Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
**THEY SAY THAT THERE IS A DARK REALM OF NIGHTMARES THAT LIES BENEATH THE TRUE SEA. WHEN THE UNDERSEA ARCHES ITS BACK, THE UPPER SEA IS STIRRED TO FRENZY.** **THEY SAY THAT THE UNDERSEA WAS THE DWELLING PLACE OF THE GODS.** **THEY SAY MANY THINGS OF THE MYRIAD, AND ALL OF THEM ARE TRUE.** The gods are dead. Fifty years ago, they turned on one another and tore each other apart. Nobody knows why. Now, even coin-sized scraps of dead god are worth a fortune because of the strange powers they're said to possess. But few are brave to dive and search for them. When fifteen-year-old Hark finds the still-beating heart of one of these deities, he'll risk everything to keep it out of the hands of the smugglers, scientists, and cults who would kill for its power. Because Hark needs to heart if he wants to save the life of his best friend, Jelt. But the power of a god was not meant for human hands. With the heart, Jelt begins to eerily transform, and Hark will have to decide if he can stay loyal to his friend--or what he's willing to sacrifice to save him. This description comes from the publisher.
Is Deeplight appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 12 and up.
This dark fantasy contains moderate fantasy violence, body horror transformation elements, and themes of sacrifice and moral compromise. Best for mature middle grade and YA readers comfortable with darker atmospheric content.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death, grief, and body horror (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will love this atmospheric tale of a boy who must decide between saving his best friend and stopping a dangerous transformation powered by a dead god's heart.