Dark Illuminations, Volume One by A.A. Colvin Jr.
The five short stories within Dark Illuminations, Volume One by A.A. Colvin Jr. truly evoke the spirit of New England storytelling around a blazing campfire. The stories will remind you of being young and scared, yet keep you yearning for more, hoping the final scene is less sinister than your own wild imagination.
There were two stand-outs within the collection. First, Inside the Caves, reminded me a bit of the 1986 movie Stand By Me based on Stephen King’s novella, The Body. This time, we have three boys in the woods looking for adventure and finding more than they bargained for. My second pick was Atomic Waste. For me, this story harkened back even further, a nod to the Twilight Zone and their gift for leaving you hanging, wishing you could crawl into the story to make everything right again with the world. This story also happens to have the most interesting twist of the five.
I would be remiss to say that Dark Illuminations, Volume One could have used a little more focus in regards to the perspective from which it was told. Many times I was distracted by it, as if the characters were merely being directed by the author versus living within the stories. However, if you aren’t as picky as me, author AA Colvin Jr.’s unique writing style and attention-grabbing descriptions will keep you entertained as you turn the pages, expecting the story to end, but probably finding it has taken a darker, thought-provoking turn.
I look forward to Dark Illuminations, Volume Two and hope that A.A. Colvin Jr. continues with his New England roots, bringing us more tales that keep you wondering what you would do if an urban legend happened to you.
Reviewed by Stefanie Jolicoeur. If you would like me to review your book, please contact me at honest.reviews@comcast.net
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