The Deep was a very interesting read. I chose it because it was recommended as being a good book less than 200 pages. I read on my phone through Libby though, so it felt like way more than 200 pages. I don’t typically read a lot of fantasy, but I’ve wanted to read Rivers Solomon’s work for a while. I first learned of them and their work when I was looking up black, queer authors to support.
Through The Deep, Rivers Solomon paints this beautiful yet tragic story of a mermaid-like beings called wajinru who are the direct descendants of pregnant slaves who were tossed into the ocean from the ships carrying them. The babies that were born could breathe underwater without assistance and eventually evolved into more fish-like creatures with tails, fins, and gills.
A recurring theme throughout this story was remembering history and the effects of generational trauma.