I love a good timeline manipulation so you know I had to read Down in the Sea of Angels. This story is part historical fiction part science fiction and full of heart. I loved getting to know these characters. Keep reading this book review of Down in the Sea of Angels for my full thoughts.
Summary
In 2106, Maida Sun possesses the ability to see the entire history of any object she touches. When she starts a job with a cultural recovery project in San Francisco with other psions like her, she discovers a teacup that connects her with Li Nuan, a sex-traffificked girl in a 1906 Chinatown brothel, and with Nathan, a tech-designer and hedonist of 2006.
A chance encounter with a prominent political leader reveals to Maida his plan to contain everyone with psionic abilities, eliminate their personal autonomy, and use their skills for his own gain. Maida is left with no choice but to join a fight she doesn’t feel prepared for, with flashes of the past, glimpses of the future and a band of fellow psions as her only tools. She must find a way to stop this agenda before it takes hold and destroys life as she knows it. Can the past give Maida the key to saving her future?
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
From the premise alone, I was obsessed. I love his idea of object holding memories and the idea of traveling in time introducing a fantastical layer. It just feels like one of those ideas and metaphors we have brought to life. At the same time, Down in the Sea of Angels also examines the prejudices and misconceptions Maida faces. How she can be forced to explain herself, perform like an act. I loved how this theme, and Maida’s timeline, progresses to examine discrimination and misinformation.
But I’m getting off track. Down in the Sea of Angels is multiple perspective. And it allows us to see the threads of their lives intertwine. For the readers, it becomes almost like a mystery game to figure out what reference, what way, they might be connected. Each of these worlds brings something new to the table to love and wonder at. And while they’re all so different, they all explore individual and group rebellion. Down in the Sea of Angels examines our culpability and our extent of blame. With less timeline manipulation than I thought, it still firmly lives in the speculative fiction world of blurry time.
(Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. For more information you can look at the Policy page. If you’re uncomfortable with that, know you can look up the book on any of the sites below to avoid the link)
Down in the Sea of Angels is heartwarming and I found something to enjoy in each of their perspectives. Do we turn into the things we are afraid of? Or can we find a new path forward, new people to surround ourselves with, new sources of love? Find Down in the Sea of Angels on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.