too much convenience writing

Deeplight by Frances Hardinge is an imaginative story with strong worldbuilding, vivid character descriptions, and engaging prose. The narrator does a great job bringing the tale to life. However, despite these strengths, I can’t wholeheartedly recommend the book due to several storytelling issues.

Hardinge leans too heavily on plot conveniences, allowing the protagonist to master impossibly complex tasks—like piloting a near-impossible submarine—simply because the story demands it. This kind of storytelling fosters the misleading notion that skill can be replaced by sheer willpower. Additionally, character motivations sometimes shift abruptly to serve the plot, as seen with the scientist character’s sudden and unearned change of heart.

The book's most intriguing concept—the mysterious deep-sea world infused with "liquid fear"—is largely underutilized. Instead of embracing the eerie physics of such an environment, Hardinge treats it as interchangeable with land, missing an opportunity to create something truly unique.

While the book has compelling elements, its reliance on contrived storytelling and missed worldbuilding potential left me more frustrated than immersed.


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