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A review by thepetitepunk
A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui
3.0
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Guide to the Dark had some clear strengths: I loved the creepy atmosphere, diverse atmosphere, and emotional moments. However, even with the obvious horror elements, the marketing of this novel as horror/thriller disappointed me. There was always a sense of foreboding present which made eager for some sort of twist or reveal, but the ending was weak and unsatisfying. I also wish this was either just one POV or for both POVs to be further developed. Mira's POV and her experiencing with grief were fine, but Layla's struggles with her sexuality felt...underdeveloped, to say the least. I'm all for sapphic yearning, but there was something a bit off-putting about the way Layla's longing was described. It was still a quick and enjoyable read, but I needed more depth to the characters and much stronger plot points.
A Guide to the Dark had some clear strengths: I loved the creepy atmosphere, diverse atmosphere, and emotional moments. However, even with the obvious horror elements, the marketing of this novel as horror/thriller disappointed me. There was always a sense of foreboding present which made eager for some sort of twist or reveal, but the ending was weak and unsatisfying. I also wish this was either just one POV or for both POVs to be further developed. Mira's POV and her experiencing with grief were fine, but Layla's struggles with her sexuality felt...underdeveloped, to say the least. I'm all for sapphic yearning, but there was something a bit off-putting about the way Layla's longing was described. It was still a quick and enjoyable read, but I needed more depth to the characters and much stronger plot points.