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songwind's review
4.0
If mainstream urban fantasy has deep roots in the romance genre, Darkwalker is what it would look like if it had grown out of horror, instead.
Jack Harlow watches the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes they watch him back. Either way, they don't interfere with each other. But one night, that all changes, and every occult thing is after him like moths to a flame. Jack has to find out why, and get his untouchability back.
The book obviously has a significant backstory, but Urbancik doesn't dump it on us. We pick up what we need to know, and what the characters learn, as they learn it. It's enough to make the broad outline of the world apparent, but leave you wanting more. I like the approach a lot, and it makes me want to read more.
BTW, the book blurb here and on Amazon is almost entirely misleading. The publisher updated it so it doesn't imply that Jack is part of an organization.
Jack Harlow watches the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes they watch him back. Either way, they don't interfere with each other. But one night, that all changes, and every occult thing is after him like moths to a flame. Jack has to find out why, and get his untouchability back.
The book obviously has a significant backstory, but Urbancik doesn't dump it on us. We pick up what we need to know, and what the characters learn, as they learn it. It's enough to make the broad outline of the world apparent, but leave you wanting more. I like the approach a lot, and it makes me want to read more.
survivalisinsufficient's review
2.0
This was basically just a catalogue of horrible beings attacking the protagonists.
kateofmind's review
4.0
John Urbancik just ripped my heart right out of my ribcage with his bare hands and then threw it onto the floor and stomped on it 'til I died.
mikekaz's review
4.0
When I started reading DARKWALKER, I wasn't too sure what to expect. Normally I know something about the author: read a novel by him before, had him recommended, read a short story, seen some reviews, something. In this case, I had nothing on Urbancik, at least not that I remember. Then why, I hear you asking, did I have this book by him? Good question. I've received a fair number of books by unknown authors lately due to a couple subscription packages. Anyway, I had a little unknown as I started the novel. It turns out to have been for naught as I really liked the story.
Jack Harlow spends his nights wandering the city and recording the supernatural events that he sees. He acts like Marvel Comics' Watcher who watches events and records them but does not interfere. He sees vampires drain victims, talks with ghosts, spies with demons, pretty much every supernatural element. Until one night when he interferes. At that point, his polarity is reversed and the supernatural is now attracted to him. Jack can no longer hide.
Urbancik does a great job of controlling what he does and does not put into the story while simultaneously leaving the doors open for everything. It's not just vampires or zombies or werewolves that is attracted to Jack; it's every supernatural being. The story does not become a "vampire story" or a "zombie story." The novel didn't suffer from introducing too many types either. It felt natural to have different types of beings. Urbancik also has an extensive background built up for the characters and events. Or at least it felt like that; in storytelling, that equates to the same thing. The readers don't see all of the history but you can feel there are more stories here that can be told. And if Urbancik explores the world further, I plan on being there with him.
Jack Harlow spends his nights wandering the city and recording the supernatural events that he sees. He acts like Marvel Comics' Watcher who watches events and records them but does not interfere. He sees vampires drain victims, talks with ghosts, spies with demons, pretty much every supernatural element. Until one night when he interferes. At that point, his polarity is reversed and the supernatural is now attracted to him. Jack can no longer hide.
Urbancik does a great job of controlling what he does and does not put into the story while simultaneously leaving the doors open for everything. It's not just vampires or zombies or werewolves that is attracted to Jack; it's every supernatural being. The story does not become a "vampire story" or a "zombie story." The novel didn't suffer from introducing too many types either. It felt natural to have different types of beings. Urbancik also has an extensive background built up for the characters and events. Or at least it felt like that; in storytelling, that equates to the same thing. The readers don't see all of the history but you can feel there are more stories here that can be told. And if Urbancik explores the world further, I plan on being there with him.
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