We Are For the Dark
By Gretchen McNeil
Pub Date: Sep 01 2026

This book starts out as a mystery but flips the script into a horror novel. I don't see that very often it was a surprise for me. I really liked this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.

This book wasn’t anything I expected. It was really good. The ending was very sad but good at the same time. It makes you question how far you’re willing to go for someone you love. Would you sacrifice yourself to save them? How things are deeply rooted in tradition and it can be impossible to break.

We Are for the Dark is a blend of gothic mystery and subtle horror that kept me fully engaged from start to finish. The atmospheric descriptions of the island create an immediate sense of unease and the villagers cryptic, unsettling response only deepen the tension. The pacing is great. It is slow and deliberate in a way that allows the dread to build naturally as the mystery unfolds. The relationship between Miriam and Shane develops in a way that enhances the story instead of distracting from the central mystery. It adds emotional depth without taking away from the suspense. I think fans of the movies Midsommar and The Wickerman would appreciate this book. While I enjoyed the journey, the ending didn't land for me. I obviously wanted a different ending but it was understood why it had to be that way. Overall, I would recommend this book and would be interested in reading more from this author.

I was captivated by this book after reading the first line in the summary.
The atmosphere in this story is top-notch. As a Canadian, I really enjoy stories that take place in my country, but this one was just incredible with its isolation and history. Fantastic dual-approach between the priest and the officer. Great backstory for both!
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this story, but I loved it. Will definitely recommend my customers at the store to pick up a copy!

This is a creepy religious thriller novel, the rich descriptive writing style perfectly serves up tension. I felt it was well paced and kept you guessing where the story was heading. It works well as a horror / crime cross genre, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this arc read! I love a good spooky tale and this one did it for
Me. Small island✅ a priest goes missing and a constable and another priest start to investigate. If you loved The Possession Of Alba Diaz this one is for you. Highly recommend this book to all the horror lovers out there!

What a ride.
That is genuinely the first thing I said when I finished We Are For The Dark, and I stand by it. This is the fastest I have read a book all year, and that is saying something given how much I have been getting through lately. From almost the first page it just had me, and it did not let go.
The atmosphere is extraordinary. There is a creeping, oppressive sense of evil woven through every chapter that made this the perfect book to be reading late at night, even if I did give myself the occasional set of goosebumps in the process. The island setting in particular is absolutely superb, and yes, I was getting Lost vibes throughout, which for me is nothing but a compliment. There is something about an isolated, mysterious island that just works, and this book understands that completely. The Catholic church angle added another layer of unease that I really loved too. Faith and horror sit together beautifully when a writer handles them with confidence, and this one does.
My one reservation is the romantic storyline that emerges in the second half. I understand why it is there, and structurally I can see what it was trying to do. But the execution felt underdeveloped and, at times, veered a little too close to YA territory for my taste. It is not a dealbreaker, but it is the one area where I felt the book could have handled things with a bit more maturity and nuance. It nudged what could have been a five star read down just slightly.
That said, I still loved this book enormously and would recommend it without hesitation to anyone who enjoys atmospheric, genuinely unsettling horror with real substance behind it.
4.5 stars. Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC