Reviews

The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie

jade_ls_lee's review against another edition

DNF'd at 50%

Eh, doma jau bija laba, lai gan man ar šo bija hroniska anotācijas nelasīšana. Biju sadomājusies nez ko par space pirates utt. :D Tas vāciņš jauc galvu! :D

Pirmā nodaļa bija trakas galvassāpes, lai saprastu visu to pasauli un gadžetiņus, taču pēc tam tas viss izrādījās gana vienkārši. Samērā netāla nākotne, pavecāki veči atceras laiku, kad dzīvoja in United States. Tad gan nāca plūdi, un pasaulē ir par pāris okeāniem vairāk. Lielākā daļa pārceļojumu notiek pa okeāniem,tāpēc no jauna sarosījušies pirāti - kas piespieda šai problēmai pieiet radoši. Rezultātā sākās jūras monstiņu inžinierija, kuri peld līdzi kuģim un to apsargā.

Casssandra ir šādu monstriņu trenere,kas līdz ar to inžinieriju ir ģimenes bizness. Tā arī nesapratu kā tie sea mosters izskatās, kaut kas starp jūras bruņurupuci+citi elementi, un viss gala rezultāts kravas mašīnas izmēros un ar asiem nadziņiem, lai var laist pirātus pa burbuli. Man uzsita nedaudz Pacific Rim vibe.

Tā nu Cas dodas savā pirmajā tūristu kuģa pavadošajā braucienā kā galvenā trenere. Ja sāk dresūras no bērna kājas, tad uz tādu posteni var tikt arī vēlajos tīņa gados. Visam vajadzēja būt pa vienkāršo, taču pavadošais monstriņš ceļojuma laikā mistiski saslimst un būtu jāatbrīvo no agonijas, ja vien tobrīd neuzrastos pirātu kuģis un neradītu jaunas problēmas.

Cas tiek sagūstīta un aizvesta uz pirātu kuģa, jo viņu kapteinei radies plāns izaudzēt pašai savu sea monster, kurš aizsargātu pirātus. Vajadzēja tikai treneri, lai šādu radījumu izdresētu pakļauties un saprast komandas.

Tā nu Cas tusē pa pirātu kuģi, tusē ar vienu no kapteines māceklēm, tusē ar savu jauno dresējamo monstriņu un visi lasītāji ģībst no sajūsmas, kamēr man temps turpina kristies līdz pie puses turpināju pārbaudīt atlikušo lappušu skaitu pēc katras nodaļas. Nu tas nekam neder.

Stāsts un pasaule bija ļoti labi, arī tēli jēdzīgi un forši. Nu, izņemot love interest Swift. Viņa gan mani vairāk kaitināja,nekā bija jēga vai shipping. Īsti nesaprotu, kas mani neaizrāva, bet kaut kā ar šo gabalu nebija klikšķis.

Bet noteikti iesaku pamēģināt, jo visi elementi, par ko fano fandoms, tiešām ir fanošanas vērti.

pragreads's review against another edition

4.0

We need more books like this. We need more books with morally grey areas and lesbian pirates. Why, you ask?

Reason #1: The Romance

● they sleep on the same bed
● somehow, they wake up tangled together
● they’re enemies at this point
● did I mention it’s enemies to lovers aka my second favourite trope
● “equal footing”
● y’all don’t know power dynamics till you’ve read this book

My heart is still pounding in my chest, and it takes me a few seconds to realize that I’m clutching her hand as if it’s a lifeline. I let go.
I reach out for her, not sure what else I can do. She startles when my hand comes to rest on her shoulder, and her eyes flick to mine.

● It’s worth it. If you’re like me and don’t like sci-fi, read it for the romance.
● Because oh dear god it deserves to be read.

It’s ridiculous. It’s outrageous. Bao could tap dance across the NeoPacific right now and it wouldn’t seem that out of place, because I’m in way over my head and I’m falling.

I’m falling for her, she’s fallen for me, and the whole thing is so desperate and stupid that we’re both reduced to fits of laughter that ring out across the Minnow’s deck. We’re two trapped girls with nothing but each other on a ship of people who’d be better off with us dead, and somehow on top of that we’ve managed to do the one thing we shouldn’t be able to do.

Home is what you kill for.
And I killed for Swift.

(x)



Reason #2: No tortured sexy soul trope

● so you know those books
● where there’s the hot protagonist who’s an asshole
● but oh!! turns out they have a poor/sick/dying family and they’re working their ass off for them
● rhys is a prime example
● so is okami (from flame in the mist)
● anyway,, this book smASHES that shit right out

"I'm not oblivious, Cas — I know that's not right. But it's all I have, and it's all I can do. So just…don't look at me like that, okay?”

"Like what?" I ask.

"Like you have more respect for me because you know where I come from.”

● #respect


Reason #3: PIRATES

● who doesn’t love pirates?
● everything about this book is so confusing tbh and i love it
● also Cas is such a badass
● SO MUCH CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!!
● also, sea monsters

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● buddy read with elizzle the 19 year old drizzle and poodledoo

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Queer Book #3 of Pride Month

vibshus's review against another edition

2.0

2.5
the plot was entertaining and the book could have been really good if the characters were more well-developed. the changes the characters went through happened too suddenly, it didn't feel like the changes were based on much. it kinda felt like every time a character changed they just went "i used to be like this but now i've changed" and then that was it.

ltball's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

thebookberrie's review against another edition

I had SUCH high hopes for this book and it just didn't work for me.

I didn't like Cas but I also didn't like the romance or anything that even happened in here. Cas gets kidnapped and then so quickly gets over that as she trains the sea monster. Like damn girl at least pretend you aren't cool with all of this idk she went from "I'm going to kill myself right now" to "this ship is my family" HELLA fast.

I understand making light of your situation but even in the end she doesn't change. She was so passive while taming an insanely powerful animal?? Insert guy poking other guy with a stick saying do something meme.

So then we get into the romance which is captor / captive and I get so much ick from that. They even mention it but acknowledgment doesn't make the ick go away. Plus Swift was a damn asshole to her for most of it.

I just don't understand how you can write lesbian pirates with sea monsters and then make it be boring. Maybe this is just me and my mind blindness but I for real have no idea what the monster was supposed to look like??? Giant?? Beak?? Dragon??

The world was so confusing to me as well and I truly think it would have been better to be fully fantasy or sci-fi not this weird mix of dystopian but modern weirdness.

The audiobook was so short but the entire thing dragged and I just couldn't wait for it to end.

Also not to be an asshole but that cover is hideous oh my god.

longtimewish's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

Monstruos hechos con la magia de la ciencia ficción y piratas; me enganchó bastante y me agradaron los personajes, pero la verdad pensé que me iba a gustar más. Culpa mía (?) por tener muchas expectativas. Aún así, fue una buena lectura y planeo leer la secuela.

megamillions02's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

btorsi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

oh my godddd i have so many emotions about this. this was one of the first books i found when i started actively looking for sapphic scifi/fantasy novels and it'  been on my tbr for YEARS and i just never got around to it but boy howdy what a mistake! this book should be royalty. cas is so interesting with her moral arc and development of her relationship with swift. the romance is painful and beautiful. the world building is so interesting and deep but not at all overwhelming. overall i loved it. i wish santa elena was a bit more developed but that's my only gripe. i turned the last page and immediately opened amazon to order the sequel. and i hate sequels!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence

sophielouise_'s review against another edition

1.0

1.5/5*

quinlbr88's review against another edition

adventurous emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0