A review by cryptidkay
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

 This book came highly recommended on several best horror lists I looked at following my yearly kid-fic deep dive in 2021. The horror sections of this novel are gory and satisfying in the way all monster horror should be. Visceral descriptions make this a great choice for anyone who is a fan of modern slasher flicks but also needs to have a healthy fear of the ocean. I enjoyed reading it and getting to know the characters trapped on this Saw cruise. The scientists can be a bit info-dumpy but the science is almost believable enough that, since the book takes place in 2022, if I get news of something being pulled from the ocean, I'm moving farther inland.

It is a bit of a long haul though. There are a lot of characters to meet and figure out their motives, why they were on the ship, why you should care about them... There's also a lovely and modern queer romance. To me, it seemed a bit out of place in regards to the plot (especially since it comes in so late in the game after everyone knows that the sirens are killing people) but I understand that it is representative of the same thing going on elsewhere on the ship amongst the background characters. 
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