Welcome back, friends! I’ve been busy jumping through hoops lately in real life and prepping for my own upcoming book release. But I always make time to read and blog… even when I have to wait to post after the littles are abed and I’m about ready to nod off 😉
I have so loved diving back into Condi and Lorelei’s world in this slightly more somber chapter in the Windy Hollow verse. But more on my thoughts below! Keep scrolling for my full review of Kellye Abernathy’s Amethyst, the Shallows, plus an extra fun feature and giveaway below!
AMETHYST, THE SHALLOWS
YA / Magical Realism / Coming of Age
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Page Count: 296 pages
Publication Date: February 6, 2024
“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.
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Dive back into the world of Windy Hollow, where there’s magic hidden in the water!
At the end of The Aquamarine Surfboard, Kellye Abernathy left the townsfolk of Windy Hollow banded together despite their differences. Though the ending was bittersweet, it left readers of all ages with a feeling of hope for the future. Yet we soon discover that all is not well in Amethyst, The Shallows.
A mysterious sickness has forced the town into quarantine and cut off the surfers from the beach. Lorelei, Condi’s best friend, is barely hanging on with her slow recovery and her mother’s ongoing illness. For Condi, who overcame her fears and found herself through the ocean, the isolation is especially unbearable. But things soon begin looking up. And of course, the moment the children begin venturing into the sea, a series of extraordinary events push the boundaries of Lorelei’s logic.
Kellye Abernathy expertly weaves together multiple characters and storylines. I struggled with the constant shifting in perspectives and felt a bit pulled out of the story at times. Especially since we’re introduced to several new characters. I would have liked to keep closer to Lorelei through the story, since I felt most invested in her from the start, and she touches so many people throughout the story. But that’s just me. If you love tales of magic hidden in the mundane, and if you adore stories of friendship and family, this is the perfect beach read for you!
MEET KELLYE ABERNATHY
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!
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Magic in the mundane — I like that description. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am SO ready to dive into this world again. Loved the first book.
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Thanks for reading and sharing as always ❤ Kellye definitely brings the magic back to Windy Hollow 😀
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