Eliza Chan

1 universe Last reviewed 2026-08-28

Eliza Chan is a Scottish-born fantasy author who now lives in Manchester, England, with her family. Before becoming a full-time writer, she held a notably varied string of jobs, describing herself as 'a medical school drop-out, a kilt shop assistant, an English teacher and a speech and language therapist.' Her debut novel, Fathomfolk (2024), became an instant Sunday Times bestseller; set in a semi-submerged fantasy city, it explores conflict between human residents and aquatic sea-folk populations drawing on East Asian mythology and British folklore, and launched her Drowned World series. Her follow-up novel, Harbour of Hungry Ghosts (2026), a historical fantasy set during the mid-Opium War era in Hong Kong, likewise achieved Sunday Times bestseller status. Chan's short fiction has been shortlisted for the British Fantasy Award and has appeared in anthologies including The Secret Romantic's Book of Magic and The Best of British Fantasy. Her work consistently centers East Asian mythological traditions alongside British folklore, with a particular interest in reclaiming and reworking the 'dragon lady' archetype often found in Western depictions of Asian women. She is represented by Alex Cochran of Greyhound Literary, and outside writing she collects weapons and dragons, enjoys crafting and animation, and pursues international culinary experiences.

Universe(s)

Books

• Fathomfolk (2024) · Fathomfolk Core Canon
• Tideborn (2025) · Fathomfolk Core Canon

Aggregate across all universes

• Total Core Canon books across all universes: 2 books
• Award recognitions across all universes: 1 (1 nomination)

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