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ghostnayto's review against another edition
3.0
This book was creepy, but kind of bland and dragged on in some parts. I really liked the Room POV chapters. Very unsettling. Just like the open ended ending.
susanpevensie's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
raeshala's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
First, the things I love.
I liked each character I met. I rooted for them all. Good representation with a diverse cast.
This horror was eerie without being too scary. The dated roadside motel in a tiny town vibe was perfect for the story.
The photography added a wonderful storytelling element. It was a unique and creative addition that I hadn’t seen before in a fictional novel.
Ellis was the one to discover the truth of the Room, the knowledge of which should have set him free, but instead it consumed him. I found that haunting and poignant.
The things I didn’t love:
Too much yearning. I wish that time would have been spent developing the characters further. Mira was well-developed, but I would have liked to see the same for Layla, Devlin, and the ROOM. We don’t get any backstory on how the room got to the way it was!!!! Despite the huge research scene in the library.
It was slow at the start, and I’d have liked it to maintain that momentum towards the end when it felt like things were happening way too fast. Again, I think the characters and plot needed more development.
All in all, an enjoyable read!
I liked each character I met. I rooted for them all. Good representation with a diverse cast.
This horror was eerie without being too scary. The dated roadside motel in a tiny town vibe was perfect for the story.
The photography added a wonderful storytelling element. It was a unique and creative addition that I hadn’t seen before in a fictional novel.
The things I didn’t love:
Too much yearning. I wish that time would have been spent developing the characters further. Mira was well-developed, but I would have liked to see the same for Layla, Devlin, and the ROOM. We don’t get any backstory on how the room got to the way it was!!!! Despite the huge research scene in the library.
It was slow at the start, and I’d have liked it to maintain that momentum towards the end when it felt like things were happening way too fast. Again, I think the characters and plot needed more development.
All in all, an enjoyable read!
tasiachaos's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
fictionalmandy's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
3.25
harborwriter's review
4.0
"A Guide to the Dark" is a psychological horror that puts a queer, Arab twist on haunted house tropes. The main characters were easy to root for, the setting felt real and interesting, and I was genuinely creeped out by the horror elements--don't read this before bed or before getting in the shower! And the coolest thing--I didn't realize when picking this up that the author did an accompanying photo shoot! Most of the pictures Layla is described as taking during the book are actually pictured! The photography is gorgeous and added an unexpected and VERY cool element to this fresh new YA horror.
kar2005's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, and Child death
gingerbread_void's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the pictures and how they added to the story. Its so rare to see ya books with photos and I always enjoy it. I also really liked the characters. They felt relatable in this situation. I can't wait to recommend this book.
thinkofsara's review
4.0
Loved, loved LOVED. The vibe was perfect for late fall nights and the story was paced well. Absolutely obsessed with the photos interspersed, really made it easy to fall into the book and really visualize the story to a whole new level, thought it was an incredibly unique idea and added a whole other layer of story telling that literally jumped off the page (also side note—all the models used for the pictures are literally so beautiful???)
Only thing I wish was explored more was a more tangible history of Room 9, how it got like that and why it stuck around. I can understand why the author left it a little more open ended (to tie in with story’s central themes which are fantastically articulated and felt) but personally, I would have liked to see some of that research at the library lead to something more!
Honestly though, can’t believe this is a debut novel, it’s so good. Will definitely reread!
Only thing I wish was explored more was a more tangible history of Room 9, how it got like that and why it stuck around. I can understand why the author left it a little more open ended (to tie in with story’s central themes which are fantastically articulated and felt) but personally, I would have liked to see some of that research at the library lead to something more!
Honestly though, can’t believe this is a debut novel, it’s so good. Will definitely reread!
katnortonwriter's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Reading the latter half of this book was so frustrating! It has the potential to be this beautiful allegory about loss and grief, but it gets bogged down in an interminable research sequence that adds literally NOTHING to either the character development or the emotional core of the story. I loved Mira and Layla, and their relationship, and the things Mira is dealing with re: the loss of her brother. I was invested in Layla’s family drama. All of which gets tossed out in favor of an unthrilling, unhorrifying conclusion to this horror/thriller. Things are revealed in a way that don’t make since, and by the time we got to the finale, it had fallen apart and I didn’t care. Then there was no denouement! We don’t get to see the emotional arcs of the characters come to a close! *muffled, frustrated screaming*
This is the author’s debut, and I would read more of her work in a heartbeat. At the same time, I have no idea who I would recommend the book to, because we spent like 150 pages researching a motel room at the library and traipsing around town looking for clues to a car mystery that either didn’t exist or was never addressed. There’s so much filler in here that literally never matters, or that gets weirdly repeated and glossed over.
Having ranted about the things that frustrated me, I will add that there is some compelling reflection about language, family dynamics, coping with grief, and the experience of being a child of immigrants that was well-written and engaging. I wouldn’t have felt so frustrated with the things that bugged me if the good parts hadn’t been so good.
This is the author’s debut, and I would read more of her work in a heartbeat. At the same time, I have no idea who I would recommend the book to, because we spent like 150 pages researching a motel room at the library and traipsing around town looking for clues to a car mystery that either didn’t exist or was never addressed. There’s so much filler in here that literally never matters, or that gets weirdly repeated and glossed over.
Having ranted about the things that frustrated me, I will add that there is some compelling reflection about language, family dynamics, coping with grief, and the experience of being a child of immigrants that was well-written and engaging. I wouldn’t have felt so frustrated with the things that bugged me if the good parts hadn’t been so good.