Thank you for the opportunity to read to e-arc for Letters to the Luminous Deep. Although I can appreciate the art of the letters format, it just wasn't for me. That doesn't mean I don't consider it a good book, but just that it wasn't written for me and that's okay.

This book is not going to be for everyone. It’s not a fast-paced book, nor is it perfectly linear.

If you liked Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, this might be more up your alley. The book is told entirely though letters. Some are letters from the past, some are current, some are unfinished and never sent. But through these letters, you discover a most unique and incredible world that lives completely in water. With a pair of protagonists I absolutely ADORED. Henerey and E. So bright, warm, and curious. I love thee.

I thought this was such a unique way to build the world, in a cozy fashion. While this is a slow-paced book, it has a unique charm that I really enjoyed and I cannot wait to see how this story continues.

This read was truly unique, and I find that it appeals to me far more upon completion and reflection than it did while reading.

Let me explain: the book is entirely composed of letters, articles, and written correspondence. This makes it at times painfully slow. There are pleasantries to be endured when you as the reader just want information or to know what happens next. But dang. That’s what makes it so brilliant. In this futuristic somewhat dystopian realm, the two characters working together to solve the mystery interacted through written correspondence. Relaying their story as such both creates an atmosphere of mystery and relays the frustration they themselves must have felt with the delays in information.

The world created is so fascinating, though it takes awhile to piece together. The mystery drew me in from the beginning. The characters were charming, and the mental health representation is seriously top tier. The pacing makes this by no means a cover-to-cover read, but I still recommend this as a brilliant read for those with the patience to work through the slow pacing.

I need to know what happens next.

Thanks to Orbit Books and to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book to read. The review above is my own honest opinions.

A LETTER TO THE LUMINOUS DEEP was so wonderful! Magic and academia with sweet and well-developed romance, I couldn’t have asked for anything better! It was the perfect cozy read for a cold winter day.

The writing format is very unique, I don’t often read epistolary novels but once I got used to it, I was still able to dive right in!

Fans of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries will really enjoy this one, and the cover is absolutely stunning +1.

thank you netgalley and Orbit Books for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I could not get into this book and unfortunately called it quits midway through. I fell in love with the cover and I hoped I would just fall deeply in love with the world the author was creating, but there was no real clear world building or character development.

Thank you Orbit Books, and Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for a review.

A Letter to the Luminous Deep is the kind of slow, ruminating, and delightful tale that is almost impossible to not fall in love with. When you have characters like E and Henerey, with all of their eccentricities and passion, their hearts laid bear, it's hard to turn away. Cathrall crafted something so small and quiet here, even among an entirely new world where the ocean truly has taken over. If someone is looked for a story where companionship, love, and discovery are the central focus, then A Letter to the Luminous Deep should be the first choice.

Bring on the sequel!