A Sunken Past (Paperback) - Volume 1

Only the sea is our enemy.

Effy Sayre has always believed in the legends of the Fae Folk. Haunted since childhood by visions of the king of the fairies, she finds comfort only in the pages of Angharad, the epic by Emrys Myrddin, her favorite author. The tattered book is all that helps her survive her architecture studies. So, when she wins a competition to restore the late Myrddin's mansion, she is convinced it is a sign of destiny.

A decaying estate on the verge of collapsing into a hungry sea, Hiraeth Manor is a place perched on the border between worlds, populated by mysterious beings. Among them is Preston Héloury, a young literature student, determined to prove that Myrddin is an impostor.

Investigating the writer's legacy, the two students will gradually discover that dark forces are conspiring against them, and that the truth could lead them to ruin.

Translated from the English by Michelle Charrier.

📖 Review from the Old Grimoire Bookstore

By our editorial & librarian committee

With A Drowned Past - Volume 1, translated by Michelle Charrier and published by De Saxus, Ava Reid delivers an enchanting gothic fantasy that weaves Celtic mythology, literary mystery, and dark romance. This first volume lays the foundations for a saga where the border between worlds blurs and the legends of the Fae Folk come to life.

What makes this novel so strong is its heroine Effy Sayre, haunted since childhood by visions of the fairy king and who finds comfort only in Angharad, the epic by Emrys Myrddin. This reference to Myrddin (Merlin in Welsh) anchors the narrative in Arthurian and Celtic tradition. Hiraeth Manor — whose Welsh name means "nostalgia" or "homesickness" — becomes a character in its own right: "a decaying estate on the verge of collapsing into a hungry sea," perched on the border between worlds.

Reid masterfully orchestrates the tension between Effy, who believes in legends, and Preston Héloury, determined to prove that Myrddin is an impostor. Their investigation into the writer's legacy reveals that "dark forces are conspiring against them" and that "the truth could lead them to ruin." The warning "Only the sea is our enemy" resonates as a caution against the primordial forces threatening to engulf the manor and its secrets.

We recommend this volume to fans of gothic fantasy, enthusiasts of Celtic mythology, and anyone who loves stories where the legends of the Fae Folk come to life. An enchanting first volume that opens a promising saga.

Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — An enchanting gothic fantasy that skillfully weaves Celtic mythology and literary mystery.