The Dark In-Between

The boating accident which sends 16-year-old Casey Everett to the hospital for six weeks also claims the life of her ebullient best friend, Liddy. Casey is crushed, struggling all the more with the tragedy since she also lost both her parents as a young girl. On the way home from the memorial service, she sees a figure fall from the sky. This is Red, an angel who tells her that the strong connection she shared with Liddy is preventing her friend from moving from Limbo into the afterlife. Casey is a Limbo-walker, Red tells her, able to enter the netherworld and set her friend’s soul free. Agents of the dark side, shadowy demons called obsii, try to prevent Casey from completing her task. With some protection from Red, Casey and her other best friend, Evan, face the forces of evil to set Liddy free.

The Dark In-Between is an urban fantasy built on a plot of high drama and adventure. It takes place in a small town over summer vacation. As usual, adults are largely oblivious to the tumult, both emotional and supernatural, which is affecting the lives of the teens around them. The novel is anchored by Casey’s relationships with Red and with Evan. Red, she ascertains, has lost his wings, and she hopes to help him overcome the scandal in which the woman he loved betrayed him for the agents of evil. Evan is devoted to Casey and is ready to take their relationship into the world of romance. His concern for her and their ongoing banter is a highlight of the story.

The action sequences are a strength for the book, and they dominate the narrative. Casey’s reactions to being thrown into a supernatural war are natural and believable. There is a good balance between wondering how she ended up in such a crazy situation and how it can all be real, with street smarts and quick, practical decision-making. The action scenes are well-written and described, and Hrib keeps the drama specific and focused as the trio fight shadow demons for much of the book before a grand finale in which they take on the fallen angel Azrael.

Voice is another strong aspect of the novel. Casey, Evan and Red are all very different and believable. Their dialogue is what propels the book, making it a breezy and quick read. The story could be much more captivating and rich in character development, but it is the cinematic action and banter which will draw readers in. Casey and Evan work towards a romance after a long friendship. Thankfully, there is never any hint of romance between the human and non-human characters.

Pacing is a major problem in this story as the action sometimes races ahead at breakneck speed and other times slows to a drawn-out stroll. Hrib does not give readers a chance to experience Casey’s crisis and struggle after her accident. Rather, Red shows up immediately and explains what is going on. Casey is supposed to be emotionally fraught and haunted, but readers only see one scene in which she thinks she hears Liddy’s voice while in the bathroom at the memorial service. One or two more instances would have heightened the tension. Opportunities for suspense are lost when Red falls from the sky and immediately explains that he is an angel here to help Casey, that her friend is stuck in Limbo and that she is a special person who can navigate the in-between world. It would have been stronger if Casey discovered some of this for herself. Red also really lays out everything about how Limbo works rather than letting this develop throughout the story. Similarly, Evan is brought into the secret very early on, with full explanations and no tension. Casey then makes a series of long trips into Limbo looking for Liddy, but several of them are unsuccessful and do not advance the plot. Then, the actual mission happens quite quickly.

Many of the metaphors in the book are a little obvious or clumsy. There are several examples of wish fulfillment in the story, such as being told that your friendship is so extra special that you can’t part, even in death. This is a theme many readers will be able to relate to, but it could have been handled in a more nuanced manner. However, the heightened relationship with death is well-executed. Here, Casey is literally forced to work her way through grief by entering a shadowland and freeing her friend’s soul. She is given an active role, the very thing many people experiencing grief wish they had. Casey accidently brings Liddy back to the world of the living, another wish experience in grief. The two have a chance to accept their separation before Liddy’s spirit moves on to the next world. Again, these are very relevant themes, but they are not as explored or integrated as they could be.

Though there isn’t a ton of content, The Dark In-Between does confront and explore experiences of grief. Hrib does an excellent job of suggesting a close friendship and creating a scenario which allows Casey to progress to the next stage of her life. The novel contains lessons about grief, trauma and death while appealing to readers with its funny quips, strong heroine, taste of romance and high stakes drama. It may captivate readers who are looking for an escapist read without too much investment of time or emotion.