a terrifying novel based on the Dark Net, the side of the internet which most people don't see or know about.. part fantasy part horror, this story gives us a glimpse into the unknown abyss that is the dark web. very interesting read!

not what i was expecting, but i say that in a good way. unfortunately this book started out really good and fast paced but it fizzled out and just became a chore to read. i see there's promise though. the summary sounded really good and i felt it fell flat.

First things first, disregard that summary - it's so misleading. The titular 'Dark Net' plays an important role but not until the last quarter, and Derek is basically a nonentity, he hardly figures in the story at all! I also had the impression that the other named characters would be actively fighting together from early in the story, given the description of this 'ragtag crew' uniting to fight against evil, but their storylines remain separate for quite some time. 

All that aside, I really enjoyed the first half of the novel. Often when I read horror, it's because I want to read about bad things happening to people and it's fun to see unlikable people get what they deserve - it was quite the opposite here! Hannah, Lela (flawed as she was) and Juniper endeared themselves to me very quickly and I was rooting for them all the way through. I cheered at their successes and winced at the punishment they took; there was certainly a lot of trauma and misery that they endured along the way! 

This wasn't really terrifying, to be honest - I read this at night before going to sleep and it didn't trouble my dreams one bit. It had a pleasantly creepy atmosphere and there were dark and suspenseful moments throughout, but it didn't scare me, which was a bit disappointing. 

However, kudos to the author for throwing some curveballs at us, nothing ever turned out as I expected - I like to think I'm pretty genre savvy, and I get the distinct feeling that Benjamin Percy delighted in setting up the readers to anticipate one outcome and then pulling the rug out from under us. I really appreciated that touch! It's like when you watch a horror movie and a character goes to the sink to wash their face, then looks up into the mirror - you've seen the jump scare a million times and sigh as you wait for the ghost/demon/serial killer or what-have-you to pop up behind their reflection...and it's more of a surprise when nothing happens. I had certain predictions for what would happen to different characters and it was subverted several times, so that made for an engaging reading experience!

I thought 'The Dark Net' was going to be worthy of a 4-star rating, but unfortunately the weak ending changed my mind. This was a genuinely entertaining read for the most part, I just wish there had been more substance to the resolution, which failed to stick the landing. Throughout the novel, the supernatural elements were introduced in a fairly measured and considered manner (yes, even with hellhounds and demonic possession and all), but the climax threw everything at the wall to see what stuck and willfully sacrificed characters and characterization in the process. I WANTED to buy what the author was selling, but it was too ludicrous and unearned for me to take on board, and it left me feeling pretty dissatisfied. 

That said, the epilogue was amazing. I would love to read a sequel that expanded on the whole universe of possibilities introduced there!

Benjamin Percy’s new thriller is an interesting mash of technological thriller and supernatural monster genres that nails the take off but fails to stick the landing.
An urban tale of demons, back alleys and computer hackers it’s an intriguing premise that starts with a strong air of mystery but falters as a more familiar demon hunter story emerges.
Percy makes good use of the urban setting but many of the character’s voices are discernible from the others while the plot struggles to keep up its strong pace.
It’s an interesting idea that falters somewhat in its execution.

The Dark Net is a mixture of tech-fi and horror that reads like a thriller. The premise; an undercurrent of evil existing in the bowels of the internet (the ‘dark net’) controlled by ancient demons who have long plagued mankind through manipulation and corruption has risen to the surface to watch the world burn. Separately these elements work very well, together – not so much. The book reads as if the author had a bunch of cool ideas he wanted to incorporate into a novel but didn’t have the heart to edit out any. Adding to this soupy mix of horror, gore, and the internet is a piece of cutting edge technology which essentially cures blindness, opening new visual and spiritual worlds for the users – the Mirage. This element in itself, coupled with the tech-fi components would’ve laid the foundation for a solid story.

*SPOILER WARNING*

Oddly it was the ending of the book which saved it for me. Lela, the journalist technophobe evolves into this kick-butt character who in the epilogue, along with her niece Hannah, hunts down demons across the globe in human form with the help of the dark net – albeit a lighter shade of darkness used for good. This kind of story has legs for a sequel; more action orientated with a splash of tech-fi.

The Dark Net is an ‘ok’ read which could’ve been much better had it not come across as suffering an identity crisis.

My rating: 3/5 stars.