Real representation written by BIPOC authors is what makes the fantasy genre revival enticing again. We are given the beautiful pirate captain Nnenna and a mermaid who is running away during a debate between the gods. A mythology written with a rhythmic flair and strong character building that makes you fall in love with this story. I love a seaside setting that does not heed to Eurocentric views. Queer love and romances are weaved into the story but are not the main plot - which I appreciate. Too often fantasy is dominated by the love sequence and not the actual world and character building. The Devil of the Deep is one to add to your library on release day (because I know I will).
Queer representation drives me to any narrative nowadays. We have sapphic representation and genuine trans representation. We love a well written trans character with purpose and Jean-Francois did this exceptionally well. There is someone for everyone to see themselves in this story. OH, and the ship is named Medusa. I love the feminist interpretations of folklore and how well Jean-Francois deploys that throughout her narrative. The relationships between the characters are well written but I wish we could have seen a bit of their psyche and why their functions drove to the motives and religious paths towards the Gods.
I want to advocate that I wish Devil of the Deep was longer with expanded chapters to really harden the characters motives. I understand their growth in the end and how they all met with the sea – but I wanted to see more. Fantasy novels are meant to be long and there is a lot of time to flesh out both the setting and the character’s mindsets. Overall, this is a fun read and I want more fantasy to expand from this! Thank you Bindery Books, Falencia Jean-Francois, and Netgalley for this advanced digital arc in exchange for a review.
Read more recommendations, ARC impressions, and reviews onhttps://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/

I had a great time reading this book, it had that pirate element that I was hoping for and enjoyed from start to finish. It had that element that I was looking for and was engaged from the way characters were written and enjoyed how good everyone had that feel that worked in this universe. Falencia Jean-Francois has a strong writing style and was able to weave a strong storyline and how the characters were used and enjoyed the overall feel of this.

Devil of the Deep is a vibrant and immersive fantasy rooted in Haitian culture and mythology. Nnenna Delahaye, a formidable pirate captain, navigates a world of ancient gods, lost islands, and shifting allegiances. Her journey intersects with Lu, a devout priest of the sea god, and Pearl Highwater, a rebellious figure who challenges divine authority.

Jean-Francois crafts a rich, layered world with complex characters and evolving relationships. Themes of faith, identity, and resistance run throughout, offering a fresh and thoughtful perspective in fantasy. The cultural depth and character-driven story make it an engaging and memorable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Bindery Books for the eARC.

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

4.5 stars

I LOVE the breath of fresh air this book is to the fantasy genre. It is rich with culture and mythology, has so much heart, and offers new perspectives on familiar aspects of genre. There is wonderfully clear voice for each of the characters and a very detailed world being built around them. My only wish was that there had been more of literally everything. It feels like there's so much more to be discovered in this world and this book is just brushing the surface. It's an excellent introduction to this author's work and I would deeply love to see more.

This was an incredible book. I was taken through so many emotions during this journey and was left in heavy tears for 20 minutes after reading. I feel like the story of Devil of the Deep, while a fantasy, is so relatable to anyone who has been oppressed, fighting for freedom, and truly hoping to be seen.
I always appreciate a book with detailed world building and lore, and this book is pretty intricate in how the gods and goddesses are portrayed along with their background and mythos. This story is multi-POV but at no point was I confused and felt lost when reading. In fact, the author does a fantastic job in creating distinctive voices for each character. I also have big appreciation for the representation in this book. Not just the diversity but also for the culture (as I'm hoping its correct to assume that there are several real world cultures as inspiration).
Devil of the Deep was a book that I could not put down unless I truly had to. I was so immersed in the story that I felt like I was watching a movie in my head. I don't believe I breathed for the last few chapters. Highly recommend this book that I cannot wait to add to both my personal and professional libraries.

My first pirate book, I enjoyed it very much!
The characters were interesting and believable, the writing engaging, overall a very good book.

Devil of the Deep is unlike anything I’ve read before, and I absolutely loved it. The author did an incredible job weaving inclusivity into the story while still delivering a rich and captivating fantasy. The characters, worldbuilding, and unique perspective made this such an engaging read. I loved everything about this novel and couldn’t put it down.

Amazing! Beautiful!

Falencia Jean-Francois’s Devil of the Deep is a bold, imaginative story full of pirates, mermaids, and gods. What stood out most to me, however, was the very human heart at the core of it all. The characters are vivid and memorable, with the MC, Nnenna, in particular commanding attention through her ferocity, loyalty, and complex morality. The interplay of myth, faith, and politics adds real depth to the narrative, while the use of song as magic and sign language as a bridge between cultures brings both originality and significance.

What makes this story remarkable is how it balances intimacy. The author doesn’t just offer thrilling battles and divine stakes but also quiet, emotional moments that explore identity, belonging, and chosen family. The relationships bring a sort of tenderness that offset the bloodshed and political themes. The characters’ struggles and the layered worldbuilding give the narrative weight and meaning, making it feel like both an epic adventure and a deeply personal journey.

Representation is also handled with care and seamlessly woven into the world, making it feel both authentic and impactful. Devil of the Deep is an inventive take on sea fantasy that leaves just enough intrigue to keep readers eager for the next installment.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Binder and Left Unread for the ARC.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in April. This was a stunning queer book about the impact of colonialism, mythology and religion. It should have been two books, so somethings could have been fleshed out more but that didn't stop me from being obsessed with it.

I really enjoyed this book! The worldbuilding was rich and imaginative, the mix of pirates, mermaids, and mythic forces made for an exciting, fast-paced story. Nnenna and Lu’s dynamic kept me hooked, and the themes of loyalty, identity, and freedom were beautifully woven in. I just wished the characters had been developed a bit more, especially given how compelling their backstories are. Still, it’s a captivating read full of action, heart, and ocean-soaked atmosphere. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what this author does next!

The novel has you explore what can happen when you follow rules that were never made to protect you. It serves as a reminder that when gods battle, it’s their followers who suffer the most. This story is packed with action and betrayal, as a good pirate story should be. But at its core this novel is a song of hope.

I will be honest, pirate books are not my cup of tea but this book surprised me. The representation in this book is incredible. From a trans main character, to the Haitian folklore I was sold. Add the multiple POV and decently short chapters and I finally found a winner for the pirate circle. This book is a great debut novel and I am excited to see what else the author writes. Thank you to Bindery and Netgalley for the earc.

A story full of magic and hope. Nnenna is the Devil of the Deep, a feared pirate with a mysterious past. Pearl is a young mermaid coming of age. And Lu is a newly-minted captain of the fleet. Their fates collide as they battle a god for the soul of those who live above and below the waves

I loved how the story was told in a nonlinear way. I really enjoyed the mythology and how gods try and amass power for themselves.

A story with queer pirates and mermaids? Sign me up.
This was a very good book, with great ideas and concepts that were new to me, but which I enjoyed very much.
The characters made the story for me. Nnenna, who went from the Devil of the Deep to a selfless, caring character. Pearl, who changed so drastically throughout the book and opened her mind up beyond what she had initially learned. Lu, who despite previous mistakes, still fought to protect them both. I grew attached to these characters very quickly. Their development was amazing, and something I rarely see in other books. It suited them in the best way.
I did have issues with the structure of this book. I felt that I only really cared about the three main characters, so I found the other POV's slightly unnecessary at times. I also do wish that the things we learned at the end we would have known at the beginning, so that it would have been more enjoyable to follow along with the story. I also do wish that Lu and Nnenna had reunited earlier, so that they would find the closure they needed sooner.
At its core, this is a story about finding hope, fighting for what's right, finding your voice, and letting go of oppressive chains. It was filled with epic fight scenes, love, death, and mythology.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC!

Devil of the Deep is a multi-POV, multi-layered exploration of Haitian folklore that I thoroughly enjoyed. We follow Nnenna, a prolific and feared pirate, Pearl, a Meridian girl set on fighting the fate that's been laid out for her, and Lu, a captain of The Fleet, who is intent on hunting the Devil of the Deep down. I've never read anything that has elements of Haitian culture before, so I found learning about the gods super interesting, and I can't wait to research more!

I don't normally enjoy multi-POV stories as much, but the characters and their relationships were all really well-developed. The level of diversity - BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and disabled representation - was incredible! I particularly loved the use of sign language throughout the novel because I don't often see it in literature. I feel the pacing lost its way a bit around the midway point, but it picked up again as the three's stories began to overlap.

4.25 stars. I would love to read more of this world, and grab a physical copy when The Devil of the Deep is published!

Devil of the Deep was a solid 4⭐️ read for me. It was a true slow burn, with extra emphasis on the burn 🔥 The middle section lost a bit of momentum, especially with the frequent POV changes and flashbacks, but the ending definitely made up for it.

The setting of Ayiti and the surrounding islands of Hispaniola was refreshing. I haven’t read many fantasies that draw from this region, and it gave the story a unique perspective. I also really appreciated the presence of black mermaids and even black representation in fantasy. It added both depth and visibility to a world that already has magic and danger.

Overall, a lush, imaginative, and beautifully grounded read that I’d definitely recommend to readers looking for something different in the fantasy genre.

I think Devil of the deep manages to deliver an innovative take on a classic pirates, navy and mermaids set-up. It follows multiple perspectives from these three worlds as each of our three main characters tries to navigate the politics and powers of their world, uncovering betrayals and long buried secrets. The narrative moves between several characters, but I think that Lu and Nnenna emerge as the real protagonists, they are the more developed characters, and their dynamics are the most interesting in the book their motivations and tensions drive the story and provide its emotional core. The mermaid perspective centred on Pearl is less compelling, her chapters more on the events and conflicts happening around her.

I loved the worldbuilding and lore, and particularly enjoyed all the flashbacks peppered throughout, but while these, along with the choice to fragment the story across many short perspectives, create breadth, it does not help with the pacing, which I found quite difficult to get into. The action moves quite slowly, while each character’s POV is cut short, and there are a couple of time skips that I simply could not understand as we just skip a lot of interesting action. Those structural decisions may produce some unevenness, but they also allow the book to pack in quite a lot in terms of worldbuilding and scope.

Overall, this is a tightly packed and entertaining read that provides a very satisfying set-up for lovers of pirate fantasy.

I thank NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC to review

Avast! At last! A pirate-themed fantasy that centers queerness, folks of color, and Caribbean heritage, rather than relegating them to forgotten corners. And original mythology! What a delight.

This debut novel (a republished indie getting the mainstream attention it deserves) weaves in high-seas adventure, heartbreaking stakes, and the power of bonds broken and forged.

Lu watched Nnenna walk the plank, believing her dead. Five years later, she’s a feared pirate captain protecting a runaway mermaid from the fleet Lu serves. What starts as ‘just a retrieval’ becomes a reckoning with systems built to harm, gods who lie, and the cost of breaking free.

I adored the point-of-view switching and oscillating between the narrative’s past and present (so often difficult to get right!) Likewise with the minor details and world-building.

Through fire and toil, hope and desperation…nothing will ever be the same again.

I received an early copy courtesy of the publishers via Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone. I originally published this review on my book blog, Road Less Read: https://roadlessread.com/reviews/devildeep

An incredible book full of thought-provoking themes, amazing representation and beautiful storytelling. It reminded me a bit of 'Divine rivals' with all the gods and I loved it just the same. Lu, Nnenna and Pearl are such great main characters, I couldn't get enough of them!
Excited for book 2!!!

4.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for this ARC.

I read this earlier this year and was so happy to hear it got picked up by an imprint. I love a good pirate story. Nnena was by far my favorite character. The story switches between three different POVs and it was interesting to see how it all connected in the end. Fast paced and beautifully written. I can't wait to read more!

The story being told from different point of views made the progress feel slow in the beginning. Yet it did pay of when you get to the twist and the answers to why we are reading from these characters perspective. I enjoyed when there stories intertwined past and present.
I love me a strong female pirate captain so Nnenna was my favorite character.
the incorporation of song as a mean to expresses feelings and praise felt close to my heart. I love music and the way it can capture a feeling, a moment and a memory.
I had some questions that I wanted answered but otherwise it's a good book!

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for this e-ARC. I have been wanting to read a book with pirates or/and a journey on the sea since I read Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse & The Veiled Throne by Ken Liu and this definitely delivered!

Falencia’s prose was so beautiful and really brought this world to life. The lore was given to the reader at the appropriate time without feeling like info-dumping. It’s written from multi-POVs centering three main characters. It had themes of resilence, self-identity, religious cultism and the abuse of power. Similar to Blood Over Bright Haven by ML Wang, the messaging in this book is not subtle at all but I did not take that as a negative.

From the 15% mark, I was already locked in! The fight scenes were easy to follow. For people like me who struggle to visualize this in books I was so happy with this one, it felt cinematic. I found the plot to be predictable at times but that actually made me more curious to see how Falencia was going to execute my theories if I was indeed correct and kept me turning the pages. Aside from that, there were still so many plot twists that I didn’t see coming.

We have a diverse cast of characters - with Black, queer, trans & disability rep. The characters were relatable and made you want to root for them even when they didn’t make the best decisions. I also had characters that I despised so much. The back stories were well done and I found myself in tears. I also really loved the found family trope - it was so wholesome. I am usually a sucker for books that have characters with Nigerian names and we had that here with Nnenna (bonus points from me). I absolutely love this and can't wait to see what next they write.

This is a MUST read for 2026. A brilliant biting critique on christian faiths that manipulate believers with falsehoods, especially in order to control women and do away with others who don’t fall within their circle of acceptable ways.

Devil of the Deep by Falencia Jean-Francois is an amazing Haitian, LGBTQIAP+, and feminist story of pirates, mermaids, and gods. It sets itself apart with lush world building, mythology and lore, and characters representing those who have found their stories historically pushed out of traditional publishing. This is a beautiful book and I would highly recommend it!

* LGBTQIAP+ representation
* Haitian culture & mythology
* Critique of harmful belief systems
* Feminist / Matriarchal
* Betrayal, romance, swordfights
* A pirates life for me please :) :) :)

Even though I read the eARC, I will absolutely be getting a physical copy to re-read!! (I don’t often re-read books)

Thank you to Left Unread & Bindery Books for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Bindery Books and Left Unread Publishing granted me this ARC in return for my honest review.

Thank you all very much. This is a 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Devil of the Deep tells the tale of a young military officer, Lu, who has found his purpose and place among The Fleet. We explore this world as there are changes afoot, and truths shaking things up. Lu is on his way up; he has earned his captaincy.

Then we find out that he started his career with a friend, who died along the way, except she did not. Circumstances involving myths that turned out to be factual history, along with a young mermaid who had to run away from home, bring the young captain and his newly discovered not-dead friend back together.

Btw, his friend is not only not-dead, but she is now the deadliest pirate on the seas. And she takes no prisoners. There is friction. Then twists, and a few moments of revelation that make you pause and take a breath.

This story is told from multiple POVs, and everybody has a lot going on. I found it all to be original, and it kept me absorbed as I read.

Here is the thing. I think this book had all the right elements of a brilliant book; it just did not come together for me in that way. It was easy to read. The prose flowed quickly. I enjoyed the characters and their backstories. All of that held my attention and kept me reading.

But I think I needed more intricacy. More details. More information and depth to the story itself. The lore itself was interesting. I just felt as though it could have gone deeper. The way the book ended tells me I am correct, since it created the groundwork for at least a sequel.

I mean, it was an alarming reminder of how colonization can take place not just by force or might but also through incentivized recruitment and imposing religious zealousness. As well as it cleverly examined the bloody costs that such things incur. I read it all; it made sense. I just did not feel it. You know in my soul?

Overall, a solid book. I liked it. But I really wanted to LOVE it, and regretfully I did not.

Book 2 has a buyer and reader in me though. Hopefully, the extra feeling I was hoping for will unfold then.


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