The Awakening

The Darkness of Diggory Finch, Book 1

By: Chris Philbrook

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

Diggory Finch had a mother that didn’t seem to want him and a father that chose to run from every struggle the family ever had. The same father lied about the family fortune.

But now Grandma Beatrice is gone, and Diggory has inherited Finch Island in Twin Falls, as well as millions of dollars, a house, an old mill building, and the profound, evil darkness that dwells at the center of his family’s heart.

Diggory returns home, happy and comfortable for the first time in a home that’s not going anywhere, and starts the process of opening up a game store on his family’s property. He even meets a young lady that makes him want to stop sabotaging his relationships. Could it be love?

Or will the horror that unfolds undo all he’s ever wanted?

The Finch family is surrounded by people who want something from them. They want the dark power that Diggory has access to. They want the doorway only he can open to remain open forever, and if they have to lock him up so the ancient evil he can access can always flow to them, then so be it.

But for the first time, this Finch isn’t running, and he isn’t content to be used to unleash evil on the world.

Can Diggory harness the great darkness within him and defeat the monsters that feast on the people of Twin Falls, or will he lose control and put the entire world at risk?

Enter the world of Twin Falls; a modern day Lovecraftian universe of ancient, eldritch evils, cults, monsters, and one very sarcastic young man that's just sick of being used, abused, and self-destructive.

©2021 Chris Philbrook (P)2021 Chris Philbrook

Contemporary Cosmic Horror

Philbrook continues to show that he's not just a writer of zombie stories. The Awakening is well written cosmic horror with a modern twist. The setting is a quiet little town with a terrible secret that some of the townsfolk have been doing their best to keep hidden for generations. Enter Diggory Finch, who is unknowingly the key to saving the town and the entire world. I had some trouble in the beginning relating to Diggory, a gen X type with no job or ambition, who has a lot of personal issues and spends his time playing RPG video games. Later, these details take a back seat to what is going on and it gets better. Philbrook weaves Lovecraftian cosmic horror into a modern setting and with modern characters to make an entertaining story. Good story, well written, highly recommend.

Unexpected delight

What a great surprise! I forgot the description of this book by the time I got to it, so it seemed like mellow romance or something at the start, then the sixth chapter threw a total curve ball.

Mild spoiler alert …

This series is like a cross between Odd Thomas and the Iron Druid. If you liked those, you’ll love this.

Bad day doesn't begin to touch on it.

The great of the cosmos is here and alive in a small finch. This books was awesome. It has monsters and crazy theories and reality bending magic.

Do yourself a favor and get this book

From start to finish it's just plain good.

You meet a flawed yet relatable character in a world that isn't what it seems. His self deprecating tendencies show the depth that the character is aware of his flaws and shortcomings but you get to watch him come into his own and rise to the occasion in a messed up situation and all the intrigue and mayhem that comes along when dealing with the occult.

The voice author pulls you in and you feel like you're listening to a friend. I personally recommend 1.20 speed. but you do you!

10/10 would recommend!

Loved it!

I loved it! Can't wait for the next one:-) Spent the whole time torn between wanting to hurry and get to the end but not wanting it to be over so soon.
The narrator did a great job, too.