APPEAL: Lush and atmospheric

This novel reminded me of stories by some of my favourite adult authors: Alice Hoffman, Brunonia Barry, and Carol Goodman. I enjoyed this story for its gothic feel and entertaining plot twists.

For teens who enjoyed We Were Liars, and Wink, Poppy, Midnight.

This is a great, original story.

I liked the way that the myth of the Swan sisters was incorporated into the story. Parts of their story was told between the chapters of Penny’s narrative. It was an interesting myth that came to life each year in their small town.

The story had good pacing. It moved along very quickly. There was a lot that happened in a short amount of time, which kept the story moving.

I couldn’t predict who the Swan sisters would turn out to be, which made it more exciting. I was looking for a logical explanation for the whole event, but I couldn’t find one. Bo was also a curious character, since he came out of nowhere and blended in on Penny’s island so well. I was surprised at the ending, but I liked it!

This story is a great blend of fantasy and real life. It’s a thrilling seaside adventure for YA lovers!

The Wicked Deep Hardcover
by Shea Earnshaw (Author)


The Wicked Deep was such a wonderfully distinctive novel. Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meet the Salem Witch trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge—and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.
The basis was unconditionally stellar. I loved how the author kept me in suspense through the whole books with lots of twists and turns. As the story was slowly unspooled, I kept changing my opinion about certain characters. While there were some parts I didn't like, The Wicked Deep was overall an engaging well written and intriguing book, that had my attention from cover to cover until I finished reading it.

I went into this book knowing nothing other than the fact that witches were involved. I realized this book was coming out March 6th so on the evening of March 5th I frantically began reading it. It took no time at all for me to get into this story as I was so intrigued with this story about 3 witches who were drowned in Sparrow 2 centuries ago and how they curse the town every year. I read it every chance I got when I was home and I read this 300+ page book in just over 24 hours! The story is really captivating and easy to read, keeping you turning the pages to find out what happens.

I found the first portion of the book to be the best part. Once the first major plot twist happens (which I kind of predicted right away because the foreshadowing prior is a bit too obvious, but I was glad to pick right nonetheless - rare occurrence) the book kind of became annoying-ish to me. Penny becomes whiny and a lot of the chapters basically read as "I don't want to I love him" over and over. There is insta-love in this book which was a bit cringey and Bo's choice at the end didn't feel like the right one to me.

Overall, I enjoyed my time reading about the Sparrow sisters and finding out more about them in the interchanging chapters. It makes me want to pick up another book about witches in the near future.

It’s been ages since I read a debut novel that reached the heights of THE WICKED DEEP, with its gorgeous writing, atmospheric setting, and sympathetic villains.

Every June, the small coastal town of Sparrow, Oregon is flooded with tourists eager to take in the macabre Swan season. Swan season makes a spectacle of the darkest chapter in the town’s history, making a farce of the intentional drownings of Marguerite, Aurora, and Hazel Swan, accused of witchcraft in the 19th century. There’s something otherworldly about Sparrow and its inhabitants, like the baker who creates cakes to make people forget their worst memories and the woman who lives with her daughter on a nearby island and reads tea leaves.

But there’s more to Swan season than quaint whimsy and garish tourist traps: each year before the solstice, three girls are possessed by the Swan sisters and lead at least three boys to their deaths in the ocean. For hundreds of years, boys have drowned off the coast of Sparrow, with no suspects and no consequences. Until now.

This book gave me the wiggins in a big way! When Penny Talbot, local outcast and high school junior, attends the annual Swan party at the beach, she’s one of the only girls who refuse to go in the water. She knows all about the Swan sisters, and there’s no way she’ll let them take her. But some forces are beyond her control, and when Penny crosses paths with a mysterious young man named Bo, a series of events is set into motion that will change the story of Sparrow forever.

As far as the fantastical elements go, THE WICKED DEEP is steeped in vague folklore and witchy juju. There isn’t any traditional world building, no magic system, or explanation of why the execution of the Swan sisters cursed the town for 200 years. Despite the synopsis’ comparisons to Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic, if you’re looking for a story about witches and witchcraft, this probably isn’t the best pick for you.

