The Deep by Rivers Solomon

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Reading this book was a magical experience.  It’s not often that I pay much attention to the editor's or author’s notes within books but I encourage you to take the time with this book. Rivers Solomon took the song “The Deep” by the band clipping. and turned into an entire world.  A song. At a little more than 150 pages, it’s hard to discuss The Deep without giving too much away. The Wajinru are a race of people who live in the ocean with a past so traumatic that is only remembered one time a year. The Historian Yetu holds the memories of her people, allowing others to live without the pain and trauma that plagues her everyday.  Getting lost in the memories of the women who were thrown overboard from the slave ships causes not only mental pain, but physical pain from the lack of food and medicine necessary when she can’t bring herself to leave the memories long enough. When Yetu rebels against the traditions of her people, the Wajinru face grave danger and her actions will have repercussions she never imagined. 

This is a gorgeously written story. I loved how the cruelty and hatred of the slave ship owners led to the creation of a strong and beautiful new species.  The restraint that the Wajinru are capable of is humbling. At any point, they can destroy anything that comes near their part of the ocean and yet, they continue to allow humans to live.  I am always fascinated by an author’s ability to create not just a new world but also new lifeforms. The Wajinru have medicine, stories, rituals, and it’s just fascinating to read.  

Rivers Solomon also wrote An Unkindness of Ghosts that was also incredible.

I loved this story and would love to hear what you think of it.  

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