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The Hungry Tide #3
Children of the Tide
It is the late 1850s and a tired woman holding a baby walks from Hull to one of the big houses in Anlaby – the home of the wealthy Rayners. She knocks at the door, and shoves the baby at young James Rayner. The father was ‘young Mr Rayner’, and the mother is dead. Then she vanishes.
The respectable shipping family of Hull are shattered. No one wants to take responsibility for the baby and it is about to be put into an orphanage when Sammi, James’s cousin, decides to take the baby back to her parents’ home on the Holderness coast. James is banished to London, and disaster begins to beset the three branches of the Rayners.
The third novel in The Hungry Tide sequence, this epic, many-faceted story of three related families tells the triumphs and tragedies of their lives, as the whaling industry of Hull begins to decline, and the farmlands and homes continue to slip into the sea.
If you enjoy books by Katie Flynn and Dilly Court, you'll love Val's heartwarming stories of triumph over adversity.
The respectable shipping family of Hull are shattered. No one wants to take responsibility for the baby and it is about to be put into an orphanage when Sammi, James’s cousin, decides to take the baby back to her parents’ home on the Holderness coast. James is banished to London, and disaster begins to beset the three branches of the Rayners.
The third novel in The Hungry Tide sequence, this epic, many-faceted story of three related families tells the triumphs and tragedies of their lives, as the whaling industry of Hull begins to decline, and the farmlands and homes continue to slip into the sea.
If you enjoy books by Katie Flynn and Dilly Court, you'll love Val's heartwarming stories of triumph over adversity.
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
104 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Val Wood
45 books95 followers Valerie Wood
Since winning the Catherine Cookson Prize for Fiction for her first novel, The Hungry Tide, Val Wood has become one of the most popular authors in the UK. Born in the mining town of Castleford, Val came to East Yorkshire as a child and has lived in Hull and rural Holderness where many of her novels are set. She now lives in the market town of Beverley. When she is not writing, Val is busy promoting libraries and supporting many charities. Find out more about Val Wood's novels by visiting her website: www.valeriewood.co.uk
Since winning the Catherine Cookson Prize for Fiction for her first novel, The Hungry Tide, Val Wood has become one of the most popular authors in the UK. Born in the mining town of Castleford, Val came to East Yorkshire as a child and has lived in Hull and rural Holderness where many of her novels are set. She now lives in the market town of Beverley. When she is not writing, Val is busy promoting libraries and supporting many charities. Find out more about Val Wood's novels by visiting her website: www.valeriewood.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 18, 2017
Truly exceptional. Recommended.
February 26, 2013
This book is a fantastic book which draws you in at the beginning with different types of characters from poor and caring to rich and smarty. She has an ability to draw you in with a good plot. I would very much recommend this to people who like the stories of 1900s hull and London. There is tragedy and joy in a very well written book.
August 27, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed.
August 18, 2021
Excellent, well researched and emotional storyline.
Had great enjoyment reading this book. It was hard going at first, having to learn all the characters names and trying to work out their individual families and their complex relationships between each other but as the book progressed and the various storylines came together and intertwined the story became exciting whilst discovering the complexities and hardships and heartbreaks of daily living in a place like Hull and Holderness. The involvement of the sea and the seafaring people and the added anguish of not only the treachery of the fierce seas in the safety of the ships and the seamen but its hunger in slowly eating away the land and the happiness and homes of the people who live there. Val Wood always writes her books full of relationships and emotions and also makes for an interlinking of the history about the places she writes about. Each book is well researched and leaves you with a warm, heartfelt feeling and of an increased knowledge of the area of Hull and the hardships its people have encountered over the generations. Thanks Val for the pleasure and emotions your books instil.
