The Drowning City

The Drowning City follows Isyllt Iskaldur, a necromancer and spy, as she arrives in the monsoon-drenched city of Symir to foment revolution against the occupying Empire. She navigates the complex politics of trade, colonialism, and brewing rebellion in this Southeast Asian-inspired fantasy setting. The novel builds its world through Symir's culture of water magic, ancestor spirits, and opposition between traditional practices and Imperial control. Multiple viewpoint characters provide perspectives from different sides of the brewing conflict, including native resistance fighters and Imperial sympathizers. This debut fantasy novel combines elements of espionage, political intrigue, and magic while exploring themes of loyalty and cultural identity. The story examines how individuals must choose between duty and conscience when caught between competing powers. The narrative wrestles with questions of colonialism and revolution, demonstrating the personal costs of political resistance and the complexity of fighting against systemic oppression. These themes emerge organically through character choices rather than didactic messaging.

Readers note the book's complex spy/espionage elements and necromantic magic system, but many found the plot confusing to follow. The setting of Symir draws comparisons to Southeast Asian locales, which readers appreciated for breaking from typical European fantasy environments. Liked: - Detailed worldbuilding and weather/environment descriptions - LGBTQ+ representation - Magic system involving spirits and necromancy - Political intrigue elements Disliked: - Hard-to-follow plot with too many characters introduced quickly - Slow pacing in first half - Main character Isyllt described as cold and difficult to connect with - Some found the writing style overwrought Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (40+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.3/5 (150+ ratings) One frequent comment from reviews: "The setting and magic are fascinating, but the story gets lost in too many competing plotlines and characters."

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🌊 The Drowning City is set in Symir, a fantasy version of Southeast Asian cities, drawing heavily from Malaysian culture and featuring monsoons, spirits, and necromancers. 🗺️ Author Amanda Downum worked as a morgue technician, bringing authenticity to the book's darker elements and scenes involving death magic. 🌿 The novel's magic system incorporates both traditional Western necromancy and Southeast Asian spiritual practices, creating a unique hybrid of magical traditions. 🏰 Symir earned its nickname "The Drowning City" because it's built in a river delta prone to flooding, with some neighborhoods existing entirely on stilts above the water. 🗡️ The protagonist, Isyllt Iskaldur, is a necromancer who works as a spy, subverting the typical fantasy trope of necromancers being villains.