The perfect dark and spooky book set in the perfect time period for it! What person didn’t at one time or another fear the dark? The dark is uncertain. The dark is unknown. The dark makes the perfect villain. The Dark Times of Nimble Notthingham reminds me of one of my favorite Dr. Who episodes. I love how the author took something so common, a shadow, and wove a story with unexpected twists that left me looking over my shoulder as I walked home in the dark. I look forward to reading Nim’s story again while I wait for more books from Ryan James Black.

This book was listed as perfect for fans of Lockwood and Co. I requested and received this copy from NetGalley in exchange for feedback and a review.

This book was captivating in so many ways. The characters introduced were charming and had me on the edge of my seat. Through the story the author created a world you could really immerse yourself in. I saved the last few pages as long as I could as I didn’t want the story to end. I hope to see the author continue with these characters. I will definitely be grabbing a physical copy once this book releases!

What worked:
Nimble Nottingham has been alone for as long as he can remember. Even when surrounded by other kids at the orphanage, he’d rather perch on the roof by himself than be teased and bullied. Now, he only cares for himself and his partner Winnie, a scraggly, one-eyed dog he found. Gangs of other homeless kids don’t want him, and that suits him just fine. He’s “not very good at people”, although he tolerates a tag-along kid named Mouse. Nim doesn’t want help from anyone, but he slowly learns that he doesn’t need to live that way. However, it also means there are more lives for him to worry about. Nim’s character narrates his first-person account of the incredible events.
The author is a master of description, and readers are immersed in a creepy 1940s London. The countdown to October 31 is a fortunate coincidence. The book opens with Nim preparing to enter the “gloom at Gravenhurst Manor”. “… darkness waited… Even moonlight knew better than to linger.” Hidden doors pop up in different buildings, and Nim knows hidden doors “always-always- led to treasure.” He unlocks a secret safe and the “reek whooshed out”, and he finds a “greasy, flickering black candle”. Nim’s first descriptions of the shadow monster “splatting like wet meat” are like “a lump of liquefying tar… a bubbling inky puddle”. Young readers will be unnerved as it lurks in the darkness, waiting to pounce on its next victim.
Some books have satisfying resolutions, while others don’t fully resolve all of the issues. This book teases readers, as Nim is ready to stop the shadow monster, only to have something unexpected happen to keep the threat going. The problem isn’t solved even after the creature is captured. Then, a conflict arises when characters disagree over what should be done with the shadow monster. Pieces of information are slowly shared, and Nim is frustratingly angry when he realizes he’s not getting the whole picture. However, his haste to stop the creature blinds him to the full truth when he should have his eyes wide open.
What didn’t work as well:
The shadow monster’s demise is predictable, as Nim immediately realizes its sensitivity to light. However, the details of its defeat aren’t known until the end, when the author builds to an inevitable showdown.
The final verdict:
Young readers enjoy scary stories, so they should love this book. The author’s skillful ability to evoke emotions and mental images will captivate all readers, and I highly recommend you give this book a shot!

I had a fun time reading The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham by Ryan James Black. This book had a wonderful plot and I definitely recommend reading this book.

This spooky historical fiction fantasy is a unique story with the traditional horror movie trope of explaining the spooky at the end, but inexplicably making things scarier as opposed to less scary. Love it!

Gosh I really LOVE middle grade books! This one was absolutely fantastic! I was charmed from the beginning by this group of kids and was on the edge of my seat throughout their adventure.

This was such a fun read with fantastic writing, lovable characters, and a thrill ride adventure with a monster on the loose! I strongly recommend this one to all readers of fantasy, horror, and mystery.