The Hollow Sea

Overview

A mesmerizing literary debut interwoven with mythology and legend, from an award-winning new talent

When Scottie realizes she will never become a mother, she leaves her life behind and flees to the storm-lashed Hebridean archipelago of St Hia.

The islands are dangerous. Many have been lost to the ferocious tides known as the Hollow Sea, and folklore tells that St Hia was once the home of a witch named Thordis - outcast for her inability to bear children, and driven to a terrible act . . .

The islanders warn newcomers against examining the past, but Scottie can't look away from Thordis' story. Could St Hia's history hold the key to Scottie's future?

Reviews

'A heart-rending atmospheric novel of finding what makes one whole' Melissa Fu, author of Peach Blossom Spring

An incredibly beautiful story, shot through with shimmering myth, sorrow and hope -- Polly Crosby, author of The Book of Hidden Wonders

Elegantly interweaves the stories of two women haunted by hope and loss. Eloquent and moving, with a touch of folklore, this is a beautiful, hopeful tale -- Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women

Heart-wrenching, haunting, and ultimately hopeful too. Extraordinary. Beautiful, thought-provoking and woven through with folklore and myth, an utterly absorbing read that will touch your heart. Magnificent. Unforgettable. -- Liz Hyder, author of Bearmouth

Fiercely original . . . a really powerful, provocative and original debut -- Natasha Solomons, author of I, Mona Lisa

An exquisitely-crafted novel about heritage, folklore and the persistent roar of unfulfilled dreams. When I finished it, I felt like I'd emerged from the sea, dripping with salt and tangled in kelp. Dizzyingly brilliant -- Lizzie Pook, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter

 

Author Biography

Annie Kirby lives on the south coast of England where she works part-time as a university researcher. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia and a PhD in American Studies. Her short stories have been published in anthologies and broadcast on national radio and she is a winner of the Asham Award for short fiction. Annie is a graduate of the Penguin WriteNow program.