive brew. Despite sinister rumors and the creepy atmosphere, Milena treks deeper into their mad world, entranced by the mysteries lurking just beneath the surface. Unaware that the cost is to share Lisa's fate, or succumb to insanity.

Read more

Description


There is a place where you can have it all: money, power, and prestige. A place to forget your cares. To imbibe in ancient elixirs and partake in games of chance. To laugh in the face of death. It is a place cloaked in mystery, magic, and masquerades. The price is easy to pay. Many gladly do. 'Come and see,' the Whispers beckon. 'We will only take your sanity.' In the wake of her mother's suspicious death, twenty-two-year-old Milena Hargrave joins the city's notorious Secret Society, the Masqueraders. Infatuated with the seductive atmosphere, sadistic games, and singular nectar, she revels in oblivion. But something is off about the Inner Circle—something malicious and inhuman. The deeper Milena's involvement grows, the stranger her discoveries become. Despite warnings from close friends, she moves onto the grounds with their leader, Logan. Milena begins to see her dead mom, explodes in violent outbursts, and loses entire pieces of memory. Afraid of her own mind, and a fate identical to her mother's, she threatens to destroy the entire Society and its sinister purposes. If she doesn't succumb to insanity first.

Read more

About the author


JS Nelson has loved to read and write since childhood. Her 2016 "Wolf" poem was recognized by Indiana's poet laureate. She lives with her husband and their cat near Phoenix, Arizona, where she is hard at work on the hundreds of story ideas living in her imagination. "Darkness Whispers" is her first novel.
Read more

Book Reviews

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Elaine
Captivating Reading J.S. Nelson's debut novel is a dark and disturbing read. Faintly reminiscent of a Stephen King novel, she is not afraid to delve into the deepest, darkest recesses of the human mind and soul. The themes here are not light hearted. They are those of addiction, dependence, control, violence, abuse, both physical and emotional, horror and the desperation and despair that comes with them-all played out amongst the creepy setting of a carnival style park full of mazes, labyrinths, terror rides, horrible creatures and other horrors, and the Mansion beyond. Right from the beginning, "Darkness Whispers "gave me goosebumps and I had no doubt that I would enjoy it. There is a sinister element that captures your imagination and does not let it go until the very end and even then it is hard to shake off. I was compelled to keep reading to see what Melina would find out about her mother and more. How would her story end? The suspense of wondering would she survive it all. The writing and description is so good that it transports you right into the heart of the novel and you see what the protagonists are seeing and feel what they are experiencing. It is so palpable and visceral and you feel part of the events that occur. "It has many names” His touch made me tingle, the spicy aftershave of his skin and his breathing on my cheek. "I call it Ambrosia.” I would have liked to have seen the main characters a little more fleshed out as I felt there was much more to each of them than we were given. But I think this is deliberate and the author’s intent. I struggled with Melina initially and didn’t like her very much, wanting to just yell at her to wake up and stop being so pathetic but I could also feel her strong desire for survival and for life. And it was at this point in the novel that I found myself urging her on, hoping for redemption. I loved the character of Momma P. I cannot easily categorize this novel as I feel it crosses many genres. It can be described as horror but with aspects of a psychological thriller and paranormal and supernatural elements, perhaps even a kind of twisted romance. It does not fit into a box and that’s what makes it unique. I also feel it is a very timely novel that fits perfectly into the current climate and events: “With technology’s progression and bigger, better platforms, they could rule the world, create mass group-think, hypnotize the planet.” This is also a cautionary tale. But ultimately it is a celebration of hope, love and freedom. There are lessons to be learned here and warnings to take away. I found the human aspect of this novel really resonated with me...those of manipulation, cruelty, gaslighting and oppression. The energy draining, soul destroying narcissist posing as a charming southern gentleman...until the mask comes off to reveal the monster he truly is. All this felt very familiar and relatable. I knew exactly how Melina would lose herself, become unhinged and irrational doubting her own sanity. I recognised the isolation and dependency. The question is where would this take her and would she awaken from her delusions and escape the monstrous Logan and the Masqueraders and her addiction to all of it? I am grateful to the author for reaching out to me and entrusting me with her creation. I highly recommend this book so please check it out . I am now looking forward to her next book which I know she is working on. There is so much more to come from this author and having read this, I am left with the promise that she will deliver. Read more