Dark Days by Dahir Hersi

In "Dark Days," readers plunge into the gripping narrative of Max, a 19-year-old freshman at Freemont University. His ordinary college life spirals into chaos when an extraordinary cosmic event unfolds. As Max navigates his freshman year, the sun inexplicably falls into a lunar eclipse, casting an unyielding shadow over the earth. This perplexing phenomenon defies the laws of nature, persisting unnaturally, with neither movement nor change, stirring unease and speculation among the populace.

The story takes a harrowing turn when Max, amidst growing societal panic, hears a piercing scream that leads him to the campus park. There, he encounters a terrifying, six-foot-tall entity, akin to the mythical Slenderman, but more ghastly. This creature, with its stark black form and haunting white eyes, is assaulting a fellow student. Max's discovery marks the onset of an apocalyptic nightmare.

As the eclipse continues to loom, the world descends into darkness both literally and metaphorically. People transform into grotesque, zombie-like beings, heralding a new era of survival and fear. Max, once a regular college student, finds himself at the epicenter of this chilling new reality. He must navigate this dystopian world, grappling with the loss of normalcy and the rise of horror.

"Dahir Hersi weaves a tale that is not just about survival, but also about the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable terror. "Dark Days" is a riveting blend of science fiction and horror, with a protagonist whose journey is as emotionally resonant as it is harrowing. This novel is a profound exploration of how an ordinary person confronts extraordinary circumstances, and the transformations that ensue both within and without.