Reliquary

by Hannah Whitten, Lauren Fortgang (Narrator)

'Hannah Whitten was born to write horror! . . . Utterly brilliant'
Rachel Gillig, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Knight and the Moth

'Once I started reading, I couldn't stop!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Had me on the edge of my SEAT' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Deeply unsettling, and one of my favourite horror reads of the year' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I devoured this book' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'LOVED THIS' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Gothic horror at its finest' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In this deliciously atmospheric horror debut from New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten, a grieving woman is lured to her late fiancé's remote island estate - only to uncover eerie family secrets, a haunting past, and a monstrous hunger stirring beneath the sea.

When Claire's fiancé Elias mysteriously dies of an unknown neurological illness, his estranged family invites her to a three-day wake at Harrow Point, their family home on a remote private island. Claire feels like she's being given the chance to find family again, to belong.

But something isn't right - their home stirs strange memories of the accident that killed Claire's parents, and Elias's brother seems insistent that she leave as soon as possible. As she dives deeper into the world of Harrow Point, she discover that there's something swimming in the bowels of Harrow Point, and it is hungry. But as Claire's window for escape rapidly closes, she starts to wonder, does she even want to?

'A wild ride from start to finish. If you're a fan of the type of horror that is viscerally creepy but also makes you whisper "hell yeah" under your breath, look no further! I loved every salt-drenched second'
Tori Bovalino, author of My Throat an Open Grave

'Propulsive and completely impossible to put down . . . Hannah Whitten is my new favourite voice in horror'
Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child

'Evocative, haunting and deeply unsettling. Hannah's salt-soaked horror debut cements her as one of the most brilliant and incisive voices in speculative fiction'
Alexis Henderson, author of An Academy for Liars

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Fantasy, Adult, Paranormal, Thriller, Mystery

9 pages, Audiobook

Published 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

[Ricarda]

To all the weird stuff in the ocean that is none of my business. I feel this dedication in my soul and maybe that's why this book worked perfectly for me. If all of humanity just collectively stayed away from the depths of the ocean, life would be better. At least that's true for the characters in this book. Claire Sutherland would never have ended up on the private island of her dead fiancée's super rich family. It may sound really fancy, but things are just too strange around there. The family home is built into a mountain and lies half underground; they have a barn but no farm animals to speak of and everyone is just really into freaky ocean stuff. But Claire is happy to be welcomed warmly as she really doesn't know how to deal with anything after the unexpected death of her fiancée Elias. She's full of grief and full of questions, and what the hell is she supposed to do with Elias' gross tentacle-fish pet? So even if the family is strangely cult-like, she is looking forward to connecting with them. Until they want to connect a bit too much, of course. The story reminded me a bit of the Ready Or Not movies, but with tentacles and less action. It's actually quite slow-moving and I understand everyone who was bored while reading, but I liked the claustrophobic atmosphere that was created through it. There were red flags everywhere, but I never had the feeling that Claire could just leave and I was so intrigued to see where the story was going. Claire might not be the most interesting character to follow as she is a very distant person with little personality and emotions, but she still worked very well as a protagonist for me. I gasped when her hollowness was actually addressed in the story later on and her whole characterization made so much sense to me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was always happy to pick it back up. It also helped that I'm terrified of the ocean but also slightly curious and I just needed to find out what marine abominations were waiting for me here. I was not disappointed in that regard and I absolutely loved the last 20% of the book. I had quite mixed experiences with the author before, but I think that horror might really be her thing. I'm excited to see what's coming next from her.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Run For It for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Lucia]

Contemporary gothic with a dash of cosmic horror ✨

I really enjoyed the characterization of Claire. She appears to be bland and too trusting at first, but as we get to know her we can see exactly how her past trauma molded her personality and led her exactly to where she is.

The writing is atmospheric and vivid. I loved the strange architecture of Harrow Point (home of the Ashbury family), I could really picture how bizarre the underground (and underwater) house looked and how oppressive it felt to Claire since she’s claustrophobic.
The eldritch horror aspect of the book is fun and entertaining, the mix of Lovecraftian and gothic works really well here.

Sometimes gothic horror endings disappoint me but this is not the case, I really enjoyed the conclusion and many of the things that happen at the end caught me by surprise.

I think gothic horror lovers will find this is almost a comfort read 😆 It’s not groundbreaking but all the elements work really well together. I truly enjoyed this book and I'm intrigued to read more from this author!

Thanks to Run For It via NetGalley for providing an eARC

[Cassie]

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.

[Me, My Shelf, & I]

A 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.

[Faiza]

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!

[Taylor]

Truly, a terrifying horror concept: weird, overbearing in-laws.

Claire Sutherland's world shatters when her fiancé suddenly passes away, seemingly from an unknown neurological condition. Though Claire and Elias always had a frosty relationship, she knew they were a good match. With Claire’s family lost to a freak boating accident when she was young, and Elias distant from his after a disagreement about the billion-dollar family business, both were secretive about their childhoods, and neither pushed for more. When his estranged family invites her to a celebration of Elias’s life, hosted on their private island, Claire is desperate to be accepted into the family she never had. As she dives deep into the twisted lives of the Ashburys, Claire begins to uncover not just their well-kept secrets, but her own.

Ooooh this was so good!! It’s one where you should go in knowing as little as possible, so I will be as vague as I can. Not that it’s saying much, but I think this was the most repulsed and stressed I’ve been by a horror book in my (small) exploration into the genre so far, and I loved it! Plus the writing style was just incredible, great word choices and a strong aesthetic, matched with powerful emotions oozing off the page - dread, grief, paranoia - all making this a wonderfully terrifying horror concoction.

One of my minor critiques is that I just wanted to connect with Claire a little bit more. I did really feel for her, in the beginning especially, unable to process the shock of her fiancé’s sudden passing. But in the face of all this insanity, she's so passive and accepting that I couldn't relate to her at all, which took me out of the story a bit. On the flip side, the story cannot work without her ability to go with the flow. It’s a bit like Far Cry 5 where the only good ending is to leave before it starts, which would be a pretty bad horror novel.

I also had a small issue with the pacing. There’s this lengthy portion in the middle of the book where Claire is getting integrated “deeper” into the family, and they’re showing her more about their business and hinting at family secrets, but it’s a lot of alluding with no specifics or escalation. They’ll say something ominous and go ‘oh just a family joke’ or talk about ‘the sacrifices needed to be part of the Ashbury family’ but never go farther than that. At a point, it did feel a bit repetitive, especially when you have more context as the reader and you know the family is up to some weird stuff.

Oh, but when their balancing act finally falls apart, and the secrets come out - shit really gets crazy. It's all the horrific, messed up stuff you want from one of these cultish family thrillers. Even when the pace was a little slower, my eyes were glued to the page. And the reveals are so good - perfectly placed, never feeling unearned or too nonsensical, and tying everything together seamlessly. There are so many moments in this that I think will stick with me for a long time; I finished this book hours ago and certain scenes are still burned into my head.

Anyway, this was my first Hannah Whitten, but it certainly won’t be the last! I think I’m slowly but surely becoming a horror fan, and this is definitely my favorite I’ve read so far. I would strongly recommend this for fans of eldritch horror, rich family thrillers, and/or an unapologetically unhinged FMC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nathalie]

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.

[Meghan (TheBookGoblin)]

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating 3.5 stars .

This was so entertaining! I would say somehwere between Ready or Not and Call of Cthulu.

The vibes were absolutely vibing with this, especially in the first half. The description that best comes to mind would be...Ocean Gothic? Highly atmospheric with an overall sinister feeling.

While I had a good time and think it was generally written well, there were a few things that kept it from being a 5 star for me.

The characters were all interesting, but I did feel like they were a bit flat at times. A lot more backstory could have fleshed them out. Claire especially needed more expansion to explain why she is the way she is, because as it stands she just seems like a total weakling for no reason.

There were also teases of locations that I would have loved to see explored, especially the domed island where Elias supposedly communed with the god for months and the labs. They were mentioned a few times but then we never get to see them at all, which was super disappointing.

