Take a mystery, some mythology, some science, a dash of romance, and some horror, stir together, add in Mira Grant, and the result in an engrossing, suspenseful, richly detailed story.

You can read this without having the first book, "Into The Rolling Deep" as Grant provides more than enough background. The background info was repetitious at times but maybe it wouldn't feel that way to someone who hasn't read the first story. There was also a LOT of both dialog and monologues. This slowed down the pace at times, as did the details for various processes or events. That said, it was clear that Grant researched and thought about different aspects of the story. I learned some biology and a few other things, which was fun.

"The standards for being considered a mammal are narrow, and very specific: lactation, hair, and three bones in the inner ear. Nothing else is required."


This was fascinating to me especially as Grant told us why. How does this relate to the story? Well, of the many puzzles being examined, one is what, exactly, are mermaids, assuming they exist?

"...the problem with trying to define nature is that nature is bigger than we are, and nature doesn't care whether we know how to define it. Nature does what nature wants."


A group of scientists from a wide range of disciplines plus a TV host are in search of the Atargatis, a ship that went in search of mermaids seven years ago in order to film a mockumentary but never came back. Footage, however, survived, but was publicly called a hoax. The company that financed that initial expedition has also financed and put together this one, in hopes of regaining its reputation, and of course, ratings. A key factor in this effort is decoding the language the mermaids use and one of those researchers is Tory Stewart. Her sister was on the Atargatis, and Tory wants to find out what happened, get some measure of closure for herself and for their parents. Tory is one of several main characters. Grant uses 3rd person POV for four or five people, giving us different glimpses of events and a range of perspectives. Keeping track of everyone was confusing at times as there were so many primary and secondary characters.

I wanted this expedition to succeed yet a part of me was sure that, like the Atargatis, no one would survive. And some people don't. Grant displays her typical willingness to kill off characters, even key ones. I both love and hate that willingness of hers to take chances and to break our hearts.

The Atargatis had found the mermaids because the people on the ship were made of meat, and the mermaids had empty stomachs that they wanted to fill. That was how you found things, in the sea. Be delicious. That was all you ever had to do.


They were still miles from home, adrift on an uncaring sea, and the worst was yet to come. The worst was always yet to come.


The scientists work together, most of them, first to acquire information and knowledge, and then to survive. I really didn't know whether Grant would kill off everyone or if anyone would survive. Despite the large cast, I was attached to quite a few and cared about them. Grant kept me in suspense, and kept me reading, with her deft use of tension, terror, humor, romance, characterization, and story telling. The book ties up some threads while leaving others open and the possibility of a sequel open.

Kudos Ms. Grant on another terrific story!

Short Summary: Everyone was presumed dead after the Atargatis was lost at sea, but a new crew is being assembled to go back to the Mariana Trench to search for the existence of mermaids, this time presumably taking better precautions.

Thoughts: Grant was a bit excessive with her use of prose and her oftentimes exhaustive detailing of characters; however, her much apparent research into marine biology was incredibly informative and the gory horror was a definite thrill.

Verdict: A good one for campy horror fans and science nerds alike, but there’s no denying this story is drowning in an unnecessary amount of pages.

I received this book 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.

Taking the myth of mermaids and turning it upside down, Mira Grant brings a fresh look on what could be a bland fable much as she did with her zombie stories (Newsflesh series). Into the Drowning Deep is a thoughtful, action story with a great balance of characters and plot.

ARC for review

Mira Grant has been one of those authors I've had on my TBR list for awhile, but haven't gotten to, so when I saw this was available, I jumped at the chance to read it.

Biggest mistake of this book: (and it should be a spoiler, but it's not, and that's the biggest mistake) Grant should have kept us in suspense much longer about whether mermaids were real. Because she kept in in suspense.....zero amount of time. The PUBLIC doesn't know, but we have access to all the Imagine Networks notes and conversations, etc. so the READER always knows. I think that if we had been wondering too, it might have been a better book. As it was, I felt like I was just waiting for the bloodbath to begin.

The good: GREAT backstory - in 2015 the Imagine Network (imagine a mix of the SciFi Network with a little NatGeo thrown in) sends out a research ship, the Atargatis, to the Mariana Trench area to film a "documentary," "The Lovely Ladies of the Sea: The True Story of the Mariana Mermaids." All communications with the ship were lost within a matter of a few days and the ship was found six weeks later adrift and abandoned - all scientists, actors, and crew, both camera and maritime, gone and unaccounted for. AND there's recovered footage, but many people think it's a hoax. Why? Because it shows mermaids slaughtering the passengers.

