Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! Unfortunately, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

While there was some real great representation in this book, the story was unfortunately very repetitive and lacked on execution.

I was obsessed with the idea of this book and the prologue really drew me in. I love small-town horror and the idea of the town itself being a bad entity keeping people within its boundaries was such an interesting vibe. Unfortunately, this book was riddled with plot holes and indistinct characters. I am also confused by there being about 3 sapphic characters but having a more straight romance.

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨

📝 Four teen girls live together and are forever linked by a mystery or curse surrounding them. Their moms disappeared on the same night, never seen or heard from again. The sunflowers know the secrets, and disappearances seem to continually happen. Can they work together to break the curse? Or, is it destined to happen to them?

What I 🤍:
😱 YA Horror
🌻 Creative Plot Idea
🏚️ Small Town Vibes
❓ Disappearing Women

This book had such a creative plot idea with murderous sunflowers. However, I felt lost in the four perspectives. They didn't really stand out to me, so sometimes I mixed them up.

Overall, this story is perfect for those wanting to dive into the horror genre. It will give you a little scare, but won't keep you up at night.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

With a constant and creeping sense of atmospheric dread, Where Darkness Blooms was a delightfully twisty character-driven horror/suspense novel that had me hooked immediately!

I love books with a strong focus on atmosphere and immersion and Andrea Hannah weaves a dark and mysterious tale with interesting characters and beautiful writing. While not all elements of this book worked as well as I personally hoped for, I was overall enamoured with the setting and the premise.

I loved the cover of this book, it's what caught my attention. The synopsis then drew me in pretty quick. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to the hype of the cover and synopsis for me though. It was a hard read to get through.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy in exchange for an honest opinion. Review has been posted on Amazon.

For most of this book, I wasn’t really sure what I was feeling about it. It felt like a variation of a story I’ve read quite a few times before, both in full length novels and in stories in anthologies. There were some aspects that felt more unique, and I knew I was enjoying the magical realism elements that accompanied the more common story of a town that survived off harming its women secretly. However, I didn’t really feel like this book was one that would stick with me.

That changed when we got to the ending. Most of these books end quickly and abruptly. Once the secrets are revealed and the evil has been apprehended, that’s it! Everyone can be safe and happy now, the day has been saved, and we can all forget about it. However, Where Darkness Blooms doesn’t quite stop here. It explores a bit further how the events of the book hang over the main characters, and how conscious the choice to move on and be happy really has to be. You aren’t suddenly free and safe just because you’ve figured out the truth and put a stop to it, as part of it will keep lingering and haunting you.

While this ending was of course not the core of the book, this extra element, this extension of the conclusion, is what made the book stick in my mind longer. It leaves you with something to think about and helps you work through the thoughts that the traumatic events of the story bring, rather than just letting you go. In the end, this book was exactly what I expected from the synopsis, and plot wise, it's a small town mystery/thriller full of lost women and the men who harm them. But with that ending and with that final focus on how to move on after this kind of trauma, the book became more than just a series of painful events, and ended on a note of healing. I do think it’s a book that will stick with me because of that, and I do hope more novels that take on these types of plots learn from this!

Review will be posted to my blog, goodreads, and storygraph once the strike ends!

First of all, the cover for this is simply stunning. Plus it gave me Wilder Girls vibes (which I loved that book!). The writing wasn't bad but I struggled with the pacing at times.

This cover is what drew me into the story so well done for that!
In a small town where sunflowers send whispered secrets on the wind is excitingly eerie and filled with horror - mystery - thriller vibes. The story was a tad hard to follow, it seemed to jump around at times making me play catch up. All in all you can figure out what is happening so it doesn't take away from the story. There are multiple POVs for each of the characters, giving you a unique view of their own thoughts and actions.

Going into this book, I was excited to get a spooky Mystery Thriller. And while I got the Mystery I didn’t get much else. I’m giving this a 3 out of 5 because I did enjoy the mystery but the characters for ME were not memorable nor did I find myself rooting for any of them. This story just fell flat for me and I wish it hadn’t, I wanted to love this one but it was just ok for me.

i don’t typically read supernatural thrillers but the cover of this book, which reminded me of wilder girls, caught my attention. unfortunately the writing style and pacing did not resonate with me too much, but this book was conceptually so interesting and i enjoyed the usage of magical realism. i also love multiple perspectives on principle so there were pros and cons for sure. thank you netgalley for the arc

This book is a true gem, offering a masterclass in multi-pov narratives. The characters are impeccably crafted, each possessing a distinct voice that adds depth to the storytelling. The setting is utterly captivating, and the portrayal of an extremely weird town enhances the overall charm. I couldn't help but fall in love with the intricacies of each character and the seamless interweaving of their perspectives. It's a testament to the author's skill in creating a rich and immersive narrative. If you appreciate well-developed characters, a unique setting, and the artistry of multi-pov storytelling, this book is an absolute must-read.

The magical realism in the book was done so well. I love that the author was able to create such an immersive setting with her descriptions. I just love all the creepy vibes and the characters are well fleshed out and written so well. The language the author used to create such imagery will give you goosebumps. I loved how menacing she made the sunflowers feel. This book will definitely captivate you immediately. I highly recommend.

"Where Darkness Blooms" by Andrea Hannah is an enthralling journey into the mysterious and supernatural. Hannah's eloquent prose paints a vivid picture of an atmospheric world, blending elements of suspense seamlessly. The characters are intricately woven, each harboring secrets that contribute to the complexity of the plot. The protagonist's emotional journey and the finely tuned pacing keep readers engaged, while the unexpected twists add an exhilarating element of surprise.

Hannah's storytelling prowess shines in crafting a narrative that is both haunting and beautiful, immersing readers in a world of darkness and intrigue. The plot's suspenseful nature, coupled with the author's exploration of psychological depths, results in a truly gripping read. "Where Darkness Blooms" is a standout novel that seamlessly blends mystery, suspense, and the supernatural, making it a must-read for those seeking a captivating and thought-provoking literary experience.

With that creepy cover, I wanted to like this a lot more. Four POVs but the girls all blended together. They weren't distinct enough to tell apart. I couldn't remember who was with Eleanor, was it Delilah or Whitney? Took like 80% for it to finally stick.

BIshop is a bizarre town - full of unexplained windstorms, seas of sunflowers, and missing women. It's a creepy book that will please fans of YA horror. It didn't fully coalesce for me, but I think it'll be a match for fans of the genre.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

The cover is stunning and I enjoyed the creepy vibe of the whole thing. Thank you for the early copy

This book had me guessing what was going to happen next after every chapter! I loved the characters and think teens will find them relatable.