When Claire’s fiancé mysteriously dies of an unknown neurological illness, she’s prepared to sink back into the lonely life she lived before. Orphaned by a freak boating accident in her childhood, she never expected to find connection like she did with Elias, anyway. Their relationship wasn’t perfect—his coldness, his secrets, his strange aversion to the ocean—but what relationship is?
When Elias’s family reaches out—his incredibly wealthy family, from whom he was estranged—and invites Claire to a three-day wake at Harrow Point, their family home on a private island, Claire is given the chance to find family again. To belong to something, just like she’s always wanted. Just like Elias knew she was desperate to have.
Even if that family is a little strange. Even if their coastal home stirs up memories of the accident that killed her parents and sister. Even if Ash, Elias’s older brother, seems insistent on Claire leaving as soon as possible.
As she dives deeper into the world of Harrow Point, she will uncover the nature of her own traumatic connection to the ocean. There is something swimming in the bowels of Harrow Point, and it is hungry…
Reliquary by Hannah Whitten is dark and disturbing, the strangeness builds slowly, adding in eerie and horrific details until the tension is inescapable. Claire’s desire for family fuels her willingness to be with Elias’ family but as the truth comes out, connections build between her and Ash even as they both attempt to escape.
I like that the ending is so horrific, the changes to both the family and Claire. I also like how well the monster is described, how deep it has sunk its hooks into the family but also how power and control are also monsters in this novel, the desire for money driving the family in the bargains they have made with the deep.
If you like dark and disturbing horror, this is the novel for you. Claire is a compelling character with her own share of secrets and the ending is incredibly intriguing, making me want even more of this dark world.
Rating: 5 out of 5 tentacles.
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