Description
Book SynopsisChildren think we make them, but we don't They come into the world and make us. They make us by breaking us first. Utterly gripping' Karin SlaughterImpossible to put down' BooklistUndeniable, brilliantly written' Theodore WheelerThrilling' Lydia KangThe world is mostly water when Pearl is born. The floods have left America a cluster of small islands with roving trade ships and raiders.Pearl knows little of her father Jacob and elder sister Row, who left her mother Myra when she was pregnant with her. Between them they make do, with Myra fishing and trading to make ends meet, travelling from island to island on Bird, the boat Myra's grandfather made before he died.Whilst their life is a tranquil one, Myra still aches for the daughter she once lost. When a chance encounter reveals that Row might still be alive, Myra packs up six-year-old Pearl and together they begin a dangerous voyage to The Valley, where rumours of violence and breeding ships run rampant.Along the way they encounter d
Trade Review‘[A] moving account of a mother’s love … By turns bleak and uplifting, this is a refreshingly original take on the dystopian post-apocalyptic subgenre’ Guardian
‘A searing, deeply moving story’ Daily Mail
‘Gripping’ Grazia
‘A soaring, brilliantly imagined novel about love and desperation, set in an astonishing new world that still feels utterly gripping and contemporary. Kassandra Montag is a visionary new talent!’ Karin Slaughter, Internationally bestselling author of The Last Widow
‘Gripping … Montag’s writing is excellent’ Financial Times
‘The searing, often brutal story of a mother’s terrifying quest to find her missing daughter in a post-apocalyptic world. Haunting and shocking’ Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish
‘A whirlwind of a novel’ Refinery29
‘Readers can expect adventure, suspense and harrowing tales on the high seas through this watery journey … Montag masters the art of investigating the intricacies of everyday life. Who can you trust? What will you risk? What is your definition of family? And how much will you sacrifice to protect the ones you love?’ Associated Press
‘Anchored by a complicated, compelling heroine, this gripping, speculative, high-seas adventure is impossible to put down’ Booklist Starred Review
‘An intriguing and innovative woman-centered swashbuckling quest narrative… A promising debut’ Publishers Weekly
‘Dynamic and inventive’ Prima
‘Debut novelist Montag manages to marry page-turning drama and emotional depth’ Kirkus
‘Gripping … An adventure rife with great peril and high emotional stakes, this postapocalyptic novel reads like a fast-paced screenplay: intense, visceral, and relentless’ Library Journal
