Unlike the incredible, scary and mind-blowing adventures in the dream world of
Darkness Descends, my writing dreams are actually coming true. The day is finally arriving - the official Chapters' launch of
The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends. Yes, I'm a-quiver with anticipation knowing I'll be re-acquainted with so many of
The Twisted Climb readers
and fulfilling my promise that I'd be back with the sequel.
Saturday the 20th is the big day. I'll be heading to the Chapters' store in Brampton, Ontario armed with custom book marks and a come-hither smile. The last time I was there (April 2018), I sold-out all copies of
The Twisted Climb - but I made sure to inform every person who purchased a copy that the sequel,
Darkness Descends, was in the final editing stages. And that it contained even more action and adventure and drama.
The book has been well received and in fact, has multiple 5-star ratings on Amazon as well as three 5-star ratings from the American book review company, Readers' Favorite. Lit Amri wrote: Darkness Descends has a "
very
well thought out premise. The "fantastical
and ominous dream world" and "the
clever plot twists make Darkness Descends an absolute page-turner."
Stephen Fisher agreed: Darkness Descends is "
a cleverly
conceived story. J.C. Kavanagh does
a superb job of creating a vast and puzzling dream world. She really brings this story to life, and I was entertained on all levels. I could not put The
Twisted Climb-Darkness Descends down.
Outstanding job. I
would love to see this grace the silver screen, or possible cable series."
Here's a wee snippet from
The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends.
The canoe began to move sideways in the river as the current
of the Devil’s Door Rapids strengthened. They were drifting down the river instead of across it.
“Paddle hard!” Max shouted. The steam seemed to be
thickening as they paddled against the current. Connor finally matched pace
with Jayden’s stroke as they struggled to travel across. Perspiration glistened
on their foreheads and they redoubled their efforts to manipulate the canoe on
a forward path. The air temperature was rising significantly and the mist
loomed like a low-lying fog. The moon glared down from its peak in the black
sky, its rays sparkling within the fog around them, like mini diamonds. Suddenly,
a chorus of wolf howls wailed in the distance. It was a familiar, chilling
sound.
“It’s getting hotter and I can’t see through the mist,”
hollered Jayden.
“What did you say?” The water was lapping loudly against the
hull of the canoe, drowning Jayden’s voice.
Max leaned forward and his knee bumped into the zippered bag
tied to the yoke. Curious, he unzipped it and peered inside.
“What’s in the bag?” Connor asked.
Max pulled out an unusual pair of goggles, holding them up
like a peace offering to the moon. He gasped in delight when he realized what
he held.
“Oh yeah!” he hooted into the darkness “They’re night vision
goggles!” They were similar to a pair he borrowed regularly from his next door
neighbour.
Max placed them over his eyes and adjusted the head strap.
Immediately, the terrain was transformed into neon green and dark grey and he
could see across the river and into the shadowy base of the squat mountain.
They were heading in the wrong direction, though, and Max barked out new
directions.
“Connor, steer to port!”
“In English,” Connor yelled. “Steer to the left?”
“Yes, left!” replied Max. “Left equals port!”
Max adjusted the goggle lenses to adapt to both the
moonlight and the viscous waves of fog. He could see the current in the water
moving on his right which meant they were travelling in the proper direction –
across and not down the river.
Jayden glanced back in mid-stroke. “What do you see? And
what is that sound?”
The calming rush of river water had slowly been replaced
with a louder and more thunderous crashing sound.
Max moved his head in slow motion to the right, analyzing
the imagery illuminated through the goggles. Internal gauges on the perimeter
of the viewfinder displayed distance and temperatures. Based on the temperature
fluctuations, he detected numerous hot springs sluicing all around them.
Straight ahead, about 60 metres according to the goggles, a sandy shoreline
loomed. But to the right, the river appeared to fall off and the thunderous
cascading sound was louder than ever. The strong current was pulling them
toward it. Max knew what it was: Devil’s
Door Waterfall.
“Stay left! Jayden, give me some paddle power and Connor,
steer hard to port – left!”
Jayden renewed her efforts, bending forward with each
stroke. She couldn’t distinguish river or land through the mist, and the
crashing sound of water made it difficult to hear Max. She leaned forward and
her foot touched something at the bottom of the canoe. It was a zippered bag.
The shadows in the bow prevented her from identifying it and she kicked the bag
into the moonlight. Hoping it contained another pair of goggles, she leaned
forward, eagerly unzipping the bag with one hand. The moon finally evaded cloud
cover and burst into brilliance just as Jayden reached in and touched a smooth,
cool object. Grasping it firmly, she pulled on it but stopped suddenly. Whatever
was in there was alive and squirming. Inhaling sharply and repulsed by the
contact, Jayden released it in disgust. She withdrew her hand and then recoiled
in horror as the bag rippled and undulated in slithering motions. There were no
night-vision goggles in this bag.
“Snakes! SNAKES!”
Jayden bolted backward, falling into the bottom of the
canoe. She rolled to one side in panic and the canoe tipped precariously. Her
left hand still gripped the paddle while her right hand searched for support.
Max grabbed hold of the gunwales, the topside of the canoe.
“Be still or we’ll tip!”
Jayden scrambled back as the moonlight became a spotlight on
the snakes slithering out of the bag. The canoe tipped sideways again as she
pulled herself in a semi-upright position in front of Max. Her paddle was
dragging in the water and the force of the current yanked it out of her hand.
Connor was scrambling with his paddle, bringing it from left
to right in an attempt to stay on course while maintaining balance. But it was
too late.
The first snake lifted its head, poised to attack, and
Jayden lurched to the left. Her sudden movement sent the canoe into capsize
mode and before anyone could react, it overturned. She screamed helplessly as
they were thrown into the hot, churning rapids.
* * *
If you're in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) on Saturday, October 20, come by the Chapters store at
Market Hall, 52 Quarry Edge Drive, Brampton, Ontario L6V 4K2.
J.C. Kavanagh
The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends
(Book 2)
AND
The Twisted Climb,
voted BEST Young Adult Book 2016,
P&E Readers' Poll
Novels for teens, young adults and
adults young at heart
Email: author.j.c.kavanagh@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/J.C.Kavanagh
www.amazon.com/author/jckavanagh
Twitter @JCKavanagh1 (Author J.C.
Kavanagh)
