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Marsh and Moor #1
By Marsh and by Moor
M/M historical romance
Jed Trevithick, able seaman, has just escaped from the Royal Navy, and he's determined never to return. But the war against Napoleon is never-ending, and Naval press gangs scour the coast, looking for cannon fodder.
He meets Solomon Dyer, a London ostler who has his own reasons for avoiding the press gang. Together, they flee across the countryside, quickly coming to rely on each other to survive—and tumbling into bed together soon afterwards.
But Jed still bears the scars from his time in the Navy, and Solomon's secret may be the very thing that puts him in danger again.
Jed Trevithick, able seaman, has just escaped from the Royal Navy, and he's determined never to return. But the war against Napoleon is never-ending, and Naval press gangs scour the coast, looking for cannon fodder.
He meets Solomon Dyer, a London ostler who has his own reasons for avoiding the press gang. Together, they flee across the countryside, quickly coming to rely on each other to survive—and tumbling into bed together soon afterwards.
But Jed still bears the scars from his time in the Navy, and Solomon's secret may be the very thing that puts him in danger again.
275 pages, ebook
First published July 17, 2025
17 people are currently reading
511 people want to read
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November 10, 2025That rare thing (except for Annick Trent, whose speciality this is), a historical romance starring only working people. This one has an ostler on the run from London, and a carter who's done five years pressed in the Navy, deserted, as is terrified of being dragged back. I have never read a romance that centres press gangs before, and it's kind of not hard to see why, as the real and constant fear makes it a high-anxiety read. However, the couple are lovely in a very low-key, understated way, which counters the tension, and overall I found it a super involving story that puts a very welcome focus on normal lives. Recommended.
July 22, 2025
Apropos of not much of anything: in the certainty that Annick Trent had misspelled the name of the naval vessel Jed escapes from, I looked it up and found that (1) yep, it was the Nonsuch; (2) it had been broken up years before the story begins. So now I can puzzle over whether the anachronism is intentional instead of gnashing my teeth over an "e" that isn't actually missing.
I did, though, gnash my teeth at some points. Getting those out of the way first --
Jed is telling his new friend Solomon about the fate of a captured deserter from the British navy. Deserting was of course a capital offense, but there was a shortage of manpower, so:
Every so often the characters' idiom strikes me as wrong for the period.
That's my petty grousing out of the way. Now for the good stuff: Glitches aside, I was thoroughly immersed in Jed and Solomon's experience: the logistics of their world and their class; the kinds of work they did, the clothes they wore, the food they ate; the material scarcity that was an unremarked given in their lives; and, especially, the ease with which ties to home and family could be sundered, as when men were impressed (how does a man who can't read or write communicate with home when no one at home can read or write either and anyway a letter may take weeks or months to arrive?).
Annick Trent's narrative begins in a low key, even though the first scene gives us Jed breathless and face down on the shore after having made his escape from the Nonsuch. But here's the thing: he and Solomon are effectively prey animals, avoiding well-traveled roads, inquiring at every village whether the press gangs are active there, eating whatever and sleeping wherever they can. Jed is marked as a seaman by his tarry, calloused hands and, at first, by his rolling gait. Solomon has -- this isn't much of a spoiler -- a particular predator hunting him and his friend Wallace. When they finally reach what they hope will be safety, they begin to relax, only to learn that the hunt is on again.
This last quarter of the book, as the predators close in on all three men, packs a wallop. I found myself reading faster and faster, in a fever of anxiety, feeling with Jed the claustrophobic misery of believing that your life will never be your own again. Oof, well done, Ms. Trent. And a really beautiful, understated, unmelodramatic aspect of the story is Jed's slow acceptance of the fact that the life he knew before he was impressed as a youth is really gone -- so he can, and must, also accept the happiness open to him in the life he has now.
And now for a spoiler. I'll describe the event as vaguely as I can: It's one scene, but it's a crucial one, and it needed more room to breathe.
Between that and the occasional lapses in idiom I couldn't quite stretch to 5 stars -- I'm calling it 4.75 and rounding up. But I want to stress that when I find myself thinking this thoroughly about what made a book less than perfect, that's because the book is pretty damn good. Just a satisfying and engrossing tale all around.
One more thing: By Marsh and by Moor is available wide, so you don't need to patronize You Know Which evil empire. I bought it from Smashwords, but it's also on Kobo etc. etc. etc.
I did, though, gnash my teeth at some points. Getting those out of the way first --
Jed is telling his new friend Solomon about the fate of a captured deserter from the British navy. Deserting was of course a capital offense, but there was a shortage of manpower, so:
They only gave him a hundred lashes and sent him back to his messmates with his tail between his legs. He was killed about a week later. Cannonball took his head off.OK, first of all a hundred lashes with a cat o' nine tails would probably have left him with exposed bone and I struggle to imagine him surviving; second, after 1750 floggings were limited to 12 lashes, though a nasty captain could get around that by citing multiple offenses, 12 lashes per, so I suppose that hundred lashes is a possibility but again, seems likely fatal.
Every so often the characters' idiom strikes me as wrong for the period.
“I’ve always found that the mind does its own thing,” Solomon said. “And there’s no profit to be had in beating yourself up about it.”"Does its own thing"? "Beating yourself up"? Pretty sure both of those idioms arose in my lifetime, which yes I'm old but not one of the immortal undead. The real problem with lapses like these isn't the anachronism in and of itself but the fact that the language with which people express themselves both reflects and is a product of the way they think about themselves -- so when Solomon speaks of "beating yourself up" he's not articulating, or thinking about, fruitless self-castigation the way a man of the early 1800s would.
That's my petty grousing out of the way. Now for the good stuff: Glitches aside, I was thoroughly immersed in Jed and Solomon's experience: the logistics of their world and their class; the kinds of work they did, the clothes they wore, the food they ate; the material scarcity that was an unremarked given in their lives; and, especially, the ease with which ties to home and family could be sundered, as when men were impressed (how does a man who can't read or write communicate with home when no one at home can read or write either and anyway a letter may take weeks or months to arrive?).
Annick Trent's narrative begins in a low key, even though the first scene gives us Jed breathless and face down on the shore after having made his escape from the Nonsuch. But here's the thing: he and Solomon are effectively prey animals, avoiding well-traveled roads, inquiring at every village whether the press gangs are active there, eating whatever and sleeping wherever they can. Jed is marked as a seaman by his tarry, calloused hands and, at first, by his rolling gait. Solomon has -- this isn't much of a spoiler -- a particular predator hunting him and his friend Wallace. When they finally reach what they hope will be safety, they begin to relax, only to learn that the hunt is on again.
This last quarter of the book, as the predators close in on all three men, packs a wallop. I found myself reading faster and faster, in a fever of anxiety, feeling with Jed the claustrophobic misery of believing that your life will never be your own again. Oof, well done, Ms. Trent. And a really beautiful, understated, unmelodramatic aspect of the story is Jed's slow acceptance of the fact that the life he knew before he was impressed as a youth is really gone -- so he can, and must, also accept the happiness open to him in the life he has now.
And now for a spoiler. I'll describe the event as vaguely as I can: It's one scene, but it's a crucial one, and it needed more room to breathe.
Between that and the occasional lapses in idiom I couldn't quite stretch to 5 stars -- I'm calling it 4.75 and rounding up. But I want to stress that when I find myself thinking this thoroughly about what made a book less than perfect, that's because the book is pretty damn good. Just a satisfying and engrossing tale all around.
One more thing: By Marsh and by Moor is available wide, so you don't need to patronize You Know Which evil empire. I bought it from Smashwords, but it's also on Kobo etc. etc. etc.
January 29, 2026
I can't say I enjoyed this story. It was melancholy and depressing.
I've read about press gangs but didn't quite comprehend the horrors. The fact that impressment was legal in England for decades doesn't bear thinking about. Young men were abducted in the light of day, beaten, imprisoned, then forced into slave labor on Royal Navy ships.
Much of the book deals with this topic. Jed was pressed five years prior but finally managed to escape. He meets Solomon on the road. Solomon is hiding a secret that's not his to tell.
Minus a couple chapters where Solomon is telling a story that involves his close friend Wallace, Jed's POV dominates. The narrative felt very one-sided, and neither MC had a fully fleshed out personality.
There's a tentative HFN, no epilogue.
This is not my idea of a romance, but I have to give the author kudos for writing about common men, not gentry. There was a strong sense of time and place, and I have no qualms with the writing.
