CALLING ALL FANS OF EMILY WILDES ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FAIRIES❗️❗️❗️
The writing is just as flawless as in that series, the only difference is that it’s under water!!!!! This book will definitely not be for everyone, it’s a little slow paced but if you enjoy that and need a break from fast paced and crazy plots then this is for you. The writing is so beautiful and this was a perfect palette cleanser book

Designed as a series of correspondence incorporating letters, journal entries and the like, the tale develops its characters and plots literally and figuratively through the written word. While I found it compelling, and appreciate the beautiful language used by the author. I found myself to be disconnected from the plot and characters this was more to my personal preference than to anything the author did. Her language and use of imagery is wonderful, just not the style for me.

Firstly I’d like to thank NetGalley and Orbit books for this opportunity of reading an advanced reader copy of “A Letter to the Luminous Deep” .

I have to say the plot description of this book really intrigued me. I thought It was unique and refreshing compared to a lot of the fantasy books I’ve both read and heard about lately. Which is why it’s so unfortunate I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped. I rated this book 3 stars. I could not get through it.

Full transparency, my review is solely based on my enjoyment and experience with how the book made me feel. The writing format being in letters throughout the book was just not for me personally. I felt it difficult to stay connected to the story and get attached to the characters.
It was also a tough read for me in the sense where I had to reread a lot of the lines because the words and names were difficult to read. I do really love the cover art on this book though! Captivating colors!

It just didn’t capture me the way I thought it would but I do really like the idea of this book and urge anyone that can get behind the description to read it. It’s more of a fantasy thriller than just fantasy. Again, absolutely no fault of the author, just a preference thing for me.

That being said I really hope this book does well and it finds readers that can really appreciate it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was SO excited for this one. I mean, two strangers finding love through letters? In an underwater dystopian world? With tragedy and mystery? Sign me up!

Alas, it was not as charming as I was hoping. An epistolary novel seemed so exciting, but I did struggle with forgetting who was writing each letter as they all seemed identical. I didn’t find the writing to separate the characters, to make them have their own prose. I just could not connect to any of the characters.

While E. Certainly was an intriguing character, I just found the pace and writing too slow for me. Is it possible to have too many details and descriptions?

Honestly, this is definitely going to be a hit, and I can 100% see why many people love it, I just personally didn’t vibe with it!

3.5 ⭐ While it took more over 50% of the book to feel invested, there were some really beautiful parts. The mental health + LGBTQ representation was really refreshing, and the romance was precious. It just took quite a while to build up. The descriptions of the ocean life was stunning.

I don't usually have a hard time with characters and world building, but I think a glossary to explain the different facets of the scholars + their roles would have been extremely helpful.

I do look forward to the next book, especially after the cliffhanger at the end! Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall: 3.5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Plotline: 3/5
World-Building: 4/5

Romance: 3.5/5
Themes: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Enjoyment Factor: 3.5/5
Review: The medium in which this story was told is super intriguing, and the letters felt very intimate and gave a unique insight into each of the characters as well as built an amazing ambiance as the backdrop to the story. However, there was a lot of jumping around within the timeline, and we continually switched POVs, which felt like constant whiplash and made it hard to follow the story itself. This book ends with a cliffhanger and I wish that the plot revealed itself earlier so that I would be more intrigued to continue the series. It seemed like our plot came about around 75% into the book, and everything else was character introductions and development.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I truly wanted to enjoy this book, as I was very excited for an underwater academia styled fantasy, but it wasn’t for me. It is arranged in letter format between two pen pals. It contains unique and scholarly writing, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I couldn’t get a feel for the world or connect to the characters through the style of letters. The worldbuilding was lackluster at best. The characters came off dry and there was no dialogue to personify them. I couldn’t maintain my interest in the plot as it was slow and by the time my interest piqued a bit, I was left on a cliffhanger.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit books for the chance to read and review this ARC.

I wasnt a fan of this being told in letter format, but other than that it was a wonderful book. Unique.

3.5
Letter to the luminous deep plays out entirely in letters, capturing an epistolary romance, a mysterious investigation, and an academic adventure into the oceans depths. It’s hard to characterize this book because while it certainly turns into a sci-fi/fantasy book and definitely centers a mystery, the first half of the book doesn’t include much of either. The result is a bit of an uneven pace as you read through the budding romance of two ocean-loving introverts before being thrust into the details of an amazing mystery involving secret societies, poetry, sci-fi crafts, and unexplained disappearances. All that to say while it takes a bit to get going, readers who stick with it will be rewarded with a fantastic mystery that leaves you itching to read the inevitable sequel.

Bonus- great representation of someone with OCD, autism, or social anxiety in the main characters!

3.75/5

thank you to netgalley for an eARC!

this grew on me! i was slow to get into it in the beginning by by the 30% mark i got more sucked into it.

i was a little disappointed in the ending; i kept getting closer to the final chapter and wondering how the plot could possibly wrap up by the end, because i didn't want it to be a cliffhanger and i was totally unaware it was a series. but no, it was a cliffhanger. 😭

really looking forward to the next book!

absolutely loved the settings and how fleshed out the characters so easily became when reading their inner thoughts, especially the adorable drafts of letters with stream of consciousness style rambles of affection. 💌🐟

Thank you for an opportunity to read A Letter to the Luminous Deep as an ARC! I was originally intrigued in this book because of the gorgeous cover but the description of this book also reeled me in!
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the format of this book. I've read books before that have letters in them and loved them! I just think this book was not for me. I did however recommend this book to my friend as I know she would LOVE it!
I enjoyed the MCs but the writing seemed a bit "old" for me.
Very interesting concept and I can't wait to see how my friend enjoyed it!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Orbit Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Quite honestly, I can't get into this one. I'm about 20% through and I'm not sure that I can continue with the language, pacing and epistolary structure. I'm sure there's a wonderful story here but it's just not to my personal preferences. I might come back to it, but I'm not sure that it's the right book for me.

I love the little bit of LGBTQ representation I've seen so far. I also love *E* as a character and her letters to both Sophy and Henerey. I love the descriptions of the underwater house.

I think my biggest hang up is the victorian language and descriptive prose. There is just a little bit too much detail about things that don't seem to be progressing the story along for me.

I think there's probably a very beautiful story here if you can settle into the slow pacing, epistolary structure and can take it slowly in order to give the story the attention it deserves. It's just not a fast enough pace for me.

Since I have not finished, I will only be posting this review on Netgalley.

This was such a beautiful story told in such an interesting way. I found that the way the story was told added so much more mystery to the story. I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait to read the next one.

This book is unique and lovely. I did stop after chapter 4 (10%). The prose feels narrative and… almost, removed? It’s a mix of letters, narration, and messages. It’s somewhat an out-of-body experience reading this book, and I think it will be an easy four to five stars for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC.

I’m giving this book a 3.5 stars. I did enjoy the story, but I did not enjoy the format. You are reading letters back and forth. At the beginning of the story, I wanted a little more context. However, you do get to know the characters, and they are very special. I did really enjoy the writing style. It was very cozy and reminded me of TJ Klune who I love. I will definitely read her next book because I do think she is a great storyteller. If you are interested in this book, definitely give it a try. And a BIG THANK YOU to Net Galley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for an ARC of this book!

The concept of this book—unraveling a mysterious disappearance and a scientific discovery through letters (both past and present) in a dystopian alternative world—is amazing!

I loved that the world and universe are left vague because characters would have no reason to explain that to each other. So, the reader is trying to piece together what the society/world is like, which makes the last chapter and ending so disappointing. <spoiler>Having Sophy see/experience and explicitly explain the Envoy was really lame. It would have been better if they had gone back to the Door, and the tunnel had already been destroyed, so they would have had to rely on Tevn's questionable information. It would have kept with the tone and style of the rest of the book.</spoiler>

While drawn in by the mystery, I was pleasantly surprised by the relationship between E. and Henerey. I did not expect to find them so sweet.

This is an epistolary novel, and one of the only ones I’ve read. I was very impressed by the author’s ability to give each character a very defining voice in their letters.

I found the world the author created very interesting and compelling and there was a lot of worldbuilding. I didn’t feel like it got too “telly” which was relieving.

This story was soooo cute. It’s romantic, intimate, cozy, and heartwarming. I struggled a little bit getting into it and felt like the last 30% ish were fantastic compared to the rest. I definitely think if you enjoy ocean based/underwater fantasy and/or epistolary novels you would love this. I think the pacing could have been a little quicker but I loved getting to know each of the characters and I LOVED the OCD representation.

Something that was close to my heart was the relationship between E. and Sophy. Seeing the sister dynamic tugged at my heartstrings and I felt like I related to a lot of their interactions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbitbooks for providing me with this ARC!

A Letter to the Luminous Deep is a unique story told completely through letters, articles, field notes, a few sketches, and emails/IMs. E. and Henerey begin writing letters back and forth after E. sees something curious outside her porthole. Their relationship grows until they both disappear after a seaquake destroys E.’s home. Sophy and Vyerin begin communicating to unravel the mystery of their siblings’ disappearance. The story takes place in an intriguing world where there is little land and most people live on boats or man-made islands atop the ocean. Their society feels very similar to a university where everyone is focused on scholarly pursuits like learning and research. I really loved the setting.
E., Henerey, and their relationship were what stood out for me most in this story. I loved their enthusiasm for discovery and their open discussions about their mental health. Their letters were definitely my favorite to read and I frequently smiled to myself while reading them. However, I didn’t love Sophy and Vyerin’s communications as much and frequently wished I could hurry through them to get back to more of E. and Henerey’s letters, E. and Sophy’s letters, or Henerey’s journal entries. Unfortunately for me, the story mostly seems to focus on Sophy and Vyerin while they unravel what happened. I also wished there were actual dates to the letters sent and not just the year so I could better comprehend the length of time between events. Overall, this just didn’t hit quite right for me, but I think it could be great for the right person!

Sylvie Cathrall's debut novel, "A Letter to the Luminous Deep," delivers a heartwarming romance set in a captivating underwater world. The story revolves around E. Cidnosin, a resident of Deep House, the first underwater dwelling created by her late mother. After discovering something intriguing through her window, E. reaches out to Scholar Henerey Clel for his expertise. As they exchange letters, a mysterious connection forms, leading to a tender relationship. However, tragedy strikes when a seaquake engulfs both E. and Henerey. With little information about their disappearance, E's sister, Scholar Sophy Cidnosin, and Henerey's brother, Navigator Vyerin Clel, decide to share their siblings' letters in hopes of finding answers.

One of the most captivating aspects of the novel is its worldbuilding. Cathrall introduces readers to an underwater society inhabited by scholars and intellectuals. The three factions of campus—Boundless, Intertidal, and Atoll—add depth to this fantastical world. Through the medium of letters, Cathrall brings this uninhabitable place to life, painting vivid images of Deep House and its amenities, such as a kitchen, bedrooms, a studio, and even a library. The descriptions evoked both awe and fear, as living among sea creatures and vibrant coral sounds simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.

The inclusion of Sophy's letters from her time in the Ridge Expedition adds another layer to the world exploration. Cathrall skillfully balances the allure of uncovering the mysteries of this world with the ominous darkness of the abyss. Quirky details, such as mailboats delivering letters and waterproof stationery available in markets, further enhance the immersive experience.

Cathrall's prose throughout the novel is formal, yet it possesses a poetic and atmospheric quality that captivates readers. At the heart of the story is a touching love story between two strangers who connect through the power of words. E., who grapples with OCD and severe anxiety, finds solace and connection in the written word, allowing her to open up to Henerey in ways that face-to-face interactions prohibit.

In "A Letter to the Luminous Deep," Sylvie Cathrall crafts a debut novel that combines romance, mystery, and a captivating underwater world. Through letters, readers are transported to Deep House, an underwater dwelling that brims with curiosity and wonder. Cathrall's immersive worldbuilding, lyrical prose, and heartfelt characters make this a compelling read for fans of both romance and speculative fiction.
Overall, this was a wonderful read! And I can't wait to pick up another book by this author in the future, for her unique storytelling has piqued an interest in me!

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Sylvie Cathrall's A LETTER TO THE LUMINOUS DEEP is both a mystery and a love story set underwater. It did take me a while to get used to the writing style as the story is told through a series of letters between characters and multiple POVS are included. The element of the letters is interesting in the way information unfolds, I just found the overall story to be quite slow and it never truly peaked my interest. But I might not be the target audience.