ARC Review: Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan

Title: Fathomfolk
Author: Eliza Chan
Series: Drowned World #1
Genre: Adult Fantasy/Mythology
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: February 27, 2024
Edition: 439 pages, Kindle Edition
Source: NetGalley
Pre-Order: Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Bookshop | Powell's | Thriftbooks

 

 

 

Synopsis:

   Revolution is brewing in the semi-submerged city of Tiankawi, between humans and the fathomfolk who live in its waters. This gloriously imaginative debut fantasy, inspired by East Asian mythology and ocean folk tales, is a novel of magic, rebellion and change.
   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. 

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The thing I loved the most about this book was the setting and the concept. Beyond that, I am left with mixed feelings.

 

As a lover of mythology, I felt that this book had too many "creatures" from mythology. There's a lot of overlap when it comes to underwater mythology that this felt over-saturated, and a little redundant at times. Every culture that is/was seafaring, has "mermaids" but not every culture calls them mermaids.

There are three POVs, and I had a really hard time staying invested in the characters. None of them were particularly likable. The dialogue also felt, for lack of a better word, young. This book is marketed as Adult Fantasy, but it felt like YA. It felt and read like it was targeted at 14-year-olds. Not a bad thing on its own, but if a book is labeled as Adult, I want to read like it's aimed at Adults. 

I was, unfortunately, pretty bored the whole time I was reading this. It felt like a chore to read, and that makes me kind of sad because I mentioned, I love mythology, and the premise is why I wanted to read this. But with an underdeveloped world, and characters I couldn't stay invested in, this book fell flat for me. This book has promise, and I think there is a market for it. It just didn't work for me.