(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.

Spoiler free review! This book is simply amazing. I love the world building and the way the author really brings out the characters. I would definitely recommend this book!

This book was a little hard to get into at first. The world-building was a bit confusing and info-dumpy. The story itself was a bit slow. However, when the pace started to pick up, it became worth it. The characters were interesting. Plus, there's a slowburn relationship between the two characters which I personally love. All in all, I really enjoyed this book!

DNF 30%

I tried to finish this book, I did. But after a while I couldn't go on. It was too crude, violent and sad. Reading it gave me only hopelessness. I know you can't always have rainbows and unicorns, and I'm okay with that, but not a this level. Plus, there was a constant name dropping and foreign words that didn't make any sense. I know there's a glossary but I can't check it every 5 minutes. It gets on my nerves.

It could have been a great reading but, alas, it wasn't my cup of tea.

If you love YA fantasy, you need to get your hands on this book. I read it in like a day because I HAD to find out what happened. It reminded me a bit of Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes.

I want to say thank you Netgalley and the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.

This book was so amazing! It took me a little longer as it covers some heavy topics such as human trafficking, prostitution, drug use, slavery and graphic depictions of violence but these topics were written in a such a way that was respectful and mindful of the topics.

The world building was phenomenal and though it was a slower paced book it felt necessary to get immersed in the world. The writing was lovely and it made me want to keep reading. It took awhile for my head to get around the names and characters but I felt that it added to the world.

I appreciated seeing the point of view of both Roma and Levithian, which made me enjoy the story. I viscerally felt the constant heartbreak that Roma went through and felt the struggle Levi went through with how he was brought up and deciding on what he does and what he feels he should do. The character development was

I look forward to delving more into the world and seeing more of Ana Lal Din's writing.

Of course, is this only my personal opinion on the book and just because I give this rating to the book doesn’t mean, that everyone will have that opinion.

TW for the book that are not mentioned in the synopsis: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Transphobia, animal harm, self-harm, explicit violence, child and human sex trafficking, and prostitution.

The book is a lot! Please read the trigger warning in the book first before you start it. The author intended to spread awareness and I will quote a passage from the acknowledgements here:

“What I wanted was to spread awareness about the sacred prostitution, caste system, and half-creature perception and abuse of transgenders in South Asia; the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya People; the exploitation of once-resourceful places like the Middle East and Afghanistan; the occupation of and war crimes against Palestine; and the human trafficking of adults and children across the globe.”

But now to me review:
First of all, I like the cover art for this book because I am a sucker for snakes on the front. I think it fits the story really good and it is definitely an eye-catcher.

Personally, I had a hard time getting into the book and the writing style. I often had to look at the glossary to understand certain words and that often took my reading flow. I like Arabian mythology but I am not familiar with it so the world-building was a little bit of a rough start for me. A side note from me: this is not a fluffy read for in between. This book is a lot and if you are a person that skims a lot of passages: be prepared for the fact, that you will soon or later not understand a thing

I liked the plot idea and had high hopes but in my opinion, the plot point that was promised in the synopsis surfaced after almost 65% of the book. I know it is the first book in a book series with rich worldbuilding but I was a little bit let down by this fact. The plot point I am talking about needs a lot of other things to happen first but I was waiting for it. The pace of the plot gets faster towards the end so that I was surprised and thought I missed some pages because it did not quite fit the pace before.

I really liked both of the main characters. They had their flaws and strengths and I adored that they were not perfect but I could not form a deep connection towards these two and I can’t really say why because honestly I don’t know.

I think that this book was just not right for me. I liked it but I was just not my cup of tea.

Conclusion
Not a fluffy romantasy! Its a heavy fantasy book with detailed world building and great reprensation. This is not something for in between. Please read the TW before you start it.

I give 3 from 5 Stars

3.5 stars

Trigger warnings: Abuse, rape, self-harm, physical violence, suicide, human trafficking, prostitution, drug abuse, sodomisation

I’m surprised I finished this book. This is not an easy book to read. Honestly not sure if I would have read it at all if I had seen the warning before requesting this book. (I hope when this book is published the warning will be on its own page at the beginning.) This is a story not for the faint-hearted. The characters’ lives only get worse and worse in this harsh and brutal world. There is anger, pain, humiliation, death, violence in every form. I’m not quite sure if I was in the best mental state when reading this. I was starting to feel sad, heartbroken and felt like everything was hopeless. So for those that are reading this, please think about if this is something that will or may affect your mental or emotional health before reading.

Roma is such a strong character. She is fighting and rebels against this world where she doesn’t have any power. Levi is struggling and fighting his own demons. They do what they must to survive and protect those they care about. There is no romance in this book. I’m happy there wasn’t any because it would take away from the story.

The pace is a little weird for me. This is a very character driven book and not much plot. The details about the world was dumped at the beginning. Characters as well. It was hard to keep up sometimes. There is a glossary in the back for cultural words/phrases.

This is a story that needs to be told about the harsh realities of some people’s lives. I just wished there was something, some kind of hope to hold onto but I guess if this is related to real life experiences, there isn’t always hope or a light at the end of the tunnel. Even though by the end I liked this book, I’m still not sure if it was for me.

*Received via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review*

So rich and lovely. The Descent of the Drowned is set in a colonized Indo-Persian world and inspired by pre-Islamic Arabian mythology, It's a story about power, identity, and redemption. There are trigger warnings like physical and emotional abuse, mention of rape and sodomisation, sexual assault, suicide, bigotry, drug abuse, and human trafficking.

The writing itself is beautiful and distinct. It's easy to pull a reader into its setting. The mythology was lovely to read about.

The book focuses on the devastation and injustices within the caste systems in this society. Roma struggles and questions her life. The characters are vivid and strong-willed which is enjoyable to read.

I'm looking forward to future titles from Ana Lal Din.

**The Descent of the Drowned by Ana Lal Din**
I received this ARC via NetGalley, thank you so much for allowing me to read it!

The Descent of the Drowned is a story about a enthralling story about Roma, who is bound to serve for the rest of her life. Since she is ‘promised’ to a goddess, she must do as she is told for the ‘good’ of her people. Begrudgingly, she puts up with that- until her brother now has to share her fate. Now, she must decide if she will continue being silent, or if she will break the cycle and rebel.
Through her journey she connects with Leviathan, a boy who is bound to kill for his father. As they both begin to forge their own path, their lives slowly start to twine together- shocking them both with the secrets that they unfold.

There are quiet a few trigger warnings in this book, so please keep that in mind before beginning it. Some triggers include; mentions of sh, suicide, violence, r*pe, human trafficking, and addiction.

For me, it took me a bit to truly appreciate the writing style of the author. The first few chapters seemed to drag on, and then suddenly I found myself unable to put the book down! So if you find yourself debating whether or not to stop reading because you find it slow- DON’T STOP!

The characters are both the strong-willed-never-backing-down type, and you can’t help but cheer at their sheet brazenness. These characters are LEGIT people, with real emotions and a darkness in them that doesn’t always remain hidden. When the world does whatever it can to push you down- it can show in who you are in a person, and our main characters don’t always shy away from those feelings.

The plot is intense to say the least. If somehow managed to be slow paced, but has enough going on that you keep turning each page in anticipation. You never quiet know what to expect and the different mindsets of the characters always keep you guessing about what is going to happen next.

In conclusion, I would definitely say this was an amazing book. Though, a bit confusing with all of the magical terms and different languages (though the author has graciously included a glossary in the back) you get sucked into the magical world and it consumes you. If you’re a fan of the morally grey, low romance, and wicked smiles- then I highly recommend you check out this book!