A superb sequel to 'Orphans of the Tide' leaving things set up wonderfully for a third.

The story picks up with Ellie and Seth, straight after their escape from the City, as they are travelling across the sea. Eventually, they discover 'Shipwreck Island' and its inhabitants - initially very suspicious of the new arrivals. Seth fits in immediately with his superb "fishing skills" but Ellie finds it a little trickier.

Over the story, we see Ellie struggle with seeing Seth become popular, struggle to find purpose on the new island and struggle to build friendships. Until she meets Loren and Kate. From there, the story takes a series of twists and turns, as we see Ellie unravel the truth behind 'Shipwreck Island'.

This is a superb book and a must for those who enjoyed 'Orphans of the Tide'.

Struan Murray does not disappoint with this sequel to his brilliant debut novel, Orphans of the Tide. Full of twists, turns, suspense, drama, dilemma and humour, readers are left wanting more and more with this page turning tale of Ellie, an Inventor, and her friend (who is also a sea god) Seth. Both lighter and darker than it’s predecessor, Shipwreck Island is the creme de la creme of MG fantasy writing. I cannot wait to read the third!

I had wanted to read Orphans of the Tide last year, but hadn't had time (so many books!), so when this popped up for request whilst I was furloughed from work, I thought I would try it, even though I knew it is a sequel. The fact that I had not read the first book did not spoil my enjoyment at all. I could not put this down. The characters and plotting are wonderful. There is a lot of action, but also some funny moments too, mostly featuring the 12 year old innkeeper Molworth. Action packed and with an ending that makes you wish the third book was out already, I cannot recommend this highly enough. (I immediately bought and read the first book upon finishing this. Equally magnificent!!)

I preferred it to the first book, I do wonder if you might be very confused if you had never read the first book, so I would suggest reading the first before starting this.

It continues where book 1 ends, we end up on a new Island with a different history. I love how the story is revealed chapter by chapter with twists and turns everywhere. Very much "unputdownable"!

I was a big fan of the atmospheric, moody vibes that were woven throughout Orphans of the Tide. This second instalment was recommended to me as even darker and more enjoyable than the first. I agree that the ending lives up to that description, and the twist in friendship and power at the end does make me curious about how the story will carry on in the next volume.

However, I missed the sea-soaked, atmospheric vibes and clear direction of the first book. The objectives and direction of the characters felt discombobulated (as perhaps is realistic considering their huge change of circumstance) and lower stakes throughout this story. I'd consider picking up the next in the series when it arrives, but in the meantime, I felt mostly disappointed for the characters I'd come to love from Orphans of the Tide.

Would I recommend reading it? Yeah, I would. But so far, my big ups remain with volume one and the world-building established there.

Having discovered Orphans of the Tide during lockdown last year, and absolutely loved it, there was no way that a sequel could live up to the original. I was wrong. Shipwreck Island is a fantastic book which continues Struan Murray's masterpiece.

The setting of Shipwreck Island, building on the mention of Arks from Peter and Claude's manuscript in the first book, is a gorgeous backdrop for this story. It is lovely to take Seth and Ellie to a nicer setting; however, the sunshine and calm waters don't at all lessen the evil that lurks around every corner.

Without posting any spoilers, the twists and turns in Shipwreck Island gave me the same feeling as (what I can only describe as) "that moment" in the first book. Be prepared to second-guess every character you meet - just like in the first one - and be prepared to change the way you see events from the original story.

Struan continues to manage to close almost every chapter with a devastating final line. This is a book which needs to be read aloud.

What a book! What an ending! The sequel cannot come soon enough: I need some kind of closure.

I have NOTHING to say but oh my goodness. This is absolutely phenomenal. Just let me pick my jaw up off the floor good. THAT ENDING. Seth! Ellie! The new friends! The sea! So many unanswered questions; so much I need to know. This is jam-packed brilliance. So many twists and turns. So many new friends and old nemeses coming to join the party. I totally didn’t see this going the way it did. There’s very much a ‘two sides of coin’ going on here and I loved every second of it. I do NOT want to have to wait for book 3!

