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di_the_reader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, though it isn't for those who don't like gory books. The gore isn't bad, but it did make me cringe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Sexual content
words_and_dreams's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. A sci-fi horror thriller about mermaids! Yes mermaids. Not the red headed singing and friends with seagulls kind, the creepy scary cannibalistic kind.
Official synopsis: 'Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.
Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.
Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves. But the secrets of the deep come with a price.'
The tension builds beautifully after a brutal opening chapter. There is a wide range of diverse characters and everyones got their own baggage and their own reason to be on the voyage. The story really does play on how scary the ocean is and how we don't have a full understanding of what is down there.
I loved the few brief moments that the POV switched to the creatures and we get to see their world view. I would have liked more of that. I also really enjoyed the scenes between Hallie and the captured individual and thought that might be explored further.
There was gore throughout but not overly so but enough to give you an idea of the horror. There is also a lot of science talk, this did not feel too much to me and swamp the story, instead it grounded the story in reality making it even scarier.
The only down side for me is that I felt that it finished too quickly especially after a significant event near the end of the book. I am really hoping we get a sequel! I neeeeed a sequel.
Great read
Official synopsis: 'Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.
Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.
Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves. But the secrets of the deep come with a price.'
The tension builds beautifully after a brutal opening chapter. There is a wide range of diverse characters and everyones got their own baggage and their own reason to be on the voyage. The story really does play on how scary the ocean is and how we don't have a full understanding of what is down there.
I loved the few brief moments that the POV switched to the creatures and we get to see their world view. I would have liked more of that. I also really enjoyed the scenes between Hallie and the captured individual and thought that might be explored further.
There was gore throughout but not overly so but enough to give you an idea of the horror. There is also a lot of science talk, this did not feel too much to me and swamp the story, instead it grounded the story in reality making it even scarier.
The only down side for me is that I felt that it finished too quickly especially after a significant event near the end of the book. I am really hoping we get a sequel! I neeeeed a sequel.
Great read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Violence, and Animal death
Minor: Sexual content and Biphobia
jourdanicus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
This book has some of the best imagined and described monsters I've personally read. Especially as someone who watched a lot of Disney as a kid, I was so excited to read about mermaids as monsters, and this book absolutely came through in that regard. Unfortunately I didn't feel like I could connect much with the characters, and I'm a very character-driven reader, so I did struggle there. I did really appreciate the inclusivity of disabled, Deaf, gay/bi, autistic, and POC characters - that's often apparently too much to ask from some authors, and Grant wrote in characters of different backgrounds without a second thought. It also did feel difficult for me to get through the book at times as I felt some aspects of the plot were being over-explained or mentioned with unnecessary repetition. Ultimately I am glad I finished this book; I will definitely not be forgetting Grant's mermaids/sirens any time soon. I would recommend this to anyone who loves monster horror and who is maybe a faster reader than me and can put away an almost-500 page book with more ease than I can.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, and Gore
Minor: Sexual content and Medical content
thrillofthepage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
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