This is probably the most unique book I've read in a long time, and I absolutely loved it! The epistolary format made this book so easy and pleasant to read, and despite the multiple different timelines of letters between several different characters, I never felt lost. Every character's voice felt so distinct as well and this came through so clearly in their letters.

Before picking this up, I was craving a futuristic spacecraft on-route-to-another-world type SciFi story, and though this takes place under the sea, it delivered completely, giving the same vibes with a threatening outside environment, airlocks, diving suits, ship-type dwellings, and futuristic technology (which I'll admit, I didn't always know how to picture). But combine that with a light academia, slowly unfolding romance and scientific exploration and you have this book!

I was not expecting it to end the way it did, and I'm SO eager to get my hands on the next one to continue this tale!

Thank you Orbit Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in trade for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book. The concept was there but the execution was lacking. I found the writing almost too formal for an epistolary novel. I understand that the characters are meant to be scholars but at times it felt like too much. As much as I enjoyed E. and Henerey's blossoming romance, the book had so much and nothing happening at the same time. I understand that there will be a sequel but it felt like the book could have cut a lot out and not needed a sequel. I'm on the fence about whether or not I'll read the next one. Thank you again to Orbit Books for the advanced copy.

This epistolary narrative immerses readers in a realm of affection, intrigue, and imagination. Envisioned in a fantastical domain where letters become the primary conduit of storytelling, the tale follows the interwoven lives of its protagonists as they grapple with personal challenges, romantic involvements, and the mysterious disappearance of two individuals.

DNF @ 17%

I love the idea and concept of this book, but I think I'm too small-brain to keep up.
The setting is so intriguing, but I am so lost and can't even keep the characters straight.

There is much to love about A Letter to the Luminous Deep: an intriguing underwater fantasy world, a strange mystery, mental health representation, and the blossoming of utterly endearing relationships, both platonic and romantic.

Comprised primarily of letters between two sets of main characters (E. and Henerey, and their respective siblings, Sophy and Vyerin), this epistolary novel hooked me from the very first page. It features a slower pace and unique writing style that I absolutely adored. I was reminded that books do not have to be bingeable to be worthwhile, and I was thankful for the nudge to slow down, take time, and savor. Halfway through, I was already yearning to have a pen pal of my own with whom to exchange letters!

This tender, intimate, pearlescent gem of a novel will surely make waves among those who are brave enough to dive into its depths. All of the [sea] stars for this one.

(And there’s a sequel to come! Hooray!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC! It was incredible and I’m so grateful to have been able to read this early (and I know I’ll purchase and read it again!).

Sylvie Cathrall untangles a beautiful epistolary academic romance between shy but inquisitive "E" and esteemed scholar Henerey Clel who find a connection deeper than the boundless depths in which they reside. Split between their initial correspondence and the two siblings left behind to unravel the mystery through the letters they penned, A Letter to the Luminous Deep instills a quest for the truth, while providing insight into both the past and the present. Including discussions around mental health, academia, and scientific exploration, this magical underwater adventure leaves plenty to investigate. A wonderfully curious debut that completely enraptured me!

Thank you for sending me an ARC!
I wanted to like this book and I usually like epistolary novels but I just couldn't get into it. I kept getting bored while reading it.

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

I really, really wanted to enjoy this book. The premise seemed so unique, and was so excited for a cozy, light academia fantasy. However, I am sad to admit that I am deciding to DNF at this time.

I do want to preface, that I truly believe the right reader would absolutely love this book. There is an edge of mystery and perhaps a little romance. The story seemed unique in a world of fantasy books that rarely go beneath the water.

Some elements that impacted my reading experience to this point
- the lack of world building. I know this is typical in epistolary novels, as it is told through letters/writing/etc. and the characters obvious do not need to world build for each other. However, the world was very confusing and I was unable to follow and understand the different houses/scholars/situations of the world. It wasn't until over 10% that I was able to confirm the characters were in fact human, and not another fantastical species.
- the correspondence (to this point) revolved around 4 different characters...and not a single one of them had a unique style. I was constantly flipping back and forth to the heading of each letter, because there was no discernible style of writing, use of punctuation, or voice. Each of the 4 characters wrote in a superfluous manner, that made the already confusing world even more confusing (and it seemed very unrealistic that 4 separate people, despite all being scholars to some degrees, would speak in this fashion).
- ultimately, the pace is very slow and I just have to admit I do not care what is happening. And to continue reading would be unfair to the book (and, probably, myself). The mystery of what happened to E. and Henerey is just not enough to keep me engaged in the story.

Hoping this book falls into the hands of its perfect readers, who will love and care for it.

I absolutely adored this book!

The characters were all very loveable and I was completely hooked by the plot and world that kept expanding with every letter. I ended up listening to the audio for this and I think that this book fits perfectly in that medium. Not only were the narrators all fantastic at portraying the emotions of the characters but they also really helped me keep track of who’s perspective we were in at any given moment in the story.

The world was unlike anything I have ever read, it was very fantastical but also had a bit of a light scifi vibe at times.

I really enjoyed all of the relationships we got to see depicted, not just romantic but also lovely friendships and complicated sibling dynamics as well.

Overall this book was fantastic and I can't wait for more books in the series!

I had really high hopes for this book and it sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, it was just too twee for me. The writing style that all four main characters used grated on me. It was too precocious and it felt unrealistic? The entire book is told through letters and I just don't believe people would include full conversations like that in their letters.

For me, this book was just ok. It had good moments and bad ones too. Let’s start with the good. I did like that the story was told through letters. I thought this was a fun way to tell a fantasy and I had never read a book like this before. Through these letters we get some good character development and a budding romance between E. And Henerey. I did like reading their romance and developments as they wrote to each other and their family. However, the bad with creating a story through letters is that I did not understand the world that we’re in. There was barely any world building. After reading the book, I understood the world better, but am still left with questions about this world that could’ve been answered with some introductory world building. Granted, you wouldn’t explain the world to someone also living there in a letter, but even an excerpt from a history book or atlas or something to explain this world and history, instead of having me feel lost when certain events or locations discussed.

Overall, this was an ok fantasy.

Read if you like…
•epistolary story
•slow romance
•mystery
•mental health rep

"A Letter to the Luminous Deep" by Sylvie Cathrall was an initially bewildering experience, as I struggled with the unique structure of the narrative, which unfolds solely through letters of correspondence between four main characters. Set against the backdrop of a mysterious disappearance and a burgeoning romantic relationship, the story explores themes of love, loss, and longing through the fragmented perspectives of its characters.

As I delved into the letters exchanged between the characters, I found myself struggling to piece together the intricacies of the plot and the identities of the correspondents. The lack of a linear narrative made it challenging to follow the story's progression, and it took me some time to orient myself amidst the shifting perspectives and timelines.

Despite my efforts to immerse myself in the narrative, I found that the story failed to fully capture my attention. The pacing felt sluggish, and without a clear plot to anchor the reader's interest, I often found myself racing towards the end in search of resolution to the central mystery—the disappearance of the two lovers.

Unfortunately, the story concludes on a cliffhanger, setting the stage for the next installment in the series. While some readers may find this enticing, I personally find myself hesitant to continue with the series if it maintains a similar narrative style.

"A Letter to the Luminous Deep" is a fragmented journey through mystery that may appeal to readers who enjoy experimental storytelling formats. However, for those seeking a more traditional narrative structure with a clear plot and resolution, this book may prove to be a challenging read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

It takes courage and absolute belief in the form to write an entirely epistolary novel in 2024. It takes incredible skill to captivate the reader from the opening paragraph and then hold the reader’s rapt attention through subsequent letters from multiple perspectives and timelines. Cathrall manifestly possesses that skill and talent. To let the world unfold in snippets, to resist the urge to info dump in order to explain the myriad ways in which her characters’ world is not our own - that shows a respect for the intelligence of the reader who in turn is rewarded for their patience. She's also woven a delightfully fascinating tale of mystery and wonder. I've fallen in love with the four main characters and cannot wait to see what happens to them next.

Overall rating: 3
Ok, maybe I’m dumb, but I didn’t expect the entire book to be written in letter formatting. All four characters were described and analyzed via corresponding letters. I’ve never seen that before! It took me a little while to get used to it, honestly—the characters had a lyrical, scholarly way of speech, and our perception of their world is dependent on their writing. Furthermore, I did have a hard time discerning each character at first. Character dynamics were a little muddled, and it felt like I had to breach a hurdle to fully be invested in the story.

But once I was invested, I was invested.

The premise itself drew me in the most initially. Seeing how Cathrall built upon the plot and was able to combine magic, nature, mystery, and a Regency-like environment. The setting itself was rich, fantastical, and vivid. The formatting of the writing, alongside the detail, painted immersive imagery.

I will say, however, the book is a slowwwwburn. Not specifically just from a romantic perspective, but content wise in general. Cathrall wrote with such beautiful prose that I got lost in the story. Sometimes, though, I felt as complexities paired with the writing style were overwhelming, and the book did feel drawn out at points. I also sometimes had trouble discerning the plot due to the book’s formalities. And for that reason, my reading of the book was very off and on. I would sometimes just have to put down the book to avoid losing all current interest. Despite this, I am glad I continued reading!

Honestly, I can’t say too much about this one (spoilers). You have to read in order to fully understand the book’s intrigue. Readers who loveee academia vibes, fantasy, mystery, and a cozy romance need to grab this book (immediately!!).

* I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book because of the parallels to some of my favorites but I found the plot hard to get into. It was too much detail for me to follow and I struggled to enjoy this. That being said, the writing flowed and was poetic.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC via NetGalley.

This book was one that truly made me smile and there was not a single character that I disliked by the end of it. The letters written throughout were particularly charming which may be due to the author’s expertise with 19th century letters. The story also got more and more compelling as it went on and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

The writing style reminds me of Agatha Christie in the best ways, but the plot is less entertaining than paint drying. I am bored to tears by the execution of this plot, which seemed promising. It feels like literally nothing happens, including any semblance of world building. I’m definitely interested in reading other books by her, but this was not it for me, but I had to DNF this book at the 25% mark. Trying to finish this almost put me in a reading slump.

A letter to the luminous deep creates an intriguing world through letters that felt more like the beginning of a story than a fleshed out arc.

I really wanted to love this but I found it a bit too slow for my liking. The world this book was creating was exciting and unique with its mostly water covered world. I wanted so much more from this story than what was given.

While I thought I liked epistolary books, I wish this had a more traditional writing to get to know these characters more. I found the letters all blended together and didn't really reflect the individual writers. I would often forget which character was writing.

I wish the beginning and middle had been shortened and we got more from the end, as this felt like so much build up to the actual story.

Overall, this was just okay for me. I'm unsure if I will continue this series but we'll see when the next one comes out. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

The overall concept of this book had me hooked from the beginning. However I think it would’ve been much better if it had been a standalone novel. At many times the plot felt meandering and at a standstill. The first 1/3 was so intriguing and different I loved the letter format but after a while it felt repetitive. I wish we had more letters from the perspectives of E and Henerey vs. their siblings. I was really disappointed when I reached the end to see it was the first in a series the ending felt very unsatisfying. The bits of E and Henerey we got though I adored. I loved their relationship and I was so invested in how their story developed. Overall I do think it was a solid story and will probably read the second book but I do feel this first one struggled with pacing and with each POV having a unique voice.

“Is not everything we accomplish but one small step in the Greatest Project of our lives – that which we do not complete until we pass from this world?"

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐬𝐭:
In the quiet solitude of her underwater home, E. made a remarkable discovery outside her window that would change her life forever. Intrigued by this newfound wonder, she reached out to the esteemed scholar Henerey Clel, sparking a correspondence that ignited a flame of passion within them.

Their letters overflowed with excitement and curiosity, initially about their shared interests but soon evolving into an undeniable affection for each other. Together, E. and Henerey delved into the depths of an enigmatic mystery that promised to revolutionize the underwater world they both held in awe and trepidation.

However, fate intervened cruelly when a sudden seaquake obliterated E.'s abode, swallowing her and Henerey into the abyss. Left behind were the remnants of their correspondence, sketches, and notes, a trail of breadcrumbs for E.'s sister Sophy and Henerey's brother Vyerin to follow.

As Sophy and Vyerin pieced together the fragments of their siblings' love story, they unearthed the key to their disappearance and a revelation that could alter the course of life below the waves. United by a common goal, they embarked on a quest to unravel the truth behind the tragedy that had befallen E. and Henerey, and in doing so, discovered a profound legacy that would shape their world forever.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 & 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
📔 Academia
📝 Pen pals
🪸 Underwater world
❤️‍🩹 Grief & healing from loss
✨ Cozy fantasy
🎗️ Mental health representation

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖:
✳︎ Cozy fantasy
✳︎ Women in academia
✳︎ Stories like Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries
✳︎ Epistolary romance

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

This book is best savored slowly, one letter at a time. The book was beautiful, albeit slow paced. However, it slowly but surely won me over, with its intricate and expansive world-building drawing me in from the start. If you’re someone who enjoys devouring books in one sitting, you might find the pacing of this story requires a bit of getting used to. The platonic exchanges between the characters were a delight, but it was the letters shared between E and Henery that truly captivated me. Witnessing the evolution of their relationship felt like a precious gift, and I could almost tangibly feel the nervous energy between them as if it were my own. I couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement whenever E mentioned Henery in her letters to her sister Sophy. It was as though I had become an honorary sibling, privy to their deepest secrets.

About halfway through, I became really invested in the correspondence between E and Henery. By the end, I was itching to pack my bags and join the characters in the enchanting Luminous Deep. I eagerly anticipate the adventures that await in the next installment.

𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (𝟺/𝟻)

𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝙶𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙾𝚛𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙰𝚁𝙲!