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Rolling in the Deep #0.5

Rolling in the Deep

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Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2015)
When the Imagine Network commissioned a documentary on mermaids, to be filmed from the cruise shipÌýAtargatis, they expected what they had always received before: an assortment of eyewitness reports that proved nothing, some footage that proved even less, and the kind of ratings that only came from peddling imaginary creatures to the masses.

They didn't expect actual mermaids.Ìý They certainly didn't expect those mermaids to have teeth.

This is the story of theÌýAtargatis, lost at sea with all hands.Ìý Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.Ìý Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the bathypelagic zone in the Mariana Trench…and the depths are very good at keeping secrets.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published April 6, 2015

214 people are currently reading
18.4k people want to read

About the author

Mira Grant

46Ìýbooks5,890Ìýfollowers
Mira also writes as .

Born and raised in Northern California, Mira Grant has made a lifelong study of horror movies, horrible viruses, and the inevitable threat of the living dead. In college, she was voted Most Likely to Summon Something Horrible in the Cornfield, and was a founding member of the Horror Movie Sleep-Away Survival Camp, where her record for time survived in the Swamp Cannibals scenario remains unchallenged.

Mira lives in a crumbling farmhouse with an assortment of cats, horror movies, comics, and books about horrible diseases. When not writing, she splits her time between travel, auditing college virology courses, and watching more horror movies than is strictly good for you. Favorite vacation spots include Seattle, London, and a large haunted corn maze just outside of Huntsville, Alabama.

Mira sleeps with a machete under her bed, and highly suggests that you do the same.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,026 reviews
Profile Image for karen.
4,012 reviews172k followers
June 25, 2018
If this was a hoax, it was one of the largest in living memory.



oh, mira grant - is there nothing you can't do? i know there was a time, after the glut of post- vampire knock-off books ran their course through the publishing world, that mermaids seemed to be trying to elbow in to become the new trend. and i know that some of these depicted mermaids as really fierce and badass instead of the traditional pretty ladies in shell bikini tops. i didn't read any of those, but i knew they existed, and i liked the idea of these predatory mermaids lurking beneath the waves to feast on unsuspecting sailors. i don't know how well this one stacks up against any of those, but i do know that mira grant's strength has always been with her plausibility. she carries science around in her pockets and distributes it like candy throughout her supernatural horror stories and you can't help but nod along and say "yep - seems logical to me!" maybe it's different if you are yourself a scientist, but at the very least, she seems to have done some research which is more than i can say for a lot of less-credible books that skimp on the details and hope the reader doesn't notice. mira grant shows her work, and it makes for a much richer story.

this is just a little novella, but it's the perfect punchy length for this story.

like everything else she's done, this uses a framing device to break up the pieces of the story, in this case, a television voice-over that warns of the graphic nature of the material it is about to air, and gives some context around the events recorded.

the action is made up of found footage from cameras aboard the atargatis; a cruise ship commissioned by the imagine network, a channel known for its cheesy SF/monster movies and its "hyper-reality programming;" dramatized-but-intended-to-be-believed documentaries about cryptozoological beasties. with this particular program the plan was to go way out into waters so remote as to be effectively uncharted to capture footage of real live mermaids. nondisclosure agreements are signed, skeptical scientists are brought in along with their interns and also some women who will operate as insurance in case they don't actually find any mermaids. we are introduced to all of these characters along with the ship's crew, the cameramen, and the host of the show. another of mira grant's skills is in writing really great characters � and then killing them all.

this is no spoiler; from page one you learn that the boat was found drifting unmanned six weeks later, and that none of the two hundred passengers were ever seen again. the only thing that survived on the atargatis was some very disturbing footage, which makes up the story.

does she take some liberties with this; with where cameras were likely to be filming, and when? sure, but she makes up for it with all those science-flavored lollipops. you could say that , but you won't, because that's corny.

not only does she present a range of specializations within the oceanography field: a marine psychologist, a marine biomolecular biologist, a marine chemist, a deep-sea cartographer, a cetologist, and an ichthyologist, she lets each of them drive a portion of the narrative as they take readings and analyze their findings. grant also goes into the realities of the responsibilities of captaining a ship, corralling a crew, and the subtle manipulations a ratings-seeking reality show employs to steer conversations and stage a scene.

grant's stories teem with authority, you trust her characters. that is a rare treat in this genre, and it is what makes her a writer whose books i look forward to more than my own birthday.



no, YOU monster!

Profile Image for Chelsea Humphrey.
1,487 reviews82.7k followers
October 17, 2017
"If this was a hoax, it was one of the largest in living memory."

^ I know multiple reviews have started off with this quote, but it's only because it is simply the perfect segue into what might be my favorite novella of 2017. That said, can we just fangirl over every aspect of this book real quick? The cover? AHHHH Mermaids that aren't overtly sexualized or used as a plot device solely for male pleasure? YES PLEASE. Mermaids used in a horror storyline where they are the predators and no one is left alive by the final page? Ok, I think I have your attention by now if you're the type who would be interested in this read. Also, that's not a spoiler as you know in the prologue that everyone is eviscerated in the short time span at sea, but it does set the scene for a severely unnerving and disturbing take on what is a childhood fantasy for most folks.

"Six weeks was a long time to spend with a bunch of coddled Hollywood types and absent-minded professors."

That's right-this obviously isn't meant to be a fact-finding mission, but one in a controlled, highly scripted manner; however, the nature of the story begins to turn from the moment the crew reaches the Mariana Trench. One of my favorite reasons for reading books by is that she creates such rich, vibrant characters that you don't even have to like to be able to connect with. Her novellas have more development in them than most authors do in their best, fleshy novels, as her stories are built up with purpose rather than useless fluff intended to further the page count and nothing more. There's actually a rather diverse cast featured in , something I wasn't expecting, as I initially picked this up to gain atmosphere and setting into this world before beginning .

"Inside of a day, the Atargatis disrupted the local ecosystem with vibrations, minor but unavoidable pollutants, scientific testing and sampling, and human bodies, bringing with them the chemical taint of modern life.

If there was anything at all in those waters, it was inevitable that it would be found."


If you've ever had the pleasure of experiencing a book by Grant, you'll know that she throws in so much science, factual and fictional, that it brings the story to another level. Obviously, some things she's taken liberties with because these are fictional stories with mythical creatures, but that really doesn't matter because she makes you FEEL that it's all real. It's really hard to ruin the reading experience for you spoiler wise because you already know at the beginning what will happen, but I think this actually enhances the journey rather than taking away from the experience. We aren't distracted by trying to solve a mystery; instead, we are able to fully immerse ourselves in this alternate reality and let the building suspense and dread overwhelm us. If you're wondering whether or not this 128-page novella is worth the (at the time of this writing) price of $4.99, I can honestly say that it was in my case. I'm relieved that I decided to begin here, as I feel it gives me greater depth for the full size follow up . The ending here was perfect, and the reading experience felt almost similar to in the sense that you have a slight mixed media approach and time jumps and such. I'll be reading ITDD next and look forward to letting you know if it's as excellent as was.
Profile Image for carol. .
1,726 reviews9,570 followers
January 6, 2018
My success with led me to this novella and nominal prequel. Sadly, this feels more like the Seanan McGuire I am familiar with; the one with the uneven tone, nominal characterization and tendency towards over-telling. With the Incryptid series, Grant did a number of related short stories and novellas that ranged both in time and in tone from the relative frivolity of the full-length books, and I can see the similarities here. This was most likely created before Into the Drowning Deep was a glimmer in someone's eye, so the good news it that this would be an easy one to miss.

In this novella, photojournalist Anne is a willing participant on Imagine Entertainment Network 'mockumentary' expedition to discover mermaids. Styled along the lines of the finding 'Bigfoot' 'reality' tv shows, Imagine has a host of non-scientific people aboard ready for filming, as well as a handful of scientists to make it look legitimate. They also aren't above stocking the boat (haha) with a troupe of eleven professional mermaids, aka ladies with a fondness for neoprene tails and synchronized swimming.

"'You'll have everyone believing in mermaids in no time.'
'That's the idea,' said Anne. That was the idea that would secure her a new contract with the network and keep her on the air for another year."


The first section has Anne and her cameraman, Kevin, interviewing people, lurking around the boat, etc., and trying to get to know Team Mermaid without compromising everyone's non-disclosure clause, as apparently they weren't allowed to film the group until part way through the trip. The captain of the ship is a woman and her first mate a deaf man, so the sign language element is present. A heavy-handed Imagine representative is on hand, once again providing the role of Character We Would Love to See Eaten.

The tone feels more urban fantasy than horror, with the ship's occupants treating it as easy money, and generally squabbling when not doing research. There are only six scientists along--and thirty grad students--so the reader is treated to a couple paragraph sketch on each as well as their specialties. It isn't done particularly organically, such in context of an interview or in meeting another scientist, so its easy to see why some readers would find it hard to connect with the characters.

The plot is glacial for a horror story. It isn't until the 50% mark that there is tentative confirmation that samples from a deep sea probe contain blood that "comes from a creature unknown to science." Until that point, the crew has no idea that anything might be out of the ordinary. That is very unusual pacing for horror, and while The Blair Witch project might have made it work, Into the Rolling Deep doesn't. General spoiler--it is literally 54%

Additionally, my chief complaint from the last Incryptid book is here in force: Grant tells us. All sorts of things. In the most boring way possible: "Obedience was drilled into them as part of their training: a mermaid who couldn’t listen to instructions was a mermaid who was putting everyone around her in danger." Honestly, I'm not even sure why Grant is telling us about the mermaid troupe because we barely get to know the members as individuals. But if sharing with the reader is important, why not mention an incident in relation to their shows? "Ever since the near-drowning at Disneyworld, the crew was rigidly adherent to safety." Anyway, they aren't, so what's the point?

For those who are wondering it is worth paying for: No, not if you are looking for the same experience of Into The Drowning Deep. This is quick, uneven, and lacks the tension of the full-length novel. In regards to relationship to the novel, Victoria and Jillian, main book characters, aren't mentioned at all, so you won't even be missing anything in character arcs. While the crew disappears, none are mentioned as Victoria's sister, and Jillian's research isn't addressed.

While I don't regret paying for it, as I've read an awful lot of free Incryptid short stories, I'd definitely preferred to have something more like Drowning. But that, oddly enough, reaffirmed my shaken faith that it's smart to leave Grant on the Read With Low Expectations list.

Two-and-a-half start, rounding down in order to temper your expectations appropriately.
Profile Image for Navessa.
449 reviews719 followers
April 15, 2018
Okay, let’s just go ahead and get it over with. You know, that thing that popped into your head as soon as you saw this title. That thing that won’t get out of your head until you give in to it. Don’t play coy with me. You know exactly what I’m talking about. And you know what you have to do.

*belts*



Got that out of your system? Good, me too.

Now, onto the review.

“We may never know how much of the footage from the SS Atargatis was faked, or how much of it was real. What we do know is that none of the scientists, crewmen, or actors who set sail with the Atargatis were aboard when the ship was found, adrift, some six weeks later, and none of them have resurfaced since.�


Welcome to the tale of the SS Atargatis and her doomed crew. This novella chronicles their voyage to the Marianna Trench, where � you guessed it - they’re searching for the source of the mermaid myth.

Their journey is part sensationalized documentary in the making, and part research expedition, so there’s quite a cast of characters on board. You have scientists, interns, TV personalities, crew members, and professional performers all rubbing elbows.

The tale is told in an interleaving fashion, weaving the perspectives of those who perished with a TV special that aired after it was clear that something very bad happened to them.

"The official record says that all hands were lost at sea. We believe that something far worse occurred. We believe that they were found."


Me, from that point on:

O_________O

For a novella, Grant did a wonderful job adding tension. She also has a way of making you care about these characters in a short amount of time, which is damn inconvenient since you know up front that they’re all going to die.

I don’t want to give too much else away, so I’ll just say that this little horror story is spooky, riveting, well-written, well-researched, and unputdownable.

I devoured it in one sitting.

| | | |
October 12, 2020
💀 This Better Be as Deliciously Horrific as it Sounds MacHaloistic Buddy Read (TBBaDHaiSMBD�). With the MacHalos. Duh 💀

� This novella in a nutshell:
� No suspense
� No horror
� PG-13 gore
� Total boredom

What joy.

