This is a gothic tale about mothers, daughters, and tragedy through time. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, but it started to lose me in the middle. Felt very drawn out, and there wasn’t much to motivate me to keep reading. Had it been a little shorter, it would be the perfect book for me. Overall I enjoyed the dark atmosphere , but it really didn’t build up to much and left me unsatisfied.

A very slow paced book. It was hard for me to keep my focus on it. Which is a shame because I really love that cover, but I would totally give this author another try. The prose was beautiful.

I'll admit this one is a little bit of a slow burn, especially for the first half of the book, which is why it's taken me so long to finish it. I started it multiple times and just could not get absorbed, but I felt too guilty to DNF it since I was sent a review copy. Instead, I let it sit for awhile until I was fully in the mood to be absorbed, and I am SO GLAD that I made this decision because I LOVED THIS.

Books and stories about tough mother/daughter relationships always get me, and I had a heightened appreciation - and sensitivity to - this one because my own mother suffers from Alzheimer's disease, and bits of this were way too relatable for me. It was very well written and impactful, and I feel those would be true even if I didn't have the personal experience.

The slow build and overall mystery to this one lend themselves to each other very well -- just when you're starting to think that you want something to happen, it DOES and then you're left wanting more & speeding through a few pages. Loved that feeling of being lost to the story.

Locals say Cape Disappointment is haunted. With a name like that, how could it not be?

Lighthouses aren't just stunning to look at, they serve a purpose. They are used to warn ships of dangerous shallows and rocky coasts. They light the way for safe sailing. Can they also be used to keep other kinds of danger at bay?


Told in different timelines, They Drown Our Daughters is chilling and atmospheric with strong gothic vibes. Meredith and her young daughter have come back to Meredith's childhood home. Her mother is in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease believes the stories are real. She doesn't just believe it, she knows it. She can hear it in the seashell. She knows it is becoming her granddaughter as it has beckoned every woman in their family for generations.

In the past, we see the lighthouse ever vigilant as it sets the stage for what is to come.

"Water, water everywhere and nary a drop to drink..."

This book touches on many things: mothers and daughters, relationships, family legacy, and tragedy. Part ghost story, part mystery, part supernatural, part fantasy. This book jumps around in time but is never confusing. There were things that I wanted more of an explanation on, but overall, this was an enjoyable gothic tale.

The author even included questions at the end for discussion.

Atmospheric, gothic, chilling

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such an atmospheric read about family curses and mermaid lore. We follow women from five different generations bound to the ocean. The writing feel so real, I could feel the salt and wind on my face. Nevertheless, the pacing is particular and I felt like certain plot points could have been more developed. In short, a queer and haunting ocean story perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno Garcia.

Book Response: THEY DROWN OUR DAUGHTERS by Katrina Monroe
THEY DROWN OUR DAUGHTERS by Katrina Monroe

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: THE GRAVEYARD OF LOST CHILDREN

Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9781728248202

Release Date: July 12th, 2022

General Genre: Paranormal, Saphic, Feminism, Gothic, Thriller

Sub-Genre/Themes: Coastal towns, divorce, family saga, generations of women, grief, mothers & daughters, matriarchy, lesbians, water spirits/mermaids, witchcraft, secrets & lies, young girls

Writing Style: Own voices, intricately plotted, character-driven, multiple timelines, gothic

What You Need to Know: I listened to the audiobook. Narrated by Mara Wilson. She has a theatrical style I enjoyed; like listening to a movie. If I had a physical copy that I could look at once in a while, I would have been able to make more sense of the timeline, but I didn’t so I got lost sometimes on the multiple POVs and timelines. There are a lot of female characters in this story. The reader must pay attention in order to keep track which is a personal downside to audiobooks–it seems easier for me to lose track of who’s who.

My Reading Experience: First of all, a coastal town with an old lighthouse sets the stage. The author crafts mood with an absorbing Gothic storytelling voice. Lush descriptions of the sea and the surrounding landscape. This book 100% would best be enjoyed on a beach vacation on the North Coast of California or a small coastal town in Oregon.

Seven generations of women have all been affected by a family curse in their own ways. The ocean is a source of power and strength; the women are drawn to it but it also brings about tragedy and grief.

The main character, Meredith Strand, returns home to Cape Disappointment with her daughter, Alice, during a painful divorce. Visiting her mother, Judith is difficult because she seems preoccupied with a family curse. Judith also suffers from the early onset of Alzheimer's disease. There is a sense of dread building underneath the surface of the writing, telegraphing to the reader that a conflict will be introduced. So there was a level of predictability that was disappointing.

I enjoyed the flashbacks to the 1800s more than the real-time drama.

The middle of this book unravels slowly and more than once, I was tempted to fast forward to the start of the climax/conclusion. I think the complex nature of all the interconnected, generational storylines gets away from the author and muddies the reading experience a little. I also didn’t invest in any of the characters.

Final Recommendation: I would recommend this audiobook to readers looking for witchy stories, mermaid lore, sapphic romance, and relationships, that atmospheric, gothic, coastal vibe similar to books like Little Eve. Readers should be prepared for a quiet, paranormal, slow-burn storytelling style rich in vibes but lacking character development and strong hooks.

Comps: has a Jennifer Mcmahon style, though the plotting is not as engaging or complicated. Similar to maybe Darcy Coates

They Drown our Daughters is a gothic story about generations of mothers and their daughters that suffer from a deadly curse. We all hear how for some people the water calls to them…well this family the water calls to them, every woman in this family, to their deaths.
The story follows Meredith Strand, who as you learn in the summary is recently separated from her wife, and her and her daughter Alice have returned to her hometown of Cape Disappointment. An aptly named place because this is the home of the curse on her family and the moment she returns she can hear the call of the water…
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The atmosphere and vibes were done well and I think it was written well, but over all it wasn’t my style. I think my main issue with the book is that it jumps around the timeline from Meredith to various ancestors, go back to five generations to where the curse began. But it does not jump around in order leaving me confused a lot of the time. You see I would forget which person we were following, how they were related to one another and my attention span can’t really keep up with this kind of jumping around. Especially when as soon as something interesting would happen, we would immediately be thrown back in time to another ancestor. Leaving me at a cliffhanger and immediately taking away my steam so I would put the book down and not return for a while. This issue I think has more to do with my ADHD than that actual skill in which the time shifts were written so if you like that kind of thing and the intricate weaving of timelines, then this will be right up your alley.
Another thing I am learning I am not fond of is mother/daughter stories. I am just not the person they are meant for and I need to learn that. I am not a mother, and I have no relationship with my mother, so I don’t feel big connections to the relationships in these books.
Finally, I was iffy on the ending. The human element was not very believable and kind of annoyed me and the actual ending was not a surprise to me in the least. I got very Dark Water (JP version I haven’t seen the US version) vibes from a few parts of this (JP version I haven’t seen the US version).

Overall, it wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t the audience for this one. I recommend this if you like: gothic, coastal setting, ghosts and family curses, generational stories following women, and stories about mothers who will do anything to protect their daughters.

3.5 rounded up. I found this title really slow starting and unfortunately at times it did feel like I was forcing myself to continue but then once the story got going it REALLY got going.

5 generations of women all bound to the sea, this book breathed salt air. A fantastic read.

I truly hate having to leave such a low rating. Queer, creepy water book? Count me in. Sadly, this one just didn't hit home with me. I feel like everything was scattered, sometimes slow(mostly) and sometimes fast but disjointed. I felt exhausted after finishing the book and that's just not something a book should leave you feeling.

Absolutely dripping with atmosphere. It slows down a bit after the first few chapters, but it’s still a fun read.

Told a story about multi-generational curse that drowns every daughter of the family, They Drown Our Daughters has my best interest at first. All the more with its ocean vibes and small-town setting.

I have to say that the first chapters are intriguing and gripping. It was one thing that kept me reading, drove by curiosity of the very first event happening. To discover the origin of the curse, what truly happened that night. As the plot evolved, all I felt was that the pace was going more slowly, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. But still, my curiosity wins.

In the end, my curiosity wasn’t appeased. It has some plot holes and an unclear origin story.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted e-book!

Read this book if you like: Multiple POV, multiple timelines, deep meaningful stories, stories of motherhood, legends

Wow. This was so atmospheric. I just got lost reading this. It was so good. I regret not reading it sooner. This book hits on motherhood, mermaids, curses, and so much more. It's very creepy and eerie. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to read this early. Review has been posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Beautifully haunting, this novel spanning generations of women and the horrors and heartbreaks they had to face was the perfect gothic novel to read on a gloomy, rainy afternoon. The prose was gorgeous and it was also interesting to view the different perspectives of each of the characters as each chapter progresses. While I felt that the conclusions still left more questions on my end, this was still a pretty enjoyable read.

In "They Drown Our Daughters," the story of a family curse and mermaid legends is expertly crafted. The tale is told from the perspectives of five generations of women who have a connection to the ocean. The author's ability to create a vivid atmosphere is impressive, as I felt like I was at the beach, which I thoroughly appreciated. However, there were a few gaps in the plot that could have been better developed. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and recommend it to those interested in this genre.

This cover really drew me in! I was so intrigued by the gothic atmosphere of this novel and it worked well with the story. I loved the take on mothers and daughters. This was very well written and I enjoyed it!

The story in this one was great. It kept me guessing until the end. I loved the mystery and the gothic feel.

Cape Disappointment…why would anyone in their right mind live in a place with disappointment in the name? Meredith was never able to answer that question or figure out why her mother never left. Now her mother is experiencing the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease so her daughter and her are moving back to take care of her.

After splitting with her wife, it seems like moving back in to take care of her mom is the next logical choice. Is Cape Disappointment really haunted like legends and townies say or is it all just a bunch of crap. Meredith isn’t sure but her mother, on the other hand is convinced that the water wants her granddaughter. If they aren’t careful, the water could take them all.

Alzheimer’s is a very hard disease on the patient and their families. What I enjoyed with Monroe’s writing, is that you can feel that fear and frustration as you are reading through her words. She does a good job of developing the characters and making them relatable to the readers. In this book, Monroe uses timeline jumps to share all sides of the journey that the reader is embarking on. Even with the timeline jumping, I was able to follow along as I read. I felt that it provided the additional background for the readers as they navigated the story. I enjoyed the interweaving of the supernatural and natural elements of world building throughout the story.

I would have enjoyed more background on the characters because I feel that it would make some of them more relatable for the readers and for me the pace would drag in some spots as I was reading. Other than that, I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to a friend!

Thank you Netgalley, Poison Pen Press, and Katrina Monroe for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review!

Haunting and beautifully written! I love stories about generations and specifically generations of women, part of that being because I grew up being very close to my grandma and mom, so this book resonated with me in that way. I appreciated having the different characters so present as to give the reader various perspectives to consider as the story unfolds. Each is dealing with their own troubles, no matter their age, and I think this is important to remember in our own lives, that all of us struggle so how can we use our experiences to unite rather than divide us.