Four Darks
by Alex Vogel
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Pub Date Apr 01 2023 | Archive Date Jul 31 2023
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Description
A toxic affair with an older man, a cruel father, a mysteriously missing mother - and a brutal London winter. FOUR DARKS sends sixteen-year-old Jack on a fateful journey exploring obsession, the will to survive, and the desperate wish to belong.
21st December: the darkest day of the year—and Jack's birthday. In an effort to escape his sadistic father, he seeks refuge at Tate Modern and encounters an intriguing stranger. The man feels like the perfect present, a glimmer of hope at just the right time. But as Jack falls for the much older James, a toxic game of courtship and rejection plunges him down a dangerous path.
FOUR DARKS uncompromisingly chronicles the last days of a frigid December leading up to New Year’s Day, which is symbolic in many ways. Narrated in first person by the main protagonist, the story allows the reader to bond with young Jack in a very personal way as he makes his first forays into adulthood at the hands of a less than scrupulous man.
FOUR DARKS is a challenging and heartbreaking story told with compassion, humor, and a touch of sexiness. Through Jack's unadulterated lens, it examines the tribulations, loneliness and isolation he suffers as he tries to come to grips with newfound emotions, while facing desperation, cruelty and fate. The novel delves into weighty topics such as how and why victims of childhood abuse and neglect, although trying to escape their past, can end up straight in the hands of the next abuser. At the same time, Jack's perseverance may leave the reader inspired and with a sense of utter hopefulness.
Before requesting this title, please note the approval preferences below, as well as the following content warnings:
Explicit sexual content
Sexual assault
Psychological & physical abuse
Strong language
Substance abuse
Grief
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
Readers' comments:
The prose throughout is always excellent and at times sublime and literary. Heartachingly beautiful and affective. There were a number to times I thought I might be reading Empress Yanagihara (no finer compliment from me). These sections were so earthshatteringly beautiful and sad that I could not contain hot tears from flowing fiercely and sharply.
-Jaidee/Goodreads Review
An impressive debut novel.
-Neil P./Amazon Review
Absolutely great book. It will stay with me a long time.
-paperman/Amazon Reviews
A well-written and stark look at what can happen to a person who has no one to turn to, and the ways that one move can put you on a quick spiral into the dangerous and unknown.
-Brews.and.Books/Goodreads Review
Punched me in the stomach and hit me right in the heart. […] … heartbreaking and challenging, but Jack's sardonic and sharp wit keeps it from being depressing. The dialogue is sharp and clever, the characters are vivid and credible and the writing is skilled, effortless and beautiful.
-Jay Colson/Goodreads Review
The writing pulled me in so quickly. I stayed up way past my bedtime to read, and considering that I have a small baby and a job, the fact that I've sacrificed hours of precious sleep to read this story I think tells quite a lot about how GOOD the prose is, and how enthralling the narrative.
-Chiara D'Agosto/Goodreads Review
Four Darks is bound to be a divisive debut, but I do hope Vogel finds an audience, as he's clearly a skilled writer able to tackle tough subjects.
-Nick/Goodreads Review
Loved it […] … very straightforward on the one hand, on the other hand it has a metaphorical subtext to it, that I found quite intriguing.
-David Indoff/Goodreads Review
… the writing is very good and it’s for sure an intriguing read that pulls you along. I found it hard to put this down because I just wanted to read on and on, you’re left at end of chapter cliff hangers at times with no other choice but to turn the page.
-James Cooper Goodreads Review
Every character in this book is so real it's almost frightening.
-Teddy Alexandro-Evans/Amazon Reviews
I found myself relating to Jack at every turn of the page. So strange how that happens. I saw so much of myself in him, and in what he does.
-Hardeep/Goodreads Review
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798763322149 |
| PRICE | |
| PAGES | 360 |
Available on NetGalley
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