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Daughters of the Wreckage: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26A woman searching for answers in her own life finds them--and much more--in the wreckage and haunting stories of one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.
Shortly before Christmas in 2018, Tess McCarthy, after years as a hard-working English teacher who never did anything out of the ordinary, flies to Western Australia's remote Abrolhos Islands. She is in search of answers--both to the infamous Batavia shipwreck and her personal family crises.
Amsterdam, 1628. Saskia, an orphaned young Dutchwoman, boards Batavia with relatives, bound for a new and potentially dangerous life in the East Indies--only for her world to first collide with Aris Jansz, the ship's taciturn under surgeon.
Tess, Saskia, and Aris--their lives linked by secrets that span generations--carry the baggage of past losses and the uncertainty of their futures. And, in the most unlikely circumstances, they may find qualities that echo through faith, acceptance, and love.
Shortly before Christmas in 2018, Tess McCarthy, after years as a hard-working English teacher who never did anything out of the ordinary, flies to Western Australia's remote Abrolhos Islands. She is in search of answers--both to the infamous Batavia shipwreck and her personal family crises.
Amsterdam, 1628. Saskia, an orphaned young Dutchwoman, boards Batavia with relatives, bound for a new and potentially dangerous life in the East Indies--only for her world to first collide with Aris Jansz, the ship's taciturn under surgeon.
Tess, Saskia, and Aris--their lives linked by secrets that span generations--carry the baggage of past losses and the uncertainty of their futures. And, in the most unlikely circumstances, they may find qualities that echo through faith, acceptance, and love.
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 15, 2026
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72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 6, 2026
What an interesting story from the history of Australia and The Netherlands. I knew nothing about the wreck of Batavia in the 1600s. The author warned about the horrors to come in Tess’s chapters and I almost stopped reading. But I was invested in Saskia, Aris and Lucretia’s stories and kept reading. Aside from the violence of the mutineers after the Batavia wrecked on the reef, I liked the story. I really liked Saskia, Aris, Lucretia and even the aunt. I liked a couple of the women that Saskia befriended in the lowest quarters of the ship. One of the women turned out to be part of a mystery at the end, that still has me questioning. Tess was not very likable—I don’t think she was supposed to be, though. She was in a rough place of grief.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
March 14, 2026
The story of the Batavia shipwreck and the fate of the survivors was interesting although gruesome. The cast of characters abroad the ship were quite the variety and contributed to the historical significance of this fated journey. The modern part of the book with Tess searching for her connection to a passenger on this ship was less engaging .
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone captivated by historical fiction, fascinated by maritime history, or inspired by powerful stories of resilience. Daughters of the Wreckage is a rerelease of Stephanie Koens’s award-winning debut novel, Daughters of Batavia, which was originally published in Australia. The story unfolds across two timelines: in 2018, as Tess journeys to the Abrolhos Islands off the coast of Western Australia to research the infamous 1629 Batavia shipwreck, and in 1629, following Saskia and Aris as they endure the disaster firsthand. The three different perspectives recount the harrowing historical events surrounding the shipwreck and its tragic aftermath filled with mutiny, murder, and mayhem. Woven throughout the story are themes of resilience and personal recovery after tragic loss, alongside the hope that tomorrow brings better days. From a historian’s perspective- the story is masterfully researched and rich with detail, offering curious readers opportunities for further research. Koens provides a thorough Author’s Note at the end of the book detailing her source material and research institutions.
Although the story was captivating, much of the 1629 action occurs “off screen,” which kept the reader at a safe distance when dealing with themes of sexual assault and murder. However, that distance weakened the interpersonal storylines, leaving them less impactful. That said, a surprise revealed at the end of the book had me immediately flipping back and rereading scenes with a shifted perception.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the hours it inspired me to spend further reading about the Batavia shipwreck and its fascinating history.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, Stefanie Koens, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
#DaughtersoftheWreckage #NetGalley
Although the story was captivating, much of the 1629 action occurs “off screen,” which kept the reader at a safe distance when dealing with themes of sexual assault and murder. However, that distance weakened the interpersonal storylines, leaving them less impactful. That said, a surprise revealed at the end of the book had me immediately flipping back and rereading scenes with a shifted perception.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the hours it inspired me to spend further reading about the Batavia shipwreck and its fascinating history.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, Stefanie Koens, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
#DaughtersoftheWreckage #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Daughters of the Wreckage-A Novel by Stefanie Koens
Review by Shirley W. 3-15-26
There are 400 years of mysteries and questions that link two women. Tess McCarthy, an English teacher in present time, goes to western Australia’s Abrolhos Islands, after her father passes. Tess saw his paperwork on his desk about her mother’s ancestor who died in the shipwreck of the Batavia in 1628. His name is Aris Jansz and Tess is curious.
In 1628, Saskia, an orphaned young Dutchwoman, boards the ship Batavia with relatives-aunt Margareta, her uncle & cousin. The ship is filled with various levels of sailors, soldiers, and travelers. Such a long journey involves various friendships, classes of travelers, rivalry, and long days and nights of boredom on the sailing ship. Saskia and her cousin enjoy exploring the ship. They meet Aris Jansz, an under surgeon to Franz, the master surgeon, who are both on the journey. A blooming friendship is happening between Aris and Saskia.
Unfortunately, the ship is blown onto the shallow reefs at night. Much chaos and fear occurs as people are separated, drown and find a lifeboat to slowly take them to the reef. Not much food or shelter is available. Different factions cause distress and mutiny.
Tess decided to investigate the scientists that work on the reef looking for answers about the survivors. Artifacts are found that give partial answers.
Author, Stefanie Koens’ historic and well documented story unfolds giving each woman equal time explaining how the events might have happened. A very interesting and eye-opening attempts to survive.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel based on facts. I received a complimentary copy of this book.
Thank you, Thomas Nelson for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review by Shirley W. 3-15-26
There are 400 years of mysteries and questions that link two women. Tess McCarthy, an English teacher in present time, goes to western Australia’s Abrolhos Islands, after her father passes. Tess saw his paperwork on his desk about her mother’s ancestor who died in the shipwreck of the Batavia in 1628. His name is Aris Jansz and Tess is curious.
In 1628, Saskia, an orphaned young Dutchwoman, boards the ship Batavia with relatives-aunt Margareta, her uncle & cousin. The ship is filled with various levels of sailors, soldiers, and travelers. Such a long journey involves various friendships, classes of travelers, rivalry, and long days and nights of boredom on the sailing ship. Saskia and her cousin enjoy exploring the ship. They meet Aris Jansz, an under surgeon to Franz, the master surgeon, who are both on the journey. A blooming friendship is happening between Aris and Saskia.
Unfortunately, the ship is blown onto the shallow reefs at night. Much chaos and fear occurs as people are separated, drown and find a lifeboat to slowly take them to the reef. Not much food or shelter is available. Different factions cause distress and mutiny.
Tess decided to investigate the scientists that work on the reef looking for answers about the survivors. Artifacts are found that give partial answers.
Author, Stefanie Koens’ historic and well documented story unfolds giving each woman equal time explaining how the events might have happened. A very interesting and eye-opening attempts to survive.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel based on facts. I received a complimentary copy of this book.
Thank you, Thomas Nelson for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Daughters of the Wreckage by Stefanie Koens is my favourite kind of novel - a dual‑timeline historical story that immerses me in a time and place I knew little about, while slowly revealing the connection between two compelling characters across the centuries. A particular positive is that it avoids the overused device of “finds a diary and reads a couple of entries before dinner” to move between timelines!
I had never heard of the harrowing true events surrounding the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia, or the coral reefs of the Abrolhos, islands off Western Australia, where she was wrecked almost 400 years ago, before facing further tragedy and death in a mutiny of survivors.
Both female leads, 17th‑century Saskia and 21st‑century Tess, carry painful histories of loss and grief, and both begin the story wary and guarded around their potential romantic counterparts, Aris and Drew.
Saskia’s chapters are narrated in third person, while Tess’s are told in first person. I’m still pondering what the author intended by that choice, perhaps emotional distance, or just the way each woman’s story is meant to be experienced.
While the book ends with unanswered questions, it was exceptionally well researched and written, and extremely satisfying.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I had never heard of the harrowing true events surrounding the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia, or the coral reefs of the Abrolhos, islands off Western Australia, where she was wrecked almost 400 years ago, before facing further tragedy and death in a mutiny of survivors.
Both female leads, 17th‑century Saskia and 21st‑century Tess, carry painful histories of loss and grief, and both begin the story wary and guarded around their potential romantic counterparts, Aris and Drew.
