Hello, everyone! Today I’m reviewing Deep Is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson, which will be available tomorrow (April 16, 2024) wherever you get your books. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this one. I was drawn to it because it was about a secret society, but I didn’t know much more than that going into it. I was quite surprised to love it as much as I did.

Merry doesn’t need a happily-ever-after. Her life in the charming, idyllic town of Candlecott is fine just as it is. Simple, happy, and with absolutely no magic. Magic only ever leads to trouble.

But Merry’s best friend, Teddy, is joining the Toadmen—a secret society who specialize in backward thinking and suspiciously supernatural traditions—and Merry is determined to stop him. Even if it means teaming up with the person she hates most: her academic archnemesis, Caraway Boswell, an ice-cold snob who hides his true face under a glamour.

An ancient Toad ritual is being held in the sinister Deeping Fen, and if Merry doesn’t rescue Teddy before it’s finished, she’ll lose him forever. But the Toadmen have been keeping dangerous secrets, and so has Caraway. The farther Merry travels into Deeping Fen’s foul waters, the more she wonders if she’s truly come to save her friend . . . or if she’s walking straight into a trap.

There’s nothing the Toadmen love more than a damsel in distress.

***Thank you to Delacorte Press for providing a copy of the book. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

Deep Is the Fen had me hooked from the beginning. I adored Merry and her friend group, and the mysteries of the secret society kept me intrigued. The horrible truth of it all eventually came to light, and the journey to unveil all the secrets was intense and kind of terrifying at times. The plot constantly hurdled forward. The first half of the story largely focused on Merry’s attempts at unraveling the truth behind the Toadmen in order to protect her best friend. The latter half shifted into fighting for survival amidst the horrors she uncovered. The last quarter could have used more breathing room, but it was so riveting that I didn’t mind how quickly things moved.

Deep Is the Fen had very unique world-building. The magic system was interesting, and I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it before. The toad magic was super creepy, and the use of the fen as the center of its power was such a fantastic choice. The author did a wonderful job of bringing the rotten and terrifying atmosphere of the fen to life, and several parts made me cringe in disgust, which shows the vividness of the imagery and descriptions. Some bits of the world-building did seem at odds, such as having cars but also holding a blacksmith in such high esteem, but there weren’t enough issues to really pull me from the story.

The characters were also a major highlight of Deep Is the Fen. Merry was a great protagonist. She cared deeply for her friends and went to great lengths to keep them safe, even when they were making horrible choices that put them in danger. She also had a great coming-of-age arc where she learned that change is inevitable and that part of growing up is learning to embrace it and make the best of it. Her combative relationship with Caraway was a lot of fun to read. They had great chemistry, and it provided some wonderful banter. Caraway was an interesting character, too, with lots of secrets and a desire to overcome his upbringing and heritage.

I really loved how the imagery and metaphors in Deep Is the Fen were utilized to illustrate the main themes. The persecution of the witches and the ways the Toadmen subjugated them showed how women have historically had their power and agency taken away by the combination of marriage and patriarchy. The structure of the society also highlighted the dangers of end-stage capitalism and concentrating too much power in the hands of mega-corporations. Overall, the imagery in this book was powerful and thought-provoking, and I think it’ll definitely make young adults think about some important and relevant topics while also being whisked away on an exciting adventure.

All in all, Deep Is the Fen was one of my favorite reads so far this year. It had an intriguing plot, great characters, stunning world-building, and important themes explored through vivid imagery. The rivals to lovers romance with its entertaining banter was just the cherry on top. Therefore, I give Deep Is the Fen a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Have you read Deep Is the Fen? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments!