The Waking Dark is a book that promises complete chaos and bloodshed, and it certainly doesn't disappoint in that capacity. This is a fascinating thriller that made me too nervous to continue reading at times but too compelled by what was happening to put it down. It's a straight up horror novel that drops the small town of Oleander, Kansas into darkness and terror that no one is able to explain. There's always an air of something evil lurking as the townspeople begin to turn on each other and themselves. 
 One of the biggest aspects that will work for some but not for others is the multiple POVs. For the most part, the book follows five teenagers who were present at the horrendous events from the killing day. West, the jock who's hiding a secret; Ellie, the zealous believer in Christianity; Daniel, the son of the town drunk; Jule, the one who just wants to escape her family of meth addicts and dealers; and Cass, who's outcome from that day was very different from everyone else's. However, there the story also has a large cast of other characters that take over the story at different points throughout. Practically every single person gets a chance at showing off their point of view but never once did I feel lost or disconnected. 
 This blends into my next point which is the writing, masterfully composed by author Robin Wasserman. I've read a majority of her books and her writing has always been one of the biggest draws for me. Where sometimes the plot can fall off at points, her prose and ability to write the raw thoughts of characters completely makes up for it. In this book, despite the constant jumping from person to person, it's always a smooth transition. 
 Not for the faint of heart, and probably not best to read alone at night, this story is an absolute thriller that had me enthralled from beginning to end, desperate to know the bitter fate of the characters and the town itself.