The Dark Cove Theatre Society is a young adult dark academia vibed novel with academic rivalry, although minimal. Our main character, violet, and her best friend are two lower income students navigating an extremely rich exclusive boarding school for high school and get sucked into the high school drama of rich exclusive societies.
There is an underlying mystery to be solved but once you finally get information on the mystery, it felt a bit rushed and ended abruptly,
This book contains a lot of modern feminism, activist culture, diverse characters and use of Inclusive language. There are many modern, trendy, alt, artsy references. It also has many articles,footnotes, and drawings which I mostly found fun but did find a few of the foot notes unnecessary.
Overall I enjoyed but felt its more of a book for young modern day readers and would recommend to a younger demographic.

The Dark Cove Theatre Society is a book that is built on the mystery and atmosphere of the school, while also building friendships along on the way. The atmospheric nature of the school is a good setup for the future plot of the paranormal, which is quite interesting and cozy.

I did have some problems reading through the book in one sitting, as I felt the first half of the book to be a slow buildup of the story that follows. I felt the story was quite slow, but once it was past a certain plot twist, I became more hooked on the premise of why the school is the way that it is. Building that up was a worthwhile read after that, when the enemies of the narrator, Violet, became a pretty strong friendship towards the end, although the relationship aspects are a little lacking.

I felt the first half of the story could be a little bit shortened, but otherwise than that, I felt it was an alright read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Annick Press for the ARC in return for my honest review.

I really like the writing and the diverse cast. I’m a huge fan of dark academia. The thing is though, the footnotes distract me. A lot. It might have been different if I had read a physical book where the footnotes are at the bottom of the page, but jumping back and forth on my Kindle pulls me out of the story too much. I’m at 13% and the 30th footnote. So, with pain in my heart I decided to DNF.

A gothic boarding school with a theatrical twist, but a story that didn’t fully hit the mark.

The Dark Cove Theatre Society had all the ingredients for a gripping dark academia read: a cutthroat arts boarding school, a cursed theater production, and a protagonist battling anxiety and self-doubt. I was instantly intrigued by the setting and the mysterious lore surrounding the Society and its Halloween play. The inclusion of found texts like secret letters and school handbooks added a creative and immersive layer that helped bring the Academy to life.

That said, the execution didn’t quite live up to the promise for me. While Violet's internal struggle was relatable, the pacing felt uneven, and I found it hard to stay emotionally invested in the supporting cast and romance plotlines. The tension built slowly but never quite peaked in a satisfying way, and the “curse” aspect didn’t land as creepily or dramatically as I hoped.

It’s a solid debut with potential, and I think fans of Ace of Spades or If We Were Villains might still enjoy the moody vibes and drama-filled dynamics. I just wanted a little more depth from the characters and more punch from the plot.

I received an ARC copy from Netgalley for a fair and honest review. This is a great YA genre book. This takes place in the second of four years for the main female character (MFC), Violet (Vi), and her best friend and awesome hype girl, Kay. Violet had the aspiration of becoming an actress, but her anxiety got the better of her, so she changed her focus and took to playwriting instead. With her dreams shattered and her academics looking not so great, she is offered a role of a lifetime (in school).

This book has it all: the drama clique girls, the jock types, and all the highschool angst that one thrives for in a YA that reaches the inner freshman in all of us. Overall, we have been Violet at some point in our high school years. Reading about her adapting and overcoming her challenges was a pleasure.

As others have said, the initial reading was a bit hard with notes here and there breaking up the story a bit, but given that the book isn't out yet, I know that the storyline will be easier to flow and follow the story along. I thank the author for renewing my love for the YA genre.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for giving me access to this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unfortunately couldn't even get past the first chapter. The foot notes... ugh! They should be at the back of the book not shoved between two paragraphs. I literally couldn't continue reading through it, it was so jarring. Having a sentence cut off completely, just so something random was explained before.. and for the sentence to continue almost a page later. It's unnecessary, weird and just irritating.
When this book becomes published, if the foot note aspect becomes fixed.. then i might buy this and give it another go.
Disappointed in it, I love the cover and the synopsis is quite interesting.

