We Are for the Dark

by Gretchen McNeil

What starts as a missing person investigation morphs into something much darker when an FBI-agent-turned-Catholic-priest and a junior constable arrive on a remote Newfoundland island

This murder-mystery-turned-nail-biting-horror is perfect for fans of religious horror like The Possession of Alba Díaz and the cult-classic movie The Wicker Man.

An isolated town. A missing priest. An ancient, hungry darkness.

When Father Shane Ryan is summoned to a meeting with His Eminence Cardinal Jacobs, he’s confused. A recently ordained priest at a small Maryland parish, Father Ryan has no idea why His Eminence would want to meet him. When he arrives, the Cardinal opens by laying out Father Ryan’s past as an FBI analyst. It seems a priest has gone missing, and the case is…unusual.

Weeks ago, Constable Miriam Rideout from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary fielded a frantic call from a priest on a remote Newfoundland island. He begged for help, but then the line went dead, and no one has since been reported missing. When permission to perform a wellness check is denied by her superiors, Miriam takes some vacation time and books a ticket on the ferry.

Thrown together with friendly but cagey locals, Miriam and Father Ryan soon learn that something about the island isn’t right. There’s a fishing port without boats, a town with no stores and no cars, and strange, bulbous purple wildflowers are growing everywhere. The two don’t trust each other, but they begin to learn that an alliance, however uneasy, is a necessity. Because something evil lurks beneath the island—something ancient, eternal, hungry—and neither it nor the uncanny islanders have any intention of letting these newcomers leave.

A growing sense of dread intensifies until it explodes in this pulse-pounding supernatural horror.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Horror Thriller

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Gretchen McNeil is the author of the YA horror/suspense novels POSSESS, 3:59, RELIC, GET EVEN, GET DIRTY, and TEN (a YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, a Romantic Times Top Pick, and a Booklist Top Ten Horror Fiction for Youth) all with Balzer + Bray for HarperCollins. Gretchen’s first YA contemporary I’M NOT YOUR MANIC PIXIE DREAM GIRL, also with Balzer + Bray, hit shelves in 2016, and her next novel will be the horror-comedy #MURDERTRENDING for Disney/Freeform in August 2018.

Gretchen’s novels have been published internationally in Chinese, Spanish, Turkish, and Czech. The film adaptation of TEN starring China Anne McClain (Descendants 2, Black Lightning), Rome Flynn (The Bold and the Beautiful), and Callan McAuliffe (Flipped, I Am Number Four), directed by Chris Robert for Rain Maker Films, premiered on Lifetime on September 16, 2017.

Gretchen is repped by Ginger Clark of Curtis Brown, Ltd. You can find Gretchen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on her website.

Reviews

[BookishKB · Rating 3 out of 5]

⛪️ We Are For the Dark ⛪️

This book was so odd. There were definitely some creepy movements but everyone in this book sucked!

🩸 What to Expect
• Religious horror
• Remote island
• Missing priest
• Folk horror
• Ancient evil
_ _ _ _
⭐️ Final Score: 2.75 Stars
📅 Pub Date: September 1, 2026
📝 Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[quillnqueer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why are two romantically available adults in this adult horror acting like two lovestruck enemies in a young adult fantasy?

I was so here for the creepy island, eldritch horror vibes I was hoping to get, and the island being full of weird older people just made it more interesting. Unfortunately the plot kept getting derailed by the main character's relationship and how much they wanted to get to pound town, and it took me out of the horror every single time. If they can't take it seriously, why should I?

I need this author to never write another sex scene again. It was so vanilla, written as if it was the steamiest hottest thing, and I just cringed the entire time. Father Ryan (who is a barely a Priest, he's a former cop) is constantly referred to as having a vow of chastity, as if this is somehow supposed to make matters steamier. It did not.

I didn't think the answers were worth it, and the more I think about it, the more it was full of holes that didn't really make any sense. I didn't feel particularly surprised by the answers given, and the solution they came up with was absolutely ridiculous.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come upon release. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

[Book Night Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this!!!!

