Daughter of the Merciful Deep

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.

To save her community, Jane must 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 and to gain the miracle she desires, Jane will have to find her voice again and finally face the trauma of the past.

'Penelope fuses magical realism, folklore and African American history into a profound and rousing fantasy' Publishers Weekly (starred review)

'A mesmerising tale that deftly blends history and magic' Nicole glover, author of The Conductors

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

Penelope fuses magical realism, folklore and African American history into a profound and rousing fantasy . . . Jane's character leaps off the page, buoyed by a supporting cast who breathe life into the narrative. Meanwhile, the romance that develops between Jane and Daniel adds sweetness. This potent work packs a punch -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)
A mesmerising tale that deftly blends history and magic -- Nicole glover, author of THE CONDUCTORS
Leslye Penelope has created a rich and immersive world, set in an enchanting 1920s Washington DC full of jazz musicians, elite Black social organizations, fairy balls, bootleggers, lady gangster bosses and mesmerizing magic! It's a story that weaves together threads of real history with bits of the utterly fantastic. The Monsters We Defy will keep you turning the pages and wanting more -- P. Djèli Clark on THE MONSTERS WE DEFY
Penelope's blend of fantasy and history is pitch perfect, with wit, romance, and a lovable found family thrown in for good measure. Readers will be wowed -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY on THE MONSTERS WE DEFY
Entwines African American folk magic with a caper, historical fiction, and romance to equally enchanting effect -- BOOKLIST on THE MONSTERS WE DEFY

Brightly painted with hues and shades of magic, set against a backdrop of jazz music and drag balls, Penelope has taken a specific historical place and moment and made them feel vibrantly alive. She expertly weaves threads of folklore, mythology, and Bible stories into the tapestry of the setting, creating a texture that ties the story to this world and its history while allowing the fantastic to breathe
and flow

-- PASTE MAGAZINE on THE MONSTERS WE DEFY

Leslye Penelope has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her. She lives in Maryland with her husband and their furry dependents.

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