Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear is a fantastic return to The Wayward Children series. In this installment we get Nadya’s story and her journey in Belyrreka, the Land Beneath the Lake. It’s a world filled with turtles, amphibians, and a strong community that is familiar with “the door-swept.” 

I love how Seanan McGuire includes so much representation in her books, from LGBTQ+ rep to disability rep. Nadya has a limb difference and is fine with this. Yet her adoptive parents get her an uncomfortable prosthetic arm, without bothering to seek her input. So much of Nadya’s story is about her lack of agency and inability to choose what she wants for herself. As a Drowned Girl in Belyrreka, she is finally able to make her own choices and go on her own adventures. The descriptions of the underwater world are imaginative, with a strong sense of found family. 

Nadya is a caring and kind character. In the orphanage, she wants the other kids to be adopted before her and takes care of a little pet tortoise. When Nadya gains a turtle companion of her own, it is a heartwarming and satisfying moment. I liked learning more about the Drowned Worlds and how different this world was compared to Cora’s world. I enjoyed Nadya's story and can't wait to read whichever story comes next! 

Thank you to Seanan McGuire, Tordotcom, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.