The Overlord Protocol (review)

In this British import, the world with which we are familiar, Lightside, is complemented by another; when Jonathan realizes there is no respite for him in the known, he slips into the violent underworld of Darkside, seeking sanctuary and a remedy for his mentally ill father. Jonathan knew nothing of his own status as a half-Darksider, his father's earlier forays into this dangerous world, or even the existence of the parallel sphere, but he quickly gets up to speed with the aid of a wereman, an ally of his father, who explains that Darkside was created to house all of London's worst criminals (Jack the Ripper was the original law enforcer, and his descendants still play this role). Here Jonathan must both avoid capture and find a way to help his father, whose comatose state in an asylum puts him at heightened risk for being murdered by a Darksider vampire hungering for an easy human feed. Darkside is a true maelstrom of evil and danger, and Becker sprinkles ominous details throughout, intricately describing a memorable world wherein one is less likely to be welcomed than stabbed. However, the impetus behind Jonathan's first venture into Darkside is weakly described, seeming more plot contrivance than integral development (he is one of two half-Darkside boys hunted to be part of a staged fight). In addition, there are far more questions left open than answered in this first novel of the series, and the attention on creating a setting in which future adventures can be based may leave readers frustrated for more action and more resolution in this one. Nevertheless, early plot glitches in a series may not deter true horror fans, who will likely find the portrayal of this hauntingly well-developed underworld worth the read.