Every now and then, I do judge a book by its cover. In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens is definitely one of those cases. When I saw it at the book store, I was immediately drawn to its bright cover and its artwork, so I didn’t think twice about taking it home with me and I am so glad I did!
In Deeper Waters
In Deeper Waters is the story of prince Tal who is starting his coming-of-age tour. Raised hidden away behind the castle walls to keep his forbidden magic a secret, joining his older brother on an adventurous journey throughout the kingdom makes Tal equally exited and unsure. Just two days into the journey, however, they encounter a mysterious boy chained to a burning vessel. Athlen and Tal immediately have a connection, but it is short lived as Athlen jumps overboard the first chance he gets. Nobody could have survived such a leap. But a couple of days later, Tal encounters him again in a marketplace. Very much alive…
Fantasy feel-good
This book reads like a cross-over between a Young Adult Fantasy novel and a feel-good romantic comedy. I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading it. The story is very much YA, don’t expect too much depth or too many plot twists, however, that’s exactly what I loved about it. It’s light, romantic, dreamy, and makes you feel as if you were in another world for a couple of hours. Truly a very nice read. The characterization of the main characters feels a bit wobbly at times, but it didn’t truly bother me. The colours of the cover capture the feeling the book creates rather nicely: warm, peaceful, sunny. In conclusion, I would say it’s a charming and magical coming-of-age story, recommended to everyone looking for a light and short fantasy read. Four out of five gemstones.
Age Category: Young Adult
Representation: LGBTQ+ main characters, emotional trauma
Do you want to discover more?
If my review inspired you to pick up the book, don’t hesitate to check it out at Goodreads or at the below online stores.
Amazon.nl: Hardcover Edition
Amazon.nl: Paperback Edition
Amazon.nl: eBook Edition
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The next novel by this author that I want to read is So This Is Ever After. This is a YA fantasy stand-alone that is a re-imagining of the Arthurian Legends. Arthur, YA, LGBTQ+ characters? YES PLEASE! I cannot wait to read this!
In my head, In Deeper Waters is classified in the same category as Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. Probably due to the vibes of the covers, and the fact that they are both YA LGBTQ+ fantasy stories. It’s the story of a magical chosen one and a vampire, if that doesn’t sound like a literary delight I don’t know what does.
If you are into short, sweet, and magical love stories with interesting LGBTQ+ main characters, I highly recommend Love Potion by Cindy Paul and illustrated by Renée Zonneveld. It’s such a gem of a book about a witch who falls in love with a princess. My review can be found here.
Last but not least, if you love merpeople and water spirits as much as I do, I also recommend Naiya’s Wish by Astrid V.J. This is a stand-alone retelling of The Nixie of the Mill-pond, one of the lesser known fairytales collected by the Brothers Grimm. My review can be found here.