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Weather Underwater
Weather Underwater is a failed love story told as a literary eco-gothic thriller.
'When the whole world is drowning, who can you trust to pull you safely to shore?
The coming years bring no salvation. In the UK, people flee the flooded coasts only to find drinking water rationed in the barren cities. Two girls in a Portsmouth care home find temporary solace in each other despite their differences - Mia is a withdrawn orphan and Lily a volatile tomboy rejected by her family. However, their friendship soon becomes too intense to last and they drift apart, finding their separate ways out of the sinking city. Years later, their paths collide in London at a meeting for Weather Underwater, a group of activists fighting the eco-fascist Ebbtide Party in power. The reunion forces both women to make terrible choices – with devastating consequences.'
'When the whole world is drowning, who can you trust to pull you safely to shore?
The coming years bring no salvation. In the UK, people flee the flooded coasts only to find drinking water rationed in the barren cities. Two girls in a Portsmouth care home find temporary solace in each other despite their differences - Mia is a withdrawn orphan and Lily a volatile tomboy rejected by her family. However, their friendship soon becomes too intense to last and they drift apart, finding their separate ways out of the sinking city. Years later, their paths collide in London at a meeting for Weather Underwater, a group of activists fighting the eco-fascist Ebbtide Party in power. The reunion forces both women to make terrible choices – with devastating consequences.'
- GenresFictionScience Fiction
232 pages, Paperback
Published May 15, 2023
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86 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 11, 2023
*DISCLAIMER* - I painted Weather Underwater's cover. I know Kaisa because I published one of her short stories in the literary journal I run. But I'd give this novel five stars anyway.
Lily and Mia, lovers as teens, split apart before the novel opens. As it progresses they chart an agonising, disastrous collision course, on opposite sides of a brutal social divide, like a train crash in slow-motion. Saarinen predicts a future I find deeply terrifying, and quite likely: a fascist party in power, the UK under stress from the heavy pressures of climate change and resulting shortages of food, water, and land, levying blame onto the backs of immigrants, beginning to redefine what a citizen looks like as ethnically white.
Every page of this novel has beautiful imagery and sentences which gave me pause (my favourites: p106, 'a pale red silence', p116 'The journey seems simultaneously much longer and much shorter than it should be, as though she were teleporting but only a few feet at a time, flickering in and out of the familiar landscape,' p132 'She grew up hungry [...] perhaps born more hollow than other people,' and my favourite clapback ever, on p30, ' "Who else do I have to talk to?" Talk to god, Mia thinks.')
Saarinen's pacing is gentle, and she lingers over scenes--but this results in dreaminess, and easily digestible prose, not boredom. The reason it has taken me so long to post this review (I received a copy in advance) is because this book captures the grief of things to come better than anything else I've read, and I had to stop to breathe.
Lily and Mia, lovers as teens, split apart before the novel opens. As it progresses they chart an agonising, disastrous collision course, on opposite sides of a brutal social divide, like a train crash in slow-motion. Saarinen predicts a future I find deeply terrifying, and quite likely: a fascist party in power, the UK under stress from the heavy pressures of climate change and resulting shortages of food, water, and land, levying blame onto the backs of immigrants, beginning to redefine what a citizen looks like as ethnically white.
Every page of this novel has beautiful imagery and sentences which gave me pause (my favourites: p106, 'a pale red silence', p116 'The journey seems simultaneously much longer and much shorter than it should be, as though she were teleporting but only a few feet at a time, flickering in and out of the familiar landscape,' p132 'She grew up hungry [...] perhaps born more hollow than other people,' and my favourite clapback ever, on p30, ' "Who else do I have to talk to?" Talk to god, Mia thinks.')
Saarinen's pacing is gentle, and she lingers over scenes--but this results in dreaminess, and easily digestible prose, not boredom. The reason it has taken me so long to post this review (I received a copy in advance) is because this book captures the grief of things to come better than anything else I've read, and I had to stop to breathe.
May 4, 2023
A beautifully written debut that is haunting and devastating. Particularly topical read in the zeitgeist, with eerily familiar social issues and questions raised. There are elements of poetics throughout the novel that make the more visceral scenes hit even harder - wonderfully executed and with a clear artistic flair.
April 20, 2023
SAFE HOUSES
Spoilers follow so don’t read this until you have read the novel
I just finished reading Weather Underwater and was impressed by the emotional perceptiveness and blend of action and psychological introspection in the novel. It’s a near-future thriller with a setting that seems all-too feasible: water levels are rising due to climate change and Britain as an island nation is having to grapple with the political and economic situation as resources become scarce. Hostile anti-immigration policies which seem ripped from today’s headlines and extrapolated have made Albion into a fascist polity. This is the setting. In the midst of this two characters with an intertwined past emerge: Mia, a child of immigrants working for the electrical ministry and Lily, a troubled, angry political underling in the “Ebbtide Party” which has taken control of the UK and is tightening the belt. It’s a chilling dystopia which Saarinen has crafted with above average attention to the present day.
I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, and please don’t read further if you have not read the novel yet. It’s very ably handled. But the real substance of the story is not necessarily on the surface; it’s more about the betrayal of former lovers who are reintroduced in stressful adverse circumstances. Mia and Lily depended upon each other in childhood and had a strong bond but were separated for many years. After the political cataclysm which brought the fascist Ebbtide into power, Mia left her government job and went into the heart of a group of dissidents calling themselves the Weather Underwater, which in typical double-speak has been labeled a “terrorist organization.” Lily who has proven herself to be a wily operator not averse to violence, is recruited to infiltrate the left-wing group. You have to read the novel to find out what happens but a very intimate and jarring collision is set in motion, with heavily bruised emotions and tortuous conflicted loyalties probed and lanced along the way.
The novel is not an action movie, although it does contain some delicious suspense and double-agent maneuvering. Saarinen is adept at describing the texture of betrayal and figures caught in a death spiral but still clinging to hopes of love and happiness. The relationships between women are handled with delicacy and sensitivity. It’s a novel of manners and love propped up on a scaffolding of suspense fiction. And the scaffolding, at the very end, is a strong construction that was satisfying. I gave the novel four stars; it wasn’t perfect to me. The one star that I held back is somewhat minor. I found myself feeling frustrated at the openness with which underground movement left themselves open to infiltration. Maybe my desire for more cynical spy fiction outweighed my interest in the romantic internal affairs of the heart among characters at the commune. But still, this was a remarkable effort and I think Saarinen should keep writing and keep observing what she observes and setting it down in fictional form.
Spoilers follow so don’t read this until you have read the novel
I just finished reading Weather Underwater and was impressed by the emotional perceptiveness and blend of action and psychological introspection in the novel. It’s a near-future thriller with a setting that seems all-too feasible: water levels are rising due to climate change and Britain as an island nation is having to grapple with the political and economic situation as resources become scarce. Hostile anti-immigration policies which seem ripped from today’s headlines and extrapolated have made Albion into a fascist polity. This is the setting. In the midst of this two characters with an intertwined past emerge: Mia, a child of immigrants working for the electrical ministry and Lily, a troubled, angry political underling in the “Ebbtide Party” which has taken control of the UK and is tightening the belt. It’s a chilling dystopia which Saarinen has crafted with above average attention to the present day.
I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, and please don’t read further if you have not read the novel yet. It’s very ably handled. But the real substance of the story is not necessarily on the surface; it’s more about the betrayal of former lovers who are reintroduced in stressful adverse circumstances. Mia and Lily depended upon each other in childhood and had a strong bond but were separated for many years. After the political cataclysm which brought the fascist Ebbtide into power, Mia left her government job and went into the heart of a group of dissidents calling themselves the Weather Underwater, which in typical double-speak has been labeled a “terrorist organization.” Lily who has proven herself to be a wily operator not averse to violence, is recruited to infiltrate the left-wing group. You have to read the novel to find out what happens but a very intimate and jarring collision is set in motion, with heavily bruised emotions and tortuous conflicted loyalties probed and lanced along the way.
The novel is not an action movie, although it does contain some delicious suspense and double-agent maneuvering. Saarinen is adept at describing the texture of betrayal and figures caught in a death spiral but still clinging to hopes of love and happiness. The relationships between women are handled with delicacy and sensitivity. It’s a novel of manners and love propped up on a scaffolding of suspense fiction. And the scaffolding, at the very end, is a strong construction that was satisfying. I gave the novel four stars; it wasn’t perfect to me. The one star that I held back is somewhat minor. I found myself feeling frustrated at the openness with which underground movement left themselves open to infiltration. Maybe my desire for more cynical spy fiction outweighed my interest in the romantic internal affairs of the heart among characters at the commune. But still, this was a remarkable effort and I think Saarinen should keep writing and keep observing what she observes and setting it down in fictional form.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2024
I went to the launch of this book in London last year!!! I love this eco gothic style and the writing style was soothing and poetic. The watery themes reminded me of Julia Armfield’s work, another author I love, and I thought the world building was really great.
I found Lily so irredeemable I was hoping for a grisly end, and wish her crimes had been fully discovered by the group in the book. I also think the plan at the end was a little rogue and a bit of a waste of Lily’s homicidal tendencies (kill them all!!!).
Overall really liked the book, and found this take on a near-future dystopia original and believable. I wanna see a screen adaptation!!
I found Lily so irredeemable I was hoping for a grisly end, and wish her crimes had been fully discovered by the group in the book. I also think the plan at the end was a little rogue and a bit of a waste of Lily’s homicidal tendencies (kill them all!!!).
Overall really liked the book, and found this take on a near-future dystopia original and believable. I wanna see a screen adaptation!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2024
I devoured this in 2 days - so interesting, thanks for recommending Iza ❤️ I love books about climate change / dystopia, separate character perspectives whose lives come together, and the complexity of the human heart which can't choose who it loves. Intoxicating
"For every person who made it here, into an existence of rusted tins and hunger pangs, a city lashed with the thunder of death rattles, how many lie in watery graves, inside bone-dry houses, or by some nameless roadside? If someone burned all those bodies, how many minutes of light would they make?"
"For every person who made it here, into an existence of rusted tins and hunger pangs, a city lashed with the thunder of death rattles, how many lie in watery graves, inside bone-dry houses, or by some nameless roadside? If someone burned all those bodies, how many minutes of light would they make?"
November 14, 2024
an incredibly bleak outlook on britain and global warming that is becoming alarmingly realistic by the day with the government becoming more predominantly right-wing. loved loved the tense atmosphere of the book with a surprising perspective from both sides - did make me really hate lily though, felt very little sympathy for the situations she got herself into.
incredibly sad yet a realistic ending from trying to rebel against a fascist government. would say love is a theme in this book but it leans more toward nostalgia and obsession rather than a romance novel
incredibly sad yet a realistic ending from trying to rebel against a fascist government. would say love is a theme in this book but it leans more toward nostalgia and obsession rather than a romance novel
February 17, 2023
Bleak, inventive, exhilarating and emotionally complex - a debut novel with a lot of ideas and unforgettable characters. Ripe for a screen adaptation!
May 21, 2025
woooow that writing was so beautiful and this book hit me like a rock - bleak, poetic, troublesome and vivid, an insight into a potential darker, wetter future that I hope never comes to pass, through the lens of two women on a stormy path away and towards eachother
February 11, 2024
This book is so bleak. It hits all the right spots in giving you heartache but it's very clear that things will end very badly, and not just because of the climate change causing shortages. The characters are nuanced and relatable, even as they are opposing sides and one is kind of swept up into a xenophobic fascist government as a way of survival. I don't want to say much more because it's worth experiencing the journey, but prepare to be depressed about it.
I docked a star because it could be a bit easier to ascertain what ages the main characters are as we switch to flashbacks and present day. Admittedly, I had to find my feet every now and then as a chapter drops back in time and the only indicator is that the two girls are together.
I docked a star because it could be a bit easier to ascertain what ages the main characters are as we switch to flashbacks and present day. Admittedly, I had to find my feet every now and then as a chapter drops back in time and the only indicator is that the two girls are together.
July 26, 2024
gay women, espionage, poetic writing, uk dystopian landscape as a result of climate disaster - this was written for me fr. Loved the main characters and the setting, some bits of the plot were a lil messy n I’m not sure what to think of the ending but rlly enjoyed this.
June 13, 2023
Ahdistava maailmankuvaus, mutta tarina piti otteessaan ja jännite säilyi loppuun saakka
August 5, 2024
This felt in my heart like watching Threads.
November 4, 2025
I really enjoyed Kaisa’s Weather Underwater. Her writing made me feel a lot of different ways, mostly desperate about our collective future but also inspired to take more political action at my own level and comforted in my choice of not being passive on the current issues faced by our society. I’m so so afraid of this kind of story becoming reality at a large scale. The characters delivered extremely emotional scenes, and the one that really kicked me in the gut was the whole passage with Lily and her team spreading death at that poor lady’s house.
When your heart is closed, giving in to quiet resignation is tempting, and surrendering to anger never feels like an easy way out.
When your heart is closed, giving in to quiet resignation is tempting, and surrendering to anger never feels like an easy way out.
April 11, 2023
Thanks to Bellow Press for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Kaisa is definitely one for the poetic language. Where a simple sentence could be used, she’s instead filed it with rather beautiful language. It takes a bit to get to grips with, and I did struggle with it at first, but overall it does make for a pleasant and exciting reading experience.
I found it a little slow to begin with, but within a few chapters I was right in it and willing the characters on. There’s a bit of scene setting and getting to know everyone and their situation, but once it gets going, it doesn’t let up. It’s action packed and sometimes hard to stomach, but it doesn’t lose its heart at the centre.
It’s a very interesting concept, a bit too close to home at times, the idea of the coasts being swallowed by the sea. It shows the strength of water and how we need to respect nature.
Because of the situation they’re in, it is a bit too political for me. Although I do understand why it’s necessary to the story. So that’s definitely a personal thing for me.
There are two main characters - Lily and Mia - who we get to know separately as adults, together as children, and then again together as adults. We walk through their lives, their work, their relationships. Two very different people bought together by common situations.
It is full of heart and full of passion. It’s very full on and quite graphic. The violence, murder, abuse, racism, bullying, terrorism…it’s all dialled up, which I suppose is what happens when you’re trying to survive in an ever-dangerous environment.
It feels like there’s a potential for a sequel here. You’re not shortchanged by the end of it, but there definitely is potential for me, either for a continuation of this narrative or another story that is linked. I think this will do well with readers.
Kaisa is definitely one for the poetic language. Where a simple sentence could be used, she’s instead filed it with rather beautiful language. It takes a bit to get to grips with, and I did struggle with it at first, but overall it does make for a pleasant and exciting reading experience.
I found it a little slow to begin with, but within a few chapters I was right in it and willing the characters on. There’s a bit of scene setting and getting to know everyone and their situation, but once it gets going, it doesn’t let up. It’s action packed and sometimes hard to stomach, but it doesn’t lose its heart at the centre.
It’s a very interesting concept, a bit too close to home at times, the idea of the coasts being swallowed by the sea. It shows the strength of water and how we need to respect nature.
Because of the situation they’re in, it is a bit too political for me. Although I do understand why it’s necessary to the story. So that’s definitely a personal thing for me.
There are two main characters - Lily and Mia - who we get to know separately as adults, together as children, and then again together as adults. We walk through their lives, their work, their relationships. Two very different people bought together by common situations.
It is full of heart and full of passion. It’s very full on and quite graphic. The violence, murder, abuse, racism, bullying, terrorism…it’s all dialled up, which I suppose is what happens when you’re trying to survive in an ever-dangerous environment.
It feels like there’s a potential for a sequel here. You’re not shortchanged by the end of it, but there definitely is potential for me, either for a continuation of this narrative or another story that is linked. I think this will do well with readers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews