Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an excerpt in exchange of my honest review.

This book was certainly much more than I was expecting it to be, but in all very, very good ways. The plot of the book follows a small town that the main character, Logan and her two dads go to for their TV show but as teenagers disappear she joins up with Ashley to find out what's happening. Ashley has a boyfriend who happens to be one of the missing teenagers and she simply just wants to find him/find out what's happened to him. The plot definitely keeps you interested but isn't overly complicated and actually helps out in the book being a fast read.

The writing of the book is well done, the thing that surprised me most for a ya fantasy is how fast of a read this book is. That is in no way a insult and actually more of a compliment. It's nice to have a book that isn't a contemporary that is easily readable and fast as well for a change, especially for a fantasy novel. It's incredibly refreshing for a change.

The characters, I have hardly any qualms about, it was actually probably the best part about the book. The dads were probably my favourite part about the book honestly, they were absolutely amazing and so, so loving. I will say, I did prefer Logan's POV over Ashley's for the majority of the novel because—and this is probably the only thing I have a issue with—I simply didn't like her character for a huge amount of the book. She got better but, it honestly didn't help that her friends and the people who she surrounded herself around for the first 1/3-1/2 of the book were, to say it bluntly, assholes. One of them was overtly homophobic, specifically towards Logan's dads and there was almost nothing done about his actions. Logan herself, it was interesting to read her POV the entire time and kept me intrigued. Ashley, not so much purely because of the people she surrounded herself around.

All in all, the book is really well done, the ending is possibly so much more loving and full of love and care than you could have ever predicted.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

A darker, more mature City of Ghost, but make it queerer? Yes, please. We have the main character, Logan, who has followed her paranormal investigator fathers to their hometown. A boy has gone missing, and some members of the town blame one of her fathers, Brandon. Logan is determined to prove that isn’t true and teams up with the missing boy’s ex-girlfriend. As they grow closer, more teens go missing and creepy stuff goes on, including a deep dive into Logan’s own past. This was eerie and interesting, and sucked me right in.

The audiobook was well narrated, easy to listen to.

Review will appear on my blog www,reviewsofyabooks.blogspot.com on July 3, 2021

Introduction

Something isn't quite right about the town of Snakebite, Oregon, and when now-paranormal-investigators go back to their roots to investigate the town, things get weirder. A teen disappears, and then teens start getting killed. People are holding on to old anger, and old secrets. Is something stranger than just a few missing teens going on in this sleepy town in the middle of nowhere? Something stranger? Something darker?

Cover

You're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but I will say that this cover is so gorgeous and it definitely grabbed my attention when I was browsing through Netgalley.

Tone

I loved the consistent slightly "off" vibe that runs through the whole story. Small town weird vibes are my favourite and this book delivered.

The Dark

I love the concept of The Dark being an entity of it's own. It reminds me of the "The Forest" element in We Were Restless Things by Cole Nagamatsu (review of that book here!)

Alternating POVs

I loved the alternating POVs of Ashley and Logan and The Dark. Usually when I read a book that switches POVs I find myself being less interested in one of them, and eagerly waiting for the story to switch back to the POV I like better, but that didn't happen at all with this book, and that feels so refreshing for me.

Conclusion

I loved this book. I believe the editor described it "like Riverdale, but good," and I agree. With the small town vibes with an undertone of something strange going on, the shoe fits. Because of the general spookiness of the novel I would also recommend this book to fans of After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel, and, of course, We Were Restless Things. I will definitely be looking our for more from this author.

"𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.  𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆-𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓, 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇, 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍.  𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆."

Ashley's boyfriend is the first to go missing and everyone suspects husbands Brandon and Alejo and their daughter Logan.  As more kids are found dead Ashley and Logan decide to do a bit of investigating on their own. As they investigate, secrets are revealed about the families of Snakebite and about the town. Something dark and mysterious is stalking Snakebite and Logan and Ashley are going to try to stop it.

The Dead and the Dark is a slow build story that's creepy, dark and sometimes a bit disturbing.  It has great queer representation which I love.  I love the uniqueness of the story as it's one that is different from anything I've read before.  I think I would have liked to see more of the Dark's perspective and stronger character development but overall it was a pretty solid read.  The Dead and the Dark comes out August 3rd!

My one line pitch of this book: it's like Riverdale, but if Riverdale was actually... good.

