A Spooky Southern Gothic

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shradha rawat Avatar

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When I got this book, I had hoped that the story would be just as gorgeous and intriguing as the cover, and I am happy to say that I was not disappointed. "Dark and Shallow Lies" is a modern YA Southern gothic, filled with Cajun folklore and mysterious events sprinkled in tarot card-like pages in between chapters. It does not appear to fall into one single genre either, at times delving into supernatural thriller/mystery, with just a dash of horror. Did it fall into a few YA clichés, like the handsome and mysterious stranger with a special connection to the heroine? Absolutely, but considering that this was the author's debut novel, and that she had already incorporated so many other unique elements through the setting and background, these were faults that I was willing to overlook.

Overall, "Dark and Shallow Lies" is a solid debut YA novel, one that I hope that the author follows up with even more extraordinary and unique stories.