This is an amazing story in the best tradition of sweeping fantasy, set largely underwater on a planet ravaged by war, and with characters who came alive for me to the point I expected them to jump off the pages. Strong enemies, new allies, fantastical sea creatures, a desperate plan, and an abducted amirzade (read: prince) made for enough conflict to fill a book twice its length. And that is before the main characters are forced to cooperate and begin their gradual journey from almost-hatred to respect and, eventually, love.

Dastyaf is a human warlord, personal protector of Amirzade Sharouk, the prince who decides to enact their plan against the evil Republic. It will hopefully free the desert dwellers from their conquerors. To do this, they need the help of the sea folk, but their alliance is new and tenuous at best. There isn’t really a whole lot of trust between them, so when Sharouk is kidnapped by a mighty leviathan and Dastyaf is told to work with her keeper, a sea witch by the name of Nils, he is not impressed. Not that he has a choice, and since he will do anything for Sharouk, he agrees to take merman form and follow Nils’s lead as they track the leviathan. He hates being a sea creature, has to learn how to use his new body, and feels helpless and insecure in the unfamiliar underwater environment. Not easy for a man who likes to be in control at all times! Only gradually does he learn to appreciate the gift he has been given, that of seeing the world from a totally new point of view.

Nils is not the most self-confident of sea witches, and as the leviathan’s keeper he is held responsible for her actions, but his magic abilities are strong. He is told to let Datstyaf come with him, but he is not hopeful the human will be of any use, not even in merman form. Nils cannot understand why the leviathan has behaved this way, and when the truth finally dawns on him, it is almost too late. Nils has as little interest in Dastyaf as the human has in him, but that changes as they travel into the deep ocean and have to learn to cooperate or die.

I absolutely adored this world the author has created. It is colorful, filled with fascinating creatures, and the adventures and trials Dastyaf and Nils go through as they follow the leviathan’s trail are amazing. The developing relationship between Dastyaf and Nils, no traces of a romance for a very long time, held me glued to the pages as much as the action. The tension is high up until the last few pages – and the final twist threw me for a loop. It took me a couple of days to cool down (I was not a happy reader for a while there), and to see the true brilliance of the ending. Any author who can keep my interest like this and make me feel everything from fascination, to anger, and finally relief, has my deepest respect!

If you like to read about the “strange worlds” that might be “out there”, if you enjoy strong characters and the conflict they can end up in when they butt heads—even though they have a common purpose, are allies, and should get along, and if you’re looking for a read that is as fantastical as it is well written, then you will probably like this novel. It is one of the best pieces of speculative fiction I have read in a while.


NOTE: This book was provided by Less Than Three Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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