Name: Rio (they/them)'s review of The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Item: The Wicked Deep
Rating: 4
Author: Rio (they/them)

Shea Ernshaw

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... Two centuries ago, in the small, isolated town, 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 from the depths, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them down to their watery deaths. 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 or the fact that his arrival will change everything... 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.

The Wicked Deep

A New York Times bestseller 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.

Elena M.

Love is an enchantress—devious and wild. 

 It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat.

There’re always reasons to stay, he says. You just need to find one reason to leave.

We’re all just passing ships; no point forming friendships that won’t last.

Charlie Smith

A New York Times bestseller. “A wickedly chilling debut.” —School Library Journal “Complex and sweetly satisfying.” —Booklist “Prepare to be bewitched.” —Paula Stokes, author of Girl Against the Universe “A story about the redemptive power of love.” —Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be “Eerie and enchanting.” —Jessica Spotswood, author of The Cahill Witch Chronicles 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.

Aubrey Erskine

Hazel 

I actually really loved this since the first few pages. This book has ATMOSPHERE and even if I immediately clocked the plot twist I still enjoyed reading it a lot.

The only thing I didn’t really like was the ending, but I guess you can’t like them all.

Rio (they/them)

I actually really loved this since the first few pages. This book has ATMOSPHERE and even if I immediately clocked the plot twist I still enjoyed reading it a lot.

The only thing I didn’t really like was the ending, but I guess you can’t like them all.

Alba Ramos

that was the weirdest love triangle in the history of the angles like wtaf
i get what the author was trying to do but ????

Alexa M

Courtney Gendreau

Original Review: www.literarychaos.net 

I picked up this book because the synopsis gave me Hocus Pocus Vibes. Well, and because the cover is GORGEOUS. I was so ready to love this book but unfortunately, it just didn't hit the mark for me. I enjoyed reading the book, but I felt like a book that I had read before. The plot, the characters, the setting all felt predictable and something that I have seen before and will probably see again.

The book started out strong, I was very intrigued by the Swan season and the town of a sparrow. Even the characters were interesting at first, but as I read I felt like so many of the characters were bland cliches and, at least to me, felt very one-dimensional. As much as I wanted to, I just couldn't make myself care about the characters. Even the main character, Penny, while barrable was not a particularly memorable character. I just didn't find myself connecting and rooting for her in the way that I had wanted.

The plotline was my other issue for this book. I found the book utterly predictable. I was able to guess the entire plot from about 35 pages in. I felt like there was this huge build-up to a big reveal that I was able to guess it from a mile away. With that being said, I didn't hate the book. In fact, I did have an enjoyable reading experience I just felt that the synopsis was so strong, I had hoped for a stronger more unique plot. If you have been wanting to read it, I suggest you try it. While I didn't love it, I did enjoy my reading experience. However, I would suggest maybe getting it from your local library or a thrift store, because we all know books can get expensive, and if you are like me and don't love the story you are not out as much money.

Cheri McElroy

This was a book full of atmosphere. I thought the story was a great twist on the Salem witch concept and loved the Siren aspect of the novel. Definitely an entertaining read.

** spoiler alert **
           This book was pretty awesome, never saw it coming honestly. Kept me intrigued. Im always up for a witch tale and this one was different to others I’ve read.

Elisa Bieg

This is a lovely book.
From the very first look, this book is captivating and intriguing, from the beautifully designed cover to the synopsis.
I’m happy I read it, and I did enjoy it — the backstory is revealed little by little, and there are a few surprises; and though I saw the two main twists coming, I have to admit they were cleverly introduced. I can’t help but be a little impressed.

But I’m also disappointed. Because make no mistake, this is mainly a romance. It has a hint of thriller, and it’s a little creepy at times, but it is mostly a sad tale of love found and lost. And therein lies the rub.
I think this book is exactly what it was meant to be, but it isn’t what *I* expected it to be, so I feel slightly let down — but not so much that I cannot give it its due, which is an interesting story, fairly well-built characters and decent world building.
I could have used more creepy touches and a touch less romance though. 
3 1/2 STARS.

Katie

Great idea, badly executed! Would've dnf at 25% mark had it not been a botm pick for my twitch community

Bonita

2.5 ⭐️ the first half of the book is kind of a drag & I couldn’t really wrap my mind around Penny just being so okay with what goes on in the town & dismissing it as something that “just happens” but then you find something out about halfway through & you’re like “OHHHH that makes sense” & then things finally start to get interesting lol

Léa

J’ai ADORÉ ce livre, vraiment ! 
J’ai beaucoup aimé l’univers tissé autour du folklore et de la sorcellerie mais tout de même ancré dans le monde réel. De toute façon les histoires de sorcières comme ça j’adore, surtout en cette période ! 
La plume de l’auteur était très plaisante, j’avais du mal à décrocher parfois. 
Certains passages, certaines phrases m’ont véritablement touchée, fait ressentir une émotion particulière. 
L’histoire en elle-même est extrêmement touchante et surtout, je ne voyais rien venir à l’avance, j’ai été surprise du début à la fin et ce fût un régal !

Nicole Dykeman

I read the whole thing in about two and a half hours. If that doesn’t tell you that I enjoyed it, I don’t know what will. 

The legend of the three sisters was totally awesome and I loved the slightly creepy small-town vibes. This book also features what just might be the biggest plot twist I’ve read all year. Like, holy cow. I had a bit of a feeling about what was really going on, but the reveal was just really well done. Bravo. Everything wrapped up nicely in a bittersweet ending, but there were definitely a few things I didn’t like about it. However, because they are things I am willing to (mostly) overlook, 4/5 stars. 

There was definitely a bit of instalove with Penny and Bo, but for some reason I didn’t mind it all that much. They fell in love fast, but it still felt real to me, and both of them were really likeable characters that had great chemistry. I wish a bit more attention had been paid to side characters like Rose and Heath. I didn’t really see the point of them, other than the main character needing to have a slightly absent best friend with a boyfriend keeping her busy. But Olivia and Gigi were well-developed. 

If you like witchy things and angsty romance, this is for you.

Amanda

cheyenne 

I liked this book more than I thought I would. The writing was very beautiful and there were some lines in it that were just incredible. Some of the twists in the book I was able to see coming, but it was still very enjoyable. I'd definitely read it again.

Livia

** spoiler alert **
           2.75

Unfortunately, this book does not work with me.
The way Hazel uses Penny to get with Bo is not nice and i find that kind of disturbing that Bo is still longing for Hazel after everything she's done (kind of). And it's weird that Bo and Penny still get together and Bo constantly thinks about Hazel.
And the whole plot is really predictable.

ℰ.

there is a plot but it's mostly just vibes... some decisions the author made were questionable but i loved the setting

Jana Jenkinns 

****REVIEW HAS BEEN POSTED ON BOTH BLOGSPOT & WORDPRESS ***
Find both links here : www.linktr.ee/bookishwiccan

ALL OF THE STARS!!!!!!!

Stay tuned into my blog for a full review coming in the next couple of days!

Evie's Annotations 

Ok but this book broke my heart 😩✋🏻. There was a twist that I didn't see coming 🥲 lately i find books that crush me with sad stories and many plot twists. I don't even know what to say ... I'm just speechless 🙃
Fav quote from this book :
"Love is an enchantress—devious and wild. It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat."

krisha mathur

This was not what i was expecting, my mind was definitely not ready for this emotional rollercoaster. It was honestly less paranormal and more of romance/fantasy. At a certain point in the book, i honestly didn't know what to believe, it will take you on an amazing ride, and you  could not guess the ending.
Here are some of my fav quotes:
"It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat"
"Loving someone is dangerous. It gives you something to lose."
"Apparently, love is the worst kind of madness."
"But magic was not always so linear. It was born from odium. From love. From revenge."

View all my reviews - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/133347271-krisha?order=d&sort=review&view=reviews 

Donna G

Elizabeth Neill

I am going to keep this review spoiler free or at least try to. 

This book gave me Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic vibes and I loved it. I liked all the characters but I really didn’t trust half of them. I also really didn’t like Bo at the start of the book but he did grow on me as the book went on. Then more than halfway through the book I started to figure things out but that didn’t really bother me but made me feel like I was part of the story. I wish we saw more of the sisters and not just glimpse and I would like a book or even a short story about their history. I would love another book in this Universe and I wonder if her other book is in the same universe. 


One of my favorite quotes from this book this part of the book "Apparently, Love is the worst kind of madness."

Sabina Brandiu

This book was really good. I liked everthing about it. I felt the strong emotions between charecters and I might say that I fell in lovr with some of them. The story had so many sad parts that I used all my blue sticky notes😭. Anyways, i recommend it if you want a quick read to havr some fun in this weird place💫⭐

Alexa Auerbach 

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this book. Called the plot twist and even though it was predictable, I liked it.

vera

Aundreya Rich

phew....... ok words.... 

The Wicked Deep came with a fun and magical beginning made of young kids unafraid to go out to challenge the Swan sisters and crescendoing into fear of who will be taken by their vengeful hands, and stopping the sisters once and for all. 
For two centuries now, the witches are known to come like thieves each summer, borrowing the bodies of young women to steal the lives of boys by drowning them and seeking revenge on their own death. 

Sometimes the three sisters take one life each, and some summers they are greedy and take more...
Were they witches or merely beautiful women with a gift for luring men in to love them? that's for you to decide.

Penny does everything she can to avoid the nature of the Swan sisters reunion, which seems to come easy hiding on Lumiere Island, the place she calls home.
But this year is different, the night of the "singing of the sister" a mysterious boy appears looking for work. At first Penny, is reluctant but soon is afraid for the boys life.
Bo stays in the cabin on the island, working the tree groves for Penny and hiding his reasons for coming to Sparrow... because who really comes to Sparrow, WA other than to see the Swan sisters..?


But Bo isn't the only one with secrets, and as their secrets unravel it just may be their undoing...


The beginning of The Wicked Deep feels so simple and beautiful, almost starting off as a fun YA Novel but is so much more. With the lyrical writing, I found myself drawn to the story and its evolution. 
But what really got me was the end. I sobbed for almost an hour!!!!! But honestly, it couldn't have ended better. It was raw, believable, and a perfect reflection of sacrifice for love.

"When he feels the wind flutter against his neck, the scent of rose water and myth in the air, a hush sailing over him like a memory he can't shake... he knows... and he smiles."

Hazel &
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

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Hazel &The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

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Hazel &
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw