And Darkness Fell

Name: And Darkness Fell
Price: 15.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781786957108

✍️ David Berardelli

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$15.00

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A soldier drives across a plague-ravaged America with two strangers.

The book tracks Alan Moss, Reed McCallum, and Brooke Fields as they traverse a broken United States. Their path is defined by the collapse of infrastructure and the rise of violent gangs. The narrative highlights the contrast between the failing civilian world and the eerie effectiveness of the remaining military units. Berardelli uses this setting to explore themes of isolation and resilience without relying on supernatural elements beyond the initial plague and the strange soldiers.

Key Themes

societal collapse survival journey plague aftermath

Literary Context

Set in an undetermined near future, the story reflects anxieties about public health crises and institutional failure. It mirrors contemporary fears regarding the fragility of modern infrastructure and the potential for rapid social breakdown in the United States.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · Joe Hill · Clive Barker · George A. Romero

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Gravestone Press 📅 2021 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781786957108

📝 Description: And Darkness Fell

David Berardelli presents a grim vision of America in the near future, where a mysterious plague strips citizens of their mental faculties before causing respiratory failure. The narrative follows former soldier Alan Moss as he drives one thousand miles from Orlando to his mother’s farm in western Pennsylvania. This journey transforms into a survival trial through highways that have become concrete battlefields. Moss encounters roving bands of murderous thugs who prey on the dying, facing horrors that surpass those of his military service. Along the route, Moss is joined by Reed McCallum, an ex-schoolteacher recently mugged, and Brooke Fields, a nurse who abandoned the collapsing Walter Reed Army Hospital. Together, this trio navigates a landscape where electric power, media, and law enforcement have vanished. They must contend with a small military force exhibiting strange behavior and superhuman abilities while society crumbles around them. The story draws on post-apocalyptic traditions, focusing on the disintegration of institutions and the struggle for human connection amidst chaos. This work suits readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven survival tales set in decaying worlds. It may not appeal to those seeking hopeful or fantastical narratives. Berardelli structures the plot around the physical and psychological toll of the road trip. The novel examines how ordinary people adapt when the social contract dissolves completely.

💎 Our verdict on And Darkness Fell

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Berardelli delivers a grim vision of near-future America, where a plague strips citizens of their faculties before causing respiratory failure. The narrative follows Alan Moss’s thousand-mile drive from Orlando to Pennsylvania, transforming into a survival trial through highways turned concrete battlefields. The author effectively contrasts the failing civilian world with the eerie effectiveness of remaining military units. By introducing Reed McCallum and Brooke Fields, the story explores themes of isolation and resilience without relying on excessive supernatural elements. The focus remains on the disintegration of institutions and the struggle for human connection. This work is best suited for readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven survival tales set in decaying worlds. It may not appeal to those seeking hopeful or fantastical narratives.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who crave gritty, character-driven survival tales set in decaying worlds will find this book compelling. It offers a stark vision of America where infrastructure has failed and violence is commonplace. The narrative focuses on the psychological toll of isolation and resilience as ordinary people face extraordinary horrors. Those who appreciate stories that prioritize human connection amidst chaos over fantastical elements will enjoy the grounded approach. The book suits fans of military thriller aesthetics blended with horror, particularly those interested in the eerie effectiveness of remaining institutions. It is ideal for audiences seeking a tense, atmospheric journey through a broken landscape without relying on supernatural tropes beyond the initial premise.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Berardelli delivers a grim vision of near-future America, where a plague strips citizens of their faculties before causing respiratory failure. The narrative follows Alan Moss’s thousand-mile drive from Orlando to Pennsylvania, transforming into a survival trial through highways turned concrete battlefields. The author effectively contrasts the failing civilian world with the eerie effectiveness of remaining military units. By introducing Reed McCallum and Brooke Fields, the story explores themes of isolation and resilience without relying on excessive supernatural elements. The focus remains on the disintegration of institutions and the struggle for human connection. This work is best suited for readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven survival tales set in decaying worlds. It may not appeal to those seeking hopeful or fantastical narratives.