SOLVED. YA Mystery/Thriller novel about teens on an island and a mysterious grotto. Read late 1990s. Spoilers ahead. [s]

[Sylvan]

HI!

This is one of the books that haunts me because I can never remember it other than the briefest glimpses.

It's a YA book I believe, read it around the late 90s, about a group of preteens/teens who come with their families to an island, they've all been friends for ages, and mysterious stuff happens around them. There is a grotto by the sea that plays a big role in that.

(view spoiler)[All my memory is spoilers! Basically all the kids are there to be sacrificed to keep the parents young. This has happened over and over, the parents keep having children to sacrifice and the cycle begins again. And I know there is something to do with a grotto/cave where the sacrifices happen. I also seem to remember that some of the kids might vaguely remember older siblings, but I may be wrong. (hide spoiler)]

I really hope this is a book and not just some fever dream!

Thank you all in advance!

[Rainbowheart]

Two Against the Tide?

[Sylvan]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Two Against the Tide?"

From what I can see of the plot, it might be, but I'll have to find it and read it as it doesn't sound quite what I remember. Thank you!

[Kris]

Sylvan, what's the genre (which we need to add to the topic header/title) - e.g., YA mystery, horror, thriller, fantasy?

[Sylvan]

Nope, not two against the tide. From everything I can find on Wiki and other book websites, the details are too different. There was no drug, it was definitely a ritual. Thank you so much though!!!!

[Rainbowheart]

This sounds super familiar to me. I keep thinking maybe it's come up before. We had a couple of threads about kids on weird islands.

Otherborn kinda sorta sounds vaguely similar, but I don't know about the sacrifice part.

[Sylvan]

Similar idea of the lack of aging, but not it. Interesting sounding book though, I'm going to have to grab it!

[Andria]

There was this request, but no responses: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Andria]

Possibly: Only Child

(thanks to this Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthatboo...)

[Sylvan]

Andria wrote: "There was this request, but no responses: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."


OMG!!! This is it!! I remember the cover! Thank you thank you thank you!!!! It wasn't a grotto I was remembering, it was "Cove". Man, the relief of getting this solved is amazing! Thank you!

[Andria]

You're welcome! There's nothing more satisfying than finally scratching that itch of a book you've been trying to remember for ages! Glad we could help.