It's genuinely difficult to believe that this is a debut novel because it's so fantastic for several reasons. This book reminded me of the dystopian feminist narrative that Margaret Atwood generally spearheads. It has that unflinching, eerily relevant feel to it that makes you feel unnerved in the way that religious zealots and ingrained misogyny are just so readily accepted by the characters. The fact that mermaids ("Seawomen") are woven so seamlessly into this is an extra bonus as I have always loved mermaid lore when it is done well.

Esta's development was beautifully crafted throughout the novel, moving from swallowing all of the information she is given without question to beginning the painful journey of questioning what she has always grown up with and forcing herself to see past the smoke and mirrors.

The ending was what made me round this book up to 4.5/5 stars as I devoured the last 50 pages at breakneck speed. It was the perfect level of ambiguity and left me wanting more. I am so excited to see what else Chloe Timms will bring us.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this feminist dystopian novel. It was dark and moody and in some parts out and out brutal. The story starts with brutality and shock and the book keeps up the pace till the end. As with most good books it evoked a strong emotional reaction within me and will stay with me for a long time. Thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC.

A gorgeous, evocative, brutal, and mesmerising allegory of both the role of women in society and the destructive power of the rhetoric of ‘otherness’ combined with a compelling page-turner of a plot makes THE SEAWOMEN a truly rare gem. Chloe Timms’s debut is utterly captivating and will stay with me for a very long time.

The Seawomen is a debut novel by author Chloe Timms. Centred around an island ironically known as ‘Eden’ we experience the lives of the inhabitants through the eyes of the child narrator Esta. The novel opens on a particularly harrowing scene of a woman being cast into the ocean in a ceremony called the Untethering as presumably some form of punishment for, as yet an unknown misdemeanour. A disorientating and vicious moment that sets the tone for the rest of the book.
The people on the island are governed by the church namely through the figure of Father Jessop, who is an unsettling and terrifying character that wields biblical scripture to control individuals within the community. Jessop comes from a long line of priests, descending right back to Father Lambert, one of the original settlers on the island. Apparently, ‘God told him to create a new home for good people, away from the corruptions of the world.’ Father Lambert was also the individual who discovered the seawomen, supposed mythological creatures, harpies or sirens whose sole task is to manipulate and corrupt.
This potential threat in the water works to further entrap, through fear, the citizens of the island. The outside world remains an enigma, with people, mainly women, being discouraged from even looking out to the ocean. Women should focus on being meek and humble, subservient to their husbands and never ask questions. Fortunately, Esta begins to challenge these decrees, in search for answers as to the fate of her parents, who died when she was a child.
I felt many dystopian conventions at play within the text and more than once I drew comparisons between Esta and Offred, the narrator in Margaret Atwood’s, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’ Esta’s unwillingness to bow down to the narratives of those in power along with her tenacity in seeking out the past makes her a remarkable heroine. It also foregrounds many of the issues we face as a society today around the abuse and mistreatment of women and the hypocrisy of governing bodies. Esta’s quest leads her to some fantastical and magical discoveries around her family and her past. These work to highlight the necessity of always questioning dominant ideologies and allowing yourself to view ideas from differing perspectives in order to allow for empathy and understanding. A gripping and joyous read which is both alluring and compelling from the very beginning.

I was drawn to read this book by the amazing cover. Isn't it beautiful? They say never judge a book by its cover but I totally do and in this case, I was right to do so.

I love books that relate to the sea or coast and I'm also somewhat fascinated by cults so this book was a perfect match for me. It's beautifully written and I was immediately hooked by Esta's story and background. There's something in her past that sets her apart from the other women on the island. We get to find this out early in the book but it's not until the end that everything is revealed and also when I don't mind admitting to shedding a few tears.

At times it's an unsettling read and a portrayal of what can happen when prejudice and a lack of acceptance and understanding of others raises its ugly head. Power is held by the island Pastor who uses his religion to manipulate others and to put in place extreme measures against the Seawomen as well as using it to his advantage to retain control over the island women and keep them in their place.

It reminded me of the Handmaid's Tale with similar sinister elements of control.

This is an accomplished debut and the sort of book and writing I'd love to achieve in my debut novel. It's a difficult one to describe - a feminist novel, a tale of cults, manipulation and control, a story of witchy Seawomen, magical realism. I'm not quite sure how to sum it up. Perhaps an element of all these things. It's out on the 14th of June so I'd just suggest you give it a read.

This is definitely 5 stars and I'd happily read more by Chloe Timms.

I do not think I have been affected by a book as much as I have reading this, so very poignant and sad and beautifully put together, I was shocked to hear that this was debut novel as it read like a dream. The story is set in a dystopian fictional island named Eden island. The whole story was feminist and brought home a real sense of real world problems. I cannot put what this book means in words, I would highly recommend.

Chloe Timms's debut novel is as powerful, mysterious and enthralling as the sea itself. The beautifully poetic prose evokes small town fear and the claustrophobia if living amongst a community that you don't fit it.

This magical book pulled me in from the first pages and I read it with a feverish delight. I can't wait to see more from Timms.

I read an ARC from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Wow! This book is dark and twisty. I’ve always wondered how people fall prey to a cult leader. How fears can control.

Esta lives on a patriarchal island where they fear the seawomen, and every challenge the islanders face is blamed on the sins of their women. Punished by god, they must repent to be saved. Esta sees through the lies and dangerously seeks answers to questions that if she was a good holy girl she’d ignore.

This book reminded me of the darkness of The Handmaids Tale. The way the book made me turn the page out of morbid curious that people could live this way. The history and characters are written so well, it was difficult to put down.

What an amazing debut!

The Seawomen is a well-written and immersive story that excels at representing relationships between characters. It's not a comfortable read - much of the narrative focuses on life on an island where women's worth is measured by their ability to give men children and remain obedient.

I liked the prose, the setting, and the characters. I'm not sure if the romance was done well, though. It's a great read anyway.

A really unique and imaginative book with an incredible protagonist. I loved the mixing of a fairy tale/legend with dystopia. I particularly appreciated how accurate the author was in representing the complexities of different female relationships, along with how well she communicated an atmosphere of oppression. A really good read that I would definitely recommend to other women in particular.

What a wonderful cover!
This took me longer than I expected to read.
I was taken in straight away by the starting scenes, as I have a little fascination with cult novels. It then moved at a much slower pace and at some points the only thing holding my interest was the beautiful writing.
I liked the characters too, but I just wanted more from the plot than I was given.

A vividly imagined feminist dystopian tale of island life where traditional, moral values are upheld through the reversal of technological advances, female subjugation and fear of The Seawomen; whose sinister intentions are able to infiltrate the weak of mind and bring doom onto the community.

I like dystopian literature, feminist fiction and mermaids so this was right up my alley. A bit magical realism retelling of Handmaids Tale with mermaids thrown in. Thumbs up from me!

Some of the descriptions of the treatment of fallen women were particularly moving and built a real sense of helpless anger. I found the island world and it’s rules and ways of life easy to imagine and believable but I found some of the narrative a touch simplistic. On the whole the characters are fleshed out, interesting and empathetic, and I liked that the ending wasn’t trite. A fantastic debut!

Huge thanks to the author, Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for this advance review copy.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. Atmospheric sea story with a hint of Atwood amongst the folds. Very cleverly done. Unusual.

I have always loved stories that centre around the ocean. So, I really had high hopes when starting this book. I didn't expect how much those expectations would be exceeded! This is my favourite book so far this year. I'm completely in love with it.

Timms has such a beautiful way of writing. I honestly felt like I was there while reading and I felt like I knew the characters in person. I found that most of my dreams even centred around the story, that's how obsessed I've been.

At the same time, I didn't read it as fast as some others because I genuinely didn't want it to end. I'm definitely going to be looking out for Timms's next book!

I don't want to say too much and give away the story but it is so worth a read and not just if you're obsessed with the ocean like I am. I really hope that this book takes off because I need to talk about it!

It seems as though I’m going against the grain on this one. After so many glowing reviews I went into the story with high expectations, but it really didn’t grab me, so I’ve set it aside for now.

Sorry but I guess this one wasn’t for me.

Many thanks to Chloe Timms, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.

Years ago a God fearing man ran from the advancing world and came upon an island where he encounters the Seawomen. As the years go by the islanders are taught the evilness of the sea and the Seawomen; with crops dying, floods and diseases spreading across the land when a woman is corrupted by them. Esta watches the Untethering believing these childless women have turned from God and that their death is justified; that is until she takes a step into the sea and finds the island isn’t what it seems.

The plot was incredible. I love books about religion and ones that are historical, which this one sort of is. The whole concept of this island is so realistic, not just in the fact there are some islands with tribes on that haven’t integrated with the world, but also the metoprolol one too with our own fears trapping us. The corruption of religion is something we’ve seen in the past and present and the whole ‘women can only be corrupted by the sea’ reminded me of the witch trials and how a tiny thing could be the death of an innocent woman. I pray there’s a book two so we can see more of the Seawoman and also what happens on the island going forward.


Stacey - passionisbooks
Dec 05, 2021
Stacey - passionisbooks rated it it was amazing
Shelves: netgalley
If I could give this book more than five stars I would and I wouldn’t be surprised if it wins some awards.

Years ago a God fearing man ran from the advancing world and came upon an island where he encounters the Seawomen. As the years go by the islanders are taught the evilness of the sea and the Seawomen; with crops dying, floods and diseases spreading across the land when a woman is corrupted by them. Esta watches the Untethering believing these childless women have turned from God and that their death is justified; that is until she takes a step into the sea and finds the island isn’t what it seems.

This book was just incredible! I’m going to start with the writing style because that was what blew me away the most about this book. It’s a very hard style to execute and I’ve only ever read one author that pulled it off like this. It’s extremely hard to make daily life exciting but the author gives just enough of everything to make it hard to put the book down. I also liked the little hints that said the book was almost a memoir.

The plot was incredible. I love books about religion and ones that are historical, which this one sort of is. The whole concept of this island is so realistic, not just in the fact there are some islands with tribes on that haven’t integrated with the world, but also the metoprolol one too with our own fears trapping us. The corruption of religion is something we’ve seen in the past and present and the whole ‘women can only be corrupted by the sea’ reminded me of the witch trials and how a tiny thing could be the death of an innocent woman. I pray there’s a book two so we can see more of the Seawoman and also what happens on the island going forward.

The character development was incredible. Esta was always a curious character and the internal fighting she had with herself made the connection to her extremely easy to develop. I love the fact that even though the book is in first person we still get to see all these other storylines and the development of those characters too.

This book just blew me out of the water in every way and I’ve already told my mum it’s a must read for her when it comes out😂. This is one of those books that will stick with me throughout my life for the plot, writing and emotional turmoil I felt whilst reading it.


R
Dec 12, 2021
R rated it it was amazing
Wow! Margaret Atwood, Chloe Timms is coming for your crown.

While reading this book, I could hear the gasps of Chloe’s agent and editor when they read it for the first time. Their wonder at the sheer beauty of the writing, the clarity of the island of Eden, the lore, the characters. They knew they had something special in their hands. A work of dazzling skill and a compelling story for the ages. If this book doesn’t get onto the Women’s Prize long list, then there’s something wrong with the world.

Can you tell I loved it?

It’s the story of Esta as she grows up on the island of Eden. A fitting name for an island where women are the source of evil, who must be cowed and controlled, who are reduced to the usefulness of their reproductive organs. Women who are threatened with talk of The Seawomen coming to corrupt them, the source of any misfortune that befalls the community. But as Esta grows up, she meets Cal who is from the sea, and she begins to question everything she’s believed.

This is such a powerful allegory for our times on so many levels. I’m simply in awe of the skill. A beautiful mixture of magic, dystopia, folklore and literary fiction. Cannot recommend this beautiful novel enough.

If you love anything about the sea, mermaids and some very descriptive writing then this book will be for you.
It is really an emersive read and one that I wanted to just finish in one sitting (but unfortunately real life calls and I had to go to work).
The plot line in this book is very different to what you might expect or usually read. The characters are strongly written and have powerful personalities and I think this added to the atmosphere of the whole book.
Definitely recommend to read.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this ARC!

‘The Seawomen’ follows the story of Esta growing up on an island called Eden where religious cult traditions and leaders control the women and the structures of their lives, believed to be protecting them against the sea and the evil of the seawomen.

From the storytelling to the characters, this was a beautifully written book. Timms explores this cold and rigid community on the island through a complex cast of characters, with Esta at the centre. Brought up by her grandmother who plays a key role in this religious community, Esta’s perception of the world is confined to this island alone, and the truth is slowly unravelled as she becomes increasingly curious about the sea—the one place she’s told never to go or look at.

This story was suspenseful and heartbreaking, filled with longing. Esta’s frustrations grow throughout the book, with family, friendship, her own place in the community, marriage and the oppression and firm expectations of her and every woman on the island. These themes are explored in great depth and haunting dialogue, especially from the grandmother and Father Jessop who are both figures of forbidding authority in Esta's life.

Timms’s writing is elegant and compelling. Even though I would have loved to have seen and heard more about the seawomen, the book’s themes were the most significant to the story, and it came to a powerful yet graceful conclusion. Overall, this was a stunning debut.

The Seawomen is set on a Northern Island in an unspecified era, presumably some time in the future. Father Jessop and his ministers enforce extreme regulations over the community. They eschew all modern trappings, with the exception of the modern fleet of boats patrolling the shores with the dual purpose of stopping anyone from leaving and preventing the approach of the feared seawomen.
All the focus is on increasing the size of the community, and if the island women fail to give birth, punishment is extreme and unavoidable.
Chloe Timms debut novel starts well, with a sinister atmosphere of suspicion and fear as each mishap, storms, poor fishing catches or pregnancy failures are blamed on the godlessness of any women. Islanders are encouraged to present notes of their (frequently groundless) suspicions in the church. But when Esta meets Cal and learns that the seawomen may not be the enemy they all feared she must decide where her loyalty lies.
At this point things start to feel a little young adultish with love and betrayal, and from here on in it was a struggle to keep focus.
The characters are well developed, especially the sinister ones, but a storyline such as this one is difficult to develop without a large dollop of suspension of disbelief all the way, but in fairness the temptation for an easy ending was well resisted.
Many readers have, and will enjoy it.

'Everyone on this island has a story, and this is mine'

This book follows Esta, a young girl being raised by her very religious grandmother after her parents died in a mysterious fire. She lives on Eden Isle, an island cut off from everyone else. The inhabitants of this island forever have the threat of the seawomen constantly over their heads. Any woman who is seen acting strangely or not being able to conceive within their first year of marriage is sentenced to death from being corrupted by the seawomen.

I am obsessed with mermaids so when I saw this book, I had to read it! The story is so intriguing. We learn very early on in the book that Eden Isle is a very dangerous place for women to live. These women are kept in line by the threat of the seawomen and god's wrath. The seawomen are creatures that live in the sea and corrupt the women of the island. The inhabitants believe that if there is a woman that is corrupted on the island, then God will punish them by not being able to conceive, having storms and animals dying, or being ill. If father Jessop deems one of these women corrupted then they are sentenced to death by what is called the Untethering, which is basically drowning.

I don’t think I can hate anyone more than I hate Sarl and Father Jessop. These characters are written brilliantly because I genuinely have hatred for them. The way Sarl treats her granddaughter because of what her mother did and the way father Jessops treats every woman. It reminds me very much of the handmaid's tale. I liked the character development with Esta. Seeing her slowly see the island with new eyes and that all is not what it seems.

Because of the world-building of the Isle and the way of life, the book is very slow-paced. I wanted so badly for some excitement to happen at times. The whole reason I wanted to read this book was for the mermaids, but they weren’t even in it! They where mentioned a lot, but were only seen briefly towards the end. I would have loved to of had Cal's point of view. I wanted to see his world, where he comes from, and what happened to him.

I give this book 3/5 stars. I liked it but I just wanted so much more from it. The island and the church were intriguing but I found myself getting bored in parts. I’m not saying it's a bad book, it's far from that but I just wanted more mermaids!