Review of A wildflower in the Dark

[Merits Anih]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A wildflower in the Dark" by Michael E Kozak.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Gretan Hutchen (Gret), born in the year 2160, is a survivor of the War of the Century, also known as the War of the Apocalypse. He was abandoned by his birth mother, died twice when he was born and was revived. He was diagnosed with minor epilepsy and possible autism. Later, he was adopted by a family that had recently lost two sons in the 2158 war. One day, when he was 10, his adopted mother went to work and never came back. She was later found dead, and the cause of death was asphyxiation. Her death affected his adopted father a lot, leading him to make a decision that left Gret with his grandmother. On January 3, 2192, his grandmother died of stage three lung cancer, leaving him yet again as the last man standing in his life.

Meanwhile, Gret has been having a series of dreams, all of which seem so real. After his grandmother's death, he discovered something about his adopted family—a secret that has been passed down for generations. Then he found out that he could see the dead. He had not been told or prepared about this, so he had to find out and learn everything by himself. In the middle of all that, his attention is caught by a particular dead young woman who seems to be in danger. Will he be able to help her? Get a copy of A Wildflower in the Dark by Michael E. Kozak to find out.

What a pleasant surprise this book turned out to be! I went into it expecting a frightening horror story but found myself engrossed in a thrilling tale of suspense instead. The plot kept me guessing right up until the climactic finale—just the kind of page-turner I love. But more than the storyline itself, I was impressed by the author's skill at characterization. Both major and minor characters were crafted with care, evolving realistically over the course of the novel. Claire, in particular, won me over despite her occasional mean streak. Her complexity made her feel like a real person, and I couldn't help caring deeply about her by the end.

Another fascinating aspect of this book is the author's inclusion of his own dreams, transformed into nightmarish sequences for the protagonist, Gret. These vivid dreams are prefaced by poems that act as the perfect prelude, setting the scene for what's to come. I was enthralled by how seamlessly the author wove his real-life dreams into the larger narrative, using poetic verse as a bridge between reality and subconscious imagination. The poems themselves are a treasure; they convey so much emotion and meaning beyond just the words on the page. I've always loved poetry for its ability to communicate on multiple levels, and this book demonstrates that power beautifully.

Overall, this book showcases the author's talent for suspenseful plotting and excellent character development. I'm so glad I decided to give it a chance instead of writing it off as just another scary story. It proved to be a satisfying and thought-provoking reading experience that will stick with me for a long time. I would recommend this book to those who love reading mystery books. I did not dislike anything about it, and it was well-edited, which is why I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

******
A wildflower in the Dark
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[NetMassimo]

A mystery, a science fiction setting, and probably more in a mix of genres that includes dream sequences to create what seems like a unique result. Thank you for your great review!

[Shinshinshin]

Based on the review, "A Wildflower in the Dark" by Michael E. Kozak appears to be a pleasant surprise and a well-crafted book. The reviewer was initially expecting a frightening horror story but was instead immersed in a thrilling tale of suspense. The plot kept them engaged and the author's skill at characterization impressed them, with well-developed characters that felt realistic. The inclusion of the author's own dreams transformed into nightmarish sequences added depth to the narrative. The poems interspersed throughout the book were praised for their emotional impact. Overall, the reviewer highly recommends this book for mystery lovers, rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

[Pranav Dewangan]

The intricate character development, especially Claire's complexity, added a layer of realism that kept me hooked. The incorporation of the author's dreams as nightmarish sequences for Gret was a brilliant touch, and those prelude poems were a gem. It's refreshing to find a suspenseful tale that goes beyond mere scares. Thanks for the recommendation; I'm eagerly anticipating my own adventure into this thought-provoking world.

[JWrites Jwrites]

It's also great that the author included her own nightmares, which she turned into terrifying scenes for Gret, the main character. The critic commends the author for skillfully incorporating these dreams into the story and for using beautiful poetry to evoke strong feelings and establish the mood. They consider the poetry to be the book's high point as they provide the narrative more nuance and significance.

[Azaz Raja]

The review of "A Wildflower in the Dark" by Michael E. Kozak reveals it as a pleasant surprise, transitioning from horror to suspense seamlessly. The plot, characters, and incorporation of the author's dreams into the narrative are praised. The emotional impact of the interspersed poems adds depth. Highly recommended for mystery lovers, it receives a 5-star rating.

[Saliha Hussain]

The review portrays "A Wildflower in the Dark" by Michael E. Kozak as a delightful surprise, deviating from expectations of a frightening horror narrative to offer a captivating tale of suspense. The engaging plot and the author's adept characterization stood out, presenting realistic and well-developed characters. Additionally, the incorporation of the author's dreams into nightmarish sequences added depth to the story, while the emotional impact of the interspersed poems was also commended. Overall, the reviewer enthusiastically rates the book 5 out of 5 stars and recommends it strongly to mystery enthusiasts.

[Leen282]

Mystery and suspense, two great ingredients for a book. Dreams, always an interesting element. Looks like this page-turner may also be just what I would enjoy.

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

Set in unimaginably nightmarish future time, Gretan goes through bad times. This story is both dark and optimistic. The reviewer has hit the nail on the head with its feel and synopsis.

[tarafarah7]

Today's BOTD is a suspenseful novel with elements of mystery and scifi. Filled with realistic characters and an engaging storyline, readers will be pulled in from page one, quickly turning pages to see what happens next. I'm not sure if this is the one for me, but I've added it to my WTR list, just in case. Thanks so much for the helpful review!

[Amarachi Stephanie Ejike]

"A wildflower in the Dark" by Michael E Kozak is an intrigue of secrets, nightmarish dreams and the paranormal and interspersed with poetic treasure. The story of Gretan Hutchen is like a labyrinth that draws you in and keeps you on edge till the end.
Michael E Kozak has crafted a page-turner indeed!

One aspect I can't figure out from this piece is the understanding of a dead lady also being in danger. That sounds so unrealistic.

[Magdalyne chebet]

"A Wildflower in the Dark" follows Gret, a lonely survivor with a tragic past, who uncovers family secrets and navigates haunting dreams. Blending suspense, vivid imagery, and emotional depth, this compelling tale will linger with readers long after finishing. Congrats BOTD!

[Rady Espinoza]

Michael E. Kozak's "A Wildflower in the Dark" seems to be a well-written book and a nice surprise based on the review. Instead of the terrifying horror narrative the reviewer had anticipated, they were engrossed in an exciting suspenseful story. They were drawn in by the plot and impressed by the author's portrayal, which featured realistic and well-developed characters.
Born in 2160, Gretan Hutchen (Gret) is a survivor of the War of the Century, sometimes referred to as the War of the Apocalypse. His birth mother left him alone, and he died twice at birth before being brought back to life. He had been diagnosed with autism and mild epilepsy. He was later taken in by a family that had just lost two sons in the battle of 2158.
Then he discovered that he had the ability to see the dead. He had to study everything on his own since he had not been informed or prepared for this. His focus is drawn to a certain deceased young woman who appears to be in peril amidst all of that.
An additional intriguing feature of this work is the author's use of his own nightmares, which are turned into terrifying scenes for Gret, the main character. The poetry that precede these vivid dreams serve as the ideal prelude, laying the groundwork for the events that follow.

[Bertha Jackson]

Suspenseful mysteries are at the top of my list of good books. I am curious about how Gret learned to handle his newly discovered abilities. Thank you for your informative review.

[Seraphia Bunny Sparks]

This book absolutely sounds like something I'd eagerly grab up. From the futuristic aspect to the mystery and suspense this book checks a lot of boxes for me. I'll definitely be adding this book to my tbr shelf.