Review: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

The Wicked Deep
Shea Ernshaw
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal. Romance
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

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.

I remember reading the first few lines of the synopsis for The Wicked Deep, and thinking how much I needed this book. It sounded like it would be amazing. I mean, a curse, revenge, and romance all in one story sounded like it would make for an incredible reading experience, and I am happy to report that it did.

I am going to go all fangirl on this one, because I loved each and every part of this book.

The Characters

It was so easy to care about Penny. I liked her from the first moment we encountered her, and my adoration for her just grew and grew, the more I got to know her. What I found interesting, was how much I cared for the Swan sisters. Ernshaw was able to tell their story in such a way, that I was able to shed some tears for a trio of murders. Good job, Shea Ernshaw!

I must also include Sparrow as a character in this book, because the town and all its inhabitants played such a huge role in this story. There was so much happiness, joy, pain, and suffering tied to this town, and I loved the way Ernshaw incorporated it into the story.

The Writing

The writing was so wonderful! I was highlighting passages like crazy, because the prose was so gorgeous, and I just couldn't stop inhaling Ernshaw's words. She magnificently created an atmosphere that was ethereal and lavish and totally wrapped itself around me.

The story is also replete with emotion. The longing, pain, sorrow, and fear just bleed through the page, and I was taken through each and every emotion with these characters. And like I said, there were tears.

Ernshaw seamlessly blended timelines to give us the full story of the Swan sisters. I really enjoyed flipping back and forth between the past and the present, and I appreciated the way she thoughtfully placed those historic vignettes. Each new piece of the Swan sisters' backstory we received, made me want more and more.

The Story

I am going to have to super vague about the plot, because it's so much better going into it blind. What I will tell you is that I loved how it all unfolded, and I really enjoyed collecting all the little pieces to construct the big picture. I had so many "yes", "no way", "aha", and "that's what I thought" moments, and with each and every new discovery, I found myself reading faster and faster, because I had to know how it all ended.

The Romance

I know there are going to be people crying "instalove", but people, these were intense times with high stakes, and sometimes that pushes people closer faster. Being in Penny's head, while she shared her feelings about Bo, made this sap extra sappy. I could have stayed in the cottage with those two forever.

Overall

A captivating story of love, loss, revenge, and sacrifice, that kept me turning the pages.

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever seen Hocus Pocus or Practical Magic?

Let us know in the comments!