3.6
This started off strong and ended (dare I say it?) with a bang, but vast swaths of the middle were murky and meandering.

With richly developed characters, suspense, and a haunting sense of inevitability, this novel explores the complexity of friendships, guilt, and the weight of secrets. Fans of eerie, small-town mysteries won’t be able to put this one down. The adult version of One Of Us Is Lying. I loved the suspense.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this book.

Kurian has done it again. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading this one. She is quickly becoming a must-buy author for me. I recommend!

I loved the mystery and plot of this novel. It kept me guessing throughout and the dual timelines worked well. However, I did feel it was overly long and that it could have been reduced by a lot and not lost the meat of the story.

"A Step Past Darkness" by Vera Kurian is a captivating psychological thriller that explores the intricate themes of trauma, memory, and the shadows that linger in our minds. As Kurian's debut novel, it offers a dark and atmospheric journey into the human psyche, blending suspense with a deep emotional resonance that keeps readers engaged throughout.

The narrative follows Maddy, a young woman dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic experience that has left her life in disarray. As she attempts to rebuild her world, she becomes entangled in a mysterious and dangerous situation. Kurian skillfully portrays Maddy's internal battles, allowing readers to connect with her as she faces her fears and the enduring impact of her past.

A notable aspect of "A Step Past Darkness" is Kurian's talent for creating tension and suspense. The novel's pacing is meticulously crafted, with a steady escalation of suspense leading to intense moments and surprising twists. This keeps readers captivated as Maddy uncovers secrets and confronts threats that challenge her perception of reality.

Character development is a significant strength of the book. Maddy is a multifaceted and relatable protagonist, and Kurian effectively depicts her vulnerabilities and strengths. The supporting characters are also well-developed, each adding depth to the story and contributing to Maddy's personal growth. The interactions between characters highlight the complexities of relationships and the ways trauma can affect those around us.

Kurian's writing is vivid and immersive, creating detailed images of both the physical and emotional landscapes Maddy navigates. The atmospheric setting enhances the psychological tension, drawing readers into Maddy's world and the darkness that envelops her. Themes such as resilience, trust, and the impact of trauma are explored, adding layers to the story and encouraging readers to reflect on their own experiences and perceptions.

"A Step Past Darkness" is a compelling and thought-provoking thriller that demonstrates Vera Kurian's storytelling prowess. With its rich character development, expertly crafted suspense, and exploration of profound themes, this novel is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Kurian has crafted a haunting narrative that lingers in the mind long after the final page, reminding readers of the complexities of the human experience and the courage required to face one's inner demons. This book is an impressive debut that establishes Kurian as a significant voice in contemporary fiction.

I definitely have to give credit to the author for their originality, the writing, and the concept of this book. However, the storyline development and the way it was told didn’t grab me as much as I hoped. There wasn’t much intrigue or suspense to keep me hooked, and it felt like a very character-driven story.

That said, I really connected with the theme of church trauma in the book. It was portrayed in a way that was both painful and cathartic, leaving a lasting impact. Cultish themes are something I really enjoy in books, and the author did not disappoint in that regard—those elements were well done.

The pacing was a bit slow, though. Even though a lot happened, it felt like the story dragged at times. The backstories were in-depth, which added depth to the characters, but after a while, I started feeling like some of them were a bit too detailed and didn’t necessarily move the plot forward. It made me lose patience as I waited for the main story to pick up again.

In the end, while I appreciated the book’s themes and the depth of the characters, the pacing and lack of suspense made it harder for me to stay fully engaged.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback. Recommend for fans of It who want better written women.

While I loved Vera Kurian's debut, Never Saw Me Coming, her latest novel was a disappointment that failed to live up to expectations. The story, centered on a group of friends returning to their hometown to confront a past evil, feels like an overly long homage to IT without the depth or cohesion that made that story compelling. The characters lack chemistry and believability, with their supposed bonds feeling forced and underdeveloped. The pacing is uneven, with a plodding first half and a plot riddled with convenient revelations and inconsistencies. While the concept of a sinister megachurch holds promise, the book struggles to commit to a genre, leaving it flat and unsatisfying.

This book is one of those rare gems that pulls you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go until the final, jaw-dropping twist. It’s an intricate blend of suspense, nostalgia, and a touch of the supernatural that kept me hooked the entire way through.

The story alternates between two timelines: the summer of 1995 and the present day. We follow six high school friends whose lives were forever changed by a haunting event tied to an abandoned coal mine and the secrets surrounding a local megachurch, Golden Praise. What I loved most about the book was how deeply layered it felt. The characters—Maddy, Kelly, James, Casey, Padma, and Jia—are so well-developed that I felt like I knew them. Each one brings something unique to the story, and the way their past and present intertwine adds so much depth.

The atmosphere Kurian creates is incredible. Wesley Falls feels like a character in itself, with its eerie coal mines, small-town politics, and a church that seems to loom over everything. The supernatural elements are subtle but powerful, heightening the tension without overshadowing the emotional core of the story.

What struck me the most was how Kurian tackled themes like loyalty, trauma, and the power of secrets. The pacing was perfect—just when I thought I had it all figured out, there’d be another twist that left me questioning everything. The dual timelines kept me flipping pages late into the night, desperate to piece together the mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this one. While the writing was a little choppy and stilted at times, I was engaged with the story and characters the whole time. The whole "ancient horror under a small town" is also such a draw for me. Looking forward to see what's next from this author.

I went into this one blind and was absolutely blown away by the first half. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job. I loved the multiple POVs and never had a difficult time keeping them straight. Each POV added to the story and helped with their character development.

I had no idea that there would be a supernatural element, so that caught me off guard. I typically stray away from those books. And even though I didn’t love the direction it went, it also kept me reading and wondering how it would all unfold.

I would recommend doing this one on audio because it is hefty! The audiobook helped speed along the process for me and it was done very well! 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

I really wanted to like A Step Past Darkness, but it ultimately fell short of expectations. The premise—a psychological thriller about a person grappling with their past and reality—had so much potential, but the execution left me disappointed. The protagonist starts off intriguing, but their character feels underdeveloped as the story progresses. The supporting characters, too, often feel more like plot devices than fully realized people.

Kurian’s writing creates a tense atmosphere, and the pacing picks up in the second half, but the twists, while clever, lack the punch I was hoping for.

In the end, this is a book with promise, but it didn’t quite deliver the gripping, thought-provoking thriller I was hoping for. Fans of the genre might still find it worth a read, but it left me wanting more.

I loved Kurian's first novel, Never Saw Me Coming, but this one disappointed. Too many characters and timelines to keep track of and just generally too long. I was hoping for I Know What You Did Last Summer-vibes, but instead got IT-vibes. Did not live up to expectations, sadly.

Thank you to Vera Kurian, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for an arc of A Step Past Darkness.

I absolutely LOVED Vera Kurian's first book (Never Saw Me Coming) so I had really high hopes for this one and, let me tell you, it delivered! I could not stop reading this book and I absolutely needed to get to the end to see what happened.

What grabbed my attention from the get go was the Breakfast Club like group of high schoolers. A popular girl, a jock boy, a nerdy girl, a rebel boy, a friendly girl-next-door, and the strange girl. But, we realize very quickly that as adults, this hodge podge group actually has deep feelings of love for one another, they just don't have any contact. I needed to know why.

The next thing that grabbed my attention - religious cult. We hear stories in real life and always wonder how other can miss "the signs" that there is something sketchy going on. This is the perfect example. The "pure" girls are popular and, while the boys are supposed to be "pure" too, no one bats an eye when they go off and doing something they aren't supposed to. It's the girls who get shunned and get the brunt of the punishment.

Finally - murder. I love a good thriller. Throw in a bit of historic paranormal activity and I was completely hooked.


I finished this book in about two days. I could not stop reading. I thought the plot moved quickly and the characters were all flawed but lovable. I was rooting for everyone to get out alive! 5/5 stars - Vera Kurian is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors so I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeves next!

A Step Past Darkness is one of Vera Kurian's newest novels. I absolutely loved 'Never Saw Me Coming' so I knew I had read this one the second it came out.

This book takes place in 1995, featuring a group of six high school teenagers with various different backgrounds. Twenty years after they take a vow of silence about the horrific crime they witnessed, the group gets called back to Wesley Falls, the town where everything started. Maddy, one of the six has been murdered. What will happen when everyone comes back to the place they vowed to forget?

This book follows six very different friends who witnessed something horrible in their teens. The town Wesley Falls is like no other. There is a mine underneath the town and a creepy megachurch with a disturbing past. When one of their group ends up passing away, the 5 go back to the town to try to figure out what happened to their friend. This was a very interesting book with dual timelines that were easy to follow and with likeable characters. I got a Silent Hill vibe (based on the real town of Centralia, PA) when reading about the mine.

3.5 star read for me. While I enjoyed the premise I felt like the middle was very drawn out and not much detail gained during that period. I wanted to hear more from the Maddie perspective and felt that the end wrapped up a little too neatly.

"A Step Past Darkness" by Vera Kurian is a gripping novel set in the seemingly idyllic town of Wesley Falls. In the summer of 1995, six high school students witness a horrifying crime in an abandoned coal mine, forging a bond of secrecy. Twenty years later, they reunite after one of them, Maddy, is murdered. As they delve into their dark past, they must uncover the truth behind Maddy’s death and confront their own secrets. With its intriguing characters and suspenseful twists, this novel keeps you hooked until the very end.

A step past darkness totally caught me offguard. What a fun twist between realism. And supernatural thriller. There were some twists that I totally did not see coming!