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Reliquary
Sometimes, you just want to belong.
When Claire’s fiancé mysteriously dies of an unknown neurological illness, seemingly destroying her chances at the belonging she’s sought, she’s prepared to sink back into the lonely life she lived before. Orphaned by a freak boating accident in her childhood, she never expected to find connection like she did with Elias, anyway. Even if sometimes, that connection seemed more like something he felt obligated to than something he wanted.
Their relationship wasn’t perfect—his coldness, his secrets, his strange aversion to the ocean—but what relationship is?
When Elias’s family reaches out—his incredibly wealthy family, from whom he was estranged—and invites Claire to a wake at their family home on a private island, Claire is given the chance to have connection again. To belong to something, just like she’s always wanted. Just like Elias knew she was desperate to have.
Even if that family is a little strange. Even if their home built partially into the sea stirs up memories of the accident that killed her parents and sister. Even if Ash, Elias’s older brother, seems insistent on Claire leaving as soon as possible.
Claire can’t bring herself to be lonely again. And as the strange circumstances of Elias’s familial connection with the sea becomes more and more apparent, her window for escape is rapidly closing.
Does she even want to?
When Claire’s fiancé mysteriously dies of an unknown neurological illness, seemingly destroying her chances at the belonging she’s sought, she’s prepared to sink back into the lonely life she lived before. Orphaned by a freak boating accident in her childhood, she never expected to find connection like she did with Elias, anyway. Even if sometimes, that connection seemed more like something he felt obligated to than something he wanted.
Their relationship wasn’t perfect—his coldness, his secrets, his strange aversion to the ocean—but what relationship is?
When Elias’s family reaches out—his incredibly wealthy family, from whom he was estranged—and invites Claire to a wake at their family home on a private island, Claire is given the chance to have connection again. To belong to something, just like she’s always wanted. Just like Elias knew she was desperate to have.
Even if that family is a little strange. Even if their home built partially into the sea stirs up memories of the accident that killed her parents and sister. Even if Ash, Elias’s older brother, seems insistent on Claire leaving as soon as possible.
Claire can’t bring herself to be lonely again. And as the strange circumstances of Elias’s familial connection with the sea becomes more and more apparent, her window for escape is rapidly closing.
Does she even want to?
300 pages, Hardcover
First published August 11, 2026
About the author
Hannah Whitten
10 books4,555 followersHannah Whitten has been writing to amuse herself since she could hold a pen, and sometime in high school, figured out that what amused her might also amuse others. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, making music, or attempting to bake. She lives in Tennessee with her husband and children in a house ruled by a temperamental cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 460 reviews
August 9, 2025
Propulsive and completely impossible to put down, RELIQUARY seized me with uneasy dread and will make me think twice before tiptoeing into any ocean. Hannah Whitten is my new favorite voice in horror.
May 15, 2026
The vibes are immaculate! Reliquary executes modern gothic horror to perfection! You can trace its structure right back to Jane Erye, which I’ve always preferred to Wuthering Heights. We’ve got a classic creepy house situation, an island with no way off, bizarre staff that don’t speak, and a protagonist (primed from previous childhood trauma) who’s such a bottomless pit of need & anxiety, she can’t refuse the increasingly awful things asked of her.
We open with Claire just having heard her fiancé, Elias, is dead. She’s an old hand at stuffing grief down after her entire family died at sea when she was a child. Unfortunately it’s proving more difficult this time. When Elias’s estranged family reaches out, inviting her to their private island, Claire jumps at the chance to have “family” in her life. When she arrives she’s constantly gaslit, ignored, overruled and forced to push her boundaries. All it takes is a little love bombing and she becomes too eager to please to say no.
I was prepped to be annoyed by Claire. Her character is so passive I was screaming “Get out you fool! Don’t go down that dark staircase. Don’t eat anything they serve you!” I was presently surprised by how I continued to like her more & more. Her barely treated PTSD wasn’t just a vehicle for poor decisions, it also served to create real emotional depth & growth by the end.
Strongly recommend if you enjoy this genre!
We open with Claire just having heard her fiancé, Elias, is dead. She’s an old hand at stuffing grief down after her entire family died at sea when she was a child. Unfortunately it’s proving more difficult this time. When Elias’s estranged family reaches out, inviting her to their private island, Claire jumps at the chance to have “family” in her life. When she arrives she’s constantly gaslit, ignored, overruled and forced to push her boundaries. All it takes is a little love bombing and she becomes too eager to please to say no.
I was prepped to be annoyed by Claire. Her character is so passive I was screaming “Get out you fool! Don’t go down that dark staircase. Don’t eat anything they serve you!” I was presently surprised by how I continued to like her more & more. Her barely treated PTSD wasn’t just a vehicle for poor decisions, it also served to create real emotional depth & growth by the end.
