The Secret Deep

by Lindsay Galvin, Agnieszka i Karol Stefańczykowie (translator)

When Aster wakes alone on a tropical island, she has no idea what has happened, why she is there, or where to find her younger sister, Poppy. Meanwhile Sam, who once met the sisters on a plane, makes links between the mystery of their disappearance and suspicious happenings in his own life. In a dual narrative, the truth unravels - and the answer lies in the secret underwater world surrounding the desert island, populated by the beautiful and the impossible ...

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Mermaids

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 2, 2018

Reviews

[Rena D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had a good premise but then nothing made sense throughout the book. It had a combination of bad writing and messed up paragraphs and half of the time I was wondering what the heck was going on. There were event's that took place that was not set up and then some things happened out of nowhere with no context to the plot. In the end, some things were resolved but that's about it. It was not dramatic but c o n f u s i n g

[Jay-Dee Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m definitely in the minority, but this was just not for me.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I own this book.

Aster and Poppy start this journey on a plane. Their mum has died and they are now wards of their estranged aunt Iona who is a field nurse. She is currently conducting research in an ecovillage in Australia and unfortunately for them, that means no phones, no internet, constant medical monitoring and more. But they are together and they are safe. Until they're not. Following a boating accident, Aster ends up washed ashore on a small Atoll island without her sister and she can't remember why. She doesn't understand what is happening and why things continue to get weirder. What is their aunt actually up to? Why is there so much secrecy around the research and who is the mysterious boy in the water? Can Aster find out the truth and find her sister before it's too late?

I liked this book in the sense that it was mysterious. You didn't really know what was going on at any stage and I enjoyed that. It balanced telling the reader just enough to keep them hooked and leaving them in the dark well. You didn't know who the good guy and the bad guy was throughout this book. I found Aster to be an okay main character and the reason I'm not rating this book higher is that I think it could have given us just a bit more. I found the climaxes very anticlimatic in a way and I think there should have been a lot more anger on behalf of Aster for what has gone on in her life until this point. Overall it was good but it wasn't a favourite.

[Josie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have preferred it if this had just been a straight-up survival story instead of a crazy maverick scientist researching a secret cure for cancer with the added bonus of gene-splicing DNA from a prehistoric mermaid leading to kids with gills who learn how to tame and ride manta rays in a few months.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank goodness the story was as gorgeous as this cover! I loved the twists and the thrill of Aster's survival. I felt like I'd entered an entirely different world whenever she was underwater. Can't go wrong with a good 'finding the sister' plot.The different perspectives were well balanced, with Sam popping in at just the right moment to give more detail to Aster's discoveries. The science behind the story was well explained too, and the shifting motives of the researchers had me turning the pages at lightning speed. I couldn't recommend this one more!

[Lilybeautybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cela était trop prévisible pour moi, cela devient plus « palpitant » dans les 100 dernières pages. Pas le meilleur thriller YA que j’ai pu lire jusqu’ici.

[Annabel White · Rating 1 out of 5]

wtf did I just read? disgusting message behind this book and I can’t believe it was published. apparently it’s okay to use refugees in vile experiments without their consent. The protagonist “understands” why her aunt did it and is sympathetic toward her. wtf???? the author’s vile beliefs have been pushed through that refugees are lesser than us and it’s fine to exploit and traumatise them. publishing sometimes stuns me, and it has done with this book right here. this steaming pile of dung has no place ANYWHERE near children!

[Elsa]

Dnf at about 20%-30%.

[Emilia]

What the hell did I just read? I can't even rate this book, I wouldn't know what rating I can give it.

So basically there are two sisters and their mum just died from cancer, so they go to live with their aunt in New Zealand. It starts off very normal until they get to the "eco-camp" where their aunt lives and works (she kept this a secret from them obviously).

Throughout the book she experiments on them, they go through a 9 month hibernation period where after some of them turn into mermaids. The bad guy ends up finding them with the help of a 16-year-old boy they met once at the airport. Apparently, mermaids exist and they used the DNA of first a sea creature, then the mythical one on a bunch of students, who had no idea of half what was going on.

I had no idea what was going on for half the time. I was so confused as to how cancer and these experiments are meant to be somehow melded together.

All in all, this was one weird book.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I really enjoyed the story the flow was off. I often found myself jumping back a few lines or a page to see if I'd missed some transitional information.

[Julia Wainwright · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a wild ride. A good ride, but a strange one nonetheless.

I picked up The Secret Deep for two reasons: the cover (which is undeniably gorgeous) and an island adventure! See, my parents used to read me this story about this young girl being stranded on this jungle island and becoming this sort of engineer and making her own tree-house village. Honestly, it was a story that really inspired me as child and so I've been clambering to read something like that ever since.

While The Secret Deep had the beautiful tropical island set-up down, it seriously didn't have the engineering survival aspect that I so desperately wanted. If that makes sense . Instead, everything was conveniently there. Which had me pretty annoyed at first. Like who the hell winds up on an island with everything there? No one. But, this convenience of survival was the book's biggest strong point when it's turned on its head.

It's hard to really encapsulate this book without hinting at some spoilers. So be warned.

This whole book is a question of what happens when humanity to play deity again and in this rehash (which never gets old lets be honest) we're trying to stop cancer by gene splicing. Yes, it's Jurassic Park but with humans and consequently mermaids as well all know gene splicing never goes well....

But we have a our two scientists who never see eye to eye, which causes their experiment to basically fall apart. Cue underwater drama and genetic malfunctions. Now, the concept was great but towards the end it just became... tropes that were very obviously rehashed. Of course, Aster and Sea Boy fall in love at the end and there was an underwater battle against evil scientist and bad scientist who-did-it-for-the-right-reason.

For me, I think the story would have been a better read had I connected to the characters more. I didn't care about any of them - not the grief-ridden Aster, the annoying Poppy, the ill fated Chris. Nope, I just didn't care. Honestly, some characters could have even been written out as they did nothing but lead the evil dude to our heroes. I can't even remember the name of that guy... Sam? Steven? Who knows at this point.

This is a quick read that I would recommend to read on the beach, an fitting atmosphere could add to the experience.

[Bekah Hubstenberger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since reading the Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain as a child I have loved a good survival story and have recently been intrigued by stories set in the ocean, Daughter of the Deep and The Neptune Challenge. The Secret Deep tells the story of Aster and her sister who are sent to live with an emotionally distant Aunt on the other side of the world after their Mom dies of cancer. The aunt is a cancer research scientist but the girls soon discover her research is a tad unusual. The Secret Deep is a solid 2.5 and probably won’t be a re-read. The build up was slow and even in the height of the action it never quite got me to the edge of my seat anticipation.

I would also not classify it as a true survival story but a science fiction because the survival element is just a small vehicle for the larger plot. Also we quickly learn that the crash that lead to the uninhabited island was engineered and there are plenty of supplies and supporting side characters who have been honing their off the grid expertise. Thus our character Aster never truly has to contend with solving any problems that hinge on her survival.

[Kaneesha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf

[Lauren James]

[Gifted]

Lindsay Galvin is a creative new voice in science fiction. Real science is used to create mind-blowing magic, in an underwater world that will take your breath away - and give you gills instead.

[hollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

a quick and enjoyable read!!

- I live for any book sea related even though the sea kind of terrifies me,
- the plot and pacing was good,
- I loved the mystery element behind the book and I didn’t guess the ending which was nice.

however,
- I didn’t like the writing style, it is a book definitely written for the younger YA audience,
- there was no character development really and aster was kind of boring,
- I didn’t like the alternative chapters with sam and aster. it just all seemed too convenient he was there??

3 stars!

[Holly Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m very lucky to have read an early copy of this book before it’s official release in a couple of weeks. The Secret Deep is such a breath of fresh (underwater) air. It surprised me in the best way, the plot twisting and eddying in all directions, populated with characters you aren’t quite sure you can trust. I loved following Aster on her adventure full of intrigue, mystery, science and sisterly love. This is a whopping and unique debut and I can’t wait to see what Lindsay writes next.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was after a late night comfort read and this proved to be the perfect choice. An exciting and atmospheric read, an adventure set on and under the sea. Such a well-written book for youngsters and oldies alike. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.

[Martyna · Rating 1 out of 5]

jakie to było tragicznie już sobie przypomniałam czemu przestałam to czytać na początku jeszcze znośnie ale potem?? totalnie nie ma sensu

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mal ein etwas anderes Buch. Es geht in dem Buch um Poppy und Aster nach dem ihre Mutter gestorben ist. Müssen die beiden zu ihrer Tante Iona und diese leitet ein Camp in der Wildnis aber es ist kein normales Camp. Das Buch ist im Genre Öko Thriller.
Fand das Buch sehr gut am Ende hätte ich mir noch ein ein Epilog gewünscht.

[High_On_Chai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book was much better then I expected. It was very intriguing as I didn't know who that sea boy was. I recommend this to anyone under 13, though you can still read if you want.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aster and Poppy have lost their mother to cancer and must go to live in New Zealand with their aunt who they hardly know. The book is full of secrets and surprises. I never knew what was going to happen next.

[Ala · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,7/5

[Kate Ormand]

Aster wakes up on a tropical island alone. Her sister and aunt are both missing and she has no idea what happened. While Aster searches for answers, Sam – a boy the sisters met on a plane – searches for them. The story is told in switching POV between Aster and Sam, building up the mystery surrounding the island.

I read this really quickly. It was dark and strange – and something very different, which I loved. Weaving together science and magic, the underwater setting became both unsettling and inviting. The sea terrifies me, but I find it amazing at the same time. The descriptions were spectacular and the sense of unease and wonder battled throughout. For a thriller like this, the setting was perfect – a remote, beautiful place with a real sense of danger even when no one was around. A place where things are seen and questioned as real or a trick of the mind. A breath-taking story, written in an effortless, compelling, page-turning style.

[Monika ♡ Na luzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Czasem książka coś w sobie ma, że wystarczy jedno spojrzenie i wiesz, że musisz ją mieć. Tak właśnie było ze mną i “Piekielną głębiną”.

A gdyby tak znaleźć się samotnie na bezludnej wyspie?

Aster wraz z siostrą Poppy po śmierci matki chorej na raka, trafiają pod opiekę ciotki. Ciotki, która tak się składa, jest cenionym onkologiem i prowadzi badania nad zdrowym trybem życia w ekowiosce.
Siostry lądują w wiosce, niczym z filmów dokumentalnych o amiszach: miejscu pozbawionym kontaktu ze światem, oddalonym od cywilizacji o wiele kilometrów, gdzie zje się to co wyhoduje lub upoluje. Od początku udziela im się niepokojąca atmosfera obozu. Tych dziwnych spojrzeń, urywanych rozmów, braku odpowiedzi na pytania.
Pewnego dnia, gdy wybierają się całą grupą na wycieczkę statkiem, widzą nad oddalającą się wioską unoszącą chmurę dymu. Jednak popędzani przez ciotkę, trafiają na statek, gdzie… zostaje rozpylony gaz usypiający.
Aster budzi się samotnie na bezludnej wyspie. Nigdzie nie może odnaleźć siostry. A na wyspie… kryje się nie jedno niebezpieczeństwo.

Ustalmy jedno: okej, to jest młodzieżówka. Ale za to jaka młodzieżówka! Trafimy tutaj na bohaterów nad wyraz dojrzałych jak na swój wiek, co można wyjaśnić śmiercią rodziców i potrzebą szybszego wkroczenia w świat dorosłych. Równie dobrze mogliby mieć po osiemnaście-dwadzieścia lat, a wszystko dalej spójnie by pasowało.

Przyjemny i lekki styl, pozwala przez powieść dosłownie płynąć. A biorąc pod uwagę, że książka jest stosunkowo krótka i posiada wyjątkowo duża czcionkę, spokojnie można pochłonąć ją w jeden-dwa wieczory. Choć nawet bez tego, czyta się ją z ogromną przyjemnością i błyskawicznie. Niejednokrotnie z dużym żalem odkładałam książkę na bok, mimo, że wcale nie chciałam się żegnać z bohaterami nawet na chwile.

Fabuła zaskoczyła mnie - i to bardzo pozytywnie! W pewnym momencie niespodziewany zwrot wydarzeń powalił mnie na kolana i losy bohaterów potoczyły się w bardzo ciekawym kierunku. Początek historii zasiał we mnie pewne wątpliwości czy na pewno jest to fantastyka czy może tylko posiada drobne, fantastyczne elementy - ale tak, oficjalnie potwierdzam, to zdecydowanie fantastyka!

I żeby nie było zbyt kolorowo, czegoś się doczepie. Jednym, drobnym mankamentem był pewien brak logiki w końcowych wydarzeniach. Rozumiem, że ułatwił on pracę autorce, dzięki czemu mogła pokierować fabułą w wybranym przez siebie kierunku, ale wciąż - nieco nielogiczne. Biorąc również pod uwagę, że jest to tylko jeden tom, zakończenie mogło być bardziej rozbudowane.

Na sam koniec warto dodać o oprawie graficznej. Choć sama okładka mnie nie porwała (oryginalna bije ją kilkukrotnie na głowę) to bardzo spodobały mi się zdobienia rozdziałów i podziały książki. Chciałabym, aby każda powieść była wydawana w taki sposób i z taką starannością.

A więc: czy mi się podobało? O tak, i to jak! Przecudna młodzieżówka, która choć lekka, porusza poważne tematy jak śmierć bliskich, samotność czy cierpienie. Zdecydowanie więcej takich powieści powinno się u nas pojawiać.

[Jo Callaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This clever and exciting thriller opens with a bang as fourteen-year-old Aster wakes to find herself stranded on a tropical island, with no idea of how she got there or where her eleven-year-old sister Poppy might be. As Aster tries to piece it all together and find her missing sister, we learn more about the mysterious events that led her and a handful of other teenage survivors to the island. Why did her aunt set up her own ecovillage, and was this island always part of her plan? Who is the mysterious Dr. Nygard, and why is he so interested in their blood? Lindsay Galvin skilfully builds the tension and intrigue whilst also describing some truly beautiful and cinematic scenes on the tropical atoll without ever slowing the cracking pace she sets up at the start. The Secret Deep is an immersive page turner, but what I love most about this original thriller is the way it tackles some of the biggest ideas and issues of our time, such as medical research, consent, evolution and diversity, before bringing the whole story to an immensely satisfying end. This is a bold and original story told by talented debut writer, and I hope it gets the wide audience it deserves.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex and beautiful story of Aster, a young girl who loses her mother to cancer, who has to move to live with her auntie in New Zealand. What meets her there isn’t the usual life - there’s science, the sea, some tracking devices and much more.

I really enjoyed this - an exploration of medical consent, family, grief and trust. Can you always trust your family?

[Kriss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this thriller/adventure in New Zealand by first time author Lindsay Galvin!

[Gabrysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Niestety trochę się rozczarowałam. Przez większość książki trochę się nudziłam, ale akcja pod koniec to wynagradza. Trochę jak połączenie toxycznych dziewczynach i chłopaka z lasu .

[rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this may have been the craziest book i’ve read

i thought it would be a cool story about a girl stranded on an island but boy was i wrong, there were continuous twists and turns throughout and the whole concept is crazy. props to the author for coming up with something like that wow!!