thanks netgalley for providing this arc!
dnf at 25%, I wouldn’t recommend to a non native english speaker bc I really had a hard time getting into it it frankly it is not my cup of tea which is why I won’t continue it!

The rhythm of the dialogue, and the stylistic choices this book made were certainly interesting.
I enjoyed the idea of myth, and exploring what's real and what isn't. And I liked the boggy, marshy imagery.
However, some of the writing choices seemed unusual. I appreciate this is a middle grade book and therefore I'm not the target audience, but four pages of just ooos and two pages of just bwarks were, to me, unnecessary.

I did enjoy this book but found the way it was written difficult to get into at first. The voice is strong but occasionally convoluted and this made the flow of the book difficult to navigate to begin with. Overall though a decent read.

I received a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review

An acquired taste for how one likes their formatting and writing style, but what they will find underneath is an ocean fable of a tiny family stranded on a little island surrounded by the sea and the day they come across a fishfolk. The ending is told at the start, but throughout the story, you will question what might be the truth and what is not, what leads to the end that turns the story into a confusing language filled yet almost eerie tale of the depths. Give it a 3 out of 5 and 7 out of 10.

The core story of this was a fascinating yet dark exploration of loss, gaslighting, and ecological disaster and could have been so much better, the ideas were really strong...

But the language it was written in was way too convoluted and made the actual execution of the story really slow and hard to get to.

I probably wouldn't have finished if not for the fact I was reviewing it.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, however I think it just wasn’t for me, I struggled to get to the 30% mark and then I just kinda skimmed through the rest of the story. The writing style was fun but a bit hard to keep up with.

Steven Quincey-Jones’s Fishfolk is a strikingly original and poignant fable that blends myth, environmental themes, and the timeless bond of family. Set in the windswept, sea-threatened land of the High-and-Dry, this debut novel is a beautifully crafted tale that resonates with both young and adult readers.

The story follows twins Luna and Oona, who live with their Grandad Mull in a land slowly being swallowed by the sea. Grandad Mull’s stories of the shape-shifting fishfolk—malevolent beings who control the waves and storms—have shaped the twins’ understanding of their world. But when Luna encounters a fishfolk for the first time, she begins to question everything she’s been told, while Oona struggles to reconcile her sister’s doubts with their grandfather’s warnings.

Quincey-Jones’s narrative is both lyrical and evocative, capturing the stark beauty of the High-and-Dry and the mysterious allure of the sea. The novel’s exploration of themes like truth, trust, and the impact of storytelling is deeply moving, offering a nuanced look at how myths shape our understanding of the world. Luna’s journey of discovery and Oona’s struggle to hold onto what she knows create a compelling dynamic, their bond as sisters adding emotional depth to the story.

The black-and-white woodcut-style illustrations enhance the book’s fable-like quality, adding a visual layer to the atmospheric storytelling. Quincey-Jones’s prose is simple yet powerful, making Fishfolk accessible to younger readers while still offering rich layers of meaning for adults.

Fishfolk is a story of resilience, curiosity, and the power of questioning the stories we’re told. It’s a tale that will linger in the minds of readers, encouraging them to look beyond the surface and seek their own truths.

It took me a bit of getting used to the way the narrator (one of the sisters, Oona) spoke and told the tale, but once I got the rhythm, it was much easier to get embroiled in the story. It is easy as a reader to judge characters on how they just believe everything one person tells them, because they know of nothing else, but it is clear to see why Oona and Luna were taken in by Grandad Mull’s stories and versions of the world.

FISHFOLK by Steven Quincey-Jones @s_quinceyjones

A modern day fable, beautifully written and illustrated.

“Fishfolk” by Steven Quincey-Jones is a compelling children’s novel that intertwines fable and adventure. Set in the ever-shrinking High-and-Dry land, it follows twins Luna and Oona, raised on their Grandad Mull’s tales of malevolent, shape-shifting fishfolk responsible for their family’s tragedies. When the twins encounter a real fishfolk, Luna begins to question Grandad Mull’s stories, leading to a poignant exploration of prejudice and truth. The prose is richly poetic, enhancing the mythic atmosphere, though its complexity may challenge younger readers. There are themes of loss and moral obligations which make it more suitable for older children. I would recommend it for good readers aged 12 and up.

It’s almost magical to read, the pace is fast and the words just seem to roll like the sea.
It is beautifully written and the illustrations just make the story come to life.

A beautiful book.

This is a challenging book, both in terms of language and story. I think it's probably easiest if I just take a few points in turn...

Language:
This is almost like reading prose poetry. Which is nice, if that's what you're into. I enjoyed it, but neither of my children - both of whom can (and have) read classics - read past the first few pages. It's not that the vocabulary is difficult, but it's playful - it lends an 'otherness' to that tale that really, really helps with worldbuilding. But that strong voice isn't easy to read - words are conjugated unusually, idioms are muddied, and the actual reading process requires work as a result. If you're not used to working for your stories, then I can imagine this feeling like a slog (though like I said - I enjoyed it, and the voice really lent itself to the mood of the world).

In short, it doesn't feel like language for children.

Story:
Aside from the general, all-purpose hardship of life on a sinking land, after a flood, there are some REALLY dark moments in here. A toddler dies and children are left to bury him. An abusive Grandfather is left to sink in quicksand after having gaslit the main characters for the whole of their lives.

In short, it feels like a book about children, for adults.

Overall:
It's an objectively brilliant book. It tugs on memories of dark fairy-tales - HC Andersen's Little Mermaid, rather than the Disney one. It feels like it could take place in the uncertainty of a climate-crisis future, but there are shades of Michelle Paver's Chronicles of Ancient Darkness to it too - like it might be the journey of ancestors. But as above, this story feels so grown-up, and that's why I dropped stars. For a book labelled 'middle grade' I definitely felt like the content was perhaps a bit too old for the audience.

I loved the quirky layout. I loved the mythic quality. I loved the voice, and the mood. The artwork was brilliant. The whole thing felt like folk horror and I'd be quick to recommend to fans of Tom Cox's 'Help The Witch'. There's a Gothic undertone which my Frankenstein-fan heart just found delicious. But.

I'd probably only recommend to adults or older children - 14+.

Would prob. give 3.5 stars if half-stars were possible.

Fishfolk by Steven Quincey-Jones is a masterpiece of a book! I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.