Saskia’s chapters are narrated in third person, while Tess’s are told in first person. I’m still pondering what the author intended by that choice, perhaps emotional distance, or just the way each woman’s story is meant to be experienced.
While the book ends with unanswered questions, it was exceptionally well researched and written, and extremely satisfying.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 8, 2026
🌟 “What happened to them isn’t considered a crime anymore, it’s just history.”
Prior to picking up this book, I had never heard of the Batavia shipwreck. What an incredibly fascinating (and horrifying) story. The novel introduces us to real people who endured the mutiny that followed the wreck of the ship Batavia on its journey.
The sheer evil men are capable of was deeply disheartening to read about, as was the fragility of human life and humanity during that particular period of history. That era never fails to blow my mind.
Jeronimus Cornelis — one of the ships biggest villains — was truly savage.
The story follows Tess, a descendant of Aris, one of the ship’s surgeons, as she works to complete an article her late father began. The narrative moves back and forth between Tess’s present day perspective, Aris’s experience, and that of a young woman named Saskia, working to gradually reveal the treachery that unfolded on the Abrolhos Islands all those years ago.
Overall, this was a quick and engaging historical fiction read that delivered a compelling story without being overly emotionally heavy.
I did hop on YouTube and watch some videos on the wreckage site and where they were confined— CRAZY. I love being able to research what I’m reading.
Thank you @netgalley for the ARC!
Prior to picking up this book, I had never heard of the Batavia shipwreck. What an incredibly fascinating (and horrifying) story. The novel introduces us to real people who endured the mutiny that followed the wreck of the ship Batavia on its journey.
The sheer evil men are capable of was deeply disheartening to read about, as was the fragility of human life and humanity during that particular period of history. That era never fails to blow my mind.
Jeronimus Cornelis — one of the ships biggest villains — was truly savage.
The story follows Tess, a descendant of Aris, one of the ship’s surgeons, as she works to complete an article her late father began. The narrative moves back and forth between Tess’s present day perspective, Aris’s experience, and that of a young woman named Saskia, working to gradually reveal the treachery that unfolded on the Abrolhos Islands all those years ago.
Overall, this was a quick and engaging historical fiction read that delivered a compelling story without being overly emotionally heavy.
I did hop on YouTube and watch some videos on the wreckage site and where they were confined— CRAZY. I love being able to research what I’m reading.
Thank you @netgalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Daughters of the Wreckage is a historical fiction book that follows a double timeline centered around the fateful ship, Batavia. The ship was voyaging from Amsterdam to the East Indies and was shipwrecked. The following is a story centered around those that were on the ship and connected to the ship. Throughout the multiple characters in the book, we see lies, deceit, and evil but most of all hope and resilience to survive as each of the stories play out.
In modern day, we follow Tess who is trying to deal with her grief as she tries to uncover her family ties to the Batavia.
In 1628, we follow multiple viewpoints.
Saskia who is a strong orphan teen taken from all she knows to go with her aunt to a new country. She often has to navigate hostile and dangerous situations in order to survive.
Aris who was on the ship as a surgeon’s apprentice. He is determined to survive on the island while trying to avoid dangerous and evil men that have taken over as leaders.
This was a fascinating read. I found myself Googling maps to see the route and where the shipwreck was located. I do wish that there was more of Lucretia’s story as I really enjoyed reading about her.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy.
In modern day, we follow Tess who is trying to deal with her grief as she tries to uncover her family ties to the Batavia.
In 1628, we follow multiple viewpoints.
Saskia who is a strong orphan teen taken from all she knows to go with her aunt to a new country. She often has to navigate hostile and dangerous situations in order to survive.
Aris who was on the ship as a surgeon’s apprentice. He is determined to survive on the island while trying to avoid dangerous and evil men that have taken over as leaders.
This was a fascinating read. I found myself Googling maps to see the route and where the shipwreck was located. I do wish that there was more of Lucretia’s story as I really enjoyed reading about her.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m giving this a 4 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This is exactly my favorite kind of novel—a dual-timeline historical story that completely immersed me in a time and place I knew very little about. The plot revolves around the true events of the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia and the Abrolhos islands off Western Australia.
What I loved most was how the connection between the two leads, 17th-century Saskia and 21st-century Tess, was revealed. Both women carry painful histories of loss and grief, making their journeys incredibly compelling. A huge positive for me was that the author avoided the overused "finding a diary" trope to bridge the timelines!
