From the moment I first heard about The Vicious Deep, I've been pining for it. Both the promise of being introduced to mermaids that, as stated on the cover, are "not the mermaids you know", and the cover design hinting at this book being more of an adventure than a supernatural romance, got me extremely excited for this title. And the fact that the story is told from a male's point of view only made me want to read it more. Plus, I love all things dark and eerie, and this novel seemed like just the perfect treat for me. And in many ways it was. Yes, there were also a few things that I didn't like, but these tiny little shortcomings didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the story. Ultimately, I came out of reading this book feeling impressed and satisfied. The Vicious Deep is extremely unique and breathtakingly imagined YA debut, full of gorgeous creatures and dangerous adventures. Zoraida Cordóva is a talent to be reckoned with, her writing - both powerful and enticing, and there's no doubt in my mind that she can really turn this trilogy into one of the best - if not THE best - supernatural series out there.
I won't lie, I went into reading this novel with huge expectations. With all the hype it was getting, I was pretty much prepared to be swept off my feet. Was I swept off my feet? Yes, most definitely, although not right away. In fact, I found it very hard to get through the first 80 pages or so. The beginning of the story was quite chaotic, jumpy, and hard to focus on. I had serious trouble following the plot line and it took me a while to really get into the story, the awkward relationship between Tristan and Layla being one of the reasons for it. Thankfully, it gets so much better once we get past the first few chapters. For me, the story really took off when Tristan set out to the Sea Court to meet his grandfather (who also happens to be the King of the Sea Court, and one in need of an heir). That's when things got interesting. On the island, Zoraida introduces us to a whole new palette of fantastic characters, and tells us more about Tristan's heritage and what's expected of him. We taste the magic and experience the thrill of adventure. And there's an epic quest, too! How exciting is that?!
Cordóva has created a masterful, absolutely dazzling and refreshingly original mermaid world. Her vision, as well as the amount of thought she put into it, is really awe-worthy. I really enjoyed both the social and political aspects of the story, I thought they were done brilliantly and added an interesting layer of complexity to the story. Vibrant and mesmerizing, the Sea Court is full of life, beauty and magic. There's also a darker side of it, something wicked and deadly lurking in the deep waters, creatures so vicious and blood thirsty that just reading about them sends a shiver down your spine. A delicious blend, yum!
I thought the characters were exceptionally well fleshed out. Especially Tristan. I've seen many people praising Cordóva for how great a job she did writing from a male's POV, and, well, it's hard not to agree with that. She really did it magnificently. Tristan's character shined with authenticity. Handsome (and well aware of the fact), cocky and flirtatious, Tristan is a hot teenage boy who never bothers to censor his thoughts, is painfully straight-forward, and sweetly oblivious of his own immaturity. His first concern after turning into a merman: "where does it go?" (it being a particular part of male's body) - yep, that pretty much sums up his personality. Undeniably, he's a very colourful character. I found him, although realistically drawn, rather unlikeable. That made it very difficult for me to connect with him as a person and care about what will happen to him next. It was fun and entertaining following his adventures, but in the end, I realized I liked some of the supporting characters way better (Kurt being one of the most fascinating and charming ones!). I also didn't care much for the whole dramatic "she loves me/she loves me not" romance going on. I just didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters, and, to me, the burning love Tristan supposedly had for Layla seemed quite fake and more of a "I want it so bad, because I can't have it" than actual devotion. And don't get me wrong, I do understand that pretty boys are easily distracted by pretty girls, but I would like it so much better if Tristan could focus on the girl he (supposedly) loves so much, rather than play a happy grass-hopper, jumping from one flower to another. On a brighter note, I thought it would be really great to see Layla and Kurt together. I think they would make a totally adorable couple.
Overall, this was an immensely entertaining, action-packed read. I loved the adventure aspect of it (who doesn't like epic quests?!), I really enjoyed the darker elements, too, and most of all - I was amazed by the phenomenal world building and the mythological background. Intense, thrilling, and visually breathtaking, The Vicious Deep is an excellent supernatural/fantasy adventure with elements of romance and mystery. Readers will not be disappointed!
