Ayesha Harruna Attah

A sweeping adventure with richly evocative historical settings, The Deep Blue Between is a moving story of the bonds that can endure even the most dramatic change.

The Deep Blue Between

Anika | @chaptersofmay

The Deep Blue Between is a strikingly historic tale about love, loss, family, and hope. It tells the story of Hassana and Husseina, twins who are separated as children and grow up with an ocean between them. The only thing that connects them are their dreams, as they long to be united once again. 

Ayesha Harruna Attah’s vivid and enchanting descriptions Brazil and the Gold Coast brilliantly establish the impassioned atmosphere for this book. Her writing style stirs up a courageous spirit that makes The Deep Blue Between a really comforting read. She highlights the complexities of sisterhood through well-rounded characters and their individual journeys of growth and self-discovery.

The book has a dual narrative, and although twins tell the story, the differences in their personalities are evident. They could very easily blend into one voice, but Attah subtly forms slight contrasts between the two, which only develops as they mature in different environments. Their voices complement each other flawlessly, which is the biggest highlight for me.

The Deep Blue Between really forces the reader to empathise with Hassana and Husseina. It becomes a window into a mindset built on conviction and loyalty, during times of slavery and colonialism. The impact of culture and society is also explored alongside the twins’ hardships. This beautiful story is rich in both culture and emotion. It takes place during a dark era of history but emphasises the importance of endurance and faith during the most difficult of journeys.

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Isabella Stocka

The writing is a nice and the story moves slowly before your eyes. It tells the story of two sisters with a special bond, desperate to find one another.
It is a great book.
However, I didn't find a way ro connect to the characters and story, which made it too hard to keep up with it.

Catalina Petre

ARC from NetGalley
This book follows the story for Hassana and Husseina, twins that have been kidnapped and separated, and their struggle to find each other and be one again. This book stirred a variety of emotions while reading it and kept me glued to me seat wanting to know how their stories will develop. 
This story alternates between their two stories and the writing changes between the two narratives. I very much enjoy reading a story from different perspectives and this one came together beautifully. Personally, I liked Hassana’s story and use of language, but Husseina’s was full of vivid descriptions of Bahia and the Candomble belief. 
The book delves into the African-Brazilian culture and the different languages spoken, the beliefs people fought for and religions in Brazil and Africa and their importance. The story also talks about slavery, European colonisation, and the impact of these on the local people and their lifestyle. 
I have enjoyed this story, but I would recommend reading in paperback as it will be easier to go back and forth. At times I felt the need to go and re-read parts of a previous chapter for clarification and on a Kindle, this is not easy.

The Deep Blue Between

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