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Darker Water
A claustrophobic YA sci-fi thriller set in the ocean's depths, where three teens are trapped in a terrifying struggle for survival.
2089, four kilometres below the ocean surface . . .
Underwater stations are home to hundreds of miners, engineers and biologists, all tasked with excavating and processing the miracle bacteria that is the solution to the energy crisis, ProLEC.
Betty, a miner, is at the bottom of the pecking order despite her years of experience.
Maia, a newbie engineer, knows she has the smarts to become a ProCORPer and make it to the very top.
Audley, a biologist, is on track to become the youngest science lead ever.
But something is very wrong with the ProLEC. Peaceful sea creatures are becoming bloodthirsty fiends, unprecedented power cuts and tremors wrack the station and as the three grow closer to the truth, and to each other, they are in far more danger than they could ever imagine.
The first in a thrilling new series perfect for fans of Ben Oliver, Neal Shusterman and Wren James.
2089, four kilometres below the ocean surface . . .
Underwater stations are home to hundreds of miners, engineers and biologists, all tasked with excavating and processing the miracle bacteria that is the solution to the energy crisis, ProLEC.
Betty, a miner, is at the bottom of the pecking order despite her years of experience.
Maia, a newbie engineer, knows she has the smarts to become a ProCORPer and make it to the very top.
Audley, a biologist, is on track to become the youngest science lead ever.
But something is very wrong with the ProLEC. Peaceful sea creatures are becoming bloodthirsty fiends, unprecedented power cuts and tremors wrack the station and as the three grow closer to the truth, and to each other, they are in far more danger than they could ever imagine.
The first in a thrilling new series perfect for fans of Ben Oliver, Neal Shusterman and Wren James.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2026
About the author
Emma Read
5 books24 followersEmma is the award-winning author of the Milton the Mighty series (The Times book of the year) and brand new spooky standalone, The Housetrap. She also co-wrote Panda in the Spotlight with Sarah Horne, all with Chicken House Books.
When not writing, Emma is a freelance novel editor with EmDashED and a writing tutor and mentor with WriteMentor.
She loves Hallowe'en, sci-fi, and board games, and plays too much Fortnite. She lives in the southwest of the UK with her cat and two pet children ... is that right??
When not writing, Emma is a freelance novel editor with EmDashED and a writing tutor and mentor with WriteMentor.
She loves Hallowe'en, sci-fi, and board games, and plays too much Fortnite. She lives in the southwest of the UK with her cat and two pet children ... is that right??
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 30, 2026
2089. Vier kilometer onder de oceaan bestaat een wereld die nooit het daglicht ziet.
Terwijl de aarde boven hen wanhopig vecht tegen de energiecrisis, draait diep onder het zeeoppervlak alles om ProLEC: de machtige organisatie die beweert de toekomst van de mensheid veilig te stellen. Voor Betty is die toekomst een eindeloze strijd. Ondanks jarenlange ervaring blijft ze onderaan de ladder, gevangen in een systeem waarin fouten onvergeeflijk zijn.
Maia arriveert vol verwachtingen in het onderwaterstation. Haar toekomst lijkt uitgestippeld, zolang ze doet wat van haar wordt gevraagd. Geen vragen. Geen twijfel.
Audley ziet eindelijk een kans om door te breken als bioloog binnen ProLEC. Tot hij ontdekt dat achter de glanzende beloftes een angstaanjagend geheim schuilgaat. Wanneer vredelievende diepzeewezens veranderen in meedogenloze roofdieren, mysterieuze stroomstoringen het station teisteren en de oceaanbodem begint te beven, beseffen Betty, Maia en Audley dat de grootste dreiging zich misschien niet buiten de stalen muren bevindt... Hoe diep durf je te gaan voor de toekomst van de mensheid?
Een beklemmende young adult-thriller vol spanning, mysterie en dystopische sciencefiction, waarin vertrouwen levensgevaarlijk kan zijn.
