Fade to Black (Awake in the Dark Book 1)

The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. – Dante Alighieri

Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people. – Carl Jung

“Come on,” he says. “Maybe I want to offer some fatherly advice or some (insert word here the store won't let me insert) thing, right?”

Poor Jeff Grobnagger can’t catch a break. You see, he suffers from seizures. Seizures that fling him not only into the pain of the seizure itself. They throw him into another world – a world where he wakes to find himself hanging by his ankle in a filthy alley in a dark and grayscale world. And every time he gets free, usually falling both ungracefully and painfully to the alley’s filthy pavement, his reward is to be strangled to death by a shadowy figure in a hooded cloak.

“Any minute now a hooded man will come barreling out of nowhere and kill me.

So. That sucks.”

That first line of Fade to Black sets the theme for the rest of the book – an extraordinarily snarky, moody, broody, and oh-so-elegant and humourous fall into the absurd that kept me reading well past ridiculously late hours.

I first found L. T. Vargus, the co-author of the book, along with Tim McBain, when I read and reviewed her book Casting Shadows Everywhere. In that book, I wrote:

This book moved me, pained me, in so many ways. It brought up memories best forgotten, pain, heart break. But mostly, it opened me up with the wisdom and compassion shown by the author.

Happily, I can say much the same about this newest book by Vargus. I completely identified with Grobnagger. His lost soul, his pain and distance from others, and his quirky psychological musings touched my heart and carried me away to his world. A world where people still watch VCR’s and the questions of humanity are deeply felt, and pity is far, far away. But I still burst into laughter in what should have been the most inappropriate moments. You can’t help it. Grobnagger is just funny.

Vargus’s work weirdly resonates with me. It is sneaky in a way – it holds the things we fear up to the light – opening the reader up to honesty – to love and hope and the truths of our souls found in the darkest of nights. It’s weird and dark and twisted – and real. And I recommend the trip.

I received this book from the author in return for a realistic review. My weird thoughts are my own!

Fade to Black by Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus

When you use a title like this is a fair thing to say that you might get muddled in with a few other books of the same title. Notwithstanding that this is the second book of this title that I've read in less than a year. The first is by Francis Knight and it's a pretty good magic world, dystopic, fantasy and bears reading. This book is a bit different though I'm not sure where to put it yet in genre. Since it is part of a series I think I'll wait, before passing that judgment. Although it does stand as a pretty intense psychological thriller, I enjoyed this and I think a lot more people will enjoy it than I'd have thought when I first went into reading it.

When this Fade to Black was first drawn to my attention I was reticent about reading it just from having sampled the authors, Tim McBain and L.T. Varus, first book. I was thinking maybe Stephen King quality and I do read those, possibly Dean Koontz which I've read less of and have half a dozen of his waiting for the right moment. I do that kind of horror suspense, but not that often so I passed on these books. Then I got this message through twitter and (well I won't go into it) I’ll only say that if you get the message you'll see what I mean and you won't be able to resist. So I picked Fade to Black because it was mentioned and because I was intrigued with the notion of reading two Fade to Black in six months time. I wasn't disappointed and I was greatly surprised to find this wasn't anything as I expected.

Jeff Grobnagger is not your average hero; maybe he's your average anti-hero though he doesn't seem average anything. It seems he strives to be less than average if not invisible. Thankfully he is engaging enough that it doesn't hurt that the reader is going to be stuck in his head all the way through this piece. He's really messed up though, and you can't help but feel sorry for him even while he makes you laugh a bit by his almost seeming naïve yet snarky take on things. Jeff has a problem, well he has a large number of problems, but the seizures are the one of greatest concern here. It's not just the seizures it's the dreams that accompany them; or maybe we should say the recurring dream. It seems that he consistently finds himself dangling by one foot from a rope while an assassin is soon to arrive and strangle the life out of him. Quite thankfully when that occurs he wakes from his seizure, and when the reader first meets him he wakes in the grocery store where Glenn and a dozen other people are gathered around with concerned faces. This would probably be mildly embarrassing if Jeff didn't have an aversion to people so it might be more like horrifying and as I learn more about Jeff it becomes evident that to him the dream is less horrifying than dealing with people. But today Glenn manages to force himself on Jeff and begins the uphill battle toward changing Jeff's life.

In this novel the seizures are a gateway into some other level of consciousness (possibly) and there are other people who can experience these things while there are several groups that have been trying to attain the level that Jeff seems to have reached. Glenn thinks that this has something to do with the disappearance of his daughter, Amity, and that somehow Jeff will help him find her but Jeff wants nothing to do with that until his place is trashed when someone tries to take him out with some potshots and by his reclusive nature he has nowhere to go except to Glenn’s for a place to crash.

From here the reader is taken into a world that has several options ranging from magic and Tarot to Quantum Physics as an explanation for what might be happening. The bottom line for Jeff is that a hooded unknown kills him every time he has this dream generated during a seizure and he doesn't know why or who. Somehow the threat to his real life and the several cult like groups and Glenn and Amity are all tied together and Glenn is relying on Jeff to get the answers. And at about 20 percent of the way through the story I had a fair idea of the ‘who’ but not the why and a notion about a possible ironic outcome. I don't consider myself greatly exceptional at deducing things so it's likely that others might come to the same conclusions. Rather than being disheartened I would just console other readers with the reality that it's less about the destination and more about the journey in this story. This is a journey with Jeff that you won't want to put aside once you start down the path. It was a short enough read that I finished it in one sitting.

Being in Jeff's head and hearing his doubts and fears and paranoia are what make this a psychological thriller as he finds there are few he can trust. The ending is a bit of a surprise in that it's more like the end of the first act and there will be some acts to follow, which there will be. But as it stands the ending gives it more of the feel I initially thought with those suspense and horror authors mentioned above. Still there is a promise of some redemption in that the second book is already there to be read which I intend to do. And by the nature of this book the debut novel I passed on is now on my list.

No matter what you feel going into this novel I expect most readers will enjoy the read and be thirsty for the next one. But don't take my word for, by all means pick up a copy and make your own judgment.

J.L. Dobias

I started this book and and kept waiting for it to get better. It seemed to drag on, but I persisted and even downloaded 2 more. I started the second book and realized that it felt like I was reading a class assignment with a minimum requirement of so many words. It felt like work to read these books. That being said I have really liked the other Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus books I have read. I ended up removing all of the Awake in the Dark books off my kindle, but will definitely read these authors again. I am not saying these are bad books, just not not for me.

Fade to Black is a darkly humorous tale. It’s a first-person, present tense narrative about Jeffrey Grobnagger. I’m honestly glad I picked it up because it’s a quick little tale of loneliness and paranormal intrigue.

I have to be honest about a few things. The biggest issue was the first person narrative from a character that just want’s to be left alone. It was a bit difficult to imagine myself listening to a character that didn’t really want to talk to people. What the first person cost in suspension of disbelief, it gave back in humor value. After about the half-way point, I stopped caring and just enjoyed the fun. The other issue is less an actual problem and more of a pet peeve. I buy a book wanting a beginning, middle and end. So cliffhangers and I aren’t friends in any way. I wouldn’t have bought and read this book when I did had I known about it, but I will happily wait for the end of the series (not sure how many books it’s planned for), then sit down to enjoy the whole thing.

Cliffhangers are trend these days. I should get over it, but I won’t. I hate with movies. I didn’t like it with The Knife of Never Letting Go, but I was lucky to have started the series after it had all been written. Same thing with the Divergent series. The down-side is I’m not going to pick up the second book, Bled White, or any other book until I know the series is doen. I will, however, pick up the series once I know everything is told. If you’re okay with cliffhangers, then don’t wait. I read the book in a few days, and I enjoyed every minute of it. This is the kind of book you can read at a good coffee shop or restaurant (I read the majority of it during a WONDERFUL Sunday evening at my favorite local restaurant).

This book is bad. It's second and third books aren't any better.

After reading the sample I went ahead and bought the three pack for my kindle. The premise is interesting, and even though I wasn't enamored with the writing style, I pushed through the first chapter wanting to know what happened next. I liked that Jeff (our main character) wasn't interested in helping the poor old guy find his daughter. That was new-ish to me as a fantasy reader. He has a special power and just wants to be left alone? Awesome!

Then it derails. This books runs off the track so consistently and so often that any action that happened was almost immediately negated. None of the (using this term loosely) important scenes had any impact or depth because right after there would be a rambling monologue or four page conversation about NOTHING. He spends four pages talking about how pointless funerals are, and basically telling me (a regular, run of the mill, socially adjusted person) that I am stupid in thinking funerals are good social constructs to help people feel better when a loved one dies. Then he goes on another rant about how society has rejected him and how no one will ever love him, that love is hollow anyway, that relationships don't matter because people are selfish and only want to have an audience to their petty, stupid lives and he is so above all that because he sees the world for what it is. Does this sound like a pretentious 15 year old's diary? This man is supposed to be 27.

This book is not funny or very dark. The turns of phrase come off as clunky, he repeats phrases, and talks the same monologues over and over. The plot is basically non-existent. It takes three books to really go anywhere, and they leave off in the worst spots. If they're trying to be cliffhangers, they are bad at it and I was very annoyed when I hit the end of book one and went into book two, because the first book just ends. There's no wrap up or revelation and this is repeated in the second and third books. The cults are never clearly explained, what they're doing is never clearly explained, the enemy's motivation is...I don't even know. This could have easily been condensed to two books if all the whining pity party scenes had been cut out.

The characters just exist. I didn't care about any of them. Jeff is obnoxious, whiny, and petty. Glenn is a father figure who doesn't like explaining things because it would give away the plot too early. Babinaux is okay but she's flat as a board. Louise was the most interesting character because she had a little bit of depth but that was tossed out the window. Amity is a plot device who will eventually be a love interest.

It reads like there was an outline with a vague plot, then it was filled in with some scenes, and then it was polished and turned into a series. There's an interesting idea here, but it wasn't thought out all the way so it fills in the blanks with hasty exposition, characters being obscure for the sake of it, and long, drawn out monologues. There's also a lot of totally pointless scenes, like when Jeff and Louise spend four or five pages at the grocery store, or Jeff goes into a deprivation chamber and learns nothing of value.

I only read all three books because I was curious about what was going on with Jeff's dreams and why the cults wanted him. If you are also curious, my suggestion is skip this and read something else. I'm not reading any more books for this series and I don't care how it ends. There is not enough content for four or five books and I don't want to waste my time slogging through more of this guy's pointless whining. The characters even mention at one point how pointless this all is. I'll take that as a sign.

Who’d a’ thunk it?

The joke about the camel is that it’s a horse designed by a committee, and one tends to approach a multi-authored work with the trepidation of riding a humped beast; however, while there is sardonic humour aplenty in Fade to Black, co-authored by Tim McBain and LT Vargus, the ride turns out to be as on the back of a well-trained steed that can pivot and curvet to the occasion.

A tarot card image of a hanging man recurs at the start of everyone of Jeff Grobnagger’s seizures and the hanging man is ‘yours truly’. Apparently his ritualistic confrontations with Death have meaning beyond himself and he finds that he has become a person of interest for some local cults with self-serving metaphysical paradigms. Similar to all things tarot, meaning comes from perspective. In addition someone’s daughter has disappeared and, naturally, the parent would like Jeff to employ his nascent other-dimensional talents to return her to his parental embrace.

For the conversational style to work with me, it has to be smart, economical, and thoughtful. Here it is all of these in this saucily contrived escapism — with all the excitement that a dumpster-diving, untreated epileptic, archetypal reluctant hero can provide as he attempts to escape yet another death having its way with him. Wait, that’s in his mind, or is it entirely? This protagonist submits all his life choices to a cool escapist philosophy that fits well with our socially estranged, entertainment armed, manufactured times where the reality of death is less real — much less real — than the reality of our mind’s fuelled distraction/pleasure zones.

A sardonic noir tone is not without an insouciant grin:

“A man puts his arm around a woman on the sidewalk across the street. She nuzzles against him, like he can keep her out of the rain.
“Good luck with that.”

And is well in line with a necessarily detached philosophy:

“It feels like the world is all one way streets that run away from you.”

“I don’t save damsels in distress.”
Grunge talk is nothing without a satisfyingly epiphanic backdrop:

“Maybe life isn’t some grand narrative with a spectacular ending like you might want. It’s a series of moments. They might seem too random to add up to mean something huge, but they each mean the world on their own. [E]veryone of these occasions is a world within a world. A little sliver of time where the doors to your imagination open up and anything is possible. You don’t worry about yesterday or tomorrow. You just are for a while.”

