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The Dark In-Between
A terrible accident brings sixteen-year-old Casey Everett's life to a halt—literally. Pronounced dead on the beach during the year-end harbor party, Casey’s sudden return to the living is shadowed by the drowning of her best friend, Liddy.
Eager to avoid the rumors that follow her, Casey returns home for the summer, only to find that Liddy won’t let her go. A series of violent nightmares and soulless whispers threaten to drive her mad, but when she watches a boy fall from the sky, she suspects she’s actually crossed that line.
That is until Red—an angel fallen to earth to regain his wings—takes her to Limbo: a place that exists somewhere between the living and the dead. Now, in order to save her best friend, Casey must learn to walk these mysterious and dangerous paths or else risk losing Liddy to something worse than death.
Eager to avoid the rumors that follow her, Casey returns home for the summer, only to find that Liddy won’t let her go. A series of violent nightmares and soulless whispers threaten to drive her mad, but when she watches a boy fall from the sky, she suspects she’s actually crossed that line.
That is until Red—an angel fallen to earth to regain his wings—takes her to Limbo: a place that exists somewhere between the living and the dead. Now, in order to save her best friend, Casey must learn to walk these mysterious and dangerous paths or else risk losing Liddy to something worse than death.
Unknown Binding
First published May 5, 2020
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About the author
Elizabeth Hrib
19 books94 followersElizabeth Hrib was born and raised in London, Ontario where she studied nursing at Western University. When she’s not working or writing, she can be found at the piano, planning her next Netflix binge, or attempting to keep her small, windowsill garden alive.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 15, 2019
What are you willing to do to help your friend?
Casey and Liddy are involved in a boat accident that left Liddy dead and Casey brought back to life. Casey goes back to her life only to realize that somehow Liddy is still with her. Then, Red, a fallen angel, appears to take Csey to Limbo so she can save her best friend.
"Sometimes we lose the people we love. And you can give up everything for them. But they are still lost to you. Not even angels hold a monopoly over life and death."
Casey has to face her demons, her guilt and has to get over something traumatic. I loved Casey and Red’s relationship and also Casey and Evan’s, they were both genuine and even funny at times. I only wish I could see more of Casey and Liddy.
The main problem for me was the third person narration, I think it made the book a lot slower than I thought it would be and it took me a while to really get to know the characters. The final revelation (not that big, but the one that makes you really think about everything that happened) about what really happened during the incident, really blew me away.
I really had to think about what happened during Casey’s journey in this book, I could see grief and guilt, loyalty and love, friendship tested to the limits of time and space. This book was all about forgiveness, because you can’t’ really go on if you keep going back with your mind, you have to forgive yourself first.
"So, stop thinking you didn't save me. Because you did. You found me."
Final vote: 4/5
Ebook provided by Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review. The copy provided is not the ultimate version, something could change before publication.
Casey and Liddy are involved in a boat accident that left Liddy dead and Casey brought back to life. Casey goes back to her life only to realize that somehow Liddy is still with her. Then, Red, a fallen angel, appears to take Csey to Limbo so she can save her best friend.
"Sometimes we lose the people we love. And you can give up everything for them. But they are still lost to you. Not even angels hold a monopoly over life and death."
Casey has to face her demons, her guilt and has to get over something traumatic. I loved Casey and Red’s relationship and also Casey and Evan’s, they were both genuine and even funny at times. I only wish I could see more of Casey and Liddy.
The main problem for me was the third person narration, I think it made the book a lot slower than I thought it would be and it took me a while to really get to know the characters. The final revelation (not that big, but the one that makes you really think about everything that happened) about what really happened during the incident, really blew me away.
I really had to think about what happened during Casey’s journey in this book, I could see grief and guilt, loyalty and love, friendship tested to the limits of time and space. This book was all about forgiveness, because you can’t’ really go on if you keep going back with your mind, you have to forgive yourself first.
"So, stop thinking you didn't save me. Because you did. You found me."
Final vote: 4/5
Ebook provided by Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review. The copy provided is not the ultimate version, something could change before publication.
May 8, 2020
ARC provided by Swoon Reads and Elizabeth Hrib via Xpresso Book Tours. All opinions are mine and freely given.
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"...how could he know what the darkest parts of her grief looked and sounded like?"
05-08: 'The Dark In-Between' by debuting author Elizabeth Hrib which follows the path of a sixteen year old accident survivor, Casey Everett, as she struggles to adapt to the changes it has wrought on her life.
Reconciling the loss of her best friend Liddy proves difficult, especially as the eyes of those around her either purposely avoid meeting her own or look on her with pity. It isn't easy it seems, becoming known as the one who survived even with the unwavering support of her other best friend and childhood crush, Evan or her aunt Karen.
Her reality seemingly affected by dark shadowy scenes, whispering voices calling her name, and her friend's screams.. she's left reeling. Then the unthinkable happens. She sees a boy fall from the sky. A fallen named Red, sent to Earth to earn his wings back by guiding her through Limbo where Liddy will remain trapped unless they can lead her out.
"..Ancient Egypt, the undead, a hilarious sidekick, a librarian who kicks ass..."
"Is this movie why you wanted to be a librarian when you were ten?"
"Maybe. I also wanted to be able to summon the dead after watching it all summer, so there's that."
I'm a sucker for a fallen angel story, sue me. I'll pick up a book with that trope nearly every time, though that doesn't mean I'll enjoy it. I still probably want to read it and see.
In this case, the story is an unorthodox one. The idea of humans and fallen guides popping in and out of Limbo to save souls.. even one specific soul.. isn't something I've come across much. As a freshman effort, it's not bad. The story is put together cleanly, there's logical progression, character development, and reveals here and there.
Though I wasn't particularly fond of Casey and couldn't relate to the reasons the characters around her seemed to like her so much, Evan had an amusingly sarcastic wit and Red certainly had emotional moments which were very moving. The two boys absolutely made it easier for me to stay interested in the book, as I wanted to know what was going to happen to them.. how things would come out. For better or worse.
"What is this..."
"..an interrogation?"
"No.."
"..it's a friendly conversation between two people who aren't friends because one of them is a supernatural creature of mythical origin."
Limbo itself was of interesting design. I won't give you detail and ruin it for you. I'll only say the concept of how it might appear and what might be happening there was creative.
No fallen story would be complete without some heavy hitting Archangel mythos and I really liked the way the guardian design was written. I loved the transitions when invoking them and the idea of how and why they exist the ways they do. The conflict was worrisome at times and that's as it should be.
I will say, the Limbo sequences at times felt a little more like a tour than a storytelling path in such that they read more akin to formulaic sequences. I wasn't wild about that, but the scenes were intriguing, visual, and sometimes moving as well.
All in all, it was a pretty solid story. The author has a lot of room to grow and seems to have the building blocks to improve with. It's worth a read.
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December 31, 2019
With a title and cover like this I expected something a little less vanilla.
“The Dark In-Between” finds Casey struggling to come to terms with a boating accident that took the life of her friend but when an angel lands at her feet she finds that she has the ability to travel into limbo where she has to help others cross over before the darkness consumes them and without bringing anything back into the land of the living.
So I feel like this is marketed as a paranormal/biblical mythology adventure story where a girl suffers a near death experience only to find herself able to team up with angels to fight demons only for it to be more of a journey through the stages of grief. There’s little action apart from a few pages in the climax that show signs of what the synopsis and cover suggested this would be and a lot of time is spent on Casey as she tries to overcome her survivors guilt and navigating a world where her other half is gone and what that means for the one friendship she does have.
Do I feel a little cheated? Sure but that might be my own fault and the story itself isn’t bad it’s just not what I expected not something I would have picked up but that being said I think Casey was done well as a character though the surrounding players left much to be desired. I think the decision to lean into a romance was odd especially when the lead character describes a big moment as not romantic which was an opinion I shared. I think if it had stuck with the dynamic between the two girls and their friendship would have been enough though I am thankful there was never a hint of a triangle.
Overall this was neither good nor bad and ultimately one I won’t remember.
**special thanks to the publishers and edelweiss for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“The Dark In-Between” finds Casey struggling to come to terms with a boating accident that took the life of her friend but when an angel lands at her feet she finds that she has the ability to travel into limbo where she has to help others cross over before the darkness consumes them and without bringing anything back into the land of the living.
So I feel like this is marketed as a paranormal/biblical mythology adventure story where a girl suffers a near death experience only to find herself able to team up with angels to fight demons only for it to be more of a journey through the stages of grief. There’s little action apart from a few pages in the climax that show signs of what the synopsis and cover suggested this would be and a lot of time is spent on Casey as she tries to overcome her survivors guilt and navigating a world where her other half is gone and what that means for the one friendship she does have.
Do I feel a little cheated? Sure but that might be my own fault and the story itself isn’t bad it’s just not what I expected not something I would have picked up but that being said I think Casey was done well as a character though the surrounding players left much to be desired. I think the decision to lean into a romance was odd especially when the lead character describes a big moment as not romantic which was an opinion I shared. I think if it had stuck with the dynamic between the two girls and their friendship would have been enough though I am thankful there was never a hint of a triangle.
Overall this was neither good nor bad and ultimately one I won’t remember.
**special thanks to the publishers and edelweiss for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
May 6, 2020
'The Dark In-Between' is a fantastic young adult paranormal novel that readers are going to love. I've been dying to read this book since I read the description months ago. I absolutely love paranormal fiction and this sounded amazing.
Casey was a great main character. She's realistic and I identified with her right from the beginning of the book. She's a devoted and loving friend, strong, determined, and would do just about anything for the people she loves. She has her flaws like everyone else and we get to see both sides of her, which made her feel all the more realistic. I loved getting to know her throughout the book.
The plot was absolutely intriguing. I loved learning about Limbo and the strange connection that Casey has with it and Liddy because of what happened the night of the accident. There are tons of fascinating places, people, and things throughout the novel and I loved learning about all of it. The plot was pretty original and the author put a lot of thought and uniqueness into it to make it stand apart from anything else out there.
The last thing I want to talk about is the writing style. It always plays a huge part for me and can make or break a book. The author wrote the story in the third person point of view from Casey's perspective. The first person is by far my favorite writing style because it allows the reader to have a deeper connection with the narrator that none of the other writing styles can manage. However, the author chose to tell the story in the third person, which really bummed me out. I really think that if it had been written in the first person, I would've had an even better reading experience - it almost definitely would've gotten five stars from me. I just can't get that deep connection without the first person POV. I loved everything else about this story so much and I really wish it would've been done in the first person. Please remember that this is my personal opinion and not every reader will feel the same way. Overall, this was a fantastic book and I highly recommend it for fans YA, paranormal, and fantasy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Casey was a great main character. She's realistic and I identified with her right from the beginning of the book. She's a devoted and loving friend, strong, determined, and would do just about anything for the people she loves. She has her flaws like everyone else and we get to see both sides of her, which made her feel all the more realistic. I loved getting to know her throughout the book.
The plot was absolutely intriguing. I loved learning about Limbo and the strange connection that Casey has with it and Liddy because of what happened the night of the accident. There are tons of fascinating places, people, and things throughout the novel and I loved learning about all of it. The plot was pretty original and the author put a lot of thought and uniqueness into it to make it stand apart from anything else out there.
The last thing I want to talk about is the writing style. It always plays a huge part for me and can make or break a book. The author wrote the story in the third person point of view from Casey's perspective. The first person is by far my favorite writing style because it allows the reader to have a deeper connection with the narrator that none of the other writing styles can manage. However, the author chose to tell the story in the third person, which really bummed me out. I really think that if it had been written in the first person, I would've had an even better reading experience - it almost definitely would've gotten five stars from me. I just can't get that deep connection without the first person POV. I loved everything else about this story so much and I really wish it would've been done in the first person. Please remember that this is my personal opinion and not every reader will feel the same way. Overall, this was a fantastic book and I highly recommend it for fans YA, paranormal, and fantasy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2020
I've always had a soft spot for angel stories but this one was great! Libby and Casey were "borrowing" a boat and they ended up in an accident. Both Casey and Libby were dead but Casey was able to be revived while Libby was not. Casey carries that guilt of being a survivor. However, upon trying to grieve for the loss of Libby Casey finds out that Libby has a connection to her and is now stuck in Limbo because of that connection. Joining forces with Evan(both Casey and Libbys friend) and Red(a fallen angel) they went forward to trying to help Libby cross over and close the connection. Through the wild and deep ride throughout the book you see love and loss along with deeper understanding of many aspects of life. I really enjoyed this book and once I started it I found I had a really hard time putting it down. I would definitely recommend!
June 3, 2020
4 angel feather stars!!! I loved this debut novel! I love books about angels, fallen angels, archangels, good fighting against evil, limbo, and strong friendships and this book had it all. It was beautifully written and I look forward to future books by this author!
June 17, 2020
Debut YA Novel by Elizabeth Hrib details a teenagers brush with death and the afterlife which brings her into a supernatural adventure to rescue her best friend. Fun, fast read, hits all the notes you'd expect from a YA and was a fun read.
Looking forward to more.
Looking forward to more.
April 22, 2020
With a cover like this one, you’d expect something dark, twisty, and full of suspense. Instead, we got a very YA book that has supernatural characters with no real depth or complexity.
This one was definitely a huge let down. Review to come.
This one was definitely a huge let down. Review to come.
March 8, 2023
I have no idea where I heard about this book, but I put it on my TBR ages ago. I finally got a copy from the library and tried it out. When I was in college I tried to *find the a good angel book* and failed (I didn't really like Unearthly, Fallen, or Hush Hush), so I thought this may be the one.
And....it wasn't. But it was fun! Honestly I read most of this book in one sitting because the writing is very simple, which I guess is both a criticism and a compliment. This book felt very YA in the sense that I was writing this way as a very young teen? Idk if that makes sense but the humor and overall language just felt like something a younger teen would write. Which again, I know sounds terrible but in a way--this book knows its audience lol (though the cover suggests this book is going to be far darker than it is--there are some dark themes I guess but the humor is VERY Disney Channel). I liked a lot of the ideas in here--sure; I would have preferred a romance between Casey and Red (the angel) and that's what I thought I was getting based on the synopsis, but in the end I actually wasn't mad that Red ended up having a platonic relationship with Casey and her romance was instead with her best friend, Evan. And I mean, the romance was subpar lol but ya'll do you know how REFRESHING it was to read a YA BOOK with a romance where the FMC is interacting with a boy and the love interest is NOT AT ALL JEALOUS??? I was thankful for that on every motherfucking page of this lol.
This was nothing spectacular and definitely didn't blow me away, but I think this is a perfect get-out-of-your-reading-slump book. It doesn't take a lot of brain power, it's engaging, and has a pretty good story :)
But my hunt for my perfect angel book continues lmao
And....it wasn't. But it was fun! Honestly I read most of this book in one sitting because the writing is very simple, which I guess is both a criticism and a compliment. This book felt very YA in the sense that I was writing this way as a very young teen? Idk if that makes sense but the humor and overall language just felt like something a younger teen would write. Which again, I know sounds terrible but in a way--this book knows its audience lol (though the cover suggests this book is going to be far darker than it is--there are some dark themes I guess but the humor is VERY Disney Channel). I liked a lot of the ideas in here--sure; I would have preferred a romance between Casey and Red (the angel) and that's what I thought I was getting based on the synopsis, but in the end I actually wasn't mad that Red ended up having a platonic relationship with Casey and her romance was instead with her best friend, Evan. And I mean, the romance was subpar lol but ya'll do you know how REFRESHING it was to read a YA BOOK with a romance where the FMC is interacting with a boy and the love interest is NOT AT ALL JEALOUS??? I was thankful for that on every motherfucking page of this lol.
This was nothing spectacular and definitely didn't blow me away, but I think this is a perfect get-out-of-your-reading-slump book. It doesn't take a lot of brain power, it's engaging, and has a pretty good story :)
But my hunt for my perfect angel book continues lmao
June 6, 2020
A wingless angel, a girl struggling with secret guilt, and the danger that lurks in the shadows; THE DARK IN BETWEEN by Elizabeth Hrib is an explosive, dark YA adventure that delves into grief, the meaning of true friendship and sacrifice. Perfect for fans of Cassandra Claire.
April 6, 2020
This book was a very unique read about dealing with grief. I love the supernatural feeling to it. This was so good and I love it.
dnf
October 4, 2020DNF the writing about the supernatural aspect seemed clumsy
May 7, 2020
The Dark In-Between is a fast & easy read. It was easy to get into and time really did fly when I was reading this; did not realise it was past midnight by the time I was finished!
The opening scene is a beautiful summer's day and 2 best friends were having the best of time on water until tragedy struck. Unfortunately, one of them dies and the other had to face life without her. Casey Everett lost her parents some time ago and now, she lost her BFF, Liddy; it feels like no one is safe around her. She also could not stop dreaming of Liddy but unbeknown to her, it is actually Liddy's soul calling out to her for help. Then comes Red, the fallen angel, her guardian to point the way to the in-between.
Fallen angels. I'm not a fan of this trope but I didn't particularly mind it too much here. Red provides much wisdom and the dynamics between him and Evan, Casey's other best friend, is all hilarity. I loved the interaction between Evan an Casey too as they explore the possibility of going from best friend to maybe something more; it was very sweet.
Overall, I enjoyed The Dark In-Between more as a fluffy comfort read. It was just really easy to read and follow and that action at the end was just fantastic. I do have one question which makes me question that even as the book feels like it's supposed to be a stand alone but that little 'question' was left in case of the possibility of a sequel. I'd like to see what that'd be.
Thank you Swoon Reads and Xpresso Book Tours for including me in this blog tour & ecopy of book in exchange of my honest thoughts
The opening scene is a beautiful summer's day and 2 best friends were having the best of time on water until tragedy struck. Unfortunately, one of them dies and the other had to face life without her. Casey Everett lost her parents some time ago and now, she lost her BFF, Liddy; it feels like no one is safe around her. She also could not stop dreaming of Liddy but unbeknown to her, it is actually Liddy's soul calling out to her for help. Then comes Red, the fallen angel, her guardian to point the way to the in-between.
Fallen angels. I'm not a fan of this trope but I didn't particularly mind it too much here. Red provides much wisdom and the dynamics between him and Evan, Casey's other best friend, is all hilarity. I loved the interaction between Evan an Casey too as they explore the possibility of going from best friend to maybe something more; it was very sweet.
Overall, I enjoyed The Dark In-Between more as a fluffy comfort read. It was just really easy to read and follow and that action at the end was just fantastic. I do have one question which makes me question that even as the book feels like it's supposed to be a stand alone but that little 'question' was left in case of the possibility of a sequel. I'd like to see what that'd be.
Thank you Swoon Reads and Xpresso Book Tours for including me in this blog tour & ecopy of book in exchange of my honest thoughts
February 8, 2020
2.75/5 stars
I didn't really enjoy this that much, but I can't bring myself to rate it lower than 3 stars. I found the story to not be as exciting as I thought it'd be, and it read like the tons of other paranormal novels I've read in the past. I love the genre, but this one just simply didn't have enough oomph for me to fully enjoy it. It was very much on the slower side, and the action scenes (though there's very few of them) were done really well. Characters were alright, but I never connected to any of them in a memorable way.
I didn't really enjoy this that much, but I can't bring myself to rate it lower than 3 stars. I found the story to not be as exciting as I thought it'd be, and it read like the tons of other paranormal novels I've read in the past. I love the genre, but this one just simply didn't have enough oomph for me to fully enjoy it. It was very much on the slower side, and the action scenes (though there's very few of them) were done really well. Characters were alright, but I never connected to any of them in a memorable way.
May 24, 2024
Elizabeth Hrib is one of my favourite authors. She wrote my all-time favourite romance, Lightning Strikes Twice, as well as an amazing sequel. This is her debut and it's a paranormal urban fantasy, which isn't really my preferred genre. She made this fun, though. Her writing was, as always, great quality. I really fell for the characters by the end. The plot was great. There's a lot to appreciate here.
I'm very excited to keep reading more from Elizabeth.
I'm very excited to keep reading more from Elizabeth.
May 10, 2020
I was looking forward to diving into these pages after reading the blurb, and it ended up being even better than I expected.
Ready for a little fun, Casey and her best friend, Liddy, 'borrow' a boat but end up in an accident, which leaves Liddy dead. Casey is crushed, especially after having gone through the death of her parents several years before. But with the school year starting again, and the memory and other nightmares haunting her, it's hard for her to find a way to cope with everything. She's more or less finding her way thanks to her other best friend until an angel crash lands right in front of her car on a dark night and lonely street. She learns that thanks to a bond her and Liddy share, Liddy is stuck and Limbo and only she can help her find her way out. But Liddy's soul isn't the only thing at risk. As Casey's tether to Liddy has opened a way for demons to enter the world...ones that would like nothing more than to destroy everything.
This book hooks from the very first page. Liddy and Casey hit with carefree and reckless freedom before hitting with a tragic and gut-wrenching accident. It's hard not to like and feel for Casey right away. She might have made a mistake, but it was just that...a silly mistake. She is actually a very caring, down-to-earth girl, who is easy to root for and like. The situation she finds herself in is not only deliciously creepy, but it's unique and intriguing. The entire thing has the perfect mix of darkness, romance and a tad bit of humor, making it simply a grabbing read.
Tension lines smoothly the whole way through, building with every page. It's hard to predict what will happen next. Even the romance surprised me and took a unique twist. I was afraid it'd hit the side of cliche, but it managed to steer down its own path. So, extra kudos for that!
I can really recommend this one to fans of YA paranormal and can't wait to see what this author turns out next.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed this one more than I thought I would.
Ready for a little fun, Casey and her best friend, Liddy, 'borrow' a boat but end up in an accident, which leaves Liddy dead. Casey is crushed, especially after having gone through the death of her parents several years before. But with the school year starting again, and the memory and other nightmares haunting her, it's hard for her to find a way to cope with everything. She's more or less finding her way thanks to her other best friend until an angel crash lands right in front of her car on a dark night and lonely street. She learns that thanks to a bond her and Liddy share, Liddy is stuck and Limbo and only she can help her find her way out. But Liddy's soul isn't the only thing at risk. As Casey's tether to Liddy has opened a way for demons to enter the world...ones that would like nothing more than to destroy everything.