When I decided to check out this book, I had certain expectations. I expected a book with chilling setting, creepy characters, and a story that makes me guess till the end. And I'm thrilled to say that the story delivered what I hoped for!

Since the arrival of Father Shane Ryan and Constable Miriam to Bale Island; the story progressed without any delay. The secrets hidden by the island and its people were revealed one by one and I was shocked to read it.

Add to that, the chemistry between the lead characters also worked well for the story. I was also surprised to read how the relationship of the characters progressed, making it a believable transition from strangers to much more.

This was a book that I read within two days. The fast paced storytelling and the suspenseful storyline pushed me to continue reading. And I enjoyed every moment of it!

[Tiffany Schulz · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review
I wanted to love this, and I can’t explain why I didn’t, but it really didn’t grab me. I felt it was slow. So…very…slow. The constant reminders of Father Ryan’s vows, even though he was lusting after Miriam, was a constant process to get over as the author seemed to want to drive it home with ridiculous force. Yes we know. He is a priest, even if he was an FBI agent before, and that comes with vows, vows he very happily broke. The intimate scenes seemed the only thing that was rushed in this book. Even scenes with the monsters on the island went slower than our very few spicy scenes.
Overall I feel like it could have been a better story if the author didn’t want to force their points onto us. Women in law enforcement get the short end of the stick….yes we know…. Say it once and move on not the constant digs in every scene how Miriam is not treated the same as “the boys”.
The paranormal horror was nothing out of the ordinary, simple monsters that didn’t scare you or creep you out, but were written rather well in a horror sense. Just kind of meh.

[Trisha]

A mystery turned to horror. I'm in!
Love this author

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and DAW for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“We Are For the Dark” by Gretchen McNeil is one of those books that absolutely nails the creepy atmosphere but might lose you a little depending on how you feel about romance in your horror.

The story follows Miriam, a constable who’s already got a complicated relationship with religion after her mother’s death, and Father Shane Ryan, a former FBI agent turned priest who’s basically running from his own guilt. The two end up on this super isolated island off the coast of Canada, investigating a distress call, and from the second they arrive, things are off. No cars, barely any technology, weirdly uniform townspeople, and a whole lot of unsettling devotion to old-school, borderline extreme Catholic practices.

Honestly, the setting is one of the best parts. The island feels suffocating in that quiet, eerie way where you just know something is wrong but can’t quite put your finger on it. There are hints of cult behavior, strange rituals, and even questions about how the town is surviving at all, like where they’re getting food if they don’t have any animals. It builds this constant tension that keeps you hooked, especially as the story leans more into supernatural horror.

I also really liked the dynamic between Miriam and Ryan—at least at first. They’ve got this interesting contrast: she’s skeptical and guarded, he’s deeply tied to faith but also full of doubt. Watching them investigate together and slowly uncover the island’s secrets is super engaging. There are even some chapters from a mysterious POV that hint at something darker going on behind the scenes, which adds to the intrigue.

For a horror book, this one has a lot of romance. It starts off subtle enough, but then it ramps up fast. Like, “we’re in mortal danger but also suddenly very into each other” fast. While it does add emotional weight to the story, especially toward the end, it also kind of derails the pacing; there’s even a moment where the plot basically pauses for a pretty explicit scene, which feels a little out of place in what starts as a tense horror mystery.

That said, the horror elements themselves are solid. There’s definitely something supernatural at play, possibly demonic, and the book leans hard into religious imagery, possession, and the idea of ancient evil lurking beneath the island. The mystery unfolds with some genuinely interesting twists, including reveals about the island and even Miriam herself.

The ending isn’t bad, but it leans heavily into a “love conquers evil” vibe that might feel a little predictable or too neat compared to how strong and unsettling the buildup is. Some parts feel rushed, while others hit that bittersweet, emotional note pretty well.

Overall, this is a great pick if you love isolated settings, culty religious horror, and a heavy dose of atmosphere. Just go in expecting a blend of horror and romance because this definitely ends up being as much about relationships and inner struggles as it is about whatever’s lurking in the dark.

[Mylee J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An isolated town. A missing priest. An ancient, hungry darkness.

When Father Shane Ryan is summoned to a meeting with His Eminence Cardinal Jacobs, he’s confused. A recently ordained priest at a small Maryland parish, Father Ryan has no idea why His Eminence would want to meet him. When he arrives, the Cardinal opens by laying out Father Ryan’s past as an FBI analyst. It seems a priest has gone missing, and the case is…unusual.

Weeks ago, Constable Miriam Rideout from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary fielded a frantic call from a priest on a remote Newfoundland island. He begged for help, but then the line went dead, and no one has since been reported missing. When permission to perform a wellness check is denied by her superiors, Miriam takes some vacation time and books a ticket on the ferry.

Thrown together with friendly but cagey locals, Miriam and Father Ryan soon learn that something about the island isn’t right. There’s a fishing port without boats, a town with no stores and no cars, and strange, bulbous purple wildflowers are growing everywhere. The two don’t trust each other, but they begin to learn that an alliance, however uneasy, is a necessity. Because something evil lurks beneath the island—something ancient, eternal, hungry—and neither it nor the uncanny islanders have any intention of letting these newcomers leave.

A growing sense of dread intensifies until it explodes in this pulse-pounding supernatural horror.

I was first introduced by Gretchen McNeil by a friend who demanded I read her series, #murdertrending. It was one of the most original, compelling series I've ever read, and I was absolutely thrilled to be accepted as an ARC reader for another story by this author. Much like the books I've read by McNeil previously, We Are For The Dark is utterly riveting and absolutely terrifying. It's well-written, with interesting characters that boast strong voices, and terrifying stakes that grow worse as the novel goes on.

One of my favorite things about McNeil's work so far is how easily it stands out from the crowd of other books in similar genres. While We Are For The Dark fits into the categories of religious horror and supernatural thriller, it is the kind of story that stands out and stands strong on the shelf. Each trope was twisted, each take was unique. This story was an isolated setting within an isolated setting, and the sinister external threats weren't the only ones plaguing the narrative throughout.

McNeil has a gift for writing intense chemistry and intriguing characterization. Her characters are fundamentally flawed and contradictory, which makes them absurdly addictive to read. I loved every second of reading this book, and I strongly recommend McNeil to readers who haven't yet had the opportunity to try out her books!

[luceski · Rating 3 out of 5]

😈😈 💫 We are for the Dark - Gretchen McNeil

There’s something deeply fun about isolated island horror. Add secretive villagers, creepy Catholic rituals, purple flowers, caves hiding Things™ and a suspiciously attractive priest with enough unresolved trauma to fill an entire confessional booth… and honestly? I was always going to have a good time.

The story follows Junior Constable Miriam Rideout, who heads to the remote Bale Island after a terrified priest reports a kidnapping. Teaming up with Father Shane Ryan (ex-FBI agent turned Catholic priest) the pair quickly realise the islanders are hiding far more than a missing person. Everyone is obsessed with Mass, nobody wants outsiders asking questions and there’s definitely something very wrong lurking beneath the island.

This book absolutely leans into cinematic folk-horror vibes. I kept picturing a chaotic mash-up of Midsommar, The Wicker Man and possession horror (with “hot priest” energy thrown directly into the blender.)

Was it believable? Not even remotely.

Was it entertaining? Honestly… yes 😂

Some of the choices had me staring into the middle distance a little bit - especially the romance arc and the constant “we MUST say Mass or else” panic - but I kind of admired how fully committed the book was to the melodrama. It’s pulpy, over-the-top, occasionally corny and very much reads like a horror movie where everyone makes terrible decisions while ominous chanting happens in the background.

I also really liked the atmosphere. The island itself felt unsettling from the start: elderly villagers in strange ceremonial clothing, locked-away secrets, shadowy caves, ghostly noises at night… there’s a proper creeping dread underneath all the chaos. And while the book didn’t totally stick the landing for me emotionally, I did genuinely enjoy the possession elements and religious horror imagery.

Basically: if you like folk horror, culty island communities, Catholic guilt, demon nonsense and emotionally damaged people making questionable life choices, this might be one for you!

Thank you to Black Crow Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

🕯️ Out September 1st 2026

[Bean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the publisher
This book for me encapsulates the term cozy horror. A secluded island, prying villagers with cryptic messages, and a church that seems plucked from the annuls of history. The story follows a detective and a priest sent to investigate missing persons. But investigation proves difficult when no one has heard of the place they must go and once they arrive, it’s as if the missing people never existed.
This book was a nice, cozy read. With elements of religious horror and who done it investigations. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but that is almost part of its charm. You know what you are getting and that it will be nice. Similar to that movie that you always put on when it’s rainy out or the album in your collection you keep coming back to. It feels right.
The writing style took me a bit to get used to but after twenty or so pages I couldn’t notice it anymore.
I love the switch in perspective between the current investigation and the mysterious journal. I did not, however, love the sex scene. I’m no prude but it felt unnecessary. I understand that a priest having sex is taboo and there’s religious guilt to unpack and all of that but I feel like it could have been alluded to and been just as effective. The nature of the romance as a whole just had me thinking “uh ok I guess…” there really wasn’t much chemistry apart from the book saying “there was chemistry between them” while reading if the author hadn’t kept saying so I wouldn’t have ever known. Rather than an inescapable pull between two people rife with tension, it felt like a guy projecting his dead girlfriend onto the first woman he’s in close proximity to and her being too much of a horny virgin to care who’s into her as long as they are.
All that being said, the ending was original enough to not feel too contrived. If you want an easy read you are guaranteed to enjoy I’d say give this a go!

[Sarah Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thank you for the advanced copy via Netgalley!

This book was a mixed bag for me. McNeil has a command of language that can dance between lighthearted and genuinely exciting. They're also a stellar example of an author who has a clear mental picture of their story’s settings, describing them in detail that was rich, yet never overwrought.

However, I developed a certain sense of dread early on (by the end of chapter two) that lingered throughout. I’m not a fan of books where everyone other than the main characters are incompetent, freaks, and/or cruel for no real reason (exceptions being the two dead people, Velasco and Shane’s partner); it doesn’t make me want to inhabit that world for 200+ pages.

The romance subplot wasn’t for me, either, though that may be a matter of trope preferences. Others may love it! I’ve just never enjoyed characters who immediately dislike each other for no real reason to, as abruptly, go doe-eyed. It comes across as characters doing things because it will move the plot forward, not because the actions were earned or natural. That energy followed the story in general for the last ~quarter of the book.

ALL OF THIS TO SAY, I kept reading. I found myself thinking about it and, even after I told myself I was done for the day, I would naturally reopen the document. My conclusion is that McNeil is an excellent author, however, this story in particular may have benefited from another draft (as most could). I’d definitely give this author another shot.

3.5 stars, rounding to 4 because some of this is subject to taste.

[James B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

What a ride.

That is genuinely the first thing I said when I finished We Are For The Dark, and I stand by it. This is the fastest I have read a book all year, and that is saying something given how much I have been getting through lately. From almost the first page it just had me, and it did not let go.

The atmosphere is extraordinary. There is a creeping, oppressive sense of evil woven through every chapter that made this the perfect book to be reading late at night, even if I did give myself the occasional set of goosebumps in the process. The island setting in particular is absolutely superb, and yes, I was getting Lost vibes throughout, which for me is nothing but a compliment. There is something about an isolated, mysterious island that just works, and this book understands that completely. The Catholic church angle added another layer of unease that I really loved too. Faith and horror sit together beautifully when a writer handles them with confidence, and this one does.

My one reservation is the romantic storyline that emerges in the second half. I understand why it is there, and structurally I can see what it was trying to do. But the execution felt underdeveloped and, at times, veered a little too close to YA territory for my taste. It is not a dealbreaker, but it is the one area where I felt the book could have handled things with a bit more maturity and nuance. It nudged what could have been a five star read down just slightly.

That said, I still loved this book enormously and would recommend it without hesitation to anyone who enjoys atmospheric, genuinely unsettling horror with real substance behind it.

4.5 stars.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to DAW and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

This is one of those books that sucks you in the more you read and get invested in the story, so be prepared to not want to put this down the closer you get to the end! We Are For The Dark is both a horror and a murder-mystery rolled into one (in my opinion) and this has some of the best atmosphere that I have read in a while. Think isolated island off the coast of Newfoundland that no one has ever heard of and when you get there, everyone talks rather oddly and somewhat old-fashioned... and they are all older with not a young person in sight. That's just the start of this chilling and creepy story, and if you like your horror with a religious bent or you grew up either Catholic or in a religious household, then I definitely think this one will be one you will thoroughly enjoy.

I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling the story, but let me just say this is one of the best supernatural religious horror books that I have ever read, and the author did a phenomenal job of setting the scene for some supremely terrifying events and revelations! Our two main characters, Father Shane Ryan and Constable Miriam Rideout, are both relatable and interesting, and they had a unique chemistry that really added to the story and made me even more invested.

If you are looking for a spooky, chilling, and unputdownable supernatural horror, then please look no further than We Are For The Dark!

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A remote island, a missing priest, religious horror, and an unsettling mystery.

The strongest aspect of the novel is easily the setting. The isolated Newfoundland fishing village is wonderfully eerie, and McNeil creates a constant sense of unease through the strange townspeople, unsettling traditions, and the feeling that something is lurking just beneath the surface. The mystery surrounding the missing priest kept me invested, especially during the first half of the book.

That opening section was the highlight for me. The investigation unfolds at a steady pace, and the mounting tension made it difficult to put the book down. I especially enjoyed the blend of mystery and folk horror, with each new discovery adding to the growing sense of dread. As the story shifted away from the investigation and leaned more heavily into the supernatural, however, it lost some of the momentum that had made the beginning so compelling. While there were several genuinely creepy moments, the final act felt rushed, leaving both the climax and the resolution less satisfying than I had hoped. I would have liked a little more time for the ending to fully explore the revelations and let the conclusion breathe.

Overall, We Are for the Dark is an atmospheric, suspenseful horror novel that blends detective fiction, religious horror, and folk horror into an engrossing read. If you enjoy creepy isolated settings, mysterious disappearances, and stories where the sense of dread steadily grows until it becomes overwhelming, this is well worth picking up.

[Liberty Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/10 for setting and ambiance, I love cult mysteries in isolated locations so I knew this would be a good time. The east coast Canadian setting wasn't something I'm familiar with but I really liked that element. The tension creeps up fast as the mystery turns more horror/thriller and I appreciated that it kept me guessing as to how supernatural this was going to get. Overall I like where they went with the reveal, and I was pleasantly surprised that the ending didn't feel like a letdown for the premise.

My only complaint is the relationship between the two main characters, which I liked enough individually, but I did feel the romantic elements were a bit rushed. I don't mind the romance subplot but there's a bit of "I'm immediately attracted to the woman who looks like my lost love" thing happening in the beginning that for some reason gets on my nerves. Not a deal breaker or anything, but it's usually used as an excuse to rush the relationship and these people would be into each other regardless. There is some suggestion later in the book that there's some external influence that could excuse how quickly their relationship progressed so I'm willing to suspend disbelief there. Overall I did like how that element was incorporated into the ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the eARC!

[Ayana · Rating 4 out of 5]

⛪️🪻

Reminded me of The Nun movies, but with it's own stong Irish-Newfoundland flavor.

There were a lot of things that annoyed me in the start and even further through the book, but they all made sense in the end, so I guess I accepted them now.

The thrilling plot and the catholic-horror worldbuilding were great, thought through, and authenticly ancient. Characters — my main annoyance — won my love in the end despite the constant disagreement actively flying from me before that. My only troble remains the fact that the mmc fit perfectly into his past job role and had so little connection with the current one. Not in thoughts, behavior, manners, authenticity, qualificatiom, or whatever else that could've felt to us like it (other than that he did the job's action in the story from time to time, but again without mentally being in it).

It took some time to get used to the writing style (probably due to the fact that I'm not a native Englsih speaker and Canadian/Irish dialects were a challange), but when I did, it became comfortable and interesting to read.

All in all in was a rather unique story that lead me through a very interesting and atmospheric journey. I highly recommend it to those who love religious horror themes!

- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A blend of mystery, folk horror, and religious horror.

The story follows Father Shane Ryan, a newly ordained priest with a past as an FBI analyst, and Constable Miriam Rideout, who becomes obsessed with investigating a disturbing call from a remote Newfoundland island after a priest seemingly vanishes without explanation. Once they arrive on the island, things quickly become deeply wrong with strange locals, no boats or stores despite being a fishing town, eerie purple flowers growing everywhere, and the overwhelming feeling that the island itself does not want them to leave.

The atmosphere was easily the strongest part of the book for me. The isolated island setting felt incredibly vivid and the slow unravelling of the mystery kept me hooked. There are vibes with growing paranoia and a sense that the main characters are trapped in something ancient and far beyond their understanding.

That said, there were a few aspects that didn’t fully work for me. Some character dynamics...particularly the romance subplot. It felt a little underdeveloped and didn’t completely click emotionally for me. Toward the final stretch, some plot developments also felt a bit rushed compared to the slower, carefully built tension of the earlier sections.

Still, enjoyed it overall.

Thank you so much DAW Books, Gretchen McNeil, and NetGalley for the #gifted earc.
All opinions are my own 🖤

[Paul Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really got its claws into me. It's part folk horror, part religious horror and part fast-paced whodunnit. Right up my street.

It's set on a remote island that not only doesn't feature on any maps but also is not spoken of by the locals. A priest who used to be FBI is called to the island to investigate a missing priest. Meanwhile a police woman recieves a distressed call from that priest and against the wishes of her patriarchal colleagues, goes to find out more. Both arrive on the island to begin witnessing strange behaviour and an oppressive community hellbent on having mass delivered as quickly as possible.

They initially annoy each other, only to join forces to go up against a Wicker Manesque community pushing against them investigating the whereabouts of the missing man.

Are there tropes? Yes. Are the characters well structured? Yes. Is it scary? Also yes.

If you want real life, read nonfiction. This fiction book is a horror - so stop expecting reality. For me, this book sang; kept me turning pages and had me genuinely rooting for the protagonists. I also learned some things about the church I didn't previously know - so it also taught me.

Highly recommended if you want a twisty turny, mysterious, gloomy, dark humoured and claustrophobic novel that winds you up and keeps you guessing.

Full marks and thank you for the ARC!

[Joanna DiCioccio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one gave me serious Twilight Zone vibes. Curled up in the dark with a little light to read by is my recommendation!

Religious zealotry, a missing catholic priest, and a Canadian officer who feels inexplicably drawn to an island she’s never visited (and isn’t on any map) set the stage for a deeply unsettling story. The island itself is practically a character, cloaked in gloom (except for the mysterious purple flowers) and behaving as though it has a mind of its own, weather patterns to match.

The narrative flips through only a few points of view (three, I believe), letting the mystery unfold from different angles without losing focus.

What really stands out is the atmosphere. It’s eerie, and consistently tinged with a sense that something isn’t quite right. That quiet unease lingers throughout, pulling you along as you try to piece together what’s actually happening underneath.

The author wastes no time hooking your interest, then carefully doles out information…just enough to keep you engaged while still leaving room for you to connect the dots yourself. It’s a slow, deliberate unraveling that rewards patient readers.

Perfect for mood readers, especially during spooky season. Highly recommended if you enjoy atmospheric mysteries.

[Amy K · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Laced with a brooding supernatural horror, We Are For the Dark delivers levels of fear, foreboding, and menace that are sure to satisfy fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

When a junior constable and an FBI agent turned priest land on the isolated and desolate Bale Isle, it quickly becomes apparent that all is not well with the sparse, aged population and their fervent devotion to archaic religious rituals.

McNeil does an excellent job creating tension and an atmosphere of dread, and while I particularly liked her ability to immerse the reader firmly in the claustrophobic island landscape, I wanted just a bit more character development, especially in the first half of the book. Around the 50% mark things really start to pick up, and we get a bit more from the two leads, including an interaction I haven’t yet encountered in a horror book (IYKYK) that left me a little surprised, but I understood the need for it in terms of moving the plot forward in a believable way, and it ultimately helped deliver an ending I didn’t see coming.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced review copy.

[Missy (myweereads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The way of the wicked is as darkness."

Gretchen McNeil's novel is set on an isolated island where a report of a missing person is being investigated by a former FBI agent turned priest and a junior constable. Very quickly it becomes apparent something darker is at work here. As these two come together to investigate the strange almost supernatural things in play, can they get to the bottom of what is happening here?

What drew me to this book was the premise, the moment I saw it was a horror set in an isolated place I was sold.

The story moves quite quickly as the reader is introduced to the main characters, some backstory about this island and the sense that something darker and otherworldly is moving within the shadows here.

I enjoyed most of this story. I liked how the unsettling horror played a huge part in the moments where trickles of truth were surfacing about this place and the case itself.

There were certain elements I didn't enjoy but overall it was a good horror read and definitely one for fans of isolated, supernatural settings.

Many thanks to @blackcrow_pr for the arc.

[Alex E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5: We Are for the Dark

When a priest goes missing on a remote Newfoundland island, Miriam (a police officer) and Shane Ryan (an FBI agent turned Catholic priest) are sent to investigate.

The vibes to expect:::
-Mystery/Thriller
-Religious horror
-Remote island
-*some* Romance

My thoughts- I really enjoyed the premise of a remote island with an ancient evil lurking right under the surface! However, about halfway through the book turned kinda Romance-y (enemies to lovers) which I wasn't exactly expecting (or wanting). Then the end felt very rainbows and starshine and "yay love conquers all" which kinda made me roll my eyes.

All in all...if you are a fan of mystery books AND religious horror AAAAAND are okay (and expect) a romance subplot, then this book might be for you! For me, it landed 3 stars (which is my meh, it was *just okay* rating).

.......
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All views expressed are my own.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. Thank you NetGalley and DAW Publishing for the eARC of this book. Firstly, this book gets a LOT about Newfoundland right. I am a Newfoundlander and am often hesitant to read books set there written by non-Newfie authors. McNeil got the dialect right, and she even got the Newfie last names right. This was very impressive to me, as many mainlanders don't get those things right!! Hence the 3.5 rounded up to 4. This book requires you to suspend quite a lot of disbelief towards the end, but I didn't hate how it ended. I thought it was well written and the characters were well done, but I will say I didn't love the romance. I understand why it's important at the end of the book, but to me they had no reason to fall in love. The setting of the book worked for me, not only because I'm a Newfoundlander but because the spooky remote island vibe makes sense for this kind of story. I did like this, but not all of it worked for me. I've read this author previously and will read McNeil's books again for sure.

[Razorhack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Daw for this advanced readers copy.

Book description :

What starts as a missing person investigation morphs into something much darker when an FBI-agent-turned-Catholic-priest and a junior constable arrive on a remote Newfoundland island.

Review :

The premise of the book is very interesting. The author skillfully drapes the small, remote, Island In dread and an almost suffocating atmosphere. The beginning of the book is by far the strongest, and the mix between supernatural creepiness and procedural works well.
But at about the midway point the story slowly derails with a romance that feels unearned (and very enemies to lovers trope-y), and at one point the entire plot screeches to a halt because a sex scene.

This caused the ending to become trite and desperately unexciting.

I give this book three stars for the excellent atmosphere, interesting premise and place ultimately let down by a love conquers all ending.

[Sara Vogt · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****Huge thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This book publishes September 1, 2026*******

The very first chapter of this was hard for me to get into but I persevered and found the remaining story to be a dark, sea filled, mysterious romp. I stayed up late trying to finish this one. Didn’t succeed so had to get up early to finish instead.

Piece a lonely island, a police constable, a catholic Father, creepy village and strange religious customs together and you have this tale.

The only thing I didn’t care for was the spicy scene near the end. It was out of place and (to me) added nothing to the story.

At once a rebuke of the impersonal nature of organized religion, this book was also a steadfast portrait of how love is the most important thing and through love we can hold back much evil.

Definitely will read more from this author.

QUOTE: “The Catholic Church was all about the institution, never the individual.”

[Katrina Aird · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down ⭐️⭐️

I will say, one thing this book does well is atmosphere - I was fully sat for a horror that takes place
on a remote island with creepy townsfolk with a hidden agenda - and that part I felt did deliver.

When the suspense was high - the book was good. Namely all the scenes involving piecing together what is going on on the island and anything involving "the creature".

Where it lost me was the romance sub-plot, it almost felt out of place in a horror setting like this - especially since the MMC was a priest? I don't know, I wasn't a fan.

The reveal was also a little lacklustre for me to be honest - I feel like the book peaked before the climax and then after that I was a little like: "oh, that's it?".

Thank you to Black Crow Books and Netgalley for the eARC copy of this book.

[Milt Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second time I'm trying this author, and it'll probably be my last. Romance? - this one has romance? and a sex scene? I hate romance and unnecessary sex scenes. Why not mention it beforehand? OK, romance aside, however, the premise is super-interesting and the story goes fast and easy. It combines many, many horror tropes (cults, religious horror, island horror, eldritch evil) into a nice blend of mystery and suspense, without skimping on the horror. However, very often it took me entirely by surprise by the insistent emphasis on dread and isolation, when everything looked like some heavy action was needed. Unfortunately, the ending didn't deliver: a bit too cozy and chockfull of "love conquers all" vibes.

[Stacie (Bookswithstacie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading They Fear Not Men In The Woods I knew I just had to read We Are For The Dark.
I expected, no I wanted the same twisty outcome and for me to go what!?! Like I did when I read They Fear Not Men In The Woods and I was not disappointed.
We Are For The Dark is fantastically written and I was invested from the first page, I read it in 2 days (would have been 1 day but I had to real life stuff to do)
The creepiness of this story is perfect I didn't know what was going to happen but I was eager to find out.
The chemistry between Miriam and Shane is on point the there's spice in this one.
Overall the story piques interests and leaves us wondering what actually is happening on that island.

[karla JR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nestled on a remote island, the town holds a number of small secrets, a distinct cult vibe, and something seriously wrong hiding underneath it all... I personally found the inclusion of the Catholic priest romance and sex scene somewhat off-putting. I felt it wasn't a necessary element of the story... But I am not really into forbidden romance lol. What I particularly appreciated about this book was its atmosphere and setting, which evoked a cinematic vibe of horror folk and a strange religious cult.The narrative was also quite good, so I recommend it to any reader who enjoys this type of genre and wants to dive into a light, interesting, yet creepy read.

[Ticia · Rating 4 out of 5]

a contestable fitting to be respected in the boys club, a priest who used to be a FBI agent, a disappearance and mystery on an isolated island. and creepy religious practices. this is how to do folk horror done well.
this book nails the something is not right felling, it is dripping with atmosphere, from creepy dark passageways and raging storms. it is told threw two narratives and this helps to add to the mystery, the pacing is great, i'd recommend going in blind and get lost within the mystery of this small creepy island