Tone is all:

“”It [the pad Thai] tastes like a dish of really good food mixed with about a quarter cup of garbage juice.’”

With a variation on the sentiment that “most people lead lives of quiet desperation,” the protagonist describes himself as one of those people whose “physical existence is like an injury they can never recover from.”

Maybe one of this writing duo is responsible solely for the punctuation, since the seamlessness of the composition is such that it is difficult to detect more than one voice.

No complaints with figures of speech like this:

“The nervousness builds as we cross the fresh blacktop, my stomach flopping around in my gut like a furious rainbow trout stranded on a muddy bank somewhere.”

A final whiplash delivers the coup de gras:

“Heat reflects from the surface of the ground, trying to smother us before we can go eat this food. It’d be a mercy.”

Where there is a fine eye for detail the familiar reads as new and fresh:

“The sun’s descent hits then points where everything looks like a dimmed half gray version of itself, which is heightened in certain areas by all of the shade the trees cast.”

While cults of a various order threaten, they remain at a distance and allow space for the seizure-prone Jeff Grobnagger to indulge in introspective activity that somehow connects him to them. The delicate self-analysis advances his character’s sensibility without wearing on the reader’s patience:

“Maybe I’m not so awful. Isolating the idea world from the physical world, I start to think maybe romance is still a possibility for me, and I’m just psyching myself out, yeah?
“And then I catch my reflection in the mirror, and I watch the worlds collide. When I look in my face, all of that positivity collapses like touching moth wings when they’re still wet.”

Deft touches abound:

“A photo of Amity as a child stares up at me, the lower half of her face obscured by a new smile shaped from shattered glass.”

One complaint in the editing — a huge chunk at the back-end of chapter 18 just repeats itself (I blame whoever’s doing the punctuation).

This review ends with the 1st volume in the series. On its basis, readers can safely invest what the price of a latte will get for them in the rest. For some aficionados of the written word, the transcendent effect of a single well-tuned sentence long outlasts the sense-filtered experience of a cup of java and, in the work of McBain and Vargus, the rewards apparently go on and on without the punishment of over-indulgence but, as in the best of all things transcendent, with the taste still present — as from the bean that the writers praise for being “weirdly acidic and bright, but good as hell.”

Is it easy or hard to be a writing duo? Who but they can say? However, when the results are seamless, the question is beside the point while leaving the two authors to divvy up the congratulations between themselves.

By the by, they also write a great “what is the meaning of sex?” scene. — “we are more like animals and more like spiritual beings at the same time somehow” — Read it and compare notes.

This is a humorous story which reveals things we fear as to how our souls take the journey toward the light. Jeff Grobnagger's seizures take him on that adventure to the spirit world. The death scene repeats every time he has a seizure. He wonders perhaps someone is trying to kill him. Obviously, he's correct when a sniper fires bullets come through his apartment window. This is a very engrossing and entertaining story. I found it hard to put down.

This book has a serious dark/dry sense of humor. If you can't appreciate that, then it's not for you. I happen to enjoy this type of humor, so I got his jokes. Within in this book, there is this crazy story going on, but sometimes it gets lost in Jeff's ramblings. He's got some intense, deep things to say, which at times is really fitting. We learn a lot about him in his drunk ramblings with Glenn, but there's almost too much in the book. I didn't really need to know the details about his coffee. It's somewhat of a toss up with the detailed note the authors take. At times it really gives us a feel for the main character and situation he's in, but other's it's just too long and I felt my self saying 'get on with it'. But it was an interesting read. There is swearing and violence, but not overly so. We were given this book in exchange for an honest review.

JEFF GROBNAGGER is my new hero and LT Vargas and Tim McBain are on the top of my reading list - second only to J.R. Ward. I like the rock hard way they write with hard-hitting and visual language. I like the mystery as you ride along with Jeff trying to figure out what's going on and how to deal with it. You feel like you're right there with him, not just reading the story. And it's very true that when you are going through something you can't explain or that are beyond comprehension, you stick to normal things and habits like a life line. A lot of people would think that you'd just get out of dodge, but you can't run from your life or from karma, it just sticks with you. So you ride it out, waiting for the next clue while you do normal things like feed the pets, make food and fall in love. This book and and BLED WHITE totally rocks! Another great job!

This book is quite amazing... I have no idea where to begin.

The main character, Jeff, was an amazing creation. With hi seizures being a big part of the novel, it would've been an easy way out for the author to focus on the seizures as the main point of Jeff's personality, but that wasn't what happened. Jeff was a seriously thought-out character.
He was someone I could relate to, because sometimes I simply want to be left alone, just like he does. Jeff is actually pretty likeable, because although he is reclusive and, now that I think about it, pretty cynical/pessimistic, he doesn't pity himself, and that already is a glorious step up from 60% of young adult novels out there.
I did have to tun my kindle off once, not because the book was bad, but because I needed to think a little bit. Jeff does get VERY philosophical (okay, downright depressing) at one point, and that required a little digestion for me, just to let those depressing thoughts run rampant for a bit before I began reading again.

Jeff's partner-in-crime, Glenn (I think that's his name), is pretty awesome. I admit, I am one of those readers who never wants the main/their favorite character to trust ANYONE who seems the slightest bit mysterious, so it took me a while to warm up to Glenn. A bit of an enigma, but really an all-around nice character with a fondness for cats and some really great advice. Pretty much 90% of the time Glenn ever said something, I highlighted it and/or added a note.

The reason this book gets four stars instead of the full five is because of the plot. It's slightly muddled at best and hopelessly dumped into a tangled mess at it's worst. There's a lot of sub-plot action going on here,and it all get really confusing towards the end.

So, all in all, this is a pretty good book with a kinda sucky (pretty sucky) ending, but worth it.

I was contacted by Tim McBain and asked if I would be interested in reading his novel. Of course, I said yes! And I am so glad I did. This book was amazing. I really loved it. It made me laugh, it made me think deeply, and it was so relatable.

Jeffery Grobnagger is what you would call a loner. He doesn't like being around people if he can help it. He has made enough money gambling online that he doesn't have to worry about working. He can just stay home and spend his time tasting delicious new beverages and hanging out with his cat. Nobody would know who Jeffery Grobnagger was if it weren't for the seizures.

Every now and then Grobnagger has a seizure followed by a strange dream, and they’re getting more frequent. He always wakes up in a dark alley hanging upside down with a noose around his ankle. Almost as soon as he frees himself, a murderous cloaked figure appears in the alleyway, chases him down, and strangles him to death. It is always the same, and it is very realistic in his mind until he wakes up at home or at the grocery store on his back. Even with the concern of strangers, he refuses to go to the doctor about his situation. That would require being around people, and not just any people, prodding and nosy people.

After having a fit in the grocery store, he meets Glenn, a bit of a loner himself with more cats than Grobnagger. He takes him to his house and explains to him that his daughter had gone missing. He believes the cult may be involved with her disappearance. What’s even more of a surprise is that Jeffery’s name has been spreading around the cults. His seizures and dreams are somehow known to them, and they’re interested.
Jeffery Grobnagger doesn’t understand how flopping around like a fish and having an annoying dream about dying would cause a ruckus around people he has no interactions with, but it’s very inconvenient. Little does he know that his life is going to be changing very soon and that his life in the real world may be in danger too. You need to read this book to see what happens next. It’s awesome.

You never know what to expect when you pick up an ebook, but this one exceeded my expectations. It was clever and witty with a humor that made me have to put the book down until I could stop laughing multiple times. I also appreciated the dark moments of internalizing for the main character. I definitely relate to Grobnagger. We are both introverts living with a cat and trying to make that enough. Somehow we both seem to still have serious self-esteem issues. We both have a need for control. We try not to complain and just accept our situations, but it sucks, you know.
This book was very thought provoking about life and the reason we humans act the way we do. I loved the balance of humor and seriousness. The characters are amazing and really well written. You immediately become friends with all of them. I’m planning on reading the second book this month. Really excited!

Two of my favorite excerpts from this book:
“Control makes you feel powerful and less afraid,” he says. “But it won’t make your happy.”

“Nerve endings and epidermis are not the miracles of existence. Consciousness is the miracle. You can call it a soul or whatever you want. Or not. Doesn’t really matter in a way, I guess. Either way, consciousness is the miracle and the physical body is just the tool to experience it through.

I’ve been eagerly looking forward to this one ever since devouring the superlative ‘Chasing Shadows Everywhere’ earlier in the year. Since then, LT Vargus has become LT Vargus and Tim McBain (I guess technically they always were, but whatever), and after a naturalistic standalone novel, this time we’re given the first part of a projected five part series (!!), ‘Fade To Black’, a dark tale of magical realism.

The authors have lost none of their touch with regards to voice: in the marvellously named Jeff Grobnagger we have a protagonist that is both richly layered and immediately familiar. The first person present narrative puts the reader right into the action from the get-go, and as the novel develops and we discover the many layers to Jeff’s personality our affection for him grows. He’s a relatable person to whom extraordinary things are happening, and the writers do an outstanding job in establishing and developing his character as the plot unfolds. His friend Glenn Floyd is similarly well drawn and enjoyable.

Those ‘extraordinary things’ are also brilliantly written – the otherworldy qualities of the environment Jeff finds himself in are described with elegance and skill, and the snarky voice of the narrator manages to convey humour without undermining the tension or darkness. It’s in many ways a classic story of a person finding a glimpse of another realm, an illness that may or may not be a gift, and magical symbolism, complete with a wiser older hermit figure (the aforementioned Glenn) , alongside shadowy secretive societies which may or may not be acting in Geff’s best interest. The authors manage to breathe fresh life into these well worn tropes, in part by subverting expectations in genuinely funny ways (a moment concerning the identification of a mysterious item left behind by Glenn’s missing daughter was a particular highlight).

The other way they manage to make this feel so fresh is the prose, which is as sparkling and readable as I’ve come across in the indie realm, and puts more than a few traditionally published authors to shame. It’s just so damn smooth, so damn funny, and so damn moreish! This was a strong feature of ‘Chasing Shadows’, and if anything it’s stronger here, even more assured. I found myself reading this very quickly, and on more than one occasion laughing out loud at a particularly well delivered line or turn of phrase.

Indeed, the only significant criticism I have of this book will be a familiar one, I suspect – it was over too soon. Also, as is the nature of the first part of a series, far more questions were asked than answered. In this regard, I feel it’s only fair to emphasise that this in not in any way a standalone book, but clearly the opening of a longer narrative, with no real attempt at a resolution at the end of part 1. That’s not an issue for me, (apart from having to wait for part 2, of course!) but I just wanted to put that in as fair warning.

With that in mind, I had a little trouble in deciding whether or not this was worth 4 or 5 stars. In the end, I plumped for 5, for the simple reason that it was an incredibly enjoyable experience, and based on ‘Chasing Shadows’, I have every faith that the authors will pay-off this set up in spectacular fashion over the next four books. No pressure guys... :)

Jeff Grobnagger lives an isolated and lonely life without friends, family or a girlfriend to keep him company. All he has is his cat, Mardy.Until he begins experiencing terrible nightmares where he is stuck in an alley and someone is trying to kill him, he doesn't really mind. But what do his mysterious, very real feeling dreams and his everyday reality have in common? You'll have to read the novel to find out.
I enjoyed the tension and suspense in this novel, and getting to know the protagonist--Jeff--and what motivates, moves and terrifies him.
I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy dark, psychological thrillers with redeemable protagonists. I also enjoyed the writers' sense of humor, which helped to lighten the story, and some of which had me laughing out loud.

This book captured me from the first page and didn't let me go until I finished it. I'm eagerly awaiting the next volume! The protagonist is a really likeable character, someone you'd want to be friends with, someone you want to see win and you celebrate his victories and cringe for him when things don't go well. He's also hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud more than once as the character talks to himself. The story is tight and well written each chapter flowing easily into the next. The mind as the next unexplored territory is an intriguing thought as well. Perhaps the best thing about the book though is that the co-authors work so well together that you can't tell where one breaks off and other picks up the thread. Take a chance on this, it's intelligent, mysterious, humorous and fun. You won't be sorry.

There’s something not quite right about Jeff Grobnagger. In reading Fade to Black by Tim McBain
and L.T. Vargus, it’s a feeling that does not diminish the more we enter his world.

The book begins with one of the most visceral, gut clenching openings I’ve read in some time. From
the synopsis, what happens should be of no surprise as we descend into Jeff’s dream world. Still, the
authors expertly set the scene, painting it with dismal tones of impending doom. When the
inevitable climax does arrive, it feels jarring.

Stalked in his dreams by a hooded assailant, the dreams strike at any time, manifesting as epileptic
seizures. The manner in which Jeff is prepared to handle these dreams adds to the reader’s sense
that something about him is off. The book is written in the first person point of view so we get some
workings into Jeff’s mind, discovering a hermit-like existence and a pathological fear of human
connection. This is never explained to satisfaction and adds to the mystery of the character.

The cold open leads the reader back to the waking where Jeff’s story begins. Following the latest
seizure and dream-death, Jeff meets Glenn, a bystander who never quite feels like a bystander. Once
again, Glenn gives the impression that there is more to him than his revelation of a lost daughter.
Glenn believes that Jeff is the key to finding Amity whose fascination with the occult might have led
to her disappearance.

It is through Glenn that Jeff is confronted with the possibility his dreams are psychic episodes.
Following a real life attempt in his life, realises he needs to know the truth for his continued
existence. As Jeff and Glenn delve into the world of the occult, they encounter characters along the
way who give credibility to this suspicion; the mystery Ms Babinaux who conducts meetings in a
limousine and Louise, the private detective whose perpetual smile veils a hidden agenda or a desire
to kill Batman.

The story is fascinating, with two pervading themes, the cipher of Jeff’s personality and the
sensation that the world around him is not quite what it seems. Every character feels like a
projection and the reader travels the dreamscape and the waking world of the plot, waiting for the
shoe to drop when all is revealed. Unfortunately that moment does not arrive and is by far, the most
frustrating thing about the book. I enjoyed the read but felt that some revelations could have been
made without sacrificing the mystery. It may be too much for some readers to overcome but I intend
to see what happens to Jeff in this next outing.

As long as one is prepared for the cliff-hanger, this is an enjoyable book with clever and
sometimes hilarious dialogue. I recommend it for those who love their contemporary thrillers with a
surreal twist.

Thank you to the authors for making this series available on Kindle Unlimited. I read a great deal and this helps my budget. The book was an enjoyable read and the characters were intriguing. One point that made me dislike the main character was the extensive examination of his aversion to the company of others. Establishing the character's traits is important, but this dragged on and on for me. The mood reminded me of a TV short series I saw as a child, "The Box." I just ordered the second box and am looking forward to reading it.

Fade to Black is dark, it's filled with psychological ramblings, and it features a disturbed young man plagued by seizure dreams, which feature a hooded figure killing him time after time, no matter what he tries to do. It's enough to drive one crazy.

I mention the psychological ramblings as a plus. In Casting Shadows Everywhere, these came primarily from the main character's night time psychology classes at the local college. In Fade to Black, they come from Glenn, an old man trying to use Jeff's unique condition to track down his daughter Amity. But, it's not an information dump.

As we and Glenn learn more about Jeff and begin making some conclusions, Glenn feels drawn to help Jeff understand himself. Then Jeff takes that information and thinks about it, and either internalizes or disregards it, depending on his own level of self-awareness or denial. I think it is interesting to see how different events spark a response in Jeff's self-image, and I dig the science behind it being trickled in.

And, yes, this story is dark, and delightfully so. How could it not be when the main character gets killed over and over? But it's also laced with humor (and a fair share of foul language).

Now, there were a couple of things that kept me from loving this book. First off, it seemed choppy in places, kind of like when an overzealous commercial placement eats a scene in a movie and you wonder how you got from where you were to where you are. This happened mostly in the beginning. Second, there are also several examples of the main character accepting things that are happening to him that a normal person would question. Since he seems to be a mistrustful, paranoid fellow, this seemed out of character.

Overall, I really liked this story. It's smart, dark and thrilling. I think folks who enjoy a metaphysical or psychological thriller with a side of humor would enjoy this one. It is the first in a series. Both this and the next in the series, Bled White, are being released October 20th.

I received this book as an ARC from the author.

I got this book mainly because I became interested in the work of LT Vargus after reading some of her tweets on Twitter. They were a bit dark but they intrigued me. I was glad I gig decide to read this work by her and McBain. I think this work us very fresh and new. There have been similar stories but the details and characterizations in this work are unlike anything I he read before. I am not even sure what genre I would classify this book....horror, thriller, suspense, it seems to defy classification and I like that. If you want to read a book that makes you think and makes you take that belief leap with abandon, this is a good read.

Jeff is the main character in the book and at first the reader doesn't know quite what is going on but as the story unfolds one is drawn in to this darkly humorous, as one reviewer put "kick ass " fighting adventure. I was actually going to read the beginning and then go back to another book and I wound up reading the whole thing ! Like others I wanted a pat ending hence the four stars instead of five but in terms of reading I would say that's a good thing it just makes me want to read more. I will be moving on to book two and three.

Excellent book with humor on the dark side. I loved the subtle humor along with the intense plot. Yiu have no idea what is happening to the main character but you know it is important. The main character is unique with a take on the world I think we all feel at times but he has taken it to extremes. I like that he is going through some kind of journey but you do not know where he is going to end up. I like him a lot and if you read the book he will provoke all kinds of feelings. This is a very good read.

Jeff Grobnagger suffers from seizures and when these occur he dreams the same thing over and over, his own death from a mysterious hooded man. When one of these occur in a public place Jeff meets an older man who thinks he may know what is going on with him and that it may also have something to do with his missing daughter so he asks Jeff’s help to find her.

Starting off with this book I honestly thought I’d end up giving it four of five stars, there are a lot of others that have done so. The first few chapters were great and I really thought I would enjoy it but the further I read the more it lost my interest and just seemed a confusing mix of different ideas that weren’t really fitting together well.

I didn’t really care for Jeff, he kept insisting he was a loner and out for himself which really became a bit annoying to keep stating but then he would end up doing the exact opposite anyway. The story starts off with a bit of a mystery but then adds more and more to it which really don’t even seem to fit together. By the time I got to the end I ended up with one of those that’s it? feelings. Just not my cup of tea I’m afraid.

Overall, lost interest really quickly and really wouldn’t recommend this one.

The way this book is written is phenomenal. it sucks you in and you don't want to put it down, however the ending leaves you empty. There was no closing. I was reading reviews for the next books in the series to peak my interest if this whole series ends the same. More unanswered questions and no conclusion. I loved the detail and how enticing the story was so I picked up another book by the same authors called "Dead end girl" which was much more satisfying

OK, I've read McBain/Vargus's books before, and I have to tell you...one of my favorite writing styles *ever*. I was captivated by the voice from page 1. The style has a witty, clever, funny edge to it that completely draws me in. This book did not disappoint in that area.

Now that the gushing is over, let's get on with it, shall we? So you have this dude, Jeff, who's dying over and over again in what appears to be dreams. Or nightmares. I guess if some hooded mystery man is killing you, it ain't no dream. :) But this doesn't happen when Jeff goes to sleep; his world literally fades to black and launches him into this death sequence with increasing frequency.

Yeah, not good.

He meets this older gent, Glenn, with whom he develops a friendship. Glenn is the kind of guy that seems to know a little something about everything. He's the kind of guy who takes a stranger into his home. He's the kind of guy who "knows things". He's the kind of guy who raises red flags all over this sistah's brain!

I liked the characters. I liked Jeff with his self-depreciating humor. He's obviously broken, keeps away from people, wants to be alone, and you find yourself rooting that the guy is going to be fixed somehow. I also liked Glenn, with his nurturing nature and his happy attitude. And apparently the guy's a genius in the kitchen. I'd like to invite him over for dinner!

I liked the plot, which moves forward at an easy pace, and never loses it's witty charm, even when things go black. I think the humor is more evident when things go black, which is a nice contrast. There are mysteries upon mysteries in this little book; lots of suspicious characters and missing daughters and secret groups and oh my, who is Jeff to trust?

You know, read the whole book, and still can't answer that question. As the first book in a series, I guess we'll get answers in future books.

Which brings me to my only complaint. The book ends with more questions than it started with. To me, I like to have some closure when I read a book. Even books in a series should have some amount of closure at the end...the book should have a beginning, middle and end and I felt this one really only had a beginning and a middle. Yes, some questions were answered at the end, but not the bigger issues. Throw a girl a bone here! I don't mind cliff-hangers in series; that's the draw to get you to read the next book, and to me this ending was a cliff-jumper!

However, that doesn't detract from my over-all enjoyment of this story, characters and writing, and I will read on when the next books are released. A definite recommend for paranormal and urban fantasy fans!

The character's sense of humor reflected throughout this dark and sinister book brings chuckles and laughs to ease the tension. When real life intervenes and I was forced to put the book down, I couldn't wait to get back to see what trouble he encounters next. Reminiscent of Ground Hog Day, Fade to Black's repetitious scene in which a dark hooded man strangles the main character to death in a back alley, is far from banal. The first book in the Awake in the Dark trilogy ends leaving the reader begging for more and looking forward to the sequel. I recommend this read to paranormal lovers, and for those of us who aren't, an excellent opportunity to warm up to the genre.

Jeff Grobnagger suffers from seizures that thrust him into a dream state where he dies violently. Over and over again. A hooded figure runs him down, killing him mercilessly. He snaps out of it and wonders what's going on. Everyone who's anyone in the paranormal world of magic and parlor tricks seems to know him. They know all about his dreams. He's special to them. He doesn't know why, because he's a hopeless self loather with a lot of money from online poker that has a bleak outlook on life. Don't get too close to Grobnagger, he doesn't exactly like people.

That's the skinny of it. The basic premise for Fade To Black by Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus. A psychological suspense-thriller with a not so new concept, mixed with a little paranormal filling. The book opens up in one of these dreams sequences and it's cool. Almost palpable. When Grobnagger wakes up, he meets Glenn Floyd who he spends most of the book with.

Glenn is looking for his daughter Amity who has been wrapped up in the occult meanderings of the League of Light, the Disunion of Shadows, and The Sons of Man. Which one he's not sure, and which one is trying to kill Grobnagger, neither are sure of. What's sure in Fade To Black is that Glenn makes some kick ass food; from chocolate chip pancakes to curry chicken that tastes better cold. Glenn tries to help Jeff work through all of his issues, and they both spend time theorizing through monologues and soliloquies on the travails of life. This made me feel like I was reading a self help book half the time and the authors were trying to make sure their thoughtful opinions were heard by the audience. This was all grand and quite intelligent, but often it did nothing to really push the plot along.

About 80% of the way through, I was wondering when we were going to get to the juice. I was also hoping that what I guessed of it, wouldn't come true about the plot. But it did [insert sad face]. Fade To Black is well written. Only found two grammatical/typing errors. The book is written in the first person from Jeff Grobnagger's perspective, who's quite opinionated and uses a little bit of colorful language from time to time, but is not overdone or distracting. What the books suffers a bit from is too much useless description. The writing is good enough that I kept reading and the twist at the end is quite pleasant. However, I think the book could have been cut in half without taking away from the story.

The only major hang up I have from Fade To Black is in the delivery of the dialogue. Conversationally it's realistic and natural. Again, quite well written. I believe the characters mean what they say and I even laughed aloud twice or thrice. I would recommend they take a look at Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy when structuring their dialogue in the first person. I think they used the word 'say(s)' way too much because I noticed it. I began skipping over it at certain points because the structure was the same.

With all that hogwash being said, I'm interested enough because of Fade To Black's quality ending to read on in the series. Thus, after a few writing projects of my own and knocking off the six books on my desk, I'll download the second book in the series Bled White. I'll probably download it before then just so I have it safely secured on my Kindle. Since everything on my kindle must be read, it's safe to say I'll be reading Bled White if it is there. So while I had a hang up or two, I implore you to give Fade To Black a god if you enjoy the paranormal or psychological suspense. The writing is pretty slick and fun with a book saving twist at the end. Happy reading.

An unusually philosophical, intensely self-aware and thoughtful paranormal thriller. Takes the iconography of the tarot and does something extraordinary and original with it. Manages to do some really intriguing world building before you've even realized that you've been sucked in and taken on a crazy ride. But all this aside, Fade to Black is the funniest book I've read in... I can't remember how long. Seriously funny. I think I laughed out loud roughly once every three pages. That's a lot of funny packed into one book! And not just an internal chuckle here and there, but an honest to goodness laugh out loud that made my significant other call, "What?" from the next room repeatedly. Really looking forward to more self-loathing and magic in book 2, Bled White.

