This book was INCREDIBLE! So spooky, so atmospheric! Secret societies, monsters, death, creepy forest, obsessive romance. If these sound like your jam, read it! And go in blind and let yourself sink into the story under a cozy blanket in a dim room.

Thank you so much to Penguin House and NetGalley for the ARC!

Read if you like:
Morally gray women
Death of a sibling
Betrayal, secrets & sacrifice
Boarding schools/hidden society
Monsters, of course!

I devoured this book in two straight days

The ending left me mind blown

Evie and Holland were extremely well rounded and I loved their relationship, despite a little toxic and strained. The only character I couldn't stand was Beth, gods she was aggravating at every turn.

I'm still left me with so many unanswered questions but it was a fast read, the atmosphere was sooooo spooky. I hope there's a second book!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Afterdark” by E. Latimer is a gripping YA queer horror novel that develops an eerie atmosphere of a haunted boarding school with Lovecraftian elements. From the very first chapter, Latimer sets an intense, chilling tone that grips you and refuses to let go. Before getting into the book, I do want to provide some content warnings (standard for a horror story) that includes body horror, some gore, and one (briefly mentioned) animal death. And while this is a queer horror story, it’s definitely not a healthy relationship, though that is clearly demonstrated throughout the book.

The story unfolds at Northcroft, an elite boarding school harboring a deadly secret. Each night, the Afterdark descends, transforming the surrounding forest into a grotesque, nightmarish mirror image of itself—a place crawling with horrors that feel straight out of a dark fairy tale. This macabre setting provides the perfect backdrop for the book's exploration of privilege, elitism, and the legacy students who inhabit Northcroft, subtly critiquing how these factors shape personality and behavior. I could go in depth about the metaphors in the story, but I will mainly just focus on the horror elements, which were at the forefront of the story and were what I enjoyed the most.

Central to the story are Evie Laurent and Holland Morgan, two complex and deeply flawed characters whose attraction to one another quickly spirals into obsession. Evie is haunted by the memory of her sister’s death—a secret she keeps hidden even as her darker impulses threaten to consume her. Holland, on the other hand, is a character riddled with terrible choices and questionable decisions, with her burgeoning relationship with Evie being yet another in her long list of mistakes. The relationship between them, while moving at a rapid pace, serves as a vehicle for the book’s exploration of unhealthy obsessions and the dangerous allure of darkness. It was almost like every person was obsessed with Holland, potentially showing the problems in today’s society with celebrity worship.

Latimer excels at creating an atmosphere dripping with tension and dread. The woods surrounding Northcroft become almost a character in their own right, pulsating with a malevolent life that is both fascinating and terrifying. The slow unraveling of what lurks within these woods is expertly paced, with the eventual reveal being appropriately grotesque and horrifying, delivering a memorable moment of horror that will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book. It definitely made me not want to go into a forest any time soon. There were several twists and turns in the book that I was not expecting, especially in the last 10%. I really enjoyed these twists as well as Latimer’s writing.

While “The Afterdark” is undeniably creepy and unsettling, it does have moments where the pacing falters. The introspective nature of Evie’s character is a bit repetitive especially in the beginning, with her frequent musings on how she’s "different" occasionally bogging down the plot. However, these moments are balanced out by getting Holland’s perspective as well as its gruesome descriptions that will undoubtedly satisfy fans of horror. The book wraps up its many plot threads by the end, offering a sense of closure while leaving the door open for a potential sequel—especially concerning what becomes of Holland. Though the ending is open-ended, it manages to strike a hopeful note amidst the darkness.

Overall, “The Afterdark” is a standout in the YA horror genre, delivering an atmospheric, intensely creepy story that is sure to please fans of the macabre. Its exploration of privilege and obsession makes it a thought-provoking read as well. I can’t wait to read more from Latimer!