Synopses & Reviews
A frantic race to save a long-lost Traveler.
An epic battle for freedom.
Two brothers whose power puts them on a collision course...with each other.
In The Traveler, John Twelve Hawks introduced readers to a dangerous world inspired by the modern technology that monitors our lives. Under constant surveillance of the 'Vast Machine,' a sophisticated computer network run by a ruthless group, society is mostly unaware of its own imprisonment. Gabriel and Michael Corrigan, brothers who were raised "off the grid," have recently learned they are Travelers like their long-lost father part of a centuries-old line of prophets able to journey to different realms of consciousness and enlighten the world to resist being controlled. But power affects the brothers differently. As The Traveler ends, Gabriel hesitates under the weight of responsibility. Michael seizes the opportunity and joins the enemy.
The Dark River opens in New York City with a stunning piece of news. Gabriel's father, who has been missing for nearly twenty years, may still be alive and trapped somewhere in Europe. Gabriel and his Harlequin protector, Maya, immediately mobilize to escape New York and find the long-lost Traveler. Simultaneously, Michael orders the Brethren the ruthless group that has been hunting Gabriel into a full-scale search. Gabriel yearns to find his father to protect him; Michael aims to destroy the man whose existence threatens his newfound power. The race moves from the underground tunnels of New York and London to ruins hidden beneath Rome and Berlin, to a remote region of Africa that is rumored to harbor one of history's greatest treasures. And as the story moves toward its chilling conclusion, Maya must decide if she will trade everything to rescue Gabriel.
A mesmerizing return to the places and people so richly portrayed in The Traveler, The Dark River is propelled by edge-of-the-seat suspense and haunted by a vision of a world where both hope and freedom are about to disappear.
Review
"The mysterious Twelve Hawks follows up his engaging debut...with this even more exciting sequel....This is a hugely enjoyable book, a globe-trotting adventure that's a treat for everyone who likes a good thriller and a special treat for fans of stories involving secret societies, global conspiracies, and mysticism." Booklist (Starred Review)
Review
"A few decent action scenes ensue, but the narrative is too diffuse and muddled to create any sense of urgency....Twelve Hawks' bad habits include indulging in lengthy excursions to poorly elucidated multiple dimensions and delivering multiple lectures a la Crichton....Dull." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"The Dark River globe-trots to London, Rome, Africa and a secluded Irish convent even as the book stumbles over dialogue and puts a high premium on constant action. Mr. Twelve Hawks describes these chases, but none too gracefully. And his real forte imagining new threats to individual freedoms is not given a strenuous workout." Janet Maslin, The New York Times
Review
"[B]oth The Traveler and...The Dark River have much to offer above and beyond literary merit....While fantastical elements help drive Twelve Hawks's plot, it's his understanding of the surveillance society's machinations, how they affect us more and more daily, and how they might be curtailed, that makes The Dark River so utterly necessary. That hardly anyone knows who the author really is ('John Twelve Hawks' is a pseudonym), and that his website is flashier than any rock band's, only sweeten the deal." Rod Smith, Rain Taxi (read the entire Rain Taxi review)
Synopsis
A mesmerizing return to the places and people so richly portrayed in The Traveler, this second book in the Fourth Realm trilogy is propelled by edge-of-your-seat suspense and haunted by a vision of a world where both hope and freedom are about to disappear.
About the Author
John Twelve Hawks is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Traveler. He lives off the grid.