This was such a thrilling and wholesome fantasy, I had so much fun reading it!
-- there's a super wholesome childhood bffs to lovers romance <3
-- there's found family!!
-- a quest into the scary underground! Monsters! Shadow people!

TWs - colonization, murder, death

-- ty to the author, the publisher and @coloredpagesbt
for the advanced copy and for arranging the tour!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC and thanks to Tanvi Berwah & Sourcebooks for a physical ARC. Somewhere in the Deep is a companion to Monsters Born and Made and can be read as a standalone (they take place on separate islands at nearly the same time), with small spoilers for Monsters Born and Made near the end.

The author pitches this book as Inej Ghafa meets The Witcher and delivers exactly that: a girl with carefully honed fighter skills pitted against gruesome monsters while grappling with her own internalized messages of monstrousness and worth. Berwah constructs a tense, claustrophobic journey into the deep Moria-like underground beneath the mines of the island, filled with enormous hungry monsters and travel companions who are just as likely to leave you for dead. If you like The Hunger Games (particularly Mockingjay), Six of Crows, or the Merciful Crow duology, highly recommend this book.

Content notes: graphic violence, injury, and death.

Tanvi Berwah's Somewhere in the Deep is a South Asian-inspired dystopian fantasy from the highly-acclaimed author of Monsters Born and Made. Krescent Dune is used to fighting against monsters on her island of Kar Atish, but she's unprepared for the monsters lurking in the deep. On the Island of Kar Atish, the lower class must carve out a living for themselves either mining for a substance called zargunine that the upper class, the Landers will pay them for or they can fight against wild creatures from the deep in the pits.

Krescent aka Kress aka The Dark Dancer aka Kinkiller, has been fighting monsters for the past 5 years. She has the tattoos to show how many fights she has won. 5 years ago, her parents (Jar and Katya Dune) committed an act of terrorism leaving Kress with few opportunities, and a lack of money to escape the Island. Kress is buried under the weight of her dead parents’ debt and the ruinous legacy they left behind. If she doesn't pay her debts, she could end up dead.

Because of her parents, she is no longer welcomed in the mines, and friends have become enemies. The only way she can earn enough money to escape her unforgiving island is by fighting monstrous amphibians in underground fighting pits. She’s never lost a match, until now. After being told by her handler Badger to lose a fight, Kress finds herself between a rock and a hard place. Desperate, Kress is offered a deal. Her debts will be erased if she joins a hunting party for a dangerous rescue mission deep beneath the island.

With no other choice, Kress is forced to play nice as the group’s bodyguard, even though every step that brings them deeper underground means she must face the terrifying truth that she is trapped with her childhood enemy and people who would gladly kill her if they knew who her parents were. Underground is where mysterious monsters and even more mysterious people are called Shadefolk. These mysterious people are kin to Kress and her mother, Katya who was responsible for killing miners to protect a secret.

Kin who have been protecting the island fearing that if the outsiders discovered the secrets of the island, would eagerly try to exploit it for their own uses. Kress must not only work with people who hate her, but the boy she may love with all her heart. As the group journeys down beyond where their maps end with creatures never seen before, Kress begins to suspect there’s more to their rescue mission than first meets the eye. Soon enough, they are abandoned in the deep dark underground, with only monsters seen and unseen for company.

*Thoughts* Apparently, this book is set in the same world as Monsters Born and Made, but you do not need to read the books in any order. In fact, in one chapter, it is mentioned about the Glory Race that Koral and her family provides monstrous maristags for the participants of the race. The author has posted that this story runs parallel to Monsters but on another island. If you have ever gone spelunking in caves, this book captures the horror of the darkness of depths unexplored so magnificently, and the monsters fought are brilliantly terrifying. Kress is a really good fighter, but she is not infallible. She gets hurt. A lot. She also shows that she is more than what she had to become to survive. One of steadiest characters in this book is Rivan who became her family after she was forced to hide her identity. Rivan and his two brothers actually care for Kress, and care about what she has to deal with in order to survive.

Thank you NetGalley for “Somewhere in the Deep” by Tanvi Berwah in exchange for an honest review. I’ve never read a book before that’s focused heavily on a setting before. It had fantasy and political elements mixed together, as well as heavy worldbuilding. I recommend this to anyone who loves young adult high fantasy novels with a sprinkle of romance.

⭐️=3.25 | 😘=2.5 | 🤬=3.5 | ⚔️=4.5 | 15+

summary: she’s like a gladiator killing monsters sort of but then she loses a bet(??) and has to go underground for some sort of vague and poorly explained rescue mission????

thoughts: liked the romance!! it’s very well-balanced with the plot (the perfect level of subplot, which can be difficult to pull off!), and friends to lovers is almost never seen in YA fantasy, so this was really refreshing. the actual story was a little odd; the stakes and motivations were vague and/or stereotypical, and every character except for the MC and her love interest was kind of indistinguishable?? the prose gave very fanfic and/or early 2010s Divergent spin-off energy (derogatory)—a little cheesy, a little heavy on the dramatic dialogue tags. it overall took away from what could have been a genuinely great story! this just feels like a second draft that needed several more rounds of editing—developmental and otherwise.

This is the story of Kress, a gladiator looking to have her family debt forgiven set in the same fantasy world as the author’s first novel Monsters Born and Made. However, if you did not read Monster Born and Made first, you might feel thrown into this fantasy world rather than set up for it.

I enjoyed watching the Kress character developing through the novel, the journey she took and really enjoyed the ending. Please be mindful as you reach the middle of the story- the pacing slows down quite a bit and the “romantasy” parts start to feel a little repetitive. I would say 3.75 stars.

This book throws you into the action immediately!

I thought it was a good YA fantasy read and it kept my attention the whole time. I do think that it was a little slow during some parts, but after the first 50 ish percent it picked up.

The cover is cool and the monsters are interesting.

I think I'll do a re-read if I can get my hands on the audio version.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own..

<i> "The land keeps its secrets." </i>

This is an entire book made of secrets, some end up being predictable, some go unanswered the whole time, and some are plot-driven to keep the story going.

This is a story about Krescent Dune, left as a disgraced orphan on what can almost be seen as an enslaved island. Those who know who her parents are, hate her and want her dead and everyone else does not remember who she is and she wants to keep it a secret. To survive Krescent fights monstrous creatures in the pits of the island. From her fights, she becomes the best fighter, the <i>"Dark Dancer"</i>, known for never losing a fight. She has built a reputation as the dancer and left her past in the past. She continues to fight despite the dangers to save enough silver to get off the island. She is almost free when her life gets thrown upside down. Now to be free she is forced to go on a mission that is a death sentence. A mission into the center of the island. A mission that is full of lies, deceit, hidden identities, and mysterious creatures those above the ground have never seen.

This book had a great premise and all the mythical creatures from the ocean and inside the cave could have been a great segway in the classroom to animals in different environments and what adaptations they develop to survive. This book did not deliver on that though, the creatures turned out to be more magical than realistic and it seemed as though they made more magical as a way to keep the plot line going. This book was very plot driven, was very slow, and confusing. It jumped around to a lot of unknown, was it magical? was it imaginary? was it real? Overall the book had a lot of potential but did not follow through on any of it. Would have been nice to spend more time explaining the underground and the mysteries inside instead of leaving everyone guessing. Based on so many mysteries, this book would be hard to use in a classroom setting.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS fire for an advanced e-reader copy of this book.

This was such an amazing book! It had me on the edge the whole way through. The pacing was really good the first 60% of the book, but the last 40% felt very rushed, which was a shame. I’d rather the book had been a little longer than rushed at the end.
Other than that I loved it and the pacing was the only reason why I didn’t give it 5 stars and I will definitely be checking out the authors other book!
If you are looking for a great YA fantasy about monsters, adventures and politics this is definitely for you!

