Daughter of the Deep by Lina C. Amarego – My Review, followed by Character Discussion + Analysis – [Spoiler-free] βA wedding to end a war…β …
‘Daughter of the Deep’ Review: A Swashbuckling Adventure Rich In Wit, Mythology and Mystery
Hi, I’m Katie – Welcome to my Literature Corner!
Hello! Katie here. You might know me from @katiesliteraturecorner on Instagram. I’ll be posting thoughts, photos and reviews on here – as well as hopefully getting to know lots of you! I look forward to discussing books, films and favourite things with you all. Here’s a bit more about me…
![βYou may know the story of Rumplestiltskin, but have you heard the different endings?π
If you've seen Once Upon A Time, you'll know how brilliantly complex the character of Rumplestiltskin is (pic 2). I love how they incorporated the roles of the crocodile and the Beast too. Apparently they wrote the role specifically for Robert Carlyle, and his portrayal is so layered and fascinating to watch!
But what about the original Rumplestiltskin story? Like Carlyle's version, his defining trait was: he would only complete a favour if he got something in return.
The story goes...
Long ago, a Miller lied to the king, saying his daughter could spin straw into gold. To test this, the king locked her in a tower room with straw and a spinning wheel, demanding it all be spun into gold by morning - or he would cut off her head.
She wept, knowing she had no hope. But then, an imp-like man appeared and spun the straw into gold in return for her necklace. The next day, he did the same in return for her ring. On the 3rd day, the king told the girl he would marry her if she could fill the castle's largest room with gold. If not, he'd execute her. (Excellent marriage material there.)
Sadly, the girl had nothing left to pay the imp. So, he made her promise to give him her firstborn child, then spun the straw.
The king married the girl. But when their first child was born, the imp returned to claim it. She tried to bargain, but he had no interest in gold, for of course he could make it. Finally, he agreed to give up his claim if she could guess his name within 3 days.
She guessed many times and failed, but on the 3rd night, she went into the forest and found his cottage. She watched, unseen, as he hopped about his fire and sang: "tonight tonight, my plans I make, tomorrow tomorrow, the baby I take. The queen will never win the game, for Rumpelstiltskin is my name"
When the imp arrived the next day, she said his name. Now, here come the 5 endings...
My favourite is this one: In the version originally collected by the Brothers Grimm, he flies out of the window on a cooking ladleπ
π³See my comment for the 4 other endings! Which is your favourite?π³
[Adapted from Wikipedia]](https://scontent-lcy1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/202638142_789053795126688_3507852404173723197_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=K5Lp5kEGj9EAX_omoTy&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=c09d437047d0a97579f5a2403838cc43&oe=60D883B9)
![βOkay whatever you're doing right now, stop and go order Lightfallπ (or if you haven't started the Starchaser Saga yet, it begins with 'Darkwind', by @reneeduganwriting. Lightfall is book 4!)
As you can see, I had a lot of fun dressing up today - as Cistine (the main character)! We also hear from 3 other viewpoints in this one - so the tension between each chapter is nail-bitingly good!
It has:
- Found family
- Characters you connect with deeply
- A princess working on her combat AND negotiation skills
- Unique twist on the 'chosen one' trope (it's not the defining trait of Cistine's character by any means)
- Realistic progression through trauma & fear
- Brilliantly-crafted courtroom scenes
- Heartfelt, realistic friendships, relationships, kinship & sisterhood
- Humbling & empowering character arcs
- The most beautiful prose
Lightfall is a pivotal point for the saga, and feels like a 'step up' not only in its storyline but in its execution. While Nightwing was brilliant, Lightfall is on a whole other level. It hits harder, runs deeper, climbs higher, and shines brighter - I can see just how much has gone into writing it.
Seeing Cistine overcoming trauma and growing stronger is so humbling to read. The presentation is so gradual and realistic, with relapses as she realises healing is a process (see 5th slide). Every chapter, I felt like I was learning and understanding more about life.
I picked out so many quotes to save, squealed, gasped, and sometimes just had to stop and reread a paragraph because it was so beautiful, in absolute awe of Renee's writing and the masterful way she has crafted this story. It highlights how she has improved EVEN MORE as a writer, and (much like her characters) in Lightfall, the progression is stunning.
If you've been looking for a fantasy series free of typical tropes (but has cute heartwarming ones when it countsπ), great depth to its characters, gorgeous passages, and beautiful aesthetics (castles, princesses & warriors!!) - this is your series.
Seriously, it's in my top 5 favourites ever - and we're only halfway there.
β’
[Note: This isn't the actual cover - I don't have a physical copy yet, so had to improviseπ]](https://scontent-lcy1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/201874409_340734257408549_4944588719744527064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=eGq9aA6g28oAX9jHOU0&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=ad1e85bd2e980126d42c1a1f7c2ae8b7&oe=60D82E0F)
![βDo you know the tale of The Old Woman in the Wood? I shall tell it to you now...
As Terry Pratchett says in The Wee Free Men: "All the stories had, somewhere, the witch. The wicked old witch." I've always found that idea of ~the mysterious old woman in the woods~ fascinating. Yet though this story is named after the witch, she never has the chance to justify herself. Is she evil?...
β’
πΏOnce upon a time, a servant girl was travelling with the family she worked for, when they were attacked by robbers! She hid behind a tree, but the rest of the family were killed before her eyes. Just as she began to weep from shock, an elegant white dove came to her with a golden key in its beak. It indicated a tree and told her to unlock it. In doing so, she found some bread stored in the trunk - her evening supper.
The dove then led her to a tree with a bed, where she slept for the night. She lived like this for many days. Then, the dove asked for her help. Her task was to go into the old house at the end of the lane. "An old woman will speak to you", the dove explained, "But you must not answer. Step into the room, where you will see an array of splendid rings. You must take only the plainest, simplest one there, and bring it back to the forest."
When the girl entered the house, she walked past the old woman and didn't respond to her angry words. The plain ring was nowhere to be seen! But then she saw the old woman trying to carry off a bird cage. In it was a bird with the ring in its beak, so she crept behind the woman and took the ring, before running as fast as she could back to the forest! She leaned against a tree and examined the ring. It was only made of wood - surely it was all a hoax...
But at that moment, two branches slowly twined around her and became arms. Holding her in a gentle embrace was a handsome man, who told her that he had been turned into a tree by the old woman. He had then become a dove for two hours each day, and it was down to her bravery and diligence that he had escaped! The two went back to his father's kingdom and were married by the light of a bright Spring sun.πΏ
β’
[Adapted by me from Wikipedia synopsis]
[Drawing by Arthur Rackham, 1917]](https://scontent-lcy1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/199670636_195949665738618_5835560869548812771_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=HswSJ-zzAF0AX_wrKBf&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=bbe55b1131e8e57aa6e12543c1a2f1df&oe=60D83ADA)
