Somehow comforting and aching all at once, this book feels like a hug from a long-distance best friend. Cozy love stories and gentle friendships twine between the mystery of a past tragedy and the thrum of impending adventure to come. Though the pacing and epistolary style may not be for everybody, the lush, fantastical underwater world this book introduces is worth every minute spent reading. If you’re an audiobook listener, tune in to this one for an excellent full cast that all fully embody the voice and personality of their characters.
A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall, (List Price: $18.99, Orbit, 9780316565530, April 2024)
Reviewed by Izzy Bell, Birch Tree Bookstore in Leesburg, Virginia