The Boy from the Sea

by H.L. Macfarlane

A troubled mind, a creeping obsession, and a sea that’s full of secrets.

When Grace Ferguson encounters a strange boy during her marine biology lab she soon becomes entranced by his odd nature, beautiful drawings, and love of the sea.

But as Grace grows closer to Lir she discovers his love is more of an obsession. Disappearing to the coast every weekend with no explanation of what he’s doing, she senses something far more sinister beneath his infatuation.

When a series of brutal murders ravage the country, Grace begins to unravel the dark past behind Lir’s troubling behaviour…and realises that her very life may be on the line.

Set against the stark beauty of the west coast of Scotland and exploring the tragic, troubled soul of a doomed young man, The Boy from the Sea is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense. Grab your copy now!



***

PRAISE FOR H. L. MACFARLANE

“The story world H. L. has built with the Bright Spear trilogy is rich and lush, inviting you to dive in and get lost for hours.” NY TIMES BESTSELLER THEA HARRISON

“Macfarlane plays upon the fragile line linking reality and fiction to keep her readers on edge.” QMUNICATE MAGAZINE

Genres: Mystery, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

248 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2020

About the author

Follow me on Bookbub! https://bit.ly/HLBookb

NOTE: H. L. Macfarlane is currently on a publishing hiatus to focus on her mental health. She hopes to return with new titles in early 2026 and appreciates your understanding in the meantime.

Hayley Louise Macfarlane hails from the very tiny hamlet of Balmaha on the shores of Loch Lomond in Scotland. After graduating with a PhD in molecular genetics she did a complete 180 and moved into writing fiction. Though she loves writing multiple genres (fantasy, romance, sci-fi, psychological fiction and horror so far!) she is most widely known for her enemies-to-lovers STEM rom-com, The Unbalanced Equation, and her Gothic, Scottish fairy tale, Prince of Foxes – book one of the Bright Spear trilogy.

Reviews

[summer | the.hellbound.reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boy From the Sea is a brilliant novel. I was hooked from the start!

This story follows Grace, a marine biology lab teacher who doesn’t have many friends, and struggles to have a social life outside of school. That is until she develops an unhealthy obsession for one of her students, Lir; a mysterious boy with an intense stare, and an obsession with the sea. Grace soon starts avoiding the only friend she does have, and does everything she can in hopes she will get Lir’s attention.

This novel was a thriller/romance and I’m not usually one for romance but it was obsessive and it was dark and I was totally invested in the story. I had a really hard time putting it down once I picked it up.

Having the story set in Scotland, by the sea was one of the things I loved most about this story. The descriptive writing had me both tasting, smelling, and wishing I was reading this by the sea.

This thriller was fast-paced and left me completely shocked. I thought I knew what was going on, but I was completely wrong.

The Boy From the Sea had just the right amount of suspense and action, some really well written characters and a great storyline.

[Alyssa DiCarlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay... WOW. I always had a hunch of what was to come, but it still gave me goosebumps.

Lir has easily become one of my favorite characters of all time. Funny how that works... call me twisted, I don’t care. I’m fascinated by him. Intrigued beyond belief. Maybe it’s my deeply rooted love for psychology or the fact that I always fall for villains (sigh...) but he is just.... wow. Beautifully constructed. Extremely three-dimensional. I truly feel as if I know him. THAT’S how amazing HL is at writing!!!!

This book was excellent. I’m not one to reread, but I would absolutely pick this one back up again.

[Jordan Charlesworth AKA Book Brilliance Xo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review 📚
The Boy from The Sea by H. L. Macfarlane - 4/5 ⭐

I was pleasantly surprised to find this was a dark/gothic romance. I went in blindly and was expected some lovey dovey story. Although it contains romance it was much more to my liking them originally thought.

Macfarlane has a beautiful way of taking dark and mysterious and turning it into a romance. One of my favourite reads this year was Gothikana and now The Boy From the Sea has taken a very close second. The writing was amazing and so thoroughly thought through.

Character descriptions were beyond amazing, making the characters loveable from the get go. I enjoyed following Grace on her journey through the story and watching her not only develop but completely enthrall me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Books Go Social for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

[Aswa Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Do you think we even have the capacity to know what a god or a titan or any other supernatural force is? Or do we just see their acts as obstacles and interference?"

CW:
- murder
- social anxiety
- animal death
- sociopathy
- abusive relationship

2.5 rounded up.

The Boy from the Sea by H.L. Macfarlane tries to be a gothic romance without gothic staples or an explanation of the subline and supernatural.

Grace Ferguson is a marine biology PhD student who has social anxiety and has a hard time making friends. In one of the classes where she is a teaching assistant, she meets a strange student, Dylan Lir Murphy. She becomes obsessed with him—perhaps it is his silence or his downcast eyes, but she must know who he is. Stalking turns to dating, however, after Lir states that he likes her. While their whirlwind romance begins, Lir sometimes goes away to strange places on the coast of Scotland. And a few days pass by, and someone has died in that same city.

While the perpetrator is way too obvious, the main character is blind to the evidence. There were times that the relationship was manipulative and controlling—Lir subtly drew Grace away from the few friends she had despite all of them trying to warn her.

The intrigue of knowing why kept me hooked, but by the time we got there, I stared at my text and said, "wait, there's nothing?" We have the reason for the murders, but despite being claimed that the "gods" would be pleased, we have no idea which gods. Lir researches plenty of various myths but never seems to settle on which gods would let him go home. Is it all of them?

Lir and Grace are both flat characters with very little to define themselves. Grace is a shy, socially anxious girl. Lir...swims a lot and lost his parents. That's it. Is that enough for infatuation?

The biggest issue I had with the novel was the lack of gothic elements. Where is a haunted house that is its own living character? Where are the moral issues of loving a monster? Where is the overwhelming nature that is stronger and greater than man? Where are the anti-war and anti-capitalism themes? Where are the gods?

Another issue I had was Grace's love for Lir, allowing herself to go along with his plans. I don't like non-strategic characters. If you are getting a PhD in marine biology, surely you are intelligent. Surely, you understand nuance, strategy, methods, research. Why would you buckle under another person who gave you attention?

But abusive relationships are hard to escape; that's the point.

I never believed in either character's love for each other. Instead, there was obsession and infatuation, which could not carry this story from the lack of believability. I don't know WHY these characters are obsessed with each other; I am just told they ARE.

The new final chapter also invalidates the question of Lir's survival. While it's fine that he survived and ends with Grace once more, why? What is either character's motivation? Why are they infatuated? Is it fate, the gods, loneliness?

I felt lost amongst the waves and felt pity for a dead cat instead of anyone else.

Want to read abusive relationships and power dynamics? Read A Dowry of Blood.
Want to read about obsessive love, even if it drives you to murder? Read Frankenstein.
Want a cold song about the sea? The Water by Feist.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and for allowing me to dive into this cold romance.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reviewing this past the release date, but thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

The Boy from the Sea follows PhD student Grace Ferguson and her obsession with one of her students, Dylan Lir Murphy, and how far she'll fall for him. Yeah...I don't know about this one. I kind of hated it if I'm being honest. It did not read like a Gothic romance but like some DraMione fanfiction but without magic. There was nothing magical, romantic, gothic, or even sensical in this book. So much of it makes no sense especially when it's revealed who the killer is because it was so damn obvious to literally everybody but the main character. I can excuse most moments of idiocy, but Grace is supposed to be a STEM PhD student and she is just a damn idiot. I genuinely feel like all the high reviews are lies at this point because were we even reading the same thing? According to other reviews, no.

