Book Review: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

The Wicked Deep
by Shea Ernshaw
Release date: March 6th, 2018

SYNOPSIS:

Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge—and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.

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.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW:

I was sent an early copy of this for review from SimonTEEN and I have to say this was one of my favorite reads of 2017! 

When I dove into The Wicked Deep I expected things to go one way and then they went completely different. Misdirection is a powerful tool in a writer's arsenal that I sadly don't see enough of and Shea used it brilliantly. The rug was pulled out from under me at the moment that I was about ninety percent through the book and it blew my mind! I adore the main characters Penny and Bo so much and the deep love stories touched me. Even though some may say I shouldn't, I empathized with one of the witches and understand the rage and the sense of righteousness the sisters felt in their vengeance. Shea has a lovely writing style that I really can't compare to another author. I've always found myself drawn to stories that jump between different points in time and it was frequently done here and in such a way that I could visualize everything. If you enjoy reading about young love and delving into the wrongful persecution of witches,  you will LOVE this book!

RATING: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️