Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep

Utterly Dark #1

by Philip Reeve, Barnaby Edwards (Narrator )

It was always at sundown they were seen. In that twilight hour, when the walls between the worlds grew thin, strange things might slip through the cracks. Sometimes then, so the stories went, enchanted islands would appear in the empty ocean to the west of Wildsea. When Utterly Dark was a baby, she was washed up on the shores of the Autumn Isles and taken in by the Watcher of Wildsea. But everything changes when her guardian suddenly drowns. Now who will keep the Watch, and make sure Wildsea stays safe from the strange forces teeming in the deep ocean around them?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Audiobook, Magic, Fiction, Mystery

7 pages, Audiobook

First published September 2, 2021

About the author

Philip Reeve was born and raised in Brighton, where he worked in a bookshop for a number of years while also co-writing, producing and directing a number of no-budget theatre projects.

Philip then began illustrating and has since provided cartoons for around forty children's books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths and Dead Famous series.

Railhead, published by Oxford University Press, will be published in the UK in October 2015

Pugs of the Frozen North, written with Sarah McIntyre, is out now.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite kind of fantasy - written in a warmly inviting tone and full of wonder and a sense of real magic - in this case, a lurking magic that turns quite terrifying at some points. I loved every moment of it! Recommended for MG readers (its official audience) but also very definitely for adults.

[Renee Godding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Utterly Dark is a foundling, washed up on the shores of the Autumn Isles and taken in by Andrewe Dark, the mysterious Watcher of Wildsea. When her guardian walks into the ocean one day and drowns, Utterly is thrust into the role of Watcher… can she keep the island safe from the threat of the terrifying Gorm?

Unforeseen mysteries lie beneath the ocean’s surface. Adventure beckons, and Utterly will unearth astonishing secrets about the sea, her parents and life itself. Wildsea will never be the same again…

As the entrancing, unfathomable power of the sea fills Utterly Dark’s dreams, so it will seep into your heart as you read this thrilling, magical story.

Review
Philip Reeve delivered a wonderful adventure story full of whimsy, magic and just the right amount of thrills. His engaging storytelling and superb worldbuilding completely transported me to the Autumn Isles; I could practically taste the salt and feel the sand and rocks between my toes. Luckily this coastal world is a joyous place to be in thanks to the vivid descriptions and the wonderful characters that inhabit it.

A well-paced plotline with surprising emotional depth and some well placed wordplay throughout the story make this a joy to read for both adults and kids alike.
Highly recommend this book, especially to fans of for example The Weather Weaver, A Pinch of Magic and Orphans of the Tide.

Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep is available in print from September 2nd in physical-and online stores. Many thanks to the publisher David Fickling for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I'd recorded this but apparently, I hadn't. It has been a while since I finished Utterly, but I've been thinking about it a lot. I am an admirer of Philip Reeve's books. They've been loaned to a lot of young men over the years as they are such good books to booktalk, there is always plenty of action and lots of great emotional stuff going on which is played out in the conversations between the characters in a spare but meaningful way. For me that makes a great big adventure a really great. And Utterly Dark is just like this, although it does take a little bit to get into the groove of the story, once you are in there you will be carried off on a great big, slightly mystical journey.

Utterly has grown up as the child of older parents, she was rescued from the sea as a baby and bought to their home. There are stories about who her parents were but she is happy in her life, in a lighthouse on the wild coast, and lives her life embracing the wildness and the ways of the sea surrounding her. Her brother is away in the city, he's much older than her but she thinks of him with fondness but a certain amount of distance. Her father Andrew Darke is a watcher of the Wildsea, he keeps an eye out for the beings who once caused havoc, he keeps diaries and when Utterly reads these she uncovers a mystery. When he starts to behave oddly and then drowns, suspicions are raised. As sinister stories begin to arise and the whispers of bad things arising from the sea appear to be coming true, Utterly endeavors to find out the truth. But at what cost?

It is such a great read, with plenty of action and scary monsters arising from the sea. A fantastic book to read to a class and an engrossing read for those who like their stories to have a gothic flavour with mystery and adventure.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowza! I can’t believe this is the 1st book by Philip Reeve I’m reading! I read this in 2 sittings! Could not put down. This is a must buy author from now on for sure. Utterly is found washed up on the shores of the Autumn Isles & taken in by the mysterious Watcher of Wildsea. When her guardian is drowned, Utterly is thrust into the role of Watcher, but can she keep the island safe from the threat of the terrifying Gorm? Mysteries lie beneath the oceans surface & adventure beckons. Utterly will unearth secrets about the sea, her parents & life itself.

Utterly was UTTERLY amazing!(See what I did there?😆) Such an amazing character. This book has amazing characters, an amazing world, amazing plot, & amazing storytelling/writing. I am just so impressed. The whole backstory of the Gorm, the sea, & the Watchers was so intriguing! As was Utterly, & her backstory-she herself is just such a mystery! I loved the house/watchtower she lives in with Mr. & Mrs. Skraeveling(who are just the cutest!). I also loved Aish, & found her so fascinating! Egg has my heart though. Yes Egg-he’s a boy, not an 🥚 lol. I even fell in love with Uncle Will-lots of great character development in here. The world/story building is also superb.

So atmospheric as well! This island has such a creepy vibe(which I love), with the whole being scared of the evil sea thing lol, but I could almost smell the salt air & feel it on my face, & hear the waves crashing reading this. It made me miss home & the ocean so much. It really is entrancing & full of a magic of its own(just like this book). That’s great writing. Such a thrilling, magical story full of suspense, danger, & adventure. I loved seeing Utterly find her way, & figure out some of the answers she needed. HIGHLY recommend! This comes out September 2nd! STUNNING cover by the amazing Paddy Donnelly too! Can’t wait to get a beautiful finished copy to go with this beautiful ARC!💜

[Marcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik was eigenlijk al verliefd vanaf de eerste zin. Tipje voor de lezers van Kelly Barnhill!

[Just Plain Neddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley who gave me a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was delighted to get a review copy of this book. I’ve read and enjoyed some of Reeve’s other work so I was ready to get stuck in. This is a book for older children – somewhere in the 9-13 age range, depending on individual ability. It has adventurous elements but nothing really scary or overly mature.

The good: Reeve is an absolute master at setting and worldbuilding. He can pick you up and throw you straight into an unfamiliar world and you’ll start to pick it up straight away. Because the sea is so important to setting and plot here, it runs throughout the language. The paragraphs seem to have a gentle ebb and flow to them, which makes you feel the setting as much as the descriptions do. It’s actually quite soothing.

The characters are distinct with their own voices and personalities. They each have strengths and flaws, plenty of agency and development over the course of the plot. It’s always nice to see a young girl as protagonist. It’s even better that when a boy shows up, he plays a key role in the plot but doesn’t take over. This shouldn’t be especially remarkable, but well… it is, although I think the world’s getting better.

The bad: it’s slow getting going. Really slow. The aforementioned worldbuilding probably takes over a bit too much in the first half of the book. It isn’t that nothing at all happens – it does. There just isn’t enough risk and adventure. It’s just shy of 300 pages long, which is a substantial length for this age group. The exciting part of the story is squashed into the last fifty or so pages. I’m a 40 year old woman and I found this frustrating. I would have found it a lot more frustrating as a ten year old, so kudos to those kids who have the attention span for it.

Conclusion: this is a lovely book that will get a young imagination going. If you’re looking for more female protagonists, it’s a good choice. I’d recommend it for children who already have an established love of reading and are happy to take things a bit more slowly rather than wanting high adventure from the start.

[Helen]

absolutely fantastic book.
Full of adventure, action.

[Les McFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

( not a review, just notes to remind myself!)
Fabulous! Well developed characters, wonderful world building. Moves at a pace. Twists and turns. Drips with details that scream that this was written by a talented story teller. A great read.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sympathique lecture à partir de 10 ans, on comprend très vite les tenants et les aboutissants de l'histoire, pas de surprise donc à cette lecture mais c'est un univers cohérent et agréable

[Tim Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seems to have been cobbled together from clichés: the funeral, the hidden ability, the witch, the tower, the journal, the reluctant heir, the shipwreck, the awkward meeting... A grey and lonely book. And apart from that, it is far too slow.

[nikola_kowalska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okej, ale bez szału
Rozwiniecie fabuły w moim odczuciu bardzo przewidywalne, ale i tak bawiłam się bardzo dobrze
Na duży + przemiły styl autorki

[Kathi : ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philip Reeve at his magnificent best in this fantasy for Young adults.

[Chwesia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myślę, że autor miał doskonały pomysł na książkę, której temat dosyć jest rzadko spotykany. Początek się dłużył, ale końcówka bardzo mnie wciągnęła. Porusza ważne tematy, które powodują u nas różne refleksje. Treść tej fantastyki również jest odpowiednia dla młodszych osób, ponieważ wartości są opisane w prosty i przyjemny sposób. Długość rozdziałów również jest przyjazna wraz z czcionką.

[Beth Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always a good sign when a book starts with a map.

One of the amazing things about Philip Reeve is his ability to create and write about such vastly different worlds in such a way that they come alive on the pages, are usually characters that affect the storyline and live on in your head for a long, long time.

That the same person created and wrote Mortal Engines, Railhead, Larklight (amongst others) and now Utterly Dark is a magical mystery to me. But I am so happy that he did.

Utterly Dark is a foundling, washed up on the shores of the Autumn Isles and taken in by Andrewe Dark, the mysterious Watcher of Wildsea. When her guardian walks into the ocean one day and drowns, Utterly is thrust into the role of Watcher… can she keep the island safe from the threat of the terrifying Gorm? Unforeseen mysteries lie beneath the ocean’s surface. Adventure beckons, and Utterly will unearth astonishing secrets about the sea, her parents and life itself. Wildsea will never be the same again…

I read this in one sitting…always the sign of a good read.

Reeve has created characters with depth, with a backstory in lore, sea witches, sea and land magic and unbelievers.

As Utterly grows, develops friendships and trust in those around her, and learns of her surroundings, the Hidden Islands, the role of the Watcher, the history of Wildsea and its inhabitants over the generations, she struggles to understand her role in what is happening. The sea, its power, mystery and stories invade her dreams. She feels she is being watched all time time and wonders why.

The sea around Wildsea is alive, takes lives and sometimes offers bodies back to the land, is full of mysterious water dragons, Men o’ Weed and other lorish creatures. Why is it so interested in Utterly? Who should she believe…the written logs of her adoptive father (The Watcher)? Her uncle who moved away from the island many years ago and has forgotten the pull of belief in the folklore? Her new friends Aish and Egg (who refuse to touch or go near the sea)? The sea witch, Thurza Froy, who lost her husband to the hidden depths?

Relationships are at the heart of this story and what ultimately help Utterly when she has a choice to make. I think we can all relate to that.

P.S. I grew up crushing eggshells before throwing them away. I still do it. I had been told that if I didn’t, witches would sail to sea in them and sink boats. Uncle Will obviously got told the same story!


Thanks to NetGalley and David Fickling Books for the eARC.

[Justine Laismith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This teen book is about a girl who is determined to keep the tradition of the Watch after her adopted father's untimely death.

Utterly did not have a close relationship with her serious and aloof adopted father, but when his body is washed ashore one day, she feels a sense of responsibility to continue with his duties as the Watch. This role has been passed down through the generations, keeping an eye out for the appearance of the dangerous enchanted islands in the ocean to the west of Wildsea. She keeps watch until her uncle arrives from London to take over the duties. Unfortunately, his education and life in London has made him skeptical about these backward superstitions of the countryfolk.

At the back in the book jacket, it reads 'It was always at sundown they were seen. In that twilight hour, when the walls between the worlds grew thin, strange things might slip through the crack.' This is a promise of what to expect when you open the book: a beautifully written story of a hidden magical world, and it is up to us to discover what lurks beneath. The characters are likable and relatable, and the community give a sense of closeness and warmth. I love how the author portrayed the uncle: a youth who learnt responsibility when he discovers his brother's news, his skepticism and belief that he will be doing the villagers a favour by disproving this legend. I also love the explanation of how Utterly got her name.

Please check out this book. Utterly enjoyable.

Opening line: Utterly Dark lay dreaming of the sea.

[Livresse de Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5

Une lecture jeunesse one shot plutôt sympa dont l'univers assez sombre autour de la mer était original et a su retenir mon attention.

Je pense être un peu âgée pour ce genre de jeunesse mais pour son lectorat cible je recommande vivement, ça se lit assez facilement et propose quelque chose de vraiment très différent de ce qu'on peut voir en saga jeunesse classique.

Le personnage de Nuit Noire est très attachant et même si son épopée ne révèle pas beaucoup de surprise, l'aventure est assez prenante pour nous donner envie de continuer et devoir le fin mot de l'histoire. J'ai d'ailleurs beaucoup aimé la conclusion.

[Teri B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to discover a new to me middle grade author via the audiobook of a series that sounded right up my alley.

However, the further the story progressed, the more disappointed I felt. Having read quite a few other witchy books for children, this one just did not deliver for me.

