Fathomfolk
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4.7 • 3 Ratings
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
AN INTERNATIONAL #1 BESTSELLER
This gloriously imaginative debut fantasy, inspired by East Asian mythology and ocean folk tales, is a novel of magic, rebellion and change.
"An unforgettable, must-read fantasy,"--Shelley Parker-Chan
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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Chan's ambitious fantasy debut invites readers to a half-submerged city where war is brewing between sea dwellers, or fathomfolk, and humans. When rebellious Nami disobeys her mother, the water dragon matriarch, she is exiled to the troubled border city of Tiankawi, where her brother, Ambassador Kai of Yonakuni, resides with his partner, half-siren Mira, who serves as the first fathomfolk captain of the border guard. Humans have been polluting the water around the city, forcing fathomfolk to live on land, where they are met with discrimination and meager prospects. While Mira tries within her limited capacity to help the folk, others have less honorable intentions. They include the sea witch Cordelia, who seeks to profit from the unrest. Though Nami has long harbored ideas of a fathomfolk revolution, it isn't until she's exposed to the rebel group known as the Drawbacks that she realizes the steep price her people must pay for equality. Chan's world can be challenging to navigate at first, but once situated, readers will enjoy exploring the intricate details of Tiankawi and its history through the perspectives of three wonderfully complex female protagonists. Fans of mythic fantasy will find plenty to savor.
