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The Water Child: A historical novel to enthral, enchant and unsettle
What the sea takes for its own can never return…Portugal, 1754. Cecilia Lamb knew being a sea captain’s wife would mean a life of waiting and watching the horizon for her husband’s ship. But John has been gone longer than any voyage should last. Everyone else has given up hope of his return. But she knows in her bones that he is not lost. Gone, but not lost.
Barely able to tear her eyes from the shimmering sea, she feels drawn to the sun-baked shoreline, and amid the bustle of the docks she feels certain that her husband will come back to her. Though along with that feeling is another sense – that something darker is coming. As she sickens, she doesn’t know what the next tide will bring – but she begins to fear as well as crave her husband’s homecoming.
Soon, even on dry land, Cecilia can feel the pull of the ocean at her feet, the movement of the tides within her. Warning, seduction or promise, she cannot tell, but one thing is certain – the sea holds many secrets, and some of them are too powerful to ever be drowned.
Barely able to tear her eyes from the shimmering sea, she feels drawn to the sun-baked shoreline, and amid the bustle of the docks she feels certain that her husband will come back to her. Though along with that feeling is another sense – that something darker is coming. As she sickens, she doesn’t know what the next tide will bring – but she begins to fear as well as crave her husband’s homecoming.
Soon, even on dry land, Cecilia can feel the pull of the ocean at her feet, the movement of the tides within her. Warning, seduction or promise, she cannot tell, but one thing is certain – the sea holds many secrets, and some of them are too powerful to ever be drowned.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 25, 2023
6 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 31, 2023
I enjoyed this but almost felt like it tried for too much and ended up taking away from what otherwise would be a really good historical fiction.
The odd attempt at folklore/witchcraft threw me for a loop and I didn’t care for it. I kept expecting the story to shift into an actual supernatural thing instead of this slightly odd mishmash. Honestly, without that element, I think Cecilia’s experience would’ve been stronger and more poignant, including the trials of the second part of the book.
The way I GASPED and gargled at the animal cruelty scene. It’s a quick moment but you see it building and you feel the dread of it. Hated that and could’ve done without.
Bit of a bizarre ending that I’m sort of dissatisfied with, but I’m also not sure I would’ve been accepting of a different ending… one of those books you feel a bit conflicted about, I think.
A different read, generally enjoyable!
The odd attempt at folklore/witchcraft threw me for a loop and I didn’t care for it. I kept expecting the story to shift into an actual supernatural thing instead of this slightly odd mishmash. Honestly, without that element, I think Cecilia’s experience would’ve been stronger and more poignant, including the trials of the second part of the book.
The way I GASPED and gargled at the animal cruelty scene. It’s a quick moment but you see it building and you feel the dread of it. Hated that and could’ve done without.
Bit of a bizarre ending that I’m sort of dissatisfied with, but I’m also not sure I would’ve been accepting of a different ending… one of those books you feel a bit conflicted about, I think.
A different read, generally enjoyable!
June 26, 2023
Portugal, 1750s.
Cecilia Lamb was under no illusion that being a sea captain’s wife would be easy or enjoyable as it would mean a life of purgatory, waiting for her husband to come back to her, together moving forwards with their lives once more, watching the horizon for the vessel that would return to her what is rightfully hers but the more she watches the expanse of the unknown, jealously starts to creep in.
John has been gone much longer than anticipated or expected, for no voyage should last as long. Everyone has let hope go, taking the more realistic route that her husband shall never return but Cecelia knows he is not lost. Gone perhaps, but not lost. Even if her so-called friends are under no pretence of what is being left unsaid.
Barely able to tear her eyes from the sea which mocks her with its continued silence, she feels drawn to the sun-baked shoreline, and feeling the hustle and bustle of the docks, hope swells once more in her chest, knowing that he will return one day.
Though along with that feeling, another sense takes hold - a sense that something dark is coming, and soon a sickness threads through her very being and she begins to dread her husbands return as well as crave it.
Even on dry land, Cecelia can feel the pull of the ocean at her feet, tidal movements making a marionette of her.
A warning, seduction, or promise, Cecelia cannot tell but one thing is a certainty - the sea holds many secrets, some too powerful to ever be drowned..
Gothic, unnerving, mysterious, and atmospheric, The Water Child draws you in like the sea, never to fully let the reader go.