I also found the ending to be a bit vague. Things resolved in kind of a weird way nd it was a little unsatisfying. As dramatic as it was, I still wanted more revenge.

In any case, I did really enjoy it and there were some scenes I wont forget for a long time.

[Barb (Boxermommyreads)]

I don't know what I expected when I picked this one up and I'm glad I didn't. What I found was a Gothic cosmic horror tale which is likely to end up on my top ten reads of the year list.

When the book opens, Claire has just learned that her fiancé Elias has died from a sudden aneurysm and she has been called to the hospital because the doctors have found something odd. It just so happens they have never seen the pattern they found in Elias' brain and even more, don't know how he managed to live as long as he did. Claire begins to grieve and as she does, the reader is given a glimpse into the two's relationship and both of their familial issues. Claire's family was killed in a boating accident when she was young, and Elias' family owns a marinography company specializing in sea research and submarine building and for the past few years, he has had nothing to do with them.

Even though they have never met, Elias' family invites them to their coastal estate to bury Elias and celebrate his life. Feeling more alone than ever, Claire decides to go. However, before long, she grows suspect of the mansion, built into a rock formation and primarily under water, the submarine prototype where all family members spend their wedding night (did I mention it was clear), and the staff, who all seem to be suffering from some kind of deformity. Add in the weird family members and their odd spouses, and things start adding up for Claire. What is going on with Elias family and just how far is Claire expected to go to belong? And why do visions of Elias, in various states of decay and dripping salt water and seaweed, keep appearing to her and apologizing for things she has no knowledge of?

I can't gush enough about this book. The plot was very creative and unlike any I recall ever reading. Whitten does a fantastic job of creating a sense of dread from the first chapter which only intensifies as the story progresses. Thinking back, I'm not sure I ever really liked Claire, but I was completely invested in her life and what she was experiencing. I also loved the description of the creepy manor and its inhabitants and honestly, this book could have been even longer, and I think I would have only loved it even more.

If you love Gothic tales, cosmic horror and feeling like the ocean is crushing in on you, then you should definitely pick up this book. I believe this is the author's first adult horror book and I'm really hoping she has many more up her sleeve.

[ali skibicki]

4.25/5⭐️ This was such a wonderful horror debut. I flew through it in just two days! Reliquary is an INCREDIBLY atmospheric gothic horror that should be making it's way on to the TBR of anyone who loves those "spooky season vibes".

In Reliquary, we are following our FMC, Claire. After her fiance Elias dies unexpectedly, she is reached out to by his wealthy family to go to their private island for his funeral. However, once she arrives on the island, the family continues to be more and more bizarre but Claire tolerates it as she craves nothing more than a loving family. Claire works well as our main character because she has severe PTSD, anxiety, and family issues that allow her to be easily manipulated into situations out of desperation for acceptance. While Claire was frustrating at times, the way her character is developed makes total sense by the end of the story. I don't mind when a character keeps "making bad choices" when it ends up being meaningful.

However, the overall gothic tone and atmosphere of this book is where Reliquary really excelled. It was vivid enough to bring the setting to life and create a sense of dread from beginning to end. I saw in another review and absolutely agree that elements of this book reminded me of the movie Ready or Not. I definitely pictured some of those cast members while reading this book!

Thank yoh Orbit for the eARC!

[Kirsten Reads Horror]

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.

[Karina (shedreamsinwords)]

After Claire’s fiancé passes away, his family invited her to their secluded island for his funeral services. After some strange occurrences and subliminal messaging, she discovers that not all is as it seems. Soon enough, a secret from her past resurfaces because after all, all debts must be paid.


