The Vicious Deep (Vicious Deep, #1)

by Zoraida Córdova

For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave.

He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he's heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he's suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.

Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea...and now it wants him back.

• ISBN10: 1402274416
• ISBN13: 9781402274411
• Publish Date: 1 November 2012 (first published 1 May 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 14 November 2014
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Sourcebooks, Inc
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[ladygrey]

It's interesting and different to read a YA book written from a boy's point of view. [a:Zoraida Cordova] pulls it off pretty well. And maybe it was the boy pov but her dialog and writing style didn't feel forced or like it was trying to sound like a teenager. It was really comfortable and easy and really fun to read.

I liked all the different characters and creatures she populated her world with. The twists on folklore and myth felt authentic and natural and there was a good sense of humor about it also.

I'm kind of torn on the plot. In some ways it's great; taking her time to introduce this story and the world and let us get invested in the characters. And in some ways it seems like a great way to plot a series by making the beginning just the first part of a continuous story; almost sort of old fashioned in a good way. But in other ways it feels like the story was just getting started when it ended.

[Suz @ Bookish Revelations]

The Vicious Deep is a wonderfully action packed fish-out-of-water tale, that will captivate readers with its unexpected twisty-plot and hilarious yet sometimes sensitive male protagonist. It's full of wonder, creative narrative, and awesome moments of wow sure to get any readers blood pumping! Zoraida Cordova pens a delicious blend of humor, danger, and excitement. She manages to accomplish telling a brilliant mer-tale, by doing things a little differently than most mermaid books. Tristan is actually the sea creature, thrust into a situation that he knew absolutely nothing about and more than a little freaked about it. He is a wonderful character to get to know and readers will find him extremely likable, with his laid back ways and approach to dealing with things.

The vicious deep world that Zoraida Cordova builds, is simply breath taking and hauntingly beautiful. It feels as if readers are plunged into a world full of darkness and wonder, yet teaming with suspenseful murky secrets hidden in its depths. The characters are well developed and likable, the writing is strong and intriguing, and the story itself is highly engaging. The Vicious Deep is a fast paced enjoyable mer-tale that will have readers on the edge of their seats, craving the next installment. It's definitely an "at the top of the pile" to-be-read book for anyone who enjoys sparkling tales of underwater fantasy.

This isn't your typical mer-tale, what doesn't seem to work so much in other's, definitely works well in this one. It's sort of what sets it apart and makes it such an amazing debut novel. Readers will appreciate the lightness and witty humor that it provides, along with the dangers and the thrills beyond the sea. The romance is sweet and understated, never taking over from the main plot which is refreshing in so many ways. The Vicious Deep is a delightful novel that readers will not want to put down.