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The Sunken, the Adored
A chilling Lovecraftian horror story from the author of
Midnight Rooms
, in which a recently freed slave from America making a new life for herself in 1700 Venice finds the mysterious plague that killed her former master may have followed her to Italy . . . and now stalks the canals.
Venice, Italy, 1700. The only survivor on a slave ship, Mercy disembarks in Italy, carrying two precious possessions: the first-ever camera that makes daguerreotype plates and a letter regarding an appointment meant for the dead slave holder.
The letter takes her to Umberto, an Anatomist. In his basement workspace, she learns he hired the man who formally owned her to capture images of dissected corpses. But that man is dead. With no other recourse for her or Umberto, Mercy assumes the position. In return for the sample plate she took, Umberto takes her to the home of the Contessa, a British woman who married into her title. Charmed by Marcy, she invites the young woman to stay for the season to take pictures.
Formally enslaved, Marcy finds this new life of freedom heady, as she takes on the mantle of a photographer and guest in a decadent house of pleasure under the hospitality of an aristocrat. Under the Contessa’s roof, she meets a diverse cast of friendly and strange individuals with whom she forms new bonds and friendships.
But all is not well in her new life. Something dark and hungry stalks the canals that snake through the city, biting at her heels. The same death that rode the waves with her now surrounds her in this strange place. What is this malevolence that haunts her? As she tries to understand this macabre force, she must grapple with a greater that the horror that endangers her friends is herself.
The Sunken, The Adored is dark, eerie, and wholly original—at once unsettling and irresistibly addictive.
Venice, Italy, 1700. The only survivor on a slave ship, Mercy disembarks in Italy, carrying two precious possessions: the first-ever camera that makes daguerreotype plates and a letter regarding an appointment meant for the dead slave holder.
The letter takes her to Umberto, an Anatomist. In his basement workspace, she learns he hired the man who formally owned her to capture images of dissected corpses. But that man is dead. With no other recourse for her or Umberto, Mercy assumes the position. In return for the sample plate she took, Umberto takes her to the home of the Contessa, a British woman who married into her title. Charmed by Marcy, she invites the young woman to stay for the season to take pictures.
Formally enslaved, Marcy finds this new life of freedom heady, as she takes on the mantle of a photographer and guest in a decadent house of pleasure under the hospitality of an aristocrat. Under the Contessa’s roof, she meets a diverse cast of friendly and strange individuals with whom she forms new bonds and friendships.
But all is not well in her new life. Something dark and hungry stalks the canals that snake through the city, biting at her heels. The same death that rode the waves with her now surrounds her in this strange place. What is this malevolence that haunts her? As she tries to understand this macabre force, she must grapple with a greater that the horror that endangers her friends is herself.
The Sunken, The Adored is dark, eerie, and wholly original—at once unsettling and irresistibly addictive.
352 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review in the June 2026 issue of Library Journal
Three Words To Describe This Book: strong sense of place, lush and sensual, chilling
Draft Review: Coles returns after her critically acclaimed debut, Midnight Rooms, with a chilling, intoxicating tale set during a hot Venetian summer, 1700. Mercy steps off a boat from America to Venice, the only survivor, carrying one of the first daguerreotype cameras and the letter which brought her owner, The Professor, half a world away, from an Anatomist, requesting photographs be taken of his carefully dissected bodies. When Mercy is able to perform the task beautifully, he wants to keep her close. Knowing her magical skill– making people’s images appear on a glass slide– will amuse his friend the Contessa, he brings Mercy to be her guest. Thrust into a life of hedonistic excess, Mercy’s disorientation is palpable, as the sensuality of bodies, food, silk, and parties is juxtaposed with her unease, trauma, and insatiable hunger*. However, a monster has followed Mercy off the ship and it is on a brutal murder spree. Before summer ends, Mercy will be forced to make her stand. Told solely through Mercy’s eyes, this slow-burn, atmospheric tale has a dark, fable feel which will draw readers in long before the monster gets its claws into them.
Verdict: Coles has proved she is no one hit wonder with her wholly original, impossible to pigeon-hole, second novel. Suggest to readers who enjoyed titles as varied as The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson, and Slashed Beauties by A. Rushby.
wholly original, slow burn-- in fact the slow burn is the point here, unable to be pigeon-holed, atmospheric, 1700 Venice.
This book is unlike anything else you have read. That is a good thing but also, if it gets in the wrong hands people will be disappointed, in the right hands, they will rejoice.
The story is from Mercy's eyes. 1700, Mercy went through something horrible on a boat from America to Venice, accompanying her owner, "The Professor." She is his slave and assistant. She belonged to his mother before. That unsettling relationship is revealed over time. The Professor is in possession of one of the first daguerreotype cameras. Mercy appears to be the only survivor of a horrific ordeal on the ship. She takes the letter the Professor was carrying and the camera and goes to an Anatomist's house. She takes the photo of the body he was dissecting and he brings her to a Contessa's home.
Most of the book is set in this home of excess. It is intoxicating and disorienting and just full of hedonism. The writing is lush, the descriptions sensual (everything from food to sex), Venice in 1700 is a time of excess for the rich, but also decay and dirt and murder.
What is day and what is night? Parties all the time. Mercy enjoys it all but also captures people's photos on glass for them
People are being killed outside from early on. It does not appear to be murder by a human. The bodies are brutally torn up. The head of the Night Watch, thinks Mercy is involved....somwhow.
Pairing the idea that the camera will steal the soul with the monster stalking Venice this very hot summer. It is hungry. It has followed Mercy, the only survivor of the ship. But also, if the monster part of her? This is an ongoing question.
Horror of trauma here as well-- Mercy carries it heavily. Her story of life as a slave is slowly unveiled but the reader feels its burden on her. It adds unease and darkness, a heavy pressure that pushes on the reader the entire time.
It reminded me of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern-- dark and atmospheric, a mystery, chilling with some real fear. A slow burn that twists and turns, keeps you interested, but doesn't go anywhere specific. But this comp is about how it feels, nothing about what happens in the same.
Sarah Waters also-- that feel as well. and a bit of Mexican Gothic here. Donna Leon for the dark underbelly of Venice, but this is also 1700.
House of Hunger by Henderson is a good novel on paper, except it is brisk and this is a very slow burn. More about the setting and the atmosphere and the reader feeling the dread and waiting for the monster to pounce, for the hunger Mercy is consumed by to be satiated.
But this is not a story led by its action. It is 1700 Venice first, it is a mystery of what happened on the ship in the background. It is Mercy's extreme unease, the hunger, the fear, and the terror that surrounds her juxtaposed but the piles of food, sexual pleasure, amazing clothes, parties.
Those who love a lush 1700s Italian setting but don't want the horror won't enjoy this. But then also people who want the monster to be in the forefront and don't want to spend the time on the atmosphere will also not enjoy it.
Slashed Beauties by Allison Rushby is a good readalike here as well. Also, The Glowing Hours by Leila Siddiqui
This is a good book. And the fact that it will be hard to pigeon hole makes it better. Definitely perfect for anyone who likes her debut-- Midnight Rooms.
I recently read Red Sacrament by Hinkley. These readers overlap.
Three Words To Describe This Book: strong sense of place, lush and sensual, chilling
Draft Review: Coles returns after her critically acclaimed debut, Midnight Rooms, with a chilling, intoxicating tale set during a hot Venetian summer, 1700. Mercy steps off a boat from America to Venice, the only survivor, carrying one of the first daguerreotype cameras and the letter which brought her owner, The Professor, half a world away, from an Anatomist, requesting photographs be taken of his carefully dissected bodies. When Mercy is able to perform the task beautifully, he wants to keep her close. Knowing her magical skill– making people’s images appear on a glass slide– will amuse his friend the Contessa, he brings Mercy to be her guest. Thrust into a life of hedonistic excess, Mercy’s disorientation is palpable, as the sensuality of bodies, food, silk, and parties is juxtaposed with her unease, trauma, and insatiable hunger*. However, a monster has followed Mercy off the ship and it is on a brutal murder spree. Before summer ends, Mercy will be forced to make her stand. Told solely through Mercy’s eyes, this slow-burn, atmospheric tale has a dark, fable feel which will draw readers in long before the monster gets its claws into them.
Verdict: Coles has proved she is no one hit wonder with her wholly original, impossible to pigeon-hole, second novel. Suggest to readers who enjoyed titles as varied as The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson, and Slashed Beauties by A. Rushby.
wholly original, slow burn-- in fact the slow burn is the point here, unable to be pigeon-holed, atmospheric, 1700 Venice.
This book is unlike anything else you have read. That is a good thing but also, if it gets in the wrong hands people will be disappointed, in the right hands, they will rejoice.
The story is from Mercy's eyes. 1700, Mercy went through something horrible on a boat from America to Venice, accompanying her owner, "The Professor." She is his slave and assistant. She belonged to his mother before. That unsettling relationship is revealed over time. The Professor is in possession of one of the first daguerreotype cameras. Mercy appears to be the only survivor of a horrific ordeal on the ship. She takes the letter the Professor was carrying and the camera and goes to an Anatomist's house. She takes the photo of the body he was dissecting and he brings her to a Contessa's home.
Most of the book is set in this home of excess. It is intoxicating and disorienting and just full of hedonism. The writing is lush, the descriptions sensual (everything from food to sex), Venice in 1700 is a time of excess for the rich, but also decay and dirt and murder.
What is day and what is night? Parties all the time. Mercy enjoys it all but also captures people's photos on glass for them
People are being killed outside from early on. It does not appear to be murder by a human. The bodies are brutally torn up. The head of the Night Watch, thinks Mercy is involved....somwhow.
Pairing the idea that the camera will steal the soul with the monster stalking Venice this very hot summer. It is hungry. It has followed Mercy, the only survivor of the ship. But also, if the monster part of her? This is an ongoing question.
Horror of trauma here as well-- Mercy carries it heavily. Her story of life as a slave is slowly unveiled but the reader feels its burden on her. It adds unease and darkness, a heavy pressure that pushes on the reader the entire time.
It reminded me of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern-- dark and atmospheric, a mystery, chilling with some real fear. A slow burn that twists and turns, keeps you interested, but doesn't go anywhere specific. But this comp is about how it feels, nothing about what happens in the same.
Sarah Waters also-- that feel as well. and a bit of Mexican Gothic here. Donna Leon for the dark underbelly of Venice, but this is also 1700.
House of Hunger by Henderson is a good novel on paper, except it is brisk and this is a very slow burn. More about the setting and the atmosphere and the reader feeling the dread and waiting for the monster to pounce, for the hunger Mercy is consumed by to be satiated.
But this is not a story led by its action. It is 1700 Venice first, it is a mystery of what happened on the ship in the background. It is Mercy's extreme unease, the hunger, the fear, and the terror that surrounds her juxtaposed but the piles of food, sexual pleasure, amazing clothes, parties.
Those who love a lush 1700s Italian setting but don't want the horror won't enjoy this. But then also people who want the monster to be in the forefront and don't want to spend the time on the atmosphere will also not enjoy it.
Slashed Beauties by Allison Rushby is a good readalike here as well. Also, The Glowing Hours by Leila Siddiqui
This is a good book. And the fact that it will be hard to pigeon hole makes it better. Definitely perfect for anyone who likes her debut-- Midnight Rooms.
I recently read Red Sacrament by Hinkley. These readers overlap.
August 27, 2026
OKAY now that I have read it. Time to review!
So to get the obvious out of the way, spoilers ahead.
Overall, I liked it. MADE ME DEPRESSED? YES. But it was good. And to sort of bluntly tell some folks:
People saying that the story fizzled after the first body did not pay attention. At all. Sorry, but you didn't. I dunno what to tell you except find another book that works for you.
The hunger that settled in Mercy was the constant starvation for not only food but for love, attention and companionship. But she HAD committed some cannibalistic acts so, you know, sometimes she got a little bit hungry. I enjoyed her a lot and respected how comfortable she became in the end, which made this fate all the more tragic.
Everything came together but when it was spelled out st the end, I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed. We didn't need a complete show and tell from the monster or its appearance; I think having it only show its carnage vs its true form would have elevated the fear factor. Because what's more frightening than the unknown?
And it took me a moment to realize because at first, I considered she had decided to take her own life when walking into the sea but then I realized she isn't.. really human anymore.
So where she's going now, may be somewhere new, where her body is a vessel for an entity that loves and accepts her for who she is. Since no one else survived its jealous rampage because after all, they're alike in so many ways.
Honestly I can't blame her. If she decided to let the Hunter come and kill it, nothing else would exist. Her loved ones memories would be gone. She would be treated like an object again and possibly worse - considering how her being the only survivor again would look like to others.
So to get the obvious out of the way, spoilers ahead.
Overall, I liked it. MADE ME DEPRESSED? YES. But it was good. And to sort of bluntly tell some folks:
People saying that the story fizzled after the first body did not pay attention. At all. Sorry, but you didn't. I dunno what to tell you except find another book that works for you.
The hunger that settled in Mercy was the constant starvation for not only food but for love, attention and companionship. But she HAD committed some cannibalistic acts so, you know, sometimes she got a little bit hungry. I enjoyed her a lot and respected how comfortable she became in the end, which made this fate all the more tragic.
Everything came together but when it was spelled out st the end, I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed. We didn't need a complete show and tell from the monster or its appearance; I think having it only show its carnage vs its true form would have elevated the fear factor. Because what's more frightening than the unknown?
And it took me a moment to realize because at first, I considered she had decided to take her own life when walking into the sea but then I realized she isn't.. really human anymore.
So where she's going now, may be somewhere new, where her body is a vessel for an entity that loves and accepts her for who she is. Since no one else survived its jealous rampage because after all, they're alike in so many ways.
Honestly I can't blame her. If she decided to let the Hunter come and kill it, nothing else would exist. Her loved ones memories would be gone. She would be treated like an object again and possibly worse - considering how her being the only survivor again would look like to others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for approving me for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The cover art and the description really drew me in and piqued my interest — a formerly enslaved black woman running away to Venice with the first ever camera. However, this took me so long to read because I was anticipating for something to happen and it just never did. I felt like it didn’t really deliver on the Lovecraftian horror I was promised 😞 I really don’t mind when horror novels or even gothic novels are slow, I love to immerse myself in the world and the characters, but man… I felt as though NOTHING was happening while reading it. 😭 I thought something would happen when the body was found in the river, but it felt as though everyone just kinda brushed past it??? I felt like I barely knew the characters yet I wanted to know more about the main character yet the plot kinda meander along the way.
It honestly didn’t pick UNTIL 71% which is insane and honestly by that time I just wanted it to be over. Now despite my early criticisms I do have to give credit, the author knows how to build a creeping dread and can make things seems not right within the world, I just really do wish I could’ve really sunk my teeth into it
The cover art and the description really drew me in and piqued my interest — a formerly enslaved black woman running away to Venice with the first ever camera. However, this took me so long to read because I was anticipating for something to happen and it just never did. I felt like it didn’t really deliver on the Lovecraftian horror I was promised 😞 I really don’t mind when horror novels or even gothic novels are slow, I love to immerse myself in the world and the characters, but man… I felt as though NOTHING was happening while reading it. 😭 I thought something would happen when the body was found in the river, but it felt as though everyone just kinda brushed past it??? I felt like I barely knew the characters yet I wanted to know more about the main character yet the plot kinda meander along the way.
It honestly didn’t pick UNTIL 71% which is insane and honestly by that time I just wanted it to be over. Now despite my early criticisms I do have to give credit, the author knows how to build a creeping dread and can make things seems not right within the world, I just really do wish I could’ve really sunk my teeth into it
August 2, 2026
Rounded up from 2.5 stars.
Mercy, once enslaved and now free, arrives in Venice armed with an address and a camera. She is welcomed into the whirlwind excess of Adelaide, a beautiful and wealthy contessa. As the summer heat rises, a hunger festers in the heart of Venice, and more and more mangled bodies turn up in the canals. What horror stalks the city, and can it be stopped?
Donyae Coles is a master of creating atmosphere, and the dense, stifling dread that infuses these pages is relentless. The summer heat, the mountains of food, and the physicality of the characters are tangible, as is the underlying sense of decay. I was caught by the gorgeous prose and pulled deeper into that gothic undertow.
The trouble comes when the plot starts to drag in places and breaks in others. Some scenes are so disjointed that I had to back up a couple of pages to reread in an effort to find the thread. Sometimes that thread never materialized. The book starts out strong but becomes more and more muddled, and promising characters and storylines are inexplicably abandoned.
In the end, I didn’t hate the book. It was readable enough that finishing it wasn’t a chore. The plot is a bit of a mess, and I found myself a disappointed having loved Midnight Rooms.
My thanks to Donyae Coles, Amistad Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this uncorrected proof.
Mercy, once enslaved and now free, arrives in Venice armed with an address and a camera. She is welcomed into the whirlwind excess of Adelaide, a beautiful and wealthy contessa. As the summer heat rises, a hunger festers in the heart of Venice, and more and more mangled bodies turn up in the canals. What horror stalks the city, and can it be stopped?
Donyae Coles is a master of creating atmosphere, and the dense, stifling dread that infuses these pages is relentless. The summer heat, the mountains of food, and the physicality of the characters are tangible, as is the underlying sense of decay. I was caught by the gorgeous prose and pulled deeper into that gothic undertow.
The trouble comes when the plot starts to drag in places and breaks in others. Some scenes are so disjointed that I had to back up a couple of pages to reread in an effort to find the thread. Sometimes that thread never materialized. The book starts out strong but becomes more and more muddled, and promising characters and storylines are inexplicably abandoned.
In the end, I didn’t hate the book. It was readable enough that finishing it wasn’t a chore. The plot is a bit of a mess, and I found myself a disappointed having loved Midnight Rooms.
My thanks to Donyae Coles, Amistad Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this uncorrected proof.
Did Not Finish
July 28, 2026⭐️ Rating: 2/5
I had to DMF this book at 58%.
If I find myself reading a book for more than five days during a work week, it's usually a sign that the book just isn't for me.
I had high hopes for this one. I love gothic novels, especially those with an atmospheric gothic setting, and I was intrigued by the concept of following our FMC as she captures the dead through photography.
What didn't work for me was the pacing. I thought things would start to pick up once our FMC saw the dead body floating in the ocean, but unfortunately, it didn't.
I think this book will work for a reader who enjoys a slower pace and watching the story gradually unfold. It may also appeal to those who love gothic novels and the 1700s Venice setting. Other than that, I don't have much else to say about who I would recommend it to.
I had to DMF this book at 58%.
If I find myself reading a book for more than five days during a work week, it's usually a sign that the book just isn't for me.
I had high hopes for this one. I love gothic novels, especially those with an atmospheric gothic setting, and I was intrigued by the concept of following our FMC as she captures the dead through photography.
What didn't work for me was the pacing. I thought things would start to pick up once our FMC saw the dead body floating in the ocean, but unfortunately, it didn't.
I think this book will work for a reader who enjoys a slower pace and watching the story gradually unfold. It may also appeal to those who love gothic novels and the 1700s Venice setting. Other than that, I don't have much else to say about who I would recommend it to.
Read
August 4, 2026Ehhh DNF @ ~50%. I enjoyed Coles’ Midnight Rooms, and I really like her vibesy writing. *However*, I needed more to be happening. I often complain that stories don’t escalate evenly enough, and that’s how I feel here.
There are also a lot of elements going on. Early photography, early anatomists, multiple people endlessly partying in a big house, trauma from enslavement and dehumanization, etc. I found myself wishing we focused on the anatomist, the weird deaths, and lost all the brothel (or whatever it was) stuff.
Mercy and the mystery surrounding her is definitely compelling (what happened on the ship? What’s going on with her hunger?), but I was also super bored with how little was happening and how same-y it felt.
Very much a bummer for me, but it’s a win for any reader that truly prioritizes vibes and lush, sensual writing. I’ll give whatever her next book is a go for sure!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
There are also a lot of elements going on. Early photography, early anatomists, multiple people endlessly partying in a big house, trauma from enslavement and dehumanization, etc. I found myself wishing we focused on the anatomist, the weird deaths, and lost all the brothel (or whatever it was) stuff.
Mercy and the mystery surrounding her is definitely compelling (what happened on the ship? What’s going on with her hunger?), but I was also super bored with how little was happening and how same-y it felt.
Very much a bummer for me, but it’s a win for any reader that truly prioritizes vibes and lush, sensual writing. I’ll give whatever her next book is a go for sure!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Sunken, the Adored by Donyae Coles is a dark, atmospheric read that offers a compelling glimpse into Mercy’s journey from bondage to freedom, set against the haunting backdrop of 1700 Venice. Coles does an admirable job of illustrating Mercy’s internal struggles as she navigates her newfound independence and her desire to live authentically. The character development is a strong point; Mercy’s growth from a turbulent survivor to a woman embracing her freedom and love is well depicted, and her interactions with the diverse cast of characters add richness to her story.
The setting of Venice is vividly portrayed, capturing the decadence and mystery of the city, which enhances the eerie tone of the narrative. The incorporation of the early photographic technology—a daguerreotype camera—adds an intriguing historical detail that complements the story’s gothic and Lovecraftian elements. The premise of a haunted city plagued by mysterious deaths and a lurking malevolence is compelling and kept me engaged for most of the book.
However, where the novel falters is in its pacing and resolution. The plot takes a significant turn when the origins of the monster and the nature of the malevolence are finally revealed, but this revelation occurs only in the last 10-15% of the book. I found this to be a bit anticlimactic, as I was expecting a more developed buildup and exploration of the horror elements throughout. The build-up felt somewhat drawn out, with considerable detail given to Mercy’s personal growth and the setting, but the climax felt rushed and somewhat lacking in impact. It was disappointing that so many questions about the creature and its connection to Mercy’s past remained unanswered or unresolved, leaving the story feeling somewhat incomplete.
Overall, I enjoyed the atmospheric writing and the character arcs, but the ending left me wanting more depth and a stronger sense of closure. If you’re a fan of gothic horror with a strong historical setting and don’t mind a slow build-up, this book has much to offer. But for those seeking a more satisfying conclusion or a fully fleshed-out horror finale, it might fall a bit short.
Would I recommend it? Possibly, especially if you’re intrigued by the idea of a haunted Venice intertwined with personal growth and dark secrets. Just go in expecting a story that develops gradually and leaves some mysteries lingering.
The setting of Venice is vividly portrayed, capturing the decadence and mystery of the city, which enhances the eerie tone of the narrative. The incorporation of the early photographic technology—a daguerreotype camera—adds an intriguing historical detail that complements the story’s gothic and Lovecraftian elements. The premise of a haunted city plagued by mysterious deaths and a lurking malevolence is compelling and kept me engaged for most of the book.
However, where the novel falters is in its pacing and resolution. The plot takes a significant turn when the origins of the monster and the nature of the malevolence are finally revealed, but this revelation occurs only in the last 10-15% of the book. I found this to be a bit anticlimactic, as I was expecting a more developed buildup and exploration of the horror elements throughout. The build-up felt somewhat drawn out, with considerable detail given to Mercy’s personal growth and the setting, but the climax felt rushed and somewhat lacking in impact. It was disappointing that so many questions about the creature and its connection to Mercy’s past remained unanswered or unresolved, leaving the story feeling somewhat incomplete.
