A Feral Darkness

I used to be a dog groomer and am now a State Animal Control Officer. I started reading Doranna Durgin books with Touched by Magic which, in my opinion, is by far her best book I have read so far. Durgin is a fresh writer who definately did her homework on this book. She talks about subjects I deal with on a daily basis and is right on the money on every subject. Her descriptions of the dogs and the "day in the life of a dog groomer" are extremely accurate. All of her books are GREAT!! I have shared them with a co-worker who is also a sci-fi/fantasy fan. When she came out with this book, I just had to share it with him, since it is right up our alley. He loved it too!!The book is about a young heroine who dabbles in the mystic powers of the great beyond and bites off more than she can chew. I highly recommend any fantasy fan to read this book, finally an author who writes about a subject new and fresh!! This book is like none other you have ever read. Doranna is a wonderful writer, ENJOY!!!

As a child, Brenna Fallon loved her dog so much, she invoked the spirit of Mars Nodens (a god of healing who favored hounds) to heal her dying, canine companion. Years later, the sacred spot where she invoked the god is desecrated and a malevolent force is building, waiting to be unleashed. That time is now.A dark and oppressive force, angry neighbors, vicious animal attacks, all hint at the approaching modern Black Death. Before you know it, animals and people start dying. Brenna, with the help of a handsome, mysterious stranger and a quirky stray dog, must find the strength to fight back against this evil plague. For she's been having chilling glimpses into the future...and it's ugly.A FERAL DARKNESS has just enough romance in it to keep me satisfied. When Brenna and Gil first meet, they don't even like each other. While working together they start to learn things about the other person and fall in love. The loves scenes are "G" rated, and it is so refreshing to read about the romance instead of where the couple jump into bed thirty seconds after meeting! It was nice to see Brenna and Gil grow closer, and start to care for each other.Ms. Durgin does an amazing job with her characters, endowing them with little quirks that made them seem so alive, especially Druid, the stray dog. If you like dogs, you'll fall in love with Druid, who is very charming and delightful. Brenna is just a regular woman who is trying to deal with what is going on the best she can. She is smart and intuitive, but she doesn't have all the answers and I liked her because of that.If you are looking for a book that has romance, some paranormal elements, is expertly written with wonderful characters and has a smooth pace that leads up to a climatic finish, A FERAL DARKNESS is the book for you and it is not to be missed.

Doranna Durgin wisely grounds this fantasy (and its readers) with very mundane elements: the child who would do anything to save her beloved pet, a lousy boss, an annoying older sibling, and that less-than-stellar job you keep because you're not sure you could do anything else. By the time the fantasy comes to the fore, you already believe in the characters, and thus have no problem following them along their dark and dangerous path. I also liked the fact that Durgin mixed the supernatural threat with more realistic ones (trying to avoid spoilers, but if you've read the book, you know what I mean). The idea that this all could be happening in an ordinary small town filled with ordinary people is the most chilling feeling of all.

Great story, viscerally real settings, and believable, engaging characters. What more could you want? Well, how about a sense of magic layered so seamlessly within our own world that you have absolutely no moment of disbelief, only wonder? Durgin achieves all this and more with her latest. FERAL DARKNESS is one of those reads that will transport you completely from the here and now, yet at the end, you'll find yourself looking at this world (and its creatures) with fresh eyes. Another can't-put-down book from a multi-talented author.

A FERAL DARKNESS is Durgin's first contemporary fantasy, after several traditional fantasy novels. Having read this one, I must say she ought to continue with contemporary settings! Her understanding of characters and their motivations and fears makes this a must-read book for those who like contemporary novels with supernatural settings and challenges. Brenna and Masera are very real individuals, and Brenna's bonding with Druid, the stray dog who is more than just a dog, proves Durgin's understanding of the human-animal bond. Druid is not a typical fantasy animal, talking telepathically or otherwise, but a very real companion. A touch of romance adds a nice extra to an entertaining and compelling story. I read this book in one fell swoop, and wish it had been longer!