Boone

A Deep Series Prequel (The Deep Series)

De: Nick Sullivan

Narrado por: Nick Sullivan

A vacation in Aruba. It started well... it ended badly.

It's a long way from the hills of East Tennessee to the arid islands of the Dutch Caribbean.

From the author of the best-selling Deep Series, Boone is a brand-new prequel that follows Boone Fischer in his early years. His passions, his challenges, and the fascinating people he meets along the way... all are parts of the journey that will shape the man he will become, and lead him to the life of a divemaster in Curaçao and Bonaire.

A coming of age story filled with romance and adventure, Boone brings the listener right up to the events preceding Book One in The Deep Series, Deep Shadow.

©2024 Nick Sullivan and Wild Yonder Press (P)2024 Nick Sullivan and Wild Yonder Press

Great backstory on moon

This was a great backstory on Boone really enjoyed finding out his past. I cannot wait for Emily‘s backstory. I am an avid Nick Sullivan listener both for his books and the ones that he narrates is a great storyteller.

Adds depth to a favorite character

I absolutely loved getting the backstory of Boone from when he was a boy on up to meeting Em. This prequel provides readers familiar with the books of The Deep Series not only a wider lens to Boone's life, but it adds more layers to his character and allows for a few ah-ha moments.

While the story is interesting and well-narrated (as always) by the author, so any adventure lover can enjoy it, I think the value of BOONE is in what it provides for faithful series readers. I'd say this prequel works especially well any time after the 3rd or 4th installment.

I am still behind by a novel or two on the series, but listening to the prequel has me ready to return to the sparkling waters, sparking romance, and spectacular adventures of The Deep Series novels, which I highly recommend.

Boone’s Origins: A Dive into Adventure and Emotion

"Boone: A Deep Series Prequel" by Nick Sullivan serves as an exciting entry point into *The Deep Series*, offering readers insight into the backstory of the main character, Boone Fisher. The novel delivers an adventurous tale grounded in Boone's early years, setting the stage for his later exploits as a diver and marine adventurer. While many prequels merely serve as short introductions to a series, this one digs deeper into what makes Boone tick, delving into his personal growth and the formative experiences that shape him.

The narrative is engaging, with Boone's fascination with the ocean begins in his early teens, and readers are introduced to his family dynamics, particularly his complicated relationship with his father, Dirk. The novel blends lighthearted moments, like Boone’s playful antics with his friends, with deeper emotional struggles, such as dealing with his father's infidelity and the eventual unraveling of his parents' marriage. These emotional layers give Boone’s character more depth and make his later decisions and motivations more understandable.

The underwater scenes are where Sullivan’s writing truly shines. Boone’s experiences diving, learning freediving techniques, and his progression toward becoming a scuba diver are depicted with authentic detail. Sullivan’s knowledge of diving creates vivid, immersive descriptions, making the underwater adventures feel exhilarating and real. As Boone navigates the challenges of adolescence, both above and below water, readers are drawn into his journey of self-discovery.The novel serves not only as a prequel but as an enriching standalone story about adventure, family, and the pull of the ocean. The pacing is brisk, and Sullivan skillfully handles the transition between Boone’s youthful escapades and the more serious themes of trust, identity, and growing up.

In short, "Boone: A Deep Series Prequel" is a thrilling, heartfelt dive into the origins of a beloved character, and it will undoubtedly please both fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Boone Beginnings

We have loved the Boone and Emily books and we're excited to learn Nick was writing their origin stories. The Boone book didn't disappoint. Although it doesn't have a full fledged mystery like the other books, there is a fun storyline and it helped us learn how some of the characters evolved. Can't wait to read Emily's story!

A Deep Dive into Origins and Adventures

Nick Sullivan’s “Boone,” a prequel to the much-loved Deep Series, is a spectacular journey back to the early days of Boone Fischer, a character I’ve grown incredibly fond of through the series. This audiobook not only deepens Boone’s backstory but enriches the entire Deep Series experience. As someone who’s navigated through all the highs and lows with Boone, seeing his formative years in this new light was nothing short of a revelation.

From the very first chapter, it’s clear that Sullivan has poured his heart and soul into crafting a narrative that’s both a homage to his beloved series and a standalone masterpiece of character development. The “oh, that’s where that came from” moments were frequent and delightful, providing that thrill of connection that only the best series can deliver. The way Sullivan intertwines Boone’s early misadventures and romances with what fans know comes later is clever and deeply satisfying.

I particularly appreciated Sullivan’s honest portrayal of Boone’s romantic life. It’s refreshing and painfully real to see a character go through relationships that, quite simply, don’t work out. These stories added a layer of authenticity that resonated with me—reminding me that the path to who we become is often paved with trials and errors. Plus, the awkwardness and humor Sullivan injects into these episodes (SORTA SPOILER ALERT BUT WORTH THE JOKE “I dated a mermaid once”) were brilliantly entertaining, keeping the tone light even when the themes ran deep.

Overall, “Boone” is a stellar addition to the Deep Series. Sullivan’s narration, always a highlight, becomes even more impactful when he’s breathing life into a character so close to his heart. His passion for diving and storytelling shines through every minute of the audiobook.

This prequel not only sets the stage beautifully for new listeners but also acts as a treasure trove of insights for longtime fans. If you thought you knew Boone Fischer, prepare to fall in love all over again with his younger, equally compelling self. This isn’t just a backstory; it’s a heartfelt exploration of the adventures and misadventures that shape us.

Nick, thank you for this love letter to your own character

What makes Boone Boone

Well, that was a pleasant surprise. Six audiobooks into “The Deep” series, and we are given some great insight into one of the main characters (Boone) via a series prequel. The entire series is extremely well written and superbly narrated by Nick Sullivan. This full length, nearly seven hours of audio, prequel allows the listener to gain insight into what makes “Boone” who he is today. For me, this was really a great addition to the overall series as we see what makes Boone tick. We see the actions, the trials, and the fun Boone had to becomes the well-rounded man he has become. On a side note, there was a hint in this audiobook, from the author, that we may be seeing a prequel for Emily as well in the future. I’m very glad to hear this is in the works as well. For those just staring the series, this may not be a bad first book to listen too, but I will say that there is less action, intrigue, and mystery in this one compared to the others. This is not a bad thing, and the author acknowledges this fact as well. It is harder to throw all the same level of action and mystery into what is essentially a biography on this fictional main character. Maybe instead, I would recommend you give the first book in the series a listen and then move to the prequel next.

The author started off with Boone at age eleven. Even at this period, the story does a few period jumps to hop over some years that maybe were not impactful. I liked to see Boone’s desires, wants, and overall demeanor as a younger lad. We see the encouragement of his family and the guidance and influence they had on his life. As with many others during these years, we see issues around peer pressure and school. However, these events are also something the drives Boone ultimately to who he becomes. We see that his desire to both fish and dive came at an early age and this drive was present even in the latest book in the series. I enjoyed the many references that brought a smile to my face being that they felt nostalgic. Events happening at Dollywood, while catfishing, and his fun with his best friend by his side. There are also conversations around the Tech bubble, early cell phones, and even Mapquest. Wow, I feeling old now, thank Nick Many of these reminded me of my own upbringing, and that was fun. We see the impact of the many vacation trips to Aruba as a turning point in his life, along with some events with his parents.

Boone is torn by his wants and his needs throughout much of the audiobook. If he wants to have a career in the marine field, he will need to attend college, work a few jobs, and find that one person who will come along side and mentor him. Boone finds his love for aquarium work to be limiting and he is always seeking ways to find adventure and be one of the best divers in the Caribbean region. We see that all his hard work pays off as he and Emily are doing just that in a warm and beautiful beach settings with plenty of places to dive and find trouble. One other thing that was very prominent in the series was Boone’s ability to fight off nearly any opponent with his skillful martial arts. We see that his training comes from a combination of different arts making him someone you would not want to be on the other side of a fight with. In the other audiobooks, of the series, we only get some quick reference to his skill and their devastating effects, but in this audiobook we get to see the effort and time devoted to the art that gave him his level of skill.

About this audiobook’s narration, I think I have said nearly everything positive that I could about Mr. Sullivan. I have listened to most of his works, and I cannot say that I ever felt let down by one of his performances. I know I have said in previous reviews that I do not often like when an author narrates his own works, but with Mr. Sullivan, his narration simply makes a great work even better. Voicing remains consistent, any patches or plugs are minimized, and his ability to voice characters over this long of a series reliability shows his level of skill and professionalism when narrating. Now we just need to see Zombie Bigfoot 2 come out to make my life complete, along with Emily’s prequel.

For parents and younger listeners, this audiobook would be enjoyed by many younger listeners. However, the series itself, while not overtly mature in nature, does deal with some more adult themes and there is some graphic violence. Apart from these, I could easily see a teenager and older really enjoying the writing and story placement.

In summary, what a great and full-length prequel giving the listener a view into the life of Boone Fischer. The story keeps the listener engaged, the narration is excellent, and getting to see behind the curtain of what make Boone, well Bone, is worth the time, effort and credit. Thank you, Mr. Sullivan, for the enjoyable and educational listen. Keep up the great work.

Loved every minute!

I have loved every book in the Deep series! Boone is no exception. It gives a look at Boone's earlier life and his love for diving. I love the mermaids, especially the mention of the Weeki Wachee mermaids! This book was a great escape from reality for me at work! I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series! I'd like to add that Nick Sullivan is one of the few writers that can do an amazing job self-narrating his books! I couldn't imagine anyone else narrating this series!