Fear the Drowning Deep by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Fear the Drowning Deep

by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Some secrets are better left at the bottom of the ocean.

Sixteen-year-old Bridey Corkill longs to leave her small island and see the world; the farther from the sea, the better. When Bridey was young, she witnessed something lure her granddad off a cliff and into a watery grave with a smile on his face. Now, in 1913, those haunting memories are dredged to the surface when a young woman is found drowned on the beach. Bridey suspects that whatever compelled her granddad to leap has made its return to the Isle of Man.

Soon, people in Bridey’s idyllic village begin vanishing, and she finds an injured boy on the shore—an outsider who can’t remember who he is or where he’s from. Bridey’s family takes him in so he can rest and heal. In exchange for saving his life, he teaches Bridey how to master her fear of the water—stealing her heart in the process.

But something sinister is lurking in the deep, and Bridey must gather her courage to figure out who—or what—is plaguing her village, and find a way to stop it before she loses everyone she loves.

Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers—picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Reviewed by shannonmiz on

5 of 5 stars

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4.5*

First thing you need to know about this book: the atmosphere is incredible. Like, I could feel the eerie, unsettling vibe of a sea town in distress. The story is set in 1913, which totally adds to the ambience- obviously no one can call for help, transportation is minimal, etc. It created a sense of urgency and isolation, and I loved it so much!

The setting was obviously perfect for strange disappearances at sea. Bridey is all too familiar with this, since she lost her beloved grandfather to one such incident, and has never been able to venture near the sea since. But as the stakes get higher and higher, Bridey gets bolder and bolder. It makes sense to the story, because Bridey cares deeply about her family and friends, which was another huge plus to this book. Bridey's family plays a huge role in the story, which is incredibly refreshing. And while they had their moments of butting heads, it was quite clear that they were a close, loving family. Bridey also had some close friendships, which had their ups and downs as typical friendships do. The family and friend relationships in the book seemed incredibly relatable and realistic. There is a romance, and I was a fan for sure. The synopsis tells you a bit about Fynn, but there is so, so much more to it than that, so I will just let you discover this for yourself.

The plot had me hooked, too. I wasn't sure at first, because I will fully admit that I get wary of mythical creatures and such, but there was no need to worry because it all felt very authentic, especially since the townspeople were so skeptical too. That made me feel like the whole situation was more realistic, because of course the town would not believe in magic and sea creatures without some serious proof!

The story is about the perilous situation for Bridey and her town, yes. But it is also a story of Bridey overcoming her own fears and demons, of growing up, and of navigating relationships and life in general. Add to that, it's incredibly well written, it makes for a huge win.

My only real qualm with the book is that I had hoped that the ending would have been a bit more wrapped up- there were a few open ends, which some people will probably be fine with, but worth a mention!

Bottom Line: Fear the Drowning Deep is a haunting, atmospheric tale of a young woman trying to save her loved ones while discovering her strength. Beautifully written, and not one to miss!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 5 July, 2016: Finished reading
  • 5 July, 2016: Reviewed