The Afterdark

by E. Latimer

Queer horror at a boarding school with a Lovecraftian twist in this new YA novel from E. Latimer, author of the acclaimed The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray.

Northcroft is an elite boarding school with a deadly secret. Each night as the bell tolls and the shutters slam down, cutting off the outside world, the Afterdark descends, turning the surrounding old growth forest into a macabre copy of itself. A negative photograph crawling with horrors.

Evie Laurent is certain of one thing from the moment she sees Holland Morgan on the front steps of Northcroft: she wants to know everything there is to know about her. But there are some things about Evie herself that are better kept secret. Especially the fact that she let her sister drown. And that it's getting harder to ignore her dark impulses . . . 

Holland Morgan knows falling for Evie is just one more terrible choice in her long history of terrible choices. The problem is, she's not sure she cares.

As attraction turns slowly to obsession, they find themselves playing a dangerous game. Something out there is calling to each of them. Beckoning to the shadows within.

Do they fight the call and protect one another, or answer, and embrace the darkness?

Genres: Horror, Lesbian, Fantasy, Young Adult, Queer, Dark Academia, LGBT

398 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2025

About the author

E. Latimer is the author of The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray and Witches of Ash and Ruin.

Her third book, Escape to Witch City, comes out from Tundra Books August 2021.

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada | Tundra Books, for sending me over this ARC.

The story alternates between Evie Laurent and Holland Morgan. The chapters move quickly, making this a fast-paced, easy read.

Latimer’s tale blends dark impulses, romantic tension, and shocking twists, gripping your attention from start to finish. With atmospheric writing and a unique plot, this novel is truly remarkable. I absolutely loved the creepy and gothic ambiance. If you enjoy eerie stories, this one is definitely for you!

Also, let's not forget to mention the book cover is beautiful.

What to expect:

✨YA horror
✨Betrayal, secrets & sacrifice
✨Boarding schools/hidden society
✨Death of a sibling
✨Multiple POV
✨Sapphic romance

Publication Date: Jan 07, 2025

3.5 stars, but rounding up. As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨

[Brend]

Each night as the bell tolls and the shutters slam down, cutting off the outside world, the Afterdark descends, turning the surrounding old growth forest into a macabre copy of itself. A negative photograph crawling with horrors.

Lesbians and creepy forests!!! Let's gooo!!!!

[Sapphic Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this officially settles it. Creepy forests are my favorite spooky setting. This book starts out strong from the opening chapter. I was immediately hooked and became a ride or die for Evie.

I really enjoyed being in Evie and Holland’s point of view. I liked the way this story slowly developed. I loved the creepy atmosphere and the mystery of the woods. I even enjoyed the secret society angle (since I’m normally not the biggest fan of a predominately male secret society). I loved the final sentence in this book and I’m desperate for a sequel.

If you’re looking for a dark academia novel full of messy characters trying to survive the woods and the secrets the woods contain, this is the book for you!

Pub Date: January 7th, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for a copy of this eARC.

[cassidy jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ummm I hope E. Latimer is writing a part 2🤨🤔 I freaking loved this book. I think all Queer horror fans should read it. Even if you aren’t a fan of horror, you should still read it😂 However, go into it blind pleaseee.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada & Tundra Books, NetGalley, and of course E. Latimer for this advanced readers copy.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up The Afterdark by E. Latimer because the cover was stunning, and after reading it, I’m left with goosebumps.

The novel is a masterclass in creepiness, gothic ambiance, and atmospheric tension. As someone who’s a bit of a wimp when it comes to eerie stories, I was genuinely spooked. Yet, I found myself equally engrossed and unsettled by the book’s allure.

The story follows Evie and Holland, two characters with contrasting personalities who meet at a boarding school. Despite their differences and separate reasons for being there, they share a profound, eerie connection.

Latimer’s tale is a heady mix of dark impulses, romantic tension, intriguing mysteries, and shocking twists. It’s unsettling in a way that’s irresistibly captivating, grabbing your attention from the start and holding it until the very last page.

With Latimer’s atmospheric writing and the unique, creepy plot, The Afterdark is a book that should not be missed. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Penguin Random House Publishing, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’m eagerly anticipating the possibility of a sequel!

[alysbookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who loved House of Hollow, The Wilder Girls, and The Invocations - an eerie, mysterious queer horror story that takes place at a remote boarding school.

Read for the:
🖤 Lovecraftian horror
🖤 Obsession
🖤 Sapphic romance
🖤 Centuries-old secrets
🖤 Feminine rage
🖤 Multi-POV
🖤 Boarding school
🖤 Dark impulses

I loved both of the FMCs, Holland and Evie. Evie's history is so interesting and I loved how the mysteries played out. All of the reveals were pretty satisfying and I found myself thinking about the horror and mystery aspects long after I finished reading. I truly love horror lead by young female characters, and this new novel is a great addition to the genre.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.

[Arianne Laporte · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Unique. Creepy. Unusual. Intriguing. What a ride this read was! I mean, I was so crept out at times because I had no idea what was going on. I always loved reading books set at school and it was so fun discovering all the secrets of the school and its society.

The following will contain spoilers.

Evie was so easy to love. I enjoyed being in her head and seeing how internal struggle with the Afterdark while also seeing just how much control she had over it. I was rooting for her and Holland but unfortunately the ending went a different way.

That ending OMG!! Those last words literally broke my heart. I wished it had ended differently, because I wanted Holland and Evie to have a happy ending, but at the same time, I thought the ending was just PERFECT.

I was amazed by how well I was able to see everything that was described in this book and really enjoyed the writing. I wish we had a little bit more backstory on the origin of the Afterdark and Evie’s parents.

[Amber's Book Cave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an atmospheric and haunting read, and the audiobook narration made it even better and added SO much to the eeriness. The story takes place in Northcroft, an elite boarding school surrounded by a mysterious forest that felt alive with tension. The dark academia vibes combined with eerie, creeping horror made for a story that had me hooked.

Evie and Holland’s dynamic was intense and captivating, with their connection simmering between obsession and vulnerability. The Gothic elements and the secrets woven into the forest and the school added layers of intrigue. The narrators Amanda Cordner, Emily Nixon, and Thom Nyhuus did an incredible job bringing the characters and atmosphere to life, making this an even more immersive experience. I thought the audiobook was well done, and the eerie voiceovers used in parts of the story really added to the vibes. 🤌🤌

The ending left me both satisfied and chilled. If you enjoy dark, sapphic horror with compelling characters and a creepy, atmospheric setting, this one is definitely worth picking up. I highly recommend the audiobook for this one!

Thank you to libro.fm for providing me with the ALC. 🖤

[Kailyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I really liked the Lovecraftian horror elements and the spooky forest. I was less interested in the relationship/friendship drama and I think the dual POV stretched out this part of the story a little too much for me. But it was still fun! I think it would be a good pick for anyone who likes dark academia but isn't too sure if they like horror.

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC!

This was such a fun, creepy time! The Pacific Northwest boarding school setting, the eerie forest that's looming in the background, a mysterious masked leader of a secret society all make for a great rainy day read.
The story started and ended really strong but it lagged just a bit in the middle for me.

[Nora (NoraLeest)]

DNF @ 34% — even though I’m intrigued by the story, I’m not sure I’m intrigued enough to continue

[Jess Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to get an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley, and I'm so glad I did! The Afterdark is a wonderful dark and twisty paranormal mystery/thriller with the perfect amount of queer romance. I powered through this book in less than a day in a desperate attempt to learn about the darkness that lives within ourselves and in that damn creepy forest.

My bi girl heart loved routing for our main characters, who are wonderfully complex, morally grey, and well thought out characters.

[chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I… haha… *tapped* out of this one at 75%. I dunno, the premise was really strong, and there was CERTAINLY a dark, horny vision here, but it kind of felt like reading fanfic for a media I’m not a part of. The pieces were all there, but weren’t really fleshed out or set up for me to be able to follow the vision to the final product. I think this might be an editing faux pas honestly, too. I noticed things like the word “glittering” used to describe someone’s stare/gaze like three times in as many pages, and strange word combinations like a “chill wind,” so maybe the necessary setup wasn’t tightened before publishing. Just a shame, because I felt like the characters, ideas, and atmosphere were awesome, but I just couldn’t drag myself to the finish line through the way they were assembled in the end.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Gabi D'Esposito · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

This unfortunately didn’t come together for me. While the back half of the book definitely got more interesting, I found the characters throughout to be underdeveloped and not compelling enough to drive the very dark and cool central plot.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[rikajewellee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
i liked it, but not as much as i expected to. i will continue to read all of the queer dark academia books, though, since it's my whole personality 🤭

[Elisa ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never gravitate towards the horror genre, but I am happy that the cover drew me in! I think it is safe to say that E. Latimer has made me a horror fan! Calling all things spooky lovers, this book is for you!
This book is a perfect mixture of creepy, fantasy, and just a sprinkle of romance. I was hooked from page one and was as addicted to the story as the characters were to discover what was happening at night after the shutters went down. I truly loved that even though the setting of the entire book was both the school and the forest, my brain could never quite figure out what would be happening next and where the story would take me as a reader.

[Danielle (yelli3_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @librofm for an early ALC of this book!

GET THE AUDIOBOOK FOR THIS ONE!!!

I think this book is eerie and a good spooky book but the audiobook adds the creepiness in spots that make it so much better!!

If you’re a fan of YA horror books like Wilder Girls, you should definitely read this one.

✨YA horror
✨Queer sapphic romance
✨Remote boarding school setting
✨Secret Society
✨Multiple POV

5/5 audiobook narration!!!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

sapphic horror is never “cute lesbians in love,” it’s always “cute lesbians in love, but also haunted, cursed, and emotionally obliterated" :')

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. Listen, it's YA sapphic vaguely eldritch-horrorness. I think it lost track of some of the plots, or didn't explain them enough, but I still had a good time

[Books Amongst Friends · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Afterdark is an immersive and captivating queer gothic horror that blends mystery, romance, and a simmering sense of unease. From the moment I started, I was pulled into the story and wouldn’t put it down. With its gothic academia setting, the constant eerie presence of the woods, and the layered secrets of Northcroft School, this book perfectly captures the tension of something lurking just beneath the surface.

The story alternates between the perspectives of Evie Laurent, a twin whose sister Ada has just drowned, and Holland Morgan, a fellow student with a mysterious pull toward Evie. The chapters are mostly brisk effortlessly transitioning paces. Latimer’s writing ensures there are no wasted moments—every scene, no matter how quiet or chaotic, serves to drive the story forward. From the start, Evie is shrouded in darkness—there’s a brewing sense that something is waiting to consume her, and as a reader, you’re never sure how far she’ll go or what she might unleash. Holland’s perspective adds another layer, as their instant connection with Evie is both magnetic and foreboding. Their relationship is raw, obsessive, and protective, as they navigate both their desire for each other and the dangers surrounding them.

Northcroft is filled with a cast of characters, all carrying secrets that heighten the book’s intrigue. I loved the tangible, almost unsettling energy of the supporting characters. They felt real, flawed, and essential to the story. I also appreciated that the story gradually peeled back layers, keeping me constantly learning something new about them.

One of the book’s strongest aspects is its balance of genres. It’s not overwhelmingly horrifying, which makes it approachable for readers who shy away from traditional horror, and the romance is woven into the plot without overshadowing the narrative. It’s a good blend that explores themes of obsession, betrayal, sacrifice, first love, and self-discovery.

If you enjoy young adult books that blend obsession, horror, romance, and gothic mystery, this is one you shouldn’t miss. It’s a thrilling and haunting exploration of desire, secrets, and the lengths people will go to protect or destroy what they love.

[lexactuallyreads [surviving off vibes ftm] · Rating 4 out of 5]

“That’s the thing about this school… it’s so busy keeping its unbelievable horror movie a secret that it doesn’t think about simple things. Equally deadly things.”

Oh my gooooodness, this was SOOO good.
Thank you, NetGalley and E. Latimer for this early copy. I just know that people are going to enjoy this, especially those who love queer stories and stories about evil forests or the dark academia vibe.

“I can feel the darkness responding. It makes my boood hum in false anticipation. Some small part of me wants to be out there. Hurtling through the trees, bare feet on the forest floor, heart beating hard in my ears.”

The Afterdark gives big Evil Dead vibes and this story feels like it may have been left in a basement of an abandoned cabin to be experienced and live on at an eerie boarding school. Evie has always had darkness in her; so as her twin, Ada. When Ada dies, it’s up to Evie to take her place at the boarding school where their father is the the principal. Northcroft is eerie in its own standing, but something sinister lurks the grounds at night. Enter Holland, she may have been in love with Ada, but Evie is different. The darkness calls to both of them, and the game they are willing to play is dangerous. The question is always: how does this love story end?