I've read about press gangs but didn't quite comprehend the horrors. The fact that impressment was legal in England for decades doesn't bear thinking about. Young men were abducted in the light of day, beaten, imprisoned, then forced into slave labor on Royal Navy ships.
Much of the book deals with this topic. Jed was pressed five years prior but finally managed to escape. He meets Solomon on the road. Solomon is hiding a secret that's not his to tell.
Minus a couple chapters where Solomon is telling a story that involves his close friend Wallace, Jed's POV dominates. The narrative felt very one-sided, and neither MC had a fully fleshed out personality.
There's a tentative HFN, no epilogue.
This is not my idea of a romance, but I have to give the author kudos for writing about common men, not gentry. There was a strong sense of time and place, and I have no qualms with the writing.
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October 15, 2025boring :( i just dont understand how people publish romance novels that evidently weren't even fun to write-- no humor, no frissons, not even any felt character moments, just like, describing pleasant conversations from a distance and then telling us character notes ("he was wry and eager to please"-- where???) afterward. a bummer bcs i was excited for a gay historical romance not about lords.
October 5, 2025
I go to Annick Trent for the historical texture and working class protagonists, but not necessarily for the Big Feelings. Their work has a kind of quietude that suits me some times - her characters have their back stories and their dramas, but their stories are always circumscribed by the limits of their lives and ambitions. That’s true here, to an extent, but the stakes are higher than in her earlier books. Jed, a deserter from the British Navy, and Solomon, who is escaping his own complex past, both have what we would now call PTSD. They both are being literally chased across the countryside. Neither of them has a place of safety to fall back on. As a result their story, while slow and deliberate in Annick’s way, is full of peril and uncertainty. The fact that I didn’t always feel their romance is a problem though - it was more academic than emotional for me.
August 21, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
By Marsh and By Moor is the first in the Marsh and Moor series by Annick Trent and is targeted towards readers who enjoy well developed, languid, historical romances. I did enjoy the book and felt that the main characters made a sweet couple, but I struggled with a few historical aspects of the novel.
By Marsh and By Moor was generally well written and the author did an excellent job of giving the story time to breathe and mature at its own pace. Sometimes the pacing lagged a bit, but by the same token, I enjoyed that nothing about this book was rushed or forced.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
By Marsh and By Moor is the first in the Marsh and Moor series by Annick Trent and is targeted towards readers who enjoy well developed, languid, historical romances. I did enjoy the book and felt that the main characters made a sweet couple, but I struggled with a few historical aspects of the novel.
By Marsh and By Moor was generally well written and the author did an excellent job of giving the story time to breathe and mature at its own pace. Sometimes the pacing lagged a bit, but by the same token, I enjoyed that nothing about this book was rushed or forced.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
August 1, 2025
While I enjoyed this book and was eager to keep reading it, it was less compelling for me than Trent’s other books. I did like the tension of the chase and the attraction between the two mcs. I liked the historical backdrop and the way the author explores the press gang, a concept I have never thought much about. Reading about it made me think about how it must have been for so many naval soldiers. Still the book did not work that well for me. A secret that we don’t know is a trope that doesn’t usually work for me and didn’t here. The escape from abuse plot was somewhat flat for me. I also had a hard time with the forgiveness at the end. I did not understand why Solomon betrayed Jed. After reading the whole book from Jed’s pov and feeling with him that the very worst thing that could befall him would be getting pressed, it was mind-boggling to me that Solomon would just give him up to the gang and then I did not understand why Jed would just forgive him and trust him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 2, 2025This is a DNF I for real want to go back to. It's obviously good, and I enjoyed what I read, but the creeping sense of Something Bad Coming, the feeling that betrayal was right around the corner -- it was just not what I was looking for at a stressful time in my life. So I'll be back when things are better (or when I'm thoroughly spoiled and can therefore stop dreading the unknown).
December 17, 2025
Charming, with a real sense of terror and anxiety from the press gangs.
October 28, 2025
Maybe 4.5 stars.
I’ve read so many historical romances set during the Regency/Napoleonic wars yet can’t remember any mentioning (let alone centering) impressment.
Kinda slow (saw a review say “languid” which I like) and meandering, in a way I mostly enjoyed. Would have finished it sooner if I wasn’t busy this past week.
Definitely interested in this author’s backlist and the future of this series.
