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A review by readwithbre
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This is, unfortunately, one of those reads with a really intriguing premise but poor execution. I found out about it after seeing a book list about Black mermaids written by Black authors after it was first announced that Halle Bailey would be playing Ariel in 2019. Finally got to it and was incredibly disappointed.
I appreciate what Solomon might have been trying to do but it often felt like they were just using the conventions of the fantasy genre to make their points rather than crafting a narrative that honors the fantastic. There was no real plot; or if there was, it got lost in the didactic, convoluted prose structure. The dialogue didn’t feel like real dialogue. The points Solomon seemed to be trying to make with the narrative, of the importance of protecting all of one’s ancestral memories - both beautiful and traumatic, joyful and painful - seemed to be prioritized over the narrative itself.
Maybe I’ll read again another time and feel differently. But I wanted a lot better out of this novella.
I appreciate what Solomon might have been trying to do but it often felt like they were just using the conventions of the fantasy genre to make their points rather than crafting a narrative that honors the fantastic. There was no real plot; or if there was, it got lost in the didactic, convoluted prose structure. The dialogue didn’t feel like real dialogue. The points Solomon seemed to be trying to make with the narrative, of the importance of protecting all of one’s ancestral memories - both beautiful and traumatic, joyful and painful - seemed to be prioritized over the narrative itself.
Maybe I’ll read again another time and feel differently. But I wanted a lot better out of this novella.