Book covers of a dark fantasy series by M.C. Ryder, featuring titles "The Darkest Side of the Moon," "A Darker Demise," and "A Dance Between Light and Darkness."

THE DARK

Enter the darkness. Discover who you are when the light fades.

Series Information

Series
The Dark
Author
Primary Genre
Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Secondary Genre
Paranormal Fantasy
Books in Series
2 Main Novels + 1 Supplemental Collection
Series Status
Published
Series Type
Continuous Supernatural Fantasy Storyline with Supplemental Short Stories
Reading Order
Publication Order Recommended
First Book
Target Audience
Young Adult Fantasy Readers
Setting
A contemporary supernatural world where vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, ancient magic, and hidden powers exist alongside the human world
Core Themes
Identity, destiny, forgiveness, redemption, grief, love, loyalty, sacrifice, choice, and the struggle between light and darkness
Popular Tropes
Vampires and werewolves, hidden bloodlines, ancient prophecy, forbidden magic
Publisher
The Dark Saga Reading Order
Book Title
1 The Darkest Side of the Moon
2 A Dance Between Light and Darkness
3 A Darker Demise

The Dark is a gripping young adult fantasy series by M.C. Ryder that plunges readers into a shadow-soaked world where magic is dangerous, secrets are deadly, and the line between light and darkness is never as clear as it seems. Set in a richly imagined realm shaped by ancient forces, hidden powers, and long-buried rivalries, the series follows young heroes drawn into conflicts far greater than themselves and forced to confront truths that could alter the fate of their world.

What begins as a struggle for survival soon becomes a battle over identity, loyalty, and destiny. Magic offers extraordinary power, but every gift carries a cost. Those who wield it are changed by the experience, sometimes in ways they cannot control. As the stakes rise, the characters must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice, who they can trust, and whether the power they need to defeat darkness might also pull them closer to it.

Friendship, love, and loyalty are tested under relentless pressure. Alliances shift. Old wounds resurface. Betrayals cut deeper as the truth behind ancient conflicts slowly comes into focus. The young heroes at the center of the story are forced to grow quickly, learning that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to keep moving when fear threatens to overwhelm everything else.

Hidden bloodlines and cryptic prophecies weave through the series, revealing secrets that have been protected for generations. Each discovery changes the meaning of what came before and raises new questions about who can be trusted and what the future may hold. As these revelations come to light, the characters are pushed to their limits, confronting loss, deception, and the shadows within themselves.

The deeper they travel into the darkness, the more difficult it becomes to distinguish between enemy and ally, destiny and manipulation, power and corruption. Every choice carries consequences, and even the right decision may come at an unbearable price.

At its heart, The Dark is a coming-of-age story about discovering who you are when the world demands that you become someone else. Its characters struggle not only against supernatural forces and dangerous enemies, but against doubt, grief, anger, temptation, and the fear that the darkness surrounding them may already be taking root within.

As the shadows deepen and the truth becomes impossible to ignore, one question remains:

When darkness calls, who will you become?

PRAISE FOR THE DARK

  • The Darkest Side of the Moon is a gripping tale that seamlessly blends elements of romance, mystery, and supernatural intrigue. MC Ryder has crafted a memorable protagonist in Nadine, and the intricate plot keeps readers engaged from start to finish. I eagerly await the possibility of a prequel, as it promises to enrich the world created by the author and add further dimension to the fascinating characters.

    Discourse


  • "An intriguing dark, mysterious, mythological fantasy." A M.C. Ryder weaves an exciting and suspenseful supernatural tale in this young adult fiction. Readers will not want the book to end. We highly recommend!

    Explore Authors Magazine

  • This propulsive tale will enthrall fans of The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. I enjoyed the beautiful prose, the unpredictable plot, and the engrossing narrative voice in The Darkest Side of the Moon. The skillful exploration of romance, friendship, and the proverbial conflict between vampires and werewolves added a deeper layer to the entertainment.

    The Book Commentary

Awards & Recognition

M.C. Ryder's The Dark has earned recognition across young adult fantasy, vampire literature, short fiction, and speculative fiction, with honors from the PenCraft Book Awards, Firebird Book Awards, Literary Titan, Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, and Outstanding Creator Awards.

Award Name Year What It Was For
PenCraft Book Awards 2025 The Darkest Side of the Moon — Summer Best Book Winner, Young Adult Fantasy / Sci-Fi
Outstanding Creator Awards 2024 The Darkest Side of the Moon — Second Place, Vampire Literature
Outstanding Creator Awards 2024 The Darkest Side of the Moon — Honorable Mention, Fantasy
Firebird Book Awards 2023 The Darkest Side of the Moon — First Place, New Fiction / First-Time Published
Literary Titan Book Awards 2023 The Darkest Side of the Moon — Gold Book Award
Outstanding Creator Awards 2024 A Dance Between Light and Darkness — First Place, Vampire Literature
Outstanding Creator Awards 2024 A Dance Between Light and Darkness — Honorable Mention, Fantasy
Firebird Book Awards 2023 A Dance Between Light and Darkness — Third Place, Fantasy
Royal Dragonfly Book Awards 2023 A Dance Between Light and Darkness — Honorable Mention, Science Fiction / Fantasy
Outstanding Creator Awards 2024 A Darker Demise — First Place, Vampire Literature
Outstanding Creator Awards 2024 A Darker Demise — Honorable Mention, Fantasy
Firebird Book Awards 2023 A Darker Demise — Third Place, Short Stories
Royal Dragonfly Book Awards 2023 A Darker Demise — Honorable Mention, Collection of Short Stories
Gold and red badge with the words 'Outstanding Creator Awards Winner' and decorative stars and ribbons.
A circular black badge with a silver border featuring a stylized orange and red phoenix with spread wings, the text 'SPEAK UP TALK RADIO' at the top, 'FIREBIRD' in the middle, and 'BOOK AWARD WINNER' at the bottom.
Gold and black literary book award badge with five stars and laurel wreath
Gold and black badge for the PenCraft Awards, indicating a winner for Best Book in Literature Excellence, Summer 2025.

Books in The Dark

Author

M.C. Ryder

Award-winning author M.C. Ryder has been composing stories, poems, and lyrics from the beginning of time, when reading became a hobby. The sky is the limit, but she enjoys exploring off the beaten path both figuratively and literally. She resides in the Keystone State with a clowder of felines who rule the house.

A woman with long dark hair smiling at the camera, wearing an orange jacket over black top, with a patterned scarf, against a black background.