In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens: Review

Hi! Thanks for checking out my post about In Deeper Waters. Keep reading to find the summary, my review, and the links to where you can purchase the book.

Title: In Deeper Waters
Author: F.T. Lukens
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pub Date: 04/20/21
Genre: YA LGBTQ+ Adventure
Edition: ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy)
Goodreads Link
Rating:

Summary

A young prince must rely on a mysterious stranger to save him when he is kidnapped during his coming-of-age tour in this swoony adventure that is The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Pirates of the Caribbean.

Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. 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. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel.

Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen. So when Athlen leaps overboard and disappears, Tal feels responsible and heartbroken, knowing Athlen could not have survived in the open ocean.

That is, until Tal runs into Athlen days later on dry land, very much alive, and as charming—and secretive—as ever. 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. Tal must escape if he hopes to save his family and the kingdom. And Athlen might just be his only hope…

Review

In Deeper Waters is exactly my kind of book. It was a fun read with pirates, magic, and a certain magical creature which are three of my favorite things in books.

The story itself was so sweet, and I loved Athlen and Tal (especially their relationship). Even though we don’t get to see a whole lot of Tal’s whole family, I would read spinoffs with the other characters because I need more Garrett, Kest, and Isa in my life (sorry Corrie I liked you too).

Tal was a great main character to follow. Seeing him wrestle with whether he should use his powers or not over the course of the book was really interesting as it wasn’t an easy decision for him to make, and there was an element of self-loathing there.

This is a book where the author gives you pieces of information that lets you figure out parts of the plot before the characters do, so part of the fun is waiting for them to figure it out too. It’s still entirely possible to make wrong assumptions like me though.

I would definitely recommend In Deeper Waters if you want a fun read with close-knit characters, adventure, and self-sacrifice.

*Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own*

Where to Buy

Bookshop | IndieBound | B&N | Book Depository | Amazon

Author

F.T. Lukens is the author of four young adult novels published through Interlude Press, and her book Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic was a 2017 Cybils Award finalist in YA Speculative Fiction, won the ForeWord INDIES Book of the Year Gold Award for YA Fiction, and the Bisexual Book Award for Speculative Fiction, and it was also recently named to ALA’s 2019 Rainbow List. F.T. lives in North Carolina with her husband, three kids, three dogs, and three cats. Visit her at FTLukens.com.