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4 ✨
I'm still deciding how I feel about this one. It isn't that I disliked it, I think I just didn't love it? I keep trying dark academia's recently and haven't quite found one that fully scratches the itch. (Unlike the Emily Wilde series) The writing was fine, it was a little slow paced initially (although I think that was intentional, building up the angst), the characters were pretty well flushed out but I found myself getting easily distracted and not truly listening, like the story wasn't catching my attention well enough.
I listened to the audiobook format and appreciated the dual narrator's (technically multi but the male spoke very little) which really helps me to differentiate between character heavy plots. I did find myself listening at times that I wasn't giving my full attention, so that was on me, but even after rewinding & listening, it just wasn't grabbing my attention enough like a book I could say I LOVED would have pulled me in and kept my attention.
I will absolutely attempt another read of E. Latimer, as I did greatly appreciate their world building, secrets and the grand plot twists revealed in the end, so hopefully I just need to find another book of theirs that suits me better?

[Bailey Lamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

* Thank you NetGalley & Tundra Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. *

The Afterdark is a Lovecraftian gothic horror set at an elite boarding school with a deadly secret hiding in the forest. I don't want to give to much away because this story definitely does not go in the direction I naively assumed it would go (I haven't ever actually read Lovecraft, so maybe it goes in exactly the direction a Lovecrafter would assume), but I will give you this:

The Afterdark is a creepy, crawly story about Eve and Holland who are both drawn to each other and to the forest surrounding their school. As their attraction turns slowly to obsession, they find themselves playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse. The forest is calling to them. Will they answer?

I do feel like the story was buttoned up, but that the ending was left open for the possibility of a book 2. If that's the case, I'd definitely be interested in seeing where this story goes!

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to start by saying that the cover of this book is GORGEOUS. I fell absolutely in love with it. There were a lot of other things that I enjoyed, as well as a few things that I didn’t love.

This is queer YA, which I’m discovering is one of my favourite subgenres. There’s some romance, but it’s mainly a horror novel. The writing style was perfect for the book’s gothic/dark academia vibes.

I found the second half of the book to be a lot more captivating than the first half, especially once the horror elements came into play and we were able to start understanding what was going on.

My main issue with the book was the length. The pacing was pretty slow, and I didn’t find myself excited to pick it up and keep reading. I think condensing the story would’ve made it much more interesting and intense.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books for my gifted copy!

[Niya Raine ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t think of a better way to end the spooky season than with this mysteriously enthralling story with otherworldly characters and haunting quality.
I loved the darker themes woven throughout the plot and the main characters, Evie and Holland. I had no issue being captivated individually by them, especially when the pace ran so smoothly and every chapter left me wanting more.
There’s nothing as sweet as horror books fueled by female rage, and I am completely obsessed with this book and the authors way of writing.
If you loved books like House of Hollow, The Invocations, A Dark & Drowning Tide- you’ll want to get lost in this book.

Thank you Tundra Books and Penguin Teen Canada for an arc of this book!

[cyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75
thank you to netgalley and the author for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. this book took me a really long time to get into but once i did it was soooo good. the two main characters were really likable and their romance was a nice part of it aswell. in my opinion though the best part of this was not the romance but instead the complex plot. i don’t want to give away too much so im going to leave it at that but it definitely kept me hooked. this is perfect for spooky szn and i really recommend.

[Raaven💖 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley as well as my tour group for giving me an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love some good doomed yuri. I also just love stories about evil forests. This one had annoying moments where I was tired of Evie and Holland breaking up and making up every few minutes, but I loved the look of their obsession with each other. The mysteries and suspense were great and I was completely thrown off at the end. After reading Don’t Let The Forest in right before this one, I can say with certainty that I just love these types of books.

[Bethany Gorski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a spooky YA horror!! This was really good and I read it in one very quick sitting. My ONLY disappointment was that there was not enough school vibes. It didn't really feel like it was set at a school.

Other than that though, the beginning where the MC's "evil twin" drowns in front of her was INCREDIBLY compelling and then the main character continued to be really great to read from. I liked the side characters, and the horror imagery was genuinely scary!

[Leigh Kenyon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good until the ending. Then just cliches and disappointment.