The Dark Land

The Dark Land by DM Shepard is subtitled “An Alaska Horror Novella.” I rarely read horror stories and this novella certainly qualifies for that genre. I was surprised when I actually got into the horror story which takes place in Alaska’s outback where one should expect to have contact with wild animals. However, one does not expect those creatures to be beasts of semi-human intelligence. The story began with the grisly death of a solo and drunken hunter, and we quickly learn about an outdoors woman, Penny, who went into the wilderness on her own for inexplicable reasons. She had not yet returned. Really, this is the story about Rose, a foster kid who grew up in the outback and knew how to handle herself in such territory. And there was Ulrik, a man several years older than Rose, who she had known since coming to the foster home run by Penny, and Rose had always been infatuated by him. Rose and Ulrik turned out to be a formidable duo who were capable of handling the nearly impossible situation in which they found themselves. If you are a fan of horror, then this books for you.