This was so captivating from the very first sentence on the page. The small town with the racist that are driving them out of town. A young girl that has stopped speaking but for what reason? I ate up about 50% of this book in less than 24 hours.

But around 50% when the setting of the story changed it began to unfold i found myself confused a lot. The magic system and the way things went down in the other world (like bouncing back to awensa and going back) just didn’t flow like it should.

I loved the ending even though i felt like it was dragged a bit.

Penelope has such a wonderful way with words and she has these strong of ideas but often time I feel as if she struggles to completely execute them and give them a soft landing. As much as I enjoyed this, I would say the same for this book as well.

Genre: historical fantasy
American South, 1930s

Jane Edwards and her family left their hometown over a decade ago to escape the stains of tragedy, one that has left her mute and haunted by her confession. Her sister Grace, as heartbroken over their loss as Jane, jumped from boarding school to boarding school, then to the city, is now home, pregnant, and also looking for a new start. But one day Jane sees the man who she sentenced to death with her confession, walking around their all-Black town of Awenasa, even though she saw his body taken by the river so long ago. The worlds of the ancestors and other gods have a way of mixing with reality, and Jane is called to see beyond the veil and to save Awenasa.

I love Leslye Penelope's take on reimagining parts of history, and like with Monsters We Defy, she starts with news articles and ideas from the real world and builds a magical world based on stories from the African diaspora and enslaved people set just beyond the real world of her main characters. Daughter of the Merciful Deep comes from the inspiration of towns flooded when large lakes and dams are created. What if those were all-Black towns? What if someone stood in the way of the destruction?

Jane is an intriguing POV character. She’s spent a lot of time observing her world - outside of writing, she can only communicate with a few friends who can sign with her - but she’s still a bit of an unreliable narrator because she stands at the margins even of her own society. But because she feels she condemned her sister’s lover to death a decade ago for a crime she’s sure he didn’t commit, her inner monologue carries the burden of guilt.

I love a book steeped in folklore and blended with magic, and Leslye Penelope strikes such an intricate balance between the real and the imagined.

At first I was completely entranced with this book - the setting, the history, the main character. Then when it hit the middle, when things should be exciting, it was just such a huge shift that I wasn't sure how to feel about it anymore. The twist was fairly obvious, so I kept going but it felt like the book slowed down a lot. Still, a recommended read!

Leslye Penelope’s "Daughter of the Merciful Deep" is a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and African mythology, delivering a powerful narrative that shines a light on the submerged Black towns of the American South. The story centers on Jane Edwards, a mute woman who hasn't spoken since she was eleven, when armed riders forced her family and every other Black resident from their hometown. Twelve years later, Jane finds refuge in the all-Black town of Awenasa, only to face the threat of its destruction due to the construction of a dam.

Determined to save her community, Jane is intrigued when a man with uncanny abilities arrives in town, asking strange questions. This mysterious stranger, who hints at gods and ancestral magic, seems to hold the key to Awenasa's salvation. Jane is captivated, not only by the magic but by a bigger mystery: she recognizes this man. She last saw him dead, his body laid to rest in a rushing river.

The strength of "Daughter of the Merciful Deep" lies in its character-driven storytelling. Jane’s journey, her determination to save her home, and her discovery of her own voice and power are deeply compelling. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, each adding depth and richness to the narrative. Penelope excels at weaving historical elements with mythological themes, creating a tapestry that is both haunting and hopeful.

The central plot of the impending destruction of Awenasa unfolds slowly, which might test the patience of readers looking for a fast-paced adventure. However, this deliberate pacing allows for a profound exploration of the characters and their inner worlds, making the eventual revelations and resolutions all the more impactful.

Penelope’s writing style is as captivating as ever, drawing readers into a world where history and myth intersect. Her ability to create immersive, emotionally resonant stories is on full display here. "Daughter of the Merciful Deep" is a testament to the resilience of marginalized communities and the enduring power of myth and memory.

Overall, while the story's pace may be slow, the rich character development and the fusion of historical and mythological elements make "Daughter of the Merciful Deep" a deeply rewarding read. Fans of Leslye Penelope's previous works will find much to love in this new offering, and new readers will be enchanted by her storytelling prowess.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

As they did in the author's last book, reality and fantasy intermingle to create a mesmerizing piece of historical fiction that features strong female characters

Here we have the deeply moving tale of a close knit black community that resists the government's plans to flood their town for a new dam. Jane must enlist the help of magical underwater gods in her efforts to save her town and her pregnant sister. But gods are tricky beings, and sometimes they must be appeased.

I honestly wasn't crazy about the fantasy elements of the story, though I can't imagine how the book would have worked without them. Penelope's lovely writing and beautiful story make this an engrossing read. The relationship between the sisters was my favorite part of the book.

I can't wait to see what this author dreams up next.

Unfortunately, this book just didn't engage me that much. Historical fantasy is a new(ish) genre for me so I won't stop trying but this book seemed to be a little heavy on fantasy and light on the story. Just my opinion.

I found the book hard to follow and keep track of what was going on. I needed clearer delineation of time periods.

Jane Edwards hasn’t spoken since armed riders expelled all Black residents from her hometown when she was eleven years old. Twelve years later, she has a home in the all-Black town of Awenasa. The construction of a dam would put the town under a new lake. Desperate to save her community, she talks to a strange yet familiar man coming into town talking about magic. The last time she had seen this man, he was dead, so his appearance brought more questions than answers. She must journey to a sunken world of gods and myth, finding answers before the flood drowns Awenasa.

The events of Jane's past are alluded to at first, and then we see fragments of it in flashbacks. For Black people in the 1920s and 1930s, there was no safety in white authority figures, as they often pointed fingers at Black residents and formed lynch mobs. Awenasa was built by a former slave saving his money and buying up land from his former master, then providing a safe haven for Black people who had been driven from former homes. It's a small town with all the usual small-town foibles, but the threat of the dam flooding their town to create a reservoir sends everyone into a tizzy. If they don't take the offers to have their homes purchased, they would be driven out due to eminent domain to make the reservoir happen. A lot of time and care is taken to establish the town and the relationships, as well as some of the groundwork for the mythology in between the main storyline scenes before the introduction of magic is made.

Similar events had happened to other Black towns, and successful towns had been massacred outright. This historical basis to the plot adds weight to their plight because the reader will realize exactly what will happen if they don't leave the town. Added to this is Jane's confusion as to what her sister Grace is up to, and why she returns after ten years away. The magic system, once explained, comes with a cost that Jane isn't prepared to pay. She carries guilt and hopelessness with her, her voice suppressed no matter how much other people try to her involved. We learn more as Jane does, and magic isn't a cure-all for the town or its people. Problems are everywhere, even in places that take in refugees, as change is difficult. Community and forgiveness are important, and miracles cannot be made by one person alone.

Leslye Penelope/L. Penelope is one of my favorite spec fic authors at the moment. This book is a standalone work of historical fantasy/magical realism that engages with the "drowning" of Black towns and settlements after the Civil War. Jane lives in Awenasa, a predominantly Black town whose residents are informed that a dam will soon be built that will submerge the town under a reservoir. It's a book about hope and resilience, as Jane (with a little magical help) unites her community to save the town. That said, it's also not a wholly hopeful book. We don't have a triumphant legal victory; racism doesn't magically disappear; and the townspeople's past and generational trauma isn't healed in the final act. I really appreciate Penelope's perspective and the way she highlights little-known parts of history (she similarly highlighted the Black Renaissance in DC in The Monsters We Defy). I will always pick up her books!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

This book discusses important and relevant topics through an accessible historical fantasy setting. I enjoyed the characters a lot, and I found myself really connected to the story and deeply immersed in what was going on. This was masterfully written and the plot was skillfully crafted--I'm really, really looking forward to more from this author in the future because this was fantastic!

Daughter of the Merciful Deep builds upon a longstanding connection in Black American fiction between magic and the tragedy of the Middle Passage; its underwater haven of New Ilé calling back to the “City of Bones” in the plays of August Wilson and similar themes in the Black American literary canon. Penelope’s project is to bridge the ancestral memory magic of her Atlantean fantasy city with a historical fiction story grounded in the “drowned” black towns of the Twentieth Century. Unfortunately, for me, this marriage of fantasy and historical fiction narratives didn’t quite work; that said, there’s great ambition in the project and the book is overall enjoyable.

The main sticking point is that this novel often feels like it’s telling two different stories: one is the tale of a town under threat due to a government dam-building project, and the other is the fantastic, spiritual journey of a young woman following a corporeal ghost to a world of gods and magic. However, the two stories only feel connected in the climax (which was, however, done very well). On the whole, I preferred the first 30-ish percent of the book, which focused on the town of Awenasa, and my interest waned as the story pivoted into straight fantasy in the second half. It particularly bothered me that the characters constantly reiterated that there was enormous power in Awenasa’s close-knit community, yet the narrative focused primarily on the main characters exploring the fantasy landscape of New Ilé while the (genuinely interesting and compelling) stories of the townspeople populating Awenasa take a backseat.

My other, more minor issue with the book had to do with its main protagonist, Jane. This is more a personal pet peeve than a criticism, but Jane is a tough narrator-protagonist to enjoy spending time with. She is constantly praised and admired by every other character in the book, but she herself is cringing and self-flagellating. I understand it’s due to her childhood trauma, but it made it a chore at times to follow her story. I was also interested in and looking forward to seeing a protagonist with selective mutism, but I wasn’t ultimately terribly compelled by the execution, though I appreciated that Penelope made sure to include nods to Black Deaf history and community.

In conclusion, I loved the project and vision of this story, but wound up dissatisfied with its execution, particularly in the way Awenasa’s community and populace is continually said to be central to the story but in practice falls to the narrative wayside. That said, I would still recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and fantasy, and think it’s doing interesting work in its blending of Black American history and West African mythology to create an imaginative work of historical fabulation.

Daughter of The Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope is about a young woman named Jane who, after a traumatic event, is starting a new life in an all black town. That is until the building of a damn is threatening her home. While the town argues about who is selling and who isn't, a mysterious yet familiar man with abilities shows up to tell Jane that she's the key to saving the town. Throwing her into a world of magic.

I am in complete awe of this historical fantasy. It shines a huge light on the past where black towns were forced to vacate their homes. The author wove in mythical gods and ancestral magic, which was such a cool element. Leslye Penelope is undeniably a great storyteller. This was written so beautifully that I just wanted to take my time and take it all in.

I really enjoyed the characters and everything they brought to the table. The fmc had tons to overcome physically and mentally. I loved watching her growth and the connections she had with others even though she didn't see it herself.

I absolutely loved the concept of wishes and how the ancestral magic worked with it. I don't want to spoil anything, but I had tears in my eyes every time I read one of those scenes. It was so emotional. The story had themes of racism, mental health, and religion.

It's not very often that I come across a book that completely captured my every thought, made me feel so many emotions, and had me wanting to pick it up again as soon as I was done! For sure, it's one of my favorite books now!

This was a beautiful and emotional story about the power of community and coming together. Jane is a relatable and loveable main character, and I so enjoyed meeting her family and the townsfolk in this story too.

This story is inspired by true events in the history of the United States that brought about the destruction of multiple successful black communities due to flooding created by dams. But there is hope for this fictional community facing the same fate, if the community can come together to make a miracle happen.

This is a wonderfully written historical fantasy, and I would highly recommend it!

Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

What a historical journey- if you enjoy taking an adventure into mythology and learning something new, this could be the literary novel for you.

Get to know Jane and her family and the detailed written small towns facing destruction as a dam is about to collapse and a flood is about to take their whole town. Little did I know, this was actually based in n true events and I love how the author not only gives a face but heart to a fictional telling of those events. Adding in also a little fantasy with Moses, who rises out of the water with remembrance of someone from her past to guide Jane to find her inner strength or her magic in this tale.

The detail of the fantasy world Grace and Jane stepped into halfway through the story was written very detailed but left me curious why neither character seemed in disbelief to have been in this world. The set up was a little lacking unfortunately. Once stepping into this different world, I was taken out of the current plot and thrown into what felt like an entirely different book. This felt almost unnecessary to the story. The story also took a turn to very religious, talking about building an ark. If this hadn’t been an arc, I likely would have skipped all the areas of the other world, finding the tree and becoming an ark so to speak. I just disliked so much how it felt completely out of place of the story I had been reading and disappointed I had been pulled out of that story. Overall, great writing and storytelling, very sad. Just wished it hadn’t pulled in so much Christian mythology

Leslye Penelope’s *Daughter of the Merciful Deep* presents an intriguing premise that initially captivated my interest. The blend of historical fiction and fantasy promised a unique narrative, but the execution left much to be desired.

The story's pacing is inconsistent, often wavering between moments of detailed immersion and stretches that feel rushed or underdeveloped. This inconsistency made it challenging to maintain a steady engagement with the plot. While Penelope’s writing is undeniably skilled, the plot itself lacked the depth and complexity needed to keep me thoroughly invested.

A particularly jarring aspect was the abrupt transition from historical fiction to fantasy fiction. This shift, while ambitious, felt disjointed and out of sync with the established narrative, disrupting the flow and coherence of the story.

Overall, *Daughter of the Merciful Deep* showcases Penelope’s talent for writing, but the underdeveloped story and uneven pacing prevent it from reaching its full potential. Fans of her previous works might still find elements to enjoy, but for me, the book fell short of its promising premise.

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Feel free to adjust or expand upon this review to better match your personal thoughts!

This is my first novel by this author, to be honest i chose this book because the cover and title drew me in. At first I couldnt figure out what type of book it was, I dont read reviews or synopsis before reading a book i like to go in blind. However, i went to check this one, it is considered historical fantasy, historical fiction, and science fiction fantasy. I generally struggle with anything Sci-fi however, I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters very likable and engaging, i found myself wanting to read this book all hours of the day or night.

In Earnestville, a quiet African American community in the 1930s. A dam that may wipe out everything. a community that is incredibly cohesive. a strong and brave lead character, scarred by the atrocities of the past, who became mute as a result of her suffering. a prose that is expressive, poetic, and lyrical at times. A rich, well-described scene with much of detail. a leisurely tempo that is calm and patient. A book with a fantastic tale that blends magic and other magical elements with African American history and tradition. An account of racism, prejudice, bigotry, enslavement, injustice, and brutality. A story of healing, unity, resistance, hope, peace, and freedom. a novel that prioritizes interpersonal relationships over romance.

These are only a few of the elements that comprise "Daughter of the Merciful Deep," a book that had a profound impact on me. Really, the intensity and emotion of the descriptions made me feel sad, angry, or both in a number of situations. Even though the book moves slowly, I found myself engrossed in the story and never felt heavy or bored while reading it. The backdrop, the details about African American culture, and the moody, almost suspended-in-time quality of the story all captivated me. Jane, the main character, really captivated and involved me with her first-person point of view. I thought she was beautifully examined and portrayed, and she had a great growth. In addition, I enjoyed the supporting cast members and the strong feeling of camaraderie that permeates the entire community.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Leslye Penelope continues her foray into the “world” of historical fantasy with Daughter of the Merciful Deep, and while I didn’t enjoy this as much as her prior release, there is still a lot that I enjoyed.
Penelope is becoming a stronger historical writer, as is shown through her strong depiction of the 1920s and 30s American South. While the all-Black town of Awenasa isn’t linked to any particular real-life location, one only has to have a cursory knowledge of the region and the time period to draw parallels to what she depicts. However, the events of the book are also reflective of a very real reality of the flooding of all- or majority Black towns during this era, something I did not know prior. The fantasy aspect was where the story got a tad strange for me, but I liked the juxtaposition of the “real” town and the submerged world. Penelope does a solid job here conveying the atmosphere.
Jane is an intriguing protagonist to follow, and I appreciated the way the backstory of her experiences in the town were conveyed along with the current mystery. I had mixed feelings about the way her speech disability was handled. I liked the inclusion of sign language at first, for example, when she could not speak, and while I’m not against her finding her voice again, it’s more that I’m against magical cure to something I wish she had worked through on her own.
The mix of genres and ideas resulted in the story feeling a tad unpolished in places, and bogging down the pacing somewhat. But the themes in general come through, focusing on Black people’s trauma, while also celebrating and affirming them.
In spite of my issues, I mostly enjoyed this book, and would recommend it if you enjoy historical fantasy, especially if you don’t mind the slightly heavier focus on the historical side.

Thank you Netgalley and Redhook for access to this arc.

There are two halves to this story. One is the relatively normal town of Awenasa and the other a magical world created of African folklore and religion. Separately I enjoyed them, though more so the parts set in Awenasa. However, I don’t think the two blended together well. I would have preferred to see two different stories rather than this sort of clunky mix.

The Awenasa characterizations are done well and I could see this small town come to life. Everyone knows everyone which can be good and bad. People help their neighbors, business people take pride in their stores, the town remembers its founding and celebrates the fact that here is the rare place where Blacks predominate, people aren’t subjected to (as much) racism, and they can dare dream of a better life. The scenes set in the Black church that Janie’s father is the minister of are especially moving. But as with any group of people, there will sometimes be a little friction.

I could understand the dismay and anger when these people are faced with Authority moving in and using eminent domain to force them from their homes, shops, and farms. Many have suffered eviction, fled White mobs (such as Janie’s family), and or suffered/seen racial violence (something the whole Edwards family was subjected to) and now they’re being offered a pittance for their hard work with threats of nothing but eviction if they don’t take that.

The only possible way to save their sanctuary is to put their faith in beliefs that their enslaved ancestors brought with them and which were subverted into Christianity at the hands of their oppressors. But to even have a chance at that, Janie is going to have to face and overcome the dark secrets from her past. Frankly, after a while, I got a bit tired of Janie’s lies of omission, efforts to avoid the past, and constant entreaties for others to carry the load of getting things done. I do like that Janie and her sister Grace aren’t perfect; they have their difficult moments along with just about everyone else. But then Janie becomes the Chosen One who could have powers mightier than anyone else’s if only she’d get off the pot. In the end, the forgiveness that she needs and offers to others is almost too quick and neat given the years that things have festered.

I won’t go into much of the fantastical realm and how it plays out as perhaps the jarring nature between that and Awenasa is what was intended. I also don’t have the background to know if the magical world that is presented is drawn straight from traditional African religion or not.

Yay that Janie does have to finally face the demons from her past and that she gets to “stick it to the Man.” The faint thread of the romance is sweet but not really a major reason to read the story. I love the way the town comes together and yes, I noticed the belief that immigration and diversity are good things. I just wish the two distinct parts of the book had blended together better. C+

Leslye Penelope captures the heart of a 1930s small Black town called Awenasa with this historical fantasy novel, blending African gods and myth with the Jim Crow US South, and telling an all-too-real and often overlooked history of drowned Black towns.

Daughter of the Merciful Deep tells the story of a young Black woman who has lost her voice and communicates through sign language, Jane Edwards, fighting her past while fighting for the future and existence of her community. This is a story of two halves - a historical story about racism, guilt, and community and a fantasy story about faith, love, memory, and forgiveness, with imposing gods and the magic of African folklore.

I loved the historical parts, as Penelope's writing and Jane's first-person POV had such strong character voice that was so authentic to the setting, creating a town of characters who all breathe life into the story. While the fantasy parts crafted a strong atmosphere, I missed the aching depth of sorrow and memory and loss that I got from the historical parts and Awenasa characters.

Overall, despite the heavy topics, this is a healing story. It's not bleak, though it easily could have been. In some ways, it's surprisingly easy for such a tragic reality.. Again, this story splits into two halves, this time tonally, making it hard to reconcile my feelings. They average out to a story that I really enjoyed, and I definitely plan to read more by this author.