I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of The Lies of Alma Blackwell by Amanda Glaze. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

In The Lies of Alma Blackwell, Nev Blackwell was born and raised in Hollow Cliff, a place where magic has had a foothold for years. But the magic is dangerous, as the angry spirits frequently break free enough to lead an innocent person to their death. And as a Blackwell, Nev has to carry on her family’s legacy: to take up the Vow, designed to uphold the spell that Alma Blackwell established a century earlier to protect the town. Her grandmother has fallen ill, and her mother left years ago, so Nev’s time has come. When a stranger comes to town, though, questions arise, and soon, Nev starts to uncover new information that makes her wonder if everything she’s been taught all her life has been a lie. And maybe her family history is darker than she ever imagined, and maybe the only person she can trust is this stranger, who might be the key to everything.

First of all, I really enjoyed the atmosphere in this book. The sunlit coastal town where shadows lurk at the corners is a very atmospheric setting, and the Blackwell house is an excellent haunted space, easy to picture. The detail to this place makes it easy to get wrapped up in the story, to explore the hidden spaces with Nev.

And Nev is a great protagonist. You feel for her as she navigates the obstacles in front of her, some relatable and some less-so. For example, she feels alienated at school, worried about her grandmother’s failing health, and betrayed by her mother abandoning her—all things that people have experienced before. Then there’s the spirits, which are less relatable, but no less compelling to see through Nev’s eyes.

Glaze also does an admirable job with the mystery of the Blackwell family history. As Nev grows curious and starts to investigate, the truth is gradually revealed through a series of gripping flashbacks and research. It’s a dark history, one of greed and murder, ambition and manipulation, and despite the supernatural aspects, a lot of it still rings true. I’m sure that Glaze did a lot of historical research, and it shows. And it all comes together to demonstrate the fact that just because there’s one main narrative, history is more complex—and often different and far darker—than many people would have you believe.

In the end, The Lies of Alma Blackwell is a wonderful book. The fantastic setting and ominous deaths serve as a gripping backdrop to a tale of generational trauma and a commentary on how history is so often steered by powerful people, rather than honest people. The two love stories in the book are both lovely and tragic, yet hopeful in their own ways. This is a perfect book for fall (though sadly, it’s still really hot where I live. I’d rather live in the state of denial than my actual US state)!

The Lies of Alma Blackwell is available now!