flowingleaves's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Grief, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship
slighte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Slavery, Animal death, Murder, Blood, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
Additional content warning for drowning, a fair bit of this takes place in submarines/underwatersandy_dream's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence and Body horror
Minor: Murder
aqulia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Slavery, and Kidnapping
DoesSpoiler
becoming reliant on a dead god's heart to keep you alive, and obsessing over it, even though it's corrupting your mindalba_marie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I saw this described as a "Lovecraftian steampunk undersea adventure" and seriously, that is the best way to describe this story. Deeplight was wildly unique and honestly, a pretty amazing read. In fact, easily one of the best books I've read this year.
Taking place in the fantastical, watery world of the Continent, the islands of the Myriad and of course the Undersea, the world-building of Deeplight was stunning. Chaulked full of undersea horrors and dead gods, pirates and priests, corruption and beauty, Hardinge's world-building was so well done.
The story was a whiplash-inducing roller coaster ride of a plot. It was an adventure story in every sense of the word, with plenty of action, intrigue, red herrings, betrayal, near-deaths and surprises. The whole book dripped with watery depths and the writing was wonderfully irresistible.
Hark was an idiot but bizarrely a loveable one. His characterisation and character arc were perfectly done. Despite his bad choices and their consequences, one can't help but feel strongly for him. Jelt was the perfect evil friend, and their toxic friendship was so well done and so realistic that I easily forgave Hark even though I wanted to shake him and scream to wake up! The toxicity and abusive friendship was not easy to read, but unfortunately felt very real.
Selfin was harder to like as a character, as I felt it took a while to get a read on her. But it was interesting how Hardinge incorporated deaf characters into the book - sea-kissed, they're called, from eardrums burst in deep water - in a way that made sense and didn't feel token. (Another reviewer said that Hardinge was inspired to include deaf characters after a fan approached her to ask if she'd ever do so, so she found a unique way to write a story that included deafness).
And the steampunkiness. The weird submarines and bathyspheres, the strange technology and man-made gods - it was all just so bizarre and yet made perfect sense to the story. Everything about the Undersea, the Myriad, Lady's Crave, and Sanctuary just felt so right, so real, yet so unique.
Finally, the GODS. Oh my GOSH I love a good monster story, and Deeplight did not disappear! The Hidden Lady, and all the other big, scary, badass monsters that once roamed the deeps and preyed on fear and drowned souls. The gods may be dead, but they certainly aren't gone, and their relics are priceless artefacts that are highly coveted by most of society, leaving many desperate and adventurous souls going to great lengths - and depths - to acquire this 'godware.'
Everything about Deeplight was well executed and addictive, with an epic story and great adventures. I'm so glad to find out that Frances Hardinge has many more books and my library audio book app has several of them! I highly recommend Deeplight.
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Violence
scifi_rat's review against another edition
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Slavery
akira516's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Spoiler
dies at the endGraphic: Body horror, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Murder and Death
lola_milk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body horror
adequateanja's review against another edition
But cool mythology and I really liked the MC, would‘ve loved to learn more about the world and Hark.
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Gaslighting