In Deeper Waters

February 1, 2021

Gr 9 Up-A merman and a prince who is secretly a mage fall in love on a pirate ship, and must endure a political kidnapping and repay a sea witch before they can be together. Can Prince Tal and his beloved merman Athlen survive such a journey toward a happy ending? Lukens attempts to weave together too many plots in this queer YA fantasy novel. Not enough time is spent on the page to give all of the complex characters the backstories that readers will desire. Teens are introduced to mages, mermen, multiple royal families, mercenary pirates, and other magical creatures, all of whom come with a history that is integral to the plot. However, the information given only scratches the surface, resulting in too many characters whose stories are tangled together and big plot reveals falling short. The ending feels abrupt, leaving questions unanswered for some plotlines, while others get wrapped up into a happily ever after. After a perilous journey, these characters deserve better. VERDICT The plot of this queer fantasy is intriguing, but ultimately proves to be too much for one novel.-Elizabeth Portillo, Finkelstein Memorial Lib., Spring Valley, NY

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2021
Teenage royalty and romance at sea. Sixteen-year-old Prince Taliesin of Harth is fourth in line for the crown, and he also has a closely guarded secret: Like his denounced great-grandfather, he has the rare magical ability to conjure fire. While he and his siblings are on his traditional coming-of-age tour, they come across a burning ship, a mysterious trunk of golden coins, and Athlen, a handsome young man in fetters. Tal is drawn to the enigmatic lad's company and is swept up in a machination involving his great-grandfather's legacy, royal marriages and alliances, an assassination plot, and the reality of merfolk. Elements of the story bring to mind "The Little Mermaid." Tal's pansexuality is a non-issue, structural misogyny seems to only exist in some kingdoms, and while imperialism and people of different skin tones exist, there don't seem to be racialized categories attached to power (dark-haired Tal is described as having tanned skin while Athlen is pale). Lukens stays true to the conventions of the royal fantasy genre while avoiding the sexism and heteronormativity often baked into those worlds, with a depiction of romantic and sexual tension reminiscent of fan fiction. For readers with a penchant for pirates, princes, and pining. (Fantasy. 13-18)

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May 1, 2021
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Sixteen-year-old Prince Tal is magic; born of fire, he is the last mage of his royal line and the first since his evil great-grandfather abused his own magic powers to wreak death and devastation. Accordingly, Tal's magic is a closely guarded secret, lest the people of his country and the surrounding kingdoms think he will use it for evil, too. Now on a coming-of-age tour of his kingdom, Tal discovers a strange boy chained on a derelict ship and recklessly uses magic to free him, only for the captive to leap into the sea and vanish under the waves. Soft-hearted Tal is devastated, sure the teen has drowned. But when Tal arrives at the nearest port town, he is astonished to find the young man there. It turns out the fellow, named Athlen, has a secret of his own that will propel the two young men, who have fallen in love, on a great adventure that will see Tal kidnapped by pirates and held as a pawn in a plot to push his kingdom into war. Can Athlen rescue him, and can the plot be foiled? Lukens has written a richly imagined fantasy, filled with action, suspense, and fully realized characters, that is also a beautiful love story that will touch readers' hearts and live in their memories.

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