You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
vigil 's review for:
This Raging Sea
by De Elizabeth
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
"Lost doesn't mean gone"
I received this as a free e-arc on NetGalley, as I was lucky enough to be on the street team of This Raging Sea. Thank you to Holiday House, De Elizabeth, and NetGalley.
I feel like I've lived thirty lives since I started this book, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. I think this is a book that perfectly suited to the age range being marketed too, in YA, but also has crossover appeal. If this book was instead being marketed as NA, as much of this novel involved navigating the liminal post-teenhood space where you're no longer a kid but aren't quite an adult, I think that would work perfectly as well.
I really can't say much about this book without spoiling it, but the pacing and the twists and turns of the plot were brilliant. I was very impressed by De Elizabeth's grip on narrative and structure in such an unorthodox plotline. Her strong command of tone and emotion were definitely the highlights of her writing. I genuinely cringed at the body horror in this book. Her prose occasionally dipped into self-indulgence, but frankly I don't think a plain writing style would have served this book. I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
This is impressively layered and nuanced for a first run at a novel, full of rich imagery and characters that the author isn't afraid to make them seem unlikable, though they remained sympathetic. Our two main characters, Briar and Finn are messy and lovable in equal measure, and I cannot believe that De Elizabeth got me invested in a romance about two blonde people. The bi4bi aspect of their relationship is a notable aspect of the marketing, and I'm happy to report its prevalence in the book. I love that De Elizabeth managed to include both a grand romance between the m/f couple, but also how their own respective sexualities influence their characters and dynamics with other people.
Reading this book really took me back to the glory days of the supernatural / paranormal television shows. The melancholic atmosphere, propulsive plot, and sheer teenage dramatics were such fun components of this book. This book felt like walking through an abandoned theme park at night, dark, surreal, nostalgic, romantic and wistful, against a backdrop of unease and decay. Full of heart, love, missed connections and second chances, This Raging Sea stands out in a beautiful way.
This Raging Sea is currently available for preorder, and will be out September 23 2025.
I received this as a free e-arc on NetGalley, as I was lucky enough to be on the street team of This Raging Sea. Thank you to Holiday House, De Elizabeth, and NetGalley.
I feel like I've lived thirty lives since I started this book, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. I think this is a book that perfectly suited to the age range being marketed too, in YA, but also has crossover appeal. If this book was instead being marketed as NA, as much of this novel involved navigating the liminal post-teenhood space where you're no longer a kid but aren't quite an adult, I think that would work perfectly as well.
I really can't say much about this book without spoiling it, but the pacing and the twists and turns of the plot were brilliant. I was very impressed by De Elizabeth's grip on narrative and structure in such an unorthodox plotline. Her strong command of tone and emotion were definitely the highlights of her writing. I genuinely cringed at the body horror in this book. Her prose occasionally dipped into self-indulgence, but frankly I don't think a plain writing style would have served this book. I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
This is impressively layered and nuanced for a first run at a novel, full of rich imagery and characters that the author isn't afraid to make them seem unlikable, though they remained sympathetic. Our two main characters, Briar and Finn are messy and lovable in equal measure, and I cannot believe that De Elizabeth got me invested in a romance about two blonde people. The bi4bi aspect of their relationship is a notable aspect of the marketing, and I'm happy to report its prevalence in the book. I love that De Elizabeth managed to include both a grand romance between the m/f couple, but also how their own respective sexualities influence their characters and dynamics with other people.
Reading this book really took me back to the glory days of the supernatural / paranormal television shows. The melancholic atmosphere, propulsive plot, and sheer teenage dramatics were such fun components of this book. This book felt like walking through an abandoned theme park at night, dark, surreal, nostalgic, romantic and wistful, against a backdrop of unease and decay. Full of heart, love, missed connections and second chances, This Raging Sea stands out in a beautiful way.
This Raging Sea is currently available for preorder, and will be out September 23 2025.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content