“‘Let me guess, you think girls should wear long dresses and “practice obedience” in order to stop the Rising.’ ‘No,’ I replied carefully, though I guessed from her tone that she didn’t hold with the New Puritan belief that global warming was God’s way of punishing us for our sins. ‘It’s just that it’s really dangerous subsea.’”

The New Puritans do not play a role in the novel, but details like this flesh out the world and provide the potential for addressing such details in sequels. The disparaging comment on Gemma’s part also reveals her own beliefs and how she might be affected by such movements, suggesting that old-world misogyny blamed women for climate change.

“‘What I know is that such crackpot theories are ruining Benthic Territory.’ I couldn’t stifle my anger. ‘Folks are scared to settle down here because they think their kids will turn into mutants.’”

Ty is passionate about Benthic Territory and the opportunities it provides. Ty hides his authentic self in service of the only home he has known, highlighting the importance of his community to him while undermining his self-worth.

“As always, surfacing threw my senses into shock. Overbright colors and sharp-edged sounds assaulted me. How was anyone comfortable up here? The light alone kicked every thought out of my mind and swapped my personality for a headache.”

Another element of worldbuilding, this moment reveals just how accustomed Ty is to living subsea. Like the Dark Gifts he and other children have developed, his reaction to sunlight and the sounds Topside reveal how his body has adapted to life underwater. Ty’s physical discomfort and his emotional discomfort both stem from the surface, a world where the people and the natural phenomenon hurt him.