The particulars of the curse and the history of both Penny’s family and the Swan sisters’ stories are revealed slowly, with details offered up sparingly at first. Trying to suss out which girls had been possessed by the Swan sisters and which boys would be killed was thrilling and fun. The romance between Penny and Bo was a bit underwhelming, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. Although there’s a pretty obvious major twist in Penny and Bo’s story, I was quite surprised and pleased with how Ernshaw handled the details of it. I found I didn’t mind that I’d worked out the twist because I was so impressed with the direction it took. Whether you see the twist coming or not, this is a story that doesn’t lose its magic once the curtain’s peeled back, so to speak.

The only thing about this story that didn’t work well for me was its ending — or rather, its denouement. THE WICKED DEEP is a dark, dark story about murder, revenge, and thwarted love, and I’ll admit that I was expecting the final few chapters to live up to the darkness and end on a poignant, chilling note. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite happen. The final chapters actually felt a bit schmaltzy and trite, and it felt like they were tacked on to appease readers who don’t care for tragic endings.

Overall, THE WICKED DEEP is an accomplished story of murder, revenge, and true love that tugged on my heartstrings and will leave you with chills.

I'm so here for a dark story about witches. Which is exactly what this book gave me.

200 years ago, the Swan sisters were accused of being witches and drowned for it in the town of Sparrow. This set a curse upon the town where each year the three sisters come back and possess girls' bodies and drown boys in the harbour for revenge. Each year this event brings the town to chaos as the locals try to identify which girls are possessed, and so witch hunts ensue. This is the general synopsis.

I loved this premise and the story had me hooked. The writing and pacing kept me intrigued. I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen and to find out more about the characters. The premise of this book didn't let me down and I continued to enjoy the story throughout (thank god, I'm tired of finding books with an awesome premise just to be super let down).

My only issues with it are with some flat characterizations. Bo, for the most part, and most side characters, weren't developed much. Penny and the swan sisters were interesting, but Bo as a love interest remained quite undeveloped, and we never got to know Rose, Heath, or any of the townspeople other than one trait. With stronger characters, this book could have been a 5-star read for me.

Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'd check it out if you want a dark, witchy read.

I absolutely loved this book! Thanks to Netgalley, I got my hands on an ARC and was able to dive into this deliciously atmospheric YA novel just a week or two before it’s release on March 6th. Trust me, this is one book worth rushing out and grabbing as soon as you can.

With a story reminiscent of Practical Magic and a touch of the Salem Witch trials, this beautifully written story tells the tale of the cursed town of Sparrow - where hundreds of years ago three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery and drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town. Now, in modern day Sparrow, the sisters return for a brief time during the Summer Solstice. Each year the three sisters steal bodies of three local girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Main character Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town much like everyone else in Sparrow who marks this Derek town history with a plethora of odd and antiquated traditions each summer bringing boundless tourists from near and far. 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 and the intricate web of mystical history the town holds over those on the land.

From start to finish this book had me engaged, excited, and enthralled. The history of the town of Sparrow and the fabled three sisters is extremely well detailed and revealed in tasty morsels amongst the modern story of Penny and Bo. Author Shea Ernshaw has crafted a rich and atmospheric tale that is extremely well written with beautiful detail and vivid language that allows the town of Sparrow and the residents of past and present to truly leap off the page. Although some may criticize the insta-love between Bo and Penny, I believe both characters are extremely well developed with their own deep histories allowing readers to see the relationship between them grow and provide believability for why these two are so strongly drawn to each other.

This is a story begging for a film or TV adaptation. With rich visuals and a nuisanced plot and twist reveals, The Wicked Deep is a must read for those loving magical reads steeped in both tradition and modern day trappings.
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Many Thanks to Net-Galley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy. This did not affect my rating.

*4/5*

Two centuries ago, in a small town named Sparrow, three sisters were accused of being witches and were sentenced to death. The townspeople tied rocks to their ankles and let the sister drown. Every summer since, the sisters inhabit the bodies of three unsuspecting young women, and unleash their anger upon the town. No one knows which girls are chosen or why.

“After the first night, the harmony of voices becomes undeniable. An enchanting hymn sailing over the water’s surface, cool and soft and alluring. The Swan sisters have awakened.”

This is a lovely and atmospheric novel. I loved the little asides you get before some chapters. You get to know Marguerite, Aurora, and Hazel Swan a little better.

Every summer, Sparrow teenagers have a ‘Swan Party’, which is the start of Swan Season, the time of year where the towns’ bad luck happens. This is when the sisters’ start to look for a body to inhabit. They then exact their revenge on the town by drowning the males of that are in Sparrow (not necessarily a townsperson, could be a tourist). No one sees the girls when they lure a boy out in to the ocean… so the boys deaths are ruled a suicide, or drowning.

Penny, our protagonist, lives on Lumiere Island (just a short boat ride off the mainland) with her mom who is drowning with grief. Penny’s father mysteriously disappeared a few years back and her mother has never recovered. Penny doesn’t want to go to the Swan Party, but her best friend Rose does and so Penny agrees to go along with her. Penny meets Bo, a tourist looking for work. Later that night at the party, Bo helps Penny with an unruly partygoer and they strike up a friendship. Penny gives Bo a job maintaining the lighthouse on Lumiere Island. As they grow closer, the mysterious drownings’ start, and even though the town has accepted their fate, Bo wants to figure out what to do. No one trusts anyone... and Penny has a secret she doesn’t tell anyone.

The premise of this book immediately drew me in. Legends and Curses, strange happenings… it was all well done. The writing is beautiful, Shea Ernshaw never took it too far, and she knew that there needed to be something to keep the readers intrigued, a hook. And boy, did she hook me in. I needed to know what was going to happen next, even if it was a little predictable in some points, I still needed to keep reading.
One small thing that bugged me was the insta-love.. I am never a huge fan of that.

I really enjoyed this book, and will recommend it to my friends. The writing was beautiful, the plot never dragged, the mystery was well done, as was the wrap up.

"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."

These few sentences in the description of this story immediately drew me in. This was all I needed to know to request a copy of this book. A town that is cursed. Witches returning every summer for the past 2oo years to exact their revenge. A mysterious island with a lighthouse. All the connections between them are what made this story so haunting and drew me in and kept in the town of Sparrow and on the island of Lumiere until the very end. I found this story to be both dark and magical and the artwork on the cover will be certain to draw people in to purchase it when they see it on bookshelves.

I would love to read the book except it won't download and is not in a Kindle format. Although the description sounds amazing and I have heard nothing but good things about this book from those who have been able to read it. The cover looks gorgeous and I can't wait for the book to come out so I can read it.

I love a great witch book. This one was no different. I mean that in a good way. It was gripping and It's quite atmospheric and I enjoyed the writing style but the only complaint I have is some of the cliches and the instant love. Overall a very good book.

I love stories about witches, so when I heard about "The Wicked Deep", I knew I wanted to read it. It doesn’t hurt that the cover is stunning. And while I was easily swept into the story, I wasn’t blown away by it.

This book is so atmospheric. Ernshaw created a dark setting, and often uses dark language to describe the town and even emotions. Everything is tied into the theme of drowning and death. That makes it easy to get swept into the story, and helps the plot feel truly sinister. I also appreciated the little pieces of foreshadowing she included. They weren’t in your face, but I picked up on them nevertheless.

I did find, however, that much of the book, particularly in the beginning is heavy on telling and internal monologue rather than showing. If there had been more showing, then perhaps the romance wouldn’t have felt a bit like insta-love to me. I’m also not quite sold on the ending, even after having some time to collect my thoughts on the book.

The novel also has a twist, which I guessed along the way thanks to the foreshadowing. I won’t say here, but I do appreciate where Ernshaw took the story, though I feel that some aspects could’ve been explored a bit more.

The only other thing that gives me pause is that the book never really addresses how the girls who are possessed are wronged by the spirits too. I would’ve liked to see that acknowledged since the book already covers how revenge or an eye for an eye is wrong, and how the sisters’ revenge has turned into straight up murder. What do the sisters do in these girls’ bodies besides kill? Why isn’t that addressed?

Overall, I did quite enjoy "The Wicked Deep". It’s a dark, atmospheric, and sinister tale of revenge. It’s also a romance, though I felt that aspect could’ve been handled better. This book is a quick and captivating read, I’ll give it that. But the ending left me feeling a little…perhaps disappointed because it felt almost rushed.

I was excited when is aw this book being compared to Hocus Pocus so I had to see what it was all about. I love a good YA fantasy and this was such a thrilling and hauntingly brilliant read. There was so much suspense while I was reading it and THAT ENDING killed me. If you love magic, witches, posession, haunting, and death, then you will be obsessed!

Another summer spent in Sparrow means that another three girls will be possessed by three sisters that were murdered 200 years ago, and with the reawakening of the sisters comes a lot of teenage boys that mysteriously drown. Penny wants nothing to do with the whole legend, but it isn’t something she can truly control. When Bo arrives to town, Penny takes him in to her island home to save him from sleeping on the beach, with a mutual agreement that he can stay as long as he provides work on the lighthouse. As the summer unfolds, the mysteries of the Swan sisters unfold as one of them is caught. Penny must decide if she’s willing to lose the boy over finding out the truth.

I really enjoyed Penny as a main character. Right from the beginning you can tell she’s not like everyone else. She is very responsible and thoughtful, she would love to go away for college but needs to take care of her mother and I love how she takes this into account. She’s very selfless and smart. Honestly she’s just a very realistic character, one that I can relate to a lot.

I really enjoyed the romance in this book. Bo and Penny didn’t necessarily get off to a good start, as she denies him the job at the lighthouse. Bo ends up saving her later that evening and the two start of as just friends. Later on when events that happen in the book bring them together only do their feelings for one another show. It is a really well written slow burning romance that I absolutely loved.

The pacing of this story was a little slow at first, and while there was not a lot of action, we did get a lot of backstory about the Swan sisters and what happens to the town during this period. It’s not until about half way through the book when action starts to pick up, and it’s in the last quarter of the novel when the action is so great that you can’t put the book down. So if you’re really into action novels, this one might not be for you, but if you enjoy a bit of history and a really good back story then I would definitely give this one a try.

Overall, I loved the characters, I loved the fantasy aspect and I loved the romance. The pacing was good, but it could have been a bit improved. The ending of this book was what truly got me and made me love this book. I highly recommend this one to all YA and/or Fantasy fans, especially fans of Hocus Pocus.

This started as another total “cover request” for me! But then I read the synopsis and I was already instantly hooked! The writing was absolutely beautiful! It was so poetic and descriptive, to the point where I didn’t even really realize that the things I was reading about were actually ugly things! This book is about prejudice/intolerance, and curses, and murder, and possession. But it was just such a gorgeous and magical story! I loved the witches/sirens elements and the sort of nostalgic/throw-back witch-hunt vibes. The story was addictive and dark, and the writing was lovely and enchanting and overall it was a “spellbinding” book that any fantasy fan will surely enjoy!!

What an absolute ride this was. I do not even know exactly how to write this review. This book made me suffer, but not in the way you might think. By the end I was dizzy and even thinking about it now pulls some heart strings. I was amazed and stumped by this book.
I am amazed at Ernshaw’s writing. It was simply beautifully. Eloquently gothic and just right for this kind of story. She transported me effortlessly into the story’s setting. I was there by the sea, I could smell the salty air, feel the cold wind running in my hair and hear the deadly song playing in my ears.
Right at the beginning of the book, I guessed one possible twist and doubted myself the whole way. The author wrote it out in a way that made me forget my theory quite often and then it hits you with a full force.
The characters were very mysterious. I can't say much about them without admitting spoilers, but they were very entertaining.
I was not happy with the romance in this book, which was one of the bigger elements. Personally, I just did not like the turn of events and felt that the feelings between Penny and Bo were not sincere.
Overall, like the song a siren, this book captivated me. It hardly had any dull moments and I was reading it for long periods of time, completely focused on nothing but this book and the going-ons in it. Shea Ernshaw did a wonderful job with her debut! I know I had that one issue that I cannot get over, but I think a lot of you would still enjoy this book despite that bump.

