Having met and spent time with the author in Puerto Rico, I understand
his numerous references to the beautiful island in Darkness Roams, but then it’s a mystery how an easy-going laid-back
fellow like Nomar can come up with such a dark, demented supernatural
thriller. I enjoy horror but my taste
and comfort level encompass a narrow range of subjects. Ghost Rider had been my only venture into the
realm of demons and the Underworld.
Knight’s protagonist (and oftentimes, antagonist) Oscuro is the King of
Suicides, a demigod, neither evil nor good.
He feeds off the despair of the despondent souls, bent on
self-destruction. Their feelings of
hopelessness and despair call him automatically to their presences. Once the unfortunate soul has succeeded in
their mission, they find themselves in Oscuro’s domain, where he ‘welcomes’
them to an eternity in oblivion, everlasting torture.
However, like the Spirit of Vengeance, Oscuro has a heart and the psky
thing gives him no shortage of grief.
Demigods are not supposed to fall in love with humans and the other
denizens of the realm of immortals, demons and fallen angels, have no issues
challenging him on it. Or just
challenging him for any number of reasons.
Although a great read, some seems aren’t for the weak of heart. Or stomach.
Knight describes in gritty detail Oscuro’s eternal punishment of his
victims. His depictions are graphic and
leave little to the imagination, but Nomar gives Oscuro an acerbic wit that adds
a bit of comic relief. It helps break up
the dark subject matter at times.
Despite the darkness and sometimes morbid action, the pages seemed to
fly by. If you’re a horror fan, you will
enjoy Darkness Roams.