I’ve read so many historical romances set during the Regency/Napoleonic wars yet can’t remember any mentioning (let alone centering) impressment.
Kinda slow (saw a review say “languid” which I like) and meandering, in a way I mostly enjoyed. Would have finished it sooner if I wasn’t busy this past week.
Definitely interested in this author’s backlist and the future of this series.
January 19, 2026
This was really lovely. I really enjoy the rare historical fiction that isn't focused on those with titles and servants and money, and instead on people who have to work to get by. This one involves press gangs quite heavily, as our main character was pressed five years ago and has run from his ship.
Even though there are several tense moments, and a lot of anxiety about the press gangs and being forced back to sea, these are balanced with slow, contemplative days walking over the moors or working. It was a weird balance of anxiety-inducing and soothing and it worked.
Jed and Solomon and Wallace were great characters, as was Emma Yates. She played a small part but she had a strong personality and I would like to see more of her.
Vaughan was one of those villains who get worse the more you know them, and made a fearsome presence chasing them across England.
I really enjoyed the steady pace of the book, and look forward to reading more from Annick Trent.
Even though there are several tense moments, and a lot of anxiety about the press gangs and being forced back to sea, these are balanced with slow, contemplative days walking over the moors or working. It was a weird balance of anxiety-inducing and soothing and it worked.
Jed and Solomon and Wallace were great characters, as was Emma Yates. She played a small part but she had a strong personality and I would like to see more of her.
Vaughan was one of those villains who get worse the more you know them, and made a fearsome presence chasing them across England.
I really enjoyed the steady pace of the book, and look forward to reading more from Annick Trent.
February 2, 2026
I don't know why I didn't get back to reading this in 2025, but it's been marinating on my Kobo, half read, for several months. I loved the historical accuracy, and the press gang situation was nerve wracking, but something about it didn't grab me until the 60% mark. Once I hit that, it was flying to the finish line.
The language and diction the characters use is very much historical and regional. Sometimes it seemed almost too accurate, and it felt a bit stilted. I noticed it more during the sex scenes, but I didn't find it hard to parse or anything like that. I just don't find phrases like "I'm quite fond of being on the receiving end of a good rogering myself" too sexy. That one in particular made me laugh. That said, those scenes are written well (and I know I'm picky) and perfectly placed, so it's just down to linguistics for me.
I found Solomon a bit frustrating, especially towards the end, and I think he got off VERY lightly for his stupidity. Jed is a far more forgiving person than I'll ever be.
I will be checking out Trent's other books!
3.5 stars
The language and diction the characters use is very much historical and regional. Sometimes it seemed almost too accurate, and it felt a bit stilted. I noticed it more during the sex scenes, but I didn't find it hard to parse or anything like that. I just don't find phrases like "I'm quite fond of being on the receiving end of a good rogering myself" too sexy. That one in particular made me laugh. That said, those scenes are written well (and I know I'm picky) and perfectly placed, so it's just down to linguistics for me.
I found Solomon a bit frustrating, especially towards the end, and I think he got off VERY lightly for his stupidity. Jed is a far more forgiving person than I'll ever be.
I will be checking out Trent's other books!
3.5 stars
July 30, 2025
I enjoy this author’s work very much.
I like her focus on working class characters and find her representation of their lives very interesting. They ring true and that is a tribute to the research she has done. The plot of this book is engaging and tense - I was hooked. Her main characters are realistic and sympathetic. I look forward to meeting them again!
I like her focus on working class characters and find her representation of their lives very interesting. They ring true and that is a tribute to the research she has done. The plot of this book is engaging and tense - I was hooked. Her main characters are realistic and sympathetic. I look forward to meeting them again!
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February 15, 2026Jag tycker mycket om Annick Trents historiska romaner för att det känns så tydligt allting, små detaljer, känslan av att vara i en annan tid. (Sen ser jag att folk med större historisk kunskap har invändningar om anakronismer och felaktigheter och det är säkert sant. Men det känns sant nog för mig med god marginal).
