Thank you to Gallery Books for providing a free copy of Apart in the Dark Novellas By: Ania Ahlborn in exchange for an honest review.
I rated Apart in the Dark 4 stars, but really I'd like to give it 4.5 stars. Apart in the Dark is comprised of two novellas. The Pretty Ones and I Call Upon Thee. Here are my individual reviews for both stories!
The Pretty Ones-
I enjoyed The Pretty Ones for the most part. I have only one TINY thing that I didn't care for in this one. I thought the very beginning of the novella was hard to get into. I like novellas to grip me from the first sentence since they're so short. That being said, it didn't take overly long to get started so I'm not even sure we can really call this a complaint. :P I will say that for such a short story Nell's character is written surprisingly well. As I am writing this I'm starting to wonder if that's why the beginning was a tad slow. To allow for getting to know the character really well? I digress, but that is something for me to think on and maybe I'll bump the rating up later. I did guess the ending of The Pretty Ones a bit early on, but for me this is a rare case where that doesn't matter! In my opinion this story is all about enjoying the ride of suspense and anticipating Nell's reaction when she learns the truth...
#RideTheSuspenseWave!
I Call Upon Thee-
I absolutely love this novella!! I Call Upon Thee is so atmospheric all throughout the story and it has fantastic tension! I spent the whole time reading it half dreading and half anticipating what would happen. That's how I like my spooky stories to be. I really appreciate how I Call Upon Thee has a classic scary story vibe, but it's still different. The blend of classic themes and uniqueness always makes me happy. This novella is a HUGE win for me!
#SpookyAndAtmospheric
As a whole Apart in the Dark is well written and exactly what I've been in the mood for. I loved The Devil Crept In by Ania Ahlborn also when I read it last year, so I definitely recommend that one too. I own Brother by her as well and I'm hoping to get to that one within the next month or two. She is quickly becoming a new favorite author for me and I can't wait to read more by her!
#ICallUponTheeToReadThisImmediately
