A dive wreck is found and there are lies told that day. One of the dive customers are seasick. Tasias dad is behind bars. They find a old war world two vessel. I found some of the dive details boring but action quickly starts.

Fractured Tide was action packed, suspenseful and mysterious! I was on the edge of my seat many times! I was left with unanswered questions. Book 2??? I think this is a quick read that engages the readers from the start.

Fractured: Split, broken, unable to exist.

This word sums this book up in a heartbeat. When you sit down with this book you’ll find yourself quickly immersed in an enthralling story of survival where everything is fractured. Sia’s family is fractured after her father is shipped off to prison. Her childhood is fractured after she’s needed to leave high school and work on the family’s dive charter. Her boat is fractured after a sea monster destroys it and nearly everyone aboard. Then, once she arrives on a deserted island her and the other survivors quickly discover reality and time itself is fractured. Will Sia and the other survivors discover the secrets of this island in order to make it off alive, or will they forever be trapped?

This fast pace multi-layered book has a page turning plot, we developed and relatable characters, and a climactic ending. Lutz has mastered giving you just enough information to let your imagination take the wheel and drive you into one creepy read. Excellent for any YA, Horror, and/or Science Fiction fans.

Thanks to NetGalley Blink Books & Leslie Lutz for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.

Sia lives in Florida, helping her mother to take tourists diving off the coast. She feels at home in the water, but one day a tour takes a nosedive. Attacked by...well, something scary, Sia and a few survivors wash up on an unusual island. Trying to survive with the wildlife behaving unusually and some sort of monster stalking them is enough to put everybody on edge. Can they survive, or will Sia's story run out of oxygen?

I really enjoyed how this story was told as if it was coming from Sia's diary. Raw and heartfelt, she describes her terror and innermost feelings as she also writes out her thoughts to her father. Threads of the past interweave with the present, and Sia's fight for survival feels immediate and palpable. Take a breath and dive into this one today. BYOW (Bring Your Own Wilson)

3.5 stars

Tasia loves the ocean. When other teenagers were starting high school, she was taken out of public school to help with the family's charter business, diving almost 20 times a week since she was 14. After mechanical failure leaves their boats stranded out on the ocean, the group is attacked by a terrifying sea creature, and Sia finds herself shipwrecked on a strange island. There is no food, no fresh water, and seemingly no way for rescue to reach the island.

I actually didn't realize this was YA when I started the book, although the main character is 17 or so. Her family has been through a lot and she had to grow up fast, so she was very mature and independent for her age. All of the characters were interesting, despite being mostly unlikable, but I did gravitate towards Graham. I didn't understand a lot of their actions/decisions, which is perhaps why I found it hard to really connect with any of them. Sidenote: I've never heard of anyone named Tasia besides my half-sister, and didn't know it was a Greek name meaning "resurrection". The protagonist is Greek, and the name is very fitting considering all of the incredible things she survives in the book.

I hate the ocean, and I'm terrified of the creatures in its depth that we know nothing about (not to mention the ones we do know about.) The first 20% of this book creeped me out and gave me a lot of anxiety, but in that satisfying way where a book actually affects you rather than just slipping in and out of your brain. So needless to say, I don't think I can ever force myself to go scuba diving, especially after reading this book. I had no idea where the story could go from there, and it went in a direction I couldn't have predicted.

I personally didn't care for the writing style, how it was second person with the "you" being Sia's dad. I felt like it took me out of the story often. I've never been diving, so the terminology was unfamiliar to me. It was kind of a learning experience, but the author didn't just easily explain everything or infodump. I figured it all out using context clues, and I feel like I gained a lot of knowledge throughout the whole book. Knowledge I'll never use because I AM NOT GOING IN THE OCEAN.

The end was good, but quite confusing, and I had some unanswered questions at the end. I think some plot holes were left behind due to the science fiction element of the story, which I can't explain without spoiling anything. I want read a finished copy of this in the future, most likely audio format so I can really freak myself out. I think fans of Into the Drowning Deep and The Sandcastle Empire would really enjoy this novel.

*Thank you NetGalley and Blink for providing this ARC for review*

Fractured Tide is a frightening and quick-paced mystery/survival story, and I kind of love those. So suffice it to say, this one quite worked for me. There are a few things that didn't as much, but as a whole this was a win! Let us divide it into the yays versus nays!

Yays:

• Very full of action and adventure. We start out on a diving trip, which is quite routine for Sia and her family. They take people on diving excursions, but this time, things don't go as planned. First, there's the unknown sea monster. Which is bad enough. Then Sia finds herself on a deserted island and honestly at that point, the action and adventure has just begun!

