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staring_at_words's review against another edition
4.0
The deepest blue is a standalone novel incorporated in Queens of Renthia series. When I first read it I didn't even know there is a whole universe behind it and that's been one of the things I liked. As much as I love good series or trilogy sometimes is nice to have just one interesting book to read.
Story follows Mayara, a young girl that lives in a coastal village in a kingdom of Balene, deep dives shells for a living and is engaged to a local artist Kelo. What differs her from others is an ability to control spirits that inhabit and power all land. That very ability is what got her sister killed and is now threatening to cost her her life too. Once discovered she possessed magical abilities she is sent on a "hunger games like" trial island to survive a month surrounded with wild spirits whose only wish is to thorn her and her likes apart. Those who survive will become Heirs to the queen whose main task is to keep asleep ancient spirits in the deepest parts of the ocean. If those awake, whole kingdom will likely be destroyed. But if that wasn't enough Mayara and the queen must overcome series of personal enemies, sabotage and betrayal to save the kingdom and their freedom.
The deepest blue was an enjoyable book to read. I finished it in two days. The book is well paced and has a considerable amount of suspense especially the trial island part which I liked the most. Once you start reading you'll just want to continue till the end because scenes overleap seamlessly and keep you engaged. Every moment feels as a life or death situation that keeps you at your toes. The magic plays its part in the story but is not the main theme. You will be equally or even more engaged in collecting coconuts for food while surrounded with murderous spirits and traps as you would be in a magical spirit fight. Characters are likeable and resourceful, smarts and, in the end, empathy are more important to the story than magical powers. From time to time story changes focus from Maraya to queen to Kelo which keeps it active. There are few twists toward the end and end itself is quite enjoyable. The story is set at the seaside which was refreshing and I really liked it.
Overall, if you like this type of life or death trial themes, and are looking for some interesting standalone novel, go give it a try and if you like it you can always read other Queen of Renthia books.
Story follows Mayara, a young girl that lives in a coastal village in a kingdom of Balene, deep dives shells for a living and is engaged to a local artist Kelo. What differs her from others is an ability to control spirits that inhabit and power all land. That very ability is what got her sister killed and is now threatening to cost her her life too. Once discovered she possessed magical abilities she is sent on a "hunger games like" trial island to survive a month surrounded with wild spirits whose only wish is to thorn her and her likes apart. Those who survive will become Heirs to the queen whose main task is to keep asleep ancient spirits in the deepest parts of the ocean. If those awake, whole kingdom will likely be destroyed. But if that wasn't enough Mayara and the queen must overcome series of personal enemies, sabotage and betrayal to save the kingdom and their freedom.
The deepest blue was an enjoyable book to read. I finished it in two days. The book is well paced and has a considerable amount of suspense especially the trial island part which I liked the most. Once you start reading you'll just want to continue till the end because scenes overleap seamlessly and keep you engaged. Every moment feels as a life or death situation that keeps you at your toes. The magic plays its part in the story but is not the main theme. You will be equally or even more engaged in collecting coconuts for food while surrounded with murderous spirits and traps as you would be in a magical spirit fight. Characters are likeable and resourceful, smarts and, in the end, empathy are more important to the story than magical powers. From time to time story changes focus from Maraya to queen to Kelo which keeps it active. There are few twists toward the end and end itself is quite enjoyable. The story is set at the seaside which was refreshing and I really liked it.
Overall, if you like this type of life or death trial themes, and are looking for some interesting standalone novel, go give it a try and if you like it you can always read other Queen of Renthia books.
bangell's review against another edition
5.0
This book took me by such pleasant surprise! I got it in a blind-date-with-a-book thing, and hadn’t read the other Renthia books before this.
This book is basically Avatar (ATLA) meets Hunger Games in the best way, and that concept had me sold. What I wasn’t expecting was how much heart this book had. The characters were complex, and the plot took turns I wasn’t expecting. The author does not shy away from violence and darkness and lots and lots of death. But, without giving any spoilers, a solid love story and a 10/10 happy ending!
I’ll be giving the full Renthia series my attention after this.
This book is basically Avatar (ATLA) meets Hunger Games in the best way, and that concept had me sold. What I wasn’t expecting was how much heart this book had. The characters were complex, and the plot took turns I wasn’t expecting. The author does not shy away from violence and darkness and lots and lots of death. But, without giving any spoilers, a solid love story and a 10/10 happy ending!
I’ll be giving the full Renthia series my attention after this.
jenhurst's review against another edition
5.0
I think Sarah Beth durst is very underrated. This book is the exact kind of fantasy I love. Developed world, strong characters and an interesting premise. I see the comparisons to the hunger games and agree. But it’s still different enough that I works. I liked seeing the view point of the queen and seeing that no matter how strong she is, she still has her hands fairly tied. I liked how her compassion was show in a good light. The traits that were more feminine, were show positively within the book and still allowed the female characters to be very strong. That’s something that I think is not shown enough in books.
I also loved how the world was so different from the world we saw in queen of blood. It’s described as a beautiful ocean focused world and I love stories that focus on sea/ocean/lake towns.
I wish more people were reading Sarah beth Durst books and this one in particular. I highly recommend it!
I also loved how the world was so different from the world we saw in queen of blood. It’s described as a beautiful ocean focused world and I love stories that focus on sea/ocean/lake towns.
