Happy Friday everyone! Two weeks ago I read this seaside atmosphere book filled with mystery and murder. Here is my review of The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw.
The Wicked Deep
Shea Ernshaw
308 pages
My Rating ★★★
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.
Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.
Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.
Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.
But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.
I must admit that The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw was not quite what I had expected. First I was kind of surprised that it took place in the “real world”. I had thought it would take place in a close to real but a bit magical world. It doesn’t. Anyway, this changed the course of the story quite a lot I believe from what I had imagined actually. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing. I still liked the plot; the Swan sisters returning each year to get their revenge by drowning boys. There was something cool about it. That it was set in the real world and therefore being more real.
One thing I really liked about this book was the setting. The description of the town Sparrow and the Island where Penny lived, helped to establish a certain kind of atmosphere, To me, it was cold, wet, windy and empty in a dead way. Yeah, I know it sounds a bit creepy and depressing and maybe even sad but that was how I experienced the setting. I believe this atmosphere could be seen as a fog laying over the town. I think it contributed very well to the story. Which is quite sad and depressing if you think about it. For 200 years the inhabitants of Sparrow had to see innocent boys being drowned. And there was nothing they could do about it.
Another thing that I liked was these extra “chapters” or small background stories spread out through the book. These special chapters were dedicated to the sea, the island or the Swan sisters. I really liked these additional stories and they contributed very well to a deeper understanding of the story and the characters.
I liked the characters alright but they got kind of ruined to me at the ending of the book. But more about the ending in a bit.
As characters, I liked Penny and Bo but these were also the only ones you got close to. They were nice characters and they had a lot in common but they didn’t seem genuine or real. Maybe I was too affected by the atmosphere, that the fog clouded their personalities. I believe if the book had been longer than its 308 pages you could have gotten deeper into the characters. Not saying that the number of pages of a book has any say in the matter.
Regarding the ending, I do not want to say too much about it. I do not want to spoil anything. What I can say is that there is a great plot twist that I didn’t saw coming. I was quite surprised but after progressing it I was also a bit mad and maybe even disappointed. From there on the book just wasn’t the same for me. There were some scenes that felt rushed and the characters changed their minds on things that should have taken far longer than it did.
When I was finished with the book I had a feeling of being cheated and fooled. I felt the book wanted to play with my feelings in a way I didn’t like nor do I think it worked.
Apart from the ending, I liked this book. I think you should definitely give this a chance even though I didn’t love it. Three stars from me!
“Love is an enchantress – devious and wild. It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat.”
Are you planning to read The Wicked Deep or have you read it? What were your thoughts? What did you think of the ending?
I hadn’t seen this cover of the book before. I kind of like the ocean theme better than the witchy them on the US hardcover because I actually didn’t think the book was that witchy. I also agree with you that I have some complicated feelings about the ending, and I’m not sure whether I liked it or not.
I believe it is the UK cover. I like this way better it is soo pretty :))(I was so pleased that my bookstore had this version) Yeah I also think the US cover is too witchy.