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Daughters of the Wreckage: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26A woman searching for answers in her own life finds them--and much more--in the wreckage and haunting stories of one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.
Shortly before Christmas in 2018, Tess McCarthy, after years as a hard-working English teacher who never did anything out of the ordinary, flies to Western Australia's remote Abrolhos Islands. She is in search of answers--both to the infamous Batavia shipwreck and her personal family crises.
Amsterdam, 1628. Saskia, an orphaned young Dutchwoman, boards Batavia with relatives, bound for a new and potentially dangerous life in the East Indies--only for her world to first collide with Aris Jansz, the ship's taciturn under surgeon.
Tess, Saskia, and Aris--their lives linked by secrets that span generations--carry the baggage of past losses and the uncertainty of their futures. And, in the most unlikely circumstances, they may find qualities that echo through faith, acceptance, and love.
Shortly before Christmas in 2018, Tess McCarthy, after years as a hard-working English teacher who never did anything out of the ordinary, flies to Western Australia's remote Abrolhos Islands. She is in search of answers--both to the infamous Batavia shipwreck and her personal family crises.
Amsterdam, 1628. Saskia, an orphaned young Dutchwoman, boards Batavia with relatives, bound for a new and potentially dangerous life in the East Indies--only for her world to first collide with Aris Jansz, the ship's taciturn under surgeon.
Tess, Saskia, and Aris--their lives linked by secrets that span generations--carry the baggage of past losses and the uncertainty of their futures. And, in the most unlikely circumstances, they may find qualities that echo through faith, acceptance, and love.
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 15, 2026
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Daughters of the Wreckage by Stefanie Koens is my favourite kind of novel - a dual‑timeline historical story that immerses me in a time and place I knew little about, while slowly revealing the connection between two compelling characters across the centuries. A particular positive is that it avoids the overused device of “finds a diary and reads a couple of entries before dinner” to move between timelines!
I had never heard of the harrowing true events surrounding the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia, or the coral reefs of the Abrolhos, islands off Western Australia, where she was wrecked almost 400 years ago, before facing further tragedy and death in a mutiny of survivors.
Both female leads, 17th‑century Saskia and 21st‑century Tess, carry painful histories of loss and grief, and both begin the story wary and guarded around their potential romantic counterparts, Aris and Drew.
Saskia’s chapters are narrated in third person, while Tess’s are told in first person. I’m still pondering what the author intended by that choice, perhaps emotional distance, or just the way each woman’s story is meant to be experienced.
While the book ends with unanswered questions, it was exceptionally well researched and written, and extremely satisfying.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I had never heard of the harrowing true events surrounding the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia, or the coral reefs of the Abrolhos, islands off Western Australia, where she was wrecked almost 400 years ago, before facing further tragedy and death in a mutiny of survivors.
Both female leads, 17th‑century Saskia and 21st‑century Tess, carry painful histories of loss and grief, and both begin the story wary and guarded around their potential romantic counterparts, Aris and Drew.
Saskia’s chapters are narrated in third person, while Tess’s are told in first person. I’m still pondering what the author intended by that choice, perhaps emotional distance, or just the way each woman’s story is meant to be experienced.
While the book ends with unanswered questions, it was exceptionally well researched and written, and extremely satisfying.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m giving this a 4 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This is exactly my favorite kind of novel—a dual-timeline historical story that completely immersed me in a time and place I knew very little about. The plot revolves around the true events of the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia and the Abrolhos islands off Western Australia.
What I loved most was how the connection between the two leads, 17th-century Saskia and 21st-century Tess, was revealed. Both women carry painful histories of loss and grief, making their journeys incredibly compelling. A huge positive for me was that the author avoided the overused "finding a diary" trope to bridge the timelines!
While the book ends with some unanswered questions, it was exceptionally well-researched and satisfying. If you love historical fiction with a side of archaeological mystery and new relationships, this is a must-read.
Fascinated by historical mysteries? Sail over to my profile @TheLitWhisperer to see my top dual-timeline picks!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This is exactly my favorite kind of novel—a dual-timeline historical story that completely immersed me in a time and place I knew very little about. The plot revolves around the true events of the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia and the Abrolhos islands off Western Australia.
What I loved most was how the connection between the two leads, 17th-century Saskia and 21st-century Tess, was revealed. Both women carry painful histories of loss and grief, making their journeys incredibly compelling. A huge positive for me was that the author avoided the overused "finding a diary" trope to bridge the timelines!
While the book ends with some unanswered questions, it was exceptionally well-researched and satisfying. If you love historical fiction with a side of archaeological mystery and new relationships, this is a must-read.
Fascinated by historical mysteries? Sail over to my profile @TheLitWhisperer to see my top dual-timeline picks!
Review of advance copy
Shipwreck, archeological digs, new relationships, and more!
This book was an exciting read through an interesting historical lens. Told in alternative perspectives from modern day story of Tess, to the historical events aboard the ship Batavia with Saskia and Aris. I loved how this story weaved together these different stories to create one story about fresh starts and new beginnings. If you love historical fiction, this book is an interesting read while following the interesting lives of the characters. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the ship and the connections between the characters.
This book was an exciting read through an interesting historical lens. Told in alternative perspectives from modern day story of Tess, to the historical events aboard the ship Batavia with Saskia and Aris. I loved how this story weaved together these different stories to create one story about fresh starts and new beginnings. If you love historical fiction, this book is an interesting read while following the interesting lives of the characters. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the ship and the connections between the characters.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews