Daughter of the Merciful Deep

De: Leslye Penelope

Narrado por: Shayna Small

A woman journeys into a submerged world of gods and myth to save her home in this powerful historical fantasy that shines a light on the drowned Black towns of the American South.

“Our home began, as all things do, with a wish.”

Jane Edwards hasn’t spoken since she was eleven years old, when armed riders expelled her family from their hometown along with every other Black resident. Now, twelve years later, she’s found a haven in the all-Black town of Awenasa. But the construction of a dam promises to wash her home under the waters of the new lake.

Jane will do anything to save the community that sheltered her. So, when a man with uncanny abilities arrives in town asking strange questions, she wonders if he might be the key. But as the stranger hints at gods and ancestral magic, Jane is captivated by a bigger mystery. She knows this man. Only the last time she saw him, he was dead. His body laid to rest in a rushing river.

Who is the stranger and what is he really doing in Awenasa? To find those answers, Jane will journey into a sunken world, a land of capricious gods and unsung myths, of salvation and dreams made real. But the flood waters are rising. To gain the miracle she desires, Jane will have to find her voice again and finally face the trauma of the past.

For more from Leslye Penelope, check out The Monsters We Defy.

©2024 Leslye Penelope (P)2024 Redhook

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Daughter of the Merciful Deep is a mesmerizing tale that deftly blends history and magic. It’s a thoughtful, timely, and immensely compelling read. Readers will find much to admire and marvel at from the first page to the very last!"—Nicole Glover, author of The Conductors

“Daughter of the Merciful Deep skillfully weaves the mythology of the age-old gods, with all their feuds and foibles, through this poignant and mystical story. It will leave you filled both with the hope of all that can be when one is reminded of the magic found in family and community, and the unimaginable power of generational memory and the thread that binds us to the ancestors.”—Rita Woods, Hurston/Wright Legacy Award-winning author of Remembrance

Just brilliant!

Leslye Penelope is terrific. Everything bout this book is fabulous, including the wonderful narration. Highly recommend!

Narration

The writing was powerful and provided excellent descriptions to enhance visuals. The narration was outstanding! The voice captivated me and enlivened the reality of the characters. I wanted to keep on listening…this was a great “read”!

Outstanding!

If you like historical fiction, you will love this book. I had a lot of aha moments when listening to this book. Wonderful character development, and a great plot. Overall, 10 out of 10 would recommend.

Re-imagined Black History

My goodness, where to begin. The story was wonderful overall! Because there were some realistic events in the story relating to black Americans early in the 20th century, some parts were just hard (heartbreaking) to hear, but enhanced the story. I loved the implementation of African folklore, as well! I think one thing I love about the author's stories is that they're inspired by real life events and places, which made me want to learn more about African-American history. The reader was amazing, also!

A wonderfully written story

The research it takes to creatively deliver such a story takes unprecedented talent. I truly enjoyed listening to Daughter of the Meriful deep especially knowing the story around Lake Lanier etc. I loved the development of the characters and the wrap up of their stories, however I felt as thought I was left with some questions. This doesn’t take away from the book. I definitely recommend the listen! Enjoy

Incredible storytelling and wonderful narration!

I love Leslye Penelope’s books and this may be my favorite so far. She creates wonderful characters and does such an amazing job weaving history, the present and fantastical elements. This one made me cry a few times out of alternating joy and sadness. The narrator did a great job of bringing this to life for me too. I didn’t want this to audio book to end.

Excellent!

The best historical fiction (HF) doesn’t hide from the painful aspects of our past. These are stories that are not limited by the oppression our Ancestors faced. Well written HF acknowledges the full breadth of their humanity. Leslye Penelope navigates that tightrope expertly. Shayna Small brings this powerful story to life with beautiful narration. I highly recommend this book.

Excellent audio

At first, I thought I was reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, with the southerners finding community in an all-Black town, a watery disaster looming. Then I got a Kindred vibe, with the time travel. Pirates of the Caribbean came to mind with the lilting island accents of the audiobook and some vague magic. Then an ancient tree with special powers reminded me of Avatar. This type of fantasy has a place on our collective bookshelves, especially appealing for young adult audiences, perhaps. But it’s not my thing, except for the connection to historical events.

Loved This!

The magnificent mix of Black history and magical realism gripped me from the beginning! Leslye Penelope's story/writing and Shana Small's narration are magnificent! The characters are still alive in my mind! Brava!

Beautiful

Admittedly it took a while for me to sink into this book. Once I was in, though, I was in. The author handles the character growth and relationships so beautifully. I also loved how the book develops the characters' attitudes and relationship with the past. I'm so happy I came across this book.