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A review by leahjanespeare
The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
The shadows often whisper to Delaney. An invitation to a special academic program for those who have the ability to travel to parallel worlds validates her gut feeling that there's more out there, but the whispers aren't necessarily friendly. This debut was a total surprise to me; I was sucked in by the pitch of The Raven Boys meets Ninth House but I stayed for the excellent writing and atmospheric reading experience. Having read it I think I'd adjust the comp to Raven Boys meets Supernatural. A group of college kids grappling with ley line magic, the occasional possession, and Mysterious Benefactors with their own motives. Let's not forget a slowburn, almost antagonistic, maybe even forbidden romance.
This world is also magic-normative. There's a school for crossing dimensions? Okay that's nothing to blink twice about. Occult studies, prophecies, futuristic visions--what are those but extracurriculars. There was no "AHA" moment so while this would technically be considered paranormal, it doesn't really match the werewolf or vampire or witchy vibes of most other paranormal books. And due to this subtlety and academic setting, I think that's why I loved it so much, like the Raven Boys. But don't get me wrong, if you liked the sweep of paranormal books from the 2010s or earlier, you'll like the angsty, haunting, quietly-goosebump-inducing world in here as well.
I liked the way the author fit in accessibility issues for Lane's school experience, but not making that the focus of the story, just a facet of the situation. Her professors are assholes - but I mean we are also worrying about ghosts slipping through from Hell so let's focus on that. Her deafness sometimes made situations more difficult, other times easier.
**In the arc 'deaf' was not capitalized, which would mean Lane doesn't identify with the Deaf community - she talks about how her signing isn't fluent and that she has a cochlear implant. The author identifies as Deaf so I feel confident in this sort of representation for the story.**
I'm really excited to read more from this author. Spooky stuff is not usually one of the genres I gravitate toward but if she writes another similar one, I'm definitely going to check it out.
This world is also magic-normative. There's a school for crossing dimensions? Okay that's nothing to blink twice about. Occult studies, prophecies, futuristic visions--what are those but extracurriculars. There was no "AHA" moment so while this would technically be considered paranormal, it doesn't really match the werewolf or vampire or witchy vibes of most other paranormal books. And due to this subtlety and academic setting, I think that's why I loved it so much, like the Raven Boys. But don't get me wrong, if you liked the sweep of paranormal books from the 2010s or earlier, you'll like the angsty, haunting, quietly-goosebump-inducing world in here as well.
I liked the way the author fit in accessibility issues for Lane's school experience, but not making that the focus of the story, just a facet of the situation. Her professors are assholes - but I mean we are also worrying about ghosts slipping through from Hell so let's focus on that. Her deafness sometimes made situations more difficult, other times easier.
**In the arc 'deaf' was not capitalized, which would mean Lane doesn't identify with the Deaf community - she talks about how her signing isn't fluent and that she has a cochlear implant. The author identifies as Deaf so I feel confident in this sort of representation for the story.**
I'm really excited to read more from this author. Spooky stuff is not usually one of the genres I gravitate toward but if she writes another similar one, I'm definitely going to check it out.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Death, and Murder