Through the Abyss by Sidney Son is a science fiction novel centered around two protagonists in an apocalyptic aversion plot. Ariella is the best of the best when it comes to biological research that occurs thousands of meters below the ocean's surface, and Jonathan is a field-grade military officer tasked with keeping peace at anything beyond 81,000 meters above the earth's surface. Their paths cross when something is discovered in the depths of the ocean, which is Ariella's domain, that the military believes could be extra-terrestrial, which is Jonathan's area of expertise. Although Jonathan's sights are upward, his work is done deep underground...in conjunction with non-terrestrial Reptilians and Greys. Crystals with the potential to blow earth off the universe's map are the mission, but why they are there, who put them there, and what happens next depends on the actions and assistance of those they trust, and those they certainly cannot.

The best thing about Through the Abyss is Sidney Son's ability to do some really good world-building, given that Ariella and Jonathan effectively operate in two completely different worlds even if they are on the same planet. Ariella is likable and a woman who has not been written to be anything but independent, at least personally. Jonathan is as macho as a reader would expect with a secretive backstory that is not given to Ariella, and he is definitely the more developed character of the two. That said, Ariella and Jonathan do not meet until a couple hundred and a half pages in. Son has a lot of details to convey during that time, some of it necessary but also quite a lot that isn't. However, Son's story has more facets than a polished quartz crystal and I think other science fiction readers will agree.

Through the Abyss by Sidney Son is the first novel in the Supreme Creation series. Ariella Marconi, an oceanographer, was thrust into a mystery she never expected. When two very large crystalline structures were found in the depths of the ocean on opposite ends, Ariella was tasked to figure out what they were and why they were suddenly there. Jonathan Hawthorn was a former elite soldier tasked with protecting humanity at all costs. While most people didn’t believe in extraterrestrial life, Hawthorn knew better. Ariella and Jonathan had to work together and figure out what those crystalline structures were. Together, the two figure out the Earth was in imminent danger. The planet could be split in half, and they needed help to stop it from happening. The issue was that they needed help from the brilliant minds of earth and the technology of the extraterrestrials. Would they be able to get that help in time? Or would something halt their progress until it was too late?

The perfect example of a slow-burn, Through the Abyss by Sidney Son is the quintessential science fiction novel with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers satisfied. Sidney created a compelling take on a future where danger was real. I loved the world-building and enjoyed the character development. He allowed the plot to mature naturally, gave the characters plenty of page space to grow, and allowed readers fully immerse themselves in the story. The story does get explicit at times, but it all falls into the plot perfectly. The descriptions revealed a lot about the characters and the plot, the dialogues were essential for furthering the story, and the pace was just perfect for everything to make sense. Ariella and Jonathan’s relationship was simple yet very important. I enjoyed their dynamic and loved how they worked together. It is a no-nonsense science fiction novel that keeps you entertained for hours. I would recommend this to seasoned science fiction readers because this is right up their alley.