Overall, I enjoyed the atmospheric writing and the character arcs, but the ending left me wanting more depth and a stronger sense of closure. If you’re a fan of gothic horror with a strong historical setting and don’t mind a slow build-up, this book has much to offer. But for those seeking a more satisfying conclusion or a fully fleshed-out horror finale, it might fall a bit short.
Would I recommend it? Possibly, especially if you’re intrigued by the idea of a haunted Venice intertwined with personal growth and dark secrets. Just go in expecting a story that develops gradually and leaves some mysteries lingering.
August 28, 2026
“This would not ruin her, she was already ruined.”
If you are looking for historical horror:
-vivid gore & death
-slow burn pacing
-350 pages
-solid narration
Every time that I read a novel from Donyae Coles I am left not knowing what to say. There is a lyrical , almost whimsical style about her writing that I love but, I always feel like “what did I just read?”
While I enjoyed this novel more than her debut I am split between my likes and dislikes.
Mercy as a character was complex, misunderstood, finding herself through a traumatic past & trying to fully immerse herself in the present. She’s a FMC that you can easily sympathize with. The concept was really good, too. I liked the daguerreotype photography narrative. It gave a unique spin on what you’d typically read regarding professions. Her journey in a new environment was enthralling to read.
With my dislikes…
I’m convinced that the author is very pro interracial romance. Both books intertwine it into the story and it adds nothing to the plot. With this, I could’ve gone without the white sapphic yearning. If the FMC is newly free from enslavement why would she ever engage in a sexual affair with a white woman? Lost me.
This didn’t did feel like horror. The story gave us whispers of scary moments but, it was overshadowed by Mercy’s admiration for the “beauty” & “culture” of her white counterparts. The slow burn would’ve hit harder had it built more around Mercy finding herself as a person, tbh.
The last 3 chapters I had to reread 3x to make sure that I wasn’t missing the way that this story ended. While I adore D. Cole’s writing style it can be very wordy in a way that you can easily forget what’s happening as you’re reading/listening. I kept asking myself “how did we get here?” But, once I connected everything the story came together and I appreciated what the story had to offer in its entirety.
I am on the fence about both of her books thus far. But, I want to see how her creativity flourishes as a writer in the future.
If you are looking for historical horror:
-vivid gore & death
-slow burn pacing
-350 pages
-solid narration
Every time that I read a novel from Donyae Coles I am left not knowing what to say. There is a lyrical , almost whimsical style about her writing that I love but, I always feel like “what did I just read?”
While I enjoyed this novel more than her debut I am split between my likes and dislikes.
Mercy as a character was complex, misunderstood, finding herself through a traumatic past & trying to fully immerse herself in the present. She’s a FMC that you can easily sympathize with. The concept was really good, too. I liked the daguerreotype photography narrative. It gave a unique spin on what you’d typically read regarding professions. Her journey in a new environment was enthralling to read.
With my dislikes…
I’m convinced that the author is very pro interracial romance. Both books intertwine it into the story and it adds nothing to the plot. With this, I could’ve gone without the white sapphic yearning. If the FMC is newly free from enslavement why would she ever engage in a sexual affair with a white woman? Lost me.
This didn’t did feel like horror. The story gave us whispers of scary moments but, it was overshadowed by Mercy’s admiration for the “beauty” & “culture” of her white counterparts. The slow burn would’ve hit harder had it built more around Mercy finding herself as a person, tbh.
The last 3 chapters I had to reread 3x to make sure that I wasn’t missing the way that this story ended. While I adore D. Cole’s writing style it can be very wordy in a way that you can easily forget what’s happening as you’re reading/listening. I kept asking myself “how did we get here?” But, once I connected everything the story came together and I appreciated what the story had to offer in its entirety.
I am on the fence about both of her books thus far. But, I want to see how her creativity flourishes as a writer in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, so The Sunken, The Adored was my first read by Donyae Coles, and honestly… what a wild, eerie, atmospheric ride. I got this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I’m really glad I picked it up because the premise hooked me immediately, a recently freed slave trying to build a new life in 1800s Venice, only to realize the horror she escaped might’ve followed her across the ocean? Yes, please!!! The storyline starts off strong with Mercy being the lone survivor on a ship, stepping into Venice with basically two things to her name, a daguerreotype camera and a letter meant for the man who used to own her. That alone had me leaning in to every word! The freed‑slave aspect of the story is what really grabbed me, watching Mercy navigate this new world, this new identity, this new freedom, all while carrying the weight of what she survived. It adds such a rich emotional layer to the horror. Plot‑wise, it’s this slow‑creeping, mythic horror dread that builds as Mercy gets pulled into Umberto’s anatomical photography work and then into the Contessa’s decadent, strange little world. The cast of characters she meets there is such a mix, charming, unsettling, mysterious and the interactions feel intentionally off‑kilter in a way that fits the vibe of Venice’s shadowy canals. The twist (no spoilers!) worked for me. It’s one of those reveals where you kind of suspect something is off, but when the truth lands, it reframes everything Mercy’s been experiencing. It’s dark, it’s weird, and it’s exactly the kind of horror that sticks to your ribs. The ending was satisfying in that eerie, lingering way, not neat, not tidy, but fitting for the story this author is telling. Mercy’s journey feels complete, even if the world around her remains unsettling. I would love to see this made into a movie or maybe a 4-part mini series. #netgalley #thesunkin,theadored
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you loved Coles' previous book, you're definitely going to love this one as well. She has a beautiful way with words, and the historical elements of this book are top notch. She gets bonus points for the sapphism in this one.
I do think this book won't be for everyone. Although there's an element of unease and dread present throughout the entire novel, the horror itself is quite a slow burn; the first half feels more like a (gothic, dark) historical novel than a horror one. Coles also doesn't spell things out, instead allowing the reader to infer, which some readers more used to the modern tendency to (over)explain what's happening might find a bit difficult or frustrating.
My personal quibbles, albeit minor, are that I would have liked to see a bit more of Mercy's work with the Anatomist and I would have liked to see the monster a little sooner.
All in all, The Sunken, the Adored proves that Coles is an author to watch. It's rare to find an author whose work is so self-assured, so rich. Like her first book, this one will live on in my mind for a long time to come.
I do think this book won't be for everyone. Although there's an element of unease and dread present throughout the entire novel, the horror itself is quite a slow burn; the first half feels more like a (gothic, dark) historical novel than a horror one. Coles also doesn't spell things out, instead allowing the reader to infer, which some readers more used to the modern tendency to (over)explain what's happening might find a bit difficult or frustrating.
My personal quibbles, albeit minor, are that I would have liked to see a bit more of Mercy's work with the Anatomist and I would have liked to see the monster a little sooner.
All in all, The Sunken, the Adored proves that Coles is an author to watch. It's rare to find an author whose work is so self-assured, so rich. Like her first book, this one will live on in my mind for a long time to come.
August 25, 2026
I do not DNF easily. I would rather out myself into a slump than DNF a book. Sadly, I couldn't push myself through this one. I greatly enjoyed the authors previous book, Midnight Rooms, so that makes having to put this down even more disappointing. The first page was SO beautifully written and drew me in but that momentum quickly fizzled out into something I would describe as agonizingly slow, disjointed and confusing. I gave this book entirely too long(150 pages) to prove itself in hopes that the amazing sounding synopsis would show itself but alas, I must admit defeat.
*After marking this as a DNF I decided to skim through the last 170 pages and that just further cemented my decision. The book did seem to pick up at about 3/4 of the way through but that's ridiculous to expect a reader to deal with 75% of a story before it picks up, no matter the genre. But I am marking this as READ since I put so much time and energy into it.
*After marking this as a DNF I decided to skim through the last 170 pages and that just further cemented my decision. The book did seem to pick up at about 3/4 of the way through but that's ridiculous to expect a reader to deal with 75% of a story before it picks up, no matter the genre. But I am marking this as READ since I put so much time and energy into it.
August 29, 2026
3.5⭐️ I won a Goodreads giveaway for The Sunken, the Adored and was excited to give it a try. This was such a strange, atmospheric read with a dark fairy tale quality that pulled me in right away. There’s a dreamlike, almost unsettling feeling throughout the story, and I really liked the way Donyae Coles plays with themes of obsession, grief, desire, and longing. The atmosphere was definitely the highlight for me. It felt eerie and a little surreal, and there were moments where I wasn’t quite sure what direction the story was going to take. I did find some parts a little uneven and wished certain aspects had been developed more, which kept me from completely loving it. Still, it was an interesting and unusual story with a very distinct mood. I’m glad I got the chance to discover it through the giveaway.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the second book I’ve read by Donyae Cole and I enjoyed this one just as much as the other. Cole has such a beautiful way of writing and I appreciate it very much. I loved the thoughts and conversations this book brought up about freed slaves and the struggles they have to endure no matter where they go. This book had such a wonderful atmosphere and slow, creeping dread. This book was a slow burn and the climax didn’t happen until almost the very end. I liked the twist and I think it landed well. I recommend this book if you enjoy slow-burning horror with depth.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Amistad for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Amistad for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
August 31, 2026
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, so thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this novella! All opinions are my own.
I must say that while I was not a huge fan of the prose and the author's style, I did really love the story and characters. On a sentence level, the book felt a little choppy and fragmented, but the story itself flowed gently into this dark and beautiful experience. The queer storyline was also a pleasant little surprise. The buildup to the ending (what an unforgettable ending!) is slow and carries little hints of darkness throughout, always reminding the reader that Mercy did whatever she had to to survive.
