The Gathering Dark by Christopher Golden

This collection of excerpts introduces readers to Christopher Golden's "The Shadow Saga," particularly "The Gathering Dark," a supernatural thriller. The narrative follows several key characters across various locations: Peter Octavian, a powerful mage and former vampire, grapples with his mortality and past as he confronts mysterious incursions and disappearing towns; Keomany Shaw, an earth witch, discovers and wields immense elemental power as her hometown is enveloped in a strange, orange-hued dimension; Nikki Wydra, a rock singer and Peter's companion, confronts the horrors alongside him while navigating her own fears; Kuromaku, an immortal warrior, fights demons in Paris and an afflicted Mont de Moreau, forming an unexpected bond with Sophie; and Allison Vigeant, a vampire working with the U.N., hunts other supernatural creatures and assists in understanding the escalating global threat of dimensional breaches. The story centers on their combined efforts to combat the Tatterdemalion and its "Whispers," demonic entities that are pulling cities from the real world into a monstrous, shared Hellscape, highlighting themes of heroism, sacrifice, and the blurred lines between good and evil.