DNF at 22%.

This book was interesting.. it had so much potential.
I was so drawn at first by the cover and blurb, but I couldn’t get into this book. I wanted to love it so much, but it was getting me in reading slump 😢
The world building was intense and difficult imo.
I couldn’t connect with the characters and the whole politics was not up my alley.
I think that several people would love this book, it was just nothing for me- feeling kinda guilty about it…
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

DNF 44%

I unfortunately had to DNF this book as it has a scene where a character is trapped in a crowd crush incident which is one of my personal triggers. There was no trigger list going in for me to check this.

Overall, I really did appreciate the vivid depictions of the city and its intricacies. I do not think this author was trying to, as some reviews say, put a hodge podge of cultures together in a mash. I think it was more intended to be a heavily multi-cultural newer city, so this isn't London, Tokyo, Hong Kong with its long historical foundation but more like New York or Toronto. The issues discussed are very real.

However, as I have been reading up on story outlining recently I could really see the slowness in the story. The inciting incident basically happens at 40% and it feels like you are stuck in exposition/introduction waiting forever. Additionally, there were some very weird jumps between chapters. I had to check quite frequently if I had skipped pages because it felt like the scene cut off mid-thought. If this hadn't been an ARC I would have put this down earlier sadly because I was excited for this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

DNF

I was so excited when I was granted an e-arc of this book last year. It sounded so intriguing and the cover, it goes without saying, was stunning, but oof I found this hard work.

The concept was so cool, the execution wasn’t there for me. I found it… a bit boring? I realised I had to call it at DNF when a friend asked me how I was getting on with the book. I’d posted on my IG that I’d started and was struggling way back when I got it. I get slowly dipping in and then I realised 6 weeks had gone by and I’d forgotten about it. I think it’s all a bit heavy handed. I love politics and social issues in fantasy novels but this was chewy.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC copy and opportunity to review the book.

I’ve found this review really difficult to write. Predominantly because I didn’t massively enjoy this book, but can definitely see that others might.

That sounds really negative. Let me start by saying that I was really excited for this book; I love a fantasy that is steeped in other culture’s folklore and myth. It’s really fun and interesting to learn about other cultures, especially in a fantasy setting. And this book certainly it steeped in East Asian folklore and myth. The world-building is absolutely excellent; it is very imaginative and descriptive. An entire city has been mapped out in this book, and it has been done so well. You can see the lay of the land in your mind; you can smell the spices and salt in the air from the water. It’s very beautifully written.

For me, the biggest issue is that I found it to be quite a complicated and difficult to navigate story. It is very politically heavy, which is something that I don’t love in books, especially fantasy books. For me, I like my fantasy so be fun and fast-paced, and this just felt a bit too heavy. As it’s such a heavy book, I found it extremely difficult to properly get into the book. The story felt very slow in the first half of the book. I just couldn’t find the sweet spot where I was sucked into the story. It just didn’t ever materialise for me.

I have to admit, that I even contemplated not finishing it at all. I was struggling that much with it. Having said that, I am glad that I continued, as the second half is so much better than the first. The second half is far more fast-paced and action-packed. A LOT happens in the second half, that my brain had to work hard to keep up with the goings on.

I liked Mira a lot; I think she was a very commendable character that really wanted to do the best for her city and the fathomfolk. I think I would have connected with her more had I learned more about her past and family; I found it a little confusing. I also liked Kai, although he felt a bit like a one-dimensional person in the first half - I’m glad that he took more of the centre stage in the second half. Nami, I didn’t really care for. At all. I found her to be a completely frustrating character.

Possibly the best was Cordelia/Serena. She was a very complex and interesting character. I mean, I hated her with all of my being, but at the same time almost admired her. It’s strange.

Overall, I did enjoy this book (or, the second half of the book at least) and would probably recommend if you’re willing to be patient with it.

This book was just different enough to garner my attention. Based in Asian mythology it was interesting to read, the world building was a delight and held me imagining the settings. I was less interested in the people for some reason but still read to the end of the book. It was the sort of book I would like to take on holiday and read on a beach. Different but not too challenging.

Sadly I eventually decided to DNF this at 40%. I started to feel the urge to put this down around 30% but wanted to push through a little more to give it a good shot at picking up but unfortunately. I have started reading this twice since receiving this ARC in late September and on both occasions I've found myself really having to push myself to keep reading, despite the premise and prose both being good.

I was absolutely elated to start reading this, drawn in by the notion of class wars, fantastical / mythological renditions of ongoing oppression and prejudice and influence from East Asian folklore - but I found the huge amount of names, places, historical background and info dumping a lot to take in and it made me feel lost before we'd even had a chance to get to know any of the characters or their backstories. It's never my favourite but I can usually move past it if it happens in the first couple of chapters and then is clearly elaborated, but there were still new terms and references that I didn't understand being introduced up until the point that I DNF'd and there didn't feel like there was enough clear explanation or differentiation between characters for me to be able to clearly remember them or distinguish them moving forwards which really slowed me down.

By the time I'd gotten to the 40% mark there was really very little plot to speak of either - the pacing was so slow and I felt confused, not invested in any of the characters and not compelled to pick this up and keep reading, which is such a shame. I absolutely loved the premise for this, I think the concept of the fathomfol is so beautifully unique and the political themes that this was ready to highlight were a wonderful idea and incredible as a cultural commentary - I really REALLY wanted to love the book and revel in the fight for social justice, but unfortunately it just didn't come together for me.

I would still be really interested in trying this author again in the future as I think the concept was absolutely fantastic, the setting and the Asian folkore influence sounds wonderful and the writing could have been beautiful (hence the 3 star rating still) but the overall execution just didn't match up for me.

3.5 rounded to 4 Stars

Fathomfolk is a story of politics and magic set in the semi-submerged city of Tiankaw.
This book was pretty slow to start with but that was down to the world building and setting us up to understand this new world.

The world building is rich and descriptive but some parts I found lacking or wanting more. The plot was slow to start but if definitely picked up around the middle but I did feel it then tried to put as much as possible into the last half.

The book is told from three different POVs which is something I do enjoy. I liked how all their stories intertwined together. It also gives us the reader more insight into them as a character.

I look forward to reading more from this unique world and can’t wait for more.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately I've decided to dnf at about 40%. I had no issues with the prose. With all of the povs I just didn't see where the story was leading and wasn't invested enough to find out. I did like the worldbuilding and the culture mash though.

When I first started reading Fathomfolk, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. It was quite slow to start with and, because the POVs change with each chapter, I found it hard to immerse myself in the characters straight away. Once I got a bit further and got used to the style and the world lore, I ended up enjoying the story and the constant change in focus.

Fathomfolk has a really well realised underwater world, with some folk living there and others living topside. The social and political elements are interesting and engaging, with the power hierarchies playing a large role in everyday life. I thought the ending was fantastic, and I’m really glad I persevered with the beginning of the book.

I can’t honestly say I’m a massive fan of any of the characters in particular, but my favourites would have to be half-siren Mira and her water dragon boyfriend Kai. Their story was the most interesting for me personally, though I did warm to everyone else and like their involvements too. The array of different sea creatures and Fathomfolk was the best part of the book for me, and I loved learning about all the different magic and powers that populated this world. I hope that’s explored even more in the next book, which I will of course be reading.

Fathomfolk has its flaws for me, but overall I liked it more than I thought I would. I’m now invested in this world and its politics, and I’m very intrigued to find out which direction the characters will take next. It’s a fascinating idea for a fantasy story, I just wish the pacing had been a little faster and the characters a bit more memorable — I think this will be resolved in the second book, and I look forward to returning to the water and the secrets it holds.

3.5/5.