The Dead and the Dark is an AMAZING queer thriller following a family of outsiders in a small town who fall under suspicion when a series of teenage murders occurs. The small-minded, unaccepting town of Snakebite, Oregon chased Logan and her two dads away 15 years prior, and the inopportune timing of their re-arrival coinciding with a series of murders certainly isn't doing them any favors with the townsfolk. When Logan meets Ashley, the best friend and ex-girlfriend of the first murder victim, they embark on a journey of mystery solving; Ashley because she wants to find Tristian alive, and Logan because she wants to clear her fathers name. But everything is not as it seems in this small town, and pair timing with complicated family dynamics, Logan starts to suspect her own dads.

The mystery in this novel is so good and so unique. From the plot synopsis, this may seem like a tired, stereotypical mystery trope, but this plot is anything but. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The writing is poignant, the author does an amazing job of writing complex emotions and relationships while maintaining the creepily mysterious atmosphere.

I cannot recommend this book enough. You will love the characters, you will be surprised by how deeply complicated and emotional the story gets, and the mystery will keep you engaged and guessing. This is one of the best mysteries of the year, and you won't want to miss it.

I listened to this story via audiobook, and the narrator was awesome! The audiobook was super engaging and made the story *that* much creepier.

In the small Oregon town of Snakebite, something evil is brewing. Logan has never been to her dads’ hometown before and could have lived without it. Ashley has lived in Snakebite her whole life, destined to take over the family ranch. Now Ashley and Logan are thrown together, investigating a string of disappearances, deaths and ghostly experiences. What’s haunting Snakebite and how do they stop it before it’s too late?

What an incredible debut novel. Fast paced, well developed characters, a beautifully spooky backdrop. This was a highly anticipated read for me and it did not disappoint. I read this book in a few hours, completely unable to put it down until I knew what happened.

Logan as an MC was such a refreshing turn from the usual. I loved her story, I love the queer representation, I loved her wit and humor. Ashley took more time to grow on me, but I loved where she went as a character. I wish the backdrop had been a little darker, but that’s just me. The exploration of ghosts and manifestations was definitely unique, in a way that makes you want to know more.

The only thing that bothered me was some of the descriptive words, like, “urine-colored light” and “the sky was the color of bruised knuckles.” I get the idea the author was going for and maybe it didn’t bug anyone else, but I just found it a little cringy.

This book is such a great exploration of family, grief and manifestations of fear/hatred in isolated small towns. An amazing, quick summer read. I cannot recommend this enough.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of THE DEAD AND THE DARK by Courtney Gould. This was a well-paced, exciting book that pulled me through pretty quickly. Its horror elements had me genuinely spooked in the middle of the night, the mystery aspect of it had me guessing what would happen next, and the teen angst was believable and relatable. I did sometimes feel like all three of those genres this story encompassed were competing for which was the main one and could never quite decide. It's not that the three can't go together, but that the balance felt off at points. I think the main issue was some of the supernatural elements felt a little too big to fit into this contemporary, realistic setting in a believable way. I felt like those elements yanked me into a different story and seemed disjointed from the rest of it. But overall I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the writing, so it earns a four-star-rating because the book did its job.

Creepy, beautiful and mysterious, The Dead and the Dark is an absolutely fantastic book! I loved the main characters Logan and Ashley, whose narrative perspectives alternate throughout the book. This book grapples with complex ideas of love, grief, loneliness and the idea of trying to find yourself in a place where you don't have the breathing room to do so. It's also full of queer representation which was absolutely fantastic, and handled one character's journey of discovering her queer identity in a really great way. The story itself was cleverly done and crafted the villainous Dark in a way that kept it as mysterious and unnerving as possible. The book also did a great job of dropping breadcrumbs along the way that all tied up cohesively by the last few chapters in a really solid ending. Overall, I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to all!

“In the beginning, the Dark is only a thought. It is hope turned inside out. It is curdled anger, spite like tar, residue that sits on the lake water like a film.”

This has got to be one of the top YA paranormal love stories I’ve ever read or listened to. Not that I’m putting is squarely in these genres – there are also strong elements of horror and mystery and a fair amount of thriller vibes to really get your blood pumping!

There are so many things I loved about this book set in Snakebite, a small tight community in Oregon. It is remote and it is unforgiving and the people there don’t like different. When one of Logans ghost hunting dads’ heads back to Snakebite to get a feel for the next show, Logan and her other dad, Alejo soon follow. They’re met with contempt, judgement and suspicion and soon Logan finds out why; not long after her dad Brandon arrives, a local boy goes missing. Soon kids are being murdered and the obvious signs point to Logans dads but there could be something darker at work.

