A Step Past Darkness follows 6 teens with very different pasts, who witness something truly horrifying while completing a school project. With time jumps between then (1995) and now (2015), this group who vowed never to speak again are brought back together when one of their own is found murdered.

With in-depth backstories, this book was a slow burn and drawn out with sometimes erratic pacing. Between the time jumps and the alternating POV’s, it can be hard to keep the story straight. Overall, the plot featuring many touchy social and political issues just didn’t sit right with me, and it’s important to note trigger warnings: religious cult, sexual abuse

3.5 ⭐️ rounded down. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I usually enjoy this type of novel where we go back to the tragic event and fast forward years later to uncover the truth. However once it started going into the super natural I put it down.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of A Step Past Darkness by Vera Kurian in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date: 20 Feb 2024

This book was such a mixed bag for me. The premise sounds so good, so I was looking forward to it when I got approval on Netgalley. However, all it is is the slowest slow burn with so many characters to keep track of, during different timelines. This is for the first 40-50 percent of it. Once the 40 percent mark hit, it did start to pick up and I got into it.

At the 60 percent mark though, things took a turn, and not for the better. It became a book where a character conveniently started having visions and the book took on a supernatural element. Not my cup of tea if I’m being honest, I just wanted a thriller that had believable twists that I don’t see coming and this was not that. Unfortunately it was the a surprising opposite and not a pleasant surprise that I enjoyed.

Needless to say, I’m not sure I’d be very quick to recommend A Step Past Darkness and therefore, sadly, it’s a no from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Vera Kurian for this ARC. Sadly, this is my first DNF. I felt that there were too many characters to keep track of along with the past and present time switches. I felt no connection to any of the characters after 115 pages in. This is a long book, and I would’ve expected the plot to get interesting by now, especially given the number of characters. This book just didn’t draw/keep my interest.

Six unlikely friends form an unexpected bond in this unique blend of horror and mystery. Jia and Padma are the quiet girls on the outskirts, Kelly has been shunned by the popular group, James is a burnout with a tough family life, and Casey and Maddie are the popular kids who rule the town. They all have little in common until they are assigned a project that will change their trajectory in life forever.

This book was an interesting read, to be sure, though I’m not sure it was for me. Readers who enjoy a heavy focus on the supernatural will appreciate it as it’s reminiscent of Stephen King. I enjoyed the nostalgic 90s setting and the unlikely friendships in the story. However, it was a bit too long, somehow with a lot going on but also slow paced for me. Ultimately, the storyline wasn’t quite what I hoped for after really enjoying this author’s debut, Never Saw Me Coming.

Thank you to Vera Kurian, Park Row, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I requested this book on NetGalley because I really enjoyed the previously published book by this author, and the blurb sounded like I would enjoy this one too.

One of the characters in this book says something to the effect of, "I knew something weird was going on in this town, but I didn't know it was that weird." This pretty much sums up the novel as a whole. Jia, Padma, James, Casey, Kelly, and Maddy live in Wesley Falls. They get grouped together on a project, which means they end up spending some time together one summer in high school. They aren't your typical group of friends, largely because Maddy is a Wesley who is entrenched in Golden Praise, the church in the town.

When the book opens, Jia is summoned to Wesley Falls after being away for twenty years to help find a missing person. Jia has some supernatural tendencies, knowledge that she can't explain except to say that she can "see" certain things. Blub, the town sheriff, knows this, and calls her back to help locate a missing person. It turns out that the missing person is Maddy, and she isn't missing so much as murdered. Thus begins Jia's mission to get the rest of the group back together in Wesley Falls to finish what was started twenty years ago, when they witnessed a crime that they never should have known about.

This book was cool. The supernatural pieces were not overdone and felt completely appropriate to the story. It's a long book, but I didn't feel like any piece of it drug out too much. The reader gets to learn a lot about each character, and the insider knowledge of Golden Praise comes from different places, completing the whole picture.

The book switches POVs and timelines so that the reader can get a feel for each character, the buildup to the crime in 1995, and the developing events in 2015. I liked the shift between characters and time periods, and I think that helped make the book feel less long.

If you're okay with some supernatural elements in your thrillers, I think this is going to be a good one for you!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4! I’d definitely recommend it to a pretty wide audience due to its character depth, plot development, and winding storytelling.

A Step Past Darkness was unlike any thriller I’ve ever read. It was atmospheric, intriguing, supernatural, and gripping! Certain components of the book would be very well suited for lovers of Godshot or Midnight is the Darkest Hour, but the supernatural components are beyond comparison for my typical reading repertoire. It’s definitely not your standard murder mystery!

This dual timeline story follows a group of high schoolers during the summer after their sophomore year in 1995, and then also features chapters from 2015, when the group of old friends reconvenes in their hometown for one of their group members’ funeral. The story is set in a small mining town in Pennsylvania, where a mega church dominates the town. In 1995, six people are murdered, but their deaths are ruled an accident. It’s up to Maddy, Casey, James, Kelly, Padma, and Jia to determine what nefarious actions led to these deaths —- and just how far does the corruption go?

The first ~40% feel like a well-done literary thriller: readers get an excellent atmospheric setting, well-developed characters, and significant mystery and tension surrounding the mega church in town and the mysterious deaths. Readers grow to learn so much about these characters and become rather attached to their stories. The winding, twisting prose was one of my favorite aspects of the novel. The chapters that follow our characters during high school feel simultaneously nostalgic and chilling, definitely holding my attention throughout.

The more supernatural/demon-esque components of the story aren’t introduced until roughly the halfway mark, and from there on out it’s a wild ride! I couldn’t put it down once I hit the bigger plot pieces in that second half. The slow burn work from earlier in the book comes to thrilling fruition with the book’s conclusion!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Trigger warnings: religious trauma, eating disorders

"A Step Past Darkness" by Vera Kurian is a riveting thriller that masterfully intertwines the past and present, weaving a tale that is as haunting as it is compelling. Set in the seemingly idyllic town of Wesley Falls, with its hidden, dark underbelly, this book plunges you into a mystery that has been simmering for twenty years.

The story kicks off in the summer of 1995 with a fateful party in an abandoned coal mine, a setting so perfectly eerie it almost becomes a character in its own right. Six high school students from vastly different walks of life witness something so shocking it alters their lives forever. Kurian does a phenomenal job in fleshing out these characters - Maddy, Kelly, James, Casey, Padma, and Jia - each with their unique perspective and secrets, making you invested in their journey from the get-go.

Fast forward twenty years, and the past comes knocking in the most chilling way – Maddy has been murdered. The remaining five are pulled back into the web of secrets and lies they thought they had escaped. Kurian expertly unravels the narrative, layer by layer, keeping you glued to the pages as the former classmates confront old ghosts and hidden truths in their quest for answers.

Kurian's writing is sharp and evocative, effortlessly transporting you between the past and present, capturing the essence of teenage angst and adult desperation with equal skill. The suspense is masterfully built, with each revelation more surprising than the last. As the group returns to the mine for a final confrontation, the tension is palpable, culminating in a climax that is both shocking and satisfying.

In conclusion, "A Step Past Darkness" is a must-read for thriller enthusiasts. Vera Kurian has crafted a story that's not just about solving a murder; it's about confronting the past, the bonds of friendship, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. It's a gripping, twisty, turn-y ride that will keep you guessing until the very end. So, settle in and get ready to take a step into the darkness – you won't regret it.

This was the PERFECT book to wrap up my year with. I truly couldn’t have loved it more. I felt like this book was fine tuned and tailored just for me. 😂

A Step Past Darkness follows Kelly, Maddy, Jai, Padma and Casey in 1995 and 2015. These 6 vastly different teens were lumped together for a group project in High School when they witness something horrifying in the mines in their town. This leads them to searching for answers in their crooked creepy town. The book flashes forward to 2015 when they’re all brought back to the town when one of the 6 is found murdered.

I adored each of these characters. The 1995 POV had Stand By Me vibes that I just loved. The book was long but I truly could’ve devoured another 100 pages. I just didn’t want it to end. It felt like binging a whole series in a day.

My only heads up for future readers is, don’t go in fully expecting a straight to the point thriller. It’s just as much supernatural horror as it is thriller - but truly, in the best possible way.

I just can’t say enough good things about this book. It’s one of those books, to me, that need a 6th star. 5 isn’t enough. ⭐️✨

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Weird book. It starts out pretty normal, thriller wise, dead body, police need help, and then veers off into the bizarre and then even further into the bizarre. I had to make sure I was accidently reading a King or Hill novel.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Initially, the book presents the setting as an open community with no secrets, but delving into the characters reveals a web of hidden truths. While it has a gradual build-up, the narrative remains accessible, and I genuinely enjoyed the unique storyline. If you're into the supernatural genre, this book offers a refreshing and distinctive read.

This book has all the hallmarks of those famous “kid gang” stories..like IT and Stand By Me. A group of 6 high school kids banded together to figure out what the local mega church is doing down in that small town mine. These 6 are kids that for the most part wouldn’t hang out together.

Aside from the founding families, I’m still trying to untangle what the town gets in return for supporting the supernatural answer to this question. (And it is obvious that the non Elders don’t know about the supernatural) The town thrives? Only the founders are getting rich and remaining healthy. Is it just the general religious promise that gives people hope and community?

This is what brings the book down to a 3.5 (I rounded up to a 4). It seems very long and drags out, yet I still don’t feel like I got a really well rounded picture of the characters and what makes the town support this church so heavily. Granted, I myself am not a church goer, so maybe the answer to that is obvious for someone more religiously inclined. I feel like it could be both fleshed out in some ways and thinned down in others. I found myself skimming some sections to get back into the action.

I enjoyed it, can’t wait to see what the author produces in the future as this is quite different from her last book.
Thanks to Vera Kurian, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy to read.

I want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

This book really drew me in!! It is reminiscent of It, a group of kids that band together in the past, then again in the present to figure out and defeat the evil that is happening in their town.

I liked the characters, especially how they bond over what is happening in their town. I felt that the “evil” in the story was obvious, but the author did a great job of adding a few twists. I was fully engaged in both arcs of the story. It makes you feel a bit claustrophobic while reading, and I found myself reading late into the night to finish. I plan on picking up another novel by this author, as this was my first read of hers!

A Step Past Darkness premise was interesting and pulled me in however this was not my favorite novel of the year. I think there were too many characters. I didn't care what happened to them. None of them were interesting. It was hard to believe they were friends or connected by a crime. I don't think I could recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and HTP Park Row for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book.

Hmmmm. Not sure how I feel about this one. It's definitely not what I expected. I think if I liked the first half, I'd give this a higher rating, because the second half was so much better. I almost gave up on this multiple times. It was so slow and there were so many characters in dual timelines that I was lost for a lot of it, and not liking the characters (at first) didn't help. I did end up liking 5 of the 6 main characters towards the end. The supernatural element came as a surprise and I can't say I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. I loved Never Saw Me Coming but I can't say I'd recommend this one.

I am choosing to DNF this book because the pacing isn't working out for me. I enjoyed Vera Kurian's debut novel and thought that this book would be in the similar vein to that, but it is not. I applaud the author for changing direction with this book, and it'll be a winner for many, but it isn't working out for me. I won't be posting a review on goodreads or bookstagram out of respect for the fact that I did not finish this book.

This book will stay with you long after you are finished reading it. This book is def Psychological thriller and just a supernatural in this book which made it awesome and great read.

At first when you read the book you think that where this book takes place is just a little community that has no secrets but as you get to know the characters you realize that it has lots of secrets. Nothing is as it seems. As the classmates grow and you go forward there are six people dead in their ring of friends and the remainder to get together to figure out what happened.

In some aspects of the book it is a slow burn but the storyline is easy to follow and i really liked the story. If you like supernatural you will like this book and it was unlike anything i have read so far.

Would like to read more from this author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

The first chapter of this book got my hopes up so high. I was pulled in! And then it fell apart. Don't get me wrong, the plot of this book was there. But it is SO hard to follow. Maybe since I got an ARC version, it will be cleaned up. I love when a book has multiple POV's, I love getting all sides of the story, which this book has. But it is so hard to follow, there is so much going on, and its all over the place. I had a very hard time getting through the beginning of this book. I forced myself to finish this book so I could do my NetGalley review, and I really wanted to know what the main plot and outcome would be, but I skimmed through so much randomness.

Highly and happily recommended. Like a female-forward It (Stephen King), with a few choice words for mega churches, A Step Past Darkness surpasses Kurian's debut novel.

A Step Past Darkness brings together the Kapstone six an unlikely group of students working together on a school project. When they decide to go to a party in the local minds, they witness murders by local churchgoers. What they uncover is enough to put them all on guard for the next 20 years when they come back to their hometown to finish what they started.

Thank you to park row and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.