Strongly recommend if you enjoy this genre!
December 5, 2025
I’m so serious, I read this in maybe three hours bc I could not possibly put it down. I know it doesn’t come out till next summer, but I need a production team to jump on this STAT and get to making a full feature film. IM OBSESSED
August 1, 2026
Don’t worry if you’re squeamish about gore. There’s barely any. Just enough sentient jelly, mystery sludge, and assorted gelatinous horrors to make me question if I ever want to eat jello again.
February 10, 2026
First DNF of the year…
Incredibly 2D writing and characters; so flat in fact they could be used as bookmarks. Characters as emotional as a user manual, padded out by redundant phrases that refuse to die. Only 300 pages, yet somehow felt infinite. DNFed for self-preservation.
Incredibly 2D writing and characters; so flat in fact they could be used as bookmarks. Characters as emotional as a user manual, padded out by redundant phrases that refuse to die. Only 300 pages, yet somehow felt infinite. DNFed for self-preservation.
July 28, 2026
Guys, GUYS. I found the perfect Summerweek book. It’s this one. You know how people say that we know far more about space than we do about the depths of the sea? Yeah, this is why. THIS IS WHY. Holy tides, this is so unnerving and horrifying that I honestly do not know what to do with myself now.
You know how some horror novels are the kind that make your heart race and your pulse thrum in your ears? And how others can make your stomach sink down to your ankles, like a weighted stone? Yeah, it’s the second one.
My god, I will never, ever look at the sea the same. Nope. Not getting in it. Not getting near it. I will admire that shit from afar. VERY afar.
I don’t know what they’re putting in the water (hehe, pun INTENDED) at the Orbit / Run For It offices, but water horror is IT. I already told you about The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager, which you absolutely need to read. And this one, Reliquary by Hannah Whitten takes sea horror to a new, unsettling level.
I will be skipping the aquariums and any sushi for like, EVER.
Reliquary hits shelves August 11, and you absolutely need to get yourself a copy. Then never, ever visit the sea again.
This one gets 6 creepy ocean dwellers from me.
Thank you (I think?) to Orbit Books, Run For It, and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
You know how some horror novels are the kind that make your heart race and your pulse thrum in your ears? And how others can make your stomach sink down to your ankles, like a weighted stone? Yeah, it’s the second one.
My god, I will never, ever look at the sea the same. Nope. Not getting in it. Not getting near it. I will admire that shit from afar. VERY afar.
I don’t know what they’re putting in the water (hehe, pun INTENDED) at the Orbit / Run For It offices, but water horror is IT. I already told you about The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager, which you absolutely need to read. And this one, Reliquary by Hannah Whitten takes sea horror to a new, unsettling level.
I will be skipping the aquariums and any sushi for like, EVER.
Reliquary hits shelves August 11, and you absolutely need to get yourself a copy. Then never, ever visit the sea again.
This one gets 6 creepy ocean dwellers from me.
Thank you (I think?) to Orbit Books, Run For It, and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
August 2, 2026
Okayyy immaculate setting!! So wet and watery and I loved the descriptions of the house our main character was staying at. It really stood out to me and I wasn’t surprised to learn this author typically writes fantasy. The first half of this was chefs kiss. Books often lose me once things start getting action packed, and this unfortunately happened to me here too. Also the characters felt flat but I could get past that since this was reading more like a thriller. Overall, I had a fun time with this and am always down for a watery read.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
August 1, 2026
Hang onto your hats folks, it’s about to get weird. Hannah Whitten does a great job of setting a creepy tone and allowing the reader to dive into a fantastical world of horror. This was my first read from her and I somewhat enjoyed the weirdness. But it’s out there. You don’t find out what’s going on until about the 60% mark, and then it gets real weird, real fast. It definitely grossed me out at times (don’t read this whilst eating) and gave me detailed creepy visuals. Didn’t have a lot of empathy for any of the characters, and hope to God I would have more insight than Claire when it comes to red flags. I mean, yikes. I hated Audrey and generally disliked Ash, though his character perhaps had the largest arc. The pacing of this book was ok, but slow at times for me. This won’t be a book that I personally revisit, but I feel that more die hard horror lovers will probably enjoy this one.
August 12, 2026
I don’t want to say too much about the plot of Reliquary, because this is a book that really rewards readers who go in without knowing much about it. All you need to know is that the protagonist, Claire, is mourning the sudden loss of her fiancé Elias when she receives a message from his estranged family, inviting her to their private island off the coast of Maine. When Claire arrives at Harrow Point, it soon becomes apparent that the family is harboring secrets – and that Claire may be more important to Elias’s family than she ever could have imagined.
