The Seawomen

Thank you so much Chloe Timms for your wonderful book and NetGalley for approving me to read it.
It is one of those books that's going to stay with me for quite a while, and one that doesn't fit into any particular category or genre, but one that makes you think while not really entertaining you... more like enthralling you. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was captivated from the start and drawn along, hoping more and more for Esta to find out what was really happening in her world and for her to find a way out of it, to find the freedom she instinctively knows is her right but which is not something tangible or talked about. A place where evil and fear rule. The suspense had me turning the page and saying, just one more chapter... and then not wanting it to end, but wanting it to end. Masterfully restrained.

The Seawomen is quite simply magical. This genre-bending story of Esta, trapped on ‘the island’ as part of a truly sinister religious cult is so atmospheric and beautifully written it’s almost hypnotic. The cult itself is both dark and highly-believable in turns, and has shades of the church as portrayed in ‘Oranges are not the only fruit’ which is then mixed in with the mystical sea people to make a rich and fulfilling universe.
I’m a bit at a loss for what else to say except READ THIS BOOK.

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.

Thank you so, so much to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an enchanting read, it was so well written, with such well developed characters and a storyline that is both unusual and intriguing. It was susoenseful and unpredictable and at times almost lyrical. I really enjoyed this read and it will stay with me for a while.

Rarely does a story as beautiful, dark and heartbreaking as this one come along. The Seawomen captured me entirely, pulling me into the murky waters of fear, isolation, and blind faith. My heart was in my mouth as I was drawn into Esta's tale, her desperation and strength flooding through my veins as I urged her on.

The blend of genres and themes was perfect, the pace just right. With this exquisite debut novel, Timms has proven herself to be an author to watch.

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.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for granting me an arc.

The first thing I thought when I started reading Seawomen was that this was a book on cults. In a way that's exactly what it is. The inhabitants live on an Island called Eden's Isle and they have lived there for so long that the original name of the island is now lost to history. There are no records, nothing to say who or what lived on the island before Esta's people first landed there. Led by Father Jessop the inhabitants of Eden's Isle are led to believe that they must remain pure, devoted to God and not give into the temptation of the Seawomen. Creatures who live in the sea and would seek to bring death and destruction to their island.

The island is a highly misogynistic place to live. The men lead and the women are expected to do their part and breed children once the Eldermothers declare them fit to be mothers. In truth, the women are the ones to watch for, the ones who are more likely to give into temptation. If a calamity befalls the island it is the work of the Seawomen and whichever woman on the island whom they have enchanted. Once the woman is found it often leads to a process called the Untethering. A brutal act in which the woman is tied down and cast out to sea to drown. Esta's grandmother forces her to watch each one, to show her what happens to the faithless.

Despite all this Esta is still drawn to the sea in a way she can't describe and one fateful night, chased by a group of boys, she finds herself drowning in the very sea she's drawn to. What shocks her the most is when she's saved not by a seawoman, but a seaman called Cal. A budding ill-fated romance begins to form, which turns Esta's and Cal's whole lives upside down as they struggle to find a way to be together in a world where his very existence is taboo.

I cannot rate this book highly enough - 5 stars is not enough! It is hands down the most beautiful book I have read. Unique and genre-defying - neither fable, folklore or dystopian fantasy but a delightful mix of all three. Esta's story has stayed with me and I feel privileged to have inhabited her world.
Lyrical prose elevates the descriptions of the daily grind of everyday life on Eden's Isle and lightens the dark, suspenseful passages so that the reader feels as if they are being caressed by words even as the words themselves slowly reveal the dark undercurrents of the misogynistic rules and rituals that women on Eden's Isle are forced to abide by.
Told by Esta, the story gradually reveals the disturbing truth to the reader as Esta matures - her understanding of the world she lives in expands just at the moment that her life constricts around her. Both feminist folklore and misogynistic myth, The Seawomen inhabits a beautiful, lyrical literary place that highlights's Chloe Timms's talent as an author.
The Seawomen is a surefire award winner and I would urge everyone to read this compelling tale.

Atmospheric with puritan overtones. Esta was born on the Isle of Eden, the same as mother before her. Eden is a world where religion holds all the cards, those cards are firmly in the hands of men whose word is law. Women are chattels, their worth is designated by how fruitful their uterus is. Following marriage, you have exact.y 12 months to conceive or be returned to the sea and the scheming seawomen who dwell there.

Esta is curious, too curious and listens to the sea tales told, a mixture of folklore, history and a little bit of magic. Her sisters all view one another with suspicion just in case eyes should be cast their way and they are accused. Watching the sea is forbidden for women, had she not that fateful day she would of missed him walking out of the waves.

Fiercely feminist and utterly unique. Timms is a bold new talent. This is a story about oppression, the bonds that tie us - and the lies that break us. Suspenseful and intensely engaging, from Timms' lyrical writing to the genre-bending, unpredictable plot, you won't be able to put this one down.

Wow what a fantastic book ,I have read an early copy on NetGalley Uk where I requested a copy of the book after seeing the author post of her delight about the first reviews she was seeing
I love a dystopian novel and this one has it all ,a misogynist dystopian society set on an island and mermaids and mermen
I was quickly drawn into the story where I was initially unsure if the undersea creatures of their religion were fictional or true beings .It was clear from early on that women were being treated harshly by the ultra religious society but it takes a while for the underlying truths to be laid bare
Island living adds an additional claustrophobia to the story which adds a lot to the feel of the whole book
I’m not much of a fan of romance in novels but did find the relationship between the narrator and merman added an additional element to the story and was ultimately believable
I rather liked the ending of the book which had sufficient ambiguity to be unexpected
In summary I enjoyed this book and liked its uniqueness and individuality it will stay with me

Amazing story and beautiful writing. A religious cult claims that the seawomen living in the water will corrupt the population - a dystopian future with a feminist twist.

The Seawomen is something totally new in dystopian feminist fiction. Beautifully written with a convincing cast of characters, it's set on a remote island with a cult-like leadership. Although completely removed from our own world, it draws so many adept comparisons with it. Timms kept me guessing right to the end!

Wow! This may be my favourite read of the year. The tale of female oppression in the name of a religious faith gave me serious "crucible" vibes but with a fantasy feel. This story had me mesmerized and completely engulfed in the world. The characters were developed so well I could even imagine their smells. It was beautifully written and I wish there was a sequel. I will be thinking about this book a lot despite having finished it.

