Out September 9th, 2025
The Burial Tide by Neil Sharpson hits like a wave you didn’t see coming—slow at first, then crashing with emotional force. It’s a story that grips you by the collar and drags you into a world where grief, memory, and survival are tangled in something far deeper than just plot. From the first chapter, there’s a sense of quiet dread, like something ancient is stirring beneath the surface. Sharpson doesn’t rush; he builds tension with care, letting the characters breathe and ache in ways that feel painfully real.

What makes this book unforgettable is its emotional honesty. The protagonist isn’t a hero in the traditional sense—he’s broken, haunted, and trying to make sense of a world that’s shifting under his feet. There’s a line that stuck with me: “The tide doesn’t ask permission to take what it wants.” That’s the kind of truth this book deals in. Loss isn’t romanticized, and redemption isn’t guaranteed. The supernatural elements are eerie and beautifully written, but they never overshadow the raw humanity at the core.

By the end, The Burial Tide leaves you gutted and grateful. It’s not just a story—it’s a reckoning. Sharpson writes with a kind of quiet fury, the kind that makes you sit still after the last page and just feel. If you’ve ever carried grief like a stone in your pocket, this book will speak to you. It’s haunting, yes—but it’s also healing in the way only great fiction can be.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for this ARC!

A folkloric horror that is as much psychological as it is monstrous, Sharpson opens The Burial Tide with a gut punch of terror - a harrowing, visceral scene of being buried alive that sets the tone for everything to come. From there the novel coils itself tighter and tighter, building an atmosphere of dread so thick it feels almost suffocating. It’s the kind of psychological horror that thrives on tension and mystery, where you’re never quite sure what’s real, what’s imagined and what’s lurking just out of sight.

The island itself becomes a stage for unravelling minds, strange traditions and buried truths. As Mara’s journey deepens the story shifts into sharper, bloodier territory: grotesque monsters, flashes of gore and moments of body horror all steeped in Irish folklore. Yet even in its most grotesque moments the novel never loses that tense, uncanny edge - it keeps you guessing, keeps you unsettled.

Mara makes for a compelling anchor in this nightmare, a character as mysterious as the island itself. Watching her piece together who she is and what is really happening is just as riveting as the more terrifying set pieces. And when the answers come, they land with a grim, satisfying weight.

This is horror that starts in the mind and ends in the flesh - claustrophobic, imaginative and deeply unsettling.

I LOVE Neil Sharpson!! He tells a story the way no one else does. This was fabulous from start to finish. It had marvelous complex characters. A complicated but engaging plot. Perfect pacing that kept me hooked and curious as to what was coming next from the opening salvo. I was creeped out and nervous and fascinated all at the same time. The rollout of revelations was brilliant; there was just enough deception and misdirection to keep my interest. The villains were deliciously evil and thick on the ground, and there were surprising heroes sprinkled throughout. It was easy to read but not simple in any way - just written to draw you in and refuse to let you go. I loved it!

The Burial Tide was a gripping and atmospheric read that kept me hooked throughout. I loved how the story blended dark suspense with deep character moments, making the tension feel both thrilling and personal. The world-building was vivid, though I felt a few plot threads could have been developed more. Overall, it’s an intense, well-crafted story that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to fans of eerie, character-driven thrillers.

Listen, I genuinely don’t want to give anything away about this book. It’s SO much better going in to it blind as a bat.


I one million out of one million LOVED this book. The author did an amazing job of Jedi g me right on the edge and giving me juuuust enough to not tell me anything but everything all at once. It was the tension, the lure, the mythology, the found family. Again, if you want a synopsis please check out the book description. I read this in like a day it was that good. I couldn’t stop reading it, the author did an awesome job of writing in different perspectives and overall the unfolding of the story. Ten out of ten recommend.

