The Tale of the Shimmering Shell

by David Cody Weiss, Bobbi J.G. Weiss

DANGEROUS CURRENTS!

"Why can't you all just go away and leave me alone!"

Glynis Barrons is about to wish she'd never uttered those fateful words to her father, stepmother, and brother. The four of them are vacationing in an isolated bungalow on Seawrack Island, and Glynis has had about enough of her new family. Little does she know, however, that her anger will be powerful enough to summon a dark force from its prison deep within a shell...a force that has been festering for many years, eagerly awaiting its chance to break free and resume its evil reign.

Sure, Glynis wants everyone to disappear for a while. But not forever...



Cover art by John Youssi

Genres: Horror, Young Adult

117 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1997

About the author

David Cody Weiss is a published adapter, author, and an editor of children's books and young adult books. Some of the published credits of David Cody Weiss include Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Phonics Comics: Hiro Dragon Warrior - Battle at Mount Kamado (Phonics Comics), Groovy Tube Books: Monsters (Groovy Tube Books), and Phonics Comics: Hiro - Level 2: Dragon Warrior (Phonics Comics).

He was a Writer and letterer who worked for DC and Marvel during the 80s. Weiss is credited in 248 issues for DC Comics.

Reviews

[Alejandro Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

This sea-based epic from the Are You Afraid of the Dark? series has plenty of highs and lows, but was neither fully good or bad. Some things helping this story are the final twenty-five or so pages being a huge step up when it comes to engagement, the concept and lore behind the book, and the legitimately solid writing. Alcina was a neat add-on here delivered juicy lore whilst also having a cooo backstory, much more than I anticipated in fact alongside her personal reveals. There’s some amount of respect I feel towards the family drama in this one; I have my gripes but at least it was tidied up by the end and allowed for a good few moments. However, there’s definitely some hail in this sea storm. Har har. The main character is an insufferable piece of shit for a good chunk of the story, literally hating her new sibling for no actual reason and lashing out like a rabid dog. It’s unbelievable and was utterly annoying, and whilst there’s some explanation as to why, it feels a bit cheap (even if it helps) and it doesn’t excuse some of their earlier internal and external assholery. Seriously: screw the protagonist. I had eight and a half migraines reading about you. The climax has some elements thrown in that are under-explained and felt very, very random, such as something involving sight and many weird inclusions. It’s dope but a bit too much. The story is extremely slow and boring for most of it, not that I can’t appreciate build-up (and the good writing did help) but rather the build-up felt like a nothing burger with a side of a blind hatred (again, the protag’ sucks). And generally, this story could’ve sufficed a more interesting build up and a far better main character. Overall, 5/10. Don’t entirely like it, don’t quite dislike it; more leaning on a .5 deduction out of spite but I shan’t let the inner-demon make calls for me. Fuckah. All hail the magic conch.

[Austin Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐

This is my 3rd AYAOTD book I've read and it was... fine. The writing is very competent but the story oh so slow going. There was an interesting premise here with a cursed conch shell belonging to / being a part of some elder ocean god hellbent on destruction... but the execution of said idea wasn't the best.
The final act was pretty crazy, but it leans more into fantasy than horror. Just an OK read overall.
I'll continue to check out these Dark books every once in a while, hopefully I'll find one I really like.

[Autumn Ketchum · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cheesy, but so were a lot of moments in AYAOTD. I enjoyed a light read like this. Sibling squabbling, a summer vacation on an isolated beach, an entity in a shell, and a MERMAID?!?!

[Lacy Lovelace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, another great story! I have been really enjoying this series! I try not to judge a book by its cover but it does give the reader an idea of what kind of content may be in the book. I thought this was going to be lame but I was pleasantly surprised!

Glynis is struggling with her blended family. She was so happy with it being just her and her father. Then, Jaye and her son, Todd, came into the picture and stole him away! I get the whole being a daddy’s girl and feeling resentment at these new people coming in but Glynis like took it to the next level. I mean, she almost acted like she was another woman for her dad. She was cleaning the house, cooking, going on trips with him, etc. I’m not saying that’s weird to do with your dad but it felt weird the way the author wrote it. Maybe, it was just me...

Anyway, her dad and Jaye think it would be great to go to a small island and spend quality time together. Glynis gets all in her feels and blows up several times. I felt bad about her freaking out and saying hurtful things to her step-brother. I mean, I seriously get the jealous, resentful feelings but I feel like she got way too wrapped up in it. I just couldn’t be mean to someone who wasn’t mean to me. The stepbrother, Todd, seemed like a sweet, nerdy kid and Glynis just spewed hatred on him every chance she could get. If I was her daddy, I would have had her in counseling- she sure needed it.

Of course, with her being all self involved in a pity party for herself, this evil entity uses this to control her mind and get her to free him from his conch shell. He tries to get her to take it to the sea but she is able to run off. All of this goes down mainly in a nightmare.

Her parents go off the island which is so freaking reckless to me. I seriously would not leave my 10 and 12-year-old children by themselves while I go gallivanting down memory lane with my spouse.
I’m sure they wanted alone time but seriously....they couldn’t find a secluded place on the beach or wait till the kids went to bed! This crazy storm hits the island. Anyways, luckily Todd befriended this lady who lives down the way from them. She knows all about shells and she knows about the evil entity. Glynis tries to find them there and finds out the lady is a mermaid!!!!

She has been in charge of making sure the evil entity, Typhon, is kept from the sea. He gets all possessive of the kids, gets free, and a battle ensues. I seriously loved the whole emotions and colored ribbons attached to the heart. I thought that was a neat, concrete way to explain emotions. Gonna have to use that!

You know what happens. These books are always predictable. Typhon is defeated, Alcina (the old lady) transforms to a mermaid when put back to sea, and she bestows gifts to the kids. I understood the embracing of Glynis with Todd but I felt her usage of calling Jaye “mom” was a little too quick....a little too soon. That one would have taken time to me.

I really liked it! I think Sam told this one and I would have to agree. This one is definitely fitting for the kind of stories she tells.

[Addison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not to hobby shame but I still don't know how to comprehend pride in weaving table mats as a character trait.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit cheesy. But it was fun reading.