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kwthor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Slavery, and Toxic friendship
guessgreenleaf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Body horror, Death, Murder, Grief, and Violence
slighte's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Loved the fantasy world and learning more about it and its history throughout the book. Loved the plot. Loved the deaf rep - this was integrated really well throughout and echoed really well with irl Deaf culture! However it did feel a little longer than it needed to be, and although the story relies on the toxic friendship, it did get a bit tedious and I was expecting a more emotionally triumphant moment in the ending of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Slavery, Animal death, Murder, Blood, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
Additional content warning for drowning, a fair bit of this takes place in submarines/underwatersandy_dream's review
dark
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence and Body horror
Minor: Murder
tericarol21's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved this book!! The concept (what happens in the society when the gods are dead) is fascinating, the storytelling is fantastic, the characters and their relationships intertwine in complex yet relatable waysβ¦itβs so good.
Not one for reading right before bed though!
Not one for reading right before bed though!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Bullying
Minor: Death
aqulia's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is so good. Hark's character development was amazing. Quest was also such a good character. And the way the god's memory was still affecting people was just *chefs kiss*.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Slavery, and Kidnapping
Doesalba_marie's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Gods were of stories and you can tell stories however you like. Stories were currency here."
I saw this described as a "Lovecraftian steampunk undersea adventure" and seriously, that is the best way to describe this story. Deeplight was wildly unique and honestly, a pretty amazing read. In fact, easily one of the best books I've read this year.
Taking place in the fantastical, watery world of the Continent, the islands of the Myriad and of course the Undersea, the world-building of Deeplight was stunning. Chaulked full of undersea horrors and dead gods, pirates and priests, corruption and beauty, Hardinge's world-building was so well done.
The story was a whiplash-inducing roller coaster ride of a plot. It was an adventure story in every sense of the word, with plenty of action, intrigue, red herrings, betrayal, near-deaths and surprises. The whole book dripped with watery depths and the writing was wonderfully irresistible.
Hark was an idiot but bizarrely a loveable one. His characterisation and character arc were perfectly done. Despite his bad choices and their consequences, one can't help but feel strongly for him. Jelt was the perfect evil friend, and their toxic friendship was so well done and so realistic that I easily forgave Hark even though I wanted to shake him and scream to wake up! The toxicity and abusive friendship was not easy to read, but unfortunately felt very real.
Selfin was harder to like as a character, as I felt it took a while to get a read on her. But it was interesting how Hardinge incorporated deaf characters into the book - sea-kissed, they're called, from eardrums burst in deep water - in a way that made sense and didn't feel token. (Another reviewer said that Hardinge was inspired to include deaf characters after a fan approached her to ask if she'd ever do so, so she found a unique way to write a story that included deafness).
And the steampunkiness. The weird submarines and bathyspheres, the strange technology and man-made gods - it was all just so bizarre and yet made perfect sense to the story. Everything about the Undersea, the Myriad, Lady's Crave, and Sanctuary just felt so right, so real, yet so unique.
Finally, the GODS. Oh my GOSH I love a good monster story, and Deeplight did not disappear! The Hidden Lady, and all the other big, scary, badass monsters that once roamed the deeps and preyed on fear and drowned souls. The gods may be dead, but they certainly aren't gone, and their relics are priceless artefacts that are highly coveted by most of society, leaving many desperate and adventurous souls going to great lengths - and depths - to acquire this 'godware.'
Everything about Deeplight was well executed and addictive, with an epic story and great adventures. I'm so glad to find out that Frances Hardinge has many more books and my library audio book app has several of them! I highly recommend Deeplight.
I saw this described as a "Lovecraftian steampunk undersea adventure" and seriously, that is the best way to describe this story. Deeplight was wildly unique and honestly, a pretty amazing read. In fact, easily one of the best books I've read this year.
Taking place in the fantastical, watery world of the Continent, the islands of the Myriad and of course the Undersea, the world-building of Deeplight was stunning. Chaulked full of undersea horrors and dead gods, pirates and priests, corruption and beauty, Hardinge's world-building was so well done.
The story was a whiplash-inducing roller coaster ride of a plot. It was an adventure story in every sense of the word, with plenty of action, intrigue, red herrings, betrayal, near-deaths and surprises. The whole book dripped with watery depths and the writing was wonderfully irresistible.
Hark was an idiot but bizarrely a loveable one. His characterisation and character arc were perfectly done. Despite his bad choices and their consequences, one can't help but feel strongly for him. Jelt was the perfect evil friend, and their toxic friendship was so well done and so realistic that I easily forgave Hark even though I wanted to shake him and scream to wake up! The toxicity and abusive friendship was not easy to read, but unfortunately felt very real.
