I loved how this book made strong connections to the characters and the town itself. It felt like you were one of the 1021 residents of Gypsum and were able to see the story happening and play out in real time. This is a YA read and would be a great introduction for YA readers who would like to venture into the paranormal/horror genre. The problem I had with this book is that the solution seems very temporary and would not solve the problem for more than a year or two. *SPOILER* trapping Kit in the Diner and putting up “Do Not Cross. Dangerous Chemicals” warning all over is just inviting trespassers to come snooping around and let him out. If there are plans for a book two this solution might make sense but if not, the wrap up of this story just leaves me with more questions.

Sweetest Darkness is set in a small town, and follows a teenager called Quinn. Quinn is a physic, he can read a persons future, and although his older brother forbids him from doing so, money is tight, so Quinn continues dwelling into peoples minds for quick money. But something is off, Quinn and his two best friends, June and Selena, start having the same dream about the abandoned hotel. Eventually the work up the nerve to go investigate, but what they find in the hotel has the power to destroy the town if they don't find a way to stop it.

I liked this book, the town had a nice vibe and I had no problem connecting with the characters, and though I really enjoyed the plot the ending left me unsatisfied, it didn't really feel like the problem had been fully dealt with, more that they'd found a temporary solution which felt a bit rushed.

Thanks to Leslie Lutz and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Quinn lives with his older brother, in their late Nan’s house in a small town that’s just a bit too strange, Quinn is reading people’s futures against his older brother’s wishes trying to make a bit more cash, and Quinn’s brother chasing the next big thing that can save them and the home they love, but this time something, someone has noticed and it may not be all that friendly, there’s something more going on in town than anyone realises.

With visions of the future, puzzling dreams and a safe that has a stalking problem, this book is a must-read for horror lovers, it does start out a bit slow, but by the midpoint, it goes from 0 to 100 in a blink of an eye keeping you on the edge of your seat and the pages turning to find out what happens next.

Lutz has a great talent for story telling. The story if spooky, creepy, and I loved the characters and setting. This was a great read and I highly recommend it for people who are looking for something a little spooky and wanting a good character to follow.

After having similar reoccurring dreams about a local hotel, three teenagers discover a dark past of their small Texan town and the thing that may just destroy it. The main one of the three being Quinn, who has psychic abilities and seemingly the strongest connection to supernatural incidents at the hotel.

This book is marketed as a horror novel, but I think that may be doing it a disservice. There was not as much horror as I suspected. In fact, the main entity does not show up on page that often, and takes a while to appear. The crux of this book really is the town and people of Gypsum, there’s just a supernatural element to the story. It’s unfortunate, because the monstrous part of the story was the most entertaining.

Speaking of supernatural, reading this gave the vibes of an old episode of the TV show Supernatural, particularly the local haunts in small towns. The mystery element was interesting enough to keep me engaged, the book was enjoyable enough, though there was ultimately something lacking for me.