Nick Lake's In Darkness was published in 2014 by Bloomsbury USA. It tells the story of a young boy nicknamed "Shorty," who is trapped in a hospital after the Haitian Earthquake of 2010. Initially, Shorty is hopeful that he will be rescued. However, as time passes and more people die because of a lack of medical care and food, Shorty starts to lose hope. He doesn't have food and is hurting; he thinks that time is running out for him—until he senses another presence near him. That spirit, Shorty later finds out, is Toussaint L'Ouverture, a leader of the Haitian revolution whose life came to an end much like Shorty's will if he doesn't get help: in complete darkness (hence the title of the novel). Together, the two contend with the history of Haiti and work together to help Shorty survive his unfortunate circumstances.
Many reviewers called In Darkness a revelation. The novel won a number of prestigious awards, became a bestseller, and received exceptionally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The Bookbag UK said in their review that "Readers, old and young alike, will come away from In Darkness with a meaningful understanding of what it is to be Haitian. And what it is like to have the world fall down on you. Highly, highly, and thrice highly recommended. Don't miss it." The Wall Street Journal showered Lake's novel with even higher praise. They called the novel "remarkable" and complemented Lake's "elegant, restrained prose and distinct characters."
