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A review by jbrooks124
A Step Past Darkness by Vera Kurian
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
Wesley Falls is a sweet former mining town; close-knit, religious, filled with small town values. At the end of the school year in 1995, 6 teenagers are brought together by their sophomore capstone project. The group decides to complete their research on the town's mine. But when they witness a vicious, violent crime, they realize there's no one to turn to, and the group parts ways from then on. Years later, one of the group has been murdered, and the remaining capstone 5 must come back together to confront the town and its all-powerful church members.
I really enjoyed this, and found it engaging even when the storyline flashed back to the past and was less focused on the main conflict. I honestly felt like this was some of what I had hoped to get out of Stephen King's <i>The Stand</i>; religious and somewhat culty, a leader emerges, the book is a solid length but doesn't actually go on forever and doesn't have weird sexual connotations. Also, I'm not sure if I could pick a favorite from the capstone 6, but if I had to, I'd pick Padma - no matter how badly she wants to, she never lets the fear paralyze her. Go Pad!!
I really enjoyed this, and found it engaging even when the storyline flashed back to the past and was less focused on the main conflict. I honestly felt like this was some of what I had hoped to get out of Stephen King's <i>The Stand</i>; religious and somewhat culty, a leader emerges, the book is a solid length but doesn't actually go on forever and doesn't have weird sexual connotations. Also, I'm not sure if I could pick a favorite from the capstone 6, but if I had to, I'd pick Padma - no matter how badly she wants to, she never lets the fear paralyze her. Go Pad!!