Reviews

Deepwater King by Claire McKenna

shiftycourtney's review

challenging medium-paced

3.0

0ivy0's review

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Deepwater King is the second in a series that I am absolutely loving.
I adored Monstrous Heart, including Arden, and couldn't wait to find out what happens next. 

I've seen this described as a gothic, gaslamp fantasy and I love that. We have gorgeous gothic writing, dark themes, blood magic, differing religions and a whole host of sea-creatures (including kraken, plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs) - what more could you want?

To start: what a fantastic opening page, chapter, and prologue before we head back to where book one finished. I loved hearing about Jonah's past and thought that it was a great place to start. And that opening page? Wow! 

To be honest, I couldn't completely remember the ending to the last book (it's been a while and many books since I read it), but I managed to pick it up and get into the book really quickly. I had also forgotten about our disabled and queer side-characers, so it made me very happy to see them again. 

I didn't feel like the writing in this book was as gorgeous as book one, but I could still picture everything as I read, which I always love.

Kraken, plesiosuars, ichthyosaurs and blood magic in a gothic, gaslamp fantasy with dark and gritty themes.
I can't wait to read the third and final book.

regan_montgomery's review

4.0

A good solid sequel

danieneverwhere's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

feelin_toasty's review

2.0

Terrible, absolutely does not need to be a trilogy but I'm starting the last book anyway

luxehuntley's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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

3.75

The writing in both this and Monstrous Heart is so intriguing and beautiful. I also love the world Claire McKenna built, and the FMC is fascinating. However, I don’t think I will be reading the third installment. A little too much suffering, not quite enough happiness.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Sexual content, Grief, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, and Murder

melissa300594's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

heretherebemonsters's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

bethrb's review

3.0

This was such a dark and dour thing to read and left me feeling really anxious between reading sessions but boy do I love the setting and Arden Beacon.

thecourtface's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

3.75