Birds in the Black Water by Kodie Van Dusen

A stirring work of paranormal fiction, Birds in the Black Water by Kodie Van Dusen is an intricate and original novel. Neviah has seen The Other Side since she was a child, where supernatural beings she’s named Koels, like the birds, appear to her everywhere, ominously keeping watch. This dark paranormal story spans Neviah’s psychic childhood and adult life, navigating The Other Side with its own strange rules, and how they affect her relationships. Although at times the plot and characterization are overwhelmed by dialogue, the world-building is immersive, the premise is singularly inventive, and Van Dusen delivers engaging prose akin to Delia Owens or Colleen Hoover, which envelops the reader from the start.