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The Dark Place
You can only hide from your nightmares for so long.
Seventeen-year-old Hylee Williams didn't ask to disappear. But she did disappear, and not only that, but when she vanished from our world, she materialized in a dark, twisted version of the night that changed her life forever: the night her older brother went missing.
Just as Hylee realizes this moment could be the key to unraveling the truth about her brother, she's yanked away from the dark place back to our world. Craving a sense of normalcy, she goes to a party with her best friend--where she meets Eilam Roads. Tall, handsome, and undeniably, inexplicably familiar, Hylee can't help the pull she feels towards him. It's a classic teen girl-meets-boy situation, until it happens again. She disappears, right in front of him.
Together, Hylee and Eilam investigate the truth about time, space, and reality, with Hylee increasingly convinced her time travel holds the key to saving her brother. But the more they learn, the more Hylee begins to see darkness lurking in her world--and in herself.
Britney S. Lewis's sophomore novel combines the quotable relatability, swoony romance, and emotional resonance of John Green with the surrealist horror imagery and razor-sharp wit of Jordan Peele. At once haunting and enchanting and entirely unforgettable.
Seventeen-year-old Hylee Williams didn't ask to disappear. But she did disappear, and not only that, but when she vanished from our world, she materialized in a dark, twisted version of the night that changed her life forever: the night her older brother went missing.
Just as Hylee realizes this moment could be the key to unraveling the truth about her brother, she's yanked away from the dark place back to our world. Craving a sense of normalcy, she goes to a party with her best friend--where she meets Eilam Roads. Tall, handsome, and undeniably, inexplicably familiar, Hylee can't help the pull she feels towards him. It's a classic teen girl-meets-boy situation, until it happens again. She disappears, right in front of him.
Together, Hylee and Eilam investigate the truth about time, space, and reality, with Hylee increasingly convinced her time travel holds the key to saving her brother. But the more they learn, the more Hylee begins to see darkness lurking in her world--and in herself.
Britney S. Lewis's sophomore novel combines the quotable relatability, swoony romance, and emotional resonance of John Green with the surrealist horror imagery and razor-sharp wit of Jordan Peele. At once haunting and enchanting and entirely unforgettable.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2023
53 people are currently reading
3564 people want to read
About the author
Britney S. Lewis
4 books853 followersBritney S. Lewis is the #1 New York Times, Indie, and USA Today Bestselling Author of Blood Moon. She is also the award-winning author of The Dark Place and The Undead Truth of Us. She has a B.A. in corporate communications with an emphasis in business and art.
When Britney isn’t daydreaming about new stories, she is an urban hiker, exploring the city on foot, looking for iced coffee. She can also be found watching TV shows with her husband and her pup or practicing West Coast Swing. She lives in Kansas City.
When Britney isn’t daydreaming about new stories, she is an urban hiker, exploring the city on foot, looking for iced coffee. She can also be found watching TV shows with her husband and her pup or practicing West Coast Swing. She lives in Kansas City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
November 9, 2025
Initial reaction: Unfortunately, this was very underwhelming. 2 stars. Too drawn out, the death that came at the end landed so haphazardly that it didn't feel like a true coming to terms with the grief. Worldbuilding felt like it borrowed from other properties (Marvel) and the romance, while nice, was also awkward.
I feel like there was a way to make this a book that could have stuck the landing better. But as to whether I would call this horror, it's more YA literary horror/speculative. The horror elements work like, but I would say are weaker in this book, than Lewis's debut.
Full review:
Have you ever picked up an author's work and realized that it felt like their work was getting worse instead of better over time? That's...a bit like how I thought about Britney S. Lewis's work with this offering "The Dark Place". Don't get me wrong, I liked "The Undead Truth of Us", I thought it was an interesting offering for the author's debut work and was looking forward to reading more from her. But while "The Dark Place" has an intriguing premise, the execution of it is all over the place. Some might even say that this book doesn't classify as horror because of how light those elements are in this collective work. I would say it falls in line with the kind of literary horror that was in Lewis's debut, but this book was weaker. Literary horror is hard to sell in YA, let alone in other age groups like adult. But the way it usually works is that the horror elements are more metaphorical and symbolic than actually in-your-face scary or creepy. But it was clear the more I went through this book that the scares/creepy factors really weren't there. It felt like false advertising. Suffice to say, horror, including lit horror, might not be Lewis's strong point when it comes to following genre conventions. "The Dark Place" dropped the ball of expectations hard. The disorganization of the narrative didn't help.
"The Dark Place" follows Hylee, a 17-year old girl whose brother went missing after a series of mysterious events. Hylee is estranged from her mother and father because of an odd reaction that's been happening ever since Bubba disappeared. She disappears for large stretches of time into "The Dark Place", an alternate space where she ends up reliving events of the past and encountering a strange girl with no eyes and a mouth sewn shut. (The girl on the cover.) Hylee grapples with the abrupt changes after Bubba's gone, including going to live with her grandmother temporarily. She ends up meeting a boy she gets on with, a Black boy named Eliam Roads. When Eliam witnesses her disappearance, Hylee realizes there might be more to the boy she met than meets the eye, and who might be able to help her with her "disappearing" problem.
The narrative had me as far as the initial premise. I felt for Hylee as she not only wondered where her missing brother went, but as she also adjusts to the changes in her family and communication with friends. It's coming of age leaning with an examination of grief in the aftermath of a traumatic event. The "jumps" into the Dark Place Hylee experiences are dark and foreboding, though not pointedly scary. But the more that the narrative drew on, the less invested I became. It reached a point where the recall of events leading to Bubba's disappearance was far too drawn out than the narrative had to be. To the point where it felt tedious trying to get to the resolution of events. This led to spaces where, while we get ongoing flashbacks of Hylee and Bubba's relationship throughout, there were points where it felt like the narrative forgot Bubba's disappearance altogether. That didn't sit well with me considering that's one of the main plot points that comprise the work.
When Eliam shows up, and he's a major figure in helping Hylee learn what's going on with her, it comes close to mid-way through the novel. Although the relationship between Eliam and Hylee is sweet in spaces, their relationship was often too drawn out, the conflict between them at one point obviously contrived for the sake of furthering the story's events. I wasn't buying some of the times Hylee distanced herself from Eliam, especially considering what he reveals and what he can do. They make up in the aftermath, and some might write that Hylee's actions would be something a teen would do in a misunderstanding (the narrative seems aware of this with Hylee mentioning her reasons), but it still threw me out of the narrative the way it was done.
The inclusion of the little girl with no eyes and a sewn mouth really felt like a "gotcha" and false advertising for a horror novel, because she wasn't in the narrative all that often to be scary or an active threat/presence. What ultimately becomes of her, and the resolution to this overarching mystery surrounding Bubba's disappearance, made me fall out of any kind of investment in the book. I won't spoil the events, but there's a character death that happens close to the end that is supposed to be a coming to terms of grief and the consequences of time travel - changing things in the past that ultimately affect the present. I didn't think the time travel element was bad, in fact, it had promise considering the narrative events. But relying on the worldbuilding of this time travel as being "like Marvel" properties and being sequenced the way it was done? Not only was there no payoff for the elements of that time travel to feel convincing for the setup, but the death and coming to terms with the resolution felt so rushed that there was no time for it to feel for the weight of it. And then the romance having a dashed resolution at the end felt like icing on a haphazardly made cake.
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did, but ultimately it was too long, disorganized and didn't stick the landing on many things for its set up and promises for narrative. I think this could have been a story that worked, but ultimately the way Lewis chose to do it worked against it despite having intriguing pieces. It's unfortunate, especially considering it didn't work as well as "The Undead Truth of Us", which had flaws, but had moments that sparked more than "The Dark Place" did.
Overall score: 2/5 stars.
I feel like there was a way to make this a book that could have stuck the landing better. But as to whether I would call this horror, it's more YA literary horror/speculative. The horror elements work like, but I would say are weaker in this book, than Lewis's debut.
Full review:
Have you ever picked up an author's work and realized that it felt like their work was getting worse instead of better over time? That's...a bit like how I thought about Britney S. Lewis's work with this offering "The Dark Place". Don't get me wrong, I liked "The Undead Truth of Us", I thought it was an interesting offering for the author's debut work and was looking forward to reading more from her. But while "The Dark Place" has an intriguing premise, the execution of it is all over the place. Some might even say that this book doesn't classify as horror because of how light those elements are in this collective work. I would say it falls in line with the kind of literary horror that was in Lewis's debut, but this book was weaker. Literary horror is hard to sell in YA, let alone in other age groups like adult. But the way it usually works is that the horror elements are more metaphorical and symbolic than actually in-your-face scary or creepy. But it was clear the more I went through this book that the scares/creepy factors really weren't there. It felt like false advertising. Suffice to say, horror, including lit horror, might not be Lewis's strong point when it comes to following genre conventions. "The Dark Place" dropped the ball of expectations hard. The disorganization of the narrative didn't help.
"The Dark Place" follows Hylee, a 17-year old girl whose brother went missing after a series of mysterious events. Hylee is estranged from her mother and father because of an odd reaction that's been happening ever since Bubba disappeared. She disappears for large stretches of time into "The Dark Place", an alternate space where she ends up reliving events of the past and encountering a strange girl with no eyes and a mouth sewn shut. (The girl on the cover.) Hylee grapples with the abrupt changes after Bubba's gone, including going to live with her grandmother temporarily. She ends up meeting a boy she gets on with, a Black boy named Eliam Roads. When Eliam witnesses her disappearance, Hylee realizes there might be more to the boy she met than meets the eye, and who might be able to help her with her "disappearing" problem.
The narrative had me as far as the initial premise. I felt for Hylee as she not only wondered where her missing brother went, but as she also adjusts to the changes in her family and communication with friends. It's coming of age leaning with an examination of grief in the aftermath of a traumatic event. The "jumps" into the Dark Place Hylee experiences are dark and foreboding, though not pointedly scary. But the more that the narrative drew on, the less invested I became. It reached a point where the recall of events leading to Bubba's disappearance was far too drawn out than the narrative had to be. To the point where it felt tedious trying to get to the resolution of events. This led to spaces where, while we get ongoing flashbacks of Hylee and Bubba's relationship throughout, there were points where it felt like the narrative forgot Bubba's disappearance altogether. That didn't sit well with me considering that's one of the main plot points that comprise the work.
When Eliam shows up, and he's a major figure in helping Hylee learn what's going on with her, it comes close to mid-way through the novel. Although the relationship between Eliam and Hylee is sweet in spaces, their relationship was often too drawn out, the conflict between them at one point obviously contrived for the sake of furthering the story's events. I wasn't buying some of the times Hylee distanced herself from Eliam, especially considering what he reveals and what he can do. They make up in the aftermath, and some might write that Hylee's actions would be something a teen would do in a misunderstanding (the narrative seems aware of this with Hylee mentioning her reasons), but it still threw me out of the narrative the way it was done.
The inclusion of the little girl with no eyes and a sewn mouth really felt like a "gotcha" and false advertising for a horror novel, because she wasn't in the narrative all that often to be scary or an active threat/presence. What ultimately becomes of her, and the resolution to this overarching mystery surrounding Bubba's disappearance, made me fall out of any kind of investment in the book. I won't spoil the events, but there's a character death that happens close to the end that is supposed to be a coming to terms of grief and the consequences of time travel - changing things in the past that ultimately affect the present. I didn't think the time travel element was bad, in fact, it had promise considering the narrative events. But relying on the worldbuilding of this time travel as being "like Marvel" properties and being sequenced the way it was done? Not only was there no payoff for the elements of that time travel to feel convincing for the setup, but the death and coming to terms with the resolution felt so rushed that there was no time for it to feel for the weight of it. And then the romance having a dashed resolution at the end felt like icing on a haphazardly made cake.
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did, but ultimately it was too long, disorganized and didn't stick the landing on many things for its set up and promises for narrative. I think this could have been a story that worked, but ultimately the way Lewis chose to do it worked against it despite having intriguing pieces. It's unfortunate, especially considering it didn't work as well as "The Undead Truth of Us", which had flaws, but had moments that sparked more than "The Dark Place" did.
Overall score: 2/5 stars.
June 28, 2023
Britney S. Lewis brings this sophomore book to life with Hylee and Eilam’s chemistry. While not as much of a gut punch as her debut, “The Dark Place” does a fantastic job of hitting the sentimental beats necessary to keep the reader invested in the emotional fall out. While I haven’t gotten super into the multi-verse trend, I loved reading Lewis’ version of it, and I even found myself checking out some of the pop culture references listed in the text.
I would love to see what Lewis could do with new adult or even just adult fiction. She has a proven track record of creating unique worlds that her audience can easily immerse ourselves in, but sometimes there is that small craving of seeing how a more mature set of characters would handle these scenarios. That said, I love her unique brand of sci-fi and alt Black girls, and love her voice as it is.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hyperion for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would love to see what Lewis could do with new adult or even just adult fiction. She has a proven track record of creating unique worlds that her audience can easily immerse ourselves in, but sometimes there is that small craving of seeing how a more mature set of characters would handle these scenarios. That said, I love her unique brand of sci-fi and alt Black girls, and love her voice as it is.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hyperion for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2023
2023 reads: 251/350
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
hylee’s brother disappeared nine years ago, but not like hylee disappeared recently. though her brother went missing, hylee is sure that, unlike her, he did not travel through time and space. when she does this in front of her parents and friend, her parents decide this is just too much, and send her to live with her grandmother. in her new town, she meets eilam, who she feels drawn toward. when hylee disappears in front of him, they decide to investigate the truth about time, space, and reality, as hylee is sure this is the key to finding her brother. the more they explore, though, the more hylee sees darkness in her surroundings and in herself.
i LOVED the undead truth of us, so i was very excited to pick this book up! i will definitely be reading anything else britney s. lewis writes. i loved going on this journey of grief, self-discovery, time travel, and love. being a teen is hard enough, but hylee had even more on her plate than most. i loved how all of the topics were explored and how each character/relationship was handled. i can’t wait to read more from this author!
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
hylee’s brother disappeared nine years ago, but not like hylee disappeared recently. though her brother went missing, hylee is sure that, unlike her, he did not travel through time and space. when she does this in front of her parents and friend, her parents decide this is just too much, and send her to live with her grandmother. in her new town, she meets eilam, who she feels drawn toward. when hylee disappears in front of him, they decide to investigate the truth about time, space, and reality, as hylee is sure this is the key to finding her brother. the more they explore, though, the more hylee sees darkness in her surroundings and in herself.
i LOVED the undead truth of us, so i was very excited to pick this book up! i will definitely be reading anything else britney s. lewis writes. i loved going on this journey of grief, self-discovery, time travel, and love. being a teen is hard enough, but hylee had even more on her plate than most. i loved how all of the topics were explored and how each character/relationship was handled. i can’t wait to read more from this author!
June 13, 2023
Thank you, Britney S. Lewis, NetGalley, and Disney Publishing Worldwide/Disney Hyperion, for sending me with an eARC of The Dark Place.
Wow, the Dark Place had me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed this book. The plot was really interesting and everything that I thought was gonna happen, really did take a nice turn.
The characterization is stellar. The protagonist as well as the side-characters in the novel from arc’s is fantastic. It was complex, interesting and well-written. In addition, the writing style was excellent, especially the environment. The tone is dark and mysterious and gripping. It really does make the world feel more alive. Overall, the Dark Place has a well-drawn out plot with lovable complex-characters with suspenseful twists which will make readers crave to see more from Lewis.
Wow, the Dark Place had me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed this book. The plot was really interesting and everything that I thought was gonna happen, really did take a nice turn.
The characterization is stellar. The protagonist as well as the side-characters in the novel from arc’s is fantastic. It was complex, interesting and well-written. In addition, the writing style was excellent, especially the environment. The tone is dark and mysterious and gripping. It really does make the world feel more alive. Overall, the Dark Place has a well-drawn out plot with lovable complex-characters with suspenseful twists which will make readers crave to see more from Lewis.
August 29, 2023
I liked the book overall however the pacing was a bit weird, I found myself very neutral until about the 70% mark and I feel like I got a short answer to a very long question if that makes sense. It was nice but I gotta say compared to The Undead Truth of Us I didn't like this one as much.
August 2, 2023
This is more magical realism with time travel. There wasn't anything actually scary in this? Idk I have to think on this one. Real review to come.
July 28, 2023
Mini blurb: A 17 y.o. girl whose older brother disappeared nine years before finds herself time-traveling to the night of the incident, but also to a dilapidated and creepy version of her world, and turns to a new crush for the answers that her family isn't willing to give her, all while trying to save her sibling.
***
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this book by way of a form on the author's site, and she gave me access to a temporary ecopy via NetGalley (thanks!). This didn't influence my review in any way.
When a book promises to "investigate the truth about time, space, and reality" and involves sibling love (especially in the form of one of the siblings trying to save the other), I get super-excited. And I did get what the blurb promised in both respects...though "investigate" might be too strong a word, since we aren't given a scientific reason for the protagonist's ability to time/space/reality-travel, other than a vague "genes thing". (Then again, The Dark Place is more of a soft-sci-fi novel, and the science itself feels a bit like magic, so that's excusable). I would have liked an explanation for the dark alternate reality Hylee visits, too...but I did enjoy spending time in it and getting creeped out by the twisted version of the night her brother Bubba vanished, and I loved to watch her trying to change the past, fucking up and trying again. I also found the horror aspect and the sibling relationship to be satisfying - easily the best part of the story. Conversely, I wasn't so keen on the whole "family secret" thing - and I don't mean the one that started the chain of events culminating in Bubba's disappearance (also...Hylee's folks aren't the only ones keeping secrets for no valid reason here). The "there's a thing that runs in the family but we won't talk about it and will sweep it under the rug instead" angle has been done to death, and frankly, it never feels believable - plus, Hylee's parents' and grandmother's cold-shoulder attitude here is way over the top. Lastly, the ending feels rushed and resolves the family conflict far too easily (not to mention, for the wrong reason).
(One note about the lead's inner monologue: the abundance of verbs without the "I" subject was probably supposed to make the protagonist's "teen voice" sound more natural, but if anything, it got the opposite effect - it felt way too deliberate. Maybe I'm just a grammar purist, but it did nothing for the story IMO, either than irritate this reader...).
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
***
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this book by way of a form on the author's site, and she gave me access to a temporary ecopy via NetGalley (thanks!). This didn't influence my review in any way.
When a book promises to "investigate the truth about time, space, and reality" and involves sibling love (especially in the form of one of the siblings trying to save the other), I get super-excited. And I did get what the blurb promised in both respects...though "investigate" might be too strong a word, since we aren't given a scientific reason for the protagonist's ability to time/space/reality-travel, other than a vague "genes thing". (Then again, The Dark Place is more of a soft-sci-fi novel, and the science itself feels a bit like magic, so that's excusable). I would have liked an explanation for the dark alternate reality Hylee visits, too...but I did enjoy spending time in it and getting creeped out by the twisted version of the night her brother Bubba vanished, and I loved to watch her trying to change the past, fucking up and trying again. I also found the horror aspect and the sibling relationship to be satisfying - easily the best part of the story. Conversely, I wasn't so keen on the whole "family secret" thing - and I don't mean the one that started the chain of events culminating in Bubba's disappearance (also...Hylee's folks aren't the only ones keeping secrets for no valid reason here). The "there's a thing that runs in the family but we won't talk about it and will sweep it under the rug instead" angle has been done to death, and frankly, it never feels believable - plus, Hylee's parents' and grandmother's cold-shoulder attitude here is way over the top. Lastly, the ending feels rushed and resolves the family conflict far too easily (not to mention, for the wrong reason).
(One note about the lead's inner monologue: the abundance of verbs without the "I" subject was probably supposed to make the protagonist's "teen voice" sound more natural, but if anything, it got the opposite effect - it felt way too deliberate. Maybe I'm just a grammar purist, but it did nothing for the story IMO, either than irritate this reader...).
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
April 4, 2023
I don't even know what to say about The Dark Place. This book was captivating and everything I wanted it to be. Britney S. Lewis has a writing style that I absolutely love. I loved her descriptions and how easy it was to read this book. I also flew through it, wanting to know what would happen at the end.
One of my favorite things about The Dark Place is how she intertwined a little romance in a book with some creepiness. And I enjoyed the time travel/multiverse plot; it's not something I see in books that I read, so it was fresh, and I think her spin on it was done well enough that while introducing it, it didn't have to go so in-depth with it that you still could appreciate it and understand everything that was happening. I also loved every single reference, from Marvel to Frank Ocean; they made my heart smile big.
Britney is passionate about this genre, and I hope she continues to write masterpiece after masterpiece. I will always purchase a copy of everything she puts out. Also, her covers are always phenomenal; they alone make me want to read her books, even without knowing what they are about.
Thank you, Britney S. Lewis, NetGalley, and Disney Publishing Worldwide/Disney Hyperion, for providing me with an eARC of The Dark Place. This review is being left voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.
One of my favorite things about The Dark Place is how she intertwined a little romance in a book with some creepiness. And I enjoyed the time travel/multiverse plot; it's not something I see in books that I read, so it was fresh, and I think her spin on it was done well enough that while introducing it, it didn't have to go so in-depth with it that you still could appreciate it and understand everything that was happening. I also loved every single reference, from Marvel to Frank Ocean; they made my heart smile big.
Britney is passionate about this genre, and I hope she continues to write masterpiece after masterpiece. I will always purchase a copy of everything she puts out. Also, her covers are always phenomenal; they alone make me want to read her books, even without knowing what they are about.
Thank you, Britney S. Lewis, NetGalley, and Disney Publishing Worldwide/Disney Hyperion, for providing me with an eARC of The Dark Place. This review is being left voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.
July 15, 2023
The Dark Place wasn't bad per se, but it was a little young for me. The plot line was predictable, the romance bland, and the writing simple. That being said, I can see myself enjoying this at a younger age (~10-14).
August 28, 2023
I did not expect to get so emotional over a YA horror novel, but here we are! The Dark Place is a story of grief, the pain of reliving your worst memories, and finding love in the most unexpected times. I adored this book, despite the ending feeling a bit rushed. I would still highly recommend it!
May 4, 2024
Wow... En oikein osaa koota mun ajatuksia yhteen mutta tää on todellakin ajatuksia herättävä. Hämmentävää oli myös kuinka paljon tykkäsin tästä.. en lue hirveemmin mysteeri teemaisia kirjoja joten niin.. ja koukuttava ja jännitäväkin oli ja tää on genreeltään ya: tää sopii mun mielestä myös nuorille ja myös yli 18 vuotiaille. Ehdottomasti suosittelen tätä lukemaan jos yhtään kirjan takakansi herättää halua lukea..
June 21, 2023
What a captivating read! Definitely a new favourite that I finished in two days!!
This story follows teenager Hylee, who one day during a family cookout disappears, and on her return, remembers nothing. As a result, her family and everyone acts strangely around her, including her best friend who wants nothing to do with her oddness. But this experience propels Hylee to figure out who she truly is, and as she starts to unravel the mystery of why her brother disappeared when she was a child, she discovers The Dark Place.
I fell so deeply in love with Hylee and this mystery. There's so many important themes discussed: grief, loss, hope and wonder. And the inclusion of time travel as well as an adorable romance reminded me why I love YA mystery novels so much. The writing was great- and it really packed a punch, maintaining that sense of wonder as we discover what the dark place really is, and what it wants from Hylee.
My anger at her parents lessened as the book went on, but I found it so frustrating to witness how her grandmother and parents dismissed her, trying to keep their own motivations a secret. The pacing of this book was fantastic, and I couldn't move my eyes fast enough. Every word was necessary, and it left me wishing this book was longer. It was wrapped up really well, and with Hylee and Eilam's story complete, it makes me want to already reread this book because it just sticks with you long after the final page.
This book is dark and gritty, but it's also a testament to the extent we would go to discover ourselves and protect those we love. I highly recommend this novel if you want something unique with an eerie undertone and memorable characters.
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publishers for an e-arc!
----------------------
Hints of horror, time travel?, grief and loneliness, this was a quick read that left me wanting more of our main characters Hylee and Eilam!
A NEW FAVOURITE
Full review to come! Releases AUGUST
This story follows teenager Hylee, who one day during a family cookout disappears, and on her return, remembers nothing. As a result, her family and everyone acts strangely around her, including her best friend who wants nothing to do with her oddness. But this experience propels Hylee to figure out who she truly is, and as she starts to unravel the mystery of why her brother disappeared when she was a child, she discovers The Dark Place.
I fell so deeply in love with Hylee and this mystery. There's so many important themes discussed: grief, loss, hope and wonder. And the inclusion of time travel as well as an adorable romance reminded me why I love YA mystery novels so much. The writing was great- and it really packed a punch, maintaining that sense of wonder as we discover what the dark place really is, and what it wants from Hylee.
My anger at her parents lessened as the book went on, but I found it so frustrating to witness how her grandmother and parents dismissed her, trying to keep their own motivations a secret. The pacing of this book was fantastic, and I couldn't move my eyes fast enough. Every word was necessary, and it left me wishing this book was longer. It was wrapped up really well, and with Hylee and Eilam's story complete, it makes me want to already reread this book because it just sticks with you long after the final page.
This book is dark and gritty, but it's also a testament to the extent we would go to discover ourselves and protect those we love. I highly recommend this novel if you want something unique with an eerie undertone and memorable characters.
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publishers for an e-arc!
----------------------
Hints of horror, time travel?, grief and loneliness, this was a quick read that left me wanting more of our main characters Hylee and Eilam!
A NEW FAVOURITE
Full review to come! Releases AUGUST
April 3, 2023
✨politely yells✨
ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR
I seriously hope this review does The Dark Place justice. Because this book deserves all the hype, love, and attention.
Britney’s writing is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It’s poetic and descriptive in a way you don’t expect. It’s lush with details and full of what I can only call magic.
The story is full of twisted imagery and turns that can be guessed and some that just…can’t. It had me turning pages faster and faster to uncover more. I loved Hylee, she’s a not-so-typical teenager that is truly just trying to find her way through grief and past trauma’s. She’s raw and real in a way that is relatable.
Don’t even get me started on Eilam. He’s precious and should be protected at all costs. I love how he carries himself, and how open he is. His character really rounds out the whole plot.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a whole 300+ page book in less than 24 hours, but this one had me hooked, like I still want more. I’m consumed by the thoughts of The Dark Place. Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion for sending me an advanced copy. This review is being left voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR
I seriously hope this review does The Dark Place justice. Because this book deserves all the hype, love, and attention.
Britney’s writing is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It’s poetic and descriptive in a way you don’t expect. It’s lush with details and full of what I can only call magic.
The story is full of twisted imagery and turns that can be guessed and some that just…can’t. It had me turning pages faster and faster to uncover more. I loved Hylee, she’s a not-so-typical teenager that is truly just trying to find her way through grief and past trauma’s. She’s raw and real in a way that is relatable.
Don’t even get me started on Eilam. He’s precious and should be protected at all costs. I love how he carries himself, and how open he is. His character really rounds out the whole plot.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a whole 300+ page book in less than 24 hours, but this one had me hooked, like I still want more. I’m consumed by the thoughts of The Dark Place. Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion for sending me an advanced copy. This review is being left voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 1, 2023
Chills, tingles, butterfly flutters!! This was a such an easy read due to the flow of the writing and quick pace of the storyline. I absolutely adored this book! The Dark Place was truly haunting and heartbreaking, and the romance subplot was genuine and sweet and hopeful. I would read this again which I don't do that often.
August 19, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced audio copy of The Dark Place by Britney S. Lewis. All reviews/opinions are my own.
The Dark Place stands out because it combines contemporary storytelling with science fiction in a unexpected way, while also taking the reader on an emotionally charged journey that deals with complex topics such as grief and family dynamics.
The Dark Place follows Hylee, a 17 year old girl who has the ability to disappear, the downside is she can’t control when it happens and when she vanishes from our world she comes to in a dark, twisted version of the night that changed her life forever: the night her older went missing. Hylee has a feeling that the key to unlocking the mystery surrounding her brother’s disappearance lies within that dark moment she keeps disappearing to. In an effort to feel normal, she attends a party with her best friend, there she meets a boy named Eilam, who she feels an unexplainable pull toward. Classic boy meets girl, until she disappears right in front of him. Together, Hylee and Eilam look for the truth about time, space, and reality. Over time, Hylee becomes more convinced her time travel ability holds the key to saving her brother. But the more they learn, the more the darkness begins to bleed into Hylee’s reality and soon she feels it may even be lurking within herself.
First, I want to express that the audiobook production was perfect; the narrator did a great job.
Okay, this story made me feel lots of things so let’s talk about the good stuff first. I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The atmosphere was really well written and the character development was on the right track. It definitely gave me the creeps in the beginning of the story and I think a lot of that was accomplished by well written descriptors and through the mystery that was unfolding little by little during Hylee’s time travel episodes. It left a lot up to the imagination—maybe too much so if I’m honest with you. On that note, let’s get into the nitty gritty of the not so good.
This story had SO MUCH potential. There were so many different wild ideas I had about what was going on with Hylee because it felt like it was written to lead you to understand this was going to be a truly deep story with many layers of symbolism and self discovery for the character. But it did not deliver that. In fact, I felt blindsided by the end because the story ended up being very straightforward—it seems silly to think that a book would be directing you to NOT read into anything. Without getting directly spoilery, I can’t name specifics but just know I was disappointed and at the end I just thought “That’s it? Really?”
There were several plot points that didn’t really seem to matter in the end in addition the main story component completely copying (& even referencing) Marvel’s timeline/multiverse theories. I’m pretty sure it was the same wording used and everything. And that feels lazy to me. If there is one thing I could stress to authors, it would be to PLEASE STOP RELYING ON POP CULTURE REFERENCES in your own works. It’s not necessary and it takes me out of a story. Characters and worlds can be relatable without that! (Yes, even contemporary ones!)
I also can’t stand the adults in this book. Hylee’s grandmother frustrated me to no end. The information she sat on AND FOR WHAT??? The initial reasoning is understandable, but not to the extent to which she conceals things from Hylee. Who knows if Hylee ever would have gotten answers if she hadn’t taken it into her own hands. Also, Hylee’s parents are awful in the present toward her. The only adults in this book I liked were Eilam’s mother and his grandpa.
The Dark Place also did not make sense even after the disappearance ability is explained. You don’t get an answer as to why The Dark Place people look the way they do or why the environment is like that either. An attempt was made to explain this but it didn’t make sense.
I’ll close this out by saying this isn’t the first novel to trick me into reading it by marketing itself as paranormal only to find out it’s science fiction in the end. There was absolutely zero paranormal or horror elements in this book. It was all science fiction.
I don’t recommend this book, but should you choose to read it anyway, it’s available now!
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2.5 rounded up)
The Dark Place stands out because it combines contemporary storytelling with science fiction in a unexpected way, while also taking the reader on an emotionally charged journey that deals with complex topics such as grief and family dynamics.
The Dark Place follows Hylee, a 17 year old girl who has the ability to disappear, the downside is she can’t control when it happens and when she vanishes from our world she comes to in a dark, twisted version of the night that changed her life forever: the night her older went missing. Hylee has a feeling that the key to unlocking the mystery surrounding her brother’s disappearance lies within that dark moment she keeps disappearing to. In an effort to feel normal, she attends a party with her best friend, there she meets a boy named Eilam, who she feels an unexplainable pull toward. Classic boy meets girl, until she disappears right in front of him. Together, Hylee and Eilam look for the truth about time, space, and reality. Over time, Hylee becomes more convinced her time travel ability holds the key to saving her brother. But the more they learn, the more the darkness begins to bleed into Hylee’s reality and soon she feels it may even be lurking within herself.
First, I want to express that the audiobook production was perfect; the narrator did a great job.
Okay, this story made me feel lots of things so let’s talk about the good stuff first. I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The atmosphere was really well written and the character development was on the right track. It definitely gave me the creeps in the beginning of the story and I think a lot of that was accomplished by well written descriptors and through the mystery that was unfolding little by little during Hylee’s time travel episodes. It left a lot up to the imagination—maybe too much so if I’m honest with you. On that note, let’s get into the nitty gritty of the not so good.
This story had SO MUCH potential. There were so many different wild ideas I had about what was going on with Hylee because it felt like it was written to lead you to understand this was going to be a truly deep story with many layers of symbolism and self discovery for the character. But it did not deliver that. In fact, I felt blindsided by the end because the story ended up being very straightforward—it seems silly to think that a book would be directing you to NOT read into anything. Without getting directly spoilery, I can’t name specifics but just know I was disappointed and at the end I just thought “That’s it? Really?”
There were several plot points that didn’t really seem to matter in the end in addition the main story component completely copying (& even referencing) Marvel’s timeline/multiverse theories. I’m pretty sure it was the same wording used and everything. And that feels lazy to me. If there is one thing I could stress to authors, it would be to PLEASE STOP RELYING ON POP CULTURE REFERENCES in your own works. It’s not necessary and it takes me out of a story. Characters and worlds can be relatable without that! (Yes, even contemporary ones!)
I also can’t stand the adults in this book. Hylee’s grandmother frustrated me to no end. The information she sat on AND FOR WHAT??? The initial reasoning is understandable, but not to the extent to which she conceals things from Hylee. Who knows if Hylee ever would have gotten answers if she hadn’t taken it into her own hands. Also, Hylee’s parents are awful in the present toward her. The only adults in this book I liked were Eilam’s mother and his grandpa.
The Dark Place also did not make sense even after the disappearance ability is explained. You don’t get an answer as to why The Dark Place people look the way they do or why the environment is like that either. An attempt was made to explain this but it didn’t make sense.
I’ll close this out by saying this isn’t the first novel to trick me into reading it by marketing itself as paranormal only to find out it’s science fiction in the end. There was absolutely zero paranormal or horror elements in this book. It was all science fiction.
I don’t recommend this book, but should you choose to read it anyway, it’s available now!
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2.5 rounded up)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2023
One night Hylee disappears. She ends up in a whacked out version of this world, which she calls The Dark Place, on the worst night of her life, the night her brother disappeared. Her parents don't know how to handle Hylee's disappearance, so she's shipped off to live with her cranky grandmother. Trying to get her life back on track, she goes to a party where she meets Eilam who's not only good looking, but may have more in common with Hylee than she ever thought possible.
I think this book is mis-marketed. It's #1 genre is horror, but I think this definitely fits more in the sci-fi category. Either way, both these genres are a hard sell for me in YA. However, Lewis crafts an completely realistic and relatable character in Hylee, and you really want all the things to work out for her. I loved this book, and found myself tearing up at some of that later scenes that were just so real and raw.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. I really enjoyed Shayna Small's narration as she really brought Hylee to life. Definitely recommended.
I think this book is mis-marketed. It's #1 genre is horror, but I think this definitely fits more in the sci-fi category. Either way, both these genres are a hard sell for me in YA. However, Lewis crafts an completely realistic and relatable character in Hylee, and you really want all the things to work out for her. I loved this book, and found myself tearing up at some of that later scenes that were just so real and raw.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. I really enjoyed Shayna Small's narration as she really brought Hylee to life. Definitely recommended.
June 24, 2023
This was such a fun read! The concept was really cool - I loved that the horror elements were mixed in with the science fiction of time travel, it was something I haven't seen done before. I liked the plot- the mystery and darkness sharing its seat with mundane high school life with a little bit of romance (which was so sweet I loved them so much). The way her time travel was paralleled with her grief, and how unravelling and learning more about one ended up bringing her closer to closure and acceptance with everything going on with her family, that was really well done. The second half of the book was definitely my favourite part, it was high stakes, there was a cool twist when she goes back and accidentally messes up the timeline- I wish this was explored a little more; seeing how a small shift can completely rearrange the family dynamics etc.
I feel like this book tried to do a lot of things, so some things felt a little brief- like they could've been explored in more detail. The science of time travel was touched on but was compared to Marvel/superheroes a lot (it felt like a shortcut to explain it without actually explaining how it was possible). I would've loved if we got more scenes with his grandpa talking about his experiences with different times and dimensions etc. There were also those really lovely flashes of memory/future/parallel realities where the two MC's are having really sweet, fluffy moments- I would've liked to have at least one full scene where they used time travel to do something fun - even just as a short epilogue, but their relationship definitely could've been explored more.
The interpersonal relationships (aside from her and her brother) felt kind of filler-y, her best friend who she ends up telling her biggest secret to only had a couple scenes worth of page-time. I really wanted to see more of their friendship, how it would help the MC heal a little more of her grief and maybe come out of her defensiveness a little. Speaking of, I really appreciated how self-aware the MC was of her own behaviour. She knew when she was doing something wrong/mean etc. and especially with Eilam, we see on-page reconciliation which I LOVED!! More often than not YA protagonists are oblivious to their own behaviour (especially bad/toxic) so this was really refreshing!!
Structurally, this one fell a little short for me. The pacing felt very sporadic- the middle section felt very stagnant compared to the start and the end which were very action-packed so it dragged a little there. I would've liked if maybe the time-travel training could've happened IN different timelines, it would've made the stakes a little higher and it feel less repetitive. I also would've liked if the time travel element was introduced - just a paragraph of general introduction (even if it was just a marvel lore or something like that) to set it up, because it felt very paranormal and then when the science-y time travel was revealed it felt a little anticlimactic. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the flowers growing out of their mouthes image - I really loved the idea of monstrous, invasive foliage incorporated into the physical bodies of the alternate characters but this felt a little cheesy. The ending was good, I liked the image of vines and greens growing around her brother after being trapped there for so long- like that world was consuming him slowly, stitching his mouth closed. I think if that was the tone from the start it would've leaned more into the horror which would've been fab. Sentences also started with verbs a lot, which was a little jarring to read - "Couldn't pinpoint" instead of "I couldn't pinpoint".
Overall, it was a fun read and the concepts were really cool but the execution could have been more focused.
Thank you Netgally UK for this e-arc 🖤
I feel like this book tried to do a lot of things, so some things felt a little brief- like they could've been explored in more detail. The science of time travel was touched on but was compared to Marvel/superheroes a lot (it felt like a shortcut to explain it without actually explaining how it was possible). I would've loved if we got more scenes with his grandpa talking about his experiences with different times and dimensions etc. There were also those really lovely flashes of memory/future/parallel realities where the two MC's are having really sweet, fluffy moments- I would've liked to have at least one full scene where they used time travel to do something fun - even just as a short epilogue, but their relationship definitely could've been explored more.
The interpersonal relationships (aside from her and her brother) felt kind of filler-y, her best friend who she ends up telling her biggest secret to only had a couple scenes worth of page-time. I really wanted to see more of their friendship, how it would help the MC heal a little more of her grief and maybe come out of her defensiveness a little. Speaking of, I really appreciated how self-aware the MC was of her own behaviour. She knew when she was doing something wrong/mean etc. and especially with Eilam, we see on-page reconciliation which I LOVED!! More often than not YA protagonists are oblivious to their own behaviour (especially bad/toxic) so this was really refreshing!!
Structurally, this one fell a little short for me. The pacing felt very sporadic- the middle section felt very stagnant compared to the start and the end which were very action-packed so it dragged a little there. I would've liked if maybe the time-travel training could've happened IN different timelines, it would've made the stakes a little higher and it feel less repetitive. I also would've liked if the time travel element was introduced - just a paragraph of general introduction (even if it was just a marvel lore or something like that) to set it up, because it felt very paranormal and then when the science-y time travel was revealed it felt a little anticlimactic. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the flowers growing out of their mouthes image - I really loved the idea of monstrous, invasive foliage incorporated into the physical bodies of the alternate characters but this felt a little cheesy. The ending was good, I liked the image of vines and greens growing around her brother after being trapped there for so long- like that world was consuming him slowly, stitching his mouth closed. I think if that was the tone from the start it would've leaned more into the horror which would've been fab. Sentences also started with verbs a lot, which was a little jarring to read - "Couldn't pinpoint" instead of "I couldn't pinpoint".
Overall, it was a fun read and the concepts were really cool but the execution could have been more focused.
Thank you Netgally UK for this e-arc 🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2023
3 Stars
Britney S. Lewis nails the visuals here--the creeping vines, the unsettling sense of being watched even as you watch the worst night of your life replay again and again in a nightmare dimension. This is a book with family at its core, rough and messy and broken. And I loved all of those things about it. I just wanted more.
Anyway, there's more to say here, and my full review will be available September 15, 2023 at Gateway Reviews. Check it out and leave me a comment when it goes live!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
Britney S. Lewis nails the visuals here--the creeping vines, the unsettling sense of being watched even as you watch the worst night of your life replay again and again in a nightmare dimension. This is a book with family at its core, rough and messy and broken. And I loved all of those things about it. I just wanted more.
Anyway, there's more to say here, and my full review will be available September 15, 2023 at Gateway Reviews. Check it out and leave me a comment when it goes live!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
February 23, 2025
The Dark Place dives into some heavy themes like loss, grief, and PTSD, following Hylee Williams as she deals with the aftermath of her brother’s mysterious disappearance. Nearly a decade later, she’s still struggling with the trauma, and things get even stranger when she starts disappearing herself with no answers.
This book had such a creepy, atmospheric vibe that kept me on edge. I loved the unreliable narrator aspect, which offered a fragmented view of Hylee’s memories. Once the mystery started to unfold, it picked up and became a lot more engaging. Overall, it’s a solid read with some great twists and a good mix of paranormal and sci-fi with some emotional depth.
This book had such a creepy, atmospheric vibe that kept me on edge. I loved the unreliable narrator aspect, which offered a fragmented view of Hylee’s memories. Once the mystery started to unfold, it picked up and became a lot more engaging. Overall, it’s a solid read with some great twists and a good mix of paranormal and sci-fi with some emotional depth.
July 17, 2023
* Thank you to Netgalley and Britney St. Lewis for this ARC, for my honest opinion.
This book will be released on August 8th.
First, I have to say this book cover is simply gorgeous and gives you the creepy mystery vibes that the book gives. The Dark Place is about a 17 year old Hylee who was born with a genetic that allows her to time travel. The book starts off with a slow pace, but once you get toward the middle, the pace picks up super fast, and the journey begins.
This book will be released on August 8th.
First, I have to say this book cover is simply gorgeous and gives you the creepy mystery vibes that the book gives. The Dark Place is about a 17 year old Hylee who was born with a genetic that allows her to time travel. The book starts off with a slow pace, but once you get toward the middle, the pace picks up super fast, and the journey begins.
November 28, 2024
I could not put this book down. I ended up pulling an all nighter because I HAD to know what happened next. I love everything about this ride and it is something that just needs to be experienced without spoilers. And just about anything you can say about this is spoilers. It had me on the edge of my seat one minute and crying the next. I will be buying this so I can listen again and again.
5 stars
5 stars
April 23, 2025
This was fast paced and engaging, but I went into it expecting horror, and it was not that. It was a time travel story, one that was often very unique but at other times fell into time travel cliches, especially with that very rushed and underwhelming ending. I liked the short chapters though.
dnf
August 31, 2023Not for me
August 25, 2024
For fans of Tiffany D Jackson and amber mcbride. Kept me glued and was creepy enough. Sweet romance.
December 12, 2024
The cover is cute :)
March 5, 2025
This book was good. I would recommend it.
August 21, 2025
this could have been 5 stars if it was a full sized / longer book, it has sooo much potential 😭 but it felt like a short film not a book
August 10, 2023
I just wrote a multi paragraph in depth review of this book but then the Goodreads app froze and I lost it all. I am not retyping all of that. However, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed “The Dark Place” and I can’t wait to see what Britney S. Lewis comes up with next.
If you like Stranger Things, 13 Reasons Why(high school drama), and even Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, then you are really going to enjoy this book.
If you like Stranger Things, 13 Reasons Why(high school drama), and even Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, then you are really going to enjoy this book.
September 10, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. After reading the story and wondering what is going to happen, it felt good to have an ending that felt right. I am really happy with the way she wrapped the story up.
August 8, 2023
Thanks to Britney for gifting me a copy of her dark book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is giving Spider-man into the spider verse vibes but darker and more eerie and well, just better.
It hooks you from that first chapter and holds you in its grip.
The portrayal of Hylee is so relatable that you can’t help but like her and feel her pain at the people around her dismissing her obvious confusion and angst.
I really enjoyed the writing of this book and have seen that Britney does have a previous book out so I shall be adding that to my tbr.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would say that anyone who enjoys mild horror and/or sci-fi stories will enjoy this one!
This book is giving Spider-man into the spider verse vibes but darker and more eerie and well, just better.
It hooks you from that first chapter and holds you in its grip.
The portrayal of Hylee is so relatable that you can’t help but like her and feel her pain at the people around her dismissing her obvious confusion and angst.
I really enjoyed the writing of this book and have seen that Britney does have a previous book out so I shall be adding that to my tbr.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would say that anyone who enjoys mild horror and/or sci-fi stories will enjoy this one!
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