The eerie, unsettling nature of this story and setting served up exactly what I wanted! This story features a creepy isolated setting, occult vibes, odd sea creatures and fun little ending to spin the narrative on its head. Add this to your spooky season tbr immediately 👻

[mo • lesmotsdemo]

3.5 rounded up for Goodreads and Netgalley.
It was a gripping read. Definitely unhinged at times, and undeniably grim. The atmosphere was one of the highlights of the novel; the author successfully created a gritty and eerie atmopshere that added layers to a rather complex plot. The plot was well-developed and full of intense and gruesome moments. Claire was a tortured but compelling character to discover and the rest of the characters was seriously fucked up, but in an engaging kind of way (I wanted to know how far they were willing to go, how deep their madness was). It is hard to believe that this is the author’s horror debut; it was a masterfully written novel and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Azhar]

the crazy secrets of the rich family of “ready or not” meets the aquatic dread of “our wives under the sea” mixed with the culty weirdness of “midsommar”.

[Christy]

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

[Cate]

I can’t say that I’m impressed. I wanted more from the plot, from the horror, from the characters. Decent, but not impressive in my opinion.

[Zen]

This was so unexpected.

[VeroniCanRead]

4.25 ⭐ ARC Review

TLDR; What a perfect blend of sea horror, creepy in-laws, and claustrophobia done in a new way.

🐙 For Fans of:
- sea horror
- atmospheric horror
- recent death of fiance
- underwater
- claustrophobia
- suspense
- creepy in-laws
- found family gone wrong
- short books (under 300)
- single POV
- single timeline
- Movie: Get Out (2017)

✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
When Claire’s fiance suddenly passes, his elusive family reaches out and invites her to a long weekend at their seaside estate to celebrate her fiance’s life. Soon after arriving (and realizing the estate is actually underwater which isn’t so great for her claustrophobia) things start getting weird. Caught between something just feeling off and finally feeling like she belongs, Claire isn’t sure what to do or what’s going on. Once she figures it out, is it too late?

This is one of those books that makes me stop and wonder what IS in the ocean? That’s how creepy the author wrote this book. It keeps you on edge the whole time because even if the FMC, Claire, feels comforted, something just feels off. People are too nice. People tell her to leave. So why doesn’t she?

Not only was there the constant creepiness and foreboding feeling, but there’s an underlying story that explains it all, and THAT is what I found myself staying up late to find out.

That said, I found this book SO satisfying! It was such a good one and put a new twist on being stuck in a house with a creepy family. Definitely gives some Get Out vibes but described so well that it’s clearly its own beast.

I know this is Hannah Whitten’s first horror book and is very different from their usual romantic fantasy but 👏 well done! 👏
I hope to read more from her in the horror genre in the future!


🖤 Thank you to author Hannah Whitten and publisher Run For It, Orbit Books,and Hachette Book Group for the advanced reader copy (ARC) via NetGalley.
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!

📚 Book: Reliquary by Hannah Whitten
📅 Release Date: August 11, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4.25 out of 5

[Calton]

Ladies and gents, I am delighted to report that Hannah Whitten has done it once again. She is truly an absolute visionary of our time, and we are all blessed to live in the same age as her. Every single book she puts out is like a religious — word choice intended — experience, and I will be here for it every time like the most faithful of covenants. Her stories never fail to twist me inside out and remind me that deep inside, we are all monsters.

Coming from a seaside town myself, I have always felt the pull of the sea, something that people born further inland will never be able to truly understand, and Reliquary has played into that masterfully. The ocean is a place of unimaginable horror (really, we should all heed Lovecraft’s warnings more), and it has a gravity like nothing else on this earth. Once it has laid its claim you, you will never be able to stay away for long, and this book takes that feeling and turns it into blood, and sludge, and rot. It’s incredible. No words to describe just how much I loved and appreciated every single metaphor being ocean-related, like it all ties back into it.

A masterpiece. As always.

UPD: Had an absolutely horrific nightmare the night I finished this, and that quite literally never happens to me when I watch/read horror, so if you need one more reason to pick this up — this is it.

Thank you, NetGalley!

[Ketelen ✩]

RTC.

Thanks to Run For It for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[hadesthehermit]

Thank you to Orbit Books, Run For It, and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

Reliquary was really great for me until it wasn't unfortunately.

I loved the beginning, the first chapter had me in its grip!!! I was predicting for it to be a 5 Star read easily. But, the further I read, I felt that the FMC, Claire, was not reacting in a believable way under the circumstances she found herself in. I kept thinking that she was definitely the character in a movie that is the first to die. Ignored all of the red flags, warning signs, and was willfully ignorant. I wished that her character gave a better performance essentially.

The story oddly read like three separate books that somehow got sliced up and pasted into one document....the first could have easily been a psychological thriller/mystery, the middle part could have been a haunting gothic mystery, and the ending could have been a sci-fi horror. But, they didn't all blend into one believable, cohesive novel in my opinion.

There was a point in the ending that I think the FMC, Claire, just changed personalities. I wished that the story dug deeper, earlier on, and then just spiraled into terrifying depths. I think there were parts where it felt like the story was a cd skipping due to scratches/dirt....the flow was off and left elements of true horror to be desired for myself.

The ending was great, but not believable from how the character was depicted for majority of the book. I think Hannah Whitten is a well written author, but I don't think she quite pulled this story off to its greatest version personally speaking.

[Mirinha]

This was my first Hannah Whitten book, and it definitely won't be my last. Reliquary is a gripping blend of psychological thriller, supernatural horror, and unsettling body horror that kept me hooked from the first page.

The atmosphere is the standout. From the moment Claire arrives at her late fiancé's family's isolated island estate, everything feels unsettling. The tension builds at a steady pace before giving way to increasingly disturbing and bizarre twists, making it impossible to predict where the story was heading.

I also enjoyed Claire as a protagonist. Her choices can be frustrating at times, but they're shaped by grief and trauma in a way that felt believable, making her character arc especially rewarding. The novel also explores themes of faith, power, and loss, which added depth beyond the horror.

Although I would have loved a little more development for some of the supporting characters, the eerie setting, memorable horror, and satisfying conclusion made this a fantastic introduction to Whitten's work.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sierra]

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.

[Colleen]

3.5 stars

I've read Whitten's other fantasy books. This one is set in modern day, and I think I prefer the fantasy worlds. There were a lot of brand names and pop culture references. Luckily, this tapered off as the story went on. Not a fan of brand names and pop culture references outside of very specific circumstances. Loved the cult vibes and body horror. The deep sea lends itself very well to horror. Pretty solid book.

[bilqees (thebellekeys)]

Thalassophobia. Lovecraft. Tentacle monsters. Cosmic horror cults. Bridal sacrifice to the sea. Oceangate tragedy. Seaweed and angler fish. A24 films. Gothic narratives... If you're into any of these things, read this book!!!

(Thank you to the publishers for an advancer copy of "Reliquary" in exchange for an honest review!)

[Elaine]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Reliquary.

** Minor cliche watery non-spoilers ahead **

The narrative is made up of all the usual tropes: a wealthy, supernaturally gorgeous family (natch!), a dull, boring main character who basically has no personality, with no friends or family ties.

It’s the same growing trend of “how wealthy families stay wealthy,” just with sprinkles of horror on top.

How the Ashburys became rich and wealthy is also pretty similar to the movie Ready or Not—except this time it’s a god that's not Poseidon (I wish it were Ursula from The Little Mermaid, because at least she’d be terrifying).

There’s a kraken/squid creature involved, but even that description was muddled and not defined enough to be horrifying.

The exposition about the cult was okay, but the characters were where it fell apart.

They were one-dimensional, almost corny in their stereotypes.

Claire was especially annoying, mostly because she was just there as a sacrifice.

That's exactly how she's written; of no real significance except to the Ashburys.

No one will miss her and no one will care where she ends up; she has no one and that's why she ended up here.

That ending made no sense.

Now Claire is a monster or monster-light?

She couldn't scare herself.

It felt like the author wanted to give Claire some agency and power, but it didn’t work with how blah she was.

A part of me wished the 'god' would take her form, just so Claire could finally become something interesting—because she was just a sad sack and having the 'god' step in would be an upgrade.

That would have been a better ending because what we got wasn't believable.