Cecilia Lamb was under no illusion that being a sea captain’s wife would be easy or enjoyable as it would mean a life of purgatory, waiting for her husband to come back to her, together moving forwards with their lives once more, watching the horizon for the vessel that would return to her what is rightfully hers but the more she watches the expanse of the unknown, jealously starts to creep in.
John has been gone much longer than anticipated or expected, for no voyage should last as long. Everyone has let hope go, taking the more realistic route that her husband shall never return but Cecelia knows he is not lost. Gone perhaps, but not lost. Even if her so-called friends are under no pretence of what is being left unsaid.
Barely able to tear her eyes from the sea which mocks her with its continued silence, she feels drawn to the sun-baked shoreline, and feeling the hustle and bustle of the docks, hope swells once more in her chest, knowing that he will return one day.
Though along with that feeling, another sense takes hold - a sense that something dark is coming, and soon a sickness threads through her very being and she begins to dread her husbands return as well as crave it.
Even on dry land, Cecelia can feel the pull of the ocean at her feet, tidal movements making a marionette of her.
A warning, seduction, or promise, Cecelia cannot tell but one thing is a certainty - the sea holds many secrets, some too powerful to ever be drowned..
Gothic, unnerving, mysterious, and atmospheric, The Water Child draws you in like the sea, never to fully let the reader go.
July 18, 2023
Cecilia Lamb is finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the absence of her husband John. Tales of seafarers seem to forget the women and children they leave behind for months often even years in one go. It’s like being a widow with a husband who is very much still alive, at least Cecilia is absolutely convinced that that he is alive even if those around her think he has long settled in the murky depths of the deep seas.
As more time passes Cecilia finds herself drawn to the seas, sometimes it feels as if the water talks to her and has made a connection to her soul. It is merely a question of how far into the depths she wants to let herself be pulled in order to satisfy her need for answers. Society frowns upon her lack of restraint and after a while there is a question of her lack of stability.
Cecilia remains fast in her belief that her husband will return to her, despite the odds being neither in her favour nor the fate of her husband and his crew. Simultaneously she can also feel something wicked this way coming. Not what or whom, just a sense of impending darkness.
One of the many aspects I enjoyed about the story was the sub-story of what certain actions or choices can do to the character, personality and disposition of a person. When their choice creates such a hole in their moral fabric that they are no longer the person they used to be.
Loved it! I do enjoy a nice piece of magical realism, especially when it is well done. The author knows exactly how to balance the reality in the fiction, combine it with historical facts here and there, then weave the magical realism in and out of the story like a potter’s hands moulding and shaping the object of their creativity. The result is a captivating reading experience.
As more time passes Cecilia finds herself drawn to the seas, sometimes it feels as if the water talks to her and has made a connection to her soul. It is merely a question of how far into the depths she wants to let herself be pulled in order to satisfy her need for answers. Society frowns upon her lack of restraint and after a while there is a question of her lack of stability.
Cecilia remains fast in her belief that her husband will return to her, despite the odds being neither in her favour nor the fate of her husband and his crew. Simultaneously she can also feel something wicked this way coming. Not what or whom, just a sense of impending darkness.
One of the many aspects I enjoyed about the story was the sub-story of what certain actions or choices can do to the character, personality and disposition of a person. When their choice creates such a hole in their moral fabric that they are no longer the person they used to be.
Loved it! I do enjoy a nice piece of magical realism, especially when it is well done. The author knows exactly how to balance the reality in the fiction, combine it with historical facts here and there, then weave the magical realism in and out of the story like a potter’s hands moulding and shaping the object of their creativity. The result is a captivating reading experience.
July 26, 2023
This really took me by surprise. As usual I tried not to read too much of the blurb beforehand and I was initially drawn in by the beautiful cover.
Set in the 18th century, Cecilia is the youngest in her family at only 18 years old. But she marries John and is instantly whisked away to live in Portugal where John finally gets his dream of Captaining a tall ship.
I loved the setting and the way this was meticulously described. The atmosphere was set early on, when we arrive in Portugal a d I loved to see where Cecilia lived and the local buildings and scenery.
I really felt for Cecilia as she was still really young, newly married and now left alone in a foreign country worried about whether her husband would come back from his latest
voyage.
As a character, Cecilia was really intriguing. As the youngest of the family, shed grown up to be independent and strong-willed (a must to get heard amongst the others) and these traits stood her in good stead for her current situation.
However, there was a darker side to her too. She begins to have visions of her husbands return and these take a more sinister vibe which I was really not expecting but actually really enjoyed this thread of the storyline.
A really gripping tale in which I was transported to a bustling Portugal. Full of mystery and intrigue. I really enjoyed this well written, atmospheric read.
I'd love to see more from this author.
Set in the 18th century, Cecilia is the youngest in her family at only 18 years old. But she marries John and is instantly whisked away to live in Portugal where John finally gets his dream of Captaining a tall ship.
I loved the setting and the way this was meticulously described. The atmosphere was set early on, when we arrive in Portugal a d I loved to see where Cecilia lived and the local buildings and scenery.
I really felt for Cecilia as she was still really young, newly married and now left alone in a foreign country worried about whether her husband would come back from his latest
voyage.
As a character, Cecilia was really intriguing. As the youngest of the family, shed grown up to be independent and strong-willed (a must to get heard amongst the others) and these traits stood her in good stead for her current situation.
However, there was a darker side to her too. She begins to have visions of her husbands return and these take a more sinister vibe which I was really not expecting but actually really enjoyed this thread of the storyline.
A really gripping tale in which I was transported to a bustling Portugal. Full of mystery and intrigue. I really enjoyed this well written, atmospheric read.
I'd love to see more from this author.
February 19, 2024
I was intrigued by the historical setting of this novel and the potential for a supernatural aspect that was hinted at in the blurb.
Mathew West's writing is stunning and hypnotic, and throughout the first part of the novel he really manages to invoke in the reader the sense of longing that Cecilia feels for her husbands return. However, I felt like the second part of the novel wasn't entirely sure what it wanted to be and the ending just didn't satisfy at all.
The supernatural element of the story that was built up during the first part seemed to just fizzle into nothingness in part two. I feel like so much more could have been done with this aspect of the plot.
West's description of 1700s Portugal were beautiful and the way he talks about Cecilias environment through her character really puts the reader right into the story. His depiction of what it was like for an English immigrant during that time had you feeling so much sympathy for this young, newly married girl so far away from both her home and her husband.
There is a very brief incident of animal cruelty towards the end of the book that you can really sense the plot building towards, however it is very graphic and not really that necessary to the ongoing story. It's disappointing that the list of trigger warnings are at the end of the book as I can fully understand how traumatic reading this scene could be to some readers.
Overall a beautifully written, gothic and atmospheric novel that is let down in the second part and it's less than satisfactory ending.
Mathew West's writing is stunning and hypnotic, and throughout the first part of the novel he really manages to invoke in the reader the sense of longing that Cecilia feels for her husbands return. However, I felt like the second part of the novel wasn't entirely sure what it wanted to be and the ending just didn't satisfy at all.
The supernatural element of the story that was built up during the first part seemed to just fizzle into nothingness in part two. I feel like so much more could have been done with this aspect of the plot.
West's description of 1700s Portugal were beautiful and the way he talks about Cecilias environment through her character really puts the reader right into the story. His depiction of what it was like for an English immigrant during that time had you feeling so much sympathy for this young, newly married girl so far away from both her home and her husband.
There is a very brief incident of animal cruelty towards the end of the book that you can really sense the plot building towards, however it is very graphic and not really that necessary to the ongoing story. It's disappointing that the list of trigger warnings are at the end of the book as I can fully understand how traumatic reading this scene could be to some readers.
Overall a beautifully written, gothic and atmospheric novel that is let down in the second part and it's less than satisfactory ending.
February 18, 2024
The Water Child is set in 1754 in some unnamed town in Portugal. Newly arrived are Cecilia and her husband John who is there to take up position as ship's captain, travelling across the Atlantic to the Americas in search of profit. Cecilia knew the life of a captain's wife would not be easy but nothing quite prepared her for the loneliness of being in a foreign port especially as John's ship is long overdue. Her few friends and John's lawyer and agent all believe the ship is lost, along with all hands, and gently try and persuade her to accept she might be a widow, but Cecilia is certain John is still alive and she is drawn back again and again to watch the sea for his return. Along with the certainty of John's return another sense takes hold of Cecilia, a sense of foreboding, so that even as she longs for her husband's return, she comes to dread it as well.
This book is beautifully written with deft and vivid description of the sea, the port, the sky and the weather in Portugal. In the first part Cecilia comes across as somewhat ill defined, who allows events to take hold of her, but by the second part she becomes much stronger and hold her ground, standing firm for her beliefs. She makes a credible heroine and a believable character, one the reader can bond with and wish well.
All in all it is an atmospheric and absorbing read, mysterious and other worldly, yet fully believable.
This book is beautifully written with deft and vivid description of the sea, the port, the sky and the weather in Portugal. In the first part Cecilia comes across as somewhat ill defined, who allows events to take hold of her, but by the second part she becomes much stronger and hold her ground, standing firm for her beliefs. She makes a credible heroine and a believable character, one the reader can bond with and wish well.
All in all it is an atmospheric and absorbing read, mysterious and other worldly, yet fully believable.
July 18, 2023
The Water Child is set in 18th century Portugal, where the young, newly married Cecilia Lamb now lives with her husband, John, a ship’s captain. John is missing at sea and is presumed to be dead, however, Cecilia won’t give up hope and she spends much of her days staring out to sea longing for him to come home. Somehow, she knows he is still alive.
🌊
Whilst waiting for her husband she starts experiencing visions, hearing voices, and feeling unexplainable sensations. She assumes everything will get better when John gets home, but instead it becomes worse than she could ever have imaged!
🌊
The book is very atmospheric, and I could imagine the town and house really well from West’s beautifully descriptive writing. Some of the supernatural elements of the book aren’t concluded and explained fully, or at all. I liked that; it allows the reader to come to some of their own conclusions.
🌊
I really enjoyed the female friendships in The Water Child. Cecilia is alone in a foreign country, with no close friends or family around her. As the book progresses, she becomes closer to her new friends and her maid. Although these women don’t fully know what Cecilia is going through, they do offer support in different ways.
🌊
This is the sort of story that stays with you long after you finish reading! Engrossing, clever, psychological, and creepy – highly recommended!
🌊
Whilst waiting for her husband she starts experiencing visions, hearing voices, and feeling unexplainable sensations. She assumes everything will get better when John gets home, but instead it becomes worse than she could ever have imaged!
🌊
The book is very atmospheric, and I could imagine the town and house really well from West’s beautifully descriptive writing. Some of the supernatural elements of the book aren’t concluded and explained fully, or at all. I liked that; it allows the reader to come to some of their own conclusions.
🌊
I really enjoyed the female friendships in The Water Child. Cecilia is alone in a foreign country, with no close friends or family around her. As the book progresses, she becomes closer to her new friends and her maid. Although these women don’t fully know what Cecilia is going through, they do offer support in different ways.
🌊
This is the sort of story that stays with you long after you finish reading! Engrossing, clever, psychological, and creepy – highly recommended!
July 26, 2023
A hauntingly vivid and creepy gothic novel.
Cecilia is waiting for her husband to return from his first voyage as Captain of a merchant ship. What was supposed to be a 6 month sail has now been over a year. Despite the gentle hints from her few friends she has in her new home in Portugal, that her husband may never return, she is certain that he will. She can feel it. She can feel it in the waves dragging at her feet and rushing through her body. The ocean is telling her, her husband will return, but at what cost?
I was immediately captured by the hypnotic writing. I was enthralled by the physical and mystical power of the ocean and the hold it had over Cecilia. Cecilia herself definitely stood out for me as she reminded me of Mary Yellan from one of my faves, Jamaica Inn.
A blend of thriller and supernatural horror. The pace crept up on me, taking time to build a foreboding atmosphere of dread yet I couldn’t help but anticipate the twists and turns. A slow burner that had me completely absorbed.
An exploration on humanity, on the rules that keep us civil but then, what happens when ethical reasoning is blurred and all sense of humanity abandoned? At times uncomfortable (TW for animal cruelty) but a compelling and immersive read.
Cecilia is waiting for her husband to return from his first voyage as Captain of a merchant ship. What was supposed to be a 6 month sail has now been over a year. Despite the gentle hints from her few friends she has in her new home in Portugal, that her husband may never return, she is certain that he will. She can feel it. She can feel it in the waves dragging at her feet and rushing through her body. The ocean is telling her, her husband will return, but at what cost?
I was immediately captured by the hypnotic writing. I was enthralled by the physical and mystical power of the ocean and the hold it had over Cecilia. Cecilia herself definitely stood out for me as she reminded me of Mary Yellan from one of my faves, Jamaica Inn.
A blend of thriller and supernatural horror. The pace crept up on me, taking time to build a foreboding atmosphere of dread yet I couldn’t help but anticipate the twists and turns. A slow burner that had me completely absorbed.
An exploration on humanity, on the rules that keep us civil but then, what happens when ethical reasoning is blurred and all sense of humanity abandoned? At times uncomfortable (TW for animal cruelty) but a compelling and immersive read.
July 22, 2023
In The Water Child, by Mathew West, we follow young Cecilia Lamb around the streets, markets, and docks of eighteenth-century Portugal as she waits for her captain husband, John, to return from the sea.
Largely isolated in a foreign country, Cecilia starts to experience startling visions and impossible symptoms. But will things be any better when John does make it home?
The Water Child has a lot to recommend it. West’s vivid, multisensory portrayal of a buzzing commercial town on the edge of Europe in the 1700s give it a real sense of place, teeming with possibilities and people from all over the world.
I also very much appreciated the descriptions of Cecilia and John’s house and its contents, as well as the ruined old castle Cecilia visits with her friends. The former further anchors the story in its time and context, while the latter is highly atmospheric.
I was particularly compelled by the supernatural features of the story, especially Cecilia’s occasional second sight, and the reason she finally receives for her mysterious illness.
While I’d have loved the author to have made more of these elements, keeping them subtle does have the effects of creating a lingering sense of unease, and leaving things open to the reader’s interpretation. Personally, I was all for a paranormal, as opposed to rational, explanation of the events in the book!
I really liked the character of Cecilia. Despite her youth and straitened position as an eighteenth-century woman, she is independently-minded, strong-willed, and brave. I enjoyed reading about her background as a youngest child who had mainly been left to her own devices, which explains her personality and choices.
Cecilia’s relationships with other women are also well-considered. While she’s critical of some aspects of her peers’ lifestyles, and doesn’t often share their opinions, she nonetheless recognises their positive attributes, and seeks them out for advice and comradeship.
It was additionally heart-warming to watch Cecilia’s interactions with her Portguese maid, Rosalie, become easier over time.
The Water Child is vivid, compelling, and subtly creepy.
Largely isolated in a foreign country, Cecilia starts to experience startling visions and impossible symptoms. But will things be any better when John does make it home?
The Water Child has a lot to recommend it. West’s vivid, multisensory portrayal of a buzzing commercial town on the edge of Europe in the 1700s give it a real sense of place, teeming with possibilities and people from all over the world.
I also very much appreciated the descriptions of Cecilia and John’s house and its contents, as well as the ruined old castle Cecilia visits with her friends. The former further anchors the story in its time and context, while the latter is highly atmospheric.
I was particularly compelled by the supernatural features of the story, especially Cecilia’s occasional second sight, and the reason she finally receives for her mysterious illness.
While I’d have loved the author to have made more of these elements, keeping them subtle does have the effects of creating a lingering sense of unease, and leaving things open to the reader’s interpretation. Personally, I was all for a paranormal, as opposed to rational, explanation of the events in the book!
I really liked the character of Cecilia. Despite her youth and straitened position as an eighteenth-century woman, she is independently-minded, strong-willed, and brave. I enjoyed reading about her background as a youngest child who had mainly been left to her own devices, which explains her personality and choices.
Cecilia’s relationships with other women are also well-considered. While she’s critical of some aspects of her peers’ lifestyles, and doesn’t often share their opinions, she nonetheless recognises their positive attributes, and seeks them out for advice and comradeship.
It was additionally heart-warming to watch Cecilia’s interactions with her Portguese maid, Rosalie, become easier over time.
The Water Child is vivid, compelling, and subtly creepy.
August 26, 2023
I struggled with this one as I felt it wasn't sure what it wanted to be.
I liked the historical style writing and the hope that Cecilia held that her husband was coming back - I also enjoyed the connection with the doctor. I thought the secret that was revealed was interesting and explained a lot of the behaviours.
I kept expecting something to happen, yet it never really materialised. I also felt the book couldn't decide whether it wanted to be supernatural or not. But my biggest issue was the animal cruelty that wasn't listed as a TW anywhere - I don't think it added anything to the story.
