The Depths by Nicole Lesperance Published by Razorbill (9.13.2022)
Genres: Horror, Young Adult
Format: ARC, 368 pages
Source: NetGalley
A tropical island full of secrets. Two Victorian ghosts, trapped for eternity. And a seventeen-year-old girl determined not to be next.
Eulalie Island should be a paradise, but to Addie Spencer, it's more like a prison.
Forced to tag along to the remote island on her mother's honeymoon, Addie isn't thrilled about being trapped there for two weeks. The island is stunning, with its secluded beaches and forests full of white flowers. But there's something eerie and unsettling about the place.
After Addie meets an enigmatic boy on the beach, all the flowers start turning pink. The island loves you, he tells her. But she can't stop sleepwalking at night, the birds keep calling her name, and there's a strange little girl in the woods who wants to play hide-and-seek. When Addie learns about two sisters who died on the island centuries ago, she wonders if there's more to this place, things only she can see.
Beneath its gorgeous surface, Eulalie Island is hiding dark, tangled secrets. And if Addie doesn't unravel them soon, the island might never let her go.
My thoughts
This book was so unique! I absolutely LOVED the atmospheric setting – Eulalie Island was fantastic! It’s creepy and unsettling and I never knew what was going to happen next. I adore dark and disturbing and this book definitely delivered on both points. The author brought the island to life in vivid detail! The descriptions made things so easy to picture without being too descriptive. Eulalie Island felt like a real place. This would make an awesome movie!
I found a certain twist to be predictable, but I still enjoyed the journey! View Spoiler » I was gobbling up pages waiting for that reveal!
The pacing is quite fast because the mystery aspect keeps you wanting more, making this a quick and easy read. I read it in almost one sitting because I wanted to know the truth about the island and what really happened!
Despite the fabulous and disturbing setting, I didn’t connect to the characters like I’d hoped to. The characters fell kinda flat for me, which is why this book didn’t get a 5 star rating from me. I would definitely still recommend this book, though!
Overall Assessment
Plot: 4/5
Premise: 5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 4.5/5
Characters: 3/5
World-building: 4.5/5
Pace: 4/5
Feels: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Leave a Reply