ARA Review by Sara Goodarzi of This Side of the Darkness

[Sara Goodarzi]

[Following is an OnlineBookClub.org ARA Review of the book, This Side of the Darkness.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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This Side of the Darkness by Andromeda Storm

Reading This Side of the Darkness felt like someone opening up to me after years of silence. This isn’t just a novel it’s the author’s own life, and that makes every word hit harder. You can feel how personal it is. What really stood out to me is the way she writes her style switches between poetic and raw honesty, and it’s not jarring it actually mirrors the emotional rollercoaster she’s been through. It doesn’t feel polished in a commercial sense, but that’s what makes it so genuine.

The story follows a girl named Annie, who later becomes Storm. She grows up in a home filled with violence, neglect, and chaos. But the focus isn’t on dramatic events it’s about what happens inside her, how she survives emotionally, how she tries to make sense of a world that keeps hurting her. And even though it's based on her real life, the way she writes pulls you in like you're right there with her, feeling every moment.

What I really appreciated is how the author handles trauma and mental health. She doesn’t describe things like PTSD, self-harm, or disassociation in textbook terms. She shows them, through lived experience. There’s even symbolism in the book like how animals become emotional anchors that adds a layer of depth you don’t expect. If you’ve been through trauma yourself, or work in mental health, this will feel incredibly real and familiar.

Sure, it’s not perfect. Some sections drag, especially when the character goes deep into introspection. There’s some repetition, and characters like the mother and brother aren’t as fleshed out as they could be. The tone of the writing also shifts a lot, which may throw off some readers. But honestly, none of that takes away from the emotional weight and honesty of the story. I’d say it’s best suited for adults or older teens 17+ since it deals with some heavy and intense themes.

I’d give it a strong 4 out of 5 stars not because it’s perfect, but because it matters. It’s something more important it’s someone sharing their truth, bravely and without filter. For anyone who’s survived abuse, or just wants to understand what that kind of pain feels like from the inside, this book is powerful.

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