Feral Darkness

Weird. I would have sworn I'd read this before, but nothing was familiar - so I guess I merely admired the cover? I like Durgin, I've read a good many of hers, somehow I must have missed this one. A very rich story, more or less in her usual vein - magic invading a relatively normal life, with an animal (a Welsh Cardigan dog, almost well-portrayed on the cover) as the initial vector. But while the magic is the driving force, the more interesting part of the story to me is Brenna's philosophical insights, into the world and into herself. She's been walked all over by her family all her life - under this new impetus, she finds ways of applying her usual stubbornness and standing up for the right (mostly of animals, occasionally of show more herself) to her family. She's also trying to balance a Presbyterian upbringing with having apparently summoned a Roman/Celtic god...some fascinating concepts being dealt with there. Great characters - Brenna, Iban, most definitely Druid; the secondary characters, too, have depth and roundness (Emily, Elizabeth, many more). Great story, glad I read it. I'm going to check her oeuvre and make sure I haven't missed any others... Oh yay, there's a (short story) sequel! Hair of the Dog - got it in the anthology The Heart of Dog. 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 squeak "No!"); and a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.

Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this book (despite having a phobia of dogs!)

The characterisation is subtle and perfectly done; Brenna is realistic and likeable, her personality growing organically from the background she is given. The people around her are equally well drawn and nuanced, as are the pets. The plot progressed at a comfortable pace, neither rushing nor dragging, and the supernatural revelations unfolded gradually. Really, I couldn't fault it at any point!

If you like spine-tingling paranormal stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat from page one until the end, then A Feral Darkness by Doranna Durgin is the book for you.
The story of Brenna Fallon, a 29-year-old dog groomer who has a ‘way’ with dogs, and what happens when a feral dog pack is reported in her area, she begins to lose some of her special ‘way’ with her canine friends, and a strange man, Gil Masera, and a strange dog, Druid, come into her life.
A riveting tale of mysterious, demonic forces from beyond – a malevolent power that was unleashed by the wild ramblings of a bunch of teenagers when Brenna was yet young; a force that is now demonstrating its power with a vengeance, A Feral Darkness combines the show more suspense of Cujo with the paranormal drama of Carrie, with a healthy dollop of steroids thrown in for good measure.
Durgin is a master of the bizarre twist, weaving romance and superb characterization in with mystery and suspense, leading the reader on a serpentine journey through the darkness of fantasy and fear with a skill that is unmatched in the genre. She makes the characters come alive, fully fleshed, with warts and all. Villains have a trace of redemption, and heroes have mud on their shoes – they become real people that we can identify with, in situations we can only imagine in vodka-induced nightmares.
Five stars to Durgin for a tale well told. show less

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 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 show more 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

Durgin does stories with strong animal components, and she seems to do them very well. This is the second ebook of hers that I have received for review through Early Reviewers and I have enjoyed both of them. She portrays the animal behavior convincingly and obviously spends a lot of time observing and interacting with her own animals (mentioned in the About the Author).

Fair warning, there is a small amount of theology weighing Brenna's Christian beliefs against growing evidence of pagan possibilities in the story, so if that might disturb you perhaps this isn't the fantasy book for you. It also isn't a heavy duty romance story -- it's there, but it isn't the dominant part of the story.

The choice of the Basque connection and the show more chapter headers seemed a little random to me. There was no explanation of the headers (perhaps they were runes and an image in the original printed edition?). A little more connection and explanation there would have been nice. But other than that I enjoyed the book. As one of the other reviewers mentioned the editing was well-done and it always irritates and distracts me when it isn't. I would recommend it to dog-loving friends. show less

This is the second book I've read by Doranna Durgin, the first being Dun Lady's Jess. I continue to be a fan - I read this one over the course of two days, leaving other vital tasks to the wayside. It's a fast paced plot, with engrossing action, and a protagonist who felt very well fleshed out to me. The other characters, while not explored in as much depth, had their own mannerisms and personalities. Nobody really blended into the background.
I did find a few scenes to be rather distressing, but they weren't milked for gruesomeness, were relevant to the story, and were handled with respect and quality writing.
I really like Durgin's prose. It's clean, clear, and descriptive without being distracting. Great read, and I'll keep looking show more for more by this author! show less