A horrifying dystopian tale in the vein of The Handmaid’s Tale.
On a remote island, women are required to bear children during a specific year, their motheryear. They are forced into often loveless marriages, and their fate is out of their own hands.
Those who fail to produce a child are thrown to the Seawomen, in a ritual called the Untethering.

Esta is coming up to her own motheryear when she witnesses an untethering which haunts her. Can she escape the same horrific fate?

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

I’m a woman and a mother of two young girls.

Trying to strike a constant balance between teaching them kindness and that ‘no’ is a complete sentence, between finding joy in their autonomy and teaching them to be wary, all through the lens of a 33-year-old female experience is, frankly, debilitating.

I dread the day that I look into their eyes and see that knowing that all women share and all women recognise. I don’t know what to do about it. If there’s anything I can do about it. If this is simply a rite of passage for women and girls.

The Seawomen by Chloe Timms gave me a space to explore some of these disquieting concerns.

Esta is raised by her formidable grandmother on the remote, self-governed island of Eden. Eden’s citizens are bound by its stringent religious laws and customs. Frightening is the public consequences for any who are even perceived to be in transgression. And the accused are always women.

A woman must marry the man chosen for her. And she must conceive a child within her allocated motheryear. The island accepts any failure to conceive as a sure sign from God that she (not her husband, just she) has been corrupted by The Seawomen, mysterious sea-dwellers believed to entice Eden’s women into helping them take over the island for untold evils.

Condemned women are bound to boats and forsaken to drown in the sea in an act called The Untethering. Indulging in vanity, not praying enough and even gazing out to sea are judged as omens.

As Esta uncovers one shocking truth after another about the island, its piety, its patriarchy and the Seawomen themselves, she reckons with danger, internalised dogma and her own heart. In a battle between safety and freedom, Esta must decide what each is ultimately worth.

The Seawomen presents a timely conversation on true societal freedom, why women are centred as objects of control and what each of us overlooks in the name of keeping our places in our respective communities, however uncomfortable the realities of those places may be.

Through the characters of Barrett, Esta’s father and Ingram, Chloe Timms expertly highlights the plight that men also suffer at the hands of patriarchy. However, these are collateral shockwaves borne from the epicentre of devastation inflicted on individual women’s lives in the first place.

Timms shows us it doesn’t start with the worst acts of brutality imaginable. It starts with words and ideas unquestioned, nonsensical attitudes adopted uncritically, fear of being outcast from a group amplified and played upon.

It is frustrating to engage in public discourse around violence against women and girls to be met with “not all men” and “women are violent too”. The Seawomen is the perfect work to encourage defensive minds to peel back further layers.

The conversation is not intended to be accusatory (although it can feel that way when viewed through the lens of limited characters and intended maximum emotional impact on Twitter).

It is meant to encourage society to look for the proverbial Patient Zero. To ask why she is oppressed, by whom, what liberation looks like for her and what we can each individually do to contribute to that liberation. And, most importantly, why we should actually want that liberation to materialise.

The Seawomen uncomfortably reflects back to us our sorrowful complicity in our own oppression, contrastingly from both fearing the alternatives, and from being trained to win approval, reward and power from our oppressors, as seen through Esta, Mull and Norah, and the Eldermothers respectively.

This novel reminds us to get uncomfortable and examine our sources of information with a meticulous eye. Especially sources we have never thought to question and particularly their attitudes towards othered groups.

Which groups are being othered and why? What does our source stand to gain from retaining power over this group, be that economical, geographical or supposedly moral?

What becomes of the othered group when we accept the ideology of our source, lazily trusting them to have done the hard work on our behalf of connecting with the othered group before deciding they are a risk?

What visceral reactions do our bodies produce when we even consider the possibility of disagreeing with our source’s decrees?

The surveillance by which Father Jessop instructed the inhabitants to practice put me in mind of post-WWII Russia, the practices of which time we easily blanch at the thought of.

Yet we carry out and revel in witch huntings and figurative burnings every day, online and in real life. For what we say we don’t like, for what we say we do like, for who we love, for how we dress, for how we raise our children, for what we believe in. It always seems to be women offenders who never rise from the ashes that remain.

On Chloe Timms’s writing, I was enthralled from the off with the raw voice of child Etsa. She narrates the dystopia in that stark, matter-of-fact way only a child can, making the events all the more chilling. It reminded me a lot of Chrissie in Nancy Tucker’s The First Day of Spring.

We follow Esta over a number of years into early adulthood, and with that journey and the different anxieties jostling for her attention comes subtle changes in her narration style and word choices.

So subtle, in fact, that I didn’t realise how much she changes until I went back to the beginning to pick out my favourite quotes! I thought it was genius.

The Seawomen is an important work and I truly hope it is widely read. It asks us to examine who in society has power, how they liberate or oppress with that power, how our individual, everyday actions uphold that power, what it would cost us to topple it and whether we’re brave enough to pay that price.

Many thanks to Chloe Timms, Hodder Studio and Netgalley for the ARC.

The Seawomen is an utterly mesmerising debut, beautifully written and observed through the voice of Esta, a protagonist who is immediately likable and whose childhood/adolescent/adult experiences growing up in a cult-like environment (no spoilers here) have you rooting for her from the very first page. I loved the way that Timms brought the island and its inhabitants to life; I could *taste* the salt of the sea as I read, and picture each unique character not only via their distinct personalities, but also some lovely imagery (one that comes to mind: ‘She had a dimple on her chin, like someone had pushed their thumb into her before she was fully bake.’ DEVINE!).

If you liked The Handmaid’s Tale, if you adored The Village, you’re going to LOVE The Seawomen. *****

What a brilliant debut novel! Chole Timms' The Seawomen is intelligent, beautifully crafted, and hard to put down.

The story is set in a dystopian fictional island named Eden island, inhabited by a religious cult population. The common people are completely cut-off from everywhere else, following a twisted version of the Bible preached by generationally fanatic priests. They are kept in check with the fear of 'The Seawomen', creatures that can morally corrupt the women and call upon the wrath of God. The women's sole purpose is to bear children and look after the household. But, that's not all. Every woman is given a period of 12 months to conceive, failing to do so results in being drowned in the ocean. Not only that, the people here believe that every misfortune, from storm to sickness, is caused by some women coming under the influence of the Seawomen, and she is accordingly hunted and punished. In this place grows up the protagonist Esta. Orphaned as a child, she is brought up by her grandmother, one of the staunchest believers on the island. She slowly learns to question, yearn for freedom, uncovers the systemic corruption and tries to fight back. It is the story of her self-discovery.

