Review of “Where Dark Things Grow” by Andrew Clark

Score: 95+/100 (9.5+ out of 10)

Where Dark Things Grow, an outstanding fantasy novel by Andrew Clark, really got us thinking!

Back in 2022, when we reviewed our top fiction book of 2022 (Angels of Resistance by David Mammina), we posed a simple yet poignant question: Why are compelling rescue tales so rare these days? Why are modern authors so resistant to the timeless theme of saving others from peril and danger? Why do modern writers find it so hard to go that route?

It almost seems like modern authors want all of their characters to be strong, self-sufficient, independent badasses who don't need no man and don't need no help. But how dull, boring, and—dare we say—unrealistic is that?

Human beings are social beings who work best with EACH OTHER. We're supposed to work together. We're supposed to help each other. We're not supposed to be hermits locked away in some cave. So, why not have characters who support each other and help one another? Why not have heroes who save other people? What's wrong with that?

The rescue quest has stood the test of time, resonating with readers for generations. After all, it’s the very drive that inspires so many to serve in police forces, fire departments, and hospitals around the world—the innate human instinct to help and save others.

Where Dark Things Grow by Andrew Clark brilliantly captures the thrilling and captivating feelings of action & adventure that seem to be missing from fiction these days. This includes the classic rescue quest we've been talking so much about.

The book, which takes place around North Carolina in the early 20th century, follows a kind of fellowship made up of young people. This fellowship is determined to rescue or avenge their kidnapped and missing loved ones.

The fellowship includes Leo (the solid lead protagonist), Lilyfax (a spunky, cute, and adventurous young woman), Ezra (a mysterious and strange character who is obsessed with pursuing truth in the chaotic world around him), and Mattis (a Black boy living in a time when Blacks were still heavily segregated; he is incredibly eager to help and is motivated to rescue Vey, a missing girl from the same mountain region as him).

All of these characters shine in their own way. Leo, while somewhat generic as a young male protagonist, is still inspiring in that he gradually comes into his own, maturing before our eyes. Leo begins this book as a bit of a door mat or peon. He comes from a family that has suffered immensely with the loss of Leo's brother, Jacob, to an infection. His father seems to take out his personal angst on Leo, constantly demanding more and more from Leo and saying he'll “make a man” of him. Leo is forced to take up more and more responsibility, especially as his younger sister, whom he nicknamed “Goldfish,” becomes severely ill.

Compounding this, Leo and his community are bombarded with reports of missing girls and women. An urban legend arises of a man with a blue flame (the “Blue Man”) who lures girls and women into the mountains where they go missing. Leo is personally haunted with visions and dreams of this sort, including people he knows in the community being victims of this, primarily Lilyfax, Goldfish, and Camille.

We, the reader, already know that Leo isn't just going crazy and being paranoid. The book makes a smart to enough without spoiling too much of the mystery.

On that note, let's get this out of the way: this book has one of the best, most captivating and compelling opening chapters we've ever read!

To sum it up, a bunch of cult lunatics feed a collection of captured female hostages to some hungry, monstrous trees! It's disturbing, yet—like a scene from a horror movie—you can't quite look away. Furthermore, it sets the stakes for the rest of the book. It establishes that these cult lunatics and their trees are TERRIBLE beings who need to be stopped, and innocent people (like these girls) are genuinely in danger—at risk of suffering such a awful fate.

The narrative of the book does a good job at making us care about the fates of these potential victims, whom Leo has premonitions about. Camille is warm and kind to Leo, even dancing with him.

Goldfish is easily and instantly compelling as Leo's cute, loving little sister who depends on him.

However, the standout among all of these characters is undeniably Lilifax. There's just something about Lilifax that makes her extra compelling. Is it just that she's cute and adorable? Maybe. Well, what makes her cute and adorable? Her often-mentioned dimple is one place to start.

She also has a great blend of girlish innocence and womanly strength and independence that come across in her dialogue and actions. There are times when she talks like a girl, but other times when she gives solid and good advice to the other characters like a woman of experience.

There is also constant foreshadowing that something bad will happen to her (with Leo constantly having visions of her being taken by the monster trees), which makes us feel like protecting her and keeping her safe the same as Leo.

WARNING: HEAVIER SPOILERS AHEAD

As the story progresses and we meet more people (like Ezra and Mattis) who have been affected by the disappearances, we gradually get to the bottom of it.

There are several major villains we need to talk about.

First and foremost, there's Mr. Wake, the disgusting leader of the aforementioned “cult.”

Under Wake, the cult abducts women and girls—mostly from poorer background. They freeze these unfortunate victims into place and displays them on trees “like art” and attempt to sell and traffic them to the highest bidder like objects. The people involved in this trafficking include sheriffs, mayors, judges, and senators.

There's probably a bit of social commentary about real-life human trafficking here.

There's also “Goat,” a large enforcer who works for Wake and seems to help him procure these women and girls.

We are also introduced to some gray characters who may be working with or against Wake or our heroes including the Alchemist and Maude. These two have a surprisingly large role the resolution of this story.

Now, there's a whole other aspect of this book that, while compelling and interesting, was also a bit confusing and distracting. Let's talk about the concept of the Wulvers.

The Wulvers are a somewhat-major yet somewhat-superfluous story element in this book that are directly inspired by Appalachian folklore. They are mythical creatures that seem to have crossed over from the "old country" to the mountains of North Carolina. The widow in the story describes two types of Wulvers: one is known as the "Silver Wulver," a creature so bright that one can hardly bear to look at it directly, and the other is the "Shadow Wulver," which appears as a ripple of shadows wrapped in darkness.

These Wulvers help to explain Leo's visions and premonitions. The Shadow Wulver, in particular, haunts, terrorizes, and even mocks Leo throughout the book, following him like a shadow. It often mimics the appearance of his loved ones, primarily Jacob. Apparently, it usually takes the appearance of those who have died, which causes Leo a lot of alarm when it tries to mimic Goldfish. It actually reminded us of the Smoke Monster from Lost in the way it operates.

It is a terrifying creature with large teeth and a sinister smile like a Cheshire cat. Leo begins to treat the Wulver like a double-edged sword, considering if it might be used against the evil people abducting people. It should be noted that Leo isn't the only one who is inflicted by the Wulvers. Mattis also admits to encountering and experiencing them.

The Ku Klux Klan seems to play a part in this book, probably serving as the inspiration behind Wake's unsettling following. It also helps us to understand the time and the place of the novel.

That's right, this book takes place in America in the 20th century. It's actually a bit strange in that sense because more than 90% of this book seems like some supernatural fantasy that takes place on some alien world.

There's also some strange side-plot about how terrible Declan and Hank are, assaulting Lilifax at some point. Like the whole American and KKK thing, it seemed a bit out of place with the rest of the book.

There's also some kind of tacked-on PSA message that “Only women can set other women free”--embodied in the character of Maude. Perhaps this was some sort of social commentary or call for women to vote or something?

There's also some kind of commentary on organized religion. It's kinda strange that characters reference Jesus by name (such as when Leo tries to act like an exorcist or something) because it doesn't seem to fit the rest of the book. Don't get us wrong, we love Jesus, but would you cut and paste him into the Lord of the Rings or Hunger Games?

We do get one interesting quote on this topic: “...churches are for the sinners. But sometimes the faithful forget that. Look down their noses at folks that have got a past.”

So, there were a few funky things about this book that seemed superfluous and distracting: organized religion, the “women set women free” message, the KKK and racism, the Declan-Hank-Lilifax incident, and the 20th century American/North Carolina/Appalachia stuff.

Really, this is a story that could've just as easily happened without all those things tacked on.

However, we digress.

This is an excellent book, one of the best of the ongoing contest!

Check it out on Amazon!