Reviews with content warning for Biphobia - Into the Drowning Deep

Holy shit. HOLY SHIT! This was one of the most terrifying and also enjoyable reading experiences I’ve had in such a long time. I’m not usually a fan of the horror genre, but this? This was amazing and it was so cinematic that I got utterly lost in it. I loved every gory detail and I would happily dive back into this world for more.

I loved the way this story was told through alternating pov’s. We got everything from Tory (our semi main character), to the mermaids/sirens, to fish and dolphins, to literally everyone and everything in between. I also really liked that the more science-y side of this book was so accessible, it wasn’t hard to follow what was going on and things were explained in a way that makes sense. And I think that added so much to the overall experience!

I think this is honestly one of the best books that I’ve read all year, and that’s really saying something. I don’t think I can ever look at a cruise ship the same way again (not that I ever wanted to get on one of them anyway🤢). I already had a very healthy respect for the sea, but this book would put the fear of the gods in you if you didn’t. Into The Drowning Deep is getting a solid five stars. It’s one of those books that I think will stick with me for a very long time.

Content Warnings

ches2496's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

3.5

A satisfying sy-fi thriller. I loved how the author did a deep-dive (pardon the pun) into mermaid biology. The author also did a good job of making even the unlikable characters sympathetic. Definitely going to look for more by this author.

Content Warnings

decaying's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

WAAAY too many humans and not enough mermaids

Content Warnings

judassilver's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

The end is wrapped up in an extremely unsatisfactory way, the writing became extremely repetitive with an overuse of rambling (parenthetical tangents that went no where), and I didn't feel that any of the characters actions had real impact. Suspension of disbelief only takes me so far when

suddenly the mermaids that ate everyone else without discrimination spare you, multiple times, because you're the main character.

Everything just wraps up a little too conviently for there to be real tension. How many times do you have to come to the revelation that the killer mermaids want to kill you?? I thought these people were adult scientists but they read incredibly juvenile. I also didn't need the point of view of every single character--

the dolphins? Are you serious? And the mermaid (sorry, Siren) POV completely took me out of it

. Would recommend for those looking for a YA novel with horror elements and a diverse cast, otherwise, skip it.

Content Warnings

moodreadererin's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.25

While the last few chapters picked up pace ,I still couldn't rate this more than 2.25 stars . The ending was rushed and the" big twist" was anticlimactic . Too many point of views and it dragged for me . Also I feel like the detail of the science instead of the actual mermaids being seen bored me . I just didn't care for any of the characters that much due to that fact . I just wanted to like this more than I actually did. One thing I did like was the the "mermaids" and how they are described and how they act .

Content Warnings

shadowspinner's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark 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

theaceofpages's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I have read some of Mira Gant's books before (not recorded on here) and I found this was the same blend of attention-grabbing tension and questioning why I like this book. The writing is addictive, but at the same time it doesn't particularly stand out. I don't mean that in a bad way though. It was a fun read, which is what really matters.

The crew of the Atargatis disappeared near the Mariana Trench. Seven years later, a second ship is sent out to try to find out what happened. The footage says mermaids but the world doubts this is true - particularly since the ship was sent by an entertainment company. Unfortunately for everyone involved, they are real. And they are hungry. The ship soon finds itself under attack by creatures from the deep, who seem determined to drag everyone on board under the waves.

Overall I loved this book. It was more than a little creepy and had a great tone. I imagine it would be even worse if you are already afraid of the sea and what lives down there. It was a little repetitive at points though (certain details being repeated more frequently than necessary) and, unfortunately, while not a bad one, I found the ending a little bit disappointing and rushed, Especially after the long build up. As a biologist, I also loved the scientific aspects of this book. I'd love to know what the scietists are up to. (although I take offense at the fact that security members think we can't take care of ourselves. Maybe a hoard of mermaids is a little different, but field biologists are definitely not soft). But at points the science is questionable. Or a wrong term is used. Probably not noticeable to non-scientists though. The example which sticks with me most (because of its simplicity) was the use of the word necropsy - a dissection with the intent to find the cause of death - rather than dissection. Small things though and probably wouldn't be picked up by most.

If you want a book about vicious mermaids killing people who can't get away, this is the book for you. It features a diverse cast, where the diversity simply is and the people are allowed to just be people. It did take a bit of time to get into, but it definitely starts getting tense when the mermaids emerge.

Some notes on some of the content warnings:

Death, gore, blood, etc:
A lot of people and mermaids are killed.
Grief:
Surrounding deaths caused by the mermaids
Animal death:
Both on page and described by two hunters on the ship. Don't want to give more details because of spoilers.
Confinement:
To various degrees - areas ranging in size from ship to pipe.
Medical trauma:
A character gets poisoned by an unknown mermaid-related venom and has terrible side effects, which they are treated for. There is also a dissection.
Chronic illness:
A character has nerve damage he has to take injections for (pain management)
Drug use:
Cannabis is allowed on the ship. Weed infused chocolate balls are used to teat pain.
Biphobia:
An off hand comment, which is later clarified. The character has heard it before though.
Ableism:
A deaf character gets upset at so few people being able to use sign language. It seems most characters didn't even know she would be there (one person mentions having seen the manifest beforehand and someone else replies it would have been nice if the rest of them had). Unintentional, but is taken as ableism by the character, who gets upset).
Drowning

Content Warnings

aimzthereader's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Holy moly this book is sooo good! Who knew I needed a book about killer mermaids? Also I am never going in the ocean again. I will say I was not expecting as much science as this book offered but I found it very interesting. It took a bit to get used to the pacing of this book because it moves at a slower pace especially initially then you would think a scifi horror would. There were also scenes where it would be moving very quicklly and then slow down so the pacing took a bit to get used to but it mae a lot of sense. This book is literal perfection , it even made me care about the characters which I tend not to when I know there is a possibility that they can die. Overall this book was very well done, very enterttaining and is one that will stick with me for a long time

Content Warnings

More...