The Darkness Within Ourselves

The Darkness Series, Book 1

De: Jessica Huntley

Narrado por: Candace Fitzgerald

Running and hiding won’t save you because The Darkness lives within … and it will never stop hunting you.

Amber and her four best friends are about to reach their teenage years when the unthinkable happens; one of her friends, Kieran, is killed in a freak accident.

Twenty years later, Amber no longer speaks to her friends and is still haunted by that day in the form of severe psychological issues, including sleep paralysis, insomnia and hallucinations of a terrifying entity she calls The Creature. But it isn’t just in her head; it is real.

Unbeknown to Amber, her former friends have also been suffering from their own psychological nightmares, each trapped and twisted into people they no longer recognise. Then a piece of evidence is found from that day and Amber and her former friends are forced to relive the events leading up to Kieran's death, learning truths along the way that they would rather not know about themselves.

Can they work together to rid themselves of their demons and find out what really happened to Kieran all those years ago?

The Darkness Within Ourselves is the first book in "The Darkness Series", a gripping psychological thriller series that is guaranteed to keep you awake at night. If you like fast-paced thrillers with dark twists and themes of mental health then you’ll love this terrifying story of psychological disorders by author Jessica Huntley.

** Winner of the Editor's Choice Award in the BookShelf Fiction Awards 2023**

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mental health issues (severe depression, agoraphobia, suicide), loss of a child (stillbirth), domestic violence, death.

©2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Jessica Huntley (P)2024 Jessica Huntley

The Darkness within

This was a terrific story! I totally enjoyed it. Narration by Candace Fitzgerald was perfect. I was given this book free for an honest review.

The Darkness within ourselves

Omg. This book got me right off the start. I've very much enjoyed this book. The darkness took on different things for each of the characters. This was the first psychological thriller that i have listend to. I am ready for the next book. The narrator Candace Fitzgerald was so good. She had the perfect tone. Jessica Huntley did amazing job with this book and has a way with words.

Great story!

Great story and narration. Intrigued to listen to the next book in the series. Characters were thoughtful, a few unexpected twists but easy to follow. Fun!

Riveting Psychological Thriller

This was my first experience with this author's work, and it won't be my last. From the opening paragraphs until the very end, I was so engrossed in the story that I had to drag myself away to complete daily tasks. I felt for Amber and her friends who suffered from severe psychological issues caused by an unresolved trauma from their pasts. I liked how the author combined events from the past within the context of Amber's present-day life. I enjoyed how I never really knew where the story was going and all the unexpected twists and turns. I was amazed by Candace Fitzgerald's narration as her performance kept my attention focused on the story. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

Great story

Once in a while you find a book that has you sitting getting upset that it's over! And this is the book! 20 years ago 5 friends went to play a game only 4 friends came back 20 years later those 4 friends are struggling bad each with their own problems!

This was a rollercoaster and man! I wished Amber would have let her guilt go! She was doing a little to much either hers! Did I feel bad yes! Poor dude went through it and he just wanted the mocking to end!

This book was a great thriller that had me upset, laughing a bit and had my eyes tearing up! Just omg! 😭

Can't wait for book 2

Four friends with an unsettling secret that is tearing them apart. This was such a good psychological thriller. Keep in mind it does touch on many trigger subjects such as mental health, loss of a child, abuse and domestic violence. However, Jessica Huntley does a great job of getting the point across without dwelling on each of these subjects. You're at the edge of your seat from the start. Four childhood friends went through a dramatic experience that drove them apart and ruined their lives. Jessica Huntly did a fantastic job with the plotline and going back and forth from present to the past. I was never lost and always knew what timeline the story was in. I loved her writing style and am looking forward to book two. I listened to the audio version of this book and really liked the narrator, Candace Fitzgerald, was really good. She has an "American" accent. However, I didn't understand right away why the characters had European accents. It wasn't until midway through the novel that I realized the story was based around London. Fitzgerald had a way of keeping me focused on the story and bringing me into the lives of all the characters. Loved the book. Highly recommend.

Great Debut !

The Darkness Within Ourselves is a gripping, addictive psychological thriller that hooked me straight from the start. This book was much deeper than I expected, but wow it was so well done ! Jessica has a way with words that is just so beautiful even in the darkest themes. As much as this is thrilling it was also emotional and just gut wrenching.

The darkness was so creepy, chilling and eerie. There was always a sense of lurking. I loved how it took on multiple forms for each character, I truly thought that was a super original and creative aspect ! The mental health aspect was amazingly well done, Jessica just hit the spot with this book. It was nicely paced, the suspense constantly building, the intrigue never letting up which just made for a great read.

The ending wraps up nicely with a somewhat of a cliffhanger. I'm highly looking forward to the sequel, I'm jumping in right away. I think this book is highly underrated and deserves more hype !

🎧 The narration by Candace Fitzgerald was so good. She had the perfect tone, she set the chills and eeriness to the scenes. The emotions were felt in her voice. I loved how creepy her voice was when she was portraying the darkness. Great listen!

✨️Thank you to @jessicahuntley for my gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Psychological thriller ☠️🖤

This book does touch on some potentially triggering subjects. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept wondering are the characters crazy, or is there really something nefarious going on? It also did strike me as sad, because these friends get torn apart by what happens.

5 teenage friends go out in the woods, only 4 come back. Amber, Jordan, Tyler, Brooke, and Kiernan. Kiernan is killed in a accident. Or was it an accident? This tight group of friends are never the same.

20 years later the 4 survivors are plagued with unrelenting guilt. There is also a physical manifestation of their guilt, "the darkness." This darkness changes the once happy friends. Is this darkness or creature they all see real or in their heads? It does have a good ending. What will guilt make you do? There's also book 2 and 3. I can't say I've read a book or series exactly like this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Innocence intricately shattered

Received as an audio review copy from Story Origin, this an honest review. Narrated beautifully by Candance Fitzgerald, The Darkness Within Ourselves is one of those riveting, emotional stories that gets beneath your skin because once you're done reading or listening to this harrowing tale... you won't be able to forget it. It was suppose to a glorious summer Amber and her friends that could bask in; enjoying each other's company and decides to play the game I Spy but with a haunting twists that alters their lives. With 20 years on since that dark time, what happened to Kieran Jones has destroyed the once group of friends that has left each person physically and mentally shattered; and when a piece of evidence that could re-open Kieran's case; these now strangers are forced to face the truth if they wanted to finally have some peace that's been stolen from them because they couldn't speak the truth when they should have 20 years before. And take on fiery consequences that came with it.


Highly recommended.

An enjoyable, unique read, 4 1/2 stars

The Darkness Within Ourselves: A spine-tingling psychological thriller that explores just how dark your mind can go … (The Darkness Series Book 1), my first read from author Jessica Huntley. A dark 360 page read that was hard to put down. “I received a free Kindle copy of The Darkness That Binds Us: A dark and twisted psychological thriller sequel to "The Darkness Within Ourselves" (The Darkness Series Book 2) and wanted to read this book first so I went and got an Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).