3.5 Stars

I haven't read Alma Katsu's other novel, The Hunger, but based on the description for this book, I was all in. I read it in one sitting. The looming atmosphere of unease combined with the setting of the Titanic made for a very engrossing read, but I felt like I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. You don't find out what's really going on in this suspenseful novel until the very end. While I definitely enjoyed the book, I would have preferred to get a better sense of whether it was a truly supernatural element earlier on in the book.

It's always fascinating to take a story that EVERYONE knows, in this case, the fate of the Titanic, and give it a 90 degree twist. A great "what if" story...what if it wasn't an accident that sank the Titanic and killed so many passengers? What if there was an evil aboard that doomed the voyage, then survived to doom other voyages? How would anyone know? In THE DEEP, Alma Katsu gives us the story as it is seen through the eyes of several young people who have the misfortune of sharing more than one voyage with this evil. She gives us characters that are so well developed, you feel their pain and horror, while setting them into situations that will keep you turning pages to find out if the good guys win in the end. I'll never tell!!!!

Annie served on the Titanic as a stewardess and survived. After spending years in an asylum, she's ready to work as nurse on the Britannic, now a floating hospital. She knows there is something evil following her - was that what caused the Titanic to sink?

This was an interesting speculative fiction novel. The characters were interesting, but none were very sympathetic. The story itself was unique to me - the sinking of the titanic was caused by evil (entity/spirits/whatever you'd like to call it). I personally didn't care for the ending, but I enjoyed the book and would look forward to reading another by Katsu.

I really wanted to like this! A psychological thriller set on the Titanic that goes back and forth between WWI and Titanic. However, there was a seance (which I skipped), and constant talk about possession. Both of those topics are far too triggering for me so I cannot comfortably read this. I know it won’t bother most other people but it’s too much for me. I will say the story itself is very interesting and the book and characters are well-written.

*Alexa, play My Heart Will Go On, by Celine Dion* 🎶🚢
This book is about the voyage of the Titanic, so it only seems right to reminisce over that song. However, it’s not the lovey dovey story we all know of Jack and Rose...no, no. This has curses, dark spirits, and freaky stuff.

No one does historical fiction with scary twists quite like Alma Katsu can. This is a sinister take on the sinking of both the famous Titanic and her sister ship, Britannic, a few years later. The chapters occur in the present 1916 and flash back to 1912 to incorporate experiences on the “unsinkable” ship. It also includes various character point of views to help construct a full picture of the spooky things going down, but due to the numerous multiple perspectives it did feel hard to fully connect with the characters like I wanted to. Also, aspects of the story felt unexplained and problematic for me.

I have always been fascinated by the Titanic and the tragic misfortune that befell it. Although a slow burn, this book has a great foreboding and atmospheric quality. However, I didn’t connect with the overall story very much...it wasn’t the most convincing and something felt missing and disjointed, but if you enjoy both historical fiction with creepy elements of the supernatural variety then you may find this to be a fun read. Now, excuse me as I go google photos of the Titanic and swoon over it’s grandiosity.

I found The Deep's storyline and cover very intriguing. I love historical fiction, horror, and the supernatural, so I thought this would be one of those books I would finish in one sitting. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Katsu is a good writer, but the pace of the novel was very slow. It took me a long time to read because it didn't hold my attention. I skimmed a great deal at the end.

I loved Alma Katsu’s The Hunger, a supernatural take on the Donner Party. In The Deep, Katsu has taken another tragic story and made it even more disturbing - a malevolent spirit aboard the Titanic. Annie survived the Titanic sinking, and after 4 years in a mental institute, takes a job aboard the Titanic’s sister ship, the HMHS Britannic, currently being used as a floating hospital for WWI soldiers. The characters are one of the highlights of this book, some real life famous figures who perished on the Titanic, all damaged by the real and imaginary ghosts that haunt them.
This genre-blending book will appeal to fans of historical fiction, horror, and thrillers.

The writing of this was perfectly fine. I just found it really hard to connect with Annie, and the story moved along pretty slowly. I understand that a lot of the plot progression was probably intentional in it's slow and steady pace, but it just didn't work for me. I was so disappointed because I was really looking forward to this one. The premise sounded really unique! I think this one will really work for a lot of people who read more of this dark/gothic type suspense.

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

" ... A psychological twist on one of the world's most renowned tragedies, the sinking of the Titanic and the ill-fated sail of its sister ship, the Britannic."

An unusual twist on what are well known and well documented disasters in history. I have to admit, I was not really able to wrap my imagination around the ghosts and water sprites as shown in this tale and found this story less than captivating.

2☆

Annie Hebbley survived the sinking of the Titanic. The event has left her mentally scarred. She lost her memory for a time, and still remembers the strange events on board the doomed ship as it sailed on its ill-fated maiden voyage. Years later, a friend contacts her asking her to come be a nurse aboard Titanic's sister ship, the Britannic. Even though Britannic has been refitted into a hospital ship, Annie still can see the resemblance to the Titanic. Then the same strange bizarre things start to happen....and she sees someone she recognizes...a man who was aboard the Titanic....a man who could not have survived the sinking....

I loved Alma Katsu's book,The Hunger, about the Donner Party, so I knew I would enjoy this one about the Titanic and its sister ship. OMG....this story was so creepy and suspenseful! I enjoy just about anything about the Titanic....but add in some great horror elements....and it's binge read material for me!

This story alternates between Annie's trip on the Titanic in 1912 as a maid, and her journey on the refitted Britannic in 1916. Usually I'm not really a fan of stories that jump back and forth in time, but for this story the time shifts just heightened the suspense. I'm not going to give away anything about the plot.....it would be much better to go into the story not knowing much about what's going to happen other than the tale centers around the Titanic and Britannic.

I LOVE the cover art for this book! I am buying a copy for my keeper shelf because it's just a gorgeous book. Even though I know the ending, I know I will want to re-read this one. My Titanic obsession will require it!

Very suspenseful and entertaining read! I couldn't put it down once I got into the story..... Alma Katsu has not let me down yet! I added her other books to my TBR stack....must read them all! :) I can't wait to see what her next new novel will bring! Roanoke Island maybe? She keeps hitting strange historical events that I'm totally obsessed with -- the Donner Party, The Titanic.... Can't wait to see what the next one might be!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Penguin. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. **

this book was wonderful and engrossing. i love how slowly and casually katsu dropped little hints as to what was going on. if you enjoy a good slow burn, i think you'd enjoy this. (and yes, it made me want to watch titanic) just a great classic ghost story.

I'm fascinated by anything Titanic, and I'd read a few titles on this author's backlist, so it was a no-brainer for me to request this book from NetGalley.

Don't go into this novel expecting an in-your-face horror story.  The Deep is more of a slow burn tale with a literary feel.  The author does an exceptional job of interweaving real Titanic passengers and historical events with fictional characters to tell her story.  She also uses Violet Jessop, an actual survivor of both the Titanic and the Britannic, in a supporting role as a friend of her main character, Annie.  

Annie is a mysterious MC.  At various points in the story I would be annoyed by her actions, then understand them the more I read.  You may also wonder if she's a reliable narrator, an aspect that just makes a story more enjoyable for me, because I'm constantly questioning everything.  The dual timelines are blended seamlessly and gradually reveal backstories of these characters.  

While this novel is certainly atmospheric, I'd personally hoped for more...haunting.  Reviewers are split on this, so it's really a matter of preference.  

If you're fascinated by all things Titanic, I'd recommend adding The Deep to your reading list.  It's a slower-paced book, but the characters are well-crafted, and the blend of fiction and nonfiction is done well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

While I was very intrigued by the premise for this book, I didn't feel that the execution lived up to it. I don't know what it is about Alma Katsu's writing, maybe it just isn't my style, but I always find myself getting a bit bored and impatient as I get about halfway through the book. I think this book suffered from too many characters to keep track off and the result was that I just didn't care that much about most of them. The whole thing felt a bit overwrought. I would have liked the whole thing to be a bit more atmospheric. I wanted it to be scarier. It was just a bit slow overall, maybe I just don't care for Alma Katsu's prose. In the end I don't think I'll purchase this one for my library because horror (unless it's Stephen King or another established name) is a bit of a hard sell and I don't think this will appeal to either my horror readers or my historical fiction readers, unfortunately.

I'm a sucker for anything Titanic related so of course I had to get my hands on Alma Katsu's The Deep. I enjoyed her previous novel so I was excited to see how she would weave the supernatural into the historical narrative like she did in The Hunger. However, I was disappointed in the lack of spookiness or suspense and in the storyline as a whole. The plot was lacking in substance and pace, the characters and their interactions were bland and inauthentic, and the atmosphere nonexistent.

I've realized that when it comes to the Titanic, I'm better off reading non-fiction than someone's fictional attempt at injecting new life into a historical event that can stand by itself.

I liked this book a lot more than I expected to. I am generally not a fan of horror/ghost stories but this was not too scary and left me guess until the end about which characters were mad/possessed.

As with The Hunger, Katsu interweaves menace with a deft hand. You feel like you are on these floating palaces with Annie, and yet with all of their space and grandeur, all you want is for the ship to reach port.

I've been a Titanic enthusiast for the major part of my life, so seeing this title was a natural choice to read. The premise seemed like an interesting spin.

Reading this quickly turned into a slog. I can't say I liked any of the characters. For the longest time, I assumed that there wasn't any supernatural happenings at all. It felt like the characters were crazy, no ghosts needed.

The supernatural plot was far too convoluted for my taste. So much was left unexplained and unaccounted for, I really can't say it was enjoyable. What killed the little boy? Was Madeline Astor actually cursed by her husband's ex-wife? Did Anne have a corporeal body she shared with Lucille? If so, they why didn't she cast a reflection, but could touch and be touched? What was with the random fire on the Titanic? Where did the map of mines in the channel come from? You expect me to believe that a mother would willingly poison her child to death in order to win back her ex? And what the heck happened to Ondine?

As a side note, I'm not sure if relations of Violet Jessop would be thrilled at seeing their ancestor as an accomplice to criminal activity who also plays strip poker.

What if the Titanic and Britannic sank because they were haunted? This novel jumps back and forth from one ship to the other, raising more and more questions until you reach the sinking of both ships and secrets are revealed. It’s told in rotating points of view but it is most definitely, Annie Hebbley’s story. Fairy tales, history and fiction are intertwined effortlessly. Whether you prefer an epic love story or an epic haunting, you'll be satisfied.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm fascinated by all things Titanic, and I had no idea her sister ship also faced disaster!

The twist at the end was sufficiently spooky, but I'm not sure if I understood it completely. Once we got to know all the real-life "characters", I became invested in their stories. The main characters were sort of interesting, but the real life people were most interesting to me as a history buff.

It was a great read for anyone who is fascinated by the story of the ship and of the people who inhabited that life.

I thought the premise of this novel was intriguing, but in the end I think that the paranormal element interfered with the narrative more than it enhanced the story. I also think the characters stood in the way of the story a bit too much. This just wasn't an epic story, and maybe attaching the name Titanic to this novel is where the author went wrong - if I hear Titanic, I expect something big and epic.

But even if the story hadn't been set on Titanic (and to a lesser extent, Britannic), I think there were too many characters who were just not relevant. This gave us less time with the three main characters and made them feel less important than they should have (in my opinion). I understand that if you're writing about the Titanic and the Britannic, you've got two big ships to fill, so it must seem natural to introduce a large cast of characters - but in the end, the big ships were both just bystanders to the story, so they should have remained as such.

I also keep thinking about some of the liberties that the author took in using real people as side characters. Violet Jessup surely never let con artists from third class roam around in first class cabins, just as Madeleine Astor never tried to drown anyone to break a curse. Why attach real names to bizarre actions when a made-up character would do just as well? Those specific names didn't need be used at all.

This was an easy read, but I am not sure I would recommend this novel. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me an advance read in exchange for a review.