A marriage of Irish folklore and horror? Say no more. Oh where to start...isolated and foreboding island, getting buried alive, strange and unsettling townspeople; I mean, just about eeeveryone is shady as fuck so one never really knows who or what to believe. We're on this journey with Mara who appears to suffer from amnesia after clawing her way out of a watery grave, slowly (and expertly) revealing the disquieting truth of it all.

This had Lute by Jennifer Thorne mixed with Midnight Mass (sans religion) vibes. It is a book that delivers what it advertises on the blurb. It is a cinematic treat you'll want to devour in one sitting. It is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year!

This book had all the right ingredients for a fabulous read.
The beginning of the story hits you with a traumatic event but then, the questions start piling up.
Who is Mara? and why does it seem like everyone on the island is suspicious.

This book kept me guessing until the end and the ending did not disappoint. A brilliant, page -turning book.

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
If you read Knock Knock, Open Wide, the last novel by Neil Sharpson, you know what you are going into: Celtic myths and folklore, mysterious characters and increasingly unnerving monsters (both human and not).
The Burial Tide starts with one woman, Mara, waking up inside a coffin and trying to recover her memory while everyone around her behaves strangely, there are some naming mistakes and something just left the road full of baby teeth (literally).

It may be quite convoluted at times, but I like to think this is made in purpose for the reader to feel exactly as lost as our main character is. The twists and turns are multiple and each stranger (even if they made sense) than the last. In the end, it all comes together in an amazing climax that will leave you nodding along what is happening, maybe with a crazy smile in your own face. Female rage, indeed.

If there's one thing to be said for Neil Sharpson, it's that he definitely knows how to keep you turning the pages. I read this in a single day.

I'm a bit of a sucker for anything tied to Irish mythology and folklore, and I was not disappointed in this regard.. I don't think it's more of a secret from the readers than it is from the islanders (I mean, look at the cover), but a person in the protagonists' situation is probably not going to reach THAT conclusion quickly, so I appreciated the slow clicking into place of that piece for Mara and company. The suspense in general that comes from Mara being amnesiac and therefore unable to fact check anything someone tells her works well for readers who also don't know anything.
It's also truly refreshing to have a meaningful, platonic relationship between a man and a woman he aids in her most desperate hour.

Characters unfold into complex people as readers learn more about the history of Inishbannock. There are moments in the book that are nearly cinematic (though some POV characters are better at seeing and describing things than others). Real world folklore organically weaves into that created for Inishbannock to repeat the ancient lie that 'it has to be this way because that's the way it's always been.'

I love Irish folklore and mythology, so there was no doubt in my mind that I wasn't going to like this book, and I'm so glad that I was right. THE BURIAL TIDE is a tense, moody journey through a mystery involving a woman who was buried alive and has lost her memories and the town that holds her secrets. If you're familiar with Irish mythology you will likely catch on pretty quickly to some of the mysteries of the book, but for the most part the reader is figuring things out right alongside Mara, the main character who is desperately trying to remember what happened to her and figure out why she was buried alive.

The cast of characters, some of whom you find yourself in the perspective of, are a group of interesting and fully realized people and, if I'm being completely honest, I really fell in love with all of them. Well.... except for one. Iykyk.

As Mara uncovers pieces of her past, both through memories coming back, people admitting their secrets to her, and some good old fashioned sleuthing, even more mysteries unfold. I found myself practically sprinting to the end of the book so I could find out why exactly this island is so weird. I was thrilled to find that everything wraps up in a way that was both exciting and made a lot of sense.

I genuinely cannot wait for THE BURIAL TIDE to come out and I am now on my way to look for more Irish or sea-based horror.

The publisher's description of the book had me running over to netgalley to request a copy asap: A woman who can’t remember her death. An island with a terrible secret. A past that refuses to stay buried. But the sea remembers it all.

I mean… folklore, isolation, and revenge soaked in brine and blood? Don’t mind if I do.

The novel kicks off with a literal buried alive scenario—Mara wakes in a coffin and claws her way out into breathless uncertainty. She remembers nothing: not her name, not her death, and certainly not why the locals insist she belongs six feet under. Everyone seems eager to fill in the blanks, but something about their stories feels... off. Like the truth is bending just out of reach.

The island of Inishbannock is equal parts remote and rotting. The air hums with old grief and older curses, the villagers are harboring dark secrets, and as Mara searches for answers, she begins to wonder if she's not at the center of it all.

I devoured this in nearly a single sitting. The writing slinks under your skin, the mystery grips hard, and the claustrophobic setting gnaws at every page. The payoff was every bit as brutal as the buildup, if not slightly weirder than I had expected.

I wasn’t sold on Knock, Knock, Open Wide, but I’m so glad I gave him another shot. This book enchanted and unsettled me.

Thank you for opportunity to read this book before its release. Sharpson has created a story so captivating and eerie— it made me want to keep turning the page and getting answers until the very end. With this being my first book by this author, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for Sharpson’s next release!

2.75 rounded up

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was an ok read. Definitely started off interesting, slowed down mid book, then picked up again towards the end. The folklore was very interesting and entwining it with some gory, creepy scenes really helped to set the ambiance. The characters were a little one-dimensional, which also made the story fall a little flat. I can see how this might be a niche read, and some will love it, but it wasn't captivating enough for me.

4.5 stars

Mara wakes up in coffin with no memories on an island that has too many secrets. As Mara tries to unravel her past she meets newcomers to Inishbannock, Declan, a poet, and Natalie, a barkeep. The more secrets the trio uncovers, the more the islanders fight to keep them in the dark, but the sea remembers all.
This book was the perfect mix of horror and folklore. The twist and turns were so captivating and the ending was just so satisfying.

The setting and Irish folklore make the book. This insular island, the places in the villages, the cottages, the cemetery, and various strange details create an eerie atmosphere.
Declan arrives on a low tech island for a solitary writing retreat. His grandmother remembered the place fondly, but his experience is far less sunny and welcoming than her reminiscences. Odd things are going on, and he's very much the outsider. He's heavy and rather vulnerable, a refreshing MMC.
I enjoyed the central characters. There are several strong women and a good deal of intelligent dialogue, witty banter, and exquisite barbs.
People from marginalized groups are characters who matter. I wish that wasn't noteworthy in 2025 Horror releases, but it still is.
Although the opening was a hard sell, and more than half the novel seemed more like weird fiction or a gothic with possible romantic suspense, once the horror kicked in at 57%, the book delivered excellent horrific peaks. There are unusual squelchy scenes and a good deal of imaginative gore.
The ending was well-earned and gratifying.
Neil Sharpson writes well. I'll watch for his next book.
Recommended for non-squeamish horror readers.
Thank you, Zando, for the eARC for consideration. These are solely my own opinions.
I'll add links

Thank you, NetGalley and Neil Sharpson, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

I love strange books like this. I zipp right through them. I absolutely LOVE the cover, and at first, I thought it was a bear, but it's a Seal! There is so much lore, and im a suckered for lore. From start to finish, this whole story will have you at the edge of your seat. I mean, come on, a woman is clawing her way out of a coffin in the very first few lines! That's not a spoiler, by the way. It's on the summary and the authors note before you even begin the story. There are also creepy creatures that are horribly disfigured and just ugh! So creepy. The descriptions of them had me twitching.

I love how you know something is very wrong but are struggling with the main character to find out what it is. There is a darkness to the town she is in, and the atmosphere is dark and eerie. You can't trust anyone and other characters in the book you just want to strangle. I truly loved Mara. She is going through so much in this book, and the ending of this book is just perfect, in my opinion.

I love her Mara is in the dark along with us readers as to everything and everyone. With her amnesia I felt like it was substantial for this story to be as wonderful as it was. I felt that the horror was more just in the mind and I thought it was perfect and worked wonders for this story. Trying to put all the pieces together was a bit thrilling and is what kept me going. Wonderful book, I definitely recommend!

A huge thank you to Neil Sharpson, Zando Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read and review an eARC of one of my most anticipated releases!! What follows is my honest review, and buckle up, it’s a long one because I’ve been trying to put together my thoughts on how incredible this novel was for a full week.

What I loved most about “Knock Knock, Open Wide” was the way that it masterfully blended horror and mystery elements into a seamless page turning narrative that had me engrossed in unraveling every secret and praying the characters could survive the unpredictable knife twists of the terrifyingly unknowable magic. When I heard Sharpson’s second novel would be releasing this year I was both excited and scared— what if it didn’t live up to the hype of his debut? I was excited, but tentative, weary of the so called “sophomore slump” a lot of authors hit.

I’m so pleased to say this couldn’t be any less of an example of that. If anything, I found “The Burial Tide” to be equal to “Knock Knock, Open Wide” in most respects, and far surpassing it in others!

Sharpson is a master of tension, I could not put this book down because I was so captivated and needed to know what happened next. It’s endlessly fascinating to have main characters who are equally in the dark as the readers, and if you’re lucky enough to put the pieces together before Mara does you are gasping and frantically reading, waiting for her to realize what’s really happening.

In a mystery novel, there’s obviously one core question. “The Burial Tide” asks ‘who is Mara,’ but in a great mystery novel the answer to that question is only able to be understood once a hundred smaller mysteries have been solved first. Who did this? Why did that person say what they did? Ect. It’s hard to say much without accidentally revealing anything about the course of the story, and trust me, you want to go in blind!

On to the horror elements, what can I say? I’m a girl who loves folklore and especially folklore I’m not immediately familiar with. Learning about the creatures as I read the book, and then later on an internet deep dive was so fascinating. Several of the descriptions in this book were so visceral they had my jaw *literally* on the floor. I’m a hard person to shock when it comes to horror, but this book managed to do it several times! The whole novel is dripping in an eerie atmosphere that you can *feel* while reading it, the prose is so immersive.

My absolute favorite element of the novel is a big ol spoiler, so come back to this part after you’ve finished reading, I promise you want to experience it for yourself first!!

[ The way that Mara’s dialogue tags and inner monologue so often reflect her connection to the ocean and the seals brought tears to my eyes several times. I had known that the book featured a Selkie character and put together it was her fairly early on. When her voice was described as a “harsh bark” or her thoughts were “crashing like waves” (summarized here, it’s phrased even more eloquently in the book) that subconscious connection to her true nature was absolutely heartbreaking and devastated me as a reader!!

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

The Review

Likes

Compared to other horror books this one had something unique — Irish mythology. It wasn't just any mythology or one that is often used, it is something new, at least for me. I haven't really read anything Irish yet, so I was surprised to see how much I actually enjoyed the Irish mythology that was used as plot device throughout the book. The creatures all had names, making it able to search them up in case one is curious to find out even more about it after reading. But no worries: The book is doing a good job in explaining the mythological aspects, I understood everything well and was delighted to see how it took its shape for the plot.

Staying on the topic, I also want to express my feelings on the horror. Since this book is marketed as 'horror' I want to elaborate on how much it was truly horror and how it was done. I would actually say that this book focuses the most on psychological horror. Since the protagonist is suffering from Amnesia, its on her to find out what the village she is living in is hiding from her. I found myself often wondering how she even came to that village, why she was there and what exactly happened that caused her to end up in a coffin, buried alive. Luckily for me and probably many other readers, Mara asks herself the same questions, leading her to do everything to get back her memories. The more she finds out the higher the tension gets. For her misfortune, no one wants her to get her memory back, so she needs to be careful who she trusts. Another reason why I think it's psychological horror is that she isn't just trying to find out about her identity and past, but also finds in the end a way to gain freedom. Furthermore she is not just conflicted with her own complex feelings and emotions but also of the other characters, especially how they treat her. The reader experiences the psychological horror themselves by feeling mistrust and suspicion while getting to know the other villagers living on the island. Only at the very end does one know who was actually trustworthy and who just acted as one. This all made me feel connected to the protagonist even more as she felt the same the whole time, she knew who she trusted more but only when the real problem arised did she know who was there to help her to gain freedom and who wasn't. I also want to praise how it wasn't a revenge story, but one that still had friendship in it despite the strong mistrust and uncertainty.

