↦ 4.5 stars

↦ cw: rape, self-harm (mentioned), death, violence, sexual assault, suicide (mentioned), castration, drug addiction, human trafficking, transphobia, parent death, grief

the descent of the drowned is a beautifully written fantasy debut novel that's set in a indo-persian world and is inspired by pre-islamic arabian mythology.

the writing is chef's kiss. it's poetic without being over the top. it creates excellent images and i could visualise every place that was described, which is something very rarely done well in books. ana lal din has an amazing way of writing characters and describing them, not only through their feelings and actions, but also through their interactions. the exploration of human nature was very well done.

i loved the main characters, levi and roma. roma's story especially was heartbreaking to read about, but the author deals with these heavy topics in a delicate manner. roma is a traumatised character, but she's also strong and her abuse wasn't the defining point of her character. she yearns for freedom and is willing to fight for it.

levi has to be my favourite character, because i could somehow relate to his story. he's deeply wounded by his mother's death and throughout the book we see him trying to come to terms with the guilt of not being there when she hurt. i loved the exploration of grief that slowly turns into anger, both at the world and at himself. the parallels between who he wants to be and who he was taught to be were a good way to describe his character.

the world-building was excellent. the descent of the drowned is very rich in culture, but it also covers important topics that should be talked about - prostitution, human trafficking, the caste system.

one complain i have is how slow the first half of the book was. it takes a while to build up conflict, but once it picks up, it's so worth it. i did enjoy the description of the world and the culture, but it took a bit to actually be fully into the story.

thank you to netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Descent of the Drowned includes great imagery, immersive world building, and dynamically developed characters. Rich imagery and well-constructed descriptions reveal a cruel society based in a colonized Indo-Persian world. The author uses great imagery, especially early in the story to create a vivid and immersive world.

Like the world, the characters are well-layered. Roma’s story is tragic, but she is a survivor. I love that Roma doesn’t blindly accept the demands and expectations of society and instead questions the world she lives in and the inequities (and harsh treatment) she experiences. She is a brave person in a ruthless world who holds onto her goodness and sense of right and wrong. Levi, though of a higher caste, goes through his own trauma and struggles. It’s interesting to see how each character deals with the difficulties and dangers forced on them throughout the story. Both Roman and Levi have experienced the harsh and unforgiving cruelties of their society, yet their lives are totally different.

"When your sins push you up to your knees, you crawl toward redemption, Levi. You don’t surrender."

As much as I appreciate the skilled world building and character development, I was not prepared for the graphic and horrifying events that occur in the story. Disturbing elements of the book include rape, self-harm, starvation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and more. The story is brutal and raw and horrific, at times. What Roma went through is truly horrifying and heart-breaking, and it was tough to read. This is definitely a book that offers strong messages about important and relevant issues, but it should come with some major trigger warnings.

I enjoyed the author’s writing, though I did feel like the pacing was a bit off. The start of the story is slow and offers a lot of information at once. There are parts that feel a bit like an info dump, and I found myself rereading certain scenes for further understanding and clarification. At almost halfway through, the story really picks up and becomes a much more immersive read, but I wish the entire book had that feel. Overall, this was an okay story for me but a bit too dark for my tastes. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

For starters, definitely be aware that a lot of mature and sometimes disturbing topics are covered in this book. I think Ana Lal Din does a really excellent job of not making light of any of these situations and writes them in a very real way, but this book does discuss a lot of dark themes. I really loved the last third of the book (which is where the synopsis seems to actually start) but the first two-thirds of the book was paced very slowly in comparison. There was a ton of world-building, which was necessary since there was such a unique world in the story, but I found myself getting really bogged down by just the sheer amount of information. Both Leviathan and Roma were interesting characters but at times it felt like the same internal conflict was just constantly being repeated and I didn't see a ton of growth in the characters. I appreciated that there was no romance forced between the two characters, especially considering Roma's past, but instead there were some really touching friendships in the story. The writing was really beautiful and once I got through the beginning, I felt totally immersed in the story. I will definitely be reading the later books in the series since I felt like toward the end was when the actual action really started up.

(This book contains some very dark elements such as rape, major physical and psychological abuse, human trafficking, and suicide. Not suitable for young readers!)

