The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager

“Maybe I was losing my mind. There was no telling how much time had passed since we’d parted from the fisherman, but clearly it was enough for me to start talking to shadows and attempting telepathy with ghosts. Some things were better left unsaid. I could be crazy in the comfort of my own head.”

-The Sea Hides Its Dead

Horror is one of my favorite genres, but it is one that I often have to step away from at times just because after awhile, the stories and the darkness can get under my skin. But I have been easing back into it with some great reads, and I was completely blown away by The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager. This novel is incredibly tense, harrowing and creepy, but it is also such an incredibly emotional read with one of the best character arcs I have read in a long time. I loved it so much, and I am really looking forward to reading more by this author.

Caro is a grad student who feels a little unsure of what she is going to do with her life. She’s currently having an affair with her professor, Beck, even though he’s married, and even though he’s made her promise after promise to end his marriage for her. When a large monolith rises from the ocean off the coast of Maine, Beck initiates an anthropological expedition to explore the monolith. He invites Caro to be a part of the team, and she readily accepts.

The team that heads into the monolith is made up of a myriad of personalities and types of people. Caro at first sees Beck coming to see all his research legitimized. Here in this place, everything he’s written about and realized is true, and at first she is in awe of him.

But the monolith is greater than any of them could have ever imagined. The group is trapped inside the caves within, as an ancient trial has begun. Each person must face their greatest sin and atone for it or die. Caro watches as one by one the group is forced to bear witness to a single person’s greatest mistakes and fail at saving themselves.

This book was eerie, and the monolith and caves inside it were ever-shifting and dangerous. Caro starts off completely enamored with Beck, only to realize that she must find her own strength. But she is not alone in discovering it as her friend Mallory is accompanying them as well. Mallory and Caro have their own pasts to face, their own lives with all the messiness that comes from being human. This book went to some really dark places but it handled some really serious topics with care. This is a story of fighting your guilt, of putting friendship above all else, and of letting go.

The writing style was gorgeous, the pacing was incredible, and the author made me really love and hate some of these characters in the best way. I can’t recommend this book enough!

Massive thanks to Orbit for sending me a copy, The Sea Hides Its Dead releases July 14!