• I was excited to keep reading to figure out what the heck is going on. I mean, I needed to know! Because things aren't "right", you can tell from the start. And I had to know all the details! I am so grateful that this book delivered on some key answers. It satisfied me, no question!

• Loved the twists and turns the story took. I did not see them coming whatsoever. And I enjoyed that the twists felt unique.

• Definite focus on family. Obviously it's a very plot-driven book, but there's still a big focus on family. And a bit of a romance, which was fine, but I was way more invested in the family stuff. The story is told through Sia's letters to her incarcerated father, she's fiercely protective of her little brother, and there's clearly all kinds of tension to unpack between Sia and her mom. So I loved that even in the face of danger, Sia is still really concerned about her family.

Nays:

• Sometimes the technical diving stuff was a little too technical? I found my eyes glazing over a few times when Sia started to get into the nitty-gritty of the diving, and terms, and such. I liked that it was such a huge part of who Sia was, I just had trouble following at times. Or caring to follow maybe, is more appropriate.

• I didn't always feel particularly connected to Sia, despite enjoying her character. I liked Sia, don't get me wrong! But I think partly because she was telling her father the story perhaps, it felt like I just didn't get a feel for her as well as I'd hoped?

Bottom Line: Super exciting, I was compelled to keep reading to find out all the hows and whys of Sia and company's messy island situation!

I just didn’t click the way I’d hoped with this, but there was nothing horrible about it! I just didn’t get the serious tension that I was hoping for from a horror/thriller vibe.

I wish the reveal had been spread out more, because I found what was going on really interesting and wish it had been played with a bit more.

Fractured Tied is the creepy and actual definition of eerie that wets the pallet for every YA thriller fan. In my opinion, the book has not been getting the attention that it so richly deserves. It is very beautifully written and the characters and monster are very original. If you are looking for a solid fantasy with a brilliant main character and a great supporting cast of “friends” then you should pick this series up and give it a try.

4.5 STARS


In case you've forgotten how deep and dangerous the ocean can be, Fractured Tide is here to remind you.


When I started Fractured Tide, I wanted so badly for it to truly be a thriller. Last month, All the Pretty Things let me down in that department, and my approach to this book was wary as a result. Was it going to be a boring plot with the thriller label slapped on top? Was it actually going to thrill, and surprise the hell out of me!

Thankfully, it lived up to expectations. When Sia's latest wreck diving excursion goes wrong, it goes wrong in all the worst ways. There's something in the water, something violent, and it strands her on a deserted island with only her little brother and a couple of teenage strangers for company. There's no sign of her capable mother, there are plenty of hints about the beast in the sea, and rescue seems far distant, if not impossible.

And that's before things start getting even stranger.


This book is full of almosts in the most delightful way.


I think it's important to have almosts in a thriller. The main character is almost right. The antagonist is almost what's expected. And the solution is almost in sight. Yet almost isn't exact, and that gap between impression and reality gets to be unsettling not only for the characters, but for the reader. Coming so close to understanding the true scope of the dangers at hands is worse than total understanding. That element of the unknown hovers over your shoulder, lurking only in your peripheral vision. It sneaks out of the way when you look at it head on, and makes you afraid to trust that things are what they appear to be on the surface.

Really, I'm delighted that this thriller was actually a thriller. It's dangerous and uncertain, and I couldn't be sure what was going to happen next even though I had my suspicions. Plus, it does an outstanding job of introducing bits and pieces of uncanny valleyesque content, enough that no one can ever quite get comfortable. Sometimes those elements struck me as ultimately outlandish or didn't have enough explanation for my tastes, resulting in a 4.5 star rating instead of a rounded 5 star, but it's something of a small complaint next to the solid structure of the rest of the book.


"Look fear in the face, and when you do, you make fear small."


Fractured Tide's best feature, though, is Sia. Her POV forms the bulk of the book, in the shape of letters to her father. She records as much of her time on the island as possible, along with the tragic events that stranded her there, and every entry drips with determination. Even though Sia is trapped in a situation nearly impossible to survive, she doesn't throw in the towel. Her brother is stranded with her, as are two other teenagers relying on her survival know-how to make it just another day. People are depending on her for their lives, and she does her best to rise to the occasion.

Really, it was refreshing to read about a heroine who's so clearly afraid of what's ahead, but refuses to give in. She may not know how to fix the entire situation, but she keeps pushing forward.

Even more delightful to me, though, was her relationship with her brother. I'm a known sap for stories centering siblings, and while this isn't wholly centering Sia and Felix, he's the main reason she tries so hard. He's only seven, and washing up on an island after a sea creature attacked the boat he was on has to be traumatic. But his big sister loves him and wants to protect him. They have each other, despite all the danger, and it makes me soft.

Not only that, but I appreciated Sia's interactions with the other two teens on the island. They joined forces in the name of survival, but that doesn't mean it was all hunky dory. Stuck together for the foreseeable future, they cooperate and clash in equal measure, teetering dangerously close to Lord of the Flies territory now and again without ever feeling unbelievable or overblown for the drama.


If you want mysteries of the sea and uncanny danger, Fractured Tide might be for you!


I truly had fun with this book. With only a couple minor complaints, it went above and beyond initial expectations, making a great, gripping read. After smashing through it in one sitting, I can absolutely recommend it. Plus, it's almost here! Publication is on schedule, and you can expect to see it available for sale starting on May 5th!

And I'm beginning to think it might be worth reading again, just to parse out the foreshadowing. It would be par for the course with this one... 👀


CW: smoking, violence (including gun violence), gore, graphic injury, loss of a loved one, underage drinking, suicidal ideation

[This review will go live on Hail & Well Read at 1:30 PM EST on 4/29/20.]

Please note: I received a digital ARC of this book (via NetGalley) from its publisher in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Fractured Tide by Leslie Lutz is an immersive YA thriller that will have you feeling anxious and claustrophobic throughout. Adding to that fear is the isolation and mystery of the deep ocean that Lutz does a brilliant job of making you feel. Fractured Tide is written in journal entry format which allows the story to unfold naturally and smoothly. We follow Sia, a teenage dive instructor who finds herself in an impossible situation after a bizarre boating accident on her family charter. Sia is a very relatable, strong female protagonist. You immediately feel for her situation and find yourself wondering how you would react in the same situation.

Leslie Lutz weaves an extremely intricate tale full of danger, excitement, intrigue, and.....sea monsters! Add in family drama and teenage angst and you get a truly unique thriller/horror.
Fractured Tide was a fast paced enjoyable read. The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns. This book gave me Lost and Into the Drowning Deep vibes. It will appeal to fans of horror and science fiction alike.

I love how Lutz mixes in diving, horror, and science to keep events moving at a good pace. It was a bit of a slow burn at times once we get on the island, but there is enough action and suspense throughout to keep you engaged and on the edge of your seat. Published by Blink, this gem set to release on May 5th, and is available for pre-order from all major booksellers. I give Fractured Tide 4 out of 5 gems. I cannot wait for this story to be out in the wild for all to read! Happy Reading!

I usually don't read thrillers, but the premise of Fractured Tide caught my interest, so I thought I'd check it out. The tone of the book was the first thing I noticed when I started reading. "Eerie" is in the description, and it's the perfect term to describe the feeling throughout out the whole book. I felt on the edge of my seat while simultaneously also having the urge to duck into my blanket to escape the stress the characters are experiencing.

The plot and twists unfold at a tensely slow pace, and each character is unreliable to the point I was suspecting everyone until the last minute. I found most of the characters unlikeable, yet complicated enough that I was still invested. I'm a huge lover of the "stranded on a desert island" trope and this was a great twist on it.

The publishers of Fractured Tide have done well to compare this book to the TV show Lost - the story starts strong but fails to live up to the scenario it created.
We start on a routine dive gone wrong and escalate into a sci-fi island adventure. The framing of this story, through journal entries to Sia's father, is a device I generally dislike - it came together in the end, but it was a roundabout way to acheive that part of the plot. I think this story offers something original in the YA book space, sci-fi based in the present day, family struggles based in reality, and ocean monsters.
Was it a fun read? Yes, to a point, but it left more questions unanswered than I would've liked.
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a copy for review.

Fractured Tide is an eerie thriller about a young woman, Sia, who is an experienced diver. After a tour goes fatally wrong, she winds up stranded on an island where things get steadily worse...

This book started really well, with a fast pace and plenty of action. It got a little dull around the middle, but the tension started to build again towards the end.

The vibe on the Island was so creepy! There were tonnes of edge-of-your-seat moments and nail biting twists and I really loved not knowing what might be coming next!

This review has been posted to Goodreads and will be submitted to Amazon after release.

Wow, this book was a wild ride! Definitely reminiscent of the TV show Lost. Lots of twists and turns until the very end. Sia was a wonderful character and the story is told through her journal entries to her dad in prison. This book had me so invested I stayed up past midnight two nights in a row to finish it! Definitely recommend.

With Lost and Stranger Things being the comp titles (and two of my fav shows) for this book, I was soooo hoping to not be disappointed - and I absolutely wasn't.  The comps are perfect descriptions.

Creepy, bizarre, mind-bending - all are apt descriptions of the island Sia finds herself stranded on.  Honestly, I'd be afraid to close my eyes at night.  This book held my attention from page one, and I probably could have finished it in one sitting.  Pacing is brisk and tense - I couldn't wait to see what happened next.  

Characterization is another strong point, from the MC to supporting characters - flawed, layered, and relatable.  I loved that Sia was a diver, and it's obvious the author did her research on the subject.  I tried diving several years ago, but I was too claustrophobic - so I really felt the tension when Sia was caught up dangerous underwater situations.

Although completely riveted by this book, I dreaded the ending because I was sure to be disappointed by some weak excuse for what was happening.  But I wasn't at all, and that made my sci-fi loving heart so happy.

Fractured Tide is a fantastic blend of thriller, sci-fi, and horror and fans of any of those genres are in for a treat.  With such an amazing debut novel, this is an author to watch.    

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book is one of those that when I finished I kind of wanted to immediately reread it again.

It's creepy and a fabulous tale of survival told by Side in journal entries to her father.

I don't want to say much more because spoilers are real in this one!

The writing is vivid and keeps up a great air of tension.

I was on the edge of my seat throughout this claustrophobic thriller that had notes of LOST and 2001: A Space Odyssey. The story is told in an interesting first person/epistolary style that almost feels like second person at times, and only serves to enhance the tension and character growth. Excellent writing with settings so real you can feel them breathe and characters so genuinely flawed you can’t help but root for them. Fantastic debut!

This book has everything you could want in an adventure story ... diving, sea monsters, weird time loops, and more! Sia is an avid diver who's been diving three times a day for god knows how long. She helps her mom run a dive charter, leading tourist divers on dives in the Florida Keys. But then it all goes wrong. First, she loses a diver. Then her boat and another boat get stranded at sea, engines mysteriously refusing to start. And then the attack comes. Something in the sea, pulling people off of the boat. Sia ends up stranded on a deserted island with three other people, the only apparent survivors. But they've got more than food and water to worry about. That thing in the sea is still hunting them, and the jungle - curiously devoid of life - seems to be watching them. And is it just your imagination, or is that the exact same group of birds doing the exact same things they did a few hours ago?

I absolutely loved this book. It's told through a series of journal entries that Sia writes to her father. I rather enjoyed this approach, because it gives you a look inside Sia's head and all the things going through it as this drama unfolds. The plotting was fast-paced, with lots of twists and turns along the way. Lutz did an excellent job of making this island feel creepy as hell, so I was write there with Sia when she was afraid of the creepy jungle or literally anything else about this island. And throughout all of this incredible action, you get Sia's family history seamlessly interwoven through the story. Sia also talks to her father throughout the book in a heartbreakingly honest manner - she's blunt, heartfelt, and pulls absolutely no punches. I was also thrilled to see that Lutz got the diving parts right. I'm also an avid diver (not quite as avid as Sia), and Hollywood almost never gets it right. Lutz did. I loved her descriptions of diving, the way that it makes you feel free and peaceful and weightless.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blink for an advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. All views and opinions are my own.

Oh my God! A claustrophobic island theme with lots of mysteries! Do you hear the alarm bells? Something coming like Lost’s ominous intro, Cast Away and Gilligan’s Island’s suspicious, intriguing plot! And of course Island of Doctor Moreau kind of science fiction elements are ready to be served! Didn’t I still sale this pitch to you? I’m already sold because this is a great, exciting, exhilarating page turner and I had great time with this action packed, unique installment!

This is another promising YA thriller and MC is Sia, working with her mom at scuba dive tours for tourists. But after one dive goes terribly wrong and being attacked by a mysterious creature, the boat she’s on sinks and she finds herself in a deserted island with a few more survivors. There is no sign from the rescue team and a monster is still out there, with humongous appetite, ready to attack!

And of course the island is not an ordinary place they are trapped. Something between Lost and Wicker Man and a little “Lord of Flies” vibes start to blink on the pages!

The story is told by Sia’s diary she’s written for her father in prison and as we move in the heart throbbing, mysterious story, we also learn more about her family history. I was really curious what the connection was between Sia’s past and island. But wait for it! You got to be patient to get your answer!

Overall: Exciting, surprising, twisty and entertaining ride.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Blink for sharing this action packed ARC in exchange my honest review, put a brilliant author on my radar!

'Lost meets Stranger Things in this eerie, immersive YA thriller, thrusting seventeen-year-old Sia into a reality where the waters in front of her and the jungle behind her are as dangerous as the survivors alongside her.'

Lost and Stranger Things in the same book? Count me in!

I was hooked and fully entrenched in the story from the word go. The atmosphere of the island was extremely appealing lending to the strangeness and building intrigue.
The story was written really well hooking the reader in. The tight plot, the pacing, the twists, the atmosphere and the well written characters just added on to make Fractured Tide an immensely readable book.

I raced through the book and couldn't put it down. Totally satisfied with this one!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.