Review of A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

My Rating: 4.75

I received a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review

CW: mentions of/implications of death

Oh myyyy goooodddddd, I loved this book. I loved it so much. I loved the magical/underwater academia vibes. I would expect nothing else from Orbit, though, they haven’t missed as of yet.

I loved the family relationships in the book, a lot, not only does E.’s grief feel natural over losing her sister in the first pages of the book, but the author makes us believe in their relationship. She established their relationship through letters. I also LOVE their names, E refusing to share her full first name because her name is that bad, AND her sister being named Philosophy and her brother Arvist.

Sophy and Henrey were adorable in their letters, and it was honestly a gut punch every time I read about the way E and Viyern were coping with something so awful. Each of the characters feel fully realized, fully developed, and have motivation make sense.

The world building was STUNNING, as was the writing, they both leant to a really great atmosphere in the book.

I listened to this on Audibook, as well as reading my e-galley and a physical book, I highly recommended the audiobook

I also liked the commentary on politics and academic bureaucracy, it was a really fascinating way for the author to dissect some of the problems with academia. And that plays a direct role in the plot and in the motivations of E. and Sophy.

Also, casual queer rep! Viyern is married to a man and E is married to a woman. I ADORE the way they just made it something out in the open and not a main focus of their personalities or plotlines. The book was about death and grief, not about homophobia. The book also features non-binary characters, and just like with the queer characters, the identity isn’t focused on so intensely.

I also love how literally EVERYONE acts like they’re on the spectrum, how iconic of Cathrall to do that.

The way that the relationships of a romantic nature were realistic and domestic, the characters cared about each other, challenged each other, and showed each other love and compassion. Both Viyern’s husband and E’s wife practice a lot of support with their grieving.

There are multiple time jumps, and in my opinion, it’s incredibly difficult to pull it off, but Cathrall DOES. She manages to keep it from being too confusing, and the sisters and brothers communicating in the past establish care for the characters.

AND THE WAY THAT THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR SPOUSES TOGETHER? Oh, it’s SO SWEET. I love the two of them, I love how the relationships were portrayed and just how functional the relationships are.

I also loved the portrayal of male insecurity in an academic and personal setting, while E. struggles with it, it’s refreshing to see it on a male character.

I thought the pacing was well done as well, the mystery unfolded in a fun way,

And the ending.

I loved the book so much.

My god.

Can’t wait for book 2!