I was really looking forward to reading this ARC, the story is something I would really enjoy. Unfortunately I was unable to read it due to the format of the book. I don't have a computer to download the required program to open the file

Note: this review contains a pretty major spoiler.

Oh. My god.

This??? Was so??? Good?????

First, let's talk about that cover. I know it looks good on screen. But when you get close to it or zoom in??? I'm in love. Second, this book has absolutely beautiful writing. And I mean poetic. And romantic. But also...just really well-freaking-done. This book is about murder and curses and possession and it doesn't feel like that at all and I am stunned. And the plot is fabulous. I'll admit I wasn't completely sure about this book when I requested it from Netgalley, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Even if the plot was terrible, I would be glad to have read it. I wanted to slow down and read every word twice, and not because I didn't understand it. Slowing down and relishing the writing is not something that is in my nature but I made myself do it because it was that good.

I really enjoyed the flashback scenes with the sisters. I thought it really added to the atmosphere of the book and it makes the villains more accessible and less black and white (even though they weren't exactly "good" in the flashbacks, it is nice to be shown their history and not just told). As far as characters go, I thought most were pretty good. Bo was very mysterious and determined, but perhaps a bit too determined and revenge-driven (at times he was quite murderous, almost dramatically so). Penny (oh, dear Penny) felt so real, and I was actually a bit devastated when it was revealed she was the third sister (or rather, that the third sister inhabited her). I do wish that we knew Penny was Hazel much earlier on in the story, or that little clues and hints were dropped about it (although maybe if I go back a reread with that information, I might be able to pick up on things better). We don't find out until a good two-thirds of the way into the book, and then suddenly Penny disappears entirely (the real Penny) and we are given a whole new character we haven't warmed up to yet (even if she's technically been Hazel all along - still though). It is a fabulous plot twist , and I really love it in theory (and the reveal with Aurora/Gigi was excellently placed and written - just needs a bit more build-up is all). It did cross my mind pretty early in the book that it might happen, especially when there was so much emphasis on the fact that the third sister had yet to be found...but I thought it would turn out to be Rose and that the author would go in that direction instead of Penny. Obviously she didn't and it turned out so much for the better. It certainly clears up why Penny can see the other sisters, which did seem odd before we knew who she was, especially since it was just dropped in as a fact with no explanation, really (another reason why I think introducing Hazel earlier would have been better). I also considered at one point that it might have been Penny's mother, before I remembered that she wasn't the right age. I also think it's an interesting twist that Hazel took over Penny's body for three years in a row because of her affinity to the island - another fact that was just kind of dropped in there unannounced but worked pretty well. At this point, I had no idea where the plot would go because it had already gone into an entirely different direction than I had ever expected. And I do feel bad for Penny (a side effect of having gotten to know her for 2/3 of the book and then realise that she is not herself) because first she falls in love with a boy, then is taken over by a murderess, then has said boy fall in love with her, only for the boy to be in love with the girl inhabiting the body instead of herself. I do like Hazel's redemption and sacrifice arc a lot though and it was an exceptionally great ending instead of what could have been incredibly boring (that is, if Penny didn't turn out to be Hazel after all). I loved that Penny wasn't just dropped in the dust after Hazel left her though. Even if the person Bo fell in "love" with was Hazel and not Penny, I liked that he kept his relationship with Penny instead of abandoning her just because she was no longer Hazel. I do think that the "love" amongst all characters involved is a wee bit over the top - the book's timeline is a mere three weeks, after all, and they were speaking of super deep, takes years to build up kind of love. I also wish that Hazel's love for Bo as the boy on the island was less about Bo and more a mirror or reflection of Owen being the boy on the island. I do feel sad that nobody but Bo will know of Hazel's sacrifice. It could have redeemed her story if the sacrifice was known by the whole town, and then they could see the gravity of everyone's actions involved. I really loved that the Swan sisters' bodies were found at the end, as it brought closure to a part of the story I didn't realise needed it.

