★ 04/08/2024

Penelope (The Monsters We Defy) fuses magical realism, folklore, and African American history into a profound and rousing fantasy set in 1935 in the American South. Twelve years after armed men forced Jane Edwards and her family from their home, a traumatic event that caused Jane to lose her voice, she faces the daunting task of saving her new home in the all-Black town of Awenasa from the construction of a dam that threatens to bury the community underwater. As the threat looms, Jane encounters a man named Rob, whom she believed to be deceased, emerging from the very waters where his neighbors laid him to rest. Rob introduces Jane to an underwater realm of ancestral magic and gods—a discovery that could be the town’s salvation. Now Jane and Daniel, the son of Awenasa’s founder, race against time to persuade the community that their redemption lies in embracing magic. Along the way, Jane must reckon with her traumatic past. 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. Agent: Arley Sorg, KT Literary. (June)

"Daughter of the Merciful Deep is a mesmerizing tale that deftly blends history and magic. It’s a thoughtful, timely, and immensely compelling read. Readers will find much to admire and marvel at from the first page to the very last!" —Nicole Glover, author of The Conductors

“Daughter of the Merciful Deep skillfully weaves the mythology of the age-old gods, with all their feuds and foibles, through this poignant and mystical story. It will leave you filled both with the hope of all that can be when one is reminded of the magic found in family and community, and the unimaginable power of generational memory and the thread that binds us to the ancestors.”—Rita Woods, Hurston/Wright Legacy Award-winning author of Remembrance

"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. This potent work packs a punch." —Publishers Weekly

"Deftly combining historical fantasy and magical realism with myths and legends from the African diaspora, Daughter of the Merciful Deep sings of hope and magic." —Library Journal

"Leslye Penelope has been one of fantasy’s most indispensable voices for the past decade, and Daughter of the Merciful Deep showcases all of her storytelling powers. It is fast-paced and told in simple prose, with plenty of engrossing plot twists, but there’s a deep exploration of trauma and resilience hiding just under the surface." —The Washington Post

"As magic entwines with the Black American experience in the early 20th century, an ode to Black communities and the way memories can last generations emerges. Unflinching portrayals of racism and violence are paired with agency as Jane and her friends and family make their own choices about how to live their lives and when to make a stand. Miracles can happen—if we remember." —Kirkus

"A historical fantasy must-read."  —NPR

"While Penelope addresses the harrowing real-life facts of drowned Black towns, magic and Jane’s growth offer hope and levity. With its foundation in history, enchanting underwater scenes, and endearing townsfolk, this original novel should appeal to readers of both fantasy and historical fiction." —Booklist

"This powerful novel about trauma, racism, resilience, and community is full of heart and magic." 

"A historical fantasy that mixes folklore, African American history and magical realism this second novel from the author of The Monsters We Defy is lyrical and haunting. Penelope uses an underwater realm of gods and ancestral magic to explore and reflect the all-too-real stories of drowned Black towns of the American South, and the end result is fascinating."

★ 05/01/2024

The town of Awenasa, founded by a formerly enslaved person, has become a thriving haven for Black people fleeing the lynchings and oppression endemic to the early 20th-century South. But prosperous Awenasa has drawn the eye of the powerful State Authority, which plans to drown their town with a dam upriver. Reliable, responsible, nosy Jane Edwards knows there's no hope—until a mysterious stranger comes to town and shows her that instead of giving in she can call on old gods and even older legends, invoking magic that is capable of bringing the entire "chariot" of Awenasa all the way to a Black Atlantis. Deftly combining historical fantasy and magical realism with myths and legends from the African diaspora, the novel follows Jane through her dreams, fears, and failings as she does her damnedest to save her corner of the world. VERDICT Fans of Penelope's The Monsters We Defy will be thrilled, while readers of The Deep by Rivers Solomon, In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran, and The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings will find another novel that sings of hope and magic.—Marlene Harris

2024-04-19
Can forces beneath the river save a town from the relentless gears of development?

Jane Edwards has lived in Awenasa, an all-Black town, ever since violence displaced her and her family from their home down the river. Though Jane’s past still haunts her, leaving her reluctant to take risks and unable to speak above a whisper, she is focused on the future, until the return of her sister, who all but disappeared 10 years ago, disrupts the balance Jane has created for herself. Worse, white government men have come to town, intent on flooding it out to build a dam. Following them is a man with a face from Jane’s past and a present shrouded in mystery and, seemingly, magic. To save her town, Jane must remember stories and beliefs from her ancestors, discover the secrets beneath the river, and use this knowledge to unite her community. As magic entwines with the Black American experience in the early 20th century, an ode to Black communities and the way memories can last generations emerges. Later plot developments regarding Jane’s disability are sometimes disappointing, but the ways she makes space to be a member of her community on her terms are positive. Awenasa also shines as a living, breathing town, full of squabbles and secrets as well as heart and love. Unflinching portrayals of racism and violence are paired with agency as Jane and her friends and family make their own choices about how to live their lives and when to make a stand.

Miracles can happen—if we remember.