A review by clumsyqueenie
The Descent of the Drowned by Ana Lal Din

5.0

They were both survivors. They never quit. No matter how badly they were beaten, or how much they bled.

Rating: 5/5
★★★★★

My first read of 2022 and it did not disappoint!

The Descent of the Drowned is a solid YA debut, the first in a mythical dark fantasy trilogy and I very much loved it.

Set in a colonised Indo-Persian world that draws inspiration from Islamic Arabian mythology, the story follows Roma—a scared slave, and Leviathan—the bastard son of the Firawn; as they struggle to find themselves and escape from the dreadful norms of the society.

The world and magic is so intricate and detailed, I was in awe. The prose is so magical, it drags you into the book till you devour it.

The characters are so real and strong-willed and they stand up for what they believe in. The emotions and trauma they go through is all so realistically done, I was breathless by the end. Even the minor characters—Malev, Junho, Ashar—were all greatly written I couldn't help but fall in love with them.

I loved every aspect of the book, and I'm so looking forward to the sequel, especially due to all the mystery, unanswered questions and of course, the cliffhanger. If you're a fan of dark fantasy, definitely check this out.