It Lurks in the Night by Sarah Dass
Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!
This book takes place in the Caribbean! I love reading about places I’ve never been!
Maya is about to graduate high school, and she is excited about a camping trip she is taking with her three best friends: Pearl, Erica, and Lystra. This is a trip they have done every year for years. But this year is different, not only because it is their last year before they go off to college, but also because one of the girls, Lystra, has been drifting away from the group. Can they rebuild their friendship on this last trip? Even as the trip starts, the girls are already struggling to get along. They have little bickering outbursts every once in a while, but they are trying to push through. Maya is doing her best to keep the peace between everyone. She really wants this trip to be perfect. Is that too much to ask? The trip goes from bad to worse as they are forced to head to the island of Annatto, said to be haunted. In the middle of the night, something happens that leaves one of the girls, Erica, dead. The three others can’t move her body, and they are forced to leave her behind.
What happened that night? Was there someone or something on the island with them? I get why they are unsure of what they saw. It’s dark, they are scared, and they are outside on an island with a history of spooky tales. I get that they were seeing all sorts of things around the island. Was it just shadows? Was it their imagination? Was it simply local wildlife? Maybe someone really is living on the island. Who knows!
About a week later, Erica returns home. I’m sorry, what?
What happened on that island? How did she get back? They saw her. She was dead. How can she be back? Erica also seems a little off, but that can be explained away by her head injury, right?
I really enjoyed this one! I loved hearing about Caribbean folklore. I had not heard much about Caribbean folklore, so I was invested in every detail. It did remind me a little bit of the show Supernatural, well, because of the supernatural elements. I am not sure how I feel about the ending. I felt like the questions that could be answered were answered, but I still wanted more information. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I’d like a five- or ten-year update. Just to see how everyone is doing in that town and the surrounding islands.
Five out of Five Magical Coffee Cups
Literary Coffee 