A Magic Deep and Drowning

Holland,1650. One fine spring day in Frieslandtwenty-year-old Clara van Weiren is faced with an ill omen: a whalebeached and rotting in the noonday sun. But Clara doesn’t believe in magic and superstitionand this portent is quickly dismissed when a proposal from a wealthy merchant arrivespromising Clara the freedom she seeks from her mother’s overbearing rule. When her attempts at overseeing the household at the family’s estate lead to her chance encounter with a young man with russet hair and sparkling eyes the color of the seashe finds herself strangely drawn to him. As Clara grows closer to Mauritsshe must choose between the steadygentle life she has been raised for and the man who makes her blood sing. But Maurits isn’t who he seems to beand his secretsonce hidden beneath the wavesthreaten to rise up and drown them both. And when an ancient bargainforged in blood between the mythical people of the sea and the rulers of the landbegins to unravelClara finds herself at the heart of a deadly struggle for power.