Fathomfolk (Drowned World #1), by Eliza Chan

Fathomfolk is the initial book in the Asian inspired fantasy series Drowned World, which represents the debut of Eliza Chan, published by Orbit Books. A highly creative story full of social commentary which encloses a big metaphor about immigration, xenophobia and the own Asian diaspora, told through the situation in the city of Tiankawi.

The semi-flooded city of Tiankawi is seen as a perfect place to live, an achievement for the human civilization and a safe heaven for those fleeing civil unrest; however, the reality is far from that image: humans are peering down from skyscrapers and platforms on the fathomfolk (sirens, kappas, kelpies and seawitches) who live in the polluted waters below. The fathomfolk's rights are severely restricted, being in many situations second-class citizens.

Half-siren Mira has always inhabited Tiankawi, a place she can call her home; a life of efforts has been rewarded with her promotion to captain of the border guard, something that she sees as an opportunity to reform the system from the inside, working with the council and progressively opening the hand towards fathomfolk. But with the arrival of Nami, an exiled water-dragon, all her plans start to wobble.
Nami has also been sent by her mother to get information about how the Onseon Engine, the source of energy for Tiankawi, works; she has an opinion on everything, and she's frustrated by the apparent lack of progress for fathomfolk produced by the progressive Nami's approach. Her radicalism will lead her to get in contact with an extremist anti-human group; putting her at risk.
Both characters share their goal of changing things for the fathomfolk, but their methods and ways to behave are really different, as a consequence of their social origins and positions; Mira has worked and sacrificed much to reach a position that allows her to maybe improve the conditions of the folk, and she fears that all the progress might be lost if a mistake is made. Nami is younger, impulsive, from an aristocratic family, prone to act in outbursts, and she's angry about the folk situation. They are two sides of the same coin.

When the annual boat race is sabotaged by the extremists, violence appears, and the fathomfolk see their rights being restricted against; Nami opens her eyes to what her new friends were. But after this incident, both Nami and Mira will need to think about the change they are seeking, and most importantly, if they are ready to pay the price for it.
But that's not the only conflict in this story, as there is a third character playing with threads behind the scenes, Cordelia, a second-generation sea-witch who is determined to do everything in her hand to make her family flourish, at any cost; her connexions can end with everything Nami and Mira wanted for the folk.

The world of Fathomfolk is imaginative, paying homage to the Asian inspiration used to write this novel, something that can be recognised in many of the buildings that are part of Tiankawi; a grand place which represents the progress of humanity, but with a cost for those that are living in the polluted waters. A city where many are trying to influence in the political decisions, and with a clear two classes system based on your origin, a clever representation of the xenophobia experience by many immigrants.

Eliza Chan has written a clever novel with Fathomfolk, an excellent and thought-provoking story which was an absolute pleasure of reading. If you like Asian-inspired fantasy, this book would be a great choice, especially if you like social commentary threaded into your novels. A really solid debut.