First off...DISCLAIMER: this title was up for grabs on NetGalley (in the Read Now section). Thanks to 47North for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.

SHADES OF LOVE

Let's address the elephant in the room first, because it's not like it's a secret: We Ate the Dark has a low average rating on Goodreads. Now, I don't mean to invalidate my fellow readers' opinions...but I'm surprised at the number of bad reviews this book is receiving. I get where most of them are coming from (more about that later), but at the same time, I found a lot to love in this story, and I'm going to tell you what it is.
Look, I may be a tad biased, because Pearson put together a lot of my favourite elements for this story: ghosts, haunted houses, alternate universes, a murder mystery, and a found family of women who just won't quit. But there's a lot more in here that I didn't expect and quite liked. Three old friends whose paths diverged after one of them disappeared are brought together by a shocking discovery (another trope I can't seem to tire of), and set on getting justice for one of them, all while trying to forgive and forget the hurt they've inflicted on one another, yet at the same time remember what they used to be for one another. Plus a newcomer with a gift that's more of a burden manages to get accepted into their circle, and does her best to make them realise she belongs with them. Cycling through the voices of all four girls (not to mention those of the missing twin and a separate female character), We Ate the Dark is first and foremost an exploration of female friendship and queer love and the liminal space between the two, from teenhood to new adulthood. I've never had relationship like those in the book, and yet the author was able to make me believe in each and every one of them. While there's no evident homophobia in the story, at least one of the characters tries to forge a more "traditional" sexual identity for herself, setting the whole tragedy in motion. But it's a different tragedy than you'd expect, and the focus of the story remains on the bond among women, the nuances of their relationships, the family that fails you and the one you make for yourself. And here's where Pearson's writing excels, down to the phenomenal single chapter in first person plural.

SLIP OF THE TONGUE

Speaking of the writing...that seem to be the point of contention among the reviewers - the dealbreaker that creates a flow of 5-star reviews and an ocean of 1 and 2-star ones. Here's my take: undeniably, there's an abundance of metaphors in this story, some of which are extravagant or overripe. On the other hand, there's a robust dose of lyrical writing peeking from under the sometimes intimidating similes, and it does manage to shine and create pockets of beauty and ambiance in the middle of the clunkier passages (impressive enough for a debut book). It does help that We Ate the Dark doesn't read as if the author were browsing through a dictionary in order to find the most obscure and pretentious words (Vangie's Ghosts, I'm looking at you), and that even in its most unfortunate moments, Pearson's writing never stood in the way of my appreciation for the story and its characters. What I'm trying to say is, I'm not a fan of purple prose, but I can forgive a number of purple passages if the story as a whole is worth it - which to me, We Ate the Dark definitely is. And I would be SO pissed if the author didn't get the chance to wrap up the events she set in motion due to the lukewarm reception this book is getting - because alas, the ending has clearly been written with a second installment in mind, and I for one need to know what happens next...So let's help this story get the epilogue it deserves, shall we? 🙂

I wanted to love this book so badly, but it ended up just missing the mark for me. The writing style was incredibly unappealing, and at times I felt as though I was being spoken down to while trying to get through the book. The language used throughout the book did not match the tone of the premise at all, and it seemed as though Pearson was trying to make the book into something more than it was.

Not everything has to be a classic, sometimes a fun thriller is just a fun thriller and that's ok!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

I tried to soldier though, but when I hit the halfway point I had to give up and DNF. The characters come out of nowhere, were flat, and unrelatable. The plot was meandering.

I really tried to finish this book, but I finally gave up. The story line was all over the place, and I couldn’t figure out what the author was trying to do. Characters showed up throughout with little to no explanation, so trying to understand the story line was rough. Like who are these people and what do they add? Was trying to figure out if it was supposed to be a horror book or a crime thriller. It just didn’t make sense.

Thank you Netgalley and 47North for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book sounded good and had a lot more potential, but it was very hard to get into. Sadly I couldn't finish it so my review isn't 100%. I couldn't relate to the characters, the story's plot seemed to be all over with the timeliness bouncing and this story was just a hard to relate to or escape in. There may be an audience that finds this book better, but it wasn't me.

We Ate the Dark by Mallory Pearson is a haunting and evocative thriller that delves into the unsettling depths of human nature and the supernatural. The novel follows a group of researchers who venture into an abandoned mansion with a dark history, aiming to uncover its secrets. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it, even though it wasn't a huge stand out to me.

I loved this book. I felt that the characters were so, so real, and I felt so connected to them and their relationships to one another. I loved every second of my experience reading this book. The mystery at the center of the novel was just a piece of what made it so special.

Mallory Pearson set out to write what appears to be a Lovecraftian folklore story, but sadly, so much in this story just did not work for me. It was hard to connect with the characters, the story felt disjointed, and it wasn't even the slightest bit scary.

This horror story centers on four women investigating the haunting murder of their friend, Sofia, whose remains are found five years after her disappearance in a hollow tree within an isolated house. The story delves into the dark, powerful world that Frankie, Poppy, Cass, and Marya navigate, uncovering secrets about Sofia and themselves. It's a quest to find out what really happened to Sofia, who had secrets involving otherworldly and dangerous elements.

Pearson's writing vividly sets the scene, drawing readers into a world that becomes increasingly eerie and mysterious. However, the novel’s structure makes it challenging, transforming significantly from beginning to end. The sentences are long and full of colorful prose, which can make the first third of the book feel slow and overly descriptive. There are also many characters introduced at once, leading to confusion about their relationships and roles.

The first part of the story feels more like a drama, with the horror elements emerging later. When the horror does arrive, it's explosive and engaging. This shift in pace and clarity makes the latter part of the book much more compelling. The second half, with its southern gothic-tinged horror, weaves a tapestry of themes including friendship, the ghosts that haunt us, and the past that won't let us go.

