 Welcome to ‘The Myriad’ a fantastical island world from one of the best writers of dark fiction in YA  I always look forward to a new novel from Frances Hardinge, her rich run of superb YA releases is surely unrivalled and Deeplight sits comfortably alongside the outstanding Cuckoo Song, The Lie Tree and A Skinful of Shadows. This author is the absolute master at blending genres and Deeplight is no different, effortlessly dancing between dark fantasy and horror, with a dash of steampunk thrown in to mix things up. Ginger Nuts of Horror recently interviewed Frances about Deeplight and her other fiction, if you missed it you can catch up here: https://gingernutsofhorror.com/young-blood/interview-with-frances-hardinge-the-art-of-blending-fantasy-horror-and-historical-fiction-genres Whereas Hardinge’s last three novels have mixed the supernatural and historical fiction, this latest tale is set on an alternative, fantastical world, on a sprawling archipelago called the Myriad. There are hundreds of tiny islands which trade with each other for survival and the action begins on the Island of Lady’s Crave where two fourteen-year-old street urchins Hark and his best friend Jelt scrape a living. Both boys were brought up in an orphanage and have run with gangs and wheel and deal to survive, often taking hard knocks along the way. The novel is seen from Hark’s point of view, but much of the mischief the boys find themselves in is Jelt’s doing, who lives particularly close to the edge and is often the dominant side of the friendship. You could be forgiven for thinking an adventure story with two orphans sounds slightly familiar, however, it is the setting and the world-building which marks this book apart from the competition. Myriad is a superb creation and if you’re after a location to fire the minds and imaginations of young teenagers then look no further than Deeplight, as the backdrop is something special and positively brimming with clever ideas. For centuries the islanders lived in awe and dread of the grotesque and terrible gods that lived in the deep seas, which were effectively giant sea-monsters who could attack boats and ships at a moment’s notice. However, thirty years before the novel begins there was a cataclysmic event where all the god-monsters unexpectedly killed each other, and the reason is shrouded in mystery, a part of recent history strangely forgotten. It takes its time getting there, but this background information surrounding the gods eventually becomes critical to the plight of our young heroes Hark and Jelt. The relationship between Hark and Jelt is key to the success of the book. Jelt is the instigator of many of the dodgy schemes which often leave them in trouble, however, Hark feels duty bound to follow him as his sturdier friend protected Jelt in their orphanage days and never lets him forget it. Jelt is not a particularly sympathetic character and the teenage reader will enjoy the backwards and forwards relationship between the two boys. Hark knows Jelt is not good for him but is still not strong enough to break free and readers will undoubtedly pick up on the elements of peer pressure relevant to kids today. How are poor kids meant to survive once they’re ejected from the orphanages? How can they make any money? The answer is pretty cool…. In the three decades since the monster gods died, fisherman and travellers have discovered fragments of the dead creatures whilst out fishing or swimming. These finds supposedly have exciting and useful properties, so a diving and submersible salvage and scavenger culture has emerged all over the Myriad. Ultimately finding valuable ‘godware’ can make your fortune, but much of it is fake and the two teenagers get sucked into this world when they find a very strange piece of godware, which is most definitely not fake, and although it looks to bring them easy money, it brings even more trouble in a very clever and original story strand. The perception different characters had of the monster gods was fascinating; Hark dreams of them through romantic eyes, but an old priest who remembers the reality reveals the true story. Other characters search for ancient scripts which would make clear what really occurred thirty years earlier, whilst dangerous fanatical sects plot to see the return of the gods. Deeplight is loaded with clever observations that add to the richness of the world Hardinge has created; I loved the idea of the ‘Sea Kissed’, those who have spent too much type underwater which can lead to a loss of hearing and communication in sign, including the teenage girl Selphin who has an entertaining friendship (of sorts) with Hark. The steampunk elements are developed when we meet the scientist Dr Vyne and her exhilarating ‘Butterly’ submarine. The dead god monsters also have all sorts of creative names, including ‘The Glass Cardinal’ and ‘The Hidden Lady’. Fantasy lovers are going to adore this book and its many quirks. Children novels which allow youngsters to forget their mobile phones and television and escape to faraway places are vitally important as we all need to dream of faraway places. Lands which are drawn so vividly they become real enough to touch are truly special and Frances Hardinge has created such a place in Deeplight. As the story develops Hardinge slowly reveals the bigger geographical picture of where the Myriad archipelago is in relation to the wider world and has planted the seeds for a location which is ripe for exploration in future stories. I have said many times in my commentaries on Ginger Nuts of Horror that there are quite simply too many never-ending sequels in teen fiction, but with Frances Hardinge I am happy to make an exception. Tony Jones  DEEPLIGHT BY FRANCES HARDINGE 'One of our finest storytellers,' Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent From Frances Hardinge, the Costa Award-winning author of The Lie Tree comes Deeplight. The gods of The Myriad were as real as the coastlines and currents, and as merciless as the winds and whirlpools. Now the gods are dead, but their remains are stirring beneath the waves . . . On the streets of the Island of Lady's Crave live 14-year-old street urchins Hark and his best friend Jelt. They are scavengers: diving for relics of the gods, desperate for anything they can sell. But there is something dangerous in the deep waters of the undersea, calling to someone brave enough to retrieve it. When the waves try to claim Jelt, Hark will do anything to save him. Even if it means compromising not just who Jelt is, but what he is . . .   |
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