I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Deep by Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, Jonathan Snipes Published by Saga Press on November 5 2019
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 176
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: From a tragic footnote in African history, a wondrous creature is born. Rivers Solomon tackles the weighty themes of memory and history with a painful yet hopeful story.
The origins of this book are fascinating. The Deep started as a concept by electronic music duo Drexciya. Next, experimental hip-hop group clipping. was commissioned to write their version of Drexciya’s vision into a song called The Deep. When editor Navah Wolfe at Saga Press heard clipping’s song, she was convinced it would also make great fiction. She in turn asked Rivers Solomon to write a story based on the clipping. song, and thus The Deep was born. Like I said, fascinating! This is the first time I’ve read anything by Solomon, although their An Unkindness of Ghosts still lurks on my TBR and I will read it eventually.
Yetu is a wajinru, a mermaid-like creature who lives with thousands of her kind, far below the surface of the ocean. But Yetu is much more than a wajinru. She is the Historian, the one wajinru tasked with keeping all the memories of their past inside her. Once a year, during the Remembrance, all the wajinru gather so that Yetu can share her memories with them. Because these memories are so intense and tragic, all the wajinru except for Yetu aren’t able to stand the intensity of having to live with those memories. After the Remembrance is over, the vivid memories Yetu has shared only linger for a short time, then the rest of the wajinru go about their lives, blissfully unaware of those memories until the next Remembrance comes along.
Meanwhile, Yetu must shoulder their burden all the time, and it’s wearing her down. When the story begins, it’s time for that year’s Remembrance, but this time, instead of taking the memories back from her people at the end, Yetu decides to run away.
As the reader follows Yetu’s incredible journey, we learn about the history of the wajinru as well. This history was one of my favorite parts of the story, that the wajinru originated from the unborn babies of pregnant slaves, who were thrown overboard slave ships in order to conserve resources. It’s a horrific image (and all true, part of the diabolical history of African slavery) that sets the tone for this story. Solomon describes the babies being rescued by whales, who nursed them back to health with their own milk. The whales gathered more and more wajinru together until they formed a family, and their numbers continued to grow. She also remembers the Tidal War, a bloody battle between the wajinru and the “two legs” (humans) who nearly wiped them out. These are the histories that Yetu must hold within herself at all times, dense and painful memories that she can only escape from during the remembering.
We see the story unfold from Yetu’s point of view, as she makes the terrible decision to abandon her kin in order to save herself. The memories are killing her and she knows she must escape in order to continue living. I loved Yetu’s often ragged emotions, full of rage and pain at feeling so much all the time, frustrated that no one seems to understand what she’s sacrificing for the good of the colony, even her beloved Amaba (mother). And once she distances herself from her friends and family, Yetu must face the fact that by leaving, they will never be at peace again with no vessel to take back the memories. She feels guilty about this, but she’s also curious about the two legs she meets near the shore.
Solomon explores the meaning of memories and how they affect us. How important are they, even if they bring you grief? Would we be better off without painful memories? Once Yetu gets to the surface, she meets a woman who offers another perspective on memories. She also gets a glimpse into the world of her ancestors and realizes that memories are crucial in tying the past and present together.
Solomon’s beautiful and powerful prose evokes the chill of the deep ocean where the wajinru live. The ocean itself is a living presence in this story, vast and cruel, but also home to Yetu and her family and therefore a soothing and familiar place. The ending was unexpected and magical, heartwarming in the best way possible. I was left with a feeling of wonder and a desire to dip my toes in the ocean and experience the weight of history for myself. This is a short but powerful tale that I won’t soon forget.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
I don’t know if this book is my cup of tea, but your review made me curious and the origin of the book is quite original!
It’s definitely one of the most unique stories I’ve read in a while:-)
Wonderful review Tammy! I read this all in one day over the weekend and couldn’t agree more.
I can’t wait to read your review, Sarah!
This one is on my TBR. Sadly it will be a while before I get to it. Great review!
Riley A Moreland recently posted…Eternal Shadow (Fall of Gods, #1) by Trevor B. Williams – Review
Thanks Riley:-)
This sounds unlike anything I’ve read before and I love how the tale came about. I definitely need to check it out some time.
It was such an original story, and the mermaids are very different from what I expected:-)
Sounds like a must read! Great review.
Thanks Lisa:-)
You’ve made me even more excited to read this one when it’s released! I love the concept behind this story, and how it was inspired by music is so fitting for a story about mermaids. Great review!
Jess @ Jessticulates recently posted…#SciFiMonth Review | Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
It’s such a cool concept, and I thought the music made sense with the story:-)
Ahhhh I’m so jealous that you got an ARC of this. xD I think this is the first review I’ve seen for this so far? And I’m so glad you rated it so highly. I haven’t read anything by River Solomon yet, either (despite it also being on my TBR forever), but I’m really looking forward to this one. I heard about the background behind how it came to be and just loved the idea. Great review! Makes me even more excited to pick it up.
I will definitely check out her first book now, she’s such a good writer:-)
This was such an incredible and original concept and story, and I think you nailed it with your review. The way you write is absolutely beautiful, and your review did justice to this book. You’re awesome!
Thank you so much, Leah! I’m glad we both loved it:-)
What an interesting origin story to this book!
It really is interesting, not your usual piece of fiction for sure:-)
Now that I have read your review, this book has become even more of a “must” than before…
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…Sci-Fi Month 2019: SHARDS OF HONOR, by Lois McMaster Bujold #SciFiMonth
I do hope you get the chance to read it!
I’ve been hearing wonderful things about this one, and I got a surprise copy too so I’ll probably give it a try!
It was really different and beautifully written:-)
“The ending was unexpected and magical, heartwarming in the best way possible.” That, right there, is enough for me. I would love to read this. Thanks for a beautiful review, Tammy.
Thanks so much, Todd:-)
This was an excellent review. Now I’m even more excited to read The Deep.
Thank you Lydia! I hope you get to read it soon:-)
Ooh this is the first review I’ve seen for this! It sounds fabulous and like it could be deeply moving as well. and I didn’t know that history behind the concept either, how this came together. Very cool.
Greg recently posted…Song Lyrics #23 Bark At The Moon
It was really good, Greg. Highly recommended!
VERY excited to read this! I loved their first novel, An Unkindness of Ghosts, when I read it last year.
I’m dying to read An Unkindness of Ghosts! Maybe next month I will try to fit it in:-)
I won an ARC of this and have been so curious about it! It sounds incredible and your review has made me so much more excited to check it out soon! So glad you enjoyed it and beautiful review. 🙂
Oooh you should read it! It’s pretty short. I loved the idea and there’s lots of emotion:-)
I’m about three books away from starting this and can’t wait!
Laura Thomas recently posted…Origin Of The Vampire by Ruth Spencer ~ Spotlight and Giveaway
I hope you enjoy it, Laura!
It sounds like a searing, emotional read with plenty of heft. I might be wrong, but it also seems to address some of the themes explored in Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant, where memories have been taken away to stop the ongoing bitterness and anger after a savage war flaring back up into open hostilities. But on a personal level, the price is steep – if a family member moves away, they are simply forgotten…
Thank you for a cracking review about a fascinating book, Tammy:)
I haven’t read The Buried Giant, but it does sound like they have similar themes. I think you would love this!
Great review, Tammy! I just read this in one sitting yesterday and honestly? I can’t stop thinking about it. Simply evocative and powerful, and I am so glad I read it.
Kal @ Reader Voracious recently posted…ARC Review: The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah
I really want to read this one! I’ve been enjoying shorter reads so much lately and have been wanting to reading something by Rivers Solomon for a bit now. Great review!
I’ve been very curious about this and your review makes it sound fantastic. One for the wish list
Lynn
Lynn recently posted…Friday Face Off : “big badda boom”
Oh man! I really need to read it then. I think I need to get myself a copy.
It sounds like this has an interesting and inventive mythology!
The Deep sounds incredibly powerful and very original.