Still, these are more like backing vocals to the story’s main chorus: the romance. Lukens briefly touches on topics like forgiveness, the power of hope, love and - of course - acceptance. This carries on to some of the themes injected into the narrative, which are quite a few. After surviving something as hopeless as 2020, this was something I didn’t know I desperately needed. As with any story, there are some moments where the mood dips, but Lukens is quick to bring it back up with a dash of hope. When it feels like many recent YA fantasy novels are aiming towards a more mature, dark approach (which I have nothing against), In Deeper Waters is a fairly gentle ride. Lukens, who truly nailed the tone of the novel throughout. They’re fairly consistent with the genre in terms of the paths they take throughout the story, but it was refreshing to see a queer, reinvented take on some of the fantasy tropes I’m almost tired of reading. From the start, Tal and Athlen are vibrant protagonists who live beyond their traditional archetypes of the reluctant hero or the mysterious, quirky love interest. Still, like most novels, it was the characters I met along the way who pulled me deeper and deeper into Tal’s world. Though In Deeper Waters celebrates queerness throughout, it’s magic that Tal must suppress to keep himself and his world safe.Īt face value, this doesn’t sound like the most unique premise in the world.

Luken’s latest fantasy, it isn’t a sexuality the main character is keeping secret. Hiding a life-changing secret is never an easy task for anyone to handle - let alone a teenager. Tal must escape if he hopes to save his family and the kingdom. But before they can pursue anything further, Tal is kidnapped by pirates and held ransom in a plot to reveal his rumored powers and instigate a war. That is, until Tal runs into Athlen days later on dry land, very much alive, and as charming - and secretive - as ever. So when Athlen leaps overboard and disappears, Tal feels responsible and heartbroken, knowing Athlen could not have survived in the open ocean. Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel. After spending most of his life cloistered behind palace walls as he learns to keep his forbidden magic secret, he can finally see his family’s kingdom for the first time. Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. In Deeper Waters hits all of those points. Sometimes, you just need a lighthearted, fast-paced read that feels like a breath of fresh air.

In deeper waters by ft lukens