Darkside

I was reading this when we had those storms last week. It was storming in the book as well so it made it really scary. I finished it in two nights. I started it on June 13 and finished the 14th.

Jonathan Starling's home has been attacked, his dad is in an asylum, he's running for his life, and there's nowhere to hide. Jonathan has stumbled upon London's greatest secret: Darkside. Incredibly dangerous and unimaginably exciting, Darkside is the creepiest place Jonathan has ever seen. It's a world of nightmares and secrets, where fear and evil rule, and Jonathan has to find a way out. . . .

This book surprised me in two ways; firstly, it was much more gripping than I thought it would be and secondly; it gave me the fright of my life when I turned off my bedroom light because the cover glows in the dark and I wasn't expecting to be confronted with a gaping wolf's head in my pitch black bedroom!

This is the story of Jonathan Starling who has never known his mother and who's father sometimes succumbs to a nervous breakdown and has to be hospitalised. It is after one of his Dad's "turns" when Johnathan is staying alone in his house that someone breaks in, and tries to steal something from his father's study. His father seems obsessed with discovering the way to Darkside, and after someone tries unsuccessfully to kidnap show more Johnathan a few times and then another attack in the hospital, his father recovers enough to convince Johnathan to try to get to Darkside and hide with a man (?) called Carnegie.

Johnathan, having discovered the entrance to Darkside ( which is where all the very worst of London society were banished in the 1800s - think Jack the Ripper) confronts Carnegie, only to discover he is actually a werewolf intent on eating him. There are twists and plot turns as the real world (Lightside) police try to discover what has happened to Johnathan and another boy Ricky who have disappeared, while in Darkside, Johnathan must protect himself from his would-be kidnappers, an evil vampire and his own protector.

First in a series. p.4 to end of Chapter 1. Ricky is on an excursion to Trafalgar square in the middle of London when he is chased and captured by 2 evil men and the sinister, orange-haired Marianne. show less

Darkside is a terrific YA book full of the stuff that nightmares are made of. Ricky’s dad is in an asylum and Ricky is left home alone, with just a neighbour to check in on him. One day, when Ricky is alone at home intruders break in and Ricky has to lock himself in his dad’s study. There he discovers clues to his dad’s insanity and realises they are both in danger. He has to find somewhere to hide and accidentally discovers The Darkside of London, a place where Jack the Ripper’s children are the rulers and vampires roam the streets. If Ricky thought he had problems at home they pale into insignificance compared to what he has to face now! He meets all manner of terrifying characters and is soon fighting for his life.

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Picture a windy dark night. The rain is hammering against the house. The lights are flickering from the wind pounding the power lines. The rest of the house is asleep. The clock slowly inches towards 2:00am.

Does that catch your attention? Well, I had to set the mood for how I found myself last night with the horrible weather and DARKSIDE in my hands. I had spent the better part of the day in bed with a migraine. So, finally feeling better, the rest of the family was asleep, and I was wide awake. And in more ways than one.

DARKSIDE had my pulse racing from page one, and with the weather conditions going on outside, I wasn't sure if I should keep reading or put the book down and wait until the sun show more came out the next day. But I was already wrapped up in the developing story of Jonathan Starling and his journey to Darkside.

Jonathan is fourteen, a loner, and can pretty much do as he pleases. His father is often hospitalized for what he calls "the darkening," leaving Jonathan to fend for himself. After his father's latest hospital admission, Jonathan and their neighbor, Mrs. Elwood, venture off to find Carnegie.

Jonathan has never heard of this Mr. Carnegie before, and Mrs. Elwood is evasive. Driving toward the Thames River, Mrs. Elwood's car is attacked. The passenger door is literally ripped off the side of the car. Mrs. Elwood tells Jonathan to run, and the heart-pounding adventure begins.

Jonathan has investigated his father's study (which he has usually found locked) and discovered references to this Darkside. His father has never mentioned it before, and Jonathan can only surmise it is the reason behind his dad's illness. Following hints he's uncovered, he is able to find his way to Darkside and to the well known Mr. Carnegie.

Darkside is the opposite of Lightside, or the world as we know it. Darkside is the meanest, vilest parts of London. Inhabited by the likes of weremen, vampires, and the progeny of Jack the Ripper, Jonathan is forced to survive if he has any hope of helping his dad recover from his latest hospital admission.

Mr. Becker has written a fast-paced, page-turning adventure. I am not usually a fan of the fantasy genre, but I was pulled into the action of the book from the first page. The story is a bit graphic in the descriptions of Darkside, so the younger reader should be warned. But the book was quite thrilling and the ending has been left open for more adventures featuring Jonathan and Carnegie. show less

Short, quick read. Had a few nice twists ,but didnt generate enough interest in me to continue with the series. Would recommend it for middle graders though.

Darkside is the first in a suspenseful and exciting fantasy series about a secret part of London known as Darkside. Inhabited by dangerous characters, this underbelly of London is nothing like the city we see on postcards or television. The atmosphere in Darkside is gothic and intense. We accompany fourteen year old Jonathan on his frightening journey to save himself and his father. His first trip into Darkside is both disturbing and intriguing. At the conclusion we are certain that one trip to Darkside will not be enough.

This story about someone tracking some kidnappings into an alternate version of London invented by Jack the Ripper looks like it will be a gripping page turning read but the concept is wrecked by unexciting writing and action scenes which aren't very actiony. A complete bore.