The Children of Darkness

The Seekers, Book 1

By: David Litwack

Narrated by: Erin deWard

Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

"But what are we without dreams?"

A thousand years ago the Darkness came - a terrible time of violence, fear, and social collapse when technology ran rampant. But the vicars of the Temple of Light brought peace, ushering in an era of blessed simplicity. For 10 centuries they have kept the madness at bay with "temple magic," and by eliminating forever the rush of progress that nearly caused the destruction of everything.

Childhood friends Orah and Nathaniel have always lived in the tiny village of Little Pond, longing for more from life but unwilling to challenge the rigid status quo. When their friend Thomas returns from the Temple after his "teaching" - the secret coming-of-age ritual that binds young men and women eternally to the Light - they barely recognize the broken and brooding young man the boy has become. Then, when Orah is summoned as well, Nathaniel follows in a foolhardy attempt to save her.

In the prisons of Temple City, they discover a terrible secret that launches the three on a journey to find the forbidden keep, placing their lives in jeopardy, for a truth from the past awaits that threatens the foundation of the Temple. If they reveal that truth, they might once again release the potential of their people.

Yet they would also incur the Temple's wrath as it is written: "If there comes among you a prophet saying, 'Let us return to the darkness,' you shall stone him, because he has sought to thrust you away from the Light."

©2015 Evolved Publishing LLC (P)2016 Evolved Publishing LLC

Not Just for Adults

This a wonderful story set thousands of years in the future, when Vicars of the Temple of Light control the people. In the town of Little Pond three friends, Orah, Nathaniel, and Thomas are coming of age. When Thomas is taken and than returned from a "teaching", a secret ritual, that has left Thomas changed and broken, Orah and Nathaniel search for the secret behind the ritual that hurt their friend so much, only to find it also left them threatened as well. When Orah is taken next for a teaching, Nathaniel follows and what they both find in the cells under Temple City will change their whole world forever if they make it out in time, the race is on.

This was a wonderful book, kind of like Harry Potter meets Divergent. The action is non-stop and though some spots are predictable others are quite surprising and refreshing. There are as many twists and turns as there are Vicars, and the treasure hunt to the keep was fun and masterful.

I listened to this in audiobook form which made some of the cytology parts hard to try and figure out for yourself, but narrator Erin DeWard does a excellent job with all the characters and their voices, he captures and uses the attitude of the book to suck you in and keep you listening well past when you should.

This is a great book that every should try.

A good start to a possibly great series

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a new take on dystopian sci-fi that was original to me. It takes place in a future where society as we know it has collapsed and an authoritative theocracy controls everything. After ruling for over 1,000 years, almost nothing remains from the time before, i.e. paved roads, cars, phones, etc. In fact, technology doesn’t really exist at all in their world. I felt the characters were generally unlikable at the beginning, but as the story progressed they became more relatable. By the end I actually grew to like them. One thing that was really interesting to me was seeing how all the character’s reacted when they came across any objects from the time before society collapsed. I really didn’t like the narrator at the beginning either. The voices she were excellent, but she varied her speaking pace too much. She would switch from speaking very rapidly to very slowly from one sentence to the next. By the end her narration style grew on my though. In the end, I found this book exciting from the start and it kept me engaged through the entire story. I look forward to listening to the next book in the series.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com.

Well told tale

Would you consider the audio edition of The Children of Darkness to be better than the print version?

I only listened to the book I did not read it but I loved what the narrator brought to the book, her voice held the right amount of excitement and awe that I would want.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the "discovery" of todays technology, and the battle against evil was the battle to keep tech out. Except that which the light saw as useful as a tool of manipulation, or magic.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene in which Thomas rescues Orah and Nathaniel I was not sure he would, or could.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

In our dreams is reality.

Any additional comments?

I look forward to book 2 I can see many directions in which this series can go and it will be fun to see what the authors decides.

A great story with wonderful characters

What made the experience of listening to The Children of Darkness the most enjoyable?

Wow. The story was amazing but, likewise, the narration was really good too. There is a very eerie feeling when hearing how the world can change based on who is doing the spinning. But it doesn't feel or seem dark. It has hope and love and a powerful message.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I really like Nathaniel. He is part Don Quixote, tilting at windmills, and part Luke Skywalker, leading his little group to change. He has a big heart but also big flaws.

What about Erin deWard’s performance did you like?

She does character transitions really well. She makes young women sound young without sounding like small children. Her male voices are unquestionably male without seeming like caricatures. She is very good at narration.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. It made me a bit wary as it is easy to extrapolate this story to our modern world.

Any additional comments?

This would be an excellent road trip book!

this novel could have been a stand-alone story

The Children of Darkness by David Litwack is the first novel in a series called Seekers. This story follows the story of a group of young adults as they begin to distrust the world around them and yearn to find a way to change all the negatives that they have become accustomed to. When their friend Thomas is taken from their small village of Little Pond to a Temple City to learn and fear the darkness (a historical period of knowledge and violence), Orah and Nathanial are concerned for their friend. Thomas returns haunted. When Orah is taken next, Nathanial attempts to try to save her. During this ordeal, Nathanial learns of a quest to return knowledge to their dystopian and knowledge-fearing world. And so, the trio set out on a challenging path to find out if there is truth to the legend. Unwittingly, they are pursued relentlessly by the governing Temple. The Temple is set on stopping the return of knowledge to the land and will do anything to stop the three companions as they risk everything for a cause that they are not even sure they believe in.

While this novel touched upon a lot of standard dystopian themes, it was unique in many ways. I enjoyed the quest aspect of the story and loved the contrast between the characters, their motives, and ultimately their loyalty to one another. The story is also told from multiple points of view, which allows insight into individual characters and makes these aspects of the story richer.  Similarly, explanations and feelings regarding the period of the darkness and the idea of knowledge were thought provoking. The end of their quest revealed something that I thought was incredibly interesting and loved how it was handled. I did not love the characters themselves, unfortunately. Perhaps, they felt a little flat for the most part or I was not particularly inspired by their dialogue and thoughts. The ending was well done and I am intrigued by the fact that the story continues, as this novel could have been a stand-alone story.

The narration by Erin deWard really did the story justice. Without her voicing, the story of have come off completely differently. It fit well with the characters and the environment. The production quality was good as well. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys young adult dystopian novels filled with righteous quests.

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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Amazing new series

I loved this! I will admit it was a bit slow in the beginning. Around chapter 9 it got so good I couldn't quit listening. There are elements of other stories similar but original enough stand on its own. You just feel the influence of things you may have read in the past.
I highly recommend this to anyone. You don't have to love dystopian novels to love this. This would also be a great book for preteens & teens. Clean fun, no language, sex or violence. The narrator was great too. I can't wait to listen to book two.

I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.

Another Science vs Religion

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com.

The novel is a dystopia featuring the clash of religion and science. After devastating wars, the vicars suppress art and technology to the world in an attempt to create peace. They claim "the darkness" destroyed the world and they must control everyone to make sure the darkness never comes back. A few children then begin a journey to seek out the truth behind the darkness.

The story felt more coming-of-age dystopian than science fiction. Nathan has gone a long way from his cowardly attitude in the beginning to risking his life for his friends in the end. It's fairly predictable. I was a little let down there was no "big reveal" of what the darkness was. I'd give it 3.5/5

The narrator did well. She was frail as the old Samuel; bursting with edgy enthusiasm as the Bradford Vicar; and strong and proud as Nathaniel. I thought she could have used a smaller girly voice for Orah, though.

Spoilers:
A few things strike me as odd. Why did the keeper tell to Nathan to pursue the quest? I thought he would just pass his secret to another prior to dying, not start a revolution. It also seemed way too easy to find the keepers. for such a small number of people relatively close together, it seems weird they didn't already meet each other over the centuries. The character of thomas was also a bit of a waste. He has significance at the beginning and end, but in the middle he's no better than a christmas ornament despite having a lot of pages talking about him. I'm disappointed Orah, capable of all the planning for their journey, didn't come up with contingency plans after leaving the keep. Surely they would have all gotten their stories straight so they wouldn't have to improvise. It wasn't exactly surprising to get caught, after all. I'm also a little skeptical of how quickly the people supported the children; why didn't the vicar just imprison them in secret, anyway? I'm also very skeptical of the world agreeing to combine all their religions into one. Lol?

Light vs. Dark Again

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com."

Another Light vs Dark, Good vs Evil, Religious backing book. I really tried to get into this as I like Dystopian kind of books, but I guess this was just too far in the future. I gave it a good 4 hours and nothing clicked for me. One character was brought to the Light (sorta) and in so doing, ratted out his friend to get out of the place. Just didn't fit.

Erin did a good job at trying to keep me interested, but in the end I just couldn't finish it.

An amazing fantasy with mysteries and twists

Imagine a return to the medieval times when small towns were run by “priests” that taught darkness was evil. The darkness they refer to is the time when the world collapsed into war and chaos. Now the people are much like medieval times where they barely have enough to eat, must walk everywhere, no comforts to speak of, and a fear of being selected for a “teaching.” The teachings are taught through fear and deprivation. Three childhood friends, Nathaniel, Thomas, and Orah survive the teaching. Nathaniel, while rescuing Orah connects with an old man in a prison cell. This man is step one in the “keeper chain” that has untold secrets and more. The three must find the keep but to find it, may mean their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Caught between right and wrong, justice and injustice, these three friends must make life-changing decisions.

David Litwack, the author, creates a story that is engaging, full of suspense and a little romance. Litwack develops each character slowly and completely, with deliberate ease that draws the listener in and keeps them there. The plot unfolds naturally and effortlessly. The listener cannot help but connect with the three young people because they are characters that everyone has in their lives – strong, smart, and wistful, and all with purpose and drive.

The narrator, Erin deWard, does an amazing job of giving a voice to each character that is reflective of their personality and core. deWard speaks clearly and with earnest; almost as if she were slipping into each character and becoming them. She spoke smoothly and with distinction. It was a very pleasant listening experience.

This is book one in a series of three. I cannot wait to start on the next one, this is a series that will only grow better and bolder as the challenges the three life-friends will face.

There were no issues with the production or quality of this book. The quality of the sound was crisp and clear.

Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-bias, honest review.

A unique Story

It took me a little while to get into this story but once I did there was no turning back. It was a very original take on the genre with a plot line that felt new and fresh. There are enough characters to keep it interesting but the main focus is on a small group. The narration was good and never took me out of the story. The environment was described just enough to make iit clear but not so much that it gets boring. There were a few bits of dialogue that seemed like something a real person wouldn't say but it also seemed appropriate for the character. Highly recommend.

Not what I was expecting but enjoyed none the less

I didn't read the blog for this and just went off the cover. I was expecting futuristic and space aged, what I got was futuristic and more realistic. After a terrible war to end all wars, they don't want this to happen ever again. A religious group takes control of everything, especially the people. Humans now live a simple life and have learned how to live off the land. Everything starts to unfold when the religious leaders go too far with a group of young friends. This leads them on a quest to find the truth and with a thirst for knowledge. I have enjoyed this well narrated book and moved swiftly on to book two.

Futuristic Adventure compelling storyline

it took me a while to get into the book but lived it by the end, a very good apocalyptic story line, narration was very good