Latest Books The Big Thrill Recommends: SWEETEST DARKNESS by Leslie Lutz

The Big Thrill Recommends: SWEETEST DARKNESS by Leslie Lutz

Recommended by Bonnie Traymore

Haunting and poignant, this supernatural YA thriller immerses readers in the West Texas town of Gypsum through the lens of Quinn, a teenage psychic struggling to survive in a town that’s seen better days. Once a mecca for Hollywood producers looking for sets and starlets seeking solace in its magical mineral baths, the town now lives in the shadow of nearby Marfa, its mines closed and its tourism at a standstill. The Alvarado Hotel sits empty, a reminder of its glory days—a temptation that proves too great for bored teenagers.

Prompted by strange dreams, Quinn, his friend June, and his love interest Selena break into the abandoned property. Unwittingly, they unleash a force with an unquenchable appetite that threatens to destroy the town. Quinn finds himself at the center of something he doesn’t understand, but it’s clear that it’s up to him to save Gypsum. All the while, he’s grappling with more mundane problems: an impending foreclosure on his family’s property, the death of his beloved Gram who raised him, sibling rivalry, and his unrequited love for Selena.

SWEETEST DARKNESS takes readers through a maze of excitement and horror, which ramps up to a breakneck pace then winds down to a satisfying conclusion. But the book does more than that. Lutz captures both the magic and angst of life as a teenager, with Quinn being forced to try and solve problems way beyond his ken and, at the same time, struggling to hold on to some of his innocence. With his world spiraling out of control, one kiss can make it all disappear, at least for a while. This book is a must-read for YA thriller fans, as well as anyone who’s felt the power and urgency of young love.

The Big Thrill Recommends: SWEETEST DARKNESS by Leslie Lutz