This is the kind of book many adults dreamed of reading when they were kids. It’s an LGBTQIA+ action adventure romance about pirates, mermaids, and magic in a world where homophobia doesn’t exist. It is a sweet, fun, colorful story that truly is a comfort read.

We follow Prince Tal while he is on his coming-of-age tour, but it goes sideways even before it starts. They find a prisoner aboard a burning ship, and Tal is tasked with watching over him. Athlen is a roguish, charismatic, mysterious boy—definitely not suitable for a prince, and yet Tal can’t keep him out of his mind.

Of course, that’s only the beginning. Tal carries magic in his blood, and the wrong sort of people wish to use that to instigate another war. Athlen might be Tal’s only hope, but he’s hiding plenty of secrets of his own. Filled with the type of YA romance that makes people swoon, In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens is a fun, charming read.

A Prince, pirates, magic, and romance? Sign me up! I adored this book. It falls under my personal book category: "pink fluffy cloud", basically the story is fluffy and happy and just perfect. That is how I feel about this book, just overlook all the blood. The main characters Tal and Athlen are just so darn cute, and I love the connection they have with each other, even though they have walked vastly different paths in their young lives. I also appreciated the love and support Tal received from his family throughout the novel. Its so wonderful to see a supportive family, especially a royal family. Its not something you see very often as a reader.

I'm here to gush about how lovely this book is! In Deeper Waters is a thrilling and heartfelt story of Prince Tal and his epic coming of age adventure. There are pirates, kidnappings, magic, merpeople, and political plots and it all weaves together so beautifully! If Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and The Little Mermaid had a baby this is what it would produce.

Athlen's character is kind and naïve and makes a great foil to Tal's cynical and moody nature. Throughout the story they balance each other out and it's so satisfying in the end. I loved the shared gifts like the shark tooth and the ring, as well as the fact that, even when Athlen was trying to keep Tal safe from his deal with the sea witch, they both learned how to stop keeping secrets and be honest with each other.

Totally something I'm adding to my own personal collection as well as recommending it for our library's teen collection.

At age sixteen, Prince Tal sets out on his coming of age tour of his country. Due to his magical abilities, Tal has been sequestered in the castle and kept from society. Tal's magic is a secret he must keep at all costs but when he meets Athlen, a captive on a wrecked ship, his grasp on his magic slips. Rather than horror, Athlen expresses wonder at Tal's magic and persuades him to set him free. With a grateful kiss to his palm, Athlen flees, jumping into the ocean. Tal is grief stricken, believing Athlen to be dead, but soon discovers that not only is Athlen alive, but he's also harboring a secret -- he's a merman and the last of his kind. Just as they're reunited and building a tentative friendship, Tal is captured by mercenaries! Alone and imperiled, Tal must find a way to break free, save his family and country, and find Athlen.

In Deeper Waters is equal parts heart-pounding adventure and charming romance. Set in a fantasy world where almost all magic and magical creatures have been destroyed, the last mage and the last merman meet and fall in love. While the relationship between Tal and Athlen is a the heart of this novel, this is ultimately a story about Tal growing up and finding his place in the world. I loved the character growth he experiences -- going from a sheltered royal to someone who truly wants to learn from his people and provide the best for them. Tal also goes through a fraught journey as he suffers for his magic and the horrific legacy left by his great-grandfather, the last great mage. Throughout his struggles, Athlen is there to help and reassure him that having magic is wonderful and does not make him a villain.

I really enjoyed the characters, the world building, the romance, and Tal's supportive and loving family. I also liked that in this world there doesn't seem to be any homophobia. All in all, a very satisfying read!

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 at 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!

This loose adaptation of The Little Mermaid has a prince, a merman, and a sea witch, but thankfully avoids the sad ending of the original fairy tale.

In general, the story seems more geared toward younger YA readers. The fantasy setting is relatively simply drawn, for example. Prince Tal initially read like the stereotypical moody YA teen lead to me, and the almost instant infatuation between Tal and merman Athlen also seemed somewhat superficial.

However, as the plot unfolds, the book does gain in depth. Tal becomes a more rounded character as he reacts to the trials that he experiences and his developing romance with Athlen. The author did a terrific job of painting Tal’s despair and anger when he is captured and harshly treated by pirates who push him into using his magic in ways that he never wanted. The brush with tragedy that comes near the end of the story was also well written and very moving, I thought. That made the happy ending even sweeter. 😊

Overall, I enjoyed it, and I’d mark this one as a good choice for fans of YA fantasy and fairy tale retellings.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

The beginning of In Deeper Waters left a bit to be desired. I felt the secondary characters were not very fleshed out; to the point they felt like cardboard copies of every other YA character. The dialogue felt uninspired, the world underdeveloped, the story/plot slightly confusing in its unclarity in order to try to create problems/surprise the reader with revelations. I don't know about you, but I like it when the story flows a bit more seamlessly. It felt truly like the point of the book was the romance and the rest was just window dressing--which eh, for fantasy to be done right you need a BIT more.

The middle is good, focuses more on Prince Tal and the hardships he has to endure while having been kidnapped. The other thing it focuses on is building the relationship between Tal and Athlen--which is super cute and where most of my enjoyment came from. I rolled my eyes a lot because Athlen's "secret" is so obvious, and Tal keeps from asking him about his survival after he throws himself into the ocean (probably to keep the mystery alive) which irritates me because that would be the only thing I would want to know in his shoes.

In the end once we are surrounded by a larger cast of characters is when I feel my interest began to ebb. The other characters are just not very interesting, and it felt like we kept them around just because we had to at this point. In Deeper Waters also left a pretty major question unanswered when it came to Athlen, and ends with the prettiest bow known to man kind. I feel this will be one of those books I forget in a couple of weeks. The idea of the book was better than the execution.

In Deeper Waters was a soft, magical fantasy, that filled me with warmth, and gently tugged at my heartstrings. With adorable characters, relatable sibling dynamics, and supportive friendships, it’s taken a place in my heart as a new comfort read! Although the worldbuilding was a bit weak, and I would have loved more political intrigue and tension, this book is definitely one I would recommend to fans of Heartstopper, and sea-shanties in general!

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster for the ARC of this book!

In Deeper Waters is the sweet, queer fairytale that I think a lot of people will find a bit of comfort in. Prince Tal is on his coming-of-age tour after having been sequestered in the castle he calls home for most of his life. He carries inside him the fire magic of his great-grandfather, who was a terrible man who did terrible things. He's kept the secret of his magic his entire life, but on his tour, his life is turned upside down. When the crew obtains a prisoner, Tal feels a connection with him and wants nothing more to help. When Athlen, the prisoner, jumps overboard and disappears, Tal is heartbroken. That is until he finds Atlhen days later perfectly fine and carrying a secret of his own.

This book was not what I was expecting. I think like most people, I say this and thought GAY PIRATES! It's not about gay pirates, but honestly, it might be better.

The story of Tal and Athlen is a quiet one. Don't get me wrong, there's no much action in this book. Shipwrecks and sword fights and fire magic. But there's just something so soft about how the relationship grows. Yes, Tal is immediately enamored, but Lukens really gives the relationship time to grow here. It's not a burning inferno waiting to spring free. It's a soft wave of emotion and wonder and elation and having found something that feels so right. I really love how it played out in this book.

The relationship we see between Tal and his siblings is also something I loved so much. They were all fiercely protective and loving towards Tal. There was no sibling rivalry or bitterness despite having a family of 5 royal siblings. They all had distinct personalities and I honestly wouldn't mind spin-off series for the siblings, I enjoyed reading them that much.

This is also another book of casual queerness as I've come to call it. It's fantasy and thankfully in this fantasy, homophobia apparently doesn't exist. It's completely normal and talked about as if it's of no consequence, which I love to see.

My only complaint I think would be that sometimes things seemed a little too tidy. There were moments where it was leading up to something happening and then that thing just...didn't happen. Something conveniently came along and it wasn't worried about anymore. That said, it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book.

Overall, a really exciting book with a sweet love story and lots of action. Definitely recommend if you want a younger YA fairy tale feel!

In Deeper Waters follows Prince Tal on his coming-of-age tour. He's been hidden away inside the palace to keep the magic he has a secret. The last magic user in the kingdom used it for horrible things, and he can't escape that stigma. When Tal and his brother come across a burning ship, one survivor remains inside, Athlen. Althen is a mysterious boy with who Tal has an immediate connection. So, when he throws himself off the boat into the middle of the ocean, a death sentence, Tal is obviously upset. That is until he sees Athlen wandering around a port city.

This book is one of those perfect comfort reads. There are some tense scenes, but it's quickly evident that there's going to be a happy ending. The author balances those dark moments with a whole load of light-hearted fun and adorableness. Seriously, this book made my heart feel very full. From a lovely relationship to heartwarming family connections, In Deeper Waters is a book packed full of love.

Pirates were slightly less relevant in this book than I thought going in, but don't worry, there are plenty of other great surprises. The land this book is set in has lots of little magical secrets to it, and especially in the ocean. From shapeshifters to mermaids, pirates to sea witches, this book has everything you ocean adventure lovers will adore!

I'd say this is the perfect read for someone who loves their fantasy on the lighter side. The fantasy world, Lukens has created is easy to follow and has very intuitive worldbuilding. This book would be enjoyable to people who want to dip their toes into fantasy, but don't want to jump in the deep end. I read a lot of heavier fantasy, so this was a lovely change of pace.

The characters were especially amazing in this book; they were just so loveable. The way Athlen and Tal interacted was so cute. They have such a kind and loving relationship as they became two people who truly understand each other. I also loved all of Tal's siblings; they were amazingly distinct and fun to read about. I wish we'd had a little bit more time with them purely because I loved them so much! Prince Tal's character development was particularly great. I loved seeing him gain confidence in himself and learn to set boundaries with his family about how they treat him. In Deeper Waters was such a lovely coming of age story.

Overall, I had an amazing time with this book. In Deeper Waters is a lovely, heartwarming, oceanic adventure with plenty of magic and a boatload of love.

<Deeeeeeeep Sigh> THIS is exactly what I needed. Wholesome Queer Love wrapped in the tight embrace of a delicious Fairy Tale with a nod to The Little Mermaid. I know... that was a mouth full! But it was so wonderful and I will not stop gushing for a while. Y’all know I love a Retelling! I just didn’t go into this knowing that’s what I’d be reading.

I loved every second of this book. From the coming-of-age tour set to the backdrop of the High Seas, to the semi-underwater treasure cove, to the castle by the sea... and even to the Queen of the Sea, who reminded me immensely of Ursula. It was all so magical.

I absolutely adored In Deeper Waters! This high fantasy read is a blend of pirates, royalty, magic, and mermaids! The action scenes could be pretty intense, but they were perfectly balanced with soft romance scenes for the bisexual lead. The family element was sweet, and the dynamic between siblings was realistic but wholesome. I also feel like this book holds a lot of potential for spinoffs between any of the siblings of even the Sea Witch.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: In Deeper Waters

Author: F.T. Lukens

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: bisexual main character, m/m romance, depression character rep, POC characters

Recommended For...: pirate fans, ya readers, fantasy lovers, history readers, romance lovers, LGBT readers

Publication Date: April 20, 2021

Genre: YA Fantasy Historical Romance

Recommended Age: 14+ (gore, violence, death, panic attacks TW)

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Pages: 320

Synopsis: 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…

Review: This is the type of book I’ll read over and over again. I absolutely loved the story (I’m really into tour/sea-faring stories) and the plot. The characters are what really make this book though and I loved how cute it was in regards to the romance. The world building was also amazingly well done and I am definitely rereading this in the future.

The only issue I had was that the romance kind of took the primary role in some parts of the book where I wanted it to the on the backburner, but it was amazing overall.

Verdict: Highly recommend!

Such an adorable story about two young men, I love a good pirate and mermaid romance and this is the perfect read for summer.

Imagine Pirates of the Carribean, and Little mermaid, and Merlin. Mash it all together and increase the cuteness, tada! You get In Deeper waters. (I mean this in the best way guys). It follows our two main characters Tal and Athlen as they try to navigate life outside their known world and realising it's okay to forgive yourself. This is a book about exploring outside your comfort zone, endurance and determination, trying to do the right thing, making people understand you are not your ancestors, and some merman plus fire magic, amazing character development and easy flowing writing style
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🌟🌟🌟🌟 [3.75/5]
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"The world isn't kind" Tal said, "But that doesn't mean I can't be."
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First, Can we agree on that beautiful cover? Okay, now I absolutely loved the characters in this book. I loved how they had their own issues, but came together as a team when their loved ones were threatened. And not to mention my two cinnamon babies, Tal and Athlen, trying to save each other every other damn page. I mean who doesn't want to dote on two characters who are the stark opposite of each other, but tried so hard to make them work. Sighhh. I love them. Not to mention the spitfire Captain and the banter between the siblings! The relationship between them were just precious and when things went south, I actually felt bad for them!
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Second, I really liked the writing style and the simplicity of the whole story in terms of the presentation. The scenes flowed really well together, and you get to see the main characters be stupid teens, and make bad decisions as well. The characters were all flawed, but they stepped up and took responsibility for their actions. That was my favourite part about this book.
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Now coming to the writing , story and character development, Tal definitely bags the spot for the development. Throughout the story, we get to see him make decisions, right and wrong ones, and pay the price for everything. And the way he grew over the course of the story? I felt like a proud mom to be honest. The story and the characters played important role in the atoryline and I loved that. Towards the middle, I felt the reality of the situation and the severity of it wasn't explored well enough and was kept to the pov of the main characters alone from the young and teen perspective, but it was still good. And that ending?? Umm excuse me?? What the heck? I was expecting that, but I wasn't? I am not ashamed to say I read this in a single sitting. This story was so flawed, wholesome, relatable, funny, simple, predictable but was so much fun to finish!! Gahhh that epilogue was Everything!
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Thank you TurnthePagesTours for the gifted Review copy and having me on the Blog Tour.
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Kindle/ Netgalley/ April 2021

This was a very middle of the road novel for me! I enjoyed it but at the same time it wasn’t the best and sadly I wanted much more from the book! I loved the characters a pirate prince and merman falling in love can’t beat that!

I was so excited for this one but sadly it fell a little flat!

I’ve been struggling to find the words to express just how wonderful this book is. In Deeper Waters provides a unique spin on a classic tale. It’s chock full of adventure, magic, longing, self-discovery, political intrigue, and best of all, the softest of mlm romances.

I fell in love with Tal and Athlen and their world from the very first chapter. Tal is strong but gentle, brave but sensitive, and his growth in the story was incredible to experience. We need more male characters like him in our fiction. Not to mention, the first-love romance is totally swoon-worthy. The mutual PINING. 🤧

However, because this story spends so much of its time focused on Tal‘s journey, there wasn’t quite as much world-building as I would’ve liked. We get lots of hints to suggest that there is so much more to this world than we are seeing, and I really wanted to learn more about it.

Despite that, I genuinely loved this story from start to finish, and trust me when I say you need to get your hands on it!! (I mean, worth it for the cover alone honestly.)

First, here’s a quick synopsis of In Deeper Waters, by FT Lukens:<br>Prince Tal has finally set off into the world on his coming-of-age tour, which is meant to give him a chance to experience the world he’s only seen from a distance. But even when he leaves the castle, Tal cannot abandon the burden that weighs heavily on his heart. He inherited magic from his long-dead great-grandfather, who killed thousands while wielding his power to wage war between kingdoms. Tal is a gentle soul, but his grandfather’s legacy lurks constantly at the back of his mind, forcing him to keep his magic a secret from all but his closest family members. Tal’s tour is hardly what he expected, and he will have to escape pirates, decode political intrigue, and perhaps even fall in love before he can find his place in the kingdom.

I loved the premise of this book so much! The blending of royalty and mer-creatures was a combination I just couldn't resist! This book had a nice balance of romance, adventure, and political world-building. I would recommend In Deeper Waters to fans of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and other queer historical-inspired stories!

This is an interesting combination of YA fantasy with a fairytale reimagining of The Little Mermaid, Set in a world where magic is feared, a young prince with magical powers sets out on a coming-of-age trip only to encounter more adventures than he could imagine. The romance elements are sweet, and the book has excellent pacing.

I loved the development of the family of royals, setting things up for the potential of other stories about them in the future. I really enjoyed watching the main character fall in love and discover his own strength.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review.

This was a story that got better and better as it progressed!

Tal is a young prince, the fourth child of Queen Carys, with no claim to the throne. But he does have magic! He has been hidden inside the castle for his own protection since the last of his ancestry with the kind of magic he holds, King Lon, was a terrible man who hungered for the demolition of any other magical beings. He brought so much shame and pain to the crown. But Tal doesn’t want to the be anything like his great grandfather.

On his ceremonial coming of age journey on a ship with his brother, Garrett, he meets a strange and beautiful boy named Athlen shackled on a sinking ship. He frees Athlen, never having any idea what turns his life is about to take.

When Tal is captured and help prisoner on another ship, whose captain has been tasked with getting Tal to reveal his secret magic, Tal believes that his life is over. He has always feared his magic and refuses to show this ship captain his truth for fear it will lead to the demise of his family. But when his magic is finally set free and escape is at his fingertips, the boy he saved becomes the boy who saves HIM!

Athlen is otherworldly and reveals his own secrets to Tal, entrusting him even though it was Tal’s very own great grandfather who killed all of the rest of Athlen’s kind.

Tal and Athlen must journey to Tal’s kingdom to uncover the dastardly plot against the royal family and stop an unnecessary war from happening between his kingdom and one who has been framed for his capture.

This was such a great and epic tale of love and overcoming fear. This was ya, but the fact that there was some gruesomeness to it was phenomenal. The urgency in this book is palpable as it progresses. And the fight against the clock to learn and uncover the truth had me on the edge of my seat!

If you think that a story about a magic prince and an ethereal merman who fall in love over the course of a harrowing journey where they must continually fight for their lives is for you, then do yourself a favor and pick up In Deeper Waters!