Review by symphonian - The Deep

symphonian 's review for:

The Deep by Rivers Solomon

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Deep is a book that has stuck with me for years and years, and it is one of my favorite books of all time. That said, it is also one of the hardest books for me to go back and reread. The emotions I felt following Yetu were so vast and intricate I can't bring myself to feel that way again. This book is interwoven with themes of responsibility, freedom, redemption, revenge, and so much more. Solomon asks their readers, "What happens when the weight of knowing one's history is too much? What happens when pain causes us to behave in ways we wouldn't? What happens when we expect too much of young Black Women?" These questions turn in your mind as you follow Yetu when she frees herself from the responsibility of carrying the history of the dead slave women and magic that birthed their race. It was a brilliant exploration of history, of the weight of Black history, and how we can survive in times where it feels like everyone has forgotten.

Content Warnings