On Silver Tides
Publisher: Andersen Press
Kelda has always protected her little sister Isla from danger on the rivers, and from the suspicions of their community. For Isla cannot breathe underwater - and so her very existence is forbidden by silvermen's Lore. Now the rivers of England are growing sick: monstrous creatures are awakening and a fierce torrent of blame falls upon Kelda's family. When betrayal comes, the sisters escape on a desperate journey upstream. Joining forces with a mysterious boy, Kelda discovers the darkest depths of her kind's secret history. But to save both her sister and the very life of Britain's waterways, Kelda will have to make a sacrifice - one that will change her life forever.
Coming February 2024. Available for pre-order now |
Advance reviews
"This book is a gift of rare imagination and luminous writing. I haven't read something so original and immersive in a long time. On Silver Tides is a classic in the making and I loved every word" -- Katya Balen
"On Silver Tides is a beautifully constructed book about the love of family and the importance of embracing what we don't understand. I was with Kelda through every triumph and betrayal, every hurt and heartbreak. Bishop's writing transforms Britain into a magical network of rivers, channels and lochs that will fill you with wonder" -- Ann Sei Lin
"I loved this book so much. It feels to me like a contemporary classic: thoughtful, literary, with clear and gorgeous prose, yet urgent and relevant. It touches painlessly and obliquely on our own troubled relationship with the environment, but above all it's a great story with vivid, complex and lovable characters. The world-building reminded me of Susanna Clarke in its rich and playful inventiveness. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to read more by Sylvia Bishop!" -- Alice Winn
"Sylvia Bishop has a written a whole new world in On Silver Tides, with its own myths and history. It's a watery Twilight, or a freshwater version of Helen Dunmore's Ingo books. The kind of storytelling that stops your breath and weaves knots around your heart. Exquisite, and hard to leave behind" -- Nicola Penfold
"Spellbinding storytelling brilliance - I absolutely loved it" -- Katharine Orton
"This is a gorgeous book full of heart, drama and beauty. I loved the way Sylvia Bishop wove threads of old folklore into her vivid and original fantasy Britain. I was completely engrossed in Kelda’s world from the cosy family canal-boat to the terrors and thrills of the open sea. I found the story to be both a moving tale of family, friendship and growing up, and a thoughtful reflection on learning to live with uncertainty. It is one of those rare books I’ll want to read again and again. I loved it, and very much look forward to the sequel." -- Anna Kemp
"On Silver Tides is a beautifully constructed book about the love of family and the importance of embracing what we don't understand. I was with Kelda through every triumph and betrayal, every hurt and heartbreak. Bishop's writing transforms Britain into a magical network of rivers, channels and lochs that will fill you with wonder" -- Ann Sei Lin
"I loved this book so much. It feels to me like a contemporary classic: thoughtful, literary, with clear and gorgeous prose, yet urgent and relevant. It touches painlessly and obliquely on our own troubled relationship with the environment, but above all it's a great story with vivid, complex and lovable characters. The world-building reminded me of Susanna Clarke in its rich and playful inventiveness. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to read more by Sylvia Bishop!" -- Alice Winn
"Sylvia Bishop has a written a whole new world in On Silver Tides, with its own myths and history. It's a watery Twilight, or a freshwater version of Helen Dunmore's Ingo books. The kind of storytelling that stops your breath and weaves knots around your heart. Exquisite, and hard to leave behind" -- Nicola Penfold
"Spellbinding storytelling brilliance - I absolutely loved it" -- Katharine Orton
"This is a gorgeous book full of heart, drama and beauty. I loved the way Sylvia Bishop wove threads of old folklore into her vivid and original fantasy Britain. I was completely engrossed in Kelda’s world from the cosy family canal-boat to the terrors and thrills of the open sea. I found the story to be both a moving tale of family, friendship and growing up, and a thoughtful reflection on learning to live with uncertainty. It is one of those rare books I’ll want to read again and again. I loved it, and very much look forward to the sequel." -- Anna Kemp