Something ancient is waiting beneath the waves. From #1 New York Times bestselling author CG Drews, creator of Don’t Let the Forest In and Hazelthorn, comes Scorpion Deep, a haunting young adult horror novel about loneliness, obsession, and the terrifying consequences of awakening an ancient sea god.

Jonathan Covey dreams of escaping Kelcarrow, the gloomy, isolated island off the coast of Maine where he has spent his entire life. As summer draws to a close, his friends prepare to leave for college on the mainland. But Jonathan wasn’t accepted, and the thought of being left behind fills him with dread.

Desperate to change his fate, Jonathan performs an ancient ritual and offers a tithe to Scorpion Deep, an eldritch sea god that most islanders dismiss as a myth. To his horror, the ritual works. The god awakens, and Jonathan finds himself drawn to the mysterious, ageless being lurking beneath the ocean.

But Scorpion Deep’s fascination with Jonathan quickly becomes something far more dangerous. As scales begin growing along Jonathan’s spine and the god’s obsession turns increasingly violent, Jonathan realizes that escaping his nightmare may require destroying the very creature he awakened. And freedom from an ancient god always comes at a terrible price.

Blending gothic atmosphere, supernatural horror, queer themes, and emotionally complex relationships, Scorpion Deep is a dark, immersive story exploring friendship, abandonment, trauma, and the dangerous desire to belong. Perfect for readers who enjoy atmospheric horror, unsettling monsters, and beautifully written dark fantasy.

• Title: Scorpion Deep
• Author: CG Drews
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan)
• Publication Date: October 27, 2026
• Age Range: 13-18 years
• Genre: Young Adult Horror / Gothic Horror / Dark Fantasy / LGBTQ+ Fiction
• ISBN: 9781250376312