The strongest part of the book though (even if the plot was very, very good and unexpected) was definitely the writing. I can't stress how poetic it feels, and how that totally should not mesh well with the subject matter but it so totally does. I also like how the writing does not immediately place the book in time - obviously there are some dates thrown around so we know approximately when it takes place, but for the most part it could be any chunk of 200 years and not necessarily the one it is. I hate it when writing styles or pop culture references distract from the reading and this did not do that at all so I was extremely grateful. I wish with my entire heart that this book was longer though. The words are just dying to be read and the story is over far too quickly. After having read this I know that I will definitely pick up the author's next book, no matter what it may be about (unless it's about like, taxes or brussels sprouts or something), just to read her writing once again.

Also, can I just point out that this is the author's debut novel???? Because DAMN.

For two hundred years, the village of Sparrow has been cursed ever since three sisters were drowned in the ocean. Each summer, before the solstice the sisters take possession of three girls in order to drown boys as revenge. Seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has grown up with the legend of the Swan sisters, and she has accepted the curse as retribution. But when a mysterious stranger appears in town, Penny will stop at nothing to protect him from the deadly curse that looms over her town.
I was instantly captivated by the setting. A small town on the edge of the sea, a girl who lives on a remote island with the Pacific ocean in the backdrop, hiding the secrets of the Swan sisters and of the town. The mystery and intrigue keep me engaged from start to finish. The writing is effortless and atmospheric. I was a little bored by the romance between the main character and the love interest., but the plotline was fresh and unique enough to keep me completely interested and invested.
* I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Wow.

That's really all I have to say at the beginning of this review. I only finished The Wicked Deep about 1 minute ago, and I had to immediately come write this. I knew nothing about the book going in; I just knew I loved the cover. So I was in for a wonderful surprise.

The story is about a girl named Penny Talbot. She lives on an island in a body of water where three sisters were drowned 200 years prior, accused of being witches for their ability to entrance men. Each year they have returned during what is deemed the "Swan Season", taking over the body of three girls around the same age and luring young men to their death in the watery deeps. When an outsider named Bo comes to the island, apparently NOT one of the many tourists who arrive during the Swan Season in search of intrigue, he and Penny grow close while still keeping many secrets from one another.

Let me first say that Shea Ernshaw is a wonderful writer. Though at first I was a little put off by what I thought was some over-usage of dashes, I quickly stopped noticing (or maybe it just stopped happening?) and fell into the rhythm of the words. Which, by the way, were beautiful. The descriptions were lovely, and everything had a whimsical kind of feel to it, despite some dark topics. Clearly a talented author, Ernshaw's prose is a joy to read.

Then there was the story. That was what really made this book work for me. At first I wasn't sure how much I cared about the characters and the love interest, but I stayed for the story. I HAD to stay for the story. I was hooked - I needed to know what happened, who was who (you'll understand what I mean by this when you read it), and how both the mystery and problems would be resolved. And when the mystery was solved... Holy shit. I didn't see it coming. In hindsight, I maybe should have, but I was totally caught off-guard by the direction the plot went in. It left me with so many questions and I wasn't sure how things would wrap up, but Ernshaw managed, and executed it beautifully.

Like I said, the characters were slightly flat for me. Penny we got to know well, but I wasn't super invested in the romance, and all the other characters (even the best friend) felt a little prop-ish to me. I can see how it would have been hard to delve deep here when the focus of the story was the mystery, but nonetheless I think a little more could have been given. In terms of Penny though, I loved how her backstory was revealed more and more along the way until everything eventually fell into place. Now, this is just a mild criticism - I still liked the characters, for sure. I'm only saying what might have made it even better.

Once the plot twist was revealed, I basically guessed what the ending would be, but that didn't take away from its impact. It was heartbreaking in its finality - the best word I can think of to describe it would be "bittersweet." It was the kind of ending that leaves you aching but contented. The kind that leaves you staring at the last page for a moment afterwards, feeling all the things. Bravo.

4.5 stars.