CAUTION: You must have at least the first 3 books to read this series! I am only on book 2 right now, but book one just ends, like a chapter would end-so unless you want to be stumped until you order the next book-have them ready to go. I love the sense of humor combined with unusual action and mystery.

I was asked by the author L.T.Vargus if I would read her book or the free sample and review and I downloading the free sample and read it,and here is what I thought of it even if its just the sample of it I gave it our out of five stars,so on to my review:An unusually philosophical, intensely self-aware and thoughtful paranormal thriller.beginning of this book really hooked me,so when I can I'm going to have to buy it and read the rest of it to see what happens until then like I said before I'm given it four out of five stars.

I thought this story had potential. I mean seizure dreams where a dude kills you? I'd wanna know what's up with that too lol. And this dude's inner monologue was pretty funny. I definitely laughed quite a few times. Only problem is I just couldn't get into it fast enough. I found myself reading and waiting for just SOMETHING to happen. I just can't anymore. This isn't the right book for me and I can't finish it no matter how much that hurts my heart.

I read this in two days. I could not stop reading it and actually even took it to work to read during lunch. It was suspenseful with never ending twists and turns - and I like books that fit into the paranormal suspense genre - but are not predictable - and can grab and keep my attention - and this book fit all of the criteria - I cannot wait for book 2 in this series to come out - and I will make sure that I start reading it when I have time to engulf myself into the story line - perfect for a weekend read!

Fade to Black was a great quick read, at just over 200 pages. It’s a mysterious thriller with a sci-fi twist that keeps you guessing. The main character, Jeffrey Grobnagger’s antisocial, self-loathing personality is off putting at first, but draws you in as you learn more about him. Grobnagger’s struggle with life and the mysterious onset of seizures (and supernatural “dreams”) make for a unique story line. When Glenn, the strange and unlikely new friend, comes into the picture, Jeffrey’s character really starts to develop and the twists and turns begin. I love the unpredictability of the story, and the ending leaves you wanting more. Great read for anyone who loves a mystery!

Fade to Black (The Grobnagger Chronicles #1) By Tim McBain & L.T. Vargus

Jeff Grobnagger keeps having the same terrifying dream over and over again. Every time he has a seizure he dreams of a hooded man that kills him. The dreams are frightening and feel real. He doesn't remember the seizures, but he vividly remembers each horrifying dream.

In his waking hours someone is out to kill him. Are these dreams connected to real life, if so how and why? He is a loner, a simple man, who wants him dead? Who can he trust? What is real, what is not? Jeff must figure this all out.

A fantastic horror story. I loved the thrill, the horrifying dreams, the unusual people he (Jeff) meets. Well written the readers gets to feel everything that Jeff is going through. There is that air of mystery, the dabble in the occult, a missing girl, an evil book, and a possible "love interest" names Louise. I highly recommend Fade to Black to those who love a great horror/psychological drama.

*This book was given to me as a gift

So it begins. One second JEFF GROBNAGGER is standing in line at the grocery store, and the next he's in an alley where a hooded figure strangles him to death.
Sucks.
This happens over and over again, every time Grobnagger has a seizure. Alley. Choking. Death. Repeat. What for? Why would anyone want to kill him repeatedly? Is it just a seizure dream? When a sniper's bullet shatters his apartment window, he realizes two things: he's in serious danger, and there's no way he's getting his security deposit back...I thought this book was great!! I love how it is read through the 1st person because you really get a feel for the way Jeff Grobnagger thinks through the book. For a book that is a scary thriller, it really made me laugh. Right from the start I felt a connection with Jeff (the main character) and really wanted to see how he was going to solve his "predicament". This book is a short read and I was done with it very quickly. I recently got "Bled White" and I'm so excited to continue where Fade to Black left off which was a bit of a cliffhanger. I recommend this and any Tim McBain read you can get your hands on.

This is a fun quick read for a supernatural thriller. The dream motif is an interesting examination and is described nicely. The action was done equally as well. The only problem I had was that the character motivations seems a little weak. The lead's morose agoraphobia gave him a great smart mouth to play with, but how he got there seems a little like a whiny teenager. The secondary characters also seems to be just there and the killing attempts didn't seemed planned very well, but this is just the first book and more answers will be provided in the second. As I said this is a fun,quick read.

Kept waiting for something interesting to happen. Totally lame ending. I would have stopped reading and gotten a different book if I had internet access but I stead I had 9 hours and no wofo so I finished it. I like the writer's style and voice, it was well written but the story was just meh.

It was hard getting into story. Got interesting about half way through but the ending didn't make sense. Not sure I want to read next book. I'm an avid reader and once I start a book I don't move on til finished. This one was difficult

This book was unique. At times it had me and at others times it was a bit slow. The only real fault I found in the book is bad transition. One paragraph they are eating breakfast and the next they are driving down the road. There is no page break or anything. It does not happen every time, but enough to notice.

As for the story, it follows a guy suffering from seizures, which lead to weird reoccurring dreams, and another man who has a missing daughter. Together they try to figure out the why and what behind these "seizures" and the where of the daughter.

I did feel personally connected and can relate to the main character Jeff, mainly because he has a need to be alone and feels somewhat unable to connect with others.

Overall, it was an okay read, but I just couldn't get into it. This is not a book id normally choose, so this may be the factor as to why I didn't enjoy it much....Stormi

Jeff Grobnabber is a self deprecating 27 yr old man with no job and no ambition s. He does have seizures in which he wakes up in a different time and place. Astral projection? Maybe. He has no idea what is going on. Only that he goes there to die. Same thing every time and its coming more frequently. He meets people along the way who may be able to help. One is a man looking for his daughter. He found she was linked to a cult that is trying to do what Jeff does. When someone tries to kill Jeff in the real world they have to figure out what's going on, and fast.
This book opens up new possibilities and makes you think. Very funny, a little dark. Great read!

I'm glad I hit the 'buy now' button for this book.
Why?
Well, for a start the characters are interesting. Not particularly likable, at least the main isn't, but he's never boring. He's true to himself, he doesn't truckle, and I like that. The supporting cast are a good mix, no-ones in there as a mouthpiece, no-one has a theme to sell. That's a good thing.
The pacing is fast, the language is spot one (no two dollar words when a .50c does the job better) and it's cohesive, the central idea strong enough to carry it all forward.
TLDR?
Buy this book, be scared sleep with the lights on for a while.

Fade to Black is a great introduction to the mystery and characters that confront Jeff Grobnagger in this series. From the beginning I was saying "what the F is going on". You have to keep reading because the characters in the story keep you wanting more. Every time I thought I Thought I figured out where the author was taking me the story took a turn.
I can not wait for the fifth book to continue this story.

Ken Hodge

I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing was very descriptive, stimulating my imagination. Jeff Grobnagger was a very likeable character, with a sense of humor that made getting to know him very delightful. As soon as I finished, I started book two, Bled White, now I. Can't wait for the release of the next adventure in Grobnagger's saga. A must read. I am hooked!

Overall, an interesting perspective of the epileptic protagonist entering another "world" during his seizures. Well written, good descriptive narrative, but not a complete story unto itself. One must acquire the next installment. I found that I was not completely captured by the mystery and wanting to read further.

I enjoyed this read immensely, the narrative voice is enjoyable and real. There is a lot of suspense and musing by the main character that makes you think beyond the plot of the book and about your own life. Keep up the good work! Will definitely read the rest of the the series.

I started reading this book as a favor and was soon engrossed. I would not have considered it without encouragement from a friend but found that it captivated me from the start and kept me turning pages until the end. The author developed his characters well and the story line is coherent and interesting. I read a lot and usually get a sample on my Kindle so I can move on if the book does not grab me. I bought this one before I finished the sample.

Brilliant idea for a storyline. The authors did great in keeping me gripped paragraph by paragraph. The fact that something so intriguing can come from such a sad reality speaks for the quality of this independent work. You can pick up a nihilistic undertone in the ideology of the story line, though I greatly disagree with this philos, I enjoyed this nonetheless.I look forward to reading more.

The writing is well done and I liked the humor. The story was pretty good but I was confused some of the time about what was going on. I plan on reading the next book because I do believe that these writers can get better and look forward to reading ore of their work either together or apart.

Tim McBain is a fantastic author and easily rivals such established writers as Stephen King, Joe Hill, and Robert McCammon. The writing is sharp and ste story is so compelling it was hard to put down. Please, do yourself a favor and buy this book. It is amazing!

I have never read a description of the inside of a dumpster in such detail before. I can sense in my mind the person on the verge of throwing up if she had to stay in there for very long...the torment of a choice between that smell and escaping the hands of death. Almost placed me in the scene. I loved the sample read that I did.

I liked all the characters, in particular Jeff’s character, the humour runs well in the plot. Which in itself, moves forward at an easy pace, and never loses its charm, even when things go dark. I think the humour is more evident when things do go dark, which is a good contrast. There are mysteries in this publication, which also applies various angles throughout the entire story. I don’t have any real criticism about this book, other than a suggestion to the author’s. The ending could really do with a bridge line to link this story with a follow-up. Marks out of 10? I would definitely award this publication a 9. Or 4.5 stars with an the store review.

This book is all over the place. I finished the book and I still don't know what was the point of the book or what it is really about. It seems like it is just a reason to make you buy the next book. I am not sure if I will read the next one.

Jeff Grobnagger's self-deprecating narration maintains a delicate balance between sad and humorous in this thrilling tale. Full of magic and mystery, this book is sure to keep you interested until the end.

I was really intrigued about the concept of this book and dove right in. I'll spare you a lot of regurgitation over the details of it and other reviews - isn't that the point of reading it? Let me just say, it's a must read! Made me hungry to read more. This one doesn't dissappoint. It grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go!

I havent read the book fully, but from what I had read so far the Book is chillingly good. I can't wait to read the rest of it. Its so far a fantastic read and has kept me intrested in it.

Can't wait to read more.

This story takes hold of you from the start, so many twists & Turns, it flowed well & I loved Guy, flaws & all :) it was wondering how Tim incorporated so many elements together....Horror, Comedy & a little heartbreak for good measure.Highly recommend :)

I liked all the characters, in particular Jeff’s character, the humour runs well in the plot. Which in itself, moves forward at an easy pace, and never loses its charm, even when things go dark. I think the humour is more evident when things do go dark, which is a good contrast. There are mysteries in this publication, which also applies various angles throughout the entire story. I don’t have any real criticism about this book, other than a suggestion to the author’s. The ending could really do with a bridge line to link this story with a follow-up. Marks out of 10? I would definitely award this publication a 9. Or 4.5 stars with an the store review.

This book is all over the place. I finished the book and I still don't know what was the point of the book or what it is really about. It seems like it is just a reason to make you buy the next book. I am not sure if I will read the next one.

Jeff Grobnagger's self-deprecating narration maintains a delicate balance between sad and humorous in this thrilling tale. Full of magic and mystery, this book is sure to keep you interested until the end.

I havent read the book fully, but from what I had read so far the Book is chillingly good. I can't wait to read the rest of it. Its so far a fantastic read and has kept me intrested in it.

Can't wait to read more.

This story takes hold of you from the start, so many twists & Turns, it flowed well & I loved Guy, flaws & all :) it was wondering how Tim incorporated so many elements together....Horror, Comedy & a little heartbreak for good measure.Highly recommend :)

This book repeatedly put me to sleep. I wanted to like the book, but it was like trying to sit through a 10 course meal and they keep serving you different kinds of soup when you are wanting some meat and potatoes. I didn't finish the book. I don't recommend it unless you like deep thoughtful books that don't go anywhere and want something to help you sleep.

A wonderful twisting read that leaves you guessing as to what will happen next. Fade to Black feeds you a little more of the story with each turn of the page. And you can't turn them fast enough.

Get caught up in Fade to Black and you won't regret it. A thrilling read just waiting for you.

Obviously with a one star review, I'm not going to have anything good to say about this one.
I took a chance on this as I saw the authors promoting it heavily on Twitter. I lean more towards the Indie writers anyway so it wasn't out of my comfort zone.
I will say, if the rest of this book had been like the first 15%, it would have done much better by me.
At the beginning there is abundant dark and witty humor. Then, it's as if that person left the room and someone deeply immersed in the works of Jung and Nietzsche took over. The book really drug from this point on. There was still the small interjection of humor but at this point in the book, instead of witty it comes off as crass. Fine line, I'm sure.
Almost forgot my favorite part, there is no end to this book. Just a continuation into the next, not even cliffhanger style.