Customer Reviews

Fathom

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Cherie Priest's latest novel, FATHOM, is a fascinating look at a Florida that has so much more to offer than Disney. She's got gods and ghosts, pirates and parades. This is a fantasy novel that's not the same-old, same-old. You'll find no twee elves or lost kings or magic swords. Instead, it's a fresh world of sea gods, a depression-era murderess, and unlikely heroes.

Fans of Tim Powers should definitely read this book. Like him, she has the knack of finding actual weird things and seamlessly interweaving them with her prose until you can't tell what she's made up and what she hasn't. Priest is definitely a writer to keep your eye on.

Fathom is a story of two teenage girls, a handful of gods and a dead pirate. It gave me a lot to think about while it was a lot of fun to read. One of the girls, one of the gods and the dead pirate are working together to destroy the world. But the enjoyment in reading the book isn't so much in the suspense, but in the skillful way Priest blurs the line between realistic and fantastic, dancing along the boundary between a novel about real people and a fairy tale about symbols of good and evil, while juggling time, place and distance.

Why do people do what they do? Who knows? This is a story about things happening, not about things happening for a reason. Fathom challenges you to accept that sometimes things happen without warning or explanation, or because of forces beyond your control and understanding. It's a book about the power of the elements, of gods and monsters and things that go bump in the day. About the power in places and words and things. It's a fable about not playing with (metaphorical) matches, and letting sleeping powers lie.

One of the strengths of the characterization in the book is in the working out of choices, good, bad or just lucky. About who you can rely on and being redeemed or lost by the friends you make, or the allies you keep. I'm not sure I could accurately visualize either of the two teenage girls, but by the end of the book their choices are vivid and memorable.

Although authors pull their hair out when a book is dropped into a genre, dark fantasy is not too bad a description for this book. Sometimes things go badly; sometimes the cavalry arrives late, and for no reason. Sometimes all you can do is wait; sometimes the right thing to do is to run away as fast as you can.

Partly because two of the protagonists are teenagers, this would be an excellent introduction to modern fantasy for a mid-teen. But that was a few decades ago for me, so I can confidently declare that this is a great story for readers of all ages.

I started this book standing in the kitchen, waiting for my tea to steep. Thirty minutes later, the tea undrinkable and my hip numb from leaning against the counter, I decided I should sit down, and managed to do so without ever lifting my eyes from the page.

Superficially Fathom is a story of saving the world, but it's not the usual fantasy adventure. People live and die because more by luck than by skill, there's no wise old man to tell the heroes what they need to know and do, and nobody's actions are without consequence. It's saving the world, so it's a fairytale, but it's a modern fairytale, adult and grim, with hard corners and no safety rails.

Fathom is not just a story about saving the world, though; it's about transformation, and family, and identity, and a great deal of other things, all lurking beneath the surface. It's also about Florida, and as someone who still lives here, I can say with authority she got it right.

This is the second book by Mrs. Priest that I've read, and with it she's established herself in my mind as an author to watch; I look forward to reading more of her work.

I was never that big on ghost stories, Southern Gothic or Southern tales in general (Kate Chopin not withstanding) but Cherie Priest made me a believer with Four and Twenty Blackbirds and the subsequent titles in the Eden Moore series, Wings to the Kingdom and Not Flesh Nor Feathers.

I wasn't completely into the genre of steampunk yet (I was on my way though), but Tanglefoot converted me.

Werewolves? I could take them or leave them. But Priest reminded me why they've stood the test of time in this genre with Dreadful Skin.

So what makes Priest such a phenom? A multitude of things, actually, but chief among them is that she has mastered the elusive art of excellent storytelling.

Priest knows to hook the reader in the first few sentences and to always leave the reader wanting more. She writes to the skeptic, not the believer. Meaning she writes to the reader who wouldn't be interested in this genre and owes no allegiance to the book or the author. So if that reader isn't hooked in the first few pages, they aren't finishing the book. Priest understands that if she can convert a skeptic into a believer, then she's penned a true literary gem; a universal story with compelling characters complex plots which any audience will enjoy.

Recognizing everyone deserves to have their story told, Priest doesn't shy away from casting minority characters in central and leading roles. I was amazed at the accuracy and the respectability in which Priest handled Moore. A heroine of color, Moore was the proverbial lioness. She was as strong, clever and indomitable a lead as any caucasian counterpart would've been. More than ever, examples like this are desperately needed in the publishing industry and the media in general.

All of this is to say, I've been a doting fanboy of Priest's work for many years and was all to eager to pick up her latest novel, Fathom.
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"I can't fathom them and neither can you."

The ageless water witch Arahab has been scheming for aeons, gathering the means to awaken the great Leviathan. She aims to bring him and the old gods back to their former glory, caring little that their ascendance would also mean an end to the human race. However, awakening the Leviathan is no small feat. In fact, Arahab can't complete the ritual without human aid.

Arahab's first choice is Jose Gaspar, a notorious sea pirate from eighteenth-century Spain. But when the task proves too difficult for Gaspar, she must look elsewhere, biding her time until the 1930s, when the ideal candidate shows up: a slightly deranged teenager name Bernice.

Bernice is sophisticated, torn from New York to spend a miserable summer on Anna Maria Island, a tiny rock off the coast of Florida. She's also been saddled with the companionship of her farm-raised cousin Nia. Eventually, Bernice's disenchantment gives way to rage, which in turn leads her to commit a deadly crime. When Nia won't cover for Bernice's actions, she turns on Nia, chasing her into the deadly costal waves.

The timing is right and the elementals have better ideas: The moment the girls go under, Bernice is commandeered for Arahab's task force and Nia is turned into a strange and powerful new creature by a servant of the earth who doesn't want to surrender his green fields and muddy plans--not yet, at least. Add in a hapless fire inspector trying to get his paperwork in order, a fire god whose neutrality has been called into question, and a bizarre religious cult and rural Florida doesn't seem so sleepy anymore.
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As was the case with the Eden Moore trilogy, Dreadful Skin and many of her other tales, Priest reminds us why the southeastern part of the United States is aptly nicknamed the "Dirty South."

An ensemble cast with multiple interweaving storylines, none are throw-away characters as each of them possess their idiosyncrasies and motivations which amps the tension and provides a sharp dynamic to the saga.

Each character is sympathetic because you understand why they're compelled to take the actions they take.

Gaspar was a legendary and ruthless pirate. But this is also a man who yearns for immortality through namesake and love.

As psychotic as Bernice is, for instance, you're given insight as to what motivates her. And the fact that we understand said motivation is disturbing within itself.

You'll be hard-pressed to find a more sympathetic protagonist in Nia.

This is a novel that defies genre and convention. After all, this story features witches, pirates, gods and firefighters. What more could you possibly ask for in a story?
And the ending....well, I won't spoil it for you (hence my vagueness).

In Fathom, Priest showcases a very literary and poetic style in her prose. She can pithily weave imagery in four or five words where it would take other writers pages to accomplish. Like her other work, this novel is temptered with nuance, wit, horror, action and intrigue. In short, expect to go on a journey.

Much like Eugie Foster, S.D. Perry, Britta Dennison and other extraordinary bards, Priest's sophisticated style/themes reminds us why speculative fiction is art in the purest and highest form.

I will say that this novel isn't for everyone. If you prefer cookie-cutter fiction with stereotypes for characters and hackneyed plots, then you probably won't enjoy this story. But if you're looking to go on a wild romping ride that'll leave you flipping feverishly through the pages, well....this book is for you.

Fathom is available here on Amazon and I can't urge you enough to check it out.

Fathom is fluidly written, rich with vivid description and intriguing characters. For me it read like a blend of myth and fairytale with just the right blend of atmosphere, suspense, and action. I was twitchy to finish reading it because I wanted to know how it ended up, but I also wanted to savor the book and not skip over a single word.

Cherie Priest once again knocks it out of the ballpark for me.

I could not put this book down. It draws you in, both with the details of the places, the people and the plot of the story itself.

Once I finished it, the husband also read it, and finished it in a record 3 days. Now, he wants more!

Fast paced with nary a pause for breath, Fathom is sure to be a new cult classic.

Cherie is becoming my most trusted author, in that I feel I can buy her books without hearing anything good word of mouth first, and trust that I will get a well written, thoughtful, intelligent, interesting story everytime. Haven't read one of her books that dissappointed yet.

This one creates a new mythology that is interesting and keeps me guessing as to where she is going to take the reader. I like an author that can both keep me interested and off balance.

Nia and Bernice were both interesting characters as were all the supernatural beings.

At times I was reminded of some of Gene Wolfe's writings, such as the Book of the Short Sun series.

One thing I like about this author is that although she leaves openings for recurring characters, each book really feels like a complete story. Seems rare today with so many books written towards being parts of long series.

Can't wait to get to the next Cherie Priest novel on my shelf, Those Who Went Remain There Still.

Cherie Priest has proven herself yet again with Fathom. The characters are realistic and interesting, the plot is well-drawn, and the prose can oftentimes be called beautiful. There is something haunting about the book, but in the way that it sticks with you long after you've read it. Highly recommended, along with Priest's Eden Moore trilogy.

I LOVED this book. The underlying mythology was well-thought-out, and the plot itself exciting and engaging. Highly recommended, especially for fans of dark fantasy!

Elementals, ghosts, and monsters--YES! MONSTERS! But this is not your typical monster story. No Swamp Thing, no Blob, no Creature from the Black Lagoon that stumbles about sliming victims. These monsters have purpose, destiny, and some kick-butt moves. Combine this with the sort of lovely writing that isn't out to prove just how clever the author is and how can you go wrong? You can't. Fathom wins on all fronts. From the first haunting words through to the last hopeful ones, Cherie Priest's Fathom pulls its victims--I mean, readers--along effortlessly.