Official Review: Darkness Falling by P D MacDonald

[sarahmarlowe randomeducator]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Darkness Falling" by P D MacDonald.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Rocky crags, dreary skies, and barren land set the scene for Darkness Falling by P.D. MacDonald. This captivating piece of historical fiction is set in Ireland during the potato famine of the 1840s. If historical fiction and starvation sound boring to you, please consider giving this remarkable book another glance. I couldn’t put it down; I was captured from the very first page, reading about a man clinging fiercely to a cliff face and trying to get food to feed his starving family. The plot was never dull, keeping me curious as to what might happen next. Additionally, the characters were well developed with rounded personalities and qualities that evoked emotional responses. And, complementing the plot and characters, MacDonald describes the setting and events with remarkable detail. Yep. I liked it.

One of the principal characters, Michael McGuinness, is a father and husband sharecropper struggling to take care of his wife and two sons after two years of potato crop failures. Potato blight, coupled with unusually heavy rainy seasons, has all but destroyed the primary source of food and income not just for Michael, but for most farmers in Ireland. His sister, Mary, is a farmer’s wife put in an even more desperate situation when her husband dies of a fever that is also seemingly attacking the poorest and most vulnerable of families. Will Michael and Mary survive the famine? Will they survive the political uncertainty of the British who refuse to allow rations? What about the actions of the property owners who remove tenant farmers from the land they live on? Tempers not only flare but boil over, and farmers and soldiers clash, bringing about backlash on both sides. Some families pull together, and some fall apart like the potatoes pulled rotting from the ground.

This book is loosely based on historical accounts of two individuals who lived during the famine. I didn’t realize that until I reached the end of the book, and, looking back at the novel, I can see that the author did an excellent job of weaving facts throughout the plot. He used enough of the original stories to begin a foundation, but the narrative itself builds and stands on its own.

I give this book 3 out of 4 stars. If it weren’t for errors, this would be a 4-star book without hesitation. Errors included not only capitalization and punctuation mistakes but also typos where letters were left out of words. Prospective readers should know this book contains gory violence, profanity, and a rape scene. Having said that, allow me to qualify my statement by adding that I found none of the descriptions or uses of profanity to be gratuitous. I feel that MacDonald was very balanced in his inclusion of actions and words.

I recommend this book to readers with an interest in Irish history or historical fiction in general. Beyond that, however, I would also recommend this book to any adult readers who are looking for a riveting read complete with fascinating characters, an intriguing plot, and plenty of action. Because of adult themes, younger readers may want to wait to read Darkness Falling, but put it on a list for later!

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Darkness Falling
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[kandscreeley]

I've recently read a book set in Ireland myself. It was a bit later in time, though. This isn't something I gravitate towards, but it still sounds enjoyable. I'll add this to my to read list.

[Cecilia_L]

Historical fiction isn't my favorite genre, but I appreciate your interesting review.

[Marsnikk]

Historical fiction is growing on me. This is intriguing thank you!

[Sheila_Jay]

An insightful review; however, I think I will have to pass this one since historical fiction is not my cup of tea. Thanks for the review though!

[Valar]

I always hesitate to choose historical fiction, but your review gives me a very good impression of this book. Now, I want to read this book to see what happened to Michael and Mary.

[MustaHarleen]

It sounds like a well-researched piece. Thank you for a wonderful review. I loved the review's in-depth.

[sarahmarlowe randomeducator]

It sounds like a well-researched piece. Thank you for a wonderful review. I loved the review's in-depth.

It is, indeed, well researched. Thank you for your comment!

[sarahmarlowe randomeducator]

I've recently read a book set in Ireland myself. It was a bit later in time, though. This isn't something I gravitate towards, but it still sounds enjoyable. I'll add this to my to read list.

I learned so much from this book, and I'm glad I read it.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment!

[sarahmarlowe randomeducator]

Historical fiction isn't my favorite genre, but I appreciate your interesting review.

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment!

[sarahmarlowe randomeducator]

Historical fiction is growing on me. This is intriguing thank you!

That's interesting because it has had to grow on me, as well. I have learned a lot of history from well-researched novels like this one. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment!

[sarahmarlowe randomeducator]

An insightful review; however, I think I will have to pass this one since historical fiction is not my cup of tea. Thanks for the review though!

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I appreciate your kind words.

[sarahmarlowe randomeducator]

I always hesitate to choose historical fiction, but your review gives me a very good impression of this book. Now, I want to read this book to see what happened to Michael and Mary.

Thank you for your kind words. I think you will like this read. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment!

[Erin Painter Baker]

This sounds like a really interesting book. I love it when authors are able to weave real-life stories and accounts into a solid fictional narrative.

[Fairyland1010]

This book sounds like it might be interesting and I am going to add it to my list to read. Thank you for the recommendation!