Hello, everyone! Today marks the six month anniversary of my blog! To celebrate, I am releasing this extra mini review of a book I’ve been waiting to read for quite a while. I cannot believe this blog is six months old. It seems like just yesterday that I made my first post, but I guess time flies when you are having tons of fun. I am incredibly grateful for everyone who takes the time to visit my blog, and I love getting to interact with all of you. I’m excited to see what the next six months and beyond has in store. Without further ado, here are my thoughts about In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens.

Goodreads Synopsis

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…

My Mini Review

The cover of this book grabbed my attention while walking through Barnes & Noble one day, and I knew I had to read it. I did the responsible thing to try to save a little money and have been waiting for the library to get it on the shelves. They finally did, and I almost finished the entire book in one sitting. If the book can be wrapped up in one word, it would have to be adorable. The story and protagonists just came across as so wholesome, and the romance was sweet and a joy to read. The interactions between the main characters were endearing, and I particularly enjoyed seeing Tal’s relationship with his family. I also loved how the author made queerness acceptable and normal in this fictional world while also exploring many of the issues queer youth face through the lens of a hidden magical identity. The story was much more fantasy than I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. I just wish there had been a little more world-building, but the political intrigue and details included in the story were interesting and engaging. The plot was relatively simple and a bit tropey, but effective, and I was able to guess the twists long before they happened. However, it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the overall story or the relationships between the characters. Overall, I enjoyed this light, quick read and think it was definitely worth the wait. Therefore, I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

My Main Takeaways:

🌈 Queer AF with excellent bi male rep
🥰 Adorable MM romance
🧙‍♂️ Magic and other interesting fantasy elements
👑 Interesting look at the privilege of royalty with plenty of court intrigue