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reading__redhead's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Death, and Death of parent
indieandajean's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Daughter of the Deep is a brilliant "what if" piece of science fiction. I love how it pulls from the works of Jules Verne to create a narrative around a group of diverse freshmen students doing what adults deem impossible. It is very much in the vein of Percy Jackson, and Riordan doesn't shy away from mixing the fantastical with the real struggles of a teenage girl.
The characters are extremely lovable, the plot is fun and mostly well paced, and the twist was one that was well foreshadowed. I found that the plot did drag a bit while the students were on the ship trying to arrive to the base, but despite the fact that this section could have used a little more action or conflict, it didn't detract much from the book.
Overall I very much enjoyed this read. I would highly recommend it for tweens particularly as it doesn't shy away from the very real experiences that they are having or will have (anxiety, imposter syndrome, trouble with peers, death of loved ones, menstrual cramps, crushes, and responsibility). I would also recommend it for those with an interest in science fiction, those who enjoyed any of Rick Riordan's books (or Rick Riordan Presents), and for those who enjoy a good adventure story.
The characters are extremely lovable, the plot is fun and mostly well paced, and the twist was one that was well foreshadowed. I found that the plot did drag a bit while the students were on the ship trying to arrive to the base, but despite the fact that this section could have used a little more action or conflict, it didn't detract much from the book.
Overall I very much enjoyed this read. I would highly recommend it for tweens particularly as it doesn't shy away from the very real experiences that they are having or will have (anxiety, imposter syndrome, trouble with peers, death of loved ones, menstrual cramps, crushes, and responsibility). I would also recommend it for those with an interest in science fiction, those who enjoyed any of Rick Riordan's books (or Rick Riordan Presents), and for those who enjoy a good adventure story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
ecallahan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
2.0
Was this a chosen one narrative or nepobaby propaganda?
One could argue that all of Rick Riordan's protagonists are nepobabies. He mainly writes about children of literal gods after all. But these aren't real nepobabies, no one irl is actually a child of a god and have legit superpowers (I think). Ana on the other hand.
Ana is the descendant of captain Nemo and this makes her really important and special because she can access the submarine and also because she's supposed to be super smart for some reason?
Daughter of the Deep almost legitimately reads like nepobaby propaganda. WHY is Ana so important just because of her ancestry? She isn't especially smarter than any of the other students, she doesn't have literal superpowers, and yet she's treated as such.
Outside of the nepotism of it all, she's just not very interesting. The story is so focused on her, the history of the world, and plot none of the side characters shine through either. This would've benefitted from being a trilogy and stretching out the plot in order to flesh out everything or having fewer characters.
The world building is also boring. I wish that this was actually about Jules Vern, the actual technology he wrote about doesn't become relevant until the second half of the book. The academy is literally just a militant marine studies school for rich kids that blows up immediately.
I found the second half to be a little more interesting because of the sci-fi elements. Rick Riordan writes with a passion for Vern's work and he has already built a career off of making mythology accessible for children and I would love to see him move into other worlds and other topics. Just with more of the actual speculative elements and less nepotism.
One could argue that all of Rick Riordan's protagonists are nepobabies. He mainly writes about children of literal gods after all. But these aren't real nepobabies, no one irl is actually a child of a god and have legit superpowers (I think). Ana on the other hand.
Ana is the descendant of captain Nemo and this makes her really important and special because she can access the submarine and also because she's supposed to be super smart for some reason?
Daughter of the Deep almost legitimately reads like nepobaby propaganda. WHY is Ana so important just because of her ancestry? She isn't especially smarter than any of the other students, she doesn't have literal superpowers, and yet she's treated as such.
Outside of the nepotism of it all, she's just not very interesting. The story is so focused on her, the history of the world, and plot none of the side characters shine through either. This would've benefitted from being a trilogy and stretching out the plot in order to flesh out everything or having fewer characters.
The world building is also boring. I wish that this was actually about Jules Vern, the actual technology he wrote about doesn't become relevant until the second half of the book. The academy is literally just a militant marine studies school for rich kids that blows up immediately.
I found the second half to be a little more interesting because of the sci-fi elements. Rick Riordan writes with a passion for Vern's work and he has already built a career off of making mythology accessible for children and I would love to see him move into other worlds and other topics. Just with more of the actual speculative elements and less nepotism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
sirenricobooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Blood, and Grief
val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: Medical content, Kidnapping, and Colonisation
runes_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I ADORED this book! I've always been a fan of Rick Riordan, but this has to take the cake. One of the main characters (not the protagonist) is autistic. They used identity first language and said she was autistic without tip-toeing around it. Being able to see a lovable character like that, who was like me? In a great story by one of my favorite authors would've been everything to my high school self, after I was diagnosed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and War
Minor: Animal death, Racism, and Torture
camiandkitread's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Daughter of the Deep” by Rick Riordan is a clever reinterpretation of Jules Verne’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.”
There were several points where I wondered if Riordan had landed on this plot since he’d done so much ocean-related research for his “Percy Jackson” series, but it was still a fun book. The diversity of the characters was great and tastefully executed, which Riordan has struggled with in past books.
I’m interested to see if a sequel is announced soon because the ending definitely leaves room for a second book. “Daughter of the Deep” was a fun read and I’d love to read more books set in the Jules Verne-inspired world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
magdalena0325's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
orchidlilly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Daughter of the Deep has the same whimsy and snark that we know to expect from Riordan, and it's a delight as always. The plot draws from Jules Verne, of course, without feeling like a total rip or a poor imitation, and it's thoroughly entertaining the whole way through. Ana and her fellow classmates make for a diverse and well represented cast, who manage to act believably 15 without being insufferably out of touch. Riordan's depictions of other cultures and mental illness are respectful and clearly well researched, without feeling like a overly moral preach fest like so many other books do. I'm especially fond of how Ester is written, her character is more than just her autism, she gets to be someone other than the stereotypical autistic genius.
Definitely a good read, for the intended middle grade audience and also adults. I don;t know if this will be another one of Riordan's series as the book functions well as a single standalone, but should it become one I'll be raring to read more.
Definitely a good read, for the intended middle grade audience and also adults. I don;t know if this will be another one of Riordan's series as the book functions well as a single standalone, but should it become one I'll be raring to read more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Medical content
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail