Song of the Abyss

This is the second book in the Deep Waters series, and this time we follow Daios. He’s a fierce warrior turned battered soldier who would still do anything to protect his people from humans. He’s made terrible decisions in the past that cost many Undine lives. Haunted by regret and nightmares, Daios is struggling to find his place again and to regain the trust of his people. He’s searching for his true calling and his role within Undine society. Meanwhile, Arges and Mira continue their plans to overthrow the General of Alpha and free its citizens from the clutches of the deviant man. They believe the key to success is kidnapping Anya, the general’s daughter. Daios is chosen for the task and gladly accepts, hoping this mission will help absolve him of his sins. But when he sees Anya for the first time, he’s immediately captivated. He feels a pull toward her unlike anything he’s ever experienced. Anya lost her hearing in an accident as a child and has lived a highly sheltered life, dictated and controlled by her cruel father. Longing for freedom and the chance to shape her own future, she has been secretly planning to overthrow him and liberate the people of Alpha for a long time. I enjoyed this book even more than the first. The pairing of Daios and Anya worked beautifully for me. Both characters have suffered deeply, lived with loneliness, and learned to navigate life with disabilities. Yet, they remain strong, resilient, and unapologetically themselves. Watching Anya effortlessly dismantle Daios’s emotional armor was especially well done. While she brings softness to his hardness, Anya is also intelligent, determined, and quietly powerful. I also loved being introduced to another adorable robot sidekick. Bitsy was an absolute delight and a great addition to the story. The overarching plot continues seamlessly from book one, and it was nice to see familiar characters return. Daios was not at all what I expected. I went in expecting an angry, broody, controlling male lead and worried about Anya’s independence, but I was pleasantly surprised by the dynamics of their relationship. Anya’s courage (especially towards the end) truly stood out. Experiencing the unfolding of her plan from the perspective of someone who can’t hear properly was gripping, and I found myself completely hooked. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was fantastic. Will M. Watt’s voice acting is chef’s kiss. He brought Daios to life in a truly phenomenal way. Of course, I’ll be continuing this series, and I’m very much looking forward to Maketes’s story. Story: 4.5 ⭐️ Spice: 2