Why I Decided to DNF Fathomfolk & What You Need to Know!
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When Embarking on the journey to read a book, it is never your goal to DNF that book. Frequently, you feel compelled to continue until the end. Rationalizing how far you’ve come in the story. Hoping that it would improve along the way. When I picked up Fathomfolk it was incredibly exciting to start the journey. A thrilling adventure and filled with anticipation. The premise of Fathomfolk sounded AMAZING. In fact, it was one of my most highly anticipated for 2024.
However, along the way, I encountered twists and turns that led me to a decision I never thought I’d make: to DNF (Did Not Finish) the game. Curious about what led to this unexpected turn of events? Join me as I unravel the reasons behind my decision, sharing insights and lessons learned along the way. Whether you’re a fellow reader that too was highly anticipating Fathomfolk, a curious enthusiast, or simply seeking an honest recount, here’s why I decided to DNF Fathomfolk and what you need to know!
Title: ‘Fathomfolk ‘ (Drowned World, 1)
Author: Eliza Chan
Genre: Adult Fantasy, Mythology (East Asian), Action & Adventure
Star Rating: 1 star (DNF)
Spice Rating: 0 chili peppers
Released on: February 27, 202, Orbit Books
With all stories, start at the beginning.
Like many of you reading this when I picked up Fathomfolk, it was a book that was highly anticipated. The premise was captivating. And so were the first couple of chapters. An Asian mythology filled with political intrigue, mysterious characters, and a plot that was sure to entertain.
In Fathomfolk, the shimmering metropolis of Tiankawi, where the sky kisses the sea and humans coexist with mythical fathomfolk, lies a tale of revolution and magic woven into the city’s very fabric. Here, amidst the gleaming skyscrapers and the murky depths below, tensions simmer between the two worlds. For Mira, a half-siren rising to the captain of the border guard, it’s a chance to rewrite the rules and bridge the gap between humans and fathomfolk. But her path to progress is fraught with challenges, especially when a rebellious water dragon named Nami arrives, stirring the waters of dissent.
This debut novel is the first in a trilogy set
As Nami’s radicalism threatens to upend Mira’s delicate balance, another player enters the fray: Cordelia, a sea witch with ambitions as deep as the ocean itself. With the city on the brink of chaos, alliances shift and betrayals loom, forcing Mira and Nami to confront the true cost of their ideals. In a city where the line between friend and foe is as fluid as the tides, they must decide whether to fight for change or let Tiankawi drown in its turmoil.
Here’s what I loved about Fathomfolk. At first glance world building is rich. But it seems as if it falls short if it isn’t about the city of Tiankawi. When explaining that illustrious city you vividly see the colors and glitter of the high rises. I have never been to an Asian city but I would imagine that with how vivid Tiankawi is it truly takes inspiration from places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan.
On the other hand, when explaining other cities there wasn’t much thought put into those. Beyond a brief mention or lackluster details, you would count those cities as nonexistent. And that is just too bad.
Beyond the world building Fathomfolk was just meh at best
Reaching the 125-page mark the story just DRAGGED and I mean DRAGGED. I found myself singing this story is so boring. Because it was. Nothing happened beyond a minor heist. And, I say minor because it wasn’t enough to propel any part of the story. But was used as a leaping point. Which it does poorly.
The more I read Fathomfolk the more questions I formulated. Because as the story moved on the less sense it made. Magic is called waterweaving. It is used to protect things like food. Creating little air pockets to preserve it until it is eaten.
But why? If the fathomfolk live beneath the surface of the water why wouldn’t food be edible beyond the waterweaving? There are weights used to keep things like themselves from floating away and again why? If you are essentially a fish (for lack of a better word) why would you be floating throughout the water as if you don’t belong? Shouldn’t life under the sea be different than life on land? There is no real division of worlds. Having no real distinction creates this field in your mind that is all the same.
Let’s be real this is a fantasy story and of all the things that you could have come up with this is what you go for?
Why are the guards called kumiho? Kumiho are fox spirits in Korea. Does kumiho exist in the world? It doesn’t seem so as there is a limited variation of creatures for fathomfolk. There is also more of that… words that mean one thing taken to mean something else and it doesn’t make sense. Glashtyn Square (glashtyn is a water horse from the Manx folklore). Dragon pearls are supposed to be dragon eggs but they are turned into a symbol of harmony between the human lands and the fathomfolk. It is just weird all around.
“No matter the uniform she wore, the exams she passed, the ideas she brought to the discussion; they would always see her as Fathomfolk first.”
Fathomfolk also promised an adult fantasy story. But at best it was YA. It felt incredibly juvenile. With incredible inconsistencies. While this isn’t necessarily the author’s fault (the marketing piece) I think that if it was marketed correctly then readers would adjust expectations according and be able to enjoy it a little more.
Now, for the author’s part of the tale. The execution was just poor. And while I can’t attribute anything editorial-wise to the hindrance of the story. I read an uncorrected proof. One can only hope that it was edited HEAVILY before PUB day!
We do get multiple POVs in Fathomfolk. While not a terrible fault to the story could have been handled a little better. If it stuck to one tone/voice, or even elevated that tone beyond a 12-year-old whiny girl (she’s not 12 BTW) then it would have been a better read. In the plus bucket are the different views and understanding of Tiankawi’s history and political standing which did help the story tremendously but not enough to move beyond all of its faults.
After all is said and done, you have no real connection with any of the characters. No one whose team you would want to be on and that’s a shame. Plus, with the main storyline being about the political and social inequality between the humans and fathomfolk that is a real shame!
“She wished she could take a blade and shave away the rot, but the deeper she dug, the more she realized the veins ran right through her. All she could do was acknowledge them. Try to change them”.
Fathomfolk just overall feels unfinished. Maybe that was done intentionally because it will be part of a series. The characters need further development, the underwater land needs to be revised and the prose needs a little polishing.
Who should pick up Fathomfolk? While the execution of this story isn’t on par. I think that if you go into Fathomfolk with the understanding that it is a Young Adult and not an Adult story then you would enjoy it a lot better. In conjunction, if you liked The Drowining Empire or The Girl That Fell Beneath the Sea you should give this a try. Both are Asian mythology-inspired.
So the question is will I come back and try again? Possibly. I never can say, since in the back of my mind there is always that feeling of what if it just wasn’t the right time to read it. But I know it will be a long time before I try and pick this one up again.
Thank you so much to Hachette Books (Orbit Books) for providing me with an ARC of Fathomfolk!
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