“The debut novel from a Kiwi author, this story does a slick job of combining fantasy with reality. The plot deals with love and magic and will appeal to a young adult audience. Benton wears his literary influences on his sleeve and refers to more than one cultural touchstone while keeping the reader hooked.”

“The demon stepped on to the Darum Plain and howled. A pair of blue-grey doves rose from a nearby belt of prairie grass and fled south. So begins Jonathan Benton’s first novel, A Wicked Kind of Dark, which introduces an exciting new voice in Australian young adult fiction … “

“… Young adult fantasy readers will love this imaginative new series. Its exploration of modern teenage issues like depression and isolation works well within its classical literature framework, making it a lyrical and significant read.”

“A Wicked Kind of Dark is a well-paced and well told tale.”

“Jonathan’s great achievement in this, his first novel, is to marry Tolkien-esque fantasy and apocalyptic escapism with contemporary urban alienation. Like his troubled protagonist, he moves between these worlds – which are equally real and haunting – with ease.”

“I feel that Jonathan K. Benton really succeeded in bringing the characters and setting of A Wicked Kind of Dark to life … The story is a well-paced page-turner and the writing style engages the reader to care about the outcome.”

“… How do you make yourself known in such a crowded market [young adult]. Well, before all else, you have to produce a very good book filled with beautiful writing, and this is what Jonathan has done …”

“WHOA. Can I just say that I’ve never had a book that has made me laugh, cry and frown all in one sitting … Honestly, I’m so happy to see a fantasy piece that combines a little bit of reality within it … This young adult fiction piece has done an amazing job at proving just how important it is to see the world through the eyes of our inner innocence.”

“Brisbane writer Jonathan K Benton has created a parallel world of magic interwoven with reality in this dramatic debut tale of good and evil. Young hero Robert Duncan refuses to believe in the supernatural until a chilling phone call from an unknown woman forces him to remember his past and his childhood sweetheart. Robert finds himself thrust into the dark, dangerous world of Minaea, where magic is everywhere and humans are forbidden. But a powerful demon threatens to overshadow the good of Minaea and, to save the world from darkness, Robert must find his lost friend Luthien before the next blood moon. Dripping with descriptive language, A Wicked Kind of Dark is a sinister kind of fairy tale that grips readers from the first chapter. It is a climactic tale for teens that explores the limitless power of the imagination. ”