rchapy 's review for:

The Deep by Alma Katsu

3.0

mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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this is way more of a historical fiction mystery with supernatural elements than a horror book. it wasn't really very scary or chilling, more mysterious as you're wondering and waiting to find out whats going on. i didn't really like most of the main characters, and the love story between Mark and Annie really made no sense to me until the end. even then, i didn't like it, couldn't get into their romance.

at the end we find out that Annie has been possessed by Lillian and that's why she's been so attracted to Mark this whole time. i kind of suspected something like that but for the most part it just came off as her being really stalkerish and weird. also i did not vibe with the whole love triangle thing with Mark, Caroline, and Lillian. mark just seems like an asshole in my opinion, although i thought the writing about his gambling addiction was well done. Les and Dai with their love story was maybe my favorite part of the book, wish we had gotten to see what happened to Dai after the boat sank.

characterization is kind of inconsistent at times, but it seems well researched and is mostly well written. overall, decently interesting book, would recommend for someone who enjoys historical fiction or is interested in the titanic. the audiobook production was very good.