Selfin was harder to like as a character, as I felt it took a while to get a read on her. But it was interesting how Hardinge incorporated deaf characters into the book - sea-kissed, they're called, from eardrums burst in deep water - in a way that made sense and didn't feel token. (Another reviewer said that Hardinge was inspired to include deaf characters after a fan approached her to ask if she'd ever do so, so she found a unique way to write a story that included deafness).
And the steampunkiness. The weird submarines and bathyspheres, the strange technology and man-made gods - it was all just so bizarre and yet made perfect sense to the story. Everything about the Undersea, the Myriad, Lady's Crave, and Sanctuary just felt so right, so real, yet so unique.
Finally, the GODS. Oh my GOSH I love a good monster story, and Deeplight did not disappear! The Hidden Lady, and all the other big, scary, badass monsters that once roamed the deeps and preyed on fear and drowned souls. The gods may be dead, but they certainly aren't gone, and their relics are priceless artefacts that are highly coveted by most of society, leaving many desperate and adventurous souls going to great lengths - and depths - to acquire this 'godware.'
Everything about Deeplight was well executed and addictive, with an epic story and great adventures. I'm so glad to find out that Frances Hardinge has many more books and my library audio book app has several of them! I highly recommend Deeplight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Violence
madarauchiha's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
β€οΈ 𧑠π π π π my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara π π π π 𧑠β€οΈ
I really loved this book. Have you ever wanted a story about eldritch religious horrors and deep sea terror, but without the racist, hideous h p lovecraft garbage? This is it. Granted it is very much for younger readers, I'd say 13-20 yo? This isn't aimed towards adults specifically, but I wouldn't say adults can't read it. Just understand that the reading level is going to be a little juvenile if you have outgrown it. That the main character is 15 doesn't help this, but it's not a detriment to the story. It does make sense in that he's very young and will make stupid decisions as a 15 yo orphan child with no parental guidance.
I loved the world set up in this as well. They 'elder gods' aka known deities in are not blatant rip offs on lovecraft lore. They are fleshed out enough that they're unique and incredibly creepy.
The characters are fantastic and have clearly defined voices and povs. I love that there's an actually disabled deaf character who is portrayed realistically. I saw in the author's acknowledgements that they hired sensitivity readers and engaged with actual Deaf organizations, which I appreciate. That is what I require from authors when they are writing about things they haven't experience and require conscious effort and purpose in showing.
The plot was surprisingly interesting. I wasn't expecting much when I discovered that the MC was 15 yo. I had braced myself for a very boring, by the numbers YA plot. That wasn't the case. The writing was sensible and florid enough when it needed to be. I would enjoy seeing more from this author and this series.
Content warnings:
minor religious bigotry [fictional], animal death, ableist c slur, emetophobia, body horror,
medium suicide, drowning,
major deep water scenarios, thalassophobia, mass death, ableism, child abuse, ableism, gore, body horror, manipulation, slavery, oceans, open water, abuse, murder, gore, body horror, kidnapping, child abuse, toxic relationships,
I really loved this book. Have you ever wanted a story about eldritch religious horrors and deep sea terror, but without the racist, hideous h p lovecraft garbage? This is it. Granted it is very much for younger readers, I'd say 13-20 yo? This isn't aimed towards adults specifically, but I wouldn't say adults can't read it. Just understand that the reading level is going to be a little juvenile if you have outgrown it. That the main character is 15 doesn't help this, but it's not a detriment to the story. It does make sense in that he's very young and will make stupid decisions as a 15 yo orphan child with no parental guidance.
I loved the world set up in this as well. They 'elder gods' aka known deities in are not blatant rip offs on lovecraft lore. They are fleshed out enough that they're unique and incredibly creepy.
The characters are fantastic and have clearly defined voices and povs. I love that there's an actually disabled deaf character who is portrayed realistically. I saw in the author's acknowledgements that they hired sensitivity readers and engaged with actual Deaf organizations, which I appreciate. That is what I require from authors when they are writing about things they haven't experience and require conscious effort and purpose in showing.
The plot was surprisingly interesting. I wasn't expecting much when I discovered that the MC was 15 yo. I had braced myself for a very boring, by the numbers YA plot. That wasn't the case. The writing was sensible and florid enough when it needed to be. I would enjoy seeing more from this author and this series.
Content warnings:
minor religious bigotry [fictional], animal death, ableist c slur, emetophobia, body horror,
medium suicide, drowning,
major deep water scenarios, thalassophobia, mass death, ableism, child abuse, ableism, gore, body horror, manipulation, slavery, oceans, open water, abuse, murder, gore, body horror, kidnapping, child abuse, toxic relationships,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Animal death, Ableism, and Religious bigotry
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