Reliquary

by Hannah F. Whitten

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?

Genres: Horror, Adult, Gothic, Fantasy, Thriller, Horror Thriller, Fiction

300 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 11, 2026

About the author

Hannah 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.

Reviews

[Erin Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kaven Hirning · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Stacey Kade]

SO GOOD! One of my favorite reads this year! Loved it!! Add to your TBR for 2026.

[Remi]

sign me up with all the tales told by haunted houses!

*thank you to Run For It for the ARC*

[Rachael | ☾ whimsicalfiction ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written for everyone who joined the billionaires-on-oceangate-submarine vs the depths-of-the-ocean-and-mankind’s-hubris war on the side of the depths of the ocean and mankind’s hubris

[Didi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

An excellent switch from Hannah Whitten into horror! This comes out next summer, so a while away but a wonderful examination of abuse, mental health, and greed.

[Amy Verkruissen · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the surface Claire seems to have it all, a wealthy and handsome fiancé whom has taken her into his beautiful home, where she works from. Effectively keeping her cocooned from the world. But beneath that perfect exterior, Claire feels hollow. She has kept her secrets, her pain and her past all packed out of site with the help of her therapist and prescription.
Her world shatters when her fiancé suddenly dies and she is contacted by his family that she was never introduced to. She feels that she can again, fill that hollowness with the overwhelming acceptance she has received from this new extended family.
She quickly realizes that she wasn't the only one that was keeping secrets and the family has big plans for her roll to play, whether she wants it or not.
I absolutely loved this book. I've read all of Hannah Whitten's other books and though this wasn't a fantasy I was familiar with in her previous books it was the horror I had most definitely been missing.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Occasionally I pick up a book and just start reading. I know the title and author, but I haven't read any blurbs or reviews and know nothing about the book. I got halfway through this when I realized it was horror, which isn't my favorite. Whitten is a talented writer, but I can't say I was ever truly scared. Once I found out what's really going on, it just struck me as too ridiculous to really inspire any terror in me. But it's entertaining and might make a good beach read (if you never want to go to the beach again). Review from e-galley.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishes for letting me read an eARC.

As always Hannah never fails me. This book was the perfect level of anticipation, intrigue and wondering how Claire doesn’t see the red flags.

This book is one that I know I’ll re-read time and time again. From the perfectly crafted haunting atmosphere to the hidden details, I was captivated until it was done. I started and finished this on the same day, bc I could not walk away from learning what happened.

Ash will forever be my favorite. Tho I do miss Theo.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

masterpiece

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

the first 50% were brilliant. It fell off after that then wrapped up nicely