A Magic Deep and Drowning
Hester Fox
Jun 2025 · Harlequin Audio · Narrated by Lauren Ezzo
4.0star
1 reviewreport
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Audiobook
11 hr 46 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook
Set in the waning days of the Dutch Golden Age, this enchanting, lush reimagining of The Little Mermaid is perfect for fans of Jesse Burton’s The Miniaturist and Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar.
The Dutch Republic, 1650. One fine spring day in Friesland, twenty-year-old Clara van Wieren is faced with an ill omen: a whale, beached and rotting in the noonday sun. But Clara doesn’t believe in magic and superstition, and this portent is quickly dismissed when a proposal from a wealthy merchant arrives, promising Clara the freedom she seeks from her mother’s overbearing rule.
When her attempts at overseeing the household at the family’s estate lead to her chance encounter with a young man with russet hair and sparkling eyes the color of the sea, she finds herself strangely drawn to him. As Clara grows closer to Maurits, she must choose between the steady, gentle life she has been raised for and the man who makes her blood sing.
But Maurits isn’t who he seems to be, and his secrets, once hidden beneath the waves, threaten to rise up and drown them both. And when an ancient bargain, forged in blood between the mythical people of the sea and the rulers of the land, begins to unravel, Clara finds herself at the heart of a deadly struggle for power.
What can you expect in A MAGIC DEEP & DROWNING?
The Dutch Republic, 1650. One fine spring day in Friesland, twenty-year-old Clara van Wieren is faced with an ill omen: a whale, beached and rotting in the noonday sun. But Clara doesn’t believe in magic and superstition, and this portent is quickly dismissed when a proposal from a wealthy merchant arrives, promising Clara the freedom she seeks from her mother’s overbearing rule.
When her attempts at overseeing the household at the family’s estate lead to her chance encounter with a young man with russet hair and sparkling eyes the color of the sea, she finds herself strangely drawn to him. As Clara grows closer to Maurits, she must choose between the steady, gentle life she has been raised for and the man who makes her blood sing.
But Maurits isn’t who he seems to be, and his secrets, once hidden beneath the waves, threaten to rise up and drown them both. And when an ancient bargain, forged in blood between the mythical people of the sea and the rulers of the land, begins to unravel, Clara finds herself at the heart of a deadly struggle for power.
What can you expect in A MAGIC DEEP & DROWNING?
- Lush & Enchanting
- Gender-swap of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid
- Historical Fantasy
- Set in 17th Century Netherlands
- Family Secrets
- Atmospheric Vibes
Ratings and reviews
4.0
1 review
Joz “JINX” Paterson
- Flag inappropriate
7 August 2025
A Magic Deep and Drowning is a retelling of The Little Mermaid with the roles reversed and plenty of magical creatures from Friesland and Dutch folklore. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The Little Mermaid has always been a favorite of mine and this adaptation was a delight. This is a gender-swapped version of the classic. Maurits was the merman while Clara was the human he quickly fell in love with. The story takes place on land and in the sea where Clara encounters some magical and ancient creatures. There was a constant air of mystery and magic everywhere she went. There are dark moments. The abuse she endured from her mother, the loss of her childhood friend to the sea, the grief she held close, and the betrayal that followed. There was also a lightness to the story. The love blooming between Clara and Maurits, and the secrets kept by the mother of the sea. Lauren Ezzo's narration was perfect for this story.
About the author
Hester Fox is a full-time writer and mother, with a background in museum work and historical archaeology. She is the author of such novels as The Witch of Willow Hall, A Lullaby for Witches, and The Last Heir to Blackwood Library. She lives in a small mill town in Massachusetts.
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