Abyss Surrounds Us

by Emily Skrutskie

For Cassandra Leung, bossing around sea monsters is just the family business. She's been a Reckoner trainer-in-training ever since she could walk, raising the giant, genetically engineered beasts to defend ships as they cross the pirate-infested NeoPacific. But when the pirate queen Santa Elena swoops in on Cas's first solo mission and snatches her from the bloodstained decks, Cas's dream of being a full-time trainer seems dead in the water. Waiting for her on the pirate ship is an unhatched Reckoner pup. Santa Elena wants to take back the seas with a monster of her own, and she needs a proper trainer to do it. She orders Cas to raise the pup and teach him to fight for the pirates. If Cas fails, her blood will be the next to paint the sea.

• ISBN10: 0606384995
• ISBN13: 9780606384995
• Publish Date: 8 February 2016
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 13 September 2021
• Imprint: Turtleback Books
• Edition: Bound for Schools & Libraries ed.
• Format: Hardcover (Library Binding)
• Pages: 288
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

The Abyss Surrounds Us was so much fun! Cas is a reckoner trainer in training. Reckoners are, in short, genetically engineered sea creatures that protect ships from pirates. On her first solo mission, Cas' reckoner falls ill, the ship is captured, and so is Cas. Now, Cas is not only a prisoner, but she's being forced to train a reckoner for the pirates! How in the world did they even get one?! But the longer Cas spends with the pirates, the less she feels like she belongs back at home.

I do not believe the future in The Abyss Surrounds Us at all. Obviously, it's Science Fiction, and it's not likely to happen, but I really cannot imagine any of this ever happening. But, it was so unique and fun and exciting, so I didn't even care! Giant sea turtles! Pirates! Floating cities! Ecology! Marine Biology! So much goodness smushed together! I kept picturing cruise ships trailed by dragon-sized turtles and squids, which is a weird mental picture, but it works. It's not believable, but it totally worked for me.

The Abyss Surrounds Us is also more action than romance, which was a-okay with me for a couple of reasons. I was completely invested in what was happening with Cas training her reckoner and trying to stay alive. I love how she realized that the scientists (including her parents) aren't necessarily the good guys, because hey, they created creatures whose sole purpose is to destroy ships. And most importantly, when there was romantic tension, as much as I wanted Cas and Swift to get to kissing, Cas points out that the power imbalance is not exactly conducive to starting a relationship. She's a captive! But things change...

The Abyss Surrounds Us was just a super duper fun read and I sped through it in no time! If you like seafaring adventures and cool creatures and girls kissing, you should absolutely give it a read!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.