Book Review: Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan

Pages: 375

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: May 26, 2015

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "In the wake of the devastating destruction of the luxury yacht Persephone, just three souls remain to tell its story—and two of them are lying. Only Frances Mace knows the terrifying truth, and she’ll stop at nothing to avenge the murders of everyone she held dear. Even if it means taking down the boy she loves and possibly losing herself in the process. Sharp and incisive, Daughter of Deep Silence by bestselling author Carrie Ryan is a deliciously smart revenge thriller that examines perceptions of identity, love, and the lengths to which one girl is willing to go when she thinks she has nothing to lose."

Persephone, a luxury cruise ship, and all of its passengers, except three people, were destroyed except there are two different accounts of what happened.  Frances, a fourteen year old passenger, remembers people on board with guns shooting the entire ship.  Senator Wells and his son, Grey, say that a rouge wave destroyed the ship, killing everyone on board.  Frances watched her parents die before her eyes and spent many days, along with friend, Libby, on a raft waiting to be rescued.  Unfortunately, Libby didn't make it, but Frances was finally rescued to only come to the realization that she's an orphan.  Libby's father spends some time talking to Frances about what really happened and then encouraged her to "become" Libby instead of living as an orphan.  Posing as Libby would mean she could have a house, a family, and would be safe. Frances agrees and many years later, after plastic surgery and boarding school, Frances acting as Libby, decides she will seek revenge for what happened aboard the Persephone and try to figure out why Grey and his father insist it was simply a rouge wave.  Carrie Ryan's Daughter of Deep Silence is a suspenseful tale that's very reminiscent of the TV show Revenge.  

Frances is seeking revenge four years after the catastrophe that happened on Persephone.  Four years ago aboard the ship, she shared a romance with Grey and Libby was friendly with him, so she plans on using their friendship to gain information.  Conveniently, Frances as Libby tells Grey that she doesn't remember what happened on Persephone and she simply comes across as a friend with no ulterior motives.  Slowly she uncovers the truth as she gets closer and closer to Grey, despite his father's warnings about not liking her.

Fans of the TV show Revenge will enjoy this book the most, although I found so many of the similarities to be a little too alike.  One thing that Daughter of Deep Silence shares with Revenge is the fact that the suspense is pretty great. Ryan's writing is paced well and I was on the edge of my seat in many instances despite the fact that I wasn't a big fan of either Frances or Grey.

My issue with Daughter of Deep Silence was also the fact that I couldn't buy into many of the events.  For example, we are supposed to believe that Frances never really got over her brief but "intense" relationship with Grey while they were aboard the Persephone. I mean they were fourteen.  It just seems a little far-fetched.  Also, many of the events after the Persephone catastrophe (like dealing with Libby's dad and her new identity) seem a little too good to be true.  So, needless to say, there were many moments throughout the story that I just didn't believe wholeheartedly. 

However, if you love the show Revenge and you like a thrilling romance, give Daughter of Deep Silence a try this summer.