- Hardcover: 432 pages
- Publisher: Del Rey (30 July 2020)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1529100666
- ISBN-13: 978-1529100662
Synopsis
Born covered in the feathers of a bird, and kept hidden in a crumbling house full of secrets, Marea has always known she was different, but never known why. And so to find answers, she goes in search of the father she has never met.
The hunt leads her to the City of Murmurs, a place of mermaids and mystery, where jars of swirling mist are carried through the streets by the broken-hearted.
And Marea will never forget what she learns there
Review
Feathertide is the stunning debut novel from Beth Cartwright. A magical fantasy book, this reads like a fairytale for adults, and deals with some important contemporary issues. Maréa was born with feathers on her back and shoulders, a feature she keeps hidden under a cloak in fear of being different. After eighteen years of hardly ever going outside she decides to go the City of Murmers to find her father. A place of mystery and magic, where it seems anything is possible, Maréa finds more than she bargained for.
The cover of Feathertide is beautiful, the way the light captures the gold and parts of the sea and the story is as beautiful as it’s cover. Maréa is a warm and wonderful character whose story I loved reading, as she grew in age and wisdom, and learned to spread her wings, literally. Brought up in a whorehouse, Maréa had an intersting start in life, but one that was filled with love, not just from her mother but also from the other girls. Protected from the outside world by her mother who worried what people would say and that she might be taken away, Maréa’s eyes are opened by Professor Elms, who teaches her about the outside world. At eighteen she escapes the confines of the cellar and travels to the City of Murmers. This journey is both a physical and spiritual experience for Meréa as she escapes the confines of her old life into a new awakening, a place where she can learn to be herself, grow and follow her dreams, and be accepted for who she is.
Beth Cartwright’s writes such enchanting and poetic prose that captures the ethereal and magical nature of the story. The imagery is brought to life by some beautiful similies and metaphors, painting a colourful landscape of the City of Murmers, and those who reside in it. This is a magical city where mist can be captured in a jar to heal heartbreak, where mermaids live in the canals and Sybil the prophetess can read you future. The landscape of the city, with the canals, decorative squares, alleyways, the churches and towers reminded me of Venice, one of my favourite cities; there was even a masquerade ball. The diversity of the city opens up the debate about being different, bring accepted for who and what you are, showing your true self without fear of being ridiculed, issues very much a part of today’s society.
Feathertide is a wow book for me, I totally lost myself in it and really didn’t want it to end; I wanted to see what Maréa did next. The writng was just beautiful, captivating and enchanting me, drawining me into this magical city and Maréa’s story. I thought the message of acceptance, self-esteem and difference was brilliantly dealt with within the plot, and threaded naturally into Maréa’s story. I have to say the magical, fantasy genre is fast becoming a favourite for me and one I wish I had found years ago, but Im enjoying finding lots of new books to read. Feathertide is a stunning example of this genre, and one I can’t recommend highly enough, with memorable characters you care about, magical and beautiful locations and a story line I was enchanted by. Absolutley amazing and I can’t wait to read Beth Cartwright’s next book.
I would like to thank Del Rey Penguin Books for my beautiful hardback copy of this book in return for my honest review.