Overall, I think this book should have stuck purely to the historical drama side of things, as that's where it's strength lies.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from RandomThingsTours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I liked the historical style writing and the hope that Cecilia held that her husband was coming back - I also enjoyed the connection with the doctor. I thought the secret that was revealed was interesting and explained a lot of the behaviours.
I kept expecting something to happen, yet it never really materialised. I also felt the book couldn't decide whether it wanted to be supernatural or not. But my biggest issue was the animal cruelty that wasn't listed as a TW anywhere - I don't think it added anything to the story.
Overall, I think this book should have stuck purely to the historical drama side of things, as that's where it's strength lies.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from RandomThingsTours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
July 29, 2023
The Water Child is a beautifully haunting tale that will make you feel a range of emotions: happiness, sadness, worry, scared, to name a few. I completely devoured this book within two days and embraced every emotion along the way, and never once felt overwhelmed.
West has an incredible talent for atmospheric and place descriptions, he effortlessly manages to get you lost within the pages whilst your imagination to conjures up all the characters and surroundings. The level of detail in the descriptions really show how much research West puts into his stories, I feel like I’ve walked amongst the streets of Portugal 1754.
I cannot wait to see what West does next, I have certainly found my new go to author!
West has an incredible talent for atmospheric and place descriptions, he effortlessly manages to get you lost within the pages whilst your imagination to conjures up all the characters and surroundings. The level of detail in the descriptions really show how much research West puts into his stories, I feel like I’ve walked amongst the streets of Portugal 1754.
I cannot wait to see what West does next, I have certainly found my new go to author!
November 15, 2023
I enjoyed Mathew West’s first novel, The House of Footsteps, an eerie ghost story set in the 1920s, so I was looking forward to reading his new book, The Water Child. It’s quite different, in both setting and tone, but overall I liked this one as well.
The Water Child is set in Portugal in 1754. Cecilia Lamb is anxiously awaiting the return of her husband John, a Scottish sea captain, who has been away on his latest voyage for much longer than expected. It seems likely that the ship has been wrecked and John is dead, but Cecilia hasn’t given up hope. She spends her days wandering the docks, staring out to sea, certain that her husband is still out there somewhere.
As a young woman alone in an unfamiliar country, this is a difficult time for Cecilia and she struggles to come to terms with John’s absence, beginning to have visions, to hear voices and to suffer from a mysterious sickness. Until she knows for certain that her husband won’t come back, she is unable to mourn or to make arrangements to return to her own family in England – and even if he does come back, will he still be the same person he was when he went away?
Mathew West writes beautifully and creates an almost hypnotic atmosphere as Cecilia moves from one day to the next as if in a dream, watching and waiting, trapped in time until she receives some definite news and can start to move forward. Despite the long absence of her husband (and I’m not going to tell you whether he ever reappears or not), Cecilia does form other relationships – with her maid, Rosalie, and with some other women who understand what it’s like to be the wife of a sailor, while at the same time not fully understanding what is going on inside Cecilia’s mind. West’s previous book had much stronger supernatural elements, but in this one they’re a lot more subtle and it’s open to interpretation whether you think the things Cecilia sees and hears have paranormal explanations or more practical ones.
There are some lovely and vivid descriptions of 1750s Portugal, so I was intrigued by Mathew West’s comments at the end of the book that the Portugal he describes probably never existed and owes as much to fantasy as reality, although he also says that he carried out a lot of research into certain details. I don’t have much knowledge of Portugal in that period (the only other book I’ve read with the same setting is Linda Holeman’s novel, The Devil on Her Tongue), so I would have been interested to hear more about what was real and what was fictional.
There’s one more thing I want to mention; I don’t usually give trigger warnings for books, but there is a brief scene of animal cruelty towards the end of the book which doesn’t really feel necessary and I’m sure the author could have found another way to illustrate the cruelty of the person involved. Otherwise, The Water Child is a dark, unsettling and fascinating novel, slow to begin but picking up pace towards the end. I’ll be interested to see what setting Mathew West chooses next, having written two such different books so far.
The Water Child is set in Portugal in 1754. Cecilia Lamb is anxiously awaiting the return of her husband John, a Scottish sea captain, who has been away on his latest voyage for much longer than expected. It seems likely that the ship has been wrecked and John is dead, but Cecilia hasn’t given up hope. She spends her days wandering the docks, staring out to sea, certain that her husband is still out there somewhere.
As a young woman alone in an unfamiliar country, this is a difficult time for Cecilia and she struggles to come to terms with John’s absence, beginning to have visions, to hear voices and to suffer from a mysterious sickness. Until she knows for certain that her husband won’t come back, she is unable to mourn or to make arrangements to return to her own family in England – and even if he does come back, will he still be the same person he was when he went away?
Mathew West writes beautifully and creates an almost hypnotic atmosphere as Cecilia moves from one day to the next as if in a dream, watching and waiting, trapped in time until she receives some definite news and can start to move forward. Despite the long absence of her husband (and I’m not going to tell you whether he ever reappears or not), Cecilia does form other relationships – with her maid, Rosalie, and with some other women who understand what it’s like to be the wife of a sailor, while at the same time not fully understanding what is going on inside Cecilia’s mind. West’s previous book had much stronger supernatural elements, but in this one they’re a lot more subtle and it’s open to interpretation whether you think the things Cecilia sees and hears have paranormal explanations or more practical ones.
There are some lovely and vivid descriptions of 1750s Portugal, so I was intrigued by Mathew West’s comments at the end of the book that the Portugal he describes probably never existed and owes as much to fantasy as reality, although he also says that he carried out a lot of research into certain details. I don’t have much knowledge of Portugal in that period (the only other book I’ve read with the same setting is Linda Holeman’s novel, The Devil on Her Tongue), so I would have been interested to hear more about what was real and what was fictional.
There’s one more thing I want to mention; I don’t usually give trigger warnings for books, but there is a brief scene of animal cruelty towards the end of the book which doesn’t really feel necessary and I’m sure the author could have found another way to illustrate the cruelty of the person involved. Otherwise, The Water Child is a dark, unsettling and fascinating novel, slow to begin but picking up pace towards the end. I’ll be interested to see what setting Mathew West chooses next, having written two such different books so far.
February 25, 2024
I have just finished reading an ARC of The Water Child by Mathew West. It is the first book of his I have read but it will not be the last. Set in Portugal in 1754 British born Cecilia Lamb is newly married and alone, her husband Captain John Lamb being away at sea. She and others have almost given up hope that he will return….The book has challenging themes including racism, slavery and violence but I found it a compelling and interesting read. I will certainly be keen to read other books by this author.
May 25, 2024
2.75/5 stars! This could have worked as just a historical romance. What threw me were these nods to the supernatural. It felt like the book couldn't decide what it wanted to be. I also am not a fan of graphic animal abuse and there wasn't a warning out it, which was offputting. The main character Cecillia was well-written however.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 20, 2023
This book totally transported me to the time and place. It was very visual, and beautifully written. I personally resonated with Cecilia, in a way I don't usually connect with a main character, especially in her longing and eternal waiting. So good!
June 4, 2024
I really liked this book until about halfway when everything seemed to unravel really quickly. Not sure if I enjoyed it or not overall, but it was nice to actually read a book for the first time in ages.
October 25, 2023
I was so bored. DNF after nothing happened 1/2 way through the book.
June 11, 2024
this felt like i was reading a rough draft of too many decent ideas of which none came to life. it was on the edge of too many things that it fell way too flat for me. also i didn’t care about anyone at all.
February 5, 2025
Personally, very slow to start. Started to get interesting around the halfway point. By the end very much enjoyed it.
July 25, 2023
Cecilia Lamb was eighteen-years-old when she married, and three days later she moved to Portugal, leaving her three brothers and sister behind. Portugal, 1754. John Harding who's dream of being a sea captain, of one of the tall ships one day, finally comes true. John goes on his first voyage leaving behind his young wife, Cecilia. Cecilia looked out at the water, being at the top of the hill, Cecilia could see the same view through any of the five windows. Cecilia is lonely and worried that her husband, John might not want to come back home to her. John has been gone longer than he should of been and nothing had been heard. People presumed John must be dead, but Cecilia knows different, Everyday Cecilia would walk down the hill to the water and look out at sea, just looking for a sign. She has a feeling and visions that he will come home one day, but when? Something dark is drawing Cecilia to the sea, but what, all she knows is it's nothing good. I love the description that the author has used throughout the book, I feel you get to know more about where you are
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