"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

"The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu" by Mindy Hung

 

"The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu" by Mindy Hung is a slow-burn magical realism novel following the lives of three generations of women in Canada: a grandmother, a mother, and a granddaughter. The story is told from the first-person perspective of Leeann Wu.

Leeann Wu is a single mother, a midwife, and the daughter of a strict single mother—an ob-gyn doctor. At 41, she finds herself at a crossroads. Her only daughter is heading off to university in a few months, and loneliness looms. On top of that, her hands have started glowing at the most inconvenient times—whether it's from stress or peri-menopause symptoms is unclear. The truth turns out to be even stranger: she is part of a long line of women who possess a unique power. She also begins seeing a man eleven years younger than her, though the age gap preys on her mind.

Her relationship with her mother has never been smooth; her mother disapproves of many of her life choices and continues to hound her about them. Meanwhile, her daughter is worried about her and has a few opinions of her own about Leeann’s love life.

All three women must come to terms with their Taiwanese magical heritage and what it means. The plot thickens as widespread insomnia begins to plague the town, and life-threatening accidents pile up—forcing Leeann to question whether she is the solution or the problem.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It's more about interpersonal relationships—mother, daughter, granddaughter—and their roots than it is about magic. It’s very slow-paced, with little external action until halfway through, when the heroine begins to discover her own powers. I liked the way the story wove surreal elements into the plot and explored emotional depth, though.

Leeann Wu is a strong heroine, even if she doesn’t see herself that way. Forced to quit medical school when she became pregnant, she forged her own path in life—in another vocation, to her mother’s dismay. I also liked Kenji, the younger man she dates—his calm, grounded presence and quiet support add warmth and depth to their dynamic. The strength of the book lies in the writing and the author’s ability to inhabit her characters. There are struggles, dilemmas, and even love.

It’s a slice-of-life type story with a few sex scenes thrown in for good measure. The book explores culture, belonging, loneliness, the power of connection, empty nest syndrome, choices, age gaps in relationships, family ties, and the need to be true to yourself rather than bending to others' expectations. I also loved the message that one doesn’t need magic to be special.

While I loved the concept of a woman discovering her own powers, the execution fell a bit short for me. It’s more of a personal journey of self-discovery than a fantasy. A gentle book with a focus on characters, not plot. The fantasy lurks in the background and only occasionally peeks through. The reading experience was slow, and I didn’t feel an urge to rush back to it.

That said, it’s a thought-provoking book about relationships, choices, family, and finding love—which I did enjoy despite its flaws. I also appreciated that the main characters aren’t white—a refreshing change. I recommend it to fans of magical realism who focus more on character than plot and don’t mind a slow pace.

In the end, this isn’t a book that dazzles, but one that lingers quietly—like a slow-burning ember of connection, heritage, and self-worth.

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

* For more info about the book: "The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu" by Mindy Hung