I wanted to love this as a theatre kid but I just couldn't seem to get into it. Maybe it was my mood or the time of year. I feel like I should have waited until fall.

As a former theatre kid in high school, I was excited to read this book even if it was categorized as YA. The story is about a student, Vi, who has a bad case of imposter syndrome at her arts-oriented school (which is located on a creepy island off of British Columbia). She is struggling with her choice of major, whether she can act or not, who she likes--basically, who she is. Who can't relate? She's cast in A Midsummer Night's Dream and becomes part of a secret society of theatre students and has to negotiate that. I liked all these parts of the book. I frankly got a bit bored during the 'uncovering the mystery' part of the book. All in all a pretty good read though.

A charming YA gem that blends the drama of theatre life with a sprinkle of mystery. Violet’s journey from reluctant actress to lead role is captivating, and her dynamic with Frankie and Hunter adds a sweet tension. The use of mixed media—like newspaper clippings—brought a fun, immersive touch, though I craved even more. While the theatre department overshadowed other parts of the school, Violet’s growth—and her ride-or-die best friend Kay—made this story shine.

This was a super interesting book! I was pulled in due to the cover and was pleasantly delighted to enjoy the story! This story definitely focused towards YA readers, and we’ll keep you on your toes!

I enjoyed meeting all of the characters and learning their quirks, as well as seeing how the plot progressed throughout! The mystery was cute and I enjoyed seeing how it would turn out!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.75⭐️ The Dark Cove Theatre Society follows Violet, an aspiring actor, who gets cast as one of the leads in an upcoming play. The previous semester, she had a panic attack during her final performance. Her grades dropped, and she didn’t think she would ever be a leading lady. Her confidence in her abilities were gone. And yet, she was still cast as a lead again.

On top of feeling reluctant to be a lead and not believing in herself, the group at this prestigious school brings up the “Society curse”, rumors saying it’s gonna be her who has it. This is a long standing curse, where someone always drops out before opening night.

This book explores themes surrounding self worth, pressure to succeed, and coming of age.

This gave me very much Starling House with the spooky/dark academia vibes, but make it a lot more LGBTQ. I thought it was creative and clever, especially having the excerpts, newspaper clippings, announcements, playlists etc., along with the footnotes. I was intrigued and interested in what was coming next.

I could connect with Violet about anxiety and the pressure on her. She was so stressed about letting people down, and I could relate. I liked the mystery and the friendships that were built and emphasized throughout as well.

I have to add this quote from the book because it made me laugh so hard:
“Call her…Zelda.”
“As in, The Legend of?”
“Exactly.”

I did find it a bit messy and confusing at parts. Sometimes it didn’t feel as connected, and I was getting lost in the story.

Overall, cool concept! I would say I’m not too knowledgeable in theatre, but I could follow along and understand still. I was invested in the group having a successful performance.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to ARC read in exchange for an honest review!

The Dark Cove Theatre Society is a YA dark-academia thriller that takes place at the fictional Dark Arts Theatre Academy - presented to the reader as the premier fine arts secondary school in North America, if not on an international stage. Students from across the globe are drawn to the gothic campus which is set on an island off the coast of British Columbia. There is some nice atmopshere here and those who love a remote island setting and a dark, haunted campus will enjoy the backdrop.

FMC Violet and her best friend, Kay, are returning for their second year as "Covies" and the story unfolds as they find their way amid the pressures of academia, struggles with friends/enemies, budding romances and potential hauntings.

This book started off strong for me and I do find a lot of promise here - this going to resonate with lovers of the dark academia genre and anyone who was ever a "theater kid." I think the target audience (YA readers) is going eat this up and look past some of the structural flaws and plot holes.

This book apparently makes use of a lot of mixed media - letters, newspaper clippings, emails, scripts, maps etc. I say apparently because the formatting of the e-ARC made it nearly impossible to make use of that. This was disappointing because I think it will be a really big asset to the book as a whole and help to progress the story and create a sense of discovering clues along the way. The author also leans heavily on footnotes. I don't have issues with footnotes in a novel but they felt really clunky here. Footnotes as a secondary narrative is one thing but when they are literally just a continuation of the sentence at hand, it seems they could be omitted. There are many notes that are necessary definitions and descriptions of terms and texts that might be unfamiliar to the casual reader.

On a positive note, there is a lot of fabulous representation of queer perspectives here. This is refreshing to see in the YA category where readers might be seeking out characters that are relatable across a broader spectrum than is offered in mainstream teen fiction. The story was well-written although I felt the ending was rather rushed. This is one of those rare books where I actually would have preferred it to be about twice as long so that more time could be spent exploring the Arts Academy and getting to know more about the students and faculty.

I give this a solid 3-stars but I really feel like it will veer more into 4-star territory with a good, firm edit and a proper printing with all of the appendices. A must-read for lovers of dark academia and anyone with big theater-kid energy.

Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an e- ARC of this book in exange for my honest opinion.

**First Person ARC Review: *The Dark Cove Theater Society* by Sierra Marilyn Riley**

*The Dark Cove Theater Society* had me from the very first act—equal parts eerie, elegant, and deliciously theatrical. It’s the kind of story that pulls back the velvet curtain and dares you to step into the shadows backstage, where the real drama unfolds in whispers, glances, and something far more sinister than stage fright.

There’s a haunting quality to the entire book, not just in the mystery at its center, but in the way Riley captures obsession, ambition, and the thin line between performance and reality. The setting—a small coastal town with a crumbling theater and a cast of characters who all seem to be hiding something—felt like the perfect stage for secrets to unravel. I could practically smell the moth-eaten costumes and hear the creak of floorboards under ghostlight.

What stood out most to me was how layered the narrative is. Yes, it’s a mystery, but it’s also about identity and legacy, about the roles we choose and the ones that are forced on us. The characters felt flawed and real, and I was never quite sure who I could trust—or what they might be capable of once the spotlight hit.

There’s a slow, mounting tension to the book that made it impossible to put down. By the time the final curtain dropped, I was left stunned and deeply satisfied. *The Dark Cove Theater Society* is moody, clever, and haunting in the best way. If you love stories where art imitates life—and then life turns around and bites back—this one deserves a standing ovation.

2.4, generously
By the time I got far enough in to stop being distracted by the nightmare formatting, I was good and fed up with those condescending ass footnotes. Please understand that I love footnotes in fiction, nerdy deep dives into things that influence the story without being the story? Yes. Yes all day. These, in contrast, were needlessly simplistic explanations of extremely commonplace phrases. It was all rather insulting.

This was a inspiring read, the topics that are touched on and how they're written were done so beautifully. I loved the character growth, the elements of mystery and all of the pop culture references.

Violet and her best friend Kay go to a prestigious arts school with old fashioned rules, mysterious lore, and strict requirements to keep grades up. After stepping down from acting previously, and now being told she has to audition still, she thinks she might be cursed. Awkwardness with her former crush, changing feelings between her and her nemesis, letting go of the things she lets hold her back.

It was a pretty good read, I think this will be great for young queer kids to read, I'd recommend this to anyone who loves dark academia and the theatre.


(I received this book as a arc)

The Dark Cove Theatre Society was an easy choice to read. As someone who grew up in the theatre, this was such a fun mystery coming of age story. The threads of this story were so carefully woven together that when we got towards the end everything really clicked into place. This story truly skates the thin like of the supernatural which really added to the old, spooky atmosphere of this story. Easily a 4.5/5 for me.

I was to start with the fact that the writing and stylization itself was probably one of the best aspects of this book. The author is so descriptive in the writing of this novel that it is easy to be sucked into this world. The style of the footnotes and the appendices really added to the dark academia atmosphere of this story very well. The characters were very well crafted and the twist towards the end was lovely. I could definitely see the breadcrumbs for that twist throughout the story. Violet was very relatable and for someone with anxiety, she felt so real. I loved the representation of different cultures and the diversity of the characters which was done quite well in my opinion. My only issue with the book was that it had a bit of a slow start, but once I was in, I was in! I had a lovely time with this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book!

Rating: 4 stars

*Thank you to NetGalley and Annick Press for the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! It was the first book in a long time that I couldn't stop thinking about when I wasn't actively reading it - it made me feel like I was coming out of a reading slump I didn't even know/think I was in!

The story itself was great; the historical 'Covie curse' aspect turned what I would have otherwise considered a relatively uninteresting plot into something intriguing. My interest fluctuated at times because I thought that there were clues that were 'too obvious' (I thought for sure, at multiple times, that I had figured out what was going to happen). I was pleasantly surprised when that 'for sure' feeling of having figured things out kept changing.

Part of what made this book so fun to read was the additions of the 'appendix' pages and the use of footnotes from the main character! It gave reading an 'active' kind of feel.

I think that the book is definitely something that can be impactful for the YA audience, especially given the age of the characters and high school setting, along with the challenges the main character is facing at the time and the dynamics between different characters. It might not be as impactful for those reaching the end of what is considered the YA age bracket, as the writing does read/lean a little on the younger YA side, in my opinion.

The ending was just a tad anti-climactic for what I was hoping for, and I do wish that some of the characters were more fleshed out throughout the story. I also feel that the end was effective in getting the themes across but could have done so in a bit less overt way with the characters' writing and inner dialogue.

Overall, I would definitely recommend the book, especially for YA readers that lean towards the younger and middle age ranges of YA.

The Dark Cove Theatre Society was... okay, but frankly just okay. I found it kind of messy and all over the place, and like it couldn't quite make up its mind what it wanted to be and consequently felt like it didn't go far enough in any direction. The mixed media element is a fun idea to make the book all the more immersive, but there wasn't quite enough that was particularly relevant, so a lot of it felt like filler. The ending was...convenient. The love triangle, a bit weak. And the footnotes! Oh my goodness, don't even get me started on the footnotes explaining absolutely everything, even things that were obvious from context. I love a footnote, but these were insultingly pointless.

I was a theatre kid myself (and a theatre adult, but it's the kid part that's relevant here for this YA book), as well as a lover of all things spooky, gothic, dark academia-ish... and I really wanted to love this book. But the aforementioned flaws just really kept me from getting as hooked as I wanted to be. I do hope this book finds its audience, despite my frustrations with it.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Violet Constantino is a scholarship student at Dark Cove Arts Academy. Due to a panic attack on stage last year during the school play, Violet’s scholarship and place at the school are on thin ice. Determined to stay at the school, Violet plans to make friends, keep her head down, and make it through the year. The school seems to have other plans when a guest professor comes to direct the play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Cast in the play, Violet is a reluctant player. Worse, her ex-crush and the beautiful Frankie Lin are cast as love interests. Drawn to the Dark Cove Theatre Society, Violet decides to join. She learns of a rumor of a theatre curse that a female will leave the island forever before opening night. Determined to break the curse she wants figure out how to stop someone from leaving before opening night. Will she succeed? Will Violet make it through the school year?

The plot is engaging, mysterious, and draws the reader into the story. The characters are likable, engaging, and authentic. The world building is engaging and draws the reader into Violet’s world. Readers who like realistic fiction, mystery, and boarding school fiction will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. Gr 8 to 12, 5 stars.

Violet Constantino is starting a new year at her Island private school. After her panic attack on stage last year, her scholarship and place at the school is on thin ice. This year, she is determined to have a better year, make friends, and make it through the year. The school seems to have other plans. Violet is cast by the guest professor in the Halloween play, Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her ex-crush and the talented Frankie Lin are cast as love interests. Drawn to the Dark Cove Theatre Society, Violet learns there is a curse that a female will leave the island forever before the opening night of the play. It’s up to the society to break the curse before it’s too late. Will Violet find a way to keep her scholarship and stay and the school? Will she make new friends? Will the society find a way to break the curse?

The plot is intriguing, mysterious, and well written. The characters are well rounded, relatable, and draw the readers into the story. Readers who like supernatural fiction, mysteries, and boarding school novels will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections.