Deep Is the Fen

Lili Wilkinson has outdone herself yet again. Deep is the Fen took a premise I couldn't resist--hello, toad-based sinister magic secret society?!--and delivered everything I wanted from it and more. It's dark, and gross (there's a certain image from the climax I don't think I'll ever scrub from my brain, which I mean as a compliment) while also being unapologetically hopeful, funny and warm; in a nutshell, it's Wilkinson's trademark approach to YA that I'll never grow tired of or stop singing about.

Merry is such a perfectly teenage protagonist: she's fiercely loyal, brave and loving, and also, not to put too fine a point on it, a complete disaster. She makes mistakes (many) and in trying to fix them usually just creates more messes, propelling the story forward in such catastrophic yet compelling ways. I couldn't help loving her, and rooting for her, as well as the rest of the cast of teenage disasters [affectionate]. Her voice, too, was impossible not to be reeled in by--Wilkinson's effortless, clean and above all distinctly teenage narrative voice has been one of the biggest strengths in every one of her titles I've read. Perhaps what I loved most about this book (and Wilkinson's writing in general) really is how much this reads as YA *for teens* rather than for a YA-loving adult audience. In a similar vein, I thought all the central relationships, both romantic and platonic, were super well handled and very easy to invest in.

It should also not go unremarked: my god, Lili Wilkinson does not pull her punches. When the narrative goes hard, it really goes HARD, both with the horror elements (suitably disgusting, thank you) and narrative consequences. It's a pretty damn dark book, especially in the teen market, and I really appreciated that Wilkinson didn't flinch away from exploring the full scope of the premise she set up. I also loved returning to the world of Hunger of Thorns and further exploring many of the central questions it asked.

Overall, this was a fresh, confident and always surprising title from an author with a masterful control of her craft. I'll be eagerly waiting for the release date, as well as whatever Lili Wilkinson puts out next--frankly, at this point I'd stand in line to read her shopping lists.

Many thanks to Allen & Unwin and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review!

Very enjoyable story. Didn't need to have read the first book in the series to enjoy it. Will be a good one for teens.

I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters engaging and well rounded and the world it was set in very interesting.

I enjoyed the magical elements and overcoming the challenges engaging. Enemies to lovers is always a winner.

Interesting read and I look forward to see how it continues.

Every now and then a book comes along that is so unique it surprises you, and for me it is this book. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but DEEP IS THE FEN was so hauntingly atmospheric, so perfectly voicey, that I found myself absolutely speeding through the pages. Merry is a wonderfully relatable main character, and I found myself so drawn by the themes of love and friendship that echo throughout. Lili Wilkinson pulls no punches when it comes to storytelling - the book is equal parts beautiful and gory, devastating and uplifting, chilling and heartwarming. I absolutely loved it!