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A review by frostbitsky
The Deepest Blue by Sarah Beth Durst
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
4.5
Since I just finished the Queens of Renthia trilogy I thought I would waste no time and just jump into this side story. It was great to see how others in Renthia live and to see Belene's different culture, politics and how they handle the spirits of the realm.
I really can't say if you can just jump into this story without reading the Queens of Renthia trilogy first. I would really recommend it though, because there's a lot of world building established in the trilogy and I felt there was little explanation of the world and the history between the humans and the spirits in The Deepest Blue.
There is a bit of a Hunger Games aspect, but with a twist and turn. It's definitely it's own story and I feel the comparison is very weak.
I really appreciated that Mayara is a young woman and already married. Instead of ending with a wedding, it starts with one.
I also liked the sisterly dynamic of the women working together instead of cattiness. Not to say that there aren't villains and antagonists that the heroines are up against. I just liked the message that working together was better than going at it alone. It's also a good underdog story. Mayara is not the most powerful one to control the spirits but she and Roe find what they are good at, they build those skills and work as a team to survive.
The subplot between the Queen and the Families was also interesting. I liked the plan that Queen Asana, Lady Garnahna and Kelo enacted to shift the power structure. Kelo and Lady Garnah (Garnah entertained the reader in the trilogy) break the tension with some dark humor. I enjoyed their shenanigans.
The ending was bittersweet but I also liked that it tied things up. It was a good standalone and I wouldn't mind reading more stand-alone stories in this realm.
Favorite Quotes:
Page 282: Behind them, in the distance, the island of Olaku looked as if it had been swallowed in mist and foam. It was the spirits, she knew, churning up the sea, but it felt as if her island had been erased, smudged out of existence like a smear of paint on a canvas. (What I love about that quote, besides the imagery, is that it fits perfectly since Mayara's husband, Kelo, is an artist.)
Page 173: "No amount of careful would have been enough. We have to focus on what we can do, not what we wish we could."
Page 217: Have it your way. I'm happy to hear it's not just about your 'artistic integrity.'"
"That's important too," Kelo said. "If I betray my art, I betray my soul."
"You really spew a lot of bullshit for one so handsome."
4.5 out of 5 Leviathans.
I really can't say if you can just jump into this story without reading the Queens of Renthia trilogy first. I would really recommend it though, because there's a lot of world building established in the trilogy and I felt there was little explanation of the world and the history between the humans and the spirits in The Deepest Blue.
There is a bit of a Hunger Games aspect, but with a twist and turn. It's definitely it's own story and I feel the comparison is very weak.
I really appreciated that Mayara is a young woman and already married. Instead of ending with a wedding, it starts with one.
I also liked the sisterly dynamic of the women working together instead of cattiness. Not to say that there aren't villains and antagonists that the heroines are up against. I just liked the message that working together was better than going at it alone. It's also a good underdog story. Mayara is not the most powerful one to control the spirits but she and Roe find what they are good at, they build those skills and work as a team to survive.
The subplot between the Queen and the Families was also interesting. I liked the plan that Queen Asana, Lady Garnahna and Kelo enacted to shift the power structure. Kelo and Lady Garnah (Garnah entertained the reader in the trilogy) break the tension with some dark humor. I enjoyed their shenanigans.
The ending was bittersweet but I also liked that it tied things up. It was a good standalone and I wouldn't mind reading more stand-alone stories in this realm.
Favorite Quotes:
Page 282: Behind them, in the distance, the island of Olaku looked as if it had been swallowed in mist and foam. It was the spirits, she knew, churning up the sea, but it felt as if her island had been erased, smudged out of existence like a smear of paint on a canvas. (What I love about that quote, besides the imagery, is that it fits perfectly since Mayara's husband, Kelo, is an artist.)
Page 173: "No amount of careful would have been enough. We have to focus on what we can do, not what we wish we could."
Page 217: Have it your way. I'm happy to hear it's not just about your 'artistic integrity.'"
"That's important too," Kelo said. "If I betray my art, I betray my soul."
"You really spew a lot of bullshit for one so handsome."
4.5 out of 5 Leviathans.