Summary:
Merry doesn’t need a happily-ever-after. Her life in the charming, idyllic town of Candlecott is fine just as it is. Simple, happy, and with absolutely no magic. Magic only ever leads to trouble.
But Merry’s best friend, Teddy, is joining the Toadmen—a secret society who specialize in backward thinking and suspiciously supernatural traditions—and Merry is determined to stop him. Even if it means teaming up with the person she hates most: her academic archnemesis, Caraway Boswell, an ice-cold snob who hides his true face under a glamour.
An ancient Toad ritual is being held in the sinister Deeping Fen, and if Merry doesn’t rescue Teddy before it’s finished, she’ll lose him forever. But the Toadmen have been keeping dangerous secrets, and so has Caraway. The farther Merry travels into Deeping Fen’s foul waters, the more she wonders if she’s truly come to save her friend . . . or if she’s walking straight into a trap.
There’s nothing the Toadmen love more than a damsel in distress.
Book Links:
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My Thoughts:
One of my favorite reasons I do so many book tours is to discover new authors. I am so happy I was able to read Deep is the Fen. This is the first book I have read by Wilkinson, but now I know I need to read A Hunger of Thorns. Without a doubt, this is a 4.5 read.
Within the first chapter I was hooked. I had to know where this this story was going. I was, and still am, thinking about the Toadmen. The imagery is really where I think Wilkinson shines. I was grossed out yet wanting more at the same time, it was the perfect combination. Not only that but the magic system as a whole, which has me itching to read A Hunger of Thorns. I need more from this universe.
Deep is the Fen has beautiful prose and an enchanting plot. There wasn’t a spot that felt overly predictable, which made for an exciting read. While I really enjoyed the imagery throughout Deep is the Fen, I felt the world building overall could have been a little sharper. But I think it added to the fairy tale feel of the work.
I found Merry, the main character, to be relatable. I liked her development throughout the book, but sometimes questioned her choices. I found myself really enjoying the the power of friendship and is weaved throughout the pages of Deep is The Fen. The elements you expect from a dark fantasy are present but balanced well.
Deep is the Fen is a perfect example of what dark YA fantasy is. If you are looking for a dark YA fantasy, look not further than Deep is the Fen. I am so excited to see what Wilkinson has in store for us in the future!
About the Author:
Lili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of eighteen books for young people, including The Erasure Initiative and After the Lights Go Out. Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for YA and the young people who read it, establishing the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. Her latest book is Deep is the Fen.
Author links:
You can check out the full book tour here!
Lit Lemon Books 