The Fissure, an otherworldly setting in the book, adds a layer of supernatural mystery, with characters like Finder and Mother Mab providing a simpler, more direct contrast to the complex relationships in the normal world. However, some elements, such as the character The Ossifier, can be confusing and ambiguous.

Despite its length of 438 pages, "We Ate the Dark" sometimes feels like it lacks substance, particularly in the first half. The second half, however, offers a more resonant and engaging experience. Although the narrative can be muddled, leading to a partial connection with the characters, the book’s latter part weaves a compelling tapestry of themes.

In conclusion, "We Ate the Dark" is a decent novel with moments of brilliance, though it doesn't entirely fulfill its potential. It's a promising debut for Pearson, and while it may not be wholly satisfying, it’s worth the read for fans of occult horror. The shocking twists near the end and the potential for a sequel add to its appeal. I look forward to seeing how Pearson’s future works evolve.

This had promising premise with some suspenseful moments, but it fell a bit flat for me. While the twists were interesting, the pacing was uneven and the characters didn't fully draw me in. Overall, it was just an okay read

Beautiful writing, great characters, and incredibly unique tale! I've seen mixed reviews for this book and I think that's because the synopsis is misleading. It's best to go in blind for this one and you will not be disappointed.

I initially DNF’d this title and selected “I will not be giving feedback” because I didn’t think it was fair to rate it considering how little I’d read. I’ve since tried reading a bit more and feel I can probably give it a rating now even though I haven’t finished it.

I’ve come to the conclusion that this book just isn’t for me. I think that the right people will really enjoy it, so I haven’t given it a low rating, and I won’t post my review elsewhere, but I just can’t get into it. The story seems interesting, but it’s too overwritten for my taste, the prose too purple, and I just can’t get into it.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book.

Four women investigating the haunting murder of their friend discover more than they ever imagined in a terrifying novel about good and evil, love and death, and the spaces between.

I should have loved this book. A queer gothic horror/mystery? That's right up my alley. Unfortunately, this book was not what I wanted it to be. The writing is terrible. I barely made it through it. I will not be recommending this one.

The premise of this one was interesting and it had the potential to be a page turner. Unfortunately, the wordy/overwritten sentences got in the way of the story, making it disjointed and difficult to follow.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review

I understand the criticism, but this was worth the experience. So long as you prepare yourself for slowly developing story (almost like a slow-burn), then you can really enjoy this hauntingly tender sapphic tragedy. What starts as a missing girl in a small town grows into multi-perspective journey into love and ✨witchcraft✨!

Five years ago, Sophia Lyon went missing. In her absence, her tight-knit family falls apart. Her friends flee town, go to college and her twin sister Frankie is left behind. But everyone is brought back to town when Sophia's body is found buried in the hollow of a tree. Chapter by chapter you uncover what has happened between the girls over the past years and piece together what Sophia was up to before her death. But there's more going on than your average disappearance because the Lyon women are witches.

I loved how the story evolves as Frankie's belief in witchcraft grows. She always thought the spells and trinkets her mother made was a quirk, a personal path. But Sofia leaned in and apparently she excelled in her family gifts. Once you realize that ALL of the female characters are queer (5%), the story really opens up. It beautifully explores grief, loss, anger and love. "No one loves like a girl."

The POV switches mid-chapter between A LOT of women so the audiobook was a challenge to follow along. But I was happy to have read it.

This book was so hyped up when I went into reading it that I had such high hopes. The imagery was amazing but seemed to make it a little long. I did have a hard time following in parts.

I really tried with this book but I just kept loosing interest and would end up putting the book down and going off to do something else. I was lost most of the time while reading this and just felt that it was all over the place.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

"We ate the dark" is the first novel by Mallory Pearson and apparently very divisive. A lot of people can't work with the wirting style and the characters or what is happening overall.

That's what I'm a little surprised about because I got exactly what I was promised and loved a lot of the different pieces of the narrative in which center the disappearance of Sofia, twin sister of Frankie, stands.

Five years ago Sofia went missing and it still ripples through the live of her family, chosen and by blood. Her loved ones are still grieving and as the sceleton of Sofia is found whole new wounds are opened up, old hurts revealed and a lot of magic happens - but not always the good kind, because even the best intentions can end in disaster if the secrets around them keep haunting the lives of those affected.

In a sometimes very atmospheric language Mallory Pearson weaves her different story arcs, takes the perspective of the friend group, a new addition and someone unknown to even Sofias twin sister. How everything is connected kept me want to read further and I really liked the way horror is depicted. Horror though grievance, through suggestioni and the very human horror of fissures that come into existence when not everyone is honest - because the time doesn't feel right or the way of getting information feels like a betrayal.

And so the story moves on, some things get resolved, new mysteries get unlocked and then there seems to be the ending ... but it isn't the ending. About 90 % into the book it would have been a really good ending. But the story continued and there were even new riddles and new plot points opened up so that in the end I think there will be another book.

And overall I think that another book could be either grandious or a total disappointment and so I would rather have had a good standalone.

Sometimes I felt a little bit disconnected where the direct magic by the older generation was depicted. I don't know if it was a good represantation or sometimes a little bit clichée (even if I think it was overall avoided). But those were only in smaller scenes so I can't speak to much about it.

Nonetheless I liked this book very much and will look forward to new books by this author.

First and foremost the quality of the writing is GREAT. The story line and the characters were interesting and enjoyable. The descriptions were lengthy, but beautifully written. If you enjoy reading for the journey and not to rush through a book just to check it off your list, you appreciate descriptions. I enjoyed the world building , magical elements, and character development the most. The ending did seem a bit rushed compared to the progression of the story, however I enjoyed the journey.