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A review by mediaevalmuse
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
3.0
I picked up this book by chance. I was buying something else when I saw it, and the cover was pretty, so I decided to give it a read. I went in expecting a lot of witchcraft, but was pleasantly surprised that most of the focus is on the idea of witches and local folklore. Granted, there is some supernatural stuff, but it’s not overdone, which I very much liked. In fact, the overall story wasn’t the problem - rather, there were some things about the telling of it that I didn’t quite like. But still, I enjoyed the reading experience and would recommend that others give this book a chance like I did.
Things I Liked
1. Atmosphere: Echoing other reviews, I will agree that this book is incredibly atmospheric. I love the way Ernshaw describes the town of Sparrow and the nearby sea - I could almost taste the salty air as I read. For me, atmosphere is what makes or breaks a supernatural book, and because Ernshaw handled it so well, I felt myself getting lost in the reading experience.
2. Local History: Most of this book is focused on a single town, with the stakes being confined to that town alone. I loved how the legend of the Swan sisters leads to Sparrow being kind of like Salem, in that it becomes a tourist attraction, but also that the town has very real local lore and culture. It was a nice change of pace from books about the destruction of the world or the fall of humanity.
3. Lack of Magic: I’m quite glad that this book didn’t go all out with the magic. Of course, there were supernatural elements, but at no point did the author overdo it. I much rather liked that the focus was on the belief that the Swan sisters were witches rather than actual witchcraft and hexes themselves.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Integration of the Twist: This critique is more of a personal preference, so take it with a grain of salt. I wish Ernshaw had sprinkled in more hints at the twist throughout the rest of the book. Once the “big reveal” happens, the narration changes sharply, and I would much rather have it integrated throughout the narrative more fluidly. For example, I really loved moments when I was unsure if Penny was an unreliable narrator - if I could trust her beliefs as fact or not. It made Bo’s skepticism less irritating, and I think Ernshaw could have used it to her advantage.
2. Characterization of the Swan Sisters: Despite so much attention being focused on the Swan sisters, not much was done to humanize them - and what was done actually caused a lot of conflict between them in a way that I didn’t quite like. They seemed like they were archetypal female villains: using sex appeal to do bad for badness’ sake, and I would have loved for the book to have addressed at least some of the implications it sets up regarding women’s sexuality. I also wished more had been done to explore their sisterly bond and how it becomes strained when the twist happens.
3. Characterization of Supporting Characters: This book is told in first person, so we get a lot of interiority from Penny. We don’t really get to know other characters, however. Bo seems like he has interesting motivations, but nothing really stands out about him. Rose is a delight, and in my opinion, she was the most enjoyable to read of everyone, but she wasn’t super integral to the main plot.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in witches, witch hunts, witch curses, local history, local legends, early American history, secluded towns, islands, and lighthouses.
Things I Liked
1. Atmosphere: Echoing other reviews, I will agree that this book is incredibly atmospheric. I love the way Ernshaw describes the town of Sparrow and the nearby sea - I could almost taste the salty air as I read. For me, atmosphere is what makes or breaks a supernatural book, and because Ernshaw handled it so well, I felt myself getting lost in the reading experience.
2. Local History: Most of this book is focused on a single town, with the stakes being confined to that town alone. I loved how the legend of the Swan sisters leads to Sparrow being kind of like Salem, in that it becomes a tourist attraction, but also that the town has very real local lore and culture. It was a nice change of pace from books about the destruction of the world or the fall of humanity.
3. Lack of Magic: I’m quite glad that this book didn’t go all out with the magic. Of course, there were supernatural elements, but at no point did the author overdo it. I much rather liked that the focus was on the belief that the Swan sisters were witches rather than actual witchcraft and hexes themselves.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Integration of the Twist: This critique is more of a personal preference, so take it with a grain of salt. I wish Ernshaw had sprinkled in more hints at the twist throughout the rest of the book. Once the “big reveal” happens, the narration changes sharply, and I would much rather have it integrated throughout the narrative more fluidly. For example, I really loved moments when I was unsure if Penny was an unreliable narrator - if I could trust her beliefs as fact or not. It made Bo’s skepticism less irritating, and I think Ernshaw could have used it to her advantage.
2. Characterization of the Swan Sisters: Despite so much attention being focused on the Swan sisters, not much was done to humanize them - and what was done actually caused a lot of conflict between them in a way that I didn’t quite like. They seemed like they were archetypal female villains: using sex appeal to do bad for badness’ sake, and I would have loved for the book to have addressed at least some of the implications it sets up regarding women’s sexuality. I also wished more had been done to explore their sisterly bond and how it becomes strained when the twist happens.
3. Characterization of Supporting Characters: This book is told in first person, so we get a lot of interiority from Penny. We don’t really get to know other characters, however. Bo seems like he has interesting motivations, but nothing really stands out about him. Rose is a delight, and in my opinion, she was the most enjoyable to read of everyone, but she wasn’t super integral to the main plot.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in witches, witch hunts, witch curses, local history, local legends, early American history, secluded towns, islands, and lighthouses.