Those We Drown

May 8, 2023
Goldsmith plots a slow-burn psychological thriller via paranormal elements and Greek mythology in this intense debut. Seventeen-year-old British Liv Larkin is ecstatic when she lands a full-ride scholarship to SeaMester, a study abroad program aboard luxury cruise liner the Eos. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her to travel to places like New York and Barcelona that she couldn’t dream to afford otherwise. What’s more, she gets the chance to rekindle her relationship with shipmate and former best friend Will, also 17. But Liv soon learns that her affluent schoolmates—particularly arrogant and handsome Constantine—aren’t eager to associate with a “charity case” like her. Worse still, Will disappears after catching the attention of the Sirens, a trio of supernaturally attractive lifestyle influencers who seem to have undue sway over the Eos’s operations. Further haunted by disturbing nightmares of many-tentacled creatures, Liv is plunged into a sinister conspiracy that seems to involve everyone aboard the ship. Summarily explored issues surrounding class privilege, overconsumption, and patriarchy pervade atmospheric and moody prose. Through Liv’s snarky first-person narration, Goldsmith crafts a seafaring tale of grim horror. Liv and Will cue as white; Constantine has Greek heritage. Ages 12–up. Agent: Claire Friedman, InkWell Management.

May 15, 2023
When Liv's friend Will disappears the first night of their semester at sea, it's unclear what really happened, who can be trusted, and what horrible darkness might be onboard. Liv feels lucky to have scored a full scholarship to participate in the trans-Atlantic SeaMester program aboard the Eos, a posh cruise ship. But surrounded by wealthy, beautiful students, including the stunning and untouchable trio of social media influencers known as the Sirens, Liv starts to feel uneasy. Will's inexplicable disappearance triggers a host of unanswered questions about his well-being, staff members get caught in lies, and her sophisticated, alluring classmate Constantine proves a complicated mix of friendly ally and untrustworthy love interest. As more people go missing, Liv races to find Will and make sense of murky, mysterious incidents and behaviors. Goldsmith deftly keeps readers in the dark, unsure of which characters to believe but also wondering whether Liv is a reliable narrator. The ship is the perfect setting for just such a thriller: isolated and eerie. The slow unraveling of the mystery is captivating and surprising, the ending deliciously--horrifically--ambiguous. The plot ramps up slowly, but it's worth the wait. Liv is a White English girl; there is some diversity in nationality and ethnicity among the supporting cast. An original, suspenseful, and atmospheric debut. (Horror. 12-17)

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September 8, 2023
Grades 9-12 As a scholarship student on a luxury SeaMester learning experience, Liv is relieved to be boarding the cruise ship Eos with her best friend, Will, even if their relationship has been strained for the past few months. After a messy first evening involving too much alcohol, Will seems to disappear from the ship. Liv is told by the aloof and bizarrely behaving staff that he is sick and no one is allowed to see him, but the more she investigates the more she suspects the staff, the elderly passengers, and possibly some of her fellow students are up to something truly sinister. Liv chases--and is chased--through the elegant but dank corners of the ship looking for Will and other lost passengers, creating an unsettling and claustrophobic atmosphere for this Greek mythology-inspired horror novel. Social and economic class is a weapon used to discredit Liv as she tries to uncover the truth about the disappearances on the Eos, which leads to some of the more tense and frustrating sequences. An abrupt ending will leave readers eager for a second installment.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.