Dark Variations by AJ Parnell

Vander is now an adult who is about to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania. Alexander adopted him after the end of Making Monsters (book one in this series) and raised him to be an intelligent and refined young man. Alexander has helped Vander learn more about his psychic abilities, and while he doesn’t know the full extent of Vander’s gifts, He has acted as a sort of dark mentor to Vander. Currently, Vander’s gifts are showing that when the Corpse Flower blooms the day before his graduation, the museum will open to find Vander’s dead body displayed as the latest work of art of “The Sculptor.” Somehow, in the nearly two weeks before that day, Vander must use his gifts to find a way to change the fate that Alexander has in store for him. It’s not wrong to do whatever you need to in order to ensure your own survival, no matter who else gets hurt, is it?

I read a review copy of this book which is a dark horror/thriller novel. But it is one where I almost find myself wishing for Vander to succeed. His life in Africa before being adopted and raised by a serial killer was a very miserable time. He was abused and his own father tried to sell him for sexual use to the local sheriff. A life like that is one that would cause anyone to have difficulty trusting others. And with a psychic gift that allows him to see the outcome once a decision has been made, he feels that he has few viable options for saving his own life, And those all lead him down their own dark pathways.

The story is very well written and kept me reading and wanting to know how it would end, and whether or not Vander would survive or be murdered. And as I said, while much of it is a dark tale that is not a happy one, I kept hoping that Vander would find a different way out of his predicament, one that doesn’t involve him becoming as evil as the man who raised him. As I can’t tell you what happens without spoiling the story for you, you’ll just have to read this one for yourself if you want to know what happens.

I enjoyed this story, and I believe that anyone who likes horror/thriller novels with a bit of a twist to them, as well as anyone who has read the first book in this series will enjoy this book. I would recommend giving this book a try if you like dark tales where a serial killer can be both a savior to someone, and at the same time still be a hidden evil.

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