Devil of the Deep

by Falencia Jean-Francois

Nnenna Delahaye, a fearsome pirate captain with a particular taste for Fleet ships, lives according to no law except her own until she discovers a most unusual treasure in the belly of her most recent Fleet: a young girl. Against her better judgment (and the wishes of her first mate), she takes the girl on as a passenger. When Nnenna learns the girl has an artifact that the Fleet is desperate to get their hands on, she vows to do everything in her power to stop them.

Duty and honor have been Lu Ortega's creed since the day he joined the Fleet. Now that he has finally achieved the rank of Captain, he is eager to prove himself worthy of the honor. Lu accepts a mission to retrieve the missing girl and help to bring about the Fleet's great destiny.

What begins as a game of cat and mouse over land and sea quickly becomes a race to unlock an ancient secret with divine consequences.

Genres: Fantasy, Queer, Pirates, LGBT, Romance, Adult, Mermaids

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 7, 2026

About the author

Falencia Jean-Francois is an author and educator living in the Pittsburgh area with her wife, two cats, and dog. She has wanted to be a published author since she started writing NSYNC fan fiction in her notebook when she was twelve years old! She is looking forward to the release of her debut novel, Devil of the Deep, on August 1, 2023.

Reviews

[M.J. Pankey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you made a list of everything missing in the publishing world, or at least SPARSE in the publishing world, I bet BIPOC author, BIPOC cast, LGBTQIA+ rep, and disabled rep is on it.

And if you're looking for this diamond in the rough/needle in a haystack, then look no further because THIS book has ALL of those things.😍

Plus mermaids, and pirates, and ORIGINAL MYTHOLOGY, GODS, and LORE. Which is my prime cup of tea! How is this even possible?🤯

There quite a few stories with lesbian and gay characters (FINALLY there is starting to be a decent selection) but I still do not see trans characters often at all and it was delightful to have one here who is a main character and not an afterthought side character.

There's a badass FMC and a character who is unable to speak and must use sign language to communicate, so that was nice to see, especially in a way that actually made sense to the plot and wasn't just shoehorned in there.

There's a religious row driving two sides of the conflict, which originates with two gods. The usual divine reasons are the culprit: jealousy and a lust for power, which lead to the development of two separate factions of followers. One has been lost to time and one who has been trying to recover all of their lost power and their mythical homeland, which was lost during this god war.

Nnenna is a pirate captain, Pearl is a mermaid runaway, and Lu is a Fleet captain. Shenanigans ensue as all three try to recover a lost artifact which is the key to one god's victory over the other.

There's romance, intrigue, political machinations and manipulations, action, adventure, betrayal, sacrifice, trauma, found family, and religious zealotry, among all the other amazing things I've already mentioned being in this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and finished it in just a couple of days after getting hooked by sound clips of the audiobook on tiktok, which are AMAZING. So if you are looking for your next audiobook, I'd give it a shot. I actually purchased a physical book because I prefer the feel of pages, but the audiobook sounds amazing too.

I really loved this story and it was easy to root for the characters, even though each was complex and had their own flaws and misconceptions about what was going on, this only enriched my experience even more and added great dimension to their characters.

There were a few places where I wished there was just a little more development. It begins with the death of Pearl's uncle, but without having a more established relationship with him, it was a little hard to connect with her grief.

I would have especially liked more development between Nnenna and Lu. Without spoiling too much, they have quite an intriguing and complicated history that I wish had been explored just a little more. However, the story ends with the promise of a sequel so I'm hopeful we will get more interaction between them.

At times, Pearl felt more childlike than a 16 year old girl, both from how she acted and thought and from how the other characters treated her and spoke to her. This may just be a me thing though based on how I was treated as a 16 year old lol.

I highly recommend this book. I haven't read anything quite like it and I'm really glad I invested my time in it. I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel to see what happens to these characters next!

[alyssa✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

this was so effortlessly queer in such a beautiful way and the story was incredibly unique!

i had some issues with the pacing & relationships but i enjoyed myself 🧜‍♀️

[Elizabeth • Lucky Lulu Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really promising debut with a unique and enjoyable story rooted in Haitian folklore. The story follows three main protagonists and a smattering of side characters. Nnenna is the most fearsome pirate in the Seven Isles, Lu is a newly appointed captain of the Fleet, and Pearl is a lost Meridian girl with a game-changing artifact. The crux of the story is about religious zealotry and erasure of other religions/culture, and I thought this was a strong premise.

Overall, I wanted more from the characters and the world. Most of the book is so concerned with what’s happening next that there weren’t many moments I felt rooted in the world or the characters’ psyches. I think pacing-wise I would have liked to see the end a bit more drawn out. Worldbuilding-wise, I think the religion and culture could have been expanded on earlier in the book, including the Meridians. In fact, there’s a chapter near the end of the book that could have been the prologue and cleared up some of my early desire to understand the religion and the gods.

