The Darkdeep – Ally Condie (2018)

The Darkdeep, written by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs and published in 2018, marks the thrilling first installment of a gripping middle-grade adventure series. Set in the misty coastal town of Timbers in the Pacific Northwest, the novel plunges into eerie folklore, strange phenomena, and the strength of friendship as a group of kids uncover a mysterious, supernatural force hidden beneath the surface of their town’s darkest legends.

Plot Summary

The ground rose up fast and unforgiving beneath Nico Holland, a sudden fall that launched him into the fog-bound air just short of Still Cove’s cliffs. Behind him, laughter rang out – not from his friends, but from the trio of kids who seemed to shadow his every step with malice. Logan Nantes and his cronies had just flung Nico’s drone, his prized quadcopter, into the swirling gray void of the Cove. And despite his friends Tyler and Emma begging him to stop, Nico followed it. Slipping over the edge, he plunged into the mist.

Still Cove had always been wrapped in legend, haunted by stories of the Beast beneath the waters, and shunned by all of Timbers. But Nico didn’t vanish. He landed in frigid water and somehow clawed his way to shore – not a beach anyone knew of, but a hidden island veiled in the mist. Exhausted and alone, Nico collapsed, unaware that help was already on the way.

Opal Walsh, who had ridden away with the very bullies who instigated the mess, turned back. Something about seeing Nico’s face as his drone disappeared hit a nerve she couldn’t ignore. And so, when the others refused to help, she went alone. Back on the cliff, she rejoined Emma and Tyler, and together they discovered a steep deer trail leading down to the water’s edge. There, tucked into a cliffside cave, they found an abandoned rowboat and launched it into the cove, braving the waters that had kept the town afraid for generations.

They reunited with Nico on the shore of the island, a joyous collision of relief, disbelief, and fragile forgiveness. It wasn’t long before they discovered what Nico had only glimpsed from the edge – a houseboat resting eerily in the middle of a perfectly round pond, as still as glass and as dark as ink. Surrounded by heavy fog, the houseboat loomed like a relic from a forgotten world.

Crossing a set of stepping stones that seemed placed intentionally, they reached the vessel. Its interior held an odd collection of relics – bones, paintings, preserved curiosities, and a strange green jar swirling with something alive. It wasn’t a home or a museum. It was something stranger, something forgotten. Deep within the houseboat, hidden behind a trick panel, they found a spiral staircase that led down to a chamber beneath the pond. There, embedded in the floor, was a round pool – darker than night, swirling slowly yet constantly. The moment they looked upon it, unease crawled into their bones.

Back in town, nothing felt normal. They couldn’t stop thinking about the houseboat or the Darkdeep – the name Emma gave the pool that defied logic. Despite Nico’s reservations and Opal’s strained ties with the group, they returned the next day. Opal found them gone, abandoned again, and instead of giving up, discovered a secret tunnel through the cliff, leading straight to the island. Her resolve cemented her place among them, whether they welcomed her or not.

Together again, they ventured back into the houseboat’s depths. One by one, they were drawn to the Darkdeep. Nico, the first to touch the surface, plunged beneath and emerged moments later – dazed, soaking, and no longer alone. A terrifying creature appeared beside him, made of shadow and memory. It wasn’t real, not exactly. It was a figment – a living hallucination born of his imagination. When it faded, so did the fear, but not the questions.

Each of them took turns descending into the Darkdeep, discovering that the pool conjured their thoughts, fears, and fantasies into monstrous reality. Tyler’s nightmares, Emma’s movie monsters, and Opal’s buried guilt all materialized in shapes that vanished as quickly as they came. The figments were terrifying, but not inherently malicious. Still, something about the Darkdeep pulsed with ancient energy, as if the pool watched and waited.

Despite the danger, the island became a haven. Hidden from the rest of Timbers, the group made it their secret place. But secrets can only stay buried for so long. When figments began to appear in town – strange, flickering shapes on the beach, shadowy monsters glimpsed by others – the friends realized the Darkdeep’s reach was growing. Something had changed. The figments were crossing boundaries.

It wasn’t just fantasy anymore. The Darkdeep was waking up.

Nico struggled with the weight of this power. He’d been the one to fall in first, the one most connected to the houseboat and the pool. Opal wrestled with guilt over her former friendship with Logan and her complicity in the town’s divisions. Emma, ever the dreamer, wanted to understand it. Tyler just wanted to forget it all.

Together, they tried to piece together the truth. They explored the houseboat further and unearthed old maps and clues that suggested others had known about the Darkdeep before them. Someone had built this place to contain it. Someone had failed.

The group vowed to protect the secret – not just for their safety, but for the safety of everyone in Timbers. But containment wasn’t easy. When Logan and his crew got too close to discovering the island, and figments began appearing in town during daylight, the danger became real. The figments were no longer vanishing quickly. They were lasting longer, becoming more solid. One attack near the school sent the town into a panic.

In a final, desperate effort to seal the Darkdeep again, Nico and his friends returned to the island. They descended into the houseboat one last time and faced the swirling void. One by one, they released their worst fears into the pool, allowing the figments to rise and be drawn back down. It was as if the Darkdeep demanded offerings – not sacrifices of flesh, but of truth, pain, and fear.

When the final figment faded and the surface stilled, they emerged together, changed. They knew the Darkdeep wasn’t gone. It was merely quiet. For now.

Back in Timbers, the fog still rolled in off Still Cove. The island remained uncharted. And deep below, the Darkdeep waited. Watching. Listening.

Because some mysteries do not stay buried forever.

Main Characters

• Nico Holland – A bright, determined boy with a passion for technology and invention, Nico is fiercely independent yet deeply affected by his father’s contentious role in the town’s environmental battles. As the protagonist, his curiosity and resilience drive much of the plot. Nico’s internal struggle to maintain pride amid community ostracism adds emotional depth to his leadership.

• Opal Walsh – Once Nico’s childhood friend, Opal is now caught between social groups and her own evolving sense of identity. Brave and resourceful, she becomes central to the unfolding mystery. Her journey from outsider to key player is marked by bold choices and a desire to reclaim her place in something meaningful.

• Emma Fairington – A spirited and imaginative movie buff, Emma is loyal, clever, and brimming with a thirst for adventure. She serves as the group’s emotional glue, often defusing tensions with humor and heart. Her creative perspective helps the group interpret the eerie phenomena they encounter.

• Tyler Watson – Nico’s best friend and comic relief, Tyler is sharp-tongued and reluctant but ultimately loyal. Though easily spooked and wary of danger, he often grounds the group with skepticism. His moments of courage are all the more poignant given his fears.

• Logan Nantes – The antagonist and son of the local timber magnate, Logan embodies privilege, cruelty, and unresolved anger toward Nico’s family. His bullying behavior triggers the central events of the story. Logan represents the social divides and generational grudges present in the town.

Theme

• Friendship and Reconciliation: At the heart of the novel is a rediscovery of broken friendships and the forging of new alliances. Nico and Opal’s tense relationship becomes a barometer for the group’s dynamics, highlighting how loyalty, honesty, and forgiveness are crucial in overcoming both supernatural and social challenges.

• Courage and Identity: Each character is forced to confront personal fears and insecurities. Whether it’s Nico fighting for respect, Opal navigating social isolation, or Tyler facing his terrors, the story celebrates the emergence of identity through acts of bravery and self-discovery.

• Mystery and the Unknown: The dark, swirling force of the “Darkdeep” symbolizes the hidden fears and powers lying beneath the surface – both literal and emotional. The eerie houseboat, the fog-drenched cove, and the unknowable depths of the pool reinforce a motif of confronting the unknown.

• Environmental Responsibility vs. Economic Interests: Subtly woven through the narrative is the conflict between protecting the natural world and supporting economic livelihoods. Nico’s father’s actions to save endangered owls contrast with the town’s dependence on logging, creating personal and communal tension.

Writing Style and Tone

Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs bring a cinematic, fast-paced narrative style that expertly captures the wonder, fear, and humor of middle-grade adventure. The chapters alternate primarily between Nico and Opal’s perspectives, allowing for a nuanced view of the events and relationships at play. The authors excel at crafting tension and atmosphere – from cliffside chases to eerie underwater revelations – while anchoring the action in relatable, heartfelt moments.

The tone of The Darkdeep is a masterful balance between suspense and warmth. Though mysterious and occasionally unsettling, the narrative never strays too far from the optimism and empathy of its young characters. The dialogue is natural and often witty, grounding the story in authentic emotions. As the story deepens into the unknown, the tone shifts gradually from playful intrigue to awe and apprehension, mirroring the characters’ growing understanding of the Darkdeep’s significance.