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lesleareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nsullivan94's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mel91's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stitchesmcgoo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
koenige18's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The world building was interesting and the Asian mythology. But the plot was a pretty meh and I didn’t fall in love with the characters. It was an ok read and am glad I read it but wouldn’t read again and probably won’t read the sequel.
authorash's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is one of my favorite books of the year so far. There is a very intricate political weaving and the book tackles the racism between humans v fathomfolk in a fascinating way. You get the POV of 3-4 characters, all in different aspects of the hierarchical/class level. I enjoyed seeing the different perspectives that weave the story together. I wanted one character to see the massive red flags but then was rooting for them. The character development for this book is done extremely well, and the romance isn't the book's focus at all, if romance could be considered. It's a character-driven plot, and I adored it. This book is an amazing representation of south Asian mythology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
moonlit_dewdrops's review
4.0
In Fathomfolk, Eliza Chan weaves a rich story centered in the underwater world of Tiankawi and explores the complex relationship between humans and the fathomfolk.
The story follows the journey of Nami, Mira, and Cornelia and multiple POVs allows us to see the lens of each character and how they respond to the violence between the humans and the fathomfolk that play out throughout the book. We get to see each characters' motives and thoughts and it really helped to bring depth to their characters.
Cordelia is a sea witch who is cocky, manipulative, and smart and strikes deal with other fathomfolk for her own gain. She hides many secrets, including a second identity. Although she seemed selfish, the things she does is not only for herself but for her children as well, whom she would do anything to protect.
Mira, who is part-siren, part-human, has worked hard to become the Captain of the Border Guards, but everything is put in jeopardy when the Drawbacks, a group of anti-human extremists attack during a festival. To make things even more intense, Nami, her partner Kai's sister has joined them. What I loved about Mira is how hard she strives have more power not for herself, but for the sake of both Fathomfolk AND humans in order for both groups to truly live in peace and harmony with one another.
Out of all the characters that I liked, Nami is the one that drew me in the most. Nami gets exiled to Tiankawi after being involved with radical group, but gets caught up in another one once arriving in the city. Although her impuslve decisions and choices often frustrated me, I can still see that she has a good heart and cares deeply for the people around her.
Her character is a perfect example of what happens to people when they are pushed to the edge and decide that force may be the only solution to their problems. Eventually, though, Nami does realize her mistake and manages to return to the right side before it is too late. Despite her decision, readers can see that she is very different from Lynette who was willing to sacrifice innocent lives, even those of Fathomfolk, in her path to bring change to Tiankawi.
The strongest part of Fathomfolk is the overall worldbuilding and the focus on the tensions and uneasy peace between the humans and fathomfolk. In Tiankwai, the fathomfolk quite literally live BELOW the humans and the humans take constant steps to maintain their superiority over them. The Fathomfolk's powers are even restricted by a device bracelet that prevents them from water-weaving. After the attacks from the Drawbacks and the unrest that spread because of them, there are even more restrictions placed on the Fathfomfolk, such as curfews and forced identification.
The marginalization and oppression that the Fathomfolk face is a very accurate parallel that many minority groups face in the real world, especially in America. After witnessing the rising hate crimes against AAPIs and policy brutality against Black Americans, a lot of points and themes in this book hit very hard.
Another thing I loved about the book is how it is also centered around family and loved ones. I absolutely loved the relationship between Mira, Nami and Trish and how despite the initial conflicts between Mira and Nami, they still grew to love one another as family members.
Overall, Fathomfolk is a book packed with interesting and slightly heavy themes filled with meaning and really leaves an impact on its readers
The story follows the journey of Nami, Mira, and Cornelia and multiple POVs allows us to see the lens of each character and how they respond to the violence between the humans and the fathomfolk that play out throughout the book. We get to see each characters' motives and thoughts and it really helped to bring depth to their characters.
Cordelia is a sea witch who is cocky, manipulative, and smart and strikes deal with other fathomfolk for her own gain. She hides many secrets, including a second identity. Although she seemed selfish, the things she does is not only for herself but for her children as well, whom she would do anything to protect.
