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A review by fantasmic_reads
Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I had really high expectations for this, so maybe that was my downfall in the first place. This was good for a debut novel though, and I'm sure Eliza Chan can only grow from here the more experience she gains.
My first red flag was that I couldn't actually read this book; I had to listen to the audiobook because it felt as though the actual book was very convoluted and it messed with my brain a bit, though that may have just been the fact that there was a ton of worldbuilding to get through. I do really recommend the audiobook though because the narrator was extremely talented and really brought the world alive.
I didn't really like any of the characters except for Cordelia and Mira sometimes, I thought that Nami was awful and all of her decisions regarding Firth made me want to claw my eyes out. I really just hated her perspective on things and get parts also just felt really YA. Then again, a lot of the things that happened felt very YA and it wouldn't have surprised me if someone told me the characters were all 16.
The worldbuilding was really cool, I'll admit. I have a big softspot for aquatic fantasy, because I feel like the amount of things you can do with fantasy set under the water is fascinating. I enjoyed the descriptions of the folk and the city, as well as the dragon-born species and the classism.
I don't think I'll be reading the sequel, but the writing was great and the concept is cool, I think it just didn't hit the mark for me.
My first red flag was that I couldn't actually read this book; I had to listen to the audiobook because it felt as though the actual book was very convoluted and it messed with my brain a bit, though that may have just been the fact that there was a ton of worldbuilding to get through. I do really recommend the audiobook though because the narrator was extremely talented and really brought the world alive.
I didn't really like any of the characters except for Cordelia and Mira sometimes, I thought that Nami was awful and all of her decisions regarding Firth made me want to claw my eyes out. I really just hated her perspective on things and get parts also just felt really YA. Then again, a lot of the things that happened felt very YA and it wouldn't have surprised me if someone told me the characters were all 16.
The worldbuilding was really cool, I'll admit. I have a big softspot for aquatic fantasy, because I feel like the amount of things you can do with fantasy set under the water is fascinating. I enjoyed the descriptions of the folk and the city, as well as the dragon-born species and the classism.
I don't think I'll be reading the sequel, but the writing was great and the concept is cool, I think it just didn't hit the mark for me.