4.5 Stars

As the title suggests, the book contains a collection of stories, myths, facts, and folklore about seas and oceans. The content is divided into the following sections: 

There’s a detailed glossary at the end. 

A common theme we can see in the snippets of facts and tidbits from various cultures is the strong presence of nature in the lives of those associated with the seas and oceans. Respect for sea gods, respect for aquatic beings, and fear of mythical creatures ensured a balance and prevented the plundering of natural resources. It stopped many people from taking more than what was necessary. For example, the people of Ghana did not go fishing on Tuesday as was the day when the sea rested. In many cultures, offerings are given to the sea gods and animals, a sign to show that they gave something in return for what they took from the waters. 

A few stories have been included from different cultures. Most of us would know the one about Sindbad the Sailor. Of course, a book about seas and oceans has to talk of seabirds, ships (& superstitions), pirates, legendary voyages, and… ghost ships! There’s a section on boat construction as well. All the information is crisp and concise. Each fact/ myth is no more than 5 short lines. 

The book also covers a few submerged cities and continents. While it mentions the sunken pagodas around the Shore Temple, it missed the chance to highlight Dwarka, the submerged city built by Krishna in Dwapara Yuga (in modern-day Gujarat). 

The beauty and appeal of the book lie much in the vibrant illustrations. To align with the theme, the book has watercolor paintings in pastels on white, black, and colored backgrounds. This gives the illustrations a whimsical vibe. Perfect for the content. 

My only grouse is the chosen font type. It is cute, no doubt. However, the text is not easy to read even on the computer. Due to the style, the letter f needs extra space. So, words like often appear as of ten, which affects readability. Since the illustrations span the full pages (from left to right), reading this on Kindle can be a nightmare. Buy a physical copy instead. 

To summarize, Lore of the Deep is a fun and informative book about various lore related to seas and oceans. It can be a good addition to your bookshelves, especially if you like trivia. 

Thank you, Edelweiss+ and Quarto (Wide Eyed Editions), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.