"A Spell for Drowning" by Rebecca Ferrier

 

"A Spell for Drowning" by Rebecca Ferrier is an enchanting historical fantasy debut steeped in Cornish folklore, sea creatures, ancient magic, and rebellious witches. Set in the late eighteenth century, it blends atmosphere and myth with character-driven storytelling. I love lore and was unfamiliar with Cornish folklore, so I eagerly dove into the book.

The story follows Kensa and her stepsister Elowen, who live in the village of Portscatho on the Cornish coast—a land full of superstition and myth. Kensa is the daughter of a feared sea smuggler who was hanged for his crimes. After his death, Kensa’s mother took a new partner, and from that union, Elowen was born.

Only four years separate the sisters, but their looks and personalities are quite different. Kensa is the firstborn—stubborn, outspoken, and, true to her name, born to be first. She's an outsider and unwelcome due to her parentage. Elowen is even-tempered, quiet, sweet, and well-liked.

When Kensa and Elowen come across a dying sea beast on the Cornish shore—the Morgawr—Kensa is quick to claim credit for the discovery, thus becoming the apprentice to Isolde, the local wise woman. To be a wise woman is to be alone—unmarried, childless, relied upon. Kensa prefers that, thinking she'll finally be accepted in the village, as wise women are respected and appreciated. The plot thickens when Isolde falls ill, and Kensa must contend with the sea god Bucka, the expectations of others, and the consequences of her choices and actions.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it interesting. It is very slow-paced, though, and the story really starts to evolve and escalate halfway through. This is definitely a character-driven book, and the author does a tremendous job capturing the personalities of her characters. I loved the way the relationships—especially between the sisters and other characters—were portrayed with great passion, but without being trite. The characters are well-developed, realistic, and mostly engaging.

Kensa irritated me at first with her unwise choices and lies, but she grew on me. She was quick to call out a lie but lied herself. She was self-absorbed and immature at the start, but she developed as the plot unfolded. Many times I wanted to shake her. Elowen was also stubborn and had her own secrets. Her value was often overlooked by others, and while the spotlight wasn’t always on her, her strength and wisdom were essential to the tale. I liked how they complemented each other and how their relationship developed.

I also appreciated the exploration of class, power, the expectations and limitations placed on women, grief, identity, and the desire for acceptance. In addition, I found the dark atmosphere and the lore surrounding the sea and the witches very compelling. The author’s writing has a nice rhythm that borders on poetic.

As I said, the real action begins in the second half. The first part is used to weave the background and prepare the ground for what comes next. The magic is gentle, and so is the slow-burn romance. The romance isn't a major part of the plot, and the author does a good job of keeping it in the background in favor of the main storyline.

The book is emotional and really spoke to something in me about relationships, self-worth, and choices. My only issue was that some parts dragged, especially due to the slow pace at the beginning. Still, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. It’s a standalone, but I would love to read more set in that world. The ending was satisfying—tying together the threads while still leaving room for a possible sequel. Fans of lore and intricate relationships who don’t mind a slow pace will enjoy it.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.  

* For more info about the book: "A Spell for Drowning" by Rebecca Ferrier