[Gen]

"Death was a storm you didn't pay attention to until you were the one struck by lightning"

4⭐

Hannah Whitten's first foray into the horror genre was a wild ride, and it wasn't exactly what I was expecting either. This book was a fascinating mix of psychological contemporary thriller, body horror, and fantasy/supernatural elements. It really reminded me of a mix between Gone Girl and Midnight Mass, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In Reliquary, we follow Claire in the aftermath of her fiancé's death, when his family reaches out to invite her to his wake on their private island, Harrow Point, where they also run their titan oceanography marinography corporation. What follows can only be described as a thalassophobia-inducing fever dream, full of creepy, damp, rotting, and increasingly bizarre happenings. This is one of those books where you think you've guessed what's going on early, only to realise you have absolutely no clue, and every new chapter is waiting to shock you all over again.

I loved the setting in this book, it's almost a character in its own right. The way it's described is so evocative, blending high end luxurious minimalism with atmospheric Gothic decay and doom. It has all the hallmarks you'd expect from a Gothic novel, an isolated castle on a cliffside, labyrinthine layouts, dark, foreboding spaces, but infuses them with sleek, high-spec technology and the austerity you'd expect from a scientific laboratory. The steadily building sense of dread throughout the book was handled perfectly. You could tell from the very beginning that something was "off". Even when the opening was relatively slow, I felt constantly uneasy, as though something terrible was lurking just around the corner. Claire was an interesting protagonist too, she's very clearly suffering from PTSD and has turned to dissociation and emotional detachment as a way of surviving, clinging to any connection she can find because she's already lost so much. At first, I found her a little dull and easily manipulated, but I soon realised that was intentional. As we learn more about her, both she and the story gradually open up in really interesting ways. The way she ignored such glaring red flags was honestly something to behold though, but by the end I completely understood why. My favourite character was definitely Ash. He had the clearest character arc, and even if I never really liked him, I found him endlessly interesting. I just wish we'd spent a little more time with him. More generally, I do think the cast could've used just a little more depth to make them truly memorable.

There's a section of the story that discusses the difference between terror and horror, and that really stuck with me because, for most of this book, I actually think this leans more towards thriller than horror. Even when the horror elements come up, they're so deeply intertwined with the psychological state of the characters that they never feel separate from the emotional story being told. This is ultimately a book about the horrifying lengths people will go to in pursuit of wealth and success, about how much of yourself you can lose in the process, and how hollow you can become before someone, or something else, takes advantage of that emptiness. It also explores the importance of allowing yourself to feel your emotions and process your trauma instead of burying it beneath whatever feels easiest or most comfortable. At the same time, there was something about Whitten's writing that leaned into almost theatrical, purple prose, making the horror feel entertaining as often as it felt frightening. There are plenty of gory descriptions, unsettling body horror, creepy cult-like rituals, and that suffocating feeling of being trapped, but layered over all of it is an almost pulpy quality. It's not camp in the truest sense of the word, but it reminded me of those classic pulp horror films where the horror becomes so melodramatic, and the characters so dryly sarcastic, that you almost find yourself laughing despite everything unfolding on the page.

Ultimately, this was a fascinating read. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from Hannah Whitten after reading The Nightshade Crown series, but this was a surprising and very enjoyable change of pace. If there's one thing I've come to trust Whitten to write well, it's godlike beings and unsettling explorations of faith, divinity, and power. It's become one of my favourite aspects of her work. I often find myself wondering whether Whitten has had personal experiences with religion that influences the way she writes because her stories sometimes read like someone actively deconstructing faith, or at least wrestling with their understanding of it. Whether that's intentional or not, I find it incredibly compelling and it makes me want to pick up everything else she writes. I wouldn't say this is a perfect book. At times it felt a little flat, it occasionally leaned too heavily into the stereotypes of the eccentric wealthy family, and I do wish the characters had been given just a little more depth. But those criticisms never outweighed everything the novel did so well. The atmosphere was phenomenal, the ending was incredibly satisfying while still leaving enough unanswered to keep me thinking, and it proved that Whitten can comfortably step into a completely different genre without losing what makes her writing so distinctive. I would definitely recommend this book. Thank you to Hannah Whitten, Little Brown Book Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharelis]

Reliquary was an insane read. Atmospheric, spooky and unsettling. I found it to be unpredictable and so original.

