Remembering Demons (The God Cycle Book 1) by J. Cornelius

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Format: eBook

Pages: 284

Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis:

Have you ever wondered what lurks in the mirrors?

Daryl doesn't have to wonder... he knows.
But why do they stalk him? Why can't he remember anything?
It's enough to drive a guy crazy!

Meanwhile, the eerie asylum seems to know more than an old pile of rock and mortar has any right to and his therapy is uncovering a blood-stained past of pain and death, alongside something dormant within him of disturbing power. When Dr. Walker teaches him how to face his demons, the psychoses and dreams conspire to warn him of something even worse stalking him. Something ancient and evil.

To survive, Daryl must confront the repressed memories that drove him insane.

For madness—is a blunt instrument.

Review:

“The process of your capture is to be part of your punishment. First, I will break your body and then deliver what is left to Purgatory for eternal damnation.”

Daryl is in an Asylum, he does not know why he is there, nor does he remember his past. He has repressed his memories and is too fearful to face uncovering the truth. He meets with a therapist who is trying to help him not only remember and face his fear of pain, but also to stop believing his hallucinations are real and there are no monsters. 

Daryl is so confused he just does not know what to believe. His dreams do not feel like they are just dreams, they feel real, and he begins to realize there is so much more going on than he could have ever imagined.

Visits from imaginary friends, monsters in mirrors, angels and demons, pain, and fear. 

Will Daryl figure out who he is, face his past, and will anyone believe him when the truth is revealed?

"Feeling safe is a promise your past makes to your future. It does not, in fact, mean that you are safe."

This dark fantasy is like stepping into a fever dream, wondering if you will be able to step your way back out. The lines between the realm of monsters and gods and Daryl's world are blurred until he begins to realize many truths which then blends cohesively together. And yet there are the elements of surprise that still cause the mind to wonder and question, is it all real? Or is it a way of tolerating suppressed memories and past traumatic experiences? 

A blending of dark fantasy, elements of horror, mythology, and moments of humor. I chuckled a few times, which added a little enjoyable lightness to the story. 

If this sounds like a book that you would enjoy reading, please try it. If you feel a bit confused at first, stick with it because it will come together and it will be worth your time spent in a world of imagination.

**Thank you so much, J. Cornelius for reaching out and for the complimentary copy. 

 Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-Cornelius/author/

BookBub Author Link:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-cornelius

Author Website Link:

https://www.j-cornelius.com/

About the Author

J. Cornelius writes traditional and dark fantasy. His debut novel, Remembering Demons, is an epic dark fantasy novel with traditional fantasy and sci-fi elements. It is the first in The God Cycle series, a contemporary fantasy epic. Besides books, he also juggles a job as a full-time virus researcher and father of two beautiful girls and a boy for whom looks are too early to tell. He has also been a bartender, a food oil sommelier, a singer and composer of songs, and an embarrassingly avid dancer of dances. In his copious free-time he greatly enjoy making snaps and following the world of physics and cosmology, both of which have served as inspirations for the themes of The God Cycle.

Review Links:

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