The blurb
A fearsome young woman stormsinger and pirate hunter join forces against a deathless pirate lord in this swashbuckling Jacobean adventure on the high-seas.
Launching the Winter Sea series, full of magic, betrayal and redemption, for readers of Adrienne Young, R. J. Barker and Naomi Novik
Mary Firth is a Stormsinger: a woman whose voice can still hurricanes and shatter armadas. Faced with servitude to pirate lord Silvanus Lirr, Mary offers her skills to his arch-rival in exchange for protection – and, more importantly, his help sending Lirr to a watery grave. But her new ally has a vendetta of his own, and Mary’s dreams are dark and full of ghistings, spectral creatures who inhabit the ancient forests of her homeland and the figureheads of ships.
Samuel Rosser is a disgraced naval officer serving aboard The Hart, an infamous privateer commissioned to bring Lirr to justice. He will stop at nothing to capture Lirr, restore his good name and reclaim the only thing that stands between himself and madness: a talisman stolen by Mary.
Finally, driven into the eternal ice at the limits of their world, Mary and Samuel must choose their loyalties and battle forces older and more powerful than the pirates who would make them slaves.
Come sail the Winter Sea, for action-packed, high-stakes adventures, rich characterisation and epic plots full of intrigue and betrayal.
The review
Dark Water Daughter is a delight.
I really mean that. It just swept me away from the very first page.
It features two main protagonists, both who have magical powers in a world filled with magic. It has been compared to The Pirates of the Caribbean, but I found it to be more magical than that. Another good comparison is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. It has that same gothic vibe. The magic is mysterious. Even those who possess it do not understand it fully.
I think almost anyone would like this book. It has adventure, pirates, a thread of romance (although I wouldn’t describe it as a romantasy), and a unique magic system that feels so believable.
The romance element is also romantic – which I want to add quite strongly as a massive positive. Much of the romantasy field at the minute feels more like eroticantasy. Not that I’m saying that’s wrong, but sometimes I read books marketed as romantasy and I feel that while lots of sex is happening that the actual romance part is missing. To this point, in terms of a romantasy comp, I feel this book is more akin to Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan.
The adventure element is perhaps the strongest feature of the book. We have vicious pirates, dastardly schemes, highwaymen, mages and weather witches. I adored the idea of the ghistwold and ghistings – although I won’t elaborate as I don’t want to spoil what they are.
I’ve read books by H.M. Long before – she is a fabulous writer. However, I would add, here she is at the top of her game. The prose is sublime, somehow moving at pace, while being descriptive and thoughtful. It has quite the cast and with such a tight plot, it will keep you gripped until the last page.
I loved everything about this book. Honestly, I cannot recommend enough.