Tideborn by Eliza Chan Book 2 of The Drowned World Duology Pub Date 03/25/2025

With Kai gone Jiang-Li and a contingency from Yunakuni ascend to Tiankawi for his memorial and Mira hopes to negotiate new deals between Tiankawi that would give the Fathomfolk more freedoms and hopefully help the humans that now find themselves part Fathomfolk as well deal with this. While Mira spends endless days politicking, she sends Nami off on a mission to hopefully quell the newly awakened Titans' anger at their partner being killed. As both women try desperately to bring Humans and Fathomfolk together a new threat arises that is just as dangerous as any Titan, two groups of extremists, one group human, one group fathom dedicated to destroying everything Kia, Mira, and Nami has worked for both groups backed by powerful figures human and fathomfolk alike. As they become bolder, it becomes clear to Nami and Mira that in order to save both peoples, a little blood must be shed. 

Cordelia said, "Poor, Unfortunate Souls." Okay, she actually said, "Poor, Unfortunate Humans," but it's definitely close enough for me. And if that doesn't get you to read this, I don't know what will. 

I'm kidding, of course, but this 100% exceeded my expectations. I loved Fathomfolk, but this was so much better. Whatever tiny complaints I had with this first one were non-existent here, Chan has wrapped up this Duology, beautifully reminding us that love and acceptance are sometimes difficult but so much better than hate. 

Tideborn hits the ground running and simply doesn't let up, with all of the politics and the introduction of two terrorist organizations that are far worse than the Drawbacks could have ever hoped to be this isn't surprising. Mira and Gede (which was a happy surprise) are constantly putting out one fire after another (quite literally). Mira's political acumen becomes razor sharp here, too, which was absolutely necessary to move this forward. Cordelia is, of course, playing games in the background as usual, but I tell you what, I love her so much after this book. She is damn near the most perfect sympathetic bad guy. She also does some incredibly wonderful things in this one, and the world is definitely a better place because she existed in it by the end. 

But, all that really matters is Nami because omg she grew up so much in this one. I am so proud of her! I wish I could go into all of it but it would definitely be a spoiler, but I will just say that watching her bloom was simply wonderful and I cried at her happily ever after at the end. 

Actually, I cried a lot at the of this (I'll wrap back to this at the end). Chan did such an excellent job showing how extremists work up crowds of people with half truths and lies that just like the first book, in which she discusses Asian diaspora on a level that is simple and easy for people to understand, she explains the use of misinformation, scare tactics, and shock and awe tactics in a way that's easy to relate to our own current political climate. And in Nami's case especially she drives home the point that more than anything a community of individuals coming together to say no to the fear and hate these types of politicians spew is the most effective weapon we have in our arsenal and I can't think of a better reason to cry than that right now. 

Of course, I recommend this one. It is truly a wonderful series that has genuinely given me hope. Sure, these are just characters in a book, but I see communities like these forming in real life every day to protect those who can't protect themselves and to strive for something better.

As always thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the eArc!