The Darkness Greeted Her

Gr 9 Up–Penny knows fear. She grew up under the shadow of her father’s violent temper and cruel words, and after his death, she became haunted by an even darker presence: a voice inside her head urging her to harm those around her. Desperate for help, Penny checks into Camp Whitewood, a wilderness therapy program for teen girls. At first, it feels like a chance to heal. But soon, Penny begins to notice impossible reminders of her father—his favorite whiskey bottle, his gold watch—appearing where they shouldn’t exist. These visions coalesce into a menacing shadow creature stalking her through the woods. When other campers turn up dead, Penny realizes the nightmare is not hers alone. The girls begin to share their own terrifying visions and realize that to escape they must confront their trauma and stand together. The novel opens with strength. Penny is a sympathetic heroine, vulnerable yet resilient. The girls’ friendships feel authentic and supportive. The forest setting adds an atmospheric layer, delivering eerie, unsettling moments that linger. There’s also a thread of romance for Penny and another camper, and the cast includes some racial diversity. However, the pacing in Ferko’s YA horror debut struggles. Suspenseful sequences stretch too long, and action scenes grow repetitive, weakening the tension. What begins as a gripping psychological horror gradually loses momentum in its middle act.