E. Cidnosin resides underwater in the Deep House created by her parents. She rarely, if ever, leaves and most of her contacts are with her siblings, Scholars Sophy and Arvist Cidnosin. However, a view outside her underwater windows compels the reclusive E. to send a letter to Scholar Henerey Clel. Their friendship grows through letters until they both vanish in a seaquake. Sophy and Henerey’s brother, Vyerin Clel, start their own correspondence as they search for answers about what happened to their siblings.
Letter writing is an almost lost art and my heart jumped for joy when seeing an epistolary fantasy novel- and Sylvie Cathrall delivers every bit of enjoyment I expected! A LETTER TO THE LUMINOUS DEEP transports us to a world with mysteries beneath the seas and hints of a past civilization. I love how Sylvia Cathrall weaves together the world-building and the character development in a captivating story. As much as I love email and texts, the beauty of written letters is showcased fully in A LETTER TO THE LUMINOUS DEEP and makes me glad I still have old letters from my relatives treasured away.
And oh, I have to talk about E. E. is perhaps one of my favorite heroines even though we only meet her through letters and the eyes of others. She struggles with anxiety and OCD that overwhelms her at times… and yet she continues to meet the challenges daily. One scene in particular made me want to stand up and cheer for E. (no spoilers but you’ll know when you read it!). I love that Sylvia Cathrall is so open about her own challenges with OCD and it made E. all the more realistic of a character.
A LETTER TO THE LUMINOUS DEEP is the first book in The Sunken Archive series, and wow what a beautiful and eloquent start! Told entirely through letters or other written missives, A LETTER TO THE LUMINOUS DEEP is an enchanting fantasy story with richly developed characters. I absolutely love epistolary novels and Sylvie Cathrall utilizes this format perfectly. We are drawn into the letters detailing their lives, the mysteries, and yes, their own personal concerns and issues. If you read just one tale this year, make sure it’s A LETTER TO THE LUMINOUS DEEP. I can’t wait for the next book in the series so I can dive back into this magnificent world!
A charming fantasy set in an underwater world with magical academia and a heartwarming penpal romance, perfect for fans of Emily Wilde's Encylopaedia of Faeries and The House in the Cerulean Sea.
A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.
Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.'s home, and she and Henerey vanish.
A year later, E.'s sister Sophy, and Henerey's brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery, piecing together the letters, sketches and field notes left behind—and learn what their siblings’ disappearance might mean for life as they know it.
Inspired, immersive, and full of heart, this charming epistolary tale is an adventure into the depths of a magical sea and the limits of the imagination from a marvelous debut voice.
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