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shesreadingagain_'s review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book is essentially Coraline but make it black and throw in time travel reminiscent of Dark Matter. This was a short and loving book. The bond between Hylee and her older brother Bubba really pulled at my heart strings. I think most can relate to Hylee’s struggle of trying to understand her parents while they don’t seem to want to understand her better. It was a beautifully tragic book.
I really wanted a bit more. I wanted more of grandmommy’s background. I wanted to dive deeper into the relationship Eliam and his grandfather. I just wanted more. I know that’s hard to do when you’re trying to keep the book under 300 pages but overall I really enjoyed this one.
I really wanted a bit more. I wanted more of grandmommy’s background. I wanted to dive deeper into the relationship Eliam and his grandfather. I just wanted more. I know that’s hard to do when you’re trying to keep the book under 300 pages but overall I really enjoyed this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Death
Moderate: Child death
go_maggs_go's review
2.0
I liked the premise of this one, and that cover is gorgeous, right? I was so invested in this because I wanted to know what was going on with Hylee and what happened to her brother. I loved the descriptions of the dark place. But I felt like the end was too rushed and I would have appreciated even another 50 or so pages.
thickthighs_no_lies's review
4.0
Thanks to Britney for gifting me a copy of her dark book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is giving Spider-man into the spider verse vibes but darker and more eerie and well, just better.
It hooks you from that first chapter and holds you in its grip.
The portrayal of Hylee is so relatable that you can’t help but like her and feel her pain at the people around her dismissing her obvious confusion and angst.
I really enjoyed the writing of this book and have seen that Britney does have a previous book out so I shall be adding that to my tbr.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would say that anyone who enjoys mild horror and/or sci-fi stories will enjoy this one!
This book is giving Spider-man into the spider verse vibes but darker and more eerie and well, just better.
It hooks you from that first chapter and holds you in its grip.
The portrayal of Hylee is so relatable that you can’t help but like her and feel her pain at the people around her dismissing her obvious confusion and angst.
I really enjoyed the writing of this book and have seen that Britney does have a previous book out so I shall be adding that to my tbr.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would say that anyone who enjoys mild horror and/or sci-fi stories will enjoy this one!
bzzlarabzz's review
5.0
Read this in an afternoon, and it was so good! It's YA, but it addresses scary situations and strong emotions. I don't want to give too much away, but it is well-done.
kaerene's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I liked The Dark Place, I enjoyed the scary bits and the twists I didn’t see coming but felt like it came up short for me. I think the little blurb before the actual summary does a disservice to the book as it compares the writing and themes to John Green’s books and Jordan Peele’s horror movies and I just didn’t get either of those vibes. Both of those creators have such a specific voice in their projects that I kept expecting to be wowed and end up feeling really profound in this exploration of romance/horror/time travel while reading The Dark Place and it just didn’t happen.
It’s a good read if you like the fated mates trope and really short chapters. I would check trigger warnings though. It’s very sad and depressing.
It’s a good read if you like the fated mates trope and really short chapters. I would check trigger warnings though. It’s very sad and depressing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Murder, Grief, and Death
magneticice's review
4.0
I was super excited to be picked to be apart of a book tour and got an ARC of The Dark Place by Britney S. Lewis and it was known right away the copy was not fully finished. It did not have pictures and some of the formating was a bit of a mess but it did not take away from the book at all. I really enjoyed it. Was such an interesting concept. And I felt so bad for Hylee. Her childhood seemed so rough, she was trying to figure out why she is the way she is, not to mention the dreams she had. At least she had Eilam, someone who understood her better than anyone. The amount of Disney references made me laugh but I truly enjoyed it and I am looking forward to seeing the book in its proper way.
undervmountain's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Most of this supernatural story was intense, moving and emotional, and until the final chapters I was pretty sure this was going to get 5 stars. But the rushed ending and what I felt was a lack of resolution pulled it down for me.
I really felt for Hylee and wanted to know just what had happened to her brother, and if her unusual ability to travel to either the past or an alternate dimension would be what would save him. The addition of Eilam really helped move the story forwards.
This is one of those books where you find a lot of faults when you sit down afterwards. I felt the story ended too abruptly with little conclusion, and overall I felt frustrated by Hylee's family and their refusal to give her any information about her ability, and overall it could have benefited from an extra 100 pages.
I really felt for Hylee and wanted to know just what had happened to her brother, and if her unusual ability to travel to either the past or an alternate dimension would be what would save him. The addition of Eilam really helped move the story forwards.
This is one of those books where you find a lot of faults when you sit down afterwards. I felt the story ended too abruptly with little conclusion, and overall I felt frustrated by Hylee's family and their refusal to give her any information about her ability, and overall it could have benefited from an extra 100 pages.
mistermoviedude's review
4.0
I just wrote a multi paragraph in depth review of this book but then the Goodreads app froze and I lost it all. I am not retyping all of that. However, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed “The Dark Place” and I can’t wait to see what Britney S. Lewis comes up with next.
If you like Stranger Things, 13 Reasons Why(high school drama), and even Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, then you are really going to enjoy this book.
If you like Stranger Things, 13 Reasons Why(high school drama), and even Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, then you are really going to enjoy this book.
zbrarian's review
4.0
A very different take on the time-travel trope. Was it caused by trauma? Was it genetic? Was is scifi? There were some questions left open at the end for me, which I won't get into without spoiling the story! I really liked the relationship and connection between Hylee & Eilam, and with her new friendship with Sarah. Sarah just went with the flow and that's why Hylee needed after all the craziness in her life. This is a half horror/half scifi book for me. It would be interesting if the author wrote more about these characters in another book.
z_brarian's review
4.0
A very different take on the time-travel trope. Was it caused by trauma? Was it genetic? Was is scifi? There were some questions left open at the end for me, which I won't get into without spoiling the story! I really liked the relationship and connection between Hylee & Eilam, and with her new friendship with Sarah. Sarah just went with the flow and that's why Hylee needed after all the craziness in her life. This is a half horror/half scifi book for me. It would be interesting if the author wrote more about these characters in another book.