3 out of 5 stars
I obtained this book via Kindle Unlimited and so only have myself to thank. 😉
Okay, let me start by saying if I gave half star marks, this book would really be a 2 and a half stars and the first book in this trilogy – ‘Crossing into the Mystic’ – would have gotten a three and a half stars. As, basically, I found this second book a little bit of a letdown compared to the first.
Now, before you all start hitting the “unlike” options hear me out. I DID still like ‘Edging through the Darkness’, it just wasn’t as good as I had hoped it would be after the great lead up and ending that happened in the first book.
I could be wrong, but it was as if a great deal of time elapsed between when Ms Koontz wrote ‘Crossing into the Mystic’ and ‘Edging through the Darkness’ and didn’t quite get back into the storyline’s headspace as much as she could have. And I am saying this from experience with my own work. When writing a sequel I need to go back over the story so far, remember how to write like those characters and try and let it seamlessly flow… which is why I got the feeling some time had passed between book one and two as they were similar… but not quite the same story anymore.
The second book sticks to the original foundation themes… but seems to go off on a different tangent as to how the characters worked, thought about it and reacted. It was still a good read, and I read it in like 4 days so that shows I enjoyed it, but it just wasn’t the same. I wish I could put my finger on where the spark had died… but yeah. Not too sure.
There was still a lot of the supernatural theme happening, but it was as if the book was now more interested in moving away from it being a story about ghosts and helping them and more a teen coming of age tale. Perhaps the inner teen I used to read YA just got bored as I’ve never been a fan of coming of age tales. Growing up is hard enough on its own without books trying to show you how good it should be. 😉
Please don’t get the wrong idea, there is still some great supernatural and spiritual writing within this book and the history shared is obviously well researched by the author – showing a true passion for making the story a good read. But, yeah, just not the same (not as good for me) as the first book.
Would I recommend this book to others?
I would, but only if they had read the first book first. It is a fairly okay continuation of the story and if you were as hooked on the ending of ‘Crossing into the Mystic’ as I was, you will be wanting to see what happens.
The story is a little different than I assumed it would be, based on the first book, but who’s to say I am right? It is just one opinion and I freely admit I could be totally wrong about it all! 😀
I suppose you could read it as a stand-alone story, but it is obviously part of a series and I wouldn’t find reading just this book on its own as logical or fun as reading all three.
Would I buy this book for myself?
Well, I did join up with Kindle Unlimited just to finish reading this trilogy… but am going to be unsubscribing from it shortly as Kindle Unlimited just doesn’t offer me the books I want to read.
Saying that, when I do unsubscribe from Kindle Unlimited, it will mean I lose not only ‘Edging through the Darkness’ but the third book ‘Escaping from the Abyss’ and… to be honest… it won’t be a great loss to me. Nor can I see myself buying them when I can.
They are library level books (I will be reviewing ‘Escaping from the Abyss’ shortly). As in, something fun to borrow from the library to read and enjoy… not something I see myself ever owning as it just doesn’t hold that right spark to keep my attention. Meh, probably my loss, right?
In summary: An okay continuation and second book in ‘The Crossings Trilogy’ but not as good as first book.
Until next time,
Janis.
Janis's Journal 