Official Review: The Dark Genesis of Daniel James

[L_Therese]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Dark Genesis of Daniel James" by Kevin Riley.]

Daniel James’ life changes unexpectedly when mysterious demons enter his home. Although he is able to fight them off (via means he does not understand), Daniel’s mother, his only known family member, is killed in the fracas. Daniel is taken to a secret location where he learns about the power that defeated the demons in his home. Meanwhile, he builds new friendships, confronts new rivals, and explores a budding romance.

For the most part, this book seems like Harry Potter met Percy Jackson and the Olympians and the result took a shine to demon-fighting. There are certainly coming-of-age elements in Daniel’s adventure. He must learn to evaluate risk, make decisions, and learn to protect not only himself but also his new friends. This is a story of a boy trying to master a powerful ability he doesn’t understand while turning into a man. The author uses Daniel’s abilities to accentuate his emotional journey into maturity.

At the same time, though, the quality of writing is inferior even for a book aimed at young adults. It reads as if it is the author’s first novel: lacking in refinement and fluidity. The narrative is sometimes distracted, overly prosaic, or hasty, especially as Daniel encounters new revelations and faces new struggles. The author is driven by his plot devices and the inter-character relationships, but that leaves the book sometimes unable to match character development with the pace of events.

I could envision this book as the beginning of a short series. Daniel is coming into his powers, and the book leaves us with only a temporary ending. There are still many loose ends and new questions posed. This also bodes well. With the experience of one book already written, the quality of writing is likely to improve. Additionally, the added interactions with the various characters should help develop them more fully and consistently.

Because of this potential, my opinion is that the book’s faults can be overcome with series development and probably a re-write in the future as the author’s skill also develops. As such, I would give this book 2.5 stars out of 4, if I had the option. I don’t, so the official record will show 3 out of 4. Please note my caveat: this book would be enjoyable for a young adult reader audience. Adults, there are better options available.

***
Buy "The Dark Genesis of Daniel James" on Amazon