This book hooks from the very first page. Liddy and Casey hit with carefree and reckless freedom before hitting with a tragic and gut-wrenching accident. It's hard not to like and feel for Casey right away. She might have made a mistake, but it was just that...a silly mistake. She is actually a very caring, down-to-earth girl, who is easy to root for and like. The situation she finds herself in is not only deliciously creepy, but it's unique and intriguing. The entire thing has the perfect mix of darkness, romance and a tad bit of humor, making it simply a grabbing read.
Tension lines smoothly the whole way through, building with every page. It's hard to predict what will happen next. Even the romance surprised me and took a unique twist. I was afraid it'd hit the side of cliche, but it managed to steer down its own path. So, extra kudos for that!
I can really recommend this one to fans of YA paranormal and can't wait to see what this author turns out next.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed this one more than I thought I would.
September 6, 2020
"If you're not living, you're dying."
Words to live by. I've always lived life with urgency - maybe related to a near-death experience I survived, or maybe from some inborn zest for life. These are some of Liddy's famous last words before she and Casey capsize in a "borrowed" boat. Casey awakens in the hospital. Liddy doesn't. And it's not long before Casey thinks she hears Liddy's voice calling out to her.
Fallen angel Red crashes into Casey's life -- literally. When she picks him up out of a man-sized crater in the road, he informs her that Liddy is trapped in Limbo, and Casey must return to there to guide Liddy to the afterlife. To make things worse, dark shadowy beings called obsii + angel of death Azariel keep trying to escape into the human world.
What follows is a series of trials as Casey and Red chase Liddy through Limbo, occasionally saving other lost souls. There are moments of something between them -- the reader can feel the chemistry between Casey and Red -- but ultimately, that's not the point of this book. The book includes scenes from Casey's former normal life -- popcorn and a drive-in movie, going to school to pick up her fall schedule, but mostly focuses on Casey's survivor's guilt and several supernatural battles as Casey, Red, and sometimes her other best friend Evan fight off the dark forces trying to penetrate our world.
This novel was a fast read -- action-packed with very little B-plot (a budding romance between Casey and Evan). I appreciated the attention to pacing, though it did make the book feel a little short. Hrib has a wonderful grasp on literary language, and she'll be one to watch in the future. I found the plot epic but felt that additional subplots could have supported the story and enriched it.
I think we can expect more from Hrib in the future. I also enjoyed the many philosophical nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout.
"Doing the right thing means there's always someone who gets hurt."
Words to live by. I've always lived life with urgency - maybe related to a near-death experience I survived, or maybe from some inborn zest for life. These are some of Liddy's famous last words before she and Casey capsize in a "borrowed" boat. Casey awakens in the hospital. Liddy doesn't. And it's not long before Casey thinks she hears Liddy's voice calling out to her.
Fallen angel Red crashes into Casey's life -- literally. When she picks him up out of a man-sized crater in the road, he informs her that Liddy is trapped in Limbo, and Casey must return to there to guide Liddy to the afterlife. To make things worse, dark shadowy beings called obsii + angel of death Azariel keep trying to escape into the human world.
What follows is a series of trials as Casey and Red chase Liddy through Limbo, occasionally saving other lost souls. There are moments of something between them -- the reader can feel the chemistry between Casey and Red -- but ultimately, that's not the point of this book. The book includes scenes from Casey's former normal life -- popcorn and a drive-in movie, going to school to pick up her fall schedule, but mostly focuses on Casey's survivor's guilt and several supernatural battles as Casey, Red, and sometimes her other best friend Evan fight off the dark forces trying to penetrate our world.
This novel was a fast read -- action-packed with very little B-plot (a budding romance between Casey and Evan). I appreciated the attention to pacing, though it did make the book feel a little short. Hrib has a wonderful grasp on literary language, and she'll be one to watch in the future. I found the plot epic but felt that additional subplots could have supported the story and enriched it.
I think we can expect more from Hrib in the future. I also enjoyed the many philosophical nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout.
"Doing the right thing means there's always someone who gets hurt."
May 8, 2020
**3.5 Stars**
Casey is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her best friend, overwhelmed with guilt that the accident was her fault. When a boy falls from the sky in front of her and claims to be an angel, Casey has no idea what is going on. It seems that something happened to Casey during the accident and now her friend's soul is trapped, with only Casey to hear her cries.
I was pretty certain that this was going to be a forbidden romance between a certain elusive fallen angel (who was always hungry) and an angsty depressed girl when I was just a few chapters into the story but I was happy to be proven wrong. Instead they were reluctant partners in a battle to reach a life or death goal. That being said, there was a touch of romance in the story that I was completely behind. I loved the relationship dynamic between Casey and her other best friend Evan, he was the happiness and love that she never knew she needed.
Overall this was a really interesting concept about life and death and moving on, filled with some scary encounters and a lot of heartbreak. I am also a fan of the fact this is a standalone read so you don't have to wait for another book to continue. If you are looking for an emotional read with angels, lost souls and learning to forgive yourself, then this is the perfect option. This would be the good next read for fans of the Hush Hush series or The Fallen series by Lauren Kate.
Casey is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her best friend, overwhelmed with guilt that the accident was her fault. When a boy falls from the sky in front of her and claims to be an angel, Casey has no idea what is going on. It seems that something happened to Casey during the accident and now her friend's soul is trapped, with only Casey to hear her cries.
I was pretty certain that this was going to be a forbidden romance between a certain elusive fallen angel (who was always hungry) and an angsty depressed girl when I was just a few chapters into the story but I was happy to be proven wrong. Instead they were reluctant partners in a battle to reach a life or death goal. That being said, there was a touch of romance in the story that I was completely behind. I loved the relationship dynamic between Casey and her other best friend Evan, he was the happiness and love that she never knew she needed.
Overall this was a really interesting concept about life and death and moving on, filled with some scary encounters and a lot of heartbreak. I am also a fan of the fact this is a standalone read so you don't have to wait for another book to continue. If you are looking for an emotional read with angels, lost souls and learning to forgive yourself, then this is the perfect option. This would be the good next read for fans of the Hush Hush series or The Fallen series by Lauren Kate.
May 8, 2020
I chose to read this book because I love young adult fantasies with angels and, of course, it is a debut novel.
Casey blames herself for surviving a tragic boat accident when her best friend, Liddy, died. However, Liddy isn't dead. She's in Limbo, the space that exists between the living and the dead. How does Casey know this? Red, the angel who literally fell from "upstairs". He is here to protect Casey while she goes to Limbo to save Liddy's soul. You see, Casey is a Limbowalker. She died and came back to life that day and now she can navigate Limbo to help her best friend cross over and sever the link between them. For Casey, Limbo has two rules... leave where you enter and seal the doorway. Because if she doesn't the dark things, the obsii, the bringers of death, the grim reapers, the shadow monsters will escape.
The plot is intriguing, but I felt the characters could have been more developed. For example, I wanted to know more about Casey's relationship with Liddy's parents. I wanted to find out more about Casey's parents and I wanted to know more about Red's story. Perhaps there will be a sequel, but I wasn't sure. I did enjoy the wisecracking Evan who is there to protect Casey. He, Liddy, and Casey have been friends since they were babies and apparently Evan has feelings for Casey that go beyond friendship. Talk about bad timing.
If you like face-paced and engaging YA fantasies with limbowalkers, lost souls, and archangels, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Hrib for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Casey blames herself for surviving a tragic boat accident when her best friend, Liddy, died. However, Liddy isn't dead. She's in Limbo, the space that exists between the living and the dead. How does Casey know this? Red, the angel who literally fell from "upstairs". He is here to protect Casey while she goes to Limbo to save Liddy's soul. You see, Casey is a Limbowalker. She died and came back to life that day and now she can navigate Limbo to help her best friend cross over and sever the link between them. For Casey, Limbo has two rules... leave where you enter and seal the doorway. Because if she doesn't the dark things, the obsii, the bringers of death, the grim reapers, the shadow monsters will escape.
The plot is intriguing, but I felt the characters could have been more developed. For example, I wanted to know more about Casey's relationship with Liddy's parents. I wanted to find out more about Casey's parents and I wanted to know more about Red's story. Perhaps there will be a sequel, but I wasn't sure. I did enjoy the wisecracking Evan who is there to protect Casey. He, Liddy, and Casey have been friends since they were babies and apparently Evan has feelings for Casey that go beyond friendship. Talk about bad timing.
If you like face-paced and engaging YA fantasies with limbowalkers, lost souls, and archangels, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Hrib for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
April 27, 2020
The Dark In-Between was hands down one of my favourite reads. A 5/5 for me. The book cover matched the story perfectly, so I was extremely happy about that. The supernatural/paranormal read is one that I couldn’t put down.
The friendship between Casey and Liddy is admirable. Elizabeth did an excellent job at portraying the loyalty the two girls had to one other. Seeing the grief that Casey faced after the crash was heart breaking. However, with both Evan and Red (the fallen angel) by her side Casey is in good hands when it comes to navigating Limbo and saving Liddy from what’s beyond death. I too enjoyed the different relationships that Casey had for both Evan and Red. Potential love interests always keep this gal reading!
Overall, the author Elizabeth did an outstanding job with The Dark In-Between. The dialogue between the characters and the action-packed scenes keep the readers going and seeking more. I enjoyed the read and I look forward to other works from Elizabeth (this gal is hoping!!).
Summary:
5/5 stars & highly recommended
-funny attention grabbing dialogue
-paranormal/supernatural interest
-dynamic characters
-action-packed scenes
-angels and demons
-fight scenes
-journey of grief
-friendships and relationships
-loyalty
-quick read
The friendship between Casey and Liddy is admirable. Elizabeth did an excellent job at portraying the loyalty the two girls had to one other. Seeing the grief that Casey faced after the crash was heart breaking. However, with both Evan and Red (the fallen angel) by her side Casey is in good hands when it comes to navigating Limbo and saving Liddy from what’s beyond death. I too enjoyed the different relationships that Casey had for both Evan and Red. Potential love interests always keep this gal reading!
Overall, the author Elizabeth did an outstanding job with The Dark In-Between. The dialogue between the characters and the action-packed scenes keep the readers going and seeking more. I enjoyed the read and I look forward to other works from Elizabeth (this gal is hoping!!).
Summary:
5/5 stars & highly recommended
-funny attention grabbing dialogue
-paranormal/supernatural interest
-dynamic characters
-action-packed scenes
-angels and demons
-fight scenes
-journey of grief
-friendships and relationships
-loyalty
-quick read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2020
The Dark In-Between is a paranormal YA novel about life, loss, and Limbo.
Casey and Liddy are best friends, but then a terrible accident ends both their lives. Casey comes back, but Liddy is gone for good. Or so everyone thinks. When Casey starts hearing Liddy whispering to her, she knows she has to figure out what's going on. Enter Red, a fallen angel. With his help, and the help of her other friend Evan, Casey must face off against the darkness if she wants to save Liddy before it's too late.
I really liked this book. I'm a sucker for stories about fallen angels, demons, Purgatory, etc., so this was right up my alley. I definitely wasn't disappointed.
I really liked all of the characters. They were well-written and fleshed out. I was a little surprised, though, that Evan took so easily to Red. Most characters tend not to believe right away, so the fact that he just went along with it did surprise me. But those two have a little bromance at the end, which was fun.
The plot is paced nicely, and the book is a quick, easy read. The world building was done well, and there are even some emotional moments within the pages.
Fans of YA paranormal, and fans of books about angels, will enjoy reading The Dark In-Between.
4 stars!
Casey and Liddy are best friends, but then a terrible accident ends both their lives. Casey comes back, but Liddy is gone for good. Or so everyone thinks. When Casey starts hearing Liddy whispering to her, she knows she has to figure out what's going on. Enter Red, a fallen angel. With his help, and the help of her other friend Evan, Casey must face off against the darkness if she wants to save Liddy before it's too late.
I really liked this book. I'm a sucker for stories about fallen angels, demons, Purgatory, etc., so this was right up my alley. I definitely wasn't disappointed.
I really liked all of the characters. They were well-written and fleshed out. I was a little surprised, though, that Evan took so easily to Red. Most characters tend not to believe right away, so the fact that he just went along with it did surprise me. But those two have a little bromance at the end, which was fun.
The plot is paced nicely, and the book is a quick, easy read. The world building was done well, and there are even some emotional moments within the pages.
Fans of YA paranormal, and fans of books about angels, will enjoy reading The Dark In-Between.
4 stars!
July 1, 2020
“The Dark Inbetween”
By: Elizabeth Hrib
Debut novel for a promising author of YA fantasy. Hrib has put together a great story of a relatable young romance that includes some supernatural and anxiety inducing components
Refreshing read; perfect for the targeted age group. A 16 year old and her best friend were in a boating accident which left her friend dead and her with a “near death” experience and all the things that go with it. “Dying” together formed a soul bond which has to be broken for Casey’s friend to move on from her wandering around in Limbo.
Casey is struggling to deal with the new normal without her friend. Enter a “fallen” angel sent to guide her and hopefully earn back his wings. Casey must travel to Limbo to find her friend and send her on her way. Oh and of course there is another best friend, a really understanding, loyal guy who is trying to convince Casey that he will be there for her, no matter what. (Nice Guy!)
The romance seemed on point and the supernatural aspect the right amount of spooky to introduce YA’s to the fantasy genre.
All in all, I see bright things for this author’s future.
By: Elizabeth Hrib
Debut novel for a promising author of YA fantasy. Hrib has put together a great story of a relatable young romance that includes some supernatural and anxiety inducing components
Refreshing read; perfect for the targeted age group. A 16 year old and her best friend were in a boating accident which left her friend dead and her with a “near death” experience and all the things that go with it. “Dying” together formed a soul bond which has to be broken for Casey’s friend to move on from her wandering around in Limbo.
Casey is struggling to deal with the new normal without her friend. Enter a “fallen” angel sent to guide her and hopefully earn back his wings. Casey must travel to Limbo to find her friend and send her on her way. Oh and of course there is another best friend, a really understanding, loyal guy who is trying to convince Casey that he will be there for her, no matter what. (Nice Guy!)
The romance seemed on point and the supernatural aspect the right amount of spooky to introduce YA’s to the fantasy genre.
All in all, I see bright things for this author’s future.
November 1, 2020
It took me a couple of attempts to finish The Dark In Between by Elizabeth Hrib. The fight between good and evil is not bad. I just did not connect with the characters. Hrib attempted to create a romantic triangle between the fallen angel, the heroine, and the boy who has been her friend forever who she has never seen in a romantic way. It just didn’t ever really feel connected enough.
I think if Hrib had just kept to the battles and the inner turmoil of Casey the story would have been better. I liked the connections and the battles that Casey made with and for the secondary characters. I could see this becoming a series if Hrib had concentrated on this and strengthened the love triangle by building a foundation first with Evan.
There are some strings that Hrib could come back to and build upon, but I would leave the love stories alone for now because she has something with the battle sequences. This is just my opinion though, you should read The Dark In Between and let me know what you think.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
I think if Hrib had just kept to the battles and the inner turmoil of Casey the story would have been better. I liked the connections and the battles that Casey made with and for the secondary characters. I could see this becoming a series if Hrib had concentrated on this and strengthened the love triangle by building a foundation first with Evan.
There are some strings that Hrib could come back to and build upon, but I would leave the love stories alone for now because she has something with the battle sequences. This is just my opinion though, you should read The Dark In Between and let me know what you think.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
May 8, 2020
The Dark In-Between is a story about friendship, grief, and moving on from the pain of loss. Casey has struggled since the accident that took her best friend, but spared her. Nothing feels right since that night, and little does she know, that she is more right than she realizes. Alongside her best friend, Evan, and a fallen angel, Casey travels to Limbo to fix the divide created by Liddy's death and to find her best friend and help her find peace.
The Dark In-Between is a really unique story. I was fascinated by the intricacies of Limbo and our world, and the angels and the fallen who wage war to control it. Hrib's writing is full of action and heart, and I found myself unable to look away at many points. I also really loved the deep relationship between best friends Liddy and Casey, and how that transcends death as these friendships do. It is that love that keeps the people we love with us no matter what, and that is the main thing I took from this book. It was well worth the read.
The Dark In-Between is a really unique story. I was fascinated by the intricacies of Limbo and our world, and the angels and the fallen who wage war to control it. Hrib's writing is full of action and heart, and I found myself unable to look away at many points. I also really loved the deep relationship between best friends Liddy and Casey, and how that transcends death as these friendships do. It is that love that keeps the people we love with us no matter what, and that is the main thing I took from this book. It was well worth the read.
June 29, 2020
The Dark In Between delicately unfolds the beauty behind the depths of friendship, lifting the veil between life, death, and the possibility of a place in between. In a story of loss and forgiveness, Elizabeth Hrib’s debut novel takes her readers into a story of fallen angels, redemption, love, and crossing over while beautifully weaving a story filled with a new realm of possibility. Carefully crafting fallen angels with archangels, and the ancient magical power that they yield. Elizabeth Hrib creates rich imaginary where feathers can turn into divine weapons, fallen churches are sanctuary’s allowing safe passage, and limbo is built with memories from the souls who wander it. Refreshing and unique, The Dark In Between fills the hearts of readers who truly love a great fallen angel story, while bringing elements that are familiar as well as entirely new.
For book cover body paintings including this book cover, please visit my Instagram account:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CADSKuEAlpm/
For book cover body paintings including this book cover, please visit my Instagram account:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CADSKuEAlpm/
May 10, 2020
Casey and Liddy just wanted to have a fun day on the water when an accident ended Liddy’s life. Casey may have survived the accident, but she is not the same. She is tormented by nightmares and eerie whispers which are pushing her sanity to the limit. When she sees a boy fall from the sky, she fully believes that she has finally lost her mind. Who is this boy? Will his ability to take her to Limbo be what is needed to save her sanity?
The Dark In-Between is a stand-alone supernatural thriller. Readers will enjoy the mystery, the traveling between the living and the dead, and the risk-taking by these characters. Hrib did a wonderful job setting up the story, yet in the end, it still fell flat. I wanted to enjoy this book, but my mind kept wandering and I had to force myself through it. This might be because I’ve just finished a similar book and it wasn’t the right time for me. I still recommend this book to those who want a quick read with a supernatural twist.
The Dark In-Between is a stand-alone supernatural thriller. Readers will enjoy the mystery, the traveling between the living and the dead, and the risk-taking by these characters. Hrib did a wonderful job setting up the story, yet in the end, it still fell flat. I wanted to enjoy this book, but my mind kept wandering and I had to force myself through it. This might be because I’ve just finished a similar book and it wasn’t the right time for me. I still recommend this book to those who want a quick read with a supernatural twist.
July 7, 2020
Casey Everett and her best friend, Liddy, are in a terrible boating accident. Both girls die, however Casey returns. Only something is different when she comes back. Then one night an angel falls from the sky, and he helps Casey with her new life & navigate Limbo, where Casey discovers Liddy is trapped.
This was a very simple, straight forward, and PG story. I’d actually use the word cute, which is slightly disappointing as I expected something darker with more action and drama (higher stakes). Even the climax of the story felt anti-climatic.
The characters are well written and the plot is interesting, it is all just very basic and unremarkable. Our MC Casey is trying to move past her grief and guilt, and save her best friend’s soul. Casey’s other best friend, Evan, is trying to be seen as a love interest. Red, the fallen angel is trying to earn his wings back.
This isn’t a bad story, there just isn’t much meat to it. Definitely an easy read.
This was a very simple, straight forward, and PG story. I’d actually use the word cute, which is slightly disappointing as I expected something darker with more action and drama (higher stakes). Even the climax of the story felt anti-climatic.
The characters are well written and the plot is interesting, it is all just very basic and unremarkable. Our MC Casey is trying to move past her grief and guilt, and save her best friend’s soul. Casey’s other best friend, Evan, is trying to be seen as a love interest. Red, the fallen angel is trying to earn his wings back.
This isn’t a bad story, there just isn’t much meat to it. Definitely an easy read.
December 21, 2022
Considering that I thought that this book was only a murder mystery, it was okay. The idea of a fallen angel that was later introduced was also interesting, but it takes away from the novel in a way. Unfortunately, I did not finish this book, because I feel that it lacked many things.
1) A description of the characters themselves. I'm sure that there was some description of the characters early on in the book, but nothing memorable. To be honest, I think that there was more description of Red and Casey's mom than there was of Casey herself.
2) The critical part of writing known as show, don't tell. Most of this story is just telling what is going on, like saying, "she reversed her car" or "she stole the keys". It honestly wasn't all that engrossing because of that. It was as though the story had already happened and was just a recollection of it.
2.5/5 stars. DNF.
1) A description of the characters themselves. I'm sure that there was some description of the characters early on in the book, but nothing memorable. To be honest, I think that there was more description of Red and Casey's mom than there was of Casey herself.
2) The critical part of writing known as show, don't tell. Most of this story is just telling what is going on, like saying, "she reversed her car" or "she stole the keys". It honestly wasn't all that engrossing because of that. It was as though the story had already happened and was just a recollection of it.
2.5/5 stars. DNF.
January 29, 2021
This was touching story about friendship and forgiveness. I liked the way this story handled the grieving main character. She was thrust into the world of the supernatural at a difficult point in her grieving process and the choices she made were very real and natural for someone in her situation; even if they seemed obviously wrong from the reader's perspective. It's sometimes hard to get behind a character who is acting "irrationally" but I was cheering Casey on the whole time. The author was also able to display a great amount of character growth in a short amount of time. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and I was invested in the characters.
January 16, 2022
I thought that this book was an interesting exploration of grief and the afterlife. When Casey, the main character, loses her best friend in a boating accident, an angel falls to earth to help her rescue her best friend's soul. It was a very intriguing concept and fairly well executed; however, I do think that the ending felt a little rushed (especially the battle scene). I thought some of the characters were slightly one-dimensional, but since the book was altogether not that long, it is understandable. Overall, it was a good read and I enjoyed how it dove deeper into the process of mourning and the feelings associated with losing a loved one.
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