It is now safe to say that modern fantasy has grown well beyond its Eurocentric Tolkien inspired beginnings. And emblematic of that trend are fantasy books like Eliza Chan’s Fathomfolk, a pan-Asian novel that draws on Eastern traditions as a jumping off point for something new. But in doing so also comments on current issues including racism and immigration.
Fathomfolk is set in the half submerged city of Tiankawi. In Tiankawi, following an ancient war, humans are on top and the multi-facetted community of water-dwelling fathomfolk are kept down. The story is built around three fathomfolk women. Mira is a half siren newly appointed a captain in the border guards and partner of Kai, the Fathomfolk ambassador and. Kai’s sister Nami is a firebrand, sent from her home, who quickly falls in with the Drawbacks, political agitators seeking to bring down human control. And finally there is Cordelia is a shape-shifting seawitch who has plans of her own, makes deals and manipulates pretty much everyone around her for her own ends. The story then charts the progress of the Drawback plan to destabilise Tiankawi and bring the regime down.
Fathomfolk is a rich but confusing amalgam of Asian influences. Words, foods and concepts from a range of East Asian and South-East Asian communities are mixed together to create the world of Tiankawi. There is an established pecking order with humans at the top and plenty of racism against the fathomfolk to the point where readers may feel that the Drawbacks have a valid point. And Chan’s narrative is most interesting when it digs into this grey – how far is too far when formenting political unrest? What sacrifices are appropriate. Mixed in with this are themes of environmental stewardship, treatment of immigrants and class inequities.
All of which comes together to make Fathomfolk a fast moving fantasy anchored around three interesting characters in a unique milieu. Chan wraps up the action of the book but makes sure to leave plenty hanging for a sequel which will, hopefully, take readers beyond Tiankawi and give readers a taste of the wider world she has created.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for giving me the chance to read an eARC of this novel.

Fathomfolk is a political fantasy set in a world inhabited by humans and Fathomfolk, creatures with water-related powers. The story is told from 3 POVs: Nami, a young, idealistic sea-dragon; Mira, a half-siren who tries to find her place among humans she grew up alongside; Cordelia, a sea-witch who strikes bargains and schemes at all times. The three women are connected throughout the book and their stories overlap repeatedly, and at times unexpectedly.

Starting from what I enjoyed most... the world-building was pretty incredible. The author presented a detailed reality filled with a variety of species and intricately mythology. It took me a few chapters to understand more about who was who, how the world worked and to keep up with some terminology, but I then really enjoyed learning more about this new reality.

Mira's POV was probably my favourite - her strive for a better world while struggling to be respected as a Fathomfolk captain of the guards among humans, her relationship with people around her and her secrets making her a rather likeable character. I especially loved her relationship with Kai. He was actually probably my favourite character of all! I can't say more, to avoid spoilers, but he is an excellent character.

Nami and Cordelia's POVs felt a bit too one-dimensional, even when we saw their motivations explained and some character development... it never felt quite enough for me. Characters surrounding them also didn't strike me hugely, with things left unexplained (might there be a sequel, perhaps?) and limited own depth.

The premise of the book was really interesting and I had really high hopes. However, I was not quite blown away - while Fathomfolk was an enjoyable read, I was not particularly taken with the events of the story and the style with which they were recounted. It felt quite jumpy at times, with abrupt transitions from one situation to the next (or at times between paragraphs).

All in all an enjoyable read, but not one that kept me glued to the pages. I would still recommend reading it, especially for fans of great world-building.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book really early on. I admit, I was already a bit put off by the many mixed reviews/DNFs I've seen for this book, but I still wanted to give it ago, however even the first chapter told me that I was not going to enjoy this book.

Starting this book felt as if I were reading a sequel for a book I had never read. I found characters were introduced with no idea as to their personalities/appearances/ages (even the protagonists), and if I hadn't looked up how old these characters were supposed to be afterwards, I would have assumed they were teenagers. This book did not read like an adult book to me, and I assumed it was a YA book.

In the first chapter, we're introduced to one of the MCs, Mira, being made captain of the border guard, however we are not given any context for how she got this position: I understand that this could be explored later in the book, however no context was given AT ALL to these events. She then goes out to celebrate with her friends/comrades, and later with her partner, however their relationships feel empty/insignificant when no foundation is given to them.

The world building, I felt, was also very confusing. In the first chapter alone, so many different creatures were mentioned, but no explanation was given for what they were. The world's political system was also introduced (or attempted to be introduced) but again no context or explanation was given for this. Not every piece of worldbuilding has to been explained/contextualised in an opening chapter, but if you're going to mention these aspects, then they do need to be explored. I also found the pacing to be a bit jarring and choppy.

Overall, I just don't think this book was for me. I was very confused and perhaps going into the book with already wary expectations impacted my experience. I don't like DNFing books so early on, but unfortunately this book just isn't one I was going to enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

This book was really hard to rate for me, as I really enjoyed the last 30-40% and I loved the concept, the world and the themes, but the execution wasn't great and the first half was quite confusing.
I read a lot of fantasy and usually don't have a lot of issues with complex worldbuilding, but this book was pushing even me to my limits. There was so much going on and the world was quite complicated, but the worldbuilding was a bit all over the place. At the beginning, we had a lot of info-dumping that felt a bit overwhelming, combined with multiple POVs. I really paid close attention, but I felt like a lot still went over my head.

However, the world, albeit being complicated, was very cool and it was the only reason I didn't DNF. The modern, post-apocalyptic city combined with all the water creatures and the discussions of environmentalism and discrimination intrigued me and made me fall in love with the setting very quickly. I also liked the main characters and the differences between them.

Ultimately, I'm really glad I didn't DNF because once I got the hang of everything, I really loved the book. The second half was amazing and the ending had me in tears. I haven't yet read a book that pairs revolution and social injustice with humanity's crimes against our environment, and it made for such a great combination.
It's one of those books that makes you wish there were more like it, but there aren't any because it's such a unique mix of elements.

Overall, I think this book is probably very hit or miss and even though I enjoyed it, I can see why a lot of people DNFed. Personally, I think it was worth finishing and I'm really excited for the sequel.

I really enjoyed the description within this book, I loved how the world came to life. The imagery of the setting was beautiful.

The characters felt very real to me, their aims and intentions were thought out and drawn upon throughout the entire book and I understood exactly where that intention came from for them. They were great characters to read about, recognising their struggle and going against it.

The start of the book was a little slow but I enjoyed the way we got to really understand the world and the characters and the ending made up for any slowness at the beginning.

Fathomfolk is a really intriguing tale of immigration, repression and rebellion, with an interesting backdrop and heapings of mythology. The worldbuilding was rich and full of details, and the setting was so immersive you could really visualise it. It's the kind of place that makes me wish I had any skill at art, because illustrating the world and the characters would be so incredibly fun. The story is interesting, the political machinations complex, and the characters are likeable (though occasionally left me feeling frustrated).

Where this book struggles is the pacing. The first half of the book is SLOW. A lot of time is spent setting up the world, giving you all those kinds of details, introducing you to the characters and getting to know their motivations. Once that's all done, it kind of drags for a bit. If this wasn't an ARC, I would possibly have set this book to the side which is really a shame, because once I hit the action about 60% of the way through, I couldn't put the book down.

The story is really backloaded, a LOT happens very late, and things start making sense and everything starts coming together, but there's a long wait to get to the action and I can really see that putting some people off.

Overall, I really did enjoy the book in the end, and the end of the book made up for a difficult start, but you do have to be prepared for a bit of a wait. I'd have given the first 50% a 2.5 or 3 stars, but the end really makes up for it and ramped my rating up.

First of all I need to state that I read this in probably a more condensed time frame than I would’ve liked because I forgot I had an ARC so there are definitely aspects that I may have enjoyed if i read this at my own pace.

The diaspora problems and the individual viewpoints of Nami,Mira, Kai and Cordelia are fascinating and I think Eliza has written the struggles that each of them face as well as their respective lives that have led them to act the way they have. Honestly it is one of the most well-written pieces I have read in a while on this subject as I find that it easily reflects real life and the struggles many of us children face living in a country that is the not the same as our culture and being shunned for adapting whilst being ostracised for being different.

The world itself is also beautiful as I was able to picture the setting very easily. However in that regard, maybe because I found it easy to picture and also because I am educated on Eastern Mythology, I found the beginning 40% so extremely slow especially since the writing style isn’t the easiest for me and I had to fight to get through. I did find it easier as we got close to the Boat Races but I definitely felt the pacing to be off.

