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A review by hafable
The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.0
What I liked:
Delaney as a deaf character was incredibly fresh and not only that but her deafness was integral to the story which was great! The premise of the story where there is the college that people who've had brushes with death go to and learn how to tear through the sky to enter parallel worlds is interesting too. The idea of a group of mean at the college who are trying to obtain immortality at a cost is intriguing and the ride it takes you on is compelling enough that despite some of this books faults, I just had a fun time reading it.... for most of it There were so many moments and interactions that were either fun enough or intriguing enough, even thrilling at some points, where I just wanted to keep on reading and do nothing else so despite how intense I'll be about what I didn't like, I would probably still read it again like if you turn your critical thinking off for a bit, it can be a very fun read.
What I didn't like: ( vague spoilers but nothing that specific)
This books biggest pitfall was its own marketing. The synopsis advertised itself as this paranormal, dark academia thriller featuring our 2 main characters who are meant to keep away from each other; delaney by choice since he annoys her and colton because he was ordered to by the campus group called "The Priory". It says that Colton and Delaney team up in order to fight against something ageless and dangerous at the university, implying that they do not in fact become easily close within the first third of the book. What's the scope of the priory you ask? Why is colton ordered to stay away from her? why does the leader of this group of men care so much about her and yet does absolutely nothing with her until the end? Do most of these side characters matter? WHATS THE MAGIC SYSTEM? IF THERES UNIVERSE HOPPING WHY DOES THE BOOK ONLY SHOW THEM GO TO OTHER UNIVERSES TO BREIFLY GO PLACES LIKE MUSEUMS OR MARKETS AND BARELY LOOK OR INTERACT WITH DEAD PEOPLE WHO ARE ALIVE THERE?????? IF THE BOOK IS MARKETED AS A PARANORMAL DARK ACADEMIA THRILLER, WHY DOES THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SEEM TO BE THE ROMANCE?? A ROMANCE THAT COULDVE WORKED BUT INSTEAD DRAGGED THE PLOT AND SO FUMBLED THE ACTUALLY INTENSE AND COOL ENDING OF THE NOVEL TO BE INFINITELY MORE BORING THAN IT SHOULDVE BEEN YOU ASK???? Don't ask my friend bc you'll never know. Still a fun read lol, 3 stars but extra points off for making me read the phrase "knees kissing" more than once
Delaney as a deaf character was incredibly fresh and not only that but her deafness was integral to the story which was great! The premise of the story where there is the college that people who've had brushes with death go to and learn how to tear through the sky to enter parallel worlds is interesting too. The idea of a group of mean at the college who are trying to obtain immortality at a cost is intriguing and the ride it takes you on is compelling enough that despite some of this books faults, I just had a fun time reading it.... for most of it There were so many moments and interactions that were either fun enough or intriguing enough, even thrilling at some points, where I just wanted to keep on reading and do nothing else so despite how intense I'll be about what I didn't like, I would probably still read it again like if you turn your critical thinking off for a bit, it can be a very fun read.
What I didn't like: ( vague spoilers but nothing that specific)
This books biggest pitfall was its own marketing. The synopsis advertised itself as this paranormal, dark academia thriller featuring our 2 main characters who are meant to keep away from each other; delaney by choice since he annoys her and colton because he was ordered to by the campus group called "The Priory". It says that Colton and Delaney team up in order to fight against something ageless and dangerous at the university, implying that they do not in fact become easily close within the first third of the book. What's the scope of the priory you ask? Why is colton ordered to stay away from her? why does the leader of this group of men care so much about her and yet does absolutely nothing with her until the end? Do most of these side characters matter? WHATS THE MAGIC SYSTEM? IF THERES UNIVERSE HOPPING WHY DOES THE BOOK ONLY SHOW THEM GO TO OTHER UNIVERSES TO BREIFLY GO PLACES LIKE MUSEUMS OR MARKETS AND BARELY LOOK OR INTERACT WITH DEAD PEOPLE WHO ARE ALIVE THERE?????? IF THE BOOK IS MARKETED AS A PARANORMAL DARK ACADEMIA THRILLER, WHY DOES THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SEEM TO BE THE ROMANCE?? A ROMANCE THAT COULDVE WORKED BUT INSTEAD DRAGGED THE PLOT AND SO FUMBLED THE ACTUALLY INTENSE AND COOL ENDING OF THE NOVEL TO BE INFINITELY MORE BORING THAN IT SHOULDVE BEEN YOU ASK???? Don't ask my friend bc you'll never know. Still a fun read lol, 3 stars but extra points off for making me read the phrase "knees kissing" more than once
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Grief