The Eye of Leviathan (The Sea Beyond #1), by M.A. Carrick

When I saw M.A. Carrick announcing their new book would be set in a fantasy version of Golden Age Spain, I was sure it was something I needed to read as soon as possible, as historical fantasy is one of my favourite genres and it is a period I was lowkey obsessed at some point (probably because of my own Extremaduran roots). And what I can say except that I loved it, as they delivered a beautifully rich, atmospheric and well-researched proposal that weaves together history and fantasy in equal measures to create an emotionally impactful story that is also a window to explore colonialism and a historical era from a nuanced perspective; I can't promise I won't yap much, but The Eye of Leviathan is excellent.

A story that immediately introduces the reader into its world through the act that will put our two main characters in their respective paths: Estevan, a fae taking the place of a human girl, a life among humans to stop what the Spanish Crown is doing to the fae of the Sea Beyond, and the Hungry Girl, a human among the fae in the Sea Beyond and that will give her an unique perspective when the sailors reach the lands where she lives. Immediately, Carrick divides the narrative into two timelines, each one tied to one of the characters, going at different paces, reflecting the capricious nature of time in the Sea Beyond; two threads that are being woven in paths that will eventually cross.

I feel part of the beauty of this book is precisely in how different both paths are. On the one hand, we have Estevan slowly reaching those institutions that could put him closer to the Sea Beyond, trying to keep his family afloat in lands that are strange for him; he sees through his eyes what the Sea Beyond people is suffering, and all his steps are toward trying to stop that, walking an unstable path that logically makes him doubt many times.
On the other, we have the Hungry Girl, a much more twisty plot that shows how the conquerors exert cruelty and destroy all that made the Sea Beyond different, charting and anchoring the islands, enslaving the fae through baptism; while Estevan's chapters are more reflexive, with more space for philosophy and religion, the Hungry Girl's ones have battles, action and also shows us a different world from the human one.

Carrick's worldbuilding is outstanding, showing how much research was put into the historical part of historical fantasy, just altering those details needed to make the story work; something that, together with really descriptive prose, creates vivid images of the setting. It is also the perfect setting to have thorough discussions about philosophical themes such as the nature of conscience or the possibility of salvation, through philosophical and religious lenses, while never forgetting how the conquest of the New World was a turbulent period where much damage was inflicted towards the native people and the own land.

The Eye of Leviathan was all I could have asked of this premise, a promising series starter that only leaves me craving to see how M.A. Carrick wraps up it all in the second book; if you like well researched historical fantasy that packs a few emotional punches and a great character work, I totally recommend it. The second book can't come soon enough!