This was quite possibly one of the best “witchy” books that I’ve ever read. Practical Magic meets Hocus Pocus is a pretty good description. Surprising, heartfelt and atmospheric. I devoured it. Definitely recommended.

Witch hunts, romance, drownings, and the ever-lovely rocks being tied to boots to make 3 women sink to the bottom of the ocean; this one’s a doozy.

For my fellow spell casting witches and wizards, I bring you The Wicked Deep.

Every Summer in the town of Sparrow, death marks the waters. Multiple young men are found drowned in the ocean, without any sign of a struggle or foul play. But the residents and tourists of Sparrow are never shocked, because they celebrate this time of year as part of their towns history. As the legend goes, the three Swan sisters (Marguerite, Aurora and Hazel) traveled to Sparrow by boat in 1822 and started a perfume shop. Quickly, the local men started to take interest in the sisters due to their intoxicating beauty and allure. But soon the three sisters were accused of being witches and casting spells on the men of Sparrow. So, the three were taken on a boat with rocks tied to their boots and thrown into the ocean where they drowned. Now in present times, Penny Talbot fears the coming of the new “Swan Season”. Her mothers condition has worsened due to the disappearance of her father 3 years earlier, and Penny only hopes that the deaths stop in Sparrow. But with the arrival of a boy named Bo, this Summer proves to be something else entirely

Guys, this book is WILD! It has an even pace throughout and it kept me CRAZY interested the entire time, but the best part is the twist that Shea Ernshaw throws in! I will admit that I suspected at least part of what happened, but this author took it a step further and left me more than a little shocked. The entire idea of this story feels very HOCUS POCUS, but with a style all its own. We’re talking some SCI-FI/Fantasy stuff here guys, and I am loving it! I also want to say that there is a bit of a mystery going on here that the reader gets to participate in. Are the legends true? If they aren’t, then why are girls randomly drowning boys? If they are true, how is that even possible?!

Penny Talbot is a tough character for me to give an opinion on, and after reading this story, you will understand why. From what I have gathered of her, she is a calculated and careful young girl. She is compassionate towards her mother and the state that she has left herself in, but she still has dreams to leave Sparrow. I really liked the character of Bo as well. He has a dark aura of mystery floating around him for a while, but he slowly starts to shed that as he gets to know Penny. Their relationship is...*sigh*...so complicated. It is incredibly hard to elaborate with out spilling the beans of the masterpiece that is this story. So trust me when I say, this romance is a heavy one.

The author made sure to keep my head going in multiple directions as I tried to figure out just WHAT THE HELL was going on in this town of Sparrow. It was so eerie yet entertaining to see all of these teenager’s party down at the beach as the Swan Season began, bating and teasing the girls to go into the water to be inhabited by a sister. This made me assume that most of the locals didn’t believe in the legend…but then. The witch hunt begins. These kids are INSANE. They accuse each other of being a swan sister and for drowning a boy, and then they hold each other captive. What’s worse is that the local police don’t do anything. That’s BIZARRE! I also liked that Penny and her mother lived on a separate section of Sparrow. At first, I was picturing a beautiful mountain range and cliffs with an inviting private dock, but then I was picturing a dark and scary setting straight out of Frankenstein.

I don’t want to give anything away because that would ruin the entire story, but I MUST express my distaste for that ending. It was an ending that we have all come to as readers, one that screams “I had no idea how to wrap this story up”. How Penny and Bo end up is just bizarre to me, but I guess to Penny it wouldn’t be considering the circumstances (I know this is painfully cryptic, I apologize). Regardless…the ending feels like a lie, and I loathe it. Also, these are teenagers. I know Penny’s mother is a little out of it since her father left, but honestly. Where is she every time Bo and Penny start hooking up?! Her senses are obviously off…

Apart from the ending, I loved this story. I thought the story line and the characters were riveting, the flashbacks to parts of the Swan Sisters time in Sparrow gave great insight, and the dark and eerie foreboding the author kept up during the read kept me slightly creeped out (in a good way). I love when a story keeps me guessing and questioning what I think will happen. Though some things were explained a bit too late, I was still able to keep up and enjoy every moment. I am definitely going to keep this author on my radar, especially if she keeps with this witchy theme!

To see more reviews, head over to my blog: Jenacidebybibliophile.wordpress.com

Meh.

That's pretty much all the emotion I can muster about this deeply lackluster book. What should have been a tense, creepy tale about witches and revenge instead turned out to be a very forgettable romance. The more I think about this book, the more I dislike it, which is why what started out as a three-star review quickly devolved into a two-star one.

I won't rehash the Goodreads summary, which is pretty good about explaining literally everything that happens in the book. There's a "twist" but it's rather obvious from the start. The secondary characters may as well not have existed for all the depth they had. The story is also s l o w as hell - almost nothing happens in the first 60%. The remaining action, what little of it there is, is squashed into the last 30% of the book, wrapping up all loose ends in a way that was too neat even for me (and I like my closure, usually!).

Also, there's something very weird about this book. So, like, there's this town, and every summer boys are drowned by the Swan sisters, and yet the town seems to exist outside of reality. Where's the news coverage of this amazing phenomenon? Where's the FBI investigation? Why don't people just take their children away from the summer? All these unexamined questions make the book seem like it's floating in its own space.

The two main characters and love interests, Penny and Bo, were...fine? I guess? But this was way, way, way too heavy on the romance for a book that is not technically advertised as romance. Anyway, both of them are bland and forgettable, like all the other characters in this book. Their relationship at least isn't insta-love, thank the Gods, but when they <i>do</i> fall in love it's a very gooey, sappy sort of love that made me roll my eyes every other page.

If I were pressed to find something positive to say about this book it would be that the writing is pretty good. Also, the <i>concept</i> is really, really cool - that's why I was drawn to this book in the first place - but it is just terribly executed. I can think of fifty better executions of this concept than the sappy ~true love~ romance we got. On the bright side, this book didn't muster very strong emotions in me, so I'll probably have forgotten all about it by next month.

I wanted to love this one... unfortunately, I did not. I think I went into this thinking I was going to get a Hocus Pocus but scarier and more deadly story and wound up getting an gothic-ish romance novel. Hard pass.

Predictable story but vaguely interesting characters. Some books are really hard for me to review as an adult because it takes a REALLY REALLY good story with unique characters to motive me to finish and this just didn't have that. This was a book that took me over a month to finish because it neither wicked nor deep as the title suggests.

I do think that this will appeal to some young readers. Some scenes are well written and engaging but you really have to work to get there. I like to read for pleasure, not work so this gets 3.5 stars.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Ever since I read How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather in the Fall, I have been craving another book about witches that would give me the same kind of feeling — utterly blown away. I got my wish with The Wicked Deep!

Shea Ernshaw gave readers a peek into her life with The Wicked Deep. According to the biography on her author page, Ernshaw is from a small town in Oregon and loves “lakes and deep dark woods.”

The Wicked Deep follows Penny Talbot, a high schooler in the little town of Sparrow, during Swan Season — a brief time at the beginning of summer when three sisters accused of witchcraft return to inhabit the bodies of local girls to kill boys in an act of revenge on the town for not accepting them 200 years prior.

This book is amazing and perfect for fans of Mather’s books, Practical Magic, and Hocus Pocus. I got a great blend of mystery, suspense, and the touch of romance that I like in books. I devoured The Wicked Deep and have since also listened to the audiobook because THAT’S how much I enjoyed it!

Penny is a quiet, contemplative character, and I really liked her. Listening to the audiobook after reading it helped me to appreciate her character more fully, as I picked up on little things I initially missed. I also think Bo is great. He is intriguing and compelling!

Ernshaw has a smooth writing style and laid out a well-paced plot. Ernshaw really did weave a fantastic story! I’m looking forward to reading more from her in the future.

There is so much that I absolutely adored about this book, that I could go on and on, but I won’t because I don’t want to accidentally spoil anyone. I must commend Simon & Schuster on a stunning cover, though! The naked book is also one of the most beautiful ones that I own.

Overall, OF COURSE I recommend The Wicked Deep! Those who enjoyed the stories I previously mentioned (How to Hang a Witch, Practical Magic, and Hocus Pocus) should like this one. This truly was a wonderful, thrilling read.

The Wicked Deep was a creepy story with rich world building, beautiful language and amazing imagery. That, and the cover is amazing and so sparkly. I just need it on my shelves at all time, illuminated by a little spot light. But--there were plenty of issues too.

I want to say, right off the bat, that The Wicked Deep took me a long time to get through. It was touch-and-go for a little while, and I wasn't sure if I was really going to be invested enough in it to finish.

I absolutely loved the way that book set up the world and the setting. There were small snippets between chapters that just set the mood and the scene in just perfect, bite-sized ways that made me love the story. Shea Ernshaw is amazing at writing settings. All those little bits were the perfect mix of tense, creepy and beautiful.

But then there was the dialogue.

The dialogue all the characters had felt so... off. It felt stilted and a little bit dated. The voices didn't feel genuine and every time I had to suffer through a patch of dialogue it was tipping the scales towards the DNF side.

