Tara's Book Addiction: The Darkdeep by Ally Condie & Brendan Reichs

I had a fun time reading The Darkdeep! See below for my thoughts on this middle grade story by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs.

*I received an arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. I am an Amazon affiliate and I may receive a small compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on one of my links.

The Darkdeep
by Ally Condie & Brendan Reichs
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
by Bloomsbury Children's Books

Genre: Middle Grade, Supernatural, Adventure

Pages: 272

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Format: eARC
Goodreads │Amazon │Kindle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 Stars)

When a bullying incident sends twelve-year-old Nico Holland over the edge of a cliff into the icy waters of Still Cove, where no one ever goes, friends Tyler and Ella - and even 'cool kid' Opal -rush to his rescue... only to discover an island hidden in the swirling mists below.
Shrouded by dense trees and murky tides, the island appears uninhabited, although the kids can't quite shake the feeling that something about it is off. Their suspicions grow when they stumble upon an abandoned houseboat with an array of curiosities inside: odd-looking weapons, unnerving portraits, maps to places they've never heard of, and a glass jar containing something completely unidentifiable.
As the group delves deeper into the unknown, their discoveries - and their lives -begin to intertwine in weird and creepy ways. Something ancient has awakened... and it knows their wishes and dreams - and their darkest, most terrible secrets. Do they have what it takes to face the shadowy things that lurk within their own hearts?

I've really been reading a ton of middle grade books lately. I just think they're quick and interesting reads that make me feel like I'm young again (which is always a good thing!), going on all kinds of adventures. I had such a fun time reading The Darkdeep. It was filled with excitement and monsters. I love me some monsters! I knew this was a book I wanted to read when I saw the awesome cover and read the synopsis.

This story definitely had a bit of a Stranger Things vibe. Young kids get caught up in a creepy adventure involving strange creatures. The scary setting gave the story a very chilling atmosphere that I loved. The Darkdeep had it's creepy parts but it's not overly frightening, especially since it is a middle grade book. I felt that the story flowed very well, even though the book is written by two authors. I've never read anything by Ally Condie before, but I have read and enjoyed Brendan Reich's book, "Nemesis."

This was an easy read and I flew through the story. I thought all the main characters were well written and interesting, and I enjoyed reading from the perspectives of Nico and Opal. I really enjoyed the friendships in this book! I had fun reading about the main group of friends as they got caught up in a crazy adventure.

I believe The Darkdeep is the first in a series, and I look forward to reading the second book. I think this story is perfect for readers who enjoy eerie and adventurous books. Even though this is a middle grade book, I think teens and adults will also enjoy it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