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Daughter of the Sea
Jessica is grieving for her beloved father, trawler owner Jacob Kingdom, when a heated confrontation leads to her being cast out from the family home and the revelation of a shameful secret. She falls upon the kindness of strangers and it isn't long before she meets a charismatic trawlerman, who is proud to walk out with Kingdom's daughter on his arm. With her cold-hearted brother now at the helm of the business, there is discontent amongst the fishermen and being Kingdom's daughter soon begins to lose its charm. With Jessica facing the reality of trawler life and desperate to prove herself worthy of a place in the tight-knit community, does she have what it takes to weather the storm of her life to come, or will her secret hold her back from embracing who she is?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2020
246 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 19, 2021
Let me just say that it was very weird to read a story about a character that has the same name as me. It made me connect with Jessica, the MC, in a different way. It immediately opened the story and I was interested.
The truth is, I had not idea what a trawler was. English isn't my first language and when I read the synopsis I wonder what that word meant. Once I googled it, I was excited. I live close by the Atlantic Ocean, in a small town in the Central Coast of Portugal, a town that does had a strong fishing tradition (like many small towns by the ocean in my country), so you may understand why I got even more exciting by the story.
Reading about Jessica and her life in this trawler group, it made for amazing descriptions, and a page turner experience. I love Jessica, she was an amazing character, but I also loved the society and found it so fascinating.
The plot and the setting of the story was one that I was unfamiliar with. I don't think I have read that many books (historical or not) that have this tone and these elements. I loved the drama, the struggles, the family's interaction, the secrets, the development of the story and I loved how it all was engaging and enjoyable.
Overall, it was a rollercoaster that I will definitely will repeat. I want to reread the book and see what details I may have missed and I want to relive it. Or maybe I should just go read another of Sylvia Broady's books and get marveled by her writing in other stories.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Sylvia Broady for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
The truth is, I had not idea what a trawler was. English isn't my first language and when I read the synopsis I wonder what that word meant. Once I googled it, I was excited. I live close by the Atlantic Ocean, in a small town in the Central Coast of Portugal, a town that does had a strong fishing tradition (like many small towns by the ocean in my country), so you may understand why I got even more exciting by the story.
Reading about Jessica and her life in this trawler group, it made for amazing descriptions, and a page turner experience. I love Jessica, she was an amazing character, but I also loved the society and found it so fascinating.
The plot and the setting of the story was one that I was unfamiliar with. I don't think I have read that many books (historical or not) that have this tone and these elements. I loved the drama, the struggles, the family's interaction, the secrets, the development of the story and I loved how it all was engaging and enjoyable.
Overall, it was a rollercoaster that I will definitely will repeat. I want to reread the book and see what details I may have missed and I want to relive it. Or maybe I should just go read another of Sylvia Broady's books and get marveled by her writing in other stories.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Sylvia Broady for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
November 1, 2024
From the minute I started reading this book I was gripped , I don't normally read a book with 40 chapters but thought I'd give it a chance and I'm glad I did. I loved reading about Jessica's story her mother-in-law was on the evil side, but Rick was still attached to her apron strings in a big way. But she did mellow towards Jessica towards the end, as for Mildred well she was another that was evil but in her own way she did have her reasons. I loved the book I was sad when I finished it because I felt a connection to Jessica who overcame the hurdles that was placed in front of her. Plus it has given me an insight into the tight knit community of a fishing town what I find remarkable is the closeness of the people I seem to get the impression that they find it hard to accept an outsider but that's no bad thing. Highly recommended
May 3, 2021
A unique story, such a beautiful novel.
Jessica Kingdom after the death of her trawler father Jacob is outcast from the family home, but been Jacob's daughter his reputation mean's she has to prove herself to the community.
This book is set in Hull East Yorkshire in the year 1937.
A gripping saga that every chapter you read will full fill all reader's.
I loved the character's along the way, what a travel it is for Jessica, family trouble's and finding happiness and love.
Well worthy star's from me, I adored reading all of this truly remarkable book right to the end.
An a book to be recommended to all reader's.
The author captures your heart with her wonderful writing to let you get pulled into the whole book.
Jessica Kingdom after the death of her trawler father Jacob is outcast from the family home, but been Jacob's daughter his reputation mean's she has to prove herself to the community.
This book is set in Hull East Yorkshire in the year 1937.
A gripping saga that every chapter you read will full fill all reader's.
I loved the character's along the way, what a travel it is for Jessica, family trouble's and finding happiness and love.
Well worthy star's from me, I adored reading all of this truly remarkable book right to the end.
An a book to be recommended to all reader's.
The author captures your heart with her wonderful writing to let you get pulled into the whole book.
July 4, 2024
Great read
From the first page I grew to get to know Jessica. In parts it was very emotional but also full of happens. I'm hoping this story carries on and I learn how Jessica gets on with her life.
I thank you so much Sylvia Broady for giving us all this amazing story ❤
From the first page I grew to get to know Jessica. In parts it was very emotional but also full of happens. I'm hoping this story carries on and I learn how Jessica gets on with her life.
I thank you so much Sylvia Broady for giving us all this amazing story ❤
February 27, 2021
My review of Daughter of the Sea is on my blog
https://quirkybookreads.wordpress.com...
https://quirkybookreads.wordpress.com...
March 6, 2023
A great read, one to keep and read again!
April 16, 2023
So many loose ends that never got tied up. And so predictable. Just ok
January 15, 2025
Another fantastic read by Sylvia Broady. Once you start it you just can't put it down.
July 4, 2021
I read this book as part of a blog tour hosted by Rachel's Random Resources.
How do you accept an uncertain past while forging ahead towards the future? This is the question at the heart of Daughter of the Sea.
If Sylvia Broady deserves credit for anything, it’s the sense of place in her characters. You know straight away that the novel is set in Hull; mentions of glad rags and darn socks are a little disconcerting for those that don’t know the lingo, but that’s actually quite fitting considering Jessica Kingdom’s journey, from the privileged daughter of a trawler owner to the wife of a trawlerman.
Thrown out after a row over her parentage, we immediately see that Jess is naive. She doesn’t know what a whore is, even though her mother is called one - so the crass, often gossipy nature of the fishing community that she marries into during the first act of the book comes as a shock.
I found the relationship between Jessica and her husband Rick to be one of the most interesting in the novel. At the beginning of their relationship, the language used is romanticised, and almost cinematic. During one reunion, Jess is swept up in the scent of ‘sea and fish ingrained in his skin, mingling with the fragrance of her rose-perfumed soap.’
But this peace is not to last. Jess and Rick never seem to be the right match for each other; that role is fulfilled by Rick’s crewmate Christian Hanson.
As the war encroaches on Jess’s life, so does the presence of this caring trawlerman. Broady does a great job of contrasting the nature of the two relationships; while Christian’s letters are full of interest and love, Rick’s focus on food and beer.
Among this love triangle, there are also the twin spectres of World War II and the identity of Jessica’s true mother. All of these threats – plus quite a few others – converge at various points in the novel. Though I assume this is par for the course in this genre, for a first-timer like me, this was a little confusing. The same goes for the quickly changing points of view and the repetition of things we as readers had already been told.
Despite this though, I did enjoy watching Jessica grow throughout the book. She goes from being a naive, quite sheltered ‘Lady Muck’ to an ambulance driver, mother, and friend to all - who despite losing her own parents, realises she has found her family in this small fishing village in Hull.
‘How fortunate I am,’ she muses on the novel’s final pages. I’m inclined to agree.
How do you accept an uncertain past while forging ahead towards the future? This is the question at the heart of Daughter of the Sea.
If Sylvia Broady deserves credit for anything, it’s the sense of place in her characters. You know straight away that the novel is set in Hull; mentions of glad rags and darn socks are a little disconcerting for those that don’t know the lingo, but that’s actually quite fitting considering Jessica Kingdom’s journey, from the privileged daughter of a trawler owner to the wife of a trawlerman.
Thrown out after a row over her parentage, we immediately see that Jess is naive. She doesn’t know what a whore is, even though her mother is called one - so the crass, often gossipy nature of the fishing community that she marries into during the first act of the book comes as a shock.
I found the relationship between Jessica and her husband Rick to be one of the most interesting in the novel. At the beginning of their relationship, the language used is romanticised, and almost cinematic. During one reunion, Jess is swept up in the scent of ‘sea and fish ingrained in his skin, mingling with the fragrance of her rose-perfumed soap.’
But this peace is not to last. Jess and Rick never seem to be the right match for each other; that role is fulfilled by Rick’s crewmate Christian Hanson.
As the war encroaches on Jess’s life, so does the presence of this caring trawlerman. Broady does a great job of contrasting the nature of the two relationships; while Christian’s letters are full of interest and love, Rick’s focus on food and beer.
Among this love triangle, there are also the twin spectres of World War II and the identity of Jessica’s true mother. All of these threats – plus quite a few others – converge at various points in the novel. Though I assume this is par for the course in this genre, for a first-timer like me, this was a little confusing. The same goes for the quickly changing points of view and the repetition of things we as readers had already been told.
Despite this though, I did enjoy watching Jessica grow throughout the book. She goes from being a naive, quite sheltered ‘Lady Muck’ to an ambulance driver, mother, and friend to all - who despite losing her own parents, realises she has found her family in this small fishing village in Hull.
‘How fortunate I am,’ she muses on the novel’s final pages. I’m inclined to agree.
March 2, 2021
Val Wood fans will not want to miss the latest absorbing historical saga by Sylvia Broady: Daughter of the Sea.
The death of trawler owner Jacob Kingdom hits his daughter Jessica hard. Heartbroken at the loss of her beloved papa, Jessica didn’t think that life could possibly get any worse for her while she is consumed by her overwhelming grief – until she ends up having a heated confrontation that not only results in the discovery of a shameful secret, but ends up with her being cast out of the family home. Jessica is homeless, vulnerable and all alone. A young girl who once had the world at her feet is forced to fall upon the kindness of strangers. Being the late Jacob Kingdom’s daughter does have its advantages, but being connected to her father’s reputation mightn’t always prove too beneficial as she soon discovers when Jessica once again finds herself with her back against the wall in a desperate struggle to survive and thrive in a cruel and unforgiving world.
Her scheming brother is now running the family business, but living up to his father’s legacy becomes more difficult with each passing day. Discontent is rising and the respect that the Kingdom family had once enjoyed is slowly being eroded by Jessica’s brother’s ruthlessness. Although she has been ostracized by her family, Jessica soon realises that the prestige of being Kingdom’s daughter is beginning to lose its lustre. Desperate to show everyone that she has got what it takes to more than live up to her impressive family name, Jessica decides to prove herself worthy. But will her shameful secret continue to hold her back? Or will she rise above the many obstacles standing in her way?
A gripping historical saga full of drama, intensity and emotion, Sylvia Broady’s Daughter of the Sea is a vivid tale that has at its heart a wonderful heroine who is strong, courageous, bold and loyal. Jessica Kingdom is an inspirational heroine readers will admire and root for as she tries to right the wrongs of the past and become the mistress of her destiny.
An atmospheric, gripping and sweeping saga, Sylvia Broady’s heartfelt new novel Daughter of the Sea is a beautifully crafted historical tale readers will thoroughly enjoy.
The death of trawler owner Jacob Kingdom hits his daughter Jessica hard. Heartbroken at the loss of her beloved papa, Jessica didn’t think that life could possibly get any worse for her while she is consumed by her overwhelming grief – until she ends up having a heated confrontation that not only results in the discovery of a shameful secret, but ends up with her being cast out of the family home. Jessica is homeless, vulnerable and all alone. A young girl who once had the world at her feet is forced to fall upon the kindness of strangers. Being the late Jacob Kingdom’s daughter does have its advantages, but being connected to her father’s reputation mightn’t always prove too beneficial as she soon discovers when Jessica once again finds herself with her back against the wall in a desperate struggle to survive and thrive in a cruel and unforgiving world.
Her scheming brother is now running the family business, but living up to his father’s legacy becomes more difficult with each passing day. Discontent is rising and the respect that the Kingdom family had once enjoyed is slowly being eroded by Jessica’s brother’s ruthlessness. Although she has been ostracized by her family, Jessica soon realises that the prestige of being Kingdom’s daughter is beginning to lose its lustre. Desperate to show everyone that she has got what it takes to more than live up to her impressive family name, Jessica decides to prove herself worthy. But will her shameful secret continue to hold her back? Or will she rise above the many obstacles standing in her way?
A gripping historical saga full of drama, intensity and emotion, Sylvia Broady’s Daughter of the Sea is a vivid tale that has at its heart a wonderful heroine who is strong, courageous, bold and loyal. Jessica Kingdom is an inspirational heroine readers will admire and root for as she tries to right the wrongs of the past and become the mistress of her destiny.
An atmospheric, gripping and sweeping saga, Sylvia Broady’s heartfelt new novel Daughter of the Sea is a beautifully crafted historical tale readers will thoroughly enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews