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Between Boat and Shore
Life in Otter Village is governed by the changing seasons and the will of the Goddess. Trebbi is held in high regard by her community. Guided by the goddess, the village plants, harvests, and trades with its neighbours. But when strangers arrive by boat in the midst of a storm – on the same day the village leader is found murdered – it brings a time of change for Trebbi, Dru, and the other villagers. Trebbi and Dru must work out who killed Peku while the village listens to the Goddess to guide them to a new leader, and Trebbi must listen to her heart about the visitor Aleuks.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2019
11 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Rhiannon Grant
11 books48 followersRhiannon Grant lives in Birmingham, UK. She writes on Quaker studies, theology, religious language, feminism, queer theory, and multiple religious belonging, as well as poetry, blog posts, and LGBTQ+ historical fiction. Her hobbies include visiting stone circles, megalithic tombs, holy wells, ancient churches, old trees, gardening, reading books and maps, social media, and going out for dinner with her wife. She works for Woodbrooke where she teaches short courses on Quaker theology and practices. Through the Centre for Research in Quaker Studies, she also works with the University of Birmingham as Honorary Lecturer in Modern Quaker Thought.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 28, 2025
4 Stars
Ancient World Historical Fiction hits differently. Especially if the writing is good and the flow is effortless.
Between Boat and Shore by Rhiannon Grant was immersive. The world building was magical in a sense that the author painted the village and people with careful consideration of historical evidence backing up their lifestyle, religious practices, belief system, just everything was so realistic and engaging to learn about.
It’s always nice to read a sapphic book that doesn’t just focus on the romance and sex.
Ancient World Historical Fiction hits differently. Especially if the writing is good and the flow is effortless.
Between Boat and Shore by Rhiannon Grant was immersive. The world building was magical in a sense that the author painted the village and people with careful consideration of historical evidence backing up their lifestyle, religious practices, belief system, just everything was so realistic and engaging to learn about.
It’s always nice to read a sapphic book that doesn’t just focus on the romance and sex.
January 18, 2020
I had no idea what to expect going into this book, and if I’d had expectations they would have been wrong. Based on the cover copy, what you have is a Neolithic murder mystery with intimations of queer romance. But Between Boat and Shore is neither a murder mystery nor a romance in terms of genre. The story opens with both a violent death and the arrival of two traveling strangers in the small community of Otter Village, motifs that would ordinarily suggest a classic whodunnit plot. But this story is much more of a slice-of-life anthropological tale (a la Clan of the Cave Bear but a lot queerer) that follows the community through a year’s cycle of everyday life, exploring a possible past that blends solid archaeological research with imagined cultural details.
Grant’s world-building envisions a diversity of micro-cultures, each interacting and borrowing from each other, or coming into conflict because of local differences. The motif of the “visiting strangers” provides a context for exploring both the setting of the story and the contrast of that diversity without falling into excessive authorial explanation. The larger cultural picture is one in which non-binary gender is an unremarked option and same-sex romance is an accepted, if not always encouraged, alternative.
The writing is solidly competent and avoids the pitfalls of excess info-dumping or making the dialogue stilted and artificial in an attempt to avoid anachronism. It’s hard for me to guess how the story would come across to a reader with less background in the history and material culture of the era. One of the most interesting world-building choices both worked and didn’t entirely work for me. Within the envisioned social micro-cultures, the one Grant developed for Otter Village is expressly based on modern worship and consensus-building practices of the Society of Friends (Quakers), as discussed in the author’s afterword. As a thought experiment in how such practices could work as a system of small-community government in a prehistoric culture, I thought it felt very natural. But as someone who was raised within Quaker culture, my problem was that it was too recognizable and jostled me out of the story a bit until I was able to set my reaction aside. I have no idea whether this aspect would be recognizable to anyone not closely familiar with Quaker culture, but for me it would have worked better with a few more of the serial numbers filed off.
Overall, this was a fascinating, fairly quick read with a satisfying and feel-good conclusion. In terms of genre, it’s very hard to classify and requires discarding genre expectations for the best reader experience.
