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At Sea
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26A female driller takes charge of an isolated offshore oil rig with an entirely male crew in this propulsive literary debut about ambition, greed and the deadly consequences of ignoring Mother Nature. For readers of Greenwood and Wild Dark Shore.
When Zainab, an expert driller, is tasked with overseeing a high-stakes oil rig operation, she leaves behind her pregnant sister to embark on the most challenging assignment of her career. But there’s a catch. The rig is teetering on the edge of disaster, and as a woman, Zainab’s experience isn’t enough to convince the crew of hardened men that she has any place among them, let alone at the helm.
The sole woman on the rig, isolated at sea, Zainab is hypervigilant towards potential threats. But as she investigates the issues that have plagued the rig, she quickly grasps that an even more pressing danger may lie in the cold calculations that underpin the entire operation, placing profit before safety, sustainability and sense. When all her warnings are ignored, Zainab must race to prevent the looming catastrophe that threatens the rig, the lives of the crew and the very welfare of the sea before it’s too late.
Haunting, original, and as poetic as it is propulsive, At Sea is a taut and gripping novel about principle, prejudice, and the capitalist endeavors that overlook the concerns of women—and of Mother Nature herself.
When Zainab, an expert driller, is tasked with overseeing a high-stakes oil rig operation, she leaves behind her pregnant sister to embark on the most challenging assignment of her career. But there’s a catch. The rig is teetering on the edge of disaster, and as a woman, Zainab’s experience isn’t enough to convince the crew of hardened men that she has any place among them, let alone at the helm.
The sole woman on the rig, isolated at sea, Zainab is hypervigilant towards potential threats. But as she investigates the issues that have plagued the rig, she quickly grasps that an even more pressing danger may lie in the cold calculations that underpin the entire operation, placing profit before safety, sustainability and sense. When all her warnings are ignored, Zainab must race to prevent the looming catastrophe that threatens the rig, the lives of the crew and the very welfare of the sea before it’s too late.
Haunting, original, and as poetic as it is propulsive, At Sea is a taut and gripping novel about principle, prejudice, and the capitalist endeavors that overlook the concerns of women—and of Mother Nature herself.
- GenresFiction
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 5, 2026
440 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 10, 2025
Really enjoyed this - slick, lyrical, and with a gathering momentum that made it hard to put down. Loved how every man Zainab meets on the rig, even the “good ones” are inherently flawed in their treatment of her, their ogling of her as other. I don’t confess to know a lot about oil rigs or engineering, but I do know now that they make a kickass premise for a foreboding, heart-wrenching story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The book follows a middle-aged Muslim woman working on an offshore oil rig. She is sent to replace a team leader, effectively a promotion, to help complete a troubled project, with a warning from her boss that something may be wrong. On arrival, she faces a male-dominated culture and must establish authority while uncovering why operations are not proceeding as they should. The story operates on two levels: her struggle to succeed in a macho environment, and an impending drilling disaster, clearly inspired by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A secondary thread explores a traumatic past that led her to this role, revealed gradually.
The writing is excellent. The author has a strong command of pacing and tension, and the narrative reads like a crime drama. The depiction of offshore rig life, its routines, politics, and technical complexity, is particularly effective and informative.
However, the book tries to do too much at once without fully integrating its themes. The protagonist’s identity, her backstory, and the disaster narrative often feel disconnected. It is unclear whether the focus is on industrial catastrophe, gender dynamics, or the experience of a Muslim woman in such an environment. In attempting all three, none is explored with sufficient depth.
The pacing is uneven. Much of the book unfolds at a measured pace, with limited exploration of character motivations, followed by a rushed climax that feels underdeveloped, almost like a draft.
Overall, the quality of the writing makes it worthwhile, and the subject matter is engaging. Still, it does not fully realise its potential and reads more like a precursor to a film script than a fully developed novel.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The writing is excellent. The author has a strong command of pacing and tension, and the narrative reads like a crime drama. The depiction of offshore rig life, its routines, politics, and technical complexity, is particularly effective and informative.
However, the book tries to do too much at once without fully integrating its themes. The protagonist’s identity, her backstory, and the disaster narrative often feel disconnected. It is unclear whether the focus is on industrial catastrophe, gender dynamics, or the experience of a Muslim woman in such an environment. In attempting all three, none is explored with sufficient depth.
The pacing is uneven. Much of the book unfolds at a measured pace, with limited exploration of character motivations, followed by a rushed climax that feels underdeveloped, almost like a draft.
Overall, the quality of the writing makes it worthwhile, and the subject matter is engaging. Still, it does not fully realise its potential and reads more like a precursor to a film script than a fully developed novel.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Fascinating look at the struggle of being a woman tasked to lead men in a male-dominated field (and felt way too familiar). I wish we had gone deeper with our main character because I enjoyed learning about her. There is a lot drilling details that probably distracted me from connecting more with this book. Thank you Pegasus books for the review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I loved the pace and cinematic style, but it left a lot of holes in the story that weren't satisfied in the end.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews