My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham -> Starting June 6th, 2022

[Aly]

WILDER GIRLS meets THE CRAFT in this Sapphic horror debut that asks: What price would you be willing to pay to achieve your deepest desires?

Finch Chamberlin is the newest transfer student to the ultra-competitive Ulalume Academy... but she's also not what she seems. Months before school started, Finch and her parents got into an accident that should have left her dead at the bottom of a river. But something monstrous, and ancient, and terrifying, wouldn't let her drown. Finch doesn't know why she woke up after her heart stopped, but since dying she's felt a constant pull from the school and the surrounding town of Rainwater, like something on the island is calling to her.

Selena St. Clair sees right through Finch, and she knows something is seriously wrong with her. But despite Selena's suspicion, she feels drawn to Finch and has a sinking feeling that from now on the two will be inexplicably linked to one another.

One night Finch, Selena, and her friends accidentally summon a carnivorous creature of immense power in the depths of the school. It promises to grant every desire the girls have kept locked away in their insecure hearts―beauty, power, adoration―in exchange for a price: human body parts. But as the cost of their wanting becomes more deadly, Finch and Selena must learn to work together to stop the horror they unleashed, before it consumes the entire island

[Carrie]

I've had this one for about 2 months, I'm super excited to start reading this. Thanks for another buddy up

[Carrie]

Starting this tonight!!

[Trisha]

I'll be starting tomorrow!

[Carrie]

I got 2 pages in and fell asleep. But I'll be ready at lunch today and this evening. I have high hopes for this book

[Carrie]

Have you started this one yet?? I'm only 4 chapters in but it seems to have a lot of potential for sure.

[Trisha]

yep, through 6 chapters

(view spoiler)[ I like Finch but I'm curious what saved her life

and this lady in the tunnel seems bad. now that I've read the synopsis, they probably should have left out what's going on with her in there. I would have rather discovered it lol (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

12 chapters

(view spoiler)[ I think we knew that Nerosi had some connection with brinigng her back

I liked the moment in the library when Finch saw the band
and honestly, Finch's roommate is so nice

this reads a little more middle grade/young ya than older ya
I don't hate it but I'm not loving it either (hide spoiler)]

[Carrie]

Trisha wrote: "yep, through 6 chapters

I like Finch but I'm curious what saved her life

and this lady in the tunnel seems bad. now that I've read the synopsis, they probably should have left out what's going o..."

I completely agree with you on this. I do wish they had left that out for sure.

[Carrie]

Trisha wrote: "12 chapters

I think we knew that Nerosi had some connection with brinigng her back

I liked the moment in the library when Finch saw the band
and honestly, Finch's roommate is so nice

this reads..."

I'm not this far yet. I'll be reading tonight

[Trisha]

Through ch 18

wow (view spoiler)[ that teeth pulling was super gross
Narosi's demands are getting worse - the first one, hair, was probably the easiest

I'm glad Finch and Selena are figuring things out and talking
but it sucks that Selena went back

and now I worry for amber. what are burr things in her arm?!?! ACK! (hide spoiler)]

[Carrie]

Only through chapter 8

You are way ahead of me. I'm not reading the spoilers yet.

Is it good? I am loving it so far

[Trisha]

and I'm done!

Yes, it's good ! I hope you love it!
don't click those spoilers! lol it'll give too much away!

[Trisha]

so ending

(view spoiler)[ wow, Finch pulling that open at the end. I wasn't so sure she wouldn't also go through - since she'd already died once, I wasn't sure she'd make it through

sad the Kyra had to go but she'd really lost it

and to kill Griffin :(

I am kind of sad that Risa and Amber never got the chance to fully flushed out friends

I did like the moment with Victor as he gave them clues (hide spoiler)]

[Carrie]

I do love the book. It's really good.

I knew Selena had a soft side to her.

Today is a very slow day at work so I'll have a little bit more time on my hands so I am hoping to finish it today.

But w/out looking at the spoilers just yet, I'm going to guess the Nerosi doesn't feel whole w/each wish she grants. She is sucking the life out of them to give her life. That's my guess at the moment.

[Carrie]

Thru chapter 16-This book totally reminds me of the movie The Craft. The girls get greedy. They are willing to sacrifice whatever they have to, to get what they want without thinking of the consequences later. However, I still am not sure how all this will come together

[Carrie]

Okay wait, this is way far out there but what if:

Nerosi needs someone to pull from to grant wishes to others so that Nerosi can become whole and be set free. I wonder if Nerosi saw the perfect sacrifice in Finch and every time one of the other girls (Risa, Kyra, Amber), what if every time she gives to them it takes away from Finch until she is completely dead dead??? HUM...

[Trisha]

ooh it is like The Craft
I think at one point there is even a reference to the movie and them watching it! lol

[Carrie]

So I'm right through the part where Selena is on stage and she hurts her ankle and I stopped so I could write this.. I am thinking she is about to become desperate enough to go to Nerosi to fix her ankle!!

[Carrie]

That was absolutely insane. That book went there. The blood, the gore, everything I could have asked for in a book. I knew Kyra was evil from the get go.

But the ending made me feel like Kayla Cottingham wanted to, she could do a follow up to that. I am so happy that Finch and Selena got to be together and truly just be free with each other and be free with who they are. That was a great book