Review of A Trial of Self Darkness

[Marsha JJ]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Trial of Self Darkness" by Zach Meighan.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Zach Meighan’s A Trial of Self Darkness is a brilliantly dark story that takes you on a trip to the personal hell of a man forced to look back at his misdeeds in life. The main protagonist is Officer Riley, a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections guard. After being introduced to this character, we soon find him with blood on his head at the bottom of a destroyed elevator. Not knowing where he is, he soon faces a journey of personal reckoning. As if in a bad dream, he travels through a series of places where he encounters twisted scenes based on his past.

Riley’s rough childhood led him to abandon his faith at a young age, and he made a few mistakes in his life. Through Riley’s story, the reader is reminded that each action we take in life has repercussions. We impact people in ways we may not fully realize at the time. When forced to look back at our choices, those actions may come back to haunt us.

Meighan is a gifted storyteller with a talent for pulling readers into the narrative. He effectively captured the strange world that the protagonist found himself in. I enjoy books that make you think, and this one accomplished that. The plot is intriguing and engaging. I found myself not wanting to put the book down as I became immersed in each strange situation that Riley encountered. I thought the premise was unique and creative.

I didn’t have any real criticisms of the book. Although I generally prefer uplifting books, this was a worthwhile walk down a scary path.

A Trial of Self Darkness is a short read at only forty-seven pages. It’s packed with drama. The editing was good, with only a few flaws. I rated it 4 out of 4 stars based on its compelling content and creative premise.

I recommend this book to adults who enjoy interesting and immersive stories. The story has some dark aspects, including abuse, profanity, and violence. However, these elements are integral to the story and add to its success. This is a debut novel by the author. Based on his skillful writing, I hope he will continue to entertain readers with his work.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you got to the end of your life and had to watch a replay of your past actions? If you’re intrigued by this idea, you’ll want to consider this unique book.

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A Trial of Self Darkness
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[Junior Gesuka 1]

Short read that is very moving and powerful. Lots of emotions written into this book, with some honest and horrifying descriptions that come with the cruelty that is life! It's sad, but it sends an important message and I recommend reading it!

[Eze Michael]

The author did a good job in the characterization of this book, and I'd love to read this book. I really hope that Riley will be able to pass and survive the journey of personal reckoning. Thanks for your honest review.

[NetMassimo]

This seems like an engaging novel about the choices a person makes though the violence in some parts means that I need to be in the right mood to read it. Thank you for your great review!