A Spell for Drowning took Cornish folklore and made it accessible in a moving story about the love between siblings and for a mentor. In A Spell for Drowning, we follow Kensa, a girl when the book begins, that feels disconnected from others around her due to her parentage and personal history. This spurs her to seize the opportunity to train with Isolde, the wise woman in the area, to learn healing and the old ways of the land. What ensues is a series of unfortunate choices and reactions by Kensa that lead her deeper and deeper into the relationship between the land and the sea and her role therein as the wise woman of Portscatho.

The story spends a fair amount of time exploring coming-of-age themes as well as the tumultuous relationships within Kensa's family - most notably with her half-sister Elowen, before finally settling into atmospheric horror with a bittersweet ending. This book felt like old stories parents told to children to keep them from wandering too far from home or staying out too late. Unfortunately for Kensa, she didn't head these warnings. Fortunately for us, this led to an interesting story that held my attention and left me wondering at whether I would have had the strength of character to make different choices even with what feels like a stronger sense of danger than Kensa had.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read and review A Spell for Drowning.

A Spell for Drowning is well-written, atmospheric, and emotionally sharp. Kensa is a strong protagonist—quiet, lonely, and constantly trying to prove she deserves the life she’s taken for herself. The story handles power, isolation, and female expectation with nuance, and the worldbuilding feels rooted and specific without ever getting bogged down in exposition.

I wish I’d read this on a misty beach somewhere, because the setting is that good. The author does a superb job building a coastal world that feels both grounded and mythic, with just the right amount of unease.

The pacing stalls a little in the middle, and a few character relationships could’ve been better developed, but the tone and tension carry through. If you’re into grounded historical fantasy with folklore, high stakes, and complicated women, this is an easy recommendation.


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

If you want to feel like you’re in a Cornish folktale, try this book. We follow Kensa, a young woman who has always been ostracized by her seaside community because of her father. That is until she gets the opportunity to become the next wise woman. For the first time she feels like she has a place, even if there are downsides. The creatures in Old Sal’s tales are real and Kensa’s new role will demand more of her than she ever considered.

The sense of place was really good and the characters felt real and natural. I enjoyed inhabiting Portscatho with the characters and watching Kensa mature and grow emotionally. It read a bit more young adult than I prefer and the ending kinda dragged for me but I had a good time.

From debut author Rebecca Ferrier comes a dark, atmospheric tale laced with seafoam and bile. Fans of Ava Reid and Erin A. Craig will love this sea-swept tale of magic, love, and sisterhood.
It's rare for a book to have a main character as unlikable and Kensa and still manage to create such an engaging story. I often found Kensa overly selfish and irritating, and while I appreciate the development she went through, I do feel that her character development was slightly rushed around the end. All of the characters were so interesting and I wish I could know more about them! I especially loved the ending, and I sincerely hope we aren't done with tales of the Bucka and his life as a human just yet.
The writing and setting were the true jewels of this book. All of my knowledge of Cornwall comes from Poldark, so I was fascinated by the snippets of mythology combined with the rugged setting that brought new depth to such an ancient place.
Rebecca Ferrier's writing is exquisite and visceral in this book - she has a true talent for darkly whimsical storytelling. That being said, the writing could be too dense at times and made it difficult to discern what was happening at first glance. In all, though, A Spell for Drowning is the perfect read for fans of dark historical fantasy with its rich sense of place, intricate imagery, and complex characters.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC!

Wow wow wow, that ending! I devoured this book in two days! This was an excellent romantasy about a girl’s vow for vengeance and the family she finds along the way.

First, the cons to this book are small, but they are quite important. This book did feel like an amalgamation of several romantasy books released over the past few years. It shares the base of magic systems and a very similar backstory to two other popular books I have read. This did leave a sour taste in my mouth upon reading.

Now, the pros of this book outweigh those cons tremendously for me. The relationship between the main characters is to die for. Their bond with each other, their bickering, flirtation, desires, and drive is what truly made this book so enjoyable for me. The author does a great job of taking inspiration from other popular books and still creating a unique story and ending that I do not see coming. And I had a LOT of theories while reading.

The pacing of this book is fast, but the relationship progresses at a believable timeline as well as the plot. I do feel like there is so much more room for this author to grow the story and the world we are living in.

I am SO excited to continue this series. I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Rebecca Ferrier for the ARC!

Release Date: January 27th, 2026

I was not immediately hooked and did find myself confused at various points, but I did like this book. I think the very beginning was very slow paced and I didn’t fully understand what was happening or what the conflict was until almost halfway through. Once the action started to happen and the plot was actually unfolding I found myself wanting to read it more and more. I would definitely read the sequel, if there will be one, or any of Rebecca Ferrier’s other books.

I’ll start with the bottom line: this book was incredible. The descriptions make the story come to life. I could smell the salt and brine, feel the damp sea air. The imagery evoked a sense of wonder that takes the reader to the seaside village where this book takes place.
This book feels like a witchy, coming-of-age fairy tale. The main character, Kensa, is an independent and headstrong woman who feels out of place among her peers. She carves out a place for herself as wise woman, although under dishonest pretenses. As she grows into her role, she perseverates on the lies that afforded her acceptance in the community, and this creates an intense desire to prove herself as worthy. I like my FMC’s to be messy and imperfect, so I was super pleased to read about Kensa’s trials and tribulations, whether they were comical or terrifying to behold.
One theme that stood out to me is the shunning women that are powerful or misunderstood. Although wise women are essential in the community, the villagers are quick to blame or disregard what they do not understand. I think this holds true for our own society and this piece resonated with me.
Ultimately, ‘A Spell for Drowning’ is a tale of learning self-acceptance and honesty, told in a creative and imaginative setting. I would recommend this book to others without hesitation. Thank you to the author, Alcove Press, and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"A Spell for Drowning" by Rebecca Ferrier is an enchanting historical fantasy debut steeped in Cornish folklore, sea creatures, ancient magic, and rebellious witches. Set in the late eighteenth century, it blends atmosphere and myth with character-driven storytelling. I love lore and was unfamiliar with Cornish folklore, so I eagerly dove into the book.

The story follows Kensa and her stepsister Elowen, who live in the village of Portscatho on the Cornish coast—a land full of superstition and myth. Kensa is the daughter of a feared sea smuggler who was hanged for his crimes. After his death, Kensa’s mother took a new partner, and from that union, Elowen was born.

Only four years separate the sisters, but their looks and personalities are quite different. Kensa is the firstborn—stubborn, outspoken, and, true to her name, born to be first. She's an outsider and unwelcome due to her parentage. Elowen is even-tempered, quiet, sweet, and well-liked.

When Kensa and Elowen come across a dying sea beast on the Cornish shore—the Morgawr—Kensa is quick to claim credit for the discovery, thus becoming the apprentice to Isolde, the local wise woman. To be a wise woman is to be alone—unmarried, childless, relied upon. Kensa prefers that, thinking she'll finally be accepted in the village, as wise women are respected and appreciated. The plot thickens when Isolde falls ill, and Kensa must contend with the sea god Bucka, the expectations of others, and the consequences of her choices and actions.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it interesting. It is very slow-paced, though, and the story really starts to evolve and escalate halfway through. This is definitely a character-driven book, and the author does a tremendous job capturing the personalities of her characters. I loved the way the relationships—especially between the sisters and other characters—were portrayed with great passion, but without being trite. The characters are well-developed, realistic, and mostly engaging.

Kensa irritated me at first with her unwise choices and lies, but she grew on me. She was quick to call out a lie but lied herself. She was self-absorbed and immature at the start, but she developed as the plot unfolded. Many times I wanted to shake her. Elowen was also stubborn and had her own secrets. Her value was often overlooked by others, and while the spotlight wasn’t always on her, her strength and wisdom were essential to the tale. I liked how they complemented each other and how their relationship developed.

I also appreciated the exploration of class, power, the expectations and limitations placed on women, grief, identity, and the desire for acceptance. In addition, I found the dark atmosphere and the lore surrounding the sea and the witches very compelling. The author’s writing has a nice rhythm that borders on poetic.

As I said, the real action begins in the second half. The first part is used to weave the background and prepare the ground for what comes next. The magic is gentle, and so is the slow-burn romance. The romance isn't a major part of the plot, and the author does a good job of keeping it in the background in favor of the main storyline.

The book is emotional and really spoke to something in me about relationships, self-worth, and choices. My only issue was that some parts dragged, especially due to the slow pace at the beginning. Still, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. It’s a standalone, but I would love to read more set in that world. The ending was satisfying—tying together the threads while still leaving room for a possible sequel. Fans of lore and intricate relationships who don’t mind a slow pace will enjoy it.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

This book started out soooo good. I was sucked in by the writing and the tantalizingly unique story. But then…. meh. It turned into something that’s been done a million times already (and with more skill by other authors).

I found myself skipping through the last chapters, just to be done with it, due to the climax being so drawn out.

