Scan barcode
queenkath32's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Racism, and Death
lue_moon's review against another edition
5.0
Overall excellent. Better worldbuilding in a short amount of time than the first 150 pages of other fantasy books I have read. Though I wouldn't have minded existing in that world for longer, it's a complete story that makes a strong impact, including beautiful exploration of ancestral/generational/cultural trauma, memory keeping, and how that is processed/stored within bodies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Genocide, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Animal death and Pregnancy
numerous_bees's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Colonisation, Blood, Child death, Slavery, Genocide, Pregnancy, and Animal death
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury
sproutedpages's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Profound and heartbreaking. Discusses the importance of remembering and passing on a people’s history, and what it means to bear a significant, collective trauma— and more specifically, how that applies to the descendants of the victims of the Trans Atlantic slave trade. A genuinely important piece of modern mythology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Slavery, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy
anaheeta's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
I seem to be very very fortunate lately as I keep reading books that make me want to start from the beginning right as I finish them.
This was so so so beautiful and heartbreaking in a good way. And also the creation of the story and the multiple steps it took for this book to come to be (read the editor’s words) was fascinating. It was based on a horribly tragic historical genocide, one of pregnant/in labor African women thrown off of slave ships.
Without giving away any more of the story, it’s sci-fi fantasy about life, love, and generational trauma. The book delves into the traumas of an underwater civilization and how the traumas are handled. How individuality and community interact. How change and progress works.
It was just a beautiful beautiful work of fiction and I have become a fan of Rivers Solomon, can’t wait to read more of their work!
Trigger warnings: slavery, racism, blood, death, misogyny, grief, generational trauma,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Genocide, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Death, Violence, Racism, and Slavery
Minor: Animal death and Blood
sydapel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.0
Read as my singular contribution to the Trans Rights Readathon 2024 (I strive to do better next year!). I strongly suggest reading about how this project came about before diving into this, but I do have a deep appreciation for the power of Solomon's prose and the way the novella tackles through fantasy elements the burdens of generational trauma, ancestry and remembrance. Super compelling, I will absolutely be seeking out more by River Solomon.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy
biobeetle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Body horror, Blood, and Colonisation
Moderate: Medical content, War, Suicide attempt, Death, Violence, Pregnancy, and Racism
Minor: Child death
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, it has a fantastic concept and has a lot to say about the dangers of forgetting your past, while also acknowledging the burdens of knowledge and generational trauma.
My main critique is that I feel it's the wrong length. It should have either been shorter—and just focuson the central plotline—or a bit longer. If it was longer, we could have had more development of the events that happen during a different time in this book and perhaps some more character interactions. My gut feeling though is that it should have been shorter and really pack a quick punch.
My main critique is that I feel it's the wrong length. It should have either been shorter—and just focuson the central plotline—or a bit longer. If it was longer, we could have had more development of the events that happen during a different time in this book and perhaps some more character interactions. My gut feeling though is that it should have been shorter and really pack a quick punch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Slavery
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Pregnancy
arkwen452's review against another edition
challenging
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
5.0
Immediate thoughts after reading The Deep; it's slightly a casual and emotionally charged review. I'll attempt to edit it later.
Yetu's story in the deep is visceral, and very compelling. The deep is about a civilization of beings that live in the depths of the ocean. They are descendants of slaves were thrown overboard during the slave trade. Pregnant slaves, who were sick or somehow became a burden to their captors who were tossed to the ocean. This society or community of these beings has evolved over the years, and they have accessibility in the ocean, two cents and feel vibrations in the water amongst themselves in the creatures around them but also this electric pulsing power.
They have this almost telepathic ability, when connecting to each other, during the remembrance ceremony, where the chosen historian of the community, for each generation shares with them memories of all those that have passed, and also the memories of their ancestors, who were thrown in to the ocean and lost to the creatures that dwell on the surface. While there are a few ways to interpret Yetu's pain and the way in which she suffers with the weight of being a historian, and not having a choice in the matter versus the the weight of the importance of preserving their history in their ancestors history really captivates the readers.
I was interested in reading this book for the Trans Rights Readathon 2024, but also just for the concept in and of itself. I wasn't sure how I was gonna feel about the narrative, considering it's another book tied to slavery; and as a black American, there is so much more than slavery when it comes to our history and our culture. But it's also not a thing that we can fully escape from and when it comes to this book, I did not feel that , the source of their existence was the anchor to the story that I thought it was going to be.
Yes, this community is involved form of those thrown overboard, but they are so much more than that. And the mess one of the messages in the story really just comes from , the perseverance and preservation of their community you continue to thrive and flourish. I think that the deep is a book for all readers, because there are some for all the readers to really draw from when it comes to be struggle of identity purpose the feeling of longing, the feeling of wanting to be connected to others or to another being. There is this feeling of wanting a freedom to be oneself and only oneself without having to hide.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommended.
Yetu's story in the deep is visceral, and very compelling. The deep is about a civilization of beings that live in the depths of the ocean. They are descendants of slaves were thrown overboard during the slave trade. Pregnant slaves, who were sick or somehow became a burden to their captors who were tossed to the ocean. This society or community of these beings has evolved over the years, and they have accessibility in the ocean, two cents and feel vibrations in the water amongst themselves in the creatures around them but also this electric pulsing power.
They have this almost telepathic ability, when connecting to each other, during the remembrance ceremony, where the chosen historian of the community, for each generation shares with them memories of all those that have passed, and also the memories of their ancestors, who were thrown in to the ocean and lost to the creatures that dwell on the surface. While there are a few ways to interpret Yetu's pain and the way in which she suffers with the weight of being a historian, and not having a choice in the matter versus the the weight of the importance of preserving their history in their ancestors history really captivates the readers.
I was interested in reading this book for the Trans Rights Readathon 2024, but also just for the concept in and of itself. I wasn't sure how I was gonna feel about the narrative, considering it's another book tied to slavery; and as a black American, there is so much more than slavery when it comes to our history and our culture. But it's also not a thing that we can fully escape from and when it comes to this book, I did not feel that , the source of their existence was the anchor to the story that I thought it was going to be.
Yes, this community is involved form of those thrown overboard, but they are so much more than that. And the mess one of the messages in the story really just comes from , the perseverance and preservation of their community you continue to thrive and flourish. I think that the deep is a book for all readers, because there are some for all the readers to really draw from when it comes to be struggle of identity purpose the feeling of longing, the feeling of wanting to be connected to others or to another being. There is this feeling of wanting a freedom to be oneself and only oneself without having to hide.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Violence, Slavery, and Pregnancy
ginalucia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-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
The Deep is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of history and humanity in a deeply moving way.
I was immediately drawn in by the story's atmosphere - it's incredibly immersive and gripping right from the start. It eases you into its world before taking you on an emotional rollercoaster.
The Deep is a beautifully haunting tale that forces you to confront the harsh realities of slavery while also offering a glimpse of hope for healing and growth.
Throughout the novella, it delves into themes of generational trauma, memory, and the search for belonging, making it a deeply thought-provoking read.
The writing style is dark and lyrical, which I found intense in the best possible way. Despite its shorter length, the story packs a powerful punch. I won’t be forgetting this read.
As a bonus, I highly recommend reading the afterward, as it offers insights into the creation of The Deep.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Slavery, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy