YA psychological thriller from the author of What We Buried, about four teenage girls, who descend into a dangerous underground cave system in search of a lake of local legend, said to reveal your deepest fears.
When the cops arrive, only a few things are clear: - Four girls entered a dangerous cave. - Three of them came out alive. - Two of them were, rushed to the hospital. - And one is soaked in blood and ready to talk.
Amelie Desmarais' story begins believably enough: Four girls from a now-defunct thrill-seeking group planned an epic adventure to find a lake that Colorado locals call "The Sublime." Legend has it that the lake has the power to change things for those who risk, and survive, its cavernous depths. They each had their reasons for going. For Amelie, it was a promise kept to her beloved cousin, who recently suffered a tragic accident during one of the group's dares.
But, as her account unwinds, and the girls' personalities and motives are drawn, things get complicated. Amelie is hardly the thrill-seeking type, and it appears she's not the only one with the ability to deceive. Worse yet, Amelie is covered in someone's blood, but whose exactly? And, where's the fourth girl?
"This disorienting, claustrophobic, and genuinely frightening thriller follows the four girls as they descend into the darkness. With well-developed, sympathetic characters, a taut plot, and an unreliable narrator, the novel straddles the line between mystical and psychological horror to keep readers guessing to the end . . . A sublimely scary thriller."
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Horror fans will immediately recognize nods to contemporary classics of the genre, including As Above, So Below and The Blair Witch Project, while Amelie's unreliability as a narrator puts the reader in the implicit role of the detective. This intriguing blend of paranormal lore and psychodrama will warrant a second read from genre-savvy readers who want to know if they missed clues or were misle
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
"Boorman's (What We Buried) labyrinthine prose and narrative structure, skillfully fleshed-out characters, and fast-paced plot make for a terrifying and enticing summer read."
