Scan barcode
A review by renettereads
The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
“She was left with silence whispering in her head and shadows whispering at her feet and the very distinct feeling that she’d been somehow fractured on the inside.”
Following Delaney, our deaf main character, as she enrols at Godbole University intending to shatter people's impressions of her fragility, she’s faced with something far more menacing than she could’ve ever expected.
Told in three parts, this story was mysterious and eerie, and I very much loved the first part. It was told in a sort of dreamy way that made it all the more mystifying. Although it feels a little confusing, I liked that it set up a lot of questions and left me grasping for answers. Though part two started to draw connections, the story only really came together in part three, which made it feel a little rushed. As a reader, there was almost a sense of whiplash at how you’re suddenly, after such a build-up, expected to reconcile everything that had happened. It’s sad that the execution let this down because the foundations were there but just didn’t come together cohesively.
In saying that, the idea of slipping between worlds and of death changing us was really intriguing. The prose was absolutely stunning, and I liked this twist on dark academia. Character-wise, Colton was my newest fictional crush in the first half of the book – cue the sarcastic, morally-grey boy who'd do anything for his girl – but a few strange decisions and a little bit of a manipulative character made me feel conflicted in the second half.
Parts of this book could’ve easily been a 5-star read for me if other bits didn’t let it down. Still, The Whispering Dark was a gripping page-turner, and if you like dark reads, slow-burn sexual tension and the occult, you might really love this.
Following Delaney, our deaf main character, as she enrols at Godbole University intending to shatter people's impressions of her fragility, she’s faced with something far more menacing than she could’ve ever expected.
Told in three parts, this story was mysterious and eerie, and I very much loved the first part. It was told in a sort of dreamy way that made it all the more mystifying. Although it feels a little confusing, I liked that it set up a lot of questions and left me grasping for answers. Though part two started to draw connections, the story only really came together in part three, which made it feel a little rushed. As a reader, there was almost a sense of whiplash at how you’re suddenly, after such a build-up, expected to reconcile everything that had happened. It’s sad that the execution let this down because the foundations were there but just didn’t come together cohesively.
In saying that, the idea of slipping between worlds and of death changing us was really intriguing. The prose was absolutely stunning, and I liked this twist on dark academia. Character-wise, Colton was my newest fictional crush in the first half of the book – cue the sarcastic, morally-grey boy who'd do anything for his girl – but a few strange decisions and a little bit of a manipulative character made me feel conflicted in the second half.
Parts of this book could’ve easily been a 5-star read for me if other bits didn’t let it down. Still, The Whispering Dark was a gripping page-turner, and if you like dark reads, slow-burn sexual tension and the occult, you might really love this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Ableism