I've got to say, Ginny Myers Sain has a gift for creating a mysterious, atmospheric world that draws you in. Her writing is excellent and captivated me from the very first pages. Dark And Shallow Lies is set in a tiny swamp town in Louisiana, and while small towns aren't unfamiliar to young adult fiction, it's not often that we see a town quite like La Cachette. It's got a population of just over 100 people, and nearly everyone has some sort of psychic power. The town and the story are laced with magic, the supernatural, Cajun culture, mystery, and navigating small town dynamics. For me the biggest strength was how immersive the world was, and the mystery of the town kept me turning from each page to the next.
Speaking of mystery, this book follows Grey, a girl who is desperate to find out what happened to her best friend Elora. It's a mystery that covers many other secrets hidden in this small town, and I love the blend of mystery with the mystical. I will say, normally when I read mystery/thrillers I feel like there's a lot of misdirection and rabbit holes to go down into, and part of the fun of them is trying to see if I can guess or figure out what happened before it's revealed. And not that there wasn't any of that in this story, but I felt like most of the time Grey just didn't have any strong hints or clues as to what could have happened, so it was hard to make too many guesses myself. Part of the big reveal at the end I had guessed early on, but there were definitely still twists at the end I hadn't expected, so overall I'd still say the mystery element was pretty good. There were some small lulls in the story but the overall plot was enjoyable and easy to follow.
I also really enjoyed Grey as a protagonist. She's got a history and inner turmoil that make her interesting, and despite living in a tiny rural town of psychics, she seems like a very normal, relatable teenage girl. Her choices make sense based on who she is and she's not some super genius detective who finds out what happens in some unbelievable way. I enjoyed the realness to her that made me want to stick with her.
As a whole, I enjoyed reading this story and was able to finish it pretty quickly. I think it blends a lot of different genres well and can fit for people who like a variety of different things. I'd recommend it for any fellow YA lovers.
Speaking of mystery, this book follows Grey, a girl who is desperate to find out what happened to her best friend Elora. It's a mystery that covers many other secrets hidden in this small town, and I love the blend of mystery with the mystical. I will say, normally when I read mystery/thrillers I feel like there's a lot of misdirection and rabbit holes to go down into, and part of the fun of them is trying to see if I can guess or figure out what happened before it's revealed. And not that there wasn't any of that in this story, but I felt like most of the time Grey just didn't have any strong hints or clues as to what could have happened, so it was hard to make too many guesses myself. Part of the big reveal at the end I had guessed early on, but there were definitely still twists at the end I hadn't expected, so overall I'd still say the mystery element was pretty good. There were some small lulls in the story but the overall plot was enjoyable and easy to follow.
I also really enjoyed Grey as a protagonist. She's got a history and inner turmoil that make her interesting, and despite living in a tiny rural town of psychics, she seems like a very normal, relatable teenage girl. Her choices make sense based on who she is and she's not some super genius detective who finds out what happens in some unbelievable way. I enjoyed the realness to her that made me want to stick with her.
As a whole, I enjoyed reading this story and was able to finish it pretty quickly. I think it blends a lot of different genres well and can fit for people who like a variety of different things. I'd recommend it for any fellow YA lovers.