For teens grappling with overwhelming pressure or searching for where they belong, this dark academia fantasy explores secrets, magic, and finding your inner strength.
Parents might reach for this book when their teen is grappling with feelings of being an outsider or the immense pressure to succeed. The Whispering Dark follows Delaney, a deaf college freshman who can hear the voices of the dying. When she earns a scholarship to an elite university, she discovers its dark secrets and a mysterious connection to another student, Colton, who silences the voices in her head. This dark academia fantasy explores themes of finding your voice, turning perceived weaknesses into strengths, and navigating morally complex situations. Appropriate for older teens, it uses its magical plot to open conversations about identity, belonging, and resilience in a way that feels both thrilling and emotionally resonant.
Supporting characters are killed, and the threat of death is constant.
Romantic ContentModerate
Passionate kissing and romantic tension. One scene implies off-page intimacy.
LanguageMild
Some mild profanity is used.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with disability. The protagonist is deaf, and her experience is central to her character and the magic system. It is presented as an integral part of her identity, not something to be pitied or magically cured. The approach is secular and focused on her lived experience. The book also deals directly with death and grief. Characters are killed in frightening ways, and the protagonist's abilities are tied to death. The resolution is hopeful, emphasizing the characters' resilience, but acknowledges that trauma and loss are lasting.
Ideal Reader
A teen, 15-18, who loves dark academia, atmospheric fantasy, and character-driven stories. The ideal reader is someone who feels like they don't quite fit in or is struggling with a part of themselves they perceive as a weakness. This book is for the reader who enjoys morally gray characters, slow-burn romance, and stories about finding strength in what makes you different.
Parent Prep
A parent should preview the monster attack scenes. They can be frightening and somewhat graphic, with descriptions of gore and peril. The book can be read cold, but it might be helpful for a parent to know this is part of the "dark academia" genre, which often involves themes of ambition, secrets, and an eerie, gothic atmosphere. The romantic elements include intense kissing and some fade-to-black implications. A parent hears their teen say, "I feel like a freak," or "No one gets what it's like to be me." The parent may also notice their child is drawn to intense, atmospheric stories like "Stranger Things" or Leigh Bardugo's novels and is looking for a book with similar vibes but with strong character development and positive representation.
Age Experience
A younger teen (14-15) will likely be captivated by the fast-paced mystery, the terrifying monster, and the romantic tension. An older teen (16-18) will more deeply appreciate the nuances of the disability representation, the exploration of trauma, and the complex morality of the characters and the university itself.
What Makes It Special
The integration of the protagonist's deafness into the core magic system is what makes this book unique. Unlike stories where a disability is a side note or an obstacle to be overcome, here it is the very source of her power. This provides a fresh and empowering perspective within the fantasy genre and offers fantastic representation.
Read plot summary
Delaney Meyers, who is deaf, has the unwanted ability to hear the echoes of the dead. She wins a scholarship to the prestigious Godbole University, hoping for a fresh start. There she meets the enigmatic Colton Price, whose presence mysteriously silences the voices in her head. Together, they uncover a dangerous conspiracy involving a rival dimension called the Whispering Dark, a monstrous creature that stalks the campus, and the magical abilities tied to the school's elite students. It's a mystery and a dark fantasy about uncovering secrets and controlling dangerous power.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Delaney's deafness is the source of her unique power. How does the book challenge typical ideas of what makes a fantasy hero strong? Discuss a moment where her deafness gave her an advantage.
2
Colton and Delaney both have traumatic pasts they hide from others. In what ways do their secrets help protect them, and in what ways do they cause more harm to themselves and their relationship?
3
Godbole University is portrayed as a place of great opportunity but also great danger. Do you think the benefits of attending a place like Godbole outweigh the risks the students face?
4
The 'Shade' monster is drawn to places of deep grief and death. Besides being a physical threat, what do you think the monster might represent metaphorically in the story?
