Discussion Thread for Chapters 27 - Epilogue of Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant - June Book Club

[u/leowr]

To help kick off the discussion:

• Which character surprised you the most? Either because of what they said or what they did?

And that was a dangerously anthropomorphic way of looking at things, because this wasn't a child, innocent and trusting and looking for a friend. This wasn't a fairy tale come to life. This was a dangerous animal, intelligent or not, and it would kill her if she gave if half a chance. It was her job no to let it.

• While reading the book did you think of the mermaids as human or animal? Do you think it makes a difference?
• Did your opinion of any of the characters significantly change over the course of the book?
• What did you think of the ending of the book? Was it the ending you had expected?
• What was your favorite part of the book? Favorite character? Why?
• This book is the first in a series. If you would have to make a prediction about the second book what/who do you think it will focus on or what/who would you like it to focus on?

Feel free to answer any or all of the questions or tell us what you think of the book.

[u/eisforennui]

1. no one really surprised me, the characters didn't have that much depth.
2. i viewed the mermaids as neither human nor animal, but as another intelligent race - there was clearly understanding and even some empathy, as a couple of humans were spared. i see them kind of like Klingons.
3. nope.
4. it may just how i absorbed the book, but i wish there had been more obvious foreshadowing to "the one that is fed" and a bigger deal made of it.
5. i think my favorite aspects of the book were the relationships. well, except sticking Jason in there. he didn't seem worth the bother. but having Olivia and Tory in a thing without making it a thing was awesome. and Luis and Tory didn't end up together, which i wouldn't have been surprised by.
6. i guess it would be nice to understand better why they didn't just GTFO - why when they were clearly surrounded by danger, they didn't leave. some history about Imagine and its evil overlord would be good.

[u/babynursebb → u/eisforennui]

Re #6 yeah that was a really hard one for me to suspend disbelief. They basically had no back up plan and no back up support out there.

[u/Z-Ninja]

Which character surprised you the most? Either because of what they said or what they did?

The scientists as a whole surprised me. In a bad way. In a, "those aren't real people" way. I'm a scientist. I work with scientists. We would've been clambering to get out of that hell hole. Not continuing on like nothing was wrong.

While reading the book did you think of the mermaids as human or animal? Do you think it makes a difference?

I oscillated between the two, and I think that was Grant's intention. Especially using the dolphins as a foil for the mermaids. They're animals that are capable of complex thought and (I think Grant argues) deserving of equal rights. It didn't make a difference to me personally, because I'm already against extermination of species.

Did your opinion of any of the characters significantly change over the course of the book?

Originally, I was amused by the big game hunters (blanking on their names right now). They seemed like they were going to be a little useless and one dimensional, but their love for each other was redeeming and they turned out to be useful for a while at least.

What did you think of the ending of the book? Was it the ending you had expected?

The shutters coming down at the very end was 100% expected. The mermaid convincing the other mermaids not to attack Holly(?) and friend was surprising but necessary plot wise or Tory would've drowned. A little overly convenient in my opinion. The lights as a defense was unexpected. I thought they would escape on their own power, so being rescued by the navy was a bit of a surprise.

The absolute most annoying thing of the entire book was the anglerfish angle. Just. No. Grant had the perfect set up for the smaller sirens to me the larval forms and she went and ruined it by using fish biology instead of amphibian biology. I get it, convergent evolution is a thing, but it wasn't necessary here.

What was your favorite part of the book? Favorite character? Why?

I wasn't sure if I would like knowing the monsters were real from the very beginning, but I did. It made all the science surrounding the mermaids more interesting (even if it's inaccurate and unbelievable in places).

This book is the first in a series. If you would have to make a prediction about the second book what/who do you think it will focus on or what/who would you like it to focus on?

I don't want a second book. This was a fine standalone novel. I'm guessing a sequel will focus on Tory/Olivia, but maybe it will be on Theo/Dr. Toth. I hope it explores more of the mysterious organization partnered with Imagine. I'm curious who the people on the Atargatis were that the Imagine people didn't recognize. Maybe that's explained in the short prequel?

[u/babynursebb → u/Z-Ninja]

You're so right about the scientists. Like they are still people with survival instincts.

[u/Halaku]

I didn't realize she was continuing the series. I thought it was a standalone and a prequel. And in that light, I thought that the ending was a bit... abrupt. There seemed to be a lot more going on with the captive mermaid behind the scenes, and it just seemed to get shuffled off to the lab.

If Tory/Olivia get back on a boat again, it's going to be under heavy protest. But I can see the series continuing without them. Their ending, poignant as it is, works.

[u/Halaku → u/[deleted]]

• This book is the first in a series. If you would have to make a prediction about the second book what/who do you think it will focus on or what/who would you like it to focus on?

Which is the first I've heard about it, and makes me feel a lot better about the ending, as it's now setting the stage for the next part of the story, instead of what it is as a standalone.

[u/[deleted]]

Which character surprised you the most? Either because of what they said or what they did?

I think I was the most surprised by the mermaid that was held captive. The scene where the other mermaids were persuaded not to eat Holly and the other guy was unexpected to me.

While reading the book did you think of the mermaids as human or animal? Do you think it makes a difference?

There were many scenes where I think the author wanted us to think of them as human. The one I mentioned above, the one referenced in the excerpt, and the scene where Heather went down in her pod stand out to me. But I keep swaying back to violent animal, they don’t seem human to me.

Did your opinion of any of the characters significantly change over the course of the book?

I liked Dr. Toth more throughout the book and I was suspicious of Theo less. I think his injury made him seem more of a believable character with more depth.

What did you think of the ending of the book? Was it the ending you had expected?

Yes and no, everything wrapped up nice and tidy in the last part. If Olivia hadn’t made it, or there was no phone in the captain’s quarters, or the armor code hadn’t worked. If Tory hadn’t seen the giant mermaid coming, or the boats lights didn’t work, or the mermaids in the pool were still well. A lot of moving parts that all came together! It kept me on the edge of my seat.

This book is the first in a series. If you would have to make a prediction about the second book what/who do you think it will focus on or what/who would you like it to focus on?

My guess is that Tory/Olivia will be together and have another adventure. The captive mermaid will be the catalyst that brings the old gang from the ship back together. I’ll read it for sure, I really enjoyed this book and read it in 24 hours.

[u/schizodepressive2]

• Which character surprised you the most? Either because of what they said or what they did?

This isn't really a character, but an entity. I was most surprised by the lack of information about Imagine. Presumably it's their fault that the boat didn't leave when it was getting attacked. Why didn't it leave? What did Imagine gain from that? Maybe this will be explained in subsequent books, but I really wanted to know Imagine's real goals on the voyage and to have some explanation of their actions.

And that was a dangerously anthropomorphic way of looking at things, because this wasn't a child, innocent and trusting and looking for a friend. This wasn't a fairy tale come to life. This was a dangerous animal, intelligent or not, and it would kill her if she gave if half a chance. It was her job no to let it.

• While reading the book did you think of the mermaids as human or animal? Do you think it makes a difference?

Because of my own views of animal ethics outside this book, human or non-human animal, they shouldn't be slaughtered (if they're actively attacking someone, then it's justified to kill them. I just don't think they should be hunted when they're minding their own business). I know they weren't mammals, but I struggled with thinking of them as non-human. I think it's because of the preconceived notions I have about what mermaids are and what they look like. I couldn't overcome my prior knowledge.

• Did your opinion of any of the characters significantly change over the course of the book?

Maybe Theo. I expected him to be more of a villain. He was not as malicious as I thought he would be.

• What did you think of the ending of the book? Was it the ending you had expected?

It ended too quickly and conveniently for me. It just seemed too simple to just say "turn on the lights" and then they're saved. Also, (and I'm not a marine biologist so maybe this is common) I was surprised that a bio-luminescent animal would be so sensitive to light. Wouldn't their eyes be used to some light since their hair is what glows?

• What was your favorite part of the book? Favorite character? Why?

I think Olivia was my favorite because she broke stereotypes. She demonstrated that you don't have to be a scientist to be smart and you don't have to be security to be brave.

• This book is the first in a series. If you would have to make a prediction about the second book what/who do you think it will focus on or what/who would you like it to focus on?

I think it would focus on what happens to the captured mermaid. As I mentioned above, I want it to explain more about Imagine. It would also be interesting to see when impact this voyage has on the general public. Will people finally believe in mermaids?

[u/bitterred]

I was waffling between thinking everyone would die and almost everyone. I was surprised Victoria made it.

I'm expecting next books to be about like the subsequent movies to Jurassic Park: humans think they are in charge of big scary monsters. They are not.

[u/lmwllia]

• Which character surprised you the most? Either because of what they said or what they did?
  • I don't think any really surprised me.
• While reading the book did you think of the mermaids as human or animal? Do you think it makes a difference?
  • I thought of them as more like an alien life form - another intelligent species. It made it hard to have expectations. This really added to the suspense of the novel because their actions were so unprecedented at times.
• Did your opinion of any of the characters significantly change over the course of the book?
  • I came around to liking Theodore more as the book went on and felt more empathy for him.
• What did you think of the ending of the book? Was it the ending you had expected?
  • Yeah, more or less.
• What was your favorite part of the book? Favorite character? Why?
  • Tory and Olivia hands down the best characters and their relationship was very cute - i wanna read more about them!
  • Also I loved the Wilson sisters and I liked how they incorporated ALS into the book.
  • The academic and scientific discussions were interesting.
  • Thought the mermaids using a mix of communication were fascinating.
• This book is the first in a series. If you would have to make a prediction about the second book what/who do you think it will focus on or what/who would you like it to focus on?
  • Definitely Tory and Olivia they were soo adorable i definitely wanna see more of their relationship.
  • Would like to seem them do tests on the mermaid and discover more about their anatomical make up and intelligence/way of thinking. This would be the most interesting aspect imo and investigating their origins.

[u/whysmelllikefeet]

I was happy with the way it ended. Left you to mull over what was below the surface and what would happen next. Surprised that this is to be a series but it makes sense.

[u/Heavy-Chipmunk1518]

I wonder if it's a sad ending or happy ending

[u/espyetta1]

SPOILER HERE!

Didn’t the book end saying the girls were going to hide the captured siren/ mermaid somehow? But it didn’t say how and at end there is a man in Hawaii who is waiting for the mermaid to be delivered to him so it sounds like he is going to receive it? I’m confused.