clauleesi's review against another edition
4.0
My rating: 4.5 stars
“Do I think they found mermaids? Yes. Of course I do. And I think the mermaids ate them all.”
In an attempt to start this reading year off with a bang, I finally picked up Mira Grant’s - or rather, [a:Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg]'s - new book about murderous mermaids.
Yes, you did read that right. Murderous mermaids.
As someone who is and always has been crazy about mermaids and absolutely adores Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire, I knew I needed to pick this up the second we got it in our bookstore. And even though I’m definitely not a horror gal, I ended up loving this so much. I mean, it is horror, but it’s also mermaids.
A few years ago, a entertainment company called Imagine sent a ship named Atargatis into the Mariana Trench to film a mockumentary about mermaids. It’s all treated as a joke, until said ship is found empty, bloodied and with video proof that the crew were attacked by something that looks awfully a lot like the lovely ladies of the sea.
Most people look at the entire thing like a big hoax, but not everyone - Tory, a sea lover and scientist, lost her own sister to the Atargatis incident. She is convinced that something was found in the Mariana Trench and has dedicated the last few years trying to discover what actually happened - and she is not the only one. Imagine decides to assemble a new, more prepared crew and sends them out into the deep sea once again. They thought they were prepared for what they would find, but it does not take long before they find out how truly wrong they were.
This entire thing was so fucking compelling. Right from the beginning we are thrown into the aftermath of the Atargatis Incident, and learn just how different people are reacting to it - some just laugh it off, others have to learn to live without their loved ones and with the knowledge that something out there probably ate them. It’s all told in a very cool and interesting way, with some articles thrown in and lots and lots of science and marine biologist terms - but don't worry, it’s also explained as easily as possible for us non-scientist people.
So, this is a very smart book. But in more ways than just the science ways - it’s a book that teaches you the importance of respecting the ocean and environment. I really loved that aspect of ’Into The Drowning Deep’, because it also teaches us just how small we are; something that also added to the scary, haunting feeling.
But other than that, I didn’t really find this book ”scary”. I’m a real scaredycat, someone who can’t even walk into a haunted house at a fairground or watch a scary movie - but since I haven’t read a lot of horror at all, I’m not really the person to tell you how good or scary this book was by horror standard.
What I can tell you was that it was a fucking intense and amazing book. I was completely sucked into it by the tenth-something page. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next, and was also slightly scared to do so.
And those mermaids - wow. Wow. I loved Grants mermaids. They were absolutely gross, nightmarish and fascinating, but what I loved most about them was how real she made them feel. I am now worried that these wicked creatures she described so vividly actually waits hungrily for us there, in the deepest parts of the sea.
”The mermaid does not care whether or not we believe in its existence. Somewhere far from here, the mermaid continues to do what it always has done: it continues to thrive. And it waits for us to realize that belief is, in the end, irrelevant.”
Wow.
I also want to add something about the human characters. They were all interesting, fleshed-out, diverse as hell, and since many of them were scientists, also intelligent. This created some cool dialogues and scenarios that were not only intriguing but also almost philosophical at times, something I really enjoyed - but this really wasn’t about them. They were almost the background to the bigger picture that were the mermaids and the never-ending ocean with all its secrets.
It did take me some time to get through this book, but I still really loved it. And even though I found that the end was quite sudden, and that I still wanted to know much more, I do really think that this might be my favorite mermaid book ever.
“Do I think they found mermaids? Yes. Of course I do. And I think the mermaids ate them all.”
In an attempt to start this reading year off with a bang, I finally picked up Mira Grant’s - or rather, [a:Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg]'s - new book about murderous mermaids.
Yes, you did read that right. Murderous mermaids.
As someone who is and always has been crazy about mermaids and absolutely adores Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire, I knew I needed to pick this up the second we got it in our bookstore. And even though I’m definitely not a horror gal, I ended up loving this so much. I mean, it is horror, but it’s also mermaids.
A few years ago, a entertainment company called Imagine sent a ship named Atargatis into the Mariana Trench to film a mockumentary about mermaids. It’s all treated as a joke, until said ship is found empty, bloodied and with video proof that the crew were attacked by something that looks awfully a lot like the lovely ladies of the sea.
Most people look at the entire thing like a big hoax, but not everyone - Tory, a sea lover and scientist, lost her own sister to the Atargatis incident. She is convinced that something was found in the Mariana Trench and has dedicated the last few years trying to discover what actually happened - and she is not the only one. Imagine decides to assemble a new, more prepared crew and sends them out into the deep sea once again. They thought they were prepared for what they would find, but it does not take long before they find out how truly wrong they were.
This entire thing was so fucking compelling. Right from the beginning we are thrown into the aftermath of the Atargatis Incident, and learn just how different people are reacting to it - some just laugh it off, others have to learn to live without their loved ones and with the knowledge that something out there probably ate them. It’s all told in a very cool and interesting way, with some articles thrown in and lots and lots of science and marine biologist terms - but don't worry, it’s also explained as easily as possible for us non-scientist people.
So, this is a very smart book. But in more ways than just the science ways - it’s a book that teaches you the importance of respecting the ocean and environment. I really loved that aspect of ’Into The Drowning Deep’, because it also teaches us just how small we are; something that also added to the scary, haunting feeling.
But other than that, I didn’t really find this book ”scary”. I’m a real scaredycat, someone who can’t even walk into a haunted house at a fairground or watch a scary movie - but since I haven’t read a lot of horror at all, I’m not really the person to tell you how good or scary this book was by horror standard.
What I can tell you was that it was a fucking intense and amazing book. I was completely sucked into it by the tenth-something page. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next, and was also slightly scared to do so.
And those mermaids - wow. Wow. I loved Grants mermaids. They were absolutely gross, nightmarish and fascinating, but what I loved most about them was how real she made them feel. I am now worried that these wicked creatures she described so vividly actually waits hungrily for us there, in the deepest parts of the sea.
”The mermaid does not care whether or not we believe in its existence. Somewhere far from here, the mermaid continues to do what it always has done: it continues to thrive. And it waits for us to realize that belief is, in the end, irrelevant.”
Wow.
I also want to add something about the human characters. They were all interesting, fleshed-out, diverse as hell, and since many of them were scientists, also intelligent. This created some cool dialogues and scenarios that were not only intriguing but also almost philosophical at times, something I really enjoyed - but this really wasn’t about them. They were almost the background to the bigger picture that were the mermaids and the never-ending ocean with all its secrets.
It did take me some time to get through this book, but I still really loved it. And even though I found that the end was quite sudden, and that I still wanted to know much more, I do really think that this might be my favorite mermaid book ever.
silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.75
Science is not a matter of belief. Science does not care whether you believe in it or not. Science will continue to do what science will do, free from morality, free from ethical concerns, and most of all, free from the petty worry that it will not be believed. Belief has shaped the history of human accomplishment—we believe we can, and so we do—but belief has never changed the natural world. The mountain does not vanish because we believe it should. The unicorn does not appear because we believe it will.
This is the sort of sci-fi horror I absolutely love. Everything from the realistic scientific content to the intricately developed characters and relationship dynamics to the fantastic mystery of the deep sea. The audiobook was very well produced and I found myself really enjoying the multi-media format. Perhaps the cast of characters was a little too large and the start was a bit slow, but I enjoyed the experience of reading this book so much, I can't hold all of that entirely against it. This novel was gorgeous in its writing and the frightening dark atmosphere; I cannot recommend it enough to lovers of gore, sci-fi, and mild horror.
dianalandry's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
schnoebs13's review against another edition
5.0
The well loved tv channel Imagine sent a film crew to the Marianas Trench in search of mermaids but unforeseen events lead to every single one of the members being killed. Shocking footage of the attack is released by the US Navy where it shows real mermaids viciously attacking the crew. Almost ten years later and with a suffering reputation, Imagine sends out another ship of scientists to discover what exactly happened. With an itch for scientific discovery and a need for revenge, many of the crew think they are prepared for what they face but it’s greater than any would have expected.
I absolutely loved every damn minute of this book and never got bored. First off, great representation. For starters, LGBTQIA+ and disability rep but what’s just as important is showing female leadership and intelligence in the very male dominated world of STEM. I wish there was a bit more racial diversity but that is also a major issue the STEM field struggles with. This book and others like Jurassic Park have really made me realize that I love eco horror and eco sci-fi stories. Having the major elements of environmental science/natural sciences incorporated and explained in stories is really enjoyable for me. The heavy discussion on marine biology and the craziness of evolution was a joy to read. As for the characters I really appreciated switching through all the different perspectives whether it be above or below the water because it really gave you such a well rounded view on what’s happening. Figures crossed I can find more books like this.
I absolutely loved every damn minute of this book and never got bored. First off, great representation. For starters, LGBTQIA+ and disability rep but what’s just as important is showing female leadership and intelligence in the very male dominated world of STEM. I wish there was a bit more racial diversity but that is also a major issue the STEM field struggles with. This book and others like Jurassic Park have really made me realize that I love eco horror and eco sci-fi stories. Having the major elements of environmental science/natural sciences incorporated and explained in stories is really enjoyable for me. The heavy discussion on marine biology and the craziness of evolution was a joy to read. As for the characters I really appreciated switching through all the different perspectives whether it be above or below the water because it really gave you such a well rounded view on what’s happening. Figures crossed I can find more books like this.
saoir_se's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
When I first started reading this book, around 20-30%, I thought it was going to be five stars. But as I read on, I realised it wouldn’t be. The writing is great, although there is one mistake around halfway into the book, where one of the supporting characters is called by a different name. To be honest, this was very science-y and I didn’t understand a lot of it, and it had no real story to tell? The story of discovering mermaids exist, but then nothing about the aftermath of it? I would call it an unsatisfying ending, because it basically just says ‘hey, they got back to shore in the end,’ and nothing more. The main romance (sapphic, I had high expectations) was so rushed. They didn’t like each other, and then in their next interaction they were blushing? It was definitely a subplot, despite how it was advertised to me, and it was very rushed and didn’t feel real at all. Though I liked Luis, and I thought Dr. Toth was funny at times.
lonelylestat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
madelyn's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
roksyreads's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
“The trouble with discovery is that it goes two ways. For you to find something, that thing must also find you.”
Victoria “Tory” Stewart joins a scientific voyage in search of her sister who was lost at sea in a maritime tragedy. Following Tory and a culturally diverse cast of characters which places LGBTQIA+ women at the forefront of cutting-edge science and discovery, Into the Drowning Deep is intense and harrowing; a medium-fast paced horror/thriller which drew me in and would not let me go. This book definitely earned a solid 5 stars from me.
A particular strong point for Grant’s writing is the depth and clarity of the scientific elements which are integral to the narrative. I can provide no guarantee of the factual nature of the foundational science within the book, but it’s clear that a significant amount of research and thought has gone into the presentation of the science. The dialogue and prose are equally strong; I had only minor quibbles with one or two of the passages which felt somewhat forced.
Full disclosure: I have read very few works from horror as a genre. A handful, perhaps, in addition to novels with horror as a sub-genre. It’s not because I dislike horror, but simply because I haven’t found many stories which catch my interest. I have never been particularly interested in the genre in any format, mostly because I don’t tend to find anything fictitious scary no matter how deeply involved I am with the story. For me, it has to feel real - like it could genuinely happen to me - in order to get any sense of fear. This is probably why I found Disturbia more terrifying than any of the Silent Hill or Saw movies, particularly due to past experiences with a former neighbour (a story for another time).
I definitely do get a strong sense of realism from Into the Drowning Deep. I don’t particularly fear the sea, but I’m not entirely comfortable over deep water. For example, I’m not interested in cruises of any variety that go for more than a day because I am a firm believer that humans are land mammals that should remain on solid ground as much as possible. But there’s that element of the unknown that tugs at me. Whilst recent years have seen a number of advances which have allowed greater deep-sea exploration endeavours, it is simply so dark and foreboding a place that the majority of the deepest parts of the ocean remain a mystery. Grant makes full use of this knowledge (or lack-there-of), presenting a villain that is genuinely terrifying to consider - at least for a land mammal like myself.
Victoria “Tory” Stewart joins a scientific voyage in search of her sister who was lost at sea in a maritime tragedy. Following Tory and a culturally diverse cast of characters which places LGBTQIA+ women at the forefront of cutting-edge science and discovery, Into the Drowning Deep is intense and harrowing; a medium-fast paced horror/thriller which drew me in and would not let me go. This book definitely earned a solid 5 stars from me.
A particular strong point for Grant’s writing is the depth and clarity of the scientific elements which are integral to the narrative. I can provide no guarantee of the factual nature of the foundational science within the book, but it’s clear that a significant amount of research and thought has gone into the presentation of the science. The dialogue and prose are equally strong; I had only minor quibbles with one or two of the passages which felt somewhat forced.
Full disclosure: I have read very few works from horror as a genre. A handful, perhaps, in addition to novels with horror as a sub-genre. It’s not because I dislike horror, but simply because I haven’t found many stories which catch my interest. I have never been particularly interested in the genre in any format, mostly because I don’t tend to find anything fictitious scary no matter how deeply involved I am with the story. For me, it has to feel real - like it could genuinely happen to me - in order to get any sense of fear. This is probably why I found Disturbia more terrifying than any of the Silent Hill or Saw movies, particularly due to past experiences with a former neighbour (a story for another time).
I definitely do get a strong sense of realism from Into the Drowning Deep. I don’t particularly fear the sea, but I’m not entirely comfortable over deep water. For example, I’m not interested in cruises of any variety that go for more than a day because I am a firm believer that humans are land mammals that should remain on solid ground as much as possible. But there’s that element of the unknown that tugs at me. Whilst recent years have seen a number of advances which have allowed greater deep-sea exploration endeavours, it is simply so dark and foreboding a place that the majority of the deepest parts of the ocean remain a mystery. Grant makes full use of this knowledge (or lack-there-of), presenting a villain that is genuinely terrifying to consider - at least for a land mammal like myself.
dogtownluvr's review against another edition
3.0
Did this scare me? Maybe. Am I ever going in the ocean again? Nope.