A review by highgarden
Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

DISCLAIMER: The gorgeous cover of this book and the intriguing blurb piqued my interest enough to request a copy, leading me to delve into the pages of Fathomfolk. I’m very grateful to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me the opportunity to review this ARC.

Read this book if you like:
     🪸 fantasy
     🐋 a plot-driven book
     🐡 multiple POVs
     🐙 detailed world building
     🐠 asian and european mythology
     🪼 a book that tackles contemporary issues</p> 

Water will always flow. We can only change the direction.

A captivating blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure, Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan tackles important issues such as racism and immigration. The story takes place in the semi-submerged city of Tiankawi, which is home to both humans and the fathomfolk, a myriad of magical creatures who can live both underwater and on land.

This menagerie of water-based beings draws on Asian (water dragons, kappas, jangjamaris, baijis…) and European (sirens, sea-witches, kelpies, selkies…) mythology. As such, their mythological counterparts come from different cultures and live in different ecosystems (saltwater and freshwater), but unfortunately the author leaves the question of how they can coexist unanswered.

While the world building in  Fathomfolk  intrigued me, I found it somewhat underdeveloped. Drawing inspiration from diverse East and Southeast Asian cultures, it presents a rich world full of different sea-dwelling creatures, but it does so at the risk of perpetuating the stereotype that these cultures are monolithic.

May of these creatures have sought refuge in Tiankawi

due to trying to escape civil war or collapsing ecosystems (i.e. the underwater havens being polluted)

, and so must adapt to life among humans and wear a device that suppresses their magic. They not only undertake undesirable tasks but also endure significant discrimination. Alas, the only explanation regarding how this power dynamic came to be is the outcome of the Great War, but it ultimately fails to address why these magically-gifted beings were subjugated by non-magical humans (surely, magic abilities would grant fathomfolk the upper hand?).

Despite facing discrimination and prejudice from humans, there's also evident division among fathomfolk themselves, with dragons enjoying higher status while those without shapeshifting abilities occupy the lowest rungs of the social hierarchy. This internal strife further complicates the narrative's exploration of prejudice and inequality.
 

The story predominantly unfolds through the eyes of Mira, a half-siren serving as the captain of the border guard (known as chinthe). Through her perspective, we witness the façade of tolerance in Tiankawi and the underlying prejudices she grapples with. I had a lot of sympathy for her, but I also found her lack of political skills frustrating. As tensions escalate within the city, aggravated by the activities of the extremist group known as the Drawbacks, Mira finds herself in a complex web of political and social turmoil.

And, while apparently both share the same goal, each party takes a different approach. The Drawbacks are a resistance faction fighting for the rights of fathomfolk, 

yet everything they do makes things worse. They inadvertently exacerbate the situation with their actions, causing further harm rather than effecting positive change

. The lack of development for characters like Lynette, the leader, makes it seem like they’re violent just for the sake of it. Her decision at the end made no sense, and I wished we could’ve got to know her and her motivations better.

Then there is Nami, a young and headstrong water dragon, who wants to create a wave of change much faster than Mira.

Her impatience leads her to throw herself in with the dangerous rebel group, demonstrating her willingness to take extreme risks in pursuit of her goals

. She was very immature, though perhaps that is exactly how the character was intended.

She acts on impulse and never thinks things through (which was entertaining –albeit frustrating– to read, to be honest), thus getting led astray by a charming revolutionary. The dragon blindly trusts Firth, and their relationship certainly seems toxic. I’m curious to see how it develops and whether or not someone intervenes and tells her how unhealthy it is (I truly hope they don't end up together!!)

. In any case, while such dynamics could have been more plausible given a longer narrative arc, Nami's obliviousness undermines her character's depth and agency. 

Playing both sides

is the shape-shifting seawitch Cordelia, who causes chaos on all fronts. She was interesting, but I disliked how we were told her goals and motives as she manipulated people, rather than getting to watch her play puppet-master and gradually see her plans come to fruition. She’s unapologetically scheming, selfish, and morally grey, and I adored her for it. I can't wait to read what she does in the next book. 

Overall, I enjoyed all the POVs, and they came together very well. And while the beginning was quite confusing, slow, and dense, I ultimately settled into the world crafted by the author. I also enjoyed the underlying message of the story, which echoes real-world parallels where oppression often leads to violent resistance.

Despite its flaws, Fathomfolk remains a captivating and politically charged read (I loved the politics, it's actually the reason I gave this book a higher rating!). The potential for a more immersive experience, especially in character development, is evident. But being the in a series, I hope that these issues will be explored further and expanded upon in the sequel.

This review can also be found on my blog.

https://winedarkprose.wordpress.com/2024/03/01/tackling-the-tide-of-change-an-arc-review-of-fathomfolk-by-eliza-chan/