I was intrigued by the story, but I couldn't make it through big patches of the book at once thanks to the characters. Maybe it was just me. Maybe this book is exactly your cup of tea. For me? Not so much.

THE WICKED DEEP was a thrilling read with quite a few moments filled with gasps of shock! With a beautiful voice filled with stunning prose, this was a satisfying read.

*links coming soon*

I am a major hocus pocus fan, so this sold me right away. Witches taking on bodies of girls to drown boys.... how can you not be interested? Those who love witches will love this! Full of suspense and witchy witchery. Curl up with a cup of tea and enjoy this spooky read.

I'm not entirely certain I have the right words to describe this book.
It's dark, luscious, written in such a way that you FEEL you are in Sparrow, on the island, in the shoes and minds and hearts of the characters.
Shea Ernshaw reels us in, planting her characters in our hearts, and then throwing out massive twists and dragging our hearts along with her, and honestly I was TOTALLY. HERE. for the ride.

If you're looking for a lush fantasy, that stands on its own and its fully atmospheric, this book is 100% for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw! Chapter One opens the book with the introduction of the main characters, the setting of the town of Sparrow and Lumiere Island, a spooky tale and foreshadowing of death. The main characters are Penny, who lives alone with her mother after her father disappeared three years ago, and Rose. Rose’s mother owns a bakery that sells mini cakes that supposedly help people forget their struggles and painful memories. Tourist season starts and the town celebrates the legend of the three Swan Sisters and their drowning centuries ago. The Swan sisters Marguerite, Aurora and Hazel were drowned after being accused of witchcraft. The story is told in parts, past and present, alternating to reveal the history of the sisters, the disappearance of Penny’s father and the secrets of Bo, the visitor that ends up working on Lumiere Island with Penny. Wicked Deep is a fantasy wrapped in darkness, engulfed in tragedy and heartbreak with intrigue, deception and sacrifice that ultimately brings love into its pages. Wonderfully written and rates a highly recommended 5 stars!

For centuries, the three Swan sisters have haunted the town of Sparrow in feminist yet sadistic revenge for their unlawful drowning as allegedly seductive witches. Each year as summer washes in, the vengeful sisters return, possessing teenage girls’ bodies and luring boys out to sea—permanently.

Partly viewed as a coincidental myth, Swan Season has malformed into a spectator sport for both locals and tourists alike. This summer is no different, and power and danger lie within humanity’s innate fear. Every day is a modern witch-hunt and no one can be trusted, including our narrator and her group of friends. Add into the mix, Bo, a handsome and mysterious stranger arriving at the start of Swan season. Bo becomes captivated by Penny Talbot, a 17-year-old whose life has not been easy; her father has been missing and presumed dead for years and her brokenhearted mother steeps in depression just like the tealeaves she used to read. Although Swan season is brief, everyone ensnared in small town Sparrow must stay alert and pray that they come out alive, including Bo.

A fast-paced, keep you up all night, eerie read, The Wicked Deep is on the radar for best reads from B&N and Goodreads, rightfully so. I could not put down this title. The narrative wraps its ghostly fingers around readers’ already weary minds and calls into question every character introduced. When you look in the mirror, whom do you see? Mystery, suspense, and romance ground this book. Although a young adult read, The Wicked Deep is perfect for teens and adults. There are minor references to sex and underage drinking (by American standards). If you love ghostly witch stories, Hocus Pocus, or Salem, MA, this book is for you.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon Pulse for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw [Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing/Simon Pulse 2018]

I absolutely loved this book. From the first page, the writing had me hooked. I loved the author's style throughout the book, and the overall feelings it evoked. This was a beautiful story, painful and heartbreaking. I finished reading it on a plane, and I didn't even care that the girl next to me kept looking over because I couldn't stop crying.
I know there have been some complaints about the "insta-love" but I personally did not feel like it was rushed. Rather, it was fated and the story clearly conveyed this.
Overall, I felt the book was dark, nostalgic, and hauntingly beautiful. I would highly recommend this book.

The Wicked Deep follows Penny, a young woman who lives on an isolated island with her mother in a small sea town. Her father mysteriously disappeared three years ago and her mother cannot recover from the loss. Their town is plagued by the ghosts of 3 sisters who were murdered 200 years ago for basically being women who opinions. The sisters return every summer to possess the bodies of local girls and drown unsuspecting boys in the town.

The book was enjoyable enough and had a bit of a twist near the end. It was somewhat slow in the middle, but once the little twist happened i found myself curious to see how the story would end.

One of my most anticipated reads and it did not let me down! What a ride it was!

The Wicked Deep is so, so amazing! It's about a small town that has a curse and we follow a girl named penny over a few weeks during the summer. The writing style in this book is beautiful. At times I left I was right there in the little sea town. The plot of this book is my favorite part. I felt that the pacing is perfect. I like the overall feel of this book, The spooky, twisty, magic that fills this book. Death is around every cover, and we never really know who we can trust. I don't wait to give anything away because I feel that going in knowing nothing is best.
This is by far my favorite books so far this year. I went in knowing I was going to enjoy this book but I didn't expect to love it as much as I do! I've finished a few weeks back and it's still on my mind. The Wicked Deep is wonderful. I'm now a huge fan of Shea Ernshaw, I personally can't wait to see what her next book it going to be because of this book.

The Wicked Deep is a hauntingly beautiful book about love, loss, and forgiveness. The book follows Penny, a girl gripped with her fathers disappearance, her mother's loss of sanity, and the start of another Swan season. But it all changes when Bo arrives, an outsider brought by the sea. Just like the leaves foretold.

I can't get this book out of my head. It had the most well executed mystery I have ever read in my entire life. I can't recount the amount of times I gasped or was shocked by the events that occurred. The characters were jumping off the page and I could see them all. All of the secondary characters were vital to the plot and I loved the little peeks into their lives that we got. The small peaks into the past we get were always just enough to keep the mystery going or shed some light on specific characters but they never felt like too much. The word choice of this book is outstanding. I was blown away by the strong and descriptive language. I have plenty of new favorite quotes from this book. It is witchy and wonderful. It challenges the idea of forgiveness and the idea of what makes a person good. I would recommend you drop everything you think you're going to read and pick this one up instead. Not to mention that gorgeous cover.

I could have devoured this book but instead for a couple of days I only allowed myself a few chapters. I was savoring the book. Then today I read probably 80% of the book. I cried at one point, cussed at the book a few times and even got so excited that I dropped the book and lost my place. I found myself re-reading passages because I'd get to reading so fast I was afraid I'd miss something. When I finished I really did turn to the first chapter and read it again. I will definitely be re-reading the entire book. With this setting it may become an annual read. Readers of the book will know exactly when I'll be reading it again.

So, this was an enjoyable book! (Also, quick second for some cover appreciation, yes? Look at it. I may need a finished copy, just saying.) Anyway, this book has quite a bit going for it, so we shall break it down by the pros and cons!

The Stuff I Liked:

The atmosphere is so on point. I mean, you think you're going to be in a creepy small town set on the water, and wow are you ever. I absolutely felt the eeriness of this place, as well as the small town vibe.

I loved the focus on the history of the legend of the sisters. I'd totally read a book wholly about their backstory, honestly. They seemed badass, especially for their time. But the parts of their story we got were fabulous, so I am happy!

While the relationship was a *bit* quick for my liking, there was no denying that Penny and Bo had chemistry. And I liked some spoilery parts of their relationship, and I'll leave it at that.

The plot was quite twisty, and even though I did figure some of them out ahead of time, it didn't really bother me much. The story definitely kept me entertained and engaged. It was a good length, too- long enough to tell the whole story, but not overly long where I would get bored. It flowed nicely, also.

The Stuff I Didn't:

Some of the end felt a little... easy. Obviously I cannot speak more to this, but I was left feeling a little... unsure?

I would have liked a bit more familial interaction. I know there were some reasons for this. One that I can talk about is how Penny's mom is still grieving the disappearance of her dad. But I still think that a parent would be more worried about their kid gallivanting around an island where dudes are being murdered on the reg, but hey, maybe that's just me. There's also a spoilery reason, but I felt that it wasn't necessary, and mom could have been more in the picture. Minor gripe.

Bottom Line: So incredibly atmospheric with a past and present-day story, this was a haunting tale with themes of life, loss, and love.

I love stories about Witches and this Practical Magic meets Hocus Pocus tale grabbed my attention and held it so that I could not put it down until I was finished! The pacing was slow at times but the twists near the end more than made up for it.
I did like the relationship between Penny and Bo. It was an insta-love relationship, which always annoy me, but some how the author made it work so that Penny and Bo may have fell for each other fast but the rest of their relationship progressed at a normal, steadier pace.
The Swan Sisters and their story was sad yet wicked. I started to sympathize with them because I understood their pain and rage but at the same time their terrible deeds were wrong.
The Wicked Deep is very atmospheric, you can almost feel the spray from the sea on your face or see yourself walking through the gray, misty port side town of Sparrow. This witchy tale of revenge, love, betrayal and loss will captivate you and ensnare you until the very end.