I think this one was definitely a book that I should have dnf'd as unfortunately it was not my cup of tea. It was a very predictable and repetitive plot which I did not like.

I unfortunately was not as gripped by this one as I was by Tanvi's debut. This however was still an enjoyable read and I will be picking up her next.

In *Somewhere in the Deep* by Tanvi Berwah, the story starts with a confusing plot that quickly loses its appeal. The introduction of too many characters within the first few pages turns the narrative into a puzzle, making it difficult to follow. After just 50 pages, the lack of depth in the characters and the uninspiring fantasy world contribute to a disengaging reading experience. The book struggles to maintain interest, as both the storyline and the world-building fail to captivate readers. I would give it 2 stars.

"Somewhere in the Deep" by Tanvi Berwah is a fantasy adventure that takes readers into the harrowing depths of Kar Atish, following Krescent Dune on her quest for freedom and redemption. The novel starts with Krescent, or Kress, burdened by her parents' debts and shunned after being banned from the fighting pits where she once earned her living. An offer to lead an expedition into the island's deepest mines appears as her last chance to clear her debts and start anew.

The most compelling aspect of this book is its world-building. Kar Atish is vividly brought to life through detailed descriptions of its treacherous landscapes and the zargunine mines. The setting plays a critical role, almost becoming a character itself, with its hidden secrets and lurking dangers. The depiction of the island’s oppressive social hierarchy, where the Landers dominate and exploit the Renters, resonates as a poignant allegory of colonialism, echoing historical parallels such as British rule in India and French colonialism in North Africa.

The dynamic between Kress and Rivan, her steadfast friend and secret love interest, adds emotional depth. Their relationship evolves naturally, with moments of tenderness and tension that feel genuine. The dialogue between them often provides a much-needed respite from the constant peril, highlighting their unspoken bond and mutual reliance.

The political undertones enrich the narrative, adding layers of complexity to the adventure. The author's exploration of colonialism and social injustice grounds the fantasy elements in real-world issues, making the story more relatable and thought-provoking.

However, the novel is not without its flaws. The monsters, while integral to the plot, lack the visceral detail that would make them truly terrifying. Descriptions of these creatures are often too vague, failing to evoke the spine-chilling fear one might expect from a book centered around fighting beasts in dark, claustrophobic tunnels.

Character development is another area where the book falls short. Aside from Kress and Rivan, other characters feel underdeveloped, serving more as plot devices than fully realized individuals. The motivations and backstories of key figures like Harren and Racksha are glossed over, leaving readers with a sense of wanting more.

The pacing of the story, while generally brisk, suffers from repetition. The journey through the mines becomes monotonous, with encounters with monsters and treacherous landscapes blending into a repetitive cycle. This predictability detracts from the suspense and excitement, making parts of the story feel like a slog.

To enhance the narrative, the author could invest more in the descriptions of both the monsters and the underground setting. Detailed imagery of the creatures and the unique features of the mines would create a more immersive and gripping experience. Additionally, fleshing out secondary characters and their relationships with Kress would add depth and complexity to the story, making their fates more impactful.

The inclusion of a map at the beginning of the book could also help readers visualize the intricate layout of Kar Atish and the mines, aiding in their understanding of the characters' journey.

"Somewhere in the Deep" is an engaging read that excels in world-building and thematic depth but falters in character development and descriptive detail. Despite its shortcomings, the book offers a compelling adventure with a strong protagonist and a richly imagined setting. Fans of fantasy adventure with a penchant for political allegory will find much to appreciate in Krescent Dune’s story.

Overall, this book is a solid addition to the fantasy genre, with enough intrigue and action to keep readers invested, even if it leaves them wishing for a bit more in terms of creature scares and character development.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book started off with a lot of action and I was pulled right into this world. I enjoyed the mythical and magical creatures in this book and the journey through the mines. At times the book seemed to drag a little, but I really enjoyed the way in which this whole book wrapped up very nicely.

This is an easy read that was written really well. The problem was it was not that captivating. I did not really connect with the characters. I like how she described the underground. It was really atmospheric. I credit the writer for her world building. The monsters were also good. However, living in this place, monsters everywhere. I don’t get it. Rivan is also not someone I endeared to as well. He is so much like “No, I’ll protect you.” No, you’re definitely another burden for Kress. Thus the 3 stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC copy.

I really enjoyed the author’s debut so I was really disappointed to have not enjoyed this one. I just thought it was really cliche, and having the setting be the same for most of the novel really limited the worldbuilding I was really looking forward to.

I loved the romance! they understood each and could be themselves together. The chemistry between them was amazing! I also loved the slow-burn and the sexual tension between the main characters. There were several scenes that made me blush and smile so much. The writing is beautiful and descriptive. I honestly felt like I was living in the world with the characters. I felt so many emotions while reading this book, I cried, I laughed and I smiled. This book will stay in my heart for a long time.

Mixed feelings on this one.
The story was good, but there was just something missing for me.
The romance was just okay.
I feel like I maybe needed more descriptions and the story and characters as a whole to be fleshed out more.
IDK.
An okay read that could have been great.

Somewhere in the Deep was not the most boring book that I have read in 2023. At first, I was really interested because our main character, Krescent, is a slave who was made accountable to pay off her dead parent’s debts. In order to do this, she joins monster fights wherein she earns money whenever she wins over the weird monsters on the battle arena. For me, this was a good premise and it really upped my hopes because I assumed that I’d be reading about some sort of gladiator battles all throughout the story. Unfortunately, the story took a wrong turn and had me hobbling along with our characters in exploring the Deep.

There was more talk about how to explore caves safely, what kind of PPEs to wear, what kind of responses to make when exploring unknown areas. I am person who is easily frightened that’s why I don’t usually watch horror and thriller films because I don’t like being frightened. I thought that Somewhere in the Deep is going to frighten me out of my wits but lo and behold, I got bored and yeah, I have to play Stardew Valley and Sims 4 in between my reading hours because killing my sims and having them fight are more exciting than reading about Krescent descending into the Deep and dealing with unknown monsters lurking there. But the monsters did not frighten me, it’s as if they’re just on the background scene and the author just really wants to show us how expert cave explorers do it. Well, I am not interested with theoretical cave exploration because I’d rather try that first hand. What I want is to be breathless while reading about these monsters while our main character is trying to keep every one in her party alive.

All in all, I wish there was more adrenaline pumped into this book. It was not a bad read per se but the writing of the battle scenes and the monsters could’ve been improved. Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the e-ARC.

Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

Somewhere in the Deep was so good, I really enjoyed this book! Once I picked it up I could not put it down. It was adventurous, action packed, fast paced, and in my opinion very unique. I would recommend looking at the trigger warnings because this book does include battle, blood, and death amongst other things that could be triggering. I did not expect romance when I started this book so I was pleasantly surprised and thought it was a good addition to the story. I will be reading more from Tanvi Berwah. After finishing I immediately added Monsters Born and Made to my TBR.

I think I shouldn't have finished this, my only mistake...

I mean...

It was okay, I think it could have receive plenty of cheers from the right readers...

Again I have to ask myself, Do I get old for this?!

When about 20 of it I saw it seemed there would be no characters, plot, or story, I should have DNF it right there.

the story was narrated in first person, and the main character, Krescent was everything she claimed she was not!

They dig underground, where mining minerals, forward to monsters and I expected more engaging lines...

But there were none!

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for ARC via NetGalley. I have given my honest review.

This was such an adventurous and thrilling fantasy book. I couldn't put this down. I thought that the storytelling was phenomenal and the world building was super intriguing. I gave it a 4 star rating and I cant wait to read more by the author.

3.5 stars!

I thought the plot of this book moved very fast, the world felt unique, and there was a lot of action, but unfortunately I didn't feel gripped by any of the characters. I wasn't really attached to anyone, nor did I really care about their relationships with each other. I also was taken a little off guard by the ending because I felt like it was rushed and everything was just too easy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book just didn't hit the mark for me. Although the description drew me in, it didn't quite hold my attention as much as I'd like. I also didn't know it was connected to another one of her books prior to reading.

**2.5 Stars**
I was super excited for this book, it sounded exciting and different and I was totally down for the adventure I expected. And while this was a different kind of adventure story, I was not into the book basically at all. I could not get behind the MC, she was prickly and very unlikable, also she cried and whined a lot for a super tough monster fighter. There was also a friends to lovers romance going on in the background- one the MC did not even notice was happening until like 80% into the book. I spent most of the book frustrated and wanting to shake the MC, which did not lead to a fun reading experience.

I think other people might really like this book and the very cool/ dangerous monster creatures as well as the rebellious hierarchy vibe of the world, it just was not for me. On the plus side, this is a standalone so there is a solid ending.

**On a side note, I do not recommend the audiobook, the narrator was kind of awful and read the book very choppy and almost like a robot. I had to speed the narration up to 2.5x to be able to tolerate the audio- but it was still a rough listen.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This novel really COULD have been good, it just fell very short. The world building on this novel was horrible, I could not ever really visualize it except at times when the character spoke about the chain of islands....but then I just saw Hawaii in my mind. The novel talks about mining, but then all these crazy looking underwater creatures. A group of the characters are going into the mine to find something and all I keep seeing in my head is DIVING in water, but they are in caves instead....it was just very hard to stay connected and visualize as I felt like this was all over the place.

The novel was VERY slow in the beginning, however, when it started to pick up more I was already so detached from the characters and could not visualize anything so I just did not care any longer. I only finished this book to finish the book....otherwise, I likely would have tossed it aside some time ago. I'm not sure if this is the author's debut novel or not, some serious editing help is required.

Amazing amazing amazing! I will most certainly checking out this author's blacklist of books. It makes me so happy to see authors of colour in fantasy literature spaces. I was pleased to know this is also south asian inspired fantasy which we sorely need more of in this genre. There is so much untapped south asian fantasy and folklore waiting to be utilized and revamped for traditional storytelling. I hope Tanvi gets to make her mark in that space.

This book is perfect for lovers of strong fmc, monster fighting, friends to lovers and commentary on society and class. Thank you so much Sourcebooks Fire for the eArc!

I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did. Such a surprise and the twists!! Very fun. I’m not sure if I have the audience to recommend this to but I’m sure someone else will love it even more