The main themes of this book which are Irish Mythology and psychological horror had a deep meaning in the ending. Before I started reading this book I thought it would be just a horror read without anything too meaningful, just meant to scare and find out some secrets, but I was wrong. Mara undergoes many changes not just what she feels inside but also outside. It's a beautiful book about how a woman finds freedom after haven't been free her entire life. Thankfully, I was never around such toxic people that I experienced anything as awful as her, but I understood her rage nevertheless. The mix of Irish Mythology and psychological horror is going quite well together for this book. Both were impactful and meaningful.

After just reading the first chapter I was already obsessed with the writing style. Nothing gets said immediately to the reader, it gets described, before revealing what it actually is. The vocabulary is also rich and the sometimes short sentences carried so much meaning. What many don't get is that one doesn't always have to make long, aesthetically pleasing sentences — a short quick sentence can be enough too and for a horror read it is perfect. An often used tool by the author is Anapher, emphasing something and making the reader remember it, thereof making it important. I don't see that writing tool used often enough and it's one of my favourites, in fact, I also use it when trying to write something more meaningful.

The plot was engaging from start to finish. It started immediately with Mara being buried alive and panicking that she would die due to a lack of oxygen. The middle part was packed full of mystery, suspense and horror. The ending was full of violence, friendship and freedom. I was hooked from the start and the ending was satisfying. The author also did a great work in making every chapter necessary for advancing the plot. There was never a moment I felt bored. Never a moment were it felt rushed or too slow. Never a moment were I fished that it finally ended. I wanted to find out about the secrets that were hidden in the village. Most importantly (since I often complain about this in other thriller books): The plot twist was not predictable. There were multiple. When I started to think that I know what is going on, I didn't. A great advantage on my side was probably that not just the description of the book didn't give too much away, but also that I never read anything about Irish Mythology before. Unless it was explained to me what exactly it was, I didn't know what was in front of me.

I might haven't liked all the characters in this book, but that doesn't mean that they weren't well-written. Mara was a smart protagonist who wasn't willing to surrender or show inferiority towards the people who try everything to make her amnesia stay so that she doesn't remember anything of what happened. She went through a strong character development throughout the book. She learnt from past mistakes, showed forgiveness and kindness but also ruthless behaviour for the undesired. While she found out who she was, what her desires and dreams were, one could see that her true personality started to shine. From a shy and unsure woman to a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. As soon as she knew her real wish, she done everything to achieve it, making her character bloom.

The protagonist had the strongest development but other characters like Declan Burke also went through changes. At first when he got introduced he seemed like a bloke who was passionate about his artistic works, but was unable to form friendships. He too mistrust the other villagers, making him quite lonely in his new home. With Mara by his side he started to be more happy. When Natalie came along he also formed an even stronger bond. Even though the friendship aspect probably fits more to Mara since she was even more lonely, I felt due to Declan's family history that he was never able to have consistent long-lasting relationships with anyone, but now he seems to have found his people.

Apropos family history, the family that consisted of Gráinne, Padraig and Oisín were also pretty complex. Gráinne was the only one who didn't have at least a little bit of character development. She was stubborn to her ideas and thoughts, which made her unable to develop in any way. She was concerned for her sons from the start to the finish. Her motives and actions also never changed. But without her the ending would have been different which still made her an important character.
Oisín somewhat had a character development. While first driven by a village ritual, he done it without any afterthought, but after some type his own emotions and feelings crept in, making him unable to perform the ritual correctly. He starts to act against the village wishes, which also makes him unhappy at first but he is willing to risk everything for his own morals than the moral vision of the village and his families.
Padraig was having the most drastic development from the three. His motives at the start were completely different from the ones he had at the end. His opinions on Mara also changed immensely.

Cian Morley was probably the most important for the plot. I sometimes had the feeling while reading that he wasn't explored deeply enough though. What bothered me the most was that he never really had a motive for what he did, he didn't have a family pressure like Oisín and he also never had anything to gain since he wasn't born in that village. To be honest, he was a bit of a stupid character.

Conn Rowen and Malachy Rowen were mainly used for the plot only, but also to have some sub-genre of the horror shown in this book. They weren't shown often, but when they were either the plot advanced or something creepy happened.

Natalie. She was funny. In the trio, she was the funny one. But seriously now, without her Declan couldn't have developed properly. She was very much necessary for the other character's development.

Daithí Griffin was there to make the reader start the suspicion on the other characters. But even more so: He showed the true nature of some villagers.

Doctor Helen Quinn was an odd one at the end, but for the start she was very much necessary to set the atmosphere and mood. Since she examined Mara's body before she got put into a grave she was responsible for the misdiagnosis and the consequences resulting from it. In addition, she is the only doctor on the island which made the Marburg virus (related to Ebola) feel even more serious to the reader as it would be a huge problem if the only doctor there would die from it. So in conclusion: She made every scene where she was in extremely tense and shaky.

There were characters like Stiofán, Agnes, Eileen and Tom who were only used for the plot and didn't undergo any development or had any other reason to be there than to advance the plot. But that's fine as not every character can be of great importance, that wouldn't work.

Dislikes

Language-wise I didn't enjoy how there were often Irish words in the book without any translation. In some other books I read, they always added in some way a translation if it's either directly a translation stated below it in either brackets or some other symbol or by making a character show a response to it which reveals either somewhat or completely the meaning behind it. Unfortunately, this book didn't do it often and I sometimes was unable to understand the meaning of certain chapters where Mara only talked Irish with some people and I couldn't understand it since I don't speak Irish. They were probably not that important if no context was delivered, but it's still frustrating to have a chapter full of these Irish sentences, she even responds to them and I can't help myself but feel as if they might actually be important since it's not just a brief encounter.

Lastly, even though some characters went through great development there were pretty much many left just for the plot and nothing else or for reasons that weren't impacting the book enough to call them necessary. But that wasn't really that much of an issue for me, my real issue was how there was romance at the end which I wasn't able to care about. I mean, nice for them, but I would have enjoyed the ending even without them making out.

Final thoughts

For anyone wondering now if this book would be a great read for them or not, here is my recommendation: Anyone who likes mythological stories with a mix of horror will probably enjoy this a lot. This book never shows horror less than the mythological aspects. Both are great and deeply focused on. If one is also searching for psychological horror, this book would make an awesome read too. There are grotesque scenes as well as body horror and paranoia. But it's also having thriller elements, the protagonist is unraveling secrets on the island she lives in. The horror, thriller and mythological themes really go well together and made the read so enjoyable for me. So, if you like any of these themes, I would recommend to you to read it too.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Zando for the advanced reader copy of The Burial Tide by Neil Sharpson!



Started the book: 20. July 2025
Finished the book: 20. July 2025
Wrote the review: 21. July 2025

There’s something deliciously eerie about waking up in your own grave with no idea how you got there, especially when the island you clawed your way back onto is hiding more secrets than it has living souls. The Burial Tide delivers folklore-drenched horror with a haunting, poetic edge that gets under your skin and stays there.

Mara’s journey through memory, myth, and madness is both unsettling and oddly beautiful. The imagery is grotesque in the best way…. think teeth-covered roads, riddling bartenders, and shadowy figures that feel ripped from nightmare and legend. While it takes a minute to orient yourself in this upside-down world, once you’re in, it sinks its claws in. The pacing meanders occasionally, but the atmosphere? Chef’s kiss creepy. And that ending……?! I closed the book with a satisfied shiver.

If you like your horror laced with folklore, fog, and existential dread, you’ll want to let The Burial Tide pull you under.