Title: All That Consumes Us
Author: Erica Waters
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Fantasy, Paranormal, Gothic, LGBTQ+
Rating: 5 Stars
Description/Synopsis:
The students in Corbin College’s elite academic society, Magni Viri, have it all—free tuition, inspirational professors, and dream jobs once they graduate. When first-gen college student Tara is offered a chance to enroll, she doesn’t hesitate.? Except once she’s settled into the gorgeous Victorian dormitory, something strange starts to happen. She’s finally writing, but her stories are dark and twisted. Her dreams feel as if they could bury her alive. An unseen presence seems to stalk her through the halls. And a chilling secret awaits Tara at the heart of Magni Viri—one that just might turn her nightmares into reality; one that might destroy her before she has a chance to escape.
WARNING – SPOILERS MAY ENSUE BEYOND THIS POINT – REVIEW BELOW
This was a stunning gothic story. The writing was eerie and filled with tension, clear and effortless. I loved the mystery surrounding the secret society and its members, and how that led to mistrust and paranoia for the main character, who was intentionally kept out of the loop throughout the book.
There were a lot of underlying themes of loneliness, love, and belonging that manifested in different ways through many of the characters – living and dead alike. I liked how Isabella and Tara had so much in common, even though they couldn’t be more different in how they handled their circumstances. Isabella made a strong antagonist and was very clearly defined as a character – much more than the director of Magni Viri, who felt more like a caricature.
I liked that the book was inclusive in the way it had various queer characters, but I also can’t help but feel that it was a bit obvious, and at the same time, underutilized. While I love that they were included, it felt forced to have five queer characters in the same small group of Magni Viri members, and other than an offhand remark about one of the characters being disowned by their parents, there was no real conflict or underlying message to go along with it… which would be fine if there was one queer character, but it felt so intentional to have so many in the small cast that I was surprised that there wasn’t more of theme of acceptance to accompany it.
That aside, I truly enjoyed the book. It may be one of my favorite gothic stories I’ve read over the past few years, and the plot felt fresh, and not like a rework of the same haunting story I’m used to seeing in gothic stories. I’d absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys the genre.
Author Unpublished 