This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic 
 This book reads like an ode to Stephen King. Young characters in very dark and violent situations, lots of detail and descriptions. But I felt like Wasserman didn't go that one step further and allow her own voice to shine through. This was particularly disappointing because I really liked The Book of Blood and Shadows but The Waking Dark fell short in comparison. 
 I think the central problem with The Waking Dark is the sheer volume of characters. With so many running around and such short scenes it was difficult to become invested in any of them. If one of them was hurt or in danger, I didn't feel that sense of urgency or despair I normally feel when characters are threatened. I was also less than impressed with the big twist at the end. It felt reminiscent of so many other stories and I was hoping for something with a little more punch. 
 Robin Wasserman is clearly a skilled writer, there was obviously a lot of thought and planning that went into this story. As I said, there are a lot of characters and the fates of all of them are intertwined. Often in ways I didn't even think possible. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to keep them all straight. The Waking Dark is an interesting horror story but at the end of the day it didn't manage to set itself apart from other horror novels and left me underwhelmed.