I hated the pacing of this. Everything happened back to back with no space to sit in the actions. I know some people don’t mind this, but it’s definitely not for me. Combined with the fact that I didn’t care at all for or about the characters, this book was just one big disappointment.

This was super cute! I though the world here was pretty interesting--the way magic exists but is rare enough to make people unique (and/or frightening). Not gonna lie, part of me wonders why nobody ever deposed Tal's family if his great-grandfather was such a tyrant but eh whatever, the family is working to improve, I guess. The romance is sweet. I'd recommend it to readers looking for some lgbt+ fantasy romance

I ADORED this Disney-fied Queer story! Little Mermaid from Prince Erics POV but GAY, what more could you need?

ARC received by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fun romp perfect for a hot summer's day. It really made me long for the beach and imagining that there is a mermaid out there. This book is non stop adventure that did keep me reading and entertained enough to fall in love. My one gripe is the fact that it seemed to come together at the end all too easily. All in all i really did enjoy this work and would love to read more from this author.

CWs: references to death and massacres; allusions to contagious illness; destruction by fire; descriptions of captivity; allusions to depression and depressive episodes; graphic descriptions of blood, injury, fatal wounds, and violence.

Somewhere along the line, the industry shorthand for In Deeper Waters has become "gay pirates," which I think is somewhat of a misnomer. To be clear: it is *extremely* gay, and it definitely has pirates in at least part of the story, but neither of the main characters are pirates. I would actually say this story is closer to a fairy tale retelling—but I won't say which fairy tale, since the reveal is very much part of the book. Knowing that beforehand and being able to readjust my expectations accordingly actually allowed me to enjoy the story that much more.

I found this to be such a wonderful blend of adventure and romance! It's tropey, and magical, and full of side-quests, and my favorite part is that no two sections of the story are quite the same, and the adventure is constantly overturning the audience's expectations. Every time you *think* you know what the true story or the true conflict is, something else shows up to factor in, and that constant change of scenery keeps the reader constantly on their toes.

For instance, when you start the book, you might think that this grand coming-of-age tour *is* the story, but it's not. Then you think Tal being captured by pirates is going to be the entire story, but it's not. Then you think that uncovering the truth behind who is trying to hold Tal ransom is going to be the *real* story, but it's not. I love that there are so many moving parts in this story, and that each leg of this adventure is not only distinct and exciting, but something that adds layers to what's *really* happening with the characters.

Then not only do we get to read all about this fun, enthralling, magical quest, but we get to witness a really sweet and moving romance. I love that this historical fantasy is set in a world that normalizes queerness, and that allows the characters' struggles to stem from things that are not rooted in their identities. The flirting and the courting between Tal and Athlen is entirely unsubtle, and their connection to each other is borne of the vulnerability fostered between them and how they don't expect each other to be anyone but themselves. There's a strong parallel between how Tal is struggling to control his magic and Athlen is struggling to control his unspeakable curse. They both have parts of themselves that they've been taught to hide or be ashamed of, and through their relationship, they're learning to give less power to those things about themselves that they cannot change.

Tal has inherited incredibly rare and powerful magic—magic that was used by his ancestors to hurt people and forcibly maintain power, and everyone things that Tal having magic is a guarantee of that same fate. But for both of the characters, "fate" is not merely a set of circumstances or conditions, but rather a participatory undertaking defined by one's choices. Possessing magic won't make Tal a tyrant, unless he lets his fear and self-hatred keep him from learning how to control it, and the deciding factor lies in how he will choose to use it.

Like I said, this is a really fun, fast-paced fantasy adventure with a hefty side of tropey romance between queer characters and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think there were even some easter eggs towards the end that F.T. Lukens could expand into their own books, and I would be so on board to read any of those companion stories. My one note is that the world-building can be a bit hazy at best. Sometimes the surrounding kingdoms, their dynamics, and their politics feel somewhat undefined or confusing to grasp, but thankfully that doesn't play too huge of a role in the story. I still loved this, I especially loved reading it with my friends, and I would definitely read more from this author!

This book is a beautiful, incredible, intricate love letter to high fantasy, and I am so glad I got to read it.

I'm legitimately impressed with how much lore, worldbuilding, plot, and large-cast character development F.T. Lukens managed to squeeze into a novel that's barely over 300 pages long. Tal is such a fascinating and nuanced character that goes through an INCREDIBLE journey in this book, and watching him discover himself at the same time he's discovering Athlen... it was gorgeous. 2021's queer new releases continue to blow me away.

It's just so soft. Can I make that my entire review? Soft. There you go. Good lord.

This was one of those books I actually forced myself to pace at the end because I didn't want it to end. That doesn't happen to me very often, and I greatly treasure the books that manage to eke that much emotion out of me. I'm a little sad that I DID finish it, honestly, because now I have no idea what I'm going to be able to find to fill that gap in my heart.

This book is very special, and I cannot wait to see what else F.T. Lukens comes up with next - as far as I'm concerned, they're on my insta-buy list.

(Special thanks to the fine merfolk at Simon and Schuster for the NetGalley ARC!)

*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Wow, this book blew me away. The romance between Tal and Athlen is so sweet and sincere, and the fantastical elements are great compliments to the story. I loved how Tal's kindness is used as a strength instead of a weakness. I can't say much more without giving away a pretty big twist, so I'll just say that this was a delightful novel.

Oh jeez, this book is cute. It does have some dark moments, but ultimately it’s a nice palate cleanser from, you know, life. I’ve found myself increasingly into high fantasy over the last few years (especially during/since 2020), and this book was just *chef’s kiss* IT for me. It has that perfect mix of adventure and drama, magic and romance, triumph and suffering, without making me unbearably sad. There are some “The Little Mermaid but make it gay” vibes, but overall its a very original take on the tale with a heavy focus on family and found family.

Unfortunately, I am DNFing this book at about 55%. I was waiting for the story to get interesting, but evidently if a story doesn't pick up until after the 50% mark, it's not worth the trouble in the first place. I really liked the main relationship, I thought they were sweet together, but there was so little set up for their relationship that I couldn't fully understand where their chemistry comes from, what motivates them in relationships, why I should be rooting for them. There was very little character set up at the beginning of the book before they met, and then afterwards the character depth that was written was pretty minimal. I also don't love how instalovey the story was, given that there was very little set up. I think that instalove can definitely work in romance books, but with this one the lack of character work performed before their first meeting was a bit nonsensical to me.

So while I thought their romance was sweet, I thought the plot was boring and I couldn't connect to the characters on a deeper level, which was motivation enough to DNF the book. The cover is gorgeous though! Thank you for the ARC :)

I really enjoyed this one! At first I was a little weary because usually both pirates and fantasy are not my thing, but I was pleasantly surprised! The characters, story, and setting kept me hooked all the way through! The romance was so perfect too. I want what they have LOL,

Super cute book! I will definitely be picking up more novels by F.T. Lukens in the future. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot was very creative. I loved the fantasy element in it.

When I was this was comped to The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and Pirates of the Caribbean, I knew immediately I had to read it! Even if it’s not a genre I normally read. Even if it’s obviously heavy on the romance. That summary with that (very lovely and colorful) cover just called for me, and I’m so glad I listened.

In Deeper Waters is an utterly adorable M/M romance between two cinnamon rolls that will capture your heart. It’s a queer fairy tale, filled with tropes you’ll likely recognize, along with touching sibling bonds and plenty of adventure.

I will say, the pirates sort of feel like a lie. I mean, technically there are pirates in this book, but if you’re picking it up for pirates, you’re probably going to be disappointed. The story itself, though, is anything but. You might be surprised that I loved this so much, especially given my obvious distaste for sweet romance, but y’all, these characters just absolutely stole my heart and ran away with it. More books like this, please!

My Thoughts

- In Deeper Waters is filled with adventure and danger and attempted assassination, but the thing that will stick with you is the utterly adorable romance. Is that weird coming from me? Yeah, probably. You have to understand that neither of them attempts to stab the other or has nefarious plans to kick butt and take names or, really, have an evil bone in their body. It’s maybe a teensy bit disappointing, but just a little. Even if romance isn’t generally your thing, it’s hard not to fall for this couple and find yourself swept up in their story and their plight. More on the romance later, though. The adventure likely isn’t going to be what you expect, and even now, it’s really the romance that sticks with me most of all. But make no mistake, there is adventure. There’s pirates and swashbuckling (sort of) and nefarious things afoot. What I’m saying is that despite loving the romance, it’s not the only thing going for this book. There’s magic, in a world burned by magic and utterly afraid of it. There’s coming-of-age and deciding who you want to be in a world that has already deemed you a monster. This book is so much more than just romance. So for the less romance-inclined among us (myself included), there’s plenty of other things to carry the story, too!

- At its core, this book puts a queer twist on well-known fairy tales, and you’ll find easily recognizable elements of them spun into something new and magical. I’m not going to tell you what those elements are, because part of the joy in reading it is recognizing those familiar aspects and then seeing how they’re twisted and changed! Plus, you know, there’s quite a few spoilers involved. So my lips are sealed. Needless to say, there are a lot of allusions to traditional fairy tales. So if you’re a fairy tale buff, there’s plenty for you to appreciate. I don’t believe this story is being marketed as a queer fairy tale, but it should be! The writing quality really evokes that fairy tale feeling while still packing in plenty of action. Just when you thought fairy tales couldn’t get any cooler, Lukens comes in and not only makes both parties men but men on equal footing. No damsel—or otherwise—in distress here that needs someone to swoop in and save them. It’s a difficult thing to do, given the traditional fairy tale structure, but this book reads more like a modern fairy tale in so many ways, despite it being historical fiction. It’s a really fun dynamic to read, and I definitely want more books like this!

- These characters are absolute cinnamon rolls, and I loved each and everyone of them. I couldn’t help but fall in love with them! I mean, the banter between Tal and Athlen? *chef’s kiss* The banter between the siblings? Also *chef’s kiss* This is a weird feeling for me. I’m not used to falling for anyone who openly objects to murder. What’s happening to me?! If you like men who are gentle but not pushovers, you will absolutely love these precious characters. Tal, especially, has such a gentle heart and is trying so hard to be a good person. That doesn’t mean he’s going to let the world walk all over him, though. He is a prince, in charge of helping rule a country, after all. I think these portrayals are so important, because as much as I love Stabby McMurderPrince, it’s nice to see different versions of strength and leadership. There’s also this heavy dichotomy of the way people assume a person will be, or what a person will become, and the self-determination to decide that for one’s self. I absolutely loved this narrative. Plus, how can you not root for characters who are just trying to be their best selves, even if they make some mistakes along the way?!

- This book has some of the best sibling scenes, ranging from teasing to arguing to simply fiercely being there for one another. I love the sibling dynamics in this, and as someone with a lot of siblings, it resonated with me. As the youngest of five siblings, Tal inhabits a place that is all too familiar for me. His older siblings all seem to have their lives worked out and to know their place in the kingdom. His place, however, is still a little precarious, having been sheltered as a child and bearing a massive secret that makes others assume he’ll become a monster. For now, though, he’s still the baby of the family, and that definitely shows with the way his older siblings treat him—sometimes overprotective, sometimes teasing. They can joke and poke fun and mess around with the best of them. The most important thing, though, is that when it comes down to it, family is there for each other. Oh my gosh, I can’t even start to tell you how much I love this family dynamic! Even when things are going sideways, even when Tal has doubts about everything, there’s this strong undercurrent of family bonds and what family is willing to do for each other. This is highlighted all the more by the fact that Athlen doesn’t have family, which is tragic in other ways.

I heard this book had a merman and I was in. It ended up being the love child of The Little Mermaid and The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and when you compare this book to Gentleman's Guide it falls a bit short.

In many ways this feels like a debut novel, so I was shocked to see that Lukens had other books listed on Goodreads. Nevertheless, it was entertaining, except for the ending, and ultimately that is what turned this three-star read into a two-star read for me.

In Deeper Waters is a fun, action-packed romantic fantasy book that you can read in a couple of settings. So if you're looking for a great quick read, definitely pick up this one!

The book follows Tal, the youngest son of a queen, who is sent on a grand tour as he is coming of age. During the tour, he is kidnapped because of his magic, and with the intent that his kidnapping would start a war. He then meets Althlen who becomes the one person who Tal can trust and who can help stop the upcoming war.

Even though this book is action-packed, it's also quite gentle and sweet. You're not too worried about the upcoming war or tense situations because a lot fo the book confuses on the romance. Which is something that I super enjoy in fantasy books so I was very keen for it. It's a lovely romance between two YA aged boys.

Definitely pick this up!

Loved this queer and magical coming of age story!

Ten claps for having a bisexual prince!!!! Prince Tal is so dorky I love him. Naive due to being hidden for so long, his growth during the journey is really engaging, though a bit on the nose at times. I love his family!!! Even though they were responsible for hiding Tal for so long, they all love and protect each other so much, it was really nice reading about a loving yet realistic family. (lots of good natured teasing!)

And Athlen was such a cool character!! I love his backstory, and the mythos was unique. Tal and Athlen together were lovely, a nice slow development from initial interest to friendship to something more.

This book was a joy to read- even in darker moments when Tal was kidnapped, it had a sense of hope and belonging. The ending was suitably happy, and fit the overall positive mood of the book.

High fantasy isn't really my bag, though I can appreciate high fantasy that includes LGBTQ characters. My biggest issue with this book is that the relationships are so predictable. Of course you fall in love with the enigmatic stranger who saves you. And of course that stranger's otherworldly and spellbinding appeal is because they are a literal mythological creature.I can appreciate the dilemmas around magic usage and the responsibility that comes with being the descendant of a "bad guy". Some of the characters, the darker characters in particular, are given more complex motivation. Overall all, though, I'm not especially impressed.

First, the cover of this novel is simply gorgeous and instantly made me want to read it before I even looked at the synopsis. In Deeper Water was an excellent blend of character growth, magic, politics, and high seas adventure. There are multiple romance stories throughout, but they are not the central focus, to me, and instead are perfectly integrated with the adventure.

Prince Tal finally gets to stop hiding away in the castle and gets to explore the world with his coming-of-age tour. As one of five children in the royal family, he is fourth in line and the youngest son. Although he does not feel pressure for the throne, as he will not inherit it, he has the added burden of being the last mage. He inherited the magic from his great-grandfather and he is struggling to control and understand his power considering there is no one to teach him. Not only is he unsure about his magic, but he is also fearful of it. His great-grandfather used the magic to kill thousands and waged wars and Tal has no interest in using his power to hurt others.

Tal was an interesting character as he is a confused teenager who is trying to figure out how he fits into the royal family as he has been hidden for so long due to his magic. He makes many mistakes throughout the story, but I loved his character growth as he learns from them and makes better decisions the next time. I am not positive if Tal is described as bisexual or pansexual as the exact label is not said (as far as I remember), but it is stated that he loves anyone regardless of gender. I loved the representation given to this main character and that it was not a plot device. Instead, it was a part of Tal’s character and was “normalized” in this world as his family and other characters accepted him.

The events into the story are set into motion when Tal, his brother, Garrett, and the rest of the crew encounter an abandoned shipwreck where they find a boy, Athlen. Tal has an attraction to Athlen and is intrigued by him. The two of them end up entangled in a huge adventure when Tal is eventually kidnapped and there is a sudden impending war on the horizon that must be stopped. There are many secrets between them as Athlen and Tal get to know each other and they slowly begin to show their growing feelings.

I absolutely love Tal and his family and would love spin-off stories to focus on each of them. I greatly enjoyed that the author wrote this family as a unit and there was no needless backstabbing or jealousy written in just to add in extra drama. The characters were all fun in this novel and it was not difficult to keep track even though there were a lot of them. Athlen is a mysterious character and it was nice to read about him as each layer was revealed. He is a complex character that relates to Tal as both of them are more similar than they initially seem. The story moves forward at a decent pace, but I would have preferred a little longer spend on the last bit of the book as it felt rushed in comparison to the rest of the novel. It was very well done though and more emotional than I thought it would be as it was very sweet. Overall, this is a very loving adventure story!

**I want to give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Margaret K. McElderry Books, for a review copy of this very entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Every now and again you read a book that you so desperately needed when you were younger, and this is 150% one of those reads for me. First of all, I would die this squad. Though they make mistakes, they love and support each other.

This book for me is a breath of fresh air since most of the high fantasy books that I’ve read have complicated storylines (heavy reads) so it felt nice to read something light. I’m actually quite satisfied by how easy it was to read in terms of plot and writing style. It was definitely a page turner. Although it’s a high fantasy book I should point out that it focuses more on romance but nonetheless the book has great romance and doesn’t make it less exciting. The main characters, Tal and Athlen are everything. Their personality is leaning more on the soft side, so adorable and precious which I really like. The side characters are REALLY fun they made me want to stay up late and read more. It was also hard for me not to fall in love with the book because of the mesmerizing vibe of the sea, I love that most of the scenes happened in/around water and it’s something to look forward to if you’re planning to read this book.

THIS WAS SO CUTE!!!! Going into this book, I had no idea it was a fantasy romance. I just thought it was a historical romance about a guy going on his coming of age tour falling for a guy who is hanging with pirates. While that does happen, the magic plays a HUGE part in this book and I really loved it. The growth Tal goes through from hiding in the castle as the magical fourth royal child to someone who is strong, confident, and determined to save the ones he loves was amazing. Tal's relationship with his family as definitely one of my favorite aspects of this book. From the first page to the last page, their devotion and love to one another was just so heartwarming. I would have loved to get to know their mom more too, but I still enjoyed seeing Tal interact with his siblings.

The romance in this book was just so wholesome and sweet and I was swooning over it. Tal and Athlen slowly fell for each other and would do anything to keep each other safe. There's even a nursing-back-to-health scene in here that was adorable. I can't gush about them or this book enough! Definitely go pick it up!

Set in a kingdom by the sea, journeying through the waters, and the towns near the banks, IDW follows Tal, a young prince on his coming-of-age tour, as he finds himself in the midst of a rouge kidnapping.


Tal is the youngest, and also the one with magic coursing through his veins. It is his deepest secret, one that could plunge his kingdom into war. So, he is kept hidden behind the palace walls, secured. On his coming-of-age tour in the sea with his brother, Tal finds new adventure and dilemma when a mysterious prisoner Athlen jumps into the ocean to escape, and the young prince is kidnapped.

It took some time for Tal to grow on me, to be honest. I found him like any other YA character – confused, conflicted, in a dilemma, always feeling like the second best, not being good enough. That one naïve, innocent person who is very oblivious to the hurt of others but is the good one because they feel emotions unlike their predecessors etc. That type of character, you know. I’ve seen and read about this same character arc again and again, and hence, it took time for me to get to like Tal and actually feel for him. I did, and then in the last 10% of the book, I went back to square one. He wasn’t the best main character, to be honest, but he was adorable. There were moments with him that I very much enjoyed.

On the other hand, Athlen was a character that I always had my doubts on. I couldn’t completely trust him, solely because of the stunts he pulled on Tal right from the beginning. He seemed good (also has secrets, haha) and had a good growth by the end, but he wasn’t specifically my favorite in the book. What I also didn’t seem to enjoy much was the insta-love between the two. It was very quick, too fast, just after the first meet. Didn’t even get to have enough conversations to get to know each other. Which is something that I don’t really enjoy in books now, you see. Insta-love doesn’t do the deed for me anymore.

This brings me to the romance part of the book. While it is a fantasy, romance takes up almost eighty percent of the book, as well as love. And I say it as two different things because they are. The romance between Athlen and Tal was – if I may – almost too cliché at some points. As I stated, it was too quick to actually grasp at either’s actual emotions for each other. At some points though, it was so soft that I couldn’t help but swoon and root for the two.

Now, about love – it played such a huge role in the book. Tal’s love for his people and his family, his siblings was immensely beautiful to read about. Usually you see so much sibling rivalry in books, but here in IDW, there was nothing but love and respect in the family. No extra secrets and betrayal and plots for overtaking the other. That was so refreshing to read about – family supporting each other. Loving each other.

In similar lines, the world building was very smooth and vividly portrayed through the pages. I loved the world that the author created – kingdoms and politics, families and myths. And magic. Magic wasn’t the primary element in the worlds, but it still played a significant part in the plot. I would’ve loved to see more of the magic in the story, to be honest. To see it in more stance and see Tal use it more.

My biggest complaint with this book is one in the end – it was so rushed. That, and the fact that the romance between Athlen and Tal was churned out to appear like starstruck lovers – oh so tragic – thingy. Not gonna lie, the end kind of reminded me of Patroclus and Achilles haha. It was cute and adorable and if I was maybe younger, I would’ve cried. But now, I could only roll my eyes at the stupidity of ‘love’ that drove Tal. It was – a bit too much for me.

Anyhow, despite this, I enjoyed reading In Deeper Waters a lot. It was adventurous and full of action, warmth and love. I loved the relationships between the siblings and the growth. The character developments were amazing, especially Tal’s. We start the book with him being scared and timid and under a shadow but by the end, he takes control and pride in his powers, and stands tall. And don’t we love to see it!

Overall, In Deeper Waters is a very fun and enjoyable read, quick and fast paced enough to keep you engaged. If you had recently read Fable, and want more sea adventures, then this is a book for you!