Deep Wizardry (So You Want to Be a Wizard Series #2) Book

This review contains spoilers for So You Want to Be a Wizard.

I remember, in my younger years, not liking this book as much as So You Want to Be a Wizard (which I'll be referring to as SYWTBAW from now on because geez that's a long title). My reasoning? It was "too weird." I don't know why humans shapeshifting into whales was "too weird" but I didn't have a problem with humans teaming up with a celestial object and a sentient sports car to fight evil in a parallel universe. Seems like a pretty arbitrary place to draw the line.

With my inexplicable aversion to shapeshifting behind me, I was finally able to enjoy Deep Wizardry to its fullest during my most recent reread. Whereas SYWTBAW is a blend of fantasy and science fiction, this book is pretty straightforward fantasy. It's also tonally different; SYWTBAW had a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat feel to it, while Deep Wizardry feels slower and more ponderous. It fits the underwater theme of the story, in my opinion.

I'm still head-over-heels in love with Nita Callahan as a character. In this book, we get to see a more introspective side of her, which is great for her character development. Because the entire book is written from her perspective, the insight into Kit is more limited, and focused specifically on his relationship with Nita, how she sees him, and what she thinks of him. And Diane Duane's cast of side characters is just as vibrant as it was in book one.

Something that really impressed on me this reread was how Duane doesn't shy away from darkness and depth. Obviously everything is still age-appropriate for a middle grade novel, but there's an added layer underneath it all that I appreciate. Maybe that's another reason this wasn't my favorite when I was younger; there are a lot of complicated concepts explored in the text. As I mentioned in my review of SYWTBAW, Duane adds a philosophical twist to her stories, which in the first book was occasionally a bit too much, but I thought was executed much better here.

I'm glad I went back and reread this one as an adult. I enjoyed it much more this time around. Up next, book three, which I remember loving the first two times I read it. Let's hope that hasn't changed.