The Deep by Rivers Solomon

 

GREETINGS STACK WORMS!!

I finished The Deep Wednesday morning...and I was rather happy with it. The book was short but there was a lot to take in. Which I didn't mind, just took me a little time to parse things out. 

The Deep is by Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs (yes, I think it's the Daveed Diggs), William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes. That's a lot of co-authors. Before you ask, no, this isn't an anthology. Though I sort of thought it would be, but we only get about four past stories. 

Let's get into it. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS!!!

- Light blood 

- Some animal death (sharks, fish, octopi, etc)

- Nakedness 

- Evolution? For those assholes (u know who u r)

There is definitely some representation here for POCs and LGBTQ+. 

SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yetu is the wajinru's (type of mermaid) Historian. This means that she must carry 600+ years worth of wajinru past inside her brain. And seeing as Yetu seems to be on the spectrum this is sort of painful for her. She feels like she doesn't have any self and that carrying the History will eventually kill her. This scares her so much that as soon as an opportunity provides itself, she flees to the surface. However, this leaves her people with all of the pain, death, and anger from the past. 

Wajinru have the ability to gather enough electrical current (if I understood correctly) to create a world drowning storm! 

So, while the wajinru are stirring up a storm, Yetu meets humans! And she falls in love with a loner boat-woman Oori. Who eventually convinces Yetu to go back to her people and save the Earth. 

However, Yetu isn't allowed to take the entire History back. The rest of her people decide to carry the burden with her and now she feels like she's part of her people instead of separate. After things have calmed down Yetu goes to find her Oori. Oori decides to go with Yetu after being given the gift to breathe underwater. 

Fin. 

Now, I left out a lot of detail. Such as Yetu's relationship with her Mother. The past scenes of the Wajinru and how they came to be. Or how Yetu is confused about humans being born with one sexual organ since all wajinru are born with all and they get to choose what they identify as. 

There is some good nuance here and I do suggest reading it. 

LIKES:

- Oori and Yetu's relationship. I wish there was more. 

- The scenes from the past. I wish there was more. 

DISLIKES:

- Yetu hem-haws a little too long. And repeats her thought process too often. 

- I wish there was more of this book. 

Do NOT go into this book expecting Disney's The Little Mermaid.  It is very atmospheric and dark. I don't mean in tone (though it can be at times) but literally dark, seeing as some of the time the book takes place in the deep of the ocean where it's almost black. 

I would give it 4.5 stars because I really wanted more of the book and less filler, but of course, I rounded up on Goodreads and gave it 5 stars. Seriously, go read it. 

Also, go read my reviews of other books I've this month. Toodles! 

-Bug