Scan barcode
shereadytoread's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 rounded up. Overall this was an excellent read! I enjoyed the background of the fantasy elements that were built into the general world.
Pros:
- great representation of deaf character including the limitations of accommodations and aids, as well as general difficulty in accessing individualized accommodations
- plot was engaging with both a mystery and urban fantasy adventure
- good supporting characters that were actively involved throughout the story
- plot twists (?) or reveals that worked well in pushing the story forward
Cons:
- slightly repetitive language in how the main character is described
- some unnecessary repetitive filler in the formation of the friendship between the two main characters (honestly how many times do I need to hear “you’re suppose to stay away from her” before you tell me why! And repeated “every morning in class blah blah lol)
Potentially relevant information: One of the primary characters is a Muslim woman who wears a hijab. I have seen concerns that this character engaging in the ability/magic she does is problematic. I have read the full review of one of the sensitivity readers who read for and approved of this representation due to it being an innate ability/power as all the other characters have, not engaging in a magic practice.
Pros:
- great representation of deaf character including the limitations of accommodations and aids, as well as general difficulty in accessing individualized accommodations
- plot was engaging with both a mystery and urban fantasy adventure
- good supporting characters that were actively involved throughout the story
- plot twists (?) or reveals that worked well in pushing the story forward
Cons:
- slightly repetitive language in how the main character is described
- some unnecessary repetitive filler in the formation of the friendship between the two main characters (honestly how many times do I need to hear “you’re suppose to stay away from her” before you tell me why! And repeated “every morning in class blah blah lol)
Potentially relevant information: One of the primary characters is a Muslim woman who wears a hijab. I have seen concerns that this character engaging in the ability/magic she does is problematic. I have read the full review of one of the sensitivity readers who read for and approved of this representation due to it being an innate ability/power as all the other characters have, not engaging in a magic practice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Child death
Minor: Confinement and Fire/Fire injury
booksthatburn's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Delaney is a post-lingual Deaf girl who sometimes hears the shadows whispering. She gets into a university whose stated purpose is to teach its students to traverse between realities. Colton is a student who briefly died when he was a child, meeting Delaney briefly at the time. When they meet again on campus, she doesn’t recognize him but is drawn to him anyway, while he instantly knows her and can’t keep his distance. They begin spending time together, then the lines are blurred further when another student dies.
There’s a consistent theme of ableism, mainly but not only from professors who don’t know Delaney is deaf (because they didn’t read the emails alerting them). She’s navigating this new space and deciding how much she’d rather deal with not being able to usefully hear in the moment or with overt ableism once people know she’s deaf. Whether she’s using her implant and what she does or does not hear is important throughout, and is used to great effect once things start getting spooky.
The worldbuilding is sparse, most of the details are atmospheric and unexplained until late in the book. The specific answers and explanations (when they finally arrived) wrapped up pretty much everything I wanted to know. I enjoy vibe-heavy books that leave me interested but confused for long stretches, so this was a deeply satisfying read for me. Colton’s secrets (and those he keeps for others) are hinted at but not revealed early, keeping the reader and Delaney equally in the dark for much of the story.
For a book with parallel worlds there aren’t many descriptions of traversals, though there are more towards the end. I like how much the focus is on Delaney piecing things together and trying to make it through her classes, and on her dynamic with Colton. I often enjoy books with mysterious and brooding guys, and this delivered.
Heavy on vibes, supported by a delicate but satisfying plot, don’t miss THE WHISPERING DARK.
There’s a consistent theme of ableism, mainly but not only from professors who don’t know Delaney is deaf (because they didn’t read the emails alerting them). She’s navigating this new space and deciding how much she’d rather deal with not being able to usefully hear in the moment or with overt ableism once people know she’s deaf. Whether she’s using her implant and what she does or does not hear is important throughout, and is used to great effect once things start getting spooky.
The worldbuilding is sparse, most of the details are atmospheric and unexplained until late in the book. The specific answers and explanations (when they finally arrived) wrapped up pretty much everything I wanted to know. I enjoy vibe-heavy books that leave me interested but confused for long stretches, so this was a deeply satisfying read for me. Colton’s secrets (and those he keeps for others) are hinted at but not revealed early, keeping the reader and Delaney equally in the dark for much of the story.
For a book with parallel worlds there aren’t many descriptions of traversals, though there are more towards the end. I like how much the focus is on Delaney piecing things together and trying to make it through her classes, and on her dynamic with Colton. I often enjoy books with mysterious and brooding guys, and this delivered.
Heavy on vibes, supported by a delicate but satisfying plot, don’t miss THE WHISPERING DARK.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Ableism, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Vomit, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Cursing, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Confinement, Toxic friendship, and Car accident
Minor: Dementia, Drug use, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Animal death, and Pregnancy
More...