by Hannah Whitten
Publisher: Orbit Books
Pub Date: August 11, 2026
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Gothic
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Book Links: Goodreads Amazon Bookshop
Sometimes, you just want
to belong.
When Claire’s fiancé mysteriously dies of an unknown neurological illness,
seemingly destroying her chances at the belonging she’s sought, she’s prepared
to sink back into the lonely life she lived before. Orphaned by a freak boating
accident in her childhood, she never expected to find connection like she did
with Elias, anyway. Even if sometimes, that connection seemed more like
something he felt obligated to than something he wanted.
Their relationship wasn’t perfect—his coldness, his secrets, his strange
aversion to the ocean—but what relationship is?
When Elias’s family reaches out—his incredibly wealthy family, from whom he was
estranged—and invites Claire to a wake at their family home on a private
island, Claire is given the chance to have connection again. To belong to
something, just like she’s always wanted. Just like Elias knew she was
desperate to have.
Even if that family is a little strange. Even if their home built partially
into the sea stirs up memories of the accident that killed her parents and
sister. Even if Ash, Elias’s older brother, seems insistent on Claire leaving
as soon as possible.
Claire can’t bring herself to be lonely again. And as the strange circumstances
of Elias’s familial connection with the sea becomes more and more apparent, her
window for escape is rapidly closing.
Does she even want to?
My Review: Well....this book was bad.
Which is sad to say because I loved Hannah's Nightshade Crown series.
But this one? No. It was
so unbelieving boring and dull. So much so, that it gave me a horrible headache
trying to get through it.
There was no horror this this book. Now, I'm not the biggest horror reader, but when I do read it, I want to feel it. This wasn't it.
The story itself wasn't all that to me. The blurb made it sound so much better imo.
Claires fiancé passes away and she kinda goes through the motions of grief but it all blurs together too much. There really is little to nothing about him either.
Claire gets an email from his family about going to them to mourne together and all that. She agrees and at first its seems okay, even if a little weird.
The buildup wasn't really there, it was basically here's a few days then btw you're a sacrifice Claire. It wasn't until then she showed real emotion/fear. But when that was short lived.
The characters overall were simply okay. Kinda dull and brining but I didn't really dislike any of them.
Overall, as the authors adult debut, its simply wasn't the best. I really couldn't find anything to love about this book. It was boring, dull a bit straight to the point with no world building, background, etc.
It really does suck
considering I have loved all her other books. I'll probably still give her
future books a try and hope they turn out better.
