When I say Dark and Shallow Lies is one of the most amazing debuts I've ever read, I'm not joking. Not even a little bit. Readers, get ready to sink into this entrancing and exciting novel. Full of lush description and intriguing premise, it is sure to engross you to such a degree that, if you are anything like me, you will struggle trying to put it down. The characters will entice you, the setting will grip you, and the slew of secrets building around La Cachette's small community may even haunt your dreams.
Dark and Shallow Lies follows seventeen-year-old Grey as she returns to her birthplace and summer home, La Cachette, after the disappearance of her bestfriend Elora. Despite acting as the psychic capital of the world, the small tourist town is confounded by the young girl's disappearance and possible death, either chalking it up to legend, tragedy, or even that too sinister to say aloud. Despite it all, Grey vows to uncover the truth behind her twin flame's death, no matter how many secrets she has to unbury to do so.
I think one of the most extraordinary parts of this novel is the setting. From the first page, you are surrounded by swamp, mud between your toes and thick heat flush against your skin. You can hear the water beside you, the crawl of insects around, and the thrum of magic as it drifts through the air. It's enough to make a girl want to plan a roadtrip to Louisiana herself, just to see if she can catch even the smallest glimpse in the real world of what this story showcases. The characters easily fit into the setting, almost as if they are inseparable from it. They are as much of the town and its legends as the buildings or its Cajun culture, creating a fascinating interdependence that I really enjoyed exploring.
However, the setting was not the only high point of this novel though. The mystery at the heart of the story is absolutely gripping. While I did predict certain plot points early on, there were other plot twists that took me completely by surprise. You'll be thinking you've got it all figured out until you're proven wrong time and time again. Hey, even if you've deciphered all the plot twists before you ever really even sink your teeth into the story, you're still guaranteed a fun ride. Consider yourself a psychic and watch the journey all unfold. I promise it's a great one.
Basically, buy the book.
Dark and Shallow Lies follows seventeen-year-old Grey as she returns to her birthplace and summer home, La Cachette, after the disappearance of her bestfriend Elora. Despite acting as the psychic capital of the world, the small tourist town is confounded by the young girl's disappearance and possible death, either chalking it up to legend, tragedy, or even that too sinister to say aloud. Despite it all, Grey vows to uncover the truth behind her twin flame's death, no matter how many secrets she has to unbury to do so.
I think one of the most extraordinary parts of this novel is the setting. From the first page, you are surrounded by swamp, mud between your toes and thick heat flush against your skin. You can hear the water beside you, the crawl of insects around, and the thrum of magic as it drifts through the air. It's enough to make a girl want to plan a roadtrip to Louisiana herself, just to see if she can catch even the smallest glimpse in the real world of what this story showcases. The characters easily fit into the setting, almost as if they are inseparable from it. They are as much of the town and its legends as the buildings or its Cajun culture, creating a fascinating interdependence that I really enjoyed exploring.
However, the setting was not the only high point of this novel though. The mystery at the heart of the story is absolutely gripping. While I did predict certain plot points early on, there were other plot twists that took me completely by surprise. You'll be thinking you've got it all figured out until you're proven wrong time and time again. Hey, even if you've deciphered all the plot twists before you ever really even sink your teeth into the story, you're still guaranteed a fun ride. Consider yourself a psychic and watch the journey all unfold. I promise it's a great one.
Basically, buy the book.