This was a really good sequel, it was action packed all the way through and while I love the characters we already know the new ones were also very interesting. I especially liked Viola, she was fun and took no rubbish. Kate, the Queen and the palace politics were really interesting.

That cliffhanger ending was such a killer though! Book 3 cannot come fast enough.

Struan Murray's Shipwreck Island is a fantastic second instalment in this epic middle grade adventure.

Ellie and Seth have escaped the city, but that doesn't mean they have escaped the dangers it contains, or the Enemy himself. Their journey to a new island brings a new divinity and new challenges to overcome.

On Shipwreck Island they find hunger, unrest and a goddess with the power to spark life, and perhaps destroy the Enemy for good, in the body of a young queen. Ellie and Seth make new friends and new enemies, but there are also old secrets to be uncovered. Secrets which may change the face of their world forever.

There is a lot of tension in this novel - plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments as you wonder whether Ellie will give into the Enemy's persuasions. It is fast-paced and packed full of action.

I love Seth and Ellie's friendship. It has its ups and downs, but they are always there for each other. Woven throughout the action and adventure of Shipwreck Island is a story of what friendship means and how you can support those you care about.

As in book one, Manuel Šumberac's illustrations are unforgettable and help bring some of the most magical moments in this novel to life.

I was provided with an advanced copy of Shipwreck Island for review on NetGalley.

The challenge for a sequel with such an outstanding predecessor, is undoubtedly whether it can live up to people’s expectations. Orphans of the Tide is one of my favourite books of 2020 and I can firmly say that Shipwreck Island does not disappoint. Struan Murray has once again crafted a magnificent adventure, encompassing themes of trust, relationships, guilt and power.

The story begins as Ellie and Seth have escaped the city, hoping to find freedom and peace. After 3 months of travelling across the ocean on a raft, they arrive at Shipwreck Island. The two are in fear of revealing their past and desperately want to fit in amongst the islanders, to escape the city’s Inquisitors and the demons who threaten their existence and everything they care about.

The island is ruled by a beloved, mysterious, Queen and Ellie is determined to get close to Her and uncover the secrets within the palace walls. Whilst there is darkness, there is also humour brought to the story in the form of the character Molworth, a 12 year old pub landlord!

So enthralling is the development and depth of the characters. As in Orphans of the Tide, diary chapters are woven into the book, whereby more is learnt about the past and in turn a greater understanding of the present. Vivid descriptions of the settings form colourful images bringing the reader even deeper into the story.

Shipwreck Island is gripping, with wonderful twists and turns to the tale. Struan Murray has created a plot rich in layers, intrigue and suspense. A must-read and one that will leave readers on the edge of their seat, eager to know what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children’s UK for the opportunity to read Shipwreck Island by Struan Murray in advance of its publication.

My almost 11 yr old son snatched my kindle and raced off to read this. He absolutely LOVED it. He re-read it 4 times in a week and is still raving about it. He hadn’t read book 1 [Orphans of the Tide] so we bought that and he read the two books over the weekend.
Still raving. About this books and the author Struan Murray

I let the son's opinion stand as a full review, with no spoilers, just joy at a fabulous read!
Thanks very much to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

Having read Orphans of the Tide and knowing what a totally unpredictable twist occurred in that, I was ready this time! Ready for the twist that was so sure to come in this sequel….BUT…I was not!!! Not ready for that one at all! Struan Murray, you have done it again! What an awesome and inspiring author you are! I can’t wait for book three!

Ellie and Seth finally arrive on a tropical island after crossing a vast ocean. Escaping from the city after feigning her own death, Ellie Lancaster is now Ellie Stonwall. Upon arrival, Seth and Ellie meet Janssen (local fisherman) and his daughter, Viola (sailor – the same age as Ellie). Seth is the one getting all the attention, which makes Ellie a little jealous.

Shipwreck Island introduces some new characters – Molworth (12-year-old, grumpy, cynical owner of the pub known as The Vile Oak) is my favourite. We also meet the Queen and Loren (I will let you find out about him for yourselves!), and then there is Altimus Ashenholme!!!!! Leila, and her diary, take you back to the time when the Ark crashed onto the island. Other familiar characters from the first book such as the brutal Inquisitor, Hargrath, also make an appearance.

