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laverna's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Murder
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Medical content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Cursing, Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Blood, Car accident, Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Grief, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Murder, and Violence
patricktreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Where Darkness Blooms is a dark fiction story based in the town of Bishop. It is surrounded in mystery and turmoil. Every few years women go missing or turn up dead. Now the younger women are left, and they are starting to go missing, and they are the final generation.
I didn't realize going into this exactly how dark it would end up being. I knew it would be semi dark, but it ended up being way more intense. However, it did truly keep me on the edge of my seat. I would absolutely recommend this to those interested in dark thrillers, but please absolutely check the trigger warnings. I kind of wish content warnings were given at the beginning. I feel it would help more readers be more away going in to make the reading experience easier.
My arc (courtesy of NetGalley/Wednesday Books) was an audio, and I greatly enjoyed consuming the work in that way. In regards to the audio portion, I only really had one critique. I wish that at the beginning of the new chapters the character POV name would be given to help with keeping track of the character switches.
I didn't realize going into this exactly how dark it would end up being. I knew it would be semi dark, but it ended up being way more intense. However, it did truly keep me on the edge of my seat. I would absolutely recommend this to those interested in dark thrillers, but please absolutely check the trigger warnings. I kind of wish content warnings were given at the beginning. I feel it would help more readers be more away going in to make the reading experience easier.
My arc (courtesy of NetGalley/Wednesday Books) was an audio, and I greatly enjoyed consuming the work in that way. In regards to the audio portion, I only really had one critique. I wish that at the beginning of the new chapters the character POV name would be given to help with keeping track of the character switches.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Cursing, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Stalking, Body horror, Gaslighting, Animal death, Body shaming, Gore, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence
cowmingo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Murder, Grief, and Emotional abuse
enchantressreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Where Darkness Blooms was definitely me scrolling through NetGalley and seeing a beautiful cover and requesting without reading the synopsis. Sometimes you DO judge a book by its cover, and in this case, I was not disappointed.
Bishop, Kansas is a small town that was founded on blood, and ever since, they’ve been plagued by horrible storms. While they are indeed in tornado alley, these storms feel different… sentient, even.
This book has SO many things I love in a story:
-a small town
-a cult
-a mystery
-a group of girls solving a mystery
-secrets on secrets
-normalizing queer relationships 🖤
It is a young adult story, so the story is based on younger main characters, but they do have to grow up pretty fast since all of their mothers have gone missing. It’s a horror book with thrilling parts and a sad underlying story. What most people love.
The only problem I had with this story is that it was slow at first, then moved way too quickly. Just a bit of a pacing issue, but it didn’t take much joy out of the story. I also was confused between the timelines.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this advanced review copy. When Darkness Blooms releases on February 21st.
CW for blood, death, murder, grief, injury, sexual assault, rape (not on page), gaslighting, and police brutality
Bishop, Kansas is a small town that was founded on blood, and ever since, they’ve been plagued by horrible storms. While they are indeed in tornado alley, these storms feel different… sentient, even.
This book has SO many things I love in a story:
-a small town
-a cult
-a mystery
-a group of girls solving a mystery
-secrets on secrets
-normalizing queer relationships 🖤
It is a young adult story, so the story is based on younger main characters, but they do have to grow up pretty fast since all of their mothers have gone missing. It’s a horror book with thrilling parts and a sad underlying story. What most people love.
The only problem I had with this story is that it was slow at first, then moved way too quickly. Just a bit of a pacing issue, but it didn’t take much joy out of the story. I also was confused between the timelines.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this advanced review copy. When Darkness Blooms releases on February 21st.
CW for blood, death, murder, grief, injury, sexual assault, rape (not on page), gaslighting, and police brutality
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, and Grief
Minor: Police brutality
theknitterwithabook's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌻🌻🌻
I would like to thank @NetGalley and @stmartinspress for an electronic copy of this ARC for an honest review.
This YA novel was FANTASTIC! It started slow but quickly picked up. There was mystery, supernatural events, betrayal, found family, a cursed town and happy ending with a little bit of unanswered questions to keep the mystery up. If you want a YA book that's a bit creepy, mysterious and right in the feels, this is it!
I finished this book during my lunch break and let's just say that having a meeting scheduled right after wasn't a good idea. I was in tears. I shouldn't have wear mascara today. 😂
It was beautiful and touching. I don't want to spoil anything but I'll just say that I liked that no-one was perfect. Everyone had their own little flaws and other characters respected their limits by forgiving but never completely because they were hurt. That was very human and real.
🌻🌻🌻
The Blurb
Bishop, Kansas, is known for windstorm and endless sunflower fields. But also women dying unexpectedly or disappearing mysteriously. Bo, Jude, Whitney and Delilah saw their mothers disappear on the same night, two years ago. The town is finally setting up a memorial but the wind has other plans.
It's finally time someone digs into the town's secrets and find out what happening. Are the girls in danger? Will they find out what happened to the women and heal their own wounds?
🌻🌻🌻
Please check the TW as there are mentions of rape, gaslighting and violence against women.
🌻🌻🌻
🌻🌻🌻
I would like to thank @NetGalley and @stmartinspress for an electronic copy of this ARC for an honest review.
This YA novel was FANTASTIC! It started slow but quickly picked up. There was mystery, supernatural events, betrayal, found family, a cursed town and happy ending with a little bit of unanswered questions to keep the mystery up. If you want a YA book that's a bit creepy, mysterious and right in the feels, this is it!
I finished this book during my lunch break and let's just say that having a meeting scheduled right after wasn't a good idea. I was in tears. I shouldn't have wear mascara today. 😂
It was beautiful and touching. I don't want to spoil anything but I'll just say that I liked that no-one was perfect. Everyone had their own little flaws and other characters respected their limits by forgiving but never completely because they were hurt. That was very human and real.
🌻🌻🌻
The Blurb
Bishop, Kansas, is known for windstorm and endless sunflower fields. But also women dying unexpectedly or disappearing mysteriously. Bo, Jude, Whitney and Delilah saw their mothers disappear on the same night, two years ago. The town is finally setting up a memorial but the wind has other plans.
It's finally time someone digs into the town's secrets and find out what happening. Are the girls in danger? Will they find out what happened to the women and heal their own wounds?
🌻🌻🌻
Please check the TW as there are mentions of rape, gaslighting and violence against women.
🌻🌻🌻
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Rape, and Misogyny
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
***I received an ARC, ahead of the February 23rd [2023] release, through Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.***
Content Warnings: Blood, death, violence, gun violence, toxic relationships, abandonment, misogyny, grief, fire/fire injury, bullying, police brutality, confinement, and rape [off-page but it is mentioned a few times with some detail].
Being a teen is hard enough but being a teen in Bishop? Well, that's a whole other level. Bo, Delilah, Jude, and Whitney grew up together as their mothers were all best friends. Two years ago on one fateful night, all their mothers disappeared and so they've taken it upon themselves to watch out for and care for each other. But being a teen is hard and you never want to share all your thoughts, feelings, or relationships.
The night their mothers disappeared deeply affected each of the girls and forced them to each hide some of their thoughts and feelings from the others. As some of their secrets are brought to light all of the girls will have to decide how to move forward...or if they even can.
Although the beginning felt like a bit of a slow start...once I hit that 40% mark I couldn't put the book down until I found out how it all ended. This was a story of friendship, shared trauma, and taking back the life others have tried to take from you.
Overall I really enjoyed the story and the journey it took us on...although I do wish we'd gotten a little more history on the town, the residents we meet, and the girls themselves. There were just some aspects that I felt could have been fleshed out a bit more to enrich the story and allow us to feel more connected to everything that happens.
I wish this was getting released sooner as it was a perfect eerie read for this spooky season but you'll just have to wait until its February release.
Content Warnings: Blood, death, violence, gun violence, toxic relationships, abandonment, misogyny, grief, fire/fire injury, bullying, police brutality, confinement, and rape [off-page but it is mentioned a few times with some detail].
Being a teen is hard enough but being a teen in Bishop? Well, that's a whole other level. Bo, Delilah, Jude, and Whitney grew up together as their mothers were all best friends. Two years ago on one fateful night, all their mothers disappeared and so they've taken it upon themselves to watch out for and care for each other. But being a teen is hard and you never want to share all your thoughts, feelings, or relationships.
The night their mothers disappeared deeply affected each of the girls and forced them to each hide some of their thoughts and feelings from the others. As some of their secrets are brought to light all of the girls will have to decide how to move forward...or if they even can.
Although the beginning felt like a bit of a slow start...once I hit that 40% mark I couldn't put the book down until I found out how it all ended. This was a story of friendship, shared trauma, and taking back the life others have tried to take from you.
Overall I really enjoyed the story and the journey it took us on...although I do wish we'd gotten a little more history on the town, the residents we meet, and the girls themselves. There were just some aspects that I felt could have been fleshed out a bit more to enrich the story and allow us to feel more connected to everything that happens.
I wish this was getting released sooner as it was a perfect eerie read for this spooky season but you'll just have to wait until its February release.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Abandonment, Grief, Death, Police brutality, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape
calaqua's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The ARC of this book was given to me by the author for an honest review.
I enjoyed this. The book follows the story of 4 girls, and each voice was unique and distinct. The pacing was good and I wanted to keep going to find out what happened next.
The story had a creepy atmosphere but enough to keep the story thrilling and not overdone or tipping into horror.
I enjoyed this. The book follows the story of 4 girls, and each voice was unique and distinct. The pacing was good and I wanted to keep going to find out what happened next.
The story had a creepy atmosphere but enough to keep the story thrilling and not overdone or tipping into horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Rape
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