Praise
Every now and then you come across a book that stays with you after you're done. Well, Dark Bloom is that book for me. From the start, this story had me hooked. It's been a while where a book has grabbed me and kept me on edge.
For anyone who has read a post-apocalyptic/zombie novel, this one is in its own category. And what I mean by that is the story unfolds with a troubled character named Kate. Not to go into too much detail about her (because I don't want to give any spoilers), she has gone through it all. That ultimately makes her very careful in this new cruel world. Shortly after getting to know Kate and her background, she meets Nick. Nick is someone who has been through the ringer himself. Battling an inner demon of his own, Nick and Kate have no option but to trust each other. That comes in time, don't worry.
Going back to why this book is in its own category. The author does a great job focusing the attention not just on the creatures that are trying to rip your face off and eat your insides, but keep the readers engaged with the two MC's Story's. She wants you to know that, yes, zombies are out there, but these two strangers are building a friendship and trusting each other at a time when trust and friendship are at its worst. What they will figure out is that in this ruined new world, trust is something of importance.
Without going into too much detail, the story has a strong message behind it. Survival, trust, and betrayal are at an all-time low. When the world, as you know it is in total chaos, the only thing left to do is survive. You must be guarded, and even with trust so hard to come by, betrayal in inevitable.
Molly Macabre's debut novel hit me by surprise. I was not expecting to feel so connected to the characters. To feel the pain they had endured as though it were my own. I'm sad I finished it, but thankful the author is going to do more with this series. Can't wait to see what she and her great story-telling mind has in store for us next. Highly, and I mean highly, recommend. 5/5
The fact that this is a debut novel is crazy. The writing is exceptional! I’m currently 102 pages in and I don’t want to stop reading (damn you responsibilities).
Dark Bloom is a post-apocalyptic horror with a dash of slow burn romance.
I just love the way the book jumps from present day to the past for both Kate and Nick. It’s so seamlessly done that it gives you a better insight into why they both react the way they do in the situation they are currently in. A lot of the time when this happens it can be quite confusing, but is done perfectly in this book.
What a rollercoaster ride this book is! It will rip your heart out and then shove it back in and patch you up.
“I promise, baby. I’ll shoot you dead.” ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?!
Had the perfect opportunity line up where I had just started this as an audio arc and I had the chance to grab a category for the Indie Ink Awards as well. I was so excited to get into this one.
You may not know this, but I am a huge zombie fan. Since Shaun of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead (Snyder), I’ve been a fan of both the more comedic and the serious iterations. As a TWD Universe stan, I just finished a rewatch and a full watch through of all the spinoffs. So I was definitely ready to go when it came to picking this up. And while I’ve been a part of the reviewing community since 2020, there does seem to be a bit of a distance between zombies and readers—not necessarily in the sense of looking down on the genre, but there’s definitely a disconnect—especially when it comes to novel form. Luckily, the author grips you with compelling characterizations, making the zombies an obstacle in the story, rather than the whole plot.
Now I will say there was some mild apprehension behind starting. Mostly as I am in the plotting/early writing phase of working on my own zombie thriller and I was worried about infecting (see what I did there) my own plot with things I loved from this one. And honestly, I know for a fact I’m not capable of being this concise. The prose are sharp and everything is to the point without appearing rushed in any way. So not only am I far too longwinded to appear like I’m pulling from this one, the author also went and made their own unique twist on the genre to take them a step further. These creatures, these infected, can laugh maniacally, can scheme, and when they turn without injury, they can remain awfully fast.
The author is certainly playing within the tropes I know and love here, which for me made this a compulsive read. Although I will say, woah! zombie novel where they say zombie!! Each scene end is a chapter, whether short or long, and that made for a continuous “one more chapter” pull to every break away. Kate and Nick find each other through unusual means, in rather unusual times, and that makes them connect all the more immediately. They’ve both got loads of baggage to deal with, making them complex and compelling in a relatable way. While this novel touches on the depravity that humanity would sink to after the world’s ending, this is more about the idea of hope. Both characters have already seen the dark side of man, and unfortunately it came for them before the world turned over. Therefore they’ve come into the apocalypse already doing what it takes to carry on—surviving. They both could have given up, could have stopped, but they didn’t, and you know what, they found each other! A person can be a safe place even when the world is not one.
Huge notes of abuse and mental health issues, as well as their coping mechanisms or lackthere of. This is a story about survival, but be warned it does not shy away from the reality that causes these issues. It’s deep and real and engaging, and it will leave you thinking when it’s done. And even though it’s dark, you’ll want even more.