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No Ocean Too Deep
To buck the brutal rule of the Republic, Amirzade Sharouk and his men pull off a desperate Destroying the Republic's fleet by joining forces with the legendary sea folk, masters of the leviathans, immense living weapons born of the sea and magic.
Though the gamble succeeds, one of the leviathans vanishes with a valuable human, straining an already tenuous alliance. Her caretaker Nils needs to find her as quickly as possible to redeem himself before his superiors. His search is further burdened by Dastyaf, a furious human warlord and liability in the marine realm. But after combing the deep ocean and discovering the dangers it holds, Nils realizes he may need the human more than he thought, to save his mission and himself.
Though the gamble succeeds, one of the leviathans vanishes with a valuable human, straining an already tenuous alliance. Her caretaker Nils needs to find her as quickly as possible to redeem himself before his superiors. His search is further burdened by Dastyaf, a furious human warlord and liability in the marine realm. But after combing the deep ocean and discovering the dangers it holds, Nils realizes he may need the human more than he thought, to save his mission and himself.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2014
96 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 10, 2014
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Teaming up with the sea folk to defeat the Republic is a dangerous plan for Dastyaf and his people. Unfortunately, he has no choice but when the sea folk and Republic battle it out, it results in a victory� and a loss. One of Dastyaf’s allies, the leviathans, kidnapped the amir’s son and it’s Dastyaf’s responsibility to get him back. Paired up with the leviathan’s caretaker, Nils, Dastyaf’s forced to tread deadly waters with a sea witch he despises. But through the long journey to finding his charge, Dastyaf starts to enjoy Nils and understand the beauty in the sea. But sporting a new tail and a fondness for one of his supposed allies is the least of Dastyaf’s worries when the window of getting the amirzade back alive grows smaller and smaller.
This was an amazing story. To be honest, I can’t remember reading a book anything like this one. Set almost completely in the sea, it explores a new world where the sea folk are beautiful and monstrous creatures and what remains in the deep ocean is anything but nice. It has a lot of detail around the sea creatures and the ocean but these sea creatures are nothing like what we see in our own ocean. Instead, these animals take on weird shapes, colors and lights. Overall, this story has a good amount of suspense, touches on mythical creatures and has a slow developing romance.
One thing that is really potent are the characters. Dastyaf, at first, is very hostile and angry, mostly at himself but also at the fact that he needs Nils to find the amirzade. At the same time, he’s ashamed of his desire and longing for his charge but confused over his fascination with Nils. Nils is more sedate and calm. He’s confused over why his leviathan would take a human and annoyed that the one person who can give him that answer refuses to. Their journey together is very rocky in the beginning but even from the start, Dastyaf’s ability to adapt to his new sea folk body is astonishingly amazing. As the story progresses, you see both characters start to soften towards one another and develop a protectiveness for each other. It’s sweet but also sad because of the lengths they’ll go through to keep the other alive.
I REALLY loved this book. I mean, once I started, it was hard for me to put down. I was so enamored with it that I didn’t realize what time it was until I finally finished. It’s a GREAT book� until the end. For most of the story, the flow is steady, suspenseful and interesting. The last three chapters, though, are confusing, choppy and felt out of place. I felt like the author skipped a lot of scenes that would have answered many questions about who Nils is now and the tentative relationship between Nils and Dastyaf. Then, I felt more confused when Nils does something he’s not supposed to do because it would mean reverting back to what the witches just saved him from. Honestly, I’m really confused and really wished we had seen more of the scenes that were skipped over such as how Nils was treated, the efforts that Dastyaf had to go through for him and how it all came to be negotiated at where Nils ends up and especially more clarification on what Nils can and cannot do.
In the end, though, I adored this story. For the most part, it is about two shaky allies forced to work together to save someone important. Along the way they not only encounter dangerous waters but they also discover something more emotional. It’s harsh at times, suspenseful at others and sweet and sad as well. I loved the details about the sea, the creatures and the history of the sea folk. I just really wished there had been more thought and effort put into the end so that it wouldn’t have been so vague and confusing. Still a great read for anyone looking for a unique type of fantasy featuring peculiar sea folk.
Teaming up with the sea folk to defeat the Republic is a dangerous plan for Dastyaf and his people. Unfortunately, he has no choice but when the sea folk and Republic battle it out, it results in a victory� and a loss. One of Dastyaf’s allies, the leviathans, kidnapped the amir’s son and it’s Dastyaf’s responsibility to get him back. Paired up with the leviathan’s caretaker, Nils, Dastyaf’s forced to tread deadly waters with a sea witch he despises. But through the long journey to finding his charge, Dastyaf starts to enjoy Nils and understand the beauty in the sea. But sporting a new tail and a fondness for one of his supposed allies is the least of Dastyaf’s worries when the window of getting the amirzade back alive grows smaller and smaller.
This was an amazing story. To be honest, I can’t remember reading a book anything like this one. Set almost completely in the sea, it explores a new world where the sea folk are beautiful and monstrous creatures and what remains in the deep ocean is anything but nice. It has a lot of detail around the sea creatures and the ocean but these sea creatures are nothing like what we see in our own ocean. Instead, these animals take on weird shapes, colors and lights. Overall, this story has a good amount of suspense, touches on mythical creatures and has a slow developing romance.
One thing that is really potent are the characters. Dastyaf, at first, is very hostile and angry, mostly at himself but also at the fact that he needs Nils to find the amirzade. At the same time, he’s ashamed of his desire and longing for his charge but confused over his fascination with Nils. Nils is more sedate and calm. He’s confused over why his leviathan would take a human and annoyed that the one person who can give him that answer refuses to. Their journey together is very rocky in the beginning but even from the start, Dastyaf’s ability to adapt to his new sea folk body is astonishingly amazing. As the story progresses, you see both characters start to soften towards one another and develop a protectiveness for each other. It’s sweet but also sad because of the lengths they’ll go through to keep the other alive.
I REALLY loved this book. I mean, once I started, it was hard for me to put down. I was so enamored with it that I didn’t realize what time it was until I finally finished. It’s a GREAT book� until the end. For most of the story, the flow is steady, suspenseful and interesting. The last three chapters, though, are confusing, choppy and felt out of place. I felt like the author skipped a lot of scenes that would have answered many questions about who Nils is now and the tentative relationship between Nils and Dastyaf. Then, I felt more confused when Nils does something he’s not supposed to do because it would mean reverting back to what the witches just saved him from. Honestly, I’m really confused and really wished we had seen more of the scenes that were skipped over such as how Nils was treated, the efforts that Dastyaf had to go through for him and how it all came to be negotiated at where Nils ends up and especially more clarification on what Nils can and cannot do.
In the end, though, I adored this story. For the most part, it is about two shaky allies forced to work together to save someone important. Along the way they not only encounter dangerous waters but they also discover something more emotional. It’s harsh at times, suspenseful at others and sweet and sad as well. I loved the details about the sea, the creatures and the history of the sea folk. I just really wished there had been more thought and effort put into the end so that it wouldn’t have been so vague and confusing. Still a great read for anyone looking for a unique type of fantasy featuring peculiar sea folk.
May 7, 2014
This is an amazing story in the best tradition of sweeping fantasy, set largely underwater on a planet ravaged by war, and with characters who came alive for me to the point I expected them to jump off the pages. Strong enemies, new allies, fantastical sea creatures, a desperate plan, and an abducted amirzade (read: prince) made for enough conflict to fill a book twice its length. And that is before the main characters are forced to cooperate and begin their gradual journey from almost-hatred to respect and, eventually, love.
Dastyaf is a human warlord, personal protector of Amirzade Sharouk, the prince who decides to enact their plan against the evil Republic. It will hopefully free the desert dwellers from their conquerors. To do this, they need the help of the sea folk, but their alliance is new and tenuous at best. There isn’t really a whole lot of trust between them, so when Sharouk is kidnapped by a mighty leviathan and Dastyaf is told to work with her keeper, a sea witch by the name of Nils, he is not impressed. Not that he has a choice, and since he will do anything for Sharouk, he agrees to take merman form and follow Nils’s lead as they track the leviathan. He hates being a sea creature, has to learn how to use his new body, and feels helpless and insecure in the unfamiliar underwater environment. Not easy for a man who likes to be in control at all times! Only gradually does he learn to appreciate the gift he has been given, that of seeing the world from a totally new point of view.
Nils is not the most self-confident of sea witches, and as the leviathan’s keeper he is held responsible for her actions, but his magic abilities are strong. He is told to let Datstyaf come with him, but he is not hopeful the human will be of any use, not even in merman form. Nils cannot understand why the leviathan has behaved this way, and when the truth finally dawns on him, it is almost too late. Nils has as little interest in Dastyaf as the human has in him, but that changes as they travel into the deep ocean and have to learn to cooperate or die.
I absolutely adored this world the author has created. It is colorful, filled with fascinating creatures, and the adventures and trials Dastyaf and Nils go through as they follow the leviathan’s trail are amazing. The developing relationship between Dastyaf and Nils, no traces of a romance for a very long time, held me glued to the pages as much as the action. The tension is high up until the last few pages � and the final twist threw me for a loop. It took me a couple of days to cool down (I was not a happy reader for a while there), and to see the true brilliance of the ending. Any author who can keep my interest like this and make me feel everything from fascination, to anger, and finally relief, has my deepest respect!
If you like to read about the “strange worlds� that might be “out there�, if you enjoy strong characters and the conflict they can end up in when they butt heads—even though they have a common purpose, are allies, and should get along, and if you’re looking for a read that is as fantastical as it is well written, then you will probably like this novel. It is one of the best pieces of speculative fiction I have read in a while.
NOTE: This book was provided by Less Than Three Press for the purpose of a review on .
Dastyaf is a human warlord, personal protector of Amirzade Sharouk, the prince who decides to enact their plan against the evil Republic. It will hopefully free the desert dwellers from their conquerors. To do this, they need the help of the sea folk, but their alliance is new and tenuous at best. There isn’t really a whole lot of trust between them, so when Sharouk is kidnapped by a mighty leviathan and Dastyaf is told to work with her keeper, a sea witch by the name of Nils, he is not impressed. Not that he has a choice, and since he will do anything for Sharouk, he agrees to take merman form and follow Nils’s lead as they track the leviathan. He hates being a sea creature, has to learn how to use his new body, and feels helpless and insecure in the unfamiliar underwater environment. Not easy for a man who likes to be in control at all times! Only gradually does he learn to appreciate the gift he has been given, that of seeing the world from a totally new point of view.
Nils is not the most self-confident of sea witches, and as the leviathan’s keeper he is held responsible for her actions, but his magic abilities are strong. He is told to let Datstyaf come with him, but he is not hopeful the human will be of any use, not even in merman form. Nils cannot understand why the leviathan has behaved this way, and when the truth finally dawns on him, it is almost too late. Nils has as little interest in Dastyaf as the human has in him, but that changes as they travel into the deep ocean and have to learn to cooperate or die.
I absolutely adored this world the author has created. It is colorful, filled with fascinating creatures, and the adventures and trials Dastyaf and Nils go through as they follow the leviathan’s trail are amazing. The developing relationship between Dastyaf and Nils, no traces of a romance for a very long time, held me glued to the pages as much as the action. The tension is high up until the last few pages � and the final twist threw me for a loop. It took me a couple of days to cool down (I was not a happy reader for a while there), and to see the true brilliance of the ending. Any author who can keep my interest like this and make me feel everything from fascination, to anger, and finally relief, has my deepest respect!
If you like to read about the “strange worlds� that might be “out there�, if you enjoy strong characters and the conflict they can end up in when they butt heads—even though they have a common purpose, are allies, and should get along, and if you’re looking for a read that is as fantastical as it is well written, then you will probably like this novel. It is one of the best pieces of speculative fiction I have read in a while.
NOTE: This book was provided by Less Than Three Press for the purpose of a review on .
January 1, 2015
I seriously love, love, love this story. The engaging and dynamic characters, the beautiful unique world--Dude! Mermen and leviathans and an aching love story bigger than all of them combined. I just finished and I want to read it again.
April 21, 2014
"My heart and mind belong to one person.
Also, I am half trout."
Enough said.
Also, I am half trout."
Enough said.
May 25, 2014
Rating: 4.5 (rounded up to 5)
For my full review, visit
"I love it when I find a book that unexpectedly opens the door into a mesmerizing universe. No Ocean Too Deep is just such a story. It is full of incredible creatures, dynamic characters and a plot as deep as the ocean in which all the events take place. Leona Carver is a new author for me but with this one story she turns into one of my must read authors on the strength of this story alone.
In No Ocean Too Deep, Leona Carver puts her own spin on mermen and the men who fall in love with them. Carver's plot is guaranteed to pull the reader down into her universe from the first page. She sets up a situation in which two widely disparate kingdoms become allies to defeat a common enemy. One kingdom is human and lives in the desert Amirate of Ujmah, an environment that can be as hostile as it is beautiful. The other? Sea folk, mermen, almost mythical in their own right in their watery kingdom also full of its own dangers and delights�"
June 8, 2014
How awesome! This author continues to blow me away with her world building and imagination! I couldn't stop reading, I wanted to know what was going to happen! Dastyaf and Nils, definitely were more alike than they knew, willing to sacrifice themselves for love and for their people! This was a wonderful read! I enjoyed it very much! ♥♥�
June 20, 2016
I really liked the world building in this! The oceanscapes, how the sea folk lived and all the lore. I loved how view points of the differing species melded. I was a little unsure about the very end - it seemed to open things up rather than closing them down.
April 9, 2014
4.75 stars. Seriously cool story. I loved this world and the description of the leviathans. Excellent story telling and I would definitely read more by this author.
September 4, 2014
A vivid adventure in a rich and interesting world. Very much enjoyed this book.
May 16, 2015
3.5 stars. Liked the story, could have been longer with a more definite ending.
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