Daughter of the Merciful Deep

By: Leslye Penelope

Narrated by: Shayna Small

A woman journeys into a submerged world of gods and myth to save her home in this powerful historical fantasy that shines a light on the drowned Black towns of the American South.

“Our home began, as all things do, with a wish.”

Jane Edwards hasn’t spoken since she was eleven years old, when armed riders expelled her family from their hometown along with every other Black resident. Now, twelve years later, she’s found a haven in the all-Black town of Awenasa. But the construction of a dam promises to wash her home under the waters of the new lake.

Jane will do anything to save the community that sheltered her. So, when a man with uncanny abilities arrives in town asking strange questions, she wonders if he might be the key. But as the stranger hints at gods and ancestral magic, Jane is captivated by a bigger mystery. She knows this man. Only the last time she saw him, he was dead. His body laid to rest in a rushing river.

Who is the stranger and what is he really doing in Awenasa? To find those answers, Jane will journey into a sunken world, a land of capricious gods and unsung myths, of salvation and dreams made real. But the flood waters are rising. To gain the miracle she desires, Jane will have to find her voice again and finally face the trauma of the past.

For more from Leslye Penelope, check out The Monsters We Defy.

©2024 Leslye Penelope (P)2024 Redhook

Critic reviews

"Daughter of the Merciful Deep is a mesmerizing tale that deftly blends history and magic. It’s a thoughtful, timely, and immensely compelling read. Readers will find much to admire and marvel at from the first page to the very last!"—Nicole Glover, author of The Conductors

“Daughter of the Merciful Deep skillfully weaves the mythology of the age-old gods, with all their feuds and foibles, through this poignant and mystical story. It will leave you filled both with the hope of all that can be when one is reminded of the magic found in family and community, and the unimaginable power of generational memory and the thread that binds us to the ancestors.”—Rita Woods, Hurston/Wright Legacy Award-winning author of Remembrance

Tour de force performance!

Narrator Shayna Small took fantastical plotting merged with raw American history and turned it into 10+ magical hours. Her range of voices and emotions , including her singing voice , brought this complex story to life. I’m reading the author’s previous book next for more of this great collaboration. Beautifully done!

Excellent!

The best historical fiction (HF) doesn’t hide from the painful aspects of our past. These are stories that are not limited by the oppression our Ancestors faced. Well written HF acknowledges the full breadth of their humanity. Leslye Penelope navigates that tightrope expertly. Shayna Small brings this powerful story to life with beautiful narration. I highly recommend this book.

Outstanding!

If you like historical fiction, you will love this book. I had a lot of aha moments when listening to this book. Wonderful character development, and a great plot. Overall, 10 out of 10 would recommend.

Loved This!

The magnificent mix of Black history and magical realism gripped me from the beginning! Leslye Penelope's story/writing and Shana Small's narration are magnificent! The characters are still alive in my mind! Brava!

A wonderfully written story

The research it takes to creatively deliver such a story takes unprecedented talent. I truly enjoyed listening to Daughter of the Meriful deep especially knowing the story around Lake Lanier etc. I loved the development of the characters and the wrap up of their stories, however I felt as thought I was left with some questions. This doesn’t take away from the book. I definitely recommend the listen! Enjoy

Incredible storytelling and wonderful narration!

I love Leslye Penelope’s books and this may be my favorite so far. She creates wonderful characters and does such an amazing job weaving history, the present and fantastical elements. This one made me cry a few times out of alternating joy and sadness. The narrator did a great job of bringing this to life for me too. I didn’t want this to audio book to end.