Grace as a main character is unbearable. Like terrifyingly unbearable. For someone who is 25, she acts and seems more like someone who just turned sixteen. I mean, her obsession with one of her students is unprofessional and so bizarre. Like there's no reason provided other than the fact that Lir is hot and quiet. And then when they start dating, it is very clearly an unhealthy relationship. She was just SO juvenile and annoying. I couldn't believe this was a person who was supposed to be a PhD student. As a graduate student myself, I don't think I've ever met a STEM grad student who was so painfully stupid. Grace might as well have been a teenager with how stupidly she was acting throughout this book. Don't even start with "accurate" representation of anxiety because she is clearly an accurate depiction of someone who is NOT dealing with her mental illness and as someone with anxiety who has dealt with crippling social anxiety, it was borderline offensive how she was portrayed.

The story itself was nonsensical too. Like the bits of mythology and discussion around that? Shallow as all hell. It felt like the author wanted to dress her dark romance with sea myths and murder but couldn't decide which ones to do and just threw all of them into a pot and said "Done!" I mean, the reason for the murders? Completely stupid and it made no sense for a character who supposedly did all this research only for him to land on the collective "sea gods," but who the hell are those gods? Like it made no damn sense and felt like the author just wanted to wrap crap up quickly.

Ugh. I hated this book.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how I never found this author before, but I fully intend to go back and read her earlier books now that I have. There is an annoying lack of books written about characters who are at university or doing postgraduate work, so I love that she is writing older young adult novels.

What I always notice & tend to comment on, as my postgraduate work is in literature, and more specifically poetry, revolves around how a book is written--and I love Macfarlane's voice. Her language is beautiful & elegant without being heavy or saccharine. Her passages are just so "readable," she has a poet's ear, and her sentences have balance. Most people are here on goodreads probably to read about the book's plot, but I can get a plot summary anywhere. What I always want to know is whether or not I am going to be able to enjoy the prose, and for me, that depends on word choice, syntax, and a certain degree of elegance. In this case, this novel checked all those boxes immediately.

Macfarlane is extremely talented so do not hesitate to purchase. I wonder if perhaps Americans simply don't know about her work yet, but I for one strongly recommend this book which is a rich, suspenseful, thought provoking, and odd tale. I'm afraid there are quite a few authors who are excellent, but people here in the States are just less likely to encounter them. Mark Lawrence is another British author who is incredible--absolutely earth shatteringly incredible--his work is life changing--and yet so few fantasy lovers I know find him unless I buy his books & demand that they read him. It makes me wonder who else from the UK I have just totally missed. Anyway, again, I am so glad to have found a new author to follow.

I highly recommend this book. You will read it quickly because you won't want to stop except to occasionally notate a moment in the text which you don't want to forget. I'm looking forward to reading more by her asap.

[scottiesandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What else is there to say when you’re offered the chance to read a book that’s set in your home in the West of Scotland, is full of murders and hints at connections to the sea!? The answer is a big yes!!

Grace struggles to make friends; and has never had a boyfriend. Until she sees a beautifully perfect Dylan with his piercing grey eyes and his intense stare. She needs and wants him instantly and will go to any lengths to talk to him. Dylan on the other hand is uncomfortably quiet, hiding a secret and a tragedy from everyone he meets.

Hats off to Macfarlane in the writing style! You feel yourself being reeled in with every chapter, each more intense than the last! In the first few chapters I thought this was going to be a love story between a woman and a mer-man but it became so much more than I could ever have imagined! Macfarlane made you feel like it was going to be a nice easy wee read and then BAM things took a turn for the worse, and then worse still! And I lived for it! The jokes in the beginning chapters (a nod to the sheep shaggers of the north 🤣), added to this effect!

And the storyline itself is just pure genius! As far as psychological thrillers go it’s up there with the best of them for me! They should always leave you wondering WHAT THE FUCK you just read and this was no exception! There are some absolute blood curdling moments and moments where I felt like I could absolutely throttle the characters for their sheer stupidity! But it all added to it for me. This is the first book I’ve ever read that has combined suspense with that of mythology and it really paid off.

It’s a story of how blinded you can be by love, and how far you’ll go to protect and keep each other forever!

Now after that I’m not sure who’s been having the worst time since March; the Glasgow of COVID times or the Glasgow of Grace and Dylan! 🤣

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grace, a 25-year-old PhD student in Scotland, grapples with feelings of being out of place, and lacks motivation while her best friend is abroad. Her life takes a turn when she meets the mysterious loner Lir, one of her students. He is a talented swimmer who has a strong interest for mythology and a tragic past. She develops a powerful yet conflicting attraction to Lir, however he is not what he seems…Or is he?
The book uses a dual timeline, blending Lir's past with the present, gradually building tension and there are some dark and disturbing moments. The narrative though, can be somewhat repetitive.
Grace's character feels a bit flat and inconsistent. Despite her age and having lived away from home for several years, she comes across at times quite immature/naive, some of her actions and choices creating eyebrow-raising moments. She is also extremely self-deprecating which I personally struggled with. Lir on the other hand, is well-developed and intriguing. His character strikes the right balance between dark and brooding, painfully endearing and brutally creepy. The most interesting aspect of this story is the mystery surrounding his nature and intentions.
I enjoyed that this book is not just a dark romance, as there is an emphasis on mystery and mythological elements, although I would have liked to see this aspect more developed.
This book brought to mind “the Pisces” by Melissa Broder mixed with the YA energy of Twilight, a morally grey naive woman at a low point getting all-consumed in an intense forbidden and toxic infatuation and validation by a monstrously needy but beautiful man.

[Escapereality4now · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boy From the Sea

Grace struggles to make friends and has never had a boyfriend but is perfectly happy being single because she is focusing her energy on her Ph.D thesis. Then she meets Dylan (also known as Lir )a handsome, mysterious guy with piercing grey eyes who just takes her breathe away. I initially thought this was a love story but it is so much more. As their relationship progresses, the story begins to really take change. The book is broken up into three parts. Each part begins with Dylan/ Lir’s back story. The backstory increased my curiosity regarding Lir.

The author’s writing style flowed extremely well and makes the book an effortless read. The descriptions put me right in the setting I was reading such as the beach or right in the ocean. The authors word building really enhanced the experience.

The characters are extremely well developed without bombarding the reader with too much background information.

The author had me engaged from the start till the very end. The Boy From the Sea was a fun book with creepy moments that kept me fully engaged.

[Adrien Lockheart · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The first thing that came to mind whenever I thought of home was always the smell of the sea. The tang of it. The salt on your tongue; the brine in your nose. Every time it crashed into the shore - waves breaking on the rocks, filling the air with foam - a fresh dose of the smell hit you as if you had submerged your head in the water itself. Then the foam would dissipate, and the waves would recede, and the smell would fade until the next toss of the sea brought it back into your nose once more." -[page 13]


I bought this book because I wanted to read something on the beach at least once this year, and all the books that would ship to my location in time were just not the type of book I was looking for. Cue me ravaging through my Goodreads account, and three hours later I had found the author H.L. Macfarlane. She had written the book Prince of Foxes, a book with the perfect writing style to read at a beach. Five minutes later, I'd conveniently found The Boy from the Sea and ordered it immediately.

The Boy from the Sea is an interesting thriller-ish book. I really enjoyed the Scotland scenery and references to Greek mythology, and the writing style was beautiful. All of the characters had interesting personalities, and the overall world-building of this book was spot-on! The plot and suspense certainly fluctuated, but sadly the book was never that suspenseful to me.

I guessed the criminal early-on in the book, but the reveal was satisfying to me nonetheless. Grace, the main character, was rather unreasonable during the book, and I felt as if her actions were unjustified. However, I never felt as if Grace was in any real danger. Other than a few scarce moments, I was never that worried for the characters. The ending of the book felt rather incomplete. Sure, the book ended, but the characters didn't really change. The overall character development and plot were lacking.

