Dragged to the Depths: A Cherry Laine Fantasy

by Cheryl Elaine

Tormented with grief after losing her father, Emilia journeyed to her gran's, in a desperate attempt to escape the memories surrounding her. But once there, she found little rest and respite on the remote Orkney islands after discovering a supernatural world under the sea. The gods, goddesses and unfamiliar species of Mother Earth's oceanic lands welcomed her with open arms - particularly Erox, the love of Emilia's life. Her eyes were opened to the greed and hatred of her fellow mortals; it wasn't a question of whether she was simply following destiny - she knew the path to RESET was one she could not ignore. Erox smiled before giving Emilia a lingering kiss. She didn't hesitate, and gave herself freely to the vortex before heading into the unknown. Could she save herself, let alone everyone else on the planet? Dragged to the Depths will lead readers into a magical world full of secrets, legacies and adventure. An apocalyptic love story for those who believe there's someone for everyone, somewhere...

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2018

About the author

Bio
Cheryl Elaine is a British Author, and resides in Yorkshire. Throughout her life she has been an avid reader and wrote many short stories, which lead her on a path to the world of publishing. She released her debut novel - No Ordinary Girl, followed by her latest release - Stitched.

I hope you enjoy my dark and disturbing crime books, and if you fancy reading something lighter, why not check out my fantasy novel – Dragged to the Depths.

You can find out more about me, at the following places
https://www.cherylelaine.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/cherylelaine...

https://www.instagram.com/cherylelain...

https://twitter.com/CherylElaine15

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely not my usual genre but every now and again it's good to try something different. If anything, reading a fantasy book takes me back to being a child where anything is possible and even fairy tales could be real.

Dragged To The Depths reminded me of a cross between the Narnia books and a love story. From the moment that Erox and Emilia first meet you can feel the connection there. This isn't some puppy love, this is a deep meaningful love that will last a life time.

I loved the setting of the remote Orkney Islands. It was perfect for the story line and it made for an atmospheric read. I could easily visualise it all in my head hearing the sounds and smell of the sea. It's certainly an easy story to get lost into. 

There are lots of great characters of which I think the author could easily do a spin off story especially delving more into the background of Emilia's gran. She is definitely a character that will appeal to readers. 

Dragged To The Depths was a relatively quick read that draws you into a different world shutting the real one outside. It was good to live in a fantasy world for a while and get caught up in the love story of Emilia and Erox. A story that will capture your imagination whilst holding you there until the very last page.

My thanks to Shell Baker and the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantasy story with a huge message. Set in the beautiful Orkney Islands it really is the perfect place to step back and appreciate how all the forces of nature work together. Unfortunately the responsibility of caring of the environment always seems to be left to someone else and it soon becomes a case of if you can’t beat them then join them. There is definitely an overloaded on the worlds resources.
Emilia had gone to stay with her grandmother in the Orkney Islands after the death of her father. She soon not only fell in love with Island but also with a mythical sea creature that could shape shift into the form of a man. Even talking to a human, if discovered, would mean death to Erox. Humans really were the scum of the earth but the way in which man abused the environment would see a day of reckoning.
There is so much more to this story than you think when you begin to read it. At first a forbidden love story to fairy tale legacies, legends and myths to new beginnings. There is something magical that draws you in, captures your heart and imagination and really open your eyes. I liked Emilia’s gran in the story, who has her own past to protect.
This is a great story for young adults to connect with and give thought to their own impact on the world.

[Lainy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - Kindle

Publisher - AAH Publishing

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

Tormented with grief after losing her father, Emilia journeyed to her gran's, in a desperate attempt to escape the memories surrounding her. But once there, she found little rest and respite on the remote Orkney islands after discovering a supernatural world under the sea.

The gods, goddesses and unfamiliar species of Mother Earth's oceanic lands welcomed her with open arms - particularly Erox, the love of Emilia's life. Her eyes were opened to the greed and hatred of her fellow mortals; it wasn't a question of whether she was simply following destiny - she knew the path to RESET was one she could not ignore.

Erox smiled before giving Emilia a lingering kiss. She didn't hesitate, and gave herself freely to the vortex before heading into the unknown. Could she save herself, let alone everyone else on the planet?

Dragged to the Depths will lead readers into a magical world full of secrets, legacies and adventure. An apocalyptic love story for those who believe there's someone for everyone, somewhere...



My Review

Guys, first thing to say is this is not normally a book I would read but it is set in Orkney and it has mystical sea creatures. I LOVE mythical creatures, we grew up with tales of selkies, mermaids and magical creatures in the waters so this piqued my interest. Emilia heads to the Orkney islands with her mother who is struggling with addiction after a bereavement. Emilia's gran Rose takes over her care and allows Emilia to process her own grief, loss and sadness. This is what draws Erox to Emilia, he knows it is a love that cannot be however both cannot deny the powerful draw of love and give into their feelings. Obstacles in their way, barriers you can only imagine and their union kicks off events that had consequences for the world as we know it.

There is a lot going on in this book, teenage angst, grief, dealing with an addict mother, removal of everything she knows. Personal growth, going through her own emotions and loss then encountering someone unlike anyone she has ever met. Experiencing love for the first time and having to process who Erox is, what he represents and how he fits in our world.

The magical world Emilia encounters was for me enveloping in a world I first met when I was a kid so it conjured up lots of memories for me. I think the location for the story was well chosen, Scottish waters have many a myth to them and it goes perfect with the magical world Elaine creates.

Mythical creatures, love, sacrifice, power, greed, magic, family, relationships are just some of the themes in the book. I love the world created, younger characters can put me off a bit especially when it is a deep love kicking everything off but I soon settled in and couldn't put the book down. Initially you think you can guess exactly where the story is going, soon enough I had the rug pulled out from under me, gripped, not knowing what was coming next. It is a mixed bag, immersing the reader almost from the get go and managing to surprise (I actually gasped out loud at one particular plot twist) engage and compel the reader page after page. 4.5 out of 5 for me this time, this is actually my first by this author, I have another from her but in a different genre, I will be bumping it up the TBRM. Thanks to Shell for asking me to join the tour and for bringing a wee gem of a read my way I most likely would have over looked. I think I need to go digging through my books or order some Scottish myths and legends, I forgot how much I enjoyed stuff like this!

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

Today I am absolutely thrilled to be kicking off the blog tour for Cheryl Elaine’s Dragged to the Depths – I loved this story!!

I thought the characters in the book were excellent, they worked so well and the settling for the book was spot on – very atmospheric and it gave the book a brilliant added edge. I was hooked from the beginning and I loved the suspense in the book which creeps up until you get to a fantastic ending!

I have read two books by this author now and both have been fantastic – she is definitely a n author I am going to be keeping an eye out for!!

I am delighted to say that I loved the book and did not hesitate to give it 5 stars!! Very, very highly recommended!

[Linda Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving to the Orkneys to recover from her father’s death will lead to adventures Emilia could never have imagined.

I am not much of a reader of apocalyptic or fantasy books so I wasn’t particularly anticipating enjoying Dragged to the Depths, but it surprised me. I found it a very entertaining and exciting story with a fast pace and imaginative plot that was really engaging so that I was keen to find out what was going to happen next. I also appreciated the way Cheryl Elaine has researched her mythology to give real substance behind her writing.

The descriptions in Dragged to the Depth give a smashing sense of place so that I could picture myself there too. I think I might be avoiding the sea in future! Cheryl Elaine also conveys physical attraction extremely well and appropriately for her Young Adult audience, but Dragged to the Depths is a roller-coaster story that can be enjoyed by any age group so I don’t think we should allow the YA audience to have it for themselves!

Whilst I enjoyed meeting the characters, especially Erox (who wouldn’t!), it was the themes and messages behind the writing that I found most appealing. There’s a real sense of beauty being in the eye of the beholder, of not necessarily taking everything at face value, but of looking for the good in others beneath the surface. There’s a strong morality woven through a highly entertaining read too. We should learn to tolerate and appreciate others and to live together harmoniously.

