Genre: Horror Age Range: MG Star Rating: 5 stars Series: book 4
*SPOILER ALERT: contains SPOILERS for DREAD WOOD, FEAR GROUND, and FLOCK HORROR*
Blurb:
It’s summer term and time for a school trip with a difference! Year 8 are on a boat off the coast of France, learning about ocean life. But things are about to get WEIRD . . . Who is the creepy man on board the ship? And what IS the vast, shadowy creature seen lurking at the bottom of the ocean?
When the ship is sunk Club Loser realise that they are the only ones who can save the day, and their classmates. Can they outwit and defeat a giant, deadly sea monster that comes from the depths?
It’s a fight for survival and if they fail, Club Loser will find themselves in a watery grave . . .
Blurb taken from Goodreads. Add to your shelves here.
Review:
As someone who dislikes being on boats (thanks to the motion of waves), DEADLY DEEP is the most terrifying entry to the DREAD WOOD series yet – and made me never want to set foot on a boat again.
Once more, Jennifer Killick brings the perfect combo of funny and creepy, making for a hair-raising, engaging read (I finished this at almost midnight because I could not put it down). It’s great balance, with climbing tension that builds and builds and builds, punctuated by moments of fun to give you a breather (and make the next unnerving moment hit harder).
DEADLY DEEP kickstarts a new phase in the overall series. There is a new villain, but he has a lot of continuity in goal, method, and the desperate need it evoked in me to call social services and get a restraining order! This really helps it feel like the same series while not being repetitive, as well as upping the tension as this new guy has a few new tricks up his sleeves. There are also hints of secondary threats for the next book(s) to deal with!
I love that this series has such a strong focus on friendship alongside the creepy. Club loser gets closer and closer each instalment and it’s so nice to watch. Plus there’s a lot about confidence in being yourself even if it’s “weird” and “not like the cool kids”, which is so nice. Gus is the prime example of this.
I am looking forward to the coming books!
Read my reviews of other books by Jennifer Killick:
Dread Wood (this series):
- DREAD WOOD (#1)
- FEAR GROUND (#2)
- FLOCK HORROR (#3)
- FRIGHT BITE (#5)
- CREEPY CREATIONS (#5.5)
Crater Lake:
- CRATER LAKE (#1)
- CRATER LAKE EVOLUTION (#2)
Sifa Elizabeth Reads 