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The Darkness Rises
A gripping speculative thriller perfect for fans of Lauren Oliver and Ginny Myers Sain, about one girl with the power to see death before it happens--and the terrible consequences she faces when saving someone goes wrong.
SOMEONE WANTS REVENGE…
Whitney knows what death looks like. Since she was seven, she’s seen it hover over strangers’ heads in dark, rippling clouds. Sometimes she can save people from the darkness. Sometimes she can’t. But she’s never questioned if she should try. Until the unthinkable happens—and a person she saves becomes the perpetrator of a horrific school shooting.
Now Whitney will do anything to escape the memory of last year’s tragedy and the guilt that gnaws at her for her role in it. Even if that means quitting dance—the thing she loves most—and hiding her ability from her family and friends. But most importantly, no one can know what really happened last year.
Then Whitney finds an ominous message in her locker and realizes someone knows her secret. As the threats pile up, one thing becomes clear—someone wants payback for what she did. And if she’s going to survive the year, she must track down whoever is after her before it’s too late.
SOMEONE WANTS REVENGE…
Whitney knows what death looks like. Since she was seven, she’s seen it hover over strangers’ heads in dark, rippling clouds. Sometimes she can save people from the darkness. Sometimes she can’t. But she’s never questioned if she should try. Until the unthinkable happens—and a person she saves becomes the perpetrator of a horrific school shooting.
Now Whitney will do anything to escape the memory of last year’s tragedy and the guilt that gnaws at her for her role in it. Even if that means quitting dance—the thing she loves most—and hiding her ability from her family and friends. But most importantly, no one can know what really happened last year.
Then Whitney finds an ominous message in her locker and realizes someone knows her secret. As the threats pile up, one thing becomes clear—someone wants payback for what she did. And if she’s going to survive the year, she must track down whoever is after her before it’s too late.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2024
15 people are currently reading
4204 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
April 25, 2024
2⭐️
Question of the day: What would you do if you developed an ability that allowed you to detect danger, in someone’s life, simply through the appearance of a dark cloud ??? Would you (and remember, you couldn’t tell ANYONE):
(A) Save each person that the cloud appears over, consequences be dammed…
(B) Save only family and friends…
OR
(C) Ignore the ability completely and try to live your life as best you could…
Such a difficult choice to make, huh??? Well, imagine being 18 year old Whitney Lancaster, who has had to answer this question since she was 7 years old. And no, it has not been easy for her. The older she got, the more people she decided to save, the more she allowed her pride to take over, ignoring the consequences in the process. It isn’t until her junior year of high school that things change. One day, on her way to meet a friend, a dark cloud appears over a classmate. She makes the decision to save said classmate only to have said classmate decide to use their second chance to participate in a school shooting. In the days after the shooting, Whitney develops large amounts of guilt and makes the conscious decision to give up on everything she knows and loves just to keep her secret. Soon, she discovers that someone knows about her ability and learns that this someone is determined to not only blame her for the results of the school shooting but also their life. And ooh how things get messy for everyone shortly after this revelation.
Based on this premise, this book should’ve held my attention. Add the fact that its Paranormal Fiction meets Mystery meets Thriller. My three favorite YA genres displayed in one book. Ooohmgee!!! The amount of excitement I should’ve felt just reading the title. And I was. Everything was going well until I finished Chapter 3. And that was when I knew that this book was not going to go well for me at all. I even ghosted this book for three days just so I could prepare myself for the outcome. Things got so bad that once I finished this, I felt nothing but numbness and disappointment. And now, here I am trying to put my thoughts into a coherent sentence, let alone, a decent review.
I truly thought this book was going to be a balance between the focus on the aftermath of a school shooting and the revenge that someone was so hell bent on dishing out towards Whitney. I also thought that this book would feature Whitney in action on more than 3 occasions. Instead, this book features more teenage angst than anything that I have ever read about in my life. Seriously, I spent more than half of this book having to read about Whitney’s ex-best friend, Penny Ansel, whining about some white roses that she should’ve received on the first day of school alongside the fact she was also dating Whitney’s ex-boyfriend. I learned more about different ballet positions than hearing what all of the school shooting survivors were experiencing right now. I read repeated sentences about Whitney’s ex-boyfriend, Kevin Hampshire, sabotaging her new relationship, with Issac Gunter, and threatening her more than I got to read about the parents checking in on their children or the school counselors opening their doors to the survivors who were still struggling. Whitney and Issac’s relationship was mentioned more than what lead up to the occurrence of the school shooting and how Whitney unintentionally got herself caught up in this horrific situation.
And then, there’s the revenge plot itself. Honestly, this part felt like the weakest link of the entire book. The revenge seeker has two reasons behind their decision to want revenge. The first part makes complete sense. Without giving too much away, I think anyone would seek revenge for a loss like that. The second reason, though, wasn’t as nail biting nor as detrimental as the first reason. I mean, yeah, I didn’t really enjoy or care about these young people’s personal lives but, the drama was just a little more fascinating than the revenge. I was even able to figure out who was behind it all. And nothing hurts a story more than the reader figuring out who is behind all the insane accusations and deaths.
Even though the synopsis is pretty much straightforward, I was really hoping that I would read about young people gaining their strength back and banning together after such a traumatic experience. Not them throwing parties, drinking to the point where they are driving drunk, and whining about small things currently occurring in their lives. While everything does come together in the final chapter, it wasn’t enough to save the book for me. Again, no one is more disappointed than me that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I was hoping to. Maybe, in the future, I may find myself picking up another book from Stacy Stokes. I just have to do a better job at read the synopsis more than focusing on the book cover.
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for granting my request for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!
Publication Date: April, 9, 2024
Question of the day: What would you do if you developed an ability that allowed you to detect danger, in someone’s life, simply through the appearance of a dark cloud ??? Would you (and remember, you couldn’t tell ANYONE):
(A) Save each person that the cloud appears over, consequences be dammed…
(B) Save only family and friends…
OR
(C) Ignore the ability completely and try to live your life as best you could…
Such a difficult choice to make, huh??? Well, imagine being 18 year old Whitney Lancaster, who has had to answer this question since she was 7 years old. And no, it has not been easy for her. The older she got, the more people she decided to save, the more she allowed her pride to take over, ignoring the consequences in the process. It isn’t until her junior year of high school that things change. One day, on her way to meet a friend, a dark cloud appears over a classmate. She makes the decision to save said classmate only to have said classmate decide to use their second chance to participate in a school shooting. In the days after the shooting, Whitney develops large amounts of guilt and makes the conscious decision to give up on everything she knows and loves just to keep her secret. Soon, she discovers that someone knows about her ability and learns that this someone is determined to not only blame her for the results of the school shooting but also their life. And ooh how things get messy for everyone shortly after this revelation.
Based on this premise, this book should’ve held my attention. Add the fact that its Paranormal Fiction meets Mystery meets Thriller. My three favorite YA genres displayed in one book. Ooohmgee!!! The amount of excitement I should’ve felt just reading the title. And I was. Everything was going well until I finished Chapter 3. And that was when I knew that this book was not going to go well for me at all. I even ghosted this book for three days just so I could prepare myself for the outcome. Things got so bad that once I finished this, I felt nothing but numbness and disappointment. And now, here I am trying to put my thoughts into a coherent sentence, let alone, a decent review.
I truly thought this book was going to be a balance between the focus on the aftermath of a school shooting and the revenge that someone was so hell bent on dishing out towards Whitney. I also thought that this book would feature Whitney in action on more than 3 occasions. Instead, this book features more teenage angst than anything that I have ever read about in my life. Seriously, I spent more than half of this book having to read about Whitney’s ex-best friend, Penny Ansel, whining about some white roses that she should’ve received on the first day of school alongside the fact she was also dating Whitney’s ex-boyfriend. I learned more about different ballet positions than hearing what all of the school shooting survivors were experiencing right now. I read repeated sentences about Whitney’s ex-boyfriend, Kevin Hampshire, sabotaging her new relationship, with Issac Gunter, and threatening her more than I got to read about the parents checking in on their children or the school counselors opening their doors to the survivors who were still struggling. Whitney and Issac’s relationship was mentioned more than what lead up to the occurrence of the school shooting and how Whitney unintentionally got herself caught up in this horrific situation.
And then, there’s the revenge plot itself. Honestly, this part felt like the weakest link of the entire book. The revenge seeker has two reasons behind their decision to want revenge. The first part makes complete sense. Without giving too much away, I think anyone would seek revenge for a loss like that. The second reason, though, wasn’t as nail biting nor as detrimental as the first reason. I mean, yeah, I didn’t really enjoy or care about these young people’s personal lives but, the drama was just a little more fascinating than the revenge. I was even able to figure out who was behind it all. And nothing hurts a story more than the reader figuring out who is behind all the insane accusations and deaths.
Even though the synopsis is pretty much straightforward, I was really hoping that I would read about young people gaining their strength back and banning together after such a traumatic experience. Not them throwing parties, drinking to the point where they are driving drunk, and whining about small things currently occurring in their lives. While everything does come together in the final chapter, it wasn’t enough to save the book for me. Again, no one is more disappointed than me that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I was hoping to. Maybe, in the future, I may find myself picking up another book from Stacy Stokes. I just have to do a better job at read the synopsis more than focusing on the book cover.
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for granting my request for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!
Publication Date: April, 9, 2024
April 10, 2024
Solid YA thriller with an intriguing and immersive story. Loved Whitney's character and tenacity. Really well done. Would definitely read more by this author.
Tysm for the e-arc!
Tysm for the e-arc!
April 17, 2024
Thank you to Stacy Stokes and Viking Books for my copy of this book. The premise of this was amazing and wild. It’s about Whitney, a girl who has the power to see death. When someone is in danger of dying, Whitney is able to see a dark cloud over their head. Sometimes she can save people from the darkness, and does everything she can to help. But what happens when she saves the wrong person? A person that goes on to commit a horrible crime that she could have stopped.
And now someone knows what she did. Whitney starts getting threatening letters from someone who knows about her ability and how she used it. Someone wants her to pay, and she needs to find out who before it’s too late.
Thoughts: I loved this book! It was such a fun YA story with a unique premise. It was so well written and the idea that someone has the power to see incoming death sounds outlandish, but was written so well into this story that it seemed natural. This book covers a lot of trigger warnings, and it was helpful that they were addressed in the beginning of the book.
The story was fast-paced and fun to read. I was both right and wrong about the ending, which is always a lot of fun. There were a lot of topics that are much deeper than they appeared, and though this book could be taken at face value, there is also a much deeper conversation going on underneath. 4.5 stars!
And now someone knows what she did. Whitney starts getting threatening letters from someone who knows about her ability and how she used it. Someone wants her to pay, and she needs to find out who before it’s too late.
Thoughts: I loved this book! It was such a fun YA story with a unique premise. It was so well written and the idea that someone has the power to see incoming death sounds outlandish, but was written so well into this story that it seemed natural. This book covers a lot of trigger warnings, and it was helpful that they were addressed in the beginning of the book.
The story was fast-paced and fun to read. I was both right and wrong about the ending, which is always a lot of fun. There were a lot of topics that are much deeper than they appeared, and though this book could be taken at face value, there is also a much deeper conversation going on underneath. 4.5 stars!
March 24, 2025
What a fantastic concept! This story felt wholly original, and it immediately made me want to dive into the author's backlist.
The idea of an eerie black cloud forming above people’s heads as they near death—and the main character having the power to stop it—was so compelling. I loved how the concept was introduced and illustrated, making it easy to understand the weight of her ability and the impact she could have. The relationship between Whitney and her grandmother was especially touching, adding an emotional depth that grounded the story. Despite her grandmother’s illness, their bond was enduring and heartfelt.
The characters felt authentically like high schoolers, and the fast-paced plot kept me hooked from start to finish. It was an intense, gripping read that I found hard to put down. Easily a book I’d recommend to my audience and just about anyone looking for a unique, thought-provoking thriller.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book.
The idea of an eerie black cloud forming above people’s heads as they near death—and the main character having the power to stop it—was so compelling. I loved how the concept was introduced and illustrated, making it easy to understand the weight of her ability and the impact she could have. The relationship between Whitney and her grandmother was especially touching, adding an emotional depth that grounded the story. Despite her grandmother’s illness, their bond was enduring and heartfelt.
The characters felt authentically like high schoolers, and the fast-paced plot kept me hooked from start to finish. It was an intense, gripping read that I found hard to put down. Easily a book I’d recommend to my audience and just about anyone looking for a unique, thought-provoking thriller.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book.
April 9, 2024
That day, I learned that choices are like dominoes, each one piling on top of the next until there's nothing left but a pile of destruction.
Whitney can see when someone is about to die a preventable death. A black cloud forms over their head, giving her the opportunity to stop it. A year before our story begins, Whitney saw a fellow student about to jump off a building, and she talked him out of doing it. Then he went on to commit a mass shooting at a football game. Someone knows she played a part in it, and they want her to confess before the anniversary of the shooting.
Whitney has to try and find who is hunting her before the memorial, or her friends or family might be hurt, and she could be exposed for what she's done.
This story takes me right back to the Christopher Pike thrillers of the 90's and I Know What You Did Last Summer with a little bit of Black Swan because of the dance team element. It also had this interesting philosophical take on, "Is everyone worth saving?" and "Does everyone deserve a chance to live?"
Should it be Whitney's choice to play God with her power?
She's trying to figure that out while also uncover who is stalking her. I think the most important aspect of thriller is the villain. Was I shocked to find out who it was at the end? And was it a shock for shock value sake, or was it a believable culprit? I can confidentially say, "yes," to both.
This was an edge of your seat psychological thriller that delved deep into morality and the choices we make.
TW: Suicide, mass shooting, alcohol use, abuse
Whitney can see when someone is about to die a preventable death. A black cloud forms over their head, giving her the opportunity to stop it. A year before our story begins, Whitney saw a fellow student about to jump off a building, and she talked him out of doing it. Then he went on to commit a mass shooting at a football game. Someone knows she played a part in it, and they want her to confess before the anniversary of the shooting.
Whitney has to try and find who is hunting her before the memorial, or her friends or family might be hurt, and she could be exposed for what she's done.
This story takes me right back to the Christopher Pike thrillers of the 90's and I Know What You Did Last Summer with a little bit of Black Swan because of the dance team element. It also had this interesting philosophical take on, "Is everyone worth saving?" and "Does everyone deserve a chance to live?"
Should it be Whitney's choice to play God with her power?
She's trying to figure that out while also uncover who is stalking her. I think the most important aspect of thriller is the villain. Was I shocked to find out who it was at the end? And was it a shock for shock value sake, or was it a believable culprit? I can confidentially say, "yes," to both.
This was an edge of your seat psychological thriller that delved deep into morality and the choices we make.
TW: Suicide, mass shooting, alcohol use, abuse
October 9, 2025
she's a better person than me. I would've developed a god complex.
May 8, 2024
Gun violence is a subject that deeply affects me and in general I avoid books about school shootings. I picked this one up without knowing that a school shooting would be a critical plotline. And yes, I should probably start reading the synopsis for books I'm interested in, but at the same time, I would have missed this book.
The school shooting here takes place before the story begins, at a football game during Whitney's junior year of high school. While on the field for her dance routine, Whitney looks in the stands to see that there are people with black clouds hovering above their heads. Whitney knows this means that death is coming, because she has been seeing these black clouds all her life. She always does her best to save people and help them avoid their imminent death. In this case, in a stadium filled with people, Whitney has to make critical choices because she can't save everyone. And it is this choice that continues to haunt her the following year as another football season begins. However, this isn't Whitney's only problem. There seems to be someone else who knows Whitney's secret, and they are threatening to expose her ability.
For a long time I thought I knew what was going on and who the threat was. But guess what? I didn't. This little surprise plus the Letter from the Author really catapulted this book from a three to a four star read for me. I really appreciated the way Stokes handled the school shooting, the awareness she is bringing to the issue and the way she encourages readers to get involved.
"All I ask is that you don't become numb. It's when we close our eyes that we lose any hope of making things better. When we become numb, we all lose."
The school shooting here takes place before the story begins, at a football game during Whitney's junior year of high school. While on the field for her dance routine, Whitney looks in the stands to see that there are people with black clouds hovering above their heads. Whitney knows this means that death is coming, because she has been seeing these black clouds all her life. She always does her best to save people and help them avoid their imminent death. In this case, in a stadium filled with people, Whitney has to make critical choices because she can't save everyone. And it is this choice that continues to haunt her the following year as another football season begins. However, this isn't Whitney's only problem. There seems to be someone else who knows Whitney's secret, and they are threatening to expose her ability.
For a long time I thought I knew what was going on and who the threat was. But guess what? I didn't. This little surprise plus the Letter from the Author really catapulted this book from a three to a four star read for me. I really appreciated the way Stokes handled the school shooting, the awareness she is bringing to the issue and the way she encourages readers to get involved.
"All I ask is that you don't become numb. It's when we close our eyes that we lose any hope of making things better. When we become numb, we all lose."
January 31, 2024
I loved the concept behind this book. I’ve had my own thoughts about something popping up above people’s heads, but instead of dark clouds, it’s a listed icon of what people are wearing - where they’re from - and how much it costs…that way we can avoid the awkward question of “OMG where did you get that?!”
Nonetheless, I give this book 4.5 stars. It had me completely consumed in all aspects. I loved the character development of the main character and the love story;)I truly do recommend reading this book. It has a great message towards the end of the book and touches on the topic of school shootings and the effects it definitely has on everyone.
Nonetheless, I give this book 4.5 stars. It had me completely consumed in all aspects. I loved the character development of the main character and the love story;)I truly do recommend reading this book. It has a great message towards the end of the book and touches on the topic of school shootings and the effects it definitely has on everyone.
January 14, 2024
Could not put this book down! If you like Pretty Little Liars this is for you. While a very sensitive topic, most of the mystery of the book felt like a who is a?! But, as someone who lives in the US, the topic of this book, a school shooting, did make this a very heavy read. But its message is what we should take home - The desire to do good, the desire to help/save others.
While there was a list of suspects, I did guess some of the ending and from that there was a piece that threw me and I absolutely loved it! This book was a wild ride that I thoroughly enjoyed!
While there was a list of suspects, I did guess some of the ending and from that there was a piece that threw me and I absolutely loved it! This book was a wild ride that I thoroughly enjoyed!
October 30, 2023
A very powerful story of premonition and the desire to do good.
School shootings is a topic in books I usually steer clear of, but something about this book spoke to me.
Whitney can see when people are going to die. Even though she has been given the nickname Super Girl among classmates, this gift is something she doesn’t share with anyone, aside from her beloved grandmother whom she inherited this from.
It used to bring her some sense of happiness until someone she saved from death went on to do something terrible! She feels this sense of responsibility and guilt now.
It’s the start of her senior year and she is a shell of who she was. She doesn’t dance anymore, having quit the team and given up her role as captain. And now, she is getting ominous warnings from an unknown source, telling her to confess or she will be punished.
I thought this was so well done. And it truly begs the question of what is the butterfly effect of saving someone who is supposed to die? What events will happen after that change the course of the future?
Thank you to Penguin Teen for my early copy in exchange for an honest review.
School shootings is a topic in books I usually steer clear of, but something about this book spoke to me.
Whitney can see when people are going to die. Even though she has been given the nickname Super Girl among classmates, this gift is something she doesn’t share with anyone, aside from her beloved grandmother whom she inherited this from.
It used to bring her some sense of happiness until someone she saved from death went on to do something terrible! She feels this sense of responsibility and guilt now.
It’s the start of her senior year and she is a shell of who she was. She doesn’t dance anymore, having quit the team and given up her role as captain. And now, she is getting ominous warnings from an unknown source, telling her to confess or she will be punished.
I thought this was so well done. And it truly begs the question of what is the butterfly effect of saving someone who is supposed to die? What events will happen after that change the course of the future?
Thank you to Penguin Teen for my early copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2024
Oofta this was a heavy read, but also a fast and thrilling read, all wrapped in one. I say heavy because - first you should check the CW at the beginning - it deals with the aftermath of a school mass shooting. But to add another layer of complexity to it, the book introduces the question of : if you had the ability to save people, is a potential mass shooter someone you would save?
Whitney Lancaster can see when people are about to die when she has the ability to save them. It manifests as dark rain cloud apparitions above the person’s head. Since she began seeing these apparitions as a child, she took pride in saving all of these people. However, it’s not until recently that she realizes the unintended consequences of saving people destined to die: what if the person is better off dead? What if that saved person would go on to hurt or kill others?
Whitney grapples with the guilt of having saved a fellow student from trying to commit suicide, who shortly after goes on a shooting spree during their high school’s football game. As the one year anniversary looms closer, Whitney starts receiving threatening notes from someone who appears to know her secret and wants Whitney to pay.
I originally thought the story might have been more interesting if it started from when she discovered she had these “powers” and ending with the school shooting, but I think that’s what made this book unique. And it was fun to add a mystery/suspense/thriller aspect to it. As a whole, I thought this book was excellent, and I really enjoyed it. I really appreciated the authors note about gun violence and mass shootings, particularly school shootings, at the end.
Whitney Lancaster can see when people are about to die when she has the ability to save them. It manifests as dark rain cloud apparitions above the person’s head. Since she began seeing these apparitions as a child, she took pride in saving all of these people. However, it’s not until recently that she realizes the unintended consequences of saving people destined to die: what if the person is better off dead? What if that saved person would go on to hurt or kill others?
Whitney grapples with the guilt of having saved a fellow student from trying to commit suicide, who shortly after goes on a shooting spree during their high school’s football game. As the one year anniversary looms closer, Whitney starts receiving threatening notes from someone who appears to know her secret and wants Whitney to pay.
I originally thought the story might have been more interesting if it started from when she discovered she had these “powers” and ending with the school shooting, but I think that’s what made this book unique. And it was fun to add a mystery/suspense/thriller aspect to it. As a whole, I thought this book was excellent, and I really enjoyed it. I really appreciated the authors note about gun violence and mass shootings, particularly school shootings, at the end.
April 24, 2024
An ability she can't share with anyone. Secret notes. A cute boy. Suspects at every turn.
I really enjoyed this YA thriller with hints of fantasy about it. The main character finds herself thrust into a difficult situation with knowing things and having no viable way to tell people about them and it all comes to hurt her.
I enjoyed the mystery of it all wrapped up with the secret notes and her not being able to trust nearly everyone. There were some harrowing moments and I wasn't actually able to guess the culprit (though I was close) at the end.
It was well written and I found myself connected to the main character, though as it happens in most YA books, she made some stupid decisions that I wish she hadn't (but that's story haha).
I personally don't like that she drank under age or the harsh language that was used. Honestly, it didn't need it and would have been much easier for me to recommend this to actual teens, but because of the language I'd bump it to a 17+ in my recommendations.
I also understand that a large part of it dealt with a very sensitive topic that will affect some readers (see TW below) and I think the author did a good job of handling that, though it must have been hard to write at times.
In all, I would recommend it to those who like a simple type of murder mystery with a bit of thrilling parts with an overall "teen contemporary" feel to it.
TW: School shootings.
My rating: 4*
___
Thanks to the publisher for this gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this YA thriller with hints of fantasy about it. The main character finds herself thrust into a difficult situation with knowing things and having no viable way to tell people about them and it all comes to hurt her.
I enjoyed the mystery of it all wrapped up with the secret notes and her not being able to trust nearly everyone. There were some harrowing moments and I wasn't actually able to guess the culprit (though I was close) at the end.
It was well written and I found myself connected to the main character, though as it happens in most YA books, she made some stupid decisions that I wish she hadn't (but that's story haha).
I personally don't like that she drank under age or the harsh language that was used. Honestly, it didn't need it and would have been much easier for me to recommend this to actual teens, but because of the language I'd bump it to a 17+ in my recommendations.
I also understand that a large part of it dealt with a very sensitive topic that will affect some readers (see TW below) and I think the author did a good job of handling that, though it must have been hard to write at times.
In all, I would recommend it to those who like a simple type of murder mystery with a bit of thrilling parts with an overall "teen contemporary" feel to it.
TW: School shootings.
My rating: 4*
___
Thanks to the publisher for this gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
April 9, 2024
Y’all I tore this book UP. From the very beginning the concept was interesting to me, and I loved how Stokes seems to blend an element of magic into the midst of a fast paced thriller. I was engaged from start to finish as the suspense is well constructed and keeps you on your toes for sure. It was heart wrenching to read about the aftermath of a school shooting, especially knowing that there are so many in real life who are suffering and experiencing the same kinds of things that the characters in the story are going through. I also really liked how profound this book was, looking at issues of agency, responsibility, and the ripple effect that ensues from our choices. It was something I didn’t necessarily expect to see in a YA book but really liked. Whitney as a character had some flaws for sure but she was interesting and her romance with Isaac was really cute. Overall this book just hooked me and I thoroughly enjoyed!
Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for gifting me with both an ebook arc and a physical copy!
Rating: 4.5/5
Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for gifting me with both an ebook arc and a physical copy!
Rating: 4.5/5
March 30, 2024
This book was amazing!! I figured I would love it just based on the synopsis. I really enjoyed the concept of The Darkness & I found the topics spoken about in this novel, albeit heavy, were handled with care and discussed really well.
I definitely did not see the plot twists coming the story tied together so nicely. This was my first time reading a book by Stacy Stokes and I truly enjoyed the writing.
The story kept me engaged from start to finish and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I was so in tune with the story that I was even writing down theories and genuinely following the story and going through the motions as much as our main character Whitney was!
I felt connected to the characters, they all felt fleshed out enough to make an impact on me in some way! I laughed at loud at some scenes & even got emotional at others which I wasn't expecting!
I was just so invested with this story & I will 100% be recommending it for others to hopefully enjoy as much as I did!
PUB DATE: April 9th 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC copy of The Darkness Rises in exchange for an honest review.
I definitely did not see the plot twists coming the story tied together so nicely. This was my first time reading a book by Stacy Stokes and I truly enjoyed the writing.
The story kept me engaged from start to finish and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I was so in tune with the story that I was even writing down theories and genuinely following the story and going through the motions as much as our main character Whitney was!
I felt connected to the characters, they all felt fleshed out enough to make an impact on me in some way! I laughed at loud at some scenes & even got emotional at others which I wasn't expecting!
I was just so invested with this story & I will 100% be recommending it for others to hopefully enjoy as much as I did!
PUB DATE: April 9th 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC copy of The Darkness Rises in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2024
4.5 stars
October 14, 2024
Good, solid book. Good mystery / whodunit. Definitely want I expecting Mr & Mrs B. One thing that I wish is that we would’ve found out who took the picture. Not sure if it really makes a difference but this was always something that was nagging my at the back of my head.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2024
Well, I guessed who was behind everything, but I had the motive wrong, so that's something.
June 2, 2024
4.5 stars
I honestly saw nothing from this book coming. I loved the main character, I can't imagine what I would do in her situation. Her mysterious power of seeing when people are about to die is absolutely insane. It isn't ever really explained, only hinted at but I really didn't mind it. Things aren't always going to be known. There was a little hint of a romance that I really enjoyed, definitely not the focus of it but it played a great role. Also, it had some heavy topics involved that I would recommend looking at trigger warnings, but I thought the author did a good job with how it played in the story. It got so intense and dark at times, it had me sitting on the edge of my seat at the end. It wasn't the best story I ever read but I loved reading it.
I honestly saw nothing from this book coming. I loved the main character, I can't imagine what I would do in her situation. Her mysterious power of seeing when people are about to die is absolutely insane. It isn't ever really explained, only hinted at but I really didn't mind it. Things aren't always going to be known. There was a little hint of a romance that I really enjoyed, definitely not the focus of it but it played a great role. Also, it had some heavy topics involved that I would recommend looking at trigger warnings, but I thought the author did a good job with how it played in the story. It got so intense and dark at times, it had me sitting on the edge of my seat at the end. It wasn't the best story I ever read but I loved reading it.
April 7, 2024
The Darkness Rises is a new YA thriller/mystery about a girl who can tell when people are going to die. She sees a dark cloud above peoples head when they are near death. She has to decide if she should save people or not. When a school shooting happens at her school, her world is rocked. Someone wants revenge against her.
I liked the idea of this book and the dark clouds. It adds a level of sci fi to a thriller. I liked all the characters as well.
I unfortunately didn’t like the book itself though. I felt like it was very repetitive and dragged on. I feel like her guilt didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. There was also some teenage drama that didn’t work for me.
Thanks so much to netgalley and Penguin for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I liked the idea of this book and the dark clouds. It adds a level of sci fi to a thriller. I liked all the characters as well.
I unfortunately didn’t like the book itself though. I felt like it was very repetitive and dragged on. I feel like her guilt didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. There was also some teenage drama that didn’t work for me.
Thanks so much to netgalley and Penguin for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
February 27, 2024
I enjoyed the aspect of Whitney dealing with the guilt and trauma of a school shooting that she feels is her fault. I also liked how she and her grandmother could see dark clouds above peoples' heads which meant death would claim them soon. The story was entertaining and had moments of suspense, but in some places it fell flat with lots of internal monologue that repeated throughout the story. This took away from the mystery as Whitney grappled with the same thoughts over and over again. I also felt like the romance portion was not necessary and would rather Whitney have spent more time with Marissa. Thank you Edelweiss for an ARC.
February 13, 2024
I suppose this is a faux pas but if you can't review your own work who can you rate? I'm so so proud of this one. Thank you to all the folks who helped make this book a reality and to all the readers for spending time in these pages.
January 2, 2024
had a good twist and important author’s note
April 12, 2024
Not as good as I was hoping. Kinda gets heavy handed with the school shooting message, which I get is the point, but I’ve read other books that handled it better.
April 5, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
"The Darkness Rises" by Stacy Stokes is an engaging thriller/mystery that delves into the complexities of fate, guilt, and morality amidst the backdrop of a high school plagued by a haunting past. Before going into the book, I definitely recommend reading the content warnings for this book as the book does focuses on some sensitive ideas/themes, though they were all respectfully discussed throughout the book.
Whitney, the protagonist, possesses a chilling ability to foresee preventable deaths, marked by ominous black clouds hovering over individuals. However, her gift turns into a burden when a person she saves from death becomes a perpetrator in a tragic school shooting. Haunted by guilt and stalked by an unknown adversary, Whitney grapples with the consequences of altering destiny and wrestles with profound moral questions.
Stokes was able to create a very unique and engaging story that makes you think about whether you would make the same choices as Whitney, that if you had the ability to save others, should you actually save some people, depending on who they are. The book prompts introspection about the ripple effects of our actions. I really liked the unique take Stokes gave to the plot as I have read YA books before about characters who can predict death, but I have never actually read a book before that focused on the aftereffects of saving the wrong kind of person.
The twists throughout the book are extremely engaging as you will find yourself trying to guess who the perpetrator is right alone with Whitney. There are definitely a lot of red herrings in this book to keep you guessing, but I will admit that there was this clue towards the beginning of the book that made me predict entirely the big twist at the end. Even despite this, I still found myself guessing as the plot progressed. And despite the somber undertones, "The Darkness Rises" exudes a sense of hope through its message of redemption and the desire to do good. The well-rounded characters, particularly Whitney, established that feeling of hope. The romance in the book didn’t take over too much of the plot and was slowly developed, which I appreciated. I really enjoyed the complexities of the side characters, particularly Marissa and Penny, and how there was also a sense of loyalty in the characters surrounding Whitney.
Throughout the twists and turns of the plot, Stokes culminated the book in a satisfying conclusion that ties up loose ends while leaving a lasting impact. For fans of psychological thrillers and thought-provoking books that focus on morality questions, "The Darkness Rises" is a must-read that will keep you engaged and emotionally invested until the very end.
"The Darkness Rises" by Stacy Stokes is an engaging thriller/mystery that delves into the complexities of fate, guilt, and morality amidst the backdrop of a high school plagued by a haunting past. Before going into the book, I definitely recommend reading the content warnings for this book as the book does focuses on some sensitive ideas/themes, though they were all respectfully discussed throughout the book.
Whitney, the protagonist, possesses a chilling ability to foresee preventable deaths, marked by ominous black clouds hovering over individuals. However, her gift turns into a burden when a person she saves from death becomes a perpetrator in a tragic school shooting. Haunted by guilt and stalked by an unknown adversary, Whitney grapples with the consequences of altering destiny and wrestles with profound moral questions.
Stokes was able to create a very unique and engaging story that makes you think about whether you would make the same choices as Whitney, that if you had the ability to save others, should you actually save some people, depending on who they are. The book prompts introspection about the ripple effects of our actions. I really liked the unique take Stokes gave to the plot as I have read YA books before about characters who can predict death, but I have never actually read a book before that focused on the aftereffects of saving the wrong kind of person.
The twists throughout the book are extremely engaging as you will find yourself trying to guess who the perpetrator is right alone with Whitney. There are definitely a lot of red herrings in this book to keep you guessing, but I will admit that there was this clue towards the beginning of the book that made me predict entirely the big twist at the end. Even despite this, I still found myself guessing as the plot progressed. And despite the somber undertones, "The Darkness Rises" exudes a sense of hope through its message of redemption and the desire to do good. The well-rounded characters, particularly Whitney, established that feeling of hope. The romance in the book didn’t take over too much of the plot and was slowly developed, which I appreciated. I really enjoyed the complexities of the side characters, particularly Marissa and Penny, and how there was also a sense of loyalty in the characters surrounding Whitney.
Throughout the twists and turns of the plot, Stokes culminated the book in a satisfying conclusion that ties up loose ends while leaving a lasting impact. For fans of psychological thrillers and thought-provoking books that focus on morality questions, "The Darkness Rises" is a must-read that will keep you engaged and emotionally invested until the very end.
June 10, 2024
Because there are consequences to saving people.
Because enough people have already died from my choices.
For most of her life, Whitney Lancaster has been able to see portents of death in the form of black clouds. While she's sworn to secrecy, Whitney believes that it's her duty to save people whenever she can. But things have been different since last year, when she saved a fellow student from committing suicide, only for him to perpetrate a school shooting. She's been trying to distance herself from the tragedy and the guilt that plagues her, but then she starts receiving anonymous notes hinting that someone knows her secret... and they want payback.
I'm a little partial to mysteries and thrillers featuring psychics. I don't know what it is about that formula that intrigues me, but it does. I wanted to really like The Darkness Rises but unfortunately never really felt connected with the story. 2 stars.
I'll be direct: this isn't really a bad book. But it's also not really a good book, in my opinion. If I had to pick a word, it would be stagnant. The novel is narrated by Whitney, whose ability to see death warnings, coupled with her guilt over saving a soon-to-be mass murderer, makes up the entirety of her personality. The book really isn't that long, but it's very repetitive in the way that everyone can tell there's something wrong with her, but she's determined to be secretive and cagey and become a martyr for ill-placed guilt she's put upon herself.
I wouldn't consider this a mystery; there's very little investigating going on, and when she's not lamenting the predicament she's put herself in, Whitney is suspicious of everyone and everything, even her closest friends. She makes several accusations of different people with very little evidence to back up her claims. Further, I found the villain of the story to be mildly predictable, with a very skewed thirst for vengeance. They think the same as Whitney does; that by saving someone who committed a crime, she is directly responsible for said crime.
Perhaps I doomed this book by having high-ish hopes for it. It simply wasn't anything that would stand out to me, and I never really liked any of the characters, and therefore their motivations and troubles didn't interest me.
April 22, 2024
This book follows Whitney, a high schooler who has a secret: she can see death. When a dark cloud appears over someone, Whitney knows they're marked to die. The darker and larger the cloud, the more immediate the threat. Despite her grandma's warnings about interfering, Whitney can't resist saving people when she can. Until one day, a person she saves goes on to commit a school shooting. Whitney blames herself and resolves not to tell anyone about her role in the tragedy. But as the anniversary of the event approaches, she starts getting mysterious notes blackmailing her: tell the truth about her involvement, or her family and friends die.
This was a fun and fast-paced thriller with some good red herrings and a satisfying reveal---I did guess who was behind everything, but not the full motivation, so the AHA moment still got me. I liked Whitney but she suffers from the same issues a lot of YA thriller characters do: some extremely questionable decisions worthy of me texting my mother about to complain. I think that's a pitfall of the genre, though, and teenagers can be dumb, so. There were a couple of lines that took me out of the story with how awkwardly hard they were trying to sound Gen Z (ex. "I hope when I'm married my husband stans me like that.") but for the most part I enjoyed the writing.
I'm not usually a huge supernatural powers fan, but I really liked Whitney's. It was unique enough that I wanted to learn more about it, but it wasn't so strong of an ability that it made the plot ridiculous. Nothing more awkward than wondering why someone doesn't just fix a problem with their easily accessible magic. The moral questions and implications of her ability and fate were really interesting, and made for a story that was both compelling and also full of depth and nuance. If Whitney's not-fully-formed brain hadn't made me facepalm several times this concept could have been 5 stars for me, but overall I had a good time anyway! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was a fun and fast-paced thriller with some good red herrings and a satisfying reveal---I did guess who was behind everything, but not the full motivation, so the AHA moment still got me. I liked Whitney but she suffers from the same issues a lot of YA thriller characters do: some extremely questionable decisions worthy of me texting my mother about to complain. I think that's a pitfall of the genre, though, and teenagers can be dumb, so. There were a couple of lines that took me out of the story with how awkwardly hard they were trying to sound Gen Z (ex. "I hope when I'm married my husband stans me like that.") but for the most part I enjoyed the writing.
I'm not usually a huge supernatural powers fan, but I really liked Whitney's. It was unique enough that I wanted to learn more about it, but it wasn't so strong of an ability that it made the plot ridiculous. Nothing more awkward than wondering why someone doesn't just fix a problem with their easily accessible magic. The moral questions and implications of her ability and fate were really interesting, and made for a story that was both compelling and also full of depth and nuance. If Whitney's not-fully-formed brain hadn't made me facepalm several times this concept could have been 5 stars for me, but overall I had a good time anyway! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
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June 12, 2024disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I saw Stacy Stokes at the LA Times Festival of Books 2024, and I'm so glad I did because I have really enjoyed her young adult thrillers (with a bit of science fiction, because her characters have these "poweres").