Mijn ervaring:
Een originele, beklemmende en sfeervolle dystopische young adult-thriller. Vanaf de eerste pagina weet Emma Read een gevoel van onbehagen op te roepen dat het verhaal geen moment meer loslaat. De combinatie van sciencefiction, horror en een onderwaterwereld waar letterlijk geen ontsnappen mogelijk is, resulteert in een spannend verhaal dat verrassend actueel aanvoelt.
Emma Read heeft een beeldende, vlotte en toegankelijke schrijfstijl. Haar beschrijvingen van het onderwaterstation en de dreigende oceaan zijn filmisch en laten de spanning voortdurend onder de huid kruipen. De claustrofobische setting is veel meer dan alleen het decor; het onderwaterstation voelt als een levend personage dat de hoofdpersonen steeds verder in het nauw drijft. Zonder te verzanden in technische details schetst Read een geloofwaardige toekomstwereld waarin technologie, macht en natuur voortdurend met elkaar botsen.
De drie hoofdpersonages vormen het hart van het verhaal. Betty, Maia en Audley kijken ieder vanuit een ander perspectief naar ProLEC, de organisatie die de energievoorziening van de mensheid in handen heeft. Die verschillende invalshoeken zorgen voor psychologische gelaagdheid. Betty worstelt met haar plaats binnen de hiërarchie, Maia ontdekt dat gehoorzaamheid een hoge prijs kent en Audley wordt geconfronteerd met de botsing tussen ambitie en geweten. Hun ontwikkeling voelt geloofwaardig en zorgt ervoor dat je als lezer blijft twijfelen aan wie je kunt vertrouwen.
Ook over de opbouw is duidelijk goed nagedacht. Emma Read neemt de tijd om de onderwaterwereld en de machtsverhoudingen binnen ProLEC neer te zetten, waarna de spanning steeds verder wordt opgevoerd. Mysterie, actie en onverwachte wendingen volgen elkaar in een prettig tempo op, terwijl de dreigende sfeer voortdurend voelbaar blijft.
Onder de spannende plot schuilen bovendien actuele thema's. Klimaatverandering, de zoektocht naar duurzame energie, menselijke hebzucht en de vraag hoeveel macht één organisatie mag bezitten vormen de kern van het verhaal. Daarnaast spelen vertrouwen, moed en verantwoordelijkheid een belangrijke rol, waardoor het verhaal niet alleen spannend is, maar ook aanzet tot nadenken.
Darker Water is een sfeervolle, spannende en verrassend gelaagde YA-thriller waarin dystopie, ecologische thema's en psychologische spanning overtuigend samenkomen. Emma Read levert een indrukwekkende young adult af die dankzij de originele setting, de constante dreiging en de sterke personages je zeker zal bijblijven. Een absolute aanrader voor liefhebbers van dystopische young adults en voor iedereen die houdt van sciencefiction met inhoud.
Terwijl de aarde boven hen wanhopig vecht tegen de energiecrisis, draait diep onder het zeeoppervlak alles om ProLEC: de machtige organisatie die beweert de toekomst van de mensheid veilig te stellen. Voor Betty is die toekomst een eindeloze strijd. Ondanks jarenlange ervaring blijft ze onderaan de ladder, gevangen in een systeem waarin fouten onvergeeflijk zijn.
Maia arriveert vol verwachtingen in het onderwaterstation. Haar toekomst lijkt uitgestippeld, zolang ze doet wat van haar wordt gevraagd. Geen vragen. Geen twijfel.
Audley ziet eindelijk een kans om door te breken als bioloog binnen ProLEC. Tot hij ontdekt dat achter de glanzende beloftes een angstaanjagend geheim schuilgaat. Wanneer vredelievende diepzeewezens veranderen in meedogenloze roofdieren, mysterieuze stroomstoringen het station teisteren en de oceaanbodem begint te beven, beseffen Betty, Maia en Audley dat de grootste dreiging zich misschien niet buiten de stalen muren bevindt... Hoe diep durf je te gaan voor de toekomst van de mensheid?
Een beklemmende young adult-thriller vol spanning, mysterie en dystopische sciencefiction, waarin vertrouwen levensgevaarlijk kan zijn.
Mijn ervaring:
Een originele, beklemmende en sfeervolle dystopische young adult-thriller. Vanaf de eerste pagina weet Emma Read een gevoel van onbehagen op te roepen dat het verhaal geen moment meer loslaat. De combinatie van sciencefiction, horror en een onderwaterwereld waar letterlijk geen ontsnappen mogelijk is, resulteert in een spannend verhaal dat verrassend actueel aanvoelt.
Emma Read heeft een beeldende, vlotte en toegankelijke schrijfstijl. Haar beschrijvingen van het onderwaterstation en de dreigende oceaan zijn filmisch en laten de spanning voortdurend onder de huid kruipen. De claustrofobische setting is veel meer dan alleen het decor; het onderwaterstation voelt als een levend personage dat de hoofdpersonen steeds verder in het nauw drijft. Zonder te verzanden in technische details schetst Read een geloofwaardige toekomstwereld waarin technologie, macht en natuur voortdurend met elkaar botsen.
De drie hoofdpersonages vormen het hart van het verhaal. Betty, Maia en Audley kijken ieder vanuit een ander perspectief naar ProLEC, de organisatie die de energievoorziening van de mensheid in handen heeft. Die verschillende invalshoeken zorgen voor psychologische gelaagdheid. Betty worstelt met haar plaats binnen de hiërarchie, Maia ontdekt dat gehoorzaamheid een hoge prijs kent en Audley wordt geconfronteerd met de botsing tussen ambitie en geweten. Hun ontwikkeling voelt geloofwaardig en zorgt ervoor dat je als lezer blijft twijfelen aan wie je kunt vertrouwen.
Ook over de opbouw is duidelijk goed nagedacht. Emma Read neemt de tijd om de onderwaterwereld en de machtsverhoudingen binnen ProLEC neer te zetten, waarna de spanning steeds verder wordt opgevoerd. Mysterie, actie en onverwachte wendingen volgen elkaar in een prettig tempo op, terwijl de dreigende sfeer voortdurend voelbaar blijft.
Onder de spannende plot schuilen bovendien actuele thema's. Klimaatverandering, de zoektocht naar duurzame energie, menselijke hebzucht en de vraag hoeveel macht één organisatie mag bezitten vormen de kern van het verhaal. Daarnaast spelen vertrouwen, moed en verantwoordelijkheid een belangrijke rol, waardoor het verhaal niet alleen spannend is, maar ook aanzet tot nadenken.
Darker Water is een sfeervolle, spannende en verrassend gelaagde YA-thriller waarin dystopie, ecologische thema's en psychologische spanning overtuigend samenkomen. Emma Read levert een indrukwekkende young adult af die dankzij de originele setting, de constante dreiging en de sterke personages je zeker zal bijblijven. Een absolute aanrader voor liefhebbers van dystopische young adults en voor iedereen die houdt van sciencefiction met inhoud.
August 1, 2026
I absolutely adored Darker Water. It takes a little while to build, but once the story settles into its rhythm, I was completely captivated. The growing sense of dread is handled so well, and the underwater setting creates a constant feeling of claustrophobia that made it impossible to relax while reading. I became really invested in the characters, especially Audley, who was easily my favourite. I only wished there had been even more of him. It's also refreshing to read a true YA novel that genuinely feels written for teenagers, with authentic characters and relationships. A tense, atmospheric read that I won't be forgetting anytime soon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Obviously it wasn’t an accident…Someone sent those miners to find something - and I think they did.”
Darker Water is tense, claustrophobic YA Sci-fi thriller set in a world where the climate crisis has reached fever pitch: Devastating floods, deprivation, riots and climate migration. Society has become increasingly stratified.
In 2089, stations on the sea bed house hundreds of miners, engineers and biologists who work together to excavate and process ProLEC. A bacteria that’s providing 40% of the world’s energy.
On the station there’s Lab grown food, VR books and AI integration into every day life. Temperature and humidity are meticulously controlled and only those in perfect mental and physical health are approved to board. The 3 groups of staff are separated, their quarters, privileges and treatments are vastly different.
We follow 3 characters
- Betty, a junior miner who’s confidence has been eroded growing up on the station
- Maia, a newly arrived engineer with aspirations to move up in class
- Audley, a biologist who’s excelling in his career but hiding something from everyone onboard
Humans are surviving in an environment that is usually inhospitable to human life. But it doesn’t take much to tip that delicate balance into disaster. Something is wrong with the ProLec. Marine life is becoming violent and erratic. The station is suffering tremors and power cuts. Leadership on board insist everything is perfectly fine.
Betty and Maia find themselves pulled into the chaos, uncovering something that people would kill to keep hidden.
This book is fast paced, creepy and claustrophobic but threaded with humour and heartwarming moments.
Friendship is a key theme. Maia and Betty come from vastly different backgrounds. Betty’s family can make a decent living on the station. Up top they’ve lost their home and been forced to illegally migrate to survive. Maia has lived a sheltered life of luxury, oblivious to the suffering outside of her bubble. Their differences complement each other allowing a supportive friendship to blossom, albeit full of snark! It addresses climate change, steep class divides, capitalism and corporate greed. There’s also mental health and LGBTQ representation. This is such a fun read and I’m desperate to continue this story after that ending !!
Darker Water is tense, claustrophobic YA Sci-fi thriller set in a world where the climate crisis has reached fever pitch: Devastating floods, deprivation, riots and climate migration. Society has become increasingly stratified.
In 2089, stations on the sea bed house hundreds of miners, engineers and biologists who work together to excavate and process ProLEC. A bacteria that’s providing 40% of the world’s energy.
On the station there’s Lab grown food, VR books and AI integration into every day life. Temperature and humidity are meticulously controlled and only those in perfect mental and physical health are approved to board. The 3 groups of staff are separated, their quarters, privileges and treatments are vastly different.
We follow 3 characters
- Betty, a junior miner who’s confidence has been eroded growing up on the station
- Maia, a newly arrived engineer with aspirations to move up in class
- Audley, a biologist who’s excelling in his career but hiding something from everyone onboard
Humans are surviving in an environment that is usually inhospitable to human life. But it doesn’t take much to tip that delicate balance into disaster. Something is wrong with the ProLec. Marine life is becoming violent and erratic. The station is suffering tremors and power cuts. Leadership on board insist everything is perfectly fine.
Betty and Maia find themselves pulled into the chaos, uncovering something that people would kill to keep hidden.
This book is fast paced, creepy and claustrophobic but threaded with humour and heartwarming moments.
Friendship is a key theme. Maia and Betty come from vastly different backgrounds. Betty’s family can make a decent living on the station. Up top they’ve lost their home and been forced to illegally migrate to survive. Maia has lived a sheltered life of luxury, oblivious to the suffering outside of her bubble. Their differences complement each other allowing a supportive friendship to blossom, albeit full of snark! It addresses climate change, steep class divides, capitalism and corporate greed. There’s also mental health and LGBTQ representation. This is such a fun read and I’m desperate to continue this story after that ending !!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Scifi in environmental theme set in future years when climate disasters have led human to live in a vast underwater circular domes where resources are mined on the ocean floor to produce clean energy. Quite neat and well structured with nothing that repetitive despite having multi-POVs following 3 teenagers living inside the colony but in different class disparity. A troubling incident has suddenly caused a series of frequent tremors and power cuts with mysterious fiend-like change to the sea creatures around making both Maia; a newbie engineer and Betty; a fully experienced miner to team up in finding the reason.
A slowburning suspense and conflict driven premise rather than an action-packed mystery, and it delved more on friendship dynamic, of one’s trust and survival with an enthralling glimpse to environmental ethics and societal inequality. Getting a perspective of Audley the biologist in between; always in a short quick chapter like a sneaky red herring— giving much punch and insight on the whole mess that triggered Betty to run her plan with Maia.
Having an easy to guess on the whodunnit but the revelation was quite a drag as I need to go back and forth with all the mishaps and troubles from getting caught or fell on a trap; too unnecessarily tense and by the time Betty and Maia unraveling the motive, I was already less interested. Would give credit on its immersive worldbuilding though I was hoping having a map included on the setting structure would be a help— kind of like how it goes by zones; the privileges comfort to engineers and scientists but not miners who risk their lives in dangerous conditions to keep the city running.
A recommendation to grab if you’re into YA scifi and climate related theme. Suitable to a new scifi reader too as it was a light nothing to stress much plot, so easy to grasp on its whole dystopian idea where society is shaped by catastrophe and system.
**thank you Times Reads for the proof copy!
A slowburning suspense and conflict driven premise rather than an action-packed mystery, and it delved more on friendship dynamic, of one’s trust and survival with an enthralling glimpse to environmental ethics and societal inequality. Getting a perspective of Audley the biologist in between; always in a short quick chapter like a sneaky red herring— giving much punch and insight on the whole mess that triggered Betty to run her plan with Maia.
Having an easy to guess on the whodunnit but the revelation was quite a drag as I need to go back and forth with all the mishaps and troubles from getting caught or fell on a trap; too unnecessarily tense and by the time Betty and Maia unraveling the motive, I was already less interested. Would give credit on its immersive worldbuilding though I was hoping having a map included on the setting structure would be a help— kind of like how it goes by zones; the privileges comfort to engineers and scientists but not miners who risk their lives in dangerous conditions to keep the city running.
A recommendation to grab if you’re into YA scifi and climate related theme. Suitable to a new scifi reader too as it was a light nothing to stress much plot, so easy to grasp on its whole dystopian idea where society is shaped by catastrophe and system.
**thank you Times Reads for the proof copy!
June 11, 2026
3.5 stars - YA Sci-Fi
Set in the future after a climate disaster. Some of the population now live under the sea in domes. They work to mine for Pro-corp a blue algae that can generate power. Betty, a miners daughter lives in sector 1 which is the lowest in the class system. She meets new engineer Maia, who arrives with her mother and brother who reside in sector 3. As Betty and Maia become friends they notice some odd happenings with the sea creatures turning feral but no one believes them.
This story had such a cool concept - I don't come across many YA sci fi books - the only one that comes to mind is the loneliest girl in the universe by Lauren James but that is set in space not under the sea. Though set in the future if has a very believable environmental angle without being preachy.
Betty and Maia form a strong friendship despite their different walks of life and come together to solve the shady dome activities. We also get the POV of Audley who is seemingly undercover and has pushed Betty away to try and keep her safe.
This was a solid 4 stars right until the last chapter / epilogue. It just ended, seemingly in the middle of what was going on! I'm really not a fan of books that do this so I wasn't best pleased. I'm not sure if this is now a series or a stand alone?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a Chane to review the copy of the eBook.
Set in the future after a climate disaster. Some of the population now live under the sea in domes. They work to mine for Pro-corp a blue algae that can generate power. Betty, a miners daughter lives in sector 1 which is the lowest in the class system. She meets new engineer Maia, who arrives with her mother and brother who reside in sector 3. As Betty and Maia become friends they notice some odd happenings with the sea creatures turning feral but no one believes them.
This story had such a cool concept - I don't come across many YA sci fi books - the only one that comes to mind is the loneliest girl in the universe by Lauren James but that is set in space not under the sea. Though set in the future if has a very believable environmental angle without being preachy.
Betty and Maia form a strong friendship despite their different walks of life and come together to solve the shady dome activities. We also get the POV of Audley who is seemingly undercover and has pushed Betty away to try and keep her safe.
This was a solid 4 stars right until the last chapter / epilogue. It just ended, seemingly in the middle of what was going on! I'm really not a fan of books that do this so I wasn't best pleased. I'm not sure if this is now a series or a stand alone?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a Chane to review the copy of the eBook.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Darker Water really delivered on its concept of an underwater thriller that caught my eye. Following the impact of climate change and widespread migration, a solution to the energy crisis has been found under the ocean. A scientific hub dedicated to solving the energy crisis, sounds pretty exciting and a neat place to live? Only if you're one of the biologists... Split into three tiers depending on your job, with restrictions and a reduced quality of life of those in the lowest tier certainly hampers things.
We follow two characters from the Engineering & Miner groups. Maia and Betty. I have to preface that the relationship between these two is tense up till the last quarter of the book and it makes sense from their two vastly different upbringing and understanding of the world. Both making assumptions about the other. You want to sit these two down and sort out their communication problems so they can build their friendship and solve this mystery 😂 But despite their differences, the two work together well. Disappearing miners, hastily removed senior staff and aggressive sea creatures are all pieces of the puzzle that they have to investigate.
You really don't know who to trust reading this one, lots of characters motivations become untrustworthy which leads to our two leads being isolated. It became so tense with our characters trapped underwater, out of their depth figuratively and literally! How everything escalates and came together was really intriguing and I definitely want to know what happens next after that ending!
Thanks to the publisher for my copy!
We follow two characters from the Engineering & Miner groups. Maia and Betty. I have to preface that the relationship between these two is tense up till the last quarter of the book and it makes sense from their two vastly different upbringing and understanding of the world. Both making assumptions about the other. You want to sit these two down and sort out their communication problems so they can build their friendship and solve this mystery 😂 But despite their differences, the two work together well. Disappearing miners, hastily removed senior staff and aggressive sea creatures are all pieces of the puzzle that they have to investigate.
You really don't know who to trust reading this one, lots of characters motivations become untrustworthy which leads to our two leads being isolated. It became so tense with our characters trapped underwater, out of their depth figuratively and literally! How everything escalates and came together was really intriguing and I definitely want to know what happens next after that ending!
Thanks to the publisher for my copy!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Faber YA for sending me an early copy of this book! This was definitely a 3.75 for me, it just felt like it was missing a slight something to be a 4.
I was pleasantly surprised with how this story took you through each persons POV - you follow Betty, Maia and Audrey through their time under the sea and discovering how to live together through some deep water scares.
This made me feel claustrophic at times as I felt how Betty felt, especially when the lights went off - I could feel her panic and her silent worry through the pages. That is immensely good writing to be able to portray that so well. I was reading this while in the hot tub, just to set the scene, so that felt even more realistic (despite it not being at the bottom of the sea).
I was very intrigued to see how Audrey, Betty, Maia, Jacks and Zavv all made it through the time with some scary sea creatures, some confusing adults, and did NOT see that big twist coming at the end.
This is a great YA Thriller, it's very entertaining and you can see at the heart the friendships meaning the most. That was great to read, rather than being romance, friendship was the driving point for everyone.
I was pleasantly surprised with how this story took you through each persons POV - you follow Betty, Maia and Audrey through their time under the sea and discovering how to live together through some deep water scares.
This made me feel claustrophic at times as I felt how Betty felt, especially when the lights went off - I could feel her panic and her silent worry through the pages. That is immensely good writing to be able to portray that so well. I was reading this while in the hot tub, just to set the scene, so that felt even more realistic (despite it not being at the bottom of the sea).
I was very intrigued to see how Audrey, Betty, Maia, Jacks and Zavv all made it through the time with some scary sea creatures, some confusing adults, and did NOT see that big twist coming at the end.
This is a great YA Thriller, it's very entertaining and you can see at the heart the friendships meaning the most. That was great to read, rather than being romance, friendship was the driving point for everyone.
Review of advance copy
First of all: I got this book in a bookstore and not as an ARC. 😅 I grabbed it because the title and description on the back sounded interesting.
Aaand… I was not disappointed! I’m a big fan of Sci-Fi novels that like to go not too over the top with the “Star-Wars-like” things in it and instead keep it more actual science focussed with some creative liberties.
Of course this is not a Project Hail Mary, where we get every tiny little bit of science explained to us in all realistic detail, but the whole idea of being under water and how something there supposedly helped humanity on its dying planet is peak! The storyline is interesting, tense and especially later on stopped me from putting the book away.
The two characters though? Oof, they both did annoy me several times (especially in the beginning). But gladly they pulled themselves together in the face of danger and then I really enjoyed their synergy. Also we cannot forget that these are teenagers, so some annoying teeny behaviour is allowed I think 🤔
All in all a very enjoyable read!
Aaand… I was not disappointed! I’m a big fan of Sci-Fi novels that like to go not too over the top with the “Star-Wars-like” things in it and instead keep it more actual science focussed with some creative liberties.
Of course this is not a Project Hail Mary, where we get every tiny little bit of science explained to us in all realistic detail, but the whole idea of being under water and how something there supposedly helped humanity on its dying planet is peak! The storyline is interesting, tense and especially later on stopped me from putting the book away.
The two characters though? Oof, they both did annoy me several times (especially in the beginning). But gladly they pulled themselves together in the face of danger and then I really enjoyed their synergy. Also we cannot forget that these are teenagers, so some annoying teeny behaviour is allowed I think 🤔
All in all a very enjoyable read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I don’t usually go for YA but I decided to give this one a go! An under water setting for a thriller! Yes please!
The novel captured what I imagine living deep in the ocean would feel like with both beautiful scenes and looming darkness. It was very atmospheric and also claustrophobic at times.
I enjoyed watching the friendships unfold.
As always hierarchy and class nessle their way into survival but I think there was the right balance of exploring this and how friendships can be forged.
I will say it felt a bit cringey and predictable at times. The second half did slow for me but it hooked me in again at the end.
Overall I enjoyed reading this one and I could see this making a really good film!
Thank you so much to Faber Children’s team for gifting me a copy to read before it publishes.
The novel captured what I imagine living deep in the ocean would feel like with both beautiful scenes and looming darkness. It was very atmospheric and also claustrophobic at times.
I enjoyed watching the friendships unfold.
As always hierarchy and class nessle their way into survival but I think there was the right balance of exploring this and how friendships can be forged.
I will say it felt a bit cringey and predictable at times. The second half did slow for me but it hooked me in again at the end.
Overall I enjoyed reading this one and I could see this making a really good film!
Thank you so much to Faber Children’s team for gifting me a copy to read before it publishes.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ik ben zo enthousiast over dit concept! Ik vind het YA scifi thriller thema met een wereld onderwater echt heel uniek. De onderwaterwereld maakt het direct duister en geheimzinnig. Het volgen van de vriendschap tussen Betty en Maia is zo fijn. De humor en vriendschap is een leuke draad in het uitwerken van dit donkere mysterie. Ik had soms wel moeite met de schrijfstijl. De hoofdkarakters zijn jong en het boek is YA, maar het voelde voor mij soms net iets te jong waardoor ik soms moeite had met in het verhaal komen. De setting en het mystery is fantastisch. Ik heb enorm genoten van het einde en je wil zeker weten hoe het verder gaat!
Bedankt Best of YA Books!
Bedankt Best of YA Books!
June 1, 2026
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
I really liked how important female friendship was to this book. It takes precedence over all other relationships and is the thing that allows the characters to overcome challenges and grow as individuals.
There’s a really strong environmental angle to this book. It takes place in the future and we learn through snippets of great tragedies that have taken place globally. This has led to the construction of a vast dome under the sea near New Zealand where people mine a substance to provide clean energy. However there’s a disturbing class system in place, with the miners at the bottom and not afforded the comforts of others such as scientists.
The arrival of a new head of engineering and her two teenagers creates a friendship between the daughter and a young miner. Together they start to learn of strange things happening.
This was a really entertaining sci-fi novel with some very cool scenes! Some of the underwater swimming sequences and the nautical beings they encounter were just absolutely fascinating!
I really liked how important female friendship was to this book. It takes precedence over all other relationships and is the thing that allows the characters to overcome challenges and grow as individuals.
There’s a really strong environmental angle to this book. It takes place in the future and we learn through snippets of great tragedies that have taken place globally. This has led to the construction of a vast dome under the sea near New Zealand where people mine a substance to provide clean energy. However there’s a disturbing class system in place, with the miners at the bottom and not afforded the comforts of others such as scientists.
The arrival of a new head of engineering and her two teenagers creates a friendship between the daughter and a young miner. Together they start to learn of strange things happening.
This was a really entertaining sci-fi novel with some very cool scenes! Some of the underwater swimming sequences and the nautical beings they encounter were just absolutely fascinating!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Firstly thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC
This book is set in the future, it highlights a narrative of how humans have destroyed the earth with global warming, and how people have used up valuable resources.
Set in a trench in the sea, we meet 2 strong female characters. Despite their backgrounds they form a strong friendship, uncover a mystery and pull together to save their friends and family.
I'm hoping there is a book2!!
Highly recommend reading.
This book is set in the future, it highlights a narrative of how humans have destroyed the earth with global warming, and how people have used up valuable resources.
Set in a trench in the sea, we meet 2 strong female characters. Despite their backgrounds they form a strong friendship, uncover a mystery and pull together to save their friends and family.
I'm hoping there is a book2!!
Highly recommend reading.
June 19, 2026
I honestly loved this so much! The premise of this book really intrigued me and that feeling of intrigue carried on throughout!
If you’re looking for a dystopian YA novel then look no further, this is it !!!
*I received a proof from the publisher but this is a fully honest review. It’s a very good book!
If you’re looking for a dystopian YA novel then look no further, this is it !!!
*I received a proof from the publisher but this is a fully honest review. It’s a very good book!
Read
June 30, 2026A claustrophobic dystopian thriller set in the deepest part of the ocean where a new organism is being harvested to power life on a post climate apocalypse surface. With a gripping storyline and flowing narrative that bounces between characters worth investing in and an ending primed for a sequel.
July 23, 2026
"Fuck me sideways with a swordfish"
No one told me there'd be a cliffhanger...
I borrowed this from my library. ie. it's been published. GR is telling me I can't rate it because it hasn't been published.
As Maia would say "Fuck Goodreads sideways with a swordfish"
July 10, 2026
A fantastic thrilling read. It did nothing to help my fear of the open ocean, in fact it may have made it worse. But it was an exciting read for sure. Unique and intriguing.
Review of advance copy
Nothing better than finishing a good book on a morning read. Ughhh I loved this book so much!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Really enjoyed this. Compelling all the way through
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
I was drawn to this book as an underwater thriller, and it delivered.
Our main characters Maia and Betty are compelling characters, despite their childish actions. Understandably so, given that they're both 16.
The action starts as early as page 79 and I was gripped through to the end.
The end does cut off quite abruptly, and we never get to see what happens. I kind of like that it's open ended and we can imagine for ourselves what might come next.
Rated a 4, only because Read creates a lot of underwater slang that takes a minute to get used to.
I was drawn to this book as an underwater thriller, and it delivered.
Our main characters Maia and Betty are compelling characters, despite their childish actions. Understandably so, given that they're both 16.
The action starts as early as page 79 and I was gripped through to the end.
The end does cut off quite abruptly, and we never get to see what happens. I kind of like that it's open ended and we can imagine for ourselves what might come next.
Rated a 4, only because Read creates a lot of underwater slang that takes a minute to get used to.
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