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For Cassandra Leung, bossing around sea monsters is just the family business. She's been a Reckoner trainer-in-training ever since she could walk, raising the giant, genetically engineered beasts to defend ships as they cross the pirate-infested NeoPacific. But when the pirate queen Santa Elena swoops in on Cas's first solo mission and snatches her from the bloodstained decks, Cas's dream of being a full-time trainer seems dead in the water.
Waiting for her on the pirate ship is an unhatched Reckoner pup. Santa Elena wants to take back the seas with a monster of her own, and she needs a proper trainer to do it. She orders Cas to raise the pup and teach him to fight for the pirates. If Cas fails, her blood will be the next to paint the sea.
This young adult novel delivers genetically engineered sea creatures, pirate warfare, and a complex relationship between captor and captive. Set in a dystopian future where the NeoPacific has become a battleground, the story follows Cassandra as she navigates impossible choices while training a deadly Reckoner for the very pirates who destroyed her mission.
Emily Skrutskie (Ithaca, NY) has had her short fiction published by Harper Teen and attends Cornell University. The Abyss Surrounds Us is her debut novel.
This book appeals to readers who enjoy Pacific Rim-inspired stories, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and science fiction that blends genetic engineering with maritime adventure. The narrative combines the thrill of monster training with the tension of captivity, creating a unique take on YA fantasy and science fiction genres.