The Descent of the Drowned is not your typical YA fantasy book with a romance side plot. Not at all. The story of Roma, a sacred slave of a goddess, is one of infinite darkness. The book is brutal, honest, heartbreaking and absolutely impossible to put down. The book tackles some horrific but oh so important topics. What Roma has to endure is unimaginable - yet there are lots of girls and women in our world who shares her heartbreaking story - and that is something we must never forget no matter how much one may want to. The society the book describe makes my skin crawl - yet there are people in our world who lives under similar circumstances. The Descent of the Drowned is a book about right and wrong but also about everything that’s in between. It’s a story about how the world around us affects us - good and bad. It’s a tale a about how people are defined by their actions. Sometimes we make a horrible, unforgivable mistake but other times we act just right.

This is definitely one of those books that’s going to stay with me for quite a while after I finished it. I cannot press enough how captivating this book was. It is absolutely worth reading!

***I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley (thank you White Tigress Press!) in exchange for an honest review.***

This book is heavy with some dark concepts. Please check the trigger warnings at the start of the book before getting into it. In fact, I would suggest this be categorised as NA not YA as it covers topics of rape, human trafficking, drug abuse, prostitution, and torture.

Thank you Netgalley for proving an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


I loved this book so much. I’ll be honest it took me a while to get into because the world-building was so rich but around 40% things picked up and the plot had me on edge. What I loved about this book the most is that it echoed the discrimination and injustices faced by refugees, immigrants, and minorities today. Particularly in South Asia and the Middle East. The south Asian aesthetics were beautiful and Ana’s writing had me in awe. She had some really stunning quotes I will carry with me. The characters were amazing, I adored Roma and the way she stood up for herself against her mum when faced with injustice. Levi was so a fantastic character who struggled with his morals, the dimensions of this book were excellent.

Overall I will be telling ALL my friends to pre-order and buy this book!! Super excited to see what Ana has in store for us next!

Wow! This book is amazing, seriously. The book is set in a colonised Indo-Persian world and inspired by pre-Islamic Arabian Mythology.
We have two main characters who develop the story: Roma and Leviathan. The first is raised in the lowest cast, and the second in the highest.
Roma serves to the goddess Lamia, she's a lamiadasis. Lamiadasis are sold to the patrons like 'holy vessels' to serve to the Mother's purpose. The truth is girls are sold to high casts like 'prostitutes'. They're are treated the worst way, they're slaves. Roma know the truth and the only thing she wants is to be free.
Leviathan is the bastard son of the tyrant. Her mother was from the clans, the lowest statement of the city. He isn't respected by his home, neither by his people. The only thing he wants is to make justice.

It's very difficult for me to speak about this book. It's beautiful without any doubt. Hard to read? Yes. Heartbreaking? Absolutely. It speaks about very difficult topics like suicide , awful treatment of women, rape, starvation, sex abuse, human (children's) trafficking for organ sales and sex slaves, situations where you can't do nothing but selling your freedom to someone with more power than you.

I've suffered a lot with Roma. She's so great, brave and so smart. I've suffered with Levi When he couldn't decide whether to be a better person, or let things go. I've felt every word of this story and that's what I'm always looking for when I open a book.

Anne's writing is beautiful. It hooks you, and even the book develops a little slowly, you don't notice it. Descriptions of clothing, places, language, festives- transport you to a different world. Absolutely stunning. I highly recommend this book, seriously. This is the kind of story that people must to know, to read and to hear.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and @tigresspress for the opportunity to read this amazing book. Love it!!!

I loved the premise of this so much, but unfortunately I was confused about the world pretty much from the get go.

Thank you to White Tigress Press and Netgalley for providing me an E-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Descent is set in an Indo-Persian world inspired by Islamic Arabian mythology and it pulls you in immediately. The culture, language, and mannerisms of the society allow a reader to fully immerse themselves. It follows two characters, Roma and Leviathan as they fight to survive in cruel worlds of their own. Both of them meet as their hardships start to damage who they are. For me, the side characters like Chirag and Malev were special since they motivated our protagonists! The first quarter did a strong job of developing the characters.

My biggest issue was the writing style. It felt unpolished and prevented me from fully understanding the plot and enjoying the book. Yet the ending left me waiting for more all the same.

I look forward to seeing what happens in the next one, since it left a profound impact on me.

I received an ARC for an honest review from NetGalley.
The Descent of the Drowned is a dark thrilling story about Roma and Leviathan. I loved that the author used indo-Persian mythology which is different, instead of the usual Greek Mythology.

I am rating this book 3.5 bc This story deals with some dark and heavy topics but it’s written well. I just wish I was more aware of them before reading. I also had difficulty connecting with Roma.
Trigger warnings include rape, self-harm, torture, and physical abuse.

(Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this novel to read and review)

First let me begin by saying that this was one of the best debut novels I have read. The author has created a brutal, ruthless and savage world that will both deeply intrigue and horrify you. It is set in a Indo-Persian fantasy world that includes a war-torn, colonized nation with the presence of ancient magic and many fierce and merciless Gods.
The author has also created these beautifully complex characters that will set your soul on fire with the wrath, rage, pain, resilience and fortifying strength they each hold within them. This is no light-hearted book that will leave you serene and sated, no, this book will leave you hungry for vengeance and justice against those who have wronged (and that's putting it lightly) the same characters that you had choice but to love. Another reason I loved this book is that it's not lacking in plot or purpose. I think the author has included a lot of sub-plot information to make this series feel full-bodied, well developed, and intricate in way that the reader will want to return for more.

A few pointers I would like to make:
1. I understand that this book is classified as YA but fair warning to all readers (especially young readers) that some topics discussed within this book may be triggering (rape, abuse, self-harm etc.), and I personally believe should be targeted for a more mature audience.

2. Make no mistake, I absolutely loved this book but the amount of names (of people, Gods and places) was a bit overwhelming to remember and keep track of at times.

3. How great is Ashar???? because I loved him, from his first appearance in the book I knew he was going to be my favorite.

4. I don't know how I'm possibly going to survive until the next installment in this series.

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

Trigger warnings include, but certainly aren’t limited to, rape, child abuse, sexual slavery, trafficking, violence, murder, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, and drug use.

The world created in this book is incredibly complex and richly drawn. Full points to the author for creating such a real world in a debut. However, it’s a world that is so unrelentingly dark and violent that it quickly becomes an overwhelming and depressing read.

I had to double check that this was actually classified as YA because the staggeringly dark themes and the slow development made me think this must be adult fantasy but it’s not. Personally, I would reclassify this as New Adult or Adult rather than YA.

The pain and violence that are ever present in this book are intentional on the author’s part. The book is dedicated to Rohingya Muslims and the author says in her acknowledgment that she wanted to draw attention to war crimes, trafficking, ethnic cleansing, etc. She succeeded in that regard.

When I finished this book, I was convinced I wasn’t going to read the sequel, despite finding it well written and giving it a 3.5 star rating, because of how emotionally draining it was to read. However, now that two weeks have passed (and I’ve recovered by reading a fluffy contemporary romance), I find myself deeply curious about where Roma’s journey will take her in the next book. Levi is significantly less interesting to me (the side characters connected to him even less so) but Roma’s story could continue in a myriad of ways and I find myself wanting to see what happens to her. I just hope we’re past the point where trauma after trauma after trauma is inflicted on her.

This was an intense book. I wasn’t expecting the story to deal with such heavy topics. A great book but be prepared for hurt and that ending...

Illuminating qualities of magic and originality, Ana Lal Din’s gripping novel, The Descent of the Drowned, leaves a path for an equally powerful sequel.

Ceccelia Beckman, Sheaf & Ink

A social commentary on the caste system and the people it specifically endangers and harms, The Descent of the Drowned is an intriguing fantasy debut.

Roma is one of the many young women dedicated to a sacred goddess whose task is to maintain the balance between the gods and men. Though, the harsh reality of these girls circumstances is one of complete submission, subjugation, and servitude to the whims of men.

And after her first and only patronage, one of horror and abuse, the main protagonist, Roma only wants freedom. She wants to be her own person and have control over her identity and body. We see over the course of the novel her struggle with what’s happened to her and see the harsh realities of her circumstances. Though, Roma is determined, even after all that she has suffered, to end her enslavement. It is the transformation, like an adder shedding its skin, of Roma’s mental state and this unknown magic within that makes the ending unexpected.

I seriously did not see that coming.

Whereas, the tyrant rulers’ bastard son, Leviathan is a man seeking redemption. He happens upon Roma at his mothers funeral and is drawn to Roma, like a moth to the flame. He offers Roma protection, but at a cost that will have her (unknowingly) thrown into a situation that will have catastrophic costs on her emotionally and physically.

Further, when Roma’s brother is put to trial and sentenced a horrific vitric, it sets into motion a tense plot full of deception, corruption, and violent assaults. And underneath the violence and human suffering, deep within the soil of this richly imagined world is a coveted magic. A magic that the tyrant ruler is willing to do anything to find and exploit.

With an astonishing ending, (my jaw friends, was on the floor) readers will be anxious to find out what happens next.

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

4.5 stars; thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. All I can really say is that The Descent of the Drowned is one of the best debut novels I've ever read, and I don't think any words of mine will be able to do it justice. It occasionally lacks a bit in pacing (perhaps its singular and very minor fault), but it makes up for it with vivid characters, gorgeous worldbuilding, and a brilliant and brutal storyline that hooks you in and refuses to let go. I enjoyed the mythological and cultural aspects of DotD so much, especially the history and stories behind it all, and even though I had to read slowly to truly understand and enjoy all of it (though maybe that's just me being a slow reader in general), I could not put it down once I found time to pick it up. The author is unbelievably talented; she weaves such a rich and creative atmosphere with her writing that it's hard to believe this is only her first novel. Plus, both of the MCs, Roma and Leviathan, are such well-written and nuanced characters, and their struggles with grief, freedom, and self-discovery definitely hit hard and get you to cheer them on every step of the way. (I also think the author did a great job of handling some of the heavier topics addressed in this book, specifically grief and sexual assault, without incorporating some of the romanticizing or undermining that I've seen in many other novels.)

All in all, this was an excellent debut that kept me excited all the way to the very last page with an ending that absolutely stunned me. Even if I had a bit of a slow start with it, I ended up being far more than pleasantly surprised, and I can't wait to see where Ana Lal Din takes Roma and Levi in the sequel.

5 stars (actually this book is worth the entire galaxy of stars!)

I was given the opportunity by NetGalley to read this piece of art in exchange for an honest review.

This is not your average story. This is also not for the sensitive.

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish and would read it over and over again. I'll even just buy the book just to stare at the gorgeous cover!  Ana Lal Din is one of those authors whose books you will not hesitate to pick up when you see her name on the cover. The Descent of the Drowned is her first debut novel and she has made me a fan already. I squealed when I saw another book was listed on Goodreads.

The beginning of the story was gripping. The characters were well rounded and fleshed out in a way one would mistake them for a real person. The emotions put onto the pages were so raw that it made me feel every bit of anger, sadness and joy, it was unbelievable.
And oh my word...
I did not expect this book to end like that! Going into this book I was starting to think it might be a slow burn/enemies to lovers kind of thing. Nope! Sorry to all those romance lovers, this is not the book! But it was done beautifully and showed that not all the books HAVE to have romance in there! The author had me for a moment, like 5 pages before the dramatic end...

Beautifully composed, structured and laid out. The last page leaves you with a feeling of need and ecstasy, as if there should be a next book but if there isn't, I'll be ok with that too (kidding, I need more! I need to know what happens to Levi!)

TW: Rape, talk of past rape, prostitution, torture, self-harm

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

This is not a book of comfort but a rough awakening of the true underbelly of society. It is a call to action to human trafficking, prostitution, rape, caste systems, and the injustices transgender, children, and women face in society.

The main characters -- Roma, the sacred slave of a goddess and Leviathan or Levi who is the bastard son of a tyrant. Both come from different worlds but end up in these difficult and impossible situations. Roman and Levi both have good hearts, but the circumstances they have been thrown in to make their choices blurred with gray--especially with Levi.

Roma -- poor baby, I loved her. I pitied her. I cheered for her. I mourned with her. She's always known that her station in society is wrong and is nothing more than a glorified prostitute. Roma has experienced the cruelties of her world but still finds it in her heart to help those less fortunate than her. And the events leading to her auction and awakening towards the end were difficult to read. I'm excited to see how it all plays out in the sequel.

It was heartbreaking, but it was meant to wrench your heart. It was supposed to make you cringe and weep. The women's hopelessness in the book, from the tribe women who never know if the Wardens will rape or ruin them, the thin layer of protection of marriage, the three levels of prostitution, the threat of human trafficking.... the author does not hold back.

Levi....oh, Levi... I struggle to write this because I had such high hope for him. His backstory is heartbreaking, and I can relate too. He was a sensitive boy in a role and world where kindness is beaten out of you. He attempts to counteract his past discretions, but there is a decision he makes that will always be unforgivable. I could never forgive him for it, but I understand WHY but nooo Levi, no.

The plot was slow at times, but the writing was sublime and painted a picture of how beautiful and ugly a society can seem. The author did not hold back on each side--the underbelly of society was bloated with ugliness, acquisitions, injustice, and the beauty of the culture, the richness of the foods, and dances, were breathtaking.

Overall, this is not for the lighthearted but a necessary book to remember how, despite advancements in our society, we cannot truly sweep under the rug the power struggle and those who suffer in the middle of it.

Thank you to Netgalley, White Tigress Press, and Ana Lal Din for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Roma finds herself in a world where she has to shut up in order to protect everyone she cares about. Thanks to the scars on her face, the ones she did to herself after she meets her first patron and was sexually abused by him, she has lived knowledge that sooner or later she will have to go through it all over again, as is her "duty" and her sisters to do so.

Leviathan, on the other hand, was separated from his mother when he was only a child, and educated since then as the Blade, killing even his own people in his father's name, which has made him fall into the darkness he doesn't know how to go through.

Both Roma and Leviathan see the cruelty in the world and had shaped their selves to be able to live in this world but when Roma's little brother is suddenly in danger certain secrets start coming out.

I want to start by saying this is by far one of the best books I have ever read but if it is not a pretty book, it is cruel, how Ana Lal Din has the ability to show society just how it would be, or is, at its most cruel state.

The world is super well built, hard and so believable that I felt like if I was right there all the time. There is not just a society, but the rules, the type of people who live there, how everyone has developed their own self on it, the different zaats and the clans...

The characters are really well written also, they are not good (nobody in their situation would be pure or good as such) and the author does not force them to be something they are not even when their actions are hard to read, which I find is even more difficult to write. I have to admit that I fell in love with them instantly, since the first time I saw Leviathan through Roma's eyes and her interaction with the snake in the first chapter. The way they see the world and how they interact with their loved ones, how they try to do what they feel right, when they get rid of their emotions and are the bloodiest ones in the world. I think this is because you feel like them on every page, caged and traped like Roma and full of hate and tormented like Leviathan...

I could be talking about them for hours because, even if it is not the longest book, there are so many details and events and feelings that I feel like you would only understand if you read it.

To sum up, READ IT. That is it, I think this is a book that doesn't leave you indifferent, I will FOR SURE follow Ana Lal Din's future works because if this is the first one... I can't wait to see what will she write next!

PD: by the way, have you seen the GORGEOUS cover?

ARC received from Netgalley.

Rating : 3.5
This book had very interesting premise and settings. I love how the author created the system and actually quite hooked on this story. Roma is resilient and strong, but I think Levi could use some character development. There are so many things going on at once and felt a bit sudden (like the Firawn bit toward the end). Anyway, looking forward what will happen on book 2.

Descent of the Drowned is beautifully written story about Roma and Levi, two people just trying to survive in a harsh world of powerful Gods.

I found the first few chapters a bit slow and confusing, but I'm glad I stuck with it, and even went back to reread them once I understood a bit more about the world.

This book is definitely dark, and touches on uncomfortable things. However, I think its so well written that these things help the plot and make for a gripping book!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I stopped reading at 10%. I felt like I didn’t have a handle on characters, the setting, or any connection with any part of the story. Given how long it is and the other reviews mentioning triggering content, I don’t think it is right for my high school readers.