The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew Amanda Toledo Andrew, Kelly The Whispering Dark. Scholastic, 2022 [400p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781338809473 $19.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781338809497 $12.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 8-12 Delaney Meyers-Petrov has secured a place at the legendary Godbole School, and she’s ready to shake the image that has overshadowed her since she lost her hearing at a young age: “Tragic Delaney, who’d fallen too sick too young . . . Fragile Delaney, who needed constant coddling. But capable Delaney—that was something new.” The promise of paranormal magic at Godbole appears to be true: Delaney’s roommate practices scrying, another friend knows the future, and teacher’s assistant Colton Price can rip open doors to another world. Still, Delaney struggles with the few accommodations provided for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, and she seems to have made an enemy of Colton, whose help she dearly needs to pass her classes. When Delaney begins to connect the recent disappearances of some Godbole [End Page 79] students to a secret society Colton belongs to, the two must work together to stop the evil at the college’s heart. Delaney and Colton’s push-and-pull relationship is the driving force of this deliciously dark paranormal romance, and Andrew’s debut has all the angst and atmosphere that will keep lovers of this genre eagerly turning the pages. The mystery aspect is not quite up to par with the romance, with opaque hints and sudden scene skips, but this still makes a strong recommendation for those looking for more dark academia like Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House, or more teen angst like Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois