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maple_dove's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
CW: lynching, murder, drowning
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw takes place in a town called Sparrow, a town cursed two centuries ago by the three Swan sisters: sisters who were all lynched by accusations of witchcraft. Every summer, these sisters each take the body of one girl for revenge, luring boys by the water and drowning them.
The main character is Penny Talbot, and it doesn't take long before we meet a boy named Bo, arriving in Sparrow, having no idea what the hell he just got himself into.
The witch hunt starts, Penny has the ability to see what others cannot, and Penny must make a decision: save Bo, or herself.
Review:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I saw one thing coming from miles away, but this ending still mentally reeling. š¤Æ
I Liked:
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw takes place in a town called Sparrow, a town cursed two centuries ago by the three Swan sisters: sisters who were all lynched by accusations of witchcraft. Every summer, these sisters each take the body of one girl for revenge, luring boys by the water and drowning them.
The main character is Penny Talbot, and it doesn't take long before we meet a boy named Bo, arriving in Sparrow, having no idea what the hell he just got himself into.
The witch hunt starts, Penny has the ability to see what others cannot, and Penny must make a decision: save Bo, or herself.
Review:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I saw one thing coming from miles away, but this ending still mentally reeling. š¤Æ
I Liked:
- The dark, mysterious town vibe(s)
- How this book addresses that accusations of witchcraft were used to alienate and control people
This book almost immediately had me gripped, and I was tempted to just binge the entire book in one sitting.
I Didn't Like:
. . . The only things I can think of are things like are lack of action. Although, that's simply because that's not what this book is.
Final Comments:
Overall, I definitely think this was worth the read. Not a favorite, but a good read nonetheless.
As always, I highly encourage checking content warnings before reading a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide, Misogyny, and Infidelity
High school graduates drinking alcohol (graphic), Lynching (graphic), Drowning (graphic)dlrosebyh's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this book took me by surprise. itās one of the books i feel so connected toā no doubt i got attached to the characters.
i didnāt really give it 5 stars because i didnāt really love the insta-love trope, but i enjoyed their romance. i also guessed the major plot twist, so it didnāt really blew my mind off as other people say it will. it was darkā very dark, but not scary. though, at some times i felt scared for the main character and her love interest.
i definitely sobbed at the end; it was so selfless of her to do that.
in summary, this book made me suffocate in the best way possible. the atmosphere felt very real.
i didnāt really give it 5 stars because i didnāt really love the insta-love trope, but i enjoyed their romance. i also guessed the major plot twist, so it didnāt really blew my mind off as other people say it will. it was darkā very dark, but not scary. though, at some times i felt scared for the main character and her love interest.
i definitely sobbed at the end; it was so selfless of her to do that.
in summary, this book made me suffocate in the best way possible. the atmosphere felt very real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Grief and Murder
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, and Confinement
wellreadjill_'s review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Blood, and Sexism
malloryfitz's review
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, and Sexism
Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Suicide, Vomit, and Blood
sarahthebookwhore's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Suicide
whatellisreadnext's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
Drowningsoppysays's review
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Misogyny, Death, and Grief
beholderess's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Death
Moderate: Misogyny and Religious bigotry
Drowningtori214's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Perfect September read for that period right between summer and fall!!
I really enjoyed this! The plot was really intriguing! It was super atmospheric and it felt like the ocean and the island were their own characters. I also really liked the characters and āquaint, small town with something to hideā vibes.
However, it was also pretty predictable. I guessed almost every plot twist except for one VERY early on. Also, some bits of the writing style did leave something to be desired. There were some scenes that were supposed to be pretty high-stakes and dramatic that just fell a little short.
There were some absolutely beautiful gems within though, including:
āLove is an enchantressādevious and wild.
It sneaks up on you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat.ā
and I think my personal favorite:
āI fell in love. Whatās more human than that?ā
Overall, good spooky vibesššš
I really enjoyed this! The plot was really intriguing! It was super atmospheric and it felt like the ocean and the island were their own characters. I also really liked the characters and āquaint, small town with something to hideā vibes.
However, it was also pretty predictable. I guessed almost every plot twist except for one VERY early on. Also, some bits of the writing style did leave something to be desired. There were some scenes that were supposed to be pretty high-stakes and dramatic that just fell a little short.
There were some absolutely beautiful gems within though, including:
āLove is an enchantressādevious and wild.
It sneaks up on you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat.ā
and I think my personal favorite:
āI fell in love. Whatās more human than that?ā
Overall, good spooky vibesššš
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Infidelity and Misogyny
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