The Sea Child

A Novel

De: Linda Wilgus

Narrado por: Hannah Genesius

In this enthralling, adventurous debut novel, a band of seafaring smugglers lands on the Cornish coast, where a young widow with a mysterious past becomes entangled in their schemes—and with their charismatic captain.

“With its richly detailed setting (think stone cottages and Poldark-esque windy cliffs) and blend of folklore, history and adventure, this enchanting debut novel offers both suspense and romance.”—The Washington Post (Noteworthy Books for January)

England, early 1800s: Destitute and forced to leave her home in London, Isabel, a young widow of the Napoleonic Wars, returns to the village on the rugged Cornish coast where she was found as a small child, dripping wet and alone. Hoping to learn more about her enigmatic origins, she’s shocked to find herself at the center of a local legend claiming that she is the daughter of a sea spirit.

As Isabel adjusts to life in her rented cottage, the coast is rife with smugglers and the Revenue Officers who hunt them. One evening, a group of dangerous raiders arrives at her door, carrying their wounded captain, Jack. Remembering her late husband’s fatal injuries, Isabel decides to care for Jack and soon feels a powerful connection to him. Even after Jack recovers, Isabel finds herself unable to forget him. Meanwhile, the sea calls to her, and a Revenue Officer who likes to hang smugglers poses a threat in more ways than one. Before long, Isabel finds herself caught on the wrong side of the law, with violence and heartbreak looming.

From the coves of Cornwall to the wild coast of Brittany, during perilous raids at sea and society dinner parties, Isabel fights to understand her kinship with the ocean while seeking answers about her past. But when the threat catches up with them and Jack’s life hangs in the balance, she must draw on all her courage and delve deep into the mythical heart of the Cornish coast. For only a sea child can turn the tide . . .

The Book Itself Feels like A Friend

This book is so beautifully written and it feels like a quiet embrace. Reading it reminded me of being gently pushed on a swing while my mother sang me to sleep soft, steady, and safe. It stirred something tender in my inner child. I can't fully explain why it made me feel so deeply, but I suspect it has everything to do with the ocean.

The way the author writes about the sea makes it feel alive... constant, patient, and always calling its own back home. I felt that pull immediately. The writing is vivid and immersive. I didn't feel like I was reading so much as drifting, carried forward by the tide. The prose is gentle and reflective, deeply rooted in nature, and written with a quiet elegance that lingers.

The story is set in early 1800s England. It follows Isabel, a thoughtful and introspective young woman with a mysterious past and an undeniable connection to the sea. She lives in the space between curiosity and uncertainty, searching for answers about who she is and where she belongs. Rather than offering clear explanations, the author allows questions to remain unresolved, inviting the reader to reflect alongside Isabel. The mystery surrounding her origins unfolds slowly and naturally, making her journey feel deeply human and real.

Then there is Jack who is calm, composed, and grounding in the best way. I won't give too much away, but I picture him as a refined and well-mannered captain. I loved that his character is not threatened by Isabel's desire for independence and self-discovery. Instead, he supports her journey, allowing her the space to grow into herself.

Overall, The Sea Child is a gentle, character-driven story. It is not fast-paced or filled with dramatic twists, and that is precisely what makes it so special.

Fabulous story!!!

This is a book to savor every moment! So well written and exquisite in the telling. I was intensely listening as the book came to a close. Unbelievable that this is a debut novel for this author! I felt like I was there in Cornwall, rocking on the ship and feeling the sea air in my face. I truly hope Linda writes more as this was a book I will remember for a long time. Absolutely incredible and beautiful. The narrator was amazing!!

Enthralling

The Sea Child is the debut novel of Linda Wilgus, a historical fiction with a touch of fantastical whimsy. Woven around old folk tales of a merman called the Sea Bucca and set along the Cornish coastline with a history of smuggling, it's a beautiful story about freedom, love, and the walls made by both laws and marriage.

Mrs. Isabel Henley is a young widow returning to the town she was found wandering the streets alone at the tender age of four, barely dressed and wet from the river. Rumors spread that she was the Sea Bucca's daughter, but after her adoption into a family of stature, she grows up in Norfolk as the daughter of an admiral. She married young and soon became a widow of Trafalgar. His shipmate brought Isabel her husband's medal and their friendship sparked rumors of impropriety, so she fled to the countryside to live a quiet life, alone.

All her plans fall apart when a group of smugglers break into her rented cottage one night with their wounded captain. There's blackmail and threats of death, a voyage to France, a murder, a rescue, and an abundance of adventure as Isabel's life becomes intertwined with the captain. And through it all is the sea and Isabel's pull towards the water and a man she just met.

The Sea Child is beautifully written, with a rich setting and captivating characters. The heart of a folk tale shapes one orphan's backstory into the heart of a woman who belongs to the sea. I was absolutely enthralled. I highly recommend it and look forward to any future novels.

I'm on my way to meet the author tonight, and hope I might return home with an autographed copy.