A review by theaceofpages
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I have read some of Mira Gant's books before (not recorded on here) and I found this was the same blend of attention-grabbing tension and questioning why I like this book. The writing is addictive, but at the same time it doesn't particularly stand out. I don't mean that in a bad way though. It was a fun read, which is what really matters.

The crew of the Atargatis disappeared near the Mariana  Trench. Seven years later, a second ship is sent out to try to find out what happened. The footage says mermaids but the world doubts this is true - particularly since the ship was sent by an entertainment company. Unfortunately for everyone involved, they are real. And they are hungry. The ship soon finds itself under attack by creatures from the deep, who seem determined to drag everyone on board under the waves.

Overall I loved this book. It was more than a little creepy and had a great tone. I imagine it would be even worse if you are already afraid of the sea and what lives down there. It was a little repetitive at points though (certain details being repeated more frequently than necessary) and, unfortunately, while not a bad one, I found the ending a little bit disappointing and rushed, Especially after the long build up. As a biologist, I also loved the scientific aspects of this book. I'd love to know what the scietists are up to. (although I take offense at the fact that security members think we can't take care of ourselves. Maybe a hoard of mermaids is a little different, but field biologists are definitely not soft). But at points the science is questionable. Or a wrong term is used. Probably not noticeable to non-scientists though. The example which sticks with me most (because of its simplicity) was the use of the word necropsy - a dissection with the intent to find the cause of death - rather than dissection. Small things though and probably wouldn't be picked up by most.  

If you want a book about vicious mermaids killing people who can't get away, this is the book for you. It features a diverse cast, where the diversity simply is and the people are allowed to just be people. It did take a bit of time to get into, but it definitely starts getting tense when the mermaids emerge.

Some notes on some of the content warnings:
  • Death, gore, blood, etc:
    A lot of people and mermaids are killed.
  • Grief:
    Surrounding deaths caused by the mermaids
  • Animal death:
    Both on page and described by two hunters on the ship. Don't want to give more details because of spoilers.
  • Confinement:
    To various degrees - areas ranging in size from ship to pipe.
  • Medical trauma:
    A character gets poisoned by an unknown mermaid-related venom and has terrible side effects, which they are treated for. There is also a dissection.
     
  • Chronic illness:
    A character has nerve damage he has to take injections for (pain management)
  • Drug use:
    Cannabis is allowed on the ship. Weed infused chocolate balls are used to teat pain.
  • Biphobia:
    An off hand comment, which is later clarified. The character has heard it before though.
  • Ableism:
    A deaf character gets upset at so few people being able to use sign language.  It seems most characters didn't even know she would be there (one person mentions having seen the manifest beforehand and someone else replies it would have been nice if the rest of them had). Unintentional, but is taken as ableism by the character, who gets upset).
  • Drowning
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