The Seawomen reminded me a lot about The Handmaid's Tale, and I say it as a compliment. Things in this book are inspired by real-world events, be it corrupted religious leaders, witch-hunts, or the lack of autonomy for women. That makes it eerily relevant. Esta's journey from someone taught to believe without questions to seeking the truth is beautifully done, with its dilemma and guilt and the realizations of hope and dreams. The ending is perfect with the pitch of the story. I sincerely hope this book and Ms. Timms get the attention they deserve.

Highly recommended! 4.5 stars rounded up.

An island where men rule with an iron rod of religion and women are blamed for everything bad that happens, from the storms that blow in off the sea to a leak in the roof – this is the setting for Chloe Timms’s The Seawomen.
The mortal women who go about their daily island business of producing children and serving their men are under the cosh: ‘We shut our eyes and turn our heads and pray to god: we marry and we lie under men just to live another day.’
But the mythical Seawomen of the title are free, making them all the more reviled by the the island's self appointed leader, Father Jessop, and all the more alluring to Esta, our hero, who gradually realises who the true monsters are.
If this makes The Seawomen sound heavy going, it isn’t. It’s also a love story and a tale of friendships and family secrets. The writing is compelling and pacy, while the descriptions of the sea are sublime. And the concept is perfectly judged - just that touch beyond reality but, actually, not so very distant.

This was a heart wrenching, yet, wondrous tale. I was gripped from the first page and despised the novel’s villain and the constant judgment people living on the island experience. I would definitely read more of Chloe Timms work, it’s just next time, I’ll be prepared and have tissues throughout.

I received an ARC of the book from the publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book asks the very important question of how different Gilead would be if it had mermaids and it absolutely delivered. Beautifully written, this novel was a joy to read from start to end. While it is indeed very reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale, it succeeds in being its own through it's solid engagement with queer identities by way of its many nuanced and well thought out characters and of course, the highly-evocative island setting. I do wish the pacing was a bit faster, particularly in the earlier bits, but Timms' elegant prose more than makes up for it.

When Esta witnesses a woman Untethered before her eyes she sees a future to fear. Her fate awaits, a loveless marriage, her motheryear declared. But before long, Esta gets a taste of freedom and the insular world she knows begins to unravel. My advice is not to start reading this unless you have time to go to the end! It is compulsive.

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.

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!

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 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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Such a memorable read and a story that will not be forgotten quickly by me. Excellent writing. This would be a good bookclub choice.

Esta has lived her whole life on Eden's Isle. She knows there is a whole other world across the sea, but she also knows it is ridden with illness and evil, that this is the place God chose for her people, and, most importantly, that the Seawomen are out there, waiting to destroy everyone's souls if they're careless enough to let them in, so why would she ever want to leave? However, her soul aches with curiosity for the sea, even though she knows it might damn her, and she can't help but question everything she's been taught as she grows older and learns more about her world.

This book is a masterpiece. Like a Greek tragedy, I couldn't stop reading even though I knew there was no way it would end well, that Esta wouldn't magically get everything she wanted by the end. It was bittersweet, and yet the ending was more positive than I could have hoped. I was gripped from the beginning (except for a few chapters around the middle where it suddenly felt slower), and even while not reading I kept thinking about the island and the people living in it. The way Esta slowly realised that things were not as they'd been told, especially that the women were being controlled in the most possibly damaging ways, was heartbreaking. Of course, unlike her I knew that this was a dystopia from the beginning, but the puzzle pieces still clicked in a very satisfying way. I would've loved to know the rest of the characters got their happy (or at least safe) endings, but at the same time it was all cut at the most natural point.

I don't think this is a book I have the emotional capacity to be re-reading anytime soon, but I still heartily recommend it. Definitely look up trigger warnings before starting, but if you think you can handle it go for it. It's tender and sad and hopeful and disquieting and everything a dystopia should be.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Seawomen is an engrossing debut novel about a woman living in a cult-like island community run by a patriarchal leader. The main character, Esta, has always been an outsider, and we follow her journey from shy, sheltered child to rebellious adult. She slowly comes to understand that all the rituals and prayer are means of controlling the islands women.

I had seen other reviews comparing this novel to The Handmaids Tale, but in my opinion the comparison doesn’t do The Seawomen justice. It has shades of other dystopian fiction but it very much creates its own complete world. One of my favourite things about the novel was its strong sense of place. I felt like I could picture the island, it’s coves and cabins, so perfectly it felt like a real location I could go and visit.

Esta’s journey is also deeply compelling, and while the theme is well trodden, the story and the writing gave a fresh new take to this theme. Although the reader is often slightly ahead of Esta in our understanding of how completely the community controls her life I still had no idea how Esta’s story would resolve itself.

If you enjoyed Netflix’s Midnight Mass, Jennie Melamed’s Gather Your Daughters, Sophie Macintosh’s Blue Ticket, and Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Talents you should also love The Seawomen.

I’d like to thank NetGalley for the chance to read the E-arc of this book. Oh my goodness!!! I love mermaid books, it’s no secret but this one just blew me away! Dark, edge of my seat, sinister atmosphere and a strong, female lead questioning her norm, wanting to discover the world beyond. It was powerful, with great characters and evil villains! I loved it! I will be pre-ordering this book for sure!

"This island is built on stories. Tales, lore, lies. They have their reasons. To while away the hours, to hide the truth, to soften, to reassure, to explain, to warn, to scare. Everyone on this island has a story, and this is mine."

A brilliant debut novel. The Seawomen is one of those books I could not put down, and can not stop thinking about. It was full of atmosphere and beautiful written, the story is unique but still finds way to connect and be relatable.

Esta grows up under her grandmother's care after her parents died in a fire accident. They live on Eden a small island where the whole community is religiously devoted to some extremes. Cut off from other islands they believe that women living a sin free life will protect them from the Seawomen, creatures that live in the sea and surround their island. Its said these Seawomen corrupt all and so the island fear the sea and its inhabitants.
The Island women live a strict devot life, remain faithful and are to conceive within 12 months of their appointed motheryear, and if not they will be deemed sinful and thrown to the ocean to drown.

