matildarhodes13's review
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
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 against another edition
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
chelsea_webster's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
_billehh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25