This book left me breathless!” —R.L. Stine, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Goosebumps and Fear Street
“Move over, Stranger Things. . . The Darkdeep will pull you into an irresistibly eerie world beyond your wildest dreams—and nightmares.” —Melissa de la Cruz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Descendants series
“A truly spectacular adventure.” —Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL
“I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.” —Alexandra Bracken, New York Times bestselling author of THE DARKEST MINDS
“The most fun I've had while being deeply terrified.” —Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of ARU SHAH AND THE END OF TIME
“A delicious, rollicking adventure.” —Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author of FURTHERMORE
“Fast-paced, thrilling, and full of mystery.” —Jennifer A. Nielsen, New York Times bestselling author of THE FALSE PRINCE
“[A]n imaginative and ultimately uplifting narrative.” —Booklist
“[P]erfect for reluctant readers who appreciate things that go bump in the night.” —Publishers Weekly
“Delivering plenty of middle-school shivers, . . . the terror of the figments is leavened with alternating bits of humor and pathos, and the ensemble cast is differentiated by motive and temperament, all of which augurs well for readerly interest in future adventures.” —BCCB
“Swiftly paced and peppered with wit, this darkly entertaining tale is sure to engage horror fans.” —School Library Journal
“Thoughtful, poetic chapter endings guide readers new to psychological depth toward meaningful connections between plot events and thematic reflections.” —BCCB, starred review, on SUMMERLOST
“Condie is at her best . . . grabbing readers' interest from the first page.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on SUMMERLOST
“Have this on hand for readers who enjoy a sweet, heartfelt story.” —School Library Journal on SUMMERLOST
“Reichs truly keeps readers guessing throughout, with twists on early every page.” —Booklist, starred review, on NEMESIS
“Addictive as a puzzle, moving with breakneck speed, Nemesis had me guessing until the very end. Try to predict what Nemesis is. I dare you.” —Victoria Averyard, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author, on NEMESIS
“Hooked readers will be tapping their fingers waiting for the sequel.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on NEMESIS
“A fierce, unforgettable page-turner.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on MATCHED
“Reichs builds plots like the Swiss build watches. Nemesis is a fascinating, twisty page-turner that will keep surprising you until its final page.” —Ransom Riggs, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author, on NEMESIS
2018-06-11
Four pop-culture-steeped middle schoolers discover a portal to…something off the Washington coast.When Nico falls over a cliff into Still Cove, he surfaces in a cave that leads to an ancient houseboat. After his friends Tyler, Emma, and Opal come to rescue him, they investigate the elaborately furnished, abandoned boat and discover a spiral staircase down to a shadowy, whirling water portal the kids call the Darkdeep. When Emma experimentally touches the water, she is swallowed up, only to be regurgitated minutes later. This strange process releases familiar apparitions, or figments, seemingly plucked from their childhood memories, that all four kids can see. The foursome can't seem to stop jumping through the Darkdeep to see what apparitions they can conjure up, including Smurfs, Godzilla, Minions, an extraterrestrial Visitor, and various other imaginary creatures. Inevitably, these beings take on more solid form, become violent, and, for an unknown reason, leave Still Cove and head for town. These shenanigans play out against a backdrop of the town's economic distress after timber-industry layoffs; subplots include Opal's needy desire for male attention, the enduring enmity of the school bully, and the upcoming radish festival. Too many storylines dilute any sense of intrigue. Characters are identified by salient features—Tyler's dark skin, Opal's long, black hair, Emma's blue eyes—a device that does not disrupt the white default.A weak plot, underdeveloped characters, and the hint of a next book sum up this not-so-deep series opener. (Paranormal suspense. 8-12)