This was a coming of age story for Esta, she grows up alone and afraid of being unworthy, she witnesses women being sacrificed to the sea from a young age which terrifies her. As she grows older she gets a small taste of freedom which leads to knowledge of the outside world which in turn makes her think not everything she has been told about her island or her family might be the whole truth.

I had Handmaids Tale vibes reading this along with The Shape of Water, which mixed together worked really well. Esta is a great character, her journey through childhood into womanhood is so well done, it has so many raw heart-breaking moments.

"Instead of answers, she gave me stories. That was how she boxed me up and sealed my mouth until all those questions had nicked my insides with tiny, invisible scars"

The ending I think was well done, I was worried that it would turn into a boy saves girl and the evil is defeated but that wouldn't have felt right with the tone of the book. The ending to me was sad and beautiful, I don't think it could have ended any better.

The Seawomen was unpredictable, gripping, and fully immersive! It was everything I wanted and I honestly feel like I can't say enough good things about this one, I will be recommending this to everyone.
5 stars and more from me!

"Nameless then, but when I think of that first glimpse now, his name rides through my body. Like waking from death. A gasping heartbeat."

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced e-arc.
*Quotes are taken from the arc and may change upon publication.

The Seawomen is dark, thought provoking and unsettling.

Esta lives on an island where women and girls are kept away from the water. If they stray too close, the seawomen will corrupt them, forcing them to do terrible things to the god-fearing people of Eden. When Esta dares to dream of a life unrestricted by the boundaries of her island and the controlling, cult-like leaders, she is thrown into a world of danger and secrets that threaten not just her, but all life on Eden.

Eden is an island of secrets and control, where girls aren't allowed to so much as look at the sea and their behaviour is so tightly controlled that any small misfortune on the island is blamed on women.

This novel offers an interesting, modern twist on witch trials. The concept of motheryears (where a young married woman is told she is ready to have a child - and expected to do so within 12 months, or be declared an agent of the seawomen) is reminiscent of (and as chilling as) the Handmaidens Tale. This novel also one to read if you like Kiran Millwood Hargrave's The Mercies.

Tension runs high throughout and kept me on the edge of my seat. The Seawomen is filled with an atmosphere of suspicion and fear.

It is a beautifully written story of longing, for the sea and for escape, for the ability to make your own choices.

I am lost for words in this review - it is wonderful, deeply feministic and just an overall incredible read! BUY THIS BOOK.

What a brilliant book from Chloe Timms. Dystopian can really be hit or miss for me these days. This was a hit.

The prose was absolutely beautiful and the story had enough of a twist from the usual dystopian fare, to breathe new life into the genre.

The concept is intriguing. I love the island setting. It’s added a real sense of claustrophobia to the story. Esta was also a main character I could get behind and I loved her journey.

The cult on the island - which give women only a few months to conceive - and which blamed women from other things that went wrong on the island - gave me the feels of the Salem witch trials mixed with The Handmaids Tale.

5 stars! Can’t wait to read more from Chloe Timms.

I absolutely loved "The Seawomen" by Chloe Timms. At the beginning you are taught to believe that Seawomen (or mermaids) are evil, and the way they are described, it makes them sound like they are witches. This book is definitely one that you need to pause and reflect on. There is so much going on, multi-layered and many things to discuss. Apart from the brilliant narrative, my one thought I'd like to share with you is the insular nature of living on an island and how you believe what you are told. To me, this drew parallels with the Russian people and the propaganda machine of the Ukraine war. Anyway, this book would be perfect for bookclub!

I absolutely loved this book. There were moments when I thought I knew what was coming and that I had called it, and then the story would twist and slip away from me in ways I wasn't expecting and I was completely carried along by it. The world building was so rich and vivid and I could picture it so clearly. This book has challenged me to think again and again about the world, and the binaries and culture norms that are enforced by culture, and about what perpetuates them, about what rebellion and freedom can look like and about what freedom is. All wrapped up in compelling, compact, beautiful storytelling. Can't wait to read anything by Chloe Timms in future.

What can I say about one of the most amazing books I have read in the last five years. A masterpiece of story telling which transported to Eden Isle, where women are just baby making machines and from little girls they are told they are subservient to men and boys. Dark at times, gothic and terrifying. This is Esta's story from a young child. A Hand Maids Tale by the sea and so much more. Breath taking, thought provoking and highly, highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Seawomen is a dystopian coming-of-age which cleverly undoes any genre expectations created by properties such as The Hunger Games or Divergent: its central characters are unable to make any meaningful challenge to the weight of the society around them. Instead, it's a quiet, subversive, and slow-building epiphany for Esta, as she comes to know the mer-person Cal and (eventually) dream of a life outside the boundaries of Eden, a quietly brutal and misogynistic theocracy in which even looking at the sea is punished. Her relative passivity provides a welcome and realistic introduction to her world (think The Village melded with The Handmaid's Tale) while never becoming frustrating: the reader feels her pains and anxieties in almost real-time, creating an immersive emotional experience. Wisely, the author doles out encounters with the mer-people and their world - it's a bold choice, and one which could detract from the otherwise utterly quotidian portrayal of a patriarchy gone very, very bad - making their appearance one which is both longed-for and dreaded, as the reader fears what will become of Esta as her fascination with the outside world intensifies. A brilliant, literary speculative debut.

4.5 rounded up to 5.

I loved this novel. It was so beautifully written and gripped me from the very start. Parts of it made me so angry (which it was definitely meant to). I loved the setting, I loved the relationship between Esta & Cal and watching Esta grow into herself and her realisation that not everything is as it seems. I also loved the relationship and the ending between Esta & Mull.

The Seawomen is a wonderful dystopian literary novel, reminiscent of Handmaid's Tale at times, and easily my favourite book of 2022 so far.

Esta lives on Eden's Isle, a harsh and unforgiving place to live at the best of times but even more so when it's ruled by a religious society that thinks the outside world is a menace best avoided, and all women capable of being tempted by evil and the sea.

Orphaned at only three years old, Esta's grown up with her strict grandmother who constantly warns her not to look at the sea, not to be tempted, that she must follow god's will at all times. But eventually, Esta starts to question how their world works. She's fearful of growing up - of being married off, of being given a year to conceive - of being thrown into the water if she fails. And as she grows older she begins to resist, to try to follow her own path. Unfortunately for Esta, the powers that be at Eden's Isle have their own plans, and they expect their rules to be followed, always...

This is a purposeful, literary read, but I also read it as somewhat of a page-turner. When I began it this morning (seeking a few minutes' peace from my family), I knew I'd have to finish it as soon as possible the same day. I really fell for Esta's character - her perseverance and her courage - and while I found a sense of dread and tension building as the book went on, there was also hope. And I'll cling onto that hope even if it kills me...

A thoughtful read that will stay with you.

This is one of those devastatingly haunting books that stays with the reader long after finishing. A dystopian fantasy with an engaging main character and atmospheric setting.

What's the book about?

Eden Island is completely cut off from the outside world. Citizens follow a twisted interpretation of the Bible preached by fanatical priests generation after generation. Everyone is kept in check by the fear of 'The Seawomen,' creatures who can morally ruin the women and summon God's wrath. Women are expected to bear children and take care of the home. Every woman is given a 12-month window to conceive otherwise she is drowned in the ocean. The islanders believe that every societal misfortune is the result of a woman who has been influenced by the Seawomen, and she is hunted and punished. Esta is an orphan raised on the island by her deeply religious grandmother. Esta learns to question everything she's been taught and tries to fight the corrupt world around her for her freedom and rights.

My thoughts:
What a cracking debut! Beautifully written and, in parts, extremely relevant. I can't help but draw parallels with The Handmaid's Tale. Having said that, it's mostly well-paced, and I finished it in one sitting.

What. A. Novel.

The Seawomen is a savage feminist dystopia - the comparisons with The Handmaid's Tale make perfect sense.

Esta has always lived on Eden's Isle, a deeply religious, close-knit community that is, frankly obsessed with women's reproductive health and motherhood, and any women who don't comply are ritually sacrificed. Brutal, right? Esta has never known anything else than this oppressive life, and through her Timms explores gender, seuxality, women's roles and religious oppression in spine-chilling and powerful detail. At its best, The Seawomen reminds me of the work of Sophie Mackintosh, Hannah Kent or Kiran Millwood Hargrave.

It is hard to believe this is a debut - Timms' writing is exquistite, compelling and well-crafted, transporting the reader to Eden and subsequently forcing us to feel Esta's poweerlessness. I felt borderline unwell at parts of this novel from the sense of claustrophobia perveading it. I had to tear myself away from this one; consider me a fully-paid up Timms fan.

Maybe this is the retelling of witch hunts or maybe this is the depiction of what could happen to women in the future.
It was a fascinating read, full of food for thought.
The author is a brilliant storyteller and I loved the world building and the characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

4.5 stars

Headlines:
Feminist, fantastical, fuming
Misogyny wrapped in religious abuse
Impeccable description, atmospheric

What a debut this book is. It was fresh, tense and the themes were dark and sad but it was a read that will stay with you and impact you. The story encapsulated the experiences of a young girl, Esta as she journeyed into adulthood. This island she resided on was set in a dystopian future but in a community that had removed themselves from the world to live in a bigoted, patriachial and abusive religious community, all about control.

This story evoked such an impressively described setting. I immediately began to imagine St Kilda or the Faroe Islands until later I realised the setting was more Shetlands or Orkney. The life this community lead was miserable and fearful...they were fearful of the seawomen. The sea was seen as evil to women and women were treated like potential witches of old.

How the story rolled out was unexpected, how Esta evolved as she grew was the kind of situation you couldn't look away from, willing her on, telling her to persevere and not capitulate. There were a few men that had moments of empathy and Bennett was just about the only reasonable man. The women were not a community because the men in power caused a divisive atmosphere.

The second half of the book had me glued to the page, hoping for Esta, wanting her free.

I highly recommend this book for all my feminist reading friends. It has everything, a touch of dystopia, a touch of fantasy and a bucket load of great writing.

Thank you to Hodder Studio for the review copy.

Esta is an outsider in an extreme religious community, which eeks out a wild existence somewhere in the north sea, shunning outsiders and in particular, the fabled 'seawomen''. Women of the island must resist the dark influence of the seawomen through constant hardwork, devotion to duty and having children. .But Esta is irresistably drawn to the sea, where she meets another outsider, Cal.

This novel borrows heavily on The Handmaid's Tale and also reminded me strongly of Kiran MIllwood Hargrave's 'The Mercies'. I enjoyed both of those, and I loved this too. The religious dogma and control is particularly well done, and the stifling life of the island is really vivid. The novel is well-paced and dramatic and I couldn't stop reading. The sections of the novel where Esta is with Cal are at times a bit less convincing and perhaps could have been more developed, in order to add depth to their love story. All in all though, great read and I really look forward to more from this talented, imaginative author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Plot: The Seawomen is a feminist dystopian novel with fantastical elements. Esta has known nothing but Eden's Isle her whole life. She was raised in a deeply religious society who fears what lurks beneath the water - a corrupting evil the islanders call the Seawomen. The women of the island are controlled in every aspect of their lives and must conceive a child within their appointed motheryear or be cast into the sea as a sacrifice. When Esta witnesses a woman gets sacrificed she sees a future to fear. Her fate awaits, a loveless marriage, her motheryear declared. And after a brief taste of freedom, Esta begins to question everything she knows.

Review: What a brilliant and unique debut novel! 👏🏼 I am extremely impressed. The book was so gripping, I couldn’t stop reading. However, I had to put the book down a few times, because the misogyny and patriarchy in the book made me furious and sad. 🤬 I was rooting for Esta from the beginning, even though I guessed what was going to happen. I really felt for her and sympathised with her. The Seawomen made me tear up a few times and after finishing it I felt empty. 😭 This is such a powerful book and definitely one of my favourite books of the year so far. 🙌🏼

I recommend this book to everyone who would like to read an emotional dystopian fantasy novel about a fierce female main character. The Seawomen deals with important topics like feminism, partriarchy, misogyny, motherhood and childlessness. ❗️

CW: misogyny, sexual harassment, mention of rape, homophobia, infertility, pregnancy, death of parent, infidelity

I absolutely loved this enchanting, magical story. It is well written, and the characters are ones I won't forget. The storyline drew me in and kept me captured right to the end. The themes, the genre-blending, the pace, the plot; everything about this book was exciting and intriguing, and I look forward to reading more for this spectacular author.

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2022/06/09/the-seawomen-by-chloe-timms/
My Five Word TL:DR Review : A Powerful Tale of Oppression

Wow this book. I barely know where to begin to be honest. Thought provoking. Anger inducing. Beautifully written. Quite literally I’ve been sitting here for an age just trying to form words. I’ve deleted what I’ve written over and over because it just doesn’t begin to express my feelings and even now I’m puzzled about exactly where to begin and I know that I’m not going to be able to do this book justice.

Set on the Island of Eden this is a story that is as far from paradise as you can imagine. A small, claustrophobic world where under the guise of religious piety men rule supreme and the women of the island live under the constant threat of suspicion. Think witch hunts, think neighbour turning upon neighbour, think living under the doctrines of religious zealots where young girls are brought up witnessing atrocities to keep them under a yolk of fear.

By way of background. My take on the world here is as follows. The inhabitants of Eden are akin to a religious cult who have left the trappings of the modern world behind to live a more simple life (although this seems to be set in a near future where the sea water has risen). The people are kept in the dark, and in their place, by a barrage of constant fear mongering, bullying and coercive behaviour with an extra layer of control being added by the natural isolation of the island setting, the fact that people here are not only not taught to swim but are brought up to fear the water and what it contains and any deviations in behaviour are basically seen as evil.

The central characters of the story are Esta. A young woman, brought up by her grandmother after the death of her parents in a terrible fire. Esta is marked with a foreboding question mark from an early age., tarnished by the unknown actions of her mother and constantly watched for any deviations in behaviour. Esta’s grandmother is a staunch believer in the ethos of the island and raises Esta with a stern hand. Constantly drumming into her the words of the Book they live by and keeping her down by fasting, harsh treatment and lack of love. Father Jessop is the Island’s leader. All I can say about this character is there is not one single thing about him that I liked. He’s absolutely awful and he actually filled me with dread. He pervades the story with a sense of ever watchful menace.

In terms of the plot. Well, this is Esta’s story. We watch her grow from a young, fearful girl, filled with questions and doubt and natural curiosity to a woman who finds out that not everything she’s been told is true. The islanders are kept in constant fear of the water by the myth of the Seawomen and their evil ways. The women of Eden are not permitted to go into the water and in fact even looking at it wistfully can lead to vicious rumours. Like all the other women of the island, Esta will eventually be expected to marry, more often than not an arranged marriage, where she will carry out her duty, look after her husband and bear children. Everything here is about control. Lack of teaching to keep people ignorant, even the year that a woman can bear children is managed and if she fails to become pregnant within the year named for her – well, the consequences are dire. Known as the Untethering, women who fail their ‘motheryear’ are thought to have given in to evil and are basically tied up and sent in a small boat to drown in the strong waves that surround the harbour. Esta, her natural curiosity driving her to extremes, finds love in an unexpected place and pushes the boundaries but the restraints of the Island are starting to close around her and she’s basically living on borrowed time.

What I really love about this book. The writing is amazing, evocative and quite hypnotic. This is a writer who can push your buttons in the most outstanding way, I found myself gripped at times, furious at times, unable to stop reading for the most part (because – sleep). The fantasy elements are quite minimal, I would say this is magical realism where a lot of the book relies on hearsay and word of mouth. We do meet creatures from the sea but these meetings are brief so don’t go into this expecting The Little Mermaid. In fact I love the twist here in that the monsters are those on the land not in the water. I think this could be read as a dystopian coming of age tale of one woman’s journey to live life on her own terms and conditions or you can read much more into it. An allegory of oppression, a fear of anything different.

In terms of criticisms. For myself I don’t have any. But, I would say that this can be quite a dark read and in the middle the pace definitely slows a little. But, the ending is packed with tension and there are moments of love and also hope.

Overall, I found this a beautifully written and compelling read. Shocking, at times anger inducing at others, tense, strained and absolutely unputdownable.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Have you ever stood on a beach and looked out across the sea, towards the horizon, and wondered what else is out there...?
I do not have enough words in my vocabulary to describe how much I adored 'The Seawomen'!
Set on an island isolated from the rest of the world, 'The Seawomen' follows Esta from infanthood to adolescence in an environment reminiscent of the witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries. Eden's Isle is a deeply religious land, led by Father Jessop and his Ministers who preside over the community. Despite being surrounded by the sea, however, they live in fear of the water's - or rather the monsters' living in it - influence on their women. The people of Eden's Isle have been made to believe that the Seawomen who live in the waters around their land exist to corrupt their women and bring destruction to their community. Father Jessop wields the word of God as a weapon, ensuring that his people remain under his control. And if rumour begins to spread that a woman on the island has been cursed by the Seawomen, her fate is disastrous...
Chloe Timms captures the very essence of the sea and its power in such a beautiful, thrilling way that had me feeling like I'd been caught by the Seawomen myself! Her descriptions of the caves, harbours, and coves were so vividly detailed with sensory imagery that I became quickly engrossed in the world of the book. I could smell the brine and hear the gulls overhead! She was also great with writing characters and drawing out their development throughout the narrative, especially with Esta, the protagonist. Her transformation from the beginning to the end of the book was incredibly powerful and great to experience!
There are so many themes that are explored in 'The Seawomen' too - feminism, religion, freedom, female sexuality, fertility, mental health... and lots more.
If you're a fan of gothic fiction, dark fantasy, folklore, and feminism, you should definitely give 'The Seawomen' a read. It's Chloe Timms' debut novel and I can't wait to see what else she has in store! (Also I was super happy to see in her acknowledgements that she too was a fellow student of The Open University!)
Thank you NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Chloe Timms for the ARC - it was such a pleasure to read 'The Seawomen'!

Esta lives on a island called Eden's Isle. A heavily religious and controlled place which is ruled in fear of the outside world. Father Jessop teaches everyone to not only fear the water but the Seawomen who are said to live within it, and are the cause of everything insidious that happens on the island. Society on the island is corrupt and women are manipulated throughout their entire lives. If females don't comply with God's law and/or are accused of acting Godless, the punishment can be fatal.

For a first time author novel this is a good one. I intended to gradually read through the book but ended up reading it in one sitting because it was that good. I'm very interested in reading whatever books Choe Timms produces in the future, as she is firmly on my list of favourite authors now.

A wonderfully intriguing story with myths and fantasy mixed in. I enjoyed this book immensely, thanks for letting me review it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC to review. I adored this book, and I am on the hunt for a copy for my own bookshelf. It was a beautiful story that stayed with me after I finished it.

Really, really enjoyed this title and it was such a change to read a work where the twist wasn't that the alternative society we've become immersed in is actually just a self-isolating community existing in modern times! The characters were well-drawn and their struggles fully-realised. Definitely recommend.

An absolutely stunning read, for fans of Margaret Atwood, Koran Millwood Hargrave and MR Carey. Esta is a young girl living on a dour, religious island that is isolated from the rest of the world. It’s heavily implied this is in the near future, possibly after climate catastrophe or war, but the upshot is that this island is cut off and patriarchal. It gets darker as Esta grows up and starts to question the elders and traditions, particularly the way in which women who don’t get pregnant after marriage and the mysterious “seawomen” are the scapegoats for all problems. I loved the dark themes and the way the landscape was beautifully described. Esta is trapped in every way, on an island surrounded by literal fortifications, taboos against swimming, and stultifying traditions. There were shades of The Wicker Man and dour British horror, but with a tense plot and brilliant writing. I can’t recommend this enough for fans of dystopic fiction.

Wow I really loved this book. I’ve been waiting for a good dystopian book for ages so I was delighted to receive a copy from NetGalley. Atmospheric, eerie , full of tension, unbelievable in places yet believable. Went off on a tangent that took me totally by surprise (not a twist as such, just not what I was expecting!) Will be recommending this to all my friends who love this genre. Well done on a great novel

For some reason I didn't think this was a book about a cult going into it. But this is a very misogynistic cult that at times reminded me of The Handmaid's Tale. The treatment of women, how they are viewed as less than but also how they are thrown away essentially like broken toys if they don't produce a baby within a certain timeframe.

I found each character to be well built. Esta at times I felt her voice didn't change much as we see her age. But overall she was a strong character.
Father Jessop made me uncomfortable everytime he was around.
Barrett I just wanted better for.

I spent the whole book wanting Esta to escape. To be able to break free and save herself.
This world gave me the creeps.
While I think the length of this was perfect. With the ending giving just enough information to know the story isn't over. I just want a book two. I want to see the cult destroyed.

The writing was slow paced but for this it worked. There was enough happening at all times to keep me hooked. I just wanted to know what happened next. I still feel this way.

Thank you, Hodder & Stoughton and Hodder Studio for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Esta has known nothing but Eden's Isle, after a fire left scarred and orphaned. Raised by her grandmother in a deeply religious community, cut away from the mainland, Esta only knows this and the fears that rule everything: fear of the damnation, the outside world and of what lurks beneath the water, monsters called the Seawomen. Touching water means corruption and all their lives are ruled and controlled. Especially the women, who have to be married off and have a child in their first year or deemed cursed and cast into the sea. When she witnesses a woman's fate, Esta finds herself opening her eyes to her own future: a loveless marriage, a controlled life and she's not ready to renounce to her freedom forever.

The Seawomen is a powerful, raw and moving feminist story, with a fabulous writing style able to capture the reader's attention right away, with a brilliant and complex main character, willing to do anything to be herself and to be free. A dystopian fiction, with an atmospheric setting ruled by fears and rules and women's expectations, a powerful coming-of-age with a protagonist truly amazing and brave.
I truly loved everything in this book. It reminded a bit of The handmaid's tale, set in a cult where women are controlled and used for their own bodies. An enchanting and eerie read, realistic in its own way and totally recommended.

This was phenomenal. I finished it in two days and I’m still thinking about it now. Pitched as The Handmaid’s Tale x The Crucible x The Shape of Water, I knew I had to read this ASAP, so a massive thanks to the publishers for the chance to read and review this in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I only picked it up to read the first page to get a vibe, however I stayed with this long into the early hours as it just sucked me in. It’s incredibly atmospheric and the writing just flows. For a debut novel, it’s a testament to the author’s skills and I am very excited to see what else they publish in the future!

The characters were well fleshed out, there were some I absolutely despised and others I adored. I was rooting for our protagonist Esta the whole time. It was great to see her grow up and how certain events had altered her personality.

The plot was interesting, the ending is kind of ambiguous but I like to think it’s a happy ending. Major secrets were unravelled over time and I felt like they were realistic and believable. The romance aspect is slow and delivered over time which I think was great, you come to care for the characters and want them to be together.

❝I’d live on the land forever for you.❞

The setting was realistic, you could taste the salt in the air and hear the crashing waves, I loved it! The idea to isolate them on an island against the rest of the world was very smart, as it made the brainwashing tactics easier to believe.

I would definitely recommend this to fans who enjoyed The Handmaid’s Tale as this also takes women’s bodies and controls them via physical and mental methods.

❝She was breathless with rage. ‘How can it be about choice? None of us have a choice. All of us do things we don’t want to do. We shut our eyes and turn our heads and pray to God; we marry and we lie under men just to live another day… we turn away from watching the torment of girls we know have done nothing, because we know that if we don’t. we’ll be next.❞

I’ve highlighted so many parts of this book, here’s a particularly striking quote:

❝You never forget your first. You hope and pray it will be the last you ever see. You already know. Deep down. It’ll happen again and again and you will have to watch. The screaming, the waiting, watching her body tied down, the boat rocking and shunting, capsizing. Drowning. The point where you can see with your own eyes what it means to be a woman.❞

This was an incredible, thought-provoking and timely read that will stay with you long after you’ve finished the final page

5/5 stars.

Thank you to the publishers for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

It’s taking me a while to get round to this because I was in a reading slump but this definitely brought me out of it.

This story is a tale of men and religion and the horrible things they can do in the name of ‘god’, it’s about superstition, lies, cruelty and power. It’s about the treatment of women and family secrets.
A dark story of men in power.

I enjoyed this book a lot, seeing the character fight for what is right even if it is against everything she knows and will make her unsafe. This harrowing tale may have sea women and the idea of mermaids but the story is easily believable and feels real due to the content and the comparison with our own reality. Think witch hunts but mermaids.

What a read! This book is one of the best dystopian novels I’ve read for sometime up there for me with some of the best. This book for me was the perfect blend of The Handmaid’s Tale and the movie The Village with its tale of a life where women in society are controlled by men for breeding and its claustrophobic, dark and edgy atmosphere. The story telling in this book is perfect. I loved the language, and the pace of the story as it weaved its tale. This is most definitely a dystopian novel but I like the way the writing really creates a sense of good old fashioned folk lore with the creation of The Seawomen who have this mythical hold over the Island. This is a cracking achievement for a debut novel and I can’t wait to read what comes next.