Claire’s ‘kind of controlling, kind of an ass’ fiancé Elias dies suddenly and her world turns upside down yet again. Grieving the loss of her family and now fiancé, while still trying to find her place in the world, she receives an invitation from Elias’ estranged family to attend his funeral procession at their cliffside castle (yeah I know) of the coast of Oregon.

The Castle is beautiful and eerie, and only accessible by a causeway that only rises up like twice a day or so.

Elias’ family really added to the unsettling and eerie feeling throughout the book and Claire being claustrophobic and going through the motions made this book feel so realistic and edgy.

The red flags were present from day one and while I could understand how wanting to be a part of something, a family or anything bigger than yourself played a role, I wanted to scream at Claire to think about what was happening and run!

I loved the direction it took and how well it ended!

[Miraclesnow]

I will never trust Hannah Whitten to write a serviceable novel again. Two strikes and you’re out. I thought this was just another basic ‘the rich are monsters, metaphor for them abusing the working class as eating them for profit’ with some Shadow Over Innsmouth for flavor. But no- it’s worse. It’s a romance pretending to be a horror novel. I’d be disappointed, but unfortunately the red flags were right there the moment the love interest was introduced & I then proceeded to roll my eyes for half of the book. I had hoped with everyone calling it horror/thriller that there would actually be a tragic horror ending at the very least. But alas, I put too much hope in Hannah to even pass the bare minimum. Like someone who explicitly trips over a banana peel.

I will say this: Hannah Whitten is much better suited to writing half-assed contemporary ‘thrillers’ than totally inane fantasy romances. Maybe she should just move on to wholly focusing on writing trite romances, because that seems to be her only focus when writing. It certainly isn’t plot or prose. This thing dragged for so long I worried I would have to dnf it, and it was even more of a choppy mess than For the Wolf! Not to mention the chemistry was even flatter in this one than that same debut. It’s almost as if she’s regressed, or she finally figured out she could write even worse and still have people lap her poop sandwiches up.

Thank god I’m a fast reader or I would have certainly dnf’d this. Though I hate that I even spent nearly 2 hours of my life on it, I had to be sure Hannah would make a horror novel just as dull as dishwater as her debut. I wanted her to prove me wrong. But no, nothing could save this travesty.

If you want to see a movie that does real horror with this plotline successfully, watch Ready or Not. It takes less time from you than this book! And if you want novels, Midnight Rooms (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) & Mexican Gothic (⭐️⭐️⭐️.5) run with this idea the truly gothic way.

[Alicia (weird.reads.books)]

4.5/5 stars

What makes a story genuinely terrifying is entirely subjective, but this one hit me right where it hurts. I was initially hesitant to pick up Reliquary because I have pretty severe thalassophobia (the fear of deep water), and I knew it had the potential to scare the pants off me.

Scare me, it did. Not only is the setting anchored right by the ocean with living quarters that sit partially submerged, but there is also a sequence involving a submarine that sent my anxiety THROUGH THE ROOF during that scene.

We follow Claire, who is left entirely numb after the sudden loss of her fiancé. Having never met his family, she accepts an invitation to visit their private island. Her desperate need for familial connection clouds her judgment at times, but as her grief and backstory unfolds, her choices become entirely understandable.

Reliquary is a masterclass in gothic cosmic horror, so expect a slow buildup with creeping dread. While some readers found certain stretches a bit slow, the deep water and underwater creatures being my absolute kryptonite meant I was locked in and clutching my emotional support cat the entire time. Whitten nailed the atmosphere. Every family member and servant Claire encounters feels unsettlingly off, yet her grief and need for belonging makes her ignore the glaring red flags. Trying to piece together the twists along the way was half the fun.

This is the ultimate read for that awkward limbo between summer and fall. Pairing a classic seaside vacation setting with the sinister, eerie undertones of autumn creates an absolute killer combination. If you are looking for a gothic horror where both the house and the sea function as living, breathing characters, this one is definitely for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the eARC. All opinions are my own.