audiopaladin's review
4.0
my internal rating system between fiction and nonfiction is different but this was really informative and ended on i dare say lighter note? you learn about so many bad things happening on the water and then final chapter drops "boats will play heavy metal to annoy whales" like yeah. i needed that. the pacing and narrative was really good
seethinglloron's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Well-written, well-researched, and harrowing in prose and in content. A collection of issues interconnected through legal, sociopolitical, and personal story, Urbina has written a journalistic expose of the seas unlike anything I have ever seen. I was enthralled the whole time. I learned so much.
And, despite my usual misgivings on journalists who spill a lot of ink on their personal connections to the story as slowing the pace, I didn't feel like that at all about Urbina's personal asides. Incredible.
And, despite my usual misgivings on journalists who spill a lot of ink on their personal connections to the story as slowing the pace, I didn't feel like that at all about Urbina's personal asides. Incredible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Trafficking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, War, Torture, and Sexual violence
jordiebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
5.0
vernscul's review
4.0
It's a treat to read a nonfiction book and know absolutely nothing about the topic. Everything I read in this book was completely new to me. And so many times I said in my head, "what the fuck". So many things about this was depressing and horrifying. The planet is fucked. Humanity is fucked. I'm gonna be sad now every time I sing baby beluga to my baby. Maybe I'll stop doing the remix "baby beluga in the frying pan" when we have fish for dinner.
jaloria's review
3.0
Terrific (and tragic) content -- though I would've enjoyed a series of long-form articles more than the entire book.