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The Girl Who Broke the Sea: This year's most exhilarating debut, about a terrifying struggle for survival on the ocean floor
“An atmospheric, satisfying YA sci-fi thriller” - Guardian
“Riveting debut” - Waterstones
Lily's emotional problems run deep - three miles deep.
After she gets kicked out of school for her destructive behaviour, Lily agrees to an unusual fresh going with her mum to live at Deephaven, an experimental deep-sea mining rig and research station located at the bottom of the ocean.
Lily instantly regrets her claustrophobic and isolated, it's hardly her idea of home.
Turns out, Deephaven has problems of its own. The head scientist, they quickly learn, has disappeared - just as he was on the brink of a shocking discovery. In the darkness of the deep, something is stirring ... something dangerous.
And it's calling out to Lily.
A mind-expanding thriller set in the ocean's depths, a terrifying struggle for survival - and the story of one girl's path to self-acceptance.Writer A. Connors is an exciting debut author writing for teens and young adults Perfect for fans of Lauren James, Marie Lu and Marissa Meyer "Something sinister is stirring in the depths of the ocean in Connors' riveting debut as Lily moves into the claustrophobic confines of a deep-sea mining rig and research station." - Waterstones' Best Children's Books to Look Out For
“Riveting debut” - Waterstones
Lily's emotional problems run deep - three miles deep.
After she gets kicked out of school for her destructive behaviour, Lily agrees to an unusual fresh going with her mum to live at Deephaven, an experimental deep-sea mining rig and research station located at the bottom of the ocean.
Lily instantly regrets her claustrophobic and isolated, it's hardly her idea of home.
Turns out, Deephaven has problems of its own. The head scientist, they quickly learn, has disappeared - just as he was on the brink of a shocking discovery. In the darkness of the deep, something is stirring ... something dangerous.
And it's calling out to Lily.
A mind-expanding thriller set in the ocean's depths, a terrifying struggle for survival - and the story of one girl's path to self-acceptance.Writer A. Connors is an exciting debut author writing for teens and young adults Perfect for fans of Lauren James, Marie Lu and Marissa Meyer "Something sinister is stirring in the depths of the ocean in Connors' riveting debut as Lily moves into the claustrophobic confines of a deep-sea mining rig and research station." - Waterstones' Best Children's Books to Look Out For
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2023
22 people are currently reading
763 people want to read
About the author
A. Connors
3 books22 followersA. Connors is a former physicist and former child who likes writing stories and building unlikely, poorly thought through gadgets.
His favourite bio tidbits include: spending his PHD underground at CERN, helping design one of the detectors for the Large Hadron Collider; teaching physics in Sudan; selling encyclopedias in Chicago and fitting Wi-Fi in the refugee camps in Greece.
In his spare time he manages an engineering team for Google Health, a project that aims to use big data and machine learning to improve the quality of healthcare. He lives in Hertfordshire with his partner, two boys, and a dog.
His debut transformative and spine-tingling teen novel, THE GIRL WHO BROKE THE SEA, will be published by Scholastic UK in Feb 2023.
His favourite bio tidbits include: spending his PHD underground at CERN, helping design one of the detectors for the Large Hadron Collider; teaching physics in Sudan; selling encyclopedias in Chicago and fitting Wi-Fi in the refugee camps in Greece.
In his spare time he manages an engineering team for Google Health, a project that aims to use big data and machine learning to improve the quality of healthcare. He lives in Hertfordshire with his partner, two boys, and a dog.
His debut transformative and spine-tingling teen novel, THE GIRL WHO BROKE THE SEA, will be published by Scholastic UK in Feb 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
April 13, 2023
As someone who can be found at 1am obsessively googling and watching videos on 'deep sea creatures' because despite having crippling thalassaophobia I am deeply fascinated by the ocean, this book is everything I've been looking for when it comes to an edge-of-your-seat, sci-fi thriller set at the bottom of the ocean (think Underwater (feat. Kristen Stewart) meets Alien).
A book I definitely recommend!
A book I definitely recommend!
November 18, 2022
Proof received from Scholastic UK in exchange for my honest review
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
January 16, 2023
{5/2023} 4/5🌟 Science Fiction | 396 pages
I am yet venturing into another new debut by what I would say, a promising science fiction writer, whose accolades blew my mind - having a Phd in Physics and a Masters degree in creative writing. Wow!
What I can sum up about this book, “The Girl Who Broke the Sea”- a mash up between Panic Room, Titanic, The Meg as well as oldies, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Have I made that exciting enough for you? 😅
It’s a story about a Lily who was involved in destructive behaviour at school and was “kicked out”. Lily had problems in managing her feelings. People just couldn’t understand her. All that people around her could see was that, she spelled “danger” and shouldn’t be around people. Lily thought otherwise. She thought people just couldn’t understand her. Born to a combination of parents who were very much scientist and technologist - Lily certainly was more than that, she just hadn’t discovered it yet.
Due to her circumstance, Lily agreed to start over, certainly a fresh one as she would follow her mom to be at Deephaven - a deep sea mining-rig and research station located at the bottom of, yes, ocean. Lily knew she had made the wrong decision upon embarking the submersible. How could someone live where you won’t see the sky, ground and sunlight?
It turned out that Deephaven had a problem of its own. The head scientist had disappeared as he was already at the new discovery of science and Lily’s mom might not be able to pursue what she intended to. Lily had a problem of her own too - it seemed high-school drama happened downside too, but that was not that important. Lily seemed to hear voices, a calling, and it had gotten worse after an “accidental” excursion to the Rift where she discovered something that might have something to do with the disappearance of the head scientist. However, what was so mysterious about Evan?
This is a very STEM-based storyline with a combination of psychological thriller, partly alien-chasing - that would certainly bring you to the edge of your seat.
Most importantly, it taught us that every single creation in this world has its equal position and right. That there is more than economic gain and progress. Science and advancement could certainly help the world become a better place to live in as long as it is not overshadowed by greed and power.
The story also touched on the issue of mental health disorder. We have always been shown the stigmatisation of other people towards these kinds of disorder. We are rarely shown the other side of people with this kind of problem. What is really affecting them? How can we help them? What could have caused them to react the way they do?
There could be a lot of scientific and engineering terms used especially in relation to the field of oil and gas; marine biologist, neurologist (I think) - and as someone who has no background in any of these, I certainly thoroughly enjoyed the book and no problem in understanding the story flow. It made me do research and google a lot of scientific things.
I am claustrophobic, so perhaps this could be a trigger warning for those who are too as 90% of the story was described being in a rig underwater- and Lily was too in the beginning, but she was able to portray that with gusto, and bravery.
The only setback was, I wish there was more explanation on how Lily was “imprinted” (now why do i make it sounds like Twilight now? 😅) as I was a little bit confused on that part or perhaps I should do more research on that.
If you are into underwater life, science as well as thriller - this book could be the one for you! Thank you #pansing DefinitelyBooks for this review copy in exchange of an honest review. This book will be available at all good bookstores.
#JanuaryReads #JanuaryTBRs #justreaddontbawang #bookmehnia #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #STEM #thegirlwhobrokethesea #aconnors
I am yet venturing into another new debut by what I would say, a promising science fiction writer, whose accolades blew my mind - having a Phd in Physics and a Masters degree in creative writing. Wow!
What I can sum up about this book, “The Girl Who Broke the Sea”- a mash up between Panic Room, Titanic, The Meg as well as oldies, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Have I made that exciting enough for you? 😅
It’s a story about a Lily who was involved in destructive behaviour at school and was “kicked out”. Lily had problems in managing her feelings. People just couldn’t understand her. All that people around her could see was that, she spelled “danger” and shouldn’t be around people. Lily thought otherwise. She thought people just couldn’t understand her. Born to a combination of parents who were very much scientist and technologist - Lily certainly was more than that, she just hadn’t discovered it yet.
Due to her circumstance, Lily agreed to start over, certainly a fresh one as she would follow her mom to be at Deephaven - a deep sea mining-rig and research station located at the bottom of, yes, ocean. Lily knew she had made the wrong decision upon embarking the submersible. How could someone live where you won’t see the sky, ground and sunlight?
It turned out that Deephaven had a problem of its own. The head scientist had disappeared as he was already at the new discovery of science and Lily’s mom might not be able to pursue what she intended to. Lily had a problem of her own too - it seemed high-school drama happened downside too, but that was not that important. Lily seemed to hear voices, a calling, and it had gotten worse after an “accidental” excursion to the Rift where she discovered something that might have something to do with the disappearance of the head scientist. However, what was so mysterious about Evan?
This is a very STEM-based storyline with a combination of psychological thriller, partly alien-chasing - that would certainly bring you to the edge of your seat.
Most importantly, it taught us that every single creation in this world has its equal position and right. That there is more than economic gain and progress. Science and advancement could certainly help the world become a better place to live in as long as it is not overshadowed by greed and power.
The story also touched on the issue of mental health disorder. We have always been shown the stigmatisation of other people towards these kinds of disorder. We are rarely shown the other side of people with this kind of problem. What is really affecting them? How can we help them? What could have caused them to react the way they do?
There could be a lot of scientific and engineering terms used especially in relation to the field of oil and gas; marine biologist, neurologist (I think) - and as someone who has no background in any of these, I certainly thoroughly enjoyed the book and no problem in understanding the story flow. It made me do research and google a lot of scientific things.
I am claustrophobic, so perhaps this could be a trigger warning for those who are too as 90% of the story was described being in a rig underwater- and Lily was too in the beginning, but she was able to portray that with gusto, and bravery.
The only setback was, I wish there was more explanation on how Lily was “imprinted” (now why do i make it sounds like Twilight now? 😅) as I was a little bit confused on that part or perhaps I should do more research on that.
If you are into underwater life, science as well as thriller - this book could be the one for you! Thank you #pansing DefinitelyBooks for this review copy in exchange of an honest review. This book will be available at all good bookstores.
#JanuaryReads #JanuaryTBRs #justreaddontbawang #bookmehnia #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #STEM #thegirlwhobrokethesea #aconnors
December 17, 2022
I loved this one so much, the world building was absolutely phenomenal and don’t get me started on how great the character development was! Lily was a lovely character and I really connected with her on an emotional level, and I think most readers will. She was just so genuine and real, she learns from her past mistakes and grows as a person, but she still makes new mistakes along the way. Let’s face it, who doesn’t make mistakes? Lily owns her actions and doesn’t shy away from them, she’s a beautifully resilient character and this shines through in the pages of this wonderful book.
One thing I loved that drew parallels with our world with the overuse/overconsumption of resources that can’t be sustained without disastrous consequences. This is a book that makes you think, it engages every part of your brain long after you finish reading it. I can see this one being made into a movie at some point.
If you’re looking for a great book to keep you hooked while reading then this is definitely it.
Thank you to Scholastic for sending me a proof package of this gorgeous book that’s releasing February 2nd.
One thing I loved that drew parallels with our world with the overuse/overconsumption of resources that can’t be sustained without disastrous consequences. This is a book that makes you think, it engages every part of your brain long after you finish reading it. I can see this one being made into a movie at some point.
If you’re looking for a great book to keep you hooked while reading then this is definitely it.
Thank you to Scholastic for sending me a proof package of this gorgeous book that’s releasing February 2nd.
October 6, 2023
Wow! A really exciting and fast paced book. I loved the scientific details and facts that were added which made the story very interesting and made me curious about Hawaiian culture and folktales. It made me think back to the book that I read earlier this year " Deep by James Nestor"; we know so little about the Oceans and the secrets that they hold. The worrying thing is that some humans are intent on making money before our responsibility to care and protect the world that we live in; this book also touches on this subject. The central theme in this story explores expression and understanding of emotions. It asked the questions about human connection and understanding between each other and how we find our place alongside other intelligent life.
April 6, 2023
What an adventure! The nerdy geek in me absolutely loved this book! Gave me major Contact and Project Hail Mary vibes and while it wasn’t perfect, I can’t wait to read more from the author.
January 2, 2024
This book just wasn’t really it for me. It was very slow paced and I only really got into it in the last 100 pages. I liked the emphasis on Lily’s “emotion problems” but I think there was too much scientific jargon in it to really immerse yourself in the story. Also, I genuinely couldn’t tell you what the climatic discovery of the story actually meant- it felt unrealistic .
February 23, 2023
2.5, I was really intrigued with the premise of this book and the beginning, but everything just fell flat for me after about 100 pages - the plot, the characters, the stakes. Everything felt unnatural I suppose. Readable, but disappointing.
January 30, 2023
Thank you to Scholastic for sending me an ARC for The Girl Who Broke the Sea. All my opinions are my own.
I hadn’t actually heard of The Girl Who Broke the Sea when I received it through the post, and it probably isn’t a book I would have necessarily gravitated towards and bought myself, but I was pleasantly surprised and very much enjoyed this book!
After getting kicked out of school for destructive behaviour, Lily finds herself moving to Deephaven, an experimental mining rig, with her mum - one catch, it’s three miles underwater… hardly Lily’s idea of home. But something strange is happening at Deephaven. With the head scientist missing and a strange presence calling out to Lily, it soon becomes clear to Lily that something isn’t right at Deephaven.
I really enjoyed the world building in this book, the entire storyline was unlike anything I have read before, which was very enjoyable and made for an interesting read. However the one aspect that really stole the show was Lily. She was a character that self-sabotaged to the point where you shouldn’t like her, but you can’t help but love her.
I honestly had no expectations going into this book, but I really enjoyed it! It was definitely a unique story which added to my enjoyment.
I hadn’t actually heard of The Girl Who Broke the Sea when I received it through the post, and it probably isn’t a book I would have necessarily gravitated towards and bought myself, but I was pleasantly surprised and very much enjoyed this book!
After getting kicked out of school for destructive behaviour, Lily finds herself moving to Deephaven, an experimental mining rig, with her mum - one catch, it’s three miles underwater… hardly Lily’s idea of home. But something strange is happening at Deephaven. With the head scientist missing and a strange presence calling out to Lily, it soon becomes clear to Lily that something isn’t right at Deephaven.
I really enjoyed the world building in this book, the entire storyline was unlike anything I have read before, which was very enjoyable and made for an interesting read. However the one aspect that really stole the show was Lily. She was a character that self-sabotaged to the point where you shouldn’t like her, but you can’t help but love her.
I honestly had no expectations going into this book, but I really enjoyed it! It was definitely a unique story which added to my enjoyment.
January 17, 2023
Part thriller, part sci-fi and part disaster movie, The Girl Who Broke the Sea bridges all of these different genres in a wholly unique way.
The debut novel of A. Connors, I found this YA story to be hugely original and inventive. Set on the world’s first experimental deep sea mining rig, Deephaven is a place unlike any you will have come across before. Imagine being that far beneath the sea with tonnes of water above you head and no easy way out. It makes me feel quite claustrophobic just thinking about it!
Sixteen year old Lily and her scientist Mum arrive at Deephaven in search of a fresh start. Lily is struggling with personal problems and has a habit of breaking things. Not a good idea when one wrong move may have serious consequences. They soon discover that all is not right at Deephaven and something unknown may be stirring.
I will admit that I initially found the first few chapters quite hard going. There are a lot of technical and scientific terms tossed around and I struggled a bit to find my feet with the story. What eventually drew me in was the character of Lily who you can’t help but end up liking. I enjoyed seeing how she adapted to her new surroundings and to the other people on the rig. I particularly liked her relationship with Evan, the son of the head scientist.
There are some really interesting STEM topics explored in the book, including the way in which the natural resources of the planet are being used and the wider damage that this might have to the environment.
The debut novel of A. Connors, I found this YA story to be hugely original and inventive. Set on the world’s first experimental deep sea mining rig, Deephaven is a place unlike any you will have come across before. Imagine being that far beneath the sea with tonnes of water above you head and no easy way out. It makes me feel quite claustrophobic just thinking about it!
Sixteen year old Lily and her scientist Mum arrive at Deephaven in search of a fresh start. Lily is struggling with personal problems and has a habit of breaking things. Not a good idea when one wrong move may have serious consequences. They soon discover that all is not right at Deephaven and something unknown may be stirring.
I will admit that I initially found the first few chapters quite hard going. There are a lot of technical and scientific terms tossed around and I struggled a bit to find my feet with the story. What eventually drew me in was the character of Lily who you can’t help but end up liking. I enjoyed seeing how she adapted to her new surroundings and to the other people on the rig. I particularly liked her relationship with Evan, the son of the head scientist.
There are some really interesting STEM topics explored in the book, including the way in which the natural resources of the planet are being used and the wider damage that this might have to the environment.
April 21, 2025
3 Stars
I’m not sure how I feel about this book… like it was just kinda average, nothing special but it still managed to keep me interested in the plot and characters
Lily’s character development was definitely one of the best I’ve read in awhile, and I liked how other character’s perception of her also developed
I liked the science but it also kinda confused me and yea that’s all I’ve got to say really
I’m not sure how I feel about this book… like it was just kinda average, nothing special but it still managed to keep me interested in the plot and characters
Lily’s character development was definitely one of the best I’ve read in awhile, and I liked how other character’s perception of her also developed
I liked the science but it also kinda confused me and yea that’s all I’ve got to say really
January 9, 2023
4.5 stars
The fact that this is a debut novel still blows my mind. The Girl Who Broke the Sea is a gripping and addictive novel with amazing world building and character development!
Lily is an incredibly relatable and realistic main character and I honestly loved watching her character grow throughout the book!
If you're looking for a science-inspired YA thriller then look no further! This one is amazing and you should all pick it up when it releases 2nd Feb!
The fact that this is a debut novel still blows my mind. The Girl Who Broke the Sea is a gripping and addictive novel with amazing world building and character development!
Lily is an incredibly relatable and realistic main character and I honestly loved watching her character grow throughout the book!
If you're looking for a science-inspired YA thriller then look no further! This one is amazing and you should all pick it up when it releases 2nd Feb!
January 11, 2024
It was going to be 4 stars but the end got boring and I was skimming along the words.
April 16, 2023
Was a bit disappointed with this one. I read the blurb and my expectations were that I was likely to enjoy it. I do sometimes read a thriller themed book and I did really enjoy stories like Lighthouse Witches and Frozen Charlotte but I struggled to follow what was happening in this story.
December 12, 2022
I love a book that stops and makes me think. The Girl Who Broke the Sea definitely did that and left me with plenty of topics to keep puzzling over long after the final page.
Again, that premise completely ensnared me. It sounded like a mix of something darkly unknowable and a good old mystery, complete with the most claustrophobic and high pressure setting I could think of. I got all of that and so, so much more. Lily was a shining star of the book for me. I connected with her instantly and those little fragments we got of her past made me want to know everything. We are slowly able to put the pieces together as the book unfolds, with breadcrumbs of her ‘incidents’ and family life being thrown. She was a deeply raw character, who wore her heart on her sleeve but also had it in the right place most of the time. Her circumstances and past have deeply affected her, but she is also ostracised and villainised for these moments. For me, she came across as such an authentic and lovable character, who occasionally made reckless decisions and mistakes. Beyond that, the connections she forms with other characters are wonderful to watch. You can watch her walls come tumbling down as she has her observations and thoughts validated.
As someone who does not know much about science generally, Connors made me want to race off and research everything. It was all presented in such an accessible and fascinating way, clearly and logically laid out. Consequently, the environmentally conscious and anti-capitalist message pulsating through the book hits that much harder. The overuse of resources and the resultant supply and demand strips our natural world of so much. Also, the deep sea is something we know so little about and this is played with wonderfully in the book. It is almost like another planet and every moment felt magical, if also extremely dangerous. That danger continues in known spaces with the enclosed setting pushing dynamics to their extremes.
The Girl Who Broke the Sea is an environmentally driven thriller that is so unique.
Again, that premise completely ensnared me. It sounded like a mix of something darkly unknowable and a good old mystery, complete with the most claustrophobic and high pressure setting I could think of. I got all of that and so, so much more. Lily was a shining star of the book for me. I connected with her instantly and those little fragments we got of her past made me want to know everything. We are slowly able to put the pieces together as the book unfolds, with breadcrumbs of her ‘incidents’ and family life being thrown. She was a deeply raw character, who wore her heart on her sleeve but also had it in the right place most of the time. Her circumstances and past have deeply affected her, but she is also ostracised and villainised for these moments. For me, she came across as such an authentic and lovable character, who occasionally made reckless decisions and mistakes. Beyond that, the connections she forms with other characters are wonderful to watch. You can watch her walls come tumbling down as she has her observations and thoughts validated.
As someone who does not know much about science generally, Connors made me want to race off and research everything. It was all presented in such an accessible and fascinating way, clearly and logically laid out. Consequently, the environmentally conscious and anti-capitalist message pulsating through the book hits that much harder. The overuse of resources and the resultant supply and demand strips our natural world of so much. Also, the deep sea is something we know so little about and this is played with wonderfully in the book. It is almost like another planet and every moment felt magical, if also extremely dangerous. That danger continues in known spaces with the enclosed setting pushing dynamics to their extremes.
The Girl Who Broke the Sea is an environmentally driven thriller that is so unique.
April 23, 2023
When I first picked up this book in watersones and read the blurb, I thought it would be completely different. It suggested a mystery at a unique location told from the point of view of a troubled young girl.
