AMETHYST, THE
SHALLOWS
by
Kellye Abernathy
YA / Magical Realism / Coming of Age
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Page Count: 296 pages
Publication Date: February 6, 2024
Scroll down for a giveaway!
"This is a night for being brave."
In the aftermath of a devastating sickness that shatters their close-knit beach town, six lonely kids are drawn together during the unpredictable autumn equinox. Among them are fourteen-year-old Lorelei, who yearns to be an oceanographer, and her peculiar younger brother, Tad, who possesses an otherworldly curiosity.
When Lorelei has a strange and almost deadly encounter in a sea cave, her loyal boyfriend, Casey, cannot reconcile her fantastical experience with the rational world. Condi, Lorelei's best friend, understands ocean magic but isn't free to share what she knows. Kait, a girl from Ireland, regrets her impulsive move to America--all because of an odd occurrence involving her deceased boyfriend's lost surfboard. When tides turn and the moon shifts, Isaac, the new kid in town who despises the ocean, is forced to face the truth--a profound and powerful magic lives in the deep.
Guided by a wise surf master, mystical old women known as the Beachlings, and an open-hearted grandmother, six kids embark on transformative adventures that challenge their beliefs about possibilities and the intense nature of love.
Amethyst, the Shallows is the companion novel to The Aquamarine Surfboard.
My Review:
Amethyst, The Shallows is the second book in the Yellow Cottage Stories series. Like the first book, it takes place at Dipitous Beach, a seaside town. It brings back several characters introduced in the first books including Condi, Lorelei, Grand Ella, and Casey. However, it has several major differences that make it a very different, but still intriguing and magical read. Character perspectives are expanded in this book. Typically, a mid-series perspective shift would throw me off, but I really like having multiple POVs, so I liked this change.
This book primarily follows Lorelei, but it also follows a few other characters, like Casey, Condi, and a new boy in town named Isaac. Instead of focusing on Condi trying to save the town like last time, the book follows a lot of the familial and relationship dynamics between Isaac's family and Lorelei's family and friends.
This book primarily follows Lorelei, but it also follows a few other characters, like Casey, Condi, and a new boy in town named Isaac. Instead of focusing on Condi trying to save the town like last time, the book follows a lot of the familial and relationship dynamics between Isaac's family and Lorelei's family and friends.
The book takes inspiration from recent world events a few years ago to highlight some of the strain that was placed on young people and their relationships, which I found incredibly relatable. I liked having more of a focus on Lorelei after her introduction in the previous book. Emphasizing her complicated relationships was a really intriguing turn of events, versus continuing to solely follow Condi as a main character.
Best of all, this book still has all of the great world-building and magical realism that made the first book so fun. It still has tragic elements and fantasy aspects, but the blend is still as enchanting as ever. I'm still not the biggest fan of tragic storytelling components overall, but I understand their benefit within stories. While I won't flock to it, I still appreciate how the book handles everything. I really enjoyed this book and I would love to be able to spend more time in Dipitous Beach with its inhabitants. I highly recommend this series for readers who like grounded magical stories. I give Amethyst, The Shallows a Lone Star rating of ✯✯✯✯ stars.
CLICK TO PURCHASE:
AMAZON | B&N | BOOKSHOP.ORG
Kellye Abernathy's passions are writing and serving trauma survivors as a yoga teacher and practical life skills advocate. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English Education from the University of Kansas. Her home is in land-locked Plano, Texas—where she’s dreaming of her next trip to the sea!
--------------------------------------
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS
receive autographed two-book sets
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 4/19/24)
I have a hard time with tragic stories, too, but find if there's a ray of hope to carry me, I'm good. Definitely adds realism to the story. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDelete