Scan barcode
meant2breading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Who each of them was mattered as much as who all of them were together.”
Though this story was a novella, it contained a tremendous amount of depth, especially reflecting on collective and generational trauma, and how that can manifest in the body. The build around this as well as the journey of Yetu was a beautiful reading experience. Also, I love an underwater world! Without question will be on my reread list. The ONLY reason I didn’t give it five stars is because I wanted the book to be longer so I could read and enjoy even more.
Though this story was a novella, it contained a tremendous amount of depth, especially reflecting on collective and generational trauma, and how that can manifest in the body. The build around this as well as the journey of Yetu was a beautiful reading experience. Also, I love an underwater world! Without question will be on my reread list. The ONLY reason I didn’t give it five stars is because I wanted the book to be longer so I could read and enjoy even more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Slavery
Moderate: Grief
viivacious's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
The narration is good. I don't think I would have gone through with it in print, since I have trouble reading dark stuff. It was good, and the ending was nice. Still, the generational trauma can be a little too hard to deal with if you're not in the right head space.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Slavery, and Murder
gatorskulls's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy and Suicide attempt
Minor: Vomit
miss_elease's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
- most compelling intro to a book I've read in a long time
- fucking brilliant afterword that is all the more appreciated after reading Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures
- the juxtapositions and complications of one's relationship to time(s) is very well handled
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Grief, War, and Racism
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A beautifully rich and haunting setting. It's a short book but it packed one hell of a punch that I simultaneously believe it was perfect and also wish it was longer. The Deep takes on an incredibly traumatic real life situation and turns it into something with a sense of community. Such an impactful message behind it, I implore everyone to give this book a try. The narration is also done by Daveed Diggs and was chef's kiss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Slavery
Moderate: Pregnancy and Suicidal thoughts
workingdaley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I found this book to be deeply profound, I was captivated by the world building and felt
everything that happened on a personal level. This book has the potential to provoke an intriguing conversation about carrying generational trauma
and had a surprisingly profound, though brief
conversation about gender. Aside from "The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm" and "Black Panther," I can't say that I'm too familiar with Afrofuturist
media. But this book made me want to explore more Afrofuturist media. If you haven't heard the song
that this book is based off of, I recommend you listen to that too, It's also called The Peep and it's by the band .clippings. It's very experiential so it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I personally enjoyed it. I'm glad that I came across this book, I'm looking forward to seeing what Rivers Solomon
has in store next, since they'll be publishing another novel next year. (I'll also have to get my hands on their other book, An Unkindness of Ghosts)
everything that happened on a personal level. This book has the potential to provoke an intriguing conversation about carrying generational trauma
and had a surprisingly profound, though brief
conversation about gender. Aside from "The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm" and "Black Panther," I can't say that I'm too familiar with Afrofuturist
media. But this book made me want to explore more Afrofuturist media. If you haven't heard the song
that this book is based off of, I recommend you listen to that too, It's also called The Peep and it's by the band .clippings. It's very experiential so it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I personally enjoyed it. I'm glad that I came across this book, I'm looking forward to seeing what Rivers Solomon
has in store next, since they'll be publishing another novel next year. (I'll also have to get my hands on their other book, An Unkindness of Ghosts)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Slavery, and Racism
charrlee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"'What is belonging?' we ask.
She says, 'Where loneliness ends.'" (Solomon 49)
"How disorienting it is to go most of your life wondering about a thing, only to happen upon the answer, and it is a horror." (Solomon 57).
River Solomon's novella is profoundly atmospheric. I've never connected to a work so deeply and I will continue to be spellbound by Solomon's beautifully tragic narrative. Listen to "The Deep" by clipping. to see the inspiration and building of the mythos. I am thrilled for my future reread.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Hate crime, Genocide, Murder, Child death, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
obscurepages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
STOP. THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE 😭
Intersex merfolk who are descendants of pregnant African slaves women? A clever and compelling story about individuality and community, and history's significance towards the people in the present? A story that highlights intergenerational trauma and its impact? A story that highlights the need to discover personal identity while still wanting to connect with your people's history? This book is ALL of these, and it's also so much more.
Brilliantly written, this book is steeped with folklore and world-building and introspective themes. The perspectives, which can switch from the MC to an ancestor, highlight amazing storytelling from the author.
Overall, this was poignant and it was powerful. Definitely one of my top reads for the year. 🥹
Intersex merfolk who are descendants of pregnant African slaves women? A clever and compelling story about individuality and community, and history's significance towards the people in the present? A story that highlights intergenerational trauma and its impact? A story that highlights the need to discover personal identity while still wanting to connect with your people's history? This book is ALL of these, and it's also so much more.
Brilliantly written, this book is steeped with folklore and world-building and introspective themes. The perspectives, which can switch from the MC to an ancestor, highlight amazing storytelling from the author.
Overall, this was poignant and it was powerful. Definitely one of my top reads for the year. 🥹
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, and Slavery
savvylit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Solomon's writing throughout The Deep is evocative and rhythmic. It's no wonder that this whole story is based on a song of the same name by clipping. The concept at this book's core, that merpeople were born of pregnant women thrown overboard on slave ships, is so haunting and poignant. I loved the lore that Solomon built around the wajinru and their culture: The Remembering, the relationships with land dwelling humans, the connections with whales... The Deep contains such a beautiful and rugged undersea world.
The Deep is a truly stunning novella. My only complaint is that the length of the story left me wanting more. I wanted more info on the Tidal Wars or Oori's family. The Deep was so immersive that I would have gladly stayed in its world for many more hours. Alas!
The Deep is a truly stunning novella. My only complaint is that the length of the story left me wanting more. I wanted more info on the Tidal Wars or Oori's family. The Deep was so immersive that I would have gladly stayed in its world for many more hours. Alas!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Pregnancy, Genocide, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Murder, Grief, and Death
starglitters's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Pregnancy, and Slavery
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts