Dark Ocean by Patrick Carpenter

Dark Ocean

by Patrick Carpenter

(Science Fiction, Dystopian)

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In a galaxy far from and long since the existence of Earth, Addy Palmer and her brother, Alex, struggle to live amongst the corruption and post-war chaos of the Sarian empire. Every day seems like just another pessimistic drop in the bucket for Addy. Then, one day, everything changes when Alex inadvertently discovers that he has a super-human power. This phenomenal event is witnessed by a man named Zach Brine, an obsessive and meticulous soldier from a secretive organization called “Prism,” binding the three of them together on an epic quest to discover the origin of Alex’s power.Along the way, Addy seeks to discover meaning in her life that was once defined by hopelessness and nihilism. Wondrous worlds, mystical creatures, and kindred spirits open her heart to all that is possible. Unfortunately, her journey also reveals a long repressed, tormented past involving a warlord who calls himself “the fox.” Now awakened, Addy cannot take back what she knows. Can she reconcile it all and find her true purpose? Will she be able to help Alex find his as well? Most importantly, can she do it without losing herself in the process?Fans of young adult titles like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Ender’s Game will enjoy this dystopian tale of cosmic powers, fated meetings, and faraway worlds.

A Word from the Author

Dark Ocean is a young adult science fiction adventure with plenty of fantasy and dystopian elements. The story features a strong female protagonist, Addy Palmer, who embarks on a wondrous quest with her brother and their mentor to discover the origin of a cosmic power they accidentally uncovered. Addy hopes to find the meaning of her life, once defined by nihilism and a tortured past involving a warlord who calls himself “The Fox.” The question is, can she do it without losing herself in the process?

The ideas for Dark Ocean really started when I was in high school. Back then, the story was actually about Jett, one of the characters who has since taken a lesser role in the story. It was only in about 2018 when I decided that I really wanted a female main character, and that was because I noticed that there weren’t too many big science fiction titles that featured a female lead. I also knew I didn’t want Addy to be stereotypical either. A heavy inspiration for me came from the character of Rey from the newest Star Wars Trilogy. The biggest thing for me was that I wanted Addy to be strong and outspoken, but in a realistic way, like the kind of way that someone with great internal strife would present themself. This quality really came out in Dark Ocean, and I think the story ended up being just as much about Addy’s emotional journey as it was about the external quest.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy reading Dark Ocean as much as I enjoyed writing it. There will definitely be more to come in the future!

(Patrick Carpenter)