Until the Last Light Goes Out by Courtney Gould (2026)
YA horror readers should prepare themselves for an immersive deep dive here. We're talking about two separate generations trapped in the same deeply haunted, cursed resort parked on one of the remote Florida Keys. Mass mysterious deaths decimated a 2001 graduating class who'd hoped to party hearty there, but leaving only five survivors. Now, 25 years later, some of these survivors' children find themselves drawn to the abandoned resort in the hopes of finding answers their shaken parents won't dare to speak aloud... Whatever horrific, murderous presence that infested the hotel all those years ago is very much alive......and hungry, craving fresh blood from fresh victims.
In the book's two side by side timelines, we see the growing terror unfold for the 2001 class and then repeating for the small current group. The same powerful entity uses the Kaleidoscope Key resort as a nothing more than a bait trap for humans snared in its clutches. And its abilities to bend and warp the architecture of the hotel to its own murderous ends can drive its victims into violent madness. Exits disappear, replaced by a never ending maze of corridors and rooms that only lead to........more empty corridors and rooms......and a pool seemingly custom made for drowning in.
The ordeal of the 2026 group especially weighs heavily on estranged former best friends Paige and KJ. (Even more hurtful since the two girls nursed more that just friendly feelings toward each other.) And it's here where author Courtney Gould excels in creating characters we care about, whom we fear for, and make us cringe for them as the Kaleidoscope monstrosity, with its overwhelming God-like powers, sadistically torments and toys with them.
I should give fair warning that with its dual timelines of two groups subjected to the same terrifying occurrences, "Until the Last Light" becomes as much of a punishing ordeal for us as it does for all these hapless young adults trapped literally in the belly of a beast. I can't deny there were moments when I felt the book threatened to simply wear me out. But if you're willing to stay on board for the full ride, there's much genuine heartbreaking emotion and human insight on display here in addition to the expected grisly splatter.
And like all unforgettable horror novels, the final words spin the chill meter up to the raise-the-hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck setting. So by all means, check in to the Kaleidoscope hotel real soon......for the same kind of relaxing vacation you'd get at the Bates Motel or.....what's the name of that place up in New England called again? Oh right....Hill House.
4 stars (****).
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