The title promises Utterly as being the main character. However it is the male sidekick that soon takes the story over and the girl/female is relegated to where possibly according to the author the female should be placed, in second row, at the hearth and purporting therefore the whole christian patriarchal ideas that are so harmful to the planet.

[Lesaffairesdelouise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vraiment un excellent jeunesse !!

J’ai beaucoup aimé me plonger dans ce monde bien particulier et de vivre quelques instants sur les Déferlantes avec Nuit et ses proches.

Beaucoup de mystères et de magie qui m’ont tenu en haleine ! J’avais bien sûr deviné pas mal de chose, mais je pense que ce ne sera pas aussi évident pour un enfant 10 ans.

J’ai été un peu surprise par certains sujet compliqué mentionné comme le suic*de même si ce n’était pas non plus décrit / explicité.

Bref: franchement une excellente surprise. J’adore découvrir ce genre de jeunesse où on sent que c’est bien construit et approfondi.

Je lirai le tome 2 avec plaisir !

[Weronika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Potwór z legend, mała dziewczynka o wielkim marzeniu i jej opiekun, który stara się ująć dziwne zjawiska w naukowe ramy - to wszystko znajdziecie w książce “Meluzyna Noctis i Mroczna Głębia”. W historii, która sprawia, że nawet najbardziej mityczny stwór staje się prawdziwy.

Mieszkańcy Buzomorza obawiają się jednego - Gorma. Legendarnego morskiego stwora, który może zaatakować ich wyspę i zniszczyć to, co do tej pory znali. Uchronić przed tym losem może ich Strażnik, mężczyzna z rodu Noctis. Co się jednak stanie, gdy na straży pozostanie tylko jedna mała dziewczynka, a nowy Strażnik nie będzie chciał wrócić w rodzinne strony?

Autor ma bardzo przyjemny styl pisania. Przez rozdziały po prostu się płynęło, chociaż tempo historii od samego początku było dość stonowane. Philip Reeve na spokojnie wprowadza w nas legendę o Gormie, o ludziach zamieszkujących Buzomorze oraz o ich sąsiadach, ale także pozwala nam lepiej poznać myśli samych bohaterów.

Historię możemy poznać z wielu perspektyw. Jednak główną narratorką jest Meluzyna - dziewczynka, która przed laty została znaleziona na wyspie i wychowywana w Strażnicy. Jest to bystre i rezolutne dziecko, zachowujące się odpowiednio do wieku. Z wielką odpowiedzialnością podchodzi do obowiązków Strażnika Buzomorza, nawet jeśli ma być tylko chwilowe zajęcie. Dziewczynka nie tylko wierzy w legendę o Gormie, ale także chce przekonać wujka o swojej słuszności. Drugą postacią wartą uwagi jest Will - wuj dziewczynki, który z różnych powodów nie chce wracać w rodzinne strony. Można go określić mianem niedowiarka. Nie wierzy on w istnienie Gorma, zatopionej wyspy, a na wszystkie dziwne zjawiska ma on gotowe racjonalne wyjaśnienie. Każda z tych postaci wprowadza co innego do historii. I nie chodzi tu tylko o samo spojrzenie na wydarzenia, ale o i ducha, który wpływa zarówno na innych bohaterów, jak i na czytelnika.
“Meluzyna Noctis i Mroczna Głębia” to książka, która sprawi, że w starszym czytelniku obudzi dziecko. Razem z Meluzyną będziecie przemierzać piaszczyste plaże, rozmawiać z trollami i wiedźmami oraz stawiać czoła groźnemu morskiemu stworowi. Będziecie doszukiwać się w każdej postaci, nawet tej złej, cząstki dobra. Zostaniecie wciągnięci w magiczny świat, w którym nawet kupka glonów może okazać się wiernym żołnierzem, a zwykły kamień niezastąpioną bronią. Jesteście gotowi zanurzyć się w bezkres morza i stawić czoła Mrocznym Głębiom?

Opinia powstała dla grupy @fantastyka.na.luzie.

[Life_substitute · Rating 3 out of 5]

" - Mówiłam ci, że sama wypatruję Ukrytych Wysp - odezwała się Aish. - Nie robię tego codziennie, ale zawsze na początku i pod koniec roku. Magia dzieje się: między nocą a dniem, lądem a wodą, kobietą a mężczyzną lub pomiędzy porami roku. Dlatego najmocniej odczuwamy ją w noc przesilenia letniego lub zimowego, albo w równonoc jesienną czy wiosenną. Ukryte Wyspy są wówczas najbliżej naszego świata. Wtedy ich wypatruję (...)."
Trudno mi jednoznacznie wyrazić opinię o tej książce, nie powiem żeby mi się nie podobała ale też mnie jakoś specjalnie nie urzekła. Równie trudno jest powiedzieć do jakiej grupy wiekowej jest ona konkretnie skierowana, ponieważ jest zdecydowanie za poważna dla młodszych czytelników, a dla starszych z kolei, może okazać się zbyt monotonna.
Sama historia jest oryginalna i niezwykle klimatyczna, ale zabrakło jej tego czegoś, żebym się mogła nią w pełni zachwycić.
"Meluzyna Noctis i Mroczna Głębia" to jedna z tych książek, która zdecydowanie wymaga indywidualnego podejścia, jednych zachwyci, drugich niekoniecznie.

[bowiesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Utterly Dark’s guardian drowns she takes it upon herself to become The Watcher of the Wildsea until her uncle arrives from London. Utterly bears the responsibility of keeping her town safe from the Gorm and mysterious Hidden Lands. However, as she begins to find out more about her guardians death and her skeptic uncle attempts to disprove the old wives tales of the village, Utterly is in for a wild journey.

This book was such a fun escape from reality, into a magical place that was filled with imagination and loveable characters. I would 100% recommend reading this on a rainy day and escaping away into the village of Wildsea.

[erebus K Rushworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic story for a younger age-group (8+ up to highschool age). Utterly is nearly 12 years old. She is a foundling child raised by a man whose life mission is to watch the sea to ensure that the land is safe from attack from mystical things.

I don't know how I managed it but I seem to have read 2 books back-to-bat, set in the British Isles, circa 1840s. This book pits the forces of the wild and wyrd, against the intellect of a scholarly young man who has been in away at college and doesn't hold with superstitions. His logical musings lack humility though, as he never deeply questions his own precept long enough to ask, "...but what if I am wrong?"

As in his Mortal Engines books, Philip Reeve always has marvellously named characters, with a real sense of texture to them. I could immediately recognise his descriptive style and the plot is really well thought out. It's a fantastic adventure, and bound to be loved by anyone who loves the sea.

[De Grote Vriendelijke Podcast]

Een fijn en spannend fantasy-jeugdboek om jezelf in onder te dompelen. Ultra, een meisje van 11 jaar, spoelt als baby aan op het eiland Wildzee. Ze wordt opgevangen door de Wachter van het eiland, totdat hij verdrinkt. Vanaf dat moment staat het verhaal onder spanning. Een boek met een boeiend plot en aansprekende personages. Uitgegeven bij Ploegsma en vertaald door Annelies Jorna. Vanaf 9 jaar.
We bespreken het boek in de 90ste aflevering van De Grote Vriendelijke Podcast. Luister nu via Spotify, je podcast-app of https://degrotevriendelijkepodcast.nl...

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book so very, very much. A beautiful drawing together of fantasy, fairy tale and folklore, with themes of family and belonging, set in the atmospheric Wildsea. A place where ‘wild magic whispers in the waves’ and where natural magic and a close affinity to the land and sea still exist. Perfect for 7+ readers, as well as their adults. After turning the last page, I immediately wanted to start again.

[Odette Brethouwer]

Prima boek lijkt het hoor (15% geluisterd, de eerste 3 hoofdstukken). Fijn voorgelezen ook. Maar het voelt gewoon als het zoveelste 10+ boek dat literair is geschreven met mysterieuze fantasy elementen die over de zee gaan. Dat is er verrassend genoeg best veel, en als je me dan met de eerste 15% niet weet te pakken.. tja..

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Undoubtedly, Reeve is the master of YA world building. Whether it’s industrial post apocalypse or planet hopping space trains, he conjures such vivid imagery that you can’t fail but be consumed by it. I was so excited to see he’d created something around nature and the sea. However, Utterly and her mythology feels under developed and meandering. The beautiful prose and descriptions are there, but tangled up in an uninspiring and unexciting mass of sloppy wet seaweed. Disappointing.

[Alan Castree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow boil, but a very nice stroll in a traditionally magical setting.

[katayoun Masoodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautifully written, interesting characters. i got what i expected and enjoyed every minute of reading it.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wat een schitterend verhaal. Beeldend en magisch. Het einde vond ik minder, voelde wat afgeraffeld en niet doordacht. Maar de rest is prachtig, spannend en bijna poëtisch.