Suspenseful gothic romance with a formidable female lead.

Great for fans of Rosamunde Pilcher’s The Shell Seekers, Buck Turner’s The Keeper of Stars.

FICTION A Hopeless Dawn Jill George | Heinze Quill Publishing 310p, e-book, $17.99, ISBN 979-8-988-63071-5

Inspired by Frank Bramley’s evocative painting that shares the same name, George’s series starter captures life in the fog-laden, rugged backdrop of 19th century Cornish harbor town Port Quin, chronicling the life of fisherman’s daughter Effy and her unsettling ability to foresee events. Caught in a tumultuous love triangle between Cade, the boy she grew up with, and charming new resident William, Effy feels torn. Outsider William is mistrusted by many in the village, including Effy’s own father, but, despite her familiarity with Cade, she can’t quite ignore his calculating personality. Effy quickly discovers her world harbors secrets she never guessed—and her visions are hinting at dark affairs that could threaten the entire town.

George (Illuminating Darwin) meticulously lays out the history behind this enigmatic story, blurring the line between fact and fiction as she weaves a tale of passion and predestination amid a web of ancient customs and supernatural lore. The ornate descriptions of village life and its economy transfix, as George paints with stunning metaphor and dramatic imagery, from the townspeople’s dependence on fishing, that “silvery lifeblood of their very existence,” to the coastal storms that ravage the village with “wild, darkening majesty.” The saga races forward with escalating tension and stakes that surge, as Effy grapples with one threat after the other, ensuring a compelling and suspenseful read.

Harnessing the power of her prophetic sight is just one of Effy’s many challenges amid her quest to survive, and her efforts are rooted in the time period’s socio-cultural context, including her yearning for knowledge and agency in a community that views women as inferior. Female solidarity and Effy’s bid to break away from the clutches of abusive and strained relationships form important subtexts, transforming this gothic romance into a discerning survey of the hope and resilience that can break through even the most terrifying of circumstances.

Cover: B+ | Design & typography: A | Illustrations: – Editing: A- | Marketing copy: A