DNF Review: Dark Days

Dark Days
Author:  Kate Ormand

Publication Date:  June 3rd 2014         
Publisher: Sky Pony Press 
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~





 

 

 

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The future world has been divided into sectors--each the same as the other. Surrounded by thick steel fences, there is no way in and no way out. Yet a cyborg army penetrates each sector, picking off its citizens one by one, until no one is left. Behind the sectors' thick walls, the citizens wait to die. Few will be chosen to survive what's coming; the rest will be left behind to suffer. A new world has been created, and its rulers are incredibly selective on who will become a citizen. They want only those with important roles in society to help create a more perfect future.

Sixteen-year-old Sia lives in one of the sectors as part of a family that is far too ordinary to be picked to live. According to the digital clock that towers high above her sector, she has only fifteen days to live. Sia has seen the reports and knows a horrific death is in store for her, but she is determined to make the most of her final days. Sia refuses to mourn her short life, instead promising herself that she'll stay strong, despite being suffocated by her depressed mother and her frightened best friend. Just when Sia feels more alone than ever, she meets Mace, a mysterious boy. There is something that draws Sia to him, despite his dangerousness, and together, they join a group of rebels and embark on an epic journey to destroy the new world and its machines, and to put an end to the slaughter of innocent people.

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You know those books that you just want to shake your head at? Congratulations Dark Days, you're it. Keep in mind I have DNF'D it at 50%, so all this ranting is for the first half. Doesn't mean it doesn't get better. Imagine the ranting for the other 50%.

There were a few factors why I decided to call it quits, boredom being one of them. However, the main reason being the writing. It doesn't flow well, sorry, it doesn't. It's kind of over explanatory where it's not necessary and where it is needed in the world-building, or you know, any information on how and why the world was split into factors, with metal walls holding them in like a pen, there was none. We get a little information, but it sparse, and you still don't really get an explanation for it (up to 50% anyway- and let's be honest, it shouldn't have taken that long for world-building information, especially since it's important to the story for you to actually understand the world before you can just go along with it). It's supposed to be basically a roboapocalypse to wipe out the "non chosen" people in the sector, while the "chosen" who are deemed "worthy" of Salvation move to another place that is safe, all have jobs and work to do, no famine, blah blah. What is the point of it? Why are they wiping out generations of people? It's genocide. At 50% you should have some idea and explanation by now.

Then it comes to the character interactions and there's something about them that's...off. You know? They don't seem realistic, even in the predicament that they're in. There's this stiffness and awkwardness to them that you wouldn't know they were related (when it comes to the Sia's parents.) I'll move onto the romance...Okay,  it's not exactly romance to where I left it but it's an instant attraction, and the love interest was just...weird too. He's- what Sia thought at the time, the head of a group of rebellions (he's not the leader, and I'm not going to spoil who actually is, but it's pretty obvious and predictable). But their first encounter he offers to walk the MC home (which, come on, is a little creepy when you've just met somebody), but he gives her a note saying "I saw something special in you" or something along the lines of that. I mean, really? Ugh.

While it did get a little more interesting it was still boring me.

The second reason is the stupidity of the main character Sia, okay, she doesn't instantly trust the love interest (good for her) but she goes out with him alone, keeps going out to the end of the perimeter to visit this girl and bring her stuff, and in the beginning she was just resigned to dying. The other thing about her, when -spoiler alert-  her mother kills herself, she literally has a little passing of mourning then goes through her day with her normal routine and goes to see the guy, like nothing had happened. Really?

For such an interesting premise, it turned out to be a fifteen day countdown of trivial trill of tasks of living each day. Which, is boring. In any genre. Nevermind in something that's supposed to be as exciting as the impending appocolypse.