Hon är också mycket duktig på den maktlöshet och orättvisa som drabbade vanligt folk och som är svårt att föreställa sig nu. I den här boken tvångsrekrytering till flottan under tidigt 18800-tal. Var du man med någon sorts sjövana mellan 18-55 år kunde du bli intvingad i flottan helt lagligt. Och var du man i samma ålder som befann sig vid kusten kunde du komma med av bara farten. Och sen kom du inte därifrån. Jed har blivit tvångsrekryterad och varit på båt i 5 år, och nu flyr han och är därmed en brottsling som ska återlämnas till flottan om någon hittar honom. Orättvisan! Han är rädd för att bli påkommen som förrymd sjöman, och han är rädd för att bli tvångsrekryterad igen även om ingen känner igen honom. Det är klaustrofobiskt.
I förhållande till detta är det faktum att man är en man som vill ligga med andra män ett mindre bekymmer och det känns ju faktiskt rimligt. Ingen intern skam och elände kring detta.
Jed blir hjälpt av Solomon som har egna anledningar att vara på flykt, de slår följe och utvecklar vänskap med mera. Den här boken är lite mer explicit än författarens andra, så jag satt på bussen jämte min arbetskamrat och rodnade lite med min Kindle. Jag hade klarat mig på lite mindre detaljer... Relationsutvecklingen är lågmäld och känns rimlig.
Det tråkiga då: I likhet med de nyaste böckerna jag läst av Cat Sebastian (After Hours at Dooryard Books) , KJ Charles (All of Us Murderers) och Chloe Angyal (Barre Fight) så är det här inte alls Trents bästa. ARGH varför med ALLA dessa begåvade bra författare? Så statistiskt orimligt. Det är inte dåligt men det känns så tråkigt att säga "det här är en skitbra romanceförfattare som du borde läsa, bögar eller ej, fast eh inte den senaste, döm inte efter den".
Den här boken har ett lite strukturellt problem:
Kan inte riktigt sätta fem stjärnor på den med alla invändningar men vill inte sänka snittet heller, alltså fler borde verkligen läsa den här författaren, det är fortfarande sant! men börja med Alperna eller Beck and call.
Hon är också mycket duktig på den maktlöshet och orättvisa som drabbade vanligt folk och som är svårt att föreställa sig nu. I den här boken tvångsrekrytering till flottan under tidigt 18800-tal. Var du man med någon sorts sjövana mellan 18-55 år kunde du bli intvingad i flottan helt lagligt. Och var du man i samma ålder som befann sig vid kusten kunde du komma med av bara farten. Och sen kom du inte därifrån. Jed har blivit tvångsrekryterad och varit på båt i 5 år, och nu flyr han och är därmed en brottsling som ska återlämnas till flottan om någon hittar honom. Orättvisan! Han är rädd för att bli påkommen som förrymd sjöman, och han är rädd för att bli tvångsrekryterad igen även om ingen känner igen honom. Det är klaustrofobiskt.
I förhållande till detta är det faktum att man är en man som vill ligga med andra män ett mindre bekymmer och det känns ju faktiskt rimligt. Ingen intern skam och elände kring detta.
Jed blir hjälpt av Solomon som har egna anledningar att vara på flykt, de slår följe och utvecklar vänskap med mera. Den här boken är lite mer explicit än författarens andra, så jag satt på bussen jämte min arbetskamrat och rodnade lite med min Kindle. Jag hade klarat mig på lite mindre detaljer... Relationsutvecklingen är lågmäld och känns rimlig.
Det tråkiga då: I likhet med de nyaste böckerna jag läst av Cat Sebastian (After Hours at Dooryard Books) , KJ Charles (All of Us Murderers) och Chloe Angyal (Barre Fight) så är det här inte alls Trents bästa. ARGH varför med ALLA dessa begåvade bra författare? Så statistiskt orimligt. Det är inte dåligt men det känns så tråkigt att säga "det här är en skitbra romanceförfattare som du borde läsa, bögar eller ej, fast eh inte den senaste, döm inte efter den".
Den här boken har ett lite strukturellt problem:
Kan inte riktigt sätta fem stjärnor på den med alla invändningar men vill inte sänka snittet heller, alltså fler borde verkligen läsa den här författaren, det är fortfarande sant! men börja med Alperna eller Beck and call.
January 26, 2026
Reading this book exhausted me so much. Part of it is "it's not you, it's me", because I just don't enjoy romance on its own anymore, I like it when it is integrated into a larger plot and is supported by proper character development. Initially, the historical setting of The Napoleonic Wars and the promise of an interesting story pulled me in. Finally, I thought, we have characters who are real people with real problems, and not some overused pining aristocracy. The exploration of enforced conscription, actual realities of regular folk in the Royal Navy, desertion, and the danger and relentless lawless squeeze from the press gangs sounded so interesting and so original. The tense, paranoid build up and the promise of a twist fuelled by dark past kept me reading and kept me intrigued.
As you can tell by this rating, I was obviously very naive to expect something deep. By Marsh and by Moor is exactly what it tells you it is - a perfunctory, rote M/M romance that feels like it was cobbled together from a pre-existing generic romance/smut scenes database, and then slightly adjusted to accommodate the setting. The setting, which was completely irrelevant past the 40% point, by the way, until it was suddenly needed for the final confrontation. The big scary "reveal" haunting the narrative ended up being a joke. The romance was so dull, so entirely without life or spark or chemistry or literally anything, I was bored to tears and had to skip most of sex scenes, because I didn't care, couldn't force myself to care. There is no character development or character work to be found here - but there is a moustache-twirling evil villain and an abusive relationship written like a List Of Relationship Red Flags checklist. There is no such thing as moral ambiguity or complexity or even simple human messiness. The entire romance is a case of insta-love that Annick Trent hits you over the head with in the first five pages, before you know or even care about either of these characters, and which never really develops, is never truly tested (don't mention the "betrayal" bit to me, even there the author was super anxious to move on already and get the HEA going; nothing about that final part makes any sense and is never allowed to breathe), and doesn't go anywhere worth following. There is also a motif of potentially offering an open relationship that pissed me off so much, because it was never something that the author seriously contemplated or interrogated, it was there only to reassure the reader that oh no, this is True Love and, therefore, whatever promiscuous lifestyles both characters lead before meeting each other (not that long ago, they've literally just met, lmao) are completely irrelevant, and they are completely committed to monogamy and to each other now. Don't ask any further questions.
To be fair, this isn't the worst book I've ever read. It is written relatively well, and it definitely has its readership. I get it, it is meant to be a comforting predictable indulgence, or whatever. Maybe my expectations were way too high and I am being unfair, but I have read romance novels that did and do continue to put a lot of work and soul into the setting and the characters and the relationships between them. I don't have to settle for stories that are painfully unfun, and unsexy, and unserious despite pretending to be otherwise, and By Marsh and by Moor was all three to me.
As you can tell by this rating, I was obviously very naive to expect something deep. By Marsh and by Moor is exactly what it tells you it is - a perfunctory, rote M/M romance that feels like it was cobbled together from a pre-existing generic romance/smut scenes database, and then slightly adjusted to accommodate the setting. The setting, which was completely irrelevant past the 40% point, by the way, until it was suddenly needed for the final confrontation. The big scary "reveal" haunting the narrative ended up being a joke. The romance was so dull, so entirely without life or spark or chemistry or literally anything, I was bored to tears and had to skip most of sex scenes, because I didn't care, couldn't force myself to care. There is no character development or character work to be found here - but there is a moustache-twirling evil villain and an abusive relationship written like a List Of Relationship Red Flags checklist. There is no such thing as moral ambiguity or complexity or even simple human messiness. The entire romance is a case of insta-love that Annick Trent hits you over the head with in the first five pages, before you know or even care about either of these characters, and which never really develops, is never truly tested (don't mention the "betrayal" bit to me, even there the author was super anxious to move on already and get the HEA going; nothing about that final part makes any sense and is never allowed to breathe), and doesn't go anywhere worth following. There is also a motif of potentially offering an open relationship that pissed me off so much, because it was never something that the author seriously contemplated or interrogated, it was there only to reassure the reader that oh no, this is True Love and, therefore, whatever promiscuous lifestyles both characters lead before meeting each other (not that long ago, they've literally just met, lmao) are completely irrelevant, and they are completely committed to monogamy and to each other now. Don't ask any further questions.
To be fair, this isn't the worst book I've ever read. It is written relatively well, and it definitely has its readership. I get it, it is meant to be a comforting predictable indulgence, or whatever. Maybe my expectations were way too high and I am being unfair, but I have read romance novels that did and do continue to put a lot of work and soul into the setting and the characters and the relationships between them. I don't have to settle for stories that are painfully unfun, and unsexy, and unserious despite pretending to be otherwise, and By Marsh and by Moor was all three to me.
October 12, 2025
I really adore this book, there's very, very little that I can detract from it, and it honestly boils down to the pacing. The story takes place over months, and then the conflicts that were building up all come to a head over one or two hectic days, and that's all fine, but it was the resolution part that happened too fast. Especially after all the heightened stakes and speed at which climactic events happened, I'd have liked the characters (and me too) to have time not just to take a big sigh of relief, but also to fully catch their breath, so to speak. I think where the story leaves off is great, but it just happened in too short a space.
That said, I love the pace of the rest of the book. Jed and Solomon traveled together for only a short time too, but it's written so lovely and feels so warm that I am fully convinced of their bond and their sadness when they think their time together is over. Their companionship felt so natural throughout the whole story, but especially in those beginning stages when each of them takes the gamble of relying on the other.
There was heavier subject matter than I anticipated, but I appreciated how these themes were portrayed. The characters never give their experiences a name, but I as the reader can understand that . Jed, Wallace, and Solomon, all talk about their lived experiences without the guide of common knowledge we have now, but they all reach common ground in order to support each other. Solomon and Wallace's friendship was really touching and it was rewarding to read exactly why Solomon was on his journey and why it mattered so much to him.
I love Jed and Solomon together, I think their chemistry is amazing; it's all encompassing and burns hot, but it's quiet and steady and sure, too. I'm actually very pleased that . There couldn't have been a single conversation, or even a dozen conversations of Jed and Solomon talking things over that I would have been satisfied by, but it's wonderful to know that it will happen someday and they're committed to it. They understand each other's actions and they don't want to lose each other to their pain, and that's beautiful, I think.
There's a lot of melancholy and fear that the characters feel, but I ended the book so happy I read it and so warm in my heart. I'm a romantic and I'm going to write this line in my journal, I swear:
That said, I love the pace of the rest of the book. Jed and Solomon traveled together for only a short time too, but it's written so lovely and feels so warm that I am fully convinced of their bond and their sadness when they think their time together is over. Their companionship felt so natural throughout the whole story, but especially in those beginning stages when each of them takes the gamble of relying on the other.
There was heavier subject matter than I anticipated, but I appreciated how these themes were portrayed. The characters never give their experiences a name, but I as the reader can understand that . Jed, Wallace, and Solomon, all talk about their lived experiences without the guide of common knowledge we have now, but they all reach common ground in order to support each other. Solomon and Wallace's friendship was really touching and it was rewarding to read exactly why Solomon was on his journey and why it mattered so much to him.
I love Jed and Solomon together, I think their chemistry is amazing; it's all encompassing and burns hot, but it's quiet and steady and sure, too. I'm actually very pleased that . There couldn't have been a single conversation, or even a dozen conversations of Jed and Solomon talking things over that I would have been satisfied by, but it's wonderful to know that it will happen someday and they're committed to it. They understand each other's actions and they don't want to lose each other to their pain, and that's beautiful, I think.
There's a lot of melancholy and fear that the characters feel, but I ended the book so happy I read it and so warm in my heart. I'm a romantic and I'm going to write this line in my journal, I swear:
"If I have your mind and body but not your heart and soul, I don't think I could bear that."
September 13, 2025
I was really enjoying this right up until the resolution, which felt very unsatisfying to me. I couldn't get past Solomon's betrayal, which was too big to forgive and never addressed seriously enough given the scale of what happened. I really enjoyed all of the characters prior to that point, but afterwards I had trouble caring what happened to anyone except Jed. Jed leaving behind his beloved horse that he'd spent the whole book searching for also didn't make sense to me -- I'm not a horse person, but it's so strange to spend that much time looking for Bess just to have him shrug and say she's only a horse. It's clearly meant to be a marker of personal growth/moving on, but it comes off as inconsistent characterization and makes him seem very cold.
I always like the attention to historical detail in this author's books and it was very interesting to learn more about press gangs and naval service. This definitely went from five to three stars for me in this last few chapters (rated it 4 as a compromise), but the first 2/3 is good enough that it's still worth a read. I think one felt similarly after reading their other books, so maybe it's just that their approach to endings doesn't work for me?
I always like the attention to historical detail in this author's books and it was very interesting to learn more about press gangs and naval service. This definitely went from five to three stars for me in this last few chapters (rated it 4 as a compromise), but the first 2/3 is good enough that it's still worth a read. I think one felt similarly after reading their other books, so maybe it's just that their approach to endings doesn't work for me?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2025
Whatever the setting, contemporary or historical, Annick Trent always plunges the reader into a specific context.
This time, it's about how the press gangs terrorized coastal communities during the Napoleonic Wars. MC Jed, a recent escapee from the navy lands up on the familiar Somerset shore, his only desire to return to his home village, and teams up with traveller Solomon.
I loved the vivid depictions of the county, the levels, moors, villages and coastal towns as our two working men try to find work and keep out of the clutches of the dreaded press gang. Jed and Solomon's romance was touching and sweet, and very realistic in how both their past trauma impacted on them. A wonderful and convincing Regency road trip.
This time, it's about how the press gangs terrorized coastal communities during the Napoleonic Wars. MC Jed, a recent escapee from the navy lands up on the familiar Somerset shore, his only desire to return to his home village, and teams up with traveller Solomon.
I loved the vivid depictions of the county, the levels, moors, villages and coastal towns as our two working men try to find work and keep out of the clutches of the dreaded press gang. Jed and Solomon's romance was touching and sweet, and very realistic in how both their past trauma impacted on them. A wonderful and convincing Regency road trip.
January 23, 2026
A slow burn story filled with delays, obstacles, misshaps, even treason. It’s a sweet but sometimes sad and slightly frustrating story - why can’t Jed and Solomon have what they want ? Haven’t they waited long enough, be patient enough, suffered enough ? In the end things settle for them. A truce is called and they start on a new footing, knowing what to expect from each other. Marsh and Moor is a historic novel, beautifully written - real craft page after page. One thing I’d have liked elaborated on, if only cursorily: one important secondary character goes from MM love to MF. Not that it’s unheard of, far from that. It just comes as a surprise in the book’s last quarter. He is an interesting character with a complex story. It would have been nice to learn more about him.
January 24, 2026
Amazing story by Annick Trent that focuses on everyday working men in a riveting historical romance. There were times that dragged a bit and the countless need to Google the terms did take me out of the story a number of times. Took me a while to finish. But Jed and Solomon's seemingly endless road to an HEA was a lovely story. I particularly loved the bits of history - I'd heard of press gangs but didn't realize how organized the practice was. And the carriers - seems to be the precursor to FedEx! lol. Loved the way the story deals with bisexuality and PTSD. A very well told story. I see this is going to be part of a series. I wonder who will be the focus of book 2. Excellent A Trent writing.
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September 21, 2025So refreshing to have a historical romance focussed on working class people. Jed was press-ganged into the navy 5 years ago, has now escaped and is helped on his way by Solomon who is also running although we're not told from what until close to the end. It's very much Jed's story but all the characters are beautifully drawn and the emotional intensity is strong. One small quibble, But altogether a lovely read.
July 23, 2025
I really liked this. As in her other works, the author does a much better than usual job of getting the historical setting right and in concentrating on people who not at the top of the social hierarchy. I liked both characters (although their declarations of love weren't quite convincing). I also liked that it never switched POV, so we really got to know the MC.
August 29, 2025
4.25 stars
It’s not often you get historical m/m romance where the main characters are “regular” people - in this case Jed, who’s escaped his ship after being pressed five years earlier, and Solomon, a former London ostler. Reading this you get a real feel for the terror of the press gangs. I also liked that the romance felt believable.
It’s not often you get historical m/m romance where the main characters are “regular” people - in this case Jed, who’s escaped his ship after being pressed five years earlier, and Solomon, a former London ostler. Reading this you get a real feel for the terror of the press gangs. I also liked that the romance felt believable.
January 4, 2026
very good story, and absolutely nerve wracking! it's absolutely horrifying that this was a constant reality to many working people during this time. the scene where they come to a bridge and just stare at it for a few moments before sprinting across it sticks particularly in my mind.
I would love to see more of this.
I would love to see more of this.
August 29, 2025
Nice lower-class little romance as always from Trent, with an interesting look at background DV for one of the side characters. I like how the friendships are as valuable/important as the romance.
November 23, 2025
Trent is fantastic at properly portraying the lives of normal people in the 19th century. Great
December 24, 2025
this was a very good story with so much tension that I needed a break around the 70 percent mark.
February 2, 2026
2.5 — this was kind of a snooze fest
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