While the book ends with some unanswered questions, it was exceptionally well-researched and satisfying. If you love historical fiction with a side of archaeological mystery and new relationships, this is a must-read.
Fascinated by historical mysteries? Sail over to my profile @TheLitWhisperer to see my top dual-timeline picks!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This is exactly my favorite kind of novel—a dual-timeline historical story that completely immersed me in a time and place I knew very little about. The plot revolves around the true events of the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia and the Abrolhos islands off Western Australia.
What I loved most was how the connection between the two leads, 17th-century Saskia and 21st-century Tess, was revealed. Both women carry painful histories of loss and grief, making their journeys incredibly compelling. A huge positive for me was that the author avoided the overused "finding a diary" trope to bridge the timelines!
While the book ends with some unanswered questions, it was exceptionally well-researched and satisfying. If you love historical fiction with a side of archaeological mystery and new relationships, this is a must-read.
Fascinated by historical mysteries? Sail over to my profile @TheLitWhisperer to see my top dual-timeline picks!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow! What a fantastic read! "Daughters of the Wreckage" sucked me in at once and didn't let me go until the last page! I am not generally a fan of dual-timeline, multi-POV books, but this author did an amazing job keeping the story moving, while also providing details to fill in some time gaps between past-perspective POV chapters. I had never heard of the Batavia shipwreck and the atrocities committed, and I really appreciated the author not sugarcoating the events and using a real event as the focal point of this novel. I will say, it was gut wrenching to read some of the atrocities committed (reader beware), but it was done with the perfect balance of showing the truth without getting gory.
I do wish we had more robust ending where we could see more of what happened to the main characters, but other than that, it was an enthralling and fantastic read. Highly recommend to those who love historical fiction!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I do wish we had more robust ending where we could see more of what happened to the main characters, but other than that, it was an enthralling and fantastic read. Highly recommend to those who love historical fiction!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. I’ve never heard of this author before and was pleasantly surprised by her.
First of all, I enjoyed the topic chosen for this novel. I’ve never heard about the ship wreck Batavia and the massacre on the Abrolhos islands and was glad to broaden my historical horizons. There was obvious research that went into this book and the fictional story surrounding the events was enjoyable. Another plus for me was POV’s of both genders. Too often we fall into the pattern of “women are good and men are bad”. There was none of that here. There were positive and negative characters of either gender.
The writing was good and the language clean. The reason I gave it four as opposed to five stars would be character and storyline development. I would have like to see more depth. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and it was a fast read.
First of all, I enjoyed the topic chosen for this novel. I’ve never heard about the ship wreck Batavia and the massacre on the Abrolhos islands and was glad to broaden my historical horizons. There was obvious research that went into this book and the fictional story surrounding the events was enjoyable. Another plus for me was POV’s of both genders. Too often we fall into the pattern of “women are good and men are bad”. There was none of that here. There were positive and negative characters of either gender.
The writing was good and the language clean. The reason I gave it four as opposed to five stars would be character and storyline development. I would have like to see more depth. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and it was a fast read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
Written from three different points of view and two different timelines, it tells a fictional account of the true story of the 1629 shipwreck of the Batavia and subsequent mutiny and horrific massacre. I love learning about lesser-known historical events (although this may be well-known for those from Australia or the Netherlands). Switching between the viewpoints of two fictional passengers pulls you right into the chaos—you're not just reading about the tragedy; you're living it moment by moment as events unfold through their eyes. That immediacy makes the horror feel raw and personal, turning a historical event into something visceral and unforgettable. The third point of view is that of a descendant of one of the survivors who visits the site of the wreckage while researching for an article she is writing and coming to grips with her own tragic loss.
Written from three different points of view and two different timelines, it tells a fictional account of the true story of the 1629 shipwreck of the Batavia and subsequent mutiny and horrific massacre. I love learning about lesser-known historical events (although this may be well-known for those from Australia or the Netherlands). Switching between the viewpoints of two fictional passengers pulls you right into the chaos—you're not just reading about the tragedy; you're living it moment by moment as events unfold through their eyes. That immediacy makes the horror feel raw and personal, turning a historical event into something visceral and unforgettable. The third point of view is that of a descendant of one of the survivors who visits the site of the wreckage while researching for an article she is writing and coming to grips with her own tragic loss.
February 18, 2026
I was hooked from the first page. I love a good historical fiction and the way Stefanie wove a story of love and hope into the evidence of a historical tragedy that really happened had my heart gripped. I was so grateful to get to be a part of this ARC group and I see good things for this story. I also had to go research the truth behind the Batavia tragedy. I really liked how we got to follow Tess in the present as she wove her way through her own emotional tragedy and found her own hope on the other side. I would have loved to get more banter and insight to her journey but that is just my curiosity speaking. I think the weaving of past and present, fiction and history, was so well intertwined. I couldn't put it down and then when it ended I had my own feelings of hope. Very good read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I picked this book to read because I knew absolutely nothing of this history of Batavia. The first few chapters had me totally interested and the set up of the characters was good. The back and forth between them was clear and well written. I just really struggled to get into the story after the first few chapters. For me, it read as a very dry plot and I found that I didn't care much about what was happening with the people in the story. It didn't captivate me and I struggled to finish reading it. The ending picks up just a bit and that was helpful. The history is interesting and it made me want to research some of it myself. If this is something that interests you with history then you will probably enjoy it. I know many others have loved this book, it simply was not for me.
"I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."
"I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."
Review of advance copy
Shipwreck, archeological digs, new relationships, and more!
This book was an exciting read through an interesting historical lens. Told in alternative perspectives from modern day story of Tess, to the historical events aboard the ship Batavia with Saskia and Aris. I loved how this story weaved together these different stories to create one story about fresh starts and new beginnings. If you love historical fiction, this book is an interesting read while following the interesting lives of the characters. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the ship and the connections between the characters.
This book was an exciting read through an interesting historical lens. Told in alternative perspectives from modern day story of Tess, to the historical events aboard the ship Batavia with Saskia and Aris. I loved how this story weaved together these different stories to create one story about fresh starts and new beginnings. If you love historical fiction, this book is an interesting read while following the interesting lives of the characters. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the ship and the connections between the characters.
February 10, 2026
I received an early copy of this book through NetGallery.
Historical fiction is usually outside of my wheelhouse, but this- this was an emotional experience. The details of the story are absolutely fascinating and, while intriguing, it does take a minute to get invested. With that being said, the story is emotionally overwhelming in the best way! As a history lover, it leaves you wanting more information while tying us satisfying ends. The only “negative” that I have is that the changing POVs can be a bit jarring at times.
Historical fiction is usually outside of my wheelhouse, but this- this was an emotional experience. The details of the story are absolutely fascinating and, while intriguing, it does take a minute to get invested. With that being said, the story is emotionally overwhelming in the best way! As a history lover, it leaves you wanting more information while tying us satisfying ends. The only “negative” that I have is that the changing POVs can be a bit jarring at times.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received as an ARC through Netgalley to review, this is an honest review.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction for the approval to read this book.
Daughters of the Wreckage is a beautiful and harrowing historical fiction that intertwines dual timelines of Tess McCarthy in the present and Saskia, a dutch woman in the 17 century; that for both women the Dutch East Indies vessel the Batavia is the heart of everything. And fate, fortune, live and determination echo across time and a shipwrecked vessel can unlock what it means to challenge ourselves in times of uncertainty.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction for the approval to read this book.
Daughters of the Wreckage is a beautiful and harrowing historical fiction that intertwines dual timelines of Tess McCarthy in the present and Saskia, a dutch woman in the 17 century; that for both women the Dutch East Indies vessel the Batavia is the heart of everything. And fate, fortune, live and determination echo across time and a shipwrecked vessel can unlock what it means to challenge ourselves in times of uncertainty.
Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What an epic journey, both in the fictional and non-fictional storyline. The heartache along with the perseverance of these characters was nothing short of heroic. I was so intrigued by the characters and the history of the shipwreck, that it lead to my own research! I couldn't put it down, I wanted to know more, and wished for a happy ending after all they had endured.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Historical fiction is usually hit or miss for me and the first chapter had me feeling it was a miss but I’m glad I kept reading. Beautifully written, complex characters and timelines and overall a great read!
February 21, 2026
Daughters of the Wreckage is a poignant dual-timeline story about loss, secrets, and finding hope across generations.
March 8, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25⭐️
Charming little historical fiction book about a unique slice of history. Really enjoyed the layers of mystery and intrigue hidden throughout
Charming little historical fiction book about a unique slice of history. Really enjoyed the layers of mystery and intrigue hidden throughout
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews