Song of the Sea Maid

by Rebecca Mascull

As a child living on the streets of London, then in an orphanage, Dawnay Price grows up determined not to let her background stand in the way of her ambitions.

In an era where women rarely travel alone, especially for scientific study, Dawnay sets sail aboard The Prospect to the beautiful Iberian Peninsula. Amid rumours of mermaids in the sparkling waters, she makes some unexpected discoveries, including what it means to fall in love.

Having fought hard against convention, Dawnay is determined to put her career above all else. Yet as war approaches she finds herself divided by feelings she cannot control.

Told in Dawnay's words, from the author of THE VISITORS, this is an unforgettable story about what it takes to achieve your dreams, even when they seem impossible.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Mermaids, British Literature, 18th Century

312 pages, Paperback

First published June 18, 2015

About the author

Rebecca Mascull lives by the sea in the East of England.

Reviews

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 Words: Circumstance, science, religion, discovery, adversity.

This was a fantastic read that made me feel a little warm and fuzzy - and probably not for the reasons you'd think. Especially since there are plenty of heartbreaking scenes.

I loved Dawnay. She's just incredible, with a voracious mind and a fierce will and she will stop at nothing to get what she wants - even if that means questioning her own morals and beliefs. She is a rather straight-forward thinker and not the most emotional of people, so she does inadvertently hurt those around her. Despite that, I couldn't help but love her inquisitive self.

At the beginning I was a little thrown by the narration style. It did't quite sit right until a few chapters in when it all suddenly made sense. This is a very classically styled novel, and Dawnay's journey is incredible. She's quite a cynical thinker, and I loved how this came across in the narration.

My favourite part of this whole was probably the caves. Out of everything, I thought that this was the most important catalyst to the story. They were brilliantly described, I could picture them perfectly and was just as infatuated at Dawnay.

I had hoped that there wouldn't be a romantic theme to this story, and despite an affair as controversial as the protagonist, it didn't steal from the wonder of the main story. And it made sense too, for the tensions to come to a romantic head.

This is a fantastic story about a fierce and independent young woman in a world where such a person just does not have a place in society. And it's amazing. It's challenging and I thought it was quite relevant even for today's world, hundreds of years later.

I received a copy of this for free via the publisher for review purposes and I am taking part in the blog tour.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written story, it speaks profoundly, and I know that I am going to go on thinking about it for a very long time.

It begins in the middle of the eighteenth century, with a girl child who lives on the streets. She and her brother had only their wits to live on, stealing what ever they could to survive from one day to the next. I was captivated by this child, by her life and her spirit, by her utter reality, before I even knew her name. And I knew that I had to follow her story before I understood why.

The day came when she was caught in an audacious act of thievery; and she was taken to an institution for destitute and friendless children. She was heartbroken to be separated from her brother; she knew that he had been seized by what she would later learn was a press-gang, but she couldn’t tell what was his name, what was her name, what was the story of her life.

She was given the name Dawnay Price, for the man who had taken her from the streets, the man she would come to know as her ‘benefactor’. Because it was her great good fortune to have been taken to an enlightened institution, where it was believed that even an impoverished, uneducated, unwanted orphan could be raised to a place in the world.

As Dawnay was raised she developed a fierce intelligence, a burning curiosity about the world and everything in it, and a passion to learn and discover everything she could. She had a calling to be a natural philosopher – and the belief that she could be just that.

It didn’t occur to her that she couldn’t – because she was a girl, because she had no means – because she hadn’t been raised in a family, in a world, that said she couldn’t. That was wonderful, and Dawnay’s voice was to real and so engaging. It reflected her intelligence, her passion and her scientific outlook on life.

She has the good fortune to meet people what are able to help her, and the even greater fortune that they are open-minded enough to give her a chance and to be won over by the wonderfully persuasive way she argues her case. Dawnay wins wonderful chances, to study, and to travel so that she can discover more and theorise more about the world around her. She sees wonderful things, she has remarkable experiences, and she continues to blaze a trail, never accepting that she should be restricted in her quest for knowledge and understanding.

In time she formed some very advanced – and very controversial theories about the world, about how it came to be, and about how it came to be what it was.

I was utterly captivated by Dawany, by her story, by her experiences. She was – they were – so utterly real, and I was infected by her life and her spirit. She reminded me how marvellous it is to be alive in the world, to travel, to learn, to experience. The world that she moved through, the people that she met, the things that she experienced, were every bit as vivid, every bit as alive as she was. I was smitten and I turned that pages very quickly, because I was so eager to now how the story would play out.

I appreciated the wonderful depth and breadth of research that underpinned everything; it was lightly worn but it was clearly there, and I couldn’t doubt for a minute that the author loved everything that she learned and everything that she wrote about. She told her story so very well, and she wrote beautifully. There were evocative descriptions and tumbling lists that captured Dawnay’s interest in the world, there was cool, clear storytelling that reflected her scientific outlook, and there were so many ideas, so many lovely details, to consider.

There was drama, there was humour, there was tragedy – everything that a life story should have.

It might be said that Dawnay was lucky, and yes she was, but to some degree she made her own luck. History is full of stories of women who stepped outside the confines of the society and the situation they were born into. She did have setbacks too.

I noticed similarities in theme between this book and Rebecca Mascull’s first novel – The Visitors – but I appreciated that they were different in so any ways. I’m inclined to say that the first book was tilted more towards the heart and this one was tilted more towards the head; I loved both, for the same and for different reasons.

A love story does evolve in the latter part of the book; it’s as unconventional as its heroine, and that felt right. The events and the emotions of the closing chapters were unexpected but utterly right.

I know that there are any more things to be said about this book; and I’m sure that there were things that passed me by because I was so caught up with Dawnay and her experiences.

But I’ll just say one more thing – and that’s that I loved the heart and soul of this book.

[MaryannC Victorian Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had this among my purchased books and on a whim picked it up to read the synopsis again, once I started reading, couldn't put it down.
A lovely read about a nameless orphan and her also nameless brother who live within the slum dwellings of London in the mid 1700's where they fight to survive poverty, filth and crime. One day the girl sees her brother dragged away to be "Pressed," a term used when boys and men were picked up off the streets against their wills to serve on a ship. As luck would have it the young, headstrong girl finds herself in a home for destitute children learning skills needed for meaningful employment before she is turned out as a teenager, here she is given the name Dawnay Price. Dawnay determines her poor upbringing will not stand in the way of her dreams and ambitions of scientific study as she travels alone to Lisbon, Portugal. Here, she will learn fascinating history, friendship, tragedy and love. This was an absorbing, well written read of a determined girl who becomes an extraordinary woman that never let her impoverished beginnings define her future.

[David Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This proved to be a truly wonderful read from Rebecca Mascull. The main protagonist is the delightful Dawnay Price and I adored her from the first few chapters. I read it in just over a day and sometimes you read a book and just want to go and tell everyone how good it is as soon as you’ve finished it. This is one such book and it’s highly recommend.

It’s the 1700’s and as a young child the vagrant Dawnay is taken from the streets of London and by chance ends up in a place for destitute children. She is delightfully precocious and her inquisitive mind and desire for knowledge quickly gets her noticed. She fortuitously attracts a benefactor who supports her education by providing a private tutor. She is amusingly driven and single-minded in her determination to become a scientist and explore her independently developed ideas and theories. Much to the frustration of her benefactor who would see her married and settled. But Dawnay is having none of it and as usual gets her own way and it’s agreed she can set sail and travel to further her science. Her travels provide a fascinating story and an enjoyable mixture of adventure, learning, disaster, love and heartbreak.

Rebecca Mascull’s writing is brilliantly clever and completely engaging. Her compelling storytelling is fabulous and she challenges the reader to believe her premise that there have been amazing women in the past who because of gender and cultural constraints had great voices, ideas and theories that have been lost and unrecorded in the passing of time. I loved this memorable story and Dawnay Price was a fantastic and endearing character. I hope the book will be a great success and absolutely suggest you read it for yourself.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The time is the eighteenth century. The main character is a Dawnay Price. She is a foundling and given that name at the orphanage she is taken to. From the beginning she is a girl with a curious mind who doesn’t always follow the rules. She draws the attention of a benefactor and, contrary to practices of the times, she is educated. She grows into a determined, wilful and highly educated woman, who is not content with being told information but wants to find out about life, history, science and other issues for herself. This made for some interesting reading, due to the fact that it is beautifully written, and descriptive of the times and attitudes as well as the places encountered.
Although I never really liked Dawnay or became emotionally involved with the main character, I was content to read the book and thought it may be a four star read. However, over the course of the novel I got rather tired of Dawnay and her selfishness. As for the ending, I thought it was a complete cop out. I have not read any other books by this author but might be interested to read another. This book was an interesting change of pace for me and I was glad I read it, though other people may like it even more than I did.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted in full http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2016...

Song of the Sea Maid is Rebecca Mascull’s second novel, following The Visitors which was published back in 2014. The Visitors was simply stunning, a beautifully written and moving story, but Song of the Sea Maid was even better. I absorbed myself in this book right from the opening page, the opening line even, and what followed was a story almost poetic in prose but wholeheartedly accessible, with truly captivating and thought-provoking storytelling blessed with rich descriptions and a main character you can do nothing but root for as she faces drama, tragedy and a society that attempts to limit the life a woman can live and the things they could set out to achieve.

Rebecca continues the trend set in her debut novel The Visitors of writing brave and inspirational protagonists. Dawnay Price lives on the streets of London and along with her brother, they give and do anything to survive, including attempting to commit one act of theft that sees Dawnay separated from her family in heart-breaking fashion, moved to an orphanage and into this new life she’s never known. Dawnay was one of those characters I cared for instantly without automatically being able to point out the reasons why. I think the way we’re introduced to her is reason enough, because Song of the Sea Maid is character driven and I could think of nothing else I’d rather do than lose a couple of days to her vivid, wonderfully told story.

Dawnay isn’t crafted to be likeable through her personality – she’s stubborn, controversial and cynical in her views, strong-willed and hot-headed at times – but it is through how she stays true to herself, how she is willing to fight for her beliefs and hunt down the life she wants to live that makes her such an engaging and inspiring character. I loved Dawnay and following her story was wholly enjoyable and rewarding – the satisfaction of seeing such a strong-willed and determined female attempt to overcome the odds set in a time (the 18th century) where women face restrictions on paving their own path – enjoying a career, achieving their ambitions and discovering a life outside marriage and motherhood.

The narrative is written in first person in a way which allows us to really get to know Dawnay’s character. There are, of course, other characters who bear importance to the story as it is told but Dawnay is one of those unforgettable characters, the first and last name you’ll remember and a character that for me personally, won’t disappear now the final page has been turned. Through Dawnay’s inquisitive nature, Rebecca’s well-researched and full-of-depth story comes to life as all the questions I asked as a reader, Dawnay asked too and we get to reap the rewards of what felt like a phenomenally researched novel with its history and mythology, learning a little as we go along but not in an overpowering way.

The author’s writing style is highly compelling, taking a dramatic and quite feminist story, mixing it with humour, a love story and an intelligent protagonist so the tone remains uplifting and positive throughout. At times, I did expect Dawnay to have to face a little more adversity but at the same time, I’d become so protective of her fiercely independent character that I didn’t want her to have more obstacles to overcome, as much as she would have accepted and face the challenge with her typical spirit and bravery. And truthfully, when I finished reading Song of the Sea Maid I had nothing to complain about, except that it was over and I could barely find the words to justify how much I adored the novel.

With gorgeous description that effortlessly draws you into the prose, a surprising end and mostly the undeniably inspiring voice of a protagonist who loves to learn and who lives to learn, Song of the Sea Maid is an original, fascinating and fulfilling second novel from Rebecca Mascull, cleverly written and engaging – but you’ll miss it when it’s over.


(review copy)

[[ J o ] · Rating 1 out of 5]

Goodness this was the most boring and plotless book I've read in such a long while. The beginning was rather intriguing with Dawnay (a nameless street urchin to begin with) losing her brother to press-ganging sailors and finding herself in an orphanage. Sadly, the story continues at a snail's pace as we have to sit and listen to Dawnay telling us about every single little thing she does at the orphanage, most of which could be conveyed in one sentence alone; I felt as if they author was treating me as being a little ignorant at this point. If the book had begun 70 pages in, with the use of flashbacks or conversations to Dawnay's past, perhaps it could have found itself more.

The writing style was also rather cumbersome. I do dislike first person narrative rather intensely, so perhaps this has clouded my judgement slightly, but Dawnay's tone of voice never changes throughout her life, despite it starting when she is approximately three years old. She is always so intelligent and curious and hot-headed, from childhood to adulthood and it never changes. It's also written in an odd sort of present tense, which made it feel too distant for me to really get a grip on the (very slim) happenings. There is an attempt to write in the old style, but I can't help but think it would have been rather beautiful if written in third-person past tense. Having said that, writing is nothing but experimentation and I cannot fault the author for trying. If we did not try where would we be?

I actually found the plot to be eventually quite interesting. However, for only three or so pages was there anything particularly adventurous happening, wherein previously we were simply being relayed certain things and feelings by Dawnay, and none of it worth particularly anything at all. It is simply a following of her life and though there is a possibility of it becoming great, it only ends in something as mundane as her narrative.

The caves that Dawnay finds were thought-provoking, as was the fact that she was determined to be a female scientist in a time when this was utterly (but not completely) unheard of. However, the constant barrage of reminders of how ill-treated women were in this time was so utterly demoralising and Dawnay's inability to even pretend to be an 18th Century woman made the whole book disjointed. I also wish to speak of the ending, because I found it to be utterly infuriating. Dawnay becomes an accidental mother and a make-shift wife and instead of pursuing her dreams of being perhaps the first female scientist to make an exceptional contribution to the world she retires to a quiet place to work quietly. I find this kind of Feminist approach extremely upsetting, because there is an underlying tone that women are mothers and wives first and everything else second. This is utterly banal and I dislike it intensely: woman are mothers and everything else all at once and the fact that she did not push her findings to be published in her own name (or even under a male pseudonym?) was completely detrimental to the whole tone and point of the novel. All her life Dawnay had been pushing the boundaries set down by men and women as to what women can and cannot do and when the time comes for her to be something exceptional she backs out. I found that to be entirely contradictory and, in a word, pathetic. I lost all respect I may have gained for Dawnay at that point.

The rest of the characters felt only as that: characters for Dawnay to interact with. Without them her life would probably have turned out exactly the same. I cannot fathom the point of the book as, as a historical novel, it barely represents anything extraordinary that we do not already know. As a book for escapism there was little world-building and, although it isn't difficult to imagine the caves and 18th Century England that Dawnay traverses, there is little else to spark the imagination further.

There are some references to books in the comments at the end that helped shape the book and they seemed interesting as further reading, but I cannot find anything else positive to speak of.


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[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the 18th century. A very young girl is roaming the streets with her brother and stealing food to survive, however her brother is taken away by a press gang and Dawnay is left alone. She makes a mistake when trying to steal from a gentleman but instead of being punished, she is taken to an orphanage. Her life improves somewhat; although the food rations are poor, she does at least have a safe place to sleep. She is given the name Dawnay Price and this is where her story really begins.

Dawnay was an intelligent child and despite all obstacles, she taught herself numbers and how to write. Her tenacity and ingenuity brought her to the attention of a benefactor and her learning began in earnest with a tutor who luckily for her shared her passion for science. Dawnay could be a stubborn character, she had no time for the usual conventions and expectations of society – being a wife was not for her. Her passion was science, knowledge and travel – she was really a young woman born in the wrong age.

Rebecca Mascull has bought to life a young woman, fiercely ambitious and intelligent and determined to make her own way in life. Whilst on her travels she encounters earthquakes, and sees for the first time the beauty and wonders of ancient caves and carvings and the flora and fauna that have intrigued her for so long. Not only her character, but her thinking is way ahead of her time and some of her views on God and the Bible are considered to be so controversial that they could place her in great danger were they to become public.

There were times when I became frustrated with her. Her obsessions seemed all consuming and there were occasions when her bluntness bordered on rudeness. However, despite her social shortcomings, she was a character that I couldn't help but care about. She really was a pioneer in a male dominated era.

This beautifully written story drew me in from the first page. Dawnay was a truly remarkable character, not without her flaws but inspiring and so determined not to be constrained by convention and nor to be disadvantaged by her lowly beginnings – especially being female and I really enjoyed my time spent with her. The amount of research that has gone into this story is considerable - from the sounds and stench of 18th century London to the landscape of Lisbon and the archipelagos. Everything is vividly described and the author’s passion for her characters and story shines through. Highly recommended.

One final note, please don't be put off by the words 'science' and 'palaeoanthropology'. I am the least scientifically minded person in the world but I thoroughly enjoyed this book for the marvellous story-telling alone. If you enjoy historical fiction, then I'm sure this would appeal.
 

My thanks to the publisher for the paperback copy to review.

[Katherine Clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been looking forward to Rebecca Mascull’s second novel ever since her beautifully written debut, The Visitors. I wasn’t disappointed. Second novels are famously tricky but Mascull has managed to avoid the curse with Song of the Sea Maid, a deeply satisfying story that packs just as much emotional punch.

In Dawnay Price, Mascull has created a compelling narrator: unconventional, strong-willed, pioneering and with more than a little feminist attitude. Despite being so ahead of her time Dawnay is convincing and sympathetic right from the start (I loved the opening). I never lost belief in her or stopped caring about the things she fights for. Mascull’s writing is beautiful, with plenty of lyrical touches, but also clean and confident and I liked that – the novel is told in Dawnay’s voice and the tone chimes with her logical, scientific mind.

With questions of mythology, science, philosophy and religion running throughout there are surprising depths to the story. But Mascull wears her research lightly and never gets bogged down in detail, allowing the reader to explore 18th century ideas through Dawnay’s eyes. The dangerous, progressive ideas that Dawnay develops mirror the unexplored places off ‘the edge of the map’ that so obsess her, and the real life danger that she finds herself in. It’s also a love story, but not a traditional one and this seems fitting. The emotional power of the closing chapters is remarkable and rather wonderful. A fascinating, tenderhearted tale of one extraordinary woman’s passion for knowledge and its unexpected results.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!


My View:
“I dream of running away…it is the idea of escape that is alluring, yet also the thought of living as a boy, as a man, appeals keenly. To escape the strictures of feminie dress and limitations – the narrow and small lives women live in our age – to escape that and be a swaggering man free to follow his own destiny that is something to covet.” Dawnay Price 1740 (pps59-60)

“To escape the feminie limitations – the narrow and small lives women live in our age – to escape that and be a swaggering man free to follow his own destiny…” Carol Seeley 1960’s. I had the same thoughts as a child Dawnay .



I started this book with no expectations - sorry Rebecca Mascull I hadn’t heard of you or your earlier book The Visitors (though want to read this one now). I found this novel to be beautifully written, engaging … an adventure story, a creation story and a feminists story….delightful. This book makes my heart sing. Read it, you won’t be sorry.

[Lady Fancifull · Rating 5 out of 5]

'they have slackened my rope and given me a taste of the world beyond my fence. And I will have more of it, mark my words'

So states the female central character of the eighteenth century set Song of The Sea Maid.

I have been eagerly and anxiously waiting for Rebecca Mascull’s second novel The Song of The Sea-Maid, after her first novel, The Visitors, was one of my stand-out novels of 2014

I did indeed enjoy, enormously, this second novel by Mascull, even though I was not as completely bowled over, entranced, blown away as by that first novel.

And the reason for this is in part the huge challenge for an author when they create a character (particularly in a first novel) who is unusually memorable and richly complex, whose story is fascinating and believable, and where everything about the writing and structure of the novel, including subsidiary relationships, just works. And Adeliza in The Visitors, was that character. I could still feel her, metaphorically, over my shoulder, grabbing my attention and memory as I read this, very different book, though one also with a heroine of similarly feisty nature, in advance of her time, and challenged by the lack of opportunities afforded to her gender and class, in that time.

Starting towards the tail end of the 1730s, the book follows the story of a young girl, initially unnamed; one with a ferocious intelligence, a watchful observance, even at aged 4, as a young vagrant, living through stealing what she can in the company of her older brother. I was immediately captivated by this child, and Mascull took me inside her head, I could hear her voice, the excitement, the undisciplined, dynamic, finely assessing intelligence of the child.

Little Dawnay Price is arbitrarily named by and for the ‘benefactor’ who captures her on the street and takes her to a place for destitute, impoverished children. The place is presided over by a man who sees nothing wrong in the fact that such destitution is not the children’s fault, and neither may it be the fault of the parents, but rather of the structure of a society which gives to the haves and castigates the have-nots. Little Dawnay – whose voice is utterly believeable, whose intelligence, originality and burning desire for learning captivates – is of course doubly disenfranchised, by being a girl, and a powerless poor girl at that.

By a series of fortuitous encounters with people of unusual benevolence and open-mindedness, and ability to stand against a morality which defended the status quo, Dawnay begins to transcend her bleak beginnings, and gets an education. This is, after all, The Enlightenment. Dawnay’s observant mind and ability to grasp complex practical and philosophical concepts mark her out as a ‘natural philosopher’ – in other words, a scientist.

She has an independent nature, an independent mind, and through those lucky encounters, becomes a person of some independent means.

Eventually her travels – both in the world of books, of knowledge, and out in the real world, lead her to begin to formulate some very advanced conclusions – questioning the existence of a Deity, and making suppositions about evolution – a good century in advance of Darwin

Now, Mascull is a meticulous researcher, as was clear in The Visitors, and also in this book. She is one who also manages to wear her research lightly, in that the reader does not feel lectured by the author, but her wealth of background reading is woven into the novel.

However, with a novel which has a female scientist, and moreover one coming out with some very advanced theories a century early, the reader might find themselves frowning and thinking too much licence is being taken by the author. Mascull clearly anticipates this, as at the end of the novel she explains what her researches threw up. Firstly, there WERE a few female ‘natural philosophers’ at this time. In the main, we do not widely know of them, because history is written by the winners, the rulers, the elite. And because of this, the farther we go back in time, the less likely it is that history will feature herstory. There were also ‘proto-evolutionary theories’ bobbing around, there were fossils, and fossil hunters, even though it wasn’t till a little later that Cuvier began to bring this discipline into mainstream.

The challenge I found, however, - and it’s one which Mascull admits – is that all those female ‘natural philosophers’ were wealthy, daughters of the ruling classes. She did not want to write a kind of fictionalised biography of one of them, and was interested instead in writing the fiction of someone who had more struggles to engage with than purely that of her gender.

As reader, I wasn’t altogether believing of all the good fortune Dawnay experienced, and perhaps particularly, the fact that she did not suffer the violence which a young woman, alone in a man’s world, breaking the codes, living solitary, would be most likely to encounter. Maybe this is twentieth century cynicism. My criticism, or question, is that whilst I certainly would not have wanted the kind of gratuitous violence and almost salacious enjoyment which some writers seem to visit on their female characters in dubious environments, I did wonder if Mascull’s clear kindness and desire for her characters to overcome challenges was glossing over potential dangers and keeping them well out of Dawnay’s way. It struck me that almost all the characters in the book have a kind of nobility of nature – certainly all the characters we really get to know well. The adversities Dawnay meets are those of broad attitudes and beliefs held in society, rather than individual people with malevolent intent.

So this was an interesting realisation – challenge and struggle and overcoming odds is the stuff of both life itself and literature. Mascull does not have Dawnay particularly engaged in struggle with an individual ‘predator’, rather, the struggle is that of cultural and, indeed physical environment (very long term view Darwinian!) . Various historical events, whether created by mankind or by natural disaster also become the field of struggle and adversity which must be survived.

In the central swathe of this book, Mascull’s wonderful ability to capture individual emotional tone, the voice in the head, of the central character was not quite present for me. What was happening instead, was considered observation, analysis of theory. It wasn’t the sense of an author being determined to use her research material. Dawnay herself is doing the puzzling out and the analysis. Mascull’s writing continued precise, careful, avoiding cliché, but I missed the emotional quality taking me into feeling the heart of the character.

And I believe in part this is because, during the central core of the book, what drives Dawnay Price is her scientific interest. Actually, Mascull was succeeding rather too well. Dawnay is always observing, reflecting, analysing – and doing that scientific thing of standing at remove. I absolutely believed Dawnay, but I could not quite get close to her.

And then in the latter part of the book Dawnay makes some significant journeys in her own emotional development, as well as the journey in scientific understanding and analysis, and at this point, with a rush, I was back with the same kind of engagement and freshness that Mascull created and crafted in the voice of the young Dawnay.

Rebecca Mascull is a fascinating writer. Old fashioned, in many ways – she’s not doing edgy, flamboyant pyrotechnics in structure. There are interesting characters, particularly of course her central character. There is a narrative, things happen, people change. And her writing is excellent. Her books don’t end when you close the last page, but continue to provoke reflection.

This came so close to 5 star for me (4 ½, rounded up). Strongly recommended – this is one which can provoke good and fruitful discussion. And the more I reflected on the book, the closer I have grown to love, rather than to strongly like it.

Terrific. A vindication of the pleasures of reading………..a book which draws the reader in, deceptively making it an easy, page turning journey, and then pounces on the complacent, relaxed reader and swallows them up!

I was delighted, not to mention impatient, to receive this hot off the advanced press as an ARC, as I had been sending many emails plainting 'when, when, when!' Publication date is 18th of June, on both sides of the pond, so not too long to wait

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeless, orphaned and hungry, this young girl has just seen her only family member and ally press-ganged to sea. Without the brother who stole for her and protected her on the dirty and dangerous streets of eighteenth century London, it would be easy to lose hope. Her attempt at stealing goes horribly wrong, but her victim, a wealthy man, sees a spark in this child's eye and finds sympathy for her. This is the turning point in her life. Delivered to an orphanage, she is christened Dawnay Price, after the man who rescued her from the streets.

Although the orphanage is stark, and the food is just bearable, and the other children consider her to be a street-rat, Dawnay thrives. Her determination, her inquisitiveness and her sparky nature means that she is destined to succeed in life. The long nights, teaching herself to write by the light of a lamp, or sometimes just the moon could land her in trouble, but instead it leads her to more learning and to discovering that there is a wide world, full of things to discover.

The reader is then taken on Dawnay's journey. Through the streets of London, to see things that she had never imagined and then later, by sea to Portugal, on an adventure of discovery and science, and study and mermaids, caves and love.

Rebecca Mascull's writing flows so well, I was delighted by descriptions of London in the early part of the novel, and continued to be amazed when the story crossed to Portugal. Dawnay is a character to cheer for, way ahead of her time and overcoming almost every barrier that could be imagined for her. The interweaving of historical fact into this beautifully told fictional story is elegantly and cleverly managed, and despite the fact that historical fiction is not my first love, I was enchanted by Song of the Sea Maid.

A fine second novel to sit alongside The Visitors. Rebbecca Mascull has proved, once again that she is a very skilled author.
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[Vicci Routledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of The Visitors I couldn't wait to read Rebecca Masculls second novel and it did not disappoint. A beautifully written, well rounded story which stayed with me long after I had finished reading. The voice of main character Dawnay Price is clear and believable and the author cleverly sweeps you along on Dawnays journey from the poverty of a London orphanage to the stunning island of Menorca. Written with an enchanting, sometimes magical feel this original, moving story is a perfect summer read.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful literary expedition to warm the heart and open the mind. This is perfect for fans of Jane Eyre and truly an unforgettable read.

[J O'Toole · Rating 2 out of 5]

**Edited from 3 to 2 stars because I just read "Kit" and didn't dislike it as much as parts of this book.**

The story started out strong and fascinating, and Dawnay was a sharp and interesting character. I bought it on the strength of the free sample, hoping to be blown away by some amazing journey of a woman natural philosopher from an unfortunate background defying all the odds. It very nearly was, and on the whole (despite my lengthy passages below) I mostly enjoyed it – but the three stars are for the first half of the book only.

I liked the writing style, the nuances reminding me of the diaries of natural philosophers such as my hero Michael Faraday, who raised himself from poverty through his sheer passion and determination in the following century, and who, too, had a permanently enduring curiosity. The first half of the book far outshone the second, however, and I felt my interest gradually waning away after the caves and the spark of the relationship. I got through it so quickly because, apart from it being pretty short, the first half was great, and the second I was so hoping for a redemption that never came I scoured quickly.

Dawnay was practical and collected during the disaster of Lisbon’s earthquake, and also the sea voyages through the storm – the story was kept strong and I was excited for the build-up of her quest. I do like a bit of romance, and enjoy any character following their heart however socially immoral at the time. Even present tense, which is never a preference to me, didn’t bother me too much, though Dawnay did have a slightly too-adult voice even at four years old (not sure if this was some kind of allusion to a hidden genius, but that genius never sprouted in my eyes). However, the ending and its lead up was entirely too cliché for my taste - actually this one is my biggest pet hate in the whole damn world - that having a baby would suddenly cure all the ills of the character’s loneliness and mindset and suddenly ‘correct’ her thinking and behaviour. Utter tosh. Also, doesn’t fare too well against the notion that women are distractions on boats, which is an old tradition in some places. Justified? Hm.

Throughout the story it’s as if the author couldn’t quite risk the leap that maybe Dawnay is too single-minded to see outside her solid theoretical box, because this would probably make the character less inclined to follies (i.e. lusty romance). Instead there's an attempt to ply us with some kind of emotional wanting on Dawnay’s part, of which is constantly undermined due to her actual emotional bonds with all these people she meets, and so clearly doesn’t seem lacking in it. It seems making her too independent and disconnected just wouldn’t work purely because of the way the romantic arc plays out. It would have been better to rewrite the romance to something more viable than try to justify the sheer wilful ignorance an otherwise intelligent character follows – or at least have her acknowledge guilt from the start for the adultery she is helping this man to commit because she should have actually felt some (agency comes with a price, I’m afraid).

I think I wouldn’t have disliked the ending so much if she hadn’t been so damn knowingly selfish, and from her background she really shouldn't have turned out like that. Alas, no, having a baby does not make every person whole, nor does it mean that you have a better understanding of the world than if you hadn’t, which seemed to be the theme stemming form the cracks of her life at the end. Perhaps sorting her own mind out would have helped her better. If anything it made Dawnay way more insular and so everything beyond the scientific aspects of her life and that glorious time she spent truly at one with her calling failed to resonate with me because I think it was a cop-out of a climax. I didn't feel at all sorry for her circumstance, I think she deserved it and it served her arrogance better. I felt sorry for Robin's circumstance, because he wasn't thrown at us like some superior being, just a guy being ambitious, and he knew he was in a loveless marriage, we just weren't told. I felt sorry for Owen who we see for about four seconds, and Mr Applebee, whose story is not unlike her own in scandal, yet he is much less a nobber about it. Susan and Matron and all these other characters who give her everything and show her proper love (and give her money and trust), but it is never enough. I cannot like her by the end, but I feel I'm supposed to. Well, no thanks.

