Scan barcode
zoe_o_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Minor: Gore, Blood, and Death of parent
asherz08's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
For a debut novel, Kayla has everything you could want in a good paranormal read. Her attention to detail and sucking you in to the world of Ulalume Academy is absolutely fantastic. I definitely recommend picking this up if your looking for a good spooky season read this fall.
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
thetinytrashcan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide and Toxic relationship
meleac07's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, Murder, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
diadoodle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
pey333's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
lil_rachie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Murder and Toxic friendship
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
alli_the_bookaholic13's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was an excellent YA queer mystery thriller. If you’re not already intrigued by that alone, there are potential cult elements, a mysterious band disappearance from almost 20 years ago, a queer girl coming to terms with her sexuality, and a weird thing in the tunnels beneath the school that can grant wishes.
The writing style was really good. It was super easy to follow, and the author developed the creepy and unsettling atmosphere really well. I was completely sucked into this story, and I didn’t want to put it down. It did feel a little slow at times, but I enjoyed the mystery aspect and also the relationship aspect.
Finch has lived a pretty sheltered life, but after her parents death, she starts at Ulalume. She and Selena are drawn towards each other, and I enjoyed seeing Finch come to terms with her crush on Selena. Their relationship was really good, and I liked how it developed over the course of the book. Finch is also drawn down into the tunnels beneath Ulalume where she accidentally pulls something into existence in their world.
Selena was also a good character. I liked her confidence and how she owned her identity, and I really felt for her when we learned how she’d suffered before getting to this place where she could own it. Her toxic friendship/relationship with Kyra was very unsettling, and Kyra only became worse as the book progressed. Selena is drawn not only towards Finch, but she’s also pulled into the mystery of the thing in the tunnels when Kyra discovers it and gets her friends involved.
This got pretty dark at times, and the ending was really intense. I really liked the friendships that developed in the book, the romance, and the creepy mystery.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, Grief, Medical trauma, Outing, and Alcohol
sarahmreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I usually read horror books, just because I get grossed out so quickly and I get scared very easily. But I decided to brave through it for the gays, and it was absolutely worth it.
Let's start with worldbuilding. Rainwater is such an interesting town with a unique history behind it, although it felt kind of infodumped at some points throughout the story. Although I did absolutely love the lore and history behind the mystery and what had occurred in the past. I do also wish that the epilogue provided a bit more clarity as to what was the aftermath for Killing Howard. I know it is basically assumed they died, but the story was built for us to think there was more.
I will say that the characters really made this story unique! I absolutely loved Selena and Finch, although Finch at times was too emotional, but given her history I don't blame her. This story does reveal a lot of flaws to people, especially when it comes to wanting to leave a toxic relationship but not being sure how to, which I relate to a LOT, as well as the hurdles people jump over to try and figure out their sexuality and the people that might get hurt along the way. These were done extremely well, especially at the end which I won't get into because of spoilers. I was half expecting one thing to be done because of how often you see it in media, but it was fresh to see it done the other way around.
Some characters I think were underutilized a little bit, some being Sumera and Simon. They were great characters, and allowed for a lot of dual perspective and characters that introduce us to the world of "My Dearest Darkest." However, sometimes they were just... there? I really thought they would serve bigger purposes besides some exposition and easy-ins to Rainwater, but they really didn't and wish they were involved more. Then there were characters that were used too much, like Kyra. She was a great antagonist with well-rooted motivations, but every single time she got in a fight with the main cast, she says a one-liner and storms out. I kid you not, every scene with her in it ends with her slamming some door. It was kind of funny after a while but it did irk me.
The romance, on the other hand, was absolutely adorable! It was a beautifully written story of rivals forced to work together to lovers and UGH! The story of Finch discovering her sexuality and Selena's experience coming to terms with being bisexual was so well done. I was swooning and screaming and rooting for them the whole way. This story goes to show that love, even queer love, prevails all.
I was absolutely on the edge of my seat. Everything was so graphic and extremely well-described to the point where the more disgusting scenes still gross me out long after I finished reading it. That being said, I don't recommend this for the faint of heart. There are some NASTY images that made me squirm and scream. But honestly, the plot kept me hooked enough to keep reading.
My Dearest Darkest is one of the best debut novels I've read in a long time, and is perfect for horror fans who want some more queer love out of scary books. I can't recommend this book enough!
I received a copy of this story as an e-ARC from both NetGalley and the publisher. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Outing