My Dearest Darkest

De: Kayla Cottingham

Narrado por: Lindsey Dorcus

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 the 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.

©2022 Kayla Cottingham (P)2022 Tantor

Epic YA LGBTQ+ Horror

Wow! Cottingham weaves a story that will send shivers up your spine (and possibly haunt your nightmares).

I don't always read YA, but horror? A++

Cottingham's characters are so well written you'll likely experience second-hand embarrassment as you remember the awkwardness of your teens, but also feel invigorated by the energy that comes being reminded of your youth. The eldritch horror isn't too lost on its own lore, staying just out of frame yet ever present while our protagonists try to figure out what they're dealing with. Lindsey Dorcus crushes the performance yet again, with destinct voices, accents, and tones all executed perfectly. Strong re-listen value in story and performance, my highest praise.

Kayla Cottingham I am your biggest fan

If you have no fans that means I am DEAD. Your writing really captures the feelings I had the first time I watched Jennifer’s Body: scared and GAY. This story was so fun and well written with incredible characters I really wanted to root for. I felt like I was in the story. Truly incredible I can not WAIT for more content !!

Book was great, but struggles in audiobook

It was very hard to follow which character was being addressed as the story went on. You have to pay very close attention to when names are mentioned. This is not exactly the author or narrator’s issue as I imagine the book wasn’t written to change perspective and it would have been difficult for the narrator to determine when to change voices.
Otherwise the book is very good. Nice storyline incorporating horror, mystery, and romance.

gay :)

everything was a bit to convenient and it didnt really have any consequences but the romance was cute