Keep going.

Slow start but it all makes sense with gradual reveal. Loved this and have recommended to others.

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Great narration, disappointing ending

The majority of the book feels like it is building to this big reveal of what has happened but it doesn't really go anywhere. However, some of the writing is really well done at points. There were a few things that I felt weren't really explained, or perhaps I wasn't listening. Overall I wouldn't really recommend it

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Gripping, beautiful and nicely weird

I loved this book, having had my partner die of a terminal illness a few years ago, I didn’t expect when choosing this book, I’d get to revisit a lot of the same loving feelings that are so beautifully outlined by the author, again. I know I’ll reflect on this book for years.

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raw representation of loneliness

well read, beautifully descriptive, but lacked meat. there was nothing that happened at the end that didn't happen at the beginning

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Left me wanting, just not more. Spoiler free

I hesitate to write reviews because I write too and I don’t want to upset the author but you have to be honest.

However I didn’t enjoy this book, and I have to be honest about that. For me it was a middle of the road situation.

It has some gorgeous quotable language but it reads almost like someone that’s trying to hard to insert descriptions of things just for the sake of a good quote, not to advance the story or particularly make you feel anything.

I finished this book with the thought of why did it end like that? But not in the omg I need a sequel kind of way, instead in the why did I go through all that only to still not understand what happened at the end.

I’m usually a fan of mysteries thrillers romance and fantasy. So this book caught my eye aswell as THE Florence and the machine recommending it. Like? Come on I couldn’t resist.

I guess me and her don’t share book taste.

I’d give this 1 stars but frankly I can recognise when a book might not be for me but instead is for other people who read this kind of book and want more.

So desperately I wanted to love this book. It felt like anytime there was promise to the story it wanted. Especially the end, I expected a different vibe there than I received.

The writer made both characters say they were similar at the start and she isn’t wrong they both sound so similar in voice that sometimes I forgot who’s part is was.

Overall I’m glad people enjoy it, I wish it was my cup of tea as they say but sadly it wasn’t. However I’d probably read another Julia Armfield book, should one arise more to my taste profile.

Now comes the spoiler filled part so look away:

Leah comes back from the sea and by the end of the book we still don’t know what went on. Did the monster she seen take them there and if so why and what was it and why did she turn into the sea in the end my god that was confusing? I thought Mari was going to drown Leah and that would be the ending because she belonged to the sea. That would have shocked and saddened me and made me feel something.

This book left me not wanting to continue about 7 chapters in. The words and descriptions are beautiful but the flesh of the story didn’t feel cared for enough. The characters weren’t different enough for it to be discernible.

The whole fake husbands lost in space was both a useless addition but also something that If used better could have provided more.

She talks about friends who’s names I can’t remember because she seemed to not flesh them out enough for me to care for them.

There’s a lot of repetition but not in the way I’d expect like repeatedly discussing the previous mission Leah had been on and the other lady who told her about a tv show and how Mari didn’t believe in the crafts safety.

Mari seemed to have a strange Dom thing going on with Leah in some descriptions and it kinda creeped me out not because I’m against that I think it’s hot it done right but it felt like the author was trying too hard to add spice and all she could think of was the Dom vibe which to me didn’t match either of their personalities.

Basically I wasn’t a fan but some people might just enjoy it for what it is,

A romantic eerie book with lots of ocean facts and descriptions that felt unnecessary to me

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3 people found this helpful

Poetic, enthralling and mysterious

Great performances. Mysterious story, poetic language, creates sense of foreboding. Some poignant descriptions of loss.

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More like a short story

Overall I enjoyed this book, and wouldn't want to dissuade anyone from giving it a listen. It is written beautifully, poetically even, and was a real pleasure to listen to.
I feel the publishers have done this book a disservice in focusing too much on the sci-fi elements in the blurb, as those seeking sci-fi will be disappointed to find that it serves mainly as a metaphor to explore and dissect the ideas of love, and grief.

My only criticism would be that the book was overly long for the subject matter. I understand that the length serves to add feelings of dread and claustrophobia (and does so very well) but there comes a time when those feelings plateau, and the length starts to actually chip away at the uneasy feeling that has been built.
A bit like a joke becoming less and less funny the more you hear it, the author uses the same devices to build dread, and each use becomes less and less effective until the story stalls and I started to lose interest.

I think perhaps there was only enough substance for a short story, but by no means unworthy of a listen. I would pick up another book by the author for sure.

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Evocative descriptions of the deep sea

Heart breaking, tender and funny at times. Ore inspiring descriptions of what it might be like to be in the deepest darkest bottom of the sea.

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Great story, beautifully narrated

A great story, beautifully narrated, a pleasure to listen to. Merges fantasy and reality. Highly recommend.

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Beautiful book with excellent narration

A strange eerie book that drew me in from the outset. A love story. A tale about loss and grief and the unknown deep sea.

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