A Letter from the Lonesome Shore (The Sunken Archive #2)[July 5, 2025]

[Yanique, Thread Master]

This is a Buddy Read for A Letter from the Lonesome Shore by Sylvie Cathrall starting on June 23, 2025.


Happy Reading!

[Paula]

Thank you :)

[Nirkatze]

Thank you also!

1. A Letter to the Luminous Deep (Jun 5) [link]
2. A Letter from the Lonesome Shore (Jul 5)

Availability?
I often see #1 on sales.

[Nirkatze]

Reading this today! Doing audio though I was hoping to do eye. Finding it easier to follow than book 1 the first time through, but also not quite in the mood for some of the Victorian-style over-the-top protestations of humility etc etc. Took a little bit to get used to, but through Chapter 8, and there's enough going on to distract--(view spoiler)[Meeting immortal people who escaped from H&E's world and say there's some big danger there--but won't talk about it, won't explain... kind of makes me think of the Laundry Files, Charles Stross or Peter Clines books... apparently even having the knowledge can put them in danger? Or make them unable to return home... That kind of conundrum immediately puts my hackles up. Don't try to protect me for "my own good"--let me decide!! But that brings me back to Stross/Clines stories--where information itself can be a virus, or where a mass of people knowing something can call down eldritch horrors... not that I think its the case here.

There's more immediate dialogue, more people interactions, and the letters are less... letter-y? So the book is a bit easier to swallow than #1. So far. Though Henery & E's courtship is kinda making me wince. Just talk to each other!! And less flowery! (hide spoiler)]

[Erin]

I picked up my copy from the library. Got to finish another read before I get to it but hopefully in the next week or so

[Nirkatze]

Finished! I lost focus a bit near the end, but it was enjoyable. (view spoiler)[Pretty interesting worldbuilding--this went in directions I wasn't expecting, with the cosmic sea, and some I was, with information itself being a beacon for the danger... I wish there was more L in the story, if only because she was voiced by Zara Ramm... (hide spoiler)]

[Erin]

Starting this one today!

[Erin]

I love a good book 1 recap to start a sequel. I thought I had remembered most of book 1, but there were a few things that I realized I had totally forgotten. I liked the way the recap was formatted as well as like a mission briefing

[Erin]

Through chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ and I'm enjoying this so far! The writing style of this series really works for me both in tone and structure. And I'm really loving that we're going back in time now that we know what happened to E and Henerey and seeing what they were up to. And this new world is so fascinating.

Also unrelated to the actual content of the book there's a song from the musical Six that sings the name "Henry" but with 3 syllables the way Henerey is spelled in this book and every time I read the name my brain is singing it in the tune of that song lol<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

LOL Funny about the Song from Six... I got this one stuck in my head from that note:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GisCR...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I started a few days ago, then read other things at work and haven't come back yet...

Definitely appreciate a good recap...

This feels more like a story to me, as detailed as the MCs are being in their "journal entries"

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Been listening since I got up, and I'm not getting much out of this but tone and vibes... checked and I'm in the final 2hrs of the book now... and I had to go check reviews to make sure I'm not the odd duck (I know the first book was a mixed bag for people here and in the reviews)...

There's a really nice review that heaps praise on the book covers and plot concept, but is just unhappy with execution/pacing/etc, and that's where I'm sitting too, I think...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Also notes (view spoiler)[how so much of the epistolary content barely feels epistolary, which is definitely something I noted earlier... it may as well be a traditional novel, half the time... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Definitely agree with all that--things kinda get muddled in the middle, and after the first few notes it settles into more standard format...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

The actual plot of the duology seems secondary to just setting up a cool world and having some characters correspond and romance... so much of the plot just gets shoehorned in at the end of each book, and I quickly forget most of it... I missed alot from book one and learned things from the prologue recap here I'm not sure I ever caught when reading the first book...

And then again here, around 75%, with the (view spoiler)[Odd One, or whatever she was call, and the MC girl going off to negotiate with the world eating elder god thing?... something like that... HEA, the end... (hide spoiler)]

[Erin]

I finished this one over the weekend and just got a chance to sit down and write out any thoughts.

I really loved this one. Book 1 was one of my favorites of last year and I liked this one just as much. I agree that the epistolary format kind of fell away pretty quickly, which was kind of a bummer because I do like epistolary novels. I can definitely see why others might not love this one as much but something about it just clicks for me and I was totally gripped by the story. I love the writing style, it's one that's worked for me in other books too.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm happy for you... it's a really enticing cover/blurb, and cool worldbuilding...

Epistolary novels, in general, are hit or miss on audio, I think... depends if it's written or audio epistolary, or visual... I thought Illuminae Files worked pretty well on audio, but it's all interview transcripts and security camera footage and first person debriefs... and it's a full cast production with sound effects and space fights...

Illuminae
Gemina
Obsidio

[Nirkatze]

Speaking of Illuminae--Broken Binding is doing a special edition of the series and I am very excited!

[Paula]

Well...I forgot to post my thoughts...let me think (view spoiler)[ it was good. Though I would have prefer less time with the letter thief and 31. I also agree with Nirkatze, the ending, with the cosmic sea was quite different from what I expected. Its a shame that E can't read or write (my bookworm heart shudders)

I still like more book one but I liked this one too. So I will be interested to see what the author does next (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

My bookworm heart shudders with you!

[Johanna]

Chapter 8
(view spoiler)[I think this is more intriguing than the previous book: there is a better plot and something to follow. I also knew better what to expect and these characters are adorable 😂 I am curious about this "new world", what are they hiding?!? I am also worried for E & Henery and if they're able to go back home. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Yes! What are they hiding???

[Johanna]

Chapter 19
(view spoiler)[I was a bit surprised how two groups after E & H were able to travel to this new world. But okay, there is some kind of Predator who is after knowldge. I admit I was expecting something more. For me this revelation felt a bit lame. But I still want to see what happens next (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Very (view spoiler)[Laundry Files, that reveal was... (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Finished
(view spoiler)[This was a bit disappointing. I mostly liked this more than the first book but the last part... For me the last 25 % of the book didn't work, it felt a bit much and was somehow rushed. I still really liked the characters (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Yeah, I also liked book one more

[Nirkatze]

Agreed--this one had a stronger opening, but faltered for the downstretch.