I did not like the writing style or the narrator's tone. This is one of those books that speaks down to teens rather than to them. I would not recommend purchasing any book that does that.

Weird and creepy in all the best ways, and it creeps up on you until all of a sudden you realize how all the details and hints add up--and you wonder on how earth you could possibly have missed it! That's the mark of a brilliant storyteller, when the climax seems both surprising and inevitable.

My students are going to LOVE this one!

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

I didn’t realize this was a second in a series and u haven’t read book 1. Thank you for the early copy

My feelings for this book are as inconsistent as the pacing. The plotline around the Toads was so strange, but once we started to see what was actually happening I was more invested.

The main character Merry actually feels like a teenager, and this being a YA novel, made it perfect, she made many mistakes but had decent character growth and was support by other characters.

I'm honestly not entirely sure how to rate and review this one. It was so different from anything else I've read. It's difficult to explain and was confusing in some places and very strange in others. But I also kind of enjoyed some of the strange-ness? Overall, I did end up reading this fairly quickly and liked much of it. It's a nice blend of horror and fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

“Every story tells a truth and every story tells a lie.”

🐸Embark on a spellbinding adventure with Merry as she navigates the treacherous waters of a secret society in Candlecott.

From the moment I started this bewitching tale, I was hooked!😱😱

Merry is determination to rescue her friend Teddy from the clutches of the Toadmen.

When Caraway invites Merry to dinner and starts flirting, I was on high alert! His mysterious charm had me side-eyeing him from the get-go.

🐸As they journey into the sinister Deeping Fen, uncovering dangerous secrets along the way, I found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering if they would emerge victorious or fall into the Toadmen’s trap.

And then there’s Teddy—what a shocker! 🤯 The ending left me reeling; I never saw it coming! 😱 This book had it all: sinister vibes, creepy secrets, and an original storyline that felt like a breath of fresh air in the world of fantasy.

With a enemies to lovers romance and a pulse-pounding fight for the witching world, this book had my heart racing from start to finish.

Mystery, secrets, magic, and twists. This book is a must read for fan of fantasy and adventure!

"Deep Is the Fen" by Lili Wilkinson offers a captivating journey into a rich, atmospheric world with intricate characters and a compelling plot. The ultimate blend of suspense and depth makes it a standout read for fans of thoughtful, immersive fiction.

The premise of this book was so exiting, but I could not get into the story! 1 star overall. I hope to give this another chance in a few months, and will update my review upon rereading. Something just was not clicking with me.

Merry doesn’t need a happily-ever-after. Her life in the charming, idyllic town of Candlecott is fine just as it is. Simple, happy, and with absolutely no magic. Magic only ever leads to trouble.

This was a very cute Y.A. fantasy romance. I really enjoyed it.

Lili Wilkinson’s newest young adult fantasy novel, Deep is the Fen, was a surprisingly gripping read. Mixing bits of fantasy and fairy tale with romance and mystery, I was hooked rather quickly after starting. At times, I thought I knew where the story was going but the author kept me on my toes.

Merriweather Morgan, usually referred to as ‘Merry’ or ‘Morgan’ enjoys life with her best friends Teddy and Sol while also keeping her ability to see magic (or “mettle”) a secret from everyone she knows. When Teddy decides he wants to join the same male only group her father is a part of, the ‘Toadmen’, Merry is desperate to stop him and not lose one of her only friends. When she teams up with rival Caraway Boswell, however, they discover there’s a lot more to the Toadmen than meets the eye.

Worldbuilding caught my attention in this book fairly quickly. I really loved the secret society nature of the Toadmen, as well as the magic system in place in the world. Magic is controlled by powerful corporations, and they’ve made it taboo for anyone to practice it outside of what they produce. Rogue witches are locked away for “rehabilitation”, and the practices of groups like the Toadmen are ignored in the name of power. There are some darker elements in the book (bordering on horror), but I think it all blended together very well to create a narrative I found myself very invested in.

The characters were compelling too. I really liked Caraway and Merry’s dynamic, and it was fun to see their progression from rivals to lovers. As a secondary relationship, it was also nice to see Teddy and Sol’s love story too, especially since it’s a queer romance (Sol is described to be transgender early in the story). The various side characters were compelling too, and I appreciated how they added to the overall narrative.

My only complaint about the book was the setting. It was really hard to envision at times, what with the seemingly fairy tale village esque references mixed with more contemporary references (i.e. prom, conventions, cars, etc.) Once we got to the Fen, it was easier but everything outside of that was almost mismatched in my head at times.

Overall, this was a great read and I’m happy I took the time to pick it up after the blog tour. I would recommend this book to young adult fantasy readers who enjoy unique worldbuilding, innovative magic systems, and a “rivals to lovers” romance subplot. Narrator Imogen Wilde did an excellent job with her performance in the audiobook. While this book is standalone (and wraps up nicely), I will definitely be checking out more of Ms. Wilkinson’s books in the future (especially her debut novel, A Hunger of Thorns which I learned is set in the same world as this book).

Thank you to the author, the publisher Delacorte Press, the team at TBR and Beyond Tours, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book as part of my participation in the blog tour. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Deep is the Fen immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.

I tried so very hard to immerse myself into this swampy world because I absolutely adore these kinds of settings but the story was so strange and the characters felt so disconnected for me I just didn't enjoy this one. It was certainly weird, but unfortunately not my kind of weird. The idea of the Toad Men was cultish and although immersed in magic was not the enchanting kind. Merry was an unlovable main character for me, she was so opposed to magic and the romance and the back and forth between her best friend and Caraway was certainly cringeworthy. The pacing in this book was also definitely a drag for me and made it hard to even enjoy the climatic moments. I did appreciate some of the imagery that was presented in this book, if I'm being honest the setting and all the describing of everything in this world was my favorite part of the story.

Deep is the Fen presents a unique magic that is for sure a first for me! It's been a while since I read a book with witches in it, but what better way though than picking this book up that has toad magic in it! The toad magic definitely created an interesting story in this book! Reading this book, I enjoyed the back and forth banter between Merry and Caraway with their little rivalry that they had going on. We also see growth and acceptance with Merry's character throughout this book. Deep is the Fen is filled with twists and secrets waiting to be revealed! This book did have some bumps along the way with though some highs and lows when it came to keeping my interest then losing it.

Thank you to netgalley, the author, tbr and beyond tours, and the respected publishers for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

I was up and down on my feelings for this book. I thought the pacing was uneven, with periods of not a lot happening and then action comes out of nowhere. The plotline around the Toads was so strange, but once we started to see what was actually happening I was more invested.

The main character Merry actually feels like a teenager, making mistakes and overreacting to things, but then her friends help her and she's able to change direction and get back on the right track. I especially liked how things played out with her friends Teddy and Saul. I was worried it might be too dramatic, but it actually was nicely done.

The book felt like it was ending a couple of times before it actually finished, but it was a nice wrap up overall.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the copy.

"Deep is the Fen" by Lili Wilkinson beckons readers into a world where magic and mystery intertwine, crafting a narrative that is as captivating as it is unforgettable. Set in the charming town of Candlecott, Merry's life turns unexpectedly when her best friend, Teddy, becomes entangled with the enigmatic Toadmen—a secret society steeped in sinister traditions and dark magic.

Determined to save Teddy from the clutches of the Toadmen, Merry finds herself reluctantly teaming up with her academic rival, Caraway Boswell. As they delve deeper into the secrets of the Toadmen, Merry discovers that nothing is as it seems, and danger lurks around every corner. Merry's resolve is tested with each revelation, leading her on a perilous journey into the heart of Deeping Fen, where the true extent of the Toadmen's power becomes horrifyingly clear.

Wilkinson effortlessly weaves together moments of beauty and gore, devastation and upliftment, chilling darkness and heartwarming light. The result is a narrative that is equal parts captivating and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impression long after the final page is turned. With its haunting atmosphere, richly drawn characters, and pulse-pounding suspense, "Deep is the Fen" is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and atmospheric storytelling.

In conclusion, Deep is the Fen" is a wonderful novel that deserves to be savored and celebrated. With its unique blend of atmosphere, emotion, and storytelling prowess, it earns a well-deserved four-star rating and a permanent place on the bookshelf of any reader seeking an unforgettable journey.

Top 5 reasons to read Deep is the Fen

1. The Magic is top tier!
2. Vivid Imagery that transports you into the book.
3. Incredible friend group
4. Stunning World Building
5. Rivals to lovers & hilarious banter

Something about this book reminded me of some of my favorite things in Mary Watson’s books. I guess it’s that it feels both like it’s set in the real UK world and simultaneously in a separate, fantasy world at the same time. I love that worldly/otherworldly vibe in this book.

The story also contains some themes that beg to be explored. (Think THE TROUBLED GIRLS OF DRAGOMIR ACADEMY, but YA) Women who have power are witches and imprisoned. Men form secret societies in which they promote and celebrate forbidden power. It invites some thinking.

It also has a great rivals-to-lovers thread weaving through it, and since that’s one of my favorite tropes, I knew I would be hooked on it. And I was! I loved Merry and Caraway’s characters. (And their names.) I liked the pacing of their getting to know one another and learning things about each other. Also, I liked the evolution of Merry’s besties trio. I liked that the author didn’t write Teddy and Sol out of the story.

I devoured this whole book in a single afternoon. The setting is immersive and the characters engaging. By the time I finished the last page, I was already looking at what else Wilkinson had written so I could get more of this incredible storytelling.

Content warning: body horror, mind control, body possession, drugging, murder, child endangerment, forced imprisonment

I had never read a novel centered around toad magic/lore before, so that was intriguing. This world appears to be heavily influenced by Wales which I wasn't expecting, but also really liked. I found the dynamic between Merry, Sol, and Teddy to be very realistic of friend groups that grow up together from childhood as they mature and romantic feelings begin. I liked the dynamic between Merry and Caraway even if it's more of a misunderstanding interpreted as being enemies (by one party) than an actual enemies-to-lovers trope.

Deeping Fen itself was glorious and Wilkinson does a great job with building the stagnant atmosphere of the place. How all the pieces fit together was interesting and entertaining - though at least in the ARC some of the actions in the final showdown physically don't make sense based on actions that happened in previous lines (for example, if a person is frozen in place by magic, how are then then collapsing to the ground when the spell isn't broken). But I'm hopeful this is cleared up in final edits before the book goes to print.

The pacing is very slow to start so it takes a few chapters to really get into the story, but once the plot picks up, DEEP IS THE FEN is hard to put down. One complaint I do have is how long the individual chapters are (they average 30 minutes/chapter), I wish they were split up a bit. Overly long chapters can be a roadblock for some teen readers.

Overall this was a great read that I lost a bit of sleep over playing the "just one more chapter" game. I look forward to book talking this one at the library and getting it into teens hands.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review.

This book is dark and beautiful with some twisted horror elements. It might be YA but it still packs some steam. The magic and eerie grandeur of it all has a haunting lingering effect and lived on in my head after I finished reading. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love some rebellious witches?