OK, so I've got some thoughts about this book. 

Firstly, I really liked this novel! The beginning of this book was very immersive- dark, mysterious, and overall kinda weird. I fully understood the specific aesthetic the author was trying to achieve. The writing style was excellent, the prose was so poetic it was like every sentence had a double meaning. I loved our cast of characters! I think the world of Lane, Colton, Adaya, Mackenzie, and Eric. I thought this was a good fantasy, perfect for beginners looking to edge their way into YA fantasy.

Alas, The Whispering Dark is not without its faults. I had an issue with the plot development, which I felt was stunted in too many areas in favor of some unnecessary scenes. I think the mystery surrounding Colton was kept in secret (from the reader, at least) for far too long. We had little crumbs to add to the twist, but for the most part we found out when Lane found out and for me, that happens way too late in the book. In fact, I felt that all of the plot twists were stated so matter of factly and were missing that extra mic-drop moment to really gag the reader. But perhaps my biggest qualm about this book is my issue of the relationship between Colton and Lane.

Can a demon who is drawn to a "queen of the dead" archetype truly consent? Is it love that Colton experiences, or is he just tethered to the girl who pulled him from Hell?

Like I said, it's a good book! I don't regret reading it, nor owning this stunning Illumicrate edition of the novel. Maybe in the future I'll read another of this author's book!