Doranna Durgin

Feral Darkness
by Doranna Durgin

Brenna Fallon is a dog person. When she was nine years old, she read about an old God called Mars Nodens. Upset that her beloved old dog was dying, she found a place on her family farm where the elements aligned with the ancient places that Nodens was worshiped. Offering up a heartfelt prayer to save her dog’s life, she also offers the thing most important to her: She cuts off her hair with her pocket knife and her faithful hound lives a remarkably long show more time.

Years later, a group of drunk young men break through the pasture fence and tear through the pasture on their ATV’s. They foul the spring and the old dog’s gravesite. They tear up the ground, and kill a rabbit injured by the tires of their machines. Their actions awaken a violent darkness that will affect the lives of everyone in this rural community.

Brenna is now working as a groomer at a large pet store. She’s harassed by a bullying manager, a dismissive brother and a new employee who all seem intent on belittling her skill and professionalism. When her friends and clients begin to talk of a feral dog pack and the specter of a rabies outbreak, Brenna finds herself fighting an evil born of both greed and a supernatural malevolence.

I don’t give five star ratings lightly. This novel deserves it. When I’m sitting at work with my eReader strategically placed next to my keyboard so I can snatch another page or two during slow moments, I know I’m on to something good. Can’t-put-it-down good.

What I liked: Durgin knows how to build suspense. The plot ebbs and flows with unseen threats followed by lulls, circumstantial evidence, grief and joy. It builds to a satisfying standoff that kept me up way past my bedtime. The characters are realistic. Brenna, her friend Emily, her boss Roger, her asshole brother and the suspicious new dog trainer, Gil Masera. Even the dogs, Sunny and Druid, are important characters. I was particularly delighted by the mystery game of “who’s the villain?” that kept me riveted.

Another thing I appreciated is the obvious care the author took to get the details right. Every small thing from grooming procedures to dog handling to modeling good firearm safety speaks of her attention to detail. I could easily see this little upstate rural farmstead clearly in my mind.

What I disliked: Very little, and it speaks to why this is a fantastic book. There were a few points where I wanted to grab the protagonist by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. But that’s the whole point, isn’t it? Humans beings are human, and when I get so invested in the story that I feel like jumping in? Yeah. Five stars.

I’m guessing the author got her copyright released for digital versions and is putting some of her backlist into the digital market. I’m glad she did, otherwise I would have missed it. It’s a little gem that will be a great addition to your eBook collection.

I’d recommend this book to dog lovers who enjoy a tale full of magical realism and a little romance with some Celtic paganism on the side. show less

I received this book for free via Early Reviewers.

This book was an enjoyable trek through a world of mystery and intrigue. Hidden Steel follows a woman who awakens to find no memory of who she is or why she is handcuffed to a hospital bed in what is clearly not a hospital. She adopts the name Mickey Finn from an overheard conversation among her captors. After an escape that shows she has some unusual skills, she makes her way to Steve's Gym where the owner assumes she is schizophrenic and show more off her meds. As her memory returns in tiny fragments and her former captors search for any signs of her whereabouts, Mickey finds in Steve a person she wants to trust.

I finished this book in less than a day. An action/romance with no steamy scenes (yay!), it was interesting and well-crafted. As a fan of Ludlum's Bourne trilogy (the originals), this plot was not a new one to me. However, it was engaging and believable enough to keep me reading. I enjoyed the quirky heroine who didn't seem to just be created to be a strong woman. She seemed plausible with flaws and strengths and doubts and confidence and...life. Lovely reading. show less

Survival Instinct by Doranna Durgin

Survival Instinct is a tightly wound, character‑driven suspense novel that blends wilderness danger with emotional depth. Durgin excels at placing her characters in high‑stakes, high‑pressure situations where every decision matters, and this book is no exception. The pacing is brisk without feeling rushed, and the tension builds naturally as the protagonist navigates both external threats and internal conflicts.

What stands out most is Durgin’s show more ability to make the environment itself feel like an antagonist. The wilderness sequences are vivid and tactile, grounding the story in a sense of realism that heightens the suspense. The characters are layered, flawed, and resilient, making their choices feel earned rather than convenient.

If you enjoy survival thrillers with strong character arcs, a touch of mystery, and a steady undercurrent of danger, this novel delivers a satisfying and immersive experience.

Tags (alphabetical): action, adventure, danger, mystery, suspense, survival, thriller, wilderness show less

I finished reading this half an hour ago and still feel that I am coming down from the high. This book has everything - good writing (first and foremost!); great characters that you can empathise with, flaws and all; ambivalent characters whose motivation is only gradually revealed; hovering menace that is at first all the more threatening because it is unidentifiable; supernatural elements that meld credibly with the real world; moments of deep tragedy (reading the final one, I heard myself show more squeak "No!"); and a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.

Highly recommended. show less