After seven years struggling to conceive, Miles and his wife, Richelle, escape to an island getaway to try one last time. But instead of enjoying paradise, Miles is swept up in an ancient battle between formless demons and beings from another world. When Miles fights a malevolent entity attacking Richelle, secrets are revealed, ones that cross the universe between Earth and planet Kalumegn. Three mysterious beings discover Miles’s dormant extraterrestrial abilities. Calling him an Anomaly, they prepare his body and mind for war, for his destiny is about to be fulfilled. To protect his wife, Miles joins the aliens on Clos Friga, a hell planet of chaos holding their common enemy. Lucifer is more dangerous than the fallen angel of legend, and his sinister fascination with Richelle threatens all Miles holds dear. One man must fight an otherworldly battle…or the war for Earth itself may be lost.
An entertaining short story that doesn’t get bogged down the details...this is definitely a book worth picking up.
A fight between good and evil plays out in this sci-fi story. I am amazed at how much detail the author has managed to fit into a book of such an unassuming size. Penchant for Darkness is like a tardis, it contains an expansive plotline covering space travel, aliens, clairvoyance and Mile’s discovery and training of his anomalous powers as well as tender moments with his wife, Richelle and the battle closer to home to conceive and manage their family’s expectations. All this plotline condensed into an adventure you can enjoy in the afternoon.
I personally think there could be more tension built up in order for it to fit perfectly in the thriller category and would say this book sits well in the sci-fi, adventure and perhaps relationship or family genres. When I closed the book I wondered whether the science fiction aspect of the book was metaphorical for the struggles faced by a couple trying to conceive, with Lucifer a spectre of Miles’ potential feelings of inadequacy and Michael, Rafa and Gaby representing the doctors and specialists on their journey. Whether you read in to it that way, or enjoy it as a short and snappy sci-fi story packed to the brim with plot, this is definitely a book worth picking up.
...a highly exciting novella that throws the reader right into the action and is a perfect coffee table read for science fiction fans looking for a breaktime adventure.
I enjoyed the development of Miles and Richelle, whose relationship forms a strong and realistic center to the tale itself. This allows us to relate to them and root for Miles as this strange situation is thrust upon him. The science fiction concepts of the other beings and their special abilities were well-conceived and well-described, presenting both villains and allies with a dynamic use of language that made them leap off the page. Overall, this makes Penchant for Darkness a highly engaging read with plenty of interesting twists and lots of content for its novella length, and I would certainly recommend it to fans of paranormal adventure and science fiction everywhere.
A combination of vivid characterization and palpable tension, this slender novella makes for a page-turner…
Elizaga gives new spin to the traditional war between angels and the demon from the Book of Revelation in her latest urban fantasy, uplifting the conventional plot with an endearing hero, intriguing elements of science fiction, and a sweeping conflict...Elizaga infuses her narrative with substantial characterization along with her characters’ serious moral dilemmas: Miles is torn between fulfilling his prophecy and being there for his family; his journey is complicated further by Richelle’s long-awaited pregnancy. Elizaga does an excellent job of propelling the couple’s emotional story along while simultaneously exploring the ancient mythic archetypes’ backstory and their fight against the devil. The emotions trail menace, and the frenzied battle scenes breath realism. Elizaga beautifully blends elements of supernatural fantasy with science fiction, providing both the conspicuous ambiguity of the paranormal and the awe and wonder of technology. Her crisp prose, fast-paced narrative, and excellent plotting means the story never loses its momentum. Elizaga has delivered a solid adventure that’s sure to satisfy fans of urban fantasy. This is a must-read.