Reliquary is a wholly original blend of horror subgenres – grief, aquatic, cosmic, body, gothic – and it’s so insidious and sinister. Set mostly in a mansion that is literally built half underwater into an oceanside cliff, the atmosphere is oppressive and claustrophobic which, combined with characters who behave in ways that are decidedly strange, only adds to the ominous feel of the book. I felt unsettled and tense the entire time.
There’s a psychological element too as Hannah F. Whitten explores Claire’s childhood trauma and the ways it manifests in her adult life: a persistent need for connection and belonging, a tendency to overlook bad vibes in the name of being included. Claire is so clearly vulnerable, so deeply damaged, that it’s hard not to sympathize with her. As readers, it’s easy to see the warning signs even though Claire doesn’t, and that could have been frustrating; but instead, it just felt so deeply tragic. It’s no small thing to make readers feel protective of your protagonist, and I have to applaud Whitten for evoking that feeling in me.
I’m not entirely sure Whitten stuck the landing with the conclusion – there was a deus ex machina element to it, and a few more things I would’ve liked explained – but overall, Reliquary is a moody, gripping horror novel that will have me giving the side-eye to the ocean for a long time. Thank you to Orbit Books for the early reading opportunity.
Reliquary is a wholly original blend of horror subgenres – grief, aquatic, cosmic, body, gothic – and it’s so insidious and sinister. Set mostly in a mansion that is literally built half underwater into an oceanside cliff, the atmosphere is oppressive and claustrophobic which, combined with characters who behave in ways that are decidedly strange, only adds to the ominous feel of the book. I felt unsettled and tense the entire time.
There’s a psychological element too as Hannah F. Whitten explores Claire’s childhood trauma and the ways it manifests in her adult life: a persistent need for connection and belonging, a tendency to overlook bad vibes in the name of being included. Claire is so clearly vulnerable, so deeply damaged, that it’s hard not to sympathize with her. As readers, it’s easy to see the warning signs even though Claire doesn’t, and that could have been frustrating; but instead, it just felt so deeply tragic. It’s no small thing to make readers feel protective of your protagonist, and I have to applaud Whitten for evoking that feeling in me.
I’m not entirely sure Whitten stuck the landing with the conclusion – there was a deus ex machina element to it, and a few more things I would’ve liked explained – but overall, Reliquary is a moody, gripping horror novel that will have me giving the side-eye to the ocean for a long time. Thank you to Orbit Books for the early reading opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review in the June 2026 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2026/06... [link live on 6/4]
Three Words The Describe This Book: Sea Soaked Horror, Gothic, Intense Unease
Also-- horror about the uber wealthy, rich families with a monster secret to their success, an unreliable narrator who knows they are unreliable because of past trauma, trauma, Lovecraftian, disorientation-- the entire house is build down, into the water. That was cool and makes everything about this Gothic mansion on the seaside feel even more unsettling. Readers and Claire are disoriented from the start.
Solid pacing– details revealed slowly but steadily and in a realistic way.
Title is good (a container for holy relics- to secure them from public viewing) because it hits on a few levels within the story Whitten is telling.
Whitten is a Best Selling author for her fantasy books. This is a Horror title that will definitely appeal to dark fantasy readers, but it is Horror so that needs to be made clear to readers.
I am writing my LJ Horror Genre Preview right now, and "seas soaked horror" is one of my trends. As I went through the books coming out over the next few months, there are a lot. I am excited because the books are literally dripping with dread and fear and it is GREAT.
Claire is a damaged and unreliable narrator from the start. We know she lived through an accident as a teen-- on a boat-- that killed her whole family. We know that she lives her life purposely pushing her feelings down and not revealing the truth even to herself let alone her therapist. This she tells us. That means as readers we are already uncomfortable and know we cannot trust her but Claire is also very sympathetic because our distrust is not based on her nefarious behavior. We trust she will share her truth as the story goes on.
We only have Claire's perspective on all of this. We know as much as her, but we don;t know what she is hiding from herself.
And the sharing is well done here. The details we are given, all begin to matter and as Claire admits to herself her connection to the sea the other parts of the story start to fall into place.
Her fiancé dies and she is called to meet his parents-- uber wealthy for generations. They have a submarine company. It is well known. She has not met them, but they want her to come to have a funeral for Elias. He dies mysteriously, just dropped dead, and his brain was full of holes the doctors said. Also his strange large sea creature in their giant aquarium died as well.
When she gets there things are strange. She is led into a castle built on an island (where the road to get their retracts when not needed). It is perched on the end of the sea but the house is built down....so all of the living spaces are under the waterline.
The staff are odd, they have strange scars and injuries, and they are rarely seen.
Everyone is being very nice, but also strange. Elias' brother-- who shirked his responsibilities to the family and made Elias take his place, and the spaces of the other siblings all are trying to get her to leave of her own volition. But she is happy to be accepted, even if they are weird, and wants to belong.
The scene is set perfectly to go from uneasy and disorienting to all out terror and a desperate attempt for her to save herself.
The monster, its hold on the family, and the resolution are all satisfying. The terror is mixed with some sweetness and Claire's background and issues from thought out her life all play a part in the conclusion which I appreciated.
Whitten's story is solid and it will bring a lot of her fans to Horror. That makes me excited.
For readers who love sea monster stories in the vein of the EXCELLENT upcoming A Plagued Sea by Kim Bo-young (my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
But also the confusion and disorientation of a family that clearly has a monstrous secret and they want the MC to pay a physical price for them like in Midnight Rooms by Coles or even Now You're One of Us by Nonami. And finally, I could not stop thinking about Alma Katsu's Fiend and the demon behind the immense wealth and success of the family featured there.
Three Words The Describe This Book: Sea Soaked Horror, Gothic, Intense Unease
Also-- horror about the uber wealthy, rich families with a monster secret to their success, an unreliable narrator who knows they are unreliable because of past trauma, trauma, Lovecraftian, disorientation-- the entire house is build down, into the water. That was cool and makes everything about this Gothic mansion on the seaside feel even more unsettling. Readers and Claire are disoriented from the start.
Solid pacing– details revealed slowly but steadily and in a realistic way.
Title is good (a container for holy relics- to secure them from public viewing) because it hits on a few levels within the story Whitten is telling.
Whitten is a Best Selling author for her fantasy books. This is a Horror title that will definitely appeal to dark fantasy readers, but it is Horror so that needs to be made clear to readers.
I am writing my LJ Horror Genre Preview right now, and "seas soaked horror" is one of my trends. As I went through the books coming out over the next few months, there are a lot. I am excited because the books are literally dripping with dread and fear and it is GREAT.
Claire is a damaged and unreliable narrator from the start. We know she lived through an accident as a teen-- on a boat-- that killed her whole family. We know that she lives her life purposely pushing her feelings down and not revealing the truth even to herself let alone her therapist. This she tells us. That means as readers we are already uncomfortable and know we cannot trust her but Claire is also very sympathetic because our distrust is not based on her nefarious behavior. We trust she will share her truth as the story goes on.
We only have Claire's perspective on all of this. We know as much as her, but we don;t know what she is hiding from herself.
And the sharing is well done here. The details we are given, all begin to matter and as Claire admits to herself her connection to the sea the other parts of the story start to fall into place.
Her fiancé dies and she is called to meet his parents-- uber wealthy for generations. They have a submarine company. It is well known. She has not met them, but they want her to come to have a funeral for Elias. He dies mysteriously, just dropped dead, and his brain was full of holes the doctors said. Also his strange large sea creature in their giant aquarium died as well.
When she gets there things are strange. She is led into a castle built on an island (where the road to get their retracts when not needed). It is perched on the end of the sea but the house is built down....so all of the living spaces are under the waterline.
The staff are odd, they have strange scars and injuries, and they are rarely seen.
Everyone is being very nice, but also strange. Elias' brother-- who shirked his responsibilities to the family and made Elias take his place, and the spaces of the other siblings all are trying to get her to leave of her own volition. But she is happy to be accepted, even if they are weird, and wants to belong.
The scene is set perfectly to go from uneasy and disorienting to all out terror and a desperate attempt for her to save herself.
The monster, its hold on the family, and the resolution are all satisfying. The terror is mixed with some sweetness and Claire's background and issues from thought out her life all play a part in the conclusion which I appreciated.
Whitten's story is solid and it will bring a lot of her fans to Horror. That makes me excited.
For readers who love sea monster stories in the vein of the EXCELLENT upcoming A Plagued Sea by Kim Bo-young (my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
But also the confusion and disorientation of a family that clearly has a monstrous secret and they want the MC to pay a physical price for them like in Midnight Rooms by Coles or even Now You're One of Us by Nonami. And finally, I could not stop thinking about Alma Katsu's Fiend and the demon behind the immense wealth and success of the family featured there.
Read
June 10, 2026A gothic horror, saltwater-drenched version of Ready or Not.
Thank you to Orbit for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Orbit for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 8, 2026
🐙 One of my favorite covers of the year!!
Claire’s fiancé, Elias, suddenly dies from an aneurysm. She has no family and his family has invited her to their private island.
This family is insanely wealthy. She’s in awe of everything they have. Everyone is so kind to her and they invite her to be a part of their family.
As Claire gets to know them more, she is curious about their wealth. Somehow they made a fortune with their experiments in the sea. But what’s the real deal with the ocean and what are they hiding?
Let me tell you that this is not for the squeamish. Period. The first half starts as a slow burn as we get to know each character… but when that second half hits…. It’s full throttle!
Reliquary is a gory old time, an aquatic horror tale, and I absolutely loved it. Weirdly terrifying and highly addictive. I just loved the ending too.
This was a buddy read with one of my favorite people bibliopeeks. Be on the lookout for her review.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Out 8/11
Thank you to Orbit Books/ Run For It for my gifted copy!
Claire’s fiancé, Elias, suddenly dies from an aneurysm. She has no family and his family has invited her to their private island.
This family is insanely wealthy. She’s in awe of everything they have. Everyone is so kind to her and they invite her to be a part of their family.
As Claire gets to know them more, she is curious about their wealth. Somehow they made a fortune with their experiments in the sea. But what’s the real deal with the ocean and what are they hiding?
Let me tell you that this is not for the squeamish. Period. The first half starts as a slow burn as we get to know each character… but when that second half hits…. It’s full throttle!
Reliquary is a gory old time, an aquatic horror tale, and I absolutely loved it. Weirdly terrifying and highly addictive. I just loved the ending too.
This was a buddy read with one of my favorite people bibliopeeks. Be on the lookout for her review.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Out 8/11
Thank you to Orbit Books/ Run For It for my gifted copy!
June 22, 2026
Review to come upon release.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the pre-release review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the pre-release review copy.
April 1, 2026
hmmm i need to sit with this for a bit. there were moments where i thought this could be a 5 star read. it opened in a way that reminded me of ready or not. the normie protagonist engaged to a super rich guy with a sketchy and sinister family, she wants to belong and gets way more than she bargained for when they turn out to be part of a creepy cult. the book opens with his death and her having to finally meet his family. it takes place underwater surrounded by sea creatures and such, but that element wasn’t used enough for my liking, we eventually see some spookiness but i would have liked a bit more. i did think the claustrophobic and thalassaphobia imagery was well described.
my biggest issue was actually the protagonist claire. her survival skills and critical thinking were terrible. i understand she was grieving, but she had no issues being rude and abrasive to Ash (the only compelling character imo) despite him clearly being the only one actually trying to help her. it was really frustrating to read. it made it difficult to root for claire. the side characters (elite and evil ashbury family) were also not as interesting as you’d expect. most of them even felt interchangeable and didn’t really have distinct voices.
i’m still giving this 4 stars for now because the concept was cool and i thought the ending felt fitting for a horror novel! the actual creature lore also felt well explained and not overly convoluted. i think Whitten’s writing shines in this genre and i truly hope she writes in it more! i just wish the characters were more impactful because it left the story feeling hollow. i did love Ash the MMC though so that’s something.
thank you Orbit books for the ARC!
my biggest issue was actually the protagonist claire. her survival skills and critical thinking were terrible. i understand she was grieving, but she had no issues being rude and abrasive to Ash (the only compelling character imo) despite him clearly being the only one actually trying to help her. it was really frustrating to read. it made it difficult to root for claire. the side characters (elite and evil ashbury family) were also not as interesting as you’d expect. most of them even felt interchangeable and didn’t really have distinct voices.
i’m still giving this 4 stars for now because the concept was cool and i thought the ending felt fitting for a horror novel! the actual creature lore also felt well explained and not overly convoluted. i think Whitten’s writing shines in this genre and i truly hope she writes in it more! i just wish the characters were more impactful because it left the story feeling hollow. i did love Ash the MMC though so that’s something.
thank you Orbit books for the ARC!
August 12, 2026
Thank you to Orbit Books and Hannah Witten for the e-arc in exchange for my review. All opinions that follow are honest and my own.
What in the actual heck did I just read!? Also don’t suggest reading this with children who walk without a sound, because I scared the crap out of my child when he touched me during a particularly creepy part of this book 😅
Reliquary follows Claire, the dissociating queen that she is, as she navigates the death of her fiancé and meeting his family that he kept her from for years. At first things seem normal, his mom in particular seems to really care for her. That is until the truth is revealed.
This book was wild! Wow I think I’m still needing to process a bit but definitely not what I was expecting. Also if I didn’t have a fear of the ocean before, I definitely do now. Not to mention claustrophobia! Certainly kept me on the edge of my seat from page one, such an atmospheric read and Hannah did a phenomenal job at describing things in such detail that I felt sucked into the story itself. Definitely creepy and not like her previous genres. A little predictable at times but maybe I just truly hate the rich and am not surprised at the depravity they’ll follow just to keep up an image.
Overall, was absolutely fascinating and gory and descriptive and def recommend if you’re a horror fan!
What in the actual heck did I just read!? Also don’t suggest reading this with children who walk without a sound, because I scared the crap out of my child when he touched me during a particularly creepy part of this book 😅
Reliquary follows Claire, the dissociating queen that she is, as she navigates the death of her fiancé and meeting his family that he kept her from for years. At first things seem normal, his mom in particular seems to really care for her. That is until the truth is revealed.
