Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Press for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This YA had all the best elements of a superhero novel and thriller. It was instantly engaging and a fast-paced read.

Whitney is a little different from everyone else, she can tell when someone will die and has made it her personal mission to save as many lives as she can. Until one life she saves costs the lives of many in a local school shooting. Now she bares the guilt, and the question of “is every life worth saving”? As her life falls apart around her, someone begins stalking her saying they know what she’s done, and that they know she can see death. With those she loves being threatened, and her secret about to be revealed, who can she trust and what should she do when confronting death?

“When we become numb, we all lose.”
💨
Whitney can see death coming. When a black cloud hovers over peoples’ heads she knows they’re about to die. Her grandmother can see it too and warns Whitney to stay away from it as much as she can, but when Whitney saves a boy from jumping and ending his life, she also sets off a chain of events that leads to a school shooting. Guilt follows Whitney all the time now and she’s unable to escape what happened last school year. One day Whitney gets a note from someone telling her they know the part she played in the deaths of those students last year and now it’s a race to see if she can find out who knows her dangerous secret.
👯
What a powerful YA book by Texas author Stacy Stokes. While this is a paranormal thriller of epic proportions, it’s also a commentary of how school shootingd affect our daily lives. As an educator I’m constantly thinking about it and how I would protect the students around me. It’s a sobering thought, and not one people should have everyday in the classroom. Please vote for better gun control this (and every) election.

CW: Mass shooting, death, murder, stalking, car accident, death of a grandparent, gun violence, alcohol, suicide, bullying, gaslighting, violence, dementia

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel!

This YA thriller offers familiar supernatural tropes but stands out in its handling of sensitive issues like gun violence. Stokes effectively portrays how a school shooting impacts both the community and the main character, Whitney, without seeming preachy. Whitney’s trauma, stemming from her psychic powers and survivor guilt, is explored deeply. I also appreciated the thoughtful author's note on the subject.

While I’m not the target audience and some thriller elements didn’t resonate with me, I know exactly who I’d recommend this to. Stokes does a great job addressing heavy topics with respect and trust in her readers.

*The Darkness Rises* by Stacy Stokes is a gripping tale that masterfully blends suspense with supernatural elements, keeping readers on edge from start to finish. Stokes' vivid storytelling and well-crafted characters make this novel an intense and unforgettable read.

"The Darkness Rises" by Stacy Stokes is a thrilling blend of supernatural intrigue and heart-pounding action set against the backdrop of a small town with dark secrets. The novel follows protagonist Waverly Fishwater, a high school student grappling with newfound powers and a mysterious legacy tied to her family's past.

Stokes' writing is immersive, drawing readers into a world where ancient prophecies and modern-day dilemmas collide. Waverly is a relatable and compelling heroine, navigating the complexities of teenage life while uncovering the truth about her supernatural abilities. The author deftly weaves together elements of fantasy and mystery, keeping the plot engaging with twists and revelations that heighten the suspense.

What sets "The Darkness Rises" apart is its atmospheric setting and richly developed mythology. Stokes creates a vivid portrayal of the town of Ardere, where eerie occurrences and hidden agendas add layers of intrigue to the narrative. Themes of identity, destiny, and the power of choice resonate throughout the story, offering readers a thought-provoking exploration of self-discovery and courage.

While the pacing is brisk, ensuring a thrilling ride from start to finish, the novel also explores deeper emotional currents, particularly in Waverly's relationships with her friends and family. The supporting cast is well-rounded, each contributing to the unfolding mystery and adding depth to the protagonist's journey.

In conclusion, "The Darkness Rises" is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of supernatural fiction looking for a fresh take on familiar tropes. Stacy Stokes' ability to blend suspenseful storytelling with heartfelt character development makes this novel a standout in the genre

Oof, this was pretty scary and bone-chilling. I loved how Stokes incorporated the supernatural into the real world while expertly handling grief and trauma and all the intense emotions relating to those. The characters felt very real, and I love the writing style.

