Reading Gods of the Deep was like reading a fairytale for multiple reasons. It came with a ‘moral of the story’ that should serve as a lesson to one and all, and that lesson was to be mindful of stepping over the boundaries for the benefit of profit. It had a light element of magic which some of the secondary characters possessed. It had style of writing that made this title very enjoyable, it was like something you want told around a bonfire for generations. It tells the reader about the old ways and the new ways. It tells the reader how the opposing sides, when they get too close to each other, do not often gel well, and it tells how lies and corruption affect lives. It also tells us how both, too much progress or too little progress, can be the cause of harm.

It’s a nice story element, the clashing of opposing sides – the fact that it happens, is never nice, per se, but the rift and conflict will give plenty of material both on the characters’ personal level and in overall picture, to create an engaging, full bodied story. I do believe when I say this that the potential in Gods of the Deep was recognized and weaved into a story which could strongly aling with reader’s personal values of the environmental kind. I do not know how this story could have been any better – it was great.

What might appeal to some readers is the fact that even though I likened the story to a fairytale, it does not have a sickeningly sweet prince Charming in it. None of that gibberish. Instead, we have a strong message of how progress and corporations can affect an environment and the people living in said environment. A life that is simple, disconnected, comfortable yet not addicted to comforts kind of life. A life of hard work and teamwork. I like that this title is an ode to the old ways, customs and community spirit. Even if that spirit turns a bit sour sometimes. But that’s the way of life, that’s the way of man.

Whilst you do not get dragons, or wizards, or hobbits or goblins, you get regular folk living off what the ocean has to give them, and when the balance gets disturbed, the ocean will give them and anyone in this world more than they can handle. Something that legends speak of but no one has yet seen. A monster? Or a ploy to keep folks in check, in their routine? Gods of the Deep has a doomsday feeling to it. And there are battles that our characters have to fight to survive, and there are difficult decisions they must make for their future. With a touch of the otherworldly, we have a mix that feels part like a folk tale, part like a lesson to learn about striking a balance with nature itself.

The writing and storytelling, the story itself – you can already tell, I enjoyed it, and as a whole it’s *chef’s kiss* and I can say that with confidence, as I read this title in full.