Book Review: A Magic Deep & Drowning

A Magic Deep & Drowning by Hester Fox ~ 352 pages ~ published 6/24/2025 by Graydon House

Goodreads Synopsis:

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 I Thought:

*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Graydon House for this ARC!*

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I have adored Hester Fox’s previous works of Gothic romance, and am absolutely thrilled to report that she also soars in her first foray into historical fantasy! This brilliant, gender-bent retelling of The Little Mermaid, set in the Golden Age of the Dutch Republic was beautifully written and chilling to behold.

I loved the fact that the mermaid in this story was a man, Maurits. I was a big fan of Maurits from the beginning, even when he was making poor decisions. The object of his desires, Clara, took me a bit longer to warm to, but in the end I was a big fan, huge. Their love story seemed to be a fast starter, but there was definitely a dance to it that made it very intriguing. A large part of this was due to Clara needing to grow up and broaden her horizons. I am always here for a good “finding yourself” kind of story, and this book certainly delivered in that regard.

The setting was beautifully written, which was of no surprise. I loved getting to learn more about the Dutch Republic of the 1600s. I could truly see myself walking those cobblestone streets, and strolling along the canals. But, the true beauty was the world under the ocean that Fox created. It was cold, frightening, and breath-taking. I have always been afraid of the deep ocean, and this book certainly captured that fear. It also helped me to see that not all that lies beneath the surface is terrifying.

The Dutch folklore that played a large role in this book was fascinating. I loved getting to step into a fantastical world that felt quite new to me. Combining it with a familiar tale like The Little Mermaid was brilliantly done.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I found the world to be vibrant and gorgeously realized, the folklore and retelling elements to be brilliantly done, and the characters to be realistic.