How can you read that? In defense of dark stories
If you're a fan of dark stories, chances are you've had to defend your tastes to more than one well-meaning individual who just couldn't understand the appeal and was compelled to ask "How can you read/watch that?"
In the wake of this sneaky little judgement disguised as curiosity, the first thought that usually rockets to the surface for me is "mind ya damn business" quickly followed by the strong desire to defend all kinds of artistic expression and a question of my own: "Have you seen the world we live in?" Guillermo del Toro captured this sentiment much more eloquently when he was asked in an interview "what can monsters teach us?" His response was: "Humanity is in the middle of a massive cosmic tantrum...the only thing that can save us is a dialogue with the darker parts of ourselves."
In addition to the deep reflection these stories can spark, there is also a metaphysical reaction that many of us experience. It can feel exhilarating to witness true grit in action, especially these days when so many of us oscillate between feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness. That is not to say that this content can't be triggering and that folks should check in with their boundaries and take care of themselves. But if it feels safe, dark stories offer us a chance to break out of the chronic stress cycle we're all living through and feel something different. Maybe even wake up emotions that have been stagnant for too long. After all, it's more convenient to society and systems of oppression for us to be numb. Anger is powerful. Fear is powerful. They both force us to act.
In Rob J Hayes' new dark fantasy "Demon", which I had the honor of narrating, the protagonist faces unimaginable horrors. But her anger drives her to carve out a path of true grit and vengeance. (I always say spite is one hell of a motivator!) Watching her persist and see hope when everyone around her has given up is profound. If you can stomach body horror, and you want to feel the full spectrum of emotions, I recommend checking out this dark hero's journey that is part of an epic trilogy of trilogies called "The God Eater Saga" . All three "book ones" are out in ebook, paperback, and audiobook. Demon is the darkest of all three and marks the first age in Rob's sweeping saga.
While this may not be your cup of tea, don't write off dark stories completely before you've even give them a chance. As Guillermo says "monsters are the patron saint of outcasts" and we could all use more empathy and a lot more action.
"Demon: Archive of the God Eater Book 1"
Dien Hostain was never meant to lead. She wasn't meant to survive. On wings of vengeance, a Saint shall rise.
A new epic fantasy saga full of angels, demons, heroes, and mystery, from award-winning author Rob J. Hayes. Perfect for fans of Brandon Sanderson, John Gwynne, and Ryan Cahill.
