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queenterribletimy's review against another edition
4.0
Beneath Cruel Fathoms was in RockStarlit BookAsylum's group of 30 in SPFBO 5 and made it to be one of our semi-finalists. It definitely one of my top 3 as well after reading up to 25% of each book. I was thinking to coming back to it some day, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. The author was kind enough to gift me a paperback and I just found myself drawn to it as it lay on my desk. And so, I immersed myself in this world and man, it was a ride. I believe that I had to read this book right now as it dragged me out of my slump and also brought back the feeling of joy of reading and I'm grateful for it as I badly needed it.
My thoughts up to the 25% mark:
I've started to read Beneath Cruel Fathoms back in the summer during my vacation, so it was pretty early into the competiton - actually it might have been my second book I sampled - but despite going through 29 other books, it still managed to stay with me in the back of my mind. I didn't have the time to go back to read it fully, but I definitely intend to at one point. The strange thing is, I'm usually not into these kind of books, but Beneath Cruel Fathoms really managed to capture me. The writing was smooth and entertaining, the characters well fleshed out and I liked their interactions. I remember wanting to learn more about Leonel and his life in the sea. As characters go, I could connect with him the most. He earned his role to be the Guardian of the Fathoms, but that didn't mean he did earn the love, let alone respect of his family who constantly look down on him and make sure he doesn't feel welcome in their circles.
I had the feeling that Beneath Cruel Fathoms was a kind of Little Mermaid retelling, where the roles are reversed - Leonel the mermaid who saves the damsel in distress (although don't mistake her for being a weak female character, because she could definitely hold her own) - and as they fight together to figure out what's going on, they more than likely will fall in love. And all of this was set in a Norse mythology inspired world. Definitely an interesting mix. I enjoyed both POVs, getting to know their circumstances, learning about their personalities - I admit the first 25% weren't actually action packed, but I honestly didn't mind. I suspect it will pick up as Isaura and Leonel start to work together in earnest, but I already was being able to lose myself in the story as it was. Deen has a way of writing that just makes you turn the pages without realising.
And some more thoughts after reading it completely:
I pretty much stand by everything I said so far. There is action toward the second part of the book and Leonal stayed my favourite character. I just could connect with him on a deeper level - being a cast out, not trusting anyone especially when faced with nothing but kindness. His and Isaura's feelings are growing for each other and - thank the author - it's absolutely not an insta one. It builds up slowly and there is plenty of enough things going on to keep me absolutely interested and invested. Oh man, I was invested. I had FEELINGS toward the end because let's face it, Deen is a monster (okay, no, I'm kidding, but I'm still sour about certain things *shakes fist*) playing with emotions like a master musician plays their instrument.
"She bit her lip as though she hadn't meant to admit this. Broken. She'd said it of herself before, after her ship sank. Now as then, he wanted to ask but it was clear by the way she held her breath, she prayed he wouldn't. She had no need to fear. He understood her wish to be heard even without being fully understood. To be seen without being looked at."
There were some nice twists in the plot, and though the story arc was concluded nicely, it still left some things open for the next book in the series. Which I can't wait to read, by the way.
Even though books with romance is not something I would pick up usually, I'm glad Beneath Cruel Fathoms found its way to me. The romance was well written and there were enough other things to keep the story going. It also dealt with serious topics such as woman's place in society and how Isaura deals with the fact that she can't live up to the expectations and how that affects her relationships. On the other side is Leonel who is being shunned by his own family and tries to live up to their expectations but keeps failing.
If you are looking for an emotionally thrilling read with romance, mythical sea creatures and a vivid dark fantasy setting, then Beneath Cruel Fathoms is your book.
My thoughts up to the 25% mark:
I've started to read Beneath Cruel Fathoms back in the summer during my vacation, so it was pretty early into the competiton - actually it might have been my second book I sampled - but despite going through 29 other books, it still managed to stay with me in the back of my mind. I didn't have the time to go back to read it fully, but I definitely intend to at one point. The strange thing is, I'm usually not into these kind of books, but Beneath Cruel Fathoms really managed to capture me. The writing was smooth and entertaining, the characters well fleshed out and I liked their interactions. I remember wanting to learn more about Leonel and his life in the sea. As characters go, I could connect with him the most. He earned his role to be the Guardian of the Fathoms, but that didn't mean he did earn the love, let alone respect of his family who constantly look down on him and make sure he doesn't feel welcome in their circles.
I had the feeling that Beneath Cruel Fathoms was a kind of Little Mermaid retelling, where the roles are reversed - Leonel the mermaid who saves the damsel in distress (although don't mistake her for being a weak female character, because she could definitely hold her own) - and as they fight together to figure out what's going on, they more than likely will fall in love. And all of this was set in a Norse mythology inspired world. Definitely an interesting mix. I enjoyed both POVs, getting to know their circumstances, learning about their personalities - I admit the first 25% weren't actually action packed, but I honestly didn't mind. I suspect it will pick up as Isaura and Leonel start to work together in earnest, but I already was being able to lose myself in the story as it was. Deen has a way of writing that just makes you turn the pages without realising.
And some more thoughts after reading it completely:
I pretty much stand by everything I said so far. There is action toward the second part of the book and Leonal stayed my favourite character. I just could connect with him on a deeper level - being a cast out, not trusting anyone especially when faced with nothing but kindness. His and Isaura's feelings are growing for each other and - thank the author - it's absolutely not an insta one. It builds up slowly and there is plenty of enough things going on to keep me absolutely interested and invested. Oh man, I was invested. I had FEELINGS toward the end because let's face it, Deen is a monster (okay, no, I'm kidding, but I'm still sour about certain things *shakes fist*) playing with emotions like a master musician plays their instrument.
There were some nice twists in the plot, and though the story arc was concluded nicely, it still left some things open for the next book in the series. Which I can't wait to read, by the way.
Even though books with romance is not something I would pick up usually, I'm glad Beneath Cruel Fathoms found its way to me. The romance was well written and there were enough other things to keep the story going. It also dealt with serious topics such as woman's place in society and how Isaura deals with the fact that she can't live up to the expectations and how that affects her relationships. On the other side is Leonel who is being shunned by his own family and tries to live up to their expectations but keeps failing.
If you are looking for an emotionally thrilling read with romance, mythical sea creatures and a vivid dark fantasy setting, then Beneath Cruel Fathoms is your book.
dinipandareads's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book as part of the BBNYA blog tour hosted by The Write Reads. Special thanks to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review! 4.5 stars rounded up
This book has actually been on my radar for quite some time and after reading it now, I feel a bit of an egg for putting it off for so long because I loved it! Deen really took me on a whole rollercoaster of emotions, especially towards the end and I found myself gripping on tightly to the edge of my seat as I turned the final pages. Epilogue endings such as the one in this book should be illegal because my heart—I'm not okay!
This book has actually been on my radar for quite some time and after reading it now, I feel a bit of an egg for putting it off for so long because I loved it! Deen really took me on a whole rollercoaster of emotions, especially towards the end and I found myself gripping on tightly to the edge of my seat as I turned the final pages. Epilogue endings such as the one in this book should be illegal because my heart—I'm not okay!
nuevecuervos's review
3.0
I held out high hopes for this ARC from Book Sirens, but quite honestly, when I was at the beginning of this story, I didn't expect to rate it three stars when I arrived at the end. It's a good fairy tale, if a little simple, but there are some editing missteps that could be made better with a thorough beta read and a firm editing hand (e.g.: the use of "grieves" when we're talking about "greaves"; "vaulted" when the word we want is "vaunted"; the heroine lamenting having forgotten gloves but a few minutes later excited that she remembered extra stockings; the merman not being used to speaking in a human tongue that he only knows a little about, but not questioning certain things while making a big deal of not understanding others, the characters occasionally acting like the KNOW something with the thinnest thread of evidence that this is the case, etc.). I was also deeply uncomfortable with the main character constantly referring to herself as "broken" for being unable to conceive children, and after a while it was frustrating (and grating) to keep seeing it. Finally the place names are kind of oof-inducing (Eisland and Dinark? Like say, Iceland and Denmark? but Eisland is literally E + Island.) and take a little bit to get past.
I kept a running list of specific issues in the hopes of passing them on, but about halfway through the book, I realized that while I was still keeping the list, I was actually interested in what was going to happen next, and I did indeed inhale the rest of the book.
Now, the list gets egregious, and our mains are so SO good (morally, ethically, as friends, etc.) that they're almost(?) unbelievably perfect, and perfect together. Isaura's relationship with her family (particularly her adopted brother) is fantastically enviable, and gratifyingly every last one of them (beginning with said brother) tells her that this whole "I'm broken because I'm barren" thing is some bullshit. Leonel's relationship with his youngest sister is equally strong, setting off even more starkly the abusive relationship with all the rest of his immortal sisters. Isaura and Leonel's difficulties together are understandable yet somehow surmountable, and it works out so sweetly that it's possible that it should come with insulin to help digest all the sugar, HOWEVER. I was astounded to find myself past all of that. It's a fun story, and a happy little romance. The romance storyline is even surprising in its somewhat believable pace (we're talking about merman love here, so 'believable' is saying a lot); it doesn't feel like instalove, and that's a huge accomplishment in this genre.
As I said, it's a simple style, sometimes a little shallow and occasionally straying into obvious. It put me in mind of a fanfic, but a good one, and I actually very much enjoy well-executed fanfic; it's fun and it feels good. This story is good, the characters are likable and their personal journeys around their own issues are satisfying, the mythology is entertaining, and it definitely plays successfully to the wistful romantic buried so deep in my psyche these days as to be mythological itself.
Thanks again to Book Sirens for the ARC.
I kept a running list of specific issues in the hopes of passing them on, but about halfway through the book, I realized that while I was still keeping the list, I was actually interested in what was going to happen next, and I did indeed inhale the rest of the book.
Now, the list gets egregious, and our mains are so SO good (morally, ethically, as friends, etc.) that they're almost(?) unbelievably perfect, and perfect together. Isaura's relationship with her family (particularly her adopted brother) is fantastically enviable, and gratifyingly every last one of them (beginning with said brother) tells her that this whole "I'm broken because I'm barren" thing is some bullshit. Leonel's relationship with his youngest sister is equally strong, setting off even more starkly the abusive relationship with all the rest of his immortal sisters. Isaura and Leonel's difficulties together are understandable yet somehow surmountable, and it works out so sweetly that it's possible that it should come with insulin to help digest all the sugar, HOWEVER. I was astounded to find myself past all of that. It's a fun story, and a happy little romance. The romance storyline is even surprising in its somewhat believable pace (we're talking about merman love here, so 'believable' is saying a lot); it doesn't feel like instalove, and that's a huge accomplishment in this genre.
As I said, it's a simple style, sometimes a little shallow and occasionally straying into obvious. It put me in mind of a fanfic, but a good one, and I actually very much enjoy well-executed fanfic; it's fun and it feels good. This story is good, the characters are likable and their personal journeys around their own issues are satisfying, the mythology is entertaining, and it definitely plays successfully to the wistful romantic buried so deep in my psyche these days as to be mythological itself.
Thanks again to Book Sirens for the ARC.
wolkin's review
5.0
I recieved an ARC in exchange for my honest review :)
I absolutly loved this book. I am a sucker for interspecies romance so I was sold from the beginning
I absolutly loved this book. I am a sucker for interspecies romance so I was sold from the beginning
bookishlass's review
3.0
I received a copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
Beneath Cruel Fathoms is an adult fantasy book which follows two main characters: Isaura, a 25 year-old human healer and Leonel, a 30 year-old merman who is the guardian of the sea. When Isaura's ship is caught in an unnatural storm, Leonel breaks the Blue Laws to save her. The two must work together to find out who is using magic to cause the storms in order to save both the land and the sea.
I enjoyed the close relationships Isaura had with her family members, particularly with her heart-brother (adopted brother) Jurek. There were also some great supportive moments from her father which I appreciated. While I did like the romance between Isaura and Leonel, I found myself wanting more from it. All in all, I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy the sea and magic.
Beneath Cruel Fathoms is an adult fantasy book which follows two main characters: Isaura, a 25 year-old human healer and Leonel, a 30 year-old merman who is the guardian of the sea. When Isaura's ship is caught in an unnatural storm, Leonel breaks the Blue Laws to save her. The two must work together to find out who is using magic to cause the storms in order to save both the land and the sea.
I enjoyed the close relationships Isaura had with her family members, particularly with her heart-brother (adopted brother) Jurek. There were also some great supportive moments from her father which I appreciated. While I did like the romance between Isaura and Leonel, I found myself wanting more from it. All in all, I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy the sea and magic.
maria_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
4.75
lin00's review
5.0
Wonderful!
This is the first book of The Bitter Sea trilogy. And it tells the story of Isaura. A young healer that is heading back home after her marriage ended. However, her ship is destroyed after a devastating storm, and now she is alone in the cold north sea without any hope to survive. That's when Leonel, Guardian of the Fathoms, sees her. He wants to save her but doing so is breaking the Blue Laws, yet, she might the only answer for the unnatural storms he's investigating.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly! It hooked me immediately, and it was impossible to put down. The world Deen has created is fascinating. The plot was extremely intriguing told through wonderful writing. I loved how the author talked about real issues in a very true and smooth way.
I genuinely loved the character, specially Leonel. He is so pure and has such a tender and honest heart. Sometimes it made want to hug him!
I can't wait to read the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
This is the first book of The Bitter Sea trilogy. And it tells the story of Isaura. A young healer that is heading back home after her marriage ended. However, her ship is destroyed after a devastating storm, and now she is alone in the cold north sea without any hope to survive. That's when Leonel, Guardian of the Fathoms, sees her. He wants to save her but doing so is breaking the Blue Laws, yet, she might the only answer for the unnatural storms he's investigating.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly! It hooked me immediately, and it was impossible to put down. The world Deen has created is fascinating. The plot was extremely intriguing told through wonderful writing. I loved how the author talked about real issues in a very true and smooth way.
I genuinely loved the character, specially Leonel. He is so pure and has such a tender and honest heart. Sometimes it made want to hug him!
I can't wait to read the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
justasking27's review
4.0
A fantastic story with strong characters and an exciting plot, filled with danger, growth, and magic. The only downside was that it felt long, which happens I guess when there is a strong plot AND a lot of character development, but I didn't mind because it was so good. I am now one of those impatient people who need the sequel RIGHT NOW not because this was a cliffhanger ending, but because I want to go back to this world again.
krysten's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
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
4.25
this book took me by surprise. i kid you not, you should read this one if you like the sea, mermaids, and a plot-driven intense build-up book with a side of romance.