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Daughter of the Deep
Goodreads Choice Award
Winner for Best Middle Grade & Children's (2021)Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a five-year high school that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers in the world. Ana's parents died while on a scientific expedition two years ago, and the only family's she's got left is her older brother, Dev, also a student at HP. Ana's freshman year culminates with the class's weekend trial at sea, the details of which have been kept secret. She only hopes she has what it'll take to succeed. All her worries are blown out of the water when, on the bus ride to the ship, Ana and her schoolmates witness a terrible tragedy that will change the trajectory of their lives.
But wait, there's more. The professor accompanying them informs Ana that their rival school, Land Institute, and Harding-Pencroft have been fighting a cold war for a hundred and fifty years. But now the heat is on and the freshman are in danger of becoming fish food. In a race against deadly enemies, Ana will make amazing friends and astounding discoveries about her heritage as she puts her leadership skills to the test for the first time.
But wait, there's more. The professor accompanying them informs Ana that their rival school, Land Institute, and Harding-Pencroft have been fighting a cold war for a hundred and fifty years. But now the heat is on and the freshman are in danger of becoming fish food. In a race against deadly enemies, Ana will make amazing friends and astounding discoveries about her heritage as she puts her leadership skills to the test for the first time.
368 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2021
About the author
Rick Riordan
251 books433k followersRick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many books, including the Percy Jackson series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,035 reviews
Want to read
February 24, 2021Just when you thought he was done writing books, Rick strikes again.
Want to read
February 23, 2021EVERYBODY LISTEN UP
THERE
IS
A
NEW
UNCLE
RICK
BOOK
AJYHBFYKHJFAWFNJFB
THERE
IS
A
NEW
UNCLE
RICK
BOOK
AJYHBFYKHJFAWFNJFB
May 29, 2024
Would you be shocked if I told you this was the first book I have ever read by the fabulous Rick Riordan?
Well, it's true. I can't believe it either, but it's true.
Luckily for me, I picked the perfect book to start with. I mean, honestly, this book has it all. I loved it.
Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a school for all things of the sea. Ana's older brother, Dev, is also a student at the school.
Due to an accident taking her parent's lives two years ago, Dev is all the family Ana has left. He means everything to her. They are very close.
The pinnacle of Ana's freshman year is a weekend trial at sea; think of it as a very serious field trip.
Ana has no idea what lies in store for the weekend. She can only hope that she'll be successful, but all of that goes out the window when the Freshman class witnesses a violent and tragic event. They're lucky to be alive.
They learn a rival school, Land Institute, may be responsible, but why? What could possibly be behind such vicious animosity?
Ana and the rest of her classmates are now on their own. They need to figure this all out and somehow out smart and out last their enemies.
Along the way, they learn a lot of school history and Ana learns some quite interesting things about her own heritage as well.
Daughter of the Deep is such an exciting, fast-paced and heart-warming story. I loved the connections to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, as well as the setting and overall vibe.
Riordan grabbed my attention from the very beginning and that never changed. I was completely engrossed in all that was evolving on the page.
I adored this cast of characters, how they grew to rely on one another and really became an excellent example of a found family. You want to be with them; one of the team.
Additionally, although the circumstances for our characters are quite serious, there was a great vein of humor running throughout this story. I found that aspect extremely engaging; it kept me focused.
I'm not sure what the plan is for this. If this will become a new series or not. I certainly hope it will be. I cannot imagine this being the last I read of these characters.
They're all so fantastic and there is so much more room for them to grow. I want more!!!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Audio, for providing me with a copy of the audiobook to listen to. The narrator was terrific and I feel like audio is great format to take in this story.
Keeping my fingers crossed that this will not be the last we see of Ana and friends!!!
Well, it's true. I can't believe it either, but it's true.
Luckily for me, I picked the perfect book to start with. I mean, honestly, this book has it all. I loved it.
Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a school for all things of the sea. Ana's older brother, Dev, is also a student at the school.
Due to an accident taking her parent's lives two years ago, Dev is all the family Ana has left. He means everything to her. They are very close.
The pinnacle of Ana's freshman year is a weekend trial at sea; think of it as a very serious field trip.
Ana has no idea what lies in store for the weekend. She can only hope that she'll be successful, but all of that goes out the window when the Freshman class witnesses a violent and tragic event. They're lucky to be alive.
They learn a rival school, Land Institute, may be responsible, but why? What could possibly be behind such vicious animosity?
Ana and the rest of her classmates are now on their own. They need to figure this all out and somehow out smart and out last their enemies.
Along the way, they learn a lot of school history and Ana learns some quite interesting things about her own heritage as well.
Daughter of the Deep is such an exciting, fast-paced and heart-warming story. I loved the connections to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, as well as the setting and overall vibe.
Riordan grabbed my attention from the very beginning and that never changed. I was completely engrossed in all that was evolving on the page.
I adored this cast of characters, how they grew to rely on one another and really became an excellent example of a found family. You want to be with them; one of the team.
Additionally, although the circumstances for our characters are quite serious, there was a great vein of humor running throughout this story. I found that aspect extremely engaging; it kept me focused.
I'm not sure what the plan is for this. If this will become a new series or not. I certainly hope it will be. I cannot imagine this being the last I read of these characters.
They're all so fantastic and there is so much more room for them to grow. I want more!!!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Audio, for providing me with a copy of the audiobook to listen to. The narrator was terrific and I feel like audio is great format to take in this story.
Keeping my fingers crossed that this will not be the last we see of Ana and friends!!!
September 5, 2022
So you're telling me Ana isn't a Daughter of Poseidon?
Seems fake.
Seems fake.
Want to read
June 3, 2021*inserts vine "anything for you, beyoncé"*
update
wAIT, THERE IS A COVER NOW
update
wAIT, THERE IS A COVER NOW
Want to read
February 25, 20212/25/21: this synopsis makes no sense to me, but all my brain can hear is “new uncle rick book”.
Want to read
February 26, 2021i'm a simple girl: i see "rick riordan," i click "want to read."
January 27, 2022
Rtc because I am, once more, emotionally wrecked at the hands of Uncle Rick.
GUESS WHAT CAME OUT TODAY
WE HAVE A COVER I REPEAT WE HAVE A COVER
it looks like the Magnus Chase covers though
I will assume that this is the book that Rick mentioned in his blog:
Evidence:
1. this comes out in October
2. "stealth learning" --> the main character attends a marine biology school
3. this is a retelling of 20000 Leagues Under The Sea and that's basically where Rick is in that photo
This might be nothing like Percy Jackson but if this has anything in common with Rick's books then you can bet twenty bucks and a box of Froot Loops that this will be on my bookshelf before 2022.
Also I'm hoping there's a Seaweed Brain cameo because MARINE BIOLOGY
and there's this:
GUESS WHAT CAME OUT TODAY
WE HAVE A COVER I REPEAT WE HAVE A COVER
I will assume that this is the book that Rick mentioned in his blog:
As for me, that secret project novel I’ve been working on the last seven months has been accepted by my editor at Disney Publishing, so if all goes well, it looks like you may have a new Riordan novel coming out this October. I really wasn’t expecting to be able to release a new book so soon, but I’m very excited! When I can share more details about the book, I will. This is something completely new for me, though it’s an idea that has been percolating since 2008. It is a stand-alone book, not mythology-based, but is otherwise my usual brand of fast-paced adventure with humor, a wide cast of characters, and maybe even a bit of stealth learning!
Want a hint? Here’s the author photo I plan on using:
(Photo credit: Percy Jackson)
Evidence:
1. this comes out in October
2. "stealth learning" --> the main character attends a marine biology school
3. this is a retelling of 20000 Leagues Under The Sea and that's basically where Rick is in that photo
This might be nothing like Percy Jackson but if this has anything in common with Rick's books then you can bet twenty bucks and a box of Froot Loops that this will be on my bookshelf before 2022.
Also I'm hoping there's a Seaweed Brain cameo because MARINE BIOLOGY
and there's this:
January 9, 2022
finished reading this to procrastinate studying for my finals, would recommend 👍🏼
this was fast-paced and engaging, basically just a fun read to fly through! also loved how all the characters were nerdy in their own ways (I loved how the main character was a polyglot). great exploration of power corruption, duty, and opportunities for redemption, especially for kids
this was fast-paced and engaging, basically just a fun read to fly through! also loved how all the characters were nerdy in their own ways (I loved how the main character was a polyglot). great exploration of power corruption, duty, and opportunities for redemption, especially for kids
// buddy read with rain!!
Want to read
March 10, 2021WE ARE GETTING A NEW UNCLE RICK BOOK *screams*
I DON'T EVEN NEED TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS ABOUT but i'm adding it to my tbr regardless.
I DON'T EVEN NEED TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS ABOUT but i'm adding it to my tbr regardless.
August 2, 2023
2.75 Silver Stars
I guess Riordan really loves ocean. (no sarcasm, just a genuine observation, in case you wonder.)
I haven't read Twenty thousands leagues under the sea yet, but I know pretty much the story (& the characters). plus, there were some explanations about important stuff in here too. so I guess I'm good.
it had a great beginning. Beautiful & fun. then it was a let down (it's all according to my opinion), until the excitements rose again. (& near the end, another let down...)
though, I really wished we had more story around Harding-Pencroft Academy. it seemed like such a cool place. their classes. About Dev.
I understand why Riordan didn't choose that path for this story, but I still want it.
the Characters were good, just maybe too many to be introduced at once.
I liked Dev, Gem & Ester.
Ana was good too, but not my typical fav heroine.
it had fun moments. Well, it's Riordan,
but too much equipment & engineering & technology talking or explaining, made it boring at some points, because, not a technical person, I couldn't follow & honestly, I didn't care how some random stuff worked (I'm not talking about those things that are necessary for us to know because of the plot, I'm mostly talking about the excess detailed (enthusiastic) talk after that. or just Ana sprouting too much explaination about technology.)
I guess I'm not a fan of this kind of sci-fi.
I liked it, half & half. Sadly, I didn’t feel or care deep enough, the way I wanted, or expected.
it was not a disappointment (well, according to how much hyped I was, it could be, I guess. a little?), but not everything can be Percy Jackson books. *sigh*
near the end, even though I know something like this would happen, but I didn't expect THIS!
not going to accept it. nope. nuh- uh.
anyway, I think it was not exactly a retelling. For me it felt more like a sequel, if you know what I mean.
& probably won't re-read this book again. I prefer that my first emotions stay intact.
-
pre-read: (I was so happy...)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
We have a new Uncle Rick's book this year too!
I was so sad Camp halfblood is over & we didn't have another book this year, but here We are!
thank you!
so excited!
Cover Reveal: June 3rd- beautiful!
I guess Riordan really loves ocean. (no sarcasm, just a genuine observation, in case you wonder.)
I haven't read Twenty thousands leagues under the sea yet, but I know pretty much the story (& the characters). plus, there were some explanations about important stuff in here too. so I guess I'm good.
it had a great beginning. Beautiful & fun. then it was a let down (it's all according to my opinion), until the excitements rose again. (& near the end, another let down...)
though, I really wished we had more story around Harding-Pencroft Academy. it seemed like such a cool place. their classes. About Dev.
I understand why Riordan didn't choose that path for this story, but I still want it.
the Characters were good, just maybe too many to be introduced at once.
I liked Dev, Gem & Ester.
Ana was good too, but not my typical fav heroine.
it had fun moments. Well, it's Riordan,
but too much equipment & engineering & technology talking or explaining, made it boring at some points, because, not a technical person, I couldn't follow & honestly, I didn't care how some random stuff worked (I'm not talking about those things that are necessary for us to know because of the plot, I'm mostly talking about the excess detailed (enthusiastic) talk after that. or just Ana sprouting too much explaination about technology.)
I guess I'm not a fan of this kind of sci-fi.
I liked it, half & half. Sadly, I didn’t feel or care deep enough, the way I wanted, or expected.
it was not a disappointment (well, according to how much hyped I was, it could be, I guess. a little?), but not everything can be Percy Jackson books. *sigh*
near the end, even though I know something like this would happen, but I didn't expect THIS!
not going to accept it. nope. nuh- uh.
anyway, I think it was not exactly a retelling. For me it felt more like a sequel, if you know what I mean.
& probably won't re-read this book again. I prefer that my first emotions stay intact.
-
pre-read: (I was so happy...)
We have a new Uncle Rick's book this year too!
I was so sad Camp halfblood is over & we didn't have another book this year, but here We are!
thank you!
so excited!
Cover Reveal: June 3rd- beautiful!
Want to read
June 3, 2021update 6-4:
OMG Y'ALL WE HAVE A COVER!! 🤩
it's giving me the cover of PJO: the lightning thief vibes! aaaaaahhhh
—
you see, i'm a simple human being. i see a new book by uncle rick, i automatically add it to my to-read and anticipated lists.
can't wait for this aaaaahh!!!
OMG Y'ALL WE HAVE A COVER!! 🤩
it's giving me the cover of PJO: the lightning thief vibes! aaaaaahhhh
—
you see, i'm a simple human being. i see a new book by uncle rick, i automatically add it to my to-read and anticipated lists.
can't wait for this aaaaahh!!!
March 19, 2022
I'm... I'm actually kinda sad I didn't enjoy this book as much as his other ones
***
Rick Riordan: *writes a book*
Me, 0.1 seconds later: *smashes 'Want to read' button*
***
Rick Riordan: *writes a book*
Me, 0.1 seconds later: *smashes 'Want to read' button*
Shelved as 'on-hold'
October 5, 2021Updated October 5th
HAPPYY RELEASE DAYYYYYYYYYY!
----------------------------
Updated October 3rd
3 DAYSS UNTIL THIS OUTTTTTT
YASSSSSSSS
———————————————-
ooooooh!, the cover's out!, It's pretty!
It's ocean-ish (kinda sound have expected it from the title) And the people on the cover seem cool!
Also the plot sound awesome, can't wait to read it! :)) Yay!
This is one of my most anticipated read, for this year!
ahhhhhh!, I really need to read this soon!
HAPPYY RELEASE DAYYYYYYYYYY!
----------------------------
Updated October 3rd
3 DAYSS UNTIL THIS OUTTTTTT
YASSSSSSSS
———————————————-
ooooooh!, the cover's out!, It's pretty!
It's ocean-ish (kinda sound have expected it from the title) And the people on the cover seem cool!
Also the plot sound awesome, can't wait to read it! :)) Yay!
This is one of my most anticipated read, for this year!
ahhhhhh!, I really need to read this soon!
Shelved as 'lost-interest'
February 25, 2024I'm going to mark this book as 'lost interest' for now. But don't give me side eyes ya'll, I will give Mr. Riordan's books a proper chance, starting from this one.
**********************************************
I've always heard good things about Rick Riordan's books, especially about 'Percy Jackson' series. But since I watched PJ movies first (and didn't like them very much, mostly the second) that made me not want to read the books, although I lowkey wanted to read at least one book by him.
The fact this book is his most recent and that it's a stand-alone is the perfect opportunity for me to give it a try.
**********************************************
I've always heard good things about Rick Riordan's books, especially about 'Percy Jackson' series. But since I watched PJ movies first (and didn't like them very much, mostly the second) that made me not want to read the books, although I lowkey wanted to read at least one book by him.
The fact this book is his most recent and that it's a stand-alone is the perfect opportunity for me to give it a try.
February 8, 2022
This is everything I wanted 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to be!
I love that Riordan admits that the Verne classic can be kind of a slog. I grew up on the old Disney movie, I loved it. I read the book as an adult and was like, Hmmm, I thought this would be a little more fast-paced. (I do plan on trying it again.)
But then there's THIS, which took everything great about that book, and put it in an excellent modern framing. I shan't say anything more in depth about the plot or the premise, but they're very, very good. I really loved Ana and all her crew, especially Ester and Top. I also loved that there was a character who was Mormon, but he was just a guy who belonged to my same church! And he wasn't a technophobe, or a polygamist, which seems to be (weirdly) the two ways that we're portrayed in books! Woot! Thanks, Rick!
I love that Riordan admits that the Verne classic can be kind of a slog. I grew up on the old Disney movie, I loved it. I read the book as an adult and was like, Hmmm, I thought this would be a little more fast-paced. (I do plan on trying it again.)
But then there's THIS, which took everything great about that book, and put it in an excellent modern framing. I shan't say anything more in depth about the plot or the premise, but they're very, very good. I really loved Ana and all her crew, especially Ester and Top. I also loved that there was a character who was Mormon, but he was just a guy who belonged to my same church! And he wasn't a technophobe, or a polygamist, which seems to be (weirdly) the two ways that we're portrayed in books! Woot! Thanks, Rick!
Want to read
June 3, 2021NO ONE TOLD ME THAT RICK WAS WRITING ANOTHER BOOK?!?! GOODREADS YOU HAVE BETRAYED ME
February 14, 2022
2.5 stars
this did not feel like a Rick Riordan novel, and I was honestly bored most of the time
this did not feel like a Rick Riordan novel, and I was honestly bored most of the time
November 2, 2021
An oceanic school adventure featuring an alt-tech submarine with AI consciousness and an orangutan obsessed with The Great British Bakeoff? This book was a LOT of fun.
(Also he's the first male author I've read to normalise women's menstrual cycles in young fiction absolute SNAPS to Rick Riordan)
(Also he's the first male author I've read to normalise women's menstrual cycles in young fiction absolute SNAPS to Rick Riordan)
Read
December 15, 2021finished reading 12/12/2021
without a doubt, i really enjoyed reading daughter of the deep. even with the fast pacing, i had no problems connecting with both the characters and the story almost immediately. i also loved how incredibly nerdy this whole book is. all the science, tech, and marine biology talk fascinated me (yes including all the made-up stuff) and reminded me why i did not entirely hate all my inverts and ecology courses in college. this is the kind of book that will make you go "oh maybe science is cool!" and i think that's something that middle-grade readers would love (and maybe also biology majors like me idk we don't wanna talk about that).
oh boy i am rambling. long story short, i liked this book a lot. i only have beef with the audiobook background music/sfx because it really did nothing but spike up my stress levels. pls let us not normalize that in this industry i am begging.
pick this up if you're looking for a fast-paced read that will keep you engaged from the first page until the last!
12/07/2021
for the first time in a long time (or like, ever), i am reading a rick riordan book that isn't set in the pjoverse. let's see how this will turn out.
➸ buddy read with may!!
without a doubt, i really enjoyed reading daughter of the deep. even with the fast pacing, i had no problems connecting with both the characters and the story almost immediately. i also loved how incredibly nerdy this whole book is. all the science, tech, and marine biology talk fascinated me (yes including all the made-up stuff) and reminded me why i did not entirely hate all my inverts and ecology courses in college. this is the kind of book that will make you go "oh maybe science is cool!" and i think that's something that middle-grade readers would love (and maybe also biology majors like me idk we don't wanna talk about that).
oh boy i am rambling. long story short, i liked this book a lot. i only have beef with the audiobook background music/sfx because it really did nothing but spike up my stress levels. pls let us not normalize that in this industry i am begging.
pick this up if you're looking for a fast-paced read that will keep you engaged from the first page until the last!
12/07/2021
for the first time in a long time (or like, ever), i am reading a rick riordan book that isn't set in the pjoverse. let's see how this will turn out.
➸ buddy read with may!!
May 22, 2022
Rick Riordan’s stand alone novel Daughter of the Deep (DOTD) was nothing short of the hype and praise it received upon release. I found myself so enthralled by this world that I’ve added the books that inspired the story – Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Mysterious Island – to my reading list.
Bar two minor issues I had with the book – which I’ll get to further down, it was a great novel! In typical Rick Riordan fashion, Riordan was able to re-imagine the stories in which this is based with a modern twist, bringing the original 19th century book into the 21st century.
The story centres on the last descendant of Captain Nemo’s (Ana Dakkar’s) discovery of the Nautilus as she attempts to safeguard it from those who would use its tech for their own selfish wants.
The book pays respect to Verne’s original futuristic concept – which at the time was unheard of and set the tone for the development of underwater exploration in the years to come. Riordan does this by having Captain Nemo’s tech maintain its advanced status in his modern iteration of the story.
The recurring theme of inclusiveness in Riordan’s books plays its part in DOTD through an array of characters hailing from different cultures – which makes sense given how globalised and multi cultured the world has become. Furthermore he dives into the inner workings of his 14 year old female protagonist, dealing with themes beyond the basic we see in most female protagonists – yes he deals with period pain, which is a very real issue for women both young and old.
The plot itself is quite strong and will keep you wanting to stay up ‘five more minutes’ to read the next chapter, especially in the latter end of the book where the plot twists and battles live.
Riordan showcases his writing ability in turning the Nautilus into an a.i. character. He brings the supposedly inanimate vessel to the life through original means, turning the ship into the 19th crew member. And in typical Riordan fashion he does this with a comedic flourish. Additionally he somehow makes a cooking orangatun a believable character, yes you read that correctly, he writes so well that I wasn’t even phased by the idea of an orangatun being the crew’s chef.
I only really had two very minor problems with the book and when I think about it, it’s just one extended point. I found the start to be slow (the the rest of the book is enjoyably fast paced however). I felt like there was too much ‘I’ and ‘my’ internal monologue in the opening chapters, making it a clunky read. But don’t let that dissuade you as the book does ease out of the ‘clunkiness’ when plot progresses.
This novel really cements Riordan’s place as one of the top Young Adult author’s in the world in recent years. It shows his versatility as he is more than just a mythology story teller. It’s a gripping tale that makes you an honorary member of the Nautilus crew suspending you in periods of fear, shock, laughter and excitement. If you haven’t already read it i recommend you head to your local book store, or as I did go online and grab a copy of the eBook.
Bar two minor issues I had with the book – which I’ll get to further down, it was a great novel! In typical Rick Riordan fashion, Riordan was able to re-imagine the stories in which this is based with a modern twist, bringing the original 19th century book into the 21st century.
The story centres on the last descendant of Captain Nemo’s (Ana Dakkar’s) discovery of the Nautilus as she attempts to safeguard it from those who would use its tech for their own selfish wants.
The book pays respect to Verne’s original futuristic concept – which at the time was unheard of and set the tone for the development of underwater exploration in the years to come. Riordan does this by having Captain Nemo’s tech maintain its advanced status in his modern iteration of the story.
The recurring theme of inclusiveness in Riordan’s books plays its part in DOTD through an array of characters hailing from different cultures – which makes sense given how globalised and multi cultured the world has become. Furthermore he dives into the inner workings of his 14 year old female protagonist, dealing with themes beyond the basic we see in most female protagonists – yes he deals with period pain, which is a very real issue for women both young and old.
The plot itself is quite strong and will keep you wanting to stay up ‘five more minutes’ to read the next chapter, especially in the latter end of the book where the plot twists and battles live.
Riordan showcases his writing ability in turning the Nautilus into an a.i. character. He brings the supposedly inanimate vessel to the life through original means, turning the ship into the 19th crew member. And in typical Riordan fashion he does this with a comedic flourish. Additionally he somehow makes a cooking orangatun a believable character, yes you read that correctly, he writes so well that I wasn’t even phased by the idea of an orangatun being the crew’s chef.
I only really had two very minor problems with the book and when I think about it, it’s just one extended point. I found the start to be slow (the the rest of the book is enjoyably fast paced however). I felt like there was too much ‘I’ and ‘my’ internal monologue in the opening chapters, making it a clunky read. But don’t let that dissuade you as the book does ease out of the ‘clunkiness’ when plot progresses.
This novel really cements Riordan’s place as one of the top Young Adult author’s in the world in recent years. It shows his versatility as he is more than just a mythology story teller. It’s a gripping tale that makes you an honorary member of the Nautilus crew suspending you in periods of fear, shock, laughter and excitement. If you haven’t already read it i recommend you head to your local book store, or as I did go online and grab a copy of the eBook.
October 17, 2021
2.5
i feel like i had a too high expectations for this … i’ve never given a rick riordan book such a low rating and it hurts my soul a little bit to do so
i feel like i had a too high expectations for this … i’ve never given a rick riordan book such a low rating and it hurts my soul a little bit to do so
February 7, 2023
On behalf of the whole Nautilus crew, we’d like to extend our sincerest gratitude to:
* Socrates, the best dolphin
* Jupiter, the best Orangutan who’d make Mary Berry proud because of his baking skills
* Romeo, a lovesick octopus who loves to be electrified
* Nautilus, which is the most amazing sub ever
* Lastly, Pilot Bug and its shiny emerald insect friends
AND I AM DONE.
I absolutely adored this new world that Rick built. I have to admit, I’ve never read Jules Verne’s 20000 leagues under the sea before so I was a bit skeptical about reading this but it was easy to get the gist of the story. This might be Uncle Rick’s new book but it doesn’t shy away from the humor the his books have. I swear, I’m cackling because of the unexpected things 😂 It felt like I’m taken back to Argo II because it had the same vibe.
The plot is interesting enough to keep me engaged while also enjoying their journey. RR has this way of telling his tales witty enough that even if they are in danger, it doesn’t feel like it? I swear, we can definitely learn a lot of things from these bunch of 14 year olds😂
Will do a full review this week maybe?
* Socrates, the best dolphin
* Jupiter, the best Orangutan who’d make Mary Berry proud because of his baking skills
* Romeo, a lovesick octopus who loves to be electrified
* Nautilus, which is the most amazing sub ever
* Lastly, Pilot Bug and its shiny emerald insect friends
AND I AM DONE.
I absolutely adored this new world that Rick built. I have to admit, I’ve never read Jules Verne’s 20000 leagues under the sea before so I was a bit skeptical about reading this but it was easy to get the gist of the story. This might be Uncle Rick’s new book but it doesn’t shy away from the humor the his books have. I swear, I’m cackling because of the unexpected things 😂 It felt like I’m taken back to Argo II because it had the same vibe.
The plot is interesting enough to keep me engaged while also enjoying their journey. RR has this way of telling his tales witty enough that even if they are in danger, it doesn’t feel like it? I swear, we can definitely learn a lot of things from these bunch of 14 year olds😂
Will do a full review this week maybe?
November 15, 2022
5 stars
This was so good and unputdownable!
This was so good and unputdownable!
November 8, 2021
I know, I know. A 1 star rating for a Rick Riordan book? When I’ve loved nearly everything else he’s out out? I am just as disappointed as you are.
What I thought was going to be a deep sea treasure hunt adventure turned out to be a battle of submarines between two different aquatic schools. There was a whole bunch of super futuristic tech which might sound cool but was really confusing for to read. In short, I just honestly didn’t care for this adventure or the characters.
What I thought was going to be a deep sea treasure hunt adventure turned out to be a battle of submarines between two different aquatic schools. There was a whole bunch of super futuristic tech which might sound cool but was really confusing for to read. In short, I just honestly didn’t care for this adventure or the characters.
Want to read
February 25, 2021Am I really interested in the plot of this book? No.
Will I still read it because of all the research Rick Riordan did to write it? Yes.
Will I still read it because of all the research Rick Riordan did to write it? Yes.
March 7, 2022
I thought it would be something quite similar to PJ books, or something matured but my guess wasn't good enough.
3stars for a start, maybe it will be a much greater adventure.
3stars for a start, maybe it will be a much greater adventure.
May 6, 2022
this was fun! the end felt a bit rushed to me but that might only be because i found that the first half took longer than i expected to get into
June 30, 2024
Everything is the same, but everything is different.
Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a five-year high school that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers in the world. Her brother, Dev is a senior at the same academy. Ana has her freshman trials today and no one knows what the trials consist of. None of the upper-level students share that info as they all take a vow of secrecy. Not even Dev shares that info with his sister.
There are four main houses at the HP academy - House Dolphin, House Shark, House Cephalopod, and, House Orca. They all have their own strengths and things to learn. They also take a vow of secrecy and don't share what they learn with other houses. Each house has a Prefect and Ana is in House Dolphin and she is the Prefect there. Ana shares her room with two other people, Ester and Nelinha, and, they are from different houses but they are Ana's best friends. Ana's parents died in an accident two years ago and they both attended HP academy as well. HP academy is more like a generational school. HP academy has a rival school called, Land Institute, LI, and both schools prank each other quite often.
When Ana's freshman class along with their teacher, Dr Hewitt leave for their freshman trials, Ana witnesses an attack on the HP academy, and within seconds the HP academy disappears. They can't figure out what caused it but Ana explains that she saw something ripple in the water and explains that to Dr Hewitt and Dr Hewitt responds that he was fearing an attack and also thinks that it could be an inside job. This baffles Ana and her entire freshman class. Ana also can't stop thinking about her brother, Dev as he was on campus and she just wants to go look for him but Dr Hewitt says that it's not a possibility as they have to keep going as far away from here as possible. On top of that, he also mentions that Ana Dakkar must survive. No one understands of course why is that. Would Ana and her freshman class be able to find out what happened and who is the traitor among them?
Spoilers ahead
I've fallen into a universe I don't understand and don't want to.
I love Rick Riordan and the worlds he writes about, the mythologies he weaves, the characters he creates, the humor and wit he comes up with. He is simply the best and one of my favorite writers. I haven't read the original classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne it is based on but I have read a lot of the re-tellings over the years and of course, I have watched movies and shows based on that and this book also relays all the important information so I pretty much know what happens in the original story. This book isn't a re-telling of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea but it works more like what happens 150 years later after that book and the legacy it left behind.
Dr Hewitt reveals that they have to go to a top-secret base on an island to get away from LI otherwise they'll be dead too. They board the yacht, Varuna, and start making their journey towards the secret island. But it isn't that simple as LI's students keep coming after Ana. Dr Hewitt assigns Gem Twain from House Shark as Ana's personal bodyguard and the entire freshman class does what they have been training in and try to get away from LI. On their journey to the mysterious island, they find out that 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea isn't just a work of fiction but Captain Nemo actually lived 150 years ago and Ana is his descendant. There are so many other mysteries revealed and it all starts to make sense to Ana and her entire freshman class why HP and LI have been enemies for such a long time.
Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.
There are a lot of characters introduced and they are all quite interesting. If there's one sure thing in Rick Riordan's books, it is diversity and this book was no exception.
Ana Dakkar descends from Bundeli Indians. She is an expert in various languages one of which is Bundeli Hindi. Bundeli Hindi is a rare Indo-Aryan language. Ana is a week shy of fifteen and she's good at what House Dolphin demands of her. She is strong and kind and looks after her friends. I liked Ana. But she wasn't my favorite character in the book.
Ester is Ana's best friend and she is the last descendant from the Harding line. Ester has a lot of information on various things and sometimes struggles with all that information within her. To ease that off, she has a dog named Top. Top is adorable and I loved Ester.
Then there is Nelinha who is also Ana's best friend. She was also quite good.
Gemini Twain is the House Shark captain. He is good at what he does too but Ana doesn't like him as he made Nelinha cry the previous year and as Ana is quite loyal to her friends, automatically she doesn't like Gem. But as Ana and Gem spend more time together as Gem is her bodyguard, Gem turns out to be a complete sweetheart.
My favorites were Gem and Ester. I even liked Dev even though there wasn't much about him in the book.
This had a nice beginning. Intense, action-packed although confusing (in a good way) but then it sort of dies down. It picks up back again but that ending was rather anti-climactic and incomplete. I'd like to know if there are any survivors of the attack. Also, the way they let off LI for mass murder and destruction of property didn't sit with me well either. I needed a lot more info on that too and some justice.
I had figured out the mystery and also the traitor pretty much from the beginning but that wasn't even an issue. A lot of things don't make sense such as - why Ana was the only one able to do what she did. Also, this whole thing about being at a cold war between two institutes over such a thing was too juvenile. And then comes the reason about guarding those said secrets, again it made no sense. I understood Dev's reasons but I'd have liked to know more about those.
The writing was compelling but the humor and wit didn't work for me. It fell flat most of the time.
This is a sci-fi-based story and I do love sci-fi as a genre but this felt like it was lacking in magic, literally and figuratively. It breaks my heart to give a Rick Riordan book a three-star rating but I just couldn't love this book as much as I had expected myself to. It is not a bad book as it is jam-packed with action and other things and reveals a lot of secrets and mysteries but it's my personal opinion. Don't let me put you off reading this book if you were planning to but for me personally, this didn't cut out to be as good as other Riordan books.
On another note, I would love to get a book about Captain Nemo and explain how he did all the things that were explained in this book. Also, even though this wasn't as good as I had wanted it to be, I'd still read another book if Rick Riordan ever wants to expand this series or world.
3.15 stars
Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a five-year high school that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers in the world. Her brother, Dev is a senior at the same academy. Ana has her freshman trials today and no one knows what the trials consist of. None of the upper-level students share that info as they all take a vow of secrecy. Not even Dev shares that info with his sister.
There are four main houses at the HP academy - House Dolphin, House Shark, House Cephalopod, and, House Orca. They all have their own strengths and things to learn. They also take a vow of secrecy and don't share what they learn with other houses. Each house has a Prefect and Ana is in House Dolphin and she is the Prefect there. Ana shares her room with two other people, Ester and Nelinha, and, they are from different houses but they are Ana's best friends. Ana's parents died in an accident two years ago and they both attended HP academy as well. HP academy is more like a generational school. HP academy has a rival school called, Land Institute, LI, and both schools prank each other quite often.
When Ana's freshman class along with their teacher, Dr Hewitt leave for their freshman trials, Ana witnesses an attack on the HP academy, and within seconds the HP academy disappears. They can't figure out what caused it but Ana explains that she saw something ripple in the water and explains that to Dr Hewitt and Dr Hewitt responds that he was fearing an attack and also thinks that it could be an inside job. This baffles Ana and her entire freshman class. Ana also can't stop thinking about her brother, Dev as he was on campus and she just wants to go look for him but Dr Hewitt says that it's not a possibility as they have to keep going as far away from here as possible. On top of that, he also mentions that Ana Dakkar must survive. No one understands of course why is that. Would Ana and her freshman class be able to find out what happened and who is the traitor among them?
Spoilers ahead
I've fallen into a universe I don't understand and don't want to.
I love Rick Riordan and the worlds he writes about, the mythologies he weaves, the characters he creates, the humor and wit he comes up with. He is simply the best and one of my favorite writers. I haven't read the original classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne it is based on but I have read a lot of the re-tellings over the years and of course, I have watched movies and shows based on that and this book also relays all the important information so I pretty much know what happens in the original story. This book isn't a re-telling of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea but it works more like what happens 150 years later after that book and the legacy it left behind.
Dr Hewitt reveals that they have to go to a top-secret base on an island to get away from LI otherwise they'll be dead too. They board the yacht, Varuna, and start making their journey towards the secret island. But it isn't that simple as LI's students keep coming after Ana. Dr Hewitt assigns Gem Twain from House Shark as Ana's personal bodyguard and the entire freshman class does what they have been training in and try to get away from LI. On their journey to the mysterious island, they find out that 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea isn't just a work of fiction but Captain Nemo actually lived 150 years ago and Ana is his descendant. There are so many other mysteries revealed and it all starts to make sense to Ana and her entire freshman class why HP and LI have been enemies for such a long time.
Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.
There are a lot of characters introduced and they are all quite interesting. If there's one sure thing in Rick Riordan's books, it is diversity and this book was no exception.
Ana Dakkar descends from Bundeli Indians. She is an expert in various languages one of which is Bundeli Hindi. Bundeli Hindi is a rare Indo-Aryan language. Ana is a week shy of fifteen and she's good at what House Dolphin demands of her. She is strong and kind and looks after her friends. I liked Ana. But she wasn't my favorite character in the book.
Ester is Ana's best friend and she is the last descendant from the Harding line. Ester has a lot of information on various things and sometimes struggles with all that information within her. To ease that off, she has a dog named Top. Top is adorable and I loved Ester.
Then there is Nelinha who is also Ana's best friend. She was also quite good.
Gemini Twain is the House Shark captain. He is good at what he does too but Ana doesn't like him as he made Nelinha cry the previous year and as Ana is quite loyal to her friends, automatically she doesn't like Gem. But as Ana and Gem spend more time together as Gem is her bodyguard, Gem turns out to be a complete sweetheart.
My favorites were Gem and Ester. I even liked Dev even though there wasn't much about him in the book.
This had a nice beginning. Intense, action-packed although confusing (in a good way) but then it sort of dies down. It picks up back again but that ending was rather anti-climactic and incomplete. I'd like to know if there are any survivors of the attack. Also, the way they let off LI for mass murder and destruction of property didn't sit with me well either. I needed a lot more info on that too and some justice.
I had figured out the mystery and also the traitor pretty much from the beginning but that wasn't even an issue. A lot of things don't make sense such as - why Ana was the only one able to do what she did. Also, this whole thing about being at a cold war between two institutes over such a thing was too juvenile. And then comes the reason about guarding those said secrets, again it made no sense. I understood Dev's reasons but I'd have liked to know more about those.
The writing was compelling but the humor and wit didn't work for me. It fell flat most of the time.
This is a sci-fi-based story and I do love sci-fi as a genre but this felt like it was lacking in magic, literally and figuratively. It breaks my heart to give a Rick Riordan book a three-star rating but I just couldn't love this book as much as I had expected myself to. It is not a bad book as it is jam-packed with action and other things and reveals a lot of secrets and mysteries but it's my personal opinion. Don't let me put you off reading this book if you were planning to but for me personally, this didn't cut out to be as good as other Riordan books.
On another note, I would love to get a book about Captain Nemo and explain how he did all the things that were explained in this book. Also, even though this wasn't as good as I had wanted it to be, I'd still read another book if Rick Riordan ever wants to expand this series or world.
3.15 stars
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