The book started very slowly. The descriptions of the rig and lily were lazy. The story and much of the content didn’t make any sense to me and this continued throughout. We learn about Lily, a sixteen year old girl, who has gone to live on a deep sea mining rig after being kicked out of school. Immediately I was intrigued what had happened at her old school but the author didn’t explain this until about halfway through the book. I found this unnecessary and very anti-climactic as it was very hard to understand or warm to Lily as a character without knowing about her backstory and why she had ended up here. In addition to this, throughout the book lily’s ‘anger issues’ were mentioned. This again was not explained properly and shown by lily just breaking things constantly. We learn about her mum and dad but once again even this make little sense to me. It seemed lily’s dad had moved out after splitting up with her mum, didn’t really keep in contact with her but they had a good relationship even though she would constantly break his things? I’m not sure it made absolutely no sense to me.
The whole story was based on science and even though I take biology and chemistry a levels, I had absolutely no idea what was going on. There was constant use of science words, science phrases, etc that made it feel like I was reading a book on the life of fungi. The whole purpose of the scientists and the miners purpose on the rig was not explained which once again made the story INCREDIBLY confusing. And then we have the disappearance of Maximus which seemed completely unrealistic to me. His disappearance was completely brushed over as if he had nipped topside to the shop. Then lily makes a discovery of a eugliogeoud ( whatever that is ) and the story takes like a magical sci-fi turn. Then the eugliogeoud starts controlling lily and the rig??????? I don’t think I’ve ever been more confused in my entire life.
I don’t think any of the characters were developed properly ( the only one maybe ari and some of lily’s classmates ). The story make zero sense the whole way through. Also the personal diary entry’s were completely unnecessary and appeared what, four times in the story. The only reason I finished this book was because I thought maybe it was just a slow burner and I would get into it but no, 391 pages later and I’m just as confused as I was reading the first page. Remind me to never pick up a book based on the blurb ever again.
I know I have absolutely trashed this book BUT…
•I think the idea of the location was amazing ( although the author didn’t use this to their advantage)
•the romance between Evan and lily was lovely but NOT DEVELOPED AT ALL
I felt like I was reading a children’s book not a YA book.
The book started very slowly. The descriptions of the rig and lily were lazy. The story and much of the content didn’t make any sense to me and this continued throughout. We learn about Lily, a sixteen year old girl, who has gone to live on a deep sea mining rig after being kicked out of school. Immediately I was intrigued what had happened at her old school but the author didn’t explain this until about halfway through the book. I found this unnecessary and very anti-climactic as it was very hard to understand or warm to Lily as a character without knowing about her backstory and why she had ended up here. In addition to this, throughout the book lily’s ‘anger issues’ were mentioned. This again was not explained properly and shown by lily just breaking things constantly. We learn about her mum and dad but once again even this make little sense to me. It seemed lily’s dad had moved out after splitting up with her mum, didn’t really keep in contact with her but they had a good relationship even though she would constantly break his things? I’m not sure it made absolutely no sense to me.
The whole story was based on science and even though I take biology and chemistry a levels, I had absolutely no idea what was going on. There was constant use of science words, science phrases, etc that made it feel like I was reading a book on the life of fungi. The whole purpose of the scientists and the miners purpose on the rig was not explained which once again made the story INCREDIBLY confusing. And then we have the disappearance of Maximus which seemed completely unrealistic to me. His disappearance was completely brushed over as if he had nipped topside to the shop. Then lily makes a discovery of a eugliogeoud ( whatever that is ) and the story takes like a magical sci-fi turn. Then the eugliogeoud starts controlling lily and the rig??????? I don’t think I’ve ever been more confused in my entire life.
I don’t think any of the characters were developed properly ( the only one maybe ari and some of lily’s classmates ). The story make zero sense the whole way through. Also the personal diary entry’s were completely unnecessary and appeared what, four times in the story. The only reason I finished this book was because I thought maybe it was just a slow burner and I would get into it but no, 391 pages later and I’m just as confused as I was reading the first page. Remind me to never pick up a book based on the blurb ever again.
I know I have absolutely trashed this book BUT…
•I think the idea of the location was amazing ( although the author didn’t use this to their advantage)
•the romance between Evan and lily was lovely but NOT DEVELOPED AT ALL
I felt like I was reading a children’s book not a YA book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2023
Took a few chapters to really get into it, a lot of scientific jargon that I didn’t necessarily understand at first but had a better idea as I kept reading and the same things popped up a few times. I really started to enjoy the story and wanted to keep reading. There were a few twists and turns that I hadn’t seen coming, which was fun. However I was slightly disappointed in the ending, I was hoping for more from it.
December 22, 2023
It was on a cli-fi booklist but is not so much about climate change as it is about deep-sea technology, euglenoid intelligence, and tech-geek culture. There's a genre this book fits into which I haven't read much - no interest. Deep sea stuff? Like horror movies set in a submarine, sea monsters are a genre right? So there's that aspect. The cover and title are misleading, you'd think dreamy girl book, mermaids, definitely a female author?
The author A. Connors is male, his background is in physics and engineering. According to the goodreads bio, he spent his PHD underground at CERN - The European Organisation for Nuclear Research. The underwater rig descriptions possibly are informed by this, they are atmospherically claustrophobic, the tech-parts are a strong point of the book and possibly would resonate with tech-fan readers. Although the protagonist/narrator is a female teen, I think the book would appeal to a male teen reader too. It contains some themes only appropriate for older youth. It is plot-driven, action packed (including underwater explosions). The characters - apart from narrator- are charmingly described, though a little basic and caricatured. The scenario is the sort of thing you daydream about as a kid - going to school in a submarine (well, it's a deep-sea oil rig). The grown-ups are a bit dithery and negligent, the kids have to take control of the situation and save the day. Actually, the plot build-up is pretty engrossing but peeters out at some point.
There is actually a mature themes warning on this one. The tech-minded narrator has serious anti-social habits which are kind of glazed over by her peers and adults so aren't addressed as seriously as they should be in the book. She breaks things, hence the title.
Scattered throughout the book are several things she has done in the past including boiling her Dad's wallet and soaking his mobile phone multiple times, putting lemonade in a petrol tank twice causing a car to ignite twice, once causing serious injury to her best friend. It's serious stuff with malicious intent. I know there are quite a lot of people like this in society fully-functioning, they can be strangers, family members, colleagues. I'm not sympathetic as my life has been impacted by such individuals, thankfully on a smaller scale.
Interfering with other people in this way is something I can't tolerate and find appalling. Everyone's life contains too many burdens and pressures to have some random person, or a known person do some shitty thing to you that you are just supposed to be pleasant about and brush off. People like this sometimes cause irreparable damage to others without being held accountable and go on to have high-responsibility careers and families whilst these behaviours continue and are never corrected or publicised.
In this book, the behaviour is the result of the narrator's uncontrollable emotions and the reader isn't told whether she will continue behaving this way if she begins to feel lonely or neglected again. The narrator is the child of white-collar professionals and her behaviour does not have the same consequences as it would had she been from a lower socio-economic background. I just don't think the author handles this serious theme with the level of maturity and sense of responsibility and sensitivity it requires.
The author A. Connors is male, his background is in physics and engineering. According to the goodreads bio, he spent his PHD underground at CERN - The European Organisation for Nuclear Research. The underwater rig descriptions possibly are informed by this, they are atmospherically claustrophobic, the tech-parts are a strong point of the book and possibly would resonate with tech-fan readers. Although the protagonist/narrator is a female teen, I think the book would appeal to a male teen reader too. It contains some themes only appropriate for older youth. It is plot-driven, action packed (including underwater explosions). The characters - apart from narrator- are charmingly described, though a little basic and caricatured. The scenario is the sort of thing you daydream about as a kid - going to school in a submarine (well, it's a deep-sea oil rig). The grown-ups are a bit dithery and negligent, the kids have to take control of the situation and save the day. Actually, the plot build-up is pretty engrossing but peeters out at some point.
There is actually a mature themes warning on this one. The tech-minded narrator has serious anti-social habits which are kind of glazed over by her peers and adults so aren't addressed as seriously as they should be in the book. She breaks things, hence the title.
Scattered throughout the book are several things she has done in the past including boiling her Dad's wallet and soaking his mobile phone multiple times, putting lemonade in a petrol tank twice causing a car to ignite twice, once causing serious injury to her best friend. It's serious stuff with malicious intent. I know there are quite a lot of people like this in society fully-functioning, they can be strangers, family members, colleagues. I'm not sympathetic as my life has been impacted by such individuals, thankfully on a smaller scale.
Interfering with other people in this way is something I can't tolerate and find appalling. Everyone's life contains too many burdens and pressures to have some random person, or a known person do some shitty thing to you that you are just supposed to be pleasant about and brush off. People like this sometimes cause irreparable damage to others without being held accountable and go on to have high-responsibility careers and families whilst these behaviours continue and are never corrected or publicised.
In this book, the behaviour is the result of the narrator's uncontrollable emotions and the reader isn't told whether she will continue behaving this way if she begins to feel lonely or neglected again. The narrator is the child of white-collar professionals and her behaviour does not have the same consequences as it would had she been from a lower socio-economic background. I just don't think the author handles this serious theme with the level of maturity and sense of responsibility and sensitivity it requires.
February 5, 2023
Author: A. Connors
Genre: Sci-Fi
Age Range: Young Adult
Format: Paperback (ARC)
Published: 2nd February 2023
Pages: 396
Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Synopsis
Lily's emotional problems run deep - three miles deep.
After she gets kicked out of school for her destructive behaviour, Lily agrees to an unusual fresh start: going with her mum to live at Deephaven, an experimental deep-sea mining rig and research station located at the bottom of the ocean.
Lily instantly regrets her decision: claustrophobic and isolated, it's hardly her idea of home.
Turns out, Deephaven has problems of its own. The head scientist, they quickly learn, has disappeared - just as he was on the brink of a shocking discovery. In the darkness of the deep, something is stirring ... something dangerous.
And it's calling out to Lily.
A mind-expanding thriller set in the ocean's depths, a terrifying struggle for survival - and the story of one girl's path to self-acceptance.
Writer A. Connors is an exciting debut author writing for teens and young adults
Perfect for fans of Lauren James, Marie Lu and Marissa Meyer
Review
Trigger and Content warnings: Loss of a Loved One, Injury and Blood.
This review may contain spoilers.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher Scholastic UK, however, this in no way influenced my opinion.
I received a copy of this from the publisher who contacted me about reviewing it and the synopsis is what really drew me in and intrigued me. This novel is a mix of Sci-Fi and Thriller and was such a fun and fast-paced read that I haven’t stopped thinking about since I finished it. From the very first page of this book, I was immediately drawn into this story and the setting, and it held my attention throughout, it was also well-paced. The last part of this novel was especially intense to read, it was a bit like a disaster movie that had me on the edge of my seat. One of the things I loved about this book was the science aspect, the writing style made it easy to understand by explaining everything in a non-confusing way and not using lots of info-dumping. Another aspect of this that I liked was our main character Lily, she is a complex character who has made some mistakes in the past and is dealing with her parents splitting up, her development throughout this book was incredible and I loved following her on her journey.
Overall, this was a great YA Sci-Fi novel with an exciting and engaging plot that had me gripped from the very beginning that was well-written and had complex characters. If you’re into Sci-Fi/Disaster books and movies then I definitely recommend checking this out.
Genre: Sci-Fi
Age Range: Young Adult
Format: Paperback (ARC)
Published: 2nd February 2023
Pages: 396
Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Synopsis
Lily's emotional problems run deep - three miles deep.
After she gets kicked out of school for her destructive behaviour, Lily agrees to an unusual fresh start: going with her mum to live at Deephaven, an experimental deep-sea mining rig and research station located at the bottom of the ocean.
Lily instantly regrets her decision: claustrophobic and isolated, it's hardly her idea of home.
Turns out, Deephaven has problems of its own. The head scientist, they quickly learn, has disappeared - just as he was on the brink of a shocking discovery. In the darkness of the deep, something is stirring ... something dangerous.
And it's calling out to Lily.
A mind-expanding thriller set in the ocean's depths, a terrifying struggle for survival - and the story of one girl's path to self-acceptance.
Writer A. Connors is an exciting debut author writing for teens and young adults
Perfect for fans of Lauren James, Marie Lu and Marissa Meyer
Review
Trigger and Content warnings: Loss of a Loved One, Injury and Blood.
This review may contain spoilers.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher Scholastic UK, however, this in no way influenced my opinion.
I received a copy of this from the publisher who contacted me about reviewing it and the synopsis is what really drew me in and intrigued me. This novel is a mix of Sci-Fi and Thriller and was such a fun and fast-paced read that I haven’t stopped thinking about since I finished it. From the very first page of this book, I was immediately drawn into this story and the setting, and it held my attention throughout, it was also well-paced. The last part of this novel was especially intense to read, it was a bit like a disaster movie that had me on the edge of my seat. One of the things I loved about this book was the science aspect, the writing style made it easy to understand by explaining everything in a non-confusing way and not using lots of info-dumping. Another aspect of this that I liked was our main character Lily, she is a complex character who has made some mistakes in the past and is dealing with her parents splitting up, her development throughout this book was incredible and I loved following her on her journey.
Overall, this was a great YA Sci-Fi novel with an exciting and engaging plot that had me gripped from the very beginning that was well-written and had complex characters. If you’re into Sci-Fi/Disaster books and movies then I definitely recommend checking this out.
January 10, 2024
An unputdownable deep sea adventure!
Wow, this was beautiful from start to finish. The story really grips you from the first chapter where we meet Lily - a troubled but loveable sixteen-year-old girl who's travelling to a deep sea rig after being expelled from her school. Throughout the book she constantly makes mistakes, to the point where you should hate her but you just end up rooting for her more. The other characters are also all equally as well-written. I'll admit when I picked up this book I was expecting just another action-filled, loads of made up sciencey words, typical sci-fi, but this, while definitely full of action, was also so... deep! And not just because it was set 3 miles below sea-level! The characters felt real and Lily went through so much growth. It's rare to find books that maintain the balance between focusing on the characters while still keeping the plot moving - and this book did exactly that, in such a beautiful way.
Other than the characters the plot itself was so much fun. Despite most of the story taking place on the same deep sea rig, the setting was so detailed. I have to say at times I did struggle to understand some of the science terms, but even as someone who doesn't come from a science background and reads primarily fantasy romance, I was still able to keep up with the story (and learn a few new words in the process!)
Speaking of romance, the romance, while not the main focus of the story, was still lovely to read. The relationship between Lily and her love interest felt so natural and her love interest was also such a well-developed character. So many YA books will have a pretty boy who's there purely for the romance subplot, but this love interest was so important to the story, had such a rich personality, and that last chapter - perfect!!
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for their next read. The Girl who Broke the Sea is an easy-to-read sci-fi with well-written characters, a thrilling adventure, little dash of romance and is full of moments that will pull on your heartstrings before swiftly returning to deep sea fun! First 5/5 read for 2024 and I can't wait to see what the author does next.
Wow, this was beautiful from start to finish. The story really grips you from the first chapter where we meet Lily - a troubled but loveable sixteen-year-old girl who's travelling to a deep sea rig after being expelled from her school. Throughout the book she constantly makes mistakes, to the point where you should hate her but you just end up rooting for her more. The other characters are also all equally as well-written. I'll admit when I picked up this book I was expecting just another action-filled, loads of made up sciencey words, typical sci-fi, but this, while definitely full of action, was also so... deep! And not just because it was set 3 miles below sea-level! The characters felt real and Lily went through so much growth. It's rare to find books that maintain the balance between focusing on the characters while still keeping the plot moving - and this book did exactly that, in such a beautiful way.
Other than the characters the plot itself was so much fun. Despite most of the story taking place on the same deep sea rig, the setting was so detailed. I have to say at times I did struggle to understand some of the science terms, but even as someone who doesn't come from a science background and reads primarily fantasy romance, I was still able to keep up with the story (and learn a few new words in the process!)
Speaking of romance, the romance, while not the main focus of the story, was still lovely to read. The relationship between Lily and her love interest felt so natural and her love interest was also such a well-developed character. So many YA books will have a pretty boy who's there purely for the romance subplot, but this love interest was so important to the story, had such a rich personality, and that last chapter - perfect!!
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for their next read. The Girl who Broke the Sea is an easy-to-read sci-fi with well-written characters, a thrilling adventure, little dash of romance and is full of moments that will pull on your heartstrings before swiftly returning to deep sea fun! First 5/5 read for 2024 and I can't wait to see what the author does next.
January 20, 2023
A fresh start is exact what Lily needs—in fact, it’s what she has to have. Dubbed as having “emotional problems” by her old school headmaster (“breaking stuff” issues for others) she is going with her Mum to Deephaven, an experimental mining rig, three miles under the sea, as part of a research station that her Mum has a new job with. It’s not the easiest place to feel at home in. Feeling alone, missing her Dad and best friend (who isn’t talking to her at the moment) back home, everything about Deephaven seems to remind Lily how far away she is from normality.
But upon settling in, Lily and her mother discover that the head scientist, Maximus—the one that offered her mother the job—has disappeared in a company owned submersible, just as he was making a new discovery. Suddenly Lily’s Mum might not have a job on the rig anymore, and there’s a boy in the makeshift Deephaven school that has lost his Dad, calling out for answers, just as Lily is. Feeling like something out in the ocean is calling to her, Lily doesn’t know whether she’s paranoid or onto something—and when Evan, Maximus’s son, becomes her closest confidant in finding out what his father was searching for—and what led to him abandoning his son—the more treacherously unnerving Deephaven, and the ocean, starts to become.
Overall, The Girl Who Broke The Sea opened up a somewhat chasm within myself, one that felt Lily’s heart echoing back at me. I felt deeply for her as she combatted loneliness, the mysterious puzzle aboard Deephaven, her Parents split, dealing with her rooted issues and ways of coping, all the way to feeling out of place—and then, finally, at home—on Deephaven. I must admit, the scientific aspects of the book went over my head (I was much more of an English Lit girl at school) but by the end, I learned to make my own kind of language with it. I thoroughly loved the book’s message, the absorbing plot, secondary characters, and you could really tell just how much dedication, thought and love went into the story. I think so many people will love it, too. A sparkling four-stars!
But upon settling in, Lily and her mother discover that the head scientist, Maximus—the one that offered her mother the job—has disappeared in a company owned submersible, just as he was making a new discovery. Suddenly Lily’s Mum might not have a job on the rig anymore, and there’s a boy in the makeshift Deephaven school that has lost his Dad, calling out for answers, just as Lily is. Feeling like something out in the ocean is calling to her, Lily doesn’t know whether she’s paranoid or onto something—and when Evan, Maximus’s son, becomes her closest confidant in finding out what his father was searching for—and what led to him abandoning his son—the more treacherously unnerving Deephaven, and the ocean, starts to become.
Overall, The Girl Who Broke The Sea opened up a somewhat chasm within myself, one that felt Lily’s heart echoing back at me. I felt deeply for her as she combatted loneliness, the mysterious puzzle aboard Deephaven, her Parents split, dealing with her rooted issues and ways of coping, all the way to feeling out of place—and then, finally, at home—on Deephaven. I must admit, the scientific aspects of the book went over my head (I was much more of an English Lit girl at school) but by the end, I learned to make my own kind of language with it. I thoroughly loved the book’s message, the absorbing plot, secondary characters, and you could really tell just how much dedication, thought and love went into the story. I think so many people will love it, too. A sparkling four-stars!
January 24, 2023
'They say you'll never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. I was fine when we lost sight of the shore. It's losing sight of the surface that bothers me.'
I was kindly gifted this book from Scholastic UK and learnt that this is A.Connors debut novel, releasing in February 2023. What a fantastic debut! Such an interesting, unique concept which is thrilling from the get go. This novel was inventive and addictive. The author is definitely going to excel in writing science fiction, there was plenty of nods to the STEM world, it was really interesting and nice to see.
I think the first half of the book was so intriguing and I felt I was desperate to know more about Lily and her 'emotional problems'. I enjoyed the flashbacks of her life to give us a taster to what she has been through without giving too much away too soon. The narrative was easy to follow and found myself submerged (ha) within the book pretty quickly.
The second half of the book, prior to the ending, did slow down slightly as I found myself getting lost within the scientific terms and action. I think this is more because I don't necessarily pick up this genre but I still enjoyed it once I found myself getting towards the end and the drama continued to unfold. I think my only wish was there was more suspense in the middle!
The characterisation was fantastic, the setting was so unique. I found myself wanting a map or wanting to draw out what I was imagining of the rig so I could imagine where each character was as the drama began to happen. Overall, a fantastic debut novel which told me a lot about the deep sea, as well as a few scientific terms and the environment surrounding. I thought the ending was unique and interesting and I didn't expect the book to go that way. A fantastic message.
I was kindly gifted this book from Scholastic UK and learnt that this is A.Connors debut novel, releasing in February 2023. What a fantastic debut! Such an interesting, unique concept which is thrilling from the get go. This novel was inventive and addictive. The author is definitely going to excel in writing science fiction, there was plenty of nods to the STEM world, it was really interesting and nice to see.
I think the first half of the book was so intriguing and I felt I was desperate to know more about Lily and her 'emotional problems'. I enjoyed the flashbacks of her life to give us a taster to what she has been through without giving too much away too soon. The narrative was easy to follow and found myself submerged (ha) within the book pretty quickly.
The second half of the book, prior to the ending, did slow down slightly as I found myself getting lost within the scientific terms and action. I think this is more because I don't necessarily pick up this genre but I still enjoyed it once I found myself getting towards the end and the drama continued to unfold. I think my only wish was there was more suspense in the middle!
The characterisation was fantastic, the setting was so unique. I found myself wanting a map or wanting to draw out what I was imagining of the rig so I could imagine where each character was as the drama began to happen. Overall, a fantastic debut novel which told me a lot about the deep sea, as well as a few scientific terms and the environment surrounding. I thought the ending was unique and interesting and I didn't expect the book to go that way. A fantastic message.
January 24, 2023
I received an ARC from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
THE GIRL WHO BROKE THE SEA is a great sci-fi thriller set deep below the surface of the sea.
There's a tight, claustrophobia feel to the book. The mining rig is not large and the life inside it is precarious. Any breach in the walls is life threatening. Running out of oxygen is life threatening. Power going off is life threatening. It's like an outer space book in that the outside world is deadly, but it is on Planet Earth, which makes it more unsettling because this planet is home.
It's part way between a sci-fi and a thriller (and I am always so excited for more YA sci-fi!) You have the pacing and starting premise of a thriller, and the setting and action of a sci-fi, all bundled together into a thrilling package.
You can really tell when the science has been researched in a book, and this is one of them. Of course, there are some things that aren't currently possible and species that haven't been discovered, but everything is an extrapolation from current knowledge. As a STEM person myself, I love that in a book, and it really helps everything feel consistent and logical as the internal rules are strictly adhered to. Plus it helps it feel really grounded and realistic.
It's also a tale about anger and not fitting in and trying to find a way to be the best version of yourself. Lily has all these jagged edges from so many things in life and the way that manifests is in a desire to break things (and let's face it, we all have urges to break things from time to time.) I really enjoyed how, with acceptance of who she was, edges and all, she found a way to fit those pieces into her.
In all, this was a super fun debut to read and I look forward to more books from the author.
THE GIRL WHO BROKE THE SEA is a great sci-fi thriller set deep below the surface of the sea.
There's a tight, claustrophobia feel to the book. The mining rig is not large and the life inside it is precarious. Any breach in the walls is life threatening. Running out of oxygen is life threatening. Power going off is life threatening. It's like an outer space book in that the outside world is deadly, but it is on Planet Earth, which makes it more unsettling because this planet is home.
It's part way between a sci-fi and a thriller (and I am always so excited for more YA sci-fi!) You have the pacing and starting premise of a thriller, and the setting and action of a sci-fi, all bundled together into a thrilling package.
You can really tell when the science has been researched in a book, and this is one of them. Of course, there are some things that aren't currently possible and species that haven't been discovered, but everything is an extrapolation from current knowledge. As a STEM person myself, I love that in a book, and it really helps everything feel consistent and logical as the internal rules are strictly adhered to. Plus it helps it feel really grounded and realistic.
It's also a tale about anger and not fitting in and trying to find a way to be the best version of yourself. Lily has all these jagged edges from so many things in life and the way that manifests is in a desire to break things (and let's face it, we all have urges to break things from time to time.) I really enjoyed how, with acceptance of who she was, edges and all, she found a way to fit those pieces into her.
In all, this was a super fun debut to read and I look forward to more books from the author.
April 27, 2023
No mermaids :( (That's a joke dont hate on me).
**POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD**
This is a really great story and really interesting to read about- ive never looked into this type of thing before so it was all new to me and while there was technical talk i didnt understand i found it really interesting.
Im actually terrified of the ocean, so i did expect to find myself cringing in fear at parts, but honestly, it wasn't so bad. I feel like all we really get on that is hey were in the sea and not great detail on the sea itself just that we're here the rift is there. Or maybe i just missed a lot, i did read it awfully fast. I would re-read this book, though, to get all the details.
It's 4 stars because i just feel like i needed more information, like for the first bit of the book i seriously thought she had super strength and had to keep it hidden because they just kept saying she cant help it she breaks things etc. Maybe I've read too many fantasy books, but the way her mum was acting was she's an alien with super strength!
I wished i knew more about why she bonded with the euglenoid. They were both lonely? I mean, im sure a lot of people that are deep in the sea cut off from civilization are lonely, so why her specifically? Why could the euglenoid control the ship and why was it in everyones heads, how does that even work?
On a personal note, I was totally holding out hope that the euglenoid was keeping Max alive somehow as we learnt just how intelligent this thing was, so i was sad when we found his body.
I just would have loved a bit more explanation and detail, but overall, it's a great book! I loved it :)
**POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD**
This is a really great story and really interesting to read about- ive never looked into this type of thing before so it was all new to me and while there was technical talk i didnt understand i found it really interesting.
Im actually terrified of the ocean, so i did expect to find myself cringing in fear at parts, but honestly, it wasn't so bad. I feel like all we really get on that is hey were in the sea and not great detail on the sea itself just that we're here the rift is there. Or maybe i just missed a lot, i did read it awfully fast. I would re-read this book, though, to get all the details.
It's 4 stars because i just feel like i needed more information, like for the first bit of the book i seriously thought she had super strength and had to keep it hidden because they just kept saying she cant help it she breaks things etc. Maybe I've read too many fantasy books, but the way her mum was acting was she's an alien with super strength!
I wished i knew more about why she bonded with the euglenoid. They were both lonely? I mean, im sure a lot of people that are deep in the sea cut off from civilization are lonely, so why her specifically? Why could the euglenoid control the ship and why was it in everyones heads, how does that even work?
On a personal note, I was totally holding out hope that the euglenoid was keeping Max alive somehow as we learnt just how intelligent this thing was, so i was sad when we found his body.
I just would have loved a bit more explanation and detail, but overall, it's a great book! I loved it :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2024
I loved this book! It's a thoroughly captivating read that combines a unique sci-fi setting, relatable characters and an intriguing plot that develops at a cracking pace.
Lily is a troubled teenager with an impulse to break things. She agrees to a fresh start with her scientist mum in the most unusual of locations - a deep sea mining rig set at the bottom of the ocean. Lily immediately dislikes her new environment. It’s claustrophobic and oppressive, and her classmates appear unwelcoming. But she quickly develops a connection that’s both fascinating and alarming.
Lily is an immensely likeable character and her struggles with relationships are sensitively portrayed. You can’t help but empathise with her. As the story develops, she grows as a character, developing in self-understanding, reaching out to connect with others and taking on the role of brave heroine. The story is fast-paced right from the word go, and the plot unfolds cleverly - nothing is quite what you expect.
The setting for this novel involves a strong STEM theme which is eminently accessible for the non-science minded amongst us! There’s also an underlying environmental message that highlights the tussle between man’s survival and the extraction of natural resources. But these in no way detract from the excellent plot. This is an immensely readable and thought-provoking book with high excitement levels throughout. A truly excellent read!
Lily is a troubled teenager with an impulse to break things. She agrees to a fresh start with her scientist mum in the most unusual of locations - a deep sea mining rig set at the bottom of the ocean. Lily immediately dislikes her new environment. It’s claustrophobic and oppressive, and her classmates appear unwelcoming. But she quickly develops a connection that’s both fascinating and alarming.
Lily is an immensely likeable character and her struggles with relationships are sensitively portrayed. You can’t help but empathise with her. As the story develops, she grows as a character, developing in self-understanding, reaching out to connect with others and taking on the role of brave heroine. The story is fast-paced right from the word go, and the plot unfolds cleverly - nothing is quite what you expect.
The setting for this novel involves a strong STEM theme which is eminently accessible for the non-science minded amongst us! There’s also an underlying environmental message that highlights the tussle between man’s survival and the extraction of natural resources. But these in no way detract from the excellent plot. This is an immensely readable and thought-provoking book with high excitement levels throughout. A truly excellent read!
August 25, 2023
4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow. I struggled to put this book down! A great sci-fi thriller. I loved the plot, the atmosphere and the character development of our girl Lily!
Let’s talk about Lily:
It’s hard for me not to connect with a deeply emotional problem child.
When she get’s kicked out of school and brought to Deephaven, she starts off still feeling how she always has up until she sets off into multiple deep sea laboratory explorations. Including the suspicious death of a scientist.
This is another area I connected well with Lily, when she begins her investigations you can see her grow and get comfortable in her surroundings. Just like any problem child that finds a driving passion.
With that being said, she is a very captivating main character that you 100% root for in not only her development, but in her near death experiences to uncover the dark secrets in the deep sea laboratory.
Deephaven:
A. Connors setting and atmosphere is brilliant. Even with the fast paced of the novel, the laboratory is perfectly set up for the multiple unfolding thrilling, creepy events. It was an amazing world building that also played a part in uncovering more about Lily’s internal battles.
Such a great novel, I would recommend to anyone who enjoys:
- Sci-fi thrillers
- STEM
- Mystery
- Adventure
What a ride this book took me on!
Wow. I struggled to put this book down! A great sci-fi thriller. I loved the plot, the atmosphere and the character development of our girl Lily!
Let’s talk about Lily:
It’s hard for me not to connect with a deeply emotional problem child.
When she get’s kicked out of school and brought to Deephaven, she starts off still feeling how she always has up until she sets off into multiple deep sea laboratory explorations. Including the suspicious death of a scientist.
This is another area I connected well with Lily, when she begins her investigations you can see her grow and get comfortable in her surroundings. Just like any problem child that finds a driving passion.
With that being said, she is a very captivating main character that you 100% root for in not only her development, but in her near death experiences to uncover the dark secrets in the deep sea laboratory.
Deephaven:
A. Connors setting and atmosphere is brilliant. Even with the fast paced of the novel, the laboratory is perfectly set up for the multiple unfolding thrilling, creepy events. It was an amazing world building that also played a part in uncovering more about Lily’s internal battles.
Such a great novel, I would recommend to anyone who enjoys:
- Sci-fi thrillers
- STEM
- Mystery
- Adventure
What a ride this book took me on!
January 19, 2024
This was a wonderful surprise! I picked up this book at Waterstones because the cover looked beautiful and then, after reading the synopsis I got really intrigued, but I didn't know anything about it and haven't seen anyone's review beforehand. And I honestly think its a shame how little attention this book has gotten!
This was a very good book. I think the premise, although not the most unique, was very well developed. I was never bored, and as a generally slow reader I appreciated that it kept my interest. I really enjoyed the main character and their development and growing connections and I think the setting was very well explored. I wasn't always convinced by the practicalities of the life and tech at Deephaven but as a microbial ecologist I got a lot of joy of the euglenoid plotline! And this being a book at its heart about communication really makes for some very beautiful and introspective moments.
After finishing the book I found out that this is a debut novel (WOW) and that the author is a scientist, so I am really looking forward to any other books they publish. I really hope more people will pick this book up and give it a chance. If you are new to sci-fi this is a very good point to get into the genre but I also think there is plenty to enjoy for the sci-fi aficionado! 4.5/5 stars
This was a very good book. I think the premise, although not the most unique, was very well developed. I was never bored, and as a generally slow reader I appreciated that it kept my interest. I really enjoyed the main character and their development and growing connections and I think the setting was very well explored. I wasn't always convinced by the practicalities of the life and tech at Deephaven but as a microbial ecologist I got a lot of joy of the euglenoid plotline! And this being a book at its heart about communication really makes for some very beautiful and introspective moments.
After finishing the book I found out that this is a debut novel (WOW) and that the author is a scientist, so I am really looking forward to any other books they publish. I really hope more people will pick this book up and give it a chance. If you are new to sci-fi this is a very good point to get into the genre but I also think there is plenty to enjoy for the sci-fi aficionado! 4.5/5 stars
December 27, 2023
A girl who breaks things when she gets upset going to live on an experimental deep-sea diving rig, where the pressure of the sea would crush you in seconds?
A problematic girl with no friends stranding herself in a tiny scientific community with no escape for six months? What could possibly go wrong?
Adam Connor's debut YA thriller is a gripping, pacy, totally (have to do this) *immersive* exploration of what could be waiting for us at the very, very deepest part of the sea. I was haunted by the premise - just couldn't put it down. This has big screen written all over it!
Lily, the novel's protagonist, has flaws aplenty, but she's wonderfully nuanced: she's likeable, intriguing and sooooooo brave.
I loved her, loved her pluck and agency, and loved this emotional, satisfying, scientific read.
A problematic girl with no friends stranding herself in a tiny scientific community with no escape for six months? What could possibly go wrong?
Adam Connor's debut YA thriller is a gripping, pacy, totally (have to do this) *immersive* exploration of what could be waiting for us at the very, very deepest part of the sea. I was haunted by the premise - just couldn't put it down. This has big screen written all over it!
Lily, the novel's protagonist, has flaws aplenty, but she's wonderfully nuanced: she's likeable, intriguing and sooooooo brave.
I loved her, loved her pluck and agency, and loved this emotional, satisfying, scientific read.
March 12, 2024
I am so glad that I judged this book by its cover. I was casually browsing the second hand section of my local bookstore on the hunt for a completely different book title (I did eventually find it) when this cover caught my eye. Thought it was pretty so I picked it up without even reading the blurb because why not? It was only $3. Went home, started reading it and heck yes, this is exactly the type of YA scifi book I needed to read. Besides the cool STEM topics and typical YA angst, it has a surprising amount of heart when it comes to character interactions and relationships. I loved the main character Lily, I found her so relatable and raw. It’s a very impressive debut and if this is any insight into the author’s other works then consider me an invested fan. Can’t wait for more from A. Connors!
February 13, 2023
{AD|GIFTED} What an absolute thriller this book turned out to be! A YA sci-fi set on a deep-sea rig featuring 16-year-old Lily and a mysterious entity that seems to be waking up. The claustrophobic setting ramped up the tension and the action scenes were engaging and well-written. Lily was a complex main character and I appreciated the exploration of her mental health and anger issues. I always like a found-family trope and this one offers the promise of that for Lily and her mother. Overall, an exciting deep-sea adventure that would make a great film.
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