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The Burial Tide
“A real page turner. Every time I thought I had it figured out, the plot twisted into a different shape. Thoroughly enjoyable, delightfully grotesque, and an absolutely satisfying read.” —T. Kingfisher, New York Times bestselling author of What Feasts at Night
Drawing on the creatures and horrors of Irish folklore, The Burial Tide unearths our darkest truths: how far we’d go to win our freedom, and how quickly our desires can become monstrous.
A woman who can’t remember her death.
On an eerily quiet island off the coast of Ireland, a woman with no memory claws her way out of her grave and back to life. But not everyone welcomes the return of Mara Fitch.
An island with a terrible secret.
Inishbannock. Where strange misshapen figures watch from the trees and the roads are covered in teeth. Where two brothers gamble for nothing, the doctor only treats one patient, and the pub owner speaks in riddles. Where a poet loses and finds his soul. And a man without a heart claims he's the key to unlocking Mara's secrets.
A past that refuses to stay buried.
As Mara returns to her life on this upside-down island, her memories begin to leech their way back to the surface. The more she remembers, the more the village will do anything to stop her . . .
But the sea remembers it all.
Drawing on the creatures and horrors of Irish folklore, The Burial Tide unearths our darkest truths: how far we’d go to win our freedom, and how quickly our desires can become monstrous.
A woman who can’t remember her death.
On an eerily quiet island off the coast of Ireland, a woman with no memory claws her way out of her grave and back to life. But not everyone welcomes the return of Mara Fitch.
An island with a terrible secret.
Inishbannock. Where strange misshapen figures watch from the trees and the roads are covered in teeth. Where two brothers gamble for nothing, the doctor only treats one patient, and the pub owner speaks in riddles. Where a poet loses and finds his soul. And a man without a heart claims he's the key to unlocking Mara's secrets.
A past that refuses to stay buried.
As Mara returns to her life on this upside-down island, her memories begin to leech their way back to the surface. The more she remembers, the more the village will do anything to stop her . . .
But the sea remembers it all.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 569 reviews
August 20, 2025
A folkloric horror that is as much psychological as it is monstrous, Sharpson opens The Burial Tide with a gut punch of terror - a harrowing, visceral scene of being buried alive that sets the tone for everything to come. From there the novel coils itself tighter and tighter, building an atmosphere of dread so thick it feels almost suffocating. It’s the kind of psychological horror that thrives on tension and mystery, where you’re never quite sure what’s real, what’s imagined and what’s lurking just out of sight.
The island itself becomes a stage for unravelling minds, strange traditions and buried truths. As Mara’s journey deepens the story shifts into sharper, bloodier territory: grotesque monsters, flashes of gore and moments of body horror all steeped in Irish folklore. Yet even in its most grotesque moments the novel never loses that tense, uncanny edge - it keeps you guessing, keeps you unsettled.
Mara makes for a compelling anchor in this nightmare, a character as mysterious as the island itself. Watching her piece together who she is and what is really happening is just as riveting as the more terrifying set pieces. And when the answers come, they land with a grim, satisfying weight.
This is horror that starts in the mind and ends in the flesh - claustrophobic, imaginative and deeply unsettling.
Thank you Zando for the arc.
The island itself becomes a stage for unravelling minds, strange traditions and buried truths. As Mara’s journey deepens the story shifts into sharper, bloodier territory: grotesque monsters, flashes of gore and moments of body horror all steeped in Irish folklore. Yet even in its most grotesque moments the novel never loses that tense, uncanny edge - it keeps you guessing, keeps you unsettled.
Mara makes for a compelling anchor in this nightmare, a character as mysterious as the island itself. Watching her piece together who she is and what is really happening is just as riveting as the more terrifying set pieces. And when the answers come, they land with a grim, satisfying weight.
This is horror that starts in the mind and ends in the flesh - claustrophobic, imaginative and deeply unsettling.
Thank you Zando for the arc.
June 27, 2025
The Burial Tide by Neil Sharpson
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
The soil of Inishbannock cemented itself around my feet. The mud-like substance glued me to this single moment as I watched a woman erupt from her tomb buried beneath the grime of the Irish peaty soil. Mara’s vivisepulture had left her noticeably disheveled and confused, as one could imagine. I followed Mara at a distance, for who knows what infection she carried. That is why she was there, wasn’t it? An epidemic that the community had rid itself of by burying Mara alive, but how was she still living?
Neil Sharpson, our author, is a seamster of sorts and has sewn together an Irish island’s fated story. As the waves lap at the shoreline, the grey fog dissipates. The reader’s eyes gather focus as the characters become clearer. Inishbannock has a secret dating back hundreds of years. Year after year, fortunes shine upon the inhabitants, with pleasant weather and an abundance of food to sustain them. Sharpson’s hand lifts, and with each plunge of the needle into the fabric of Inishbannock’s existence, Mara is stitched as the focal point of the piece. In a bout of amnesia, Mara questions the townspeople she meets. The answers she receives are less than helpful, and in some strange way, they seem to lead her astray purposefully. Her curiosity, ever tormenting, whisks her away to olden times, a timeline of doppelgangers, but how could that be possible? Mara, of the present, remains puzzled by pictures of the past. This woman is certainly Mara, captured through a lens, and yet the clothes of yesteryear and various husbands draw red flags. Something is amiss.
My head emerged from reddish-brown stalks; the “Froach,” or bog myrtle, sweet in aroma, uplifting my senses. I had to be careful, for our author Sharpson has another crafty idea. Out of the corner of my eye, a beast appeared, nothing quite lifelike or real, though. Of a truly insane nature, this creature had multiple mouths and was in a foul mood. Slithering my way along the dense flora, I snaked my way forward, avoiding detection from what was surely a secret unbeknownst to those on the mainland. What had I gotten myself into?
Gazing through holes in Irish crosses set in the cemetery, I glimpsed Mara befriending a man and a woman. A gentle breeze hit my face, and the impact of gunshots grabbed my full attention. That sweet aroma of plants has quickly turned to a smoky zest—a fire? Whatever Mara had found had certainly set danger in motion, and those in charge were looking to extinguish the truth. Were those people her friends or enemies in wolves' clothing?
The Burial Tide crashes through with mysterious fervor. The story will have you escaping the harshness of the elements, all while searching for the veracity of the townspeople. Who can you trust? Imagine those painted as do-gooders, only to understand their true motivations, and none of it benefits you. This is Mara’s life, sadly. When the reckoning comes, all will be revealed, and perhaps, dear reader, we had it all wrong.
A fantastic read!
Many thanks to Zando for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
The soil of Inishbannock cemented itself around my feet. The mud-like substance glued me to this single moment as I watched a woman erupt from her tomb buried beneath the grime of the Irish peaty soil. Mara’s vivisepulture had left her noticeably disheveled and confused, as one could imagine. I followed Mara at a distance, for who knows what infection she carried. That is why she was there, wasn’t it? An epidemic that the community had rid itself of by burying Mara alive, but how was she still living?
Neil Sharpson, our author, is a seamster of sorts and has sewn together an Irish island’s fated story. As the waves lap at the shoreline, the grey fog dissipates. The reader’s eyes gather focus as the characters become clearer. Inishbannock has a secret dating back hundreds of years. Year after year, fortunes shine upon the inhabitants, with pleasant weather and an abundance of food to sustain them. Sharpson’s hand lifts, and with each plunge of the needle into the fabric of Inishbannock’s existence, Mara is stitched as the focal point of the piece. In a bout of amnesia, Mara questions the townspeople she meets. The answers she receives are less than helpful, and in some strange way, they seem to lead her astray purposefully. Her curiosity, ever tormenting, whisks her away to olden times, a timeline of doppelgangers, but how could that be possible? Mara, of the present, remains puzzled by pictures of the past. This woman is certainly Mara, captured through a lens, and yet the clothes of yesteryear and various husbands draw red flags. Something is amiss.
My head emerged from reddish-brown stalks; the “Froach,” or bog myrtle, sweet in aroma, uplifting my senses. I had to be careful, for our author Sharpson has another crafty idea. Out of the corner of my eye, a beast appeared, nothing quite lifelike or real, though. Of a truly insane nature, this creature had multiple mouths and was in a foul mood. Slithering my way along the dense flora, I snaked my way forward, avoiding detection from what was surely a secret unbeknownst to those on the mainland. What had I gotten myself into?
Gazing through holes in Irish crosses set in the cemetery, I glimpsed Mara befriending a man and a woman. A gentle breeze hit my face, and the impact of gunshots grabbed my full attention. That sweet aroma of plants has quickly turned to a smoky zest—a fire? Whatever Mara had found had certainly set danger in motion, and those in charge were looking to extinguish the truth. Were those people her friends or enemies in wolves' clothing?
The Burial Tide crashes through with mysterious fervor. The story will have you escaping the harshness of the elements, all while searching for the veracity of the townspeople. Who can you trust? Imagine those painted as do-gooders, only to understand their true motivations, and none of it benefits you. This is Mara’s life, sadly. When the reckoning comes, all will be revealed, and perhaps, dear reader, we had it all wrong.
A fantastic read!
Many thanks to Zando for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
May 18, 2026
Irish Mythology + Haunted island
👀I loved the twist/reveal!
🧩This was a bit of a puzzle and might work better for me on a re-read.
🪦The gothic ambiance is fittingly dreadful.
👻✔️Vibes
🫣Really unexpected and horrifying creature imagery
3.5 rounded up for all of the above.
👀I loved the twist/reveal!
🧩This was a bit of a puzzle and might work better for me on a re-read.
🪦The gothic ambiance is fittingly dreadful.
👻✔️Vibes
🫣Really unexpected and horrifying creature imagery
3.5 rounded up for all of the above.
March 16, 2025
I never planned to visit an Irish island, and this horror novel surely didn't sell me on a trip there either, just saying. It's unsettling right from the start with a woman waking up in a coffin, being buried alive, and that's really just the start of all of her problems. After crawling out of her own grave, the woman, Mara, realizes that she has no memory of anything and so she depends completely on the help of the other islanders. And they are all different kinds of weird, to say the least. From the doctor who wrongly pronounced Mara dead, to the old man who is telling her that they were married, to the boyfriend she was living with although nothing in the house points to her ever being there. Nobody is speaking directly about what happened, but there is this story about a virus outbreak that quickly killed four people. That of course doesn't explain a bunch of slaughtered sheep or another beheaded corpse, but no one seems to be too upset about any of that. So yeah, there is a lot going on on the island of Inishbannock and it was super interesting to figure out what's the truth and what's just another lie. There were moments when Mara thought she finally knew what had happened, but then she was promptly wrong again. The story was mostly told from her unknowing perspective, but several other islanders had POVs too and it was nice to see their strange routines. But I do have to say that most characters were just ok. Mara was great and I loved the reveal of who she really was, but many others were pretty flat. I think that all of the islanders had good motivation for their doings, but there was this one character who was evil just for the sake of it and I really didn't like him (not that I was supposed to). There was also a love story that really could have been just not there, because I didn't care about these two characters anyway. So, the character work wasn't the strength of this book, but the horror was still hitting pretty good. It was mostly horror of the gross, freaky, disgusting creature kind, but it was also deeply rooted in Irish mythology and that was just so cool, I loved it. It felt super unique and I can't even compare it to anything. The ending was good too and came with strong good-for-her vibes, but it also spelled out everything very clearly and got a little repetitive while doing so. I'm pretty fond of this book anyway and I will definitely pick up Knock Knock, Open Wide (gosh, what a title) soon.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Zando for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Zando for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2026
Tale of the Fomor...
THE BURIAL TIDE
by Neil Sharpson
4 stars. Mara Fitch was buried in the island cemetery. She woke up in her coffin in the darkness. The air inside was getting thicker...
Who had done this to her?
She yelled, kicked, and punched from within the coffin, trying to free herself...
She felt something solid in the pocket of her jeans. It was a phone. She activated the screen and saw a missed call...
She pressed call...
A man answered with contempt: Oh. It's you. Then, abruptly hung up...
She finally broke through the coffin lid. Fresh air at last. Now, if she could only remember who she was...
The isolated cemetery was bone white beneath the moonlit sky. Stone tablets and Celtic crosses tilted drunkenly among the trees...
A Tiny church stood sentinel. The entire grounds were enclosed by a white stone wall.
Her grave was one of four newly dug and unmarked graves...
Hearing something in the darkness, she ran down a cobbled street to the well-lit rental cottage of Declan Burke...
Seeing Declan, she cried: Help me!
He said: I can't help you. You're dead.
Meanwhile...
Two brothers had seen the woman among the trees. One wanted to stab her in the neck so she would never rise again...
So begins the Irish tale of the Fomor...
Overall, this was a pretty good story of Irish folklore. The first 60% was a kind of mystery, with the last 40% bringing together the mysterious solution. I found the last part to be a tad confusing. I would have found it unbelievable, but it is based on folklore, so I gave the story some leeway. I would recommend the book if you like Irish legends.
THE BURIAL TIDE
by Neil Sharpson
4 stars. Mara Fitch was buried in the island cemetery. She woke up in her coffin in the darkness. The air inside was getting thicker...
Who had done this to her?
She yelled, kicked, and punched from within the coffin, trying to free herself...
She felt something solid in the pocket of her jeans. It was a phone. She activated the screen and saw a missed call...
She pressed call...
A man answered with contempt: Oh. It's you. Then, abruptly hung up...
She finally broke through the coffin lid. Fresh air at last. Now, if she could only remember who she was...
The isolated cemetery was bone white beneath the moonlit sky. Stone tablets and Celtic crosses tilted drunkenly among the trees...
A Tiny church stood sentinel. The entire grounds were enclosed by a white stone wall.
Her grave was one of four newly dug and unmarked graves...
Hearing something in the darkness, she ran down a cobbled street to the well-lit rental cottage of Declan Burke...
Seeing Declan, she cried: Help me!
He said: I can't help you. You're dead.
Meanwhile...
Two brothers had seen the woman among the trees. One wanted to stab her in the neck so she would never rise again...
So begins the Irish tale of the Fomor...
Overall, this was a pretty good story of Irish folklore. The first 60% was a kind of mystery, with the last 40% bringing together the mysterious solution. I found the last part to be a tad confusing. I would have found it unbelievable, but it is based on folklore, so I gave the story some leeway. I would recommend the book if you like Irish legends.
February 19, 2026
What a cover but honestly thats the best thing this book has going for it. I didn't hate it, don't get me wrong but it really never hooked me either. A caveat though, my mood was somewhat off while reading this as I was battling over a book review on GR and battled hard, too hard, and that was without even bringing up my NDE which likely would have got me admitted into a mental hospital with these people, lol. Man such dour and miserable people. We are here to live people so enjoy it! I will never ever enter that fray again I promise you that. It just kept going on and on as in a way we were all like minded fighting for the last word and when everyone does that it never tends to end! Yet we have often wondered why did my good friend like this book and I didn't? Again I have suggested things going on in our lives as a factor that may affect our reading and I have to admit that may have been the case with me on this one. I admit that fully.
So I so love Irish folklore and there are many authors who do cover it like S. A. Dunphy and of course the master of this genre A. M. Shine and having read those two quite a bit the bar is set so very high.
I find the problem with this book was it alludes to things and things you really cannot buy into and you have to remember I am the fool king of buying into things as its fiction right and you have to give leeway when reading fiction imo and admittedly I think I give a bit too much of it but am clearly ok in so doing that.
So our lead Mara wakes up from the dead. Pretty cool really. She is on a remote island of Ireland and we can quickly tell that secrets abound re her. No one on that island seems to surprised that she woke from the dead either. We start to wonder what in fact has happened to her in the past. We also learn of the Fomore which are creatures who devour the local livestock and such. The creatures are hideous and grotesque. They are real or so it would appear but again they are alluded to and never fully explained. I think if the author attempted an explanation earlier on then he may have been able to rationalize things a bit more. Again remember I have an easy buy in but that did not happen here and the more things unfolded more at a superficial level I was more like "wtf this is kinda stupid" rather than ok I can buy into this. That kind of may sound odd but I really do mean it - tell me what you want me to work with here not speculate about something that seems stupid. I say that in that nothing was really explained. Again I almost dnf'd this book but I will admit that the last 50/60 pages were a mere ok and I'll give it a pass. Things tied up nicely in a way but it was an ordeal in getting there overall.
So having said all this I have to be fair to the author and read another of his works. This one did have some twists and turns and some areas of horror but to me it was not horror per se. Again I'll give it a pass and three of five stars.
So I so love Irish folklore and there are many authors who do cover it like S. A. Dunphy and of course the master of this genre A. M. Shine and having read those two quite a bit the bar is set so very high.
I find the problem with this book was it alludes to things and things you really cannot buy into and you have to remember I am the fool king of buying into things as its fiction right and you have to give leeway when reading fiction imo and admittedly I think I give a bit too much of it but am clearly ok in so doing that.
So our lead Mara wakes up from the dead. Pretty cool really. She is on a remote island of Ireland and we can quickly tell that secrets abound re her. No one on that island seems to surprised that she woke from the dead either. We start to wonder what in fact has happened to her in the past. We also learn of the Fomore which are creatures who devour the local livestock and such. The creatures are hideous and grotesque. They are real or so it would appear but again they are alluded to and never fully explained. I think if the author attempted an explanation earlier on then he may have been able to rationalize things a bit more. Again remember I have an easy buy in but that did not happen here and the more things unfolded more at a superficial level I was more like "wtf this is kinda stupid" rather than ok I can buy into this. That kind of may sound odd but I really do mean it - tell me what you want me to work with here not speculate about something that seems stupid. I say that in that nothing was really explained. Again I almost dnf'd this book but I will admit that the last 50/60 pages were a mere ok and I'll give it a pass. Things tied up nicely in a way but it was an ordeal in getting there overall.
So having said all this I have to be fair to the author and read another of his works. This one did have some twists and turns and some areas of horror but to me it was not horror per se. Again I'll give it a pass and three of five stars.
July 15, 2025
My review of The Burial Tide is published at Grimdark Magazine.
Neil Sharpson officiates an unholy marriage of Irish folklore and psychological horror in The Burial Tide, an expertly crafted novel that hooked me from the first page and never released its iron grip on my attention till the very end.
The opening scene of The Burial Tide will haunt me for years to come, as our lead protagonist, Mara Fitch, awakens in a daze, realizing that she’s been buried alive and must claw her way out from her wooden coffin. The claustrophobia of Mara’s entombment is just a precursor to her isolation on the remote Irish island of Inishbannock. Stricken with amnesia, Mara must rely on the suspicious small-town populace to reconstruct her own sense of self.
Inishbannock is full of secrets and proves to be the perfect setting to blend mystery and horror. The influence of Irish folklore is not obvious at first but gradually builds throughout the novel. The Burial Tide is highly recommended for fans of Shauna Lawless, especially if her Gael Song grimdark fantasy series left you hungry for more hauntingly dark Irish lore. It is especially interesting to see how Neil Sharpson and Shauna Lawless begin with the same mythos but then take it in wildly different directions.
Sharpson’s razor-sharp prose is a joy to read. My only minor criticism of the novel is its use of multiple points of view. I feel like the carefully cultivated claustrophobia of the novel would have deepened even more if we were to remain trapped in Mara’s mind for the full duration of the story. But this is a minor complaint in a novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Altogether, from its first scene to the last, The Burial Tide is a delectable feast for readers craving their next dose of folk horror.
Neil Sharpson officiates an unholy marriage of Irish folklore and psychological horror in The Burial Tide, an expertly crafted novel that hooked me from the first page and never released its iron grip on my attention till the very end.
The opening scene of The Burial Tide will haunt me for years to come, as our lead protagonist, Mara Fitch, awakens in a daze, realizing that she’s been buried alive and must claw her way out from her wooden coffin. The claustrophobia of Mara’s entombment is just a precursor to her isolation on the remote Irish island of Inishbannock. Stricken with amnesia, Mara must rely on the suspicious small-town populace to reconstruct her own sense of self.
Inishbannock is full of secrets and proves to be the perfect setting to blend mystery and horror. The influence of Irish folklore is not obvious at first but gradually builds throughout the novel. The Burial Tide is highly recommended for fans of Shauna Lawless, especially if her Gael Song grimdark fantasy series left you hungry for more hauntingly dark Irish lore. It is especially interesting to see how Neil Sharpson and Shauna Lawless begin with the same mythos but then take it in wildly different directions.
Sharpson’s razor-sharp prose is a joy to read. My only minor criticism of the novel is its use of multiple points of view. I feel like the carefully cultivated claustrophobia of the novel would have deepened even more if we were to remain trapped in Mara’s mind for the full duration of the story. But this is a minor complaint in a novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Altogether, from its first scene to the last, The Burial Tide is a delectable feast for readers craving their next dose of folk horror.
July 3, 2026
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Quick Recommendation
This is an excellent read for those who enjoy (Irish) mythology blended with (psychological) horror. The novel successfully balances Irish mythology, psychological horror, thriller elements, body horror, a sense of uneasiness and paranoia without allowing any aspect to overshadow the others. The combination of different elements made it an engaging and memorable horror novel.
Irish mythological elements
Compared to many horror novels, this one distinguishes itself through its use of Irish mythology. It is a mythology that is rarely explored, so I appreciate that it was integrated into this story. The novel explains its mythological elements clearly enough that no prior knowledge is required, while still making them intriguing enough to encourage further reading. The mythology becomes an essential part of the plot.
Psychological horror elements
This novel relies primarily on psychological horror. Mara's amnesia creates a constant sense of uncertainty as she searches for her identity and uncovers the truth behind the village's secrets. As her memories slowly return, the tension steadily builds, specifically 'cause those around her seem determined to keep the past hidden—no matter what. The atmosphere is driven by mistrust, paranoia and uncertainty, making it difficult to know who can be trusted until the very end. I also appreciated that, despite its dark premise, the story ultimately values friendship over revenge.
Depth & complexity
The combination of Irish mythology and psychological horror gives the ending more depth than I expected. It becomes a story about reclaiming freedom after a lifetime without it. Allowing both its horror and mythological elements to contribute meaningful purpose.
Writing style
The writing style immediately drew me in. Information is revealed slowly by maintaining suspense. The rich vocabulary and effective use of anaphora all strengthen the novel's atmosphere and pacing.
Plot
The plot remains engaging throughout. It opens with immediate tension, develops into a compelling mystery and maintains a steady pace without unnecessary content or predictable plot twists. Whenever I thought I understood what was happening, the story proved otherwise, making the mystery compelling till the end.
Characters
Mara is the novel's strongest character. Intelligent and determined. She refuses to submit to those trying to keep her memories buried. Her development from an uncertain woman into someone who understands exactly what she wants is deeply satisfying.
The side characters are mostly well written even when some characters received barely any development. Declan's ability to form meaningful relationships connects to Mara's journey. Padraig and Oisín both undergo believable changes in their motivations. Gráinne's refusal to change fits her role in the story perfectly. However, Cian Morley, felt unsatisfying 'cause his motivations never seemed fully explored. Many other side characters primarily exist to advance the plot which didn't bother me.
Untranslated Irish dialogues
My main criticism is the frequent use of untranslated Irish dialogue. While it adds authenticity, entire conversations without sufficient context made scenes difficult to follow sometimes. I also found the romance near the ending difficult to invest in and would have preferred if it wasn't included.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Zando for the advanced reader copy of The Burial Tide by Neil Sharpson.
StoryGraph review + content warnings
Started the book: 20. July 2025
Finished the book: 20. July 2025
Wrote the review: 21. July 2025
Quick Recommendation
This is an excellent read for those who enjoy (Irish) mythology blended with (psychological) horror. The novel successfully balances Irish mythology, psychological horror, thriller elements, body horror, a sense of uneasiness and paranoia without allowing any aspect to overshadow the others. The combination of different elements made it an engaging and memorable horror novel.
Irish mythological elements
Compared to many horror novels, this one distinguishes itself through its use of Irish mythology. It is a mythology that is rarely explored, so I appreciate that it was integrated into this story. The novel explains its mythological elements clearly enough that no prior knowledge is required, while still making them intriguing enough to encourage further reading. The mythology becomes an essential part of the plot.
Psychological horror elements
This novel relies primarily on psychological horror. Mara's amnesia creates a constant sense of uncertainty as she searches for her identity and uncovers the truth behind the village's secrets. As her memories slowly return, the tension steadily builds, specifically 'cause those around her seem determined to keep the past hidden—no matter what. The atmosphere is driven by mistrust, paranoia and uncertainty, making it difficult to know who can be trusted until the very end. I also appreciated that, despite its dark premise, the story ultimately values friendship over revenge.
Depth & complexity
The combination of Irish mythology and psychological horror gives the ending more depth than I expected. It becomes a story about reclaiming freedom after a lifetime without it. Allowing both its horror and mythological elements to contribute meaningful purpose.
Writing style
The writing style immediately drew me in. Information is revealed slowly by maintaining suspense. The rich vocabulary and effective use of anaphora all strengthen the novel's atmosphere and pacing.
Plot
The plot remains engaging throughout. It opens with immediate tension, develops into a compelling mystery and maintains a steady pace without unnecessary content or predictable plot twists. Whenever I thought I understood what was happening, the story proved otherwise, making the mystery compelling till the end.
Characters
Mara is the novel's strongest character. Intelligent and determined. She refuses to submit to those trying to keep her memories buried. Her development from an uncertain woman into someone who understands exactly what she wants is deeply satisfying.
The side characters are mostly well written even when some characters received barely any development. Declan's ability to form meaningful relationships connects to Mara's journey. Padraig and Oisín both undergo believable changes in their motivations. Gráinne's refusal to change fits her role in the story perfectly. However, Cian Morley, felt unsatisfying 'cause his motivations never seemed fully explored. Many other side characters primarily exist to advance the plot which didn't bother me.
Untranslated Irish dialogues
My main criticism is the frequent use of untranslated Irish dialogue. While it adds authenticity, entire conversations without sufficient context made scenes difficult to follow sometimes. I also found the romance near the ending difficult to invest in and would have preferred if it wasn't included.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Zando for the advanced reader copy of The Burial Tide by Neil Sharpson.
StoryGraph review + content warnings
Started the book: 20. July 2025
Finished the book: 20. July 2025
Wrote the review: 21. July 2025
March 27, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I’d rather be eaten by muck-sucking maggots while being doused with flaming sea salt than be buried alive. Being buried alive is decidedly the most nightmarish scenario imaginable to me. So that part of the book was terrifying to me.
I thought this book was fine. I didn’t love or dislike the time I spent with it. I probably won’t remember much about it when I look back on it. It was low impact in either direction.
The first half was better than the second. I think it started get muddled down once it starting delving into lore explanation and it lost its early momentum.
The creatures were awesome, and I loved the setting. It’s hard to go wrong with a folkloric, dreary, claustrophobic island feeling. The characters were meh.
Those are my thoughts. That’s all I got.
I’d rather be eaten by muck-sucking maggots while being doused with flaming sea salt than be buried alive. Being buried alive is decidedly the most nightmarish scenario imaginable to me. So that part of the book was terrifying to me.
I thought this book was fine. I didn’t love or dislike the time I spent with it. I probably won’t remember much about it when I look back on it. It was low impact in either direction.
The first half was better than the second. I think it started get muddled down once it starting delving into lore explanation and it lost its early momentum.
The creatures were awesome, and I loved the setting. It’s hard to go wrong with a folkloric, dreary, claustrophobic island feeling. The characters were meh.
Those are my thoughts. That’s all I got.
August 27, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📅 Pub Date: Sept 09, 2025
This book was absolutely fantastic. It starts with a horrific bang as Mara wakes up buried alive with no memory of who she is or how she got there, and from there the story never loses that eerie, secretive tone. The whole island gave off an everyone-knows-something-except-you vibe that had me hooked.
The folklore elements were where this book really shined. The creatures were absolutely horrifying and disgusting, with just enough body horror sprinkled in to keep things tense. For readers familiar with splatterpunk or extreme horror, the body horror will feel pretty tame, but I still found it satisfying and fun. The main myth this book plays with is a fairly well-known one, but I rarely see it explored, and I loved how it was told through Mara’s story.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but the central reveal about who Mara is adds a whole new layer to the book. The ending might be hit or miss depending on the reader. I enjoyed it, though it may feel a little too neat for some.
The writing style worked well overall, though there were occasional sentences in Gaelic that weren’t translated. Reading on Kindle made it easy enough to look them up, and nothing vital to the story was lost if you didn’t, but I know that would’ve bothered me if I couldn’t check the meaning.
If you’re a fan of rural folk horror, eerie folklore retellings, or stories where atmosphere and dread are just as important as plot, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to Netgalley and Zando Projects for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
📅 Pub Date: Sept 09, 2025
This book was absolutely fantastic. It starts with a horrific bang as Mara wakes up buried alive with no memory of who she is or how she got there, and from there the story never loses that eerie, secretive tone. The whole island gave off an everyone-knows-something-except-you vibe that had me hooked.
The folklore elements were where this book really shined. The creatures were absolutely horrifying and disgusting, with just enough body horror sprinkled in to keep things tense. For readers familiar with splatterpunk or extreme horror, the body horror will feel pretty tame, but I still found it satisfying and fun. The main myth this book plays with is a fairly well-known one, but I rarely see it explored, and I loved how it was told through Mara’s story.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but the central reveal about who Mara is adds a whole new layer to the book. The ending might be hit or miss depending on the reader. I enjoyed it, though it may feel a little too neat for some.
The writing style worked well overall, though there were occasional sentences in Gaelic that weren’t translated. Reading on Kindle made it easy enough to look them up, and nothing vital to the story was lost if you didn’t, but I know that would’ve bothered me if I couldn’t check the meaning.
If you’re a fan of rural folk horror, eerie folklore retellings, or stories where atmosphere and dread are just as important as plot, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to Netgalley and Zando Projects for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
March 9, 2026
5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Paperback format 📚
A folk horror tale that ends up being more tense and mysterious than I was expecting!
The Burial Tide starts off with a bang! A heavy dose of terror, suspense and claustrophobia, and I was invested from the beginning.
We're introduced to the main character, Mara Fitch in a very unexpected way.
Mara can’t remember her own death, her family, or the small island that she lives on. As the book progresses, we go on this journey to find out what happened to her and who she can trust.
**I am keeping most of the plot vague because the less you know, the more you’ll enjoy the mystery of it all.**
I loved the mystery of this book along with the body horror, gore and folklore surrounding the island of Inishbannock.
The characters, setting and pacing was great. I couldn’t put this one down at the end.
I've always loved folk and body horror and The Burial Tide checked both of those categories for me.
This is the first book by Neil Sharpson that I've read and I'm definitely reading more by him in the future!
Paperback format 📚
A folk horror tale that ends up being more tense and mysterious than I was expecting!
The Burial Tide starts off with a bang! A heavy dose of terror, suspense and claustrophobia, and I was invested from the beginning.
We're introduced to the main character, Mara Fitch in a very unexpected way.
Mara can’t remember her own death, her family, or the small island that she lives on. As the book progresses, we go on this journey to find out what happened to her and who she can trust.
**I am keeping most of the plot vague because the less you know, the more you’ll enjoy the mystery of it all.**
I loved the mystery of this book along with the body horror, gore and folklore surrounding the island of Inishbannock.
The characters, setting and pacing was great. I couldn’t put this one down at the end.
I've always loved folk and body horror and The Burial Tide checked both of those categories for me.
This is the first book by Neil Sharpson that I've read and I'm definitely reading more by him in the future!
April 1, 2026
It's certainly intriguing with the premise and eerie and sort of a little claustrophobic in terms of atmosphere, while the world-building and lore was top notch. But it was unengaging and it did drag a little too much for my liking, so I'm leaving it dnf'd for now...I might be back later, who knows?
2025 Read.
2025 Read.
February 4, 2026
The Burial Tide is both a complete departure from When the Sparrow Falls and the same story in a different font, which is to say if you liked one you'll probably like the other even if it's in a genre you wouldn't normally pick up.
Sharpson knows how to give characters their own unique voice and how to give them space to make you get invested in them while also keeping things going at a steady clip. The story is familiar, but it still feels engaging and worth the time.
I often find that authors who try to go with the feminine rage lay it too thick on the trauma before they get to the rage making it feel like the woman is nothing but a victim instead of a full person, there was none of that here. The injection of some measure of humor in the story made it really easy to get invested in the characters without being so too present or getting in the way of the pacing.
4.5 rounded up.
Sharpson knows how to give characters their own unique voice and how to give them space to make you get invested in them while also keeping things going at a steady clip. The story is familiar, but it still feels engaging and worth the time.
I often find that authors who try to go with the feminine rage lay it too thick on the trauma before they get to the rage making it feel like the woman is nothing but a victim instead of a full person, there was none of that here. The injection of some measure of humor in the story made it really easy to get invested in the characters without being so too present or getting in the way of the pacing.
4.5 rounded up.
September 28, 2025
I typically don’t care for books with amnesia. However, I’m glad I hung in there with this one as when she got her memory back, it got pretty exciting! 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️!
July 8, 2026
Not bad! I loved the beginning- I thought it was intense and mysterious and very strange, but once everything started to get revealed, I noticed a pretty abrupt tonal shift that was pretty jarring.
What started as a suspenseful mystery turned into a low stakes, drawn-out reveal with moments of horror and a near constant comedic undertone that wasn’t present in the first third of the story. I really liked the mythological aspects, but wish just about everything played out differently.
What started as a suspenseful mystery turned into a low stakes, drawn-out reveal with moments of horror and a near constant comedic undertone that wasn’t present in the first third of the story. I really liked the mythological aspects, but wish just about everything played out differently.
October 9, 2025
Irish folklore horror?! Hell ya! I’ll read that all day.
The Burial Tide takes us on a mysterious ride over the island of Inishbannock, meeting secretive townspeople, running into horrific monsters, and treading over many unmarked graves.
Loved the lore and how it was used throughout the book. A great mix of characters, wonderful setting, and fantastic writing make this a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Zando for a copy!
The Burial Tide takes us on a mysterious ride over the island of Inishbannock, meeting secretive townspeople, running into horrific monsters, and treading over many unmarked graves.
Loved the lore and how it was used throughout the book. A great mix of characters, wonderful setting, and fantastic writing make this a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Zando for a copy!
July 23, 2025
One of the best horror novels of the year. With his second book of Irish folk horror, Sharpson has established himself as a horror writer to pay attention to. This is a very strong novel, more cohesive than KNOCK KNOCK, OPEN WIDE, though not as creepy. But that's a plus, that Sharpson can do a very different vibe here and still pull it off so well means I only want him to do more and expand.
The vibe here is less scary and more WTF is happening, which is a vibe I really enjoy. The book feels very ominous and often confusing at first, and much of the middle is slowly gathering information and trying to piece it together. It doesn't all suddenly make sense, and there's no point where you think "well obviously." It's a nice slow burn. And then somehow--miracle of miracles--it doesn't collapse into something disappointing. Instead it feels like we get a climax that wraps everything up and leaves us satisfied. This is so incredibly rare in horror that it's worth making a special note of it. Sharpson never paints himself into a corner, and he smartly saves a few last jabs as we get close to the end. The perspective shifting is mostly done quite well, keeping you moving and giving you information at carefully decided times.
Since this book is so strong I will make a few minor notes: Sharpson could flesh out his characters a bit more. Mara is a cipher by design, and I think she's pretty well done, you feel tied to her even though perspective switches so often. Declan and Cian and others tend to fall a little too solidly into the Good Guy/Bad Guy camp, there was only a little bit where it wasn't totally clear to me whether they were trustworthy.
This would make a nice pairing with LUTE by Jennifer Marie Thorne, which also has a small island locked in a folk horror conspiracy.
The vibe here is less scary and more WTF is happening, which is a vibe I really enjoy. The book feels very ominous and often confusing at first, and much of the middle is slowly gathering information and trying to piece it together. It doesn't all suddenly make sense, and there's no point where you think "well obviously." It's a nice slow burn. And then somehow--miracle of miracles--it doesn't collapse into something disappointing. Instead it feels like we get a climax that wraps everything up and leaves us satisfied. This is so incredibly rare in horror that it's worth making a special note of it. Sharpson never paints himself into a corner, and he smartly saves a few last jabs as we get close to the end. The perspective shifting is mostly done quite well, keeping you moving and giving you information at carefully decided times.
Since this book is so strong I will make a few minor notes: Sharpson could flesh out his characters a bit more. Mara is a cipher by design, and I think she's pretty well done, you feel tied to her even though perspective switches so often. Declan and Cian and others tend to fall a little too solidly into the Good Guy/Bad Guy camp, there was only a little bit where it wasn't totally clear to me whether they were trustworthy.
This would make a nice pairing with LUTE by Jennifer Marie Thorne, which also has a small island locked in a folk horror conspiracy.
January 13, 2026
This book dives straight into horror, opening with Mara waking up buried in a coffin with no memory of who she is or how she got there. After escaping, she finds herself on island where the locals are clearly lying and something sinister is at work.
Teaming up with other island residents, Mara uncovers a mystery filled with monsters, folklore, and plenty of gore.
While there are a lot of characters/shifting points of views, this was surprisingly a quick read. I’d recommend this if you enjoy mythology and horror.
Teaming up with other island residents, Mara uncovers a mystery filled with monsters, folklore, and plenty of gore.
While there are a lot of characters/shifting points of views, this was surprisingly a quick read. I’d recommend this if you enjoy mythology and horror.
March 24, 2026
3 1/2 stars rounded down to 3.
Neil Sharpson, author of the well-received novel Knock Knock, Open Wide, has given us a new (2025) horror novel soaked in Irish mythology. The prose is short and form-fitting. The characters are straightforward, frightening, believable and edgy. It’s a terrific Irish folk horror story with a blend of modern dark fantasy and body horror. The Irish island of Inishbannock is a real, haunted land. This is a tale of secrets, lies, hidden truths and mystery. Plenty of twists and ‘Where am I going?’ happening here. The reveals are satisfying as is the conclusion. A solid read.
Neil Sharpson, author of the well-received novel Knock Knock, Open Wide, has given us a new (2025) horror novel soaked in Irish mythology. The prose is short and form-fitting. The characters are straightforward, frightening, believable and edgy. It’s a terrific Irish folk horror story with a blend of modern dark fantasy and body horror. The Irish island of Inishbannock is a real, haunted land. This is a tale of secrets, lies, hidden truths and mystery. Plenty of twists and ‘Where am I going?’ happening here. The reveals are satisfying as is the conclusion. A solid read.
May 18, 2026
Це було шикарно.
Ірландський фольк-горор з елементами боді-горору.
Атмосфера – повна псіхуска. З кожним розділом потроху розкриваються таємниці і розв'язка просто вау. Шкода, що було мало часу і розтягнула книгу на тиждень. Так то її класно читати за один присіст. Розділи короткі, від різних осіб, закінчуються міні кліфом, що хочеться продовжувати читати далі.
Ірландський фольк-горор з елементами боді-горору.
Атмосфера – повна псіхуска. З кожним розділом потроху розкриваються таємниці і розв'язка просто вау. Шкода, що було мало часу і розтягнула книгу на тиждень. Так то її класно читати за один присіст. Розділи короткі, від різних осіб, закінчуються міні кліфом, що хочеться продовжувати читати далі.
November 23, 2025
"Leave the dead. Look after the living."
4.5 stars, rounded up.
The Story:
A woman wakes up inside a wooden coffin six feet underground, with no memory of her identity or supposed “death”. She desperately claws her way to freedom, emerging on the frozen ground of Inishbannock - an island just off the coast of Ireland.
Not everyone in the small isolated island-community welcomes Mara’s return though... With the help of a handful of islanders, Mara navigates her way through a maze of strange occurrences, superstition, folklore and secrets kept for decades, as she slowly recovers her memory, piece by piece.
Realization dawns that she is part of a cycle that has happened before, and that her survival will depend on who she deems to be friend or foe...
What I loved:
I will be forever cautious with books that center an amnesia-trope, but Sharpson convinced me to give this one the benefit of the doubt by the strength of his first chapter. Mara’s escape from her own grave after being buried alive sets the stakes sky-high and Sharpson keeps that dread and momentum going throughout. Alongside Mara, I couldn’t rest until I had the answers to the mystery at hand and I loved the journey of psychological dread, folk-horror, and a little bit of creature-feature that we went on together.
One of the first standouts of The Burial Tide is its great sense of setting and atmosphere.
The inhospitable isle of Inishbannock is almost a character in itself, with its icy tides eroding away at the rocky shores and dense fogs obscuring truth, secrets and monsters from view. There’s an immediate claustrophobia, resulting from this tight-knit rural community that is clearly not showing their full hand to our protagonist. With no way back to the mainland, Mara is forced to pick and choose her alliances among the islanders carefully. Sharpson misdirects and shifts those alliances effectively, leaving you constantly uncertain if any of the characters can be trusted. It’s one thing to fear a monster, but it’s another to not know who (or which side) the monsters actually are…
But it’s not just psychological dread that justifies this novels categorization as “horror”. There’s an original take on Irish mythology and folkhorror, as well as some genuinely skincrawling supernatural creature-elements in here.
What I didn’t love:
I have only a single point of critique to this story overall. With Mara and her search for the truth so clearly at the center, I think the novel would’ve been even stronger, had it been told from her POV only. Although there were some great scenes from different perspectives (the one inside the cabin!! If you know, you know…), I felt the multiple POV’s took away a bit of the claustrophobia that strengthened the book otherwise.
Overall, this was one of the strongest pieces of horror of this year. Dark, monstrous, inescapable and dripping with uncanny terror; I highly recommend this one to fans of folkhorror.
Many thanks to Zando for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
The Story:
A woman wakes up inside a wooden coffin six feet underground, with no memory of her identity or supposed “death”. She desperately claws her way to freedom, emerging on the frozen ground of Inishbannock - an island just off the coast of Ireland.
Not everyone in the small isolated island-community welcomes Mara’s return though... With the help of a handful of islanders, Mara navigates her way through a maze of strange occurrences, superstition, folklore and secrets kept for decades, as she slowly recovers her memory, piece by piece.
Realization dawns that she is part of a cycle that has happened before, and that her survival will depend on who she deems to be friend or foe...
What I loved:
I will be forever cautious with books that center an amnesia-trope, but Sharpson convinced me to give this one the benefit of the doubt by the strength of his first chapter. Mara’s escape from her own grave after being buried alive sets the stakes sky-high and Sharpson keeps that dread and momentum going throughout. Alongside Mara, I couldn’t rest until I had the answers to the mystery at hand and I loved the journey of psychological dread, folk-horror, and a little bit of creature-feature that we went on together.
One of the first standouts of The Burial Tide is its great sense of setting and atmosphere.
The inhospitable isle of Inishbannock is almost a character in itself, with its icy tides eroding away at the rocky shores and dense fogs obscuring truth, secrets and monsters from view. There’s an immediate claustrophobia, resulting from this tight-knit rural community that is clearly not showing their full hand to our protagonist. With no way back to the mainland, Mara is forced to pick and choose her alliances among the islanders carefully. Sharpson misdirects and shifts those alliances effectively, leaving you constantly uncertain if any of the characters can be trusted. It’s one thing to fear a monster, but it’s another to not know who (or which side) the monsters actually are…
But it’s not just psychological dread that justifies this novels categorization as “horror”. There’s an original take on Irish mythology and folkhorror, as well as some genuinely skincrawling supernatural creature-elements in here.
What I didn’t love:
I have only a single point of critique to this story overall. With Mara and her search for the truth so clearly at the center, I think the novel would’ve been even stronger, had it been told from her POV only. Although there were some great scenes from different perspectives (the one inside the cabin!! If you know, you know…), I felt the multiple POV’s took away a bit of the claustrophobia that strengthened the book otherwise.
Overall, this was one of the strongest pieces of horror of this year. Dark, monstrous, inescapable and dripping with uncanny terror; I highly recommend this one to fans of folkhorror.
Many thanks to Zando for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 22, 2025
The Burial Tide begins with our MC escaping her own coffin, she is able to claw her way through the dirt and breathe the fresh air once again. With no memory, she finds herself being told who she is by strangers in this small secluded island town. Mara Fitch makes some friends and enemies along the way while she investigates who she truly is.
Neil Sharpson gave us mystery, horror, romance, and thrills. I always find myself invested in his characters and how they feel alive. They talk naturally, they love easily, they are smart and can be funny. There was never a moment where I lost interest with the story, nor did the pacing ever seem out of place.
The Irish folklore was sometimes lost on me, but the descriptions of the fomar were unforgettable. The image of a baby fomar crawling from a man’s chest, its maw gnawing for flesh, will haunt me forever.
This is an original story with fantastic characters, sharp prose, and unforgettable horror imagery. If you love mystery, supernatural thrills, creepy creatures, and ride-or-die friendships, this is a must-read.
5 out of 5 slays.
Thank you, NetGalley and Zando Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Neil Sharpson gave us mystery, horror, romance, and thrills. I always find myself invested in his characters and how they feel alive. They talk naturally, they love easily, they are smart and can be funny. There was never a moment where I lost interest with the story, nor did the pacing ever seem out of place.
The Irish folklore was sometimes lost on me, but the descriptions of the fomar were unforgettable. The image of a baby fomar crawling from a man’s chest, its maw gnawing for flesh, will haunt me forever.
This is an original story with fantastic characters, sharp prose, and unforgettable horror imagery. If you love mystery, supernatural thrills, creepy creatures, and ride-or-die friendships, this is a must-read.
5 out of 5 slays.
Thank you, NetGalley and Zando Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 6, 2026
I geniuly thought that was a dog's head 😅
It isn't
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨️
I absolutely enjoyed this Horror from the Irish folklore
To understand it more, I advice you to look for the legend of the Selkie.
I won't say any more so that it doesn't become a Spoiler e
Anyway, the story begins with a woman opening her eyes to darkness and discovering that she is inside a coffin buried underground.
And she has a cell phone...
By a miracle, she digs her way
She finds herself on a small island, but she has lost her memory,
one of the island's visitors named Declan finds here.
A person named Cain comes, says that this woman named Mara, that he is her husband, and that they thought she was dead, so they buried her by mistake.
Between strange events and creatures watching from among the trees and secrets hidden by a small community hundreds of years old, the story was fresh and strange
Its pace is fast, although there are parts that I felt a bit slow.
It is filled with twists and reveals and a bit of horror
It isn't
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨️
I absolutely enjoyed this Horror from the Irish folklore
To understand it more, I advice you to look for the legend of the Selkie.
I won't say any more so that it doesn't become a Spoiler e
Anyway, the story begins with a woman opening her eyes to darkness and discovering that she is inside a coffin buried underground.
And she has a cell phone...
By a miracle, she digs her way
She finds herself on a small island, but she has lost her memory,
one of the island's visitors named Declan finds here.
A person named Cain comes, says that this woman named Mara, that he is her husband, and that they thought she was dead, so they buried her by mistake.
Between strange events and creatures watching from among the trees and secrets hidden by a small community hundreds of years old, the story was fresh and strange
Its pace is fast, although there are parts that I felt a bit slow.
It is filled with twists and reveals and a bit of horror
January 10, 2026
Neil Sharpson's previous release didn't end up working for me as well as it did for many other readers, so I'm happy to come back and report that I loved this book! 4.5 Stars
The book starts off with a bang. Main character Mara wakes up and realizes she has been buried alive. In the pouring rain, the dark coffin she finds herself stuck in begins filling with mud and water and she realizes it is only a matter of time before she is really lost to this world. After miraculously breaking out, she finds the nearest place of shelter she can, and then ensues our story. Mara has to trust the townsfolk of the small island of Inishbannock to tell her who she is, who her family is, and what her life was like. But things don't seem to be adding up and Mara must uncover the truth, trusting no one, before she is buried again.
I loved the dark, moody, island setting for this story. It perfectly captures the isolation and claustrophobia Mara is feeling. I felt like I was right there alongside Mara throughout the entire story, rooting for her as she continuously uncovers secrets, but also deathly afraid of what might happen to her at any point. As the pieces slowly come together, we can feel the animosity from the locals through the page and at points the book was reminiscent of The Truman Show, feeling like everyone knew something about Mara's life that she herself was blind to. Subtle foreshadowing and twisting plotlines draw the reader in, making you want to keep turning the pages.
This included so many things I love in horror: transformation, body horror, monsters (real and not real), and the inclusion of Irish folklore was excellent. This is truly a wild ride about greed, tradition, power, and the tendency for humans to do terrible things to others just because ...they can. Mara's story was powerful, heartbreaking, and unforgettable. Highly recommend!
The book starts off with a bang. Main character Mara wakes up and realizes she has been buried alive. In the pouring rain, the dark coffin she finds herself stuck in begins filling with mud and water and she realizes it is only a matter of time before she is really lost to this world. After miraculously breaking out, she finds the nearest place of shelter she can, and then ensues our story. Mara has to trust the townsfolk of the small island of Inishbannock to tell her who she is, who her family is, and what her life was like. But things don't seem to be adding up and Mara must uncover the truth, trusting no one, before she is buried again.
I loved the dark, moody, island setting for this story. It perfectly captures the isolation and claustrophobia Mara is feeling. I felt like I was right there alongside Mara throughout the entire story, rooting for her as she continuously uncovers secrets, but also deathly afraid of what might happen to her at any point. As the pieces slowly come together, we can feel the animosity from the locals through the page and at points the book was reminiscent of The Truman Show, feeling like everyone knew something about Mara's life that she herself was blind to. Subtle foreshadowing and twisting plotlines draw the reader in, making you want to keep turning the pages.
This included so many things I love in horror: transformation, body horror, monsters (real and not real), and the inclusion of Irish folklore was excellent. This is truly a wild ride about greed, tradition, power, and the tendency for humans to do terrible things to others just because ...they can. Mara's story was powerful, heartbreaking, and unforgettable. Highly recommend!
November 27, 2025
Waking up in a buried coffin seems like something pulled directly out of the world of Edgar Allan Poe, but that’s exactly where Mara Fitch finds herself. At least that’s what they tell Mara her name is once she’s clawed her way out of the grave. She doesn’t remember it. She also doesn't remember how she died, who anyone is or how she got on the small Irish island of Inishbannock. Her mind is a blank slate, and she must trust everyone who is trying to help her remember. But her husband seems like an insufferable asshole. The innkeeper and many of the townsfolk seem to know more than they’re letting on, and she keeps getting side-eyed by everyone. What the hell is really going on? And as her memories return, does she really want to know? Or does the island Inishbannock want her to either?
Sharpson uses Irish folklore and adds a whole heap of atmosphere to create the perfect environment for the story. Burial Tide slowly unravels its secrets in a slow, delicious way that makes you want to keep pulling on the string to see what’s underneath. The pacing is perfect for this kind of story in order to make a bunch of fantastic incidents believable. Nicely done.
4.5 Seal Skin Suits out of 5
Sharpson uses Irish folklore and adds a whole heap of atmosphere to create the perfect environment for the story. Burial Tide slowly unravels its secrets in a slow, delicious way that makes you want to keep pulling on the string to see what’s underneath. The pacing is perfect for this kind of story in order to make a bunch of fantastic incidents believable. Nicely done.
4.5 Seal Skin Suits out of 5
January 26, 2026
This was the best folklore horror I have read in awhile. I put it on hold at the library and then forgot about it for awhile, so when I started it without rereading the blurb, I was pretty blind. And man, the plot really grabs you at both lapels IMMEDIATELY. This one took a few minutes to ramp up (I have such a pet peeve about multiple POV's early in a mystery where a couple of them have to be unbearable cryptic not give anything away too soon. It's just a real momentum killer early in a novel), but once it got going I was SO hooked. I loved the piece by piece reveal and I really think the second half of the book flew by. Highly recommend for anyone who likes their horror with a healthy helping of mystery and folklore. Great stuff.
September 25, 2025
I love me some folk horror and the isolated Irish island setting really added to the atmosphere. This was an entertaining story with Mara trying to figure out who she is and what’s happening on the island. I enjoyed the cast of characters, especially those who helped Mara with her investigation. As with any small town, there are plenty of secrets and a long, shadowy history.
There were some surprising reveals along the way and I liked how the author incorporated both gruesome violence and Irish folklore. Some characters were clearly bad, with one almost cartoonishly evil, but it was still an entertaining read with real stakes. The last third had me fully enthralled and I was very pleased with how it all wrapped up. Overall, definitely pick this up if you’re a fan of Irish folklore and folk horror.
There were some surprising reveals along the way and I liked how the author incorporated both gruesome violence and Irish folklore. Some characters were clearly bad, with one almost cartoonishly evil, but it was still an entertaining read with real stakes. The last third had me fully enthralled and I was very pleased with how it all wrapped up. Overall, definitely pick this up if you’re a fan of Irish folklore and folk horror.
September 10, 2025
What the actual heck and heck?? I almost considered DNFing this one halfway through, because it was getting *really* gruesome, but I persevered, and I’m glad I did (sort of 🤪).
The setting is an Irish island, and if you weren’t born on the island, you will never be good enough, no matter how long you’ve lived there. Suffice it to say, there are a lot of old-timers on the island.
The author starts the book off with a bang—a woman wakes up in a coffin. She’s disoriented and doesn’t remember anything about anything. We learn about the island and its inhabitants through her. I don’t want to say much more, because it’s best to go in blind here.
Now for some warnings: This is not only horror, but horrific. There are multiple very descriptive, absolutely nightmare-inducing scenes, one of which had me seriously consider whether I wanted to continue reading. That scene was later topped by another…and another. This book reminded me a lot of Peadar O Guilin’s “The Call”, which also had horrifically gruesome descriptions that landed it on my “One and Done” and “No Thanks” shelves, which is where I’m placing “The Burial Tide” as well. I don’t consider it wasted time to have read either book, but neither do I want to ever read them again, if that makes sense. I’m ultimately giving this a 3.75, rounded up, and I would read another book by Sharpson.
Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The setting is an Irish island, and if you weren’t born on the island, you will never be good enough, no matter how long you’ve lived there. Suffice it to say, there are a lot of old-timers on the island.
The author starts the book off with a bang—a woman wakes up in a coffin. She’s disoriented and doesn’t remember anything about anything. We learn about the island and its inhabitants through her. I don’t want to say much more, because it’s best to go in blind here.
Now for some warnings: This is not only horror, but horrific. There are multiple very descriptive, absolutely nightmare-inducing scenes, one of which had me seriously consider whether I wanted to continue reading. That scene was later topped by another…and another. This book reminded me a lot of Peadar O Guilin’s “The Call”, which also had horrifically gruesome descriptions that landed it on my “One and Done” and “No Thanks” shelves, which is where I’m placing “The Burial Tide” as well. I don’t consider it wasted time to have read either book, but neither do I want to ever read them again, if that makes sense. I’m ultimately giving this a 3.75, rounded up, and I would read another book by Sharpson.
Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 12, 2025
TW/CW: Language, drinking, incest (suggestion), depression, cheating, abusive relationships, gaslighting, toxic family relationships
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
A woman who can’t remember her death. On an eerily quiet island off the coast of Ireland, a woman with no memory claws her way out of her grave and back to life. But not everyone welcomes the return of Mara Fitch.
An island with a terrible secret. Inishbannock. Where strange misshapen figures watch from the trees and the roads are covered in teeth. Where two brothers gamble for nothing, the doctor only treats the dead, and the pub owner speaks in riddles. Where a poet loses and finds his soul. And a husband without a wife claims to know everything about Mara.
A past that refuses to stay buried. As Mara returns to her life on this upside-down island, her memories begin to leech their way back to the surface. The more she remembers, the more the village will do anything to stop her . . .
But the sea remembers it all.
Release Date: September 9th, 2025
Genre: Horror
Pages: 384
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Love the cover of the book
2. Creepy undertones of the book
3. Story flowed
4. Loved the lore behind Mara
5. Writing style was good
6. Characters were written with a lot of richness that made me feel like I knew them all
What I Didn't Like:
1. Writing can be clunky and ramble at times
2. Mara seeking revenge is off screen and I wanted to witness her anger
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Kind of reminds me of the story of the man who didn't know he was dead but he got out of his casket to call home and killed his wife with shock when she answered the phone.
Why was she buried with a phone? That's odd. Plus she's buried in jeans but I suppose it's because she's contagious but then why bury her? Most times with these kind of contagious illnesses they burn the bodies. Then a man calls her and when she calls back he is annoyed and says oh.
Ummm so the whole strip poker between Malachy and Conn is completely unhinged. I get not wanting to play for money because of their uncle and dads violent ways but to then play strip poker with your brother... You could just use peanuts, candy, anything really. Now Conn is suspicious that Malachy is getting a sexual joy out of getting naked in front of him. Why wouldn't he just stop the game from here? I mean how do you decide as young me that you'll play strip poker with your brother?
Doctor Quinn medicine woman is all I can think with that name. She mentions that the virus was very dangerous and related to Ebola but they didn't find out until after Mara was buried how dangerous it was but I'm still confused why they were burying people when they suspected a virus.
The doctor mentions that there were 4 people total that died but when Mara is standing by her grave she mentions that there are 4 other graves by hers suggesting that there are actually 5 total.
Now we are introduced to Cian who is claiming to be the man she was hanging out with but the man on her phone had brown hair not blonde. Unfortunately she doesn't have her phone so she can't check. We know Mara is who she thinks she is because Declan identifies her before the doctor can say anything. He seems to have had an autopsy done because he has a stitches on this stomach. Plus he is downing some antibiotics and over-the-counter pain medicine. Oh and the weird line saying that he intends to take his prize.
Whoa so she's an entity that a man stumbled upon on an island and found out if he took her cloak he could have control of her and guarantee himself eternal life. But they have to drown her every so often so she'll forget stuff otherwise she starts remembering and she'll kill everyone. My only question is how do they know that this is what will happen? I imagine it hasn't happened before but they're acting like they know this is what will happen.
I hate that there are characters named Donn and Conn. Talk about confusing at times.
They attempt to kill her to silence her and she comes back but remembers everyone and what they have done. I love that she gave the island a few hours notice to leave before she destroyed it and sent her "friends" out so they wouldn't be harmed.
Final Thoughts:
I had a lot of fun reading this story. There was a lot of Irish folklore that made the story have a lot of depth. By the ending I was cheering for Mara to get free and away from this abusive cycle she was forced into. I enjoyed the friendships she made along the way as she was trying to piece missing things back together.
This book reminded me so much of Mother.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Zando for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
A woman who can’t remember her death. On an eerily quiet island off the coast of Ireland, a woman with no memory claws her way out of her grave and back to life. But not everyone welcomes the return of Mara Fitch.
An island with a terrible secret. Inishbannock. Where strange misshapen figures watch from the trees and the roads are covered in teeth. Where two brothers gamble for nothing, the doctor only treats the dead, and the pub owner speaks in riddles. Where a poet loses and finds his soul. And a husband without a wife claims to know everything about Mara.
A past that refuses to stay buried. As Mara returns to her life on this upside-down island, her memories begin to leech their way back to the surface. The more she remembers, the more the village will do anything to stop her . . .
But the sea remembers it all.
Release Date: September 9th, 2025
Genre: Horror
Pages: 384
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Love the cover of the book
2. Creepy undertones of the book
3. Story flowed
4. Loved the lore behind Mara
5. Writing style was good
6. Characters were written with a lot of richness that made me feel like I knew them all
What I Didn't Like:
1. Writing can be clunky and ramble at times
2. Mara seeking revenge is off screen and I wanted to witness her anger
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Kind of reminds me of the story of the man who didn't know he was dead but he got out of his casket to call home and killed his wife with shock when she answered the phone.
Why was she buried with a phone? That's odd. Plus she's buried in jeans but I suppose it's because she's contagious but then why bury her? Most times with these kind of contagious illnesses they burn the bodies. Then a man calls her and when she calls back he is annoyed and says oh.
Ummm so the whole strip poker between Malachy and Conn is completely unhinged. I get not wanting to play for money because of their uncle and dads violent ways but to then play strip poker with your brother... You could just use peanuts, candy, anything really. Now Conn is suspicious that Malachy is getting a sexual joy out of getting naked in front of him. Why wouldn't he just stop the game from here? I mean how do you decide as young me that you'll play strip poker with your brother?
Doctor Quinn medicine woman is all I can think with that name. She mentions that the virus was very dangerous and related to Ebola but they didn't find out until after Mara was buried how dangerous it was but I'm still confused why they were burying people when they suspected a virus.
The doctor mentions that there were 4 people total that died but when Mara is standing by her grave she mentions that there are 4 other graves by hers suggesting that there are actually 5 total.
Now we are introduced to Cian who is claiming to be the man she was hanging out with but the man on her phone had brown hair not blonde. Unfortunately she doesn't have her phone so she can't check. We know Mara is who she thinks she is because Declan identifies her before the doctor can say anything. He seems to have had an autopsy done because he has a stitches on this stomach. Plus he is downing some antibiotics and over-the-counter pain medicine. Oh and the weird line saying that he intends to take his prize.
Whoa so she's an entity that a man stumbled upon on an island and found out if he took her cloak he could have control of her and guarantee himself eternal life. But they have to drown her every so often so she'll forget stuff otherwise she starts remembering and she'll kill everyone. My only question is how do they know that this is what will happen? I imagine it hasn't happened before but they're acting like they know this is what will happen.
I hate that there are characters named Donn and Conn. Talk about confusing at times.
They attempt to kill her to silence her and she comes back but remembers everyone and what they have done. I love that she gave the island a few hours notice to leave before she destroyed it and sent her "friends" out so they wouldn't be harmed.
Final Thoughts:
I had a lot of fun reading this story. There was a lot of Irish folklore that made the story have a lot of depth. By the ending I was cheering for Mara to get free and away from this abusive cycle she was forced into. I enjoyed the friendships she made along the way as she was trying to piece missing things back together.
This book reminded me so much of Mother.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Zando for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 2, 2025
I loved this so much, I finished it in one day and stayed up until almost 4am because I couldn't put it down. Right from the very first chapter, I was sucked in. It was sharp, atmospheric, dark, and had just the right amount of humor. One part freaky creature feature, one part small town mystery, and one part Irish folklore.
Memory loss thrillers are my favorite, and this one was done so perfectly. I loved the steady suspense of not knowing who was bad and who was good. Constantly wondering if you’re being manipulated by the town, slowly putting the pieces together and uncovering the truth. I loved that we get to see so many different POVs, rather than just Mara. It added to the uneasy feeling that something sinister was going on and that this town is harboring some major secrets.
The horror elements were so unsettling and disgusting, and so well done. There was some great body horror and also psychological elements as well. The ending was so satisfying and did a great job bringing everything full circle and giving major “good for her” vibes.
Overall, I highly recommend for anyone who would love a memory loss thriller mixed with a folklore creature feature. I had never read this author before, but I am instantly adding “Knock Knock Open Wide” to my tbr
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Zando for an early electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Memory loss thrillers are my favorite, and this one was done so perfectly. I loved the steady suspense of not knowing who was bad and who was good. Constantly wondering if you’re being manipulated by the town, slowly putting the pieces together and uncovering the truth. I loved that we get to see so many different POVs, rather than just Mara. It added to the uneasy feeling that something sinister was going on and that this town is harboring some major secrets.
The horror elements were so unsettling and disgusting, and so well done. There was some great body horror and also psychological elements as well. The ending was so satisfying and did a great job bringing everything full circle and giving major “good for her” vibes.
Overall, I highly recommend for anyone who would love a memory loss thriller mixed with a folklore creature feature. I had never read this author before, but I am instantly adding “Knock Knock Open Wide” to my tbr
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Zando for an early electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own
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