Like I said, the story was really strong. The author is also great at writing action scenes. And as another reviewer pointed out, the book is “effortlessly queer,” and I love that. Overall it’s a solid debut, and I’m looking forward to reading the next :)

Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jessica Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Falencia Jean-Francois for sending me an ARC of her debut novel!

Overall I really like this story! It has a fun low-fantasy magic system, lots of effortlessly queer characters (including a compelling trans character), pirates, angry gods, and mermaids. The story follows three main POV characters, but also has other character POVs throughout the book. Nnenna is our pirate seeking revenge for wrongs done to her by the mysterious Fleet; Pearl is our young "damsel in distress" who is seeking truth and will eventually help save her people; Lu is a captain of the Fleet with a challenging relationship with his past and his present. The story has a found-family feel while also tackling issues of bigotry, religious zealotry, complicated personal history, and sacrifice for a cause. I really appreciate the how the queerness of the characters is organic, isn't the main focus of the story, but adds to the complexity of the characters and their world. The motivations of the characters are clear and you really understand the stakes.

I did struggle a little with the shortness of the POV chapters, especially of our main characters. The combination of short chapters and flashbacks made it a little tough for me to get attached to the characters and settle into their mindset. There are also several languages used in the story, which added a level of complexity that I feel could have been flushed out a little better with slightly longer chapters. Overall, I feel the length of the story was just about right, but I would have loved a little more time with each main POV character and a little more depth into their world and the rules associated with it.

I look forward to getting a finished hardcopy and seeing where the author takes the story in sequels!

[KMart Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

A pirate adventure infused with rich Haitian folklore, a diverse cast, and intrigue. This delivers all the swashbuckling energy you could want—daring raids, naval battles, and ancient secrets—but with an incredible depth of culture and representation that makes it stand out.

Representation is one of the book’s biggest strengths. This is a book that embraces diversity in all its forms, from a BIPOC cast to LGBTQIA+ and disability representation. Beyond that, it also deeply explores themes of identity—how we’re shaped by expectations, the pain of breaking out of imposed molds, and the struggle to carve out a path that feels genuine.

That said, the book isn’t without its flaws. The short POV chapters, especially for the main characters, made it harder for me to fully connect with them. With that and the flashbacks, it sometimes felt like I was being pulled out of their mindsets just when I was getting settled. The pacing had some rough patches, and there were moments where I wanted just a little more development—more time to sink into the relationships, the motivations, the stakes.

Still, Devil of the Deep is an exciting, atmospheric read that feels fresh and engaging. If you love pirate stories and want one with rich cultural influences and a cast that reflects the real world, this is absolutely worth picking up. I had a blast with it!

[James Stadig · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could reread a book for the first time, it would be this one. Falencia Jean-Francois has crafted a story for the ages that is filled to the brim with beautifully written characters, complex gods, and a magic system so intertwined into the numerous cultures, and a plot that leaves you breathless.

When I won this book in a giveaway, I'd had no idea that I won one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. You will not regret reading this book.

[Cynthia Dill · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun! Can't wait for the next one :)

[Manda Bartlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story!! Loved the multiple POV & the nonstop adventure! Falencia doesn’t hold back on the action & IS NOT AFRAID TO KILL OFF CHARACTERS

[Raith · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was so good!! also very queer!

[Ale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Devil of the deep manages to deliver an innovative take on a classic pirates, navy and mermaids set-up. It follows multiple perspectives from these three worlds as each of our three main characters tries to navigate the politics and powers of their world, uncovering betrayals and long buried secrets. The narrative moves between several characters, but I think that Lu and Nnenna emerge as the real protagonists, they are the more developed characters, and their dynamics are the most interesting in the book their motivations and tensions drive the story and provide its emotional core. The mermaid perspective centred on Pearl is less compelling, her chapters more on the events and conflicts happening around her.

I loved the worldbuilding and lore, and particularly enjoyed all the flashbacks peppered throughout, but while these, along with the choice to fragment the story across many short perspectives, create breadth, it does not help with the pacing, which I found quite difficult to get into. The action moves quite slowly, while each character’s POV is cut short, and there are a couple of time skips that I simply could not understand as we just skip a lot of interesting action. Those structural decisions may produce some unevenness, but they also allow the book to pack in quite a lot in terms of worldbuilding and scope.

Overall, this is a tightly packed and entertaining read that provides a very satisfying set-up for lovers of pirate fantasy.

I thank NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC to review

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil of the Deep was a solid 4⭐️ read for me. It was a true slow burn, with extra emphasis on the burn 🔥 The middle section lost a bit of momentum, especially with the frequent POV changes and flashbacks, but the ending definitely made up for it.

The setting of Ayiti and the surrounding islands of Hispaniola was refreshing. I haven’t read many fantasies that draw from this region, and it gave the story a unique perspective. I also really appreciated the presence of black mermaids and even black representation in fantasy. It added both depth and visibility to a world that already has magic and danger.

Overall, a lush, imaginative, and beautifully grounded read that I’d definitely recommend to readers looking for something different in the fantasy genre.

[El Fish | libro.vermo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stopped reading this book at 90% because I was upset it was going to end. Every day for three days, I opened it up on my Kindle and then thought “not yet” and switched to a different book because I just wasn’t ready. And now that I’ve finished it, I’m mad at myself for thinking I was ready 😂

The first thing I fell in love with in Devil of the Deep is the Meridians and their undersea world, culture, and background. I’ve always liked stories about merpeople, so I’ve read quite a few, and none have included any kind of reason for their existence. The idea that their life under water was actually a curse they have to prove their devotion to break is so fresh. Their religion was similar to some real-life religions and I found myself hating the Viceroy as much as I hate many religious leaders with a hunger for power that completely overshadows the god they claim to serve.

The second thing I fell in love with was… everything else. I loved Lu and Nnenna, who have a heartbreaking past both separate and shared that led them to be the people they are for better and for worse. I loved Pearl and her journey from devoted follower of Agwe to a young woman who understands the world isn’t so black and white. I loved the action scenes both above and below water (pirates fighting the law will never not be cool).

Devil of the Deep really has it all: queer rep (including a trans character!), excellently-written action scenes, lovable characters, and a story that left me breathless more than once. I can easily recommend it, especially to anyone whose childhood love of merpeople had them pretending to be one in the bathtub.

Thank you to both Bindery and Left Unread for the ARC!

[Fox Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devil of the Deep:
A Promising Ship Trapped in Shallow Waters

Devil of the Deep is the debut novel of Falencia Jean-Francois. The book is advertised as a high-seas adventure inspired by Caribbean culture about a pirate and soldier both attempting to secure a run-away mermaid who holds the key to saving her people. I was provided an ARC as a part of my ongoing support of this novel’s publisher, Left Unread (an imprint of Bindery Books) and will be reviewing the book based on off that copy, which may not reflect the published version releasing April 2026. This review will go into great depth and contain spoilers for the entire book, so if the premises sounds interesting, encourage you to read it yourself before diving into this essay.
As my title states, I found a lot of promising ideas inside of Devil of the Deep. Mermaids, despite being unequivocally awesome, are underrepresented in fiction and so that was an immediate sell for me. I am also of Caribbean descent and have an unhealthy interest in pirate history, so I am well within the target audience for this story. Despite that, I found myself growing disappointed with the book as it went on and will go into great detail on what I feel are issues or weak points. But first, let’s start with what I enjoyed.

First, I appreciated the representation. Practically every character is a person of color, queer couples are show on page, and Lu, one of our POV characters, is trans masc. As a trans-woman myself, I’m always happy to see people like me taking up space in fictional worlds. The book bleeds Caribbean (specifically Haitian) and I am incredibly thankful for that. I also enjoyed the premise a lot, even though I felt the execution didn’t quite deliver. An island-hopping adventure about a mermaid trying to save her people from a corrupt god is ripe with potential and I always appreciate an attempt to deconstruct real world issues, like Christianity (this book’s primary target), in fiction. The author also includes a fictional language inspired by Sign, which I found to be a clever and inspired flourish. Unfortunately, that’s where my specific positives end.

My main issue with Devil of the Deep is that it does not deliver on its promises. For a book advertised about mermaids and pirates there is a stunning lack of both. Pearl, the POV mermaid character, loses her tail in her second chapter and spends the rest of the novel in human form. Nnenna, our titular character, is temporarily transformed into a mermaid toward the end of the story but does not have any strong reactions or feelings about that. The one chapter we spent in the mermaid world, known as the Settlement, included very little world building. Living underwater comes with many complications and benefits: architecture would reflect the constant exposure to the sea, and the citizens ability to move in any direction would surely change how halls and rooms are designed. These questions, along with most I would expect a reader to have about mermaids, do not get answered. There are a couple of pirate-y fights, but I found the Medusa, Nnenna’s ship, to have a severe lack of character and disliked how it was run like a naval vessel, rather than a pirate one. There is also no at-sea, cannon fire combat which was disappointing.

These are symptoms of the greater lack of worldbuilding throughout the entirety of the novel. Rather than coming up with creative names for places or things the author simply capitalizes improper nouns (Settlement, Citadel, Seven Isles, Fleet, etc.) which I found generic and boring. Furthermore, we learn little about any of these things beyond their name. Citadel of what? The Fleet. Fleet of what? The Citadel. Are the Fleet the governing body of this world? Yes and no. They can act like police for most the book, but we are also shown governors who view the Fleet as religious fanatics. Who do those governors answer to? Your guess is as good as mine. The best-defined feature of the book are the fisher-folk, a community of fishers who are aware of the old goddess and known the sign language the mermaids use. Whenever the book talks about them I become well-immersed, but their color reveals the greyscale of the rest of the world around them.
Speaking of a lack of color, the author is light on descriptions, in my opinion too light. The most common example of this missing detail is in the several scenes where characters are said to be singing. Song has a large place in this story, coming up almost every chapter, yet I can point to exactly one section of the book where the reader is provided any detail on what that music sounds like. I understand depicting music in text is a challenge, but the author clearly wanted to do so, and so I think it’s only fair to expect adequate description of that music. One chapter toward the end of the novel describes the seven notes Nnenna sings, attaching each one to a powerful emotion like longing or pride. That passage was beautiful and I wish the other dozens of times a character sings we got half as much detail.

Missing and repetitive descriptions plague the book throughout. The author heavily relies on adverbs, which in combination with the capitalized improper nouns, leads to the prose becoming stale rather quickly. Beyond that, there was diction that I felt was out of place. The story draws heavily from the golden age of piracy, but includes references to mammoths and shotguns, both almost a century out of place. Even the main ship name we get, the Medusa, seemed random for this world as I have no idea if Greek mythology exists or if Medusa refers to something else. I agree it’s a bit of a nitpick, but when combined with the flagrant lack of understanding how ships and sailing works , leads me to believe there was a lack of research into the time period the book wants to reflect. This also extends into the sword play and action scenes, which while serviceable, all had the same hallmarks of silly video-game style fights that many novels in this space do.
With the world discussed, let’s move on to the characters. The book has three main POVs with a handful of others sprinkled in. These belong to Pearl, a teenage mermaid, Nnenna, a pirate captain, and Lu, a soldier of the Fleet. Pearl I have the least to say about because the book loses interest in her very quickly. At first it seems she would be our main protagonist: she’s the one with the McGuffin, the mermaid, and the fish out of water. Yet, after meeting Nnenna, Pearl’s chapters are delegated to musing about her turmoil and giving Nnenna a reason to be involved in the plot. Even at the end, when the goddess needs to choose herald, she does not choose the mermaid girl who had trained in religious studies up until now, but instead the pirate who has a tenuous connection to this faith at best. Pearl has some bright moments, I particularly enjoyed the scenes when she is trying to understand aspects of the land world, but it’s not enough to flesh out a character.
Nnenna, the Devil of the Deep herself, is all over the place. She has some badass pirate qualities I enjoyed and is one of our queer reps. Her arc, which plays out as more of a flipped switch, is to go from an emotionally hard pirate to faithful herald of the goddess. I found her changes happening extremely fast to the point where her second half depiction of a holy servant feels like an entirely different character than the ruthless pirate from the beginning. Her ties to the plot are also threadbare, as she is mainly motivated by Pearl, who reminds her of a younger version of herself, and Lu, whom she used to be in love with (and still might be?). The romance between her and Lu starts very late (as we don’t find out they know each other till the final act) and was gross in my opinion due to the fact Lu is compliant in both Nnenna’s branding (literal branding of her skin) and her execution. Lu will save her life the second time the Fleet attempts to execute her, but that action is not motivated by justice but lingering emotional ties. We are shown their previous relationship in a single flashback that amounts to “they both found each other attractive” and had bad parents, so they fell in love. There is another small romanced between Nnenna and Aline that I found to be equally dull and missing real weight.

Onto Lu, my least favorite character in the book. For most of it, he does nothing. He follows orders and does not question them, even when the inconsistences are incredibly obvious. Perhaps he is meant to be dim-witted, but later scenes attempt to portray that he is clever, which I did not buy. He is also our trans character, which I have a lot to say about. Firstly, it is not that he is just trans. The book beats us over the head with several cliché scenes of Lu changing clothes in front of a mirror and trying a different name. Accurate? Sure. But tropey? Absolutely. But that isn’t my main issue. My problem with how the author treats Lu’s transness is that the book nor Lu ever have anything to say about it. Does a trans character have to talk about being trans? No, of course not. But when we spend dozens of pages reminding the reader that he is in fact trans, I expect that to be relevant to either the character or the story at some point. Lu’s only meaningful mention of it is an excuse for joining the Fleet as they accepted him when his father didn’t. Again, boring and tropey. Lu is dead by the end of the book, which while I was happy because he was genuinely evil guy, undercuts the representation as the only trans character in the book dies at the end. It feels like the author wanted to include a trans character and did so in the most predictable and obvious ways they could think of. If you’ve seen or read a trans story in the past ten years, you’ve already encountered each of Lu’s beats.

For comparison, let’s look at another Bindery book, House of Frank by Kay Synclaire. This story also includes a trans character, which I found to be handled more creatively, and thought was much more impactful than Lu. In House of Frank, our protagonist Saika is going through one of the housemates rooms and noticing several photos of a man they’ve never met. We of course find out that this man is now the older woman we’ve come to known as Hilde. But this revelation isn’t for representation’s sake. Hilde’s story ties directly into the themes of grief and loss that the book nurtures throughout and gives Saika more perspective on her own loss. Hilde is complex and her transness is brought up to directly support the book’s narrative and characters. Lu’s is brought up as a poor excuse for downright evil behavior and meeting a representation quota. As a trans person myself, I was severely disappointed.

Moving on from character, its time for plot. As said previously, the book primarily wants to deconstruct Christianity by attaching it’s hallmarks (three-day resurrection, creepy priests, etc.) to an evil god called Agwe that our characters have to take down and reveal the truth about. Agwe’s goal is to take his people (the mermaids) and return them to the promised land they are owed (a magical island) from which they will dispose of the dominant peoples of the land. Now doesn’t that sound familiar…

Yes, its an allegory for Isreal and Palestine. Or at least, I thought it was for the first half of the book. After the halfway point we discover that its not just that this god is evil and we should be critical of his problematic teachings, but actually Agwe worked to hide another god, the Goddess, and our characters goal is to get everyone to blindly worship her instead. If that sounded counter intuitive to the theme of deconstructing Christianity and not blindly following religious teachings, you would be correct! The book spends the first half showing all of the insidious parts of Christianity, only to change gears and tell the reader “Thoughtless attachment to systemic religion isn’t the problem, its actually just which specific god you are worshiping” which in my opinion is a much weaker moral. Our characters go from having to be critical of all they have ever learned of Agwe, to blindly believing this new Goddess who is good simply because the book tells us she is. Devil of the Deep is not a scathing deconstruction of Christianity, but lukewarm flipping of it that comes off shallow.

The plot is also handedly poorly from a writing perspective. The author wants the reader to receive information in a very specific order (such as the fact that Lu and Nnenna know each other), but instead of outlining the story so the character’s action logically lay out the threads, we instead are given POVs in whatever order is most convenient at that time. Convenient could describe many of the book’s beats. Our characters are never impeded for more than a chapter, and everyone is always in the exact right place at the exact right time. The resulting reading experience is less of a consistent flow of events and more a rough sea where the author jerks the story’s camera from place to place and person to person like a clumsily fisherman struggling with the day’s catch. We get flashbacks that have no relevance to the chapter and are shown an objective, omniscient view of events (such as the birth of the gods) which robs the mystery of character motivations. We must never wonder who is telling the truth and who is lying for the book will always tell us. An author is meant to be invisible, to fade behind the world they have created. I found Devil of the Deep’s author to be constantly in the forefront, her heavy hand visible every chapter.

This sums the majority of my thoughts on Devil of the Deep. I had smaller issues, like the inconsistent tone and repetitive diction, but those pale in comparison to what I believe are the novel’s larger issues: rough pacing, static characters, and undercutting its own ideas. However, do not misunderstand these critiques as a claim that the book is bad. As I’ve said, there are a ton of creative ideas here and many moments where the author’s prose flourishes. Falencia Jean-Francois has genuine talent, but in my opinion based off this sole work, lacks the patience needed to elevate this story to the heights its premise promises. What we are left with is engaging at first, but quickly reveals its shallow characters, world, and themes. The book ends with a hint of a sequel, and I enjoyed plenty of the beautiful bits between to honestly say I am excited for Falencia Jean-Francois’ next work. Though, if a humble reader may provide a word of advice, let it cook just a little longer.

[Kat L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nnenna bisexual icon 🥰

okay it did take me a whiiiiile to get through this book, not at all because it wasn’t good or anything, i just kept holding off on it. i wish i would’ve gotten through it quicker/more consistently because i would’ve absorbed and retained the story better. overall i enjoyed this book—the story is unique, the characters are interesting, the writing is descriptive and engaging. i would definitely sit down and read/listen to it again (more consistently next time) to give it the attention it deserves!

[lovelifeandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel has you explore what can happen when you follow rules that were never made to protect you. It serves as a reminder that when gods battle, it’s their followers who suffer the most. This story is packed with action and betrayal, as a good pirate story should be. But at its core this novel is a song of hope.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery for this ARC.

[Jake Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This has not affected my review.

Devil of the Deep is a pirate fantasy adventure full of lovable queer characters and an amazing message. It is also the author's debut novel.

We follow our three main characters as they travel across the sea, learning the secrets of their world and uncovering the lies everyone has been told.

Nnenna is a fierce pirate captain known as The Devil of the Deep. She is a scourge to The Fleet, and has plundered many of their ships.

Pearl is from of a society that lives beneath the sea. After a political upheaval causes the death of her uncle, she flees home for the surface world, carrying an artifact she doesn't understand.

Lu is a newly promoted Captain of The Fleet who's first task is to seek this fugitive from the underwater kingdom and bring her to justice.

