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Deeper
Fairytales are meant to be broken. Especially Disney fairytales, that tell of button-nosed sea princesses who fall in love with handsome, honourable princes and end up living happily ever after in their multi-turreted castles by the sea.
That's not how it works. Deeper is the story of what really happens when a curious mer girl rescues a cynical, self-obsessed writer, living alone in his lighthouse by the sea. When she makes a pact she can't go back on, for love of a man she barely knows. If you think you know how it ends, you probably don't.
That's not how it works. Deeper is the story of what really happens when a curious mer girl rescues a cynical, self-obsessed writer, living alone in his lighthouse by the sea. When she makes a pact she can't go back on, for love of a man she barely knows. If you think you know how it ends, you probably don't.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
Jane Thomson
3 books17 followersWhy do we write?
Because we have to. I've been writing since I was four ("Mum is very very booring!". She wasn't pleased.).
Apart from that seminal work, you can find more about my books at www.fallaciousrose.com/books. Who is Fallacious Rose? Well, that's me - but I've only recently begun to publish under that pen name, so you can still find books under my real name. This doesn't do much for my reputation as an international woman of mystery - but them's the breaks.
Because we have to. I've been writing since I was four ("Mum is very very booring!". She wasn't pleased.).
Apart from that seminal work, you can find more about my books at www.fallaciousrose.com/books. Who is Fallacious Rose? Well, that's me - but I've only recently begun to publish under that pen name, so you can still find books under my real name. This doesn't do much for my reputation as an international woman of mystery - but them's the breaks.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 7, 2013
DEEPER WILL BE FREE AT AMAZON FROM JULY 7-11!
First, erase your mental image of The Little Mermaid. Is the slate clean? Put away the happy pastels and grab the bold, fierce and savage colors and get ready to re-color your view of mers and do NOT be afraid to go outside of the lines, just like author Jane Thomson did when she created Deeper! Mermaids, mermen, or” mers,” are not all cute and cuddly, they are a ferocious mammal who lives in the sea. Their pods respect power, they can be vicious, cold and seemingly uncaring. For young and curious Melur, humans hold a huge fascination, with their long legs, and their mysterious existence in the dry world with all of their possessions. She longs to be like them and asks the ‘spirits’ to grant her wish to have legs and live in the human world where she thinks she has found love with a human she once saved. Is she willing to give up the only life she has ever known for a world where she may never quite fit in? Is being with this human worth losing her only friend, someone who understands her better than anyone else? Stubborn and determined, Melur could turn out to be her own worst enemy as the reality of her dreams is as harsh as life under the water.
Jane Thomson has created a very dark look at these creatures of legends and myths. Ms. Thomson has allowed Melur to speak in the first person, giving the reader a stark look at life within the pod through the eyes of a youthful and strong-willed young mer. Melur is passionate about what she wants, and it shows. Did I connect with her? Most definitely. Jane Thomson’s style is crisp and engaging, with just enough imagination to make everything totally plausible, from her vivid character descriptions, to her detailing of every action in every scene. I was there, in the mer world, smelling the smells and hearing the crunch of bones when they chewed. I’m also going to avoid swimming in open water for a while, because I’ll never know who is watching that I cannot see.
My thanks to Jane Thomson for generously providing a copy of Deeper in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: June 1, 2013
Publisher: Jane Thomson
ASIN: B00D59O1W6
Print Length: 174 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
Age Recommendation: Adults/New Adults
Available at: Amazon
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
First, erase your mental image of The Little Mermaid. Is the slate clean? Put away the happy pastels and grab the bold, fierce and savage colors and get ready to re-color your view of mers and do NOT be afraid to go outside of the lines, just like author Jane Thomson did when she created Deeper! Mermaids, mermen, or” mers,” are not all cute and cuddly, they are a ferocious mammal who lives in the sea. Their pods respect power, they can be vicious, cold and seemingly uncaring. For young and curious Melur, humans hold a huge fascination, with their long legs, and their mysterious existence in the dry world with all of their possessions. She longs to be like them and asks the ‘spirits’ to grant her wish to have legs and live in the human world where she thinks she has found love with a human she once saved. Is she willing to give up the only life she has ever known for a world where she may never quite fit in? Is being with this human worth losing her only friend, someone who understands her better than anyone else? Stubborn and determined, Melur could turn out to be her own worst enemy as the reality of her dreams is as harsh as life under the water.
Jane Thomson has created a very dark look at these creatures of legends and myths. Ms. Thomson has allowed Melur to speak in the first person, giving the reader a stark look at life within the pod through the eyes of a youthful and strong-willed young mer. Melur is passionate about what she wants, and it shows. Did I connect with her? Most definitely. Jane Thomson’s style is crisp and engaging, with just enough imagination to make everything totally plausible, from her vivid character descriptions, to her detailing of every action in every scene. I was there, in the mer world, smelling the smells and hearing the crunch of bones when they chewed. I’m also going to avoid swimming in open water for a while, because I’ll never know who is watching that I cannot see.
My thanks to Jane Thomson for generously providing a copy of Deeper in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: June 1, 2013
Publisher: Jane Thomson
ASIN: B00D59O1W6
Print Length: 174 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
Age Recommendation: Adults/New Adults
Available at: Amazon
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
November 13, 2017
Engrossing and Thought Provoking
Fast paced tale about a mermaids willing to risk everything for the man she loves. Part fantasy, and part parable, this book is incredibly original and thought provoking.
Fast paced tale about a mermaids willing to risk everything for the man she loves. Part fantasy, and part parable, this book is incredibly original and thought provoking.
August 11, 2016
right off the bat of starting this book i was captivated. Both by the writing style, which is poetic and flowing and written beautifully, as well as the contents and story line of the book. from the second that i picked up the book I could not stop reading or put it down. I can honestly say that this is one of the best and most interesting books that i have read this year. I received this novel from goodreads first reads.
April 8, 2019
Throughly Enjoyable
This is a skewed, adult reimagining, and not a tale for the kiddies. Told in a unique manner, this story kept me engaged throughout. So much so that I finished it in one read. Highly recommended.
This is a skewed, adult reimagining, and not a tale for the kiddies. Told in a unique manner, this story kept me engaged throughout. So much so that I finished it in one read. Highly recommended.
February 1, 2020
The description of the world through the whale pod like mermaids was lovely. I was genuinely surpurized the twists in this.
July 20, 2013
I recently finished reading Deeper by Jane Thomson. This is the story of a mermaid (they're called mers) that wants to be human, so it's a retelling of 'The Little Mermaid'. That's where the similarities end.
There is an odd brutality to the book, which isn't shocking or grotesque. It comes off surprisingly casual and part of the world. Mer society does come off as survival of the fittest and primal at times with the characters biting and attacking each other. I didn't feel like I was reading about a human world under the water. Through detail and character actions, I felt like the Mer had a rich, deep world that was entirely different from the world I'm used to. One can tell that Jane Thomson put a lot of time and effort into crafting their world.
A difficult part of this book is that I loved the Mer world so much that I lost momentum during the human part. I missed Melur's sisters (sort of) and Che and even her disturbing Grandmother. That was a world that I wanted to keep exploring with her. You spend the majority of the book in that world and learning about the characters, so you feel torn when you leave them behind. As I'm writing this, I'm wondering if that was the intention of the author. She makes the reader love that world so much that we feel as lost and out of place as Melur. Whether she intended to do it or not, that is how I felt and that is a big plus for the book.
The only disappointing part of the book was that most of the characters had similar temperaments. Melur, Che, and Grandmother were the ones that stood out because they reacted differently than the others. At first, I thought only one sister had a tendency to physically lash out and then I realized all of them did it. I couldn't tell if that was the way their society was or it was supposed to make the reader dislike them. The humans had some major jerk moments too and I could never figure out why they disliked Melur. Their motivation was never made clear and even the human lead was difficult to understand because I was never allowed in his head. So, the characterization did get a little muddy at times when emotions ran high. When characters were calm and kind, I got a better sense of individuality.
I highly recommend this book and hope Jane Thomson continues to publish such gripping tales. Maybe another that takes place in Mer society? Please?
There is an odd brutality to the book, which isn't shocking or grotesque. It comes off surprisingly casual and part of the world. Mer society does come off as survival of the fittest and primal at times with the characters biting and attacking each other. I didn't feel like I was reading about a human world under the water. Through detail and character actions, I felt like the Mer had a rich, deep world that was entirely different from the world I'm used to. One can tell that Jane Thomson put a lot of time and effort into crafting their world.
A difficult part of this book is that I loved the Mer world so much that I lost momentum during the human part. I missed Melur's sisters (sort of) and Che and even her disturbing Grandmother. That was a world that I wanted to keep exploring with her. You spend the majority of the book in that world and learning about the characters, so you feel torn when you leave them behind. As I'm writing this, I'm wondering if that was the intention of the author. She makes the reader love that world so much that we feel as lost and out of place as Melur. Whether she intended to do it or not, that is how I felt and that is a big plus for the book.
The only disappointing part of the book was that most of the characters had similar temperaments. Melur, Che, and Grandmother were the ones that stood out because they reacted differently than the others. At first, I thought only one sister had a tendency to physically lash out and then I realized all of them did it. I couldn't tell if that was the way their society was or it was supposed to make the reader dislike them. The humans had some major jerk moments too and I could never figure out why they disliked Melur. Their motivation was never made clear and even the human lead was difficult to understand because I was never allowed in his head. So, the characterization did get a little muddy at times when emotions ran high. When characters were calm and kind, I got a better sense of individuality.
I highly recommend this book and hope Jane Thomson continues to publish such gripping tales. Maybe another that takes place in Mer society? Please?
August 27, 2013
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
Despite having seen Disney's version of The Little Mermaid, I do actually know the original version of the story - one that's much darker and sadder. This book was more like the original version, though there were a lot of differences.
I felt that there had clearly been a lot of work that went into building the culture of the mer. They were quite vicious, almost savage creatures - but, to be honest, not that much different than humans. I was able to picture them quite clearly in my mind and I think I would have liked to spend more time in that world.
There was a part that really affected me and brought home about how mer see themselves - the scene where Melur and Che watch the diver drown. I thought that scene in particular really showed just how different the culture of the mer was, that although there were similarities between their two peoples, Melur and Che couldn't allow themselves to see that.
I really struggled to relate well to Daniel. Although I liked his interactions with Melur at first, I knew that the relationship wouldn't end well. Still, I really liked how they struggled to communicate with each other and the cultural differences that existed between them - like how they each ate and what they ate... and how neither liked the way the other prepared food.
I have to say, though, I found the ending to be a bit more abrupt. When Melur speaks to Daniel in parts of the book, it seems to show he has more of an acceptance of what she is. Like when she mentions telling him about Guntur.
I did like the ending, partly, and I liked Che's character. I did think that, although some of the language was different, there were some words - like the swear words - that I would think the mer wouldn't know, if they had no interaction with humans.
I liked how it was indicated that both languages were so completely different, even the pitches were different. The book was quite sad towards the end, but I found it easy to read and I really liked Melur and Che, though I didn't like the others so much.
(This review may contain spoilers).
Despite having seen Disney's version of The Little Mermaid, I do actually know the original version of the story - one that's much darker and sadder. This book was more like the original version, though there were a lot of differences.
I felt that there had clearly been a lot of work that went into building the culture of the mer. They were quite vicious, almost savage creatures - but, to be honest, not that much different than humans. I was able to picture them quite clearly in my mind and I think I would have liked to spend more time in that world.
There was a part that really affected me and brought home about how mer see themselves - the scene where Melur and Che watch the diver drown. I thought that scene in particular really showed just how different the culture of the mer was, that although there were similarities between their two peoples, Melur and Che couldn't allow themselves to see that.
I really struggled to relate well to Daniel. Although I liked his interactions with Melur at first, I knew that the relationship wouldn't end well. Still, I really liked how they struggled to communicate with each other and the cultural differences that existed between them - like how they each ate and what they ate... and how neither liked the way the other prepared food.
I have to say, though, I found the ending to be a bit more abrupt. When Melur speaks to Daniel in parts of the book, it seems to show he has more of an acceptance of what she is. Like when she mentions telling him about Guntur.
I did like the ending, partly, and I liked Che's character. I did think that, although some of the language was different, there were some words - like the swear words - that I would think the mer wouldn't know, if they had no interaction with humans.
I liked how it was indicated that both languages were so completely different, even the pitches were different. The book was quite sad towards the end, but I found it easy to read and I really liked Melur and Che, though I didn't like the others so much.
September 9, 2013
This book was provided to me through First Reads. (Spoiler Alert).
Melur is a young mer (mermaid) who is rebellious and wants nothing more than to become human. Her mer society is richly depicted, a bit brutal despite the beauty of the sea. She saved a human from drowning, has fallen in love, and dreams of living with him as a woman. Grandmother, keeper of the spirits, feared and loathed by all, taunts the young mer but eventually grants her heart's desire- Melur gets legs.
Melur does swim to the island with the lighthouse (Trapped Moon). The human man finds her and attempts to care for her. Her legs are useless, she cannot walk and she is at his mercy. (The descriptions of our world from a mer's perspective are wonderful). The human is a writer who lives alone, self-centered and moody. Melur is in love, but she is a cripple in both the human and mer worlds. Can love overcome all obstacles in this gritty reworking of "The Little Mermaid" tale?
As I read, this book was never quite what I expected, and I felt compelled to keep reading. There are situations and language that are graphic and may not be suitable for a younger reader. But the story was well told and I enjoyed it immensely.
Melur is a young mer (mermaid) who is rebellious and wants nothing more than to become human. Her mer society is richly depicted, a bit brutal despite the beauty of the sea. She saved a human from drowning, has fallen in love, and dreams of living with him as a woman. Grandmother, keeper of the spirits, feared and loathed by all, taunts the young mer but eventually grants her heart's desire- Melur gets legs.
Melur does swim to the island with the lighthouse (Trapped Moon). The human man finds her and attempts to care for her. Her legs are useless, she cannot walk and she is at his mercy. (The descriptions of our world from a mer's perspective are wonderful). The human is a writer who lives alone, self-centered and moody. Melur is in love, but she is a cripple in both the human and mer worlds. Can love overcome all obstacles in this gritty reworking of "The Little Mermaid" tale?
As I read, this book was never quite what I expected, and I felt compelled to keep reading. There are situations and language that are graphic and may not be suitable for a younger reader. But the story was well told and I enjoyed it immensely.
July 17, 2015
I am not one to read books in the fantasy realm, of which I would include mermaids, but I had read this author's earlier novel (`A Warm Wind') and enjoyed it so much, I thought I would give `Deeper' a try. I'm so glad I did! Really great storytelling. But the book is no Disney's Little Mermaid. It is a darkly entertaining read about Melur, a mer who pines for the human world, not so much to inhabit it, but to experience it--anything to escape the oppressive environment of her sea life, a life ruled by the male mers and one in which a young, coming-of-age female mer has little say. But Melur discovers that all may not be what she desired.
Aside from the main story, I enjoyed the subtext of Melur's impression of the human race--so many material things we rely on and so much around us we ignore.
An engrossing read with intelligent storytelling. I recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh, page-turning tale.
Aside from the main story, I enjoyed the subtext of Melur's impression of the human race--so many material things we rely on and so much around us we ignore.
An engrossing read with intelligent storytelling. I recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh, page-turning tale.
July 29, 2015
I’ll admit that I haven’t read any books about mermaids before. They haven’t ever been very interesting to me. I think Deeper might have changed that.
Within the first few pages of the book, I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy Thomson’s writing. There wasn’t anything in particular that made me feel this way, but I did. However, the feeling quickly passed and I enjoyed her writing throughout the book.
The story was well done. There were no boring parts or parts that felt unneeded. While I enjoyed it all, I absolutely loved the ending. It wasn’t what I was expecting and that made it so much better.
I don’t want to give anything away, so I will stop here. I do recommend Deeper. It was so much better than I originally expected.
* This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
Within the first few pages of the book, I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy Thomson’s writing. There wasn’t anything in particular that made me feel this way, but I did. However, the feeling quickly passed and I enjoyed her writing throughout the book.
The story was well done. There were no boring parts or parts that felt unneeded. While I enjoyed it all, I absolutely loved the ending. It wasn’t what I was expecting and that made it so much better.
I don’t want to give anything away, so I will stop here. I do recommend Deeper. It was so much better than I originally expected.
* This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
August 11, 2013
We all know the story of the Little Mermaid. Cute mermaid rescues handsome prince, overcomes obstacles, lives happily ever after. But that's just a fairytale...
This was an Okay story with very limited dialogue. I found the first few chapters confusing but it straightened up later on in the book. Slightly interesting. Not one that I would read a second time.[[ASIN:B00D59O1W6 Deeper]]
This was an Okay story with very limited dialogue. I found the first few chapters confusing but it straightened up later on in the book. Slightly interesting. Not one that I would read a second time.[[ASIN:B00D59O1W6 Deeper]]
May 19, 2015
Very basic
I bought this book a while ago because I felt like reading something different. Then, somehow, I could not bring myself to start it because I suddenly had a hunch that it would probably be stupid and a waste of time.
I finally started reading it today and found that it is exactly that : a stupid, very badly written, waste of time.
I bought this book a while ago because I felt like reading something different. Then, somehow, I could not bring myself to start it because I suddenly had a hunch that it would probably be stupid and a waste of time.
I finally started reading it today and found that it is exactly that : a stupid, very badly written, waste of time.
February 20, 2014
I got this book free from goodreads.
An interesting take on the mermaid legends. Not really my kind of thing, maybe aimed at a younger audience. I have passed this book on to my neice who is reading it at the moment.
An interesting take on the mermaid legends. Not really my kind of thing, maybe aimed at a younger audience. I have passed this book on to my neice who is reading it at the moment.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews