Originally published: 5 October 2021
Author: Rick Riordan
Genres: Science fiction, Middle grade fiction (seen it described as young adult fiction too)
“Here’s the thing about life-shattering days. They start just like any other.”
And so starts the adventure that turns 15-year-old Ana Dakkar’s life upside down. Ana is a student at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a school that trains the best underwater explorers (think engineers, cryptographic, weapons systems. Doctors, marine biologists, and more) in the world.
Generations of Dakkars have attended Harding-Pencroft, including Ana’s parents, who died two years earlier in a diving accident, leaving Ana and her older brother Dev as orphans.
The book starts off on the day of Ana’s freshman trials, which will determine which students move on to the next year. To say that things don’t go as expected is putting it mildly, and Ana and her classmates find themselves in a battle against Land Institute, HP’s nemesis.
I’m a water baby and was initially drawn by the book’s oceanic setting, which Rick Riordan’s writing and research vividly brings to vivid life.
Ana was a relatable teenage heroine. She has her best friends, and I appreciated seeing how these relationships as well as with the rest of her class give her the strength she needs to carry through, especially when she makes the worst discovery ever.
We see Ana grow as a leader and I joke that the lessons infused along the way made me think that Daughter of the Deep could double as a leadership book for teens (or anyone, for that matter).
Despite the book having many of the ingredients I like (fast pace, adventure, technology, science, water, badass female characters), it was not unputdownable for me. However, I still enjoyed it nevertheless.
This was the first book by Rick Riordan I’ve read, but based on this, I will certainly look at others.
The ending sets things up for a sequel, although it could very well be intended as a standalone book.
I give Daughter of the Deep ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5.
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