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bookslayer's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
smurfinablender's review against another edition
5.0
If "Queen of Blood" was Druid Harry Potter then "The Deepest Blue" is Druid Hunger Games and I am HERE FOR IT.
coolcurrybooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed Sarah Beth Durst’s Queens of Renthia trilogy, so I was obviously up for this stand-alone novel set in the same world.
The islands of Belene precariously exist in a sea of nature spirits, all of them inimical to humankind and held back only by the power of the Queen and her heirs. Mayara is an oyster diver with a secret — she’s got the power to control the spirits. If found out, she will be forced to chose between giving up her name, identity, and outside connections as a silent servant of the queen… or risking her life in an attempt to become an heir.
Then disaster strikes. The night of her wedding, a storm of malevolent spirits hits and Mayara has to use her power to protect the people she loves. If she ever wants to see her husband and parents again, she’ll have to choose the path of an heir. Only, potential heirs are dumped on an isolated island, filled with uncontrolled spirits. And rumor has it that last year no one survived…
When I first saw the synopsis for The Deepest Blue, my mind immediately went: “magical Hunger Games.” And I was sort of right! The premises are a bit similar, but The Deepest Blue is ultimately a very different story, one about healing from grief and choosing to live. It’s not at all what I expected, but I’m oh so glad I got it.
Something else I didn’t predict about The Deepest Blue is that it isn’t solely focused on Mayara. Her husband Kelo has his own perspective chapters after Mayara is taken, and the Queen of Belene is a central character as well. Turns out, she doesn’t have the power everyone else has assumed — her hands have been tied by the noble families, who have kidnapped her family to use as leverage. Thus, Mayara’s survival-focused plotline intertwines with political fantasy. It’s an unusual melding, but it works quite well.
Characterization didn’t feel incredibly strong, but it was functional. For whatever reason, none of these characters really stick in my head or steal my heart. Despite that, The Deepest Blue still managed to emotionally engage me. I’ve already mentioned the powerful thematic material about grief and healing, but I was also struck by how Mayara reaches out to the other potential heirs. This isn’t a story of one woman surviving the odds but instead the story of a group of women working together. And that’s exactly the sort of story I love.
I’ve already mentioned that The Deepest Blue is a stand-alone, but I want to reiterate that. You absolutely don’t need to have read the previous trilogy, and this story is self-contained. Asides from the setting, there’s only one character from the previous trilogy who’s even in this book. In fact, I’d argue that The Deepest Blue might be worth reading before the trilogy if only to get a taste of the world.
On a last note, keeping with my vow to mention whether or not SFF books recognize queer people exist, The Deepest Blue does not have any lines that would lead me to believe that queer people exist in its world. That said, the previous trilogy in the same world did have a minor f/f side couple, so the lack of inclusion in The Deepest Blue didn’t bother me as much as it might otherwise have.
I’d recommend The Deepest Blue to fans of the Queens of Renthia trilogy and to anyone looking for a story about women working together to survive the odds.
I received an ARC with the expectation of a fair and honest review.
Review from The Illustrated Page.
The islands of Belene precariously exist in a sea of nature spirits, all of them inimical to humankind and held back only by the power of the Queen and her heirs. Mayara is an oyster diver with a secret — she’s got the power to control the spirits. If found out, she will be forced to chose between giving up her name, identity, and outside connections as a silent servant of the queen… or risking her life in an attempt to become an heir.
Then disaster strikes. The night of her wedding, a storm of malevolent spirits hits and Mayara has to use her power to protect the people she loves. If she ever wants to see her husband and parents again, she’ll have to choose the path of an heir. Only, potential heirs are dumped on an isolated island, filled with uncontrolled spirits. And rumor has it that last year no one survived…
When I first saw the synopsis for The Deepest Blue, my mind immediately went: “magical Hunger Games.” And I was sort of right! The premises are a bit similar, but The Deepest Blue is ultimately a very different story, one about healing from grief and choosing to live. It’s not at all what I expected, but I’m oh so glad I got it.
Something else I didn’t predict about The Deepest Blue is that it isn’t solely focused on Mayara. Her husband Kelo has his own perspective chapters after Mayara is taken, and the Queen of Belene is a central character as well. Turns out, she doesn’t have the power everyone else has assumed — her hands have been tied by the noble families, who have kidnapped her family to use as leverage. Thus, Mayara’s survival-focused plotline intertwines with political fantasy. It’s an unusual melding, but it works quite well.
Characterization didn’t feel incredibly strong, but it was functional. For whatever reason, none of these characters really stick in my head or steal my heart. Despite that, The Deepest Blue still managed to emotionally engage me. I’ve already mentioned the powerful thematic material about grief and healing, but I was also struck by how Mayara reaches out to the other potential heirs. This isn’t a story of one woman surviving the odds but instead the story of a group of women working together. And that’s exactly the sort of story I love.
I’ve already mentioned that The Deepest Blue is a stand-alone, but I want to reiterate that. You absolutely don’t need to have read the previous trilogy, and this story is self-contained. Asides from the setting, there’s only one character from the previous trilogy who’s even in this book. In fact, I’d argue that The Deepest Blue might be worth reading before the trilogy if only to get a taste of the world.
On a last note, keeping with my vow to mention whether or not SFF books recognize queer people exist, The Deepest Blue does not have any lines that would lead me to believe that queer people exist in its world. That said, the previous trilogy in the same world did have a minor f/f side couple, so the lack of inclusion in The Deepest Blue didn’t bother me as much as it might otherwise have.
I’d recommend The Deepest Blue to fans of the Queens of Renthia trilogy and to anyone looking for a story about women working together to survive the odds.
I received an ARC with the expectation of a fair and honest review.
Review from The Illustrated Page.
mirandanbenson's review against another edition
2.0
DNF’d at 80%. I loved the Queens of Renthia books, but this one doesn’t measure up. I couldn’t get myself to care about the characters, least of all the protagonist, whose name I can’t even remember. The most exciting character was Garnah, who we know from the QoR series. Everyone else felt two dimensional.
I will definitely pick up more from Sarah Beth Durst in the future, because QoR was so good, but this didn’t do anything for me.
I will definitely pick up more from Sarah Beth Durst in the future, because QoR was so good, but this didn’t do anything for me.
rhie's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this part of the renthia books, and got through it within just a few days!
I do still prefer the queen trilogy, I thought this one felt more rushed and the characters weren't as fleshed out or likeable.
The lore of the deep blue leviathans interested me the most about this book and I wish there had been more about them, this was kind of copy of the trilogy in some ways in a different environment. But I still had a good time reading it and I loved seeing Garnah again as a side character she's very fun.
I do still prefer the queen trilogy, I thought this one felt more rushed and the characters weren't as fleshed out or likeable.
The lore of the deep blue leviathans interested me the most about this book and I wish there had been more about them, this was kind of copy of the trilogy in some ways in a different environment. But I still had a good time reading it and I loved seeing Garnah again as a side character she's very fun.
teri_b's review against another edition
Another author I wanted to check out. I got the audiobook and started listening. I DNFed it at about 13% in.
First, I came to realise that I don't like female main characters who behave like they belong to everybody else but not themselves and therefore behave utterly nonsensical and endanger everybody else. In addition, dutiful daughter is a trope I'm beginning to hate. It's just not how life is. I'd rather read about rebellious daughters who go their own way and find their own luck - and destiny.
Second, the voice of this audiobook narrator just was not my thing, it added constantly a whiny emotional layer to the narration that drove it over the top.
First, I came to realise that I don't like female main characters who behave like they belong to everybody else but not themselves and therefore behave utterly nonsensical and endanger everybody else. In addition, dutiful daughter is a trope I'm beginning to hate. It's just not how life is. I'd rather read about rebellious daughters who go their own way and find their own luck - and destiny.
Second, the voice of this audiobook narrator just was not my thing, it added constantly a whiny emotional layer to the narration that drove it over the top.
jessgeekmom's review against another edition
5.0
This was a lovely quick read, enough details to make me care about the characters, and the world building was unique!
moodreaderkat's review
4.0
3.75
Loved the setting...however, I had mixed feelings on how the ending was approached.
Loved the setting...however, I had mixed feelings on how the ending was approached.
psmith1393's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun read. It was like Moana meets The Hunger Games. The spirits and the “spirit sisters” were very different and intriguing. I’m still not sure I understand how their relationship with one another worked. The Silent Ones reminded me of the Silent Brothers from the Mortal Instruments series. I enjoyed the girl power most of all!