INDIGO, THE DEEP
By Kellye Abernathy
Teen and YA / Coming of Age / Fantasy
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Publication Date: July 7, 2026
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*** 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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*** WATCH THE REEL ***
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*** REVIEW ***
Most of the story takes place in a real world setting with wonderful characters such as the old ladies who live in caves high on the cliffs – the Beachlings they’re called as a group – and the kind man, Adam, who owns the surfboard store, as well as Condi’s grandmother, Grand Ella. Who readers met in the first book, The Aquamarine Surfboard. She’s an endearing character who helps all the teens, especially Firth who is a wounded soul, and his brother who is a healer in training.
If only there was someone like Grand Ella in the lives of every teen who lives with the trauma of discrimination, bullying, and abandonment. Grand Ella, and the Beachlings, bring a gentle wisdom to the interactions with the teens, making the lessons land softly. The young people learn to have a reverence for the sea, which intensifies their dismay when the biomedical ship that is harvesting near the shores disturbs the ecosystem and threatens the existence of some of the fish and plants.
Firth and Condi form a close bond, and a sweet romance is in the making; a terrific subplot element that is natural and evolves perfectly. Firth is an endearing young man, willing to learn how to dive into caverns to find special flowers that the Beachlings need for their healing medicines. Like Condi’s experience in the first book, dolphins take him deep into the ocean where he’s told to how the magic works by Koan, the great Sea Master.
It’s alway nice to see a return of Trustin and his sister, Melissa, who have always appeared when most needed in previous books. They are a bit of a mystery and obviously infused with the magic that some of the other teens only glimpse, and the whole magic element works well.
The characters are all tied together on different levels as they work toward healing from the various traumas of their pasts and embrace the person they can be. Themes of renewal, acceptance, and the power of believing in themselves, as well as the magic, are deftly woven into the lovely tapestry that is this story.
The narrative reads almost like poetry, with charming descriptions that create a sense of wonder and awe for the sea, as well as all of nature. For example, in describing the start of a storm, Abernathy offers fresh images: “A faraway rumble of thunder shimmies through the air. Rogue bolts of lightning gallop across the sky. Light rain peppers the sand.”
Those types of fresh descriptors are “peppered” throughout, making this wordsmith smile in delight.
Young readers, as well as older ones, will enjoy reading a lovely feel-good story with touches of fantasy.
*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR ***
An avid reader and writer, Kellye is the author of the 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.
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*** GIVEAWAY ***
Three winners will take home all three books in the series.
July 7 – August 10 – U.S. Only
*** ENTER TO WIN! ***
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To learn more about the book, look for #LSLLIndigoTheDeep on your preferred social media platform.
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