This book was wild! Wow I think I’m still needing to process a bit but definitely not what I was expecting. Also if I didn’t have a fear of the ocean before, I definitely do now. Not to mention claustrophobia! Certainly kept me on the edge of my seat from page one, such an atmospheric read and Hannah did a phenomenal job at describing things in such detail that I felt sucked into the story itself. Definitely creepy and not like her previous genres. A little predictable at times but maybe I just truly hate the rich and am not surprised at the depravity they’ll follow just to keep up an image.
Overall, was absolutely fascinating and gory and descriptive and def recommend if you’re a horror fan!
May 20, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Reliquary was a fun read. I’m always a sucker for horror with strong Lovecraftian, eldritch vibes, and this absolutely delivered on that front. The story slowly unfolds through a growing pile of increasingly alarming red flags that Claire, our FMC, stubbornly refuses to examine too closely until she no longer has a choice. That sense of creeping dread worked really well.
I’m fairly hard to genuinely spook at this point, but the atmosphere here stayed consistently moody and unsettling throughout. The prose was lush and sensory-rich without becoming overly dense or slowing the pacing, which made it easy to stay immersed in the story.
Overall, a creepy, entertaining read with great atmosphere. Three stars.
Reliquary was a fun read. I’m always a sucker for horror with strong Lovecraftian, eldritch vibes, and this absolutely delivered on that front. The story slowly unfolds through a growing pile of increasingly alarming red flags that Claire, our FMC, stubbornly refuses to examine too closely until she no longer has a choice. That sense of creeping dread worked really well.
I’m fairly hard to genuinely spook at this point, but the atmosphere here stayed consistently moody and unsettling throughout. The prose was lush and sensory-rich without becoming overly dense or slowing the pacing, which made it easy to stay immersed in the story.
Overall, a creepy, entertaining read with great atmosphere. Three stars.
August 5, 2026
I actually really enjoyed this book! I loved so much that it was so unique and different. It was freaky in the best types of ways and I had a lot of fun reading it.
May 17, 2026
Reliquary is the equivalent of staring at the ocean and intentionally ruminating on all of the things that could exist in its depths. The story is told from the POV of Claire, whose life motto is: disassociate, unless you can use it to your advantage. She has repressed her own trauma and grief to the extent of accepting red flags as affection. This unfortunately makes her the perfect victim for an obscenely rich family with a debt to pay.
From the very start of the book, I knew it would be a wild ride. The comedic asides were peak millennial humor, and I was caught off guard a few times by how much I was laughing in the midst of the terror. The pacing was perfect, and the body horror was introduced in such a gradual manner that I truly couldn't have predicted half of the things that unfolded. As someone with claustrophobia, this added an extra element of horror- because I truly couldn't imagine voluntarily going into a mansion that was primarily underground/ underwater for an extended period of time. Full of vivid descriptors and atmospheric prose, I could clearly envision every ominous detail. The ending is one of my favorites that I've read in a horror novel, providing closure instead of leaving things open to interpretation.
Here's to hoping Hannah Whitten will continue to write horror, because I loved this just as much as her fantasy novels (if not more, if that's possible). Pack this book for your beach travels this summer, and see if you still want to get in the ocean afterwards. Reliquary releases on August 11, 2026. Thank you Orbit Books/ Run for It for gifting me with an eARC (via Netgalley widget), all thoughts expressed are my own.
From the very start of the book, I knew it would be a wild ride. The comedic asides were peak millennial humor, and I was caught off guard a few times by how much I was laughing in the midst of the terror. The pacing was perfect, and the body horror was introduced in such a gradual manner that I truly couldn't have predicted half of the things that unfolded. As someone with claustrophobia, this added an extra element of horror- because I truly couldn't imagine voluntarily going into a mansion that was primarily underground/ underwater for an extended period of time. Full of vivid descriptors and atmospheric prose, I could clearly envision every ominous detail. The ending is one of my favorites that I've read in a horror novel, providing closure instead of leaving things open to interpretation.
Here's to hoping Hannah Whitten will continue to write horror, because I loved this just as much as her fantasy novels (if not more, if that's possible). Pack this book for your beach travels this summer, and see if you still want to get in the ocean afterwards. Reliquary releases on August 11, 2026. Thank you Orbit Books/ Run for It for gifting me with an eARC (via Netgalley widget), all thoughts expressed are my own.
June 17, 2026
4.5 stars. Much like the main character Claire, one of my biggest fears is to be in a submarine in the deep ocean. Which is why ocean horror books are really the only books that truly freak me out and why I love them so much. This was a perfect weird ocean horror. I had a hard time putting it down once it got going, because I had to know what the hell was going on and what exactly was in that water. If you enjoyed Our Wives Under the Sea (which is one of my all time favorite books) then this will give you the same kind of vibe. This book is more proof that we just need to leave the deep sea alone because there's always something looking back at us.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
the only reason i am giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is because of my own personal issue of books being too contemporary and naming things specifically, like cyber trucks and netflix, simply because i don't like it and feel it prematurely ages a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2026
Received this arc from NetGalley and almost fainted because I did not expect to get accepted.