I think I’ll revert back to the Dawnay floating in the ocean amongst the coral reefs and leave my memory of her there.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treat this delight of a novel was to read.

So much, well, bigger than I imagined it would be. It tells the story of a young orphan, separated from her only sibling when he is captured by a press gang and she is left alone to fend for herself on the mean streets of 18th century London.

Trying to make a crust for herself at the tender age of perhaps 4 or 5 years of age it’s hardly surprising she soon comes a cropper, but fortunately the gent she tries to rob becomes her saviour, taking her to an orphanage where she is named after said gentleman, given the name of Dawnay after his surname and she is provided with a roof over her head and scant victuals.

It soon becomes apparent that young Dawnay has a somewhat exceptional mind as she sets out to educate herself, learning her letters by candlelight in the dead of night.

Unconventional to say the least, she absorbs knowledge like a sponge, is helped in her education by the Matron of the orphanage home and as she grows manages to win the approval of another elderly gent who becomes her guardian and benefactor helping her realise her ambition to be educated in science.

It becomes her burning ambition to travel, not just for travels sake but to explore ancient civilizations, discover the secrets of the past even though defying convention in her blasphemous thoughts, if what she believes in is true, then God cannot possibly exist.

Her benefactor helps her get a place on board a ship traveling to Portugal where she lives a hermit like existence on a small island, discovers wondrous historical artefacts and makes a few unlikely friends, Disaster strikes in the form of a cataclysmic earthquake and event she miraculously escapes from relatively unscathed. Perhaps the God she fails to put her trust in looked after her after all?

Dawnays whole life is extremely unorthodox which is what makes her such a quirky and fascinating character. I didn’t always completely understand or agree with her motivations but she never failed to entertain me and kept me glued to every page.

What I thought might be a rags to riches orphan makes good saga, proved to be anything but, it’s a clever and intriguing look at the difficulties of being a woman in the 1700s with a bright and enquiring mind and an unorthodox upbringing. The story encompasses scientific research, paleontology, a lot of time is spent on board ship so there is quite a bit about naval life, natural disasters are covered in immense detail yet throughout is the ongoing search of a lonely child for love and friendship and the myths and legends surrounding the ethereal existence of mermaids.

Enchanting storyline, beguiling characters and exceptionally competent writing combine to make this book, one you don’t want to miss.

I seldom say this as I don’t usually like sequels but this book left me aching to know what happens after the book finishes.

Song of the sea maid is available in paperback from 11th February 2016 and is quality historical romantic fiction at its absolute best.

My thanks go to Bookbridgr and the publisher Hodder and Stuoghton for my advance copy to review.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travel the journey here: Booktrail of the Sea Maid


A poor woman makes an important scientific discovery in times past but will she be remembered or ridiculed?

From London to the islands of Portugal, this is the story of a woman on the biggest mission of her life

Dawnay’s journey of discovery takes her from the poverty of a London orphanage to the stunning Berlengas archipelago, the island of Minorca and the cool crisp blue waters of the Mediterranean of the 18th century.

Travelling by boat in a time where single women did not travel alone and where travelling in explored territories was risky and dangerous. Her soul is described as a ‘nomadic one which cannot be cured by reading from the Arabian Nights’ like the son of her tutor, Mr Applebee.

This journey is one of discovery, exploration, wonderment, scientific importance and wonderful evocative images of seeing new lands, plants, animals, people and a whole new world.

‘They have slackened my rope and given me a taste of the world beyond my fence. And I will have more of it, mark my words’

From the heartbreaking days in the orphanage to the series of events which sees her boarding a ship to Portugal, I was with Dawnay all the way. Her voice, vision and intelligence puts others to shame and you just know she’s getting to Portugal one was or another

What would have happened had this lady and others like her had not made their discoveries? Would Darwin and other male scientists which followed have been able to do what they did? The author calls her the wrong person at the wrong time of history and that in itself is a sobering thought when reading the novel.

The research is outstanding but never gets in the way of plot. I was there with a notebook wanting to discover things as she did, marvelling at the pictures which formed inside my mind. The historical notes at the back of the books simply added to the overall excitement that this was based on real facts.

The clever weaving of real life historical events, such as the Lisbon earthquake really added to the overall atmosphere and time of the novel.

Quite a discovery!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, this book was rather disappointing, even though it started so well!

Dawnay Price is an orphan who spend her earliest years on the street before ending up in an orphanage. There she discovers a lust for knowledge, and an intelligence to pursue it, which leads to her becoming the ward of a wealthy benefactor.

Once a grown woman, she embarks on a journey of scientific discovery to the Iberian peninsula, in search of the origins of human kind. There’s some talk about mermaids and sea people, a bit of local myth and legend, which adds an intriguing angle for the story to unfold.

However, the novel is told in the first-person perspective of Dawnay herself, and it quickly begins to feel as though she and her mission lack a substantial amount of forethought and depth, her thoughts being rather repetitive and hollow. She falls in love with a sea captain, and the story becomes pre-occupied with this narrative, which diverts from the interesting beginning.

I would not recommend this book, unless you enjoy swooning love stories in an historical setting.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed on Becca's Books.

Song of the Sea Maid is the first novel by Rebecca Mascull that I've had the pleasure of reading, although I do have a gorgeous copy of her first book The Visitors waiting patiently on my bookshelf. It constantly catches my eye whenever I pass by my desk and I really hope to get to it soon, because after reading Song of the Sea Maid and falling so very deeply in love with Mascull's style, characters and truly brilliant voice, I feel that I'm in for a splendid treat.

Rebecca Mascull's Song of the Sea Maid follows the tale of Dawnay Price, from living alongside her brother on the streets of a filthy 18th century London who is snatched up in the thick of the night, leaving her alone and scared, to her travels far, far away. As soon as the character of Dawnway was introduced to me, although she is given this name rather than owning it from birth, I absolutely and utterly adored her. There was something incredibly strong and vibrant about the young girl, something that far outshone the dirt and dust she is shrouded in on the night her brother is taken away from her. Mishaps lead to Dawnay Price being taken to an orphanage and there, beneath the watchful eye of Matron, she falls into a strict routine beside the other children. Not one to stick to the rules, Dawnay's mind has long outgrown the minds she's surrounded by and it quickly becomes clear to those around her too. She is clever, desperate to have her education lengthened and made the most of. There was a certain stubbornness about her that reminded of myself in some ways. She stuck so firmly to her beliefs, it was impossible for her to be swayed once she'd made her mind up. From beginning to end, despite not having the most appealing characteristics at first sight, I'm certain that Dawnay will remain with me for a very long time to come. Not just your average heroine, there's something seriously special about her and even though I spent my time while reading this book with Dawnay, it still didn't feel like enough.

Packed with juicy slithers of historical information and alternating themes, there was so much for me to sink my teeth into while reading Song of the Sea Maid by Rebecca Mascull. Threaded throughout this beautiful tale were so many wonderful aspects of life! How to be brave and bold being just two of them. There's travel, discovery, hardship and the determination to come through and succeed. Rebecca Mascull took me back in time, and from there took me on an incredible journey that I won't be forgetting in a hurry. Enticing, rich and vibrant with such fantastically put-together characters to guide my way, it was an absolute pleasure to read this novel, and I really can't wait to read more from Mascull. This is storytelling of the highest quality, I utterly adored it.

Becca's Books is awarding Song of the Sea Maid by Rebecca Mascull with five of my bookish stars! I fell in love with Mascull's style from only the first couple of pages and have been left with a taste for it. An absolutely beautiful tale.

I'd like to thank Hodder and Rebecca Mascull for providing me with a review copy of Song of the Sea Maid in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Vicky-Leigh Sayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Often when you read a debut novel by a talented new author you wonder if 'the difficult second book' will live up to your expectations. I never had any such worries about Rebecca Mascull's latest offering. There are some authors who you just instincively know you will love whatever they write. Rebecca Mascull doesn't disappoint.

Song of the Sea Maid opens with our (quite simply amazing) protagonist Dawnay Price as a young girl, being taken to an Asylum for the Destitute Wretches of the Streets of London after she attempts to steal the wig of a kindly gentleman who takes pity on her.

Dawnay is quickly singled out as being different from the other 'foundlings', not only as the only street 'urchin' but also as a loner. She has made up her own mind not to make friends in the institution and instead becomes fixated on obtaining an education.

Practically unheard of for Women in general, let alone a young girl of Dawnay's background, at first she is flatly refused. But Dawnay is determined and rarely lets the word 'no' prevent her from doing what she wants.

Often when a novel begins with the protagonist as a child you are forced to skip forward through their life to adulthood where the novelist wishes you to pick up the story. There is none of that nonsense here. Rebecca artfully takes us through each stage of Dawnaty's intriguing life.

Our introduction to Dawnay's early life really sets the scene for her adventures later in life. Her benefactor having despaired and probably given up on the idea of Dawnay ever marrying, gives Dawnay his reluctant blessing for her to travel to Portugal unchaperoned (unheard of at the time) in the name of research.

As a condition of the trip she must sail with Lieutenant Commander Alexander, a man who on first meeting she is not particularly fond of. But during her journey Dawnay changes somewhat as she experiences that there is more to life than exploration (although not much in her opinion).

I can't really say much else without giving away more of the wonderful plot than I want to, so I will conclude with the fact that Song of the Sea Maid is a beautiful book, with a heroine that I now definitely have a bit of a girly crush on. A must read!

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mean and moody streets of eighteenth century London are no place for abandoned children and yet, two young siblings, names as yet unknown, eke out a meagre existence by petty pilfering, taking food where they find it, and surviving by their considerable wits. But the fickle hand of fortune sees the older boy forcibly pressed into a life at sea, leaving his small sister at the mercy of her own fate. Rescued by a providential stranger, the girl is removed from the anonymity of the streets and is taken to a foundling place and given the name of Dawnay Price, a name which will eventually carry her far away from her humble beginnings and into a world of enlightenment.

Dawnay Price is a commendable narrator, who leads us quite forcibly by the hand and in her unique voice allows us a glimpse into the world of an eighteenth century enlightened female. Written with the author’s fine eye for detail, the story charts the events of Dawnay’s fascinating life and allows a glimpse into the workings of a fiercely intelligent woman who used her considerable wits to survive and rise above her early challenging start.

As with Rebecca Mascull’s previous novel, The Visitors, there is a realistic historical feel to the novel. The characters, their dialogue and their mannerisms blend together to form a distinct picture of eighteenth life. The intelligence of the research offers the reader a story with real depth and clarity, and a feisty heroine who stays with you long after the book is finished.

There is huge expectation when reading an author’s second novel, especially when the first left such a lasting impression, so I must admit that I felt some trepidation when I first picked up my e-copy of Song of the Sea Maid. I knew the writing would be good, after all that’s what I’ve come to expect from this talented author, but I also wanted to be blown away by a story which captured my imagination, that gave me people I cared about and a story I didn’t want to end. I am delighted to say that from the opening chapter I was totally captivated and felt completely at ease in the company of a fine array of characters and by the storytelling skill of an author who clearly knows how to hold a reader in the palm of her hand.

[Louisa Treger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Rebecca Mascull’s first novel, The Visitors, and was eager to read Song of the Sea Maid. Mascull is clearly going from strength to strength as a writer, with some characteristic themes emerging. She has a gift for recreating the past (the Victorian era in The Visitors; the eighteenth century in Song of the Sea Maid), complete with authentic language and rich period detail. She is clearly a meticulous researcher, but she wears her research lightly, blending it seamlessly into the story. She writes beautifully. Perhaps the thing I love most about her books is her utterly original, intelligent and uncompromising protagonists.
The fascinating premise of Song of the Sea Maid, in Mascull’s own words, is this: ‘What if a poor woman made an important scientific discovery in ages past? Would this idea be heard or remembered?’
Dawnay Price is a foundling who manages to transcend both her humble origins and the constrictions placed on women in society through sheer force of intellect and a burning desire for learning. Dawnay’s journey of discovery takes her from a grim London orphanage to a group of islands off the coast of Portugal, where she is able to develop her theories. On her travels, she discovers both love and war. This is a gripping and well-crafted novel that stays with you long after you have read the last page. I can’t wait for Rebecca Mascull’s next book!

