What would you do to save the only people who treated you with kindness? The Hungry Dark, the first book in the Magic, Monsters, and Radical Empathy series by Michael Coalwood, is a thrilling tale which explores a haunted world and the idea that hope still remains in it.
For fans of deep worldbuilding, Coalwood’s world in The Hungry Dark is full of it. Throughout the novel, the reader is truly taken on a journey with each page. As the main character, Melita, takes on a dangerous, self-assigned mission into the underground urban labyrinth of Tenebro, the details of the world which we find her in are revealed, from the fire witches and the curse which befalls them to the complicated politics of the exile village of Ekzilo and its neighbors. Every piece of worldbuilding made me crave even more, not because I was confused, but intrigued.
For those of you who may enjoy a thriller-eqsue aspect to your reading, there are certainly elements in the story which will spark your interest. As Melita moves through the floors of Tenebro, powerful creatures fueled by the titular Hungry Dark warp reality in a series of traps. The description of these traps are well-done, and are introduced in ways which will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.
What truly struck me was the way The Hungry Dark tackled the concept of chronic illness. The narrative weaves the struggle one has against a body which is slowly failing them within the struggle to fight off monsters and creatures who mean harm. And, even more striking, the subplot involving chronic illness isn’t about a cure or another magical way to get better, but just trying to coexist with it. As someone who has been dealing with some chronic pain and fatigue for years, it was truly a breath of fresh air.
That does not mean the book is without fault, however. The writing style can feel a bit clunky at times, with thicker paragraphs that slow the pace down a bit too much during pivotal moments, such as during some of the fight scenes and emotional moments. In addition, while the book does often tackle its themes well, there were times where these themes feel a bit bluntly added into the narrative and dialogue, and didn't really fit in with the feeling in those scenes. For those who prefer being shown themes rather than told them, this may not be your cup of tea. Overall, though, I'm definitely interested in this story and I certainly look forward to seeing how the series evolves past this first book, given how the ending felt a bit more certain than the first books in some other series.
If you’re interested in reading The Hungry Dark, it should be noted that there is some potentially-triggering content: the two I saw the most were general bigotry and suicidal thoughts. The Hungry Dark will be released on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org on November 5th, 2023.
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