Hylee is haunted by the traumatic events that took place on the day her brother went missing when she was a little girl. now seventeen, she tries to ignore the strangeness of that day that still seems to linger. everything changes when she disappears spontaneously during a family cookout to a twisted version of her childhood home. when she reappears, her family treats her differently and avoids talking to her about the disappearance. when she accidentally disappears in front of Eliam, a handsome guy she‘a just met who loves knowledge and feels oddly familiar to her, she confides in him about the oddness of her situation. together they try to uncover what truly happened all those years ago and if Hylee has more power over her fate than she believes.

this is such an intriguing, unique story! I don’t normally read a lot of sci-fi but I really enjoyed it combined with the creepier horror elements and these incredible characters. Lewis does a phenomenal job in creating Hylee’s voice with her writing. it feels like Hylee’s telling the story and allowing the reader to untangle all the secrets and memories alongside her. I also loved the little romance on the side. Eliam is really precious and seeing the connection between him and Hylee was perfect.

the only issue for me was the pacing of this book. at some points, the story dragged while others it flew by. after getting halfway through the book, it went by so fast which made the ending feel a little rushed to me. I also would have liked to know more about Hylee’s abilities because it was such a unique facet of this story.

overall, I definitely recommend checking this out when it comes out this August!!

thank you Netgalley and Hyperion for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Disney Publishing Worldwide, Disney Hyperion, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

To Hylee Williams happened a really weird thing. She disappeared and appeared into a dark and twisted version of the night that changed her life, when her older brother went missing. Just as she's trying to understand what really happened that night, she's brought back to her real world. Without knowing what exactly happened and craving for a normal night, she decided to go to a party with her best friend, when she meets Eilam Roads, a new boy, who she feels attracted too. She thinks it's the normal attraction, until the grip of the dark world happens again. Right in front of him. Now involved too, Eilam and Hylee start an investigation to understand what's happening and the truth about time, space and that weird and twisted world, while Hylee is more and more convinced her time travel could be the key to understand what happened to her brother. More and more they learn, more and more they start to realize there's darkness around them and in themselves too.

First of all, I fell in love with the plot and this magnificent cover, because it's impossible not to. A dark and twisted place you could travel to in order to find the truth? An handsome boy willing to help you investigate time and travel? This book is a mix of romance, creepy moments, YA, horror and haunting secrets and a truth unwilling to be hidden. With care and sensitivity, Britney S. Lewis talks about pain and loss, love and new chances, fighting to find the truth and to face your own in this unmissable story.
Hylee and Eilam are amazing characters, I love their bond, their investigation and Hylee's dark and twisted world and how it could and it does, hide the truth about what really happened to her older brother.
Incredible, interesting and deeply original, it's a journey you don't wanna skip!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was an interesting look at time travel and the multiverse. Hylee’s life is forever changed after her older brother disappears during a break in and is never found. 9 years later, Hylee is still dealing with the grief of losing him. She regularly disappears and reappears in front of her family and friends. When she vanishes, she finds herself in The Dark Place, which is a different version of her childhood home where her trauma took place

I liked Hylee, but I didn’t understand why her family didn’t want anything to do with her. You’d think losing one kid was bad enough, but they pretty much just dump her on her Grandma and barely think about her because of her disappearing. I feel like maybe they’d want to get her help for it? And I liked Eilam, but his character was off. He literally told Hylee out loud she was the main character and not like other girls. Sir. I would have also liked to understand better about the time traveling and multiverse aspects of the story. What was she doing that was triggering other timelines?

I love black girl horror so much and I wished I had loved this a little bit more. I’ll be looking for more from this author and also try to read her debut book as well.

The writing for me was very effective, the pacing of the story isn’t fast but I didn’t want to put it down. Hylee’s character is sometimes repetitive however she is a typical 17 year old who wants the truth and answers and that’s what I really liked about her. I like how she progressed in confidence every time she went to ‘the dark place’
Will definitely be picking up this authors debut and will be reading future works

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e arc

I really enjoyed The Dark Place by Britney S. Lewis.
I have to admit I mainly wanted to read this book because of its cover.
It's gorgeous!

I'm really happy that I also ended up really enjoying the book.
I thought it was written well and was creepy and atmospheric.
The book did start a little slow but once it got going it was really good.

I definitely highly recommend this book!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Dark Place was such a run read. The atmosphere was dark and creepy without being too overwhelming which I think a lot of people will appreciate. The premise was really cool and going to different time lines was fun. I really loved Eilam and how patient he was. I also liked how well you could feel Hylee’s grief and exhaustion and I could really sympathise with her.
I did think the pacing of this was a little off. I got to a point when things seemed to finally start happening and the stakes got higher and realised that I was 80% in and the book was about to be over and the ending wrapped up quickly. Hylee’s family didn’t make much sense to me either with the way they completely dismissed things and there was a plot point there that was briefly mentioned and then no closure was given even though I was really interested to see where that went. I also wanted to see more from the friend Hylee met at school, I didn’t really get the point of her being a character with how little she affected the plot and was in the book.

I did enjoy this though, it felt cosy and like the kind of book you’d read on a rainy October night, also the cover is absolutely beautiful.
I’d definitely recommend this to readers wanting to get into the horror/sci-fi genre.

A solid sophomore story from Lewis. Not quite as unique as her debut, and a few elements felt a little similar, but still a noteworthy sci-fi horror - which isn't a common combo. I enjoyed this take on time travel - and the end of the book had me screaming! (in a good way).

* Thank you to Netgalley and Britney St. Lewis for this ARC, for my honest opinion.
This book will be released on August 8th.
First, I have to say this book cover is simply gorgeous and gives you the creepy mystery vibes that the book gives. The Dark Place is about a 17 year old Hylee who was born with a genetic that allows her to time travel. The book starts off with a slow pace, but once you get toward the middle, the pace picks up super fast, and the journey begins.

This one was spooky (and a little confusing, but like in a good way?) and I really see my students getting into this one. I think I may have outgrown my YA thriller phase (at least for now), but I was still able to appreciate it. The writing style reminded me of Tiffany D Jackson so I think fans of her or Ryan Douglass will like this.

As someone who has read Britney’s previous book and now this one, I am so amazed at how her story telling keeps getting better and better. Now I don’t want anything to be confused ,her first book was amazing but this book was just so good in its own way .

This story takes place in Kansas following our main character Hylee, who is a 17 year old black girl who can time travel . Time travel ? Yes.

When Hylee is 8 years old, someone breaks into her parents home and attacks her father and brother Bubba. During this encounter Hylee is told to hide in the closet and all of a sudden she thinks she’s passed out but when she wakes she is on the front porch not where she was hiding . Also her brother Bubba is missing . No one knows what happened to Hylee or Bubba but the parents seem to be afraid of Hylee now .

Fast forward Hylee is now 17 and living with her grandmother missing her brother terribly. She keeps “passing out “ , but when she does she is taken to the Dark Place where she hears voices and she can replay the events of the night her brother disappeared . Is she the only one who can time travel? Are there others? Others in her family ?

As the story continues Hylee is able to uncover secrets within her family and her friends. She realizes how to somewhat navigate time travel ,but not without consequences. Not everything can be solved by going back in time .

This story does deal with grief but Britney does a wonderful job at allowing you to feel the pain of those who are grieving without being too heavy on the reader . By the end ,all things find themselves where they should be .



Thank you Britney and Net Galley for the ARC . This review was my honest opinion.

Britney S. Lewis brings this sophomore book to life with Hylee and Eilam’s chemistry. While not as much of a gut punch as her debut, “The Dark Place” does a fantastic job of hitting the sentimental beats necessary to keep the reader invested in the emotional fall out. While I haven’t gotten super into the multi-verse trend, I loved reading Lewis’ version of it, and I even found myself checking out some of the pop culture references listed in the text.
I would love to see what Lewis could do with new adult or even just adult fiction. She has a proven track record of creating unique worlds that her audience can easily immerse ourselves in, but sometimes there is that small craving of seeing how a more mature set of characters would handle these scenarios. That said, I love her unique brand of sci-fi and alt Black girls, and love her voice as it is.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hyperion for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all I want to say thank you for gifting me this arc in exchange for a honest review.

I was super excited about the premise of this book, I saw the author’s tiktok and the videos she made about this book made me run to apply for the arc.

I’ll start it by saying I loved the ending of this book, the last 60% was really enjoyable to read. That being said the pacing was all over the place in this book. Because of the pacing issue I didn’t find myself investing in the story until I got to the last 60% which made the first half of the book really drag on.

This is Britney S. Lewis’ sophomore novel and I am excited to read her future releases.

4.25 stars
I really enjoyed The Dark Place. It took me a minute to fall into the flow of its pacing at the beginning, but at the 60%, when all of the stakes were set, I was hooked and ended up binge-reading to the end with the rush of going down a steep hill. I appreciate the depth of the world-building, from the twisted nuances of the dark place to the recurring presence of coffee and tea. I also liked the hot and cold of Hylee and Eilam's relationship. While sometimes their interactions took abrupt turns, they are still teenagers, so the lack of logic actually made more sense. I also think that the idea of the kind of inevitable love the exists across multiple or even all timelines is beautiful. Also, without any spoilers, I wonder if this story points to the idea of there being peace in closure. Overall, there is a contemplative moodiness about this book I like and would recommend to anyone who is drawn to a similar vibe.

What a captivating read! Definitely a new favourite that I finished in TWO DAYS!

This story follows teenager Hylee, who one day during a family cookout disappears, and on her return, remembers nothing. As a result, her family and everyone acts strangely around her, including her best friend who wants nothing to do with her oddness. But this experience propels Hylee to figure out who she truly is, and as she starts to unravel the mystery of why her brother disappeared when she was a child, she discovers The Dark Place.

I fell so deeply in love with Hylee and this mystery. There's so many important themes discussed: grief, loss, hope and wonder. And the inclusion of time travel as well as an adorable romance reminded me why I love YA mystery novels so much. The writing was great- and it really packed a punch, maintaining that sense of wonder as we discover what the dark place really is, and what it wants from Hylee.

My anger at her parents lessened as the book went on, but I found it so frustrating to witness how her grandmother and parents dismissed her, trying to keep their own motivations a secret. The pacing of this book was fantastic, and I couldn't move my eyes fast enough. Every word was necessary, and it left me wishing this book was longer. It was wrapped up really well, and with Hylee and Eilam's story complete, it makes me want to already reread this book because it just sticks with you long after the final page.

This book is dark and gritty, but it's also a testament to the extent we would go to discover ourselves and protect those we love. I highly recommend this novel if you want something unique with an eerie undertone and memorable characters.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publishers for an e-arc!

I'll start this by saying that The Dark Place is not something I would have normally read--it's outside of my comfort zone and tackles themes that I think are very important. I loved every moment I spent reading. It's discomfort is part of the narration and it makes one think--the book leaves a lasting impression.

Thank you, Britney S. Lewis, NetGalley, and Disney Publishing Worldwide/Disney Hyperion, for sending me with an eARC of The Dark Place.

Wow, the Dark Place had me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed this book. The plot was really interesting and everything that I thought was gonna happen, really did take a nice turn.
The characterization is stellar. The protagonist as well as the side-characters in the novel from arc’s is fantastic. It was complex, interesting and well-written. In addition, the writing style was excellent, especially the environment. The tone is dark and mysterious and gripping. It really does make the world feel more alive. Overall, the Dark Place has a well-drawn out plot with lovable complex-characters with suspenseful twists which will make readers crave to see more from Lewis.

The Dark Place by Britney S. Lewis is an intriguing and haunting sci-fi novel that will keep readers guessing. With its intricate plot, well-crafted characters, and unexpected twists, this novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth.
The story centers around the enigmatic protagonist, who finds herself haunted by a traumatic event from her past. As she grapples with her own inner demons, she becomes entangled in a series of mysterious and unsettling events that blur the line between reality and nightmare. Lewis's writing style is atmospheric and evocative, creating a sense of unease that permeates the narrative.
One of the standout features of The Dark Place is Lewis's ability to craft complex and layered characters. The protagonist's internal struggles are portrayed with authenticity and nuance, making her a relatable and compelling figure. The supporting characters are equally well-developed, each with their own motivations and secrets, adding depth and intrigue to the story.
While The Dark Place is a gripping and atmospheric novel, there are moments when the pacing feels slightly uneven. Some sections could have benefited from tighter editing to maintain the intensity and momentum of the story. Additionally, a few plot elements may require readers to suspend disbelief, but they do not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book.
In conclusion, The Dark Place is a captivating and suspenseful YA sci-fi novel that will satisfy fans of the genre. Britney S. Lewis's adept storytelling, combined with well-drawn characters and unexpected twists, make this novel an engrossing read.

The unsettling feelings built to an emotional and heart-rending end, but one that felt incredibly healing and I was rooting right along with Hylee the whole time.

Britney S. Lewis has weaved a heart wrenching, intriguing tale of grief and love that spans across time. The Dark Place is an utter page turner.

Lewis is fantastic at creating a setting that feels real. Her writing is incredibly atmospheric and immersive, it’s like I could feel the air around me, the setting twisting and morphing as the protagonist — Hylee — moved throughout the world, making discovery after discovery.

The plot was intriguing and had me incredibly curious, and I was eager to get answers — it was a mystery I couldn’t quite figure out until a few pages before it was revealed. And my god, the heartbreak. I felt such sorrow for Hylee, mixed in with joy and relief as she finally had the answers she was looking for, and for the brief moment of hope that came with them.

I loved how this book dealt with grief, and how it is different for everybody. No one person grieves the same. I also love how this book dealt with memory, and the way we remember things. How what you recall may be accurate, but it was one piece of a larger puzzle that you weren’t able to see at the time.

I didn’t expect for time travel to be a part of this novel, but I really enjoyed it. I do wish we had a bit more to why Hylee’s experiences were so different from Eilam’s (unless I missed something in my eager page turning). I felt it was briefly touched upon but could’ve gone further.

I liked how this book also touched on friendship, although I do wish, again, that we had a bit more of that. A lot of Hylee’s relationships (or lack there of) with her friends felt rushed and underdeveloped, as Lewis spent more time on the “main” plot.

Sometimes I found the pacing off this book to be off. At times, it moved incredibly fast. At others, it lagged. It was a weird balance that could never quite find its footing, which was disappointing, but it didn’t impact my enjoyment of this novel by a large degree.

The horror elements were written well, I most certainly felt a fright with some of the descriptions. It was unnerving! This goes back to Lewis’ fantastic skill at creating imagery that jumps off of the page.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It wasn’t what I expected to be (time travel) and that was a delightful surprise that I enjoyed.

The Dark Place by Britney S. Lewis was dark and twisted with romantic undertones. This book was poetically written and I enjoyed the pace of the plot line. The characters were witty and easily relatable. I was impressed by the writing style, and I haven't read anything like it, it was unique and artistic which I appreciated. Overall highly worth the read. I loved the cover too, it perfectly reflects the dark yet artisitc nature of the book.