All in all a good first book, but since I found it slow I felt like I was reading it just to read a book and not for enjoyment. I think the premise is great and I will definitely consider reading on after I give this book a second go in a few months time.

Fathomfolk weaves an excellent tale of repression and uprising against a beautiful backdrop of a flooded city. Featuring an all-female line-up of protagonists and a hearty dose of water-based mythology from around the world, there’s a lot to love about this debut novel!

The story is set in the partially submerged city of Tiankawi, where a rather one-sided alliance of humans and aquatic races (collectively known as the Fathomfolk) has formed. It is a world of dwindling resources, where dry land is at a premium, and not attainable for most of the populous. This is a story that analyses the divide between two societies within the same city, and the prejudices both sides have against each other. The widespread discrimination towards the Fathomfolk throughout the book is poignant and excellently crafted to be believable. The scene setting and worldbuilding was dazzling and incredibly well written, and really is one of the shining stars of Fathomfolk; Chan has created a fantastic, vibrant city both above and below the water line.

The story is told through the eyes of three women, all with a different relation to ‘power’ in the city. Mira feels like an outcast in her home city; a rare case of one of the Fathomfolk promoted to a position of power, in this case captain of the guard. She is driven by her moral compass to do right by her people, and the frequent dilemmas she’s landed in as a result were very well crafted. Nami meanwhile is a member of a powerful and rich family, but is exiled to Tiankawi as a punishment for certain misdeeds. I Didn’t like Nami at first at all, finding her character quite flat and one-dimensional, but I did enjoy her character progression, in which you start to see her similarities to some of the other main characters, with a little more youth and a little less experience. The duplicitous Cordelia however is probably my favourite character in the book - multifaceted and scheming throughout, the book lets you see her many sides and develops a fantastic and deep character. I won’t call her a villain outright, but she’s not exactly the hero of the tale either! A small detail I really appreciated from the book is just how often these POV characters appeared in each other’s chapters, which really helped to tie the different storylines together.

I think my only minor quibble with the book was the moments in the middle where I found the pace to drop a little bit; there were several moments where the main plots seem to pause, and it wasn’t easy to see where the plot was heading, given all the little plotlines weaving in and out off each other. That aside, the story had a very clever little resolution that, while I didn’t see it coming, was very fitting given the nature of the book. I can’t escape the feeling that Fathomfolk would make a fantastic film, and I would love to see it adapted for the big screen! The imagery throughout is beautiful and evocative, and the action/fight scenes included seem really well thought out. Maybe one day I’ll get my wish!

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

I unfortunately disliked far too many elements in this. The world building was strong and rich, the concept is so interesting:
And I just didn’t care about 99% of these characters. In fact, the only character I did care about doesn’t survive the book. There were three whole POV characters and I couldn’t connect with a single one of them.
(And specifically, secondary character Firth irritated me so much I nearly decided to DNF twice just because of him alone.)

The plot just didn’t grab me until maybe 60% in and that’s far too long for a book to get going.

This might work very well for someone who isn’t me. The writing style was fine, and the magic and different types of fathomfolk/sea creatures was interesting. I could see the whole city in my mind, it was described really well.

Give it a chance, if you like something slower moving, a plot that mirrors our current society incredibly well, or you just want to read about water dragons, sirens, and sea witches.

Fathomfolk has a lot of promise, but I think it could have been much, much better than it ended up being. While the book promised an intriguing blend of "Jade City meets The Little Mermaid," it fell short in certain areas, leaving room for improvement in the second book.

Fathomfolk is the first book of the Drowned World series. First of all, the cover is gorgeous and definitely caught my eye immediately. Secondly, I saw this book compared to Jade City and The Bone Sgard Daughter both of which are among my favorite series. I love the worldbuilding in this series. I think worldbuilding is one of the most unique ones that I read. The plot is also intriguing as it deals with real-world issues such as racism and injustice. Overall, this book has great potential and I am looking forward to the next installment. If you enjoy multi-pov Asian mythology-inspired stories, I highly recommend giving this book a chance. Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an early copy.