F. T. Lukens’ In Deeper Waters is best described as a high seas adventure full of pirates and magic, and a swoony queer romance that takes place sailing the ocean for the most part. Despite the plot being a bit wobbly at places, In Deeper Waters has one of the best written romances I’ve come across in YA fiction to date and that made this book an incredibly fun ride for me!
Prince Taliesin of Harth is the fourth in line for the throne, the second youngest out of the five children of Queen Carys’. Tal has never had the chance to get out of the palace much because of his rare magical abilities that mark him as the last mage of the royal line and must be kept hidden. That is, until his coming-of-age tour of the kingdom.
Within days after Tal sets off on the tour with his older brother Garrett, they find a burning ship with a trunk of gold coins and a somewhat perplexing, ethereal looking boy who calls himself Athlen, whom Tal finds himself inexplicably drawn to. Tal uses his magic to free the boy, but then Athlen jumps overboard immediately after, leaving Tal feeling both guilty and heartbroken.
Things only get worse for Tal from then on; he gets kidnapped by pirates who have been hired by a mysterious entity to force him to reveal his powers so they can set up a war between Harth and the other kingdoms. Tal, who has been the coddled, sheltered prince all his life, now must find a way to free himself, protect his family and kingdom, and stop a war.
In Deeper Waters reads like a fairytale with certain elements that remind you of The Little Mermaid in particular. As I said before, the plot seems lacklustre in parts and the first few chapters of the book feel a bit elongated so it takes a while for the narrative to really pull you in. However, once Tal is no longer shielded by his brother and is left to his own devices, his story gets significantly more interesting. The casual queer representation is one of the aspects that really makes In Deeper Waters shine, as is the fact that Lukens chooses to forego the structural gender inequality embedded in many a royal fantasy books.
This is a very much a character-driven story, and the quite sizeable cast of characters we get to meet are mostly charming, even though the antagonists were very one-note and underwhelming. Tal is a loveable protagonist, one you can’t help rooting for every step of the way. Athlen, his love interest, is equally endearing. Tal’s family also plays a major role in the story, and I absolutely adored the way Lukens has portrayed the relationships between the siblings, especially the ones Tal has with his two older brothers, Garrett and Kest. While we see them bickering and relentlessly teasing each other as siblings do, they are also fiercely protective and openly affectionate with each other and that’s something I haven’t seen in many fantasy books. Indeed, this is one of those rare books where every member of the royal family, including the queen, actually acts like a human being you can relate to, instead of being aloof or haughty.
As for the romance, which makes up the heart of this story, it is achingly sweet and tender. Tal and Athlen have both been keeping secrets all their lives, never letting anyone near enough to see who they are. But then they find each other and it’s heartbreakingly beautiful the way they slowly peel back their layers and finally allow themselves to be known. Unlike most fantasy romances, In Deeper Waters allows its protagonists time to explore themselves and each other before they go stumbling head-first into a heady relationship, and I really appreciated that build-up, since it let me form an emotional connection with the overall story.
To sum it all up, In Deeper Waters is a fun, adorable little book that feels like a warm hug despite its flaws, and it’d appeal to both fantasy and romance readers. And if you are a fan of adventure novels set at sea like The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee or The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, make sure to check this one out!
In Deeper Waters is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
Will you be picking up In Deeper Waters? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
A young prince must rely on a mysterious stranger to save him when he is kidnapped during his coming-of-age tour in this swoony adventure that is The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Pirates of the Caribbean.
Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. After spending most of his life cloistered behind palace walls as he learns to keep his forbidden magic secret, he can finally see his family’s kingdom for the first time. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel.
Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen. So when Athlen leaps overboard and disappears, Tal feels responsible and heartbroken, knowing Athlen could not have survived in the open ocean.
That is, until Tal runs into Athlen days later on dry land, very much alive, and as charming—and secretive—as ever. But before they can pursue anything further, Tal is kidnapped by pirates and held ransom in a plot to reveal his rumored powers and instigate a war. Tal must escape if he hopes to save his family and the kingdom. And Athlen might just be his only hope…
