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The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw (Review #157)

"Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow 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."

Review:
WOW OH WOW. What a read. I adored it! Penny is a walking shipwreck. Her father disappeared 3 years ago and she lives in a town where boys are dragged to the bottom of the ocean and killed by girls possessed by ghosts and I LIVE. FOR. IT. 

And then we have a mysterious stranger arriving on Sparrow just as the ghost are about to begin their hunt?????? YAAAAAS!!! 

Ugh, Penny was such a rich character. She has a depth we slowly sink into the farther we get into the book. She has secrets, but she wants so badly to protect those she cares for. 

I also enjoyed the orchard on Lumiere Island. I know it’s weird but even though it’s never explicitly said, I saw this orchard (especially the tree in the center) as a living embodiment of this whole story. Both their resilience through the years, as well as the process to restore them to their former glory that Penny and Bo do.

I will say, the ending kind of frustrated me, but not in the traditional sense. I was frustrated on behalf of a character who was content on the ending circumstances. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone so, if you wanna know more about this particular point lemme know!

Anyways, another piece I enjoyed was that this lore was real. The Swan Sisters’ ghosts and their curse was real. The world however is still our world. People still use this morbid curse as a tourist attraction to bring in revenue to the island. Tourist come for “Swan Season” to hear the sisters’ song call and everyone comes to watch as bodies wash up on the shore each year like a damn carnival. It is true to our nature as a society as well as stake-raiser for the morbid tone of the book. 

Overall, this was a great standalone read I was so happy with it. So so happy with it! Highly recommend. Lemme know your own thoughts and feels in the book down below!!!!


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