Now the company behind Imagine is sending out a second vessel and Tory, aspiring marine biologist and sister to Anne one of the lost crew of the Atargatis is on board.

This has the makings of a good story.

Except for,

The Bad: It's always entirely obviously exactly what is going to happen and that's (DUH) [spoiler: exactly what happened the first time. They tell you right away that the major protection for the ship doesn't work....and they send it out anyway? So after a fairly riveting scene of a lone crew member in a diving bell going into the deep (very suspenseful and well done) the rest of it is the bloodbath described above. Oh, except for the patented BIG REVEAL which is kind of a big deal in zoological circles, but not such a big deal when body parts are flying around you like you're in some sort of weird Whack-a-Mole game. And, the small band of survivors manages to take one home, so sounds like this is the beginning of a series. /spoiler]

So, this just didn't do it for me. I'm not even sure how one would classify this book? I think Grant often writes YA, but I don't think this is that. Horror? SciFi? If this book sounds good to you, but you're looking for something.....broader, maybe try [book: The Deep] by [author: Nick Cutter], but I will warn you, [spoiler: great book, but one of the saddest dog scenes ever. I will never stop thinking about it. /spoiler].

Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.

Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.

Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves. But the secrets of the deep come with a price.- Goodreads

I ship hard for mythology and horror. It is my thing and I will always read a book that either talks about the dark side of some of these myths or the romantic, cliche side of it. Its my thing. So when I saw this book, I knew, every part of me knew that I had to read this. It was if the author looked at me and said here you go, just for you.

But I was disappointed and it didn't take long to see that this book was not going to be the 5 Pickles, I had hoped for.

The beginning was fantastic. I was captivated and heart broken by what happens on Atargatis and how Victoria deals with that blow. It was intense and it gave a preview of what I thought was going to come. Even when the story shifted to a different point of view, there was still a hype that this was going to be amazing.

The entire story is deep in the mythology and obsession with mermaids, which is perfect. However, the book was so detail that at one point you almost forget that you are reading about characters interacting with the mythology. This book for the most part came off as me reading a non-fiction book about mermaids. This turned me off a lot. Because although I love getting deep into mythology it took so much away from the story. I don't believe the author was able to balance is out.

This review has taken me about a week to write. And I really cannot go on expressing how much I did not like this book. I was disappointed in the characters and the lack of intensity and fantasy in this read. It started off pretty well but then it dropped its interest.

1 Pickle

Taut stiry and great characters. Mira always excels at world building and narrative twists.

The Atargatis went missing while out at sea and although footage came back of creatures on board killing everyone the public believes it is a hoax. Victoria Stewart whose sister went missing isn't happy with the answer and wants the world to know the truth, mermaids are real. So when a new expedition is sent by Imagine Victoria gets a seat reserved for her. The crew on board is full of scientists, crew members and security that will research the mermaid claims, keep the ship running or protect everyone on board. Things quickly fall apart and not everyone will make it back alive.

This novel was amazing. The plot was well written with a perfect blend of action, suspense, science and murder. Although some portions in the beginning were boring as the ship left for the sea (not much action and way too much character development) the pacing quickly picks up. I loved the big reveal regarding the mermaids at the end as it will blend beautifully into the next novel. The characters were well written with Victoria and Holly being given great depth.

I wish I would have been able to get my hands on [book:Rolling in the Deep|23634011] as I bet it is just as good as this novel.

I would suggest this novel to anyone who enjoys horror novels and isn't afraid of a little gore. I didn't consider it scary but I don't live near the ocean (then I'd have a different opinion). The blend of science, horror and plot was amazing and flowed well together. I plan to consider the series.

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for an ARC.

An excellent page-turner! If somehow mermaids were real, this book shows what they would be like. Even if it sounds like a contradiction, this is a realistic view of these mythological creatures. They are not what we think but, somehow, everything makes sense. The story reads like the plot of a horror movie. All the characters are introduced and we get to know them. Then... well, you're better off not getting too attached to any of them because they may not make it. The pacing is excellent and the suspense almost unbearable. The science is realistic and the characters easy to like. The one thing I think could be improved was the ending, which seemed a little rushed c0nsidering the time the autor took to establish the story and characters. Still, I loved this book and couldn't read fast enough. Five stars!

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

into the drowning deep (Mira Grant)

Title: into the drowning deep

Author: Mira Grant

Publisher: Orbit Books

Publication Date: Available Now!! (hardback/ebook)

ISBN: 978-0316379403

Source: NetGalley

Well ye landlubbers, this is how the mermaids of the deep truly be. Not some beautiful singing maiden longing to be on land but menacing fierce fighting and killin' machines that will rip yer face off and guzzle yer flesh. Arrrrr! Nasty creatures they be. Much thanks to Mira Grant fer giving up a better understanding of the denizens of the deep sea.

Mehaps it just be me but this took awhile to be engaging. Now don't get me wrong, I liked the science of it right fine. I enjoyed the characters in it. It just took too much time to get into the nitty-gritty of the beasts and action. I didn't get hooked onto the story until 63% and it only really gripped me until 85%. Plus I did not really enjoy the ending. But me mateys were chatterin' in excitement about this one and plus I adore the author's other work so I was determined to finish this.

I am glad I did. I loved the reality behind the mermaid myths. I loved the biology of the mermaids. I thought the killin' be awesome though I don't fancy fighting one of these beasties meself anytime soon. Many of the ideas in this novel float me boat. Sadly the execution just didn't thrill me.

But I wouldn't hesitate to give this one a go if ye be interested. As says some of me crew:

Lashaan @ bookidote - "this story does wonders in torturing my soul and scarring me from ever trying out deep sea exploration"

Kate @ forwinternights - "There are lots of surprises and shocks. And so much blood. I spent a fair amount of time while reading this novel shuddering. I love that!"

Chelsea @ thesuspenseisthrillingme - "her fiction has so many scientific "facts" to enhance the credibility of the story I almost forget this is fiction and not a documentary on the Discovery Channel."

So lastly . . .

Thank you Orbit Books!

Side note: And with that I be finished with the last of the 2017 Netgalley eArcs! Arrrr! Onto the 2018 bunch!

Netgalley's website has this to say about the novel:

New York Times bestselling author Mira Grant, author of the renowned Newsflesh series, returns with a novel that takes us to a new world of ancient mysteries and mythological dangers come to life.

The ocean is home to many myths,
But some are deadly...
Seven years ago the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a mockumentary bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a tragedy.
Now a new crew has been assembled. But this time they're not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life's work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.
Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves.
But the secrets of the deep come with a price.

To visit the author’s website go to:

Mira Grant (Seanan McGuire) – Author

To buy the novel go to:

into the drowning deep - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

Previous Log Entries for this Author

every heart a doorway – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Fantasy)

down among the sticks and bones – book 2 (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Fantasy)

Mira Grant, as far as I am concerned, is the queen of horror. Her novels never fail to scare the bejesus out of me at the same time keeping me absolutely glued to the page. With her latest novel, she capitalizes on people's general uneasiness with the ocean's depths and the unknown creatures it holds to generate that fear. That and she creates an indelible new image of mermaids that will have you thinking of the Disney princess Ariel in a whole new light.

One of the many ways which makes Into the Drowning Deep so terrifying is its plausibility. The arguments the characters make for the existence of killer mermaids logically hits all the right notes. It becomes difficult to argue away their points especially when there are so many things about the ocean that we just do not know. So the story becomes something that could realistically occur.

As with her other novels, the characters in Into the Drowning Deep are mesmerizing. Flawed and human, they cross the gamut from autistic Internet celebrity to a big game hunters to scientists who believe to crew members who doubt. No matter how briefly they may appear on the page, Ms. Grant finds ways to create their humanity, to make them more than one-dimensional descriptions but real-live people with emotions and family and backstories we can only imagine. This helps not only keep a reader's interest but also enhances the scene when the blood starts flying.

A horror story is only as good as the anticipation built before the monsters make their debut. With Into the Drowning Deep, that anticipation is high indeed. As mentioned earlier, Ms. Grant uses the innate fear of the unknown and of the ocean to build suspense and create tension before anything really occurs. She continues to utilizes these fears and adds others to the mis as the story progresses. She manipulates these fears to such a degree that she primes readers to anticipate the danger, ratcheting the tension ever higher. Once contact is made, Ms. Grant keeps her foot firmly in place, never allowing the story to lose steam or readers to lose that anxiety, keeping it finely tuned until she allows readers to take a breath and relax.

Mira Grant knows how to write a horror story and with Into the Drowning Deep she shows off her talent to do so. Her control of the tension and of readers' emotions is beyond excellent, and her writing style is such that it becomes way too easy to forget that the novel is fictional. She is so successful at this that the thought of taking a cruise into the open ocean scares me to no end. After all, who really knows what creatures exist in the unexplored depths of the ocean?

“The trouble with discovery is that it goes two ways. For you to find something, that thing must also find you.”

I read the prequel to this book, Rolling in the Deep, earlier this month and I'm so glad that I did. What a perfect set up to this book. Now, you don't need to read it to enjoy this one, but it does help to put some things into perspective as they do reference it quite a bit. This also works perfectly as a stand alone and I highly, HIGHLY recommend it. I've never read a book like this and my science and biology loving ass absolutely was FASCINATED with each page.

Another crew goes back out into the sea in search of mermaids. There's been footage from the first crew that proves mermaids are real. But there were no survivors. We have a sister of one of the deceased who believes in them - she's a sirenologist and knows some of the dangers. She just wants some answers... and knows she'll probably die trying to get them. The crew is on a new ship that supposedly will have all the defenses necessary functions to shut down and protect everyone of any impending danger. Ha! We all know these things never work out the way they're supposed to - especially when it comes to the unknown.

What we get from this book is plausibility. I love it when they bring in the science and biology and for something from the ocean - I mean, there are still thousands upon thousands of species out there that we know nothing about it. Who is to say that what the possibilities entail! Why COULDN'T this happen?? And to take something like mermaids, that people usually associate with beautiful women and change them into something more horrific. Ahhhh! The author doesn't get overly scientific, but where she goes makes sense. At least it did to me.

The characters introduced in this book engaged me. Every single one of them. Even the crazy hunter ones. Bringing in such a diverse crew onto a ship, that while large can seem infinitely small, and then giving them egos on top of scientific curiosity? Disaster! And I loved every part of it.

I could go on and on and on and I'm sure I'm missing a lot of things that I wanted to touch on in this review. Basically, I highly recommend this very unique read.

(4 and 1/2 stars)

It's no secret I’m a great fan of author Seanan McGuire/Mira Grant, so it would come as no surprise that I was eager to see what she would do with this new facet of her vast repertoire of creatures that goes from fae and changelings to zombies and onwards to various other fascinating and/or scary beings. If curiosity was my prime motivator, I was on the other hand slightly worried that this novel might retrace the steps of its prequel novella Rolling in the Deep, and therefore offer little in the way of story or characterization: this being Mira Grant, however, I should not have been concerned, because she not only expanded on the core concept of that first foray into mermaid territory, but she also gave us a gripping, breath-stopping story that kept me on edge until the very end.

Several years before the start of Into the Drowning Deep, the entertainment network Imagine had financed an expedition to the Mariana Trench in search of mermaids, following once more the sensationalist path of Imagine’s usual programming. A small group of scientists and entertainment people had embarked on the Atargatis with the goal of proving the existence of these mythical creatures, and in the end they did find what they were looking for: reality, however turned out to be much worse than any fancy concept, and the ship was later recovered, adrift and empty, save for a few snippets of footage that showed something terrible and incredible – so incredible that it was labelled as a hoax.

As the story starts, Imagine decides to mount a second, more well-equipped expedition, with the goal of proving the truth of that much-reviled footage and to recover the network’s credibility. For a number of the new expedition’s members, however, the voyage will be a way of putting to rest the ghosts of friends or loved ones lost with the Atargatis, or to find revenge for their untimely death. This is the case for scientist Victoria “Tory” Stewart, whose sister Anne was the media face of that fateful voyage, while Doctor Jillian Toth – who choose at the last moment not to join the previous expedition – wants to find definitive proof of the mermaids’ existence and somehow assuage her guilt over the tragedy that befell the unlucky ship. Aboard the Melusine, a state of the art sailing vessel equipped with the latest in scientific research and protection against eventual attacks, Imagine has collected various teams of scientist, a group of security guards for their safety, and a husband-and-wife team of professional hunters, creating a quite volatile mix of personalities that promises from the start to make this venture into the deep ocean a difficult one, even without the dangers posed by the creatures in the found footage.

Thanks to my knowledge of what happened aboard the Atargatis, my sense of impending doom started immediately and was not improved by some of the details offered now and then in an almost off-hand manner, like the information about the shielding plates installed to protect Melusine’s passengers from external attacks, shields that fail the test runs effected by the crew. Being aware of what was coming made the constant bickering between the scientists – competing with each other for visibility and fame – and the difficult relations between them and the hunters, look even more petty and superficial: in this respect Mira Grant gives us a wide range of personalities from both sides of the spectrum, their interactions contributing to the growing feel of disaster on the make that is the backbone of this novel. And so we get Olivia, the new poster-girl for Imagine, who presents an airy, happy-go-lucky face to the world while hiding both profound insecurities and some unexpected depths of courage that will surface in the direst moments; or Luis, Tory’s friend and science partner, whose support and friendship toward Victoria are indeed a bright light in the overall darkness of the story; or again the abrasive manners of Dr. Toth, who uses her scientific detachment and practical approach as a cover for what looks like a sort of death wish.

The book offers an interesting commentary on humanity as well, on our approach to the strange and uncanny: once the clips from the Atargatis’ tragedy are released, the public at large refuses to believe such evidence, calling it a hoax and blaming the entertainment network for the death of passengers and crew. What does this say about modern audiences, used to special effects and world-wide media coverage? Probably that we have become accustomed to it all and have somehow lost our sense of wonder – and Grant seems to warn us that turning a deaf ear on legends might in the end be our downfall, because nature still has many ways in which to surprise us. Or worse.

The mermaids are indeed the central focus here, not simply a bloody incident, since the author has created for them a whole background that’s in equal parts fascinating and terrifying: where they looked like mindless predators in Rolling in the Deep, here they are shown as part of a complex society, one shaped by the environment in which they live and by the constant hunger that drives their actions. In popular lore mermaids have always been pictured as half fish, half alluring woman, their perceived beauty and lovely songs able to draw unwary sailors to a watery grave; here they appear as nightmarish monsters whose true appearance has been glossed over by a myth that painted them as seductive, conveniently forgetting the “surprisingly sensual mouth brimming with needled teeth”, or the fact that their tantalizing song was nothing else but a very evolved form of mimicry, used to lure the unsuspecting prey. That was to me the most horrifying side of these creatures, not the fact that they can successfully assault a modern ship and kill its occupants with surprising ease, nor the fact that they feed on humans just as they feed on fish, but that they can imitate a person’s voice, or any noise, with uncanny accuracy, knowing it will bait the trap they are so efficient in laying.

Worse still, the nightmare does not seem to end here, because Into the Rolling Deep leaves a great deal of hanging threads and an open door for a sequel: there is a revelation toward the end that there might be something ever more terrifying lying in wait in the depths of the ocean, something barely perceived but still mind-shattering enough to prompt a character into an almost Lovecraftian exclamation: “The light, the light, oh God the light!”. Whatever that might be, I look forward to discovering it with the next book(s) in the series, while I will try to remember the warning Mira Grant issues at the end of her Acknowledgements section:

“Watch out for the water. You never know what might be down there”.

I guess I will take my next vacation on very dry land…

I am a creature of habit, what can I say? I am continuously drawn to the same types of books with the same types of antagonists. I read serial killer thrillers and psychological thrillers by the bagful and relish in their twisty plots and realistic horror. So, imagine my surprise when one of the knockout books of the year for me came from Mira Grant and featured killer mermaids.

That’s right people. Killer. Mermaids.

Who knew?!

Chelsea (from The Suspense Is Thrilling Me) actually recommended this book and, I have to admit, I was a little hesitant to pick it up. I don’t generally read a lot of fantasy or science fiction and the premise of the book sort of seemed like a happy marriage of the two. As per Chelsea’s suggestions, I started with the novella prequel, Rolling in the Deep (am I the only one who reads this book title and instantly starts singing the song by Adele?) and, after a crazy time, I was finally able to obtain a copy (Thanks Chandra!).

The prequel, Rolling in the Deep, opens with the introduction of Imagine Film Company, known for their “mockumentary” style films, as they head out into the great blue sea to create a film about mermaids. As the ship sets out to create their “found footage” and “eyewitness accounts” for their film, the cast and crew find themselves in grave danger when they actually do discover something in the water. This only took me about an hour to read and I was completely hooked, I continuously messaged Chelsea as I was reading to comment on how REAL it felt. Although I knew I was reading a work of fiction, Grant does an amazing job with her narrative style of making you question your own logic. By the time I was finished, I was more than ready to jump into the first, full novel in the series.

Enter, Into the Drowning Deep. This novel can absolutely be read without having read the prequel (but I do think the prequel does an amazing job at setting the tone). The story opens seven years after the Atargatis was lost at sea and a new crew has been assembled to head back to the Marianas Trench to get to the bottom of the maritime tragedy (or hoax, to others). This book was just as brilliant as its prequel. Fast-paced, intricately written and filled with chilling prose, I was on the edge of my seat and recommending this book to everyone who would listen!

I will not go into any true details because I do feel like you’d have to read it to appreciate it, but, I am pleased with the open-ended finale that leads me to believe that Grant will be providing me with another book in the series (please!!).

If you are looking for something different to add to your TBR pile, do not be turned off by the randomness of the plot, just trust Mira Grant and dive on it. You will not be disappointed.

Excellent, terrifying thriller. I could not put it down. This is what Stephen King would write if he were a modern and cool young woman today.

An incredible addition to McGuire/Grant's prolific body of work. Creepy, fun, and exciting all at once. She's full of ideas and she's really fleshed them out in this book.

*4.5 stars*

This is a novel about mermaids, but they’re not the Disney version! Years before, Tory’s older sister went down on a ship believed to be devoured by mermaids. There was no way to prove that this wasn’t a promotional hoax, made in very bad taste by the entertainment company financing the voyage. So when the same company approaches Tory, now a fledgling scientist, to embark on a second journey to the area, she doesn’t hesitate. She wants to prove that mermaids exist, and that her sister’s death wasn’t in vain.

This is your literary equivalent to a good sci-fi action movie. Each scene was very cinematic, and once the “mermaids” appear, the action is relentless. But - unlike most action movies, most of the main characters here are well-defined and three-dimensional. There’s a healthy dose of diversity as well, that fits organically into the story.

And can I just say, Mira Grant writes fantastic characters who find themselves grappling with the moral dilemmas that science can sometimes unearth. This isn’t just a fun sci-fi, it’s also an exploration of hard questions and even harder solutions.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an ARC.

This book was an incredibly dry read for me. Maybe it was my mood or perhaps it was the book itself but I just could not hope to finish it without wanting to cry in a corner from boredom. I ended up switching to other books, never staying with this one for long. It just couldn't keep my attention.

This one was just not for me. DNF

Balancing on a thin point between Science Fiction, Thriller, and Horror, INTO THE DROWNING DEEP transcends genre to be an engrossing, heartbreaking, thrill ride. Reminiscent of JURASSIC PARK, but with oh so much more science and process to enjoy, this meticulous world captivates even as it kills.

My favorite urban fantasy worlds posit one magical addition, one transformative difference, and spin from that a world both familiar and fundamentally different. INTO THE DROWNING DEEP takes place less than a decade in our future and instead of adding magic builds a terrifyingly realistic scenario of what will be revealed in the world we already live in. Each change is a tiny delight, made all the more realistic by the meticulous scaffolding connecting back to our present day. Engrossing from the start, my only disappointments lie with the ending, where the constraints of starting a series seemed to short circuit the realistic world building up to that point. This is a criticism that can only be supported by further research, however, and I will gladly dive in to future books to test my hypothesis. A long time fan of Mira Grant's fantasy persona, Seanan McGuire, INTO THE DROWNING DEEP will definitely lure me into Grant's back catalog as I wait for Rolling in the Deep to continue.

A terrifying adventure for process nerds and science enthusiasts, INTO THE DROWNING DEEP spares no expense in humanizing the characters that followed a siren song out into the unforgiving ocean. With one notable, and ultimately forgivable, exception, Grant lavishes detail and humanity on her characters, but not much sympathy in the face of danger. Nature is red in tooth and claw, and in this world, and perhaps our own, that is magic enough.