December 23, 2025 - fundinmentalfundinmental

MY REVIEW

Facing Nightfall: The Sunrise Saga by Michael B Chikondi is his first novel and I am glad that he brought it into the light. This dark, gothic, eerie novel can be described as a coming of age novel for Abbey Sharp. I love that she climbs out her window and has a hideaway on the roof where she observes her surroundings while smoking cigarettes.

Abbey and her friend, Lewis, wander the streets at night fighting against the darkness that calls to them. They will face more than the supernatural. They will question their life, their loyalty will be tested and it will take a lot of strength to resist the evil taking over the town.

MIchael B Chikondi blends the supernatural with humanity, making the characters question their choices. I found Facing Nightfall to be an original take on a familiar tale and I do love my vampires, so getting lost in Abbey’s story was exciting, making it hard to stop reading. It’s 419 pages of deliciousness.

I have read numerous novels by Michael B Chikondi, but this is my favorite.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

When the quiet town of Masham falls under the shadow of something ancient and merciless, Abbey Sharp finds herself drawn into a struggle far larger than late-night smokes on the rooftop and her parents’ weary routines.
As night stretches on, whispers of missing people, strange broadcasts, and creatures that shouldn’t exist unravel the fabric of normal life. Abbey and her friend Lewis are forced to confront a terrifying the town is infested with vampires, and survival demands more than just keeping the lights on.
But in a world where allegiances blur and even family can change overnight, Abbey must decide how much of herself she’s willing to sacrifice. Is she strong enough to resist the seductive pull of power, or will she lose everything in the fight against the darkness?
Facing Nightfall is a gothic, atmospheric vampire tale where loyalty is tested, blood is bargained, and the night never truly ends.

Genre: Fiction, Gothic, Horror, Paranormal, Supernatural, Vampires
419 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2025

ABOUT MICHAEL B CHIKONDI (from Amazon)

Michael B. Chikondi is not to be trusted, but the creature agrees to a meeting in its burrow. We enter with trepidation, given that the thing has no doorbell. As we crawl through the narrow tunnel, gored out by its own teeth, by the texture, we hear what can only be described as a hacking cough.

“Can we approach?” we call.

“No soliciting.” the voice returns.

“You sent for us; you told us to ask you questions. You know, for promotional reasons.”

“Ask.” the dread voice responds.

“Alright, who are you?” we try.

“A creature of mist and shadow, half-mad, I used to go out, I did, and know those…humans. Not now, not since…the pen.”

“You found a pen? That’s why you became a writer?” we ask, now terrified, trying to gauge how fast we can leave the burrow. The photographer has already left us, chewing off his own watch, caught on a tree root.

“Yes, but now…I hunger…”

We are not proud; we turn tail and flee, before it can leave its den. We aren’t paid enough to get a full bio. We can only pray someone buys its books, so that the thing never comes out on its own.

Ed. What the hell is this? This isn’t what we requested. Just some nonsense and an artist’s rendition of what one of my people saw before he contracted rabies? Eh, whatever. Plenty more writers in the sea.

MY MICHAEL B CHIKONDI REVIEWS