Early Reader Review: All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters 

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date:  October 17

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Ninth House meets The Dead and the Dark in this gothic dark academia novel that delves into the human capacity for great love, great art, and great evil.   Magni animi numquam moriuntur. Great minds never die.  

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. 

All That Consumes Us will pull readers into a hypnotizing, dark reverie that blurs the lines of reality and shows that the addictive nature of ambition—and its inevitable price—always claims its due.  

Review: 

All that Consumes Us is a young adult, fantasy, horror, that packs in the paranormal with the unsure, loner college student vibe. Tara is a 1st gen college student who is an aspriing writer, but her collge dreams are being crushed by her loan and payment responsibilities. She works multiple jobs to get by and she is barely hanging on. It was her hope to be selected as one of the 6 students inducted to Magni Viri, an elite acaedmic society that covers all college expenses and is it's own internal friend group. 

Tara isn't initially let into Magni Viri but a freak accident has now pushed her in, but it is too good to be true and there are secrets and weird things happening to her. 

Tara was a great representation of a 1st year college student trying to get through her new life and support herself. There is a lot of self doubt and loathing of her time and effort, and it all comes to a head when she is chosen for the academic group. This is her answer to everything. She is a bit stubborn but is willing to overlook the quirkiness to progress her abilty while in college - I don't blame her. 

The book does a great job setting the tone and the horror elements. It is not too scary but enough so give shivers. The overall theme was super interesting and I though it was well put together, but don't want to go into more detail - I don't want to spoil it for readers.

I think that former Goosebumps readers will enjoy this one, and anyone looking for a more YA speeed style horror will also enjoy. Overall a great spooomy read for October.