Review Detail

I see dramatic ocean cover, I read.

Blanketed in brooding skies and electoral politics, Corith’s need to discover the truth of her friend’s sudden death drives nearly two-thirds of the novel. While I was entranced by the gothic gloom, it’s a slow burn up to the finale, which blew me away.

Throughout, Corith is an endearing and relatable heroine, a young Orha (one born with magical affinity for an element) sent to serve a family of the Hundred, armed with sudden doubts, news of recent tragedy, no allies to share it with, and training in freshwater pools that leaves her utterly unprepared for the proud, crashing sea waves at her new home. Thrust into a tangle of secrets, she makes all the mistakes one would expect of an inexperienced sleuth, yet tries her best, and she’s willing to stifle immediate temper or impulse to choose the better option.

This story takes a refreshingly candid view of aristocratic society and the nuances at play between the privileged few and those beneath them (in this case, mainly the repressed Orha). The Shearwater siblings are proud and wealthy, delighting in keeping up with fashion or hosting parties, expecting their Orha to be grateful for the favors tossed their way. Corith experiences their full condescension and charity, yet also witnesses how each of the Shearwaters were formed and the secrets which make her hesitate to act against them. Everyone has done good and ill, in different measures, which presents flaws to be illustrated and discussed more than it condemns.

Despite the literal and figurative gloom, there’s also plenty of warmth in the sibling squabbles, leisurely afternoons (the in-home theatrical production, for example, seems a clear nod to the author’s love for Austen), and barely-there romance. Corith is saved from her inexperience many a time when her colleagues choose to believe the best of her, and her connection with water, when free from duty and stress, is a joyous thing. (As Corith develops her abilities as a Floodmouth, there’s a strong theme of submission vs resistance that I’m not sure quite comes full circle - but maybe I just thought a different result was being clearly signposted).

Pick this up for gothic fantasy shaped like a regency murder mystery, with an ending that leaves Corith and the reader completely unmoored. I have no idea what shape the sequel will take, and I can’t wait.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**