The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw // Book Review

Title: The Wicked Deep

Author: Shea Ernshaw

Genre: YA Fantasy/Mystery

Release Date: March 6th, 2018

Goodreads Description:

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.   

My Rating: 4/5!

Characters:4/5 The story focused mainly on the two main characters with the secondary characters playing very minor roles in the background. You don’t really get to know much about the characters. That works for the mystery of the book as the point is to be unsure of who is actually themselves but it leaves you unable to really identify with any of the characters aside from the main character.

Setting: 4.5/5 I didn’t give the setting a full 5 because while the history of the town is discussed, I felt like the story was concentrated on the island. The mainland felt like it could have been more involved in the story to me.

Plot: 5/5 That ending got me! I had a couple of guesses for what was going to happen and I was right about one of them! I loved the story!

Relationships: 4/5 I was so conflicted with the relationships in this. I was happy but it’s so complicated that It leaves me kind of sad and confused! Amazing storytelling. I just am conflicted with how it ended. Read it and you’ll understand!

Cover (Not factored into final rating): 5/5 It’s shiny and beautiful! I’m so glad I got the physical Book!

I’m trying out a different approach to my reviews, what do you think?

Should you read it?

Definitely! I had been hearing a ton of hype about this book and it is all warranted. It is compared to Hocus Pocus, one of my favorite Halloween movies and I can see why! Though the story is a bit different, it does have that same feel to it at first. I found it a bit thrilling and mysterious throughout the book with a surprising emotional ending! I blew through it in a weekend as soon as it landed on my doorstep. I would definitely suggest picking up this book! This is the first book by the author and I look forward to what she puts out next in this genre.

Thanks for reading!