The Drowned Heir is a maritime fantasy novella written by Jennifer R. Donohue which I've read as part of the SFINCS' semifinals. An interesting proposal full of imagery and which stands out with its use of a prose that borders the lyrical, and the way it tackles a theme such as shared identity.

A novella that opens with our main character being drowned as part of the traditions of her town; a ritual that allows her deceased uncle's spirit to take over the body, becoming the closest thing to an heir the captain left behind. She's not sure the ritual went well, as she's unsure if her own spirit should still be in the body, fighting with the captain's; she clings to the hope that this means there might be an actual heir, one her uncle wasn't aware.
When the captain's lover shows up asking for his help, the main character, dominated by the captain's spirit, is determined to sail once more and face the monster that caused his death.

Using a first person as the narrative voice was a clever decision by Donohue, as it allows the reader to understand the fight and the struggle of the main character, how she's trying to cling to her identity while the captain is trying to gain control over his; a situation that is accelerated after the captain receives the news from her lover. 
The prose is full of atmospherical details, and also helps to capture this struggle between two people that actually appreciate and love each other, as they were family; the pacing works well, making this a great bite-sized piece to read.

The Drowned Heir is a promising novella, a clever proposal that is enhanced by Donohue's prose use; couldn't have chosen a better way to start my semifinals reads.

Disclaimer: This novella has been read as part of the SFINCS. This review/rating only represents my personal opinion and it might differ with what the team decides.