Had great enjoyment reading this book. It was hard going at first, having to learn all the characters names and trying to work out their individual families and their complex relationships between each other but as the book progressed and the various storylines came together and intertwined the story became exciting whilst discovering the complexities and hardships and heartbreaks of daily living in a place like Hull and Holderness. The involvement of the sea and the seafaring people and the added anguish of not only the treachery of the fierce seas in the safety of the ships and the seamen but its hunger in slowly eating away the land and the happiness and homes of the people who live there. Val Wood always writes her books full of relationships and emotions and also makes for an interlinking of the history about the places she writes about. Each book is well researched and leaves you with a warm, heartfelt feeling and of an increased knowledge of the area of Hull and the hardships its people have encountered over the generations. Thanks Val for the pleasure and emotions your books instil.
January 13, 2026
A young girl dies in childbirth and tells her Mother who the Father was but the wrong brother is blamed. Worried about the disgrace on the family, the innocent James is sent away and his brother Gideon keeps quiet. Their cousin Sammi takes the baby back to her parents farm and looks after it causing her reputation to be ruined. This story follows their mishaps and their Father has a stroke and Gideon takes over the Company which is a disaster.
This is in the 1850's and reflects the attitudes of the time and the fall out on the rest of the families.
This is in the 1850's and reflects the attitudes of the time and the fall out on the rest of the families.
April 24, 2023
Another Val Wood hit!
This book completes the tale of the Rayners and the Fosters, and it doesn't disappoint. There is much despair and troubles, there is a need for tissues, but also there is much love and family bonding. There is, as in most Val Woods books, a close look at the abysmal living conditions of the poor and destitute, and the fight of the lucky few to escape. Great reading
This book completes the tale of the Rayners and the Fosters, and it doesn't disappoint. There is much despair and troubles, there is a need for tissues, but also there is much love and family bonding. There is, as in most Val Woods books, a close look at the abysmal living conditions of the poor and destitute, and the fight of the lucky few to escape. Great reading
August 30, 2017
Loved this book as much as the first 2 in this trilogy, didn't think I was going to at first but once I get into it thought it was absolutely amazing, was sorry to come to the end as I was really feeling like I knew the families involved, really a great book to get lost in.
October 2, 2022
Such a good book
Lyricism, reality-driven plot, well grounded characters, wonderful world building and moral theme are all reasons to read this lovely book set in nineteenth century Yorkshire.
Lyricism, reality-driven plot, well grounded characters, wonderful world building and moral theme are all reasons to read this lovely book set in nineteenth century Yorkshire.
October 4, 2022
I did not finish this book…..in fact only read a couple of chapters before realizing this is not a clean book. I wish others would mention things like this in their reviews. The is sexual content so if that is something you don’t appreciate then this book isn’t for you. Do not recommend
February 5, 2023
Wonderful story
I loved the characters and how it worked together to describe their lives. I feel like I know these families and endured their pain as well as happiness along with them.
I loved the characters and how it worked together to describe their lives. I feel like I know these families and endured their pain as well as happiness along with them.
October 3, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which was based in Hull in the 19th century. I would recommend it.
August 10, 2020
Not a bad read
September 16, 2020
Excellent.
Read
October 5, 2021Great read
Nice storytelling....Will enjoy reading more of authors material.
Gripped me early on and couldn't wait to get back to the book
Nice storytelling....Will enjoy reading more of authors material.
Gripped me early on and couldn't wait to get back to the book
October 7, 2022
Good book!
Very well written. Captivating story with realistic characters. Kept me up late more than one night. I enjoyed reading i t.
Very well written. Captivating story with realistic characters. Kept me up late more than one night. I enjoyed reading i t.
October 15, 2022
10/15/2022
November 23, 2022
Children of the tide
I really enjoyed reading this novel. It took me into the places and could visualize the characters. Hard to put down.Cannot wait to read the next novel.
I really enjoyed reading this novel. It took me into the places and could visualize the characters. Hard to put down.Cannot wait to read the next novel.
January 16, 2025
Another fantastic read by Val Wood.
September 13, 2025
Great read . It's a book I can't put down.
February 24, 2016
Another cracking read from Val Wood. She creates characters that you really care about whilst giving historical accuracy to their stories. I must admit I second guessed some of the plot but still wanted to know what would happen to everyone else.
January 30, 2016
as usual an excellent story from this author
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews