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A Step Past Darkness
SIX CLASSMATES. ONE TERRIFYING NIGHT. A MURDER TWENTY YEARS IN THE MAKING…
There’s something sinister under the surface of the idyllic, suburban town of Wesley Falls, and it’s not just the abandoned coal mine that lies beneath it. The summer of 1995 kicks off with a party in the mine where six high school students witness a horrifying crime that changes the course of their lives.
The six couldn’t be more different.
• Maddy, a devout member of the local megachurch
• Kelly, the bookworm next door
• James, a cynical burnout
• Casey, a loveable football player
• Padma, the shy straight-A student
• Jia, who’s starting to see visions she can’t explain
When they realize that they can’t trust anyone but each other, they begin to investigate what happened on their own. As tensions escalate in town to a breaking point, the six make a vow of silence, bury all their evidence, and promise to never contact each other again. Their plan works – almost.
Twenty years later, Jia calls them all back to Wesley Falls—Maddy has been murdered, and they are the only ones who can uncover why. But to end things, they have to return to the mine one last time.
There’s something sinister under the surface of the idyllic, suburban town of Wesley Falls, and it’s not just the abandoned coal mine that lies beneath it. The summer of 1995 kicks off with a party in the mine where six high school students witness a horrifying crime that changes the course of their lives.
The six couldn’t be more different.
• Maddy, a devout member of the local megachurch
• Kelly, the bookworm next door
• James, a cynical burnout
• Casey, a loveable football player
• Padma, the shy straight-A student
• Jia, who’s starting to see visions she can’t explain
When they realize that they can’t trust anyone but each other, they begin to investigate what happened on their own. As tensions escalate in town to a breaking point, the six make a vow of silence, bury all their evidence, and promise to never contact each other again. Their plan works – almost.
Twenty years later, Jia calls them all back to Wesley Falls—Maddy has been murdered, and they are the only ones who can uncover why. But to end things, they have to return to the mine one last time.
440 pages, Hardcover
First published February 20, 2024
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October 16, 2023
When I noticed the length of this book and the extensive list of characters, I must admit, I was intimidated. I even considered giving up after a few pages. However, after about 40 pages, I found the story becoming more engaging. During a short break, I realized I had already devoured a third of the book. I was completely hooked on the story's execution, and I didn't mind the book's length or the fact that not every character was likable. I was fully invested in their adventures, and it reminded me of my younger self, staying up late to read Stephen King's 'It,' even though it was well past midnight and I had school the next day. This time, I found myself staying up all night, despite having meetings the following day (as the years pass, obligations tend to change). I simply couldn't tear my eyes away from the book and forced myself to stay awake just to read one more chapter before drifting off.
This supernatural horror, mystery, and character-driven fantasy thriller feels like a modern version of 'It' (with vibes reminiscent of 'Stranger Things' and 'The Goonies,' which are also other versions of 'It' in some ways). However, instead of a clown lurking in the sewers to steal young children's souls, there's a haunted priest gaining power from the town's greedy residents to hunt down agnostic boys. It seems there's a very thin line between Puritanism and devil worship in this town.
We follow six teenagers instead of the Loser's Club:
Kelly Boyle: quirky and studious, trying to find her place in the social circle.
Casey Cooper: the golden boy, a popular football athlete attracting recruiters' attention, easy-going and kind-hearted.
James Curry: a burnout from the trailer park, selling weed, enduring abuse from his drunk father, and the town's black sheep, secretly best friends with Kelly, the girl next door.
Tia Kwon: a clairvoyant and eccentric girl with the power to glimpse the future. She works at her mother's crystal shop, where townspeople insist they practice Satanism. She embraces her Asian heritage, even though church members resent their existence.
Padma Subramanian: a smart and success-oriented Indian girl, Tia's best friend, trying to follow in her doctor parents' footsteps. She also deals with sibling rivalry with her brother and secretly works part-time at the church to save money for college.
Maddison Wesley: the devout member of the Golden Praise mega-church in Wesley Falls.
They form a motley crew, coming from different circles until they are chosen for a capstone project. This group, known as the 'Capstone Six,' decides to uncover more about the complicated history of Wesley Falls' mines. Before starting their project, Casey invites them to a school party in the mines, which intrigues James, as he spends most of his spare time there. However, Maddy objects to going there, leading to heated discussions. Kelly, who has been cast out by Maddy's 'Circle Girl' group (the popular girls loyal to the church and its ideals), decides to challenge Maddy by befriending Tia and Padma, who have also been excluded by the popular girls due to their skin color. Together, they take control of the group, leaving Maddy in the minority.
However, they soon realize they should have heeded Maddy's warnings. They witness something shocking and earth-shattering in the mines that will change their entire perspective on the town and its founders. Now, six teenagers are dead, and the perpetrators are on the loose, looking for a scapegoat to blame. In their search for a solution, they team up to eliminate the source of the problem. After that, they pledge to cut ties with each other and the town.
Now, twenty years later, Jia returns, summoned by her former school friend Zachary Springsteen, aka "Blub," the new sheriff of the town. She uses her psychic powers to locate a missing person. To her shock, the person is found dead, and it's Maddy. Jia questions how Maddy ended up back there. Her death couldn't have been a mere accident, as she died as soon as she set foot in that haunted place. What's even more unbelievable is that they killed someone before cutting ties with each other, yet that person seems to be alive and hasn't aged a day. How is this possible? Jia must reconnect with the rest of the team, who are now scattered across different places, to attend the funeral and solve the problem they couldn't twenty years ago. It appears the monster is back, and they must confront it once again!
Despite the book's considerable length, I devoured it as if I were binge-watching a ten-episode, action-packed fantasy series. I grew fond of some of the characters, particularly Jia and Kelly, but I couldn't say the same for all of them, especially Maddy. Nevertheless, I found their narratives enjoyable, and their blossoming friendship against the backdrop of their cultural differences was a highlight. The parts where they gather at the lake brought a smile to my face and provided a peaceful respite after claustrophobic and intense action sequences.
I wholeheartedly give this book five stars and encourage you to embark on this thrilling journey without being deterred by its length. It is well worth your time and promises an enjoyable and thrilling experience.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for providing me with a digital review copy of this captivating book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This supernatural horror, mystery, and character-driven fantasy thriller feels like a modern version of 'It' (with vibes reminiscent of 'Stranger Things' and 'The Goonies,' which are also other versions of 'It' in some ways). However, instead of a clown lurking in the sewers to steal young children's souls, there's a haunted priest gaining power from the town's greedy residents to hunt down agnostic boys. It seems there's a very thin line between Puritanism and devil worship in this town.
We follow six teenagers instead of the Loser's Club:
Kelly Boyle: quirky and studious, trying to find her place in the social circle.
Casey Cooper: the golden boy, a popular football athlete attracting recruiters' attention, easy-going and kind-hearted.
James Curry: a burnout from the trailer park, selling weed, enduring abuse from his drunk father, and the town's black sheep, secretly best friends with Kelly, the girl next door.
Tia Kwon: a clairvoyant and eccentric girl with the power to glimpse the future. She works at her mother's crystal shop, where townspeople insist they practice Satanism. She embraces her Asian heritage, even though church members resent their existence.
Padma Subramanian: a smart and success-oriented Indian girl, Tia's best friend, trying to follow in her doctor parents' footsteps. She also deals with sibling rivalry with her brother and secretly works part-time at the church to save money for college.
Maddison Wesley: the devout member of the Golden Praise mega-church in Wesley Falls.
They form a motley crew, coming from different circles until they are chosen for a capstone project. This group, known as the 'Capstone Six,' decides to uncover more about the complicated history of Wesley Falls' mines. Before starting their project, Casey invites them to a school party in the mines, which intrigues James, as he spends most of his spare time there. However, Maddy objects to going there, leading to heated discussions. Kelly, who has been cast out by Maddy's 'Circle Girl' group (the popular girls loyal to the church and its ideals), decides to challenge Maddy by befriending Tia and Padma, who have also been excluded by the popular girls due to their skin color. Together, they take control of the group, leaving Maddy in the minority.
However, they soon realize they should have heeded Maddy's warnings. They witness something shocking and earth-shattering in the mines that will change their entire perspective on the town and its founders. Now, six teenagers are dead, and the perpetrators are on the loose, looking for a scapegoat to blame. In their search for a solution, they team up to eliminate the source of the problem. After that, they pledge to cut ties with each other and the town.
Now, twenty years later, Jia returns, summoned by her former school friend Zachary Springsteen, aka "Blub," the new sheriff of the town. She uses her psychic powers to locate a missing person. To her shock, the person is found dead, and it's Maddy. Jia questions how Maddy ended up back there. Her death couldn't have been a mere accident, as she died as soon as she set foot in that haunted place. What's even more unbelievable is that they killed someone before cutting ties with each other, yet that person seems to be alive and hasn't aged a day. How is this possible? Jia must reconnect with the rest of the team, who are now scattered across different places, to attend the funeral and solve the problem they couldn't twenty years ago. It appears the monster is back, and they must confront it once again!
Despite the book's considerable length, I devoured it as if I were binge-watching a ten-episode, action-packed fantasy series. I grew fond of some of the characters, particularly Jia and Kelly, but I couldn't say the same for all of them, especially Maddy. Nevertheless, I found their narratives enjoyable, and their blossoming friendship against the backdrop of their cultural differences was a highlight. The parts where they gather at the lake brought a smile to my face and provided a peaceful respite after claustrophobic and intense action sequences.
I wholeheartedly give this book five stars and encourage you to embark on this thrilling journey without being deterred by its length. It is well worth your time and promises an enjoyable and thrilling experience.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for providing me with a digital review copy of this captivating book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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March 15, 2024
At the end of school year party in 1995, six students witness something they couldn’t have imagined in their very worst nightmares. The group isn’t exactly close, however. A ragtag bunch put together by their school for their sophomore year capstone project, they decide to write it on the abandoned mine on the edge of town. Given that the party is taking place there that year, they all decide it to be the perfect opportunity to explore. After all, with so many people around, it will take just a bit of the potential danger away for their exploration. Or so they think.
After the evening goes horribly wrong, they each decide to investigate what brought about the unspeakable events. The more they learn, however, the more danger they seem to find themselves in. And in such a small religious town, the church seems to know everything that goes on within its borders. Even what six fifteen-year-olds are investigating over their summer. When things suddenly go from bad to worse, the group makes the only decision they can. Bury the evidence and pretend they’ve never been friends. It’s a fail-proof plan. Or very nearly, at least.
Twenty years later, one of this small group is called back to town. Jia has always had the ability to see things others can’t and so when the sheriff calls for her help, she agrees. It seems someone is missing in town, and only she can help. When Jia locates them, however, it just so happens to be one of the Capstone Six. And she isn’t just missing—she’s dead. Determined to solve what exactly has happened, Jia calls the others back to town. Little do they know, though, but they’re all walking straight back into the belly of the beast where danger is lurking for them all once again.
Holy heck, Batman! An entirely original take on a slow burn thriller, there were ingenious supernatural elements that gave A Step Past Darkness a very Stranger Things feel. From the fully fleshed out characters to the skillfully interwoven plot, I found myself utterly spellbound from beginning to end. After all, I can’t think of many books that managed to keep my attention riveted quite like this. With more twists than I could count, each made me think “What the f***?” more than the last. But only in the best possible way, of course.
As for that perfectly plotted and finely tuned storyline, the dual timelines and multiple POVs delivered enough blind turns that I was at a total loss at what was going to happen next. Perhaps it did drone on just a little too long in the middle, but I have to say that I loved the insights into each character’s past and present regardless of any lack of action. Plus, the dynamite climax (no pun intended) and soul satisfying conclusion meant I closed the cover of this one happy as a clam.
The characters were easily the star of the show, however. With deep backstories and carefully crafted arcs to their personas, I grew invested in their experiences in a way I wouldn’t have expected. Thanks to this, the slow reveal of events from the past in this cross genre book took on a genuine turn. So much so, in fact, that this thriller/magical realism/horror plot seamlessly blended the line between reality and fiction.
All said and done, I thoroughly loved this one from the first word until the last. Even though it was probably a bit too long-windedand was certainly nothing like I’d anticipated, I ripped through all 448 pages with hardly a break. After all, it all flowed so easily with sharp writing and a palpable tension. So as long as you aren’t expecting an out-and-out thriller or the length doesn’t put you off, I definitely recommend giving this book a shot. I, for one, am extremely glad that I did. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Vera Kurian and Park Row for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 20, 2024
Trigger warning: bullying, racism, eating disorder, cult-like church, child abuse, religious trauma, mention of: molestation, drunk driving
After the evening goes horribly wrong, they each decide to investigate what brought about the unspeakable events. The more they learn, however, the more danger they seem to find themselves in. And in such a small religious town, the church seems to know everything that goes on within its borders. Even what six fifteen-year-olds are investigating over their summer. When things suddenly go from bad to worse, the group makes the only decision they can. Bury the evidence and pretend they’ve never been friends. It’s a fail-proof plan. Or very nearly, at least.
Twenty years later, one of this small group is called back to town. Jia has always had the ability to see things others can’t and so when the sheriff calls for her help, she agrees. It seems someone is missing in town, and only she can help. When Jia locates them, however, it just so happens to be one of the Capstone Six. And she isn’t just missing—she’s dead. Determined to solve what exactly has happened, Jia calls the others back to town. Little do they know, though, but they’re all walking straight back into the belly of the beast where danger is lurking for them all once again.
Holy heck, Batman! An entirely original take on a slow burn thriller, there were ingenious supernatural elements that gave A Step Past Darkness a very Stranger Things feel. From the fully fleshed out characters to the skillfully interwoven plot, I found myself utterly spellbound from beginning to end. After all, I can’t think of many books that managed to keep my attention riveted quite like this. With more twists than I could count, each made me think “What the f***?” more than the last. But only in the best possible way, of course.
As for that perfectly plotted and finely tuned storyline, the dual timelines and multiple POVs delivered enough blind turns that I was at a total loss at what was going to happen next. Perhaps it did drone on just a little too long in the middle, but I have to say that I loved the insights into each character’s past and present regardless of any lack of action. Plus, the dynamite climax (no pun intended) and soul satisfying conclusion meant I closed the cover of this one happy as a clam.
The characters were easily the star of the show, however. With deep backstories and carefully crafted arcs to their personas, I grew invested in their experiences in a way I wouldn’t have expected. Thanks to this, the slow reveal of events from the past in this cross genre book took on a genuine turn. So much so, in fact, that this thriller/magical realism/horror plot seamlessly blended the line between reality and fiction.
All said and done, I thoroughly loved this one from the first word until the last. Even though it was probably a bit too long-windedand was certainly nothing like I’d anticipated, I ripped through all 448 pages with hardly a break. After all, it all flowed so easily with sharp writing and a palpable tension. So as long as you aren’t expecting an out-and-out thriller or the length doesn’t put you off, I definitely recommend giving this book a shot. I, for one, am extremely glad that I did. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Vera Kurian and Park Row for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 20, 2024
Trigger warning: bullying, racism, eating disorder, cult-like church, child abuse, religious trauma, mention of: molestation, drunk driving
February 8, 2024
2.0 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/-6tcNZLQJpg
In terms of concept coming of age, female driven story in the vein of IT. However, in execution, this one did not work as well as I hoped.
This story is incredibly character driven, which would be fine if I found the characters more interesting. This novel was just too slow and drawn out. I really believed I would love this one but found myself disappointed. It lacked intrigue or suspense. It was tough because I could see what the author was trying to accomplish but the actual work fell short.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Video Review: https://youtu.be/-6tcNZLQJpg
In terms of concept coming of age, female driven story in the vein of IT. However, in execution, this one did not work as well as I hoped.
This story is incredibly character driven, which would be fine if I found the characters more interesting. This novel was just too slow and drawn out. I really believed I would love this one but found myself disappointed. It lacked intrigue or suspense. It was tough because I could see what the author was trying to accomplish but the actual work fell short.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
January 27, 2024
I just couldn’t get into this book. I didn’t really care for any of the characters. The plot felt very much like there were pieces that I needed to know but didn’t hear until much later, so for a long time, I was just left confused. And not in the fun thriller way—in the “what am I reading and why am I so lost” way.
Maybe her first book is better, but this wasn’t the thriller for me. As a fan of IT, this knockoff didn’t do it for me.
Maybe her first book is better, but this wasn’t the thriller for me. As a fan of IT, this knockoff didn’t do it for me.
February 28, 2024
Vera Kurian proves she can write about much more than psychopaths in her newest thriller, A Step Past Darkness. This book was a totally different feel than Kurian’s first book, but no less captivating. Picture I know What You Did Last Summer mashed up with Stand by Me and The Breakfast Club and a dash of Stranger Things. But even that doesn’t really capture how twist-y this book is!
Setting
The small, idyllic town of Wesley Falls seems like it should be a great place to grow up. But underneath the surface, the town is full of shady practices and sinister cover ups that are hidden beneath the veil of the town megachurch, Golden Praise. The most devout members of the church have the best status, while the people who are furthest from the church are known as the burnouts. The most elite girls in school are called the Circle Girls, and they wear necklaces with small gems that relate to some unknown hierarchy in the Golden Praise church.
Plot
Summer, 1995
Six high school students who go by the Capstone Six are brought together to work on a project the summer after their sophomore year. They couldn’t be more different—a devout member of the local megachurch, a quirky bookworm, a cynical burnout, a kind-hearted athlete, a shy brainiac, and an eccentric clairvoyant. They are attending a party in the town mine to examine the old chambers for their project, when they witness something unspeakable. In the wake of the crime, the six vow to take care of the perpetrator of the crime, never speak on it again, and leave the town, the secret, and each other behind.
Summer, 2015
Jia breaks the pact they made twenty years ago to bring the Capstone Six back together. Only now they are five… Maddy has been found murdered, leading to more questions than answers. Was her death linked to the incident that happened that summer twenty years ago? The five remaining gather back in Wesley Falls for the funeral, and are forced to return to the mine and confront the person they thought was dead…
Review | A Step Past Darkness
It’s rare for a sophomore novel to outpace the author’s debut, but in this case I think Vera Kurian accomplished it. I loved her first book Never Saw Me Coming about a student enrolled at a psychopathy study at a university, only someone seems to be murdering the study participants one by one. That book was more of a heart-pounding thriller where you are in the mind of the main character.
In A Step Past Darkness, the story has so much depth and complexity. The dual timelines and the six narrators may sound messy, but this story is tightly plotted and expertly paced. Coming in at 450 pages, I was intimidated by the length, but the story flew by (especially on audiobook!). There wasn’t a single slow moment, and I was at the twisted-finale before I realized it.
The bulk of the story takes place in the timeline in summer of 1995. One thing I loved about this book was that the short descriptions of the characters make them seem like stereotypes for high school students from different groups. However, the characters are anything but stereotypical. Each of them surprised me in different ways.
The 90s lovers out there will also appreciate the fun nostalgia pieces. At one point they are discussing the OJ Simpson trial. At another part, one of them references The Firm workout videos. There are so many moments like this that oriented me back in time to the mid-90s and what it would have been like as a teenager at that point in time.
The setting was steeped with small town lore. The teenagers grew up essentially in this bubble where the Golden Praise church is the powerful part of town. Any rebelling happens quietly, or they face the consequences. The rumor mill is prominent throughout the book. And the mysterious church at the center of it all becomes more ominous the more we learn about it. I’d go as far to call it a cult or at least cult-lite.
The conclusion is twist-y and shocking when you learn exactly what has been going on with the Golden Praise church and the town of Wesley Falls!
Setting
The small, idyllic town of Wesley Falls seems like it should be a great place to grow up. But underneath the surface, the town is full of shady practices and sinister cover ups that are hidden beneath the veil of the town megachurch, Golden Praise. The most devout members of the church have the best status, while the people who are furthest from the church are known as the burnouts. The most elite girls in school are called the Circle Girls, and they wear necklaces with small gems that relate to some unknown hierarchy in the Golden Praise church.
Plot
Summer, 1995
Six high school students who go by the Capstone Six are brought together to work on a project the summer after their sophomore year. They couldn’t be more different—a devout member of the local megachurch, a quirky bookworm, a cynical burnout, a kind-hearted athlete, a shy brainiac, and an eccentric clairvoyant. They are attending a party in the town mine to examine the old chambers for their project, when they witness something unspeakable. In the wake of the crime, the six vow to take care of the perpetrator of the crime, never speak on it again, and leave the town, the secret, and each other behind.
Summer, 2015
Jia breaks the pact they made twenty years ago to bring the Capstone Six back together. Only now they are five… Maddy has been found murdered, leading to more questions than answers. Was her death linked to the incident that happened that summer twenty years ago? The five remaining gather back in Wesley Falls for the funeral, and are forced to return to the mine and confront the person they thought was dead…
Review | A Step Past Darkness
It’s rare for a sophomore novel to outpace the author’s debut, but in this case I think Vera Kurian accomplished it. I loved her first book Never Saw Me Coming about a student enrolled at a psychopathy study at a university, only someone seems to be murdering the study participants one by one. That book was more of a heart-pounding thriller where you are in the mind of the main character.
In A Step Past Darkness, the story has so much depth and complexity. The dual timelines and the six narrators may sound messy, but this story is tightly plotted and expertly paced. Coming in at 450 pages, I was intimidated by the length, but the story flew by (especially on audiobook!). There wasn’t a single slow moment, and I was at the twisted-finale before I realized it.
The bulk of the story takes place in the timeline in summer of 1995. One thing I loved about this book was that the short descriptions of the characters make them seem like stereotypes for high school students from different groups. However, the characters are anything but stereotypical. Each of them surprised me in different ways.
The 90s lovers out there will also appreciate the fun nostalgia pieces. At one point they are discussing the OJ Simpson trial. At another part, one of them references The Firm workout videos. There are so many moments like this that oriented me back in time to the mid-90s and what it would have been like as a teenager at that point in time.
The setting was steeped with small town lore. The teenagers grew up essentially in this bubble where the Golden Praise church is the powerful part of town. Any rebelling happens quietly, or they face the consequences. The rumor mill is prominent throughout the book. And the mysterious church at the center of it all becomes more ominous the more we learn about it. I’d go as far to call it a cult or at least cult-lite.
The conclusion is twist-y and shocking when you learn exactly what has been going on with the Golden Praise church and the town of Wesley Falls!
March 29, 2024
What a ride this one was!
The novel is told in alternating timeframes, starting in 1995 when six teenagers party at an abandoned mine and witness an unimaginable crime. When they turn to the town elders they are dismissed. They take it upon themselves to investigate, only for it to end horrifically. They bury the evidence and severe ties, going in different directions with some of them even leaving town for good, and never speak again. Sometimes, unfortunately, the past come back to haunt you.
Twenty years later a similar tragedy brings the group back to town and together again, however this time they are unwaveringly determined to get to the bottom of what’s happening in their community, still heavily influenced by the church. As they unearth truths that’ve been hidden for centuries, they discover they are in for a fight, maybe of their lives!
At first, I really struggled with how many characters there were in this one. Not only were there six main characters, but there were several lesser characters, and it took about half of this 440-page book for me to get them in line and if I were pressed to criticize anything about this novel, it would be this aspect. When I had the Six ironed-out the pacing picked up considerably and I found it incredibly challenging to put down. Even to sleep!
One of the aspects of this novel I really enjoyed was the paranormal part – this was completely unexpected, in the best way! I also really loved the trope of a group of outcasts in a small community banding together to fight evil. I enjoyed all six of the main protagonists, finding them culturally complex and authentically flawed. I think my favorite of all of them had to be Jia, hands down! I really enjoyed the horror aspect of this, and discovered it gave me the same vibes of Stephen King’s It and believe anyone that enjoys any of King’s novels will probably like, or even love, this one as much as I did. The final stand in the closing chapters provided long-awaited answers I wanted, the action I needed and a resolution I hoped for.
I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a genre-defying, unique story about good versus evil, with a group of incredibly resilient and memorable characters.
The novel is told in alternating timeframes, starting in 1995 when six teenagers party at an abandoned mine and witness an unimaginable crime. When they turn to the town elders they are dismissed. They take it upon themselves to investigate, only for it to end horrifically. They bury the evidence and severe ties, going in different directions with some of them even leaving town for good, and never speak again. Sometimes, unfortunately, the past come back to haunt you.
Twenty years later a similar tragedy brings the group back to town and together again, however this time they are unwaveringly determined to get to the bottom of what’s happening in their community, still heavily influenced by the church. As they unearth truths that’ve been hidden for centuries, they discover they are in for a fight, maybe of their lives!
At first, I really struggled with how many characters there were in this one. Not only were there six main characters, but there were several lesser characters, and it took about half of this 440-page book for me to get them in line and if I were pressed to criticize anything about this novel, it would be this aspect. When I had the Six ironed-out the pacing picked up considerably and I found it incredibly challenging to put down. Even to sleep!
One of the aspects of this novel I really enjoyed was the paranormal part – this was completely unexpected, in the best way! I also really loved the trope of a group of outcasts in a small community banding together to fight evil. I enjoyed all six of the main protagonists, finding them culturally complex and authentically flawed. I think my favorite of all of them had to be Jia, hands down! I really enjoyed the horror aspect of this, and discovered it gave me the same vibes of Stephen King’s It and believe anyone that enjoys any of King’s novels will probably like, or even love, this one as much as I did. The final stand in the closing chapters provided long-awaited answers I wanted, the action I needed and a resolution I hoped for.
I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a genre-defying, unique story about good versus evil, with a group of incredibly resilient and memorable characters.
January 1, 2024
This was the PERFECT book to wrap up my year with. I truly couldn’t have loved it more. I felt like this book was fine tuned and tailored just for me. 😂
A Step Past Darkness follows Kelly, Maddy, Jai, Padma and Casey in 1995 and 2015. These 6 vastly different teens were lumped together for a group project in High School when they witness something horrifying in the mines in their town. This leads them to searching for answers in their crooked creepy town. The book flashes forward to 2015 when they’re all brought back to the town when one of the 6 is found murdered.
I adored each of these characters. The 1995 POV had Stand By Me vibes that I just loved. The book was long but I truly could’ve devoured another 100 pages. I just didn’t want it to end. It felt like binging a whole series in a day.
My only heads up for future readers is, don’t go in fully expecting a straight to the point thriller. It’s just as much supernatural horror as it is thriller - but truly, in the best possible way.
I just can’t say enough good things about this book. It’s one of those books, to me, that need a 6th star. 5 isn’t enough. ⭐️✨
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A Step Past Darkness follows Kelly, Maddy, Jai, Padma and Casey in 1995 and 2015. These 6 vastly different teens were lumped together for a group project in High School when they witness something horrifying in the mines in their town. This leads them to searching for answers in their crooked creepy town. The book flashes forward to 2015 when they’re all brought back to the town when one of the 6 is found murdered.
I adored each of these characters. The 1995 POV had Stand By Me vibes that I just loved. The book was long but I truly could’ve devoured another 100 pages. I just didn’t want it to end. It felt like binging a whole series in a day.
My only heads up for future readers is, don’t go in fully expecting a straight to the point thriller. It’s just as much supernatural horror as it is thriller - but truly, in the best possible way.
I just can’t say enough good things about this book. It’s one of those books, to me, that need a 6th star. 5 isn’t enough. ⭐️✨
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 26, 2024
I requested this book on the back of the authors previous book Never Saw it Coming which I absolutely loved.
Unfortunately this was a miss for me. It was a very very slow burn, with so many characters and timelines to keep straight. I felt like I was reading it forever and not really getting very far. I usually like a book with multiple characters and timelines but I feel that we got too many details and every single character’s point of view on everything and it dragged. The book was just too long and not fast paced enough for me.
Can’t love them all, I am disappointed that this wasn’t for me. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately this was a miss for me. It was a very very slow burn, with so many characters and timelines to keep straight. I felt like I was reading it forever and not really getting very far. I usually like a book with multiple characters and timelines but I feel that we got too many details and every single character’s point of view on everything and it dragged. The book was just too long and not fast paced enough for me.
Can’t love them all, I am disappointed that this wasn’t for me. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2024
Initially I was sure that this was going to be at least a 4 stars read, because it did start well.
I do praise the author’s originality, the writing and the concept, but the development of the storyline and the storytelling itself wasn’t that gripping. There was no intrigue or suspense.
It’s a character driven story, which I tend to love, but here there are too many main and side characters, and I just didn’t care for a single one, although I did favour Jia.
I don’t t feel like saying anything else, but because it is a slow burn, this felt so lengthy with 141k words, even though the chapters were not that long.
The book is divided into 8 parts with a total of 55 chapters.
Anyways, I was really expecting to love this book, which is the second one released by this author (I do own the first, “Never Saw Me Coming”, which I purchased in 2021 and remains unopened to date).
I do praise the author’s originality, the writing and the concept, but the development of the storyline and the storytelling itself wasn’t that gripping. There was no intrigue or suspense.
It’s a character driven story, which I tend to love, but here there are too many main and side characters, and I just didn’t care for a single one, although I did favour Jia.
I don’t t feel like saying anything else, but because it is a slow burn, this felt so lengthy with 141k words, even though the chapters were not that long.
The book is divided into 8 parts with a total of 55 chapters.
Anyways, I was really expecting to love this book, which is the second one released by this author (I do own the first, “Never Saw Me Coming”, which I purchased in 2021 and remains unopened to date).
April 1, 2024
3.5 stars
As someone who grew up religious I usually enjoy this type of trope because I can identify. This is a real slow burn story, but for me it started out really strong as we get to know the characters. I was invested in their stories and how they came together as friends. However it definitely starts to lose steam around the 2/3 mark and it begins to feel overly long (this clocks in at almost 450 pages which was completely unnecessary) which made to start dragging for me. Overall I did enjoy this one, I just think it would’ve been much stronger if it was edited down a bit.
As someone who grew up religious I usually enjoy this type of trope because I can identify. This is a real slow burn story, but for me it started out really strong as we get to know the characters. I was invested in their stories and how they came together as friends. However it definitely starts to lose steam around the 2/3 mark and it begins to feel overly long (this clocks in at almost 450 pages which was completely unnecessary) which made to start dragging for me. Overall I did enjoy this one, I just think it would’ve been much stronger if it was edited down a bit.
January 30, 2024
Review coming soon.
January 14, 2024
I loved Kurian's first novel, Never Saw Me Coming, a thriller that didn't just rehash the same old thing and was so much fun to read. I was so excited to read her next book but oh boy was this a disappointment. You would never even guess they're from the same author.
This book is much too long, and I think that thing has happened where the writer has so fully imagined this group of characters as a group that she forgets to get the reader as well acquainted. At first there are too many characters to keep track of, but even once you know who they all are, they never feel like a group of friends. It all feels like a plot that has been crafted and then imposed on this set of characters. And yes I know that is what writers do, but a good novel will make it feel like it is all happening organically, the words springing up in front of you. And here it feels very much like a set of pieces being moved around in a specific way but not giving any real feeling.
The big problem, I think, is that this book is such an homage to IT. I spotted it miles away, well before Kurian noted it in her acknowledgments. The group of friends all called back from a town they've fled to defeat an evil they defeated once before as children? Yeah, it's not hard to spot. But that plot is not what makes IT work and it's not what makes IT interesting. Kurian borrows the framework but she doesn't set it into a worthy follow up.
Not that the possibility isn't there. A creepy megachurch is a great source of evil, and a lot of the elements of what Kurian's doing effectively create this small town where there is no one to ask for help and you'll just have to do it yourselves. But this also isn't a horror novel in any real sense except that it's supernatural and has a monstrous villain. It's also not a mystery. And it's much too slow to be a thriller. (The first half is practically plodding, more backstory than anything else, and not in a fun way.) I am not saying that you can't have a drama with suspense and supernatural elements. Of course you can. But Kurian's lack of committing to the things that make genre fun leave this flat, because she doesn't have a deep, interesting character study or a fantastic plot.
These characters, who are supposed to be a tight knit group of friends, never make much sense. They have somehow never spoken in twenty years for.... reasons? (Once you get the reasons, they still do not make sense.) They are immediately all tight knit after not being friends at all, particularly unusual since one of them was hated by all the rest. They are somehow able to form this friend group without anyone in their small town knowing because they go to a lake that apparently no one else ever visits? Kurian wants them to have this bond but she doesn't create it for you. And given that they spend only a couple of months actually spending time together, it's hard to believe they are as tight knit or know each other as well as she wants them to on the page. A lot of odd choices.
One of the oddest is to have Maddy so quickly turn on her church. Of course she has to for the plot, she is the one who is deepest inside and her knowledge is necessary. But she not only immediately accepts that the church she's spent her whole life devoted to is evil, she can also express how it has always been that way and how it has impacted her life. As someone who has left a church, let me just tell you it does not work that way. Especially not when you're 16.
It's a mystery to me how Never Saw Me Coming was so well plotted and this is... not. Lots of convenient ways to suddenly discover answers to questions. There is also all this stuff they don't understand in the 2015 plot that we later learn they definitely already understood in 1995. You just can't think to hard about a lot of it.
I honestly would not have finished this book if I hadn't enjoyed Kurian's last one so much, if I hadn't kept hoping she would somehow pull it out and make it work.
This book is much too long, and I think that thing has happened where the writer has so fully imagined this group of characters as a group that she forgets to get the reader as well acquainted. At first there are too many characters to keep track of, but even once you know who they all are, they never feel like a group of friends. It all feels like a plot that has been crafted and then imposed on this set of characters. And yes I know that is what writers do, but a good novel will make it feel like it is all happening organically, the words springing up in front of you. And here it feels very much like a set of pieces being moved around in a specific way but not giving any real feeling.
The big problem, I think, is that this book is such an homage to IT. I spotted it miles away, well before Kurian noted it in her acknowledgments. The group of friends all called back from a town they've fled to defeat an evil they defeated once before as children? Yeah, it's not hard to spot. But that plot is not what makes IT work and it's not what makes IT interesting. Kurian borrows the framework but she doesn't set it into a worthy follow up.
Not that the possibility isn't there. A creepy megachurch is a great source of evil, and a lot of the elements of what Kurian's doing effectively create this small town where there is no one to ask for help and you'll just have to do it yourselves. But this also isn't a horror novel in any real sense except that it's supernatural and has a monstrous villain. It's also not a mystery. And it's much too slow to be a thriller. (The first half is practically plodding, more backstory than anything else, and not in a fun way.) I am not saying that you can't have a drama with suspense and supernatural elements. Of course you can. But Kurian's lack of committing to the things that make genre fun leave this flat, because she doesn't have a deep, interesting character study or a fantastic plot.
These characters, who are supposed to be a tight knit group of friends, never make much sense. They have somehow never spoken in twenty years for.... reasons? (Once you get the reasons, they still do not make sense.) They are immediately all tight knit after not being friends at all, particularly unusual since one of them was hated by all the rest. They are somehow able to form this friend group without anyone in their small town knowing because they go to a lake that apparently no one else ever visits? Kurian wants them to have this bond but she doesn't create it for you. And given that they spend only a couple of months actually spending time together, it's hard to believe they are as tight knit or know each other as well as she wants them to on the page. A lot of odd choices.
One of the oddest is to have Maddy so quickly turn on her church. Of course she has to for the plot, she is the one who is deepest inside and her knowledge is necessary. But she not only immediately accepts that the church she's spent her whole life devoted to is evil, she can also express how it has always been that way and how it has impacted her life. As someone who has left a church, let me just tell you it does not work that way. Especially not when you're 16.
It's a mystery to me how Never Saw Me Coming was so well plotted and this is... not. Lots of convenient ways to suddenly discover answers to questions. There is also all this stuff they don't understand in the 2015 plot that we later learn they definitely already understood in 1995. You just can't think to hard about a lot of it.
I honestly would not have finished this book if I hadn't enjoyed Kurian's last one so much, if I hadn't kept hoping she would somehow pull it out and make it work.
Read
March 12, 2024Really interesting. I liked it, got worried that it was going WAY paranormal, but then really enjoyed the end.
Full review + spoilers on Jen Ryland Reviews!
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Full review + spoilers on Jen Ryland Reviews!
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
January 23, 2024
This book won't be for everyone, but it was definitely for me. When I think back on this story, I will remember the way it made me feel. I laughed. I fumed. I teared up. A friend of mine once mentioned "five star moments", and I realized mine are typically unexpected moments of fierce friendship that punch me in the gut and bring tears to my eyes. That happened here. *sigh* I will remember wanting to stay in the middle of this book for a long time.
The Capstone Six are the heart of this book. Think The Breakfast Club with the eclectic group of teens assigned to a high school project. They experience trauma together and build this protective friendship that tugs at my heart. As adults it is clear they all must return to their hometown to address some unfinished business.
A Step Past Darkness is Vera Kurian's second novel. After enjoying Never Saw Me Coming, this was a highly anticipated read for me. Be aware, it's a chunk. There are dual timelines and six perspectives, so it takes awhile to get introduced and rolling. For some, this book will be slow. For me, I came to care for every character and soaked it in. Plots involving psychic abilities and religion will always get me. The nostalgia of screennames like SavageGarden15 and carpooling in our parents' minivans was a bonus.
I'm bummed I have to wait for more by Kurian. Her writing and sense of humor click with me. She made me love her characters. I was tense when they were in danger, and I was sad thinking something could happen to them (since it is a thriller after all). My only wish that almost brought my rating to a 4.5 would be to get more from some characters like Maddy and Jia. I would have happily read a longer book to get more from those two. But at the end of the day, when I think about A Step Past Darkness, I will automatically say "I loved it!", so five-stars it is!
RATING: I loved it! (5)
The Capstone Six are the heart of this book. Think The Breakfast Club with the eclectic group of teens assigned to a high school project. They experience trauma together and build this protective friendship that tugs at my heart. As adults it is clear they all must return to their hometown to address some unfinished business.
A Step Past Darkness is Vera Kurian's second novel. After enjoying Never Saw Me Coming, this was a highly anticipated read for me. Be aware, it's a chunk. There are dual timelines and six perspectives, so it takes awhile to get introduced and rolling. For some, this book will be slow. For me, I came to care for every character and soaked it in. Plots involving psychic abilities and religion will always get me. The nostalgia of screennames like SavageGarden15 and carpooling in our parents' minivans was a bonus.
I'm bummed I have to wait for more by Kurian. Her writing and sense of humor click with me. She made me love her characters. I was tense when they were in danger, and I was sad thinking something could happen to them (since it is a thriller after all). My only wish that almost brought my rating to a 4.5 would be to get more from some characters like Maddy and Jia. I would have happily read a longer book to get more from those two. But at the end of the day, when I think about A Step Past Darkness, I will automatically say "I loved it!", so five-stars it is!
RATING: I loved it! (5)
February 23, 2024
I want to experience this book turned into a mini series! My entire reading experience was so vivid and the story and characters were the right kind of dramatic, I hope some smart TV people out there get on it right away!
If like me you enjoy stories about creepy little towns with claustrophobic vibes, revolving around a group of teens trying to figure out ways to fit in, a dash of supernatural and really engaging storytelling, you will want to pick up this one!
I don’t know why but I kept getting flashes to Buffy and her gang of misfits while reading this one! Coincidentally, that’s also one of my forever favorite TV shows. And no, there are no vampires or slaying in A Step Past Darkness but plenty of sinister happenings!
A group of teens get thrown together to work on a school project over the summer. Even though they’re not friends they end up attending a party at an abandoned mine and witnessing something disturbing!
I enjoyed all 475 pages of this book! There was great character development that was crucial to the story but also to my enjoyment of it. I kept forgetting I was reading, I was so lost in the story!
Highlights:
📚 Dual timeline
📚 Multiple POV
📚 Strong religion component but absolutely relevant to the story
📚 Suspense, drama, supernatural
📚 Seamless writing
A huge thank you to @htp_books @harpercollinsca for my ARC! Enthusiasm is all my own!
If like me you enjoy stories about creepy little towns with claustrophobic vibes, revolving around a group of teens trying to figure out ways to fit in, a dash of supernatural and really engaging storytelling, you will want to pick up this one!
I don’t know why but I kept getting flashes to Buffy and her gang of misfits while reading this one! Coincidentally, that’s also one of my forever favorite TV shows. And no, there are no vampires or slaying in A Step Past Darkness but plenty of sinister happenings!
A group of teens get thrown together to work on a school project over the summer. Even though they’re not friends they end up attending a party at an abandoned mine and witnessing something disturbing!
I enjoyed all 475 pages of this book! There was great character development that was crucial to the story but also to my enjoyment of it. I kept forgetting I was reading, I was so lost in the story!
Highlights:
📚 Dual timeline
📚 Multiple POV
📚 Strong religion component but absolutely relevant to the story
📚 Suspense, drama, supernatural
📚 Seamless writing
A huge thank you to @htp_books @harpercollinsca for my ARC! Enthusiasm is all my own!
February 4, 2024
In my heart I want to give this a higher star rating than I actually will I think. Following the story of a group of teens who saw the unthinkable during one summer in 1995 along with a future timeline in 2015 where one of them has been murdered. Going back to the town where religious trauma caused them all scars to try and find answers and justice.
This book felt really long to me: I’m not sure why because it’s definitely not the longest book I’ve ever read. At the same time, I did enjoy it while I read it. Maybe the subject matter was a bit hard to read (to close to home for me): I liked the supernatural twist put on the story as well.
TW: SA, physical abuse, religious trauma.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book felt really long to me: I’m not sure why because it’s definitely not the longest book I’ve ever read. At the same time, I did enjoy it while I read it. Maybe the subject matter was a bit hard to read (to close to home for me): I liked the supernatural twist put on the story as well.
TW: SA, physical abuse, religious trauma.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 14, 2024
The rating might be higher, but I'm definitely going to have to reread this one. The past and present chapters got confusing, and I kept drifting off and would miss entire parts of the story. I do think the book/audiobook is ENTIRELY too long. I definitely got IT vibes, and like that it has strong Centralia origins, as well.
February 27, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up. I have very complicated feelings about this book in the beginning it was incredible and dark and I felt like I was really going to enjoy it. It wavered between enjoyable and boring. I don’t think that this book should’ve been 440 pages I think 300 or 350 could’ve sufficed.
April 7, 2024
4 stars--I really liked it. This book wasn't what I was expecting. I must not have read the summary thoroughly; I thought it would be a suspense novel, but it actually verges on horror, with a strong supernatural element. Hooray! I enjoyed the characters, and sinister church/cults are one of my favorite plots.
September 19, 2024
Book Blog | Bookstagram
I'm so tired of religious shit. I'm not reading another book with a religious plot element for the rest of the year. I can't take anymore.
⭐⭐⭐½ | 3.5 stars rounded up... I think.
I'm so tired of religious shit. I'm not reading another book with a religious plot element for the rest of the year. I can't take anymore.
⭐⭐⭐½ | 3.5 stars rounded up... I think.
February 20, 2024
Story time! When I started this book, I was really not feeling it. At all. So I went to look at some reviews, as one does, to see if it is worth it.
This review
convinced me that it was, and I am happy to report that I am so very glad I listened! It starts off slowww, but that is really my only complaint about this book. Once I got into it, I was hooked, could not put the thing down, and at that point it definitely did not feel long.
There are six main characters who end up sort of thrown together for a project which takes them out of their comfort zones (let's just say these six were not exactly running in the same groups until this project). But it takes an unexpected turn when they see some at a mine party. And I do mean Some Stuff™. The book alternates between the past, during the summer that changed their lives, and the present, when they reunite- minus one- to figure out what happened to their fallen friend.
I don't want to give much away, but the mines are so atmospheric and creepy (also, I very much hope that they were kind of based off Centralia, which I have always wanted to incorporate into a book of my own). To add to the sketchiness of the town, there is a mega-church which is culty at best, frankly. It gives those vibes- you know the vibes. Some of our characters' families are deep in the culty church scene, but the whole town is affected by it one way or another. And then you have murdery shenanigans happening, and a lot of questions.
The mystery was so good, I could not stop reading. I also loved the characters, and being able to see them both as teens and then adults was pretty fun- you see how all they have been through has changed them, and it makes things even tenser when they have to go back to their hometown and revisit the junk that made them get out of there to begin with. So to summarize, we have great character development, an incredibly compelling mystery, high stakes and murder, some humor to make it palatable, relationships to navigate, some commentary on the creepy mega churches, and it all adds up to a simply unputdownable book.
Bottom Line: It may start out slow, but it gets so good that I promise you won't care.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
There are six main characters who end up sort of thrown together for a project which takes them out of their comfort zones (let's just say these six were not exactly running in the same groups until this project). But it takes an unexpected turn when they see some at a mine party. And I do mean Some Stuff™. The book alternates between the past, during the summer that changed their lives, and the present, when they reunite- minus one- to figure out what happened to their fallen friend.
I don't want to give much away, but the mines are so atmospheric and creepy (also, I very much hope that they were kind of based off Centralia, which I have always wanted to incorporate into a book of my own). To add to the sketchiness of the town, there is a mega-church which is culty at best, frankly. It gives those vibes- you know the vibes. Some of our characters' families are deep in the culty church scene, but the whole town is affected by it one way or another. And then you have murdery shenanigans happening, and a lot of questions.
The mystery was so good, I could not stop reading. I also loved the characters, and being able to see them both as teens and then adults was pretty fun- you see how all they have been through has changed them, and it makes things even tenser when they have to go back to their hometown and revisit the junk that made them get out of there to begin with. So to summarize, we have great character development, an incredibly compelling mystery, high stakes and murder, some humor to make it palatable, relationships to navigate, some commentary on the creepy mega churches, and it all adds up to a simply unputdownable book.
Bottom Line: It may start out slow, but it gets so good that I promise you won't care.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
April 5, 2024
This is an interesting book that really had a lot crammed into it. Very character driven, which isn't typically my thing especially in mystery/thrillers, but by the end of the story I did feel really connected to all of the characters and invested in their stories. The speculative elements also aren't normally my thing but didn't detract from my enjoyment. While I respect the project that writing this book must have been, I think my appreciation for the story outweighs my enjoyment of reading it in the moment. I'd definitely recommend it to readers in for a slow-burn, character-driven mystery with slight paranormal elements and who are also okay with discussions and critique of religion. While I haven't had a favorite book from Vera Kurian yet, I'm curious to see what she continues writing in the future because this was an interesting read and felt really different from her previous book in an intriguing way.
Featured in this reading vlog: https://youtu.be/_HNqXu2U1rs?si=X8Epm...
Featured in this reading vlog: https://youtu.be/_HNqXu2U1rs?si=X8Epm...
March 8, 2024
This was a book I randomly chanced upon. I had been looking for more thrillers/horror having to do with mines and this one fits that model.
A murderous megachurch which is basically a cult, a mysterious seemingly immortal pastor/possible mountain demon, and a group of friends who share a dark secret.
Years later one of the group ends up murdered and this draws everyone back to town to face the past that has been dredged up. Will they finally put these horrors to rest?
A wild and captivating book, I loved the weirdness of this, the creepiness of the ties to the mines, the fact that the megachurch was evil... Let's be honest, mega and church should not be a word that goes together, seems appropriate there was a demon in charge. All that money spent on the church and big fancy houses, when it could have been used to actually help people who needed it.
A murderous megachurch which is basically a cult, a mysterious seemingly immortal pastor/possible mountain demon, and a group of friends who share a dark secret.
Years later one of the group ends up murdered and this draws everyone back to town to face the past that has been dredged up. Will they finally put these horrors to rest?
A wild and captivating book, I loved the weirdness of this, the creepiness of the ties to the mines, the fact that the megachurch was evil... Let's be honest, mega and church should not be a word that goes together, seems appropriate there was a demon in charge. All that money spent on the church and big fancy houses, when it could have been used to actually help people who needed it.
July 30, 2024
Ehh this one wasn’t for me. The first thing that threw me off is that this has more of a super natural element to it and there was nothing in the description leading me to think that. While I’ve read many books with alternating timelines, I felt this one was harder to follow. This story was written from the POV of the 6 characters…While I did enjoy a few of the “twists” I felt the writing to be a bit chaotic. There also was a few different scenarios that played out that I thought may have been important or would come back into play later on and never did. All in all, I think the story had great potential but maybe just not executed in a way that grabbed my attention.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC in return for my honest review.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC in return for my honest review.
March 11, 2024
2.5⭐️ This book was way too long and a waste of time. I kept hoping it would get better but I should have DNF. I did not think this thriller would have a character with “unreal powers”. The priest kept being reborn I thought was stupid.
This was a case of Instagram influencers posting cool pics of their arcs. I would not recommend this book to others.
This was a case of Instagram influencers posting cool pics of their arcs. I would not recommend this book to others.
February 14, 2024
Finished reading: February 11th 2024
"Everyone is going to be telling lies, just for different reasons."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Park Row in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
February 21, 2024
I was so into this one, until I wasn’t? We have a small town culty corrupt church that runs the town so I was drawn in and fascinated immediately. But at just under 500 pages, this slow burn was just a little too long for my personal preference.
The story is told in dual timelines with flashbacks and it centers around a group of misfits. The characters are complex and compelling and I enjoyed learning more about them as the story unfolded.
While this one may not be for everyone, I think there’s a bit of everything in it that readers will enjoy. If you’re a fan of the Goonies or Stranger Things, I think you’ll enjoy this!
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
The story is told in dual timelines with flashbacks and it centers around a group of misfits. The characters are complex and compelling and I enjoyed learning more about them as the story unfolded.
While this one may not be for everyone, I think there’s a bit of everything in it that readers will enjoy. If you’re a fan of the Goonies or Stranger Things, I think you’ll enjoy this!
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
November 3, 2023
This book gave me all the IT vibes possible and I am 100% here for it.
A group of misfit kids thrown together for a capstone project in 1995 uncover sinister secrets within their small town. And they all lead to the church that runs everything and determines who is worthy and who isn’t.
20 years after they saved the town, they have fled to other parts of the country and have had zero contact with one another. Until one of them turns up dead, in their hometown, and they all come rushing back to finish what they started in 1995.
A group of misfit kids thrown together for a capstone project in 1995 uncover sinister secrets within their small town. And they all lead to the church that runs everything and determines who is worthy and who isn’t.
20 years after they saved the town, they have fled to other parts of the country and have had zero contact with one another. Until one of them turns up dead, in their hometown, and they all come rushing back to finish what they started in 1995.
Shelved as 'to-read-own'
October 18, 2023pre-ordered kindle version on 10/18/23 for $13.99
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Oh, hell yeah!
Ever since I read Never Saw Me Coming last year, I have been itching for another Vera Kurian book.
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Oh, hell yeah!
Ever since I read Never Saw Me Coming last year, I have been itching for another Vera Kurian book.
January 10, 2024
This was terrifying and addicting and I am completely OBSESSED with it.
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