With that being said, there is obvious excellence in storytelling here, so it’s possible that my opinion will eventually reside amongst the minority. I think the beginning represented a “promise” (to me, at least) that the rest of the book would feel as new and fresh.

I’d give this book a 3.75, rounded up to a 4 based on the solid character arc, decent story structure, and intriguing writing style.

My expectations were well met and then pushed past. This was an amazing read full of folklore I’ve never seen! I would love to see more from this author. Absolutely stellar.

What more can I ask for? I loved this story through and through. I will be reading more of Rebecca's novels!

This book felt like it pulled me under with the tide and never quite let me go. The writing is lush without being indulgent. It feels careful and feral all at once. There’s something sacred in the way the mythology is handled, something wild and whispering beneath the surface that made the world feel bone-deep real. I love stories about women who are allowed to be angry and lonely and ambitious. Women who aren’t softened for the sake of likability. Her longing, her stubbornness, her slow transformation, every part of it felt earned and heartbreakingly true. I loved it completely.

This book cast a spell on me—truly. A Spell for Drowning is the kind of story that wraps around you like mist: mysterious, atmospheric, and quietly haunting. I’m still sitting with the way it made me feel. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this earc.

Rooted in folklore and mythology, A Spell for Drowning is like the fairy tales of old, gritty and haunting. Like those tales, this book also carries a lesson with it, a familiar refrain about coming to age.

Pros:
- The writing is very good. Ferrier's descriptions help immerse the readers into the story and hold them there waiting to see what comes next
- The characters are very believable. There will be no need to scream "why?" at these characters as all of their actions are believable and very human

Cons
- The pacing of the book is a little on the slower side, which could be a turn off to some. But the payoffs are worth it in the end, sort of like a roller coaster cranking up the slope before the steep drop.

4.25 stars

This book really surpassed my expectations! I usually read books swiftly, but this one in particular I could not put down. The entire tone of the story was quietly eerie, like the still air in the eye of a hurricane. You are not quite sure what dangers lie ahead, but you're certain that of the foreboding that creeps down your neck.

This story centers around Kensa, and her stepsister Elowen who both live in Portscatho. Her entire life Kensa has felt outcasted and derided, due to her parentage. One day, while looking for Elowen, Kensa finds her with a sea monster. Traditionally, this chance meeting with a sea monster denotes one as a potential "wise woman" (which I liken to a witch). Kensa leaps at the chance to escape her life at the village, but in order to do so, she must lie to Isolde, the local wise woman, that she was the one who found the monster, and not her stepsister. Beginning her education with a lie she must now uphold, Kensa is slowly submerged into the magic and superstition of her new role. Unfortunately, in her quest to keep everything important to her, she puts everyone she cares about at risk.

I felt both empathy and frustration at Kensa and her actions overall- an excellent sign about a character. Kensa was visceral in the best way. I also deeply appreciated the relationship between Kensa and Elowen, her stepsister. It was complicated and rife with tension. There is both resentment and affection, and both of these emotions fuel the story. Isolde was also a very compelling character and I wanted to learn more about her and her history. The Cornish folklore was also really interesting! The magic and mysticism were perfectly interwoven with the genuinely human and flawed nature of the characters in the story.

The story did drag sometimes and meander, but it never lost the eerie undertone that kept me wanting more. My main criticisms were Jack - I didn't really care for the development of their relationship. Unlike the rest of the relationships in the book, this one did not ring true for me. It felt like a shoehorn, added in because it "should" be there. I liked Kensa and her coming of age journey without the complications that he brought. But a minor complain overall to a gorgeously crafted story.

I received this book as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you both to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity!

Kensa has always been an outsider in her village with her father’s reputation hanging over her. One day her & her half sister discover a dying sea beast on the shore. Kensa is quick to take the credit of the discovery & in turn leads to her being an apprentice for their local wise woman Isolde.

Let me start by saying the writing is magical. It felt like I was reading a fairytale. I was pulled in by the writing style & was in awe of the way the words were put together. This translated into the subtle body horror elements depicting something so hauntingly beautiful.

As someone not familiar with Cornish folklore I found myself really enjoying this story. We experience some horror, some fairytale vibes & some coming of age. It beautifully weaves common struggles we face with mystical creatures & an atmospheric world. The themes touched on in this story are deeply human.

If you are looking for a haunting fairytale, coming of age story then I cannot recommend this book enough!!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the arc!!

As someone who’s obsessed with folklore, mythology, and dark fairy tales, A Spell for Drowning felt like it was written just for me. This book drips with atmosphere—from the rugged Cornish coast to the eerie presence of gods and sea creatures that feel pulled straight out of forgotten legends. Rebecca F. Ferrier blends myth and melancholy with such lyrical beauty that I found myself rereading lines just to soak in the mood.

