In this rather meh paranormal thriller, Logan, a young woman, learns that one of her fathers made a deal with the Dark, a malevolent force, to bring her back to life when she died as a child. With her fathers revisiting the town where this occurred, teens have begun going missing. The Dark has begun killing teenagers. Logan teams up with the girlfriend of the first teen who went missing to discover what's going on. They do. They get rid of the Dark and find the body of the first missing man. And of course they fall in love. There are several subplots and tensions between Logan and the dad who made the deal with the Dark. This is one of those books where you just kind of wish people would talk to each other like most people do and there'd have been fewer dead people. It's the kind of book where you want to yell at the dad who can't seem to talk to his daughter, but instead leaves her notes buried in a grave. Who does that? At one point, Logan decides that Ashley, the seemingly-straight girlfriend of the first missing man, is definitely not her type, but they end up together anyway in a soap-opera-level predictable moment. This could have been so much better if Gould had had the characters had use their brains,

An entertaining and unique story. I liked the character development and world building. The characters were fleshed out well enough to evoke emotions (I really HATED one of them, but that was the intention.) It was paced well but occasionally the writing fell flat, and wording was redundant. I can't tell you how many times "Ashley parked her Ford." Although the concept was unique, I wasn't totally absorbed by it because it felt like there were holes in the storyline. I had been teetering between a 3 and 4 star rating for most of the book. I decided on 4 stars because, although mildly flawed, I was able to read it without worrying about the page number or time- which means it was overall enjoyable. I will keep an eye out for more work by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for granting me a copy.

I don't normally read paranormal books but I am so glad I took a chance with this one! The story draws you in from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down. Great read!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Holy cannoli Batman! The Dead and the Dark was beyond addicting. I don't even watch the paranormal ghost hunting shows because I don't believe in ghosts but this book was just wow - so good. From the very moment, it sucks you in. The dark is mysterious and at one point, I just thought the entire town was the dark. Or somehow connected to it because they were all a bunch of narrowminded self-centered assholes who hate gays.

Oh, I wanted to throat punch all the little douche bags in this town. I'm not even going to lie about that because I did. This whole town needs a huge wake up call and a good dose of karma.

In it, you will meet snarky and sassy Logan. She questions anything and everything - especially when it comes to her dads being so secretive in a town stuck in the middle of no where. She knows from the moment she steps out of the car that her parents are welcomed and it just baffles her.

Girl, same.

Besides Logan and her dads, you meet Ashley. At first, I didn't like it because she was just like everyone else in this dumb redneck town. Even though I knew she was going through something terrible.. she still didn't need to be a sheep like everyone else. Eventually she started to hang out with Logan and realized that she was just a normal girl.. who liked girls. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Then on top of this town being full of judgmental assholes, we have a murderer running wild and killing people. Eh details. All I'm going to say is that the entire mystery and the big reveal were sort of a shock to my poor brain because things didn't click until almost the end. Sad but true.

In the end, I loved this book and will look forward to purchasing the physical!

This book was amazing!

The main story follows Logan Ortiz-Woodley and Ashley Barton. Logan is drug to Snakebite because her dads (professional ghosthunters with their own TV show) want to scout their hometown for a potential episode, or so they tell her. Logan is convinced there's more to the story (especially when it comes to Brandon, the dad she isn't close to). Meanwhile, Ashley's boyfriend, Tristan, has disappeared, but she still senses him around. With the town slowly giving up on finding him, Ashley teams up with Logan to figure out what happened to Tristan and if Logan's dads are involved.

The sense of mystery throughout this novel are really well done. I really enjoyed the snippets we got from ParaSpectors, some parts really intertwined with the plot; while others just made the world of this novel feel more real. There's also a sense of mystery surrounding the two. What exactly happened to them Alejo and Brandon in Snakebite? Was it homophobia? Or was it the dark?

Besides the mysterious surrounding this novel, this book also contains some great relationships. They dynamic of the Ortiz-Woodley was interesting. Logan's relationship with her dads, the dads relationship with each other. Then we had the small town itself, Snakebite. There's all sort of relationships. Friendships, past and present drive the narrative. There's just a lot of intertwined connections, which is lovely. Also, there's the partnership between Logan & Ashley (with potential for more?) that drives the plot. These two get tired of waiting for people to tell them answers. Logan with waiting for her dads to tell her what's going on and Ashley with waiting for answers about what happened to Tristan from the police.

All in all, this was a delightfully dark novel that had a lot of creepy elements (ESP those interludes about the Dark). It has mystery and friendship with a dash of romance. It was a really great read and Courtney Gould is definitely a new author to watch.

Many thanks to Wednesday Books / St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for this e-ARC. I really appreciated the opportunity to read this novel!

I finished two days ago and have been thinking a lot about it. There were a few parts (spoilers) that were just a little too convenient. But overall, I thought the book was pretty original. It gave away just enough to make you think and wonder what was going on, but not so much as to make it utterly predictable. I’m a sucker for a book with a good sub plot, and the themes of being an outsider and loneliness were pretty well done. Will definitely be buying for my high school classroom library.

