Tidespeaker

Tidespeaker is a deliciously gothic, fantasy fiction thriller set in a fractured world ruled by the Hundred - aristocratic families who have harnessed the power of the Orha. A people blessed with ancient, elemental gifts, the Orha were deemed a danger to the noble families of Nemestra. Now bound by laconite and made to work for the Hundred houses, they exist as 'sets'; accessories to wealthy families and bound to do their will.

Corith is a floodmouth, ultimately able to control tides and water sources. Although trained at Arbenhaw, an elite magic institution, she is stunned and unprepared when she is plucked from her studies to work for the House of Shearwater. Out of her depth in more ways than one, Corith realises that the family is a hotbed of secrets - most of them dangerous. When she tries to uncover the fate of her best friend and the family's former floodmouth, Corith stumbles into a web of plots and intrigue. Always at the risk of exposure, she determines to uncover the Shearwater secrets - no matter what the cost.

Evocative, atmospheric and full of tension, this is certainly not generic romantasy fiction. Corith manages to be relatably flawed but courageous, battling her inner demons and never entirely sure whose side she is on. Competing factions, questionable loyalties and myriad injustices keep the reader guessing and invested until the end. A twisty page-turner that hooks the reader from page one - this seems like the start of a fantastically engaging series. 

384 pages / Reviewed by Clare Wilkins, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 14+