I walked into Fear the Drowning Deep with a significant amount of hesitation and apprehension. I thought I would write off the novel as another unfinished read – similar to all the other historical stories I’ve read prior to it. I was wrong. Not only is Fear the Drowning Deep the first historical fiction novel I actually finished reading, but it is also the first one I found myself immensely enjoying!

What I adored the most about Fear the Drowning Deep was learning about the Manx culture and history as I turned the pages. I easily fell in love with the culturally rich setting and the prevalent sense of community and history. The Isle’s ancient superstitions and folklore played an enormous role to the story; it genuinely astounded me to witness all these parts tie together quite wonderfully.

Essentially, Marsh’s writing style reminded me of the dynamic yet controlled motion of the sea: a continuous, rhythmic wave that hits the shore in different speeds and forces, but collectively comes across as smooth, natural and effortlessly easy to get myself immersed in. While I would not go so far as to call this as a new favorite, Fear the Drowning Deep is definitely a historical fiction novel I would not mind rereading. Kudos to Sarah Marsh for a gorgeously evocative debut!