Rate: 4/5 stars
Spice: 0/5 no spice at all! Not the genre for it tbh

Thank you to Tanvi Berwah and Netgaley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review - all opinions are my own.

"Somewhere in the Deep" is this wild, heart-pounding fantasy adventure that shadows Krescent Dune, our fearless main character, on a journey into the creepy, dangerous bowels of the earth. She's on the hunt for something buried deep and a shot at breaking free from the tough life she's grinding through on Kar Atish.

I had a blast with this book! The setting and plot zoom by at a lightning pace, packed with so much action happening in the blink of an eye. It's a total joy ride, and there wasn't a single moment where I felt it was dragging, which can be a hiccup in some adventure stories. Throughout the majority of this book, it genuinely felt like I was strolling side by side with the main character, thanks to the incredibly detailed writing. Furthermore, during the all book I was rooting for the main character and the people on Kar Atish to survive and rise up against the people who have had them working and living in horrible conditions.
Finally, I was very very pleased with the fact that the MC was a badass woman!

My only criticism is it may have been too fast paced at times where too much was happening making the plot and character development feel rushed. But all in all it was a nice read and a solid 4 stars one.

After reading Monsters Born and Made I was really interested in Somewhere in the Deep, and while I had some mixed feelings on it, it was a pretty good book! I'll start this review with the things I liked about this book. While this is set in the same world as Monsters Born and Made you don't have to read it to understand what's going on. The world building was phenomenal. A lot of books are either plot or character driven but this book really put more of a focus on the setting itself. It was a refreshing change for YA fantasy. The prose was flowing and descriptive. I really liked the writing style overall. And there was a great slow burn relationship between Kress and Rivan. Now onto some of the things that's just didn't work for me. The plot was slow and almost boring at times, as well as incredibly predictable. It didn't hold my attention well. And Kress got on my nerves. Her monologuing got old fast. She had a habit of repeating the same things over and over. A lot of the side characters felt bland or unfinished. So overall, this wasn't a favorite of mine but it did have some great strong points. I'd recommend giving this a try if you like YA fantasy, unique and detailed worlds, and fighting monsters.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars!!

"Sometimes choices get taken away from you by the world."
"Then you find new ones."

this is the type of book where the way and type of story that is told is essential. first, i want to say I'm so happy that more desi/south asian inspired fantasy books are making their way in the world!! i loved seeing names that i am familiar with in books.

this fantasy book talks about an oppressed society, and how being united can bring about a change. i adored the way the author wrote about these topics; the writing was really fun as well. the descriptions in this book were really fascinating; since there are a lot of monsters and the slaying of said monsters, i enjoyed the way the author wrote such scenes and descriptions. and the romance!!! such a cute friends-to-lovers slow-burn romance; i adore the two of them to pieces. the love interest simping this whole book was my roman empire.

"What can I say to make you see, Kress, that if I have a home, it's because you make it so?" ahhh i love these two so much!!

overall, deeply enjoyed this book and i highly recommend it to everyone!!

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced ebook copy of this book!

3.5/5 Stars

This book had me hooked right from the beginning. I couldn’t seem to put this down, and finished within a few hours. The only reason I did not end up giving this book 4 starts is because of the last 35% felt rushed. But overall, I’m very happy I ended up reading this. Quick and enjoyable read. Would recommend to those who are looking for a fun YA fantasy/science fiction book that is a standalone!

An outcast most of her life, Kres spends her time fighting in the pits, saving her money in an attempt to leave her island home and find a fresh start. But when her corrupt "boss" gives her an offer she can't refuse, she sets off on a perilous journey underground. The mission: Find the missing miners. The hidden agenda: map out the locations of the undergound monsters so her boss can hunt them and bring them aboveground for his own personal gain and entertainment. Will Kres be able to survive deep, deep in the cave? Or will one of the innumerable beasts be her end?

I guess I'm in the minority on this one. It really wasn't that great. I would only give it 2.5 stars overall.
The Pros: The idea could have been an awesome story. The characters and world structure were a good beginning to a great book. And the cover will draw in readers looking for a good adventure.

But the Cons: The execution of the idea was severely lacking. The characters were extremely flat and the description of the surroundings wasn't great. It was really difficult to follow some of the action scenes, especially because it reads as all tell and no show. And the most off-putting part to me was the writing style itself. The prose was extremely awkward in many places, especially with many of the metaphors. It seemed very juvenile in style and didn't flow well as far as sentence structure and ease of reading.

I received a DRC from the publisher via Netgalley.com.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Somewhere in the Deep by Tanvi Berwah left me grappling with conflicting emotions, solidifying the realization that this author's style may not be the right fit for me. Despite an intriguing premise and potentially rich characters, the narrative felt simultaneously overstuffed and lacking in substance. Most of the story is confined within the mines located on a mineral rich island, however, this contributed to a repetitive and monotonous feel, prompting me to frequently check my progress. While action scenes were abundant, the descriptions left me disoriented, struggling to grasp the unfolding events, and once we get to the final conflict in the last 20% of the book, events happened so quickly that I honestly had no idea what was going on, and could hardly picture anything in my mind when reading. Leading to the final conclusion that Tanvi's storytelling approach doesn't work for me, and sadly, this book failed to bridge the gap between expectation and experience.

However, just because Tanvi's books don't capture my interest the way I would like them to doesn't mean others won't enjoy them. So if you are someone who is looking to expand your reading to more diverse stories in the YA fantasy genre that focus on non-Western lore, and in this case South-Asian inspired mythology, then I still recommend giving Tanvi a chance. This book is part of a larger world where her first-book takes place but it can be read as a standalone, but it does spoil the ending of her first book Monsters Born and Made.

This sophomore novel from Tanvi Berwah runs parallel to her debut with a whole new cast in another illness in the same world on another island. With elements of gladiator turned a LOTR style underground quest, we meet Krescent who is a survivor burdened by her families past, forced to fight to survive and then to protect a team in a dangerous quest. There is a lot to enjoy about this book with high stakes and tonnes of action but for me it fell a little short of my expectations after Berwah’s febut. I am intrigued to see how the work would unfold if / when Koral and Krescent’s timelines converged though!

I really enjoyed this book! It was non stop action and suspense and kept me invested the whole way through. I did not want to put it down!
This takes place in the same world as the authors other book, Monsters Born and Made, which I haven’t read and is not required to read before this one.
I honestly only have one negative thing to say about this book and that’s at 75% mark where you’re given a lot of information about how this world came to be and how the islands were made and it talks of different gods and I got really confused during that part. I ended up rereading that part trying to understand it better but was still a little lost. Maybe reading the first book would help me understand the world a little better.
Other than that I truly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it!

Taking place in the same world as Monsters Born and Made, set in a parallel time line, the story follows seventeen year old Krescent Dune, forced to fight monsters in pit battles to make money and deal with the burden of being hated by all because her parent's debts and legacy for mass murder has tainted her. All Kress wants to do is get enough money to pay off her parents debts and escape the island filled with people who hate her save for her best friend Rivan. When a battle goes wrong and she is betrayed, Kress is forced to accept a job from the Collector in which she must protect a hunting party for a rescue mission deep within the mining caves beneath the sea, and if she succeeds her debts will be erased. What she didn't expect for her mission was that she two people who hate her beyond reason are also part of the journey and her best friend has snuck himself there to protect her as well... oh and that the mission was completely false and that she is being sent to hunt down deadly creatures instead. Kress will need to find a way to get out of these deadly caves before it takes both her and Rivan's life. This is a vastly different vibe from the first book and definitely works for anyone who enjoys action adventure stories with a tiny bit of romance. Kres has had to deal with so much hate and danger and still maintain her kindness. Rivan is a sweet love interest for her and they have a best friends to lovers kind of relationship. The story focuses mostly on the expedition and the dangers of the cave and the people in the group. Overall it was okay but I guess I just was hoping for more, the overall resolution in the third part felt rushed and a bit meh. I am curious how the third book will go and if the two main characters from each of the books will meet. It's definitely a weird way to expand the book universe without actually writing a sequel, but it's unique I'll give it that.

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire, Sourcebooks Fire for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

<b><i>**I received an ARC from SourceFire Books in exchange for an honest review.**</i></b>

Tanvi Berwah is bringing her fantasy world full of rebels, monsters, and chaos to new heights in her latest, Somewhere In The Deep!

Krescent Dune is an outcast on the island of Kar Atish, even among her own people. She's an infamous underground fighter known for slaying each monstrous creature unleashed before her, but each new fight could be her last. After a disastrous fight, Kress only has one option left to stay alive: She must join a potentially deadly rescue expedition deep into the heart of the island's mines, serving as the team's expert creature killer. But as Kress' horrific family legacy comes to light, it's clear that not everyone wants her to survive.

If you're looking for a sequel to Monsters Born And Made, a quick heads up that this isn't it! They're set in the same world and the events of MBaM are referenced, but not directly related to the plot. But that's not a bad thing, though! The worldbuilding is just as strong, if not stronger, than Berwah's debut. Kress is a badass main character with a compelling backstory and plenty to prove. Her companions on the quest form a ragtag team that, while not always necessarily loveable, keep the story interesting. There’s even a nice dose of romantic tension without laying it on too thick.

Of course, there's also the action! The depths of the ancient mines provide a deliciously dark setting. Anything could happen and there's really no way to guess what chaos will befall the team next and who will be victimized by it. If you love major story moments you never see coming, like I do, there's so much fun to be had here! Unfortunately, it makes everything a little hard to talk about, because I want everyone else to experience exactly what Kress and company encounter of their journey. Let's just say that there are some monsters— both around them and among them— that will change everything.

Character-wise, I do think I enjoyed Somewhere In The Deep more than Monsters Born And Made (though both have some very interesting characters.) However, the third act of this book felt a little rushed. The big moments just seemed to happen too quickly, so much so that I had to re-read a scene to make sure I understood exactly what went down. I still enjoyed the story a lot, but I wish we'd spent a little more time marinating in the aftermath of Kress’ big discoveries.

If you loved the first book by this author, I think you're also going to love this one!

3.5/5

Another book where my not reading the blurb got me in a tiny bit of trouble. This isn't really a sequel, to my surprise.

Our new amazing protagonist is Krescent Dune, a character burdened by her deceased parents' debts and the shadow of their ruinous legacy. Trapped on an unforgiving island, Krescent's only means of escape is through battling monstrous creatures in an underground fighting pit. However, a catastrophic fight results in her banishment from the pits and a sudden proposition arises: the erasure of her debts in exchange for joining and safeguarding a hunting party embarking on a perilous rescue mission deep within the island's mining caves. Krescent soon finds herself trapped underground alongside her childhood nemesis and a group with unknown motives, all while facing the looming danger.

While the book presented certain stumbling blocks reminiscent of the author's previous work – occasional metaphors lacking coherence, instances of tell-don't-show, and plot developments that felt contrived – it notably showcased marked improvement, delving into MUCH darker themes and delivering solid social commentary surrounding colonialism.

The narrative thrives on a tense atmosphere, drawing readers into a world rife with danger and secrets. Despite some hiccups in execution, the book excels in portraying a palpable sense of impending peril and the claustrophobic, foreboding environment of the island's mines. Berwah effectively elevates the stakes, intertwining action sequences with moments of character introspection.

Where the story truly shines is in its exploration of societal dynamics and the burdens carried by its protagonist. Krescent's journey is not merely physical but emotional and moral, navigating the complexities of her heritage while grappling with the harsh realities of survival in a treacherous landscape.

Despite its imperfections, "Somewhere in the Deep" marks a commendable step forward in the author's narrative prowess. Berwah demonstrates a willingness to take risks, diving into darker thematic depths while enhancing social commentary within a fantasy framework.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC. This is an honest review.