A review by bickie
Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

2.0

Court intrigue with mermaids, river witches, and deep connections to Atlantis. Cool world-building. This book does not stand on its own with a plot; it just stops after the end of one of the challenges faced by the main character and the mermaids she joins along the way. There is no satisfying end; however, I didn't really care what happened next enough to spend time reading the next books. The main characters fall flat somehow, as though they are two dimensional even though they face complex issues in their pasts, present, and futures. They are leaving the safety of childhood, learning about scary and evil things happening in the world, and that their world-views are more simplistic than reality. They are deciding who they want to be in their worlds, but required to do so very quickly. Romance takes a backseat after the Dokimi ceremony; girl-power is prevalent, particularly in Seraphina's matriarchal society. I thought it was odd that there was no "princess" mermaid that seemed to be from an African country though other continents seemed represented. This book could be good for middle grade graduates of Emily Windsnap. Some questions for discerning readers: Is Mahdi really the party-boy he seemed to become all of a sudden? Is Vallerio trustworthy? Isn't it fishy that Ondalina and Miramar both think the other is attacking them with region-specific tactics but Sera and Astrid do not think their realms attacked? [mild teen romance with a little kissing; violence and torture (cutting off of digits, iron collars and gags, some serious baddies); only cursing is "wrasse" used as "ass" in various connotations like "bad-wrasse" or "wrasse-kicking"] Grades 5-8