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.

An old wives’ tale ★★★★☆

Eden’s Isle is a special place, a safe haven from the corrupted outside lands and the dangerous mermaids in the surrounding waters. The rules are simple: women must keep away from the sea and bear a child before the end of their appointed mother year. Any woman fixated by the sea or unable to have a child in the alloted time must be one of the evil seawomen and must be punished or even drowned….

Growing up on Eden’s Isle in the mysterious shadows of her parent’s deaths, Esta tries to please her devout grandmother and mould herself to the island’s ways. Yet one day she sees something impossible in the water and her life is changed forever. As marriage and motherhood loom large in her future, Esta must succumb to the rigid rules of the island or risk her reputation and her life.

The culture of the island is chilling as women and their bodies are controlled and policed – by men and by each other – and misogyny is mixed with myth and lies. Any slight transgression sparks fear and quickly descends into a witch hunt. Which is worse: the creatures of the sea or the cruelty and control on land?

Dystopia with a dash of fantasy and mythology. For fans of The Wicker Man, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and Gather the Daughters by Jennie Malamed.

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.

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.

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.

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.