This book follows Whitney, who has the ability to see dark clouds over someone who is going to die. Therefore, she has the power and burden to attempt to save their lives. Sheesh. That is a *lot* to carry, especially for a kid. Whitney began seeing the darkness when she was a kid (7 years old I believe), and her grandma was the one who taught Whitney how to harness the skill, since she also had it. Whitney begins to receive mysterious, nefarious warnings about a school shooting that happened a year ago at a football game, and she has to race to figure out who is threatening her and knows her secret!
I thought the backstory of Whitney saving the shooter was so nuanced and handled with care. It showed that Whitney was simply a kid trying her best to save everyone she could, and she could not imagine the harm that saving someone could bring to another. It's a seemingly insurmountable truth to contend with. I felt so devastated for Whitney, as she clearly felt immense guilt and responsibility for the lives lost at that shooting. It also was sad to see that she had no idea who she could trust. As a minor especially, you want to feel safe, protected, and supported. However, I was proud of Whitney's determination to figure this out and to protect her family amidst these threats.
This book was so interesting, and I especially appreciated Stacy's author's note about gun violence at the very end. The candor and care in which she discusses her concerns and call to action were sobering as a U.S.ian.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Medical content, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Grief
Moderate: Child death and Death
I saw Stacy Stokes at the LA Times Festival of Books 2024, and I'm so glad I did because I have really enjoyed her young adult thrillers (with a bit of science fiction, because her characters have these "poweres").
This book follows Whitney, who has the ability to see dark clouds over someone who is going to die. Therefore, she has the power and burden to attempt to save their lives. Sheesh. That is a *lot* to carry, especially for a kid. Whitney began seeing the darkness when she was a kid (7 years old I believe), and her grandma was the one who taught Whitney how to harness the skill, since she also had it. Whitney begins to receive mysterious, nefarious warnings about a school shooting that happened a year ago at a football game, and she has to race to figure out who is threatening her and knows her secret!
I thought the backstory of Whitney saving the shooter was so nuanced and handled with care. It showed that Whitney was simply a kid trying her best to save everyone she could, and she could not imagine the harm that saving someone could bring to another. It's a seemingly insurmountable truth to contend with. I felt so devastated for Whitney, as she clearly felt immense guilt and responsibility for the lives lost at that shooting. It also was sad to see that she had no idea who she could trust. As a minor especially, you want to feel safe, protected, and supported. However, I was proud of Whitney's determination to figure this out and to protect her family amidst these threats.
This book was so interesting, and I especially appreciated Stacy's author's note about gun violence at the very end. The candor and care in which she discusses her concerns and call to action were sobering as a U.S.ian.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Medical content, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Grief
Moderate: Child death and Death
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2024
𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉--𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆'𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎. 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒚.
Some of the women in Whitney's family have a gift. For Whitney it started when she was seven years old and saw "the darkness" swirling over the head of a stranger; instinctively, she knew it was death. What to do with the gift, however, was much harder. When she tried to tell her parents, they brought her to doctors and specialists. Her grandmother finally told her not to tell anyone but her, as she had been given the gift too.
But what happens when you use this gift to help someone and you end up hurting many others instead? That's the basis of this speculative thriller that delves into this complex moral dilemma.
Whitney saves someone at her school from taking his life. Hounded and bullied by classmates, including Whitney's own boyfriend, this young man had reached his limit. Whitney literally talks him off a ledge, and she feels proud that she's used her gift once more to save a life.
Until that same young man becomes the perpetrator of a horrific school shooting. Whitney can't escape the feeling of guilt for the role she played in the event, so she withdraws, quitting dance, the only thing she loves, and hiding her ability even more. But when a threatening note shows up in her locker and a picture of her with the shooter surfaces, Whitney realizes that someone knows. Do they want to simply expose her, or do they want something more...like her life?
I was glued to this book and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Though it was a YA read, I feel that it will appeal to adult thriller lovers as well, especially those who savor moral dilemmas in their reads.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Viking Books for this early copy. This title will publish April 9, 2024.
Some of the women in Whitney's family have a gift. For Whitney it started when she was seven years old and saw "the darkness" swirling over the head of a stranger; instinctively, she knew it was death. What to do with the gift, however, was much harder. When she tried to tell her parents, they brought her to doctors and specialists. Her grandmother finally told her not to tell anyone but her, as she had been given the gift too.
But what happens when you use this gift to help someone and you end up hurting many others instead? That's the basis of this speculative thriller that delves into this complex moral dilemma.
Whitney saves someone at her school from taking his life. Hounded and bullied by classmates, including Whitney's own boyfriend, this young man had reached his limit. Whitney literally talks him off a ledge, and she feels proud that she's used her gift once more to save a life.
Until that same young man becomes the perpetrator of a horrific school shooting. Whitney can't escape the feeling of guilt for the role she played in the event, so she withdraws, quitting dance, the only thing she loves, and hiding her ability even more. But when a threatening note shows up in her locker and a picture of her with the shooter surfaces, Whitney realizes that someone knows. Do they want to simply expose her, or do they want something more...like her life?
I was glued to this book and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Though it was a YA read, I feel that it will appeal to adult thriller lovers as well, especially those who savor moral dilemmas in their reads.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Viking Books for this early copy. This title will publish April 9, 2024.
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