The Deep-Sea Duke
Lauren James
Cover artwork by Helen Crawford-White
Barrington Stoke, 2021
Paperback, £7.99
Hugo is an android travelling with his (rather odd) group of friends (Duke Dorian and living island Ada) to Dorian’s
home planet, Hydrox, for the summer only to run into a butterfly refugee crisis and a mysterious creature causing chaos beneath the sea.
In The Deep-Sea Duke, James creates the intricate world of Hydrox and throws us in feet first, and yet the planet is familiar enough that she is able to do so. James uses mythological creatures that already exist in our mythos and puts
a beautiful spin on them, making them unique in her newest novel. James’s language is simple and eloquent, and her dialogue snappy and realistic.
The Deep-Sea Duke drew me in from the first chapter with its colourful characters, hilarious interactions, and fun
premise, and it kept me entertained with its excellent and teen-friendly depictions of the climate crisis, racism, and LGBT+ love. The protagonists get what they need by the end of the book, but not necessarily what they want. The story emphasises that this is okay. While aimed at readers aged twelve and up, this novel is a mesmerising science-fiction story perfect for children, teens and adults alike who like to step into a new world.
The Deep-Sea Duke is the perfect story to read in one sitting on a warm summer day in the garden with a fresh glass of lemonade. Or any day, really. This book is just that good.
Elliot Gallogly
audience between ages 12-14 especially enjoying it. To me, it was evident that the characters portrayed classic stereotypes: the nerd, the prankster, the popular girl and the troublemaker. The most entertaining character was the prankster Jason, Ashley’s childhood friend. A key characteristic to this book is the references to Taylor Swift songs as they complement moments that happen to Ashley and describe her feelings. This adds a soundtrack to the book which I thought was a nice addition. I believe this book would be an amazing introduction for young readers into contemporary YA!
feels written rather than said. Set at a summer camp for eight- to ten-year-olds, Camp Pine Lake provides the perfect mix of a sunny home-away-from-home and a stifling settlement of strangers.
There is a lot of story within this novella, with a number of threads and mysteries to unravel that on occasion detract from the pacing and the development of some of the character relationships. In terms of the supporting cast, Mya’s flatmate Lynne is vibrant and jumps off the page, and Mya’s sister Zhara is aloof and intriguing enough that I was excited whenever she reappeared. Throughout the book, Mya’s determination and need to survive ring true.
Consequently, the people on this small island speak English, French, and Mauritian Creole, and this blend of cultures and languages across a troubled history is bound to result in fertile ground for creativity. However, this multitude of languages is not always an advantage; Ananda Devi’s characters struggle to express themselves fully with all of these borrowed languages, phrases and multicultural influences. On several occasions they say that there is “no escape” from the limitations placed on them by their upbringing in their neighbourhood — apart from turning to violence and crime which further traps them in the cyclical “nasty history” of their country. They are constrained by the cultural memory of violence and slavery, and can barely imagine a life outside of this extistence. Only fiction and stories from other places provide a glimpse of a world where “possibilities shimmer”, just as this novel helps readers to understand the lives of these disenfranchised youths.
