Author: Jason Brocket
First Published: 2021
Contains spoilers
The Blurb: The first thing of three: the world is lost to me. All that I once knew of the world has gone, slipped away right before my eyes. I could not see it pass from where I sit, but it passed all the same. I recall the world as it was, but only vaguely, only in snippets, faint moments in time. I recall a smell, a flash of naked breast, a taste of wine. But memory fades and slips away as light fades from view behind a drawn curtain. So many memories gone, lost forever. But I know who I am, or should I say, what I am. I even remember the night I became what I am; a night so full of promise, the air thick with intention, the feeling more intense than any before or since. But who I am, that is almost a comical notion.
Cornelius has a secret. His kind would normally remain silent, their mysteries hidden by veiled whispers. But shrouded in despair he will weave his dark story. Listen carefully, for ignorance of this tale could cost you your life. Imprisoned for centuries, Cornelius is at the last thread of his sanity. He has important lessons to teach. Will he ever escape his immortal bonds, or will he be trapped forever? If he did get out what would he do? The world is now so different. Is he ready for the new world, and more importantly is it ready for him? As he reflects on his life it may hearten you to reflect upon your own. If you stare deeply at yourself do you know what you will see? Is the face in the glass what you expect, perhaps after reading this you’ll never look at a mirror the same way again.
The review: I recently interviewed Jason Brocket and he also sent me an advance reader’s copy of Dark Reflections for review. As he described, Dark Reflections is as much a mood piece as anything, the story it rests upon fairly simple but the important aspect is the exploration of the Cornelius character, examining his thoughts and philosophy, and the author’s explicit desire to offer his take on vampirism – no love interest these, they are murderous, bloodthirsty fiends – and there is perhaps a need to suspend belief as, in the second half of the book, they cut a bloody swath through the city they inhabit.
However, whilst the book is all in first person, the first half of the book is vampire Cornelius’ musings. The reason for this is due to the really interesting take on vampire lore. In this it is not so much that a vampire casts no reflection in the mirror, rather when their eyes catch onto a mirror they are drawn into it, trapped within the two dimensional pane – unable to feed, communicate, feel, they are left mute and watching. This is Cornelius’ plight as we start – his latest home a young girl’s bedroom but, as Jenny grows, he becomes an eager voyeur, living vicariously through a child’s life, almost paternal until – shocked at morals that seem so very lax (from his antiquated perspective) – she grows from child into young woman and his feelings become more carnally based. Then she leaves home and eventually the dresser and mirror are sold and, in an accident, the mirror breaks and he is free…
His old-fashioned sentiments and his 'being out of time' confusion are mostly well presented. From his vantage point he learnt little of our modern world but I say mostly as there was a moment discussing psychology that seemed a tad too modern – that is a minor complaint, it was one moment within an otherwise well-crafted worldview. The book isn’t over-long, with the author using a refreshing brevity, and as such it is not over-facing as a novel. 7.5 out of 10.
On Kindle @ Amazon US
On Kindle @ Amazon UK
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