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saucy_bookdragon's review
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Was this a chosen one narrative or nepobaby propaganda?
One could argue that all of Rick Riordan's protagonists are nepobabies. He mainly writes about children of literal gods after all. But these aren't real nepobabies, no one irl is actually a child of a god and have legit superpowers (I think). Ana on the other hand.
Ana is the descendant of captain Nemo and this makes her really important and special because she can access the submarine and also because she's supposed to be super smart for some reason?
Daughter of the Deep almost legitimately reads like nepobaby propaganda. WHY is Ana so important just because of her ancestry? She isn't especially smarter than any of the other students, she doesn't have literal superpowers, and yet she's treated as such.
Outside of the nepotism of it all, she's just not very interesting. The story is so focused on her, the history of the world, and plot none of the side characters shine through either. This would've benefitted from being a trilogy and stretching out the plot in order to flesh out everything or having fewer characters.
The world building is also boring. I wish that this was actually about Jules Vern, the actual technology he wrote about doesn't become relevant until the second half of the book. The academy is literally just a militant marine studies school for rich kids that blows up immediately.
I found the second half to be a little more interesting because of the sci-fi elements. Rick Riordan writes with a passion for Vern's work and he has already built a career off of making mythology accessible for children and I would love to see him move into other worlds and other topics. Just with more of the actual speculative elements and less nepotism.
One could argue that all of Rick Riordan's protagonists are nepobabies. He mainly writes about children of literal gods after all. But these aren't real nepobabies, no one irl is actually a child of a god and have legit superpowers (I think). Ana on the other hand.
Ana is the descendant of captain Nemo and this makes her really important and special because she can access the submarine and also because she's supposed to be super smart for some reason?
Daughter of the Deep almost legitimately reads like nepobaby propaganda. WHY is Ana so important just because of her ancestry? She isn't especially smarter than any of the other students, she doesn't have literal superpowers, and yet she's treated as such.
Outside of the nepotism of it all, she's just not very interesting. The story is so focused on her, the history of the world, and plot none of the side characters shine through either. This would've benefitted from being a trilogy and stretching out the plot in order to flesh out everything or having fewer characters.
The world building is also boring. I wish that this was actually about Jules Vern, the actual technology he wrote about doesn't become relevant until the second half of the book. The academy is literally just a militant marine studies school for rich kids that blows up immediately.
I found the second half to be a little more interesting because of the sci-fi elements. Rick Riordan writes with a passion for Vern's work and he has already built a career off of making mythology accessible for children and I would love to see him move into other worlds and other topics. Just with more of the actual speculative elements and less nepotism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, and Murder
sirenricobooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Medical content
Moderate: Grief, Blood, and Cancer
val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: Colonisation, Kidnapping, and Medical content
alexijai98's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
I was a Percy Jackson kid, and now as a high school teacher I was so excited to see this book in my school’s library! I wanted to check it out both as a Rick Riordan fan and as an educator interested in the books available to my students.
Of course, I don’t think anything could ever compare to reading the Percy Jackson books as a kid, but Riordan gets very close with Daughter of the Deep. As an African American woman I cannot speak to the representation of an Indian American protagonist, but as a person of color I can say that I admire Riordan’s dedication to showing the character’s identity as impactful without trying to cosplay as a marginalized person himself.
Ana Dakkar and her fellow students are funny, kind, and loyal to one another. In classic Riordan style, these teens are tasked with saving the world (while getting hopped up on espresso) while learning more about themselves. They learn valuable lessons about morality, solidarity, and working as a team. In a time where simply existing as a marginalized person in schools is basis for an attack, I am happy my students have access to a story like this that challenges them to put themselves in someone else’s shoes.
Of course, I don’t think anything could ever compare to reading the Percy Jackson books as a kid, but Riordan gets very close with Daughter of the Deep. As an African American woman I cannot speak to the representation of an Indian American protagonist, but as a person of color I can say that I admire Riordan’s dedication to showing the character’s identity as impactful without trying to cosplay as a marginalized person himself.
Ana Dakkar and her fellow students are funny, kind, and loyal to one another. In classic Riordan style, these teens are tasked with saving the world (while getting hopped up on espresso) while learning more about themselves. They learn valuable lessons about morality, solidarity, and working as a team. In a time where simply existing as a marginalized person in schools is basis for an attack, I am happy my students have access to a story like this that challenges them to put themselves in someone else’s shoes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
sannesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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? No
3.75
Very fast-pased, action-packed, YA/middle grade book. Really nice diverse cast of characters and a few cute animals. Wholesome and adventerous story. If you like or are interested in the ocean and/or animals you would especially enjoy the book. The second part of the story was more interesting to me than the first part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
whoizthis360's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Loved this - it feels like a step more mature than Ricks other books, which I love, while still being accessible to all. Also, canon autistic character and diverse cultural representations? Yes please!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
eh1736's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Violence, and Death of parent
the_book_nook's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: War, Murder, Violence, Genocide, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Death
Minor: Vomit
scifipunk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Colonisation, Death of parent, Cancer, and Grief
orchidlilly's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Daughter of the Deep has the same whimsy and snark that we know to expect from Riordan, and it's a delight as always. The plot draws from Jules Verne, of course, without feeling like a total rip or a poor imitation, and it's thoroughly entertaining the whole way through. Ana and her fellow classmates make for a diverse and well represented cast, who manage to act believably 15 without being insufferably out of touch. Riordan's depictions of other cultures and mental illness are respectful and clearly well researched, without feeling like a overly moral preach fest like so many other books do. I'm especially fond of how Ester is written, her character is more than just her autism, she gets to be someone other than the stereotypical autistic genius.
Definitely a good read, for the intended middle grade audience and also adults. I don;t know if this will be another one of Riordan's series as the book functions well as a single standalone, but should it become one I'll be raring to read more.
Definitely a good read, for the intended middle grade audience and also adults. I don;t know if this will be another one of Riordan's series as the book functions well as a single standalone, but should it become one I'll be raring to read more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Medical content
Minor: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Blood, Colonisation, and Confinement