Tides of Darkness

Beyond the Lost Coast, Book 2

By: Andrew Van Wey

Narrated by: Tom Jordan

In Greywood Bay, time doesn't heal—it devours. After the fire of Raven’s Valley consumed their community—and the lives of their neighbors—fourteen-year-old Zelda and her uncle Mark are determined to rebuild within this small coastal town. It’s a place of serene beauty and rich history, a bucolic enclave they hope to call home. If only the ghosts would leave her alone.

Haunted by the spectral echoes of the dead, Zelda must fight for her sanity while navigating the turbulent waters of adolescence. And her uncle Mark must battle his own demons, both inside out. Alone, they will crumble. Together, they might just have a chance. Because something sinister is rising off the foggy shores of the Lost Coast: an entity beyond time itself, one who has long had her eyes on these lands. Her whispers won’t be silenced. Her shadows can’t be ignored. And her debts will never be forgiven. For beneath its surface Greywood Bay is built on borrowed fortunes and grim pacts. And soon retribution will wash over the town with Tides of Darkness.

©2024 Andrew Van Wey (P)2024 Andrew Van Wey

Hard to leave the Lost Coast

Zelda is a wonderful character you feel for her and the tragic short journey she’s been on. And Uncle Mark’s patience and understanding makes me strive to be a better father. Fortunately, I do not have to deal with the cosmic horrors that haunt Zelda Ruiz and anyone close to her, even her grandparents turn into someone you can understand and empathize with, Andrew Van Wey does a wonderful job of building a world (or worlds) you can believe in and want to visit! Or maybe not depending on your knowledge of the Lost coast! But if you do enter the Lost Coast enjoy the world building and the journey you may not want to leave…

Eldritch thrill ride

“Some people spend their whole lives climbing up ladders, then smile while kicking them down.”

I first want to thank Tom Jordan for gifting me an Audible code to listen to this book. He is a great narrator. I listened to By the Light of Dead Stars, so I felt right back at home listening to Tom pick up right where he left off.

Tides of Darkness by Andrew Van Wey is the second book in his Beyond the Lost Coast series, and this one hits just as hard, if not harder, than By the Light of Dead Stars.

Tides takes place a few months after Dead Stars and we pick right back up with Zelda and her uncle Mark as they try to pick up the pieces of their life after what happened at the end of book one. As school starts, Zelda starts hearing the voice of the Eldritch entity. It’s not through with them yet.

There are a lot of twists and turns to this book, and it left me hanging on every word. Andrew does a really great job of painting a picture of the town and of all the characters, and Tom brings each character to life.

As a side note, there are a couple of characters in this book who I really hate in the Dolores Umbridge kind of way. In Harry Potter, you have Voldemort, but people don’t really hate him; the loathe Umbridge though. I have the same feeling with these characters in this story. Ugh, they made me cringe and feel for poor Zelda.

If you are looking for a fun thrill ride, you really need to check out the Beyond the Lost Coast series, and Tides of Darkness the most.

5 Stars.

Welcome Back to Greywood Bay

Ahhh, Greywood Bay, how I missed you!
Coming back we find Zelda and co recovering from the fire tthat destroyed their entire development. plans to rebuild are at a standstill, held up by a council with 'other' interests.

If you haven't read the first installment, I strongly recommend it.

We find Uncle Mark battling the town council and being drawn into a battle he never saw coming, with the ultimate 'Karen'. Disguised as an author and influential long time resident, who has deeper interests in the towns heritage and what the residents can do for her.
While also still battling his in laws for the custody of his niece, who can't seem to stay out of trouble.

The character development and arc in this series is so wonderful to see.
We watch Zelda grow and mature and the dynamics of friendship and family grow and change with it.

It's a beautiful story of what family truly means, the foibles of human nature and the way we can choose to make our battles work for or against us and how we see the world around us.

Oh, and there's monsters.

I'm very much looking forward to returning to Greywood Bay, and seeing what the next installment brings.