Grant’s world-building envisions a diversity of micro-cultures, each interacting and borrowing from each other, or coming into conflict because of local differences. The motif of the “visiting strangers” provides a context for exploring both the setting of the story and the contrast of that diversity without falling into excessive authorial explanation. The larger cultural picture is one in which non-binary gender is an unremarked option and same-sex romance is an accepted, if not always encouraged, alternative.
The writing is solidly competent and avoids the pitfalls of excess info-dumping or making the dialogue stilted and artificial in an attempt to avoid anachronism. It’s hard for me to guess how the story would come across to a reader with less background in the history and material culture of the era. One of the most interesting world-building choices both worked and didn’t entirely work for me. Within the envisioned social micro-cultures, the one Grant developed for Otter Village is expressly based on modern worship and consensus-building practices of the Society of Friends (Quakers), as discussed in the author’s afterword. As a thought experiment in how such practices could work as a system of small-community government in a prehistoric culture, I thought it felt very natural. But as someone who was raised within Quaker culture, my problem was that it was too recognizable and jostled me out of the story a bit until I was able to set my reaction aside. I have no idea whether this aspect would be recognizable to anyone not closely familiar with Quaker culture, but for me it would have worked better with a few more of the serial numbers filed off.
Overall, this was a fascinating, fairly quick read with a satisfying and feel-good conclusion. In terms of genre, it’s very hard to classify and requires discarding genre expectations for the best reader experience.
October 18, 2023
I really loved this story. This author has painted a rich tapestry of Neolithic history, bringing to life social norms and expectations.
I wasn't expecting to be so utterly engrossed in the day to day life of Otter village, but the world that Rhiannon Grant has created is captivating and her style of writing is soothing and beautiful.
If you're expecting a simplistic 'girl meets girl' story - this isn't it. It's a deeper narrative and much more about the connectedness of a community than just the romance that develops between the main characters. That said, I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Trebbi and Aleuks and wanted them to stick together.
I couldn't really put this down. Which is always a good sign.
I wasn't expecting to be so utterly engrossed in the day to day life of Otter village, but the world that Rhiannon Grant has created is captivating and her style of writing is soothing and beautiful.
If you're expecting a simplistic 'girl meets girl' story - this isn't it. It's a deeper narrative and much more about the connectedness of a community than just the romance that develops between the main characters. That said, I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Trebbi and Aleuks and wanted them to stick together.
I couldn't really put this down. Which is always a good sign.
April 3, 2022
LGBTQIA+ Romance in the Late Neolithic
Between Boat and Shore, by Rhiannon Grant, is a lovely slice-of-life, a queer love story set roughly 6000 years ago on the island of South Ronaldsay, just North of Scotland. The setting is well developed, and the characters are extremely developed, providing a detailed setting for the story.
We follow the story of Trebbi, a woman from Otter Village (Neolithic Orkney Isles), as she and her people react to a sudden change in their society, coincidently occurring at the arrival of a southern trader, Aleuks of the Waves (Neolithic Iberian), and Aleuks' Sister's child, Helm (Neolithic Iberian, and non-binary). The new arrivals and sudden changes ripple through the small village, but the people of Otter Village are resilient and work to overcome any obstacles. Will Trebbi and Aleuks find love? Will their people overcome the sudden changes and adapt to a new reality?
***
The Neolithic setting is properly researched with correct descriptions of food preparation, buildings, and the general layout of life. The author did their research on Neolithic Orkney, a Megalithic people. The animals, the outlook on life, the interactions between people, and the general feel of the world match up well with how one might expect the Neolithic to be. There is a quaint yet warm feeling to society, though dark aspects emerge as the story progresses.
One unique aspect is the boats and the trade depicted. Boats did exist in the Neolithic. All too often, dugout craft are shown, yet boats made from animal skin, bark, and other materials also existed. Aleuks of the Waves commands one such boat, made from animal skins and rowed with oars. Traveling from Iberia, modern Spain, in such a boat would be hazardous, and yet, it has been demonstrated by archaeologists that it very well could have happened. Moreover, evidence of Neolithic trade strongly implies that it did.
Perhaps the most interesting facet of the story is how the characters experience their world. They have a certain rustic charm which provides a very realistic feel to how they see the world. Gone are concepts of the modern-day. Time is measured by how long until dark, and tasks are performed ad hoc by whoever is best or willing to do them. The characters feel detached from our modern world, as they should during the Neolithic. The romance is soft and slow, with a natural and unrushed feeling. Yet, it is sudden and hot when the fire burns to life, like an ember of a flame crackling to life. There is a warmth, a feeling of home and hearth that fills each interaction, leaving the reader satisfied.
Another interesting note is the author's approach to prehistoric religion. While no real understanding of Neolithic religion exists, outside of conjecture, the author takes a novel approach. Rituals, spiritual leadership, and the concept of their diety are quite novel. They have no specific religious leader, per se, and they take a rather deterministic view, letting a goddess guide their actions. It seems as though some of this unique model of Neolithic religion may have a contemporary Quaker basis. At the same time, other religious models are mentioned, though not explored, as they exceed the book's scope.
Between Boat and Shore, by Rhiannon Grant, is a lovely slice-of-life, a queer love story set roughly 6000 years ago on the island of South Ronaldsay, just North of Scotland. The setting is well developed, and the characters are extremely developed, providing a detailed setting for the story.
We follow the story of Trebbi, a woman from Otter Village (Neolithic Orkney Isles), as she and her people react to a sudden change in their society, coincidently occurring at the arrival of a southern trader, Aleuks of the Waves (Neolithic Iberian), and Aleuks' Sister's child, Helm (Neolithic Iberian, and non-binary). The new arrivals and sudden changes ripple through the small village, but the people of Otter Village are resilient and work to overcome any obstacles. Will Trebbi and Aleuks find love? Will their people overcome the sudden changes and adapt to a new reality?
***
The Neolithic setting is properly researched with correct descriptions of food preparation, buildings, and the general layout of life. The author did their research on Neolithic Orkney, a Megalithic people. The animals, the outlook on life, the interactions between people, and the general feel of the world match up well with how one might expect the Neolithic to be. There is a quaint yet warm feeling to society, though dark aspects emerge as the story progresses.
One unique aspect is the boats and the trade depicted. Boats did exist in the Neolithic. All too often, dugout craft are shown, yet boats made from animal skin, bark, and other materials also existed. Aleuks of the Waves commands one such boat, made from animal skins and rowed with oars. Traveling from Iberia, modern Spain, in such a boat would be hazardous, and yet, it has been demonstrated by archaeologists that it very well could have happened. Moreover, evidence of Neolithic trade strongly implies that it did.
Perhaps the most interesting facet of the story is how the characters experience their world. They have a certain rustic charm which provides a very realistic feel to how they see the world. Gone are concepts of the modern-day. Time is measured by how long until dark, and tasks are performed ad hoc by whoever is best or willing to do them. The characters feel detached from our modern world, as they should during the Neolithic. The romance is soft and slow, with a natural and unrushed feeling. Yet, it is sudden and hot when the fire burns to life, like an ember of a flame crackling to life. There is a warmth, a feeling of home and hearth that fills each interaction, leaving the reader satisfied.
Another interesting note is the author's approach to prehistoric religion. While no real understanding of Neolithic religion exists, outside of conjecture, the author takes a novel approach. Rituals, spiritual leadership, and the concept of their diety are quite novel. They have no specific religious leader, per se, and they take a rather deterministic view, letting a goddess guide their actions. It seems as though some of this unique model of Neolithic religion may have a contemporary Quaker basis. At the same time, other religious models are mentioned, though not explored, as they exceed the book's scope.
July 3, 2023
I really really enjoyed this. It's a queer romance set in neolithic Orkney, with rounded characters and interesting plot, and with a Quaker-flavoured element to the setting that feels totally congruous.
August 10, 2022
I really enjoyed this - I found it very soothing to read and was sad when I had to take a break from reading during the day.
December 18, 2019
A great story including all the best elements: ancient Celts, murder, community, spirituality, easy integration of the spectrum of sexuality and gender, all wrapped up in a well-written style that captures the imagination and draws you in. I hope there is more to come!
October 25, 2022
My spouse and I both really enjoyed this book! Every so often I go back to re-read it just to spend time with the characters. Definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews