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Below the Breath of the World #1
Deeper than Black
Deeper Than Black follows Mizu, a 32-year-old scrap diver with strong lungs, powerful legs, and a habit of glancing over her shoulder. She barely carves out a living in a cramped shipping container, nestled within the decaying hull of Boba 7, a domed city crumbling under the weight of time and neglect. As a diver, Mizu braves the abyss to salvage lost tech from sunken ruins, her Oxyphyte helmet her lifeline in the crushing dark.
When a dive goes wrong, Mizu uncovers secrets that challenge her understanding of her world. With fragile ties to Fin, her abductor, and Mako, a cunning ally with a shrouded past, Mizu is drawn into a dangerous mission. In a decaying world of rusting cities and lurking dangers, her choices could reshape her people’s fate—or seal their doom.
#Fantasy #FantasyRomance #Romantasy #MonsterRomance #MonsterLove #MonstrousMen #Sci-fi #CreatureRomance #EnemiesToLovers #HateToLove #ParanormalRomance #PNR #AdultFantasy #AdultRomance #Slowspice #DystopianFiction #DystopianRomance
When a dive goes wrong, Mizu uncovers secrets that challenge her understanding of her world. With fragile ties to Fin, her abductor, and Mako, a cunning ally with a shrouded past, Mizu is drawn into a dangerous mission. In a decaying world of rusting cities and lurking dangers, her choices could reshape her people’s fate—or seal their doom.
#Fantasy #FantasyRomance #Romantasy #MonsterRomance #MonsterLove #MonstrousMen #Sci-fi #CreatureRomance #EnemiesToLovers #HateToLove #ParanormalRomance #PNR #AdultFantasy #AdultRomance #Slowspice #DystopianFiction #DystopianRomance
511 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2025
6 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
H.L. Dawson
3 books31 followersH. L. Dawson, a British, neurodivergent author, now a head teacher in Asia, has always found comfort in books rather than crowds. She builds otherworldly realms where fantastical creatures and cultural history blend seamlessly. Dawson's plot-orientated novels blend strong emotion, vivid imagery, and a compelling writing style to create characters who evolve deeply. She has spent over two decades developing her style with the aim of easing the loneliness of her readers and providing herself with a purpose by telling stories that speak to the heart and offer a little hope with a touch of magic.
✧₊⁺📚📖✎ᝰ.⋆.˚୨ৎ✩☾
Interested in becoming an ARC / beta-reader? Feel free to contact me.
“I have three husbands, but two of them are from Love and Deepspace,”
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FQ6BWH8Z
✧₊⁺📚📖✎ᝰ.⋆.˚୨ৎ✩☾
Interested in becoming an ARC / beta-reader? Feel free to contact me.
“I have three husbands, but two of them are from Love and Deepspace,”
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FQ6BWH8Z
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 19, 2025
Big thank you to the author for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Finally, a good book including the sea!
As a Mediterranean myself, I've always been fascinated with stories about sea and sea creatures (one of the biggest reasons I love The Lightning Thief is for that very same reason, if I'm being honest).
While there is a little bit of romance (an extremely slow burn) this book isn't about that. This is a story about survival in a harsh environment with predators lurking in every dark crevice and hunger always just out of reach.
I do want to note that this book isn't a fantasy. I would characterize it as science-fiction, but it really isn't a fantasy, especially as it is definitely happening in this world, on this planet, only in the future. Also, this book mentions modern technology and gene editing, which I would classify more as SF than fantasy.
Mizu isn't a teenager, but because of the harsh life she's endured, at times she acts much older than her thirty-something years. However, there are definitely things she missed out on, parts of normal experiences growing up, and at those times she feels more like a kid.
I do think the story of a love triangle is a little worn out, so I hope this gets resolved in a future book (and not in the way that Mizu chooses one and the other one gets all mopey and heart-broken). Finn is so dependable and kind and Mako is so playful and flirty. I do hope that this becomes a throuple (also what in the hell happened between those two? There is no explanation until the end: Mizu should have just confronted them both and made them talk about it).
This definitely is one of those books it takes a bit of effort to get into. It's a lot of information abot this strange new world thrown at you all at once, and I'm not certain I still got all that. I'm not yet sure I completely understand what Deepkin and Reefclaws are, to mention but two things. Also, one slightly annoying thing is a lot of that initial information repeating very close at the beginning of the book but nothing is added to that information as it repeats. And another note, when they enter Boba 3 (small spoiler) there is a mention of Kael and Soren, who I assume Finn and Mako are in an earlier draft that was never edited out. Also, one of them is holding a rifle or something? But it's not mentioned before or after. That should probably be edited out in the next draft.
Despite those small grievances, I have absolutely loved this book, and can proudly say that I've found one of my new favourites. It is such an interesting world and I want to learn more about Sirhunes and this strange world deep under the surface of the sea. I know this book had just come out, but I will be eagerly expecting the sequel. In fact, I kind of hope this is part of the longer series.
Finally, a good book including the sea!
As a Mediterranean myself, I've always been fascinated with stories about sea and sea creatures (one of the biggest reasons I love The Lightning Thief is for that very same reason, if I'm being honest).
While there is a little bit of romance (an extremely slow burn) this book isn't about that. This is a story about survival in a harsh environment with predators lurking in every dark crevice and hunger always just out of reach.
I do want to note that this book isn't a fantasy. I would characterize it as science-fiction, but it really isn't a fantasy, especially as it is definitely happening in this world, on this planet, only in the future. Also, this book mentions modern technology and gene editing, which I would classify more as SF than fantasy.
Mizu isn't a teenager, but because of the harsh life she's endured, at times she acts much older than her thirty-something years. However, there are definitely things she missed out on, parts of normal experiences growing up, and at those times she feels more like a kid.
I do think the story of a love triangle is a little worn out, so I hope this gets resolved in a future book (and not in the way that Mizu chooses one and the other one gets all mopey and heart-broken). Finn is so dependable and kind and Mako is so playful and flirty. I do hope that this becomes a throuple (also what in the hell happened between those two? There is no explanation until the end: Mizu should have just confronted them both and made them talk about it).
This definitely is one of those books it takes a bit of effort to get into. It's a lot of information abot this strange new world thrown at you all at once, and I'm not certain I still got all that. I'm not yet sure I completely understand what Deepkin and Reefclaws are, to mention but two things. Also, one slightly annoying thing is a lot of that initial information repeating very close at the beginning of the book but nothing is added to that information as it repeats. And another note, when they enter Boba 3 (small spoiler) there is a mention of Kael and Soren, who I assume Finn and Mako are in an earlier draft that was never edited out. Also, one of them is holding a rifle or something? But it's not mentioned before or after. That should probably be edited out in the next draft.
Despite those small grievances, I have absolutely loved this book, and can proudly say that I've found one of my new favourites. It is such an interesting world and I want to learn more about Sirhunes and this strange world deep under the surface of the sea. I know this book had just come out, but I will be eagerly expecting the sequel. In fact, I kind of hope this is part of the longer series.
May 25, 2025
I am going to start off this review by saying that I make a point of giving an open and honest review in all stories that I read, but especially the books that authors take the time to send to me. I mean what I say, and I say what I mean, which will either jive with you or will piss you off completely. Either way, enjoy.
Deeper than Black was sent to me by H.L. Dawson with the expectation of an honest review and feedback about the good the bad and the ugly. I have had authors send me books in the past who I've continued to get books from, and some who never send me books again, because I like to be as honest as my heart can possibly be (though I make a point of trying to be constructive in my criticism, but OH WELL). You, as a reader, deserve the truth about stories to save your reading time (and frankly your wallet nowadays).
With this in mind, I think you should absolutely read this book. Are you a monster loving reader like me?
No.........than why the heck are you reading this review?
But seriously, if you like a sloooooww burn monster romance with a whole lot of water, heart, struggle, water, survival, and Hey, did I Mention a metric F*** ton of water?
Without giving the entire story away here are a few takeaways to get you started.
Several (Tens?Hundreds?) of years ago the entire earth flooded, forcing human beings to create underwater cities known as Bobas. The cities (like most) have a tiered system of classes.
Mizu, is at the bottom; she lives in squalor and is a diving scavenger who risks her life to scavenge for things to trade outside of the safety of the dome. She lost her parents young, is tough, smart, and makes the hard decisions when she needs to. There were several points in the book where I was crying alongside Mizu, but also sections where I wanted to shake the shizzy out of her and tell her to just DO IT. But at the end of the day, she is an interesting character who you grow alongside of and while I won't be writing poems about how she's my favorite female lead of all time, she definitely fit the tone of the book.
Sirhunues. Okay, here we go. There were several times in the first couple of chapters that I had to read and re-read because I had no idea what was being talked about or what the heck something was.
SO, I decided to help YOU out.
Sirhunues are essentially different types of aquatic people who live in the water. They were either created or are people who were apparently spliced with sea creature DNA a long long while ago. They look different, talk different and are their own people. They were originally cheap labor to build and fix cities who then rebelled and humans now live in fear of them.
Yes, they may have tentacles.
Yes, they may have legs.
Yes, some of them can communicate.
No, I could not pronounce the word Sirhunue aloud if I tried.
Anywhats&butts, without breaking the story wide open Mizu is afforded several opportunities to interact with Sirhunues. In fact, there is a subtle love interest (triangle) for a while there, but Im going to give it to you strait. I was team Fin from the get go.
Fin. Fin Fin Finny FinFin. He checks a lot of a monster lovers boxes.
Tentacles? Check.
Tall dark and handsome? Check.
Thoughtful and caring? Check
Possessive? Check.
Knees?......Well I couldn't completely piece together his anatomy at certain points, but it's okay! Your imagination will cover the rest.
At this moment my hands have sat on my keyboard for exactly 4 minutes trying to piece together what to say next without ruining the whole dang story. So instead of giving the story away, I am going to list for you the several reasons that I would probably be dead in this world.
1. Rust. I have such an aversion to rust and every dang surface in this world seems to be covered with the stuff.
2. Fishy Foods at All Hours. I like my fish and have no problem with sea meals, but.....all the time? Every day?
3. Subsequent smell from everyone eating fishy foods Every Day.
4. Creature Comforts. I like deodorant. And not smelling like fishy B.O. Which I only assume everyone has gone nose blind to in this world.
5. Underwear. No mentions of underwear anywhere. Oh MY Chaffe,
6. Bathrooms. Also unmentioned. But probably for a good reason.
Without reading too much into the reasons why I personally wouldn't make it in this world, I certainly think you should let your imagination take a trip there. Its bleak, wet, cold, but also an adventure through a world that is interesting in its uniqueness.
There are several factors that may be deterring you from starting this book, like
COUGH 1,046 pages COUGH.
Don't. Don't let that stop you.
There was never a point in this book where I would have said "yep split this part into a book 1 and this into book 2," and frankly I DIG that she chose to keep it all together. When you let yourself travel into the world, it's like watching a tv show every day. Which is what I advise other readers to do.
Pace yourself, enjoy it, sink into it, and let it be a fun part of each of your days. Which as a mom of a baby slowly becoming a toddler, you only get about 2 hours a day to yourself. I could either do my WANTS, which was reading this story, or my NEEDS like laundry, dishes, etc.
Safe to say my wants won out most days.
Do I think it could have been shorter? At certain points, Absolutely. The first several chapters are tough. There is a LOT of world building and a lot of descriptions of things, without actually diving right into Mizu's story. I saw somebody else mention some of the descriptions of things as 'Tolkien-Esque' and hell yeah, I agree. Do you need a paragraph about how cold, wet, and dark this tunnel is? Probably not, but it's not my book and maybe that super damp dark tunnel is super important.
Trust me. TRUST ME. You will get through it. And be oh-so greatful you did.
To round out yet another rambling review where I try my best to interest other readers into reading something while simultaneously trying not to RUIN the dang thing, take away this.
This book has a lot of heart. It made me laugh, cry, get frustrated and have hope for a bunch of characters who are completely made up. A story that can do all that is always worth your time.
Well done, H.L. I look forward to reading what other stories you bring to the table.
Now, as I said before my wants won over my needs several days while reading and I am now swimming in a sea of laundry, baby toys, and other unmentionables, so I am off and running to my next big adventure.
4.5 Fish-Men-Float-My-Boat stars ⭐
Deeper than Black was sent to me by H.L. Dawson with the expectation of an honest review and feedback about the good the bad and the ugly. I have had authors send me books in the past who I've continued to get books from, and some who never send me books again, because I like to be as honest as my heart can possibly be (though I make a point of trying to be constructive in my criticism, but OH WELL). You, as a reader, deserve the truth about stories to save your reading time (and frankly your wallet nowadays).
With this in mind, I think you should absolutely read this book. Are you a monster loving reader like me?
No.........than why the heck are you reading this review?
But seriously, if you like a sloooooww burn monster romance with a whole lot of water, heart, struggle, water, survival, and Hey, did I Mention a metric F*** ton of water?
Without giving the entire story away here are a few takeaways to get you started.
Several (Tens?Hundreds?) of years ago the entire earth flooded, forcing human beings to create underwater cities known as Bobas. The cities (like most) have a tiered system of classes.
Mizu, is at the bottom; she lives in squalor and is a diving scavenger who risks her life to scavenge for things to trade outside of the safety of the dome. She lost her parents young, is tough, smart, and makes the hard decisions when she needs to. There were several points in the book where I was crying alongside Mizu, but also sections where I wanted to shake the shizzy out of her and tell her to just DO IT. But at the end of the day, she is an interesting character who you grow alongside of and while I won't be writing poems about how she's my favorite female lead of all time, she definitely fit the tone of the book.
Sirhunues. Okay, here we go. There were several times in the first couple of chapters that I had to read and re-read because I had no idea what was being talked about or what the heck something was.
SO, I decided to help YOU out.
Sirhunues are essentially different types of aquatic people who live in the water. They were either created or are people who were apparently spliced with sea creature DNA a long long while ago. They look different, talk different and are their own people. They were originally cheap labor to build and fix cities who then rebelled and humans now live in fear of them.
Yes, they may have tentacles.
Yes, they may have legs.
Yes, some of them can communicate.
No, I could not pronounce the word Sirhunue aloud if I tried.
Anywhats&butts, without breaking the story wide open Mizu is afforded several opportunities to interact with Sirhunues. In fact, there is a subtle love interest (triangle) for a while there, but Im going to give it to you strait. I was team Fin from the get go.
Fin. Fin Fin Finny FinFin. He checks a lot of a monster lovers boxes.
Tentacles? Check.
Tall dark and handsome? Check.
Thoughtful and caring? Check
Possessive? Check.
Knees?......Well I couldn't completely piece together his anatomy at certain points, but it's okay! Your imagination will cover the rest.
At this moment my hands have sat on my keyboard for exactly 4 minutes trying to piece together what to say next without ruining the whole dang story. So instead of giving the story away, I am going to list for you the several reasons that I would probably be dead in this world.
1. Rust. I have such an aversion to rust and every dang surface in this world seems to be covered with the stuff.
2. Fishy Foods at All Hours. I like my fish and have no problem with sea meals, but.....all the time? Every day?
3. Subsequent smell from everyone eating fishy foods Every Day.
4. Creature Comforts. I like deodorant. And not smelling like fishy B.O. Which I only assume everyone has gone nose blind to in this world.
5. Underwear. No mentions of underwear anywhere. Oh MY Chaffe,
6. Bathrooms. Also unmentioned. But probably for a good reason.
Without reading too much into the reasons why I personally wouldn't make it in this world, I certainly think you should let your imagination take a trip there. Its bleak, wet, cold, but also an adventure through a world that is interesting in its uniqueness.
There are several factors that may be deterring you from starting this book, like
COUGH 1,046 pages COUGH.
Don't. Don't let that stop you.
There was never a point in this book where I would have said "yep split this part into a book 1 and this into book 2," and frankly I DIG that she chose to keep it all together. When you let yourself travel into the world, it's like watching a tv show every day. Which is what I advise other readers to do.
Pace yourself, enjoy it, sink into it, and let it be a fun part of each of your days. Which as a mom of a baby slowly becoming a toddler, you only get about 2 hours a day to yourself. I could either do my WANTS, which was reading this story, or my NEEDS like laundry, dishes, etc.
Safe to say my wants won out most days.
Do I think it could have been shorter? At certain points, Absolutely. The first several chapters are tough. There is a LOT of world building and a lot of descriptions of things, without actually diving right into Mizu's story. I saw somebody else mention some of the descriptions of things as 'Tolkien-Esque' and hell yeah, I agree. Do you need a paragraph about how cold, wet, and dark this tunnel is? Probably not, but it's not my book and maybe that super damp dark tunnel is super important.
Trust me. TRUST ME. You will get through it. And be oh-so greatful you did.
To round out yet another rambling review where I try my best to interest other readers into reading something while simultaneously trying not to RUIN the dang thing, take away this.
This book has a lot of heart. It made me laugh, cry, get frustrated and have hope for a bunch of characters who are completely made up. A story that can do all that is always worth your time.
Well done, H.L. I look forward to reading what other stories you bring to the table.
Now, as I said before my wants won over my needs several days while reading and I am now swimming in a sea of laundry, baby toys, and other unmentionables, so I am off and running to my next big adventure.
4.5 Fish-Men-Float-My-Boat stars ⭐
August 16, 2025
This book: Terrible, cliched, derivative prose. Overly bloated and meandering. In desperate need of a creative, human, intelligent editor.
I have multiple, excellent reasons to think this book is AI-produced slop (e.g., the author confirming they use generative AI when writing, excerpts put through AI detectors reporting 44-100% of text in a given snippet being produced by AI). I think its really important that the content of a book be human-generated, and that the book is clear/transparent/accountable when AI is used to make it.
I have multiple, excellent reasons to think this book is AI-produced slop (e.g., the author confirming they use generative AI when writing, excerpts put through AI detectors reporting 44-100% of text in a given snippet being produced by AI). I think its really important that the content of a book be human-generated, and that the book is clear/transparent/accountable when AI is used to make it.
May 5, 2025
I was given a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review. I’m rating this book a solid 4 ⭐️, and I’ll explain why. This is this authors debut novel, and while I think the writing and structure of the book could use tweaking, the story and the unique world building make it exciting and worth the read!
In the first few chapters I was already captured by the details surrounding Boba 7 and Mizu’s oxyphyte helmet. So cool and different! If I wasn’t excited about the read it would have been a bit tough to get through the copious amounts of detail the author puts into describing Boba 7 and all its sectors (for it to seemingly not matter much in the rest of the book). Sentences were long and descriptive and many of them had em dashes (-) to add extra information. My mom brain is soup, so that was a bit hard to get through and comprehend. There were a few areas where I had to read the sentence twice, and a few areas where details were repeated and I was confused about why we were given that information again. The repetitive details happen throughout the book, and there are a few typos that are a bit distracting. HOWEVER, when it comes to reading a good book I truly think authors (including this author) can work with editors and arc readers to really hone their craft and polish their writing style fairly easily. What authors can’t do easily is have the kind of imagination it takes to create an entire new world and story that captivates the reader *and* put it on paper, and this author has this in abundance! With time and more practice writing, I’m expecting great reads coming from H.L. Dawson.
On to the characters. I couldn’t decide whether or not I loved Mizu or if she drove me crazy. I landed on both. Her decision making skills are lacking sometimes and she’s brash other times, but overall I thought she was an admirable badass! I laughed with her and cried with her in this book. Fin and Mako were lovable monsters and I struggled to pick between the two (love triangle vibes). This is a monster romance, but I could have done with way more romance. More banter, more flirting, and more spice. But with a world bogged down with books where the only substance is the banter and spice, this was kind of refreshing in its own way. It leans heavier on fantasy than it does on romance.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and look forward to what the author comes out with in the future!
In the first few chapters I was already captured by the details surrounding Boba 7 and Mizu’s oxyphyte helmet. So cool and different! If I wasn’t excited about the read it would have been a bit tough to get through the copious amounts of detail the author puts into describing Boba 7 and all its sectors (for it to seemingly not matter much in the rest of the book). Sentences were long and descriptive and many of them had em dashes (-) to add extra information. My mom brain is soup, so that was a bit hard to get through and comprehend. There were a few areas where I had to read the sentence twice, and a few areas where details were repeated and I was confused about why we were given that information again. The repetitive details happen throughout the book, and there are a few typos that are a bit distracting. HOWEVER, when it comes to reading a good book I truly think authors (including this author) can work with editors and arc readers to really hone their craft and polish their writing style fairly easily. What authors can’t do easily is have the kind of imagination it takes to create an entire new world and story that captivates the reader *and* put it on paper, and this author has this in abundance! With time and more practice writing, I’m expecting great reads coming from H.L. Dawson.
On to the characters. I couldn’t decide whether or not I loved Mizu or if she drove me crazy. I landed on both. Her decision making skills are lacking sometimes and she’s brash other times, but overall I thought she was an admirable badass! I laughed with her and cried with her in this book. Fin and Mako were lovable monsters and I struggled to pick between the two (love triangle vibes). This is a monster romance, but I could have done with way more romance. More banter, more flirting, and more spice. But with a world bogged down with books where the only substance is the banter and spice, this was kind of refreshing in its own way. It leans heavier on fantasy than it does on romance.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and look forward to what the author comes out with in the future!
Read
July 4, 2025Disclaimer: I received this novel free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is a (mostly) engrossing novel with original and interesting world building and fantasy characters, though I did have the urge to toss the main character out of the airlock a few times for being a drama queen. I especially liked the relationship-development between Mizu, Fin and Mako (after the shark); not to mention the budding friendship with shy Myopsida of the multiple eyes and tentacles who maintains the food garden. A great deal of the novel reads like a cozy adventure novel, where Mizu is exploring her environment, making friends and figuring out how things work. The pacing tends to be uneven with the exploratory sections slowing down the story narrative. The writing is indulgent, sometimes lyrical, but often repetitive with lengthy sections of exposition (which tend to be interesting when discussing the world building). There are also a few continuity errors and a glaring plot hole. This book ideally needs an editor to streamline the narrative and fix the problems, but the story was still compelling despite its faults. I really wanted to find out more about this post-apocalyptic submerged world, its spliced hybrid creatures, and the experimental Ark society they inhabit, and the only way to do that is to continue reading. This author has promise (good imagination and writing skills) and a bit of judicious editing will streamline this debut story into a better novel. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
This is a (mostly) engrossing novel with original and interesting world building and fantasy characters, though I did have the urge to toss the main character out of the airlock a few times for being a drama queen. I especially liked the relationship-development between Mizu, Fin and Mako (after the shark); not to mention the budding friendship with shy Myopsida of the multiple eyes and tentacles who maintains the food garden. A great deal of the novel reads like a cozy adventure novel, where Mizu is exploring her environment, making friends and figuring out how things work. The pacing tends to be uneven with the exploratory sections slowing down the story narrative. The writing is indulgent, sometimes lyrical, but often repetitive with lengthy sections of exposition (which tend to be interesting when discussing the world building). There are also a few continuity errors and a glaring plot hole. This book ideally needs an editor to streamline the narrative and fix the problems, but the story was still compelling despite its faults. I really wanted to find out more about this post-apocalyptic submerged world, its spliced hybrid creatures, and the experimental Ark society they inhabit, and the only way to do that is to continue reading. This author has promise (good imagination and writing skills) and a bit of judicious editing will streamline this debut story into a better novel. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
Read
April 26, 2025DNF.
I was given a copy of this book as an ARC to help the author get her name out, as she's self publishing.
Sadly I just can't get into this at all.
Tbh I'm a bit bored.
I appreciate its difficult world building but I've read for ages and she hasn't left her building yet.... maybe that's harsh but if a book doesn't grab me in the first few pages I'm done.
Maybe another day I'll give it a try.
It seems just too wordy.
'Her home was a battered shipping container, its dented walls streaked with rust, teetering on the dome’s outer edge like a forgotten relic. A single porthole, its glass filmed with Oxyphyte, leaked a sickly green glow into the space.'
It's paragraphs and paragraphs of description and explanation.
Sadly not for me at the moment.
I was given a copy of this book as an ARC to help the author get her name out, as she's self publishing.
Sadly I just can't get into this at all.
Tbh I'm a bit bored.
I appreciate its difficult world building but I've read for ages and she hasn't left her building yet.... maybe that's harsh but if a book doesn't grab me in the first few pages I'm done.
Maybe another day I'll give it a try.
It seems just too wordy.
'Her home was a battered shipping container, its dented walls streaked with rust, teetering on the dome’s outer edge like a forgotten relic. A single porthole, its glass filmed with Oxyphyte, leaked a sickly green glow into the space.'
It's paragraphs and paragraphs of description and explanation.
Sadly not for me at the moment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2025
Dragged into the deep, reshaped, and forced to choose what comes next.
Drop into a sunken world where survival means clinging to the last air pockets of civilization, where the sea hides more than secrets. Mizu, a sharp-edged scavenger from a flooded city, is pulled beneath the surface by Fin, a Sirhunue, a hybrid creature born from old science and stranger tides. What starts as a kidnapping becomes something far harder to define.
Below the waves, Mizu uncovers a society where humans and Sirhunue live side by side, where old truths are lies, and where her own blood links her to a godlike entity bent on reshaping the ocean and possibly ending it. As her body changes and her connection to Fin deepens, she’s forced to decide what parts of herself are worth saving, and which ones must evolve.
A blend of survival tale, monster romance, and slow-burning identity crisis that doesn’t hold back. The worldbuilding is immersive but grounded. The Ark, the trench, the decaying domes: each setting feels lived-in, haunting, and beautiful in its own eerie way.
Mizu begins as a closed-off survivor, armored in sarcasm and grief. Through her journey, she sheds fear for curiosity, resistance for trust. Her transformation isn’t just physical, it’s emotional. She learns to connect, to lead, and to choose her path without apology.
Fin starts off as a quiet captor with unclear motives. He evolves by listening, adapting, and offering care without strings. He learns boundaries, empathy, and how to love without control. His arc is subtle but deep, built on patience and growth.
Mako bursts in with chaos, confidence, and buried hurt. Beneath the bravado is someone loyal, perceptive, and self-aware. His relationship with Mizu is playful but real, part tension, part understanding, and full of emotional clarity when it counts.
Together, their dynamic is raw, awkward, and powerful. Mizu and Fin don’t fall easily. It’s a layered, slow build through shared silence, risk, and regret. Mako adds friction and balance, showing that love can challenge as much as it soothes.
By the time the story reaches its end, love and survival are inseparable. Mizu doesn’t just live. She claims her place in a world that was never built for her.
Part sci-fi, part deep-sea horror, part slow-burn romance, exploring love, identity, transformation, survival, intimacy, consent, legacy, power, grief, connection, evolution, belonging, trust, choice, control, and adaptation, in an amazingly detailed underwater world. It's about survival, intimacy, transformation, and the tension between control and trust. This is what happens when evolution gets personal.
Drop into a sunken world where survival means clinging to the last air pockets of civilization, where the sea hides more than secrets. Mizu, a sharp-edged scavenger from a flooded city, is pulled beneath the surface by Fin, a Sirhunue, a hybrid creature born from old science and stranger tides. What starts as a kidnapping becomes something far harder to define.
Below the waves, Mizu uncovers a society where humans and Sirhunue live side by side, where old truths are lies, and where her own blood links her to a godlike entity bent on reshaping the ocean and possibly ending it. As her body changes and her connection to Fin deepens, she’s forced to decide what parts of herself are worth saving, and which ones must evolve.
A blend of survival tale, monster romance, and slow-burning identity crisis that doesn’t hold back. The worldbuilding is immersive but grounded. The Ark, the trench, the decaying domes: each setting feels lived-in, haunting, and beautiful in its own eerie way.
Mizu begins as a closed-off survivor, armored in sarcasm and grief. Through her journey, she sheds fear for curiosity, resistance for trust. Her transformation isn’t just physical, it’s emotional. She learns to connect, to lead, and to choose her path without apology.
Fin starts off as a quiet captor with unclear motives. He evolves by listening, adapting, and offering care without strings. He learns boundaries, empathy, and how to love without control. His arc is subtle but deep, built on patience and growth.
Mako bursts in with chaos, confidence, and buried hurt. Beneath the bravado is someone loyal, perceptive, and self-aware. His relationship with Mizu is playful but real, part tension, part understanding, and full of emotional clarity when it counts.
Together, their dynamic is raw, awkward, and powerful. Mizu and Fin don’t fall easily. It’s a layered, slow build through shared silence, risk, and regret. Mako adds friction and balance, showing that love can challenge as much as it soothes.
By the time the story reaches its end, love and survival are inseparable. Mizu doesn’t just live. She claims her place in a world that was never built for her.
Part sci-fi, part deep-sea horror, part slow-burn romance, exploring love, identity, transformation, survival, intimacy, consent, legacy, power, grief, connection, evolution, belonging, trust, choice, control, and adaptation, in an amazingly detailed underwater world. It's about survival, intimacy, transformation, and the tension between control and trust. This is what happens when evolution gets personal.
May 1, 2025
At first, my review was going to be low. Like around 2.5/3 stars because the formatting was awful. Coupled with some repetitive information 100 pages in, I couldn't see myself finishing. However, I spoke with the author about the issues that I had with the formatting, and she was able to fix it quickly. She's amazing so I really appreciate her taking criticism and input.
Now the story, while repetitive in some areas, I ended up loving. Mizu is complicated and annoying. One minute I was loving her and the next minute I just wanted to throw my phone because I was over her complaining. Her character is a hard one to pin down, but honestly, I ended up loving her. She's smart, snarky, and has some serious trauma issues. I love the way the author developed her character and her inner voice. It worked for Mizu and the story itself.
The plot was a bit much and overwhelming. This book is over a thousand pages! While there were some aspects that could have been cut, I did like the build up and how it all unraveled. The last 150 pages were INSANE!!!! I couldn't stop for breath with how crazy everything got. I am interested to see exactly where this author will take the rest of the series.
While I did love the overall book, there are some critiques that hindered me rating this 5 stars. One thing was the over description of Boba 7, everything around Mizu, and even the descriptions of seemingly unimportant things. Easiest way to describe the descriptions is "Tolkien" like. She took paragraphs to describe something that could have easily been done in a sentence or two. Two, there were some instances that the flow skittered to a stop. There weren't smooth transitions. And three, I really wish there would have been a better break in paragraphs. It made it harder to keep my attention when one paragraph is an entire page and another one is only a couple sentences.
One of my favorite aspects, actually favorite thing, is all the side characters. Mako and Fin are so different from each other. I couldn't decide who to choose and who I wanted Mizu with. They both are so different with their own pros and cons. How it ended, it was exactly as it should. Mizu's friendship with Myo is also something I need to mention. It was the first time Mizu actually had a female friend. I loved reading about them and their growth as friends. Other side characters were great too, but I can't describe them too much as it's a huge spoiler.
To end this review, my honest thoughts are I loved the story itself. I would read this again. Yes there are issues, but the feelings throughout, the characters, the romance, even the plot, worked for the story. I cried in certain parts, celebrated with Mizu, cheered with her, but also felt her grief, pain, and confusion. It was visceral in so many ways. For a debut, I really enjoyed it. I think that's the biggest takeaway.
Now the story, while repetitive in some areas, I ended up loving. Mizu is complicated and annoying. One minute I was loving her and the next minute I just wanted to throw my phone because I was over her complaining. Her character is a hard one to pin down, but honestly, I ended up loving her. She's smart, snarky, and has some serious trauma issues. I love the way the author developed her character and her inner voice. It worked for Mizu and the story itself.
The plot was a bit much and overwhelming. This book is over a thousand pages! While there were some aspects that could have been cut, I did like the build up and how it all unraveled. The last 150 pages were INSANE!!!! I couldn't stop for breath with how crazy everything got. I am interested to see exactly where this author will take the rest of the series.
While I did love the overall book, there are some critiques that hindered me rating this 5 stars. One thing was the over description of Boba 7, everything around Mizu, and even the descriptions of seemingly unimportant things. Easiest way to describe the descriptions is "Tolkien" like. She took paragraphs to describe something that could have easily been done in a sentence or two. Two, there were some instances that the flow skittered to a stop. There weren't smooth transitions. And three, I really wish there would have been a better break in paragraphs. It made it harder to keep my attention when one paragraph is an entire page and another one is only a couple sentences.
One of my favorite aspects, actually favorite thing, is all the side characters. Mako and Fin are so different from each other. I couldn't decide who to choose and who I wanted Mizu with. They both are so different with their own pros and cons. How it ended, it was exactly as it should. Mizu's friendship with Myo is also something I need to mention. It was the first time Mizu actually had a female friend. I loved reading about them and their growth as friends. Other side characters were great too, but I can't describe them too much as it's a huge spoiler.
To end this review, my honest thoughts are I loved the story itself. I would read this again. Yes there are issues, but the feelings throughout, the characters, the romance, even the plot, worked for the story. I cried in certain parts, celebrated with Mizu, cheered with her, but also felt her grief, pain, and confusion. It was visceral in so many ways. For a debut, I really enjoyed it. I think that's the biggest takeaway.
September 16, 2025
Thank you to the author for reaching out to offer a free e-pub in exchange for an honest review! The premise of this book sounded really interesting to me (I do love deep-sea sci-fi with attractive sea monsters), but it took me a while to get into the story. Even after giving it some time to sit, I don't really have much to say. The book focused mainly on establishing the world, settling some of Mizu's internal conflicts, and setting up for future books. It definitely suffered from a predictable story, but it did well at establishing the small cast of characters and giving readers questions for future books.
Mizu felt like a realistic character. She was initially very distrustful and angry about her situation after struggling to survive in Boba 7. She took a lot of time to sort out her emotions and open up to other people aboard the Ark, which made sense to me despite how frustrating her behavior was to read. In the end, I did sympathize with her and I understood why she felt the way she did. I also liked seeing Mizu's major emotionally repressed black cat energy slowly dissipating as she became more comfortable in her new environment. Since I read this more as an action/mystery, I wasn't invested in the hints of romance between Mizu and the two male leads, but they each had their moments.
Other than the main character, there was nothing that really pulled me into this book. The amount of information given at the beginning was overwhelming and a lot of the worldbuilding felt felt like unnecessary detail. It might be interesting to know that divers put oxygen-producing plants in their helmets while diving, and how the plants came to be, and how Mizu takes care of them for her survival. It's also felt unnecessary to have all that detail. Combined with repetition, wordy prose, and a general lack of direction from the plot, I found this book hard to read in general.
Mizu felt like a realistic character. She was initially very distrustful and angry about her situation after struggling to survive in Boba 7. She took a lot of time to sort out her emotions and open up to other people aboard the Ark, which made sense to me despite how frustrating her behavior was to read. In the end, I did sympathize with her and I understood why she felt the way she did. I also liked seeing Mizu's major emotionally repressed black cat energy slowly dissipating as she became more comfortable in her new environment. Since I read this more as an action/mystery, I wasn't invested in the hints of romance between Mizu and the two male leads, but they each had their moments.
Other than the main character, there was nothing that really pulled me into this book. The amount of information given at the beginning was overwhelming and a lot of the worldbuilding felt felt like unnecessary detail. It might be interesting to know that divers put oxygen-producing plants in their helmets while diving, and how the plants came to be, and how Mizu takes care of them for her survival. It's also felt unnecessary to have all that detail. Combined with repetition, wordy prose, and a general lack of direction from the plot, I found this book hard to read in general.
August 21, 2025
Deeper Than Black follows Mizu, a scrap diver living in Boba 7 and trying to survive the decaying domed city. When a dive goes from bad to worse, Mizu discovers secrets lost to time and a whole new world she must wade through in order to finally find happiness.
This was a really fun post-apocalyptic, dystopian romance. The world was really detailed and complex and very cool. I loved the concept of humans fleeing to live under the sea in domed worlds. The descriptions were great and haunting. It's a very dark, dingy, and rusting world that's decaying. It made for a really intriguing setting. It is a little slow at times, but still an enjoyable read.
I quite enjoyed the main character, Mizu. She's very fierce and headstrong and untrusting. I really liked her growth throughout the course of the novel. I'm quite curious to see what she does next. There is a little bit of a love triangle going on and while I do like Mako, I prefer Fin for Mizu. I'm very curious to see where the relationships go! But I really like that this is more of a slowburn. There's great tension and build-up to the romances.
If you like stories set in domed cities under the sea with romance and sea creatures, I'd definitely recommend checking this out!
Thank you to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review
This was a really fun post-apocalyptic, dystopian romance. The world was really detailed and complex and very cool. I loved the concept of humans fleeing to live under the sea in domed worlds. The descriptions were great and haunting. It's a very dark, dingy, and rusting world that's decaying. It made for a really intriguing setting. It is a little slow at times, but still an enjoyable read.
I quite enjoyed the main character, Mizu. She's very fierce and headstrong and untrusting. I really liked her growth throughout the course of the novel. I'm quite curious to see what she does next. There is a little bit of a love triangle going on and while I do like Mako, I prefer Fin for Mizu. I'm very curious to see where the relationships go! But I really like that this is more of a slowburn. There's great tension and build-up to the romances.
If you like stories set in domed cities under the sea with romance and sea creatures, I'd definitely recommend checking this out!
Thank you to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review
June 17, 2025
I was sent this book by the very lovely author so that I could have a look through it; all opinions I express in this review are my own, and honestly, can be discarded if people want!
Overview: Mizu is a diver and scavenger in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has retreated under the sea into Bubble Cities, or Bobas, but once she gets snatched by a Sirhunue, one of the human-sealife hybrids that were originally made to serve humans before they revolted and fought back, everything changes, and she learns that not only are some things in her past not quite real or true, but that there's a huge mission ahead of her in the future. Can she handle the truth, her emotions, and her new discoveries, without breaking? You'll have to read to find out!
Main character: Mizu is incredibly real and well-developed. I like her initial reactions when she's told the truth and brought to the Ark and all, and I like her inner struggles. You get to live through them with her, and I think that's beautiful.
Other characters: They're actually pretty well-developed too, which is often a problem in these heavily character-driven books, and all get a chance to shine, from Umi and Cetor, to Fin and Mako. Of course they're not always perfect, and I'll admit I was rooting for Mako for a VERY long time because of how Fin suddenly turns into a sulky teenager as soon as things don't go his way, but, each and every one definitely carves their own spot in this book.
The world: is vast and deep and very well thought of, although I'd love to eventually maybe hear more about whether anyone believes they can one day return to the surface, however, we get quite enough Sirhunue and under-the-sea lore that it should feed several more books!
The conflict: truthfully, while you might think that the problem is initially about Mizu's past and what it means for her future, it's actually about the characters, Mizu adapting to her new reality, finding footing with the people around her and in her new home, and finding a purpose, then coming to terms with that she thought she knew and the actual reality. It's a very intriguing study in psychology, and I'm quite pleasantly surprised!
Now, for the reasons I docked one star off this review.
There are a few problems with this manuscript that could benefit greatly from another, tighter editing cycle. There are plenty of in-text repetitions which pop up in the text where they shouldn't be as introductory notes happen at the beginning of the story, not somewhere towards the middle when we've already been told about it, or even towards the end. This is something that's a cycle throughout the book, and could possibly shave off at least fifty pages if not a hundred when going through the entire thing.
Additionally, the Sirhunue descriptions aren't uniform and definitely need to be looked over again, because at one point Cetor has both fins, tentacles, and legs, and even Mizu suddenly gets a mention of tentacles on her that obviously don't exist even just a few sentences later!
There's probably smaller bits and pieces I haven't mentioned, but the one other thing I'd point out is the Echo Sphere, that definitely needs to be edited throughout the story, as we get several different comments on how and when Mizu found it (after we already read exactly how it happened in-text, right beside her), and it's treated like an afterthought when we already know it can communicate, something Mizu seems to forget after coming to the Ark.
Those are my honest thoughts, and mostly, I believe another editing cycle could probably brush over most of what I mentioned above. The bones of the story are VERY well thought out, and I'm sure the sequel about the Abyssal Eye will be brilliant as well. Nothing that I said could use edits should deter anyone from reading, or indeed bother when actually reading, it's just a case of polishing things up.
Overall, I definitely recommend this one if you like stories about dystopia, sirens, uncovering the past and finding yourself in the middle of a very chaotic life!
Overview: Mizu is a diver and scavenger in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has retreated under the sea into Bubble Cities, or Bobas, but once she gets snatched by a Sirhunue, one of the human-sealife hybrids that were originally made to serve humans before they revolted and fought back, everything changes, and she learns that not only are some things in her past not quite real or true, but that there's a huge mission ahead of her in the future. Can she handle the truth, her emotions, and her new discoveries, without breaking? You'll have to read to find out!
Main character: Mizu is incredibly real and well-developed. I like her initial reactions when she's told the truth and brought to the Ark and all, and I like her inner struggles. You get to live through them with her, and I think that's beautiful.
Other characters: They're actually pretty well-developed too, which is often a problem in these heavily character-driven books, and all get a chance to shine, from Umi and Cetor, to Fin and Mako. Of course they're not always perfect, and I'll admit I was rooting for Mako for a VERY long time because of how Fin suddenly turns into a sulky teenager as soon as things don't go his way, but, each and every one definitely carves their own spot in this book.
The world: is vast and deep and very well thought of, although I'd love to eventually maybe hear more about whether anyone believes they can one day return to the surface, however, we get quite enough Sirhunue and under-the-sea lore that it should feed several more books!
The conflict: truthfully, while you might think that the problem is initially about Mizu's past and what it means for her future, it's actually about the characters, Mizu adapting to her new reality, finding footing with the people around her and in her new home, and finding a purpose, then coming to terms with that she thought she knew and the actual reality. It's a very intriguing study in psychology, and I'm quite pleasantly surprised!
Now, for the reasons I docked one star off this review.
There are a few problems with this manuscript that could benefit greatly from another, tighter editing cycle. There are plenty of in-text repetitions which pop up in the text where they shouldn't be as introductory notes happen at the beginning of the story, not somewhere towards the middle when we've already been told about it, or even towards the end. This is something that's a cycle throughout the book, and could possibly shave off at least fifty pages if not a hundred when going through the entire thing.
Additionally, the Sirhunue descriptions aren't uniform and definitely need to be looked over again, because at one point Cetor has both fins, tentacles, and legs, and even Mizu suddenly gets a mention of tentacles on her that obviously don't exist even just a few sentences later!
There's probably smaller bits and pieces I haven't mentioned, but the one other thing I'd point out is the Echo Sphere, that definitely needs to be edited throughout the story, as we get several different comments on how and when Mizu found it (after we already read exactly how it happened in-text, right beside her), and it's treated like an afterthought when we already know it can communicate, something Mizu seems to forget after coming to the Ark.
Those are my honest thoughts, and mostly, I believe another editing cycle could probably brush over most of what I mentioned above. The bones of the story are VERY well thought out, and I'm sure the sequel about the Abyssal Eye will be brilliant as well. Nothing that I said could use edits should deter anyone from reading, or indeed bother when actually reading, it's just a case of polishing things up.
Overall, I definitely recommend this one if you like stories about dystopia, sirens, uncovering the past and finding yourself in the middle of a very chaotic life!
June 7, 2025
𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓-𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃ⵑ
"Deeper Than Black" the debut novel by H.L. Dawson, takes the reader into the depths of the post-apocalyptic world hundreds of years after the cataclysm of the great flood. The richly and detailed presentation of the universe of the created world tempts you to delve into its mysterious and dangerous vastness. The beginning is full of new concepts, names of places, terms, all to bring us closer to this dystopian world. However, when we dive deeper into it, it fascinates and holds us in a web of subsequent events from which it is difficult to free ourselves. The main character is initially irritating with her behavior of a spoiled brat, but you can understand her to some extent.
If you are looking for dizzying action, you will not find it here. It is rather a lot of the main character's internal monologue interspersed with sporadic dialogues. There are, in my opinion, a bit too many repetitions, but I turned a blind eye to that, taking into account that this is the first book by the Author, who smuggles in topics between the lines that are worth stopping and thinking about. I think that two opposing forces are fighting in each of us. Silence and storm... love and hate... joy and anger... it depends only on us whether we will manage to maintain the balance between them... then and only then is there a chance for complete harmony... even ZEN...
In the era of "rushing life" this is a nice change.
The Author somehow forces the reader to slow down, contemplate the world she has created, slowly immerse themselves in it, experience it together with the characters and wasn't "The Abyssal Eye" left open for us, perhaps another story. Mako would have completely earned one 🥰
So if you like a slow pace in the stories you read, and not action rushing at the speed of light and an equally slow combustion between the characters, then this story is for you.
Author H..L. Dawson provided me with a free digital review copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
From me, a solid 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and encouragement to create more stories. H.L. Dawson, you have the power to weave compelling stories, so continue to create and share your talent with us. Greetings and thanks again for sharing your story with me to read 😊🤍
𝐈 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓-𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 ⵑ
[...]
“Take what it gives, give what it takes.” She lived by it, her existence a fragile balance of scavenging and surrender, shaped by the unforgiving tides that ruled her world.
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐨 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 🎶🎧👩📚☕
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8V-U...
"Deeper Than Black" the debut novel by H.L. Dawson, takes the reader into the depths of the post-apocalyptic world hundreds of years after the cataclysm of the great flood. The richly and detailed presentation of the universe of the created world tempts you to delve into its mysterious and dangerous vastness. The beginning is full of new concepts, names of places, terms, all to bring us closer to this dystopian world. However, when we dive deeper into it, it fascinates and holds us in a web of subsequent events from which it is difficult to free ourselves. The main character is initially irritating with her behavior of a spoiled brat, but you can understand her to some extent.
If you are looking for dizzying action, you will not find it here. It is rather a lot of the main character's internal monologue interspersed with sporadic dialogues. There are, in my opinion, a bit too many repetitions, but I turned a blind eye to that, taking into account that this is the first book by the Author, who smuggles in topics between the lines that are worth stopping and thinking about. I think that two opposing forces are fighting in each of us. Silence and storm... love and hate... joy and anger... it depends only on us whether we will manage to maintain the balance between them... then and only then is there a chance for complete harmony... even ZEN...
In the era of "rushing life" this is a nice change.
The Author somehow forces the reader to slow down, contemplate the world she has created, slowly immerse themselves in it, experience it together with the characters and wasn't "The Abyssal Eye" left open for us, perhaps another story. Mako would have completely earned one 🥰
So if you like a slow pace in the stories you read, and not action rushing at the speed of light and an equally slow combustion between the characters, then this story is for you.
Author H..L. Dawson provided me with a free digital review copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
From me, a solid 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and encouragement to create more stories. H.L. Dawson, you have the power to weave compelling stories, so continue to create and share your talent with us. Greetings and thanks again for sharing your story with me to read 😊🤍
𝐈 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓-𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 ⵑ
[...]
“Take what it gives, give what it takes.” She lived by it, her existence a fragile balance of scavenging and surrender, shaped by the unforgiving tides that ruled her world.
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐨 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 🎶🎧👩📚☕
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8V-U...
June 8, 2025
It was so hard to decide on a star rating for this book. I didn’t want to rate it too low but also didn’t want to rate it too high because of the things that I thought could have been improved upon.
So I’m going to list star ratings for the different aspects of the book.
4 stars for the world building. Dawson has created a beautiful and vividly described world that makes you want to dive right in. Pun intended.
3 stars for the romance. It fell kind of flat for me. I wanted more banter, more flirting, more courting, just more. Fin is everything you could want in a monster romance but we need more! While this book is labeled as a monster romance I think this was more about watching Mizu grow and change and the romance was a smaller plot.
2 stars for length of the book and over-explanations. There is no real reason this book needed to be so long. There was a lot of over-explanation and descriptions that really didn’t need to be there and I think it took away from the overall story.
Overall, the book had a beautiful world with an okay romance aspect. Overall I would rate it 2.5 or 3 stars.
So I’m going to list star ratings for the different aspects of the book.
4 stars for the world building. Dawson has created a beautiful and vividly described world that makes you want to dive right in. Pun intended.
3 stars for the romance. It fell kind of flat for me. I wanted more banter, more flirting, more courting, just more. Fin is everything you could want in a monster romance but we need more! While this book is labeled as a monster romance I think this was more about watching Mizu grow and change and the romance was a smaller plot.
2 stars for length of the book and over-explanations. There is no real reason this book needed to be so long. There was a lot of over-explanation and descriptions that really didn’t need to be there and I think it took away from the overall story.
Overall, the book had a beautiful world with an okay romance aspect. Overall I would rate it 2.5 or 3 stars.
July 9, 2025
Deeper than Black is a dark, romantic sci-fi fantasy primarily set in Boba 7 that the ominous eye looms over.
The world building is beautiful and vividly described you could almost see in as your read the book.
If you like great world building, slow burn romances, water, struggle, survival and monster romance this might be your book
The world building is beautiful and vividly described you could almost see in as your read the book.
If you like great world building, slow burn romances, water, struggle, survival and monster romance this might be your book
November 12, 2025
Mizu—a ruthless diver in the flooded dome city Boba 7—risks everything when a dive uncovers secrets that change her life.
Paired with Fin and Mako, she’s thrust into a diving world where survival means danger.
Paired with Fin and Mako, she’s thrust into a diving world where survival means danger.
October 21, 2025
Very intense, loved the characters and the under water world! Intriguing story line— very different! Well written-!
November 6, 2025
4 out of 5 ⭐️
✨eARC from author✨
Review (no spoilers):
✿ Huge world to explore
I love the world-building in this book, you will find yourself immersed in the dystopian post-apocalyptic world of ? However, we could use a little bit less of some of the explanations, oftentimes over-explained details might actually leave the reader either more confused or distracted. Either way, the world reminded me of a game I was addicted to early this year, Raft, and I'm excited to see more of it. Overall, I appreciate the level of imagination the author has. It's really really really long though, so if you easily get bored, this might not be the right book for you.
Note for author: it might help you in the future to show us more than tell us because you might end up with a ton of infodumping or too-complicated-to-digest details
✿ Under the sea!
I'm fascinated by the way the underwater scenes are depicted, especially the creatures hiding in the dark (wink wink nudge nudge).
✿ Mizu, the wise one
While I was deeply captivated by the world, I was more engrossed by Mizu. Immediately, I was reeled in, I felt all kinds of sad and admiration for her situation and how she handles every dilemma. She can be a bit too much sometimes but it helps that she's a multi-dimensional character instead of just a generic badass heroine. I was so happy to read her develop and become more resilient all while creating deep connection with new friends.
✨eARC from author✨
Review (no spoilers):
✿ Huge world to explore
I love the world-building in this book, you will find yourself immersed in the dystopian post-apocalyptic world of ? However, we could use a little bit less of some of the explanations, oftentimes over-explained details might actually leave the reader either more confused or distracted. Either way, the world reminded me of a game I was addicted to early this year, Raft, and I'm excited to see more of it. Overall, I appreciate the level of imagination the author has. It's really really really long though, so if you easily get bored, this might not be the right book for you.
Note for author: it might help you in the future to show us more than tell us because you might end up with a ton of infodumping or too-complicated-to-digest details
✿ Under the sea!
I'm fascinated by the way the underwater scenes are depicted, especially the creatures hiding in the dark (wink wink nudge nudge).
✿ Mizu, the wise one
While I was deeply captivated by the world, I was more engrossed by Mizu. Immediately, I was reeled in, I felt all kinds of sad and admiration for her situation and how she handles every dilemma. She can be a bit too much sometimes but it helps that she's a multi-dimensional character instead of just a generic badass heroine. I was so happy to read her develop and become more resilient all while creating deep connection with new friends.
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