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Deephaven (Deephaven Mystery, 1)

Description

Price: $18.99 - $9.99
(as of Aug 11, 2024 12:32:25 UTC – Details)

By: Ethan M. Aldridge (Author)

From Ethan M. Aldridge, bestselling creator…

Reviews

  1. David Tingey –

    Loved it!
    It was a super fun spooky story to read! I enjoyed it as an adult, but kids would certainly enjoy as well! The illustrations are BEAUTIFUL! One of my favorite reads this year! The characters are amazing and very well developed.

  2. Emily Rose –

    Deephaven review (content not product)
    Guinevere Tallow left their difficult life behind for stranger, and hopefully brighter, life at Deephaven academy. But this mysterious school, where the wealthy dump their unwanted children and those abandoned come in search of a new home, is anything but bright. Dark secrets are hidden in the East wing, and Nev and their new friend Danny must unravel them — willingly or not.What tropes, vibes, and themes does this book include?For tropes we have School is murder, Extranormal institute, Dark secrets, and Found family. As far as vibes go, this book gave me “Dark Academia Jr.” if that makes sense, and also, in my opinion, is a bit unnerving at times. In the themes category — Self-discovery, new beginnings, independence/taking control, and abandonment. This book also has non-binary and neurodivergent representation.Who should read this?Anyone who likes light, atmospheric horror, and anyone who might want to get into dark academia but isn’t ready to dive deep yet. It’s a good starting point.What ages are appropriate?Compared to the last few MG I have read, this one verges heavily on YA. I’m going to say advanced readers if they are younger, but generally 12+.Trigger Warnings:Bones/blood, Monsters, Ghosts, and Negligent parents.Overall:★★★★★Writing:★★★★☆Plot:★★★★☆Characters:★★★★★World Building: ★★★★★Review:I finally found my first five-star read of the year. Ten months in, but better late then never. Let’s jump right into it.I’ve read many MG books this year, and while they were written well enough for the appropriate age-group, I like to give kids more credit. They can comprehend better than we think, and they can have an appreciation for good writing. This book was wonderfully written and still perfectly comprehendible to our younger humans (maybe not like a six year old, but you get the idea).Plot-wise, it kept me engaged nearly the entire time. Whenever one question had been answered, two more popped up. Just how it should be. My only qualm might be toward the end, two separate characters give a “and this is how I did it!” speech (or in that vein, at least). But honestly, it hardly matters.But let me tell you about these perfect little characters. I adored the MC to pieces. They were perfectly layered, interesting and curious, mechanically-minded. On they were wonderful! And the supporting characters? magnifique! The relationships built here made me so happy. Also, these characters have great names. Guinevere Tallow? Patience Sleepwell? Come on. Those are killer.And, of course, the world building. I’m still a tad confused on when this story takes place (I think they mentioned it being post-depression America), but it is set sometime in the past. The author does well to create very atmospheric scenes, something I see a lack of in even some adult horror books. Cleary, the author has skill.All in all, this was my favorite read this year. And it took me by surprise, too. It was an arc copy, but I instantly bought the hardcover for my shelf the moment I finished it. 10/10 would recommend.*Apologies if the MC is not meant to be neurodivergent(autistic, ADHD or similar). They simply display some clear signs of it (difficulty in social situations, difficulty reading body language and facial expression, the need to do something with their hands, etc.)

  3. emily –

    Spooky fun for middle grade!
    Free e-ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher!Now this was really lovely. A bit of a quick read, and the mystery was fairly simple (for me) to figure out, but as the target audience is middle grade, I won’t fault it for that. This fun, queer, dark academia mystery is sufficiently creepy (even for adult readers) and mood-setting for the cooler months. I enjoyed the story and the characters and I’ll definitely be on the look out for any follow up books!

  4. Readerella –

    Gothic goodness
    Creepy in the best way with evocative illustrations.

  5. Gabbie Studley –

    Damaged
    Arrived damaged

  6. Paige –

    Excellent horror fiction for kids
    Review from my daughter Laly (11yo):It is a creepy story about a student in an academy who must find the secrets within the halls of the forbidden area.Due to Nev’s father making and selling toys, Nev got a scholarship to Deephaven Academy.The school’s East wing was off limits due to the building collapsing and the death of a girl named Naomi.When school started, Nev met a boy named Danny and two school prefects, Thaddeus and Patience. That same night, Thaddeus woke Nev, Danny, and some other students to go to the school’s east wing to keep the spirits company. There was no sign of collapse when they went inside the east wing. Instead of finding broken walls or support beams, they found a wolf-like beast out to kill them. Nev and Danny must uncover the secrets of Deephaven Academy.This excellent book was mysterious, enjoyable, and captivating. I loved the story and the pictures. At the end of every chapter, there was a picture of an event that happened in the chapter. The rough cut of the pages gave a spooky and vintage feel.The main character, Nev, is nonbinary, so he has the pronouns they/them/their. Danny was a spunky character with an extroverted personality. Nev was introverted and curious. Deephaven Academy is a mysterious place full of secrets and lies.This book is a perfect book for anyone looking for a spooky read about monsters out to kill you, magic gone wrong, and finding mysteries you were never supposed to see.Give this book to anyone who likes excellent horror fiction like J.A. White.Happy Spooky Reading, Laly 📚 👻 🎃Thank you to the publisher for sharing this incredible book with me!

  7. justdk –

    Delightfully creepy
    This is an excellent creepy story to start off the spooky months! A boarding school with a sinister past, magic gone wrong, hauntings, students up to no good, dark academia vibes — Deephaven has it all. I honestly wasn’t expecting to be scared but the horror is pitched just right and had me frantically reading and worrying about the characters. I think what set this story apart from others that I’ve read is that it felt truly terrifying and unpredictable. There’s enough detail and backstory to intrigue, but it’s still very mysterious and uncanny. I felt just like Nev, tiptoeing through this hazardous new school and facing down monsters and villains. The adults aren’t the kind one can turn to when there are real problems, so it falls on Nev and their friend Danny to unravel the mysteries of Deephaven.I really enjoyed the characters! Nev is the epitome of independent and street smarts due to their unstable home life and upbringing. They have a mind suited to solving puzzles and creating, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Danny is a great ride or die friend, and bonds with Nev over their shared trauma at Deephaven, their desire to find answers, and tumultuous childhoods. Overall, this is a compact, spine-tingling tale I would recommend to fans of horror, monsters, board school settings. and dark academia. This illustrations are also delightfully creepy and atmospheric!

  8. Annika –

    Spannend und unterhaltsam. Ein tolles Buch. 😀

  9. A Customer –

    It’s like peeling away the layers one by one, and the more I read it, the more intriguing the story became.

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