Beautiful Darkness is a book that upon finishing, you're gonna have to go back because you realize there's a lot of symbolism you didn't catch the firBeautiful Darkness is a book that upon finishing, you're gonna have to go back because you realize there's a lot of symbolism you didn't catch the first time.
An untold number of little sprites (view spoiler)[spill out of the body of a murdered girl and (hide spoiler)]are left to fend for themselves in a large forest. As if the dangerous animals, plants and elements aren't enough, they soon turn on each other in an attempt at survival. "Princess" Aurora, the main character and the only one with a shred of decency, tries to keep the fairies united by building houses and gathering food, only to either be taken advantage of or have her kindness thrown in her face. In the meantime, the number of fairies dwindles by the day as they meet their various gory and outrageous fates. (view spoiler)[When Zelie, the book's antagonist, marries Aurora's beloved, Prince Hector, (hide spoiler)] Aurora then decides she's had her fill and leaves her remaining brethren to find a safe, warm place to spend winter. She meets a friendly sprite named Jane at the shack of a human man (view spoiler)[possibly the little girl's murderer (hide spoiler)]. With a roof over her head and a secure food supply, Aurora settles in with Jane thinking she's safe, until the narcissistic Zelie and her band of toadies arrive at the cabin. They quickly (view spoiler)[dispose of Jane and (hide spoiler)] make themselves at home. Faced with (view spoiler)[the same fate, and (hide spoiler)] being a whipping fairy for the others, Aurora devises a plan to secure her freedom.
According to the summary of Beautiful Darkness, the book supposedly tells the tale of 'the meaningless kindness of polite society'. But as with any good book, its moral depends on the reader. To me, the title 'Beautiful Darkness' alludes to the bliss of ignorance, childlike and otherwise, as anyone who's made choice to adapt or die can attest to the superiority of ignorance's destructive capability versus that of willful evil.
The art is out of this world. I love how the beauty and complexity of the soft-colored backgrounds doesn't quite gel with the simplicity and bolder colors of the characters' designs. It could possibly symbolize that there are some things humanity isn't ready for. Certainly not world peace and hardly peace between us and our neighbors.
I do wish the entire book could have the same linear story as the last third part. Otherwise, this book is one of a kind and worth a read - if you have a strong stomach. Don't read it in bed....more
Thoroughly boring and non-engaging. The main character is yet another avatar for the author. I guess a full-length novel starring not one, but two, waThoroughly boring and non-engaging. The main character is yet another avatar for the author. I guess a full-length novel starring not one, but two, wasn't enough. And of course, the "plot" is a little too thinly veiled reference to the author's own psych ward stretch and unexplained hatred of doctors. Who didn't see that coming. Verdict: Unless you're a member of the author's little fan club, you can safely skip this one....more
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