Darkest Hour by V. C. Andrews (1993)

I am a big V.C. Andrews fan and own several of her collections. You can't just read one book from a collection, you must read them all. She is an excellent writer and takes you places other authors wouldn't dare. From fear and deception to death and parting, she makes you feel like you are indeed there feeling as the characters of the book does.

In this particular book, young Lillian finds out fast about family secrets, betrayal and loss. She loses her young sister to an illness. Her other sister is a religious freak, always repeating scriptures and praying. Her mother loses her mind after the sister's death and the dad is a drunken gambler who gambles their plantation away. Lillian is faced with fears and decisions that a child her age should never have to consider. Through the trials that rain upon the Boone family Lillian finally begins to listen to her sister and her awkward way with the word. The sister convinces Lillian that she is a curse for everything she loves dies. I don't want to give the details away of what happens, but this is not any ordinary book. No happy endings here, instead it takes you into a young girls life, you see how she looses her innocence, becomes a slave to her family. Finally, she swallows her childhood dreams of romance, true love, and happy endings. She puts on a fake smile and bottles up her feelings, facing the world as others want to see her.

This book is remarkable. I was so surprised at the twists and turns that are in the book. The book is just a beginning into the Cutler series. You must also read DAWN, SECRETS OF THE MORNING, TWILIGHT'S CHILD, and, MIDNIGHT WHISPERS. If you like journeys into the unordinary, these are defiantly for you!

I am a huge V.C. Andrews fan and really liked this book. I read the first four books in this series and liked them, but I really liked Darkest Hour.

As always this is a gripping story. Any of V. C. Andrews book will leave you wanting to read more. I have read and re-read all her books clear back to Flowers in the Attic.