by Laura Ruby
First published 2024
Mira arrives in the fog-shrouded fishing village of Dreadsea expecting a quiet summer job at her aunt's inn. Instead, she discovers the townspeople speak in whispers about ships that vanish in the night and voices that call from the harbor when the moon is dark. The inn's guests check out without warning, leaving behind only wet footprints and the smell of salt water. When Mira finds an old journal hidden in the walls, she learns that Dreadsea has been losing people to the sea for generations. The ghostly inhabitants of the deep want something from the living, and Mira realizes she may be the only one who can hear their demands clearly. As the supernatural encounters grow more intense, she must choose between fleeing to safety or staying to uncover the truth about what the ocean spirits really want from her family.
Genres: mystery, fantasy, horror, ghost-stories
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, supernatural-mystery
Setting: Dreadsea
360 pages · Hardcover · Walden Pond Press