Welcome to Tiankawi – shining pearl of human civilization and a safe haven for those fleeing civil unrest. Or at least, that’s how it first appears. But in the semi-flooded city, humans are, quite literally, on top: peering down from shining towers and aerial walkways on the fathomfolk – sirens, seawitches, kelpies and kappas – who live in the polluted waters below.
For half-siren Mira, promotion to captain of the border guard means an opportunity to help her downtrodden people. But if earning the trust and respect of her human colleagues wasn’t hard enough, everything Mira has worked towards is put in jeopardy when Nami, a know-it-all water dragon and fathomfolk princess – is exiled to the city, under Mira’s watch. When extremists sabotage a city festival, violence erupts, as does the clampdown on fathomfolk rights. Both Nami and Mira must decide if the cost of change is worth paying, or if Tiankawi should be left to drown.
I’m loving how there’s been more post-apocalyptic/dystopian urban fantasy recently! Threads That Bind (a May 2023 release), Tainted Cup (Jan 2024 release), and Letter to the Luminous Deep (April 2024 release) are all post-apoc/dystopian urban fantasies as well and I love seeing the different iterations of it! Tiankawi is a half-submerged city, and I really liked the interplay between the advanced society and the remnants of what had come before.
My favorite narrator was Mira. I definitely sympathize with her position as someone who wants to be a positive changemaker for fathomfolk while at the same time needing to walk the lines the humans draw in order to accomplish those goals. I also understood Nami’s position, but she could be bratty, so it was a bit harder to sympathize with her, lol. I definitely think she grows a lot over the course of the book though!
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Reading Queen E Reviews 