Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Twenty nautical miles off the coast of Boston lies Bell Island, shrouded in fog, mystery, and legend. Historically a refuge for women fleeing the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials in the 1600s and a way station on the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves in the 1800s, the island is isolated and rumored to be haunted by spirits and . . . other things.
It is to Bell Island that microbial biologist Harper Hafdóttir ventures in search of evidence of a new species of octopus, Thalassa, possibly lurking below the swirling water’s surface. Along with her equipment, and her luggage, Harper carries with her the burden of past trauma and vivid, recurring dreams.
Swept up in unexplained phenomena ranging from increased seismic activity and a boat-capsizing rogue wave to encounters with island creatures that defy explanation, Harper looks to the island’s venerated if mysterious mayor for answers. Lady Loreana Bell comes from a single matriarchal line that has ruled the island for 400 years—and seems to have been expecting Harper’s arrival.
It is within the walls of Bell Manor—its gothic grandeur matched only by the intensity of Harper’s deja vu—that she discovers the 1690 journal of a young woman in the grips of a religious cult. As a tsunami threatens the island, Harper finds herself on the verge of a revelation that will ultimately unlock the mystery of her haunted dreams and disclose her true purpose on Bell Island . . .
My Review
Beyond the Graves Waits Mist and Sea pulled me in immediately, and honestly that’s almost entirely down to the prose. Even in the slower stretches, the writing itself kept me turning pages, which is a real feat. The atmosphere on Bell Island is so thick you’ll feel like you’re actually there, fog and mysterious fae and all. If spooky, isolated island vibes are your thing, this book absolutely delivers on that front.
The premise is so interesting: a microbial biologist travels to a mysterious island off the coast of Boston to search for a new species of octopus, and slowly gets swept up in something much bigger and stranger than she bargained for. The science felt believable in a way I appreciated, though honestly I wish there was more of it.
Because here’s my main issue with this book: the first half and second half feel like two completely different stories. The first half is a creepy, atmospheric science expedition with mysterious undertones. The second half pivots into full historical ghost story territory. Both are interesting on their own, but the whiplash between halves is real, and it doesn’t feel quite like the same book.
The dream sequences were another sticking point for me. Harper has recurring nightmares set in the 1600s that repeat throughout the story, and while they eventually pay off, they got really repetitive long before that moment arrives. I was honestly kind of over them by the time the dreams finally clicked into place. The romance also felt a little incomplete…cute, but I wanted more! That said, the small island community is an absolute delight, full of quirky characters with their own interesting little backgrounds, and the ending does bring everything together in a satisfying way.
THE GOOD:
- The prose is really beautiful and keeps you reading even through slower stretches
- The Bell Island atmosphere is incredibly immersive
- The premise is creative and original
- The science feels believable and well researched
- The small island community is full of fun, quirky characters
- The ending brings everything together in a satisfying way
THE NOT-AS-GOOD:
- The first and second halves feel like two completely different books tonally
- The dream sequences get very repetitive before they finally pay off
- The romance feels underdeveloped and incomplete
THE NEUTRAL:
- If you go in expecting a science-focused story, know that it pivots pretty heavily into historical ghost story territory in the second half
- This is more atmospheric literary horror than action-driven thriller
OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Beyond the Graves Waits Mist and Sea is a beautifully written, deeply atmospheric island horror story with a premise that really works, even if the two halves never quite feel like they belong to the same book.
PERFECT FOR:
- Readers who love gothic, isolated island settings
- Fans of atmospheric literary horror with beautiful prose
- Anyone who enjoys historical mystery woven into a contemporary story
- Spooky season readers looking for something genuinely eerie and immersive