[Beth Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book. It's a beautifully written account of Dawnay, a young woman from a very poor background, whose independence and intelligence are considered unusual for the time (the 1700s). She develops gradually into a woman with a great feel for science, and she pre-empts many of the theories of the origin of humans that we know now to be correct. But she is still clearly a woman of her time, with beliefs and limitations that seem entirely in keeping with her personality.

There are some great characters in the book (I really liked the matron and Mr Woods), and the descriptions of Dawnay's travels honestly made me feel that I could see what she saw. In particular the sea voyages, and the earthquake of Lisbon, were like first-person accounts, they were so beautifully described. I was always faintly surprised, when I emerged, to find that I wasn't in 18th Century Portugal or Menorca after all.

The writing in general was beautiful, and gave a feel for being set in the past while being completely accessible, a very smart thing to pull off indeed. As for the romance in the book, which I see one or two reviewers have quibbled with: well I couldn't disagree with them more. I found it completely believable and again, quite true to her character. The ending genuinely made me cry!

Highly recommended. Off to read Rebecca Mascull's first book now.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Song of the Sea Maid is a beautifully written book. It reads very much like a classic, and I wasn't surprised at all to discover that Rebecca Mascull worked hard to make her prose eighteenth-century appropriate. Just like in old classic novels, the story moves chronologically, following the main character, Dawnay, from early childhood, to youth, through to her adult adventures.

The story itself took a little while for me to get into, but once I did, I appreciated what an intelligent, historically interesting book this is. It might not be hectically-paced, but so much thought and research has gone into it. Dawnay's scientific and philosophical preoccupations, and her struggles as an intelligent woman in her time period, made for a really unique story. Dawnay herself is a wonderful character — she reminded me at many times of Jane Eyre: independent and quietly headstrong.

Really liked the ending. Very satisfying.

I'll be keen to see what Rebecca Mascull writes next.

[Michael Rumney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting idea about a female scientist ahead of her time, how female biology affects opportunity and postulating Darwinism before Darwin. The protagonist Dawnay is a determined character where war or natural disaster will not stop her. How realistic she is for that time is debatable but without these characteristics the plot would flounder. She does get involved with a Naval Captain and this I wasn't sure about as would he want to be involved with someone below his station?
Certainly worth a read for its originality but there is a nod to Remarkable Creatures as Dawnay collects fossils on an un-named west country Beach.

[Shriya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed from 4.5 to 5 stars!

Right book at the right time is what Song of Sea Maid is for me.
I won this book several months ago but somehow it crept under several other books.
I have recently craved more plots with strong independent characters full of intelligence particularly women.

I thoroughly enjoyed how Rebecca has included Science, she makes an important point in the acknowledgements.

We need more authors like this. I can't wait to see what Rebecca has next.

Highly recommend.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spoilers review here of a highly intelligent and brilliantly written book. https://lindasbookbag.wordpress.com/2...

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never connected with a character as much as I connected with Dawnay Price. This was such a beautiful and inspiring story (the cover is pretty too).

[Malia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical novel was fairly diverting, however I recently read 'The Signature of all things' which was excellent and covered the same subject matter and my preference was for this.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having had such a good experience with my first Rebecca Mascull book, The Wild Air, I knew I would have to read her previous two novels as well – and I was delighted to see Song of the Sea Maid on the shelf on a recent visit to the library. I hoped I would love it as much as The Wild Air…and I did. In fact, I thought this one was even better.

Song of the Sea Maid begins with a little girl living on the streets of London with only one aim in life: to do whatever it takes to survive from one day to the next. When her sole friend and companion, an older boy who may or may not be her brother, is taken by a press gang, she finds herself all alone. Caught attempting to commit a desperate act – stealing from a gentleman – she expects to be punished, but instead she is taken to an orphanage where she is given food, shelter and the name Dawnay Price.

Dawnay is an intelligent child with a natural curiosity for the world around her. As she grows older and teaches herself to read and write, her thirst for knowledge becomes apparent and she is chosen by a generous benefactor to receive a full education. It is not at all common at this time for a girl to be educated beyond the absolute basics, so Dawnay is determined to make the most of the opportunities she has been given. Eager for new experiences and the chance to use her skills, she travels to Portugal and the Berlengas islands where her studies of the flora and fauna lead her to come up with some very controversial theories. It seems the 18th century world is not quite ready for Dawnay and her ideas!

Song of the Sea Maid is a wonderful exploration of what it was like to be a woman trying to forge a career in science in a period when it was not considered normal or socially acceptable to do so. Dawnay has a lot of good luck which enables her to indulge her passion for study and travel, but she also faces many obstacles in both carrying out her work and in making her findings known, and by the end of the novel it becomes clear that she really is, as Rebecca Mascull states in her author’s note, just the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time. It made me wonder about all the other people – women in particular, but men as well – throughout history who may have had innovative ideas or developed advanced theories but were dismissed and silenced so that their names and their views have been entirely forgotten today.

I also enjoyed reading about the various places Dawnay visits on her travels; her time spent alone on the Berlengas Islands is particularly interesting – I think I would have felt too isolated and lonely, but Dawnay finds peace and harmony there, coming to think of the rocks and caves as her own. Still, she is unable to completely escape from world events; she is in Lisbon for the Great Earthquake of 1755 (which I have previously read about in Linda Holeman’s The Devil on Her Tongue) and in Minorca a year later when the island is captured by the French. The Seven Years’ War forms an important backdrop to the novel and from time to time Dawnay is brought into contact with the crew of a Royal Navy ship, initially during her voyage to Portugal. I found all the ship-based scenes surprisingly enjoyable – I think my recent forays into Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series have really helped me in this respect!

I haven’t mentioned yet that Dawnay also falls in love; I found it quite predictable – as soon as one particular character appeared in Dawnay’s life I knew that they were going to be the love interest – but it was still a beautifully written romance which developed slowly throughout the novel. There’s really nothing negative I can say about Song of the Sea Maid; even the use of first person present tense, which I often dislike, didn’t bother me – in fact, I barely noticed it because I found Dawnay’s voice so strong and real.

This is a lovely novel and now I really must read Rebecca Mascull’s first book, The Visitors!