Scan barcode
cobwebshelves's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"<...>how easily they walk into a trap, a voice whispered softly in her mind. humans are but animals, i suppose. and all animals can be lured with the right bait."
so you've just died and come back to life, got into your dream academy, and during your first week you do wandering in the tunnels under the campus, only to encounter a strange being who promises to bring you gifs out of the kindness of her heart. perhaps with a small payment attached. what could possibly go wrong?
i had a lot of fun with this one! in "my dearest darkest", cottingham has brought solid eeriness to their private school setting, doing a pretty solid job balancing the supernatural and the mundane. finch and selena's POVs are both distinct, painting a clear contrast and helping build up the relationship. both the bisexual and lesbian rep was lovely – having one character who's out and comfortable and another who's just starting to figure things out made for a good contrast, and i also commend cottingham for speaking about how traumatic being outed can be. i'm not a big horror reader, so this had just the right amount of that for me. there were some rather gory moments that made me a little queasy but someone who's more used to the genre probably wouldn't find to be that much.
the only real downside was the pacing and how it affected the character development. certain scenes felt fast-forwarded, making the timeline seem disorienting. i had thought several months had passed at one point, only for the story to drop a halloween mention. this led to conversations and relationship building being skipped over with short paragraphs of "for the next week, finch did this" or "the following two weeks, selena did that". the cult storyline felt lost in the time skips too and i felt like victor was underutilised for the storytelling. i certainly expected him to play a bigger role in the final act.
despite it, i found myself immersed in "my dearest darkest" and kind of wishing i had a story like this when i was 18-19 and hungry for spooky academia.
initially received this book as an arc from netgalley and sourcebooks fire.
so you've just died and come back to life, got into your dream academy, and during your first week you do wandering in the tunnels under the campus, only to encounter a strange being who promises to bring you gifs out of the kindness of her heart. perhaps with a small payment attached. what could possibly go wrong?
i had a lot of fun with this one! in "my dearest darkest", cottingham has brought solid eeriness to their private school setting, doing a pretty solid job balancing the supernatural and the mundane. finch and selena's POVs are both distinct, painting a clear contrast and helping build up the relationship. both the bisexual and lesbian rep was lovely – having one character who's out and comfortable and another who's just starting to figure things out made for a good contrast, and i also commend cottingham for speaking about how traumatic being outed can be. i'm not a big horror reader, so this had just the right amount of that for me. there were some rather gory moments that made me a little queasy but someone who's more used to the genre probably wouldn't find to be that much.
the only real downside was the pacing and how it affected the character development. certain scenes felt fast-forwarded, making the timeline seem disorienting. i had thought several months had passed at one point, only for the story to drop a halloween mention. this led to conversations and relationship building being skipped over with short paragraphs of "for the next week, finch did this" or "the following two weeks, selena did that". the cult storyline felt lost in the time skips too and i felt like victor was underutilised for the storytelling. i certainly expected him to play a bigger role in the final act.
despite it, i found myself immersed in "my dearest darkest" and kind of wishing i had a story like this when i was 18-19 and hungry for spooky academia.
initially received this book as an arc from netgalley and sourcebooks fire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent
czoltak's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Body horror, Blood, and Car accident
imandubose's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Gore, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, and Biphobia
amethyst15's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Gaslighting, and Gore
Moderate: Car accident, Sexual content, Grief, Outing, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
carsonbailey's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
This book was so good!! I read it in one sitting and am obsessed with the vibes. The characters where dynamic and vibrant and the plot was well done. The pacing of the book was great and I just overall loved the style and aesthetic of the book. I highly recommend to people who love horror, dark academia, and a diverse cast of characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Murder, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Outing
kolanya's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
it’s a pretty good book—i found myself invested in the plot and what was going to happen next. i wasn’t super attached to all of the characters, but i cared about enough that it wasn’t a chore to get through or anything. there are lots of modern-day pop culture references, which are often a hit or miss in general. the writing style could use some polishing and the main character was a little plain, nothing special, but i did enjoy the wlw rep :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Body horror, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Outing
thereadedit's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My heart and head was not prepared for this dynamite of a book. As a debut novel, this was so much more than I expected. This book took me from one end of the spectrum to another. I love the sapphic romance intertwined with the horror scenes. This was such a phenomenal book and I can't even begin to give it enough praise.
I absolutely loved the friendships that were explored and pushed to the test within this book. They may be high schoolers but they have put everything to the test in order to prove their worth to themselves and each other.
Finding love when you barely know how to love yourself is a tremendous feat. Finding someone who can love you, can show you how much you can love you.
I really enjoyed the supporting characters that were all throughout the book and what they brought to the table and friendships involved. Without the support this would have been a totally different book!
I absolutely loved the friendships that were explored and pushed to the test within this book. They may be high schoolers but they have put everything to the test in order to prove their worth to themselves and each other.
Finding love when you barely know how to love yourself is a tremendous feat. Finding someone who can love you, can show you how much you can love you.
I really enjoyed the supporting characters that were all throughout the book and what they brought to the table and friendships involved. Without the support this would have been a totally different book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
Moderate: Death of parent
marleywrites's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
This book was so gross. I loved it. It’s nasty parts were disgusting and I could picture the visuals so clearly. It was awesome.
I was rooting for Finch and Selena from their very first meeting. I loved the supporting characters of Sumera, Simon, Amber, and Risa.
Kyra was the perfect villain and pawn for Nerosi.
The spookiest part for me was when Simon and Selena saw the Echo of Margo. For some reason that really freaked me out. But in the best way.
Overall I liked the writing style and humor of the book. I liked the characters.
I wish Sumera could have been seen as more multi-dimensional rather than always being upset with Finch or Selena. I also wish we had slightly more build up towards the beginning of the story.
I was rooting for Finch and Selena from their very first meeting. I loved the supporting characters of Sumera, Simon, Amber, and Risa.
The spookiest part for me was when Simon and Selena saw the Echo of Margo. For some reason that really freaked me out. But in the best way.
Overall I liked the writing style and humor of the book. I liked the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Violence, Biphobia, Blood, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Outing and Suicide
Mention of past suicide off page occurs twice and is brief. Outing is referred to in the past.beckyremillard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Finch dies in a car accident.. but she starts breathing again and survives where her parents don’t. After her accident, she’s accepted to the prestigious boarding school where she meets Selena.
Finch and Selena both know about this paranormal creature that offers them favors. At first, she doesn’t need anything in return, but then she needs hair, fingernails, etc..
I read this author’s newest book, and she definitely has a specific writing style. I enjoyed the other book, which is why I read this one. It was good, albeit a bit gorey, but still an interesting story with a little backstory for the main characters. Could have used more backstory on characters like Simon, Sumera, Amber, Risa, etc.
Finch and Selena both know about this paranormal creature that offers them favors. At first, she doesn’t need anything in return, but then she needs hair, fingernails, etc..
I read this author’s newest book, and she definitely has a specific writing style. I enjoyed the other book, which is why I read this one. It was good, albeit a bit gorey, but still an interesting story with a little backstory for the main characters. Could have used more backstory on characters like Simon, Sumera, Amber, Risa, etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Gore, and Murder
l_e_lavalle's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Would recommend! It's a perfect rainy day read as well as a single day read. I couldn't put it down from start to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Biphobia, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail