beelovesreading's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for granting me an arc.
The first thing I thought when I started reading Seawomen was that this was a book on cults. In a way that's exactly what it is. The inhabitants live on an Island called Eden's Isle and they have lived there for so long that the original name of the island is now lost to history. There are no records, nothing to say who or what lived on the island before Esta's people first landed there. Led by Father Jessop the inhabitants of Eden's Isle are led to believe that they must remain pure, devoted to God and not give into the temptation of the Seawomen. Creatures who live in the sea and would seek to bring death and destruction to their island.
The island is a highly misogynistic place to live. The men lead and the women are expected to do their part and breed children once the Eldermothers declare them fit to be mothers. In truth, the women are the ones to watch for, the ones who are more likely to give into temptation. If a calamity befalls the island it is the work of the Seawomen and whichever woman on the island whom they have enchanted. Once the woman is found it often leads to a process called the Untethering. A brutal act in which the woman is tied down and cast out to sea to drown. Esta's grandmother forces her to watch each one, to show her what happens to the faithless.
Despite all this Esta is still drawn to the sea in a way she can't describe and one fateful night, chased by a group of boys, she finds herself drowning in the very sea she's drawn to. What shocks her the most is when she's saved not by a seawoman, but a seaman called Cal. A budding ill-fated romance begins to form, which turns Esta's and Cal's whole lives upside down as they struggle to find a way to be together in a world where his very existence is taboo.
The first thing I thought when I started reading Seawomen was that this was a book on cults. In a way that's exactly what it is. The inhabitants live on an Island called Eden's Isle and they have lived there for so long that the original name of the island is now lost to history. There are no records, nothing to say who or what lived on the island before Esta's people first landed there. Led by Father Jessop the inhabitants of Eden's Isle are led to believe that they must remain pure, devoted to God and not give into the temptation of the Seawomen. Creatures who live in the sea and would seek to bring death and destruction to their island.
The island is a highly misogynistic place to live. The men lead and the women are expected to do their part and breed children once the Eldermothers declare them fit to be mothers. In truth, the women are the ones to watch for, the ones who are more likely to give into temptation. If a calamity befalls the island it is the work of the Seawomen and whichever woman on the island whom they have enchanted. Once the woman is found it often leads to a process called the Untethering. A brutal act in which the woman is tied down and cast out to sea to drown. Esta's grandmother forces her to watch each one, to show her what happens to the faithless.
Despite all this Esta is still drawn to the sea in a way she can't describe and one fateful night, chased by a group of boys, she finds herself drowning in the very sea she's drawn to. What shocks her the most is when she's saved not by a seawoman, but a seaman called Cal. A budding ill-fated romance begins to form, which turns Esta's and Cal's whole lives upside down as they struggle to find a way to be together in a world where his very existence is taboo.
antoniaward's review against another edition
3.0
Esta knows nothing beyond her isolated island: the sea, she is told by her religious elders, is dangerous. There, the Seawomen lurk, ready to corrupt the island’s women and lure them into evil ways. But when Esta herself spies a creature living in the water, nothing will ever be the same.
I enjoyed this book, although its slow pace was off-putting at times. It has a lot to say about religion and morality, and individual freedom. A thoughtful read, ideal for fans of Midnight Mass or The Scarlet Letter.
I enjoyed this book, although its slow pace was off-putting at times. It has a lot to say about religion and morality, and individual freedom. A thoughtful read, ideal for fans of Midnight Mass or The Scarlet Letter.
matildarhodes13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ruth_bookaddict's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
pandasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
The Seawomen | Chloe Timms
Pub date: 14/06/22
Genre: Fantasy fiction, dystopian fiction, feminist fiction, women's fiction
The Seawomen us the debut standalone by author, Chloe Timms.
The story follows Esta who has grown up on Eden Isle, a patriarchal religious based society which is cut off from the mainland. The islanders are raised in constant fear of the Seawomen, who are thought to be responsible for all bad events or actions occurring on the island. Esta begins to question everything she has known and believed about the island regime and her past.
This type of book is not my usual choice but I was drawn in by the beautiful cover and intriguing premise. It took me a little while to get into the story (I'll confess I started and put it down again around 3 times before being fully hooked and continued). The story is told from third person POV and the prose is intelligent and mature. The themes are difficult to read and I found myself feeling angry at events and the treatment of the characters. For me this is a sign of a good story, when I feel emotionally invested and engaged in the characters outcomes.
There are some fantasy elements but this isn't the main focus. I'd describe this more as a feminist or women's fiction. It has similarities in themes to The Handmaid's Tale.
I enjoyed this debut and feel this author is going places. I'll be keeping an eye out for other books she writes.
Thank you to Chloe Timms, the publisher and Netgalley for granting me an ARC of this book.
Pub date: 14/06/22
Genre: Fantasy fiction, dystopian fiction, feminist fiction, women's fiction
The Seawomen us the debut standalone by author, Chloe Timms.
The story follows Esta who has grown up on Eden Isle, a patriarchal religious based society which is cut off from the mainland. The islanders are raised in constant fear of the Seawomen, who are thought to be responsible for all bad events or actions occurring on the island. Esta begins to question everything she has known and believed about the island regime and her past.
This type of book is not my usual choice but I was drawn in by the beautiful cover and intriguing premise. It took me a little while to get into the story (I'll confess I started and put it down again around 3 times before being fully hooked and continued). The story is told from third person POV and the prose is intelligent and mature. The themes are difficult to read and I found myself feeling angry at events and the treatment of the characters. For me this is a sign of a good story, when I feel emotionally invested and engaged in the characters outcomes.
There are some fantasy elements but this isn't the main focus. I'd describe this more as a feminist or women's fiction. It has similarities in themes to The Handmaid's Tale.
I enjoyed this debut and feel this author is going places. I'll be keeping an eye out for other books she writes.
Thank you to Chloe Timms, the publisher and Netgalley for granting me an ARC of this book.
lmw_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
annabeller's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
chronicallyhanreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0