Welcome to Dark Reads stop on the Random Things Tour for The Water Child by Andrew West. Many thanks to Anne and the Publisher Harper North for inviting me to take part in the tour and providing me a review copy of the book!
About The Book
What the sea takes for its own can never return…
Portugal, 1754. Cecilia Lamb knew being a sea captain’s wife would mean a life of waiting and watching the horizon for her husband’s ship. But John has been gone longer than any voyage should last. Everyone else has given up hope of his return. But she knows in her bones that he is not lost. Gone, but not lost.
Barely able to tear her eyes from the shimmering sea, she feels drawn to the sun-baked shoreline, and amid the bustle of the docks she feels certain that her husband will come back to her. Though along with that feeling is another sense – that something darker is coming. As she sickens, she doesn’t know what the next tide will bring – but she begins to fear as well as crave her husband’s homecoming.
Soon, even on dry land, Cecilia can feel the pull of the ocean at her feet, the movement of the tides within her. Warning, seduction or promise, she cannot tell, but one thing is certain – the sea holds many secrets, and some of them are too powerful to ever be drowned.
- Hardback – 304 pages
- ISBN-10 – 0008472971
- ISBN-13 – 978-0008472979
- Publisher – HarperNorth
You can order a copy here
Dark Reads Review
The Water Child is an eerie gothic novel set in 18th century Portugal. The story follows Cecelia Lamb, a young sea captain’s wife.
The narrative explores the challenges Cecelia faces after being left at home while her husband is at sea. As time goes by with no word or sign of Johns ship returning, everyone begins to question if the ship has been lost. Except from Cecelia, she just knows he will return home any day soon.
Cecelia is haunted by mysterious visions, voices and an unknown sickness that sweeps over her the longer John is away. Her only reprieve is visiting the docs and looking out at the sea almost obsessively. The Water Child is atmospheric and gives a real sense of foreboding throughout which I love.
There are lots of foundations laid for supernatural elements within this novel but they never really materialise which is a bit of a shame (for me anyway). However, some horrors are indeed based in reality, as Cecelia finds out.
The scene is set perfectly by West and you are quite literally transported back in time while reading the pages.
The Water Child is beautifully written and steeped in historical fact and style. It is eerie and really does keep you guessing until the very end.
Overall I enjoyed this book, it is a must read for fans of gothic and historical realism fiction or anyone who enjoys a novel with a mysterious narrative.
I hope we will learn more about Cecelia in the future….
About The Author
Mathew West grew up in Aberdeenshire (and very briefly New Zealand).
After a spell as a music journalist he now lives and works in Edinburgh as a civil servant.
A keen horror film buff, his novels are born out of love of classic gothic fiction seen through modern eyes.
Don’t forget to check out the other fabulous reviews on the Blog Tour for The Water Child!
Dark Reads Reviews 