Publish date: 27th January 2026.
A Spell for Drowning follows Kensa Rowe, a child haunted by her father’s hanging and considered a pariah in the Cornish fishing village Portscatho. To find her place, she becomes the village ‘wise woman’ and learns to heal, as well as the ‘Old Ways’ (aka magic).
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. To begin with, I felt certain I knew the direction it was heading. I was fully prepared to dismiss the book as predictable and I could not have been more wrong. The plot is well drawn and while the concept is not unique, the Cornish folklore gives it a fresh feel. And there’s a lot of folklore! The book has been well researched and the Folk are specific to that region rather than generic. It’s an immersive experience.
The characters are also well crafted. Their flaws are consistent, giving a realistic feel and while the small slice of romance is eye-rolling, it’s authentic to the teenage experience. Kensa’s motivations can be frustrating at times but the align well with her character and give a depth and drama to the overall result. Her fears feed the narrative and allow the personal growth necessarily to mature by the end. The ending itself manages to leave scope for a sequel while remaining satisfying. I would welcome a second book but I haven’t been cheated if I don’t get one, as it should be! (Anyone else tired of books which seem to stop in the middle of the plot?)
Pacing is excellent throughout. There were slower points where I could put the book down but only for as long as it takes to make a cup of tea. Again, how it should be. A quicker pace is nice for the action sequences but a natural pause to visit the bathroom is welcome too.
The sea imagery is superb. The scenes with water were my favourite and the descriptions were spliced through the action competently. An impressive feat for a debut. I don’t have any strong criticism of anything written, only that I felt a little underwhelmed. It’s a competent book, a decent read by all standards but missing that ‘je ne se quoi’ that makes a book special. I like it. I’d like to read the next one. I just don’t love it.
| Criteria | Scores | Our Score |
| Artistic Achievement | 1 – 5 | 4 |
| Pacing | 1 – 5 | 4 |
| Characters | 1 – 5 | 4 |
| Writing Style | 1 – 5 | 5 |
| Originality | 1 – 5 | 3 |
Written By: ivetafox
Favourite Game – Long Live the Queen || Favourite Film – Sweeney Todd || Favourite Book – Wuthering Heights
About: Ivy is a disabled, autistic writer from the UK, passionate about inclusive gaming. When not reviewing, she can be found writing short stories and micro fiction or reading the latest gothic novel.
Donate: https://ko-fi.com/storiesbyivy