I was at a Hannah Whitten book signing a couple years ago or so when she said she was writing an ocean horror and the only thing she could tell us was that it was very squishy. So needless to say I’ve been waiting very impatiently to read this, and it did not disappoint. It is in fact very squishy. Could possibly be the squishiest book I’ve ever read.
I’m going to be vague because you should go into this knowing as little as possible for the full effect… but it started out intense and then just kept building from there. The whole atmosphere and build up was absolute perfection. I had a lot of fun reading this.
I was at a Hannah Whitten book signing a couple years ago or so when she said she was writing an ocean horror and the only thing she could tell us was that it was very squishy. So needless to say I’ve been waiting very impatiently to read this, and it did not disappoint. It is in fact very squishy. Could possibly be the squishiest book I’ve ever read.
I’m going to be vague because you should go into this knowing as little as possible for the full effect… but it started out intense and then just kept building from there. The whole atmosphere and build up was absolute perfection. I had a lot of fun reading this.
Read
December 23, 2025SO GOOD! One of my favorite reads this year! Loved it!! Add to your TBR for 2026.
April 28, 2026
This book was not what I expected!! What a turn of events!! If you love sci-fi mixed with a leviathan god that feeds on pain, then this is for you. I honestly do not know how to explain this book without giving away any spoilers so I will just give a little snippet.
Claire is our FMC who just longs to be wanted. To be loved and cared for. To belong in a family. When her fiancé dies unexpectedly, his family invites her to their island and she feels like she just might get what she has always wanted. From the moment she gets the invite, weird things start to happen. Disturbing dreams of her deceased fiancé giving her vague messages. The island that seems deserted and the castle/cliffside house that is mostly underground, people throwing up seaweed and the staff have an interesting appetite. Claire ignores all these red flags because she believes that really want her to be part of the family, which they do but now in the way she thinks.
I can guarantee that you will not see the twists in this book or what the ending brings.
Thank you to the author, @orbitbooks and @netgalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Claire is our FMC who just longs to be wanted. To be loved and cared for. To belong in a family. When her fiancé dies unexpectedly, his family invites her to their island and she feels like she just might get what she has always wanted. From the moment she gets the invite, weird things start to happen. Disturbing dreams of her deceased fiancé giving her vague messages. The island that seems deserted and the castle/cliffside house that is mostly underground, people throwing up seaweed and the staff have an interesting appetite. Claire ignores all these red flags because she believes that really want her to be part of the family, which they do but now in the way she thinks.
I can guarantee that you will not see the twists in this book or what the ending brings.
Thank you to the author, @orbitbooks and @netgalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2026
This feels like one of those books that was written specifically for me and with the fact that it releases on my birthday, I'm going to say it was haha.
Reliquary was everything I didn't know I needed at the exact time I needed it. This book was fast paced, unsettling, creepy and perfectly atmospheric. You can just feel the dread creeping in from the very first chapters and it never lets up. The descriptions of the body horror were so vivid and grotesque. The claustrophobia feeling was intense and the ending was perfect.
To sum it up, I loved every single thing about this book and you should preorder it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the eARC
Reliquary was everything I didn't know I needed at the exact time I needed it. This book was fast paced, unsettling, creepy and perfectly atmospheric. You can just feel the dread creeping in from the very first chapters and it never lets up. The descriptions of the body horror were so vivid and grotesque. The claustrophobia feeling was intense and the ending was perfect.
To sum it up, I loved every single thing about this book and you should preorder it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the eARC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
eat the rich!!!!!
ultra rich people are weird and selfish and, while i predicted a decent chunk of the plot, i was disgusted at the depths of depravity surrounding this family.
i flew through this book. it was weird girl lit fic x oceanic horror x ready or not (2019) and i had such a good time.
the opening chapters of this were so eerie and the author did a fantastic job at building that sense of dread, of wrongness, of pure, unadulterated terror. we, obviously, as readers know that something sinister is going on, so reading along as claire (quite literally) walks into the belly of the beast was so stressful in the best way.
the body horror was, well, horrific and the descriptions were so vivid. also if you have a fear of the ocean or claustrophobia in any way, i would recommend maybe avoiding this one.
i also love all things ocean related, and found that the atmosphere of this one was really well done. while i clearly appreciated all of the larger ocean related imagery, the little one off moments where the author would use marine-esque phrashing to describe things were my favorite.
also
eat the rich!!!!!
ultra rich people are weird and selfish and, while i predicted a decent chunk of the plot, i was disgusted at the depths of depravity surrounding this family.
i flew through this book. it was weird girl lit fic x oceanic horror x ready or not (2019) and i had such a good time.
the opening chapters of this were so eerie and the author did a fantastic job at building that sense of dread, of wrongness, of pure, unadulterated terror. we, obviously, as readers know that something sinister is going on, so reading along as claire (quite literally) walks into the belly of the beast was so stressful in the best way.
the body horror was, well, horrific and the descriptions were so vivid. also if you have a fear of the ocean or claustrophobia in any way, i would recommend maybe avoiding this one.
i also love all things ocean related, and found that the atmosphere of this one was really well done. while i clearly appreciated all of the larger ocean related imagery, the little one off moments where the author would use marine-esque phrashing to describe things were my favorite.
also
August 13, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Hannah for the opportunity to read this. This is my honest review.
This book was incredible. I know of all the other books that Hannah has written and have come highly recommended, but I have not been able to read yet. I signed up for this one, and I can tell you, I am in love.
Hannah has really done such an incredible job with the plot, the topic, and the genre. You would never think that this is Hannah's debut horror book. It is so well written and so well executed.
The story of Claire and her recently deceased fiancé in the beginning starts you at the edge of your seat. And the rest of the story just continues to make you feel uncomfortable and your skin crawl. Elias, Claire's fiancé, has a family that will make you wonder what the heck was going on from early on.
The phobias encountered were amazing and had me feeling the same breathlessness that Claire experienced throughout.
If you like Gothic horror with some good family trauma and awkwardness, this is a must read.
This book was incredible. I know of all the other books that Hannah has written and have come highly recommended, but I have not been able to read yet. I signed up for this one, and I can tell you, I am in love.
Hannah has really done such an incredible job with the plot, the topic, and the genre. You would never think that this is Hannah's debut horror book. It is so well written and so well executed.
The story of Claire and her recently deceased fiancé in the beginning starts you at the edge of your seat. And the rest of the story just continues to make you feel uncomfortable and your skin crawl. Elias, Claire's fiancé, has a family that will make you wonder what the heck was going on from early on.
The phobias encountered were amazing and had me feeling the same breathlessness that Claire experienced throughout.
If you like Gothic horror with some good family trauma and awkwardness, this is a must read.
July 31, 2026
(3.5☆) this is a book you can’t put down. from the very beginning this book had me and i found i was flying through it. while it did have some issues i do think overall this was a good book. interesting plot, while predictable it still had the ability to create the feeling of dread at what was happening. the characters were ok, not bad not good. the thing i struggled with the most was the last 75%-100%. for some reason it just slowed right down and i just wanted to wrap it up really. which surprised me as this isn’t a long book. i just think some ramblings went on and i just wanted to know how it would end.
but anyways this was a good read, it definitely had me scared and tense and i do love a good sea horror which it delivered.
thank you go netgalley for providing me with an arc.
but anyways this was a good read, it definitely had me scared and tense and i do love a good sea horror which it delivered.
thank you go netgalley for providing me with an arc.
August 4, 2026
I love a good horror novel filled with twists and gore and this one did not disappoint! From the very beginning the atmosphere was unsettling and mysterious. I have a huge fear of the ocean and the author did a great job playing with those fears. Many times I felt anxious and claustrophobic right along with the FMC. I figured out what was going on well before the FMC did but it was still fun watching her put the pieces together. And that ending? It was so satisfying to see how everything wrapped up! This book is fast paced and a page turner, you could easily binge it in one sitting. If you’re looking for coastal gothic horror and don’t mind a bit (okay maybe a little more than a bit) of gore, definitely add Reliquary to your TBR!
Thank you to Orbit for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Orbit for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 20, 2026
Reliquary by Hannah Whitten fuses tragedy, mystery, and a healthy dose of cosmic horror in this story that is not for the faint hearted or squeamish.
At just over 200 pages long, it’s a swift read, and I think that’s where it didn’t hit for me. My personal tastes veer more towards a longer book that immerses you into the lives of the characters, but I know that’s not for everyone so there will be folk that love this.
Word of warning, I made the blunder of eating Weetabix while reading about rotting moist flesh dripping off people. I’d opt for a more solid cereal, like a corn flake if you are going to brave this!
Massive thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group Uk for the early access.
At just over 200 pages long, it’s a swift read, and I think that’s where it didn’t hit for me. My personal tastes veer more towards a longer book that immerses you into the lives of the characters, but I know that’s not for everyone so there will be folk that love this.
Word of warning, I made the blunder of eating Weetabix while reading about rotting moist flesh dripping off people. I’d opt for a more solid cereal, like a corn flake if you are going to brave this!
Massive thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group Uk for the early access.
June 13, 2026
I’m not sure I’m the target audience for a horror book, but the writing and execution was very good. I’m a Hannah Whitten fan through and through, even if this one made me squeamish. That was 100% the point of this book, and very much on theme, so I can’t say I minded.
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