There are many secrets within this novel and the slow revealing of them is delicious and dark; Brandon and Alejo, originally from Snakebite have plenty of secrets but the town itself has a few of their own and Logan is determined to find out how they all tie together. She’s aided in this by Ashley, the girlfriend of missing teen Tristan and soon an alliance forms earning a negative response from the townsfolk.

TDATD has the perfect haunting atmosphere with characters that I grew to love, it has twists that are beautifully plotted and a pace that kept me engaged – literally turning pages and listening until I finished in just under two days. It is terrifyingly creepy and I loved every word. Ghostly apparitions, demonic dark voices, LGBTQ+ Rep and small town secrets are cat nip to this little kitty soul.

Narration: Soneela Nankani narrated this haunting tale beautifully! She did a phenomenal job bringing the characters to life with perfectly pitched haunting quality. She is an absolute delight to listen to!

My thanks to MacMillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday books for the pleasure of listening/reading to The Dead and the Dark!

TW: Murder/Death, Homophobia, Gore, Child Death

4.33 stars

We follow Logan and her dads, TV ghost hunters Brandon and Alejo, as they arrive in the couple's hometown of Snakebite. They soon realize that there's something wrong going on as teenagers mysteriously disappear, some even turning up dead. Then we meet Ashley, a local teenager whose boyfriend's ghost has been following her since he went missing. Looking for answers and hoping to end the disappearances, Logan and Ashley team up to investigate whatever is haunting the town.

The highlight of The Dead and the Dark for me was the enthralling plot and the engrossing character work. I could honestly close my eyes and imagine each character as a real person (for better or worse). The use of horror as a proxy to social commentary was really well done. I finished the book reflecting on how scary real life can be!

The execution was solid, in my opinion, but I wish the atmosphere had been just slightly scarier. Maybe because I was so consumed with the characters, I wasn't scared, and I wish I had been. I still think this is a beautiful novel, though, and I am delighted I read it. I'll carry Brandon with me for a long time.

Pain - this summons the book up to me. This book is dark and scary. Although the horror fan in me was delighted with the supernatural undertones of The Dead and the Dark, the most frightening thing about this book is how well it represents real life in the issues dealt with, such as queerness, prejudice, grief, loss. I don't know how to talk about this book without spoiling it, as its fluidity and the order we are introduced to incidents were such a big part of my experience. I will say this: how much I related to Brandon was borderline unhealthy. His arc was the best thing about the novel to me.

I lie; there are many things I loved in this novel, and arrrghhhh it's hard to talk about it without spoilers, but hear me out and bear with my vagueness. The Dark was used as an analogy and what it represents, HOW it represents it, was so beautiful and enthralling. Snakebite, unfortunately, is not just a fictional town with made-up people - it's a petri dish that under the microscope exposes the worst in humankind and the world. I wish I could say I don't see people like that more often than I'd like. The queer relationships in this book are everything. For one, Brandon and Alejo have a healthier and stronger relationship with each other than most hetero couples I know. They are also excellent parents. The last thing I will mention in the "reasons to love this book" list is that Gould's story is organic and reads naturally. She didn't hesitate (or maybe she did?) to make difficult choices. The result paid off, in my opinion.


Disclaimer: I first read it as an ARC. In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to St. Martin's Press, Courtney Gould, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Dead and the Dark.

This is a story about a girl searching for the dark in a family who speaks to the dead.

This was a creepy, fun, small town horror. Also, there’s great LGBTQIA+ representation! I think I wanted more relationship building, but as is it was a quick and effective ghost story.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. 💫

Thank you so much @netgalley & @macmillan.audio & @stmartinspress & @wednesdaybooks for this eArc & ALRC!

I DNFed this at 10 %. I thought the description of the book sounded so interesting but the writing style was just so dry and didn’t drag me into the story at all. The writing was very monotone and the characters just all felt one dimensional. I really wanted to love this book but it just fell flat for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of The Dead and the Dark. I would consider this a mystery thriller with a dash of paranormal. If you like this genre, try out this debut author. Personally I thought this book was OK. The writing was good, but I thought the storyline had problems. Others are loving this debut. So was it just me?

This book was disturbing and utterly fascinating. Be prepared to look into the dark corners and see what’s been hidden there.

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

The Dead and the Dark is a twisty, atmospheric story that'll have you absolutely glued to the pages in anticipation!

Logan is used to her Dad's insane traveling schedule and general weirdness with their paranormal ghost hunter show. When one of her Dads, Brandon, decides to stake out his hometown for upcoming episodes, Logan is loathed to leave LA to join him. Once she's there with Brandon and her other dad, Alejo, it's worst than she could've imagined. Tiny town, nothing to do, close-minded jerks. But something becomes very clear very fast: something is wrong in Snakebite, Oregon. With kids going missing and a feeling of absolute wrongness, Logan decides to help out Ashley in figuring out what's happening. Ashley's boyfriend was the first kid to go missing, and she's determined to find him, whatever it takes.

This story is so well done. I finished it over two days because I needed to know what happened next. The anticipation and the mystery drives the story to a head and kept me guessing the whole time.

I really loved the relationships in this book as well. Logan and her strained relationship with Brandon was heartbreaking, but through Alejo we knew it was something so full of love and fear and that's what really brought it to life. Even the relationship with Ashley and her friends who she thought she could count on for anything. Ashley and her mom, the town perfectionist. Ashley and Logan themselves, and how this horrible situation they've found themselves in, surrounded by death and terror, ends up bringing them closer together in a bid for understanding and comfort.

The imagery is beautiful and lends itself so well to the thriller vibes of the book. The small town seemingly cut off from the rest of the world, the mindset of mind your own business and we don't like outsiders, the descriptions of an abandoned cabin by a dark lake. All of these things make the story something movie-worthy and addictingly readable.

The thing I loved most, though, is the Dark itself. It's a character in its own right, and there's a message here about letting it consume you. The dark feelings we all experience of loneliness and heartbreak and anger can twist and manifest themselves inside us until it destroys all the light in its path. Here the Dark does this, on a feeding frenzy of pain and horror. A really thought-provoking take that I enjoyed reading the whole way through.

Highly recommend it to thriller/horror fans!

Solid debut novel by Courtney Gould. I really enjoyed the characters in the book, and liked the murder mystery aspect. However at times, the supernatural aspect didn't quite hold my attention, but that's a me problem, not so much a book problem.

My biggest complaint for the book was the author's excessive use of the phrase "she could taste her heartbeat." It's a strange phrase, and it's multiple usage was awkward.

5/5 Stars

Do you know that feeling when you start a book and you just know you’re going to love it? That’s exactly how I felt with The Dead and the Dark. Courtney Gould has created a story so deeply routed in secrets that I immediately found myself immersed in the world of Snakebite and kept me on the edge of my seat, anxiously waiting for whatever would hit me next. The romance was my main point of interest going into this and I was not disappointed. Over the course of the book, we got a sapphic enemies to lovers slowburn that I couldn’t get enough of. It was one of the highlights of the book for me, right next to the top-notch horror element. Overall, this book quickly became one of my favorite mystery/thrillers and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys books like Sadie and The Raven Boys.

A year or so ago, I probably never would have picked this book up. I was hesitant to even start it. I don't really read much horror. I'm just not a big fan. But something about The Dead and the Dark kept drawing to me. (The dark drawing me in. Get it? If you know you know.) And I recently read The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson and was still in a mystery vibe so I finally decided to give it a try. And I'm so glad I did.

The beginning of the book was a little confusing and took awhile to get into. The dual narrative kept throwing me off because it wasn't consistent. I usually love dual perspectives but it was sometimes jarring. And I kept putting the book down because I kept reading it right before bed and didn't want to be freaked out so I couldn't sleep. The thing is, it never got to that point. I definitely felt the creepy small town atmosphere and eventually got so immersed in story that I ended up reading the last 60 percent in one sitting. But it was never overly scary. The romance is pretty subtle. As someone who loves romance in a story, it's still satisfying. I feel like Ashley's self-discovery wasn't as fleshed out as I would have liked. It's like the story wanted to be fully Queer but also it beat around the bush a little. Idk. I still have a few small unanswered questions. Nothing I can't live without knowing. All in all, I enjoyed the story and Courtney Gould's writing.


***Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for sending me an arc.

Wow! This is the perfect Summer read. The beginning starts off slow, but quickly picks up, leaving you hungry for answers. The MC, Logan is refreshing and interesting as she worries she's a burden on her dads. The setting is what really ties together the entire story, Snakebite is the perfect middle-of-no-where town with deadly secrets; a town that doesn't want her family there, but the reason is pretty surprising. Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Thank you Netgalley for letting me read the ARC!

Wow. Not at all what I was expecting, but so much better.

At its core The Dead and The Dark is a tale of family. A grieving father willing to do anything to protect his daughter, even defy the laws of nature. And face the consequences.

Addresses the toxicity that often comes with small towns and small minds. The bad thoughts and the bad deeds of this town manifests into a supernatural entity.

I loved this book so much. So wonderfully written, the storyline executed perfectly. The characters were lovable and showed growth and a willingness to forgive.

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.