I wish more people were reading Sarah beth Durst books and this one in particular. I highly recommend it!
tori_fink's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book! It really expanded on the realm of Renthia! I hope there are more books like this to come!
crimsoncor's review against another edition
4.0
Really this book gets 4 stars just for Garnah. We all need more mischievous murder fairy in our lives.
alex2015's review against another edition
5.0
If you’ve read The Never Tilting World or The Ember in the Ashes series and enjoyed them, you’ll definitely enjoy this.
readerlatte's review against another edition
5.0
My Review: When I started this book I thought, OMG YES were going to get a brand new story and this time we won't be in the glade etc. Like we were in the other three books. Where it was all about becoming queen. This was going to be about these two newly married people being on the run!!
Sadly, that didn't happen and were back on an island this time against these women's wishes. I have to say how the world of Belene felt very Hunger Gamesish. I actually just now looked at book synapses and yes this is VERY much like the Hunger Games. But instead of other tributes that these women are defending from its the spirits.
This story follows a bunch of characters from the main character Mayara and her trying to survive to get back to her husband, her husband trying to find a way to get her off the island, and the Queen trying to find a way out of her situation. I did enjoy that we had a character from the original series. I do not remember who she was in the other series so if someone knows and can remind me that would be great. It's been a while since I read it.
The number one thing I loved about this story was the pacing. I liked that it was a stand alone and that although the author could come back and add more to this story she doesn't have to. This is a fully formed story on its own. The story starts we get all the information that we need to know and then it gets going. Nothing was stagnate and it flowed very well. Even when it was just Mayara surviving on the island and she was going through caves this story was still going and it was great!
The world building was amazing I loved all the islands and the construction and use of old skeletons as homes and roads etc. The diving aspect was great as well. I felt like the author did a wonderful job with the ideals and just everything. This world of Belene came alive on the page and it really made me want to go to the beach. The characters were the same way. I loved how strong Mayara was as well as her husband Kelo. The rest of the cast from the Queen to the other Spirit Sisters were all there and no one was lacking.
The spirits of the Deep Blue themselves were awesome even though we don't really get to spend a lot of time with them. I do hope we get to see what occurred in the end of this book in a new one set with them.
*Do you need to read the other series to read this one?
No you don't really need to read the other series to know what is going on with this one. The author gives you everything you need to know in this title to read it on its own.
Go Into This One Knowing: Danger, Sisters, Magic, Romance
Sadly, that didn't happen and were back on an island this time against these women's wishes. I have to say how the world of Belene felt very Hunger Gamesish. I actually just now looked at book synapses and yes this is VERY much like the Hunger Games. But instead of other tributes that these women are defending from its the spirits.
This story follows a bunch of characters from the main character Mayara and her trying to survive to get back to her husband, her husband trying to find a way to get her off the island, and the Queen trying to find a way out of her situation. I did enjoy that we had a character from the original series. I do not remember who she was in the other series so if someone knows and can remind me that would be great. It's been a while since I read it.
The number one thing I loved about this story was the pacing. I liked that it was a stand alone and that although the author could come back and add more to this story she doesn't have to. This is a fully formed story on its own. The story starts we get all the information that we need to know and then it gets going. Nothing was stagnate and it flowed very well. Even when it was just Mayara surviving on the island and she was going through caves this story was still going and it was great!
The world building was amazing I loved all the islands and the construction and use of old skeletons as homes and roads etc. The diving aspect was great as well. I felt like the author did a wonderful job with the ideals and just everything. This world of Belene came alive on the page and it really made me want to go to the beach. The characters were the same way. I loved how strong Mayara was as well as her husband Kelo. The rest of the cast from the Queen to the other Spirit Sisters were all there and no one was lacking.
The spirits of the Deep Blue themselves were awesome even though we don't really get to spend a lot of time with them. I do hope we get to see what occurred in the end of this book in a new one set with them.
Spoiler
At the end of the story Mayara tells the spirits of the Deep Blue that they could go out to the vast oceans and build. It would be awesome to get a story that deals with that.*Do you need to read the other series to read this one?
No you don't really need to read the other series to know what is going on with this one. The author gives you everything you need to know in this title to read it on its own.
Spoiler
The only things you will miss without reading the other series is the way things are done on the mainland of Renthia. As they use schools to train their Heirs vs. sending them to a death island. As well as how the Queen of Belene is treated vs. how the Queen of Renthia is. And then there is that one character from the original series that for the life of me I don't remember who she was. But other than those things no you do not have to read the other series.Go Into This One Knowing: Danger, Sisters, Magic, Romance
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first time I've read one of the Renthia books, and I am quite interested in the world and other characters that might live in it. The magic is unique, the lore investing, and the settings are romantic. This is a deeply fantastical world and I quickly found myself wanting to know more.
The story moved pretty quickly, told from different perspectives and packed with great characters. I really loved Mayara and Roe, and complex Queen Asana. There were great magical moments and I enjoyed the simplicity to the romance.
I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. It isn't bad, but I felt like once the twist happened, it rushed to the finale. There were moments that I didn't quite understand, but it was still satisfying.
This was a great introduction to a complex series and I look to diving into the main story soon!
The story moved pretty quickly, told from different perspectives and packed with great characters. I really loved Mayara and Roe, and complex Queen Asana. There were great magical moments and I enjoyed the simplicity to the romance.
I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. It isn't bad, but I felt like once the twist happened, it rushed to the finale. There were moments that I didn't quite understand, but it was still satisfying.
This was a great introduction to a complex series and I look to diving into the main story soon!
sophiedeo's review against another edition
4.0
I want more Renthia! I still love this series, and this book didn't disappoint. I liked most of the characters in general, and especially enjoyed seeing Garnah again. I wish we had seen more of our characters actually using the spirits, as instead they mostly used survival skills. Belene's traditions are also ridiculously terrible.