Nothing (as in absolutely NOTHING) happens before the 50% mark. 70% of this story revolves around the many (as in too bloody MANY) uninteresting characters and their job descriptions (but hey, at least now I know what a phycologist is). 5% of this story is about the mermaids that don't horrify (they might have, had they gotten more page time, but they didn't, so they didn't). The rest of the story? Uneventful, unemotional, soporific stuff. So instead of this:



You get this:



Such a painful loss for the fishy community. Can't say I'm surprised, though. Being boring to death tends to have the deathliest, deadliest consequences.

Let me tell you, as nefarious breeder of murderous crustaceans and ruthless ruler of the deep, I feel slightly insulted right now. And my shrimpy homicidal maniac troops are really, really pissed off. Fleet Admiral DaShrimp is rounding them up as we speak, and retaliation is near. You can't depict life above and under the thrilling, ferocious, lethal seas as the most unexciting, tedious, unremarkable experience ever, and expect to get away with it. You want horror? We'll give you horror. Fleet Admiral, unleash the Ruthlessly Savage Subaquatic Army (RSSA�) now!



My bloodthirsty babies. So cute.

» And the moral of this Mira Grant Had I Known you were Really Seanan McGuire I wouldn't Have Bothered Because Toby Daye = Snore Snore Snore Crappy Non Review (MGHIKywRSMIwHBBTDSSSCNR�) is: want to roll in the deep? Read Julio's masterpiece, not this PoC�.
Profile Image for Holly.
1,514 reviews1,533 followers
July 14, 2019
A lot of people are talking about the live action version of The Little Mermaid, but I think we should all get behind this version instead: freaky killer mermaids. While not particularly gruesome (by Karin Slaughter standards anyways), this little novella seriously gave me nightmares primarily because I listened to the audiobook late at night before going to bed. Let's just say when the mermaids finally talk, it's not the same warm and fuzzy feeling as you get listening to the catchy tune of "Under the Sea".
Profile Image for Alex ☣ Deranged KittyCat ☣.
652 reviews429 followers
November 20, 2017
Inside of a day, the Atargatis disrupted the local ecosystem with vibrations, minor but unavoidable pollutants, scientific testing and sampling, and human bodies, bringing with them the chemical taint of modern life.
If there was anything at all in those waters, it was inevitable that it would be found.


was like seeing . The story begins with an excerpt from a documentary made by the TV channel Imagine Network about the mysterious disappearance of all those aboard the cruise ship Atargatis. The TV channel (that specialized in B- horror movies) had previously employed all those on the ship for a documentary regarding mermaids. What they didn't expect was a ghost ship and footage of a carnage. The book alternates between excerpts and what actually happened.

Alien eyes watched the strange metal object as it floated upward. There was blood in the water. Their home had been invaded. They would respond.


This states exactly what I feel about the book. The mermaids felt threatened and acted accordingly. They are described as intelligent by more than one of the scientists aboard the Atargatis, and are explained as predators and highly developed cases of . I must say I think they were justified in their actions. Humans would not have discovered them and left them be. As one character in the book says something that best describes all men: "I don't want to adjust to our environment. I want the environment to adjust to me.

As for their physical appearance they are not like this:
description.

They are more like this:
description.

I felt actual horror at the very end of the book. I had to re-read the last part to be sure I understood correctly.

is amazing. Its only minus would be that it's too short. I'm definitely going to check 's other writings.
Profile Image for Bradley.
AuthorÌý9 books4,713 followers
December 14, 2015
Good clean fun.

It's horror in all the grand traditions. Want B-Movie sensibilities? Check. Want monstrous mermaids? Check. Want a Sy-Fi film crew staging a mermaid expedition to get torn apart by the real thing? Check.

Did I say Sy-Fi? I mean Imagine Network. Sorry. I didn't mean to make any disparagements. We're NOT trying to make a statement about anything. Truly. This is just a good clean horror, all fun, no message. Really. We certainly don't want to ruin our chances to get a made-for-tv movie based on this novella by the Sy-Fi network. It's perfect for it.

Who survives this tale? The lawyers. It's pretty classic.

