This was a haunting read, hauntingly beautiful, but haunting nonetheless. I do believe if you're a fan of grittier mythology, folklore and tall tales being retold, then this is absolutely for you.

It tells the age old lesson we all must learn, when you come into great power, it also comes with great responsibility. (Haha Spiderman)

At some points, this story made my hair stand on end, so horrifying in the way the story is told and unfolds around our main lead, Kensa. Grappling with the difficulties of finding balance between being what the people of Portscatho need, and what they should be fearing.

The slight body horror and ever present horror of the environment, the sea and the mysterious sea god, the Bucka. All of it tied up into a story I never could have told you where it was going, truly a treat to read early thanks to NetGalley.

Definitely looking forward to more of Ferrier's work.

Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The storytelling was written beautifully and it was haunting and intriguing all at once. Learning through Kensa was a journey and I felt all her struggles. I wish they hadn’t changed the name from the UK title but what can you do. If you like moody, atmospheric books set in the past, this is for you. 4 stars.

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.

Rebecca Ferrier’s writing is just stunning—lush and lyrical without ever being too much. The world she’s created feels like it exists just slightly out of reach, like something half-remembered from a dream. I was completely swept away.

The story has this deep, slow-burn magic, and I loved how it explored grief, longing, and what it means to belong. There’s a quiet tension throughout, and moments that genuinely gave me chills. The characters felt so real and human, even when surrounded by the strange and surreal.

This isn’t a loud book—it’s gentle and eerie and beautiful. One of those reads that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy. If you love stories with witches, secrets, and a touch of melancholy magic, this one’s for you.

A haunting and atmospheric triumph of folklore and feminine power. A Spell for Drowning is a gorgeously written blend of historical fiction, Cornish myth, and visceral, pelagic horror. Rebecca Ferrier crafts a lush and lyrical tale centered on a young “wise woman” (read: a healer, witch, and outcast) coming into her own amidst a society that fears and misunderstands her.

What makes this story so compelling is its balance of the mystical with the deeply human. The prose is rich and immersive, evoking the wild, untamed beauty of the Cornish coast, while exploring themes of isolation, tradition, and the weight women carry in silence. The body horror elements are subtle but powerful, enhancing the emotional impact rather than overshadowing it.

This is a uniquely resonant coming of age narrative that hits hard. Ferrier has given us something both beautiful and brutal: a tale of magic, resilience, and what it means to be feared for your power.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Rebecca Ferrier, and Alcove Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was very well written. I am far from an expert on Cornish folklore but I truly enjoyed it. The sea magic elements are what I found most intriguing about the entire story but the horror aspect was the icing on the cake. I really enjoyed the elements of body horror and botanical horror that the author gave us. Beautifully macabre. The author did a great job of providing a vivid description without over doing the gore.

We have themes of acceptance and societies assumptions combined with the constraints placed on women. We have a struggle to choose between the mystical, magical sea or a more traditional role of healer. We watch our MC struggle to find her place being both feared by the community and needed at the same time.

Overall I found this an enjoyable read. The author did a wonderful job of creating a magical atmosphere that was delightfully immersive.

This magical tale is surely a good read if this is the type of novel you are looking for. The time setting is in the late eighteenth century and is combined with cornish folklore. The moral of the story is that when someone comes into great power they also come into the great responsibility of maintaining it.
Our main character Kensa has always felt like an outsider in her village based on the bad deeds of her father. One day when out looking for her sister she finds her with this beached sea monster and legend has it whoever finds it becomes a wise woman. Knowing that she'll never earn the respect of her village if she doesn't take on this role she decides to take credit for finding it.
Kensa then presumes the duties of training as a wise woman with the help of another wise woman named Isolde. From there she will learn that it is a role that comes with great responsibility. she also learns that sometimes the role comes with great loss that can only be endured as well. Overall this was a very interesting read.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own

If you thought you knew where this book was going, no you don't and that's not a bad thing, the pages don't let you go!

A Spell for Drowning blew my expectations out of the water. It is so deep, kinda scary, and a bit funny here and there too. At no point was I able to predict what was going to happen, so it definitely kept me on my toes


The story is about Kensa, who is ostracized by the village because of who her father was. One day when trying to find where her sister, Elowyn, has wandered off to she sees her next to a beached sea monster and from there, decides to lie and says it was her who found it, thus taking the place to become a Wise woman. Eventually she begins her training and strange things start to unfold after Kensa tries to help heal her sick sister. She has to learn what pacts she must make, sacrifices, and take lessons in the hard way.


I found this book to be a very interesting read, its piqued my interest and curiosity for Cornish Folklore. l enjoyed the humorous bits, the horror, the magic and creatures. It's a great read, I highly recommend it especially to people that like their fantasy to be a bit scary.


(I received this as a arc)

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC, I really enjoyed it!! Its such an atmospheric read and the lore of the world pulled me right in. I loved the female main character, Kensa, her journey and growth were top notch. My favorite part was definitely her relationship development with her sister. The heart of the story is the characters but there is plenty of plot to go around too! I felt it was well paced and kept me engaged throughout. There is a bit of romance, but its sub-plot for sure. I wish we got more of them! Overall great read!!