The Dark We Know

Am I supposed to find words after reading a book that carved lines down the back of skin, that whispered to the oozing walls of my heart, that shattered my brain into ten million fragments only to put them back together in an infinitely more beautiful configuration? Am I supposed to describe a masterpiece?

The Dark We Know is a book of pain, of the scars and inheritance of generational trauma, of abuse and hate and fear. It is a book of how those twisted realities can morph and gnaw into themselves until the horror becomes a tangible, wicked thing. But, in the face of that, because of that, it about the deep-seated, sometimes messy and gut wrenching love that exists alongside it. That is so, so necessary. This book is speculative, yes, but it is because of that it is undoubtably human.

I like to think of it as a mix of Borrasca and Oxen Free, with fucked up rocks, lyrical writing that feeds into the powerful undercurrent of emotion driving every decision, and characters that are trying their best in the face of unimaginable terrors. Its fucked up. It is absolutely horrifying and weird and completely, utterly entrancing. I cannot say enough good things about this book. I know I said it before, but it bears repeating: this is a masterpiece. I am in awe.

This book surprised me in the best way possible. I did not believe that a YA novel will make me feel so strongly. But this book did it. The story within is powerful and will definitely move a person. It was a beautiful albeit dark ride that I would like take again someday. This is a great book which is really worth rereading and discovering new facets to it after each re-read.

The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee is a hauntingly lyrical YA horror novel that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The tension between the characters is intense and gripping, creating a heart-stopping experience. Lee’s masterful writing ensures a consistent flow throughout the story, with an atmospheric style that vividly brings each moment to life. This is a must-read for anyone who loves thrilling and emotionally charged horror.

I had such great fun with this book and I truly loved the writing style. I was engaged from the very first page to the last.

I feel like the ending was rushed in my opinion and I would’ve liked if it was panned out differently but overall, that’s how I felt personally and that could differ for others!

I would love to pick up more works by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gillian Flynn Books for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved The Dark We Know! I'm a huge Spring Awakening fan, and loved seeing all the influences and nods in this :)

Wen-yi Lee’s debut novel, The Shadows of Slater, is a very gripping addition to the YA horror genre that will captivate fans of Stephen King’s IT, and even The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson This lyrical tale follows art student Isadora Chang as she rather reluctantly returns to her eerie hometown of Slater, a place marred by her unsettling past and the unexplained deaths of her childhood friends. This book is a narrative that explores themes of trauma, identity, and the lingering grip of the past.

This one was pretty solid, and very fun to read.
There was not a single moment where I felt bored or distracted, and I actually forced myself not to read the final twenty percent, so that I can buy the finished product and read the last part while actually holding the book.

Absolutely phenomenal. scooped me out and left me empty (but also whole and also crying a little). Come for the knife-sharp prose and eerie mystery that turns into full-on dream-horror, stay for the unexpected and wonderfully nuanced portrayal of leaving a church community, of the ways guilt and shame can kill, of the grief that comes with leaving childhood behind; of finding reasons to stay despite it all.

If you enjoyed the jagged edges of Sawkill Girls and Hell Followed With Us, the healing arc of Tess of the Road, and/or the lush atmosphere & strangeness & rage of the Raven Cycle/the Dreamer Trilogy, don't sleep on this one!

Many thanks to the author for an ARC (but also smashing that preorder button so I can read it again and be destroyed again).

How do I compliment accurately without keyboard-smashing my utter derangement post reading this book?

Basically, I'm obsessed. I don't know how else to explain how I feel, honestly. The prose is beautiful and left me very raw and hungry and hurt? I felt transported to Isa's head the whole way through (by the way, the use of second person is absolutely phenomenal here; it felt like the best kind of AO3 submerge, and finding skill and beauty I've never seen before), and she is a great protagonist for this kind of haunting melody of a story — she is raw and compassionate but also steely and sort of covered like sandpaper. There's so much in this setting as well, an eerie small town with plenty of horrifying secrets in its underbelly. The relationships Isa has with her family, in particular, was a draw for me. It felt very honest and very traumatic and very uncomfortable, but in a good way, kind of cathartic and so very human!

This is just such a beautiful, unrestrained story. I'm gushing about it to everyone I know, and I can't wait for it to come out into the world!

I definitely see the haunting of hill house and IT influences in the book , which i loved as well . The writing was wonderful and I greatly enjoyed it .
Thank you for the eArc .

It takes a lot of convincing for me to read anything even remotely spooky—I have enough things in real life to be scared about. But every time I do, I find that the book draws me in instantly and leaves me hooked until the end, and The Dark We Know is no exception. Isa and Mason’s mission to discover what’s taking their town’s people is full of twists and at times genuinely terrifying circumstances, and I couldn’t put it down.

Wen-yi Lee's debut, The Dark We Know, beckons readers into the eerie depths of Slater, a town brimming with secrets and supernatural mysteries. Isa Chang's reluctant return home unveils a chilling series of events that blend spine-tingling suspense with profound introspection.

Lee crafts a narrative that seamlessly intertwines supernatural elements with heartfelt exploration of identity and resilience. Isa's journey to confront both the town's dark past and her own ghosts unfolds through Lee's evocative prose, painting a vivid portrait of a community haunted by its history.

The Dark We Know stands out not only for its haunting atmosphere but also for its depth of emotion and unpredictable twists. Lee's storytelling grips from the outset, delivering a tale that keeps readers enthralled until its gripping conclusion. This novel is a testament to Lee's skill at blending the supernatural with raw human experiences, offering a gripping and thought-provoking read that lingers in the mind.

I think I read this in some kind of fever dream trance state because I cannot remember a single thing about it, except that it consumed me and I was having a great time letting it do so.

