Description
'Utterly gripping' Karin Slaughter
'Impossible to put down' Booklist
'Undeniable, brilliantly written' Theodore Wheeler
'Thrilling' Lydia Kang
The 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 death and strangers, finally finding solace on board Sedna - full to the brim with supplies and an able crew - where Myra feels like she might be closer to finding Row than she has ever been. But to get to Row she will have to deceive everyone around her, betraying the trust of those she's come to love, and ask herself if she's willing to sacrifice everything and everyone for what might be nothing at all.
The most gripping debut you'll read this year
About the Author
Kassandra Montag is a poet and novelist. Her work has appeared in Mystery Weekly Magazine, Midwestern Gothic, and Prairie Schooner, among other literary journals. She has won the Plainsongs Award, New Year's Poet Award, and 1877 Award.
Reviews
'[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
Book Information
ISBN 9780008319595
Author Kassandra Montag
Format Paperback
Page Count 432
Imprint The Borough Press
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 300g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 27mm
