Reviews

Desdemona and the Deep, by C.S.E. Cooney

j9vaughn's review against another edition

5.0

IF you love fantasy
IF you love mystery
IF you love adventure
IF you love characters who grow and change in ways that show who they truly are without losing where they came from
IF you love writing so delicious it tastes like your favorite chocolate as it melts on your tongue
IF you love falling or jumping or flying into other worlds
IF you love, or maybe not love but are fascinated by, goblins and shapeshifters
IF you are interested in all the above intermingling with the issues that try to bind the winds of the world today

YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!

judithisreading's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

4.0

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness

Moderate: Alcohol and Injury/injury detail

Minor: Police brutality, Misogyny, Blood, and Dysphoria

rara2018's review against another edition

2.0

I… did not like this. I’ve read other stories by Cooney and really enjoyed them, so I went into this hoping for the best. Alas, I was met with a weak set of characters in an underdeveloped world and a plot I couldn’t care less about. Chaz was particularly annoying to me especially with how her story ended. The insta-love made me gag and the only parts I really enjoyed in the slightest were when Desdemona was being cunning and thoughtful. The writing wasn’t horrible, but the whole story was just so grating for me to read that nothing could quite redeem it. 

cookerlives's review against another edition

4.0

This story begins with the image of chemically disfigured girls in ballgowns trotting around pageant-style for Desdemona's fundraising activist mother, and from there Desdemona continues to be propelled by the contrast of the refined and the boorish, the selfish and the selfless, and comfortable and the vulnerable. Short, as novellas are, Desdemona and the Deep is filled with fantastic atmosphere and sprightly characters brought to life by prose that stops just short of poetry. Read this slowly. Savor it. Or risk finding it dull and unfulfilling.

downthebookjar's review against another edition

1.0

I don’t even know WTF I just read. It was so fast with a ton of details that told you absolutely nothing. There was a lot of potential with the creativity, but nothing was developed enough to be worthwhile.

asunnybooknook's review against another edition

3.0

3.5! Queer and magical af, wish themes were explored a bit more throughly, the writing was very quirky and sweet

josephinefarine's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

esseastri's review against another edition

5.0

Tor-Dot-Com just coming right for my soul with ALL THEIR NOVELLAS, IT'S FINE, I'M FINE.

Desdemona is an atmospheric, slightly unsettling, misty, summer afternoon, but bound in a book. It's frenetic and achy, fierce and full of heart, sharp and delicate. It's fae, but done correctly--all sharp edged smiles and sleepy questions and thorny claws. It's a slow fall from the real world into something new, dark and sepia-toned and gorgeous. It feels and it hurts and it holds you gently until you heal.

It's absolutely beautiful.

lyctororiole's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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