He Opened His Eyes and It Was Dark by R. R. Griffin takes us into a world on the verge of social and environmental ruin. Richard, a college student, wakes up in a dismal dormitory while the city around him crumbles under the weight of power outages, starvation, and toxic snow. His college experience leaves him feeling empty, and he's plagued by old memories of happier days. He meets up with friends who join him in small (but dangerous) rebellious acts against oppressive guards called Citizen Watchers. He also bonds with Old Dirge, an eccentric older man, who feeds Richard's thoughts with myths of better times. As the city succumbs to more decay, Richard encounters characters afflicted by the same despair he experiences. Each interaction tests his strength and propels him to decide whether to give in to the system or fight back against it.

R. R. Griffin's He Opened His Eyes and It Was Dark is a thought-provoking and entertaining dystopian read. Although Richard’s journey occurs in a world where deterioration is everywhere, his quiet rebellion gives the book heart and impetus. The striking details of the toxic snow, empty classrooms, and violent streets are deeply emotional, but necessary since they make Richard’s struggles feel more authentic. Similarly, the other characters around him add their own multi-layered and engrossing story arcs to the narrative. I like how each character's life experience gradually motivates Richard to make tough choices that reflect the kind of person he needs to become. It is very moving and poetic in a way. What makes this novel so powerful is how it shapes concepts like social collapse into a story that explores themes such as compassion, resistance, and social unity. It paints a profound picture of how society can slip into control and apathy if people stop caring. Great read. I absolutely loved it!

Set in a dystopian near future, R.R. Griffin's He Opened His Eyes and It was Dark is a gripping tale of oppression and rebellion. Richard is a twenty-four-year-old student at the Academy of Middle Management. Feeling disillusioned by the slow degradation of society, with most of the general populace living in poverty and squalor under a totalitarian regime, Richard begins to lose himself in a spiral of alcohol and despair. However, he finds a ray of hope when he witnesses a beautiful young woman in the streets who stands up to the atrocities of the City Watch. Soon, Richard, his friend Mark, and the siblings, Gregory and Rhea, team up to help the poor by stealing from the rich. But not everything goes according to plan, and as rebellion escalates, so does the tyranny of the regime.

He Opened His Eyes and It was Dark is a timely reminder of how fascism erodes the fundamental tenets of society one step at a time. Author R.R. Griffin layers the narrative with relevant social commentary in this absorbing novel, illustrating how oppression and brutality can lead people to take extreme measures against their rulers. The author really captures the feeling of angst and rebellion among the youth living under a dictatorship. All the major characters, including Richard, Mark, Gregory, Rhea, and Old Dirge, come from different backgrounds and have distinct personalities. I loved the dynamics between the group of rebels. Whether it's the romance between Richard and Rhea or the friendship between Richard and Mark, Griffin excels in portraying the bonds between the characters. I also liked the ending. It was bittersweet yet realistic. Recommended to readers of dystopian fiction.

He Opened His Eyes and it was Dark by R. R. Griffin follows Richard, a young man living in a deteriorating city under strict societal control, as he becomes involved with a group led by Gregory, a charismatic figure organizing resistance against oppressive forces. Richard keeps routines at school and in his dorm, hangs out with friends like Mark and, eventually, Rhea, Gregory’s sister, gradually becoming involved in the group’s plans. Gregory coordinates raids on government ration trucks to redistribute supplies to the poor, with Richard, Rhea, and Mark taking part. Their actions bring them into direct conflict with armed authorities known as Citizen Watchers. After a critical ambush with catastrophic casualties, the survivors retreat and regroup, unsure of how to hold the rebellion together. Meanwhile, the city’s military leadership, including Gregory and Rhea’s father, begins mobilizing to counter the insurgents, creating strain between family, strategic loyalty, and the threat of broader conflict.

R. R. Griffin’s dystopian speculative novel, He Opened His Eyes and it was Dark, delivers a striking journey through a city teetering between decay and unexpected hope, engulfing us in a world that can only bring us to champion daring strategy, loyalty, and unanticipated heroism. Richard provides a uniquely pointed set of keen observations, from dilapidated streets to the calculated actions of Gregory and his allies, and his growth as a character from how he begins to what he becomes makes him someone you really want to root for. Griffin excels at balancing suspenseful sequences, action, and even tragedy with moments of hope and humor, creating a rhythm that makes the whole story textured and forward-moving. The orchestration of plans, the camaraderie among the group, the palpable sense of purpose, the inventive depiction of social dynamics, and the eeriness of the Watchers are the baseline of the world built by the author. With so many possible directions, this could spin into a series. I'm looking forward to wherever we are taken next.

He Opened His Eyes and It Was Dark by R. R. Griffin is a gripping drama that follows Richard, a young man living in a bleak near-future. His town suffers from frequent power outages, harsh winter weather, acidic snow, and severe poverty. Richard spends his days in school, contemplating the dire state of affairs and hoping that things change. In contrast, his friend Mark comes from a disadvantaged background and survives on meager rations. One day, they learn from a schoolmate named Gregory about a radical group that opposes the system and seeks to improve their grim circumstances. Eager to make a difference, they are quickly recruited, and Richard meets Rhia, Gregory’s sister, a determined member with whom he has a brief encounter one night. The two are united by a shared cause and a love that flourishes amidst the chaos. However, their missions lead to tragic deaths and draw the attention of those in power, putting their lives at risk.

R. R. Griffin's He Opened His Eyes and It Was Dark is a compelling story that entertains while also serving as a powerful call to action. It urges readers to resist oppressive systems and remain vigilant and proactive in challenging societal injustices, rather than remaining passive in the face of adversity. The characters’ relationships with their parents reveal contrasting influences. Richard's father, who fought against oppression and sacrificed his life, instills in him a sense of activism. In contrast, Mark's upbringing emphasized survival and obedience, reflecting a more passive approach. Gregory and Rhia were raised by an influential yet passive father, but they ultimately decided to take action. These familial dynamics enrich the story's message about the power of individual choices in confronting systemic injustice and illustrate the impact the older generation has on younger ones. The narrative is fast-paced, with an engaging plot and insightful commentary on social justice and equality. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope to learn more about these characters, as their journeys appear to be just beginning.

He Opened His Eyes and It Was Dark by R. R. Griffin is a gritty, dystopian tale set in a bleak future where society’s collapse, environmental decay, and authoritarian control have become the order of the day. The story alternates between the perspectives of different characters, including Richard, a disillusioned college student haunted by memories of his past and his father’s ideals, and Rhia, a brave young woman risking her safety to aid the impoverished and challenge the corrupt system. Richard's world is a crumbling city marked by power outages, oppressive regimes like the Citizen Watchers, and a society numbed by slogans and apathy. Rhia, on the other hand, navigates the treacherous streets at night, assisting the needy and confronting violence with quiet courage. Their lives intersect unexpectedly through moments of violence, kindness, and rebellion, hinting at a potential spark for change amid chaos. When Gregory, a charismatic figure, speaks at a rally for a movement advocating justice and reform, Rhia emerges as a symbol of hope. But in a world so broken, is change possible?

The first thing that caught my attention was R. R. Griffin’s focus on worldbuilding and the internal conflicts of the characters. The austerity and burden of life in this world are cleverly conveyed through the experiences of the characters, as the author vividly constructs a dystopian world characterized by environmental ruin, governmental corruption, and social stratification. Characters like Richard, Rhia, Gregory, and Old Dirge are well-developed, and their journeys and unique experiences allow the despair to emerge fully in the story. I enjoyed everything about these characters, from Richard’s introspective cynicism to Rhia’s fearless activism. Themes of apathy versus action, the importance of memory and legacy, and the potential for collective rebellion permeate the narrative. He Opened His Eyes and It Was Dark has everything I look for in the genre, including well-rounded characters, engaging writing, well-defined conflict, and stellar worldbuilding.