by Ian Green
*Advanced Reader Copy*
- High Fantasy
- Seafearing
- Gods and Mages
- Action Adventure
The Deep and the Drowned is the first instalment in a new epic fantasy trilogy by Ian Green. The story follows Killian, a notorious sailor whose reputation stretches across the globe—from the Strait Kingdoms to the Crowne Isles. Along the way, he’s amassed debts, ignited conflicts, and made enemies in almost every port he has visited. With old foes beginning to outnumber his allies, Killian soon finds himself caught in a far greater conflict than any he’s faced before.
As war erupts between powerful mages and ancient gods across the seas, Killian is forced to confront the ultimate debt he owes—one that could cost him everything.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its world-building. Green creates a vast, richly imagined fantasy world filled with vivid locations, layered lore, and high-stakes magic. The descriptive writing paints every setting in detail, making it easy to picture the seas, cities, and dangers that lie ahead.
That said, I personally found this a difficult book to fully connect with. A huge amount happens in a relatively short space of time, and while the pace rarely slows, I often found myself reading several pages before realising I hadn’t absorbed what I’d read. It wasn’t until the latter part of the novel that the story really began to pull me back in.
I wanted to enjoy this more than I ultimately did. Whether that came down to the writing style simply not clicking with me or the story itself, I’m not entirely sure. Much of the plot follows Killian travelling from place to place, exploring tombs, escaping danger, and fighting his way through increasingly perilous situations. While there are plenty of action sequences, I found this structure became quite repetitive, and I was hoping for more variation and character development to break up the cycle.
Overall, The Deep and the Drowned is an ambitious start to what promises to be a large-scale fantasy series, with impressive world-building and an intriguing premise. Although it wasn’t the right fit for me personally, readers who enjoy expansive fantasy worlds, seafaring adventures, and action-driven plots may find far more to love here than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read and review this book, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
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