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A review by smuttymcbookface
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a beautiful story of how to best handle a horrific and tragic past for a set of beings, the Wajinru.
The first Historian, in an attempt to save her people from knowing the truth of their births, kept the knowledge to themselves until nearing death, when they passed it on to the next Historian. Capable of taking the traumatic events from other Wajinru's, even when dead, the Historian's job within the community evolved into holding all harsh memories, and storing the collective pains of their people. The exception to this being the Rememberance, where the Historian shares the history with everyone for a few days, before reabsorbing them, allowing their people to understand the importance of their knowledge, but not requiring them to know the specifics once the ceremony is completed.
This story mostly follows Yetu, the latest Historian, as she struggles to live whilst carrying her people's traumas. Knowing that she'll likely die if she reabsorbs them at the end of the Rememberance, she flees to land, where she meets Oori. A relationship slowly forms where Yetu learns that Oori has lost all of her own people's history when everyone but her was wiped out from an illness. This leaves Yetu wondering if her people were then correct to sacrifice one Wajinru's life and identity, the Historian, so that the remaining Wajinru can live unburdened.
This is a beautiful story with very little plot; mostly exploring feelings of belonging and self-identity. It was both beautiful and difficult to read, and despite being a novella, perfectly built this world where the ocean returned life where humans destroyed it. It was also refreshing to read of love and identity being unquestioned and just a way of existing.
The first Historian, in an attempt to save her people from knowing the truth of their births, kept the knowledge to themselves until nearing death, when they passed it on to the next Historian. Capable of taking the traumatic events from other Wajinru's, even when dead, the Historian's job within the community evolved into holding all harsh memories, and storing the collective pains of their people. The exception to this being the Rememberance, where the Historian shares the history with everyone for a few days, before reabsorbing them, allowing their people to understand the importance of their knowledge, but not requiring them to know the specifics once the ceremony is completed.
This story mostly follows Yetu, the latest Historian, as she struggles to live whilst carrying her people's traumas. Knowing that she'll likely die if she reabsorbs them at the end of the Rememberance, she flees to land, where she meets Oori. A relationship slowly forms where Yetu learns that Oori has lost all of her own people's history when everyone but her was wiped out from an illness. This leaves Yetu wondering if her people were then correct to sacrifice one Wajinru's life and identity, the Historian, so that the remaining Wajinru can live unburdened.
This is a beautiful story with very little plot; mostly exploring feelings of belonging and self-identity. It was both beautiful and difficult to read, and despite being a novella, perfectly built this world where the ocean returned life where humans destroyed it. It was also refreshing to read of love and identity being unquestioned and just a way of existing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Slavery
Minor: Sexual content