posted on 31 Jan 2021

The Deep-Sea Duke by Lauren James

Back in June of 2019 with the publication of The Starlight Watchmaker, we first met the characters in Lauren James’ extraordinary universe: Hugo, the watchmaking android, Duke Dorian Luther and Ada, the young woman-mountain who will eventually grow up to be a planet. Now in 2021 we are reunited with them as they head across space to visit Dorian’s home planet, Hydrox and meet his royal parents.

After a slightly hair-raising landing, Hugo and Ada discover that Hydrox is a beautiful place but one which is dominated by oceans that Dorian and his family are perfectly adapted to live in and under. They also discover that something has happened that’s giving Dorian’s father, the king, a bit of a headache. It turns out that a neighbouring planet inhabited by butterflies - who make the galaxy’s best shuttle pilots – has suffered a climate disaster that has made it uninhabitable. So now Hydrox is having to take lots of butterflies arriving in space-craft looking for somewhere to settle down.

But what firm ground or buildings there are above sea-level on Hydrox is getting filled to overcrowding – and to add disaster to disaster, pets brought with them by the fleeing butterflies turn out to be a nightmare for the Hydroxians. Why? Well, they just happen to be otters!

How can the three friends help solve Hydrox’s problems, help the butterflies and sort out the mess made by marauding otters? It’s quite a list of challenges and you’ll have plenty of fun discovering what happens.

Oh, yes, as if that’s not enough there’s one other little (big) thing that needs to get resolved when Dorian asks Hugo to become his partner Prince and help him rule Hydrox when the time comes for him to step up. That’s certainly a complication the humble android watchmaker wasn’t expecting to have thrust upon his plate.

The Belfast Telegraph described The Starlight Watchmaker as ‘rich and brilliantly bonkers’ and this sequel certainly follows in the footsteps of the first. There’s lots of curious and anarchic fun here but also some more substantial themes around diversity, equality and the environment that are treated in a light touch fashion and without being preachy.

Due for release in February 2021, try getting a copy from your independent bookstore or go directly to the Barrington Stoke website to place your order.

Terry Potter

February 2021