This book was really spooky. It was a very quick read for me that blended grief, suspense, and horror.

If you saw someone’s death coming would you save their life?
It seems like such an easy answer, but this story tells the other side of that coin.

The Darkness Rises is a fascinating YA thriller. The story follows high school student Whitney as she deals with the aftermath of saving the life of the wrong person. A person that went on to commit a mass attack at her high school.

The author did a fantastic job at writing this book. Expertly blending supernatural elements with real life experiences like grief and trauma.

Whitney is a fantastic MC, I really liked her and felt for her throughout.

Ashley for the mystery, I did guess that right away. But it didn’t take away from me enjoying the story.

Overall this was a great read. I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it.

4.5 stars

I honestly saw nothing from this book coming. I loved the main character, I can't imagine what I would do in her situation. Her mysterious power of seeing when people are about to die is absolutely insane. It isn't ever really explained, only hinted at but I really didn't mind it. Things aren't always going to be known. There was a little hint of a romance that I really enjoyed, definitely not the focus of it but it played a great role. Also, it had some heavy topics involved that I would recommend looking at trigger warnings, but I thought the author did a good job with how it played in the story. It got so intense and dark at times, it had me sitting on the edge of my seat at the end. It wasn't the best story I ever read but I loved reading it.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. all opinions are my own.

What a fantastic story! highly recommend!

The Darkness Rises is an interesting YA thriller. The story follows high school student Whitney as she deals with the aftermath of saving the life of the wrong person. Whitney has the ability to see if a person is about to die. This is a gift she shares with her beloved grandmother, and they both have kept it a secret between them. When someone is about to die, a dark cloud forms above their head, and Whitney can act and try to save them, or ignore it and leave them to their fate.

Last year Whitney saved the life of a troubled fellow student, and he used his second chance at life to commit a mass shooting. The decision has haunted her ever since, and makes her really think about whether her ability is a gift, or a curse. She’s been so careful to keep her ability hidden, but when the new school year begins, it seems someone knows what she did. And that someone isn’t happy about it.

With the threat of exposure looming over her head, Whitney will have to trust her friends and family to help her through this difficult time. But she’ll have to hurry, because the ones she loves soon become the targets of the mystery stalker. And this person does not mind using violence to get what they want.

I enjoyed this mystery read. The reveal of the villain was not who I was expecting, which was a nice surprise. The main character, Whitney, could be a little whiny at times, but overall I enjoyed her. This is a great book for fans of YA mysteries and thrillers.

A chilling psychological thriller, "The Darkness Rises" takes readers on a haunting journey through the mind of Whitney, a teenage girl burdened with a dark gift - the ability to see imminent death looming over people. When her intervention in a tragic event goes horribly awry, Whitney is consumed by guilt and resolves to bury her secret power. However, a malicious force emerges, hellbent on exacting vengeance, and Whitney finds herself in a perilous game of cat-and-mouse.
The Author masterfully ratchets up the tension with each turn of the page, deftly blending elements of the supernatural with the harsh realities of trauma and grief. Whitney's struggle to confront her guilt while being hunted by an unseen threat makes for a gripping, emotionally charged read. With its eerie atmosphere and shocking twists, "The Darkness Rises" is a haunting exploration of the ripple effects of tragedy and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of darkness.

Thank you to netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for allowing me access to this book. This book was everything in more. It pulled me in from page 1 and kept me there the entire time.

"'𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆,' 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝑰 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅. '𝑵𝒐 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔.'
𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆.
𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔."

Special thanks to @penguinteen @vikingbooks @stacyastokes and @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

➡️ swipe for synopsis 👉🏼

MY REVIEW:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tw⚠️: gun violence, abuse, suicide, bullying, and school shootings

This was a very descriptive and complex ya thriller that was a quick read and sucked me in from the very beginning.

It deals with a lot of present-day traumas, but with an interesting fictional twist that keeps you guessing til the very end.

