Tideborn

Chan dials up the political mayhem in her second Drowned World fantasy (after Fathomfolk). Following Kai’s sacrifice at the end of book one, Mira has become Minister of Fathomfolk, the leader of the assorted merfolk living in the half-submerged city-state of Tiankawi. The land-dwellers, meanwhile, struggle to adjust to life with their newfound gills, many becoming even more vehemently prejudiced against Fathomfolk. Mira must quell this growing sentiment before it threatens her people’s place in the city, even as she grieves for Kai. Meanwhile, the shape-shifter Cordelia continues to scheme even after her husband discovers her true identity and banishes her, and the sand god beneath Tiankawi remains enraged over the death of its partner. It’s up to Kai’s sister, Nami, to stop the god from seeking revenge. There’s a pulse-pounding tension in the plotlines of all three heroines, as well as between the townspeople and the Fathomfolk as they work to protect and rebuild their home. Though the story can be dense, readers will be captivated by Tiankawi’s atmospheric, postapocalyptic universe. This keeps the series going strong. (Mar.)