Concept: 4 Stars [What the book is supposed to be about.]

Writing Style: 3 Star [How the author writes the book, chooses words, and describes the story.]

Plot: 3 Stars [How the author executes the concept. What happens? How does the first sentence lead to the last?]

I honestly can't decide whether or not I liked this book. I kind-of regret reading it, and I'm a bit salty about the lack of plot, but it did have it's strengths. The world-building and writing style are beautiful. I've inducted this book into The Medium Place due to my indecision.


Total: 4 + 3 + 3 = 10 ||| 10 / 3 = ~3.3

3.3 has been rounded to 3 Stars , as I generally can't decide whether or not I liked the book.

[Sora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hoping for dark romance and the dark romance I got.

Lir is someone peculiar in the society but not an outcast. And that what makes Grace attracted to him in the first place? Their relationship was fast and furious. And we know what that means.

I mean we had an impression on Lir. He definitely suspicious but not expecting he is a total crazy. I was so surprised on how innocent he feels on something so wrong. Anyone, please save this kid from getting to drawn in his imagination🙏

I was surprised that I actually had read the author other books. I was not expecting she would write the same book because it’s definitely not the same genre. But what I’m amazed is that I like this book more! She write dark romance better than normal romance.

[Ana GLdeC · Rating 1 out of 5]

The blurb of the novel promises a Gothic romance for those of us who love what’s monstrous, tragic and villainous. H.L. Macfarlane’s “The Boy from the Sea” tells the story of Hrace Ferguson, a lonely marine biology PhD student who meets Lir Murphy and soon develops an obsession with him; luckily, it seems to be reciprocated by him. This quickly lightens a passionate romance that consumes all of Grace’s time and devotion; however, even though Lir shows an equal amount of love for her, Grace knows he is keeping secrets from her. This wouldn’t matter much to her but, in her heart, she knows her boyfriend’s strange behaviour is linked to the many recent attacks and attempted murders in Scotland.

The novel has a lot of the elements that I love in a dark romance: a love interest whose actions in the name of love fall more into the villain category, mystery, legends, impossible choices, and so on. However, I felt the story fell flat in many instances. An example of this is how the author introduces some lovely and interesting legends and folklore stories from Scotland. Lir is clearly basing a lot of his beliefs in it, and we assume they will connect to his story at some point. This does happen to an extent, but it was done so superficially that it made the storyline feel forced. He claims he must make sacrifices to “the gods” in order to return to the sea, but as readers we are never explained what gods he is talking about or how he got to that conclusion. This lack of development in such a key part of the plot makes his character to not come across as a tragic anti-hero, but just as an unhinged and almost delusional man.

I was really excited to read this book, and when the climax of the story was at its peak I was genuinely engrossed by it. But then again, I felt there was not a very satisfactory justification of the characters’ actions, and it made me not really want them to end up together. That being said, I think there was a lot of great ideas that I just wished had been developed and exploited more.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and share my honest opinion on this novel.

[Anisa Daniel-Oniko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace Ferguson, a molecular biologist/Ph.D student and Lir Murphy, a competitive swimmer, fundamentally have three things in common:
1. A love of the sea
2. Aversion to socialization
3. A deep, transcendent, and startling obsession with the uncommon love that they share

What’s interesting about this book is the way that it differentiates Grace and Lir based on how they approach the above.

I will admit: I approached this book with a great deal of apprehension, but I hoped it would be truly Gothic as opposed to merely dark. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

Fundamentally, I’m a fan of pseudo romances, which aren’t exactly the same as dark ones. (Think Ambition by Kia Ayesha Sinan, as opposed to Haunting Adeline). This book delivered on the pseudo romance promise for me. It begins as a romance, but achieves eyebrow-raising levels of obsession in a sharply swift, skillfully achieved transition. This is a book that will make you panic, and sigh, and gasp, and most of all shake your head. It’s twisty and twisted and the ending will incense you (in the absolutely best of ways).
The mythology aspect was also blindingly unique, and very, very well played.

