The Wicked Deep

3,5/5⭐️
Dit boek was best leuk. Het was niet mega goed, maar ook zeker niet slecht! De plottwist was te verwachten, dus dat was wel jammer. Het einde daarintegen was wel goed.
Ik ging dit boek in met hoge verwachtingen, dus ik denk dat het daarom wat tegenviel.
Ik vond het wel vervelend worden dat de Swan sisters steeds aangaven dat ze geen witch waren, maar wel jaarlijk mannen de zee in lokken....
De schrijfstijl was erg fijn en ik vond het best een leuk verhaal.

I loved the characters and the set up is dark, but the darkness isn't dwelt on. I could see the twist coming and it was revealed quickly after that. I liked that the twist wasn't drawn out. The ending was forced into happily ever after. It didn't really make sense to be that happily ever after. So if I think of the ending that I would have preferred, then I like it better.

3.5 stars

I  buddy read this with Jonny and you can click the link if you want to read his thoughts on the book. So I put off writing my review for this one way to long and I don't really remember all that much about it now. I know I was really enjoying the romance in the beginning but a reveal toward the end kind of ruined that for me. For some reason I was expecting this book to be about mermaids and honestly I don't even know where I got that idea from. I enjoyed learning about the town and it's history and finding out who was “possessed” in the present. I have to say it was pretty obvious who one of them was.  It was an ok read but it wasn't something that blew me away. I would read something else by this author. 

The writing was beautiful and the scene it took place was such an errie place but I loved how it played out.

Three sisters, accused of being witches, are drowned by the town of Sparrow. So starts two centuries of the Swan Season. Every year they return, boys are drowned...with the season only ending when the sisters return to the sea. Countless lives taken, and no way to stop them. Or is this year different? Penny Talbot knows the truth because she can see the sisters when they return. Can she stop them this year or is the town of Sparrow doomed for eternity?

What a beautifully written story. I loved everything about this one...the characters...the setting...the story. It is such an atmospheric read...you easily get lost and drawn in. When you finally come up for air it takes a minute to remember where you are

Why 3.5 ⭐?

Wow. Another beautiful but sad story. Reading this right after finishing Addie LaRue might not have been the best idea.... I definitely need a pick-me up.

That said, the story was well-executed and entertaining. The only thing I had a problem with–well aside from (1) the murdering of three women because other women's husbands couldn't stay faithful, and (2) three ghosts killing innocent young men as revenge–was the sorta insta-love between the H and h. It's not that it's one of those “love at first sight” tropes, but the MCs' love developed too fast to believable, in my opinion. However, it's a fictional story involving possession by ghosts, so I need to let that go.

Definitely going to seek out more of Shea Ernshaw.

Audiobook narrator was fabulous.

**3.5 Perfect September read for that period right between summer and fall!!

I really enjoyed this! The plot was really intriguing! It was super atmospheric and it felt like the ocean and the island were their own characters. I also really liked the characters and “quaint, small town with something to hide” vibes.

However, it was also pretty predictable. I guessed almost every plot twist except for one VERY early on. Also, some bits of the writing style did leave something to be desired. There were some scenes that were supposed to be pretty high-stakes and dramatic that just fell a little short.

There were some absolutely beautiful gems within though, including:

“Love is an enchantress—devious and wild.It sneaks up on you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat.”

and I think my personal favorite:

“I fell in love. What's more human than that?”

Overall, good spooky vibes

A beautifully written story about witches, murders that spanned over 200 years and a love story that broke my heart. I couldn't put it down. A fast, but magical must read.

I personally really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book. I loved the small rainy seaside town setting and Shea Ernshaw's writing style.

I also initially liked the romance when Penny and Bo got together. It didn't feel to insta-love to me, though I know a lot of people didn't like it for that reason. As someone who was already saying “I love you” and talking marriage with a guy (who I'm now happily married to years later) within a week of dating, insta-love doesn't really bother me that much.

The love did bother me very much at the end of the book which I won't say why because of spoilers but that's the only reason I knocked a star off this book. The ending felt a bit rushed and I would have preferred a bit more time with Penny after all the book craziness to enjoy her and Bo's relationship at that time.

Besides that I loved the creepiness of the curse and loved the background information given about the Swan sisters so much so that if there was a book written about when they were still alive I'd be all over it.

All in all I really did enjoy the book and would recommend it.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this story. I loved the idea of the Swan Sisters. I liked the characters. I just did not enjoy all the romance.

I adored the writing and the characters. Hazel shone as a strong willed girl against all the odds, and her sisters, no matter how villainous, were very intriguing characters. Props to the author for not making Bo a cliched character by not making him act out of hate, but instead with love.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I wasn't expecting the twist near the end. However, I wish there was more magic in this story! The Swan sisters were killed for being witches... but they weren't actually witches. Other than the curse of them returning every year, there was no magic. Slightly disappointed, but overall, I liked the story.