Nnenna rescues Pearl from another Fleet ship and the two become allies, trying to figure out the secret of the artifact before Pearl can be captured. All the while Lu is in pursuit, making his own realizations.

This book is so much fun all the way through. Each of our perspective characters feels distinctively unique and the narration in their chapters fits their voices. The side characters are all really enjoyable as well. Even the dispicable villains are enjoyable to read.

While it's not the main focus I wanted to highlight that the action scenes in this book are extremely well written as well. I know that fights are very difficult to write in a way that feels both thorough and is enjoyable and Jean-Francois absolutely nailed them.

There were some pacing issues near the end of the second act and beginning of the third. It felt as if some things were rushed or not well described and some character's actions felt like they didn't fit the character but needed to happen for the plot.

I also wish we had gotten more time in Lu's perspective. He was much more present in the beginning of the novel and became less prominent as time went on. I think this may have strengthened some parts for sure.

The ending however was phenomenal and pulled it all back together. I am absolutely going to read the next book in this series and will be buying a copy of this one once it releases as well. As I had stated above, Falencia Jean-Francois is a debut author and this is such a strong start to their career. I am excited to see them grow and develop as an author.

On a scale of "1: I Hated It" to "5: I Loved It" I am going to give this a 4: I Really Liked It.

I highly recommend this book!

[Nadi Abdi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today, we’re reviewing Devil of the Deep by indie author Falencia Jean-Francois. This is a full novel and a plot twist paradise. I will say three things I liked, two things I didn’t like, then give my overall impression.
What I liked:
The PLOT…TWISTS!!! The surprises lurked everywhere. I really didn’t know what was going to happen. I spent a lot of time going, “OH!!!!! Daaaaaaammnnnn!!!!” There were lots of gasps, lots of pearl-clutching and I lived for it.
It’s a good old-fashioned pirate tale. I’ve been a fan of the pirate genre since Geena Davis played one. I don’t even like water like that. In fact, I’m terrified of the ocean, but the tales are always full of magic, mermaids, and mayhem. (I was gonna say ‘murder,’ but I changed my mind.) Devil of the Deep has all the things I love about pirates including a raging alcoholic with a tortured past.
It was fun. It was colorful. It spoke about some pressing and relevant social issues without being cringy. The author wasn’t afraid to do things that I didn’t think would happen. The names were clever. I loved it. I had a great time.
What I didn’t like:
Pearl and her Uncle. And I will tell you why and try not to drop too many spoilers. It all starts when they’re supposed to be getting gone before some people come get them. And this girl decides she wants to stop and sing a song, a hymn, actually. AND the uncle, who’s an adult, a fully grown ass man, decides, “Yeah, that’s cool.” Mind you, them people are coming. They are on their way. He knows it. She knows it. And songs are portable. And I’m reading this like, “Sir, if you don’t tell that girl to sing and step!!! To hum that hymn and hike out the door!!!” Not gonna lie, I almost DNFd right there. I almost threw my phone, if we’re gonna be honest. But I didn’t. I finished it, and I’m glad I did, but I had beef with those two the entire rest of the story. On-sight every time their names were mentioned.
The mechanics. The overabundance of adverbs and not using contractions was jarring. There were definitely words, whole sentences that could’ve been deleted. I felt like the second chapter was a ball of adverbs. I wish her editor would’ve counseled bare minimum on the adverbs, but hopefully, the next story is better in this regard.
Overall:
I felt like it was a solid debut from Ms. Jean-Francois. She showed creativity and skill at telling a fun and riveting story. It held my attention and kept me emotionally invested. I’m looking forward to the next installments in this story or any other work from her.
I bought my copy on the Kindle app, but it’s also available on Kobo or anywhere else you get paperbacks and ebooks.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a hot minute since I've come across a book this engrossing!

I picked this up as a little "easy poolside read", as the premise seemed interesting and perfectly suited for pool/beach vibes.

Y'all. This poolside read became a "let's read a few more chapters before dinner" and then a "ok we're staying up until this book is finished" type of deal. I honestly felt like a kid again, devouring a tome a day, too enthralled to go to sleep until I knew how it ended.

Cons: a few bits of typos/editing that got missed, but extremely minor and did not take away from the story itself at all. The final action sequences felt a little rushed, which was a surprise given how well Jean-Francois writes action, particularly swordfights, in the rest of the book. The last quarter features a lot of sudden heavy bits of lore that I would have loved seeing more development on, but overall it just required reading over a few passages again to ensure I got the info correct. Honestly, for a debut novel, it was still a very solid job and I can't wait to see how this natural talent develops over the next few stories she chooses to tell.

Pros: literally everything else. Clean and quick descriptions during action/fight sequences that allow you to "see" it cinematically in your mind's eye. Well developed characters with understandable motivations (like genuinely, these characters are so set in themselves that every choice they make has you going "yeah of course they'd do that, it's who they are") whom YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT! Refreshing look at sexuality, gender, and religion in a semi-fantasy world. Brilliant structure of storytelling that unfolds at a natural pace (yes, I mentioned a lot of lore getting dropped at once in the Cons, but I also recognize that it has to be placed exactly where it is for the structure/pacing, and it does make perfect sense within context), and breadcrumbs left at perfect junctures, allowing storylines to develop in a way that doesn't have you going "wait what how?" but rather a "ohhhhh WAIT yes of course!"
And of course--mermaids! pirates! badass ladies! adventure! Everything your younger self would want, but in a far more engaging and complex configuration!

If you enjoyed Priory of the Orange Tree and also wanted a more streamlined, swashbuckling version (with honestly better descriptions of sex and interpersonal relationships), THIS is what you're looking for.

Eagerly awaiting to devour the sequel!

[Lyasha Chante · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in awe that Devil of the Deep is Falencia Jean-Francois’ debut novel. It’s incredibly well thought-out and beautifully written. The world-building is rich and immersive, with intricate details laid out clearly and easy to follow. The novel follows three compelling POVs: Nnenna, Lu, and Pearl, whose stories intertwine seamlessly.

Nnenna is a fierce pirate who has been evading the fleet for years. Her character is fearless, fiercely protective, and unapologetically bold. Then there’s Lu, a newly appointed captain who is sworn to serve his fleet at all costs—even if it means turning a blind eye to questionable decisions for the sake of loyalty to Agwe. Pearl, a 16-year-old mermaid, is taught the same stories of Agwe, but after her uncle is killed, she is forced to flee to the surface world. Watching how all their stories collide was masterfully done and kept me fully engaged.

What truly shines in this novel is the synergy between the characters. You can feel the care the author put into crafting their relationships. Themes of second-chance romance, forgiveness, betrayal, and the bonds we create with our chosen family are woven throughout. The battles and action scenes, especially with Nnenna, are thrilling and intense, but there’s also a depth in the exploration of grief, sacrifice, and heartbreak that hits hard emotionally.

What I love most is how unapologetically queer this book is. The main characters’ love for each other is expressed openly and beautifully, without it being taboo, making it all the more meaningful. The romance was written with such care and authenticity.

This was an easy five-star read for me, and I can’t wait for part two! If you’re looking for a fantasy novel that’s action-packed, emotionally rich, and queer-centered, Devil of the Deep is a must-read.

[Aster Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not one that usually enjoys short chapters as they usual take me far too long to get pulled into the story due to a rapid pacing. However, Falencia does an amazing job balancing pace and information. Her world building is incredible.

In the beginning, there were chapters that focused on seemingly irrelevant characters but as the story progressed, Falencia called back to those chapters in such a way that you instantly understood where the story was going and why those chapters and the information they contained were excruciatingly important.

Nnenna, Pearl, and Lu are all incredibly convincing and compelling characters with intricately woven backstories that connected deeply to each other. As Pearl's convictions and loyalties shifted, I felt myself drawn back to my own struggle with religion. Nnenna's drive and compassion matched my own as I felt so deeply the love she held for each one of her companions which fueled her rage and empathy as realizations were made. At first, Lu was hard for me to like due to being introduced to Nnenna first and her hatred for the fleet but as the story progressed, Lu's struggle with his identity, both as a person and as a Fleet captain, drew me to him and his wants for the world and himself.

This book was such an incredible read and I loved it so very much. Though the pacing was quick for my usual liking, Falencia made it work to the favor of her story which was supposed to be rapid as the world hung in the balance with our main characters only having a few days to find a way to save it.

[Bearrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5- Mermaids, Pirates, Gods, and Magic are at the center of this story, but the characterization, political intrigue, religious zealousness, and a hell of a plot made this the book what it was.
This is an example of why I don't only read books that are popular on tiktok or goodreads, because there are so many hidden gems that just don't have the hype behind them. The prose is easily accessible with some parts being poetic. My attention was piqued from the beginning with Nnenna's violence and loyalty, Pearl's naivety and adorableness, and Lu's devotion to the Fleet. As interested as I was in their present lives, learning of their past was heartbreaking and added more depth to their characters and the overall story. Figuring out how all of these characters were connected was a ride... I like that there was 3 main POVs, so we were able to see both sides of the conflict as they raced to come head-to-head. I loved how protective Nnenna was of Pearl and hope that she will be a big part of the second book as well. The way that magic was caused by singing was cool as well as sign language being used to communicate. The sapphic and trans rep was great to see and flawlessly woven into the story. The only part I had a slight issue with was the end of chapter 37 and the beginning of 38. I almost felt like the characters had a conversation off page, and I was witnessing the fall out. All in all I loved the story and the ending made me curious of the direction book 2 will go in.

[Kendra Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible book. I was taken through so many emotions during this journey and was left in heavy tears for 20 minutes after reading. I feel like the story of Devil of the Deep, while a fantasy, is so relatable to anyone who has been oppressed, fighting for freedom, and truly hoping to be seen.
I always appreciate a book with detailed world building and lore, and this book is pretty intricate in how the gods and goddesses are portrayed along with their background and mythos. This story is multi-POV but at no point was I confused and felt lost when reading. In fact, the author does a fantastic job in creating distinctive voices for each character. I also have big appreciation for the representation in this book. Not just the diversity but also for the culture (as I'm hoping its correct to assume that there are several real world cultures as inspiration).
Devil of the Deep was a book that I could not put down unless I truly had to. I was so immersed in the story that I felt like I was watching a movie in my head. I don't believe I breathed for the last few chapters. Highly recommend this book that I cannot wait to add to both my personal and professional libraries.

[Amy Wolford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Falencia for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This was a great fantasy read. It had pirates mermaids and magic.

Pearl is a young mermaid who has to leave her home when her uncle is attacked. Nnema a pirate just named Captain with a legacy. Lu a young man made captain of the fleet that is after Pearl and Nnenna. Pearl holds a special object that will show the way to the lost home of her people.

Nnenna was an interesting character. She is a pirate but she has a kind heart. When she attacks the fleet ship that holds Pearl she leaves 3 young midshipmen alive which most other pirates would have killed everyone on board. Lu is honorable though blindly follows the fleet because they accept him. Lu was the daughter of the Governor who couldn't accept that Lu is a man not a woman.

The writing is very fast paced and is a very quick read. Its a fun read for any fantasy reader. I like that it has some elements of the Little Mermaid to make this familar but is still totally its own story. I am looking forward to the sequel.

I give this 5 out of 5 stars.

[Jillian N Of the Stag’s Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devil of the Deep is a Queer Black Fantasy with Pirates, Mermaids and a whole lot of action.
We follow three characters, Nnenna, Pearl, and Lu through in an epic race against time to uncover the mysteries of the sea people, the God they worship and the fleet's secret agenda. The book is filled with themes of love, transformation, found family, making the right choice in the face of duty.
The action comes to a crescendo at the end to some surprising twists and big reveals that set things up well for a sequel.
Overall, Devil of the Deep is a strong, genre-bending debut that shows the author's talents.
Following so many perspectives and keeping the story coherent is no easy feat. I think the parts where the story felt weakest to me were a product of having to share so much page space across the world, but I have hope that the pieces that were missing for me in this book will show up as the story progresses.

[Morgan Golias · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book, it was so full of fun pirate misadventures as well as really interesting mermaid lore. I love that the author pulled from Haitian mythology for this book, we really need more diversity in our fantasy and sci fi. I love that diverse authors like Jean-Francois are doing that by pulling from their cultures that are so seldom featured in fiction. I also LOVE that this book features sign language so heavily, it is so exciting to see that representation, and I think it gives the story so much depth. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

[Cyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic read, it was one of those stories that was hard to put down. Diverse main characters, heavy anti-religious zealotry messaging, LGBTQIA+ storylines, pirates, mermaids, mystery, gods, truly what I love reading about all wrapped up in one book. The pacing if it's a standalone book could have been better, but if it's part of a series the progression from exposition-to-climax made sense; but even if it is a standalone book the pacing doesn't really detract from the phenomenal writing.

[Karlene Staves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time and I'm already thinking of reading it again! The characters are developed and well written. The style is such that it lays out the world in an easily understood way, and leaves just enough to the imagination that it's easy to build it in your mind's eye. I love, love, love this book and highly recommend it to anyone, but especially those that enjoy YA fantasy and Pirates! This book is the sweet spot for both!

[Emily Mozingo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Falencia Jean-Francois for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Devil of the Deep.

This was such a fun low-fantasy read. The author gave us so much depth with POVs from several characters. Each chapter was short, which can often pull readers out of the story, but for Devil of the Deep I think it worked perfectly.

Overall I loved this story and can’t wait to read more from Falencia.

[Ashlie Chatagnier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I over all liked the book but there were parts that seemed pointless. Like why did they reappreach the singing crab and attack the guards outside? I thought it was meant to lease the people inside but then they just left? Also sometimes things seemed to happen around people that should have given reaction but didn't like clueless NPCs. Again over all I did enjoy it and by near the end I decided to finish it with the audiobook which was beautifully read. I recommend the audiobook entirely

[E.A. Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this debut novel this morning and man-oh-man, I absolutely loved it.

Queer rep,
Strong fight scenes,
And Incredible female leads were my favorite things about this book. I'm waiting to see what comes next because the ending was a tad bit rushed, but I'm not mad at it. Let's get to book 2!!!!

Great debut! Love to see more.