I loved this book for these reasons. It feels like a proper Gothic novel, and they’re startlingly rare these days. If you’re a fan of psychological, Gothic romances, then this book is for you!

Tl:dr - A new and unique (yet appropriate) addition, to a long and storied tradition. 4 stars.

*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐

Story dragged at times- I found myself rereading some paragraphs because they drug on without really adding anything to the plot. That being said, it wasn't so often that I felt the need to stop reading. Things were predictable, but I was still compelled to read until the end.

Lir's character felt well fleshed out, and I feel that the author conveyed his psychosis well. I could truly understand why Grace felt the way she did about him.

Grace, on the other hand, didn't feel quite as fleshed out. She is overly pessimistic and self-deprecating, which gets annoying after a while. I also feel like her personality and thoughts revolved too heavily around Lir, to the detriment of her own character. I can see how this would be intentional, but I feel it'd be the cause of underlying problems…not anxiety and low self-esteem.

In all, it was a good read. The writing style is beautiful, and I love that she used UK terms that are still easy to figure out for readers not as familiar with them.

Recommended: YA or adult readers who love dark romances, or anyone looking for a dark, psychological read.

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I don’t even know where to start. This book was a wild ride, even when I was guessing what might happen next, or I was screaming at Grace for being so blind. Macfarlane does such a fantastic job visualizing the story and explaining Grace’s emotions. It was very similar to being pushed back and forth in the tides — you could predict what would happen and it would still take you by surprise.

I will admit, this is my first psychological, thriller type read, and I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy the gothic romance it provided. Pleasantly, I was surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and all of the emotions that came with it. It was dark and beautiful and the backdrop of the story was absolutely gorgeous to hear about and picture while you’re reading.

Lir was, at his core, a walking red flag from the start. And while I constantly yelled at Grace for being a blind idiot, I also saw his appeal and understood why she was so drawn to him. What’s not to excite from dark curls and soft, lilting accents? A boy who seems soft and is obsessed with the sea? A recipe for romance.

A wonderful, enthralling read if I had ever seen

[Petrina Binney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story follows twenty-five-year-old Grace as she finishes her PhD and falls in crazed, obsessive love with Irish student, Lir. Grace knows nothing of Lir’s deeply troubled past, nor does she quite understand his devotion to the sea, but her desire for him is sudden and stunning.

When a series of grisly murders shocks the local community on the beautiful, ethereal west coast of Scotland, all Grace can think about is whether or not Lir is safe.

And I was hooked from the start. There are some wonderfully wry observations:

“His head was bent over the lab manual, so I couldn’t see his face, but there was something about the way he held himself that suggested I’d like it.
Which was a weird thing to think about a person.”
From Chapter One, The Boy From The Sea by H. L. Macfarlane

There were very memorable lines all the way through, the characters are well drawn and powerful, and I fully expect this story to stay with me for many years to come. I’ve found a new favourite author.

A must read.

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the marine biology lab of a Scottish university, Grace Ferguson and Lir Murphy's lives intersect, setting the stage for an intricate dance between obsession, attraction, and the fear of solitude. Grace's fixation on Lir spirals into a tumultuous journey, one where her yearning for companionship grapples with her deep-seated dread of being alone. What she discovers, however, is that Lir is just as consumed by his feelings for her, and the line between attraction and obsession becomes increasingly blurred.
Amidst the backdrop of the surrounding murders, Grace is faced with a difficult choice: follow her instincts, which scream of danger, or let her heart lead her into uncharted territory.

“The Boy from the Sea” by H. L. Macfarlane was so much better than I thought it was going to be. The characters were relatable and super mentally unstable which I loved so much. The ending was unexpected but also left me happy and upset at the same time. It’s not enough to have a digital copy and I need a physical copy of the book as well. 5 out of 5 stars.

[Rach scifi.book.club · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when you see a book outside your usual genre and you just feel intrigued? Yeah, this book got me like that. I’m not sure if it was the sea element (I’m a coastal gurl) or the psychological suspense description on the cover, but I was compelled to pick this up and I’m glad I did!

The Boy from the Sea has many classic thriller elements (murders, suspense, mysterious characters) whilst also weaving in some nautical mythology and a dark romance to give it a twist.✨

At times I was rooting for the main character, Grace, and at times I was shouting at my kindle at her, which was also a lot of fun - who needs an agreeable protagonist all the time. Not me! 😂 I thought I had figured what was going on about 2/3 through but no - I was then surprised by a twisty ending. It’s always fun to be outsmarted by a book!

This was fun, sinister, creepy and I don’t trust anyone now. The moral of this book is always listen to your best friend!

[Carlynne Toomey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love H. L. Macfarlane stories. First of all, they are almost always set in or around Scotland, which I love. Secondly, they deal with darker subject matter, that she manages to make really interesting and compelling. Thirdly, the writing is fabulous! She brings you into the story with well developed characters that intrigue you. Her story world is completely believable, and the writing is smooth and flows without interruptions! If you enjoy psychological thrillers, I highly recommend this book and if you enjoy it, check out her other works that are equally enjoyable!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jake Curran-Pipe · Rating 4 out of 5]

HL Macfarlane’s first standalone novel did not disappoint! Even though I’ve been to most of the places described in the novel (Glasgow, Largs, western isles) the sensory descriptions of the locales are extremely evocative and perfectly capture the stark grey beauty of Scotland’s West Coast.

The story itself is very intriguing, Grace is a likeable character (usually I hate the lead of a romantic story) and Lir’s enigmatic sex appeal is very magnetic. The Boy from the Sea is like a romance novel in the world of a psychological thriller and I enjoyed the growing sense of dread creeping alongside the sexual tension and love drama.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well although the build up was expected with Lir being unhinged, it was a nice read.

Eerily similar to Stockholm syndrome, this was like Gracie still being in love with an unhinged killer.

The parts of the mythical sea creatures, the gods and Lir's belief was well concocted.

As I could predict the ending, the main villain, I reduced a star.

I wanted a total psych mind twist ending or something of the sort which this novel failed to uphold. Reduced a star.

[Jess Gignac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any book that has a tagline about obsessions, count me in!
This book was nothing like I’ve read before (in a good way). I loved how the author had the main characters jobs as something different than we usually read about. I also loved all the sea and mythic talk. I read a note at the end that this book was published with an alternate ending, and I love that they chose this ending for the book.
Although I loved this book, I wish there was a little more “obsessive love” in the book.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

this story follows Lir and his obsession for the sea. it's psychological thriller with a bit of romance.Grace is a goofy and kind person that has a huge crush on lir. Lir is a quite and mysterious grump. This book was very engaging and enjoyable to read . I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I do feel it could have been a bit more short and explained more on certain topics . I definitely recommend giving it a try.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ken Biltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional read

I have read many of HL’s books and this one does not disappoint. HL’s writing style is concise and to the point. Her descriptions put you right in the scene. Her characters are both loved and loathed. I for one will continue reading HL’s books as they are entertaining to the very end.

[andrea marie mcdowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

book was good very weird too but interesting nonetheless but would read again and recommend very good writing style love the uk writing style

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather Bane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good thriller. The storyline grabbed my interest and I thought it was well written. The characters are well written. I would recommend reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristi Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eerily haunting. Borderline reads as a romance novel... until it doesn’t. Thought provoking? Check. Moral compass questioning? Check. Quick and easy read? Check. Unique storyline? Check. Overall: I hate that I love this book.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a tad too bizarre for me. I couldn’t connect with the characters. The writing was good, I’m probably just the wrong audience.

[Kronk · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the first few chapters I thought I was reading some sort of teen fiction. Despite a rather irritating heroine it picked up.