A truly exceptional book from a truly exceptional author!

From Good Reads:
An equally great sequel to Orphans of the Tide.
Ellie and Seth find themselves a new home on an island ruled by a mysterious queen.
Our heroes quickly get involved in trying to save the island from starvation with absolutely loads of adventures along the way.
Some familiar characters and some cracking new ones (Molworth, the boy innkeeper, is inspired)
Light, dark, good, evil, jealousy, friendship, heartache, joy - all there to get our teeth into.
More please - quickly!

Shipwreck island was a twisting, turning adventure with a suprise around every corner that made an amazing sequel to orphans of the tide and carried on the story brilliantly even if you havent read orphans of the tide then it makes an amazing standalone novel. The charachters are well thought out, complex and intriguing.
thankyou for letting me read such a magical tale.

Having a copy of Shipwreck Island prompted me to re-read Orphans of the Tide and I was so glad I did. Having the memories firmly etched in my mind about Seth’s arrival, his friendship with Ellie and their powers helped me to invest more in there story.

This was no longer a novel but an extension of a fantastic legend, of characters brought to life and of a curse needing to be exorcised. It was no longer just a book but something that was needed in my life, like air or water. I needed to see where they ended up.

Arriving on Shipwreck Island, I have high hopes, not wishes for Seth and Ellie. Hope that they will find peace, rest and answers. Hope that they will find food, warmth and a welcome. In truth, they find these things but they also find trouble, a political struggle and an old foe!

This is an utterly compelling, enchanting read, leading us on a tour of the island with its varying inhabitants, some loyal to the Queen and others wanting a revolution. Seth and Ellie will need to trust each other as they learn to trust their new home and friends. Are all who they seem or has The Enemy been playing his old tricks again?

Told with a dual narrative between our current story and one of Leila, a young girl aboard the Ark during the drowning centuries before. She too encounters her own boy in a whale and learns who he is and what he is capable of. The links between the stories serves as a way of understanding what needs to happen in order for the world and Seth to survive.

Another cliff hanging ending lends itself beautifully to a third in the series. Simply brilliant and worthy of all the hype surrounding it!

Shipwreck Island had me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I loved the new characters and how they fitted in with Ellie and Seth. The exploration of the Gods, Vessels and story-lore. I was completely astonished by the ending. Definitely a book that you stay up late finishing because it's so good you can't put it down!

It has been a couple of weeks since I actually read Shipwreck Island and I have needed that time to fully appreciate what I have read. I loved Orphans of the Tide; in fact it was my favourite book from last year (and one of my favourite books of all time). I also had the joy of reading it to my class in the autumn term and seeing their excitement and shock at various moments in the book (chapter 15!). It caused a lot of book buzz which was brilliant to see.


So it was with some trepidation that I started reading Shipwreck Island. Could it do justice to such a brilliant predecessor? Or would I get that feeling I have sometimes had when listening to that 'difficult' second album by a band I have loved? Well my first feeling as I delved into the book was relief: it was good. The relief slowly turned to excitement as I got further and further into the story and found I couldn't put it down: It wasn't just 'good' it was 'great' and at least on a par with Orphans of the Tide (and possibly even better!).


The story picks up shortly after Orphans of the Tide finished and we find Ellie and Seth in a boat heading towards what they hope will be another island. Soon enough they find 'Shipwreck Island' and are taken by the unfamiliar friendliness of the place. There welcome is a real contrast to 'The City'. As the story goes I enjoyed seeing a new location and enjoyed finding out more about the past of the island. One of my favourite parts of Orphans was Hestemayer's diary which added to the mystery and build intrigue into the main story. Here Struan Murray uses the same device by including another diary, this time someone called Leila who was a passenger on one of the ark ships at the time when the world had been flooded. I loved this and it allowed us a glimpse into the past of this strange flooded world.


I don't want to go into the story too much because just like Orphans of the Tide I think it is probably more enjoyable if you don't know much before reading. What I will say though is that this book is full of twists and turns and unexpected events that surprise and delight, even more so than Orphans. The story is perfectly paced in my opinion, initially drawing your attention to the differences in Shipwreck Island and then expertly drawing you into mystery and intrigue and finishing at a rapid pace after falling headlong into another fantastic adventure.


There is a new array of characters to get to know as well (as well as getting to know some familiar ones in more detail) and there are some very entertaining scenes between this new selection of people that Ellie finds herself surrounded by. I particularly liked Molworth who is the child owner of the pub that Ellie and Seth stay at. He adds just the right level of comedic lightness to the story.


I loved this story, and I hope others will feel the same way. It is definitely not the 'difficult' second album, more the crowning glory that builds on a brilliant debut and shows that here is a writer of rare skill that will hopefully go on to delight and entertain us for years to come. There is only one thing I found frustrating about Shipwreck Island and that is the ending. I won't spoil the book by telling you anything about the ending-it is dramatic on a cinematic level and is brilliant, but the frustration comes from the feeling I got when I got there: I wanted more. I wanted to read on and on and not stop this adventure I had become so engaged in. The frustration comes from the feeling that I will have to wait for book 3. Struan Murray you are a brilliant writer but by writing such a brilliant second book you have pulled a cruel trick in your readers. I want to know what happens next. I want book 3 now!

I was blown away by Orphans of the Tide so I couldn't wait to read this sequel. Just like its predecessor, I tore through Shipwreck Island and loved every twist and turn.
After fleeing the City and surviving the endless sea on their tiny raft for three months, Ellie and Seth finally come across land - Shipwreck Island. Here they discover a wondrous 'land of music and colour' and they soon hear about a mysterious Queen who presides over the island. Will their new home be everything they have hoped for? Can they finally escape the dangers they have fled or will their past catch up with them?
Once again, the characterisation is excellent, and with the introduction of new characters we see the relationship and dynamics between Seth and Ellie develop further. Struan Murray's world-building is masterful and, by the end, I really felt like I'd been to the island myself. There is also the added bonus of a detailed map of the island, along with beautiful illustrations by Manuel Sumberac.
I cannot recommend this highly enough and can't wait for the next one. I am so excited to share this with my Year 5/6 pupils and I know it will be another massive hit.

Phew! What. An. Ending. Or not! Without giving too much away, at the end of the book I was stunned that Struan could end the book in this way - as equally as scintillating as frustrating! I absolutely cannot wait for book 3 now.

I was a huge fan of Orphans of the Tide but I think I enjoyed Shipwreck even more. The contrast between the bleak City of the first book and the vibrancy of the new island was a welcome change. The additional new characters (Molworth, the grumpy pub landlord was a particular delight) really enhanced the continuing storyline of Ellie and Seth's quest for freedom without taking away from their complicated relationship with each other and themselves.

The visuals in Shipwreck Island were cinematic. Ellie and Seth's world is pure escapism and one I can't wait to explore with them again. Did I mention I can't wait for book 3? I will wholeheartedly be recommending this to children in my school. Adventurous, thrilling, complicated, gripping.

Shipwreck Island continues the story of Ellie and Seth. They had left The City on a boat and were looking for somewhere to set up home. After a few false starts, they end up on Shipwreck Island. Seth immediately makes friends and is able to assist the fishermen and sailors with his ability to ‘read’ the sea. Ellie, due to her brashness, unsurprisingly, struggled. Eventually, she found herself in jail, awaiting execution, unless she could invent something that would impress the queen. She finds out secrets about the queen that both surprise and excite her..

She then is helped by and befriends the mysterious Kate. The journey that she has with Kate is full of amazing twists and turns that I couldn’t predict. And then the ending … I am not going to spoil the story but, wow … the ending was amazing.

Like the original, the characters were amazing, the plot was stunning and original and the intrigue held my attention so much that I literally couldn’t stop reading. I did have to go back to OotT to recap a couple of things but I didn’t mind that as it reminded me of the brilliance of the original.