Kensa is a fascinating protagonist—flawed, determined, and deeply human. Her hunger for recognition, her loneliness, her complicated relationship with power and sacrifice…it all felt so raw and real. The Bucka, the sea god, was equally mesmerizing and terrifying—a perfect embodiment of nature’s beauty and brutality.

This book is as much about ancient magic as it is about women’s roles, longing, and the cost of survival in a world that demands too much. Ferrier manages to balance the haunting and the heartfelt effortlessly. If you love immersive reads steeped in myth and emotional depth, don’t miss this one. I absolutely devoured it.

A Spell for Drowning is one of those books that lingers. Rebecca Ferrier crafts an eerie, moody world steeped in magic, grief, and feminine power. It’s not a loud book it whispers, and that whisper stays with you.

Pros:
•The writing is absolutely stunning. Every sentence feels like it was carefully carved out of folklore and ocean mist. It’s lyrical without being overly flowery just the right amount of haunting beauty.
•The atmosphere is chef’s kiss. Coastal village, mysterious rituals, a sense of something just beneath the surface… it’s like slipping into a fog you don’t quite want to leave.
•The themes of grief, identity, and quiet strength hit hard in the best way. It’s deeply character-driven and emotional without being overwrought.
•The touch of romance is subtle but powerful it doesn’t dominate the plot, but it matters, and it feels earned.

Cons:
•The pacing is definitely on the slower side. If you’re looking for high action, this isn’t that it’s a slow burn in every sense.
•Some moments feel a little too vague or dreamlike, and while that fits the tone, it left me wanting just a bit more clarity in the storytelling.
•Not all the side characters landed a few felt more like symbols than people, and I wanted to know more about their motivations.

Still, this was a gorgeous, introspective read that felt like being wrapped in kelp and secrets. Ferrier is absolutely one to watch I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next.

There’s something about this book that feels like a whispered warning and a lullaby all at once. A Spell for Drowning caught me completely off guard—in the best way. It’s eerie, poetic, and steeped in that peculiar kind of magic that creeps up on you: slow, coastal, cold to the bone.

Kensa’s story unfolds in a remote village weighed down by fear, suspicion, and old pacts. Her journey begins with a lie—one that feels small at first, almost necessary—and unravels into something far more dangerous. The further she goes, the more the story digs into themes of sacrifice, consequence, and what it means to claim power that was never freely given.

There’s folklore in these pages that feels lived-in. The sea monster, the rites, the wise women—it’s all wrapped in a fog of Cornish myth and memory. I never knew what direction the story would take, and I loved that. There’s a quiet unpredictability that kept me on edge, like the tide pulling back before a storm.

But what really made this stand out was the tone: part horror, part dark fairytale, part bittersweet coming-of-age. It’s filled with oddities and strange, beautiful creatures—and yes, some surprisingly funny moments too, like the kind of dry humor you’d find in an old folk tale told late at night.

If you love atmospheric stories with folklore roots, stories that unsettle while enchanting, A Spell for Drowning is a must-read. It's the kind of book that stays with you—not because it shouts, but because it haunts.

**First Person ARC Review: *A Spell for Drowning* by Rebecca Ferrier**

*A Spell for Drowning* swept over me like a rising tide—slow, steady, and impossible to escape. From the very first page, I was submerged in a world that felt ancient and brimming with quiet magic, where every word carried weight and every silence seemed to echo with something unsaid.

Rebecca Ferrier crafts atmosphere like a spellcaster. The coastal setting is soaked in salt, sorrow, and folklore, and it clings to the characters like mist. I could feel the chill in the air, the damp underfoot, the strange pull of the sea. There’s a haunting stillness to the story, like the moment before a storm, where everything feels heavy with meaning.

At its core, this book is about grief and longing—the kind that settles deep in your bones and never quite lets go. The magic here is subtle, more emotional than explosive, and that made it feel all the more powerful. It’s a story about memory, love, and the blurred line between protection and possession. There’s a slow-burn intensity to it, and I found myself completely caught in its current.

The writing is lyrical without ever feeling overwrought—every sentence felt deliberate, like an incantation. By the end, I wasn’t sure if I’d read a fairy tale, a tragedy, or a dream—but I knew I’d been changed by it.

*A Spell for Drowning* is eerie, poetic, and profoundly human. It left me feeling like I’d been both enchanted and warned. If you’re drawn to stories that linger like a ghost and ache like the sea, this one is not to be missed.