Have you ever wanted to be able to know when someone's in danger, and save them. We'll Whitney can, but it may be more of a burden than a gift. Her and her Gams have been able to "save" people, but it does come at a cost. Recently, Whitney has found that out - and so has someone else.

How far will that person go to make sure Whitney pays for her secret?

Grab this new release today!
PUB DATE:
April 9, 2024

QOTD ❓️⁉️❓️ If ypu could have any super power, what would it be, and why?

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#revenge #thedarknessrises #stacystokes #penguinteen #netgalley #yathriller #mysteryandthrills #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict
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Thank you so much, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

TW: Blood, death, murder, attempted suicide

Whitney has the ability to see death before it happens since she was seven. She sees a darkness, a dark cloud hovering over people's head and sometimes she can save them. But saving someone who later was responsible for a school shooting, she doesn't know what to do. When someone starts leaving ominous messages in her locker and on her car, she's sure someone knows about her secret and what happened to the shooter. To protect herself and those she loves, she will have to track down her stalker, before it's too late.

A gripping speculative thriller, The Darkness rises is a brilliant, intriguing and very well written story. Whitney is a magnificent MC, a girl burdened with the ability of seeing death and the difficult choice of saving someone and dealing with the consequences of her actions. I loved her bond with her grandma and best friend and how she investigates her stalker, trying to protect herself and her loved ones. I also loved how realistic her reactions was. A teenager with a huge power and the weight of choices and consequences. I adored the dance references, the way she calms herself through her passions and her growth during the whole book, accepting her own ability and opening herself to others.

I LOVED this book. Loved it. Will definitely be reading more books by this author. The book kept me so enthralled and the twist was something I didn't expect at all

Question of the day: What would you do if you developed an ability that allowed you to detect danger, in someone’s life, simply through the appearance of a dark cloud ??? Would you (and remember, you couldn’t tell ANYONE):

(A) Save each person that the cloud appears over, consequences be dammed…
(B) Save only family and friends…
OR
(C) Ignore the ability completely and try to live your life as best you could…

Such a difficult choice to make, huh??? Well, imagine being 18 year old Whitney Lancaster, who has had to answer this question since she was 7 years old. And no, it has not been easy for her. The older she got, the more people she decided to save, the more she allowed her pride to take over, ignoring the consequences in the process. It isn’t until her junior year of high school that things change. One day, on her way to meet a friend, a dark cloud appears over a classmate. She makes the decision to save said classmate only to have said classmate decide to use their second chance to participate in a school shooting. In the days after the shooting, Whitney develops large amounts of guilt and makes the conscious decision to give up on everything she knows and loves just to keep her secret. Soon, she discovers that someone knows about her ability and learns that this someone is determined to not only blame her for the results of the school shooting but also their life. And ooh how things get messy for everyone shortly after this revelation.

Based on this premise, this book should’ve held my attention. Add the fact that its Paranormal Fiction meets Mystery meets Thriller. My three favorite YA genres displayed in one book. Ooohmgee!!! The amount of excitement I should’ve felt just reading the title. And I was. Everything was going well until I finished Chapter 3. And that was when I knew that this book was not going to go well for me at all. I even ghosted this book for three days just so I could prepare myself for the outcome. Things got so bad that once I finished this, I felt nothing but numbness and disappointment. And now, here I am trying to put my thoughts into a coherent sentence, let alone, a decent review.

I truly thought this book was going to be a balance between the focus on the aftermath of a school shooting and the revenge that someone was so hell bent on dishing out towards Whitney. I also thought that this book would feature Whitney in action on more than 3 occasions. Instead, this book features more teenage angst than anything that I have ever read about in my life. Seriously, I spent more than half of this book having to read about Whitney’s ex-best friend, Penny Ansel, whining about some white roses that she should’ve received on the first day of school alongside the fact she was also dating Whitney’s ex-boyfriend. I learned more about different ballet positions than hearing what all of the school shooting survivors were experiencing right now. I read repeated sentences about Whitney’s ex-boyfriend, Kevin Hampshire, sabotaging her new relationship, with Issac Gunter, and threatening her more than I got to read about the parents checking in on their children or the school counselors opening their doors to the survivors who were still struggling. Whitney and Issac’s relationship was mentioned more than what lead up to the occurrence of the school shooting and how Whitney unintentionally got herself caught up in this horrific situation.

And then, there’s the revenge plot itself. Honestly, this part felt like the weakest link of the entire book. The revenge seeker has two reasons behind their decision to want revenge. The first part makes complete sense. Without giving too much away, I think anyone would seek revenge for a loss like that. The second reason, though, wasn’t as nail biting nor as detrimental as the first reason. I mean, yeah, I didn’t really enjoy or care about these young people’s personal lives but, the drama was just a little more fascinating than the revenge. I was even able to figure out who was behind it all. And nothing hurts a story more than the reader figuring out who is behind all the insane accusations and deaths.

Even though the synopsis is pretty much straightforward, I was really hoping that I would read about young people gaining their strength back and banning together after such a traumatic experience. Not them throwing parties, drinking to the point where they are driving drunk, and whining about small things currently occurring in their lives. While everything does come together in the final chapter, it wasn’t enough to save the book for me. Again, no one is more disappointed than me that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I was hoping to. Maybe, in the future, I may find myself picking up another book from Stacy Stokes. I just have to do a better job at read the synopsis more than focusing on the book cover.

Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for granting my request for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!

Publication Date: April, 9, 2024

An ability she can't share with anyone. Secret notes. A cute boy. Suspects at every turn.

I really enjoyed this YA thriller with hints of fantasy about it. The main character finds herself thrust into a difficult situation with knowing things and having no viable way to tell people about them and it all comes to hurt her.

I enjoyed the mystery of it all wrapped up with the secret notes and her not being able to trust nearly everyone. There were some harrowing moments and I wasn't actually able to guess the culprit (though I was close) at the end.

It was well written and I found myself connected to the main character, though as it happens in most YA books, she made some stupid decisions that I wish she hadn't (but that's story haha).

I personally don't like that she drank under age or the harsh language that was used. Honestly, it didn't need it and would have been much easier for me to recommend this to actual teens, but because of the language I'd bump it to a 17+ in my recommendations.

I also understand that a large part of it dealt with a very sensitive topic that will affect some readers (see TW below) and I think the author did a good job of handling that, though it must have been hard to write at times.

In all, I would recommend it to those who like a simple type of murder mystery with a bit of thrilling parts with an overall "teen contemporary" feel to it.


TW: School shootings.

My rating: 4*

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Thanks to the publisher for this gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read. I don't read a lot of this book genre, but I actually really enjoyed this book.

I think I'll start branching out more to this genre, based on my like for this book.

Overall really enjoyed the book and other people should definitely read it as well.

What do you do when you see someone's fatal future?

17yo Whitney sees a dark cloud forming over people who are in danger and can be helped by her. Her grandmother has the same ability and gave Whitney three rules to follow; rules that are meant to keep Whitney safe and free from the guilt of saving someone who ends up harming others. This happened last year when she saved Dwight from jumping off a building. He then instigated a school shooting. Whitney blames herself for everything that Dwight did. Someone else blames her too and when the harassment starts, it’s only the beginning of the vengeance to come.

Likes/dislikes: I enjoyed the character development and the mystery surrounding the main character. The relationships are fleshed out well. I appreciate the many resources the author included at the end of the book for bullying, child trauma, suicide prevention, mental health, mental illness, and grief. The author’s note is exceptional as a call for all of us to let our voices be heard and vote for leaders that we believe reflect our values and ambitions for our country and communities. I also appreciate the content warning at the beginning of the book.
Mature content: PG-13 for underage drinking.
Language: R for 79 swears and 13 f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for mention of school shooting.
Ethnicity: predominantly white.