In a Nutshell: An outstanding, if slow-paced, atmospheric dystopian fiction that depicts what control a misogynistic cult has over its island. Feminist, raw, provocative, brilliant for a debut work!

Story Synopsis:
Esta stays with her grandmother Sarl on the ironically named Eden’s Isle, an island that is cut off from all other places by choice. “Lording” over this island is the fanatical Father Jessop along with his ministers. They use a contorted version of the Bible and preach values especially to the women inhabitants. Prime in their sermons is the warning to stay away from the sea and its monstrous residents, the seawomen, who can pollute the female residents and use them to create havoc on the island by corrupting men. Married women are expected to conceive within twelve months of their “motherhood year” and if they fail to do so, they are sacrificed to the sea in a brutal act called the Untethering. Esta witnesses one such untethering as a child and her zealot grandma doesn’t miss any opportunity to remind her why she needs to follow the “Great Book.’ But when Esta gets the taste of freedom during one of her childhood adventures, she isn’t able to let go the lure of the sea. What lies in store for a rebellious girl on an island where the women aren’t free in any sense of the word?
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Esta.


Where the book worked for me:
😍 The characters, whether good or evil, are sketched so well. Be it Father Jessop - the wolf in sheep’s clothing, Sarl - the grandma who has a dark secret, Esta – struggling between mind and heart, or the various other secondary characters, most come clearly-defined. The sole exception would be the “Eldermothers” – I feel they were in the backdrop but never get a full-fledged role to play.
😍 Quite a lot of the book feels so real. There are many religious cults that brainwash their followers using distorted belief systems. This story nails this attitude perfectly. There are also some fictitious verses written in biblical format, with ominous names like “Beginnings” or “Flesh”, giving you enough of a clue about what the next section will contain.
😍 The writing is just as atmospheric as the story deserves. It gave me the creeps!
😍 If I have to sum up the book in one word, it won’t be “religion” or “dystopia” but “corruption.” Every person, every idea, every thought in the book has various levels of corruption. The Biblical adage of “Let who is without sin cast the first stone” has been corrupted into “Let’s commit the sin but cast stones on others.” This leads to a dark read with hardly a few moments of respite from the gloom. I loved the match of the writing with the dismal levels of humanity present in the story.
😍 Though the story is slow-paced in the initial quarter or so, the content kept me hooked. The pace increases steadily throughout the book and the final section is just captivating!
😍 Luckily for me, despite that alluring cover, I didn’t go into this book expecting fantasy. While there are some fantastical elements, the prime feel of the book is dystopian, and it does perfect justice to this genre.
😍 The ending. Just perfect. It reveals enough to know how things will go ahead without going overboard into explanations and neatly tied arcs. It is the ending that ensured the story stayed in mind long after the last page.

Where the book could have worked better for me:
😔 While I don’t mind foreshadowing in novels, I felt that the few instances of foreshadowing in this book spoiled my fun rather than intrigue me further. They felt almost like spoilers, which I hate with a vehemence.
😔 Esta’s voice needed more variation. While the book has her narration at various ages, she sounded the same to me throughout. There are clues to let us know whether she was 6 or 16, but as it’s a first person narration and not in flashback except for a couple of scenes, the voice should have matched the age.
😔 I think the cover creates very different expectations about the content of the book. I don’t want to go into spoilers but let’s just say it advertises something that isn’t the prime focus of the book.

All in all, despite the somewhat slow start, I relished this read. It held my attention from start to end, though there were many scenes that left me feeling claustrophobic. Much recommended, though it makes for very uncomfortable reading at times if you are a woman. I am definitely going to keep my eye out for future works by this young author.

4.5 stars. (I am going a little higher as this is an outstanding attempt for a debut and it captivated my attention all the way. For an established writer, I might have gone with 4.25 stars.)

Dear Chloe Timms, can we have a sequel please so that you-know-who gets their just desserts?

My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Seawomen”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thank you to the publisher Hodder and Stoughton and to NetGalley for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

What an absolutely incredible debut this was. Chloe Timms has written a stunning, powerful and dark feminist fantasy set entirely on an island apparently under attack from a group of mermaids known as the Seawomen. These Seawomen apparently corrupt women, and even looking too long at the sea can lead to a woman's downfall from God. The religious figure who leads the cult like mentality is terrifying from his first appearance, and as you grow more invested in Esta's story, the more sinister he becomes. The mood that Chloe Timms creates on Eden Island is as dark and oppressive as the lives of these women, all of who are made to feel corrupted by the sea if they show an independent thought.

I particularly loved Cal, the merman, and the journey he and Esta went on. Another highlight is Barrett, the old man who lives in the harbour who shows no fear of the sea (he actually broke my heart) The pacing was uneven on occasion, especially towards the end, and I felt like the last sections were rushed but I still loved this book. I'm so glad I got to read it.

Esta has been raised by her strict and disapproving grandmother on Eden's Isle since the fire that scarred her face and destroyed the rest of her family. And she tries to do everything that she is told - she prays, she stays away from the sea for fear that she will be lured into sin by the evil seawomen, and she attempts to make peace with her future as a dutiful wife and mother. But the sea calls to her...

'The Seawomen' has many elements that feel familiar - an isolated island setting, a repressive patriarchal society, a protagonist striving for freedom and self-determination, and yet this story has a mysterious magic of its own. A beautifully wild and invigorating voyage of a book - loved it!

I haven't been able to discover who the artist is but the cover design is absolutely gorgeous as well.

A really interesting combination of fantasy novel and cults! I couldn’t help but be frustrated by yet another society of women being gaslit and dominated by men, but Chloe Timms put it across in an incredibly compelling way.

Considering that the novel took place over a number of years, the pacing was good and we were able to follow Establish as she developed from a pious child to a young woman with her own ideas.

I liked that the ending was somewhat ambiguous - the reader is left to imagine whether the book has a happy or tragic ending.

Overall very enjoyable.

The Seawomen is quite simply magical.
This genre-bending story of Esta, trapped on ‘the island’ as part of a truly sinister religious cult is so atmospheric and beautifully written it’s almost hypnotic. The cult itself is both dark and highly-believable in turns, and has shades of the church which is then mixed in with the mystical sea people to make a rich and fulfilling universe.

Beauty - must read.

This book completely captured me from the get go! This was such an enchanting read, it was so well written, it was lyrical and teh characters were so interesting.

I cant rate this book highly enough, every one need to read it.