Review: Indigo, The Deep
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INDIGO, THE DEEP
By Kellye Abernathy
Teen and YA Coming of Age Fantasy
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Publication Date: July 7, 2026
SYNOPSIS
“In the heart of the deepest sea caverns, there is a stillness. Learn to surrender to it.”
Fifteen-year-old Condi Bloom knows the magic will happen again. The autumn equinox is looming. Strange currents are sweeping through her coastal town. Tides are turning wild, and a mercurial mist cloaks the lonely rock tower known as Windy Hollow, long believed to be haunted.
When a silent threat glides into the cove, altering the fragile ecosystem and drawing sharks close to shore, Condi ignores the danger. A fierce surfer, she insists on pushing her skills to the limit, hoping to heal a broken heart. Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Firth Cristo, a bold free diver, is tormented by a past he cannot reveal. Guided by the Beachlings, the mystical women who teach the secrets of the deep, he dares to explore remote underwater sea caverns, navigating the pulsing tides of a shimmering enchantment.
Inspired by the certainty of wonder and the uncertain nature of time, Condi and Firth dive into their rawest places, discovering that healing—of nature, of others, and of themselves—is found in the bounty of a limitless sea.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
YA science-fantasy series: The Aquamarine Surfboard (2022), Amethyst, The Shallows (2024), and Indigo, The Deep (2026). A former wireless business executive and a graduate of the University of Kansas, Kellye teaches practical life skills, creative writing, yoga, and mindfulness within the trauma-survivor community in Plano, Texas. She hopes to inspire healing through body and breath awareness, creativity, consistency, and compassion. Her joys are many and varied, among them neuroscience, oceanography, swimming, biking, family adventures, and great conversation. She believes in staying curious, showing up, and keeping her heart open.
Indigo, The Deep is a young adult novel by Kellye Abernathy and is the third book in her coastal fantasy series, following The Aquamarine Surfboard and Amethyst, The Shallows.
This story brings us back to the seaside town where strange things are happening while the autumn equinox approaches. Indigo, The Deep centers around Condi Bloom who is a 15 year old surfer who is trying to prepare for a competition while also experiencing a heartbreak.
There are unsusual currents in the ocean, mysterious fog, and other disturbances that threaten the community of Dipitous Beach. Condi, along with Firth Cristo, a teenage free diver, work together with the Beachlings, women who have a deep understanding of the sea and it’s properties, to protect their environment.
Indigo, The Deep does a fantastic job of blending environmental themes with both fantastical elements and the intense feelings that come from the coming-of-age stage of life. I enjoyed the exploration of grief and the aftermath of emotional trauma while also involving the aspects of environmental conservation and protection. Our characters experience much growth in this story and that sort of transformation is necessary and enjoyable to read in a coming-of-age story.
Abernathy’s writing was descriptive and emotional. There is great worldbuilding and the setting sounds so charming! I think any reader who enjoys young adult literature or just really great emotional storytelling that is very much character-driven would love this book.
To learn more about the book, look for #LSLLIndigoTheDeep on your preferred social media platform.
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