Of COURSE the lawyers survive. I mean, out of anyone to come out of the Mariana Trench, the greatest predators are NOT the mermaids or the sharks.

*sigh* If only there had been an appearance of Aquaman to save the day. That would have been PERFECT.
Profile Image for Debra.
3,044 reviews36.1k followers
December 7, 2024
See how I'll leave with every piece of you
Don't underestimate the things that I will do
There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, and it's bringing me out the dark - Rolling in the Deep by Adele


If you have read Mira Grant's , you know her version of mermaids. Let's just say Grant's mermaids are not Disney mermaids. Not by a long shot. The Imagine Network plans to film a documentary about mermaids. But is their quest above board? Will they find what they are looking for or....... There are some who say what happened to those aboard the Atargatis was a hoax while others believe that a horrific tragedy occurred. tells the story of what happened, what they found or shall I say what found them and their fake mermaids. Hold onto your hat’s folks, because this is no fairy tale. Not all mermaids are pretty with beautiful voices. Some are downright terrifying!

First off, I absolutely loved ! It was fantastic. I loved the atmosphere, the eerie vibe and the looming danger. I had high hopes for this book and was rewarded with a gripping, tense, shocking and hard to put down novella! I love the creativity, imagination, and originality of both books. Mira Grant captures that trapped feeling that I love in books. She also nails the unease, sense of dread and mounting danger. This novella had teeth and once it has you in its grasp, you won’t want to put it down.

I loved Mira Grant's writing, her vivid descriptions, and well-developed characters. In 128 pages, she set the stage, bringing the chills, the thrills, and had me fully invested and enjoying every single page!

So good! After reading this book, I am aware that I need more Mira Grant books in my life.

Read more of my reviews at 📖
Profile Image for megs_bookrack.
2,056 reviews13.3k followers
November 4, 2024
Rolling in the Deep is the prequel to Mira Grant's sensational killer mermaid story, Into the Drowning Deep.

I read in February of 2020 and absolutely LOVED it. There's something about Aquatic Horror that I find so disturbing. Maybe it's the fact that I live on a island...



Regardless, in that book we follow a ship crew sent out on a mission to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the crew of the Atargatis. The events of the Atargatis had occurred 7-years prior and one of the main characters had a sister who was part of the Atargatis crew.

You hear a lot in that story about the Atargatis, of course, but this novella covers the full story of that crew, their goals, actions and interactions leading up to their disappearance.



I love Grant's use of mixed media to tell both of these stories. It makes it feel surprisingly realistic. I also feel like Grant excels at including science-based content in her stories. Both of these books are so well written.

I wish this would have been a full length novel. I know that wasn't the point, but I just love these stories so much, I wanted more!



I definitely recommend these books to any Horror fan who hasn't had the chance to get to them yet. You'll never think of mermaids the same way again.
Profile Image for Molly.
342 reviews130 followers
November 9, 2015
What a treat!

Rating, 4.5

“If there was anything at all in those waters, it was inevitable that it would be found.�

description

The TV channel Imagine Network specialized in B- horror movies, commissions for their "documentary block" a feature about mermaids. No money is spared for this big project. The goal of the expedition to find a definite proof... are mermaids real or just a myth. The preparations are hush hush, and in the end, it is arranged for the cruise ship Atargatis to transport to the Mariana Trench, scientists from various fields, a large group of interns, the numerous crew of Imagine Network with their star reporter .... and a performing troupe of professional "mermaids"...
description

...to appear in the "documentary", should they not find the real thing .... which of course nobody on the ship expects. Mermaids? Phft!

“According to the official manifest, the Atargatis sailed with over two hundred people on board. The captain, Jovanie Seghers, and her first mate, David Mendoza, had been operating the liner for eight years with no recorded incidents. The majority of their crewmen had likewise been with them in excess of five years.
Imagine personnel included six scientists, thirty graduate students employed as scientific interns, one “television personality,� thirty-five camera operators and sound engineers, five personal assistants, three dive instructors, two safety monitors, and one producer. Additional personnel included the eleven-person Blue Seas mermaid troupe.�


All-in-all, the Atargatis has set off with over two hundred people on board, only to be found adrift with not a soul (or corpse) on board.

“none of the scientists, crewmen, or actors who set sail with the Atargatis were aboard when the ship was found, adrift, some six weeks later, and none of them have resurfaced since. If this was a hoax, it was one of the largest in living memory.�

Finally a more than decent book with mermaids.

If you are going into this story expecting this ...

description

... you have obviously lost your way. The children section is over there. Go! Run away!

If you are expecting some of this ....

description description

Sorry ... the paranormal romance is that way. Go!

Wake up this is sci-fi horror ... what you'll find is more along the lines of ...

description or this description

... with much sharper teeth, Medusa-like hair ... and an intelligence that will make your blood freeze.

So if you are up to it ... pick the book ... now!

“You’re a miracle,� he breathed.
“You’re a miracle,� the mermaid echoed, before it leaned up and carefully, almost delicately, ripped away his throat.�
Profile Image for Trish.
2,317 reviews3,719 followers
February 19, 2018
A very nice short story about what happened on the Atargatis, a ship dispatched by a TV station in order to find proof for the existance of mermaids. It is revealed right off the bat that nobody made it back, everyone died. How, that is the fun part. *lol* What happens here is also what prompts the events in the novel that I will be starting to read tomorrow.

The characters range from desperate scientists that would do anything to get money for their stiudies and gritty seafaring crew to colourful female performers with neoprene fins. None of them are particularly interesting but that is also because they are fish fodder.

Yes, this is like a B-level horror movie but honestly, it was so much fun!
Profile Image for Zala.
522 reviews120 followers
November 2, 2024
"We said ‘pretty women in the sea,� and that was good enough, because who doesn’t want there to be pretty women in the sea? We turned monsters into myths, and then we turned them into fairy tales."

Hey, I liked this.
Profile Image for Elle (ellexamines on TT & Substack).
1,144 reviews19.1k followers
October 2, 2017
Kevin had already shot almost an hour of footage of nothing but ocean, filling his lens with that sweeping vista in an attempt to capture its enormity and reduce it to something that he could comprehend. He didn’t see doing both at once as any sort of a contradiction.

This novella is seriously messed up. And oh boy, it's terrifying. Did I mention that? I'm sorry, but it creeped the shit out of me.

The thing that's so terrifying about this novella is how weirdly plausible it seems. Despite the fact that there are literal killer mermaids around, it's hard not to believe in everything that's happening.

Something I didn't expect was the focus on science; Mira Grant has clearly done her research here and inserted just enough into the minds of the characters that we feel their scientific mindsets affecting our own feelings on the situation.

Grant is also helped along with a seriously awesome cast of characters. Anne is a star of the company with ambitions of becoming a talk show host before she gets washed up. Alexandra is an ambitious and snarky scientist. Jill Hale wants cartography results so she can work in the military. Sonja Weinstein is a gregarious whale rights activist looking for a story. Jonny is opinionated and argumentative; his partner, Anton, is more camera shy. Peter Harris is the obsessed ichthyologist. There's David, a sarcastic Deaf crewmate. There's Jovanie, the captain. Curran, the local asshole. Teal and Jessica, the mermaids in wheelchairs.

VERDICT: A really freaky novella. I will definitely be reading the sequel, which is a full length book. And yes, I DID only read this because I was promised the sequel had bi girls and mermaids. What are you going to DO about it.

| Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ | |
Profile Image for Tyler Gray.
AuthorÌý5 books275 followers
May 16, 2018
Actual Rating: 4.25

I really enjoyed this prequel! It's short and it's horror with mermaids.

I really liked how there was casual diversity. There is a deaf character, a gay couple, and disabled people in wheelchairs that are also mermaids (performing mermaids). While I am not deaf or gay (though I am disabled and have a wheelchair) I loved how everything was done. It was pretty casual but it was there and mentioned. And frankly i'm all here for casual diversity because people don't need a reason to exist, we just exist and that's enough of a reason.

A TV channel wants to do a documentary on finding mermaids, though they don't actually believe in them and are planning on falsifying things, of course (hence the performing mermaids). There are scientists on board the ship, who while they might not care about mermaids are interested in doing sciency-things.

I enjoyed the characters, what we got to know of them, and the plot and writing kept me interested and hooked. I wanted more though i'm not sure how exactly lol.

Another thing I loved was how there is mad respect for the performing mermaids and how it isn't an easy job! They work their tails off, so to speak!

A quote

"I'm on this ship because I actually do believe that there's something out here, and more, I believe that whatever it is, it's going to need protection once we prove that it exists. Humanity destroys the things it loves. Something mysterious and unique enough to be the source of mermaid legends? We're going to be all over destroying that."

Now, onto Into the Drowning Deep!

| | | |
Profile Image for Tucker Almengor.
1,025 reviews1,677 followers
May 24, 2020

Many thanks to Tantor Audio for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review


I got to get my copy signed!

and this is why I don't swim in any body of water that i cannot see the bottom of

btw, that's real algae in the picture. it was slimy and disgusting and i almost gagged while taking this picture

| | | | | |
Profile Image for Renee Godding.
823 reviews942 followers
August 3, 2019
1/5 stars

Well... That was a huge disappointment...

I picked up Rolling in the Deep on audio on a complete whim, and kind of regret doing so: man was I disappointed in this. Rolling in the Deep follows a film crew shooting a mockumentary on mermaids hiding deep within the Mariana Trench. They come fully prepared, bringing everything from a group of actresses to play the mermaids to a biologist who is willing to twist the truth a little to fit the documentary’s narrative. What they didn’t come prepared for, however, was finding actual creatures living in the deep. And they’re far from friendly�
I probably should have lowered my expectations from a story based on killer-mermaids a little bit, but every underwater horror has the potential to greatly terrify me, so I wanted to go in with an open mind. I came out feeling like I had just read any other creepy-pasta on the internet� It was predictable, heavily relying on every trope in the book, and not written particularly well. I really was expecting something more from Seanan McGuire. Suffice to say: this was not for me unfortunately.
Profile Image for Caro the Helmet Lady.
819 reviews429 followers
October 23, 2016
Easily predictable, since it predicts itself on the first page, haha. Sort of fun read, if you don't try to turn on your logical thinking. "Why so much effort?" I wish to ask. Not that bad in general, but I would prefer it as a movie though.
Profile Image for Paige  Bookdragon.
938 reviews640 followers
January 3, 2016
FULL REVIEW:

So bloody brilliant.


I love . I love her Newsflesh series and when I saw this book, I immediately want to read it. I mean, and mermaids combined? This is like the combination of Christmas, my early birthday party, my on-the-day-birthday party and late-birthday party!I totally dig it!

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This is not a romance story. This is a thrilling story of an expedition gone wrong. It's a short story and I wouldn't change any of it for all the chocolates in the world. It was perfect for me. The author used enough scientific words to make this book more realistic (in a way) but not too much that you wouldn't understand anything and makes your eyes start to glaze.

Because it's hard to find a decent mermaid book that has no hormonal crazed teenagers, this book is an absolute gem.

I swear to God, this reminds me of that sea monster movie that I watched when I was a kid. It was gripping, haunting and makes you shout " OH FUCKING HELL!", "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!" and "OH BOY.OH BOY." a lot of times.

When someone says mermaids, we usually think of Ariel:
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or maybe those pretty singing mermaids in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie:

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But , bless her heart, introduced to us a different kind of mermaid.

Mermaids who have teeth and are actually fucking scary.
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And if you don't believe in those singing pretty mermaids, then I guarantee you,after reading this book you'll actually start believing that Mira Grant's version of mermaids do exist.
Profile Image for Rachel (TheShadesofOrange).
2,772 reviews4,421 followers
January 10, 2020
4.0 Stars
As a huge fan of Into the Drowning Deep I was so excited to finally read the novella that inspired the full length novel when it became available to me as an audiobook. You definitely do not need to read this prequel before reading the novel so you could read the stories in either order. As always, Mira Grant includes well developed, diverse characters. This story featured a deaf man as well as a woman in a wheelchair. I would highly recommend this story to anyone who loves science fiction with a splash of creature horror.
Profile Image for á´¥ Irena á´¥.
1,652 reviews237 followers
December 19, 2015
I am terrified of deep water so bear that in mind while you're reading this. Rolling in the Deep is as hair-raising as I thought it would be considering the setting.

There are no secrets in this story. The first thing you realize is that none of the people this story is about is coming back from their expedition. The second is that whatever happened to them was no accident.

Later, the network that paid for the Atargatis research expedition made a documentary about it. Rolling in the Deep is written as an account of that ill-fated journey. The story alternates between the extracts from the network's documentary Modern Ghost Ships: The Atargatis and the events on the Atargatis before the disaster.

Profile Image for Dylan.
457 reviews125 followers
October 7, 2021
Fairly mediocre writing, bland characters and dialogue that’s bad often to the point of cringe for the majority of the novella, but Grant really goes balls to the wall with the horror elements in the last third. I actually found it unsettling to read and I’m now more excited to read the main novel, so overall I’m happy with the experience.
Profile Image for Milda Page Runner.
306 reviews263 followers
February 2, 2016
I liked it especially the ending (last 20%), but I can't help thinking it could have been much better. I question authors decision to tell right at the beginning that there are no survivors. Takes away the suspense. Makes introducing long cast of characters a bit pointless.
Part of the horror is not knowing what is going to happen. Anticipating something bad and worrying for the characters you like. Part of the fun is trying to figure out who is the sensible one and will survive against the odds.
Well.. none of that here.
Since we know from the very beginning who? (everyone) and how? (trust me - it's clear) - the only thing left for me to anticipate was: so - what's the twist? And there is a twist at the very end - but it doesn't much affect the who? and the how? and we don't get to see it... :/ which left me a bit disappointed. (don't take away the candy from a kid!)
On a good side: well done characters for such a short story, some humour, some gore, unusual take on mermaids.
There were few things that didn't make sense if I'd want to be picky.
Profile Image for Farah.
767 reviews87 followers
January 19, 2019
Rolling In The Deep by Adele played repeatedly in my head when I started reading this.

Despite the absence of romance, Rolling In The Deep (the book) should be read by anyone who loves girl power as this book featured such trope.

Jovanie Seghers - The Atargatis Ship Captain
A respectable captain, strong minded, respectful towards her cabin crew and anyone on board of her ship.
Anne Stewart - Web Correspondent
Alexandra MacMillan - Head of the Chemical Analysis Team
Jill Hale - Deep-sea Cartographer
Sonja Weinstein - Cetologist
The Blue Seas Professional Mermaid Troupe.

There were some scientific terms and stuffs mentioned in the first half of the book but that did not take away my enjoyment from the story - thanks to Google + I was smitten with the ladies who played kickass roles in the marine world + no one was marking their territories, acting like Divas and being pain in the ass. Then... Instead of playing the Jaws' theme song, play the most sinister music you have ever listened to in your head as the under water inhabitants decided to come out and 'play'. I kid you not, the built up and the scenes that followed were quite horrific.

It was like watching those 8O's - 9O's horror movies, screaming your lungs out, telling the actors to get to safety, don't inspect / linger, try not to fall into the pool , make sure the key is in the ignition, stop looking back, when reading the fate of the crew and passengers of the Atargatis.

Michele's review on the first book should be checked out. This was only the prequel but when I took my third shower of the day (32°C and 76% humidity) it was a really quick one as my imagination was running wild.

Scribd screwed me over, the audiobook that was available now became the opposite. Maybe because of my poor track record with audiobooks, so kindle book it is for the sequel.
Profile Image for Howard.
1,893 reviews108 followers
July 31, 2022
4.5 Stars for Rolling in the Deep: Rolling in Deep Series, Book 0.5 (audiobook) by Mira Grant read by Teri Barrington.

This was a wonderful prequel. You have young women pretending to be mermaids that end up getting killed and devoured by real mermaids. Mira Grant is pulling me into another series. I’m really looking forward to Into the Drowning Deep.
Profile Image for Dennis.
662 reviews314 followers
April 10, 2020
Simple, but fun story.

A crew of scientists and tv-people are setting sail for the Mariana Trench to film a mockumentary about mermaids. And they get more than they bargained for.

The End.

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Of course this is only the prequel to , to which I’m listening right now.

Killer mermaids FTW!

Seriously, the whole story is in the book description here. It’s short, it’s nasty, it’s fun. Let’s see if the latter two also apply to the novel.
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