An aspiring young actor must find her place at a cutthroat arts boarding school in this gothic YA debut for fans of Ace of Spades and If We Were Villains.
Violet Costantino knows she is already on thin ice this school year: her scholarship has taken a significant hit due to her panic attack during her final performance in acting class last semester-which simultaneously shattered her dreams of becoming a leading lady. This year, she is determined to keep her head down and just get through unscathed. But the school seems to have other plans for Violet: to her extreme foreboding, she is cast as one of the leads in the annual Halloween play. What's worse, the beautiful, infuriatingly talented Frankie Lin and Violet's ex-crush, Hunter Kinsey, are both cast as her love interests. Despite her initial reluctance, Violet is drawn in by the glamor of the Dark Cove Theatre Society, and she cautiously starts believing that maybe she is cut out for this after all. But lurking in the shadows of Violet's fragile self-confidence is the rumor of the Society curse, which is said to cause one cast member to drop out before opening night every year, mysteriously and without reason.
In this captivating YA debut, The Dark Cove Theatre Society illustrates both the intoxicating and insidious nature of success and the price we are often forced to pay for it. Passages of found text-glimpses of the school's handbook, secret letters, and other peeks into life at the Academy-seamlessly woven into the plot will immerse readers even further into the lush, magnetic world of Dark Cove.
DARK ACADEMIA WITH A TWIST: This novel offers a classic dark academia setting with a critical lens on the intense pressures and toxic faculty dynamics students face.
COMPELLING QUEER LOVE TRIANGLE: Diverse, realistic characters navigating identity, attraction, and ambition in a high-stakes environment.
FOR THEATER ENTHUSIASTS: A must-read for theater fans as the story weaves in dramatic performance elements and backstage intrigue.
DEBUT: This is Sierra Riley's first book.
MENTAL HEALTH REPRESENTATION: Thoughtfully portrays mental health challenges, especially the impact of panic attacks and anxiety, reflecting relatable struggles in the high-pressure world of performing arts.
FOUND TEXT FOR IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE: Integrates school handbooks, letters, poems, and other "found" texts to deepen the atmospheric world, fully engaging readers in its gothic aesthetic.
SOCIAL ADVOCACY NARRATIVE: A powerful story about student resilience and activism, with students challenging toxic power dynamics in an arts environment that demands change.
FOR FANS OF: Ace of Spades and How We Fall Apart
LEVELING INFO: Coming soon
"Riley expertly blends the moodiness of dark academia with the poignant anxieties of modern adolescence to create a punchy, engaging, and relatable story for today's teens. Readers will root for Violet as she struggles to find herself in this world of cutthroat drama students and lofty professors. Finally, dark academia drama for all the anxious theatre nerds."
"I was completely captivated by the eerie, intriguing universe of The Dark Cove Theatre Society-every page offered new clues that kept me hooked."
"The perfect read for every theatre kid at heart."
"Stylish and candid, full of sharp observations about a young artist's growing pains."
"Set in a lush, eerie world, The Dark Cove Theatre Society is an expertly told story that explores the nature of privilege and elitism in the arts. I fell in love with Violet, who at times seems to be simultaneously amused and intimidated by her surroundings, which feels highly relatable. If you love dark academia and spooky settings full of sapphics, this book is for you."
"A thrilling mix of ambition, mystery, and secrets. Sierra Riley delivers a story that is impossible to put down."
"With its lush, brooding setting and ca
