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.