I’m not a fan of explicit gore portrayed in much of today’s horror genre but I do enjoy elevated horror and dark fantasy thrillers that leave something to the imagination. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Umbrate by A.D Jones, but the back cover intrigued me. A detective story in a world with Humans, Dwarves, Elves, and “the shadowy Umbral populace.” I read the opening pages and decided to give it a read and so pleased I did.
The story unfolds through the perspective of the complex human protagonist, Detective Vanic Bradley. A good guy, but troubled and flawed, and full of regrets. But he is good at his job. The “shadowy” Umbrals are introduced through Vanic’s nightmares as he relives a haunting encounter. Its physical features sounded zombieish. I thought, Oh no! The Umbrals are zombies. (Zombies are my least favorite ghouls because they tend to be mindless, indestructible, decrepit creatures that kill and turn people into zombies often within a shallow predictable plot. That is not the case in Umbrate. The Umbraals are calculating humanoids that can be the good guys or the bad guys and live integrated into society elevating the question of who to believe and trust.
One of the things I enjoyed most in this story is Vanic’s growth as a character. As the plot unfolded I cared about him more and more as his viewpoint transformed. He faces difficult choices in an extremely high-risk situation that gradually brings about personal growth and an evolution of his Umbral perception and with it, mine.
I recommend Umbrate to readers who enjoy unpredictable, suspenseful, high-stakes murder mysteries couched in a darkly fantastical world. This whodunnit crime mystery is rife with action, danger, and adventure, with a dash of romance and plenty of drama. The writing hooked me at the start and pulled me along to a satisfying end. I highly recommend this book to people who like elevated horror, dark fantasy, and detective stories. I'm happy to give it 5 out of 5 stars.
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I received a copy of this book through Black Phoenix Book Tours and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.
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