Only a chosen few, called Whisperers, are gifted with the Voice – the ability to tame the wild and dangerous water spirits. However, the once revered Whisperers are now an enslaved lot forced to serve under cruel kings and nobles. Their price of freedom is too high to pay. Betka, a novice Whisperer, can only dream of being free again and reunited with her family. A dangerous water spirit has attacked the castle where Betka’s sister is serving. She somehow joins the crew that has been assigned to protect the castle in hopes of finding her sister alive. However, upon reaching there, the spectacle of carnage that Betka and the crew witness make any chance of finding a survivor slim. They need to enter the castle; however, they are unaware that a savage foe awaits them inside. Can Betka save her sister? Will the other crew members perish too? Read Whispers from the Depths by C. W. Briar to find out.

Whispers from the Depths is a thoroughly engaging, dark fantasy novel. It packs a punch with fantastic world-building, rich imagery and a colorful ensemble of characters. I was surprised to find such an exhaustive explanation of the rich legacy of the Whisperers, their magic, their ways of working and their descent into slavery. Such succinct expositions are unseen in today’s fantasy novels. Further, Briar has vividly described the scenes of destruction in the castle. However, even more spectacularly described are the powers of the water spirits. These could rival the CGI effects of any fantasy film. Briar has also brilliantly developed his characters. He effortlessly shows Betka’s inner conflict – protecting her cruel captors versus hurting them. On the other hand, even the cruelest of the enslavers performs good deeds, making it hard to hate them. Whispers from the Depths turned out to be an enjoyable page-turner for me that conveys some powerful messages. Although it has a bittersweet ending, don’t let that deter you from picking it up. I would recommend this book to all adult fantasy fans due to the dark setting.

Whispers From The Depths by C. W. Briar is the engaging story of a people torn to pieces by subjugation. In particular, it focuses on the journey of a young woman named Betka, a Whisperer - one born with the ability to communicate with the water spirits through the special use of their voice. Locked in the chains of slavery, she struggles to break free both physically and emotionally. As she holds onto the teachings of her father to keep her from using her skills against her captors, she must also face a new and bizarre danger that seems to have even the spirits of the water acting strangely.

I really enjoyed reading C. W. Briar’s Whispers From The Depths, though there were times when ‘enjoyed’ might not be the right word. Betka’s journey makes me think of two words; dramatic and raw. Briar portrays the despair and dreadfulness of her situation and the plight of her people with skillful writing. Not only is the story vivid in description, but it also engages the emotions and ties the reader to the characters via the heartstrings. While that may sound a little corny, or clichéd, there is nothing about Whispers From The Depths that is. I particularly like the unique use of magic and spirits, which shows a great deal of thought and talent in the author’s world-building abilities. Every aspect of this story kept me wanting to know more, which led to absorbing reading sessions where everything else got left behind (especially the dishes). I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good, moving story well told.