I must say that while I was not a huge fan of the prose and the author's style, I did really love the story and characters. On a sentence level, the book felt a little choppy and fragmented, but the story itself flowed gently into this dark and beautiful experience. The queer storyline was also a pleasant little surprise. The buildup to the ending (what an unforgettable ending!) is slow and carries little hints of darkness throughout, always reminding the reader that Mercy did whatever she had to to survive.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to NetGalley & Harper Collins for allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC of The Sunken, the Adored.
This was my first book by Donyae Coles and I'm sure it won't be my last.
The author really created a dark, lush, unsettling, sensual, & moody world. The book felt heavy and brooding and I really liked that. The sense of dread was strong on these pages.
I did find the story to drag quite a bit, there were many stretches where nothing seemed to happen. The attention of detail in setting the mood and world made up for the lack of action.
This was my first book by Donyae Coles and I'm sure it won't be my last.
The author really created a dark, lush, unsettling, sensual, & moody world. The book felt heavy and brooding and I really liked that. The sense of dread was strong on these pages.
I did find the story to drag quite a bit, there were many stretches where nothing seemed to happen. The attention of detail in setting the mood and world made up for the lack of action.
Want to Read
April 19, 2026Midnight Rooms was my favourite book of 2024. It was a story I find myself thinking about often -- such a fantastic example of the gothic genre and one of very few faerie books I've enjoyed! VERY excited to see Donyae Coles has another novel coming out this year.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Disappointingly slow and disjointed. The Sunken, the Adored has an intriguing core premise and atmospheric world-building, but it completely falls apart in the execution.
The pacing is sloggy for the vast majority of the book. The characters feel flat and difficult to root for, making it hard to stay invested when the plot stalls. It had potential, but it ultimately felt like a chore to finish.
The pacing is sloggy for the vast majority of the book. The characters feel flat and difficult to root for, making it hard to stay invested when the plot stalls. It had potential, but it ultimately felt like a chore to finish.
September 1, 2026
This is a beautifully written book and the ending really catapults in John Carpenter-style with visuals. That being said, I feel like there were a lot of moments that felt too casual for everything that was going on. Still a good book.
Want to Read
May 6, 2026HELL YES
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lush, gorgeous, and creepy, like the scent of incense in an ornate morgue. Donyae Coles is truly the Queen of the gothic tale.
August 28, 2026
3.5-3.75/5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 stars
The Gothic vibes in this novel were so on point. It was immersive, heavy, dark. I could easily imagine myself in Venice in the 1700s, living in gross (both the definitions for disgusting and excessive) decadence while a supernatural mystery played out in the canals and alleyways.
But other than the perfect vibes, this was actually a super dull read.
I think this book was trying to be more of a character study rather than a plot-driven story. But I don't think it really succeeded on that front. (The plot-driven portion didn't hit the mark for me either, truth be told.) We don't really learn much about Mercy's life as a formerly enslaved person. What I love about character study novels is learning about the MC's history, inner thoughts, relationships, etc.
But here, we barely get anything. Mercy was basically just a vessel for storytelling. We barely get to know her. I didn't even understand her job. For most of the book, all she did was just hang around some rich lady's house. Like that was literally it. I could only take so much of the bourgeoisie and the dillydallying. What was the point?
The only actual Lovecraftian thing happened in the last 10% of the novel. But that was so late in the game that I wish I had DNF the book instead. And before that, I could count the number of supernatural/horror happenings on one hand. Lord, this was such a dull book.
As much as I want to give this a lower rating, like I mentioned before, the Gothic vibes were really well done. Everything else? Not so much.
Thank you to Amistad and NetGalley for this arc.
The Gothic vibes in this novel were so on point. It was immersive, heavy, dark. I could easily imagine myself in Venice in the 1700s, living in gross (both the definitions for disgusting and excessive) decadence while a supernatural mystery played out in the canals and alleyways.
But other than the perfect vibes, this was actually a super dull read.
I think this book was trying to be more of a character study rather than a plot-driven story. But I don't think it really succeeded on that front. (The plot-driven portion didn't hit the mark for me either, truth be told.) We don't really learn much about Mercy's life as a formerly enslaved person. What I love about character study novels is learning about the MC's history, inner thoughts, relationships, etc.
But here, we barely get anything. Mercy was basically just a vessel for storytelling. We barely get to know her. I didn't even understand her job. For most of the book, all she did was just hang around some rich lady's house. Like that was literally it. I could only take so much of the bourgeoisie and the dillydallying. What was the point?
The only actual Lovecraftian thing happened in the last 10% of the novel. But that was so late in the game that I wish I had DNF the book instead. And before that, I could count the number of supernatural/horror happenings on one hand. Lord, this was such a dull book.
As much as I want to give this a lower rating, like I mentioned before, the Gothic vibes were really well done. Everything else? Not so much.
Thank you to Amistad and NetGalley for this arc.
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