Mira, who is part-siren, part-human, has worked hard to become the Captain of the Border Guards, but everything is put in jeopardy when the Drawbacks, a group of anti-human extremists attack during a festival. To make things even more intense, Nami, her partner Kai's sister has joined them. What I loved about Mira is how hard she strives have more power not for herself, but for the sake of both Fathomfolk AND humans in order for both groups to truly live in peace and harmony with one another.
Out of all the characters that I liked, Nami is the one that drew me in the most. Nami gets exiled to Tiankawi after being involved with radical group, but gets caught up in another one once arriving in the city. Although her impuslve decisions and choices often frustrated me, I can still see that she has a good heart and cares deeply for the people around her.
Her character is a perfect example of what happens to people when they are pushed to the edge and decide that force may be the only solution to their problems. Eventually, though, Nami does realize her mistake and manages to return to the right side before it is too late. Despite her decision, readers can see that she is very different from Lynette who was willing to sacrifice innocent lives, even those of Fathomfolk, in her path to bring change to Tiankawi.
The strongest part of Fathomfolk is the overall worldbuilding and the focus on the tensions and uneasy peace between the humans and fathomfolk. In Tiankwai, the fathomfolk quite literally live BELOW the humans and the humans take constant steps to maintain their superiority over them. The Fathomfolk's powers are even restricted by a device bracelet that prevents them from water-weaving. After the attacks from the Drawbacks and the unrest that spread because of them, there are even more restrictions placed on the Fathfomfolk, such as curfews and forced identification.
The marginalization and oppression that the Fathomfolk face is a very accurate parallel that many minority groups face in the real world, especially in America. After witnessing the rising hate crimes against AAPIs and policy brutality against Black Americans, a lot of points and themes in this book hit very hard.
Another thing I loved about the book is how it is also centered around family and loved ones. I absolutely loved the relationship between Mira, Nami and Trish and how despite the initial conflicts between Mira and Nami, they still grew to love one another as family members.
Overall, Fathomfolk is a book packed with interesting and slightly heavy themes filled with meaning and really leaves an impact on its readers
britt_zonnebloempit's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I absolutely adore underwater stories and sirens and mermaids and dragons but this just dragged.... I didn't care for the story at all and it took me like 2 weeks to finish.
Also why the HELL is Nami still going back to Firth? What is wrong with her???? Why would you fucking do that?
I also have no clue why Eun wasn't given a bigger role, when she easily could've had one. Easily the most lovable character in the entire book.
I also have no clue why Eun wasn't given a bigger role, when she easily could've had one. Easily the most lovable character in the entire book.
juns's review
3.0
i really wish this was better. it has the potential to be, but it's.....structured in such a difficult way to follow.
for the most part i didn't mind the slowness until the plot was barely unraveling? the multiple povs make it hard to follow, and hard for me to give a shit about the characters fr. all 3 of them are annoying.
the politics of the story are boring. i was hoping for more......to happen? the stakes didn't seem very high. and of course, the overarching themes that play into what we know in our own society are nice to sprinkle in, but it just wasn't really grabbing me. at times i was interested, but then it would fall flat.
pacing is slow/weird, we'd get these long moments of descriptions where i was like "why am i reading this paragraph" even though i know it was for characterization, it was not...needed? i feel like you could have cut out so much of this novel.
kai deserved better 💔
will not be reading the second book
for the most part i didn't mind the slowness until the plot was barely unraveling? the multiple povs make it hard to follow, and hard for me to give a shit about the characters fr. all 3 of them are annoying.
the politics of the story are boring. i was hoping for more......to happen? the stakes didn't seem very high. and of course, the overarching themes that play into what we know in our own society are nice to sprinkle in, but it just wasn't really grabbing me. at times i was interested, but then it would fall flat.
pacing is slow/weird, we'd get these long moments of descriptions where i was like "why am i reading this paragraph" even though i know it was for characterization, it was not...needed? i feel like you could have cut out so much of this novel.
kai deserved better 💔
will not be reading the second book