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!