Dragged to the Depths is a narrative worthy of being part of the mythological tradition and is a cracker of a story for its YA audience. It was great fun to read for me too and I enjoyed it.

[Shell Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheryl Elaine is well known for her dark and Graphic story No Ordinary Girl which I absolutely loved who has turned her hand and switched genre with Dragged to the Depths which is a young adult fantasy. So has you can imagine I jumped at the chance to read this figuring that Harry Potter is fantasy LOL I mean who doesn't like HP?!

First of all I have to say this is nothing like Harry Potter it is so much more than that….Moving from something so hardcore to a story that is so magical, I am totally blown away….Boy can this lady write!

Grabbing you from the start Cheryl certainly knows how to set the scene and make you feel part of the story when she takes to Orkney islands where we meet Emilia and follow her on one breathtaking journey where she meets Erox and falls in love with him. Wowers I need an Erox in my life!

I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved this story not only is it an atmospheric read it is beautifully written. You can smell the sea and feel the passion and adventure throughout the story.

Oh by the way this isn't some soppy love story. It is a fast paced entertaining read that I devoured it in one sitting I couldn't get enough of it.

This is a story that all ages will enjoy it will take you to a place that you have never been before I cannot recommend it enough giving it all the stars.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/dr...

Dragged to the Depths
A Cherry Lane Fantasy
Cheryl Elaine
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Scott

Summary:

Tormented with grief after losing her father, Emilia journeyed to her gran’s, in a desperate attempt to escape the memories surrounding her. But once there, she found little rest and respite on the remote Orkney islands after discovering a supernatural world under the sea.

The gods, goddesses and unfamiliar species of Mother Earth’s oceanic lands welcomed her with open arms – particularly Erox, the love of Emilia’s life. Her eyes were opened to the greed and hatred of her fellow mortals; it wasn’t a question of whether she was simply following destiny – she knew the path to RESET was one she could not ignore.

Erox smiled before giving Emilia a lingering kiss. She didn’t hesitate, and gave herself freely to the vortex before heading into the unknown. Could she save herself, let alone everyone else on the planet?

Dragged to the Depths will lead readers into a magical world full of secrets, legacies and adventure. An apocalyptic love story for those who believe there’s someone for everyone, somewhere. (Goodreads)

Review:

Dragged to the Depths by Cheryl Elaine, holds a coveted place in the fantasy genre – that of rural fantasy. It isn’t the urban fantasy, taking place in the streets that the reader knows well, mingled with the supernatural, but rather taking place within the fantasy’s native place of origin, in this case drawing on Scottish lore and the mysteries and fantasies of the depths. A roller coaster ride from a simple excursion away from the tragic loss of her father, Emelia is about to enter an all too true fairy tale that will change the course of mankind forever.

Plot-wise this story is far from, but in its own way, unique. It exhibits traditional tropes and motifs from both modern stories and fairy tales, yet mingles enough of the modern in with the folklore to keep it fresh and entertaining. Things, as they do in folktales, happen for a reason, and in the modern sense, no effect is not predicated by a cause. In this sense, the story flows naturally, moving from action to action, in a seamless sense. Elaine is to be praised here for keeping a grandiose story from appearing too fantastical or too rooted in folklore. The modern world stays alive in her writing, mainly due to the carefully crafted plot. One almost admires the way otherworldly elements are deftly woven in.

The prose is delectable. There is passion in the writing and it shows. A brisk read, Dragged to the Depths, also stands as a “pick-me-up” book in the fact that chapters are short, with just the right amount of digestible material contained within. For readers used to longer pauses between chapters, this may cause a bit of distraction in the beginning, however, it doesn’t take long to settle into the writing pace. The writing is frenetically dashed down in some places and laborious in others, giving the novel a distinct flavor all of its own. Sometimes flowery and other times brutal and point driven, Elaine crafts a story that is, like her subject material, a creature of two worlds starting simply and ending in cataclysmic fashion, without being overly preachy.

The characters in Cheryl Elaine’s Dragged to the Depths are more fleshed out than in Elaine’s previous work. With the odd exception of a few archetypes – the island’s doctor and Emelia’s mother, for example – most of the characters are fully fleshed out. Emelia and Erox are perhaps the most fleshed out of the lot, with Emelia’s grandfather and grandmother following closely behind which makes perfect sense, considering this is a love story at its heart. In such a spellbinding tale, one almost wishes that there was a little more time invested in the secondary characters, given the cataclysmic ending. The tertiary characters are predominantly archetypes in Propp’s sense of the term – the guide, the fallen hero, etc. (fans of Tolkien will recognize them for who they are) and because they serve the plot, not the story, one can easily overlook them. After all it is Emilia’s story we are dealing with.

Overall, Dragged to the Depths by Cheryl Elaine is well worth the read. Fans of fairy tales, and urban (well here, rural) fantasy, will find themselves right at home. The story is a brisk read and not that difficult to complete in one sitting. That being said, it also is a “pick-me-up” book that can be enjoyed in the background of an otherwise mundane existence. It starts out small and ends in a bang that readers shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to miss. The boundaries of the real and supernatural have never been so thinly veiled and so close to the readers grasp.

[Alfred Nobile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit the cover of this book put me off. A bit girly? Been on my TBR for a while. But I made the decision to dive in and I'm glad I did. A really good read and for such a short read, 250+ pages it was a such a brilliant read. It had such depth and scope. That coupled with quality writing made it a great story.
It contains many elements within its pages. Being a fantasy it has mythical beings. Also a romantic side to it. A clash of two cultures, both claiming to be right neither admitting to being wrong.
But this is just a thin veil to disguise a deeper element. The possible destruction of the world and what must be done to prevent this happening.
The characters in this novel must change their perspectives and step in the grey area. None more so than the heroine Emilia who sees everything, at first, in black and white; as someone who has Aspergers may do.
Finding love, she cannot see why she must take into account the thoughts and ideas of others. She learns, as to a greater or lesser degree all of the characters in this narrative
As said earlier, a short book with a big punch; that covers a range of themes that make us selfish and others that make us care.
A great read and all the stars from me!

[Brenda Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while I’ll pick up a Fantasy novel to read. I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this. At first I really thought it was just another Contemporary teen novel. Then magic happened. Emilia was grieve stricken when she lost her father and her mother became addicted. She then found love from a mystical creature named Erox. Well the story doesn’t end with just their love. They both with the help of Emilia’s grand-dad need to help save the earth from ruthless and greedy humans. In the end they save the earth and fall madly in love with the “hope” that humankind and mystical creatures alike can leave in harmony.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant read. Not my usual genre but I sat and read it in one sitting as it's a real page turner.
This is the first book that I've read of Cheryl's and it certainly won't be the last.
If you love shape shifters than this comes highly recommended.

[Angela Brightwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dragged to the Depths is a YA fantasy love story set in the rugged Orkney Islands. Emilia, a mourning teenage girl, and Erox, a mythical shape-shifter, meet on a beach; this connection forever changes their lives as well as the worlds they live in. Through the exploration of higher beings, fate, legends, and redemption, Cheryl Elaine creates a world on the cusp of the apocalypse and yet provides messages of love and hope.
The main story is centered on Emilia and Erox, yet Emilia’s gran Rose adds depth to the story with her strength of spirit through love and loss. I cherished her resiliency through the tough circumstances of her life.
If you enjoy a YA apocalyptic love story, this book is for you.

[Natalie Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not typically a genre I usually read but I recently started reading YA FANTASY books and I really do enjoy them and after reading this I can't wait to read more of this genre!

This book had a bit of a slow start for me as it took a while to get in to but once I was dragged into it there was no putting it down! I was sad to finish such a wonderful book and i would happily read it again!

This book was well written and not only did I enjoy it I felt as though I was apart of it! As it took me through a mix of emotions! I love how this story is full of loss and love both two thinhs we have all more than likely been through! It speaks volumes its amazing to see how much Emilia goes through and grows as a character! I don't want to give to much away but I 100% recommend this book even if you don't usually read YA FANTASY go for it!

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A change of genre for me, I dip between thrillers to give me a change of pace.
This was fab! Fantasy., bit romance, fantastical creatures,
The 2 main characters fall for each other heavily but Gran warns Emilia of the dangers. Do she listen? No, what teen would! The heart wins doesn’t it?
Erox & Emilia face dangers and hurdles together.
All set on a rugged Orkney, around the beaches and the rough seas.
Really descriptive and vivid, I could see the areas visited and the cold sea on the beaches so well from the authors writing.
Extremely enjoyable not just for YA, any age can enjoy this tale.

[Em Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pace 5/10
Characters 7/10
Dialogue 8/10
Descriptions 10/10
Dragged to the Depths is a YA paranormal/apocalypse fantasy set in the Orkney Isle off the coast of Scotland. We follow Emilia as she arrives with her mother, both of whom are still grieving Emilia's late father. They come to heal, and to rediscover life. Very quickly however, Emilia's life is flipped upside down at the hands of Erox, a beautiful man who seemingly appeared from the sea itself.

The novel is fast paced and full of stunning mythology that has been expertly researched. If you came for a love story, you're going to get one, and if you came for a different take on the universe itself, buckle up. You're going to get just that.
I loved Dragged to the Depths, but as you'll notice, I've only given it three stars. It's too fast paced for me, and easily could have been one very long book, or two. I craved a deeper look into what was happening, and felt a couple of the storyline threads were cut short because of this. By no means does that make it anything less than exhilarating, I just needed more.

[Julia Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful fantasy story full of myth, romance & adventure.

Following her father’s death, 17 year old Emilia and her grief stricken, broken Mother flee to the Orkney Islands to stay with Emilia’s reclusive Gran. A day at the beach results in an encounter with Erox, a handsome, enigmatic wild looking man. The attraction between Emilia & Erox is strong but she soon realises that Erox is not a normal man. Her research shows him to be a mythological creature called a Kelpie and his home is within the ocean.
I was drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and interesting blurb. It’s definitely a different, quirky read and one which I very much enjoyed. I loved the romance between the 2 main characters and thought the mythological references added to the overall enjoyment of this novel. There is plenty of action and adventure which kept the story flowing well. The characters were interesting and I was kept entertained by the twists and turns. A really enjoyable, well written book. I loved it.

[A.J. Griffiths-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verging on the realms between real-life, myth & fantasy, this is a beautiful tale of love, loss & hope. As Emilia arrives at her Gran’s home in the Scottish Islands, burdened by the loss of her father & a broken mother, she discovers the world of the Kelpies & with it the love of her life in the form of Erox. Full of emotion & enchanting descriptions of the seashore, the reader is pulled into Emilia’s heart as the secrets of her family history unfold & difficult decisions are made. I don’t often read fantasy but, should the author decide to write another, it will definitely be on my reading list.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emilia and her mom go to her gran’s on one of the Orkney Islands to grieve for the loss of their father & husband.

On the beach, alone with her thoughts and grief, Emilia meets Erox. They quickly fall in love but all is not as it seems.

This is a new genre for me and I loved this book. It’s not just a love story, it has an important message on how we treat the earth and each other.

The characters were fascinating and I especially held a soft spot for Emilia’s Gran. This is well written and a joy to read. I feel that due to the characters, another story could come from this - well, I hope so!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful tale with a powerful message and a whole new fantastic world which I hadn't encountered in books before ☆☆☆☆☆

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m glad I stuck with this book at first it seemed very boilerplate ya romance like a twilight kind of vibe, but if you persist it becomes a story about myth and responsible citizenship it’s on the racier edge so probably for older teens but a rollicking good read and i hope the author goes on to write more ya books I would certainly read them