A review by annekap
The Deep by Rivers Solomon

3.0

A book club side quest. I love the concept of this book, especially that it evolved from a song. What a cool way to create a new mythology. The premise - that a society of deep sea mermaids descended from pregnant African women thrown overboard during the slave trade - is just amazing. 

The novella itself, while short, thoughtfully explores the concept that holding knowledge of intergenerational trauma is both a burden and an inescapable way of maintaining identity. It’s nuanced and cleverly done. I just feel that the story and characters themselves aren’t that well fleshed out, and I wanted a bit more from either the plot or the protagonist. Maybe one where the concept is better than the reality.