The Darkdeep - by Ally Condie & Brendan Reichs (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"This book left me breathless!" --R. L. Stine, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Goosebumps and Fear Street

"Move over, Stranger Things." --Melissa de la Cruz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Descendants series

New York Times bestselling authors Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs team up to co-author this thrilling first book in a darkly suspenseful middle grade series.

Everyone in Timbers knows Still Cove is off-limits, with its creepy Beast sightings and equally terrifying legends. But when a bullying incident sends twelve-year-old Nico Holland over a cliff and into Still Cove's icy waters, friends Tyler and Emma--and even Opal Walsh, who usually runs with the popular kids--rush to his rescue . . . and discover a mysterious island hiding in the murky, swirling mists below.

Though the island appears uninhabited, the kids can't shake a feeling that something about it is definitely not right. Their suspicions grow when they stumble upon an abandoned houseboat filled with all sorts of curiosities: odd-looking weapons, unnerving portraits, maps to unknown places, and a glass jar containing something completely unidentifiable. And in its lowest depths churns a dark, deep secret.

As the group delves deeper into this mysterious new clubhouse, their lives begin to intertwine in weird and dangerous ways. For something ancient has awakened . . . and it can detect not only their wishes and dreams, but also their darkest, most terrible imaginings. Do they have what it takes to face the shadowy secrets lurking within their own hearts?

Told from alternating points of view, this pulse-racing tale from bestselling duo Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs is the start of a high-stakes, thrilling series about friendship and believing in yourself--and each other.

Review Quotes

"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

About the Author

Ally Condie is the coauthor of The Darkdeep and the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Matched trilogy. Her other novels include The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe; Atlantia; and Summerlost, an Edgar Award finalist for best juvenile mystery. A former English teacher, Ally lives with her husband and four children outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. She has an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is the founder and director of the nonprofit WriteOut Foundation.

allycondie.com * @AllyCondie

Brendan Reichs is the coauthor of The Darkdeep and the six-volume Virals series, as well as the author of the instant New York Times bestseller Nemesis and its sequels Genesis and Chrysalis. He is also a member of the Executive Board for the YALLFEST and YALLWEST literary festivals and has received an MFA in creative writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife, son, daughter, and a herd of animals that tear up everything.

brendanreichs.com * @BrendanReichs