The Dead And The Dark will become a quick favourite of those who enjoyed Stranger Things! It has a similar vibe to it. Small town, creepy supernatural things going on, group of teens/kids etc.

I liked the small town aspect of this story, seeing the lifestyle people have and they way they judge others. Logan was cool, very likeable and felt like a real teenager. One reason why I gave this 3 stars and not a higher rating was because of the way the ending was written. It didn't have a great buildup and it finished very quickly. It almost felt like the supernatural elements were put on the backburner for other themes-which is not a bad thing but the 'Dark' is a main part of the book and we don't get to see much of it when it is finally revealed.

Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC copy of The Dead And The Dark!

“The Dead and the Dark‘s first few chapters were gripping. Vividly describing a nightmare lurking within the city of Snakebite. But as the chapters wore on my confusion grew, wondering at times, what exactly was going on.”

Once I turned the last page and finished reading The Dead and the Dark, I found myself quietly thinking of the words to describe what I just read.

Committing to memory everything that took place from beginning to end. The questions I had, which, in truth, there were many. And for me, the first few words that strung together into what was my first reaction was that this story has a lot of potential.

There are moments throughout the story that held me captive. Lush, evocative details that raise goosebumps as the images flash to life of haunting ghosts, an empty cabin, an unknown darkness that whispers in the night. The beginning of the story is what truly set the tone. Gould deftly paints the eerie and unsettling with relative ease. Giving the reader a glimpse into the madness, that can send chills up your spine as you read the first to a string of murders that sets this whole story into motion.

Throughout the story Gould has these incredible scenes that she writes with such vivid yet eldritch like details. From disturbing reoccurring dreams had by the main character Logan, to the ghostly encounters, she deftly paints the image of something being terribly wrong.

Gould’s setup of Logan and Ashley (the popular girl of Snakebite, whose mother practically owns the entire town) starting off as enemies, but come to the conclusion and ultimate truce, that they probably would work better together in finding Ashley’s missing boyfriend and clearing any suspicion of Logan’s parents being the suspects. My concern was the lead up to them deciding to work together wasn’t as convincing or as climatic as I hoped. I expected more clever witty banter between these two. More anger on Logan’s part and her anger is the fuel to form an alliance. Think Kristen Ciccarelli’s, The Sky Weaver.

When it comes to suspending readers’ disbelief, authors should have an initial buy-in. Where readers are willing to go along with the paranormal components be it a ghost encounter or an alien like substance taking over characters in the story. For me, I didn’t truly feel compelled to completely follow along. I kept finding myself writing down questions. Questions about what was going on, distracting me from fully immersing myself into the supernatural.

Even though Gould’s novel is specified as horror, it isn’t necessarily scary, where you need the lights on in order to read the novel, even though there were horrific things taking place. There is definitely an unsettling atmosphere about the book, but not the kind of horror that will give you nightmares in any case.

One other aspect of the novel that seemed to distract from the narrative happens towards the end. Where we get there is a chapter dedicated to the backstory of Logan’s dad Brandon. I felt there could have been a better way to embed that story line early as it took away the urgency of what was happening to Logan in the previous chapter.

With continuity issues between the characters views of themselves, their feelings towards each other, and the place they live, dialogue that sometimes felt off, the repetition of using “two weeks” to move the story along, and phrases that didn’t make sense, The Dead and the Dark fell short of a fully envisioned horror/thriller novel it could have been.

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

I enjoyed this novel and the paranormal aspect to it. The author nailed the small town characters and attitudes. However, I felt that the ending could have been stronger, especially when it came to defeating The Dark. I expected more in general from that scene and the end of the book as a whole.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

ARC provided by NetGalley for an Honest Review
I had no idea what to expect going in to this book. Let me tell you it did not take long at all for me to get sucked in and taken for a wild ride. The book was an absolute thrill and I was constantly trying to piece things together like a jigsaw puzzle I had no point of reference for. I did not expect the book to be so chilling but it absolutely was and I really enjoyed it. Both Logan and Ashley, the MCs, were very fun and interesting characters. Two strangers brought together by odd and horrifying circumstances. Logan and Ashley want answers yet everyone in this small town is so tight lipped and judgmental it was clear there was a lot more going on than met the eye. I loved that Logan had two ghost hunting dads but they also had too many secrets. Logan herself was also gay and was like a breath of fresh air in this backwater town. I still love the contrast between her and Ashley. The two are like polar opposites and I’m so glad Logan helped expand Ashley’s world. Logan may have questioned her dads profession’ up to now but she’s about to be dragged into her own haunt.
When the pieces came together in the climax I was pretty shocked. I felt a bit blindsided because I still had zero clue where the author was taking me or how she’d bring it all together. I was worried a HEA wouldn’t be possible with so much darkness shadowing everyone and everything, but it was. *spoiler* [Logan and Ashley essentially riding of into the sunset together was certainly not something I saw coming but it made for such an epic ending. Even better now that she knows the whole truth and could work on re-bonding with her dad. I’m only sad she lost so much time with Brandon and thought he didn’t even love her for so long. I can’t imagine feeling that way and not understanding why he pushed her away and was so cold. It’s hard because I want to say they should have been more honest with her but at the same time I get why they kept their secrets. Even her just knowing she was brought back from the dead would be a hard pill to swallow, let alone the knowledge of what the darkness was and did. (hide spoiler)] This was my first read from this author but certainly won’t be the last. If you’re looking for an edge of your seat thriller that’ll keep you guessing, look no further.

THIS BOOK! I've been interested in reading it since I first read the blurb, and boy does it hold up to my hype! It's every big as gorgeous and spooky as the cover, with a great slow-burn romance and a chilling mystery. I don't want to get into spoilers, so I'll just say if you're looking for a paranormal/horror mystery, I couldn't put this one down!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really couldn’t put this book down. It was creepy and quite the thriller! I didn’t figure it out before the end. I’m not a huge fan of “ghost stories” but this one was intriguing. I wasn’t expecting the relationship that developed. I did like both Ashley and Logan’s personalities.

There was an opening dialogue . I wasn't into. I like the name logan for a bit like the characters. The dialogue were okay not super interested. The pace was okay

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own!

I don’t know if I have words? I love dark and twisty, but this was next level.
TW: child death, talk of death

This was absolutely spell binding. I was encapsulated from the first chapter. The concept behind this book is so different and so well executed. Also the yearning? Top notch. I can’t get over that. The tropes within this book are very specific, but right up my alley.

This book follows Logan as she heads with Alejo, one of her fathers, to meet her other father Brandon in their hometown Snakebite. But, going home brings darkness and it doesn’t seem as if there’s any light in sight.

What beautiful character building. Each one of these characters were complex, but understandable. The plot was well thought out and executed. The words flowed well together, connecting the characters, the plot and everything in between. I absolutely ADORED this!

Gays ghost hunting? Yeah. Sign me up. Every single time.
True rating: 4.5/5

What a completely creepy, mysterious book. The cover is what intrigued me the most but the story itself was fantastic. Thankful to NetGalley for allowing me a copy of this book.

This one was so creepy and good! I requested based off a recommendation and I am so glad I did - I read through it in like one day! Super good!

Awesome book, with an amazing cover, this was a 4.5 for me. This was an interesting deep dive into the ideas of death, love, and trauma. Having grown up in a small town too, I really appreciated the clear sense of setting and how intertwined the past and present can be in those environments.

I thought both girls made for fantastic narrators and I liked that their love story evolved so naturally. In fact, ALL of the teen characters seemed like very clear, realistic, and well fleshed out to me (they seemed like kids you would actually meet IRL.)

However, the dads were another story. While Brandon is supposed to be an enigma, I almost felt like the writer kept him (and his reality) too far removed from the reader. Rather than someone wrestling with something that we're supposed to have empathy for, he more comes across as an unkind dick. That made it hard to stay invested in uncovering his connection to the murders.

I wasn't totally in love with the ending (which felt a little abrupt--the dark seemed like very strong supernatural force that would take MUCH effort to defeat) and the book kind of petered out in the final chapters, but overall I thought this was a great book.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a beautiful yet Haunted book!
I thought I had it figured out..... But guess what I was wrong!
I enjoyed Logan and Ashley's character so much!
This is one for the books and I believe this book is going to take off in 2021!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53141419-the-dead-and-the-dark

I got an ebook of THE DEAD AND THE DARK from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First of all - look at that cover! Amazing.

Do you like stories that take place in a small town? Do you like ghosts? Do you like f/f romance? If yes to all, then definitely click 'order' on this one.

Typically, I don't much like books where the Bad Guy is this amorphous non-character, more of a concept than a thing. But with Gould solidifying this Bad Guy as a representation of hate in the community, it worked for me.

I liked Ashley. I liked Logan even MORE! Where the two end up at the very end was really satisfying to read. Definitely going to read more by Courtney Gould.

Ultimately, I am going to give this book 3,75/5 stars rounded up. Once I picked it up, I just could not put it down. The plot was very fast-paced, and I adored Logan's character. She brought new energy to YA characters that I needed. Instead of being quiet and misunderstood, Logan was unapologetically herself and sarcastic.

While the atmosphere, characters, and pacing were nearly perfect, the plot did feel a bit less unique to me. If you've read Sawkill Girls, Ghost Wood Song, Devouring Gray, etc. this small town paranormal mystery may seem like nothing new to you. However, if you enjoyed any of these books and want more, definitely give this a shot. Another missing link for me was the connection to the "metaphor". Most of these YA paranormal books have a deeper metaphor of who/why the villain exists. I realize the explanation was there, but it didn't blow me away.

This may be addressed to a niche crowd, but this is more Sawkill Girls than Wilder Girls. Do with that information what you will.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.