Common Sense Media Review
By Julie A. Carlson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Haunting gothic horror novel is a devil of a tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Violet White's grandmother warned her about the devil. Growing up in the small town of Echo, Violet has had nothing to fear. She misses her grandmother and her parents, who took off for Europe to pursue artistic interests and left her brother, Luke, and her to live alone in the family's mansion near the sea, known as Citizen Kane. Violet's used to being alone, fighting with Luke, and visiting her next door neighbor, Sunshine, but she often feels something's missing from her life, until River West rents her guesthouse. He's mysterious, aloof, and doesn't provide many answers on his background. When strange things start to occur to Violet, her friends, and the residents of Echo, she begins to wonder if the boy she's falling in love with could actually be the devil in disguise.
Is It Any Good?
BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA is an atmospheric, lyrical novel from debut author April Genevieve Tucholke. The plot moves quickly and is filled with secrets and paranormal elements. Violet and River are both fascinating, likable characters. However, River has a dark side, and Violet questions her feelings for him throughout the book. Readers will also question Violet's choices and decisions regarding him. Her relationships with her brother and her friend Sunshine are realistic and add to the story. The descriptions in the book are top-notch and reminiscent of gothic horror classics like Dracula, Rebecca, Jayne Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and The Mystery of the Haunted Pool. The novel ends with a cliffhanger that will leave readers wondering what happens next to Violet, River, and the other characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about gothic romance a genre. What common elements appear in gothic horror novels? Why do they remain popular?
Do you think Violet makes the right choices? Should she have trusted and fallen for a stranger so quickly without really knowing him first?
Do you think River is truly evil and can control his magical ability? Or is he just a lost soul who's struggling to not be the bad boy?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Arts , Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Dial Books
- Publication date : August 15, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : December 3, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate