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The Drowned Heir
When her uncle dies at sea, a third child with no place in society undergoes a ceremony to house his spirit and take his role, diminishing the family’s loss. But her uncle’s spirit hasn’t settled the way it’s supposed to, and will not content itself with shore-bound business. Her uncle’s spirit insists, angrily, that it was not just a storm that killed him and wrecked his ship, not a rogue wave; it was an unthinkably large monster.
Then his lover comes knocking with news of an adult son who has set sail along the same shipping lane, and dead uncle and living niece must work together to save a son neither of them knew existed.
Then his lover comes knocking with news of an adult son who has set sail along the same shipping lane, and dead uncle and living niece must work together to save a son neither of them knew existed.
- GenresNovella
70 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2022
1 person is currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer R. Donohue
43 books17 followersJennifer R. Donohue grew up at the Jersey Shore and now lives in central New York with her husband and their Doberman. A member of the SFWA, she works at her local public library where she also facilitates a writing workshop. Her work has appeared in Apex Magazine, Escape Pod, Fusion Fragment, and elsewhere. Her debut novel, Exit Ghost is available now. She tweets @AuthorizedMusin and you can subscribe to her Patreon for a new short story every month: https://www.patre-
on.com/JenniferRDonohue
on.com/JenniferRDonohue
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 14, 2026
The Drowned Heir is a maritime fantasy novella written by Jennifer R. Donohue which I've read as part of the SFINCS' semifinals. An interesting proposal full of imagery and which stands out with its use of a prose that borders the lyrical, and the way it tackles a theme such as shared identity.
A novella that opens with our main character being drowned as part of the traditions of her town; a ritual that allows her deceased uncle's spirit to take over the body, becoming the closest thing to an heir the captain left behind. She's not sure the ritual went well, as she's unsure if her own spirit should still be in the body, fighting with the captain's; she clings to the hope that this means there might be an actual heir, one her uncle wasn't aware.
When the captain's lover shows up asking for his help, the main character, dominated by the captain's spirit, is determined to sail once more and face the monster that caused his death.
Using a first person as the narrative voice was a clever decision by Donohue, as it allows the reader to understand the fight and the struggle of the main character, how she's trying to cling to her identity while the captain is trying to gain control over his; a situation that is accelerated after the captain receives the news from her lover.
The prose is full of atmospherical details, and also helps to capture this struggle between two people that actually appreciate and love each other, as they were family; the pacing works well, making this a great bite-sized piece to read.
The Drowned Heir is a promising novella, a clever proposal that is enhanced by Donohue's prose use; couldn't have chosen a better way to start my semifinals reads.
Disclaimer: This novella has been read as part of the SFINCS. This review/rating only represents my personal opinion and it might differ with what the team decides.
A novella that opens with our main character being drowned as part of the traditions of her town; a ritual that allows her deceased uncle's spirit to take over the body, becoming the closest thing to an heir the captain left behind. She's not sure the ritual went well, as she's unsure if her own spirit should still be in the body, fighting with the captain's; she clings to the hope that this means there might be an actual heir, one her uncle wasn't aware.
When the captain's lover shows up asking for his help, the main character, dominated by the captain's spirit, is determined to sail once more and face the monster that caused his death.
Using a first person as the narrative voice was a clever decision by Donohue, as it allows the reader to understand the fight and the struggle of the main character, how she's trying to cling to her identity while the captain is trying to gain control over his; a situation that is accelerated after the captain receives the news from her lover.
The prose is full of atmospherical details, and also helps to capture this struggle between two people that actually appreciate and love each other, as they were family; the pacing works well, making this a great bite-sized piece to read.
The Drowned Heir is a promising novella, a clever proposal that is enhanced by Donohue's prose use; couldn't have chosen a better way to start my semifinals reads.
Disclaimer: This novella has been read as part of the SFINCS. This review/rating only represents my personal opinion and it might differ with what the team decides.
March 15, 2026
The Drowned Heir by Jennifer R. Donohue is one of my final reads in this SFINCS championship, and among one of the most unique reads I've had in this packed line up. A finalist amongst some fantastic entries, Donohue offers up a mysterious, high seas ride that boasts some very creative magic, coupled with bleak but poetic world building, and disturbing yet intriguing character paths. This short story navigates waters that, like myself…many will have had yet to experience. 🌊
A single POV telling of a young girl's harrowing and traumatic experience, of a village ritual, that will be sure to grab your attention from the very first chapter…and slowly guide you through her confusing, somber, and mismatched pairing with family, secrets of the deep, hidden love, and her personal struggle navigating this perfect storm. ⛈️
I absolutely loved the uniqueness of the story Donohue crafted for this entry, and had yet to come across anything like it. The penmanship was beautiful, yet dark…the visual descriptions vivid, as well as gritty. Character arcs, brief but impactful. Everything one would need to be invested and engaged. I saw a few reviews elude to a slow telling, but I feel that the pacing throughout was spot on for the bleak and intricate path created, building to an ending that, like a rouge wave from the deep, will come crashing down on the reader…carring everything it has swept up along the way! ☠️
However… My only issue (speaking of pacing) was that this slow, unique and oddly intriguing dark trek was a bit rushed at the end. I understand the Novella size story Jennifer aimed for…but this packed sooo much into the meat of the story, that it was trimmed down too much, and the end felt jammed together quickly, to meet a page count barrier? Almost feels like a short story in an anthology collection, as opposed to a Novella. I honestly believe that if this was given maybe another 30 pages, this would have been a fresh, jarring, and enthralled read I would be clamoring for more of. As it sits though…it was good, almost real good, almost holy crap where has this been?! Alas, it wraps up a bit jumbled, and to clean for the tone of the story for me. 🤔
3.5⭐ and a solid rec. Jennifer has a wonderful and creative story on her hands here, and I feel I need to read more of her works. If the story was a bit deeper, like the seas it sails, I would have been swept away to the depths…what is hidden out there Jennifer?...release the Kraken within! 😈
A single POV telling of a young girl's harrowing and traumatic experience, of a village ritual, that will be sure to grab your attention from the very first chapter…and slowly guide you through her confusing, somber, and mismatched pairing with family, secrets of the deep, hidden love, and her personal struggle navigating this perfect storm. ⛈️
I absolutely loved the uniqueness of the story Donohue crafted for this entry, and had yet to come across anything like it. The penmanship was beautiful, yet dark…the visual descriptions vivid, as well as gritty. Character arcs, brief but impactful. Everything one would need to be invested and engaged. I saw a few reviews elude to a slow telling, but I feel that the pacing throughout was spot on for the bleak and intricate path created, building to an ending that, like a rouge wave from the deep, will come crashing down on the reader…carring everything it has swept up along the way! ☠️
However… My only issue (speaking of pacing) was that this slow, unique and oddly intriguing dark trek was a bit rushed at the end. I understand the Novella size story Jennifer aimed for…but this packed sooo much into the meat of the story, that it was trimmed down too much, and the end felt jammed together quickly, to meet a page count barrier? Almost feels like a short story in an anthology collection, as opposed to a Novella. I honestly believe that if this was given maybe another 30 pages, this would have been a fresh, jarring, and enthralled read I would be clamoring for more of. As it sits though…it was good, almost real good, almost holy crap where has this been?! Alas, it wraps up a bit jumbled, and to clean for the tone of the story for me. 🤔
3.5⭐ and a solid rec. Jennifer has a wonderful and creative story on her hands here, and I feel I need to read more of her works. If the story was a bit deeper, like the seas it sails, I would have been swept away to the depths…what is hidden out there Jennifer?...release the Kraken within! 😈
January 27, 2026
I read this novella for the indie novella competition, SFINCS. The following review is my own personal opinion as a judge and does not reflect the views of the team as a whole.
The Drowned Heir by Jennifer R. Donohue is a salt-water-drenched dark fantasy novella about enormous sea monsters and living in one body with your uncle’s ghost. It follows the journey of an un-named protagonist (and actually there are no character names in the novella at all!) who is sacrificed to “store” her influential sea captain/trader uncle’s spirit, but instead of slowly disappearing, she ends up helping him figure out how exactly he died, finding her own way forward at the same time.
The haunting, dark mood of the story immediately grabbed me as we start with the harrowing description of the protagonist’s suffocation by the holy/magical order of her people, so that she could become the vessel for her recently deceased uncle. The prose is intimate and lyrical, perfect to place ourselves into her skin as she struggles with the experience and the challenge of sharing her body with another consciousness. At the same time, we also get to understand some of the traditions and beliefs of her town, not just how they enable the survival of some of their best, but also how they use spells and charms in their everydays, and larger magics too, to improve their seafaring and trade as the protagonist’s family habitually does. When the old lover of the protagonist’s uncle arrives to the scene as well, announcing a so-far unknown but now lost son, it’s also an occasion to show us some of the magical or mythical creatures that might co-exist with humans in this world. It is a deep and rich culture that we only get a glimpse at through this focused story, but it immersed me in the life of this young woman very effectively, even though many times we do not get details or lengthy explanations, merely an inclination or ~vibe about these things.
I have to admit, after the gloomy start, I expected a much more tragic tale than what I ultimately got. The melancholy, enigmatic mood that originates from the magic-suffused life of these people and from the fact that the woman’s spirit was constantly in a quiet tug-of-war with the uncle, stayed present for the entire story, but as the protagonist prepares then sets off on a voyage to find her cousin, the main emotion was that of (perhaps anxious and uncertain but) hope. The protagonist was a third child in her family and wasn’t expecting her life to turn out anything special, but in a twisted kind of way, “inheriting” her uncle’s spirit freed her and enabled her to break out of the confines of her previous existence. She did not feel very deeply or complexly characterised to me, but the courage, determination, and persistence with which she tried to grow up to the task that suddenly burdened her was very apparent and admirable. I’d loathe to read too much into symbolism or theme here, but I found the contrast of carrying something old, something that should be gone, and still confidently (well, after some initial desperation) finding your way interesting and the resulting storyline strangely comforting. It definitely played nicely on my heartstrings as we reached the pinnacle of the novella, facing the real reason the uncle died on his last voyage.
I really enjoyed reading The Drowned Heir and was constantly intrigued, and although the details and the quick unfolding of the ending were less dramatic than I’d expected and stayed somewhat vague (to me), I felt satisfied by the end. Even though the guts of the story were dark, traumatic, and unsettling, I was left with a brightness inside my heart and a smile on my face. Definitely recommended to lovers of intricate and mysterious magics and our cruel mistress, the sea.
The Drowned Heir by Jennifer R. Donohue is a salt-water-drenched dark fantasy novella about enormous sea monsters and living in one body with your uncle’s ghost. It follows the journey of an un-named protagonist (and actually there are no character names in the novella at all!) who is sacrificed to “store” her influential sea captain/trader uncle’s spirit, but instead of slowly disappearing, she ends up helping him figure out how exactly he died, finding her own way forward at the same time.
The haunting, dark mood of the story immediately grabbed me as we start with the harrowing description of the protagonist’s suffocation by the holy/magical order of her people, so that she could become the vessel for her recently deceased uncle. The prose is intimate and lyrical, perfect to place ourselves into her skin as she struggles with the experience and the challenge of sharing her body with another consciousness. At the same time, we also get to understand some of the traditions and beliefs of her town, not just how they enable the survival of some of their best, but also how they use spells and charms in their everydays, and larger magics too, to improve their seafaring and trade as the protagonist’s family habitually does. When the old lover of the protagonist’s uncle arrives to the scene as well, announcing a so-far unknown but now lost son, it’s also an occasion to show us some of the magical or mythical creatures that might co-exist with humans in this world. It is a deep and rich culture that we only get a glimpse at through this focused story, but it immersed me in the life of this young woman very effectively, even though many times we do not get details or lengthy explanations, merely an inclination or ~vibe about these things.
I have to admit, after the gloomy start, I expected a much more tragic tale than what I ultimately got. The melancholy, enigmatic mood that originates from the magic-suffused life of these people and from the fact that the woman’s spirit was constantly in a quiet tug-of-war with the uncle, stayed present for the entire story, but as the protagonist prepares then sets off on a voyage to find her cousin, the main emotion was that of (perhaps anxious and uncertain but) hope. The protagonist was a third child in her family and wasn’t expecting her life to turn out anything special, but in a twisted kind of way, “inheriting” her uncle’s spirit freed her and enabled her to break out of the confines of her previous existence. She did not feel very deeply or complexly characterised to me, but the courage, determination, and persistence with which she tried to grow up to the task that suddenly burdened her was very apparent and admirable. I’d loathe to read too much into symbolism or theme here, but I found the contrast of carrying something old, something that should be gone, and still confidently (well, after some initial desperation) finding your way interesting and the resulting storyline strangely comforting. It definitely played nicely on my heartstrings as we reached the pinnacle of the novella, facing the real reason the uncle died on his last voyage.
I really enjoyed reading The Drowned Heir and was constantly intrigued, and although the details and the quick unfolding of the ending were less dramatic than I’d expected and stayed somewhat vague (to me), I felt satisfied by the end. Even though the guts of the story were dark, traumatic, and unsettling, I was left with a brightness inside my heart and a smile on my face. Definitely recommended to lovers of intricate and mysterious magics and our cruel mistress, the sea.
December 18, 2025
I was drawn in by the blurb and then even further drawn in by the first chapter. Donohue weaves together a unique story filled with worldbuilding that draws from folklore, rich descriptions, and a plot that pulls you along to the very end. I particularly loved the worldbuilding in this one. The nature of the charms, tattoos, and rituals of the world felt very in line with the lifestyle of the characters in the coastal village. The main character’s constant struggle with accepting her new responsibility as her uncle’s heir all while housing his restless spirit was such an interesting dynamic to watch unfurl. I’d recommend The Drowned Heir to anyone that loves low magic fantasies with a nautical feel and complicated family dynamics.
Full review: https://weirdereviews.blogspot.com/20...
Full review: https://weirdereviews.blogspot.com/20...
August 18, 2022
"They hold me under until I stop struggling, until I am the water and the water is me."
A lyric, atmospheric novella about a young girl who fights the monsters created by tradition. This is a departure from Donohue's light-hearted cyberpunk escapades, but easily in line with her more fabulist and surreal short works published in places like Apex Magazine.
I especially enjoyed the resiliency and tenacity of the main character to find a way, not just to survive, but to grow something new from the tools she's been given.
"But how did you survive it?"
"Luck and desperation, I'd say."
A lyric, atmospheric novella about a young girl who fights the monsters created by tradition. This is a departure from Donohue's light-hearted cyberpunk escapades, but easily in line with her more fabulist and surreal short works published in places like Apex Magazine.
I especially enjoyed the resiliency and tenacity of the main character to find a way, not just to survive, but to grow something new from the tools she's been given.
"But how did you survive it?"
"Luck and desperation, I'd say."
Read
January 18, 2026Read for SFINCS3, Round 2 (semifinals)- RTC!
Read
September 21, 2022Rich and imaginative, a world build on superstitions and lore. I can taste the salt air and feel the boards beneath my feet, but remember the sea is a fickle lover and be sure to watch for what lurks beneath the waves.
March 31, 2024
Beautiful use of language and imagery highlight this fantasy novella. From the opening scenes of a shocking drowning to the intriguing details of a society that chooses to house the spirit of the dead in the body of the living, I was enthralled with our narrator's journey from reluctant and passive host of her uncle's recently departed spirit/soul to a capable sea captain in her own right. In a relatively short work, the author manages to create a wholly believable culture as seen through the lens of a focused plot to save an heir that no one realized existed. Evocative with intriguing observations on gender, power, and family obligations. Recommended for fans of maritime-tinged weird and emotional fantasy.
January 28, 2025
Shared ancestral consciousness, monster-enabled seafaring, magic-wielding shadow people who can procreate with humans, all within a coming-of-age tale of a young woman who was not given much choice in her predicament yet faced it with steely determination. Lush prose and rich metaphors and deep emotion. An engrossing, beautifully written short read. ⚓🌊
February 13, 2025
Wildly Unique Concept
This was the first time I’ve ever read a book that dealt with the concept of two people living in one body. At times it was uncomfortable but it was always extremely interesting. The prose was beautiful. Even in the relatively short space of a novella, the worlbuilding was complete and vivid. I would definitely recommend this book.
This was the first time I’ve ever read a book that dealt with the concept of two people living in one body. At times it was uncomfortable but it was always extremely interesting. The prose was beautiful. Even in the relatively short space of a novella, the worlbuilding was complete and vivid. I would definitely recommend this book.
September 18, 2022
The very best of literary fantasy. Donohue creates a new world that is both familiar and riveting. Short, beautiful, and powerful, I literally could not stop reading from the first word to the last.
July 18, 2023
You'll hold your breath!
Such a beautifully written tale of the grips tradition can hold. A wild adventure fueled by courage, desperation, and love.
Such a beautifully written tale of the grips tradition can hold. A wild adventure fueled by courage, desperation, and love.
Read
December 29, 2025Read for SFINCS! RTC
December 21, 2025
The Drowned Heir is an intriguing maritime fantasy, filled with lyrical, evocative prose and set in a community where horrific traditions are paramount and magical charms hold sway. When her sea captain uncle dies at sea, the main character is drowned by her mother in a ritual that allows her uncle’s spirit to take over her young body since she is the closest thing to an heir the childless captain left behind. This young woman then has to share her body with her uncle’s indomitable spirit. What a horrific idea, and yet it is told in a matter-of-fact way since this community is well used to this sort of thing happening and since the main character is a third child, she has no other purpose for the family and has been expecting this.
The first-person narrative of this novella helps the reader to understand the battle the young woman is having within herself as the spirit of her dead uncle tries to take control. She is unsure whether her own spirit should be as present within her body as it still is or if it should have been completely suppressed. She is unwilling to let go completely and clings to a chance that there may be an heir after all, who not even her uncle had been aware of.
“When poured together, oil and water do not mingle, and that is myself and my uncle’s spirit. In the same vessel, each still separate.”
An unexpected lover shows up, who is clearly not human, and needs the help of the captain. The main character, dominated by her uncle’s spirit, is determined to set sail once more to face the terrible sea monster that caused his death. Her body is now “The Captain”, wearing his clothes and in charge of the boat, despite her never having been to sea before.
This short novella is filled with dark atmospheric details which drew me in immediately and kept me reading right up until the end. I found the struggle between two family members who loved one another in life compelling; their acceptance of their inevitable situation and their determination not to let go of their control was fantastically brought to life by Donohue’s fabulous writing.
I received a complimentary copy of this novella as part of the SFINCS3 contest (Thank you). My opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my team as a whole.
The first-person narrative of this novella helps the reader to understand the battle the young woman is having within herself as the spirit of her dead uncle tries to take control. She is unsure whether her own spirit should be as present within her body as it still is or if it should have been completely suppressed. She is unwilling to let go completely and clings to a chance that there may be an heir after all, who not even her uncle had been aware of.
“When poured together, oil and water do not mingle, and that is myself and my uncle’s spirit. In the same vessel, each still separate.”
An unexpected lover shows up, who is clearly not human, and needs the help of the captain. The main character, dominated by her uncle’s spirit, is determined to set sail once more to face the terrible sea monster that caused his death. Her body is now “The Captain”, wearing his clothes and in charge of the boat, despite her never having been to sea before.
This short novella is filled with dark atmospheric details which drew me in immediately and kept me reading right up until the end. I found the struggle between two family members who loved one another in life compelling; their acceptance of their inevitable situation and their determination not to let go of their control was fantastically brought to life by Donohue’s fabulous writing.
I received a complimentary copy of this novella as part of the SFINCS3 contest (Thank you). My opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my team as a whole.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews