Vanishing Edge

by Zillah Bethell

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

128 pages, Paperback

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

Zillah Bethell was born in a leprosy hospital in Papua New Guinea, spent her childhood barefoot playing in the jungle, and didn't own a pair of shoes until she came to the UK when she was eight. She was educated at Oxford University and now lives in Wales with her family.

Zillah has written three adult novels (SEAHORSES ARE REAL / LE TEMPS DES CERISES / GIRL IN PROFILE) and three children's novels (THE SHARK CALLER / A WHISPER OF HORSES / THE EXTRAORDINARY COLOURS OF AUDEN DARE)

Reviews

[Dee Hancocks]

Vanishing Edge is a unique YA read. The blend of dark humour, nostalgia and absurd life moments blend together beautifully.
This book is hard-hitting and transports you to this small town, the open ocean and into the complex relationships between friends.
There are so many undercurrents to what is actually happening that the book has a dream like quality. This fits in with the vivid dreamy cover.
This book is essentially a book about trauma, teenage decisions, dreams of escape and the joy of the sea.
Thank you to the author and firefly press for this wonderful ARC.

[natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I can appreciate the undeniable talent in the author’s unique style and humour, the consistency of quirky and often times unrelated side tangents/descriptions distracted me from the story, confused me, and made me feel lost into where the characters even were. Reading this book left me feeling like I was in a wacky fever dream where random phrases were trying to persuade me that they made sense. Because of the style, while I did laugh at some times, I feel like the gravity of the subject matter was underwhelming and out of focus.

[della · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Firefly Press for letting me read an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Vanishing Edge is an engaging and thought-provoking read that blends adventure, mystery, and a touch of the surreal. Bethell’s vivid and lyrical prose pulls you into the story, making the remote landscapes and eerie atmosphere feel almost tangible.

The plot follows a gripping journey where danger and discovery intertwine, keeping the tension alive throughout. Bethell does a fantastic job of balancing action with introspection, allowing the characters to develop in meaningful ways. I especially appreciated how the story delved into themes of survival, resilience, and the complexities of human relationships. At times it felt a little too close to home and brought up feelings I had previously experienced as a teenager which was a bit triggering but still didn't take away from the book. I also absolutely adore the name Apricot!

While the pacing slowed a little in the middle, the emotional depth and strong character arcs kept me invested. The ending tied things together for me and I didn't feel empty afterwards. This is a beautifully crafted novel with rich descriptions and an absorbing narrative. It’s a great choice for readers who enjoy atmospheric adventures, however I would be a little cautious about recommending this book to a younger audience due to the heavy narrative of self harming, suicide and drugs.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's make one thing clear first: I love, absolutely, totally, utterly love this book. I love it for how gritty and bleak it reads at times, but I am also struggling to recommend it to my students (even the older ones) for exactly the same reason. Every line in the story sounds real, painfully real, but I am not sure how the parents of my students will take this. There are bits that some parents might see as putting ideas into young heads who are already a bit stressed out. There are bits where the language is a bit too real for some EAL students.

But I absolutely, totally, utterly love it because the characters think, act and talk like real teenagers. Nothing is sugar-coated in this book. It is written with a kind of poetic feel that I struggle to describe. Maybe a grunge poetic form? (Is there such a form or have I just created a phrase here?)

It is a wonder how this book leaves me with such contrasting feelings, a bit like the emotions experienced by the characters. I really could not possibly praise this book enough but I am also struggling to recommend it to my students.

I am going to buy the children's books from the same author as I am so moved by this book. Actually not just moved, but shaken seismically.

[EC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanishing Edge is an astonishing YA novel.
So original, gripping, haunting and unforgettable. It reads like a long poem.
Apricot, Charlie and the other characters in Port Talbot will be in my head for a long time.
The cocktail of humour and dark comedy is perfect.
The last few pages reach a crescendo of poetry and insight that almost left me breathless.
A must-read for teenagers and all.

[Anali Bider · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is unique but hard to follow. Or maybe I was just too distracted to properly follow the story. Either way, it was something I hadn't seen before. Sad but beautiful. Perfect for those days when everything is wrong and you feel hopeless. A complicated masterpiece.

[Bethany Paisley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the unique writing style, unfortunately it was too short of a book for the depth of issues that were attempted to be explored. This resulted in a confusing, muddled and underwhelming read.

[Rebecca Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely love her other books, especially the Shark Caller, which I couldn't put down, but I just didn't feel this one. 😕

[Word Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike anything I’ve ever read for young adults: strange, compelling, jarring and beautiful all at once.

[Abigail Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike anything I have ever read before, in a magnificent, magnificent way

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unusual, deep, strong finish

I liked the writing style, funnily enough.

Lost my way at some points admittedly, and not a fan of gross descriptions, but overall a great idea and nice enough short read.