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    The Shock of Night (The Darkwater Saga Book #1)
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    The Shock of Night (The Darkwater Saga Book #1)
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    The Shock of Night (The Darkwater Saga Book #1)
    Ebook605 pages10 hours

    The Shock of Night (The Darkwater Saga Book #1)

    By Patrick W. Carr

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Patrick Carr Launches a New Suspense-filled Fantasy Epic

    When one man is brutally murdered and the priest he works for mortally wounded on the streets of Bunard, Willet Dura is called to investigate. Yet the clues to the crime lead to contradictions and questions without answers. As Willet begins to question the dying priest, the man pulls Willet close and screams in a foreign tongue. Then he dies without another word.

    Willet returns to the city, no closer to answers than before, but his senses are skewed. People he touches appear to have a subtle shift, a twist seen at the edge of his vision, and it's as though he can see their deepest thoughts. In a world divided between haves and have-nots, gifted and common, Willet soon learns he's been passed the rarest gift of all: a gift that's not supposed to exist.

    Now Willet must pursue the murderer still on the loose in Bunard even as he's pulled into a much more dangerous and epic conflict that threatens not only his city, but his entire world--a conflict that will force him to come to terms with his own tortured past if he wants to survive.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBaker Publishing Group
    Release dateOct 27, 2015
    ISBN9781441265463
    Unavailable
    The Shock of Night (The Darkwater Saga Book #1)

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    Reviews for The Shock of Night (The Darkwater Saga Book #1)

    4/5

    41 ratings17 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Wow the action did not stop, even to the end it did not stop. I am glad that I read the prequel novella to this story as I feel that it helped me have a better understanding of the main character and the main supporting characters. I am hoping that in the next book on the series that Willet gets a break. If you are reading this book because you loved the Cast of Stones series then you will still appreciate the depth of world building and development of characters. There is a difference between the two though. This one is darker, packed with action from the start and more along the lines of an epic fantasy.
    • 5/5
      Carr starts this series much like the last, with a damaged hero. His world building is excellent, and there are quite a few details left to bring out in the remaining books. Male primary characters are well developed and rounded - the primary female characters a little less so (and I am wondering if there is a reason for this - no spoilers, but there is a very good potential reason). Carr is one of the best writers of Christian fantasy now - interesting theology but definitely does not hit you over the head with it.
    • 4/5
      Willet Durra is a man who knows his place in society. He is the lowest noble, has enemies, he solves crimes, and he is about to marry the woman that he loves. His life may not be perfect, but he understands it. Until... a dying man screams a word and his life changes.This is a fantasy book that has a complex plot and many characters involved. I had a hard time at first pulling everything together. Once I figured out who was who I was pulled into the world of Darkwater and had a hard time putting the book down, even when I knew I had other books that needed to be reviewed right away. I had to keep reading this book!This book has a darkness to it. Evil is encroaching from the Darkwater Forest and finding its way to the city. The book threw a few surprises at me, while I didn't anticipate some of the events, they made sense in the world that Patrick Carr has created.This is a series that I look forward to reading. The book contains violence.
    • 5/5
      The world is the limit when you read or write fantasy, and Patrick Carr draws the reader in as surely as the Darkwater lures its unsuspecting victims in. A world where the caste system is alive and well, and your worth and status is determined by the gift you have been given. This world might not be so very different from worlds created by any author of fiction. As I read this, I could almost believe that the world I live in really is so simple, and is divided into the groups of that world. It is when you put the book aside that this world comes back into focus and you remember that today the world around you is the one you are most familiar with and that this is the real world that we breathe and live in! If you are a fantasy reader this is a novel you do not want to miss!Thank you to Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, and Graf-Martin Publicity Group through their Nuts About Books program for the opportunity to read this book. I was given a free book in exchange for an honest review. A positive critique was not required. The opinions are my own.
    • 4/5
      I won this book through LibraryThing Early Reads giveaways.I found Patrick W. Carr's The Shock of Night to be an amazing fantasy novel with action, intrigue and believable characters. Although there are no elves, dwarfs or dragons, the story contains the requisite of any good fantasy; heroes, villains, swords, and the constant battle of good versus evil. What differs is in the telling of the story.Relying on compelling prose to tell the story of Willet Dura and his new found abilities, Carr transports the reader into another world governed by the haves and the have-nots, a societal imbalance that is a core theme throughout the book. Willet's struggles are capably depicted and as a result, the reader cannot help but root for the much maligned underdog.Filling the story are other characters who are also clearly developed allowing the readers to experience a variety of emotions, as well as different viewpoints, throughout the novel.I enjoyed this book very very much and had even contacted Mr. Carr to ensure a sequel is coming.The one question I do have is why is this considered Christian fiction as Jesus Christ (the basis of Christianity) is not in the story. Yes the major theme is good vs evil and the gifts given by a god but I wouldn't consider that Christian.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed the story of this book quite a bit. I occasionally delve into the fantasy realm, and this one doesn't disappoint on that front. The Christian label is a little loose in my view. I have seen reviews of people who delve into the Christian credibility of the book. There are some points that are Christian leaning, but I don't think you can glean great Christian theology from this book. But honestly, my goal is to never use Christian fiction as a theological learning point. With that said, I believe the book is well written. It contains a fascinating story that leaves room for future books. It is a good read, that was captivating enough to be a quick read. I would recommend it if you are merely looking for a good fantasy book.
    • 3/5
      The book kind of threw me in the beginning with a prologue in third person, and then the first chapter in first person. I almost wished it was done the other way around, then maybe it wouldn't have jarred me so much. You're dropped into the story without understanding what is going on until later in the story which left me confused for a while. The beginning is a bit weak to be honest. For example: there was a page where the main character complained he was hungry as he had not eaten since the night before, then later the same page the same character has to fight to keep from throwing up his dinner?? Then the author repeats information a bit too much. Okay I get he's a minor noble, I get that a lot of people at the court don't like him. (And yet the King favors the main character.) It keeps mentioning a pending marriage he's having. Maybe it's because I have an Advance Reading Copy, but the beginning of the book felt like it needed tiding up.Somewhere along the way though, the writing got better, tighter, and it just flowed better. And it became a pretty interesting story. It's nice to see a character get a magical gift and then have some serious consequences to using it. A secondary character, Bolt, though really steals the show when he gets involved.Then there's the ending. It felt too fast and ends were tied up too quickly. It felt like there was all this build up to a climax, and then the climax wasn't that substantial. And there's a scene at the end that made me go, "Huh? How is/was that possible?"So great middle, eh beginning and ending.
    • 5/5
      I don't normally read fantasy books, but I am glad I was able to read this one. Is is set in a place that is surrounded by "The Darkwater." Just seeing that name gave me shivers. It is definitely an attention getter and to find out that it consists of a mysterious evil source had me hooked on the book. Willet Dura is the chief detective who is loyal and very caring. He is a very likeable person and easily befriends those who are widows, children that have become orphans and yes even prostitutes. As Willet receives a "gift" that allows him to read minds and experience their feelings, his life is turned upside down. I don't think I would want to know what other people were thinking, do you? This book is filled with mystery, adventure , unsavory characters , murder , kidnapping and even a sword fight. Willet will have his hands full trying to stay one step ahead of those who want his "gift." Can he continue to be loyal or will something tempt him to falter? The book is well written and holds your attention as you travel to a time where it becomes hard to trust anyone in a kingdom where staying alive could mean fighting and outwitting the enemy. The story is fast paced and has a great cast of characters. Get ready for a great book that is filled with Knights, lords and people who will fight for what is right and just. I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      So it's been a while since I've read a high fantasy, and I still find myself not terrifically sold on them. Well, some of them. Tolkien is still a master. But other times I find myself not as immersed in the world, nor as able to identify (or care about) the main character. This is just my guess, but sometimes it seems that so much effort goes into explaining the new world, how it works, and what makes it unique, that there doesn't seem to be the same amount of time in delving into the character and bringing them to life in quite the same way that we see in other novels. Willet Dura, who is an interesting character, basically tells us how he is and while the novel does bear this out, I didn't find myself too terribly concerned if he lived or died. I will say that the concept of Gifts--those with extraordinary abilities that could be passed along--is quite interesting and I enjoyed it. There was a ton of intrigue and twists and turns in the book, but not enough to really captivate me. Overall, definitely a decent book, but not on my list of favorites this year.
    • 3/5
      it's not _bad_ but it's overfull, and too much is happening to the main character. He's presented as already very well connected, king, thieves, library. And then he quickly gets even MORE super powers. Everyone thinks the best of him, except the people who are either afraid or classist jerks. It comes together to make him terribly flat. The world is pretty interesting, but I feel like the other characters are all there to support him entirely (the librarian, the guard) or are not fleshed out enough to have their own motives (the entire rest of the Vigil, the king.)I would read something else by the author in the future, but it feels like he wants to jam all his good ideas in at once in case he doesn't get a chance later.
    • 4/5
      Disclosure: I received a copy of this book via the LT Early Reviewers program.I signed up for this book because it sounded like a historical mystery, which I really like. When I got the book, though, I discovered that it was published by a traditional Christian publishing house. That...was not what I expected.Happily, aside from a page of musings about "Aer" dying for this alternate world's sins late in the book, this book is blessedly (see what I did there) free of proselytizing. If I hadn't seen the publisher's note, I would have never known that this fairly straight-up magic and swords type-fiction was religious at all.Super short synopsis: The King's sheriff (of sorts) ends up with a magical gift that lets him read people's souls; which, of course, all sorts of people would like to control or cancel out. --The idea of some people having magical talents (distributed unfairly by a higher power) created some great drama between haves and have-nots, and I wish the author had developed that idea a bit more. There are a fair number of twists and turns, and you're never really sure who the bad guy is until the very end. A satisfying mystery/fantasy world.{spoiler}I had a lot of trouble getting into the book at first, because there are so many characters, I had to backtrack a lot to figure out who was who. It's also a bit of a dude-fest, and the romantic lead for the main character is just Hawt Royal Chick, with not much back story or character development. Justice triumphs, and the nice guy wins, but also loses pretty much everything he values. I just didn't get into the character or world enough to seek out the next in this series, but a good solid bit of escapist reading.
    • 4/5
      Willet Dura is given a gift by a dying priest that reveals more than he wants to know about the people around him. He is a caring man with not enough time to learn to use this gift if he is to save his city of Bunard. It starts a little slow, but I was rooting for Willet at the end.
    • 2/5
      After quite enjoying the prequel novella 'By Divine Right' I decided to jump in and read the full length novel. It should be stated in advance that I am not a huge fantasy buff. I tend to prefer outright historical fiction, or what I call 'historic' fantasy- that which is similar to historical fiction but is set in a fictional country, and does not generally include fantasy elements, like magic or dragons or the like.
      Not that I have any fundamental problem with the above (I was a big Narnia fan in my younger years), it’s just that most High Fantasy does not interest me that much-although I have a few such titles on this year's TBR pile.

      The Shock of Night was promising at first, with the hero Willet (now Lord Dura), who is a bit of a social misfit, getting a new mystery to solve, and before long becomes inextricably linked with an ancient and secretive religious organization known as The Vigil.
      As said above, the story had lots of elements that made it promising- with plenty of intrigue and mystery, not knowing who is good, or who is an enemy or friend. I think, however, the whole thing might have been a little too ambitious- too many characters, with conflicting motives, plots, subplots and disparate threads that were kind of hard to keep up with.

      I almost think that the initial mystery plot-line just got lost in the complexity of the thing before long, and I know I found myself getting lost pretty early on. In fact, I almost did not finish the book, as I was getting rather frustrated, I think it was with things just becoming so long and drawn out, complicated and perhaps a bit repetitive or pointless. I'm still not entirely certain who killed the old chap at the beginning or exactly why.
      The whole story could have been resolved a lot more quickly, I felt, had Willet followed up leads sooner, or had there not been yet another kidnap attempt, murder etc. …..Perhaps there was just too much intense action and moral angst that could leave the reader baffled or exhausted at the expense of character development or world-building.

      As far as characterization was concerned, I think I rather found myself going off the hero Willet. He’s meant to be dark, brooding, and full of self-doubt and inner turmoil, and yes, that was there to some extent- but if it makes sense, he also seemed a little too perfect. He’s meant to be a something of badass/tough guy ex-warrior who relies on his wits- but I think his cynicism, sarcasm and wise-cracking could be rather grating, and perhaps he came across as too much of a smart Alec. For a guy who’s meant to be nearly 30, he could have been a little more mature.
      His outlook and attitude seemed more like that of a stroppy teen or twentysomething who was way too full of themselves. I got the impression that this may have been the result of trying to cast him as a macho action hero.

      Even though there were a lot of original details, some also did not ring true and seemed to give away the background of the author too much. Personally, chain mail and rapiers together just don’t seem to work for me- and seriously, bows of any kind could be a deadly weapon- a skilled archer would not have had to shoot someone ten times to kill them.
      Also, the notion that the nobles were basically just a bunch of stupid, lazy fops who were scared of any real fighting, and happy to leave it to the rank and file- seemed far too much like an American misinterpretation of Medieval society for my liking. More often than not, it was the nobles and their retainers who were the warrior elite, trained for war.

      I don’t know whether I would read the next one. Possibly, to find out how things pan out. I would say the author’s writing style has much improves since his first novel, A Cast of Stones was released a few years ago, but perhaps further development will come.

      I received an e-Galley of this book free from the publisher via Netgalley for the purposes of review. I was not required to write a positive one, and all opinions expressed are my own.
    • 5/5
      Well-written and engaging, The Shock of Night begins one of my new favorite fantasy series! I look forward to the rest of the series! It presents a different sort of fantasy world, in which gifts and talents are tangible entities to be given and received and when used correctly, produce a prosperous nation. The reality of darkness lingers, however, and those on the side of the light cannot ignore it. Carr’s character and plot development is purposeful and has great depth. The protagonist (Willet Dura) possesses strength of moral character that is inspiring. The battle between darkness and light, right and wrong, truth and lies are on display and the lines are not blurred. There is a clear delineation between what is born of light and good and what is born of darkness and evil. Note: Although this book is understandable by itself, there was an e-novella published entitled By Divine Right that provides some background information to Willet Dura’s story. I would recommend reading this novella first before reading The Shock of Night.I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review. This review was posted to Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Goodreads, CBD, Deeper Shopping, and Library Thing (if available).
    • 4/5
      I loved Patrick Carr’s first epic trilogy, The Staff And The Sword. It’s humor and unconventional hero won my heart. Oh yes, it was fabulous epic fantasy at its best too. Now comes a new offering, The Shock of Night, book 1 in the Darkwater Saga. Like it or not, it has a lot to live up to. The novel has a lot of the same strengths as The Staff And The Sword: complex characterization and richly detailed sense of time and place. It also seems a much more mature book, both in content and writing style. It gets a recommended rating from me.Willet Dura is the king’s reeve. For those of you unfamiliar with medieval occupations, the term sheriff derived from shire reeve. In our world, a reeve would have been elected by the serfs, but in the Kingdom of Collum, Lord Dura was elevated to the nobility when he performed a crucial act for the welfare of the King Laidir. Dura’s background is full of contradictions. He was destined for the church until compulsory military service put him on a very different path. His military service is termed as heroic, yet he is haunted by failure and the Darkwater from which he escaped. Hated by the nobility, respected by the Watch and friend of urchins and prostitutes, Willet is a man searching for place, identity and peace. A series of murders, a mysterious group of gifted people and the growing presence of evil put Willet on a course of discovery and danger.Patrick Carr has again created an unlikely hero. Willet has the temperament, physical attributes and intellect to be a leader among men. But his experience within the Darkwater has left him scarred emotionally. It may have also affected his reason to the extent he may just be insane. I loved Willet and was always in his corner, but even I had doubts about him. I never questioned his sincerity, loyalty or devotion, but his eccentricities, paranoia, and unaccounted night wanderings create suspicion. Just who is Willet Dura? That is a question that is explored throughout the book and will probably continue in the rest of the series. In addition to Willet, Carr introduces other characters equally complex. Some you will love, others hate and many more that will leave you wondering. The world Carr creates is rich in detail. It is familiar — names, descriptions and culture — but with enough differences to let the reader know this is place not like our own. Its medieval setting is fun, yet the people and science of this world seem far advanced to what our medieval world was like. Willet’s world has a strict class system with few interactions between the levels. The poor quarter of the city is very Dickensian. I also found the religious structure interesting and again, familiar. One more thing, I loved the cover model, even though you have to really look closely to see him!So what are some of the themes? The triune Aer (God) distributes gifts for the welfare of his people, so gifting is something to examine. Yet in Willet’s world, gifts seem to fall to the privileged or elevate those who receive them. One religious sect emphasizes service, but their message is one dimensional and is drowned out by the assertions of the other sects. A heretical group even calls for the abolishment of gifts. The struggle of good and evil is given a twist as Carr looks at how man locks away the darkness in his soul. Another point of examination is Willet’s struggle with the nightmare of wartime experiences. I’m sure there are more things I just didn’t recognize. The Shock of Night is very complex and really deserved a longer reading time than I gave it. Coming in at over 400 pages, it isn’t really all that long, but demanded a lot of attention. Don’t think that this will be a light and easy read. I spent a week on it and still feel like I needed more time to absorb the nuances and details.Recommended.Audience: older teens to adults.Great for book clubs.(Thanks to CSFF Blog Tour and Bethany House for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 5/5
      Willett Dura is a member of the local constabulary while in personal service to the King. He’s compassionate to the poor, loyal in his duties, and out of place in the King’s court.There’s a vault in his mind, a place even he can’t go, linked with his wartime trauma. He’s also a nightwalker, waking in the morning with no memory of leaving his room… but sometimes with bloodstains on his clothes. And always on the night of a murder.Willett has investigated the killings, found some of the culprits, and he’s mostly sure his own hands haven’t done the deeds. He’s learning to live with the uncertainty, and with the discomfort of being made a minor lord, and anticipating his upcoming marriage.An encounter with a dying man changes everything. Burdened with an unexpected – and rare – spiritual gift, Willett’s life is upended. He’s thrust into membership in an unseen group called the Vigil, and expected to trust their half-truths about a danger larger than he can imagine.He didn’t want this gift, and it may cost him everything. But if it’s true that the gift came to him by God’s will, then he may be the Vigil’s best hope of succeeding – even with that vault in his mind.Patrick W. Carr has imagined a richly-textured world and culture, with enough similarities to mediaeval towns and forests to allow readers to connect. These people’s faith resembles Christianity in the sense that there’s a trinity, one member of whom came to earth to bring salvation. Their worship began with a central church organization, which has split into four Divisions, each emphasizing a key point of doctrine.Their spiritual gifts, unlike ours, are limited in number and given by God, to be passed down in the family. If someone dies unexpectedly, their gift will go free, and be directed to a new recipient. Killing a Gifted to steal a gift is a major crime.The Shock of Night is an excellent read. I took a few chapters to be fully immersed, likely acclimatizing to the culture, but I’m happy to say the Darkwater Saga series is starting off every bit as strong as the author’s previous series, The Staff & the Sword. This is a book you can read and re-read, think about and discuss. It has enough meat to satisfy a literature class, while delivering a smoothly-flowing and enjoyable read for people who just want a really good tale.Amid the action and intrigue, one subtle thread I appreciated was the illustration of how long-term mindsets of bitterness or complaining could destroy even the most outwardly-upright individuals. Willett’s surname, Dura, speaks of his strength and endurance. In a world of ease and suffering, he tries to make a difference.I also appreciated the writing itself, and the occasional sparks of humour. Some of my favourite lines:"His face had taken on the stillness men wear when they’ve no choice but to swallow their anger." [p. 47]"The familiar ache of what I’d lost in the last war pulled at my insides like scar tissue covering a wound in my soul." [p. 55]'The part of my brain where I kept my common sense rebelled at the idea. As usual it lost almost immediately." [p. 357]The novel is mostly written in the first person, from Willett’s point of view. Other scenes in third person let readers learn what’s happening when he’s not in the room, and this is integral to the story. I didn’t find it jarring like I usually do.This is a clean fantasy novel with elements of Christian allegory, suitable for believers and non-believers. At around 460 pages, it’s heavy, so an ebook version might be a plus despite the high price. (It’s my review, I can say it: pricing an ebook over $10 offends me, and only books of this high a calibre deserve the $10 price.)Do take advantage of the free ebook novella prequel, By Divine Right (find it at your favourite online bookstore). Even if you don’t like ebooks, grab this one and read it on your computer, tablet or phone. The apps for Kindle, Kobo, Nook etc are all free. The prequel isn’t required reading for the series, but it gives helpful background, lets you get to know Willett, and it’s a good story in its own right.Award-winning author Patrick W. Carr’s characters and worlds are nuanced and satisfying, and I highly recommend The Shock of Night and his first series, The Staff & the Sword. For more about the author and his books, visit patrickwcarr.com.[Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.]
    • 2/5
      I enjoyed Patrick Carr’s new novel “Shock of Night” which is book #1 in a new series called The Darkwater Saga. But I didn’t love it. There is no specific reason, no character I hated or plot twist I disliked. It just didn’t have any flavor, I was never transported to the world he created, and I felt no real affinity for any of the characters. It was an interesting concept, that was written without much passion. So my overwhelming feeling by the end was, Meh.