The Dark We Know is a haunting and atmospheric debut, with an emphasis on LGBT+ representation in a suffocatingly small town, religious-induced horror elements, and how trauma shapes our present. It's achingly beautiful, and I look forward to my preorder arriving so I can reread is a more present state of consciousness.

As I read The Dark We Know, I follow Isa’s inner thoughts and witness her processing the world, her emotions, this place that’s trying to destroy her and everyone she loves. The first-person approach allows me to get to know Slater—this haunted town of interwoven family histories, narratives, and secrets—and feel what it’s like to be a young adult trying to survive grief and heartbreak and violence. I most admire the author’s ability to submerge us in the liminal space of wraiths and phantoms through such sharp and gorgeous prose; in the end, we’re given something so tangible. The Dark We Know is a place-based story that allows readers to truly understand how place shapes us (“I’m so made of this place, it feels like if I cross that border, I’d just fall into nothing”) and provides a new way to understand themes of belonging. Lee humanizes young adults; the author treats her characters like persons and avoids infantilizing them through powerful reflections of the inner and outer conflicts they face (“Jesus, that’s embarrassing to say when we have such bigger problems. But isn’t that the point, that we were—are—kids with stupid problems that feel like our whole world, and it doesn’t mean we deserve any less?”). Lee tackles YA literature tropes such as we’re in charge of our own destiny with a refreshing twist (“But we get to choose what we do with the hurt”). The chapters where the monster is voiced and the page darkens and my hand is scared to keep turning, to insert this chilling voice in my brain, are brilliantly done – I, like Isa, am fully submerged and feel the horrors of this place. A truly ingenious and exquisite debut.

I struggled a little bit with the writing in this one, but despite that I think it has a lot of merit. It absolutely feels like the most literary thing I've read, while still appealing to teens and weaving some beautiful lessons about grief and moving on into the book. The plot is a new take on teens take on a small town monster (an angel! in this case) and there were some good twists that I didn't see coming. It's beautifully written and almost made me cry (a feat). I can see why it's getting starred reviews and I look forward to what Lee does next!

The Dark We Know will be out on August 13, 2024. This is a YA lyrical horror standalone perfect for fans of She is A Haunting & Nestlings. I am someone who doesn’t read the synopsis before going in, so the turn of events was unexpected. Small towns and thrillers are my thing, and yet I never expected how dark this would be.

This was a perfect read for Pride Month as TDWK has a bisexual Chinese FMC and is moreover a book that allowed the characters to explore their sexual identity. The journey into reading this book is similar to spiraling into a certain darkness, with its creepy atmosphere and deep writing that analyzes grief and specifically depicts religious trauma. Wen Yi-Lee was able to write a book about innocence and childhood with a deliciously sinister turn. I highly recommend for others to add this to their TBR and read it in the future!

This was such a wonderful, spooky, and liberating book. It has so many details that I love, the Appalachia setting, ghosts, dark angels, spooky old houses and families, and one awesome heroine. Definitely recommended for older teens and up.

I saw one of Wen-yi Lee's tweets about this book being inspired by Spring Awakening a couple weeks ago and immediately requested it on NetGalley and added it to my TBR. I'm a big fan of haunted narratives, characters, and hometowns and this book absolutely captivated me from the start. It's not just haunting though; it's intimate, painful, jarring, full of grief, and a little unsettling in the best way. Lee's writing style absolutely lends itself to these feelings, and there are some beautiful, lyrical reflections on the self, family, and relationships threaded throughout the horror and mystery aspect. This book is tearing open old scabs of childhood memories and pain, haunting imagery, weird ghosts and angels, and navigating grief and horror. While horror has a tendency to be viewed as needing to be at the edge of your seat and waiting for a scare, Lee does a great job of building the tension slowly, and showing us that horror isn't always big scares, but can be something more overarching and a slow burn that leaves you aching to know what's going on and how it will be resolved.

A harrowing, haunting, and thrilling debut with lush, beautiful prose and an exploration of grief that will stay with you long after you finish reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

This story deals with pain and regrets. I wanted to read it for AAPI month but then I also turned into a good book for Mental Health Awareness month. This actually hit harder than I thought it would. I got annoyed with Isa a little in the beginning when she was talking with Mason but I also get her reasoning as the story goes on. Her leaning and never wanting to look back makes sense. I really liked Trish, even if sometimes I didn’t understand her character all the way, she seemed like a solid older sister and she obviously really cared about Isa and their mom.

This could be a potentially triggering book as it deals with suicide and extreme thoughts of self loathing. It also deals with abusive/neglecting parents. The way this plot went was very unique and I liked the idea that were presented. I don’t want to spoil too much since it’s a bit of a way till it comes out, but this was a good heavy read. I love the messages of friendship and love. Even if you can’t let go, there’s still reasons to push forward. The friend group that Isa, Mason, Wren, & Zack had was so sweet. I always wished I could have had childhood friends like a YA novel.

“Healing is stopping the knife, but it’s also tending to the wound. It’s letting the disinfectant sting.”

The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee is a hauntingly lyrical, beautifully grotesque YA horror about the fragile threads we weave together through trauma and pain about grief and anger, around love and belonging, with prose that buries itself deep inside you and consumes your every thought well after it is over.

Art student Isadora Chang returns home to Slater, a dying mining town, after the death of her abusive father, and finds unearthed secrets and a dark supernatural creature in the small mountain town she left behind who has only grown stronger since she left. With the help of her childhood friend and medium, Mason, Isa has to finally solve the mystery that has haunted her all her life before it threatens to bury her with it.

All in all, Wen-yi Lee crafts a masterful story about generational and religious trauma and loss and longing through the intertwining of art, ghosts, and an emotionally driven prose that ultimately explores the different ways we heal and grow as human beings that will sit with me for a long time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gillian Flynn Books for providing this e-arc in exchange for a honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.