Reviewed: March 20th, 2021
Release Date: September 4th, 2014
A mysterious castaway. A Scottish hero determined to protect her. Can they survive the storm?
Cast adrift on the Indian Ocean, Maria carries a terrible secret. Wherever she goes, death soon follows, and she’s powerless to prevent it.
William McGregor boarded the SS Trevessa in search of adventure, but he gets more than he bargained for when he saves the mysterious Maria from the sea. She can’t tell them her tragic tale, so the superstitious sailors make up their own stories – and some would sacrifice her to the waves to save themselves from the coming storm.
When the sharks start circling and the storm closes in, are sirens more than just a myth?
A story based on the tale of the Little Mermaid with a twist. When William MacGregor hauls Maria out of the sea, he has no idea who or what she is. Unable to understand English (or any other language come to that!), Maria is confused and out of place, and unable to enlighten him.
I got a little confused as to when this story was actually placed, thinking it was a fairytale in a fantastical world, but it references the Second World War, and radio communications, when I had an impression it was set much earlier than that to begin with.
Short chapters make this quite a quick read, and as the story progresses from setting the scene to the growing relationship between William and Maria, it begins to pick up the pace. The crew are suspicious and superstitious about having a woman onboard, and her inability to explain where she came from only causes more distrust.
A gentle story which does grow to have a bit a of a bite, in line with a fairytale retelling, not action packed, more focused on the characters and relationships which grow a bit heated eventually. Well written story, which is a very quick and easy read, leaving you wanting more, and wanting to know what happens next.
This is the first book in what is now a six book series. Carlton is a very prolific author, and this is the first novel I have read by her, and it was very enjoyable read. I just love the cover, the colours are gorgeous!
About the Author:
Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish. She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below. Sensationalist spin? No – Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all. Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world. The Ocean’s Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by the Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn’t leave her alone.
You can find out more here:
You can purchase the book here (Note: ebook was free when I downloaded it):
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback
Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback
Link book on Amazon Canada: eBook | Paperback
As an Amazon Affiliate, I may benefit from qualifying purchases.
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my book which is available in eBook or paperback: Sentinals Awaken. My second novel Sentinals Rising is currently on pre-order and releases March 17th 2021. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
Helen Garraway 