The Appeal of the Slow-Burn Narrative as Seen in “This Darkness and Light”

I happened to see this online, and since the reviews were good, I bought
This Darkness and Light by Mayumi Hattori
and read it all in one go!

Today, I’m going to talk about my thoughts as someone who posts novels on web novel platforms!

A major characteristic of web novels is that many works start with a scene designed to grab the reader's interest. Aside from those reading for a specific author, I believe this is because readers need to determine right from the start whether a story matches their tastes and if it’s interesting, given the sheer number of web novels out there.

That’s true. If a story starts with something like 'I woke up in the morning and turned into a woman!' or 'A naked man fell from the sky,' you get curious and want to keep reading, right!

I felt that this work, if anything, has a slower start. Yet, it’s captivating.

Why is that?

The story progresses from the protagonist's perspective.
It begins with the words the father uses to call the protagonist in the very first line. It’s only two lines, but it’s writing that makes it clear how deeply loved they must be.

And then, the cold words spoken by someone named “Daphne.”

This gap is what draws you in.

Who is Daphne? Why does she hate the protagonist?

As you read on, you realize that the protagonist is blind.

In my opinion, no major incidents occur within the story. The reader also experiences the sensation of being blindfolded, grasping for clues little by little with limited information.

Lies and truths.

Even though it was slow, I couldn't stop reading because of the “unease” scattered throughout, making me wonder, 'What is going on?'

Something is wrong.

Where is this? What era is this story set in? What will happen to this child next?

Is this child really in such a precarious environment?

The way it fully utilizes the medium of a novel to create a situation where information is limited due to the lack of visual input... it’s just superb!!!!

When writing a story, I often feel anxious, wondering how much will actually get across to the reader?
Am I conveying what I intend to?

That’s why scattering information and making the reader think, as this novel does, is a highly advanced technique. But this slow burn is irresistible. It’s wonderful!

Even if the start is slow or the story progression is gradual, stories that create a sense of “unease” and lead the reader to solve mysteries have a compelling charm!

Writing that poses questions even when it isn't in an interrogative form... that's good.

See you in the next article!! ( *´꒳`*)ﾉｼ