A Magic Deep and Drowning

Set in the waning days of the Dutch Golden Age, this enchanting, lush reimagining of The Little Mermaid is perfect for fans of Jesse Burton’s The Miniaturist and Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar.

The Dutch Republic, 1650. One fine spring day in Friesland, twenty-year-old Clara van Wieren is faced with an ill omen: a whale, beached and rotting in the noonday sun. But Clara doesn’t believe in magic and superstition, and this portent is quickly dismissed when a proposal from a wealthy merchant arrives, promising Clara the freedom she seeks from her mother’s overbearing rule.

When her attempts at overseeing the household at the family’s estate lead to her chance encounter with a young man with russet hair and sparkling eyes the color of the sea, she finds herself strangely drawn to him. As Clara grows closer to Maurits, she must choose between the steady, gentle life she has been raised for and the man who makes her blood sing.

But Maurits isn’t who he seems to be, and his secrets, once hidden beneath the waves, threaten to rise up and drown them both. And when an ancient bargain, forged in blood between the mythical people of the sea and the rulers of the land, begins to unravel, Clara finds herself at the heart of a deadly struggle for power.

What can you expect in A MAGIC DEEP & DROWNING?

• Lush & Enchanting
• Gender-swap of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid
• Historical Fantasy
• Set in 17th Century Netherlands
• Family Secrets
• Atmospheric Vibes

Interesting Twist

This was a pretty interesting twist on The Little Mermaid. Clara was a bit annoying but overall it wasn’t a bad story. I would recommend for mermaid lovers.

Great beginning

The beginning of the story was fantastic